I'm predicting Germany because they're playing the best football but that graph is just bizarre. There's no pattern to it at all.

Yup, just a few matching up. It's the sort of thing the English media would do.

Cracking down on those who travel or, more likely, too expensive for them to go over.

Simple. Unlike EU police who get sued and abused on the news if they hurt somebody while arresting them. SA police won't tolerate that sort of crap and beat the hooligans to a pulp.
The hooligans know that, so don't act hard as they don't really want a beating.

.......... or, like you said, the hooliagns are all cheap chavs who can't afford to go to SA.

I'm not entirely sure that's true. For example the German riot police aren't known for their tolerant attitude but Germany still has a significant domestic hooliganism issue, partly fuelled by far right extremists. And Italian police have killed people before now but it doesn't stop Italian football fans chucking burning scooters off the top tiers of stadiums. If anything, in large parts of Europe the hooligans see strong police tactics as a challenge more than anything..


I think this is pretty likely, and I think the argument that the type of people who go to football matches to start fights are also the type of people who think any given part of Africa is going to be some sort of civil war zone. Plus the UK police have got a lot better about keeping known UK troublemakers out of international fixtures - you commit pretty much any kind of offense near a football ground these days and you'll find one of the aspects of your punishment is you'll have to surrender your passport and report regularly to your local police station whenever an international tournament is in progress.

I wasn't really looking for an explanation, I was more wondering what people think could be done to make our local football a bit more like this world cup - i.e. a bit more fun and a bit less lines of coppers in flourescent jackets.

I think the fact that opposing fans can mix freely both inside the stadium and out helps.

I would suspect travel bans for known trouble makers. That would end a significant problem. Plus the vast majority of fans are only going to watch the games. Almost all who went to see the North Koreans would be from elsewhere. No North Koreans went. So many would have cheered on North Korea as the underdog.

Ridicule away, but I've only just realised there is no co-commentator for tonights match. World cup semifinal and ITV can't find someone to "add colour".

Come on anybody!

God this is dull. Apparently the psychic octopus has predicted a Spain victory for tomorrow.

3-1 Holland. Second goal rather dodgy. Karma's a bitch, eh Uruguay?

i wish officials would make up their frakin minds. The same thing happened to Paraguay but the goal was disallowed, a few days later it's fine.

I hope Germany make the final and thrash the Dutch arses.

It seems to take 50 fouls and several matches before Van Bommel gets a card.

+1
Normally I'd support the Dutch in that match, but seeing as I stand to win money if Germany win.......