Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Croatia v. England thread, and Scotland too



I know there's a open thread from earlier today, but let's face it, I'm far too lazy to use it. Plus I'd love a few precious lines here to opine about my country's chances.

Simply put, we don't have any tonight. None that I can see. This team is rather shambolic, and the overwhelming weight of history is on Croatia's side -- something about being close to unbeaten at home, Bilic's track record as manager, etc etc etc. That and we can't even score goals against part-timers.

That being said, I'll still blindly cheer for this lifeless collection of primadonnas, beginning in about 5 minutes when everything kicks off. Teams after the jump. Considering that I'm at work, a liveblog looks unlikely, but should my boss disappear early, I'll jump in for the 2nd half.

Oh, and sporadic updates from the other matches too. Can Finland shake ze Germans in the 2nd half? Currently 3-2 there to the Finns with half an hour remaining. Scotland just took the lead in Iceland through Kirk "Useless" Broadfoot, and the Republic of Ireland just walked off with a 0-0 home draw to Montenegro.

Lord, give me strength. I fear the Three Lions will get mauled in this one. 3-1 Croats is my pick, but of course if we win I'll disavow any knowledge of that prediction.

I'll look out for the Scots in this one too.


Croatia:
Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric, Nico Kovac, Srna, Modric, Olic.

Subs: Runje, Krizanac, Mandzukic, Pokrivac, Knezevic, Leko, Klasnic.

England:
James, Brown, Terry, Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Walcott, Lampard, Barry, Joe Cole, Rooney, Heskey.

Subs: Robinson, Johnson, Beckham, Downing, Defoe, Upson, Jenas.

Meanwhile, in Iceland:
Iceland:
Sturluson, Birkir Mar Saevarsson, Eiriksson, Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson, Gunnarsson, Steinsson, Hreidarsson, Gislason, Gudjohnsen, Helguson, Hallfredsson.

Subs: Torgeirsson, Indridi Sigurdsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Palmason, Gunnarson, Thordarson, Thorvaldsson.

Scotland:
Gordon, Broadfoot, Naysmith, McManus, Caldwell, Brown, Darren Fletcher, Maloney, McFadden, Robson, Commons.

Subs: McGregor, Alexander, Miller, Boyd, Hartley, Steven Fletcher, Berra.


52 comments:

EbullientFatalist said...

which thread is cooler?

Jim Hendry said...

Surely mine has more info in it. Plus a witty photoshop!

EbullientFatalist said...

Sold! The witty photoshop clinches.

EbullientFatalist said...

Okay, so I'm watching the game in Arabic. Phenomenal. Seriously. When they pronounce "Lampard" as "Lahmparrrrrghd" I giggle inside.

Jim Hendry said...

I am scared shitless about this outcome... it's not going to be pretty. Already a decent chance for the Croats

Jacob said...

http://www.eggtv.blogspot.com/
Try here.

I lost my Scotland connection.

Jim Hendry said...

Ha ha ha... nice! When Lampard is finally too shit to play anywhere known, he should consider taking the massive paychecks to play in Bahrain or UAE or one of those places.

Plus if he was ever taken hostage, no-one would really mind. THE TERRORISTS WOULD LOSE

Jacob said...

macedonia 1-0!

Jacob said...

Crap, waved off

Jacob said...

I remember it from some photo spread in a magazine from 2002, maybe. Felt it was time for a change.

Jim Hendry said...

With most of these games featuring former Soviet colonies or recent separatist countries (like last 15 years), it's so fucking hard to know what constitutes an upset.

For example:
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2, Estonia 0


Other fun scores:
Italy 1, Georgia 0
France 0, Serbia 0 (what shite)
Faroe Islands 0, Romania 1 (FULL TIME SCORE WTF)
Switzerland 0, Luxembourg 1 (ha)
San Marino 0, Poland 1

EbullientFatalist said...

EGG-TV!!!! YES!!!!

I do miss the Arabic, though.

Chad said...

Jesus. Montenegro at home and all Rep. of Ireland can get is a draw? It'd be nice to at least sniff the WC finals in 2010 boys.

Jacob said...

I've learned way too much about these sites over the last month. Scotland 1-0 at half time.

Kirk Broadfoot improbably scores on his debut. When I say improbably, I mean it's one in about 100.

See you guys later tonight, I have to go.

/mon the scots

EbullientFatalist said...

I like the Walcott-Cole combo on the wings. But why no A-Young?

The Fan's Attic said...

Germany just equalized with Finland on Klose's third goal of the match in the 83rd.

Jim Hendry said...

Young deserves a chance, if nothing else. Why we continue to rely on the pensioners is beyond me.

see ya umlaut.


England's bright early efforts have now vanished. 15 minutes of enterprise and spirit was all they could muster, apparently.

Jacob said...

Guardian is awesome

4 min: Frank Lampard takes a free kick from 25 yards, but, y'know.

Jim Hendry said...

Penalty shout for England, but Heskey would never have reached that Walcott cross anyway. Heskey is aggrieved, but life moves on in Zagreb.


Also, what was the point of calling Bullard up if he wasn't even going to be a sub? Rather pointless display of possible experimentation by Fabio.

BackBergtt said...

i for one am glad that the rules which are keeping sami out of the champions league are going so far to make england good again. yay bureaucracy!

go croatia, eat a fat dick fabio

EbullientFatalist said...

WALCOTT!!!!!

Jim Hendry said...

France, have you forgotten how to marquer le but?

0-0 still with Serbia.


HOLY SHIT ENGLAND SCORE FIRST, WALCOTT BEATS PUBERTY AND PLETIKOSA after some hilarious Croatian defensive gaffes

EbullientFatalist said...

"Croatia has never experience a home competitive defeat." - Setanta

Must I remind them of 1992-1995?

phil said...

England should cap Michael Taylor for ensuring that Croatia would be without the services of Eduardo da Silva

Jim Hendry said...

Barry Robson scores another for Scotland! 2-0 there...


... as for France? 0-0 at half-time with Serbia

phil said...

egg tv has gone blank. damn.

EbullientFatalist said...

@ phil: I'm experiencing the same.

phil said...

egg tv back! And Fatty Lampard half asses his free kick

phil said...

And the Oscar goes to....JOE COLE!!!!

EbullientFatalist said...

Kovac straight red. England shall surely muck it up now.

Jim Hendry said...

Scotland lose Stephen McManus due to a ridiculous handball, and Iceland's Eidur Gudjohnssen slots home the PK.

Iceland 1, Scotland 2

Also:
Albania 1, Malta 0
Bosnia-Herzegovina 6, Estonia 0
FYR Macedonia 1, Netherlands 2
France 0, Serbia 0
Lithuania 2, Austria 0 (ha, Austria just beat France as well)
Spain 0, Armenia 0

AND Kovac goes off for a straight red card thanks to his flying elbow challenge on Joe Cole. Ouchie.

Eladio said...

If it bleeds, it leads...

phil said...

JJ on for Cole. Prepare to be underwhelmed.

Eladio said...

Also, Hughes at Citeh is probably pleased...JC might not make the match on Saturday.

phil said...

Chavs to be down Essien and JC?

Isn't it it a shame about Chelsea...

Jim Hendry said...

2-0, thanks to Walcott

EbullientFatalist said...

Walcott with his second. He's scored more than I had at 19.

Unknown said...

3-0 thanks to Rooney

phil said...

Can't see anymore. Egg tv has gone dead. 11 on 10 now anyway.

phil said...

anyone who lost egg tv would benefit on looking at the sports tab on justin's tv

Unknown said...

http://www.todotv.tk/

Not English and poor buffering but it works

Eladio said...

Titi gets France on the board, finally.

So has Theo now scored more for England than he has for Arsenal? EPL games only, i mean.

EbullientFatalist said...

This performance has needlessly raised expectations for Ing-ger-land.

phil said...

Brilliant run by Fat Frank

phil said...

@andrew:

perhaps they should petition that all their opponents only field 10

phil said...

That was waaaaayyyyy too easy a goal from a short-handed side. England should be embarrassed.

EbullientFatalist said...

Yes, Phil. I agree with both the petitioning and the goal.

God forbid England shut out a quality side.

phil said...

Vedran could be a little more gentle with his teammate there....

EbullientFatalist said...

THEO THEO THEO THEO!!!!!!!

phil said...

Too easy. Walcott with the hat trick. 4-1 England

EbullientFatalist said...

Walcott's finishing has been pure unadulterated skill.

Against ten men.

EbullientFatalist said...

Theo's hat-trick makes it official: He has indeed scored more than me at 19. Then again, I could've said that after his first strike.



/shame