Day Thirteen…

June 22, 2006

 DAY 13 Portugal v Mexico What is the history of the unique mexican anthem salute?? The hand held horizontal across the chest…… Portugal are resting every player with a yellow card!5 of the  dirty hacks. Slovakian ref Rodruiguez….and Fonseca are in Mexico starting xi…Salcido and Pineda on yellows. Prediction: I am firmly hoping for the […]

Day Twelve…the ruthless expression on the face of Luis Suarez

June 21, 2006

Germany V Ecuador  The Ecuadorians have been one of the most surprisingly impressive teams in the first two rounds of matches, scoring some lovely goals and managing to avoid conceding …  ECA-DelGado and Tenorio are injured…Kaviedes is in…  These teams have never played each other. Warm embrace for Ecaudorians…close huddle…  Espinoza and Hurtado have been […]

Day Eleven…21C- possible storms…

June 20, 2006

  Togo v Swiss  TOGO:The Togan team almost didn’t make it to this game after problems over payments erupted into the threat of a player-strike…FIFA stepped in,  and have ‘persuaded’ the African squad to maintain their group match commitments.SAUDI: Kader was lively in the first game…he knows where the goal is.  1T  2- Togans going […]

Day Ten…Frightfully flaccid….

June 19, 2006

Jap V Croats Nakata calls for solidarity from both team and supporters..  japan Manager,Zico looks worried, haggard and drawn as he entered the stadium..Kovac brothers are both cleared to play after injury scares…Croatia go from underdogs, which they were against Brazil, to favourites for this one.. Croat defence of Kovac and Tudor was very sturdy against the […]

Day Nine…

June 18, 2006

Day nine  Iran v Portugal  this one is like a cup final ….If Iran lose they are OUT, if Portugal win they are THROUGH….Play maker Deco is back for Portugal..   Iran did well at 1-1 with the Mexicans but then a terrible defensive mistake gave away a goal and the Mexicans took control…. Ali Daye […]

Day eight

June 17, 2006

Day eight Argies v Serbia Milosevic is a useless donkey. Can Kezman show his worth? Argies were one of most impressive teams in first round..Serbia were defensively solid against the Dutch… -Argies exactly same team as lined up v IC. Prediction: Argies 2-0 1T 5- GOAL….Argies cut their way through Serb lines, Saviola sets up […]

Day Seven…

June 17, 2006

Ecuador v Costa Rica Espinoza and Hurtado, together in the centre of defence are ruthlessly secure….Tenorio can be lively…good width..Delgado very tidy. Rwandan ref Costa Rica 3-5-2 Wanchope….want to come back to Europe.. Prediction 3-1 Ecuador. they are bigger, stronger and more determined.. 4–4-2 for Ecuador against 3-5-2 of CR 1t poles watching anxiously.. 2-first sign of […]

Day Six…

June 15, 2006

Day six- mayhem in the branches of the palm trees that line the field opposite the stone-cold block of flats where I dwell..dogs roaming the park…more non-humans than humans, tranquil, preternatural…lovely…green parakeets darting from tree to tree making all manner of musically pitched noises…at first I thought that maybe a mischievous possum had come across […]

Day Five

June 14, 2006

Togo VKorea SouthPark Ji sung and song Chong Goo are the only players I know…Togans.. just the word itself gives rise to visions of tribal warriors, planting their spears in the ground,, surrounding a small bastion of resistance…which is called “south Korea’ 1T 2 joints, good chat with the lecherous but surprisingly intelligent(for a Yorkie) […]

World Cup 2006 preview

June 14, 2006

The Preview CLick above to download the MS Word version ofthe Valdez World Cup Guide, complete with pictures, sub-standard grammar, laughs and cries of horror. read it and weep. General Gruber There isn't time for me to edit this, the start of my world cup diary, up to the standard of my news reports, but […]