Northern Ireland 1:0 England!

[Upper_Krust]

Hey all!

In a true life David versus Goliath, Northern Ireland just beat England in the World Cup Qualifying Rounds! Not only that but they actually deserved the win!!!!!

To just explain how big an upset this is, England are ranked as the 7th best team in the world, while Northern Ireland are ranked 116th in the world!

The England manager gets £4.5 million a year salary, the Northern Ireland manager gets £4.50 and a free bus pass, the look on Sven Goran Ericksons face at the end...priceless!

Great goal by Healy! Great Entertainment (ie. his tantrums) by Rooney. Best football match EVER! Best football fans ever!

NORTHERN IRELAND
*five claps*
NORTHERN IRELAND
*five claps*
NORTHERN IRELAND
*five claps*

repeat ad infinitum

 

[Morrus]

Freaky. Wasn't expecting that. For England to qualify, I think they have to win the next two games now.

It's weird. It's a good team, but Sven is coming up with some really odd strategies. He had a bunch of people playing in positions they're not used to. Did the same with the Denmark game, and England lost that, too.

I'm all for experimentation, but only in friendlies. If the match actually matters, he should stick to what he knows works. He got a lot of heat for the Denmark fiasco, and I imagine he's going to get a lot for this, too. The players all seem to be sticking behind him though.

 

[reveal]

It's like you're speaking another language.

 

[Morrus]

It's like you're speaking another language.

Don't worry about it. We don't understand a word when you guys talk sports, either.

 

[Zander]

...Sven is coming up with some really odd strategies. He had a bunch of people playing in positions they're not used to.

I blame Sweden.

[Lock tongue firmly in cheek]Why can't England have an English manager like Man Utd's, Arsenal's or Chelsea's?[/Tongue in cheek]

 

[diaglo]

ouch...

diaglo "whose great, great uncle captained England" Ooi

 

[Ferret]

Also Northen ireland had not won a home game since 1927 (?).

I tihnk the main problem was that sven brought off Shaun Wright-Phillips when he was being put to good use, but he also played Rooney in a really aweful posistion.....

 

[Jdvn1]

Crazy. Venezuela beat Peru 4-1 the other day! Venezuela has never qualified for the World Cup and they still might not, but I'll root for them anyway.

 

[Dimwhit]

Very crazy.

However, I don't think anything in the soccer (sorry, football) world can be as ultra bizarre as the fact that the United States are ranked 6th in the world. That's right. 6th. And seeing as how they just beat Mexico, who is 5th, that may change.

I think Hell froze over.

 

[Ferret]

The thing is that ranking can only effect the results of a game not the sum total of the squads talents and abilities, and that they can only ever change when international games are held.