Carsmile Steve

Pop World Cup 2010: Group E – Cameroon 1 Netherlands 0

With Ian F’s Netherlands already safely through as group winners this is little more than a run out to keep their eye in, maybe let some of the fringe players have a go. It means a lot more for Weston’s Cameroon who can confirm their place in the last 16 with a victory here, and cement his reputation.

(There appears to be some sort of dog on the pitch in the other match in this group, hopefully this won’t delay the start by too much, we’ll bring you full coverage as soon as it kicks off…)

Voting on this poll closes at midnight on Sunday 18th April more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 16 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group A – France 1 South Africa 1

Real Actual Crunch Time here, in the first real decider of the tournament. South Africa only need a point to be sure of qualification but France are in a mathematical nightmare. They could win and still go out, or lose and go through, depending on what exactly happens in the other match, every percentage point and vote will be absolutely vital, even South Africa aren’t through yet! Due to the incredibly high standard of play across the competition this is something we’re going to have to get used to over the next fortnight, and I can’t help thinking there may be some tactical voting from the managers and their supporters…

This match closes at midnight on Sunday 11th April more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 30 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group A – Mexico 2 Uruguay 2

Here we go then, this is where it all gets hectic, and the calculators come out to decide who goes through to the round of 16 and who gets sent home. We’ll be doing TWO matches per day, so that, as in the football based world cup, the groups finish at the same time. First up it’s Group A, with both Mexico and Uruguay dependent on the other game’s result, and the Mexicans in particular needing a stonking win to advance, we should be in for a rollicking tie.

This match will close at midnight on Sunday 11th April more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 47 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group E – Cameroon 1 Denmark 1

A must-win match for Denmark here, although given the popularity of all of the African teams so far, they may be facing an uphill battle against a Cameroon side looking to enhance their chances of getting through to the later stages.

Voting on this match finishes at midnight on the 29th March. more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 22 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group E – Netherlands 2 Japan 0

Crossing the mid-point of the second group round, if the Netherlands can get a win here a place in the last sixteen is within their grasp whilst Japan will hoping to build on their first game to push it just that little further to secure all three points.

Voting on this match finishes at midnight on the 28th March. more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 27 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group D – Germany 1 Serbia 0

Sorry about the slight problem there, but here’s the fourth match in Group D, which sees Germany trying to end plucky Serbia‘s PWC dreams and send them home. But will it be that straightforward?

Voting in this match closes at midnight on 25th March more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 25 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group D – Ghana 4 Australia 3

(due to technical issues we’re swapping the two group d games round, Germany vs Serbia tomorrow hopefully)

And welcome back to Group D where the current leaders Ghana take on Australia, who’ll be looking for their first win to help them out of the group. A real contrast of styles here today…

Voting on this match finishes at midnight on the 24th March. more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 24 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group A – France 4 Mexico 2

Well this is going to be a titanic struggle, if either France or Mexico lose this one they’re on the first flight to face the brickbats (and possibly bricks) of the fans back home. Tom and Alex will both be hoping it’s not their head the press are calling for…

Voting for this match ends at midnight on 15 March.

more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 23 Comments

Pop World Cup 2010: Group A – South Africa 3 – Uruguay 1

Hello there, due to Tom’s ridiculously busy life and burgeoning media profile (you’ve all read Shiny Shiny, right?), Tim and I will be taking over putting the PWC tracks up for the next few weeks.

We start the second round of matches with a scrap for group supremacy between South Africa and Uruguay. A win for either team here would almost guarantee them a place in the last sixteen, so Isabel and Jim will no doubt have been sweating over their seleção…

This match will end at midnight on March 14th* – for now, get voting.

*oops, gave you 8 days originally, will close on sunday night now more »

CarsmileSteve in FT • 21 Comments

Why Capello really dropped John Terry

Of the thousands and thousands of words that have been written about The John Terry Situation this week, Louise Taylor’s ridiculously florid piece in the guardian on Wednesday which starts:

Fabio Capello’s still somewhat limited English vocabulary may not yet incorporate the term “invidious position”

must have been the turning point where Fabio decided that he had to go. Not because of Ms Taylor herself, but, I think, because of the following piece of genius from Freaky Trigger’s very own Patron Saint of Sport, Lord Harry of Bassett:

Dave Bassett endorsed [Glenn] Roeder’s view that a Rubicon has been crossed. “The problem is John Terry’s a wrong-un. He’s masquerading as one of the chaps but he ain’t because this shouldn’t happen,” the former Wimbledon and Sheffield United manager said. “Of course you have players misbehaving when they’re married. But they aren’t doing it to a team-mate’s missus. That’s off bounds.

“It sticks in the throat. There’s an unwritten rule that you don’t start messing with players’ missuses. I’ve had players who have left their missus or had bits and pieces on the side but they’ve not gone off with a team-mate’s bird. That’s crossing a line and where it comes unstuck with Terry. I don’t recollect it in all my years in football.

Gawd Bless yer Harry!

CarsmileSteve in FT /TMFD • 2 Comments