Impressions so far??

[Billydinho]

Allardyce dreams of managing Greece.

There's no better fit in World football.

Pulis as assistant.

[e17]

They were eerily Allardicio!

[Whitters]

That Greece v Ivory Coast ending...

**** me that was a proper WC game

Very cool ending....and the Greeks were decent on the night too and deserved it. My missus is Greek so that side of the family will be on the ouzos tonight

[Rio]

One thing that's struck me is how both ITV & BBC have imposed wage caps on the commentating team.

Obviously big bucks were dished out for the likes of Henry, Cannavaro et al. Which meant money for co-commentators was scarce. It's the only logical reason you'd get Danny Higginbottom or Clarke Carlisle offering their musings on international football of the highest level.

[pablo jaye]

Been watching a fair few games now, and it appears to me that far fewer free-kicks and penalties are being given when players go over. Not checked any stats or anything but it seems like refs are not being bought as easily when someone falls to the deck. As a result the games seem a lot more flowing and enjoyable as a result.

Also, are red and yellow cards being shown a lot less? Seems to me that they are, which again gives more flow to the game.

[woodford]

. Which meant money for co-commentators was scarce. It's the only logical reason you'd get Danny Higginbottom or Clarke Carlisle offering their musings on international football of the highest level.

yes !

How the hell has Clarke Carlisle got it on the act ??? He must have the same agent as Rita Ora, face everywhere not actually sure what he's done

One of them was doing commentary last night and the lead commentator kept reminding the public that Clarke or Danny had played football at the very highest level. Is that true ?? when did I miss that

[pablo jaye]

I quite like Clarke doing the co-commentating and Sam Matterface .... much preferable to the 'know-nothing bloke in pub' banalities of Andy Townsend or the sniggering in-jokes of Lawro. For once, I prefer the ITV commentaries when they are on.

[ageing hammer]

Best impression has to be the teeth marks on chiellini

[_fortunes_]

Best impression has to be the teeth marks on chiellini

Good one AH

I reckon the defenses will certainly start to tighten in the coming rounds and the football won't be as entertaining. Less goals forthcoming.

[fjthegrey]

I'd put forward Clarke Carlisle as perhaps the best co-commentator I've ever heard, obviously after Sir Trev. He actually seems to watch the game and understand why certain things have happened as well as being able to eloquently state those observations with grammatically correct English.

Townsend should be shot. Is there not some consumer feedback poll you can vote on to have him ejected from punditry?

Phil Jones makes a tackle on the edge of our box yesterday and a foul is awarded against him, Andy Townsend states, 'It's a real shame that foul was given against Phil as he was in there.' Sorry Andy but how exactly was he ****ing 'in' after winning a tackle on the edge of our box? If the foul had been given the other way, would the Costa Rican player have had to be sent of for denying a goal scoring opportunity?

Absolute plum. There are double figures worth of comments every game that incense me.

[Toulouse_Iron]

Very entertaining, very infuriating world cup so far.
Some of the best attacking play, the worst defending and f*cking awful/bent refereeing ever seen in a top tournament.

[Paddy O'Hammer]

Would all coaches of schoolboy teams note the heights of Shaquiri, Messi and Neymar.

[Puff Daddy]

If most of the European teams are melting in the heat of Latin America, how on earth will they cope in Qatar in 2022 ?

[Matt of iron]

If most of the European teams are melting in the heat of Latin America, how on earth will they cope in Qatar in 2022 ?

I don't think anyone will cope in that heat.

Oh god, imagine if only Qatar can cope and win the world cup in 2022. :lol:

[Rocketron]

Does anyone know why they've made the late games an hour later (9pm not 8)?
I'm up at 5am so have to miss the second half.

[bobbymooresbracelet]

If most of the European teams are melting in the heat of Latin America, how on earth will they cope in Qatar in 2022 ?

Acclimatise training a couple of weeks before,worked well for us.

[WHUJohn]

Best World Cup I can remember personally, tainted by Suarez.

Lots more to come though.

[sendô]

Very entertaining thus far. Lots of goals, plenty of shocks, some un-fancied teams playing very well.

[Whitters]

Does anyone know why they've made the late games an hour later (9pm not 8)?
I'm up at 5am so have to miss the second half.

I suspect that it's in case the earlier game goes to extra time and penalties, so it maintains at least an hour gap between games.

[Rocketron]

]

Does anyone know why they've made the late games an hour later (9pm not 8)?
I'm up at 5am so have to miss the second half.

[quote="Whitters"
I suspect that it's in case the earlier game goes to extra time and penalties, so it maintains at least an hour gap between games.[/quote]
I hadn't thought that through, had I ?