5 июня 2010
С первого удара по мячу на Чемпионате Мира и до сегодняшнего дня, мы следим за каждой сборной, участвующей в турнире. Не только для того, чтобы посмотреть, какая у них красивая форма, но еще и выяснить, кто же эти люди на самом деле. Встречайте — Аргентина!
Описание команды
Аргентина получили право выступить на 14 чемпионатах мира, и выиграли два — первый в 1978 году, а затем в 1986 году. Многие помнят два гола Марадоны Англии в 1986 году: один, где он поразил планету с ослепительным дриблингом, а другой, где он обманул судью, толкнув мяч кулаком в ворота. Несмотря на широкий спектр талантов, они заняли лишь четвертое место в рейтинге команд-участников отборочного тура Читать запись полностью »
5 июня 2010
And so now to the second of The Spoiler’s World Cup profiles. Brazil — famous for being brilliant at football, great at throwing parties that involve women in bikinis dancing around in the street, and not bad at winning major tournaments. But, beaneath it all, who ARE these beautiful people? Read on to find out…
Form Guide
If the World Cup were to consist of some kind of football monarchy, then Brazil would be king. They’ve been to all of them, and they’ve won five (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), making them the most successful team in the competition’s history. They qualified as the best from South America, although they are featured alongside Portugal and the Ivory Coast in the terrifying Group of Death. Their odds to win are around 5/1 on Betfair. Читать запись полностью »
5 июня 2010
The World Cup profiles continue, and today The Spoiler is looking at the French. Only a small strip of water separates the nations, and yet, culturally, they seem to be gazillions of miles away. Who ARE these people? Read on to find out…
Form Guide
This will be France’s fourth World Cup on the trot, which is a French record — something which will no doubt stick somewhat in the Irish craw. They won the thing in 1998, they were runners-up last time around, but a fairly terrible qualifying campaign, completed by the Thierry Henry handball, has transformed them into tournament outsiders. An intriguing bet, at around 19/1 on Betfair. Читать запись полностью »
5 июня 2010
Today finds Italy under the spotlight. They were winners last time, they have an average age of about 40, and they take football strategy really seriously. But, underneath it all, who ARE these people? Read on to find out…
Form Guide
Only Brazil have a better World Cup record. Italy have won the tournament four times — in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006 — and, yes, they’re the current holders, thanks to some great penalties, and an astonishing headbutt from Zidane. They were unbeaten in their recent qualifiers, and if you fancy them, their odds to win the thing are around 15/1 on Betfair. Читать запись полностью »
5 июня 2010
Familiar ground now — the England team. They always promise so much, then deliver something frustrating. Can they go all the way this year? And, more importantly, who ARE these people? Read on to find out…
Form Guide
Well, the famous 30 years of hurt is now more like 44. England won the tournament in 1966, made the semi final in 1990, but have managed pretty much sod all in between and since. That said, they have looked pretty solid under Capello, and enjoyed a relatively painless qualification process. Hence, the third favourites behind Spain and Brazil, with odds to win at around 7/1 on Betfair. Читать запись полностью »
5 июня 2010
Today, it’s the turn of the Dutch side. Also known as Holland, also known as The Netherlands. Like the rapper, Puff Daddy, no one is ever entirely sure how to address them. The Spoiler likes Holland best. Anyway, who the hell are these people, and what do they want? Read on to find out…
Form Guide
Like Spain, Holland enjoyed a magnificent qualifying round, as they coasted through eight victories, making them one of the form-teams in the world at the moment. They haven’t yet managed to make it count on the world stage, but those of a certain age will bore you to death with their tales of the magnificent 1974 team, who took football to new levels — commonly known as “total football”. Their odds of winning the whole thing are around 12/1 on Betfair. Читать запись полностью »
5 июня 2010
And so to the wonderful Germans — famed for getting all of the best sun loungers, and making England fans cry in 1990. But who ARE these strange and intriguing people? Read on to find out…
Form Guide
The Germans could be the ones to watch, having breezed through the group stages undefeated. They also have a particularly strong World Cup record, having won the thing three times (1954, 1974, 1990), and made it all the way to the final on a further four occasions (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002). Some might remember 1990 as the year that they unkindly tore beating hearts from their chests, and trampled on them in a cruel penalty shoot out. They have odds to win of around 15/1 on Betfair. Читать запись полностью »
