buster.

Very sad news and he'll be missed but he lived the dream and had a full life.

Of course

Just to tidy up..... The Real Ronaldo of Brazil scored 15 Pele scored 12 In 1954, Sándor Kocsis of Hungary scored 11 in only 5 games and just as Fontaine would go on to do, he scored 4 in a match against West Germany. Aside: (In the 54 WC my uncle played for Scotland /don't mention the results)

1958: 13 goals in 6 matches (including 4 goals in 3rd place match against West Germany) .

Talking of wondering about ever predicting a correct scoreline, has Bill been lifted by the bizzies ?

Tell the 4LHAD gent that a Gersnet slot requires/merits an 'exclusive'.

No, he wasn't but I was going for double figures. 16 Klose 14 Gerd Muller 11 Klinsman 10 Thomas Mueller 9 Rummenigge Of the seven players to score 11 WC goals or more, three are German (listed above). That will become 4 of 8 if Thomas Mueller gets a goal this summer. Quiz (no google) Who are the other 4 ? (of top seven) .

I only go as far back as watching Muller in 1974. Lad could play, couldn't score at Ibrox in 72 though !

Uruguay and Portugal are the two teams in the group of aspiring hopefuls that play a tactical... 'do enough but not a smidgen more than necessary'...type of game that makes you want to go and paint the conservatory. Iran played 6 at the back and were masters of wasting time until they lost a goal. Has to be better today, the Croatia v Argentina game has quality and an edge to it that football fans will want to see.

Yes and yes. If you take the players coming in together, you don't want evident gambles in too many of them, maybe one or two. Last season there were too many and it compounds the risk on top of an inexperienced manager. Bottomline is that we have to trust the manager but he has to be careful to try and ensure that a transfer window solves more problems than it creates. Hopefully, the football operation as a whole are able to minimise risk with facts whilst the messageboards use crystal balls.

Germany have always tended to have a player who would regularly score goals at the WC. Gerd Muller, Klose, Klinsman, Thomas Mueller (TM) I'm not sure Werner is at that level and maybe it's due to the role but TM isn't knocking them in as he was did. England have Harry Kane which elevates their chances considerably.

Yes, but if there was a study done over the last 30 years that was able to measure the performance of a medical department / number of games missed / etc.....I reckon we'd be near the bottom of any table. Prodan was perhaps the best and worst example of throwing money at a problem / unprofessional approach. I think it boils down to the club not being run with an optimun level of professionalism that it should be. Back in the day, as long as we were winning (domestically), it was deemed ok. Listen to the Simon Ferry intrerview of Ian Durrant and Derek Ferguson, re. fitness levels.

I never have much faith in the old 'rigorous medical' line. On the two high profile occasions I can recall such medicals stopping a deal from going through, both players involved went on to score a barrel load of goals, ie. Tamudo and Hartson......whilst those with the bodies who would keep our medics busy tended to get through the 'rigorous medical'.

You can't help but feel that this WC is up for grabs to a wider potential spread of possible winners than has been the norm. Early days but none of the pre-tournament favourites have shown up well. Spain are vulnerable at the back and aren't as fluid middle to front as they were when winning tournaments. Only one game but...... Argentina just aren't good enough. Something doesn't seem to be quite right with Germany. Brazil looked mediocre. For those three, we'll see how they react to the pressure in their 2nd game. Note. I didn't see any of the French game.

Open dissent like this should see a yellow card and at least 3 points docked

A Thai cockroach and a British crazy horse are running away with it Is there a polo shirt that can fit ?

Game which I take to be the Final against FC Slovacko starts at around 18 minutes in

Unlikely but Spain go out if they lose tonight. Argentina lose to Croatia tomorrow and they are on a very sticky wicket. Germany likely to go out if they lose to Sweden on Saturday. Italy and the Netherlands not even there. Since 1974, those five teams have contested 17 World Cup Final berths between them of a possible 22 (ie, 11 finals)

......and get beaten by Real Madrid in the Final.

I was showering liberal praise upon him.....!!!

The comparison is subjective unless the two were to meet up. Compare the budgets of the Croats and PSV last year and you'll almost certainly find a big difference that wasn't reflected on the park.

No shame in a brave selection that nearly paid off. Very few of those who selected Portugal thought it would be tight.

Agree to disagree Burnley are a decent side, almost certainly better than the Croats but not by the proportion of the numbers, IMO.

It was Bluedell and he was very unlucky,...Morocco should have scored. Nearly a masterstroke but nae cigar !

Firstly, the sheep are in the second round and we still have to play the first. Secondly, I'd guess that the disparity in those numbers has little to do with reality on the field.