The world cup

[nirvana]

ffs, Welbz can't even get in when we're happy to lose - the only reason I'm watching is the chance of glimpsing Welbz in full flow

[tikay]

ffs, Welbz can't even get in when we're happy to lose - the only reason I'm watching is the chance of glimpsing Welbz in full flow

He'd probably score the winning goal - exactly what, it appears, we don't want.

[TightEnd]

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez: "We want to perform well but the priority is not to win."

Let me just sit down for a minute....

Has it been confirmed he really said that ? Pretty hard to separate that statement from match fixing however 'pragmatic' it may appear

Taken from BBC live text commentary. I think what he means is winning is not the priority rather than we must not win, but even so.   

[nirvana]

ffs, Welbz can't even get in when we're happy to lose - the only reason I'm watching is the chance of glimpsing Welbz in full flow

He'd probably score the winning goal - exactly what, it appears, we don't want.

Put him in goal - should be safe

[nirvana]

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez: "We want to perform well but the priority is not to win."

Let me just sit down for a minute....

Has it been confirmed he really said that ? Pretty hard to separate that statement from match fixing however 'pragmatic' it may appear

Taken from BBC live text commentary. I think what he means is winning is not the priority rather than we must not win, but even so.   

Yah, punctuation or language could get him off the hook I guess

[tikay]

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez: "We want to perform well but the priority is not to win."

Let me just sit down for a minute....

Has it been confirmed he really said that ? Pretty hard to separate that statement from match fixing however 'pragmatic' it may appear

Taken from BBC live text commentary. I think what he means is winning is not the priority rather than we must not win, but even so.   

Ahh yes, that makes more sense. Sort of.

[tikay]

update from Ben Mayhew's model on twitter @experimental361

Click to see full-size image.

Assume not the same Ben Mayhew that plays(ed) poker?

No idea, Alex, but it seems a reasonable assumption to me......

[Doobs]

update from Ben Mayhew's model on twitter @experimental361

Click to see full-size image.

Assume not the same Ben Mayhew that plays(ed) poker?

No idea, Alex, but it seems a reasonable assumption to me......

No it isn't.  Ben Mayhew (poker) retweeted Ben Mayhew (stats) just to add to the confusion. 

[Doobs]

just now on betfair.   England about 11/8. Belgium 3/1.  Belgium should be a bet.

[Doobs]

just now on betfair.   England about 11/8. Belgium 3/1.  Belgium should be a bet.

just got 4.1 to add to the 4.  Seems mad to me.

[bagel]

just try to win ffs

do brasil in the quarters really look that scary?

of course they are favourites if we draw them, world cup is obviously once every 4 years (when we qualify), cheering on a loss or draw or whatever gives us an "easier draw" is such a depressing mindset.

win tonight, smash japan or colombia, then enjoy a quarter final against whoever comes next.

we are to conditioned to the idea that as soon as we play a big name then its game over.

it may well be but enjoy it all while you can.

never say never, and in 3 weeks time its all over so we can all go back to cheering on chelsea on channel 5

[tikay]

just now on betfair.   England about 11/8. Belgium 3/1.  Belgium should be a bet.

just got 4.1 to add to the 4.  Seems mad to me.

I'm persuaded, can you stick £25 on for me please David?

Oh, wait.....

[Doobs]

just try to win ffs

do brasil in the quarters really look that scary?

of course they are favourites if we draw them, world cup is obviously once every 4 years (when we qualify), cheering on a loss or draw or whatever gives us an "easier draw" is such a depressing mindset.

win tonight, smash japan or colombia, then enjoy a quarter final against whoever comes next.

we are to conditioned to the idea that as soon as we play a big name then its game over.

it may well be but enjoy it all while you can.

never say never, and in 3 weeks time its all over so we can all go back to cheering on chelsea on channel 5

I read earlier that England had a 20% chance of making the World Cup final if they finish 2nd and only a 10% chance of making it if they finish 2nd.   Surely 2nd us a great result in the circumstances? 

[Woodsey]

just try to win ffs

do brasil in the quarters really look that scary?

of course they are favourites if we draw them, world cup is obviously once every 4 years (when we qualify), cheering on a loss or draw or whatever gives us an "easier draw" is such a depressing mindset.

win tonight, smash japan or colombia, then enjoy a quarter final against whoever comes next.

we are to conditioned to the idea that as soon as we play a big name then its game over.

it may well be but enjoy it all while you can.

never say never, and in 3 weeks time its all over so we can all go back to cheering on chelsea on channel 5

Yup.....grow a pair of ba.......whoops 

[Doobs]

just try to win ffs

do brasil in the quarters really look that scary?

of course they are favourites if we draw them, world cup is obviously once every 4 years (when we qualify), cheering on a loss or draw or whatever gives us an "easier draw" is such a depressing mindset.

win tonight, smash japan or colombia, then enjoy a quarter final against whoever comes next.

we are to conditioned to the idea that as soon as we play a big name then its game over.

it may well be but enjoy it all while you can.

never say never, and in 3 weeks time its all over so we can all go back to cheering on chelsea on channel 5

I read earlier that England had a 20% chance of making the World Cup final if they finish 2nd and only a 10% chance of making it if they finish 2nd.   Surely 2nd us a great result in the circumstances? 

Just read Ben Mayhew (the other one) saying it is about the same either way.  Pretty sure both are wrong and the truth is somewhere inbetween.