The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup

[Galwaybhoy]

At least Brazil v North Korea is guaranteed to have goals. Isn't it?

Yes.  But Brazil scoring 3 or 4 goals against N Korea does not mean its going to be entertaining.

[Schkite]

Well at least one of them is going to make the knockout phases.  Is that not an impact?

Major impact i guess, on this showing they will both do well to get past the 2nd round

Well whichever one qualifies will likely meet Spain, so yes they'd be doing very well.

[paco]

Can't understand this at all, why no team is really going for it. Anyone think second spot could be decided on goal difference? Both teams seem happy enough with a draw here, for some reason.

[Bogball XV]

Can't understand this at all, why no team is really going for it. Anyone think second spot could be decided on goal difference? Both teams seem happy enough with a draw here, for some reason.

it obviously never entered the slovaks heads, i was delighted to see them pegged back - it was no more than they deserved after their total lack of ambition.

[Aerlik]

  FFS, ref, blow that bloody whistle so I can get to bed.

[Galwaybhoy]

Thought Drogba was going to win it there...

[paco]

Can't understand this at all, why no team is really going for it. Anyone think second spot could be decided on goal difference? Both teams seem happy enough with a draw here, for some reason.

it obviously never entered the slovaks heads, i was delighted to see them pegged back - it was no more than they deserved after their total lack of ambition.

I know what you mean but I think both teams understand the way this group will pan out. They'll both probably lose to Brazil and, instead of gambling in this match, will both go to score a hatful against North Korea. Or I could be wrong and every match will be as uneventful and lacking goals as this one.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Puke football.

The standard of free kicks, corners and long range shooting in this World Cup has been a disgrace for highly paid professional footballers.  Some of these matches would shame the Irish League or League of Ireland.

[Minder]

Can't understand this at all, why no team is really going for it. Anyone think second spot could be decided on goal difference? Both teams seem happy enough with a draw here, for some reason.

it obviously never entered the slovaks heads, i was delighted to see them pegged back - it was no more than they deserved after their total lack of ambition.

I know what you mean but I think both teams understand the way this group will pan out. They'll both
probably lose to Brazil and, instead of gambling in this match, will both go to score a hatful against North Korea. Or I could be wrong and every match will be as uneventful and lacking goals as this one.

I agree with you Paco, a defeat for either team today and they were fucked. They will both aim to give North Korea a tanking and if they pick up anything against Brazil it is a bonus. Pish match but they are here to progress as far as possible not entertain the neutrals.

[paco]

Puke football.

The standard of free kicks, corners and long range shooting in this World Cup has been a disgrace for highly paid professional footballers.  Some of these matches would shame the Irish League or League of Ireland.

I'm convinced the ball is a factor. There's no way the standard could be so consistently poor in all the matches and among all the players.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Puke football.

The standard of free kicks, corners and long range shooting in this World Cup has been a disgrace for highly paid professional footballers.  Some of these matches would shame the Irish League or League of Ireland.

I'm convinced the ball is a factor. There's no way the standard could be so consistently poor in all the matches and among all the players.

According to Adidas, all 32 national associations received these balls in February, plenty of time to adapt if it weren't for the obvious commercial considerations   Probably the altitude might be a factor but they've been using these balls in training for 2 weeks or so.  Have they not worked out that they don't need to hit them as hard   Also the ball does not seems to be moving much in the air (other than upwards of course)

[tyroneboi]

Looks like Robbie has been a bad boy! At least that is one shit pundit put off the TV:


Robbie Earle sacked over World Cup tickets


Robbie Earle Robbie Earle played for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup

ITV World Cup pundit Robbie Earle has been sacked by the broadcaster after tickets for his family and friends were passed on to a third party.

ITV said a "substantial number" of tickets for the Denmark v Holland match on Monday had been passed on, breaching Fifa rules.

It has been claimed a block of tickets were used by a Dutch company for an "ambush marketing effort".

A spokesperson for Earle said a statement would be released shortly.

"Following claims by FIFA that official 2010 World Cup tickets may have been used for ambush marketing, ITV has reviewed its entire ticket allocation for the tournament," the TV network said in a statement.

"Immediate investigations indicated that a block of ITV tickets would appear to have been used for unauthorised purposes during the Holland v Denmark match.

"Further enquiries have revealed that a substantial number of tickets allocated to Robbie Earle for family and friends have been passed to a third party in breach of FIFA rules.

"As a result, Robbie Earle's contract with ITV has been terminated with immediate effect."

The announcement comes after officials ejected 36 women who were wearing orange mini-dresses during Holland's game against Denmark.

The women were accused of "ambush marketing" for a brand of beer.

Members of the group, accused of promoting a brand that is not one of the tournament's official sponsors, were found with tickets understood to have been part of Earle's allocation.

The tickets' terms and conditions stipulate they must not be passed on or sold to anyone else.

Earle, 45, an ambassador for England's 2018 World Cup bid, played for Wimbledon and Port Vale as well as for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup.

[Galwaybhoy]

Now time for the team I drew in the Sweepstake.  Come on North Kore...sorry I mean the Democratic Republic of Korea

This match should be interesting.  The lads saying this isn't a great Brazilian football team and that football is in trouble in the country... I still think they will win the World Cup whatever the RTÉ lads think.

[RealSpiritof98]

North Korean lad crying like mad there before kick off, is it because he's as proud as punch for representing his country, or the though of 40 lashes if brazil destroy them

[Shamrock Shore]

Disappointed not to see Kim Jong-il togging out for North Korea!