Nikica Jelavic
The Everton striker's colourful uncle, also called Nikica Jelavic and nicknamed "The Boxer", is said to be "the uncrowned king of Zagreb". He has been linked to several high-profile incidents, one including a failed assassination attempt using a handheld rocket launcher in the city centre, when a passer-by was blown up in 1999. Each time he was cleared of all charges by the court. "He helped me a lot in my career because he loves me, and our relationship is strictly family," says Jelavic the footballer.
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 12:28 (twelve years ago) link
Think the CM for Russia, Shirokov, once faked a broken leg or smthg like that.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 12:36 (twelve years ago) link
russia should surely have a bunch of sub-standard brazilians in their squad these days, c'mon let's diversify.
― Merdeyeux, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 12:40 (twelve years ago) link
Evhen Khacheridi. Not so long ago Oleksandr Aliev called his Dynamo Kyiv team-mate "The woodpecker". Khacheridi was known for his stupid behaviour on the pitch, which saw him sent off several times, but he has now matured and is playing his best football. He is a cool, collected and reliable operator.
― mizzell, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 13:49 (twelve years ago) link
http://en.euro2012fantasy.uefa.com/my-leagues/67725/join/?autojoin-code=13714-677
anyone interested?
― Michael B Higgins (Michael B), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
Yes. It doesn't seem to be mobile-accessible, but I'll have a look shortly.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:04 (twelve years ago) link
Poland's passionate coach Franciszek Smuda is so excited by the prospect of Euro 2012 that, according to assistant Jacek Zielinski, he's behaving like a feral animal.
"Smuda? He's like a wild fox in a cage," champions Zielinski. "He just wants to waste them all. He can't wait."
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:06 (twelve years ago) link
knew that would be a bullshit translation, and so it proved
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:08 (twelve years ago) link
waste dem wastermen
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:10 (twelve years ago) link
Heiko Wastemann (born 14 August 1983 in Alzenau, West Germany) is a German footballer who plays as defender for German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV and the German national team.
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:17 (twelve years ago) link
http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtwoview/archive/2012/06/06/possession-jon-harley-amp-foreign-coaches-henry-winter-s-blueprint-for-a-better-england.aspx
lulz
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:18 (twelve years ago) link
Did McManaman ever actually play for England after that? I'm struggling to remember.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:03 (twelve years ago) link
i'm in.
― second only to popcorn (or something), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:57 (twelve years ago) link
mcmanaman never got a decent go for england, ludicrous.
― ooooiiiioooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaoooooh un - bi - leevable! (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:01 (twelve years ago) link
You could cast him in with Hoddle, Le Tiss, Rio, etc. as too suspiciously foreign for England. He did play in the 4-1 Holland game I'm sure, but seemed to fade out of the reckoning as he got more accomplished.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:10 (twelve years ago) link
england's mythical left winger, too good for them imo
― irrational angst that makes me innocuously thingy (darraghmac), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:16 (twelve years ago) link
was "no way no way, mcmanaman" ever a chant?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:23 (twelve years ago) link
hard 'ch'?
― irrational angst that makes me innocuously thingy (darraghmac), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:26 (twelve years ago) link
not today
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
don't get fresh with me
lol
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:31 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/BC0Eh.gif
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:32 (twelve years ago) link
great country by country previews at zonal marking: http://www.zonalmarking.net/category/euro-2012/
― Steve Youngblood (dan m), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
yeah been reading them, good stuff.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
Wait are Italy really playing Cassano and Balotelli upfront these days? Ohboy.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
has cassano even been playing regularly for milan or are they merely seeking lols?
― Merdeyeux, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:55 (twelve years ago) link
mcmananaman had the starts but never really did it for england in my recollection
rarely failed to underwhelm throughout his whole career tbh, hindsight be kind to him
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
hes been sick for most of last year
in any case he is 29 and is fairly sensible these days
balotelli, provided he has no defensive responsibilities, is less of a problem than the great british public's ardently expressed need for an angry black hate figure would have you believe
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
knew i shouldve just typed macca xp
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:00 (twelve years ago) link
mac mañana mañana mañana man
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:01 (twelve years ago) link
tbf to the great british public for a change that is not quite the need they have of mario is it, it's more the carrot/stick gazza loony angle
― r|t|c, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:03 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/banana1.jpg
― Merdeyeux, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:03 (twelve years ago) link
balotelli could be a love figure but insists on being a cunt so idk i'm giving the great british public a free pass on this one regardless of his colour
― irrational angst that makes me innocuously thingy (darraghmac), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:05 (twelve years ago) link
don't rly see the vermin with the little england flags treat loveable bipolar wifebeater gazza in the same fashion as balotelli
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:08 (twelve years ago) link
trea-ting
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:09 (twelve years ago) link
anyway deems good luck in poland, don't say anything nasty about the dead king of pederasts karol wotyla and you should be fine
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:10 (twelve years ago) link
gazza's wackiness well within the realms of the oddball pal of your little england vermin, balotelli's brand of mentalism all his own.
― Merdeyeux, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:11 (twelve years ago) link
He was much-loved 'til he was acting like a dick around Easter and he's still not really hated, maybe save the racist aspertions for whatever next catches your displeasure.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:12 (twelve years ago) link
everyone loves his (fictional) off the field antics
― Number None, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:12 (twelve years ago) link
i wasn't in love with him kicking scotty parker in the head, after all scotty done for the queen gawd blesser in WWI
― irrational angst that makes me innocuously thingy (darraghmac), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
yeah i think after his slightly derange performance vs arsenal the linekerite bantuhstans seeking a king in the mountain have given up on mario and are probably looking for another bantuh legend to patronize
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
he actually seems bothered about playing for italy and pranelli is super suspect of him so i don't really envisage any problems
maybe more worrying for italy would be whether their narrow, pedestrian midfield is going to do enough running to make up for balo & cassano
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:17 (twelve years ago) link
Platini and Collina have both warned him about being booked already.
― boxall, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:21 (twelve years ago) link
UEFA president Michel Platini has told the official Euro 2012 kick-off press conference that any player who leaves the pitch due to racist abuse will be given a yellow card.Platini confirmed that the rule preventing players from leaving the field of play without the referee's permission would be enforced even if they are the victims of racism from the stands in Poland and Ukraine.The comments came after Mario Balotelli last week threatened to walk off the pitch if he suffered racist abuse during Italy's Euro 2012 games - and Platini confirmed he would be punished in that event."It's a yellow card," Platini said at a Warsaw press conference dominated by the theme of racism. "We'd certainly support the referee if he decided to stop the game. It's not a player, Mr Balotelli, who's in charge of refereeing. It's the referee who takes these decisions."So the referee has been given advice and he can stop the game if there are problems. We will stop the game if there are problems because I think racism is the worst of this.''UEFA's chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina, underlined Platini's sentiment, insisting the teams had been informed of the procedure in the event of racist abuse being a problem."Things are clear,'' he said, confirming that officials had also been fully briefed. "Referees have a protocol so they know what they have to do. The match director, who is responsible for each match, knows what has to be done on the field of play."Platini, though, refused to be drawn on the findings of last week's BBC Panorama programme, as well as Sol Campbell's warning that black fans who travel to the tournament risk "coming back in a coffin''.The Frenchman, who was increasingly angered by the line of questioning, added: "What would you like me to say? How would you want me to answer this?"Everyone can do what they like. I don't think there's any more racism in Poland and Ukraine than in France or anywhere else, or even in England. It's not a footballing problem. It's a problem for society."I'm not charge of what goes on in football stadiums. It's the states that need to take charge of this. There have been problems with violence in the 1970s in England."They made great strides actually to change the situation, and we need to do work in the field of racism and we need to stop this from happening. How can you say outside the stadium: 'He's a racist - he can't come in, he's not a racist - he can come in'? You can't do it."
Platini confirmed that the rule preventing players from leaving the field of play without the referee's permission would be enforced even if they are the victims of racism from the stands in Poland and Ukraine.
The comments came after Mario Balotelli last week threatened to walk off the pitch if he suffered racist abuse during Italy's Euro 2012 games - and Platini confirmed he would be punished in that event.
"It's a yellow card," Platini said at a Warsaw press conference dominated by the theme of racism. "We'd certainly support the referee if he decided to stop the game. It's not a player, Mr Balotelli, who's in charge of refereeing. It's the referee who takes these decisions.
"So the referee has been given advice and he can stop the game if there are problems. We will stop the game if there are problems because I think racism is the worst of this.''
UEFA's chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina, underlined Platini's sentiment, insisting the teams had been informed of the procedure in the event of racist abuse being a problem.
"Things are clear,'' he said, confirming that officials had also been fully briefed. "Referees have a protocol so they know what they have to do. The match director, who is responsible for each match, knows what has to be done on the field of play."
Platini, though, refused to be drawn on the findings of last week's BBC Panorama programme, as well as Sol Campbell's warning that black fans who travel to the tournament risk "coming back in a coffin''.
The Frenchman, who was increasingly angered by the line of questioning, added: "What would you like me to say? How would you want me to answer this?
"Everyone can do what they like. I don't think there's any more racism in Poland and Ukraine than in France or anywhere else, or even in England. It's not a footballing problem. It's a problem for society.
"I'm not charge of what goes on in football stadiums. It's the states that need to take charge of this. There have been problems with violence in the 1970s in England.
"They made great strides actually to change the situation, and we need to do work in the field of racism and we need to stop this from happening. How can you say outside the stadium: 'He's a racist - he can't come in, he's not a racist - he can come in'? You can't do it."
― Number None, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:22 (twelve years ago) link
ugh i can imagine the leading questions from the english hack scums
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:24 (twelve years ago) link
england's peerless and unblemished post-racial paradise is now another myth for boorish patriots to cling to
now every retard on twitter has been prosecuted, england is free of racism and we can sneer at those horrible eastern european countries where they hang foreigners from trees and drink their blood
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
Is this tournament thread going to be 75% "Daily Mail" / "Dem not gonna con dis nation"-type content?
― boxall, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:32 (twelve years ago) link
thought mario was going to get sent-off in the 2nd half against Russia the other night. He looked to be heading that way. Still he played well. Cassano didn't.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:33 (twelve years ago) link
― irrational angst that makes me innocuously thingy (darraghmac), Wednesday, June 6, 2012 6:14 PM (19 minutes ago)
that was pretty good, suarez kicking him in the balls was a hans molemanish classic
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:35 (twelve years ago) link
http://i.minus.com/ibz2dg0uThuYMd.gif
― too cool graham rix listening to neu (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 17:36 (twelve years ago) link
awes quotes
― deems irreverent (darraghmac), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:17 (eleven years ago) link
I'm watching the final now. I was in a pub with a non-football-liking person on Sunday night and saw bits out the corner of my eye, knew the score etc. but didn't get to fully appreciate it. At half time now. I think Jordi Alba's goal is gott if only because the run he made was oh so very spectacular in a way you never really see. It is things like that which should make Spain a lovable team and it is a shame they were much more reserved in the France and Portugal games.
This Spain isn't the best international team of all time. The Spain of 2008 is imo. If only because 2012 Spain have two positions not playing to ABSOLUTELY-PERFECT-STANDINGS as Cesc just isn't a v good false 9 and they do not, now or ever, actually need XA AND SB when they could have someone provide width. But these seem like such minute details regarding what is 9/10ths of the same team. Oh and I've obviously not seen those Hungary or Uruguay or Brazil teams to compare.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:21 (eleven years ago) link
Spain 08-12 basically counts as the same team. Villa and Puyol would have been in there had they not been injured.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:53 (eleven years ago) link
Marcos Senna, how quickly we forget
― Number None, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 16:55 (eleven years ago) link
Capdevilla and Torres rip
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:17 (eleven years ago) link
This sort of thread is why I Love Football exists. It is ILX's version of the pub where endless footie conversations take place every single day and night of the week.
***---> Endless! Footie! Conversations! <---***
When such a heaven exists, why would anyone not want to go to heaven?
― Aimless, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:29 (eleven years ago) link
One day, eventually, we will run out
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:32 (eleven years ago) link
one day we will tog out, you mean
― deems irreverent (darraghmac), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 17:46 (eleven years ago) link
'Only' the one nine, isn't it? (v Ipswich in 95)Ipswich totally deserved that stuffing after the misery of the 6-0 defeat they dished out to Man Utd in 1980 iirc.― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Wednesday, July 4, 2012 1:31 PM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Ipswich totally deserved that stuffing after the misery of the 6-0 defeat they dished out to Man Utd in 1980 iirc.
― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Wednesday, July 4, 2012 1:31 PM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
totally deserved. as an ipswich fan living in manchester i'm not sure where to start with that sort of one-eyed nonsense.
― For bodies we are ready to build pyramids (whatever), Wednesday, 4 July 2012 21:07 (eleven years ago) link
haha. reading about that cruyff testimonial. pretty funny in a cruel kind of way.
― kid steel (cajunsunday), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:32 (eleven years ago) link
Actually the real best thing about the Cruyff testimonial is Cruyff unashamedly having a fag in the middle of the game.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:38 (eleven years ago) link
are there any good articles on it
― kid steel (cajunsunday), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:50 (eleven years ago) link
Is that real, Matt?! Awesome.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:50 (eleven years ago) link
Tiny bit in The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/22/least-successful-testimonial-match-ever):
And take Johan Cruyff's farewell fixture for Ajax against Bayern Munich. You might think the result doesn't matter in a testimonial and, by and large, you'd be right, but what about when the team you invite turn up and give you a proper shoeing?
"The German champions wanted to show their Dutch counterparts something after earlier defeats and not being welcomed at Schiphol Airport," writes Dave G Boham. "They even had to sleep at a sub-par hotel. After jeers from the crowd, they showed their hosts something. Three goals were disallowed during the 8-0 hammering dished out by the Bavarians. The Ajax players just wanted to have a good time. In 2006, Bayern apologised."
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 5 July 2012 11:51 (eleven years ago) link
I didn't get to watch much of the tournament (combo of working when games were on/not actually being fussed about it at all), but did I get any predictions right? http://noisey.vice.com/blog/euro-2012s-most-predictable-soundtrack--cliches
― Blue Collar Retail Assistant (Dwight Yorke), Thursday, 5 July 2012 12:10 (eleven years ago) link
The Song They'll Probably Use: "Sexy And I Know It" by LMFAO. It works on two levels, one for the actual sexy shots of buxom Swedish girls picked out by pervy camermen (no doubt on the behest of Lineker) and for ironic purposes when juxtaposed against some beer-bellied brute from Dagenham doing the Macarena.
I feel like this was done at some point.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 5 July 2012 12:43 (eleven years ago) link
The song at least; I can't remember the setting.
England's exit got a cover of 'In The End' by Linkin Park. I don't think anyone could summon the enthusiasm for a Torres montage, but his kids were cute.
― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 5 July 2012 13:50 (eleven years ago) link
who did the horrible cover of "thriller" after the final?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Thursday, 5 July 2012 15:28 (eleven years ago) link
Imogen Heap.
― Chris, Thursday, 5 July 2012 15:56 (eleven years ago) link
Zonal Marking's TOTT http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/07/04/zms-team-of-euro-2012/
---------------------------Casillas----------------------------Pereira-----------Pepe----------Ramos-------------Alba--------------------------------Pirlo-------------------------------------------------Khedira-------Mountinho-------------------------Jiracek-------------------------------Iniesta------------------------------------Fabregas--------------------------
― pandemic, Friday, 6 July 2012 07:17 (eleven years ago) link
Jiracek?
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 6 July 2012 07:30 (eleven years ago) link
where did rooney go?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Friday, 6 July 2012 12:21 (eleven years ago) link
went to grab lunch
― from the desk of mr. and mrs. eazy and sheila e (m bison), Friday, 6 July 2012 14:21 (eleven years ago) link