Insomnia and the internet is a wonderful thing sometimes, I managed to watch the France/Spain and Germany/Argentina games in full after England/Egypt.

There's nothing much more to say about Spain, they were on a different level to France and they weren't even at their most fluid best - the depth of their squad is frightening too, they took off Fabregas and Villa at half time and only had Xavi and Torres to replace them. Definitely the favourites, but everyone can have an off day and that's all it takes in the KO stage and you are gone, the defence still has question marks over it, but the problem is getting enough of the ball to test them.

France are way off the pace for me, Domenech couldn't seem do anything with them when they still had a smattering of world class players, now they have all but gone (or got old) there seems little chance of even a couple of players dragging them through to a decent finish like Zidane and Henry did in 2006.

The biggest surprise about Germany/Argentina is that, under Maradona, Argentina actually looked like a competent team for a change. Having seen a few of their qualifiers they played like a bunch of individuals with no idea what they were supposed to be doing as a whole, if last night wasn't a one off and they continue to build into a better unit for the tournament then they have every chance of doing well.

On the other hand Germany were disappointing, they didn't look like a team at all. I'm not sure if they were experimenting but there were a few players I wasn't familiar with and they didn't impress. Then again we all know that they are always a different proposition when it comes to the actual tournament.

Trying to be as unbiased as possible, I would say Carrick always looks a yard off the pace in mind and body against the big teams. When he has plenty of time to pick a pass there's not many better but when a snap decision/play needs making, he seems to get the ball taken off him or plays a stray pass. Premiership class but not international class for mine. If Hargreaves were fit, I wouldn't be taking Carrick to the World Cup.

He's not at the heart of the United team. Vidic? Yes. Fletcher? Yes. Rooney? Yes. Van De Saar? Yes. Ferdinand? Yes. Ronaldo? Yes. Carrick - squad player.

Carrick simply isn't good enough for England and this is reflected in the selections by the likes of Sven and Capello.

Domenech attempting to explain France's lethargic football by laying the blame for Thierry Henry's sub-standard performance at the feet of Barcelona

Carrick's more than a squad player. He's one of the first names on the team sheet. When he plays just behind Fletch and Scholes/Anderson he's class. He can also play well in a middle two, although at times this season when with just Scholes our midfield hasn't got into the game.

Hargreaves - Carrick - Fletcher/Anderson is a midfield that I look forward to seeing play.

A Lampard - Carrick - Barry midfield would work pretty well too IMO, but that obviously isn't going to happen.

www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 15658.html Andy Cole on why he didnt get on with Sheringham. The bizarre thing is why nobody seems to have bothered sitting them down to sort it out.

www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 15658.html Andy Cole on why he didnt get on with Sheringham. The bizarre thing is why nobody seems to have bothered sitting them down to sort it out.

My take on it. Andy Cole is clearly mental. His mentalism isn't affecting the team in any way, so you let it be.

I can understand Cole being miffed over his perceived snub, but he has to have some empathy with Sheringham as well in that situation. Sheringham's got similar feelings to Cole as to how much playing for England means, his substitution is likely to have been as unwelcome to Sheringham as it was welcome to Cole. I don't think Sheringham would've been snubbing Cole, he'd have just been massively upset over possibly losing his England place.

Put yourself in Sheringham's position when they were both at Man United. There's a sad fool who won't talk to you just because you don't shake his hand when he was replacing you. Would you want to be talking to that idiot? I wouldn't.

I think everyone knew that Cole and Sheringham didn't get on. I think most people will be shocked about just what a petty argument it was over. Andy Cole's a big girl IMO.

Why didn't he just ask Sheringham after the game why he didn't shake his hand instead of acting like a child about it.

EE will be knocking out another one over De Jong tonight.

He broke Stuart Holden's leg last night in a challenge which was far worse that the one which Ramsey broke his leg in. His punishment. A free kick. The ref was 5m from the the challenge. De Jong dived in, he was late, his studs went right into Holden's shin and the ref did nothing over it. Well done FIFA, you've really improved the standard of reffing.



Edit: He was booked. Stupid ESPN didn't show the booking, they must have been showing a replay of the incident at the time and only had notification of the card flash underneath the score.

Didn't watch England the other night was at the evening's premier football clash of FCUM v Ossett Town but Carrick has got on my nerves lately. He is so sideways it's criminal, his set piece delivery is generally dire, can't remember him taking control of a game this season. He is the definition of nothingness for me. In all honesty the same can be said for most of United's midfield apart from Fletcher and Giggs.

Quote Lord God Jose Mourinho="Lord God Jose Mourinho"EE will be knocking out another one over De Jong tonight.'" The second best midfeilder in the world behing Micheal Johnson in EE's eye Oh and speaking of the tubby peice of lard Johnson www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... d-fan.html

Quote Lord God Jose Mourinho="Lord God Jose Mourinho"EE will be knocking out another one over De Jong tonight.'" The second best midfeilder in the world behing Micheal Johnson in EE's eye Oh and speaking of the tubby peice of lard Johnson www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... d-fan.html

Baines wasn't poor. Graeme Le Saux said today on the radio that he was very impressed with him and it was a very impressive performance that should have pushed him to the front of the queue to backup Ashley Cole, praising his tactical discipline when those in the other defensive positions weren't doing so well (Upson and Brown).