INTERACTION

Not sure I'm really rooting for Nigeria to be honest...they're pretty rubbish, and I reckon they're lucky to have scraped through this far. Can't see them beating France, but you never know.

Stephen - I've enjoyed USA too. They've should real dig and effort and reaped the rewards.

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

I think Nigeria almost deserved a win against France, but the stronger team got through in the end.

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www.andrew-hook.com

For a bit there I thought Algeria might go on to win me some prize money! Never mind. Signs towards the end that Germany are really beginning to click. I love that they score so many teamwork goals. The goalkeeper could do with calming down a bit if they want to win. I don't get the impression that he trusts his back four.

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Theaker's Quarterly Fiction

I suspect that Neuer's play at the back was deliberate, Stephen. The defence played very high up the pitch and seemed content to let him catch anything that got through. They'll get caught out though if they come across a really fast forward at some point.

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

That eventually turned into a nail-biting match. Either team could have won right to the end of extra time. Bad luck, Switzerland (against Argentina).

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MY WEBSITE: www.nemonymous.com

After a few last minute (in some cases very last minute) scares, the quarter finals look like this:

Brazil (Keith Brooke) v Colombia (Aoife Flynn)
France (Chris Kelso) v Germany (Vaughan Stanger)
Netherlands(Robert Jeffrey) v Costa Rica (Alistair Rennie)
Argentina (Yvonne Wilson) v Belgium (Rob Adams)

Hope the next round of matches is as exciting.

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

Good afternoon,
Just wanted to remind everyone that we Americans (Capital A, as we are the only ones in this hemisphere) officially won the World Cup and have celebrated accordingly. We just decided to pull out early for security reasons, and because we had to get back home in time for July 4th celebrations. You can send the awards to our official UN headquarters building in New York, the Capital of The Free World (tm).

Not bringing it up to start a global incident, or to point out the ridiculousness of international politics, just ... okay so maybe I am, because I'm just that cheeky of an individual.

Cheers, and hope you all are having an enjoyable, relaxing, and vuvuzela-free weekend.

Ha. One day, I firmly believe, the above post will no longer be satire. But not for a while.

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

That Netherlands/Costa Rica game was a real nail biter if you were rooting for the underdog. Costa Rica's defence were superb. I wish they'd got through.

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www.andrew-hook.com

It was a cracker, Andrew, but it seems that the teams with experience are making it count across the board.

Here's the line-up for the semis:

Brazil (Keith Brooke) v Germany (Vaughan Stanger)
Netherlands(Robert Jeffrey) v Argentina (Yvonne Wilson)

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

The good news is that everyone left in gets a prize. To remind you:
winner £75, losing finalist £45, third place £25 and fourth place £15

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

Really enjoyed the Argentina/Holland game last night and pleased Argentina got through. I've also blogged some slipstream thoughts on the Brazil drubbing: http://andrew-hook.blogspot.co.uk/2014/ ... ality.html

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www.andrew-hook.com

I enjoyed the Argentina semi as well, Andrew. Not sure I agree with you on the notion that Germany killed the fantasy with their football reality check though. This Brazil side didn't have the fantasy to begin with.

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk

A victory for football over fouling! Germany have been playing the way I wish England would play.

I could see this World Cup getting me back into football. I didn't know before that you could listen to football commentaries on the iPlayer, and they've made the perfect background listening at work this past month.

Surprised though by how little football commentary has progressed since the days I used to be really into the sport. So much stereotyping.

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Theaker's Quarterly Fiction

I've always been a fan of listening to matches on the radio, Stephen, and I think the better commentators gravitate to that medium. Too many of the ones on TV rely on a limited set of stock phrases.

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Neil Williamson
www.neilwilliamson.org.uk