Maybe we should pick players who are not such big names. The problem is that they have such egos that must trip over them at times.

I think we should make him manager!

That's not a bad idea.

Another idea, send all of our youth players to play in other European leagues. How many premier league players are in the last 4/5 teams?

Er...Torres. Oh, and Fabregas. Wait, he spends most of the time on the bench. Anymore?

Indeed. It's very pleasant occurrence. Well done Germany.

According to the FIFA web site

Holland
John Heitinga Everton
Dirk Kuyt Liverpool
Nigel De Jong Manchester City
Robin Van Persie Arsenal

Spain
Fernando Torres Liverpool
Cesc Fabregas Arsenal
Pepe Reina Liverpool

Paraguay
Roque Santa Cruz Manchester City
Paulo Da Silva Sunderland

Germany
None

Uruguay
None


So that's 9 out of 115 (23*5), not a good ratio really. La Liga and the Bundesliga do much better and Italy does roughly as well.

I predict a Holland Germany final.
The Germans will lift the cup (and as a result I'll win £40).

That's almost worth it happening .

Amazing how things can change in a couple of days. Late in the week the press were banging on about how European teams were failing and South America had all the good players, yet it's more than likely 3 of the 4 semi finalists will be European. And the South American team that has got there did so by cheating...

Jon

It's worth it happening anyway. At least then we can say we were knocked out by the champions.

Spain look pretty ropey tbh. Even if they beat Paraguay, can't see them beating Germany. Torres is having a shocking world cup.

I'm predicting a Germany - Netherlands final, with the Netherlands to win.

Nah - It was always going to be an all south american affair -

Paraguay - Uruguay anyone? First ever world cup final to be beaten in viewing share by a repeat of Grand Designs on channel 4.

From what I make out 3 of the 9 were subs as well.

That puts pay to those that argue there are too many foreign players in the premier league, it makes no difference as hardly any premier league players make the latter stages of the World Cup.

Uruguay to win the cup, I win cash that way.

Any other team and it will be the frist time in World Cup history that a European side has won outside of Europe. Mind you it's never been in Africa before.

Worse. Reina is third choice.


I've always thought the issue was we have too many foreign players in the premiership who just aren't very good, which this seems to confirm. Too many mediocre players getting paid huge wodge for being not very good in the premiership week in week out and in the process stopping the development of young native players who might actually be better if they got the chance to play first team football and learn a bit. I think it's also due to young British players reluctance to go elsewhere in Europe to get games and experience. There's a whole generation of young English players who seem happy to sit on the bench / in the reserves getting paid 25K a week when they could be playing quality first team football in say Belgium or Holland, earning only(!) 5K a week but actually getting better at being a footballer...

To be fair there are examples of young English players who have gone on loan within the prem to gain experience and seem to have definitely benefitted from it - Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere spring to mind - but it's still the same game, the same culture.


Quite. I think Uruguay are probably the outside bet though, especially without Suarez.

But first choice in the Premier League. Oh dear.


Indeed, some seem to be joining the football world for the lifestyle, not the job.


Quite true. They've always been an outside bet, that's why I got 100/1 on them.

Nah - Germany.