Disaster … Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog …

It's an indescribable feeling being an England fan and leaving the World Cup and the euphoria behind ... I'll just forward the words of Chris Waddle commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live for the game ... he knows the game ... "The FA just sit on their backsides doing nothing, tournament after tournament ... why don't they listen? Why don't they look at other countries and say "how they keep producing talent?" ... we coach talent out of players ... we look upon player like Wayne Rooney and Steve Gerrard who haven't turned up for this tournament ... Steven Gerard’s had a half decent tournament but where do we go? Where's the plan B? ... they say "well, we've got pacey wingers who can do ..." ... WE HAVEN'T !!! We haven't got players who can run ... and the back four can't control it .. Can't pass it ... we lack so many ideas it's so frustrating ... the amount of money in our league is frightening and all they do is waste it on rubbish ideas ... " So there FA ... and FIFA, come on, pull your finger out and get some goal line technology in ... it's beyond ridiculous ... they better have it in the Prem next season ... Vote for me to play at LoveBox 2010 if you would be so kind, thank you very much, it only takes a second ... http://apps.facebook.com/playlovebox/ And treat yourself to a FREE DOWNLOAD of the Adidas Trainers (Stan Smith remix) ... http://www.matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/ Regards, Matt Henshaw

Slovakia and Japan, welcome additions to the last 16 ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog …

Yesterday's games were a set of the best the World Cup has had to offer thus far ... and Slovakia and Japan, whilst underdogs and two of Alan Hansen's favourite whipping boys from the comfort of the studio, have proved themselves me than worthy of the last 16. Japanese forward Honda will no doubt be playing in Europe next season, where the money's at. His silky skills as provider for Japan's final goal was reminiscient of Henry or Bergkamp in their prime and as good as anything Lionel Messi has done, or Christiano Ronaldo has done with his head or neck, at this World Cup. And it's a shame to see the world champions Italy drop out, especially as I was speaking through the wonders of the internet to a couple of Italian girls at the time, they didn't care, and it seems that some of the Italy squaed didn't either apart from Buffon on the bench and Gattuso slicing his way into Slovakians legs !!! Did you see that gash ??? And no surprises for guessing the first European team through on 9 points ... but how far will the Netherlands get this time ??? Vote for me to play at LoveBox 2010 if you would be so kind, thank you very much, it only takes a second ... http://apps.facebook.com/playlovebox/ And treat yourself to a FREE DOWNLOAD of the Adidas Trainers (Stan Smith remix) ... http://www.matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/ And check me in this week’s NME magazine …

There we have it ... England through, do the do ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog …

Round 1 down ... but is there anyone else like me still a little disappointed that the last 20 minutes were an exercise in keep-ball rather than entertainment ... I'm as pleased as the next English born fella that we've made it by the skin of our teeth but I wouldn't mind a little flair for my money ... bringing on a cumbersome chap like Heskey to hold the ball up (which he does well by the way) and using someone with the skill and finesse like Joe Cole to keep the ball in the corner when I believe we should be putting in the second and third in the 70th to 90th minutes of the game ... or am I just an unsatisfiable England fan ... I'd probably complain if we won it because they scored an own goal ... although that would be nice if it was someone annoying like Puyol ... So, what can we take from the game? Milner played well after giving the ball away every time he had it in the first 15 minute ... as did Upson (who I had nightmares about messing up against USA) ... Is Rooney still looking haggered by injury woes? But Lampard and Gerrard looked good, finally, would have been nice to see either of them score but as Mick n Keef sang, "you can't always get what you want" ... maybe that should be an England World Cup song along with Three Lions ... it seems a fitting epitaph for the last 100 years of World Cup woe ... sorry? what? It's only been going since 1930 ... yes, well, I've only been around since 1987 but it still seems like 100 years !!! It'll probably be Germany in the next round anyways ... what do you think about that ??? Vote for me to play at LoveBox 2010 if you would be so kind, thank you very much, it only takes a second ... http://apps.facebook.com/playlovebox/ And treat yourself to a FREE DOWNLOAD of the Adidas Trainers (Stan Smith remix) ... http://www.matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/

Au revoir les Francais ... the dread of tomorrow ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog …

Enjoyed this afternoon's footyball ... watching the French desperately try to not be embarrassed at the first hurdle, but embarrassed they were, at the hands of South Africa, who in turn with feel a pinch of disatisfaction at being the first host nation to exit at the group stage. However, RSA will be pleased to have beaten the former world champions, quite convincingly it has to be said, and they have been overshadowed by the two teams from the Americas in the groups, as all the teams in this tournament seem to be playing in the shadow of the latino sides ... currently sat watching Maradona's Argentina side cruise into the second round, spare a thought for the poor lad with the job of man marking Lionel Messi and the surname too long to fit on the back of his shirt ... his father will be upset, and he's likely to end up with a booking at least by the end of the game if not more ... It would not surprise me if Nigeria sneak through this group, at the behest of Greece! So, what about the English boys and tomorrow's match up against Slovenia? The news so far that Upson, Milner and Defoe are the names on the team sheet for the game aren't exactly setting my heart alight with the confidence that the game will be anything more than a struggle ... Joe Cole must start, and if he doesn't make an appearance within the hour some serious question must be asked of Don Fabio ... is there any other closet Sven fans out there?? Which England player of the past would you recall to make sure we qualify for the second stage? Chris Waddle and a crash diet for me, a player than CAN run with the ball and cross, and take free-kicks, and better hair than Valderama ... all these young wingers aren't worth their weight in salt when compared to the Newcastle / Tottenham / Marseille / Wednesday legend. Walcott, Lennon and SWP... Vote for me to play at LoveBox 2010 if you would be so kind, thank you very much, it only takes a second ... http://apps.facebook.com/playlovebox/ And treat yourself to a FREE DOWNLOAD of the Adidas Trainers (Stan Smith remix) ... http://www.matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/

Finally, an enjoyable run of games ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog …

First of all, I'd like to apologise for not blogging anything following England's poor poor game on Friday ... I couldn't bring myself to say anything, and I'm sure all I would have said has been said and million and one other times by a million and one bloggers in a thousand other languages. Where was Joe Cole? Anyways, on a World Cup positive I'd just like to say how much I've enjoyed the last 24 hours of football. Finally some excitement, and goals goals goals. Even if it is bloomin' Portugal !!! Brazil vs. cote d'ivoire was a proper World Cup match-up and plenty of talking points to boot. The Kaka decision has to be overturned, I don't care if it was a second yellow or whatever, you can't bring the game into disrepute like that, and echoes of Rivlado doing a similar thing against Turkey brings the venom back, and the anti-Football naysayers to the fore. Get back, football = a glorious game. As proved when played excellently by Portugal against what some may say were inferior opposition. I say I like the Korean tykes, and have been impressed with some of their football, however, they were batted a side with some aplomb by one of Western Europe's finest. And Chile - Switzerland was good quality fast paced affair with some interesting refereeing decisions, some of the reffing in this tournament has reminded me of a game in the USA '94 World Cup when two players were sent off for kicking the ball out, Mexico vs. Bulgaria I think it was ... So, Spain to look forward to watching tonight, let's hope for another decent game ... and let's see how the Spaniards respond to their opening day loss ... better than the boys with three lions on their shirts no doubt ... How about a Free Adidas Trainers Remix Download in exchange for voting Matt Henshaw to play LoveBox 2010 ... http://apps.facebook.com/playlovebox/ ... go for it ... http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/ ...

One down many more to go ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog …

So have we had a good start to the World Cup ??? Vuvuzelas giving you a head ache?? Maradona's adulation too much so early on??? England's chances???? What happened to Spain???? There you go, I've pretty much summed it up in that paragraph. There's not that much happened so far. Besides a few select teams / games the goal count has been depressingly low, and the soul shakin football not to be found in too many places. So, my favourite Spain faulter at the first hurdle and my outside bet, Cote d'ivoire don't look as deadly as I thought they would against Portugal, who I still predict will go out at the close of the group stage. The USA game then? I watched too horrified as Robert Green, still in my opinion the safest pair of hands in the England goal (how's that for a statement?) spilled the ball into our goal. Too distressed!!! In my nightmares it was Ledley King making the mistake ... get Barry in for the Algeria game ... here's hoping to three points against the North African boys ... Vote for me to play at LoveBox this year … http://www.facebook.com/loveboxofficial … New Kula Shaker single … catch me with them at Mogadishu festival in July … http://newblack.me/u/?s=0 Matt Henshaw x http://www.matthenshaw.com/

Crock Stars ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog ...

Here's my first proper world cup blog for SWFC.co.uk and the official FIFA world cup website ... I'll be feeling sorry for you over the next month or so if you're not a football fan ... So, Rio is gone and we're looking to Ledley "the modern Darren "sick note" Anderton" King to be the solid centre half ... it just doesn't add up ... I've always been wary of Mr. King at the heart of the English defence ... the man can only train one day a week in case of rupturing or breaking something or just wearing something out that he needs to have his fitness and stamina for the weekend's game ... even still he lacks yards (not just one yard) of pace it takes to cut it against the world's top strikers ... I am quite pleased to see Michael Dawson on the plane to South Africa ... I remember him rising through the ranks at Nottingham Forest and having future England captain written all over him ... will he realise his potential energy some day and turn it into kinetic captain material ... And what about Capello's admission of never watching Darren Bent ... shocking, particularly for those not inclined to the cumbersome dodderings(?) of Emile Heskey ... scandalous ... And Stevie G as captain? I must say I'm a Frankie Lampard fan personally ... but could he cut it as captain ... maybe that responsibility is the thing that will make Gerrard for England like he's wearing a red shirt with a Liver Bird on it ... something we've all been waiting for... http://www.matthenshaw.com

Owen Hargreaves and I ... Official SWFC.co.uk World Cup blog ...

Here's is the blog that allowed me to become the official SWFC.co.uk blogger for this summer's world cup in South Africa ... I will follow it up shortly with my first proper world cup blog just 4 days before the excitement begins ... it shall be a glorious summer ...

I know this is supposed to be a humorous blog however my entry is laced with sadness ... it was a hot a summers day; the 1^st of July if you wish me to be precise. The location was an well-known Australian themed pub in Derby, in the East Midlands, neither here nor there in the United Kingdom. Penalties. The dreaded “P”-word. Rooney was gone; as too was all hope of seeing the semi-finals, perhaps for what felt like my life time, this was our chance, 2006, the golden boys, led by Golden Balls himself. Christiano Ronaldo with one fell wink had done his damage. Lampard: Miss. Hargreaves: Scores, many wouldn’t have even taken him to Germany. Gerrard and Carragher: both Miss, you can guarantee they’d have put it through the net if they had been wearing red!! Then Ronaldo twists the knife, no-one thought he’d be welcomed back to Manchester again (but who would have predicted the best season of his career?!) So there I am stood by the market square fountain in the middle of Derby of all places. And all the passers-by say something to the affect of “good penalty mate” and/or “at least you scored your penalty mate!” I don’t know what was more depressing ... England out of the World Cup; or that all of these drunken people in the middle of Derby thought I was Owen Hargreaves ... and that I was their mate!

http://www.matthenshaw.com