Life in a German town
- 13 Jun 06, 12:57 AM
DREIEICH-OFFENTHAL - Our problems with Svan have had a positive knock-on effect in that we've been afforded an evening when we don't have to be rushing around and can actually sit down and watch some football.
With Fletch rooting for Ghana and myself just hoping football was the winner, we settled down in a traditional German biergarten and enjoyed what this particularly leafy Frankfurt suburb had to offer and watched this evening's game.
After a day of stress with our immobiliser problems and the pressure of a deadline to send our Shevchenko piece to the guys at Match of the Day (see the video here) all I was hoping to gain out of this evening was a decent shower and some substantial food.
Our mobile nature has meant we haven't seen warm water since Belgium, and while Fletch described the campsite shower in Dortmund as bracing I'd liken it more to being cryogenically frozen, so a few sweaty days and nights in Svan had taken their toll on the old body odour.
And having to meet a 16:00 GMT deadline in Frankfurt to send our Shevchenko video down the line to Munich, I found myself jogging through the local town with a heavy pack containing both camera and laptop - heavier than it sounds I assure you.
So, it was of immense relief to encounter Fletch on the road on my return from Frankfurt to be informed a shower token was waiting for me on the camper van table.
A pleasant evening sampling the local fare (Schnitzel for Fletch, Steak for me - and by the way I've taken a 3-1 lead in the sausage race by virtue of my afternoon trip into Frankfurt city centre) ended with a conversation with two Canadian guys adjacent to our camper van at the camp site.
What started as an inquisitive chat as to why they were here in Germany quickly descended into an inquisitive chat as to the nature of Fletch's roll-up, perfectly innocent I assure you, to the extent where one of our new-found friends insisted on smoking half of it to ascertain its precise origin.
Revelations followed that one of the chaps, who didn't want to be named, had encountered problems while living in Amsterdam and had subsequently spent five years in an American federal institution.
Following a couple of sips of , on their insistence, we've tried hard to extricate ourselves from this unexpected encounter and while I'm writing this Fletch is still trying to persuade "Bam Bam" he's off to bed.
Togo play South Korea here on Tuesday, the Canadians have tickets, but the city is hardly gripped with football fever as yet, although the England fans gave a good account of themselves at the weekend.
Needless to say Fletch has a ticket and I do not, we'll have to see what the asking price is tomorrow.
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The Italy against Ghana match was pretty gripping. They were times when the Italian defense were exposed, which is definitely a huge compliment to the Africans.
What was interesting, I thought, was that Italy didn't revert to their usual plan of keeping the 1-0 lead and defending for the rest of the match.
This is definitely a new Italy, and a force to be reckoned with.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
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hummmmmmm....
don't quiet know about that one. The Italians were ok, and I was well impressed by Ghana. Essien showed something like the form that jusitfied his massive price tag and that No. 3 was all over the pitch in the first half.
I agree that at times the Greasy Ones looked shakey at the back (however nothing compared to Germany, once they come up against a decent and organised side they're screwed) but I don't think we've seen the end of boring Italian football. Its easy to stretch your legs (and your lead) against a tiring team making their World Cup debut.
Lets wait and see how this Italian team plays when (maybe if) they go one up against a decent side. I mean Brazil, obviously, not England.
Peace up
M
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the Italians were super today!!! I think they will only have to worry if they meet up with Brazil but otherwise they will surely move up.
GRANDE! FORZA AZZURI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think Italy could have done alot better than they did.
Personally I thought the Italians would walk all over the Ghana team but, I was very surprised to see them under alot of pressure.
Maybe the Italian team has more experience and fluidity, because after half time, the Ghana team seemed tired and sloppy with their passing.
It was almost like they were scared or unsure with every cross, meaning by the time they got to taking the cross they were tackled or it was deflected by a defender.
I think if Ghana had been less cautious with their passing, we would have seen a much different result.
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I think Ghana gave a good account of themselves. They had so many shots but the problem is that most of them were off target and thats an area they have to improve. Italy on the other hand had many shots on target and very few off target.
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I've been thinking about upcoming matches. I can't remember whether or not there is an "amnesty" with bookings after the group phase... well it has been four years!
If there isn't one and England are doing well against Trinidad and Tobago... I think it would make sense for Gerrard and Crouch to get another yellow and miss the Sweden game so they have a clean bill of health for the knockout phase.
Probably not in the spirit of the game but tactically a wise move.
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Please somebody teach Motti how to pronounce the italians' names - it serously irriated me!
Pearlo?????
Giliardinio??????
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Whoever came up with the name Svan is a creative genious.Absolutely brilliant!Give him/her free tickets to the final.
Now come on boys-I've got a campervan and those in the know,know that they have hot water and showers on board.So, stop whingeing and get the hire company to replace Svan with a Smerc.
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Classic post Ricco - I've always wondered myself what Fletch was smoking. Enjoy the game today - hope you manage to talk your way in. And fingers crossed Schevchenko makes the air on MOTD tonight!
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HI my answer to Matti I think we can beat Italy if we meet them in the later stages. All right the Italians beat Ghana but can they beat England?
Yours John
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I think Italy produced a very professional performance. They knew the Ghana team would be full of energy and eager to impress, they soaked up a lot of pressure and only occasionally (twice to memory) looked troubled. The front 4 look very capable and will cause even the best defences cause for concern. With all the hype regarding the weather and the energy sapping conditions, I think Italy produced a very solid, professional performance, something the Czech's did not. The way in which Italy played last night may well have gone a long way to ensuring they finish top of the group.
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I think Ghana played very well against the Azzuris. Their midfield was particualrly impressive but they were let down by a blunt strike force. Ghana has to do something about their attack if they want to go past the first round.
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I think Italy and Ghana were both great. But then I was watching it with loads of lovely Ghanaians.
Check out my full account of it, and all the other games so far, at
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Come on, and vote! WHO WIN?
www.enazalkalmazott.freeblog.hu
Who win the match?
Togo
South Korea
Drawn
Who win the match II. ?
France
Switzerland
Drawn
Who win the match III.?
Brasil
Croatia
Drawn
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Come on, and vote! WHO WIN?
www.enazalkalmazott.freeblog.hu
Who win the match?
Togo
South Korea
Drawn
Who win the match II. ?
France
Switzerland
Drawn
Who win the match III.?
Brasil
Croatia
Drawn
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Come on, and vote! WHO WIN?
www.enazalkalmazott.freeblog.hu
Who win the match?
Togo
South Korea
Drawn
Who win the match II. ?
France
Switzerland
Drawn
Who win the match III.?
Brasil
Croatia
Drawn
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I can't believe you keep on getting stiffed on the tickets mate! IS this because Fletch has accreditation or is he just better at wangling them than you?
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I can't believe you keep on getting stiffed on the tickets mate! IS this because Fletch has accreditation or is he just better at wangling them than you?
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I don't think Italy are half the side they were in the 80s and 90s.
The boys have had their day and sure it will come back again but this is England's year!
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Who was the previous poster refering to when he said the greasies?
Sounds a bit dodgy to me...
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I was following the South Korea VS Togo Game from my computer. I did not expect much while looking at the ticker. Togo scored one goal in the first half while the second half was reserved for South Korea and its equalizer and 2 to 1 goal over Togo.
Togo still has the potential in the future. South Korea cannot rest on its laurels.
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For the second day running, an exciting-sounding game during the working afternoon. Let's have some 0-0 afternoon games ;-)
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Come on, and vote!
www.enazalkalmazott.freeblog.hu
Neal Saferstein
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Thanks!!! Very nice site.I enjoy being here.
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