So England are out.

Even if you’ve only had the most cursory glance at the football over the past few weeks you’re sure to have heard about England’s defeat to Germany.

Now, most football fans I know out there have either given up or started supporting their next favourite nation. But the real question is, if you’re not half English and half something else, who is there to support as a full-blooded Englishman?

Well, if you can take the pain Germany is the natural choice, as we share quite a bit of our gene pool with them, since we’re all from the same Anglo-Saxon descent. But I have a feeling anyone watching that savage defeat isn’t quite ready to switch support from Rooney to Klose, though they both get red  cards (how could anyone ever forget Rooney’s temper?) and score goals (well, not yet for Rooney, but there’s always next world cup!)

We certainly can’t support their opposition, the Brazilians, out of anything more than a love of their skill, and ability to move the ball. The same, unfortunately is true for the Argentina team, the Netherlands and Uruguay. Paraguay have yet to prove themselves, but as brits we have no link to them.

That leaves us with Spain and Ghana. Spain are the old enemy, whom we constantly fought in the 16^th and 17^th century, and even later, thanks to Queen Liz, and Sir Francis Drake.

So Ghana is the only team we have left. Ghana might seem like a strange choice because they’re an African team, not even from Europe, and they’re members of La Francophonie, so they can’t have anything to do with us, can they?

Well, yes, actually. From the 16^th and 17^th century England has had colonies in Ghana, and it was even a protectorate of the crown between 1874 and 1957.

Michael Essien

The England camp has been subjected to much controversy lately, yet the critics seem now to have been hushed thanks to Defoe’s goal against Slovenia, giving the team the victory required for them to progress to the knock-out stages. The fear of complete failure is over for both Capello and the team, but how far will England actually progress?

Their next opponents are the much-loved Germans. The deep-rooted rivalry between the two countries promises to deliver plenty more juicy punchlines for the press. Germany are a formidable side – albeit slightly unpredictable in their results. Despite having lost their second match, they came away seemingly unaffected and got the job done against Ghana to qualify. Always a potent side in tournaments, Germany are always contenders to walk away with any competition cup, although they aren’t favourites for this year’s World Cup. There seems to be a certain flair lacking from the team: like a VW Golf, they are reliable but not particularly flamboyant.

This aforementioned lack of creativity may prove key to their undoing. They sometimes lack that spark to save themselves, which England however have demonstrated in the Slovenia match. Unfortunately, whilst they didn’t score again, they had plenty of opportunity and play certainly looked promising. There was a passion evoked from the players after the goal and one would hope that the momentum of such a victory will give them the enthusiasm and drive to continue in a similar fashion. After all, a little inspiration can go a long way, especially against a team such as Germany, who appear to just drill out results.

However, that strong, German reputation of getting results could intimidate the England squad. They may be unwilling to take risks and chances on the assumption that Germany will still conquer them, which is a key danger. We have previously seen Capello’s apprehension for change which ultimately led to the draw with Algeria. Will he stick with Defoe or revert back to Heskey? Hopefully not the latter as we have seen how ineffective it is in comparison with the former. Although you lose the height by picking Defoe, you gain pace and a real desire to dodge in and out of defenders. Germany’s defenders did show weaknesses in their performance against Ghana with blunders which Defoe could certainly exploit. UPDATE : Defoe will be in the side.

England have the added advantage of crucial German injuries to the likes of Schweinsteiger, Ozil and Boateng, which could lift England’s chances and has already rattled German coach Joachim Low. What is certain is that he is not taking England lightly, despite their inconsistency and has stated that he believes that England will be ‘incredibly dangerous’ due to the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney, although the latter has not found that infamous goal-scoring run which makes him one of the most feared strikers in football.

Sunday’s match promises to be one of real excitement due to the unpredictability of both teams entering the tie. I wouldn’t like to give a definitive verdict on who I believe will win, but England do look like they have a real chance, especially if they live off the momentum and take advantage of Wednesday’s victory. Although we probably wouldn’t like to see it, this match could potentially go into penalties as it seems that there is little to separate the sides, although England may well have the upper hand as they have proven that they have finally settled into the swing of the World Cup.

by Jaz Sansoye

An unpopular view perhaps? But then, I’ve been incensed by England lately, and there have been three real reasons.

Number one is the Rooney incident. If you haven’t already heard, Rooney threw a cursory comment at a media crew, saying “Nice to hear your own fans booing you,” sarcastically. This man is paid £150,000 a week, and yet somehow, he still has the audacity to blame the crowd for their reaction to his appalling performance. 14 top-flight players, all on dazzling salaries, and heralded as some of the greatest players in the world, still failed to play well. Some call it confidence, but then for that to be a factor would assume that these men ought to be affected by confidence. As title-winners and cup winners in the Premier League, they have absolutely no right to be, because they are expected to be skilled and paid to play professionally.

There can be no excuses for such an appalling level of football. Each of these players should be able to perform on their own if necessary, and so no amount of un-preparedness should hinder them greatly. Fabio Capello’s methods have worked elsewhere despite a team not knowing their goalkeeper until just before the match. As much criticism as he may deserve, each of the footballers had to fail as a player to produce that result, not just the manager or the coach.

And then, remember what the beautiful game is all about. In England, we have a history of supporting the underdogs, and also a history as the founders of football. We were innovators, introducing wing play, or Etonian field game tactics in the 1880s, and also, crucially, the men who spread the game and determined the rules at the very start. Whilst we have never been Brazil or Italy, with their fluid style of football, neither have we ever been the stilted goalless side that we have become in recent years.

Who should triumph then is up to the players on the pitch, players who are supposed to be proud to play for their country and yet time after time, when it is necessary, fail to deliver the goods.

This is obviously an extreme point of view, and if you don’t agree that’s fair enough, and tell us so by commenting below.

UPDATE : I suppose, in the end, I’m glad England got through, but only seeing as they’ve upped their game. Good luck to the lads for the game against Germany now!

By all accounts the World Cup so far has been poor. We’ve seen the rise of the Asian teams, including a heroic display from Korea DPR against Brazil, unfortunately finishing the game as a 2-1 loss, a magnificent triumph by Japan over Cameroon, despite being heralded by the entire African continent as an overwhelming sense of patriotism for their continent sweeps over Africa. Then yesterday, in what can only be seen as a tragic result, South Africa slumped to a 3-0 loss against Uruguay. It would take a miracle for South Africa to qualify now, but then, this World Cup is already a miracle we’re told.

Apart from the ball, that is, which everyone warns is a nightmare for goalkeepers, and yet has somehow lead to 7 less than the lowest number of goals in this first round of games ever.

And then, of course, there are the Vuvuzelas. By all accounts a traditional symbol of South African football, which is said to have begun in the 1890s (the football, not the Vuvuzelas!), and which have now spread so fast as to have necessitated a ban from Wimbledon. Desmond Tutu, Archbishop, said this in response “For those of you saying you don’t like the vuvuzelas… You have come to South Africa, and you will enjoy EVERYTHING South African. Everything!!” But nevertheless, the largely negative commentary at the start of this world cup seems to have settled on the opposing viewpoint.

And, as always England seem to be performing abysmally. Despite being picked in an easy group, England lowered themselves to a 1-1 draw against the USA, and yet again England fell foul of victory because of a goal-keeping error. So what, I ask, is the solution, the ultimate revenge to an England squad that fails to include some of our best talent – Walcott the shock exclusion, and a premier league full of foreigners.

Actually the answer is simple. A Stoke Season ticket. With a squad largely comprised of Englishmen and a smattering of others, reliable mid-table finishes (12th and then 11th in recent years), full capacity crowds in their stadium week in, week out, nothing epitomises British football more than Stoke City. They even have their fair share of heroes, including Sir Stanley Matthews, whose ashes are buried in the centre circle of the pitch. Just like every other British club they have their own derby, nicknamed the Potteries derby, however it’s unlikely that they’ll ever play against each other again, amusingly, as Port Vale are in the Second League, and Stoke the premiership.

If that’s not enough, quality food is also on offer at Delilah’s Bar, which even serves great pies, thanks to the sponsorship of Wrights Pies!

Are you already a fan of Stoke, or have you just been enjoying the World Cup? Comment below and let us know!

Links :

Why Delilah? : Stoke City Fan Site
Stoke City on the BBC

The Caribbean has to be the place to hold the international twenty twenty doesn’t it? This year it failed to disappoint. Having radically over charged in 2007 for the ODI world cup, it dropped its prices this year, bringing in atmosphere and crowds. It worked; over two hundred and fifty sixes were hit, and over five hundred fours. That is entertainment.

So, everyone knows now England won the international twenty twenty world cup, relieving over thirty five years of one day cricket agony. A truly momentous moment in English cricket it both signifies the effect of coach Andy Flower, and the teams general improvement in particular Pietersen shone, showing he had a layer of veiled sensibility, Kieswetter proved he is the new keeper-batsman and Eoin Morgan dazzled with the bat to get us through the group stages, redefining inventiveness.

English cricket has come of age over the last year. A win in South Africa, the ashes, and now this, I think there is a clear progression, which, has taken it’s time. I won’t deny the fact it has been a long, tedious road, and some still believe we are on that road. The true test of course comes at the end of the year, and if England were to win in Australia, the confidence boost of the last year, would I’m sure have been extremely important.

An unspoken, but in my mind crucial input to the team is off-spinner Graeme Swann. His figures, up there with the most economical of the tournament stand out to me as a real progression. Ashley Giles, was fine, Monty a bit better, but Swann is versatile, clever, and above all a wicket taker, deceiving Michael Clarke in the final and finishing with the figures of 4-0-17-1.

England now are a force to be reckoned with, a real unit. Bring on the Ashes!

by George Varley

A hundred and thirty-one years ago today, the British suffered their worst defeat by a native force at Islandlwana, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. When a 20,000 men strong force of Zulu warriors attacked the camp of 2,000 British soldiers, one of the most bloody and vicious battles of the Anglo-Zulu War kicked off. Even though the British were armed with Marti-Henry breech-loading rifles and the Zulu’s with only spears and shields made from cowhide, the huge number of the Zulu force was too overwelming for the British army.

The Zulu force attacked in their famous “Bull-and-horn” formation, having two forces coming in from the side, while a much larger force attacked from the back, effectively creating a bull’s head and its two horns. After a bloody battle that lasted hours, about 1,000 Zulu warriors were killed and 2,000 wounded, while 1,329 British soldier lost their lives.

The battle of Isandlwana shaped the outcome of the Anglo-Zulu War and actually led to the downfall of the Zulu force, since it forced the British to adopt a more agressive stance.

“The most emphatic victory I have ever played in.” The words of proud captain Andrew Strauss after leading his lions to victory in the 2nd test match in Durban.

Swann had been in fighting form in South Africa.

The match provides the possibility of a much needed consecutive series victory in the follow up to the 2009 ashes. The team will have left behind memories of all night benders and pissing in the Prime Minister’s garden that were major contributing factors in test series losses in India and the sub-continent. After a more muted clebration this time around, thoughts of Andrew Flintoff were banished as Stuart Broad and most notably Graeme Swann have stepped up to the plate and delivered fine performances. Interestingly Swann becomes the first English spinner to take 50 (54 exactly) in a calender year – not bad for a player who started his main test match career at 29.

As in football, teams are most vulnerable after scoring a goal when the adrenaline is pumping, and the same dynamic applies in cricket. Strauss must lead his men and carry on the momentum to Cape Town on the 3rd January. If England are to reach the summit of world cricket as coach Andy Flower hopes, the climbing starts here.

The Ivory coast (or Côte d’Ivoire) have something that no European team will never have. While Ireland argue with France and Spain tussle with Portugal, the whole of Africa are gathering to get behind their best team.

As the African Cup of Nations come around once again, we are reminded of the miriad of talent that comes from that continent. Almost every premiership team will have to struggle on without a key player with Chelsea and Portsmouth (God help them) the worst hit.

Who are my bet? Ivory Coast of course. With a back three that includes Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Abdoulaye Meite, they are solid as any premiership team. Midfielders featuring Didier Zokora, Yaya Toure of Barcelona and Salomon Kalou. They’re spearheaded by the infallible and “world’s best striker” Didier Drogba.

I am backing them to safely navigate their way past the group of death. It includes a Portugal team that stumbled through qualification and are ripe for the picking. However they are mistakenly dubbed as underdogs, there is certainly one Drog who will be reluctant to take this title on.