This week’s episode features a round up of the games that had been played at the time, instant reaction to France, South Africa.  See if we called Germany and Ghana correctly and how we think the Kiwis will get on today. The regular well of amusement that is ’Call My Fact’ runs a little dry but there is still room for The Bard, Ilunga Mwepu, Alf Di Stefano, Mark Knofler, Mark Bresciano and some coach theft.  The Grand Feature of Underdog, will obviously Feature The New Zealand lions who held Italy last week. Media Watch features Chris Waddle but is very brief.  No word from Nick in South Africa just yet but we’ll be hearing from him in the next episode.

We again try, and partly fail, to not talk too much about England and predict the qualifiers – of which we definately got Germany right. Wow! Insight.

Thanks for listenng/reading.

Nick’s blog last Seat On The Plane
Cockle’s blog Half Time Whistle

And NEW ZEALAND. And here’s to hoping that Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen will have their sarcastic comments rammed forcibly where it’s cloudy. Although why Hansen feels so able to comment given his team aren’t there, we don;t know. Unless, of course, he is now a nationalised Englishman?

And North Korea, although they stand next to no chance, presumably.

Image courtesy of TWTD

After a gruelling 6 months following the business end of the FA Cup, we needed a break so we removed ourselves from football and headed half way round the world. Actually, it was just a holiday. But never being able to switch off, we fancied a bit of a game in New Zealand anyway.

With a 28 year absence from the World Cup, the fever must surely have gripped the country’s ‘soccer’ fans. Innit? So, watching a game here could be fun, we would bathe in the locals’ heightened anticipation of a great summer (actually, winter in their case). Camper van route mapped, we figured that we could get to see Waikatere .v. Waikato on Sunday 14th March. Top at home to bottom at the business end of the season. With Waiketere including former Wolves and Norwich journeyman Neil Emblen as player coach, we had to root for WAIKATO!

We didn’t hit too many towns on tour but we first popped into the local All Blacks/Sports store in Christchurch to see if we could pick up an NZ All Whites world cup shirt. Hmmm, scarce, this is so big the whole place has sold the fuck out!

After a sodden but spectacular trip through Arthur’s Pass we tried the smaller township of Greymouth. Same story. The sporty Queenstown? Nope. Wellington … didn’t have time so didn’t bother looking … Auckland? Nope. Intriguing. Asked some locals. Not interested. So, this is World Cup fever?

At one time, Neil Emblen was £2million worth of average when he moved from Wolves to Palace. His last FA Cup action was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Slough while he was playing for Walsall. Ouch. So, Waikatere .v. Waikato. We missed the game on account of a miscalculation brought about by the draconian Kiwi speed limit of 60mph. The leaders won 4-2.

We did watch a park kickabout though. If anyone is in any doubt of the pernicious nature of the Premier League, there were two Chelsea shirts on show in the 15 a-side jumpers for goalposts fest, one Liverpool and a Man United. Not to be outdone, the Italians weighed in with a Milanese and an Old Lady. Some Greek ones, some Japanese ones, some South American ones … and a lot of skins courtesy of the local Maori contingent. Otherwise, zip.

So, World Cup fever is a little lite. Football fever is there among the non-indiginous population so why do some countries not ‘get it’? Dear New Zealand, your national sport might be rugby or maybe cricket but this is the WORLD CUP, now get with the programme.

Canterbury .v. Otago on 28th Feb
Hawkes Bay v Auckland on 14th March.

New Zealand Football Championship here we come!!  We were hoping to bump into Paul Ifill along the way at Wellington Phoenix but they’ve desserted to the poncy A-League so who the hell knows, mate, cobber, sheila (that was because it’s the Australian league …. etc ) Boo.