Thuggish behaviour indeed.

Here's a cloth mate, wipe that egg off your face

Thanks, very dissapointing behaviour from a player I have always had a great respect for

I guess we will just have to learn to live with headbutts, spitting, stomping and diving as part of the game from now on

Eddie, I forgot to add Pires and Guily wouldn't play for France because of the manager so there is precedent for players not to play

Bryan, I don't feel public criticism is professional coming from players or managers. Comments on outgoing coaches by players is even more distasteful, especially when it is the players themselves which must wear some blame.

My comments about managers being fans relates to above where it is said players have a right to speak out because they are fans. I noted the absolute pillocking that SGE would have recieved had he come out said how dissapointing the players were. Of course the coaches are fans too so is it right for them to make such comments? IMO, No.

I commend Owen for making his thoughts known BUT instead of waiting until the maanger is on his way out and having a shot why not take the stand before the WC? If you are going to stand up and be counted, why wait until the vote has already run?

I thought that was Rebecca Loos

(PS I'd forgotten her name so I typed Beckham's mistress into Google- there probably needs to be an allegedly in there somewhere)

I think the correct term is 'alternative wife' Phillip

By all accounts Germany have been fantastic hosts but on the field I have no hesitation in saying it has been the

WORST WORLD CUP EVER.

Jim, you've seen a few of these now, how would you improve the format?

Other then making sure Australia never qualified of course

Owen did criticise himself and his team-mates - but in a typically understated way.

He said something about how many of the England players don't replicate their club form for their country and he included himself in that (more for diplomatic reasons than anything else).

But I think he blamed Sven for that mate

EDIT: Yes he did

Owen further put the boot in on Eriksson by hinting he was the reason the country's top players are not able to take their club form into the international arena. "There are too many players - myself included - who do not play as well for England as we do at club level," the Newcastle striker said.

Well put it this way, it never ends in smiles and handshakes whichever direction the public criticism comes from

How can Maclaren go into his coaching role with the possibility of players not respecting him or wanting to play for him?

SGE is on his way out, why does Owen have to say anything now? He is blaming SGE for Englands downfall. Of course he has a massive responsibility but why does Owen not come out and blast his teamates for missing penalty after penalty?

To me it looks like a cheapshot on an outgoing manager in an attempt to once again shift 100% responsibility.

Are his thoughts on the mark about the tactics, yeh probably, does it really matter, not really, should he be a professional about it, absolutely.

Oh the threads that would be written if Sven comes out now and critisises the team performance in the penlty shooutout.

Managers are fans too.

Therein lies the 'problem'. It's the level of aggression, the desperation to compete and for those to work as hard around him that lifts the rest of the squad. All of the so-called 'pundits' commented on the increase on workrate when he entered the fray, and how dissapointed he was to have been substituted. Rooney later admitted he shouldn't have been throwing his boots around the place, but was frustrated at the lack of effort from the team.

OK so he's a rough diamond, but in that tussle with Portugese poofters he could have gone down at least three times, but tried to stay on his feet. Contrast that with the game last night, more gay diving.

My point exactly, Beckham is a perfect example to Rooney how he should act on the feild. Generally composed, hard working with individual brilliant play (well not as much anymore but you get the drift)

It will come with maturity, as I hope Ronaldo's theatrics temper with age as well and hopefully a good mentor.

Rooney and Ronaldo will continue to carry on the way they do until they get someone senior to scruff their ears a bit adn show them thr right way to be a professional.

I dont think we will see them top flight for a few years at best.

I have a tear in happiness at that statement

Scouse, don't you wish he would get that out of his game?

I would be more then happy to see Rooney for the talent instead the swearing abusive young man he insists on portraying

Why did he bother editing, I encourage honesty, however misguided

You really are an arsehole.

jim, that hurts coming from you.

You are kidding arent you. One of the most talented youngsters around? Course he is neekoy.

And wanted by Madrid? We'll see wont we.....

No of course you are right mate, he is crap. All those plaudits he gets are just from friends and family

No player would ever do that.

Well no PROFESSIONAL should ever come and and say what he did

Managers however bad they are, should at least get some respect.

When SGE got stitched up by new of the world he was quite rightfully criticised the same should go for Owen

rather have a rooney with passion and a caring to win than a faggot who rolls over and tries to get other players sent off every minute of his gay crying self pompus up his own arse time spent on the pitch ...hes a complete tool.

I want both of them smarten up so we can just have a game of football

What?? Who posted first in this thread Abs? Australia crying was a high for you mate?

You get as good as you give Abs.

EDIT: After your edit

I don't have a go at them every opportunity, I find it funny that there are some who cannot just not admit they weren't good enough.

It has to Ronaldo's fault, it has to be Svens fault, it has to the media's fault, the stars weren't aligned, the referee's were @#/?, lady luck is a saturday night burnly slag

England were a dissapointment for me, I thought they were a real potential winner but they failed, I watch these guys week in week out and they continue to talk themselves up as being part of the best league in the world, the best teams and that they are the best players.

Well show it!! The Italians have failed for so long because they held the same deluded thoughts, it was never their fault, they had the best players ect ect.

Is it too much to expect a team always talking of winning the big tournaments to actually expect a result or two?

Eddie, direct retaliation for Abs post above.

I didn't say Ribery was the finished product yet but another 12 months and he will be awesome.

You can see how much he has grown throughout the tournament already. His first game I was wondering what all the fuss was about but he has got better and better as we have gone along. I think A main reason behind France getting better.

Vista Fish Babel or whatver it is called

its not going far enough...DONT FORGET HOW HE DIVED IN THE FISRT FEW MINUTES AGAINST US V MANS AT EWOOD AND DIVED ABOUT ALL THE REMAINDER...HES A SCUMBAG DONT YA KNOW.

So that justifies muruls (sp?) of Rooney holding his severed head?

He is not the only player to have dived against us Abs, he is not only player to have dived against England and he certainly won't be the last for either.

Stuwilky, he is one of the most talented young footballers around, it goes to show that being a intrical part of a club like Utd and being wanted by the likes of Madrid that it is a fact.

I hope he gets the diving out of his game as I hope Rooney learns to stop being a loudmouthed scumbag thug on the feild. Heaps of talent being misplaced because of what I would consider bad advice from more senior members.

I know a bit premature but the Observer only publishes on Sundays- I liked this:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup200...1816453,00.html

I don't know why but this World Cup has left me remarkably unmoved. No highs, no lows, no surprises, no disappointments, no anger. It was better than OK- just.

Great tournament, there were some crap games that I fell asleep for, but that's what I get for watching England.

Highs, the rejuvenation of some old dogs in Figo, Zidane showing youngsters like Rooney and C Ronaldo how the game should be played. The emergence of some very exciting players, Lahm, Ribery, Robinho and most of the Ivory Coast squad. Italy finally showing some gusto on the world stage, particulary Totti. Rooney getting sent off (just for you Abs)

Lows, diving and refereeing

Suprises, Australia and Ghana making in out of the group stages, Germany and Italy playing exciting attacking football, Brazil and Argentina faltering, Czech republic and Spain going out as early as they did

Dissapointments, Ronaldinho

Anger, C Ronaldo bashing when it England have no one to blame but themselves for yet ANOTHER poor performance

Pig riser

Does anyone think this is going to far?

He is a very talented young man who will one day win the world player of the year, he is getting some very bad advice of someone and I for one hope it changes so we can appreciate his talent.

That would be disgusting if those clubs are given an amnesty.

The players have a choice in the matter, they will not play in lower divisions they will move on elsewhere, and that is the price the clubs ahve to play for the worst sporting offence that can be committed.

All this scapegoating must get tired after a while

To me Owen sounds like his heart wasn't in it from the start, if he didn't believe in the Manager so strongly then he should have rejected going to the WC as part of his now soapbox stand.

Git

I hate ronaldo!

That is a disgusting image, and I don't normally get offended very easily

For a footballing preview, this one by David Pleat in the Guardian this morning is the best I have read although I disagree with some of his player rating numbers:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/...1815722,00.html

I don't agree, he is asking for France to play on the counter attack and try to soak up the Italian offense, if they race to put quick pressure on the Italians, they will get torn apart by the passing game.

I think they need to be more positive and go at the Italians and particulary on the flanks to Zambrotta and Grosso, definately the defensive weak links in the Italian team.

But hey, the closest I have been to a Premiership side is on Champman so what the hell would I know.