Sporting thread

by Chris Bertram on February 7, 2006

After that Superbowl nonsense, time to get back to the sports that really matter! I just watched the “second semi”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4683448.stm in the “African Nations Cup”:http://www.egypt2006.com.eg/english/ . The referee bottled it just before time when Senegal had a stone-wall penalty denied, so Egypt are through. Will Mido play in the final after squaring up to the Egyptian coach after being substituted and then looking a prat as his replacement put the ball in the back of the net? Who knows? My money’s on Egypt in the final, since they’re the home nation, but with Drogba upfront Ivory Coast will always carry a threat. Predictions?

And while we’re about it, the “6 Nations”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/default.stm is wide open after favourites France were turned over by Scotland at Murrayfield. Italy look a lot better than usual too and gave Ireland a scare. So my guess: a grand slam for England with last year’s winners Wales competing with the Italians for the wooden spoon.

UPDATE: I see that Mido has been “chucked out of the Egyptian squad”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4692714.stm .

{ 16 comments }

1

Barry 02.07.06 at 2:53 pm

Chris: “The referee bottled it just before time when Senegal had a stone-wall penalty denied, so Egypt are through. Will Mido play in the final after squaring up the the Egyptian coach after being substituted and then looking a prat as his replacement put the ball in the back of the net?”

Speak English, man! It’s good enough for Jesus, it’s certainly good enough for you.

2

JR 02.07.06 at 2:57 pm

Italy for the wooden spoon? Not a chance. Maybe they have a shot at the slotted spatula.

3

ron "the manager" von bladet 02.07.06 at 3:29 pm

barry: Well spotted; that should of course read “squaring up _to_ the Egyptian coach”.

[it does now. CB]

4

Richard Bellamy 02.07.06 at 3:32 pm

Eight days until Pitchers and Catchers report!

5

P O'Neill 02.07.06 at 4:00 pm

Egypt will win the Cup of Nations on another dubious refereeing decision. And don’t rule out Ireland making a run at the wooden spoon, especially if they suffer even one key injury early in the campaign (e.g. O’Driscoll). Finally, I appreciate Chris opening a sporting thread without mentioning a certain Premiership result on Sunday that is indeed best left unmentioned.

6

Thlayli 02.07.06 at 4:22 pm

My take on Mido has always been “he’s almost as good as he thinks he is.”

OTOH, he is Spurs’ leading scorer this season. I’ll be happy when he’s back.

COYS! ;)

7

Randy Paul 02.07.06 at 7:35 pm

I still think Drogba will be the man to watch. On the other hand, his absence hasn’t hurt Chelsea.

8

Lynn 02.08.06 at 12:24 am

randy paul,

Are sure about Chelsea not missing Drogba? They’ve looked a little more human without him even though not much.

9

ab 02.08.06 at 6:41 am

Predictions?

The ref will win it, again, for Egypt.

I’m just praying Kolo Toure returns to the Arsenal unscathed, Sol Campbell needs a steady partner.

10

ab 02.08.06 at 6:46 am

I’m just praying Kolo Toure returns to the Arsenal unscathed, Sol Campbell needs a steady partner.

On second reading I just want to make clear, for those in the know:

No pun intended!

11

Richard 02.08.06 at 3:01 pm

Meeeeee-do! Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa!

Spurs need him.

12

Randy Paul 02.08.06 at 7:32 pm

Lynn,

You’re really grading on a hard curve there! They’ve won five and drawn three since the start of the year in all competitions.

I would venture that Barcelona will be much happier to get Samuel Etoo back.

13

Lynn 02.09.06 at 12:30 am

Randy Paul,

You have a point. I did set the bar rather high.

14

dmm 02.10.06 at 1:51 pm

but with Drogba upfront Ivory Coast will always carry a threat

The threat is to the health of the spectators in the crowd behind the goal. What a useless display he put on in the final.

15

Chris Bertram 02.10.06 at 1:59 pm

Yes it was a bad miss — but Ivory Coast should have won on the balance of play.

16

ab 02.10.06 at 4:40 pm

Well, the ref gifted Egypt another penalty. Perhaps it was bad conscious that they didn’t convert it.

Drogba could have been the hero. Now he’ll be devasteted.

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