[Yudster]

Well, I thought it was about time.

First things first - yes, the Daily Mail is appalling to have published the comments made by Lord Triesman, the story was clearly obtained through entrapment blah blah blah - am I the only person who actually wants to know why he said it? Is it because he is a pompous old dickhead who had drunk too much wine and let his xenophobic instincts run wild? Or something else? And also yes, it has damaged the bid for 2018, but is that the fault of the Mail, or the fault of Lord Triesman? He DID say it after all, they just printed it.

Discuss. Then we can get on to the more interesting stuff.

[Munki Bhoy]

We didn't qualify. Again.

[MK Chris]

I have no idea if the stories have any foundation, but they were clearly in made privately and intended to be kept private. That doesn't make it right, but the Mail on Sunday printed the story in the first place and then the Daily Mail moans about us having ruined our bid... honestly believing that they can shoulder none of the blame. Maybe they shouldn't take all of it, but they can certainly take some of it.

[Yudster]

We didn't qualify. Again.

So - who, if anyone, will you be giving your allegiance to?

[dimtimjim]

The peeps who live next to us are big on Footy, they always have a 'gathering' when Chelsea are playing a big game..... Am kinda worried what we may be in for come World Cup time.

Oh, and the mail (daily or Sunday) should be banned, burned and pished on. Potentially ruining our 2018 cup bid just compounds the issue. *ers.

[Yudster]

But surely it was the bloke who accused the other nations of intending to bribe officials who ruined our bid? I'm not saying the Mail should have published, but at the end of the day, it wasTriesman who said what he said.....?

[MK Chris]

But then maybe none of us should ever say anything speculative in case someone is recording it? They were private comments that were never meant to be made public. I know that doesn't make it right, but what gets me is that the Daily Mail weren't trying to blame Triesman, they were printing photos of the woman who took the recording and blaming her... well they're as guilty as she is, if not more. Apparently the story was offered to at least one other paper, who turned it down. Don't ask me to find where I read that, but I think it was on the BBC website.

[DevilsDuck]

I blame the Mail

[Latina]

I'll be supporting my parent countries, England and Uruguay, but I wish I could be supporting Scotland as well. Uruguay have had a rather unlucky draw (hosts included) so I don't fancy their chances, but I was over the moon when they qualified.

[Munki Bhoy]

We didn't qualify. Again.

So - who, if anyone, will you be giving your allegiance to?

Whoever plays the best football. Spain probably. And probably whoever plays against France. They did screw my last chance of having any emotional tie to this World Cup after all.

I'll also be supporting the USA against England, but only because I'll be over there watching the game with a few of the natives when the game is being played. Unless the ash cloud reappears to screw another holiday of mine of course.

Once I'm back home, I'll be trying my best not to hate the commentators and therefore England as well, but that's not exactly easy. I may have to constantly remind myself that Craig Burley's a wank as a commentator and I used to like him. It's quite funny the number of people I now know who really do want Scottish people to grow up and stop hating England just because it's England, but fail miserably every time the commentators open their mouth. At least we realise it's a problem.

I just want to see a decent tournament. I really enjoyed the last World Cup, so it's got a lot to live up to.

[MK Chris]

I am one of those people that real football fans hate who only like football when big tournaments are on... I love watching the World Cup and Euro tournaments and I like watching the UEFA finals and FA Cup final and whatnot... but I couldn't be arsed other than that.

[DevilsDuck]

I am one of those people that real football fans hate who only like football when big tournaments are on... I love watching the World Cup and Euro tournaments and I like watching the UEFA finals and FA Cup final and whatnot... but I couldn't be arsed other than that.

Hate you!!!

[Yudster]

Actually I am a bit the other way around, I like football but I like the season. Tournaments are all very well but they are usually disappointing in terms of the football on display, and at the end of the day with things being as they are in the top clubs, you see a better standard of football in the Champions League than you do in international competition these days. I'm enthusiastic about the World Cup now, but I expect I will get bored with it pretty soon when it actually starts.

[dimtimjim]

I am one of those people that real football fans hate who only like football when big tournaments are on... I love watching the World Cup and Euro tournaments and I like watching the UEFA finals and FA Cup final and whatnot... but I couldn't be arsed other than that.

Yeah, bit like that myself.... I don't dislike football, its just not the most important thing in my life.

[kendra k]

I would say football might be one of the most important things in my life, but I also think I need more perspective on life.

Anyhow... I'm getting ready to take days off work to watch the World Cup. I also need to order my Leighton Baines England shirt.

[DevilsDuck]

I also need to order my Leighton Baines England shirt.

I think Capello has a few that wont get used this summer!

[kendra k]

Yeah, I'm holding off until the final squad is announced. I'm trying to convince my partner to get a Crouch shirt since Crouch is supposedly his favourite player. We shall see.

I'm getting lots of flack for supporting England over USA, but you can't say I'm anything but committed/loyal.

[Yudster]

I am tempted to support Uruguay over England, but I won't - unless Uruguay are still in when England get knocked out.

[dimtimjim]

I am tempted to support Uruguay over England, but I won't - unless Uruguay are still in when England get knocked out.

?

Maybe I should know this, but how come? I thought you were Essexian, not Uruguayanise?!

[Yudster]

Because I have a thing for Diego Forlan. He is ex-United, so the husband is ok with it.

[Bonanzoid]

Sometimes I love my job. 'John Terry to be seen crying at any point in the World Cup - 4/1.' Easy money!

I'll be supporting Spain, I miss that place no end and I'd go gay for Torres. I won't be hoping England lose though, but I certainly don't want them to win it, just because of the media. Plus half the team are massive wankers.

[DevilsDuck]

all footballers are massive wankers......

[foot-loose]

Sometimes I love my job. 'John Terry to be seen crying at any point in the World Cup - 4/1.' Easy money!

I'll be supporting Spain, I miss that place no end and I'd go gay for Torres. I won't be hoping England lose though, but I certainly don't want them to win it, just because of the media. Plus half the team are massive wankers.

Pah. You'd go gay for a lot less.

[DevilsDuck]

I will be supporting England

[Yudster]

So, Theo Walcott left out. I have a question - four years ago he was the hope of English football. How come he isn't any further along in terms of his development as a player now than he was then? He hasn't improved, hasn't matured - he's been at one of the biggest clubs in Europe all this time, I think they have let him down. All that potential and they've failed to tap in to it. I'm not just basing this on his non-selection, I've been thinking this about Walcott for the last two years. What exactly has Arsene Wenger - a manager I have always thought of as motivational and nurturing to young players - done to this undoubtedly uber-talented boy to turn him into such a so-so player? Perish the thought, but is it because he is English and Wenger is only interested in nurturing the continentals............?