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Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
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I used to urge they bring Glenn Hoddle on and he was the manager! The one sacked on a fortune-teller's advice, by the way. ('You will meet a tall dark stranger, and get stuffed three-nil.')
Though I'm puzzled how twenty thousand Mexicans were able to breach Tuchel's vaunted security arrangements, and serenade the team all night before the match. Not that most of the lads were there. Out partying, they said. They like their home comforts.
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Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
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Gianni has finally crossed the line. Or has he? The story so far::
* Balogun (ex-Arsenal academy, but that's irrelevant) got a red card for 'raking'
* It was harsh but fair given the current interpretation that if it happens it's your fault
* Balogun suspended for the Belgium game, as per rule
*A Balogunless USA haven't got a prayer against Belgium
* Trump rings Infantino
* 'Yes sir, no sir, three baloguns full, sir.'
| The Athletic wrote: | | What’s seriously lacking is any explanation from FIFA. On what basis is it justifying the intervention? |
What's seriously lacking is Gianni having any locus standi in disciplinary matters. He's in Admin. But with 'Fingers' Infantino it is a case of 'Justice is swift, but injustice is swifter':
| The New York Times later reported that a call had been made by the White House to FIFA to request a review of the Balogun incident. The Athletic has since learnt that Trump spoke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino directly, and that legal advice from the White House was passed to U.S. Soccer. |
But hey, justice was done, all things considered, right? Wrong, say the chocolate men
| Belgium, predictably, reacted furiously and demanded formal clarification. FIFA hasn’t rescinded Balogun’s red card. It simply suspended his ban... |
So Gianni hasn't got a leg to stand on. Unlike Shoeless Joe. But what's this?
| ...which article 27 of its disciplinary code seemingly allows it to do |
I think this goes back to when people, eg David Beckham, started getting deliberate cards so they would miss the next unimportant match to ensure they would be available for the one afterwards, the important one. It was stymied by giving disciplinary committees the power to post-date the ban so the swines missed the important game. Gotcha!
They don't know it yet but it means USA will beat Belgium but won't have Balogun for the Spain game. Then Mr Potato Head will have to cross the line.
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Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
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England vs Norway Miami, July 11th
According to our research department, this will be the first time we've played a knockout match against a team less adapted to hot, muggy conditions than we are since England 1 Iceland 2 at Nice in June 2016.
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Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
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After the USA's shock exit to higher-ranked Belgium, President Trump is minded to throw his support in favour of England where he has golf courses throughout Scotland. A telegram has been sent from Number Ten. 'Please not,' it read.
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Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
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The way to look at these things is 'with your heart'.
Would you trust England to beat Norway?
Of course. Piece of piss.
Would you have trusted England to beat Brazil?
No way, José.
Would you trust England to beat Argentina?
I'd say it's fifty/fifty. Certainly no worse than 40/60. We could easily fuck 'em in the arse.
Would you trust England to beat France or Spain?
Absolutely not, but in a one-off with the wind in our sails, we're in with a shout.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what you mustn't do, according to AE, which ordains you have to look around for a mechanism that sums up the entire world's fund of knowledge about the remaining teams, with total objectivity, and then presents it to you in a readily comprehensible way.
In other words, the bookies' odds:
France 15/8
Spain 7/2
Argentina 4/1
England 5/1
Norway 16/1
Colombia 20/1
That's what I said, wasn't it?
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Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
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I discovered from an American expert's ignorance that it is not widely known Balogun is a 'birthright American'. His mother, a pregnant Nigerian living in England was visiting New York but anxious to get back to London for the birth. [Doubtless to take advantage of NHS-tourism, a racist interjects.]
The airline wouldn't accept her because of her condition so she was obliged to stay in New York to give birth to Balogun. Within weeks Madonna-and-child had flown off to the land of neither of their births.
If Trump had got his way with the Supreme Court the other week, instead of the surprise 4-5 verdict he got, Balogun would not have been eligible to play for the no-stars and hooped stripes. Though he would have been if FIFA's more expansive regulations had applied. A question currently under discussion between Messrs Trump and Infantino.
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