So with hindsight (and as England didn't win it) I'm happy to say that was probably

[Sir C]

the best World Cup I can remember. Lots of incident, remarkably few really tedious games, not too many games decided on pelanties and the best team won it. Most satisfactory - for international football.

No Oranje, no party b.

Otherwise it was fun, I grant you. Especially seeing the likes of Argentina and Germany going home so early

[Burney]

No Oranje, no party b.

Otherwise it was fun, I grant you. Especially seeing the likes of Argentina and Germany going home so early

Yes. I'm also prepared to concede that England having a decent run gave it an extra piquancy it might otherwise have lacked.

I did think the Dutch thing was a shame, but the fact is that they're a bit dogsh1t at the moment.

[Peter]

Yes. I'm also prepared to concede that England having a decent run gave it an extra piquancy it might otherwise have lacked.

I did think the Dutch thing was a shame, but the fact is that they're a bit dogsh1t at the moment.

I missed Italy's rank negativity.

[Burney]

I missed Italy's rank negativity.

I would argue that Italy's absence was a major factor in its watchability. I think they ought to be banned permanently from World Cups.

[Sir C]

Yes. I'm also prepared to concede that England having a decent run gave it an extra piquancy it might otherwise have lacked.

I did think the Dutch thing was a shame, but the fact is that they're a bit dogsh1t at the moment.

And no sign of anything changing, really.

Bosman killed Dutch football. Belgian prick.

[Burney]

And no sign of anything changing, really.

Bosman killed Dutch football. Belgian prick.

We should let the top Dutch teams join the Premier League imo.

[Sir C]

We should let the top Dutch teams join the Premier League imo.

I think the advantage they had for all those years was having a system that was geared to producing footballers for whom technique was ingrained, from the age of 6 onwards. Technique, technique, technique. Teaching kids to love the football and to bend the ball to their will.

Now every **** does it.

[Burney]

I think the advantage they had for all those years was having a system that was geared to producing footballers for whom technique was ingrained, from the age of 6 onwards. Technique, technique, technique. Teaching kids to love the football and to bend the ball to their will.

Now every **** does it.

Just like our advantage used to be that Wenger knew how good the Clairefontaine academy was and basically gave us the pick of every French player coming through it for several years - until everyone else cottoned on.