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Extracts from;
Wednesday's World Cup round-up

7th July 2010

Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona says Diego Maradona's future as the national team boss lies with the coach himself.

Maradona's team were eliminated from the World Cup when they were thumped 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals, and the manager has not spoken about his future in the position since he returned to Argentina.

But Grondona said: "Maradona is the only person in the country who can do whatever he wants. He still has a contract with us, so it's up to him."

Meanwhile, Argentine lawmaker Juan Cabandie - an ally of president Cristina Kirchner - has suggested erecting a statue of Maradona in the capital Buenos Aires.

He said: "The Argentine people have shown that, where Maradona is concerned, results are not important.

"Maradona has become an icon of Argentine popular culture, he is a social phenomenon and his popularity goes beyond the sporting arena."
Brummie Cabbie says, "Par for the course, the Argentinians erecting a statue to 'The Hand of God' cheat!! FFS!!

Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel has predicted a 2-1 victory for Germany.

Her hopes go against Paul the "psychic" octopus who has correctly predicted all of Germany's results in the World Cup so far. This time Paul is going for a Spanish win.

Veteran France defender William Gallas has blamed former national coach Raymond Domenech for Les Blues' disastrous World Cup 2010 campaign.

The 32-year-old told weekly publication Les Inrockuptibles: "If [the campaign] was a fiasco, then there are reasons for it. And for me there is no need to draw a veil over why: they emanated from the coach. Ok I wasn't good, we weren't good. But the coach wasn't up to scratch either."

Gallas added: "Domenech hammered into us time and again: 'Put your egos to one side'. But I believe that he forgot to do that himself."

Pop star Shakira will headline the World Cup closing ceremony on 11 July which is promised to be more "youthful and a bit more technologically advanced" than the opening ceremony in which the Colombian singer also featured.

She will once again perform the official tournament anthem "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)".
Brummie Cabbie says, 'I like her . . . lots'

Source; http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 795448.stm

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TROUBLE & STRIFE IN THE GERMAN CAMP BEFORE TONIGHT'S SEMI-FINAL

Ballack ousted from team camp

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Michael Ballack has been ousted from the Germany camp after a massive rift with captain Philipp Lahm.

The crocked ex-Chelsea star faces a bleak international future after Lahm insisted he will not give up the captain's armband next season.

Boss Joachim Low, preparing his side for tonight's World Cup semi-final against Spain, revealed Ballack was asked to leave as team doctors did not have time to treat his ankle injury.

The midfielder will not be present for the showdown in Durban to decide who faces Holland in Sunday's final.

Ballack, 33, joined up with the German squad last week to act as a cheerleader.

But his presence has caused tensions in a group who have done brilliantly without him.

Lahm piled on the pain by insisting: "I won't give back the armband to Ballack. They will have to take it off me."

Source; thesun.co.uk

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NASA join critics of Jabulani

06/07/10

Space agency NASA have become the latest to put the boot into the infamous ­Jabulani World Cup ball.

FIFA have ­consistently backed the ball, which is manufactured by adidas.

But they may now have to accept defeat after the latest analysis supported criticism from ­goalkeepers such as Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon, Brazil’s Julio Cesar and Chile’s Claudio Bravo.

Aerodynamic experts from NASA’s Ames Investigation Centre stated the ­Jabulani becomes unpredictable at speeds above 44mph.

They also blamed the ball’s light weight of just 440 grams for the poor flight and lack of ­consistency, known as the ‘knuckle effect’.

NASA also believe the altitude could have increased the unpredictable nature of the ball, as most stadiums in South Africa are 1,000 metres above sea level.

Former Liverpool striker Craig Johnston is now an expert in the appliance of science to football ­equipment.

He said: “If a sponsor came into your office before the World Cup and said ‘We are going to give you a new, perfectly round match ball, the players won’t like it at all, there will be more mistakes made than in any other World Cup, there will be less goals, less free-kicks scored, less complete passes, less control by players and roughly 70 per cent of crosses and shots on goal will miss and go way over the bar ... what would you say to them?”

The Jabulani will be one of FIFA’s main topics at the World Cup de-brief in September.

Source; http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/NA ... 17905.html

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Brummie Cabbie.

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Good news.

My scottish father in law had a tenner on the Germans



CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

That octopus is something else must be scottish (very clever)

got to agree with that.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

You watch . . . . the octopus will predict the winner of the final & millions will go on in bets & the bookies will clean up!!

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Brummie Cabbie.

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I suppose with far east betting syndicates the octopus is in a no win situation.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Na not me i will not pick what the octupus picks i am going for Scotland

Breaking news the octopus has been arrested for illegal betting

I wouldn't mind putting a bet on the Octopus being in a paella by this time tomorrow.

_________________
Grandad,

I don't think that'll happen til it gets it wrong

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Would that be SPREAD betting?

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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If this clip is real...those octopuses/octopi really are bloody incredible!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmDTtkZlMwM

Hope he's right again, we'll all be squids in.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin