Posted June 24th, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student
Yesterday saw England face Slovenia for the ultimate knock out match. Tension was high as our eleven lads played the most important game of the tournament so far.
I normally wouldn’t consider myself to be a football fan, however, since the World Cup began, I seem to have been drawn into this world of screaming at the TV, chanting football songs and hugging everyone in the room when we score (including beer bellied men who really should have grasped the concept of personal hygiene at their age)- and I rather like it! Despite this sudden enthusiasm however, I am still unable to get my head round the offside rule, I can’t name all our squad and I really don’t see myself crying into my white wine spritser when (or should I say if) we get knocked out and sent home.
I think the problem is that I just don’t see how the result of the World Cup will affect the rest of our lives. I see fans taking the GAME so seriously, showing more passion and commitment than they have ever done in their lives. I mean granted it would be a shame to see our boys leave South Africa early, mainly because this means they will be back hitting their usual night time haunts, showing an interest in anything in a mini skirt and 6 inches of fake tan and this cant be good for the WAGS!
Which leads me nicely to my next issue- I seem to find it very difficult admiring and respecting a bunch of (allegedly) cheating, overgrown (and overpaid) boys. Every time I get drawn into a discussion about our team’s ability I find myself dismissing most of our squad and saying “I don’t rate them much” because I have seen pictures of them falling out of a club with a mystery blonde. And who is to even say these stories are true?
I think this is why generally women and football don’t mix. Men are happy to ignore such rumours and can still jump on the bandwagon and support the boys in white. Women on the other hand struggle to overcome this hurdle and can’t separate their emotions and morals from the game.
If you are reading this and like me have become a World Cup widow in the past two weeks, fear not as there are things you can do to entertain yourself. When the team line up before a game and pretend to sing the national anthem, see if you can match each player with their WAG. This will not only give you the perfect excuse to buy more gossip magazines than you can shake a stiletto at (all in the name of research you see) but will also really test the patience of your boyfriend or husband! And let’s be honest, nothing gives us more pleasure than seeing them sitting on the sofa, clenching their fists whilst their face gets redder and redder each time we shout out “Abbey Clancy, no wait, Alex Curran I think!” Or you could try my personal favourite- see how many “stupid questions” you can get away with asking per match- even create your own tournament with your friends. Form groups and then go onto knock out stages- giving 3 points to the person who get the most questions in, 1 point if it is a draw… have I lost you yet? Yup, thought so.
All in all this World Cup has had a massive impact on everyone and there are no signs of it slowing down. I will continue with my mission to engage in the competition, so not to be called an unsupportive girlfriend and mainly because after 11th July that TV is mine! And boy will watching re runs of Gok Wan nightly feel good.
However, there is just one more thing that is on my mind-why is it called the off side rule? I think this is why so many fail to understand it. Shouldn’t it be called something like “the in the wrong place at the wrong time rule”? Much more clearer!
Helen Sutherland
DIGS Marketing Coordinator
Posted May 24th, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student
FIFA World Cup guide for a footballing novice
World Cup fever is cranking up, every shop in the land is packed full of England merchandise designed to strip you of your hard earned cash. For a country that is notoriously unpatriotic we are some how compelled to adorn our cars with flags, buy England beach towels for our jaunts to Spain (if that volcano doesn’t mess it up for us) and paint our faces so we look like we have a bad case of sunburn.
That’s all part of the fun though isn’t it? There’s many a fair weathered football supporter out there and because we aren’t glued to the weekly kick offs during the league season it puts us at a disadvantage when it comes to the post and pre match debates. Fear not though, here’s a lowdown of some facts and figures you can throw out there over an ice cold cider.
- The concept of hosting a “World Cup” was due to the success of the Olympic Footballing events. The idea was rolled into action on the 28th May 1928.
- The first ever World Cup was held in Uruguay at the Estadio Centenairo.
- In total thirteen nations took part; seven from South America, four from Europe (Belgium, Yugoslavia, Romania and France) and two from North America.
- British teams first competed in 1950, it was held in Brazil.
- England, the land of footballing fanatics, have only won it once.
- Brazil have won the most, 5 times; 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
- Italy come in second with 4 wins; 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
- If you didn’t note that then, Italy won the last World Cup.
- There is four years between each tournament.
- Fabio Capello is the England Coach. Amazing fact – He didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived and is now fluent. I bet none of our lot could do that if they went to Italy!
- England’s highest ever ranking in FIFA is 4th.
- Lowest is in 1996 when we ranked an embarrassing 27th
- Peter Shilton (goalkeeper) got the most caps (caps are times they have played for the squad)
- Top scorer of all time is Sir Bobby Charlton with an impressive 49 goals.
OK, enough for the general World Cup fact file (make sure you revise those) Here’s some team facts.
- England finished top of their group in the qualifiers. This therefore means the whole country thinks they are going to win the whole schbang. Expect tears if we don’t and vicious headlines from The Sun.
- We have however drawn quite a tidy group; United States (renowned for being shit, they call it soccer so what do you expect), Algeria and Slovenia. Although the Eastern European’s should not be looked down upon, if we don’t get through we might as well hang up our boots.
- There are currently 30 players in our squad; 3 goalies, 10 defenders, 12 midfielders, 5 strikers.
- Rio Ferdinand is our captain (the one with a lip like Elvis) he was given the title after John Terry couldn’t keep his jewels in the safe.
- Theo Wilcott is the youngest (21), he plays for Arsenal, quite a lot of hype and pressure being put on him to perform.
- The oldest player is David James (39) he’s a goalie and plays for Portsmouth (the team that have been in the press recently for being absolutely brassic)
- Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) has the most caps at 78 and is the vice captain.
One more topical fact; Lord Triesman (Chairman of the FA) basically accused the Russians (people it’s not wise to annoy) and Spanish of cheating and setting up bribes so they’d win more points in this year’s cup and Spain would support Russia in their bid to host rather than going for it themselves. This comes as England are bidding to host the 2018 World Cup and needing support and friends… not looking so likely now!
Excellent, that should keep you up with a bit of the banter. The best piece of advice I can give is this…..
If people in the venue you are watching the game in are booing, boo too. If they are cheering and hurling beer everywhere, either join in or duck for cover!
Do NOT, in any circumstances, if you are unaware of what the offside rule is, get into an argument about whether “that goal” should have been allowed or not.
Good luck and let us sing…. “Ennnngeerrrrlllaaannnddd, EnnnGERRRLAND, ENNNgerrrrLAND!”