16 March 2010
Pop World Cup 2010: Group C – England 2 Algeria 1
The first round in Group C left pop-soccer heavyweights England disappointed by a loss and in need of a good result in round 2. Conversely, Algeria won their opening game and are looking to press on to qualification. It’s an unexpectedly big match and the managers will have been thinking carefully about tactics. Won’t they?
Voting for this match ends at midnight on 22 March
ENGLAND: Sukshinder Shinda – “Wanga Chanke Ke” The Manager Says: “After the last match, the team regrouped over cups and tea and lengthy discussions about their fanbase, cultural identity and which is the best kind of biscuit. The end result was a team newly motivated, with this boshing, fun Bhangra track. The team are now focussed on keeping the spirit of the game alive and hope to see fans dancing in the stands.
Length: 4:25 Played: 383 
ALGERIA: Rachid Taha – “Jungle Fiction” The manager says: “Well, Brian, after the confidence we gained through SMASHING the mighty Slovenia 2-1 in our first game, we might easily have rested on our laurels. Instead I have brought in new striker Rachid Taha, and deployed an entirely novel and unexpected formation, with a jungle backline because we needed a bit of English steel at the back, a swirling Algerian midfield and an attacking ‘surf guitar’ system coached by American Dick Dale, with some Morricone-style spaghetti western horns for some added Spanish flair. I think it’s a combination any nation would find hard to stop, and we are optimistic about getting a result in this match against one of the undoubted giants of the world pop game. We know they are desperate for a win after losing to the US in their first game, but we are ready to spring some surprises. (I realize that spaghetti western = Spanish might sound odd to some, but the great Leone ones were filmed in Spain, of course.)”
Length: 4:04 Played: 294
Commentary Box Analysis: “The commentary box is all a-flutter, and not just because “Wanga Chanka Ke”is the classic commentators nightmare. Many observers will be looking a little embarrassed today as this morning’s previews turn out to be way off the mark. This may be a complex game of second-guessing as neither side plays the tactics traditionally associated with their national sides. But who cares when the game is this good: high-tempo, high impact, high quality. We’ll be amazed if the game ends with 22 players on the pitch.”
Group C Match 4: which track did you prefer?
- Sukshinder Shindra - "Wanga Chanke Ke" (England) (63%, 33 Votes)
- Rachid Taha - "Jungle Fiction" (Algeria) (37%, 19 Votes)
Total Voters: 52
Poll closes: 22 March 2010 @ 11:59 pm
Loading ...Result! Group A: France 4 Mexico 2: A hugely enjoyable and high-scoring game. It was looking close through the first half but France stretched away in the second, and in the end the result was clear. “This is possibly my game of the tournament so far” “Easy win for France here I’d say – their lightness is a virtue, Mexico just feel lightweight.” “Mexico song is fab! This is why 70s pop trounces all other decades for pop, people.” “The French play a vulnerable, open game, but make no mistakes, their deceptively slow and subtle shifts keeping the Mexicans off-balance.” “What a match! Both sides fighting hard for survival. Really hard to choose between these two, both would beat 90% of what we’ve had so far.”
Coming up: Time for the second round of matches in Group D, starting with a match-up between two teams looking to kick-start their tournaments after a losing start: Germany take on Serbia. Both teams should be stretching themselves for success – it should be a good ‘un.
Tim in FT • pwc10/pwc10 group C • 621 views
A high paced match from the start – and all the more remarkable given England’s creaky performance in the first bout. This time the England manager has wisely left the grizzled veterans on the bench and encouraged the youngsters to spice things up with some tricky (sub)-continental moves. Although the team is still finding it’s feet their assertive frontman is playing with enough passion to pierce the Algerian defence. The North Africans are trying too hard and their confused mixture of styles and subdued frontline make them vulnerable. England to win by a single goal.
I’m definitely going for real, down-to-earth ENGLISH lads here. There’s nothing for those fancy, wine-bar-drinking Algerians here!
The British press have been on Bec’s back non stop since the disastrous USA match, but that tabloid photoshop of the manager’s face on a Joe Cocker Spaniel seems to have had a galvanising effect in the English dressing room – this is one of the best performances I’ve seen from them at a national level. The commitment’s still there but at last we’ve got technique to match it and I can’t see that back line letting many through.
But to win they’ll have to nick the ball off a supremely confident – some might say flashy – Algerian side. Sure their striker may be anonymous but there’s an embarrassment of passing riches on display in the midfield and most of these instrumentalists know where the goal is.
Not sure which way I’m going to vote. Massively cheered by the England comeback, but the Algerians might have the edge here. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a high-scoring draw.
Rachid Taha anonymous? I’ll have to listen to the track, but really?
“having a quiet game” might have been more accurate – the focus is very much on the instrumentation in this track I’d say.
This is turning into the group of It-Depends-Which-Team-Turn-Up. Still, what a turnaround from England! After their laboured performance in the first match many had expected them to be heading home with their tails between their legs, but I don’t think anyone saw this coming.
This England side’s combination of a rock-solid back line with plenty of flair and movement in midfield and upfront should be easily enough to outplay an Algerian side that is looking, dare I say it, a bit complacent. The combination of surf guitar and jungle beats should be a winning formula but the Pulp Fiction source material is beyond overfamiliar and their game therefore feels too predictable by half. I’m going for a comfortable victory for England here.
It looks as if group C is the GROUP OF BOSH :) An interesting game from the POV of an interested party – obv a draw would work in my favour here. Very happy that England have upped their game though, it means that my victory over them in the next game will be hailed as a hard-fought TRIUMPH rather than a walkover!
#6 This is where my never having seen pulp fiction pays off (or lets me down)
I have no idea who’s going to qualify from this group. IT IS WIDE OPEN.
Greatly cheered by the English effort, strikers in never-ending motion, muscular play in the back, smart sharp passes in the midfield: a style I love fiercely, and an effort worth savoring. I’m not sure I hear a finisher, though, and like coals to Newcastle the Algerians have imported sand from Southern Cal and the even southerner Baja Cal, hanging ten with their toes and then whacking the ball right by the goalie. Their power initially trumps the English showmanship, though we’ll see if they have the staying power to cash in on their advantage.
#9 Wide open like the jaws of the opposition when they see the terrifying Slovene attack formation! Seriously, one of the Slovenian squad was so rumbunctious that this morning they broke my mp3 player in a fit of over-enthusiasm.
It would be in my interests for Algeria to win this I think, but very pleased to see England fielding such a good side. But is this the best bhangra, and is the Algerian track the best Algerian jungle surf tune? Novelty may out here, but I think the bhangra edges it. And its a clever formation we are unlikely to see from anyone else.
A lot of English fans might be a bit disheartened by the manager’s team selection here. Whilst there’s no denying that the chosen track qualifies to represent the nation by virtue of an English grandparent, it’s not the traditional battling game of those great English teams of years gone by – the classic 80s midfield of Stock, Aitken and Waterman springs to mind. Some sections of the press are asking whether England have the technical ability to drift so far from their natural game of lumping it up to the big man up front.
The Algerians have come to attack and they’ve got the ability to spring a surprise – I quite fancy them to nick the points here.
On the other hand this England team have more power and skill in their little finger than most SAW sides.
And they said that Asian players would never represent England! Tougher competition than I had hoped for, and not the tactics I had anticipated at all, after their tired performance against the US, and I am not sure how this one will go.
Agree with #6, the Misirlou connection on the Algerian track gives England the edge for me in this tie.
Radio Babylon meets Misirlou doesn’t strike me as ‘predictable’ at all. Algeria’s exciting play throughout and goalmouth bombardment around the halfway mark knocks the stuffing out of a youthful but somnambulant England side who continue to hit long but sideways passes in the style of Ray Wilkins for the whole 90 minutes.
What a game we have here. Excellent stuff from both sides. With India unlikely to make a PWC appearance without the qualification rules changing it’s rather sporting of the England manager to bring their musical tropes and influence into the squad. Shinda (no ‘r’ btw, I’ll change the post accordingly) meets the standard for me but the Algerians remain unfazed by England’s curveball, attempting to beat them at a game they practically invented viz jungle beats plus an even older American influence. With no proper striker up front ALG are relying on audacious shots from the edge of the box. A few may succeed but I can’t see England losing this. A high scoring draw really but I’m voting ENG as I’d love to see this group go right down to the wire.
Appearances may be deceiving here – both teams have an inventive playing style disguising an essentially workmanlike approach. A solid defensive game, it may end up as a draw despite a fair amount of flashy footwork.
Has to be England for me; if the Algerian striker had been allowed to show his stuff it might have gone differently, but this formation is just odd without being really effective.
Very tough, this one; I like both tracks well enough, but I’m not sure the ALG one quite bears up under repeat listens whereas you’ve got to give ENG credit for their impressive turnaround in form. ENG, and may they keep heading in the right direction.
I was one of the few commentators who didn’t outright condemn England for their tactics in the first game. That said, they certainly have a lot more spark about their play this time. Reminds me of Mexico ’86 actually, when England turned it around in their third group game against Poland after poor results against Portugal and Morocco and a couple of enforced team changes…
Still, one Bhangra track sounds much like another to me. After the initial surprise, I’m not sure England are demonstrating much staying power here – and it’s too early in the tournament for (ahem) my partisan instincts to take over. As for Algeria, this is certainly a bold experiment by the manager here. Martin will know from bitter experience (i.e. the League of Pop) that I am very picky when it comes to drum and bass. But “Jungle Fiction” is a lot of fun! The back line is solid and the wing play is nicely varied, but the team is sufficiently co-ordinated that they know where the goal is. Algeria just gets my vote on this occasion.
Any final votes for this one? You’ve a few hours left.
Congrats to England on a good victory in a tough, tough match. The relatively low number of votes compared to the number of listens suggests to me that many listeners couldn’t find a clear winner here – I was one of them!
PHEW the Slovenian management breathes a sigh of relief! Doing the maths:
USA – 4
ENG – 3
ALG – 3
SLO – 1
So if I beat ENG and USA v ALG doesn’t end in a draw then I am THROUGH (assuming my higher percentage in the draw with USA puts me through on goal difference)! Rejoicing in the streets of Kranj and Maribor may yet occur!
A draw would do it for me, though Algeria are a tricky team to play. but everyone can still qualify here…
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