For all of you complaining about the number of corporate holders in the seats, how many were actually there (besides Modes)? The big thing to me seemed that the ones not into it were more local German fans, or those like us who just wanted to see World Cup football so went to games other than our country's. I thought the atmosphere was tremendous at all the matches, even Iran/Angola. I thought it was a great time and that with enough patience online tickets were easily available. Like Jan, we got all of ours from the official site (or through US Soccer).

No, I'm saying the safety of having other options is the reason. What were to happen if England started 4-4-2, went down a goal or 2 and then Rooney or Crouch got injured?

Because they had backup strikers to bring on as subs, not an extra ball boy.

I heard on the radio that Lehman's looking at the paper might not have been within the rules. Can anyone confirm or deny?

One reason for the loss: Sven. Imagine if Crouch and Rooney had started up front together with Cole-Hargreaves-Gerrard-Beckham in midfield. England would have destroyed that Portugal team with this lineup. Part of the problem/reason for not doing it was wanted Lampard and Gerrard out there together. Another part of it was knowing if one of the strikers got injured or tired, there was no one to bring on as a sub. And Flopsy, 1000 times on the chalk board: Hargreaves is a god and Flopsy is an idiot for harping on about his selection.

Yeah, Oklahoma, sorry but the Portugese players are doing nothing to prove people who call them divers wrong.

Am I the only one who was far from impressed with Torres against France?

I think if France beats Brazil, England has a good chance to face Germany in the final. They got a good matchup with Portugal missing 2 players (not luck of the draw, as Portugal were the superior team to the Dutch and deserved to have the 2 reds).

It also has a lot to do with money. The top Mexican clubs pay obscenely good wages, so there isn't the need to move overseas that you see with a lot of other places.

Again, it was amazing how they could be stretchered off the field then run back on less than a minute later. They dive more than anyone but the Indigo Girls (and maybe Freddie Lundgberg!! ).

So sorry your highness, 3 people. Paul said he thought you'd lose AT THIS STAGE, not necessarily to Ecuador. There were more people predicting a blow out victory than a loss (FACT). I guess you need the extra weight to carry the chip on your shoulder.

Didn't have an easy group?!?!?!?!? Ahh, the kool-aid must be tasty. So far the matchups have been kind, but England under SGE has always played down to the opposition, only doing just enough for the win.

I don't think you can blame the ref at all. I can't think of one yellow that I remember being harsh. It was the players who would rather flatten the opponent instead of playing proper football. I'm suprised not to see more criticism of the dutch player who didn't return the ball to Portugal and took off towards the goal.

Hmmmm, I see one prediction that you'd lose to Ecuador. But we wouldn't want to see the facts get in the way of another winge, would we?

I liked Deco's first yellow, sent a good message to his teammates that he had their backs. The second one was stupid.

Pretty dire match so far. Good goal, stupid sending off. And the first yellow was the same thing Mastroeni got a red for....

You are mistaken, it was after he started with the Colleen.

(which you supported at the time....) The video feeds are all from German TV, aren't they (not the graphics)? Talking to a few Americans and they said the coverage has been great, in the fact that there was major coverage of the cup and it wasn't pushed to the back like normal.

It could have been worse, we could have had the ref the Tunisians got...

Donovan sucks, world class my pearly white butt. Heard it summed up best that the US lacked a true star quality world class player. The refs sucked, but they didn't cost us, bad personnel decisions (McBride and Donovan on for way too long - why bring 4 strikers and not use them??) and poor playing did. If the team showed half the heart the fans did we'd be going through.

4 years ago I had to get up at 3 am for some matches. Then again, as a new parent shouldn't you be used to this lack of sleep. (For all that don't know, Neekoy is now a proud pop, congrats!!)

I'm thinking England to win and face Germany in the second round...

I would rather the 9 (8) PM matches be earlier! You know how much of a pain it is getting a train from Kaiserslatuern to Leipzig, or a hotel anywhere within a 2 hour train ride?

I'd take him in a heartbeat...

1-1 Barthez with a howler showing how bad a mistake the coach made not going with Coupet.