Football Focus

[red devil]

I see Rory was staying neutral with his George Best t-shirt at yesterday's match...

[malumbu]

Saw Paul Brady the Irish folk singer at a 100 year celebration of the Irish martyrs. Most of his songs seem to be about how badly the English treated the Irish and the nationalist cause. He even joked that he played at a Queen's 90th birthday event and his daughter, who llved in London, was worried that he would offend her maj saying to him "no dad, it's not like this any more, we all like each other nowadays."

Nothing wrong with a bit of national pride as long as it doesn't come with superiority and xenophobia. I'd never dissected the lyrics on Flower of Scotland but it is about giving the British army a kicking (amd lost of Scots were in the British Army). To me it is a nice proud sing a long. And Bread of Heaven. And Waltzing Matilda. And Molly Malone.

Don't feel the same about GSTQ, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory. Swing Low is a real odd one.

Perhaps I am being too precious. I did start a thread on a new national anthem where I favoured the South Afican one.

Can we compete with this? http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/10-rousing-songs-you-mood-6774715

The Levellers, the Clash, Oasis??

[Alan Medic]

malumbu Wrote:

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> Saw Paul Brady the Irish folk singer at a 100 year

> celebration of the Irish martyrs. Most of his

> songs seem to be about how badly the English

> treated the Irish and the nationalist cause.

What would you expect him to sing about at an event like that?

[Alan Medic]

GSTH is pretty crap but the Scottish and Irish anthems aren't much good either. I have never seen a team get quite so wound up as Argentina during their anthem on Monday prior to the U20 RWC Semi Final v Ireland. Some of them looked scary. Thankfully we stuffed them by 30 points......have a look.

http://www.worldrugby.org/u20/video/171497

[????]

Croatia look excellent to me (apart from the last 5 mins Vs Czech)

England really are a very average side - who were in a very weak group - despite all Woys talk, but then again most of the sides so far look pretty average.

[red devil]

Hodgson is getting a lot of stick for making so many changes for the Slovakia game, yet Croatia did the same for last night's match. The difference being Croatia play to a system and stick to it. Each squad player knows their role in that system. England look like a collection of individuals thrown together. But it wasn't that long ago that we went through qualification unbeaten, beating teams of the standard of Slovakia and Russia. Ironically it's been the good league form of Vardy and Kane that has thrown things in the air, Hodgson has been pressured into playing them and thus changing the system. Controversial I know, but there's an argument for playing Rooney back up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kane is burnt out, he shouldn't even be there...cue Harry Kane scoring a hat trick :)

[red devil]

Slavan Bilic is the best pundit by a mile...and seems to have formed an impromptu double act with Ian Wright

[Jah Lush]

Agree about Bilic. He's been excellent value. I've been saying all tournament Harry Kane needs Delle Alli playing up behind him as he does at Spurs and in previous England games. The goals will come.

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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> I see Rory was staying neutral with his George

> Best t-shirt at yesterday's match...

Yeah - and he has pulled out of the Irish Olympics team.

[????]

Congrats Ireland! "Scenes" as they say.

[malumbu]

Hooray - I get to see Ireland vs Iceland in the quarters. Ireland fans songs are great. Does anyone know any Iceland ditties (apart from mum's gone to Iceland).

Used to work in an Irish/West Indian pub near the Villa. Remember some great pop songs of the day on the jukebox and soul/reggae but they also had some dreadful Irish novelty pop songs. Can't remember any of the names.

[Alan Medic]

That was fun. What a lobsided draw in the last 16. Most peoples potential winners on one side. Makes it interesting. If karma exists it may look favourably on Ireland when they play France.

[Jah Lush]

Bloody brilliant day of football.

[red devil]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> If karma exists it may look

> favourably on Ireland when they play France.

Going to be interesting if the BBC show the match and Terry Henry is a pundit

''Let's look at the highlights from the last time these two sides met...''

[Jah Lush]

Please let it happen.

[Parkdrive]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> That was fun. What a lobsided draw in the last 16.

> Most peoples potential winners on one side. Makes

> it interesting. If karma exists it may look

> favourably on Ireland when they play France.

Yawn...... let it go

[Mick Mac]

Ireland France. Host nations have a big advantage.

It's not confirmed yet, but a little bird has told me that, to even things up, Ireland are allowed to use their hands.

[Parkdrive]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Mick Mac]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Currently (!) on the front page of BBC Sport website. Maradona's Hand of God - only 30 years on.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36593539

Let it go........

Let it go........

[maxxi]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Parkdrive Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

>

>

>

> Currently (!) on the front page of BBC Sport

> website. Maradona's Hand of God - only 30 years

> on.

> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36593539

>

> Let it go........

> Let it go........

Yes but he didn't play for the arse Mick...

[Parkdrive]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I'm sure many of us can think of incidents where either our club or national side have been on the wrong end of an erroneous decision or cheating, but the Irish carry as if they are the only nation ever to have suffered. If memory serves me right Ireland were awarded a very dubious penalty during that particular competition. The nation that they were playing were aggrieved but haven't ripped the arse out of it. Over to you

[Mick Mac]

maxxi Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Parkdrive Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

> >

> >

> >

> > Currently (!) on the front page of BBC Sport

> > website. Maradona's Hand of God - only 30 years

> > on.

> > http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36593539

> >

> > Let it go........

> > Let it go........

>

> Yes but he didn't play for the arse Mick...

Ah - I see. A tarnished hero.

[Parkdrive]

Yep if you say so, at least he didn't break an opponents leg eh? Roy Keane anyone

[Parkdrive]

Perhaps you'd like to comment on the very questionable penalty Ireland were awarded during that competition, selective memory

[Parkdrive]

http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/dubious-penalty-gives-irish-impetus-to-overcome-stubborn-georgians-26513135.html

Here you go mick Mac