England World Cup Blog 2010

Watch out for Novakovič

England World Cup Blog

Written by Kris Mole Monday, 07 June 2010 16:26

I know I've said it time and time again, and I'm pretty sure I'm boring you all by now, but I want to reiterate my belief that Group C will be far from a stroll in the park for England and America (most people's favourites for an easy 1-2 finish in the group).

Slovenia are a much better side than I think a lot of people are giving them credit for, and on top of being a quality team, they also have a top-class player in the form of Milivoje Novakovič, who is coming into the tournament in great form. 

Read more: Watch out for Novakovič

England World Cup Songs - No 7 - England's Heartbeat - Shuttleworth Featuring Mark E Smith

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Monday, 07 June 2010 12:40

Next up in our list of the top #10 World Cup tunes is an oddly compelling track from the Manchester-based singer Mark E. Smith in colloboration with a former The Fall guitarist Ed Blarney and songwriter Jenny Shuttleworth.

Read more: England World Cup Songs - No 7 - England's Heartbeat - Shuttleworth Featuring Mark E Smith

England players - stop the talking!

England World Cup Blog

Written by Kris Mole Monday, 07 June 2010 10:15

Spurs and England striker and former robot Peter Crouch reckons Wayne Rooney can inspire England to lift the World Cup and also become the best player on the planet in the process.

He's also been talking the usual rubbish that sends me over the wall with rage.

Read more: England players - stop the talking!

England's Soccer Aid loss amuses Scottish Tweet community

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 21:02

Being in Berlin, I missed the Socceraid game but followed it on Twitter and no surprise, the Scots were very happy to see England lose on penalties.

I'm not naive and I do understand why the Scottish people don't want to follow England due to the inherent media bias. However, I was still amused at some of the vitriol as well as some funny tweets.

Soccer Aid (socceraid) was a charity game betwwen some English ex-players and celebrities against a Rest of the World XI to raise money for unesco. The star of the show was the goalkeeper for England Jamie Theakston.

Read more: England's Soccer Aid loss amuses Scottish Tweet community

Michael Dawson

England Player Profiles

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 18:56

Michael Richard Dawson was born In Northallerton, England on November 18th, 1983, and is the only player in the current England squad who hasn’t yet gained a senior cap. That is not to say that he has not played for his country and he was a key member of the U-21 set up playing 13 games at that level.

Read more: Michael Dawson

Yoann Gourcuff - Players to star in 2010

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 18:42

Yoann Gourcuff was born in Ploemeur, France on the 11th July, 1986, and stands at the crossroads of his career in football having underachieved so far.

Read more: Yoann Gourcuff - Players to star in 2010

How can England get the best out of Rooney?

England World Cup Blog

Written by James Beckett Sunday, 06 June 2010 18:28

While the recent news has been dominated by the injury to Rio Ferdinand, England's star player Wayne Rooney has been surprisingly anonymous in the news in the last few weeks. However with England's opening game against the USA just six days away, expect Rooney to dominate the headlines again.

Read more: How can England get the best out of Rooney?

Samir Handanovic - Players to star in 2010

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 17:37

Samir Handanovic is a player that few will have heard of before the World Cup but plenty may be talking about after. Born in what was formerly Yugolslavia in Ljublijan on July 1th 1984 this goalkeeper will stand between England and possible group victory.

Slovenia’s No 1 played a massive part in getting his team to this stage; beating out a great Yuri Zhirkov volley in the play off’s against Russia, to ensure the clean sheet away from home that dumped Guus Hiddink’s side out.

Handanovic currently plays his club football for Udinese in Italy and has over 100 appearances for them having replaced Morgan De Sanctis, and has had another great season earning plaudits for his quality between the sticks. At 6ft 4 he is no giant but he fills the goal impressively and is very althletic. At only 25 years of age he is still relatively young as far as keepers are concerned and the fact that there is probably a little more to come in terms of experience. He is likely to be ear-marked at some stage for one of the bigger clubs having already been linked to some footballing “royalty.”

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek is perhaps a little bit bolder than most in his summing up of the player as the “best keeper in the World,” but if he is not then perhaps only Gianluigi Buffon might be better.

Gianluigi Buffon - Players to star in 2010

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 17:11

Gianluigi Buffon is the most famous son from Carrara in Tuscany and was born on the 28th January 1978.

Bufffon comes from a family of athletes: his father is a weight-lifter, his mother a discus thrower but most notably in his blood line is his uncle Lorenzo Buffon. Lorenzo was first choice keeper at Milan for almost 10 years and also played 15 times for his country, Italy.

Read more: Gianluigi Buffon - Players to star in 2010

England World Cup Songs - No 8 - Shout by Dizzee Rascal & James Corden

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 13:15

Although ruined by the rap, James Corden aka Smithy and Dizzee Rascal have produced a decent World Cup song with their rendition of Shout as can be viewed on our big screen video below.

Read more: England World Cup Songs - No 8 - Shout by Dizzee Rascal & James Corden

Marek Hamsik - Players to star in South Africa

England World Cup Blog

Written by James Beckett Saturday, 05 June 2010 23:30

Slovakia are one of several teams that will see qualification from their group as a very successful tournament, but if they are to qualify from Group F, Slovakia will need there star man Marek Hamsik to be on top form in South Africa.

Read more: Marek Hamsik - Players to star in South Africa

England World Cup Songs - No 9 - Go Out On Penalties Again - Mitch Benn

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Saturday, 05 June 2010 16:04

There nothing wrong with a bit of self deprecation, so that's why we like the new World Cup song by the excellent comedy/singer Mitch Benn called 'Go Out On Penalties Again.'

Read more: England World Cup Songs - No 9 - Go Out On Penalties Again - Mitch Benn

Unlucky Drogba misses World Cup - Video

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Friday, 04 June 2010 14:45

Players sustaining injuries is always hard to watch but when it is Didier Drogba there has to be a slight amusement considering the lengths he has gone to cheat referees throughout his career by feigning injuries.  Drogba here breaks his arm in a friendly against Japan.

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Ivory Coast betting odds unaffected by Drogba injury

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Friday, 04 June 2010 13:36

When a World Cup team loses its star player, like Ivory Coast have in Didier Drogba, one might expect their betting odds to take a walk in the market. However the markets have been relatively unaffected by the staggering elbow injury suffered by the Ivory Coast star.

Read more: Ivory Coast betting odds unaffected by Drogba injury

England World Cup Songs - No 10 - The Glory Boys by Vedant

England World Cup Blog

Written by Dave Allan Friday, 04 June 2010 13:09

As the countdown to the World Cup continues we bring you our unofficial A2bworldcup Top Ten of England World Cup songs beginning with Number #10 The Glory Boys by Vedant.

Arguably spoilt by some dubious lyrics (is it still called the Jules Rimet Trophy? And is the trophy ever referred to as a 'her' ), it still managed to lift the hairs on ones neck briefly if not totally onto ones collar. There's a bit of brass in there for good measure and will be a favourite of anyone who enjoys songs sung in the style of an Irish rebel song. I like it!

Read more: England World Cup Songs - No 10 - The Glory Boys by Vedant