I know about the flypasts. I love them as I've a real softspot for WWII birds. A few years ago, pre-9/11 gloriously painted B-17 would make flypasts the Status of Lib & NY Harbour. A glorious sight and monsterous racket flying maybe a few hundred feet overhead. Brillant sight. If we do meet at the end of this torture, i'd be more than happy to see a Harrier overhead, as long as it's not armed ! to digress a bit: About six months ago, I saw this wonderful documentary about the ultimately unsuccessful attempt at raising the Belgrano. HM seamen & officers made the trip and exchanged stories with Argentine seamen & Captain of the battleship... very touching story of combatants coming together 2 decades later and realizing that they were the very much alike. C'mon Flop, ol' boy, surely you too will cheer the diving, cheatin' Argentines tomorrow vs. the Barbarians, right? PS- i'll have a word w/ Elizondo... don't slag the man just yet. He's a good ref for the most part. cheers.

Yes, that very same Riquelme. I can tell you that in the past three days, 38 million candles will have been lit and fingers crossed that JR will flash better form. He was pretty shakey on Saturday. Phil- I have printed your post - with the intent of placing it in my pocket for repeated reading between now & tomorrow for assurance. While some points i can see, I cannot see JR being a 'peerless midfielder'. It is funny how accross the pond, JR reputation isn't so sterling. We are downright scared that Pekerman has handed him the keys, our worry is that there isn't another option in midfield. Our Cambiasso/ Mascherano firm consistently steps on each other toes and it detracts from Argentina contesting balls further up the field. Notice how many balls we finally intercept just at the top of our area ? Those mistakes might go unpunished against Mexico, but against a decent side? Nonetheless: Thanks for the words. now Flopsy, having seen much of your work here on the forum, i know you're a bit of a joker (thou mostly unfunny ) with a nasty streak a few hundred yards wide, so your words should be taken with a pinch or two of salt. I suppose winning a skirmish entitles you crow, like say: World Cup 1966, but if I wanted to be equally tasteless (which I clearly don't because I Love the Rovers, Value this board & generally enjoy the bonhomie exhibited here.) I could utter silly, insensitive words like 'hope they don't respond to the Harriers with an Exocet or two found in the cupboard'. But I won't thou, because I love your country, count many englishman as very close friends here in the states and because Argentina, althou we are proud silly people we are profoundly non-bellicose. Perhaps we have England to thank for that, I can assure you that no government will ever drag us into a silly war to prop up their sagging popularity. So, lets' just let it go, man. it's footy, Remember ?! it's supposed to be fun. Besides, you're gonna have to be nice to us so Elizondo can red-card the entire Portuguese side. Dare not think he wouldn't !

Hey Eddie: Does that make you a Frog? or half a Frog?

Chilavert is doing the color commentary for Univision, so I can tell you that chilavert is not an an action word during soccer telecasts. You should also count your lucky stars you don't understand spanish as a. Chilavert prefaces his every sentence with 'si si'.. or yes yes and b. goes on to repeat his partners' question and c. Causes Cervantes to roll in his grave with his every comment. the upshot DrakeFrye: the mute button is a good thing.

I agree w/ Greggy-- Brasil/Ghana have the making of a killer match. Shame Essien can't jump on the pitch, i was looking forward to some nice, studs up, two-footed clangers on the Bucktoothed one. shame, that. Still looking forward to Appiah's mazy runs onto a stretched out Brasilian back 4. Brasil might score 5 goals, but Ghana might hit of 3... anyone else think this will be a wide open, NBA-esque affaire ? dbirch- I wish to take a moment to offer you my condolences. Aussies were absolutely robbed. If that clown ref was going to make a stupid call in the box, why not the hand ball in the Italian box just moments earlier? I am doing a novena for you ( ) so that Medinas Cantalejo's ill will bounces back and bites the Spaniards in the rear end.... what goes around, comes around, you know.

I know i'll regret this, but: Philip, Please expand on how Arg. will beat Germany in front of 70,000 screaming Germans. I suppose if we weather the storm in the first 15-20 minutes.... but even this doesn't guarantee anything.

Yes.... that's the one: Pablo Ramirez. Have you seen him up close, he's a big un'. Apparently he was a goalkeeper in a previous lifetime, so he's always adding interesting takes on the position. Also, does anyone else chuckle at Pablo's ventriloquist dummy, Jesus Bracamontes?

Not to mention that he'd be the ugliest Premiership player since Vinnie Jones

Hey rovers ! back from my Catatonic state. Only after half dozen Stellas & a wicked lamb Vindaloo post the England match was I able to emerge from my quiet stay at 'trembling hills rest home'. This past match was not good on my nerves at all. I think you guys have a good handle on this match, it's true that Mexico came out and punched noses. Dictated the tempo right off, thankfully they didn't press their advantage. I cringe to think what 'might have been' if Crespo hadn't equalized so quickly. IMO Mexico needs a younger C. Blanco to emerge, a talismanic playmaker & real dynamic striker. As it was, a jaded Borghetti gave Ayala & Heinz more than they wanted. Adopted Scouser: C'mon..... Maxi' strike was just a good a Cole's, give credit where it's due. Argentina was a bit more than Mexico, but the Aztecas effort made the passing game suffer clearly... Riquelme couldn't complete a good pass to save his life, I guess that's what ppl are saying about playing at 70%. I also agree we are vulnerable at the back... surely, everyone's seen what England and Croatia did to them in the past 8 months. 4 goals in the last 10 minutes by rushing all forward and whipping crosses inside. Ayala has been superman, but can it last ? Blue Phil- It is madness to suggest that German is an underdog next Friday. Home advantage and home 'cooking'(refereeing) will see us out by Saturday. Germany will have every advantage real or imagined. One more point: Brian says that as proof Argentina were at 70% [/b]'as they would have stepped up and won it before extra time' They did, does anyone else remember a legitimate goal being disallowed? thanks for the use of Argentines, PhillyRover. Argies gets on my tits. What are we doing w/ the Bellamy windfall?

I'd like to echo some of the Mexicans ... in particular : Pavel Pardo & Sanchez the keeper. others like the backs, Rodriguez & Salcido are good'uns, too. For years I've wondered why Mexicans stay home and eschew going abroad- they have pace and talent, I think this past fortnight will open up their market. What's everyone think of Mascherano, now ? He's only at 70% as was off 8 months with a bad foot injury. He's struggling for form at present, but this kid would step in front of a lorry, talented & a heart big as a whale.

unfortunately, Kaka was already taken ! i'm Arainhosa, #5

Univision has always been superior to the american networks, going back to the 1982 cup... I recall that up until just a few years ago, the american nets would interrupt play to go to commercials (that's adverts to the Brits) while Univision just chugged along. The only thing that get under my nose is the Mexican announcer Pablo Something or another penchant for screaming over the littlest of things. Thankfully with Mexico eliminated, we that do speak spanish can tune into Univision and not have to deal with Univision's jingoism. American jingoism was always easy to ignore as it was completely baseless and foolish.

Thanks for that, mr. pedantic I knew this, but it's funny how when in a stream of concious it just seemed like Z was right....

I think this succession of posts pretty much sum up where this thread is heading, no?

Ivory coast drawing w/ chile???? dark horse? please !

the latest noise over here is that Mexico reckons they're a shout for the Semis ! Then I hear this Mex-American journo over here in the states bloating that the Mexicans are so deep that their bench can qualify into the quarters. Such is the pressure heaped upon the 'tri'...Such hubris crashlanding will be entertaining to watch in the coming weeks. It will be cathartic I tell you. schadenfreud, anyone ? I seen a Argentina-2002 type meltdown on the horizon. Surely the first head we seen rolling might be of LaVolpes', which will make the zenophobic mexicans very HAPPY !

S&M..... that's madness ! I know what you guys are up to: it's a cunning plot. Everyone's picking Argentina to see them crash out... I know it !

Eddie, it would appear their lofty positions held in FIFA's contrived 'ratings' (if there was ever an 'american' thing) have gone to the heads of Sam's Army. Third place in their group & a quick opportunity to watch better football in the stands and make daily visits to the beautiful beer gardens beckon!

R6 if Spain get into the final, I'll wire you 20 quid ! Expect more of the same from Spain.... bottlers.

Italy are coming on like gangbusters, aren't they? I pity the American side, the Italians appear to be on song these days.

I want to thank JBN and even RoverMatt (i'll even take the backhanded compliment) for their confidence in Los Gauchos--I don't see it this year. I see a pratfall in the groupstages. This is what brings me down: 1. No one can deny Pekerman's pedigree in the youth ranks & he's coached a preponderance of the current squad at those levels, but the elan and verve have disappeared as Pekerman favors a more pragmatic approach. Hey, it works for Italia, perhaps I should chill out, but I 'm nervous they haven't caught fire as a unit the way they did w/ the Crazy Bielsa. 2. The utterly shakey defence and dodgy goalkeeping situation. I could understand the England loss as all South American sides will sweat it out with the pedestrian Crouch, but coupled with the similar cockup of the Croatia friendly-- it doesn't bode well. A typical argentina defence is usually airtight, at least if you look at when they've had successful tournaments. Right now, I'd say this is as shakey as I've seen it since 1978... 3. Perhaps we could overlook the above points as the squad has players littering the best of European sides, but the injury list seems to grow as June approaches as opposed to sorting itself. Messi's pulling muscles at age 18 ?!?!?!? Tevez's ankle/knee miseries have hampered him all season. Aimar is a complete sicknote, poor kid, his luck is most miserable. Heinze has managed to come back from a hideous knee injury-- but can he be counted to cover the left back position that has no signs of support with virtually no matches under his belt ? Ayala 's also crocked, at 33 years old & never the fleetest afoot, can he still spring for the aerial ball that has been our major debility? If he can't .... I don't see anyone else doing it, maybe Coloccini ?? but his presence on the pitch scares me to the Be-Jeezus. 4. Riquelme has his good days but it only works for him if the entire side works for him... at his pace. I say his pace because if he were any slower, he'd be going backwards. The other thing i worry about is his mental 'strength', like Aimar, Roman is a great human being perhaps too sensitive and has tendencies to 'disappear' or pout --- even during the middle of matches. I am convinced that his lack of pace will kill any chance of succeeding this summer. It's easy to say it now, but we all saw Arsenal's athleticism and size completely nullify him. so, my gloom in a nutshell, albeit a large nutshell. I hope i'm off and the squad have a nice run to the Semis-- but it seems a bridge too far. Suffice to say that i'm keeping a low profile with my Brazilian mates, the bright side is we get bumped out early, I'll actually enjoy the remainder of the competition ! Cheers

Yes, I'd like to echo that sentiment: what is the criteria for drawing a match previews ? I've read many great ones here in the past few years & it's pretty daunting.

i'll second that, Spuds for me !

What are the odds England is seeking another Mgr. come next Euro?

Good site, Rog.