Celery! Celery!

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by Oscar

I don't think I've seen them do a haka.

But they do play a very physical brand of football, lead by Ryan Nelson (who is Captain of Blackburn United) a ferocious defender.

That makes sense, as I haven't heard of any highly skilled New Zealanders breaking into the European game. Are there any?

Nice to see a new contestant in the World Cup.

That All Whites bit in South Africa really is funny, though, don't you think?

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by wxwax

That makes sense, as I haven't heard of any highly skilled New Zealanders breaking into the European game. Are there any?

Nice to see a new contestant in the World Cup.

That All Whites bit in South Africa really is funny, though, don't you think?

Yes, it is really funny, but yer a bit late - they went to the Confed Cup in SA.

There's been a steady trickle of NZers playing in Europe over the years, the most famous of which was the Oceania Player of the Century, Wynton Rufer - he played for GRasshoppers in Switzerland, Norwich City and Werder Bremen.

Currently - Chris Killen plays for Celtic, Ivan Visilich for a Dutch Club and there's a kid that plays for 'Boro. And Ryan Nelson of course...

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by Oscar

Yes, it is really funny, but yer a bit late - they went to the Confed Cup in SA.

Huh, I don't remember that.

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by wxwax

Huh, I don't remember that.

They were beaten by Spain and SA and drew with Iraq.
In a warm up match they went ahead three times in a game against Italy, finally losing 4-3 when the Italia Coach brought his big gun subs on...

[wxwax]

World Cup pots to be announced tomorrow. Each group will exist of a team from each pot. The asterisks are for teams which have one last qualifying match on Wednesday.

So USA won't meet Mexico in the group stage. And obviously, none of the seeded teams in Pot 1 will meet. It's hard to construct a "Group of Death" out of this, isn't it?

Maybe Brazil, Portugal, Egypt, Mexico?




Pot 1: Seeds
South Africa
Brazil
Spain
Italy
Germany
Argentina
England
France*

----

Pot 2: Rest of UEFA
Netherlands
Portugal/Bosnia*
Russia/Slovenia*
Switzerland
Greece/Ukraine*
Serbia
Denmark
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland*

----

Pot 3: CAF + rest of Conmebol
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Cameroon
Nigeria
Egypt/Algeria*
Paraguay
Chile
Uruguay/Costa Rica*

----

Pot 4: AFC + Concacaf
Japan
South Korea
North Korea
Australia
New Zealand
United States of America
Mexico
Honduras

[bergermeister]

so, I guess the magic spray wasn't enough...



Van Persie visiting Serbian healer

By Soccernet staff

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie is set to try an unorthodox method of treatment in a desperate bid to speed up his recovery from an ankle injury.

GettyImages
The Dutchman will have placenta rubbed into the damaged area by a Serbian housewife who successfully healed a former Feyenoord team-mate Danzo Lazovic.
Van Persie is expected to fly out to Belgrade on Tuesday, with the backing of manager Arsene Wenger, to seek the services of Mariana Kovacevic - who has a reputation for drastically speeding up the recovery times of those she treats.
Van Persie's former team-mate Danko Lazovic has experienced the Serbian housewife's healing powers first-hand.
Lazovic, now of PSV, visited the housewife last month after suffering a hamstring injury that was expected to rule him out for five weeks. But after having the placenta fluid rubbed into the affected area, the Serbian striker returned to action after just one week out.
"She is vague about her methods but I know that she first massages you for a long time with placenta fluid," Van Persie said. "I am going to give it a try.
"It can't do any harm and if it helps, it helps. I've been in contact with Arsenal's chief physio about it. The club has allowed me to have this treatment done."
Van Persie, who ruptured ligaments in his right ankle during a friendly against Italy last weekend, decided to take drastic action after two separate doctors in Holland both told the striker he faces at least six weeks out.

[wxwax]

Just when things were going well for Chelsea, injuries attack.

Drogba reportedly has a broken rib from that awful challenge by Manchester United's Jonny Evans. Bizarrely, it was Drogba who was booked. He may be out three weeks.

Also out for three weeks is Frank Lampard with a thigh tear.

I can't think of two players who are more important to Chelsea's success, so this is quite a blow. And they're already missing Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa. Dear, oh dear.

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by wxwax

Just when things were going well for Chelsea, injuries attack.

Drogba reportedly has a broken rib from that awful challenge by Manchester United's Jonny Evans. Bizarrely, it was Drogba who was booked. He may be out three weeks.

Also out for three weeks is Frank Lampard with a thigh tear.

I can't think of two players who are more important to Chelsea's success, so this is quite a blow. And they're already missing Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa. Dear, oh dear.

Didn't see the challenge....did Drogba get the broken ribs throwing himself to the ground



That is quite a blow though it has to be said, even for Chelski.

[rallybug]

Kieran Gibbs picked up a knock on England U21 duty, so that's our back-up left back out along with the starter Clichy (back injury).

van Persie out, Vela out, Bendtner out, Walcott out, Denilson out, Wilshere out, Djourou out, Fabianski out.

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by Mercury264

Didn't see the challenge....did Drogba get the broken ribs throwing himself to the ground



That is quite a blow though it has to be said, even for Chelski.

A flying karate kick to the chest. Can't believe neither the linesman nor the ref saw it. I guess they don't review yellow cards, because if they did that one would have been reversed.

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by rallybug

Kieran Gibbs picked up a knock on England U21 duty, so that's our back-up left back out along with the starter Clichy (back injury).

van Persie out, Vela out, Bendtner out, Walcott out, Denilson out, Wilshere out, Djourou out, Fabianski out.

Chelsea-Arsenal on the 29th. Battle of the Reserves?

[wxwax]

So NorCal, what was that all about?

[rallybug]

Originally Posted by wxwax

A flying karate kick to the chest. Can't believe neither the linesman nor the ref saw it. I guess they don't review yellow cards, because if they did that one would have been reversed.

[wxwax]

So much for my group of death scenario. Egypt didn't make it, lost to Algeria. Shocker, given their success in the Africa Cup.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by wxwax

So NorCal, what was that all about?

*sigh* We have a World Cup thread. Its the German in me.