Everton flop Marco makes his mark
- 10 Jul 06, 12:13 PM
BERLIN - Marco Materazzi鈥檚 career has always had an element of car crash chaos 鈥 even during his brief spell at Everton.
And never has it been more evident than in his pivotal contribution to .
Here's my World Cup - how was yours?
- 10 Jul 06, 07:26 AM
BERLIN - So that鈥檚 it then 鈥 a World Cup carnival that has taken me from Baden-Baden to Berlin via Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Gelsenkirchen, Munich and other stops too numerous to mention in five eventful weeks is over.
The circus is leaving town after the final between France and Italy and pitches up again in South Africa in four years.
So let鈥檚 look back at the highs and lows of this German summer 鈥 and let me hear your memorable moments, your heroes and villains.
A different sense of occasion
- 9 Jul 06, 04:13 PM
OLYMPIC STADIUM BERLIN - World Cup finals are special events in the sporting calendar - each one is unique.
And already, after attending the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany in Yokohama, I can detect a different atmosphere in Berlin this afternoon.
Third prize worth fighting for?
- 7 Jul 06, 03:06 PM
BERLIN - Jurgen Klinsmann has played in a World Cup final and has now managed on the highest stage by coaching his country to a semi-final.
Now he must take charge of a game that provokes mixed feelings among the World Cup community - namely the third place play-off.
In defence of Portugal?
- 6 Jul 06, 12:30 PM
NUREMBERG EN ROUTE TO BERLIN BY TRAIN (6.5 HR JOURNEY!) - Portugal鈥檚 reputation as the World Cup鈥檚 pantomime villains was confirmed in their semi-final defeat against France.
Cristiano Ronaldo was a target for the 鈥渂oo-hiss鈥 brigade, while we could have spent the entire match shouting 鈥渉e鈥檚 behind you鈥 at the fourth official whenever 鈥淏ig Phil鈥 Scolari wanted to debate yet another decision.
Most bizarre media conference ever?
- 5 Jul 06, 10:07 AM
MUNICH - If the World Cup semi-final between Portugal and France is half as eventful as the pre-match press conference, it is destined to become an all-time classic.
Rarely have there been such scenes of chaos, confusion and a little touch of ill-feeling as there were when Portugal boss "Big Phil" Scolari and his French counterpart Raymond Domenech met the media deep in the bowels of the Allianz Arena.
England missing Munich's party
- 4 Jul 06, 11:40 AM
MUNICH - The reminders of what might have been are everywhere here in Munich as England's conquerors Portugal prepare to face France in the World Cup semi-final.
Even the drive to the hotel gave us a sharp reminder of what we thought was to come from Sven-Goran Eriksson's so-called "Golden Generation" of players.
England's circus leaves town
- 2 Jul 06, 04:33 PM
BADEN-BADEN - England's version of the big top - their tented media village - was being dismantled within minutes of Sven-Goran Eriksson and David Beckham's departure for Baden-Baden airport.
There has been an element of the circus about England's World Cup campaign, and as usual it was leaving town ahead of schedule.
England's optimism runneth over
- 1 Jul 06, 12:55 PM
ARENAAUFSCHALKE GELSENKIRCHEN - England's travelling media have arrived at the magnificent Gelsenkirchen stadium riding a wave of optimism.
We have all expressed justifiable reservations about the way England have performed in this World Cup so far - you cannot portray low-key and lifeless displays as sporting works of art.
Once more unto the breach dear Sven
- 30 Jun 06, 12:44 PM
GELSENKIRCHEN - Ray Winstone will apparently be seen on video reciting and maybe even some to motivate England鈥檚 players before the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
Judging by what we saw of Gary Neville in his meeting with the media on Thursday, he could not be any more motivated to meet Portugal.
The two sides of Sven-Goran Eriksson
- 29 Jun 06, 03:48 PM
BADEN-BADEN - Sven-Goran Eriksson is showing signs of finally coming out fighting - and finally running out of patience with constant criticism.
Eriksson's sudden switches of formation and personnel in Germany have led to understandable fears that he is formulating his World Cup policy on the hoof, overseeing a movable feast of tactical changes that may end in a World Cup famine.
Rio happy to win ugly at World Cup
- 28 Jun 06, 03:55 PM
BADEN-BADEN - Rio Ferdinand is happy to win the World Cup any way he can - style does not get the vote over substance.
And he even used former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, covering the tournament in Germany for a national newspaper, to make his point.
Jeers or cheers for England?
- 26 Jun 06, 11:00 AM
BADEN-BADEN - It was intriguing to see the change in body language among England fans as a steamy afternoon in Stuggart moved to its conclusion.
Exuberant at the start, anxious in the middle, name on the cup at the end.
England's campaign is a World Cup . Play poorly, do enough to win or at least get the result you need, progress towards the closing stages...
Is Torres Man United's main man?
- 26 Jun 06, 10:04 AM
BADEN-BADEN - England's World Cup win against Ecuador was top of the agenda in Stuttgart - but there was a hot little rumour doing the rounds among the foreign media.
Namely, that Manchester United are close to sealing a 拢20m deal for Atletico Madrid's brilliant Spanish striker Fernando Torres.
If England can't stand the heat...
- 25 Jun 06, 09:41 AM
EN ROUTE TO STUTTGART - England's traditional obsession with the weather has been derided here in Germany as we swelter in the heat.
The complaints about the temperatures and humidity after the opening game against Paraguay were treated with barely disguised contempt by outsiders, scornful of the fact England appeared shocked at it being a little sunny during high summer in Germany.
Italy win the World Cup...apparently
- 23 Jun 06, 08:19 AM
BADEN-BADEN - Turn your back for a minute and Italy win the World Cup.
It seems that in the time it takes to have a 20-minute spin on the treadmill and spend the usual several hours in the recovery position, the final fortnight of the tournament has actually taken place and Marcello Lippi鈥檚 men are triumphant.
The plugs don't work
- 21 Jun 06, 08:19 AM
COLOGNE - It was night of tension and high drama that left those at the centre of the action knee-deep in chewed fingernails at the final whistle - and that was just in the media tribune.
England made it through to the second round with a draw against Sweden, but not without a few serious scares and nervous moments along the way.
Liverpool trio meet an old friend
- 19 Jun 06, 07:42 PM
COLOGNE - It was just like old times for Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, along with former Anfield team-mate Michael Owen, as England prepared to train in Cologne.
As they came out of the tunnel to start the session they were greeted by former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, now at Lyon but working at the World Cup as he prepares for next season.
Rooney stars behind closed doors
- 18 Jun 06, 02:19 PM
BADEN-BADEN - England's "open" training sessions in front of the media are hardly the most informative of affairs.
The 15 minutes allotted usually allows you enough time to confirm international footballers can run, stretch, jump, and play a clever little game where one player stands in the middle and his team-mates torment him by passing the ball around him.
Gerrard unmoved by Honours snub
- 17 Jun 06, 05:57 PM
BADEN-BADEN - Steven Gerrard was clearly unaware of a little bit of local difficulty brewing back in his home town over Liverpool's snub in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
There is apparently a renewed outcry on Merseyside that another round of gongs have gone by without Gerrard or Liverpool being rewarded for the Champions League win against AC Milan last year.
Wayne's a blessing and a curse
- 16 Jun 06, 01:19 PM
BADEN-BADEN - A journey down the autobahn in the early hours from Nuremberg to Baden-Baden was the perfect opportunity to ponder the near-debacle we witnessed in the Frankenstadion.
And to weigh up the Wayne Rooney effect on England - both good and bad.
Rooney's very presence on the touchline was a blessing and curse for England and their players during the game against Trinidad and Tobago.
England drowned out by German din
- 15 Jun 06, 10:18 AM
NUREMBERG - England鈥檚 World Cup base near Baden-Baden is equipped with all mod cons 鈥 most crucially the technology to watch their usual television channels from home.
Wayne can keep up with his personal favourite Coronation Street, thus not losing track of which murderer, abuser, poison pen writer, or general all-round bad egg Gail Tilsley鈥檚 got herself involved with in the last fortnight.
Sven's World Cup sideshow
- 14 Jun 06, 06:08 PM
NUREMBERG - Sven-Goran Eriksson's closing press conferences of his reign as England manager have been among the most intriguing and entertaining during his time in charge.
From presenting a Sir Geoffrey Boycott-style dead bat to most inquiries for the last five years, Sven has suddenly opened up. A little bit of controversy here. A little bit of humour there.
Wayne, Wayne go away?
- 14 Jun 06, 01:07 PM
ON A BUS BOUND FOR NUREMBERG - Wayne Rooney is definitely playing. He looks in fantastic shape and it's great to see him with the England number nine shirt on again.
Sadly, it is only on the dvd currently keeping us entertained on the three-hour drive from Baden-Baden to Nuremberg, a morale-boosting repeat showing of England's 3-2 win against Argentina in Geneva.
A replay perhaps, but proof again that no matter where you look, there is no escaping Rooney.
If you go down to the woods today....
- 13 Jun 06, 02:37 PM
BADEN-BADEN Security is understandably tight around England's training base in the woods high above Buhlertal - and it needs to be to cope with the intrepid band of journalists following Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad.
One newspaper reporter, rightly and justifiably seeking out more information, adopted a high-risk policy today in the hope of being rewarded with that extra snippet of news about Wayne Rooney, or perhaps that subtle change in Eriksson's formation.
Wayne's man Stretford gets in shape
- 12 Jun 06, 09:49 AM
BADEN-BADEN Wayne Rooney's agent Paul Stretford was among the early starters at our hotel gym this morning - maybe getting in shape for a busy week of calming down Sir Alex Ferguson if his charge plays against Trinidad and Tobago.
Paul pummelled the exercise bike as the strains of Eurovision Song contest winner "Hard Rock Hallelujah" pounded the walls of the gym.
England's heated debate
- 11 Jun 06, 03:02 PM
BADEN-BADEN - England arrived in Baden-Baden last Monday just hours after heavy rain hit the area - and have now walked right into the middle of a German heatwave.
There was concern among England's medical staff about getting fluids on to players during the win against Paraguay, when temperatures were well into the 80s, and opposition players commented on how Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will struggle if the weather stays as it is.
It was certainly an unusual sight to see so many players heading towards the touchline at every break in play to take drinks on board.
And sympathy goes to Joe Cole, who on a couple of occasions wandered over for his drink from the left-flank in the first half only to for the game to re-start just before he could get refreshment - the footballing equivalment of arriving in a pub just as the barmaid puts the towels on.
Rude awakening on big day
- 10 Jun 06, 08:21 AM
FRANKFURT - What is the first sight you like to gaze upon when you pull back the curtains in the morning?
Well maybe we won't actually pursue that one too far, but for me at my hotel in Frankfurt I was greeted by the faces of Michael Ballack, Kaka and Lionel Messi.
Not a nightmare about the biggest threats to , but a giant signal that World Cup fever has now officially taken hold and the big day has finally arrived for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side.
Those three stars adorn a giant high-rise office building just yards from my bedroom window. A swift reminder that at last we have some football to be played.
Sven turns the tables on Ferguson
- 9 Jun 06, 10:57 AM
ON A BUS BOUND FOR FRANKFURT - The fall-out from Sven-Goran Eriksson's brief but about Wayne Rooney is still the day's hot topic as we move along the autobahn to Frankfurt for England's opening game tomorrow.
Even Eriksson's detractors were impressed by the way he finally laid the law down to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - a bit like a wife who has been nagged once too often and finally decided to chuck her husband's suitcases on the front step.
Sven shows Fergie his ruthless side
- 8 Jun 06, 03:29 PM
BADEN-BADEN - Easily the most dramatic day so far at England's opulent World Cup media centre.
Early whispers that Sven-Goran Eriksson would read a brief, prepared statement on Wayne Rooney's fitness then decline further questions set the pulses racing for the world's media.
And Eriksson did not disappoint in what was seen by almost everyone afterwards as putting Sir Alex Ferguson firmly in his place when it comes to Rooney's immediate World Cup future.
My take was that this was very much an "I'm in charge" message to those wondering who will decide Rooney's World Cup destiny.
The statement was cleverly pitched, appealing to "40m England fans" - knowing every last one (bar maybe a few inside Old Trafford) wants to see Rooney in action in Germany.
No escaping Wayne's foot
- 7 Jun 06, 01:46 PM
BADEN-BADEN Wayne Rooney does not just possess the most famous metatarsal in England - his foot is now at the centre of world debate.
as Rooney flew back to Manchester for the scan that will send a nation into either delight or despair.
And it quickly became clear Wayne's foot is not just a national obssession in England, it has created a monster of amateur medics across the globe.
Members of the English media were eagerly claimed by foreign television crews from around the world to give their considered verdicts on the foot that is haunting a nation.
Indeed, it can now almost take its place in history alongside one of the most famous injuries in sporting history, namely Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann's broken neck in the 1956 FA Cup final.
Welcome to Absurdistan
- 6 Jun 06, 03:15 PM
BADEN-BADEN England's World Cup charm offensive was lapped up by hundreds of fans allowed to watch them go through their paces at a superbly-appointed training camp on the edge of the Black Forest.
Sadly, the arrival of England's superstars was not universally well-received, with one mean-spirited resident festooning his house with a giant banner announcing "Welcome to Absurdistan" - a reference to the tight security surrounding the England team.
It struck only a minor note of dischord, with many England flags decorating the picturesque hillside.
And as Paul Robinson said, you suspect England fans would not reciprocate with German colours should Jurgen Klinsmann's men pitch up in a village back home.
Welcome to Absurdistan
- 6 Jun 06, 03:15 PM
BADEN-BADEN England's World Cup charm offensive was lapped up by hundreds of fans allowed to watch them go through their paces at a superbly-appointed training camp on the edge of the Black Forest.
Sadly, the arrival of England's superstars was not universally well-received, with one mean-spirited resident festooning his house with a giant banner announcing "Welcome to Absurdistan" - a reference to the tight security surrounding the England team.
It struck only a minor note of dischord, with many England flags decorating the picturesque hillside.
And as Paul Robinson said, you suspect England fans would not reciprocate with German colours should Jurgen Klinsmann's men pitch up in a village back home.
Excess baggage
- 5 Jun 06, 07:39 PM
BADEN-BADEN - The World Cup came tantalisingly into view for the media party as we left Heathrow for Stuttgart at the start of our five-week campaign 鈥 and some time-honoured travel traditions were strictly observed.
Namely the customary parting of the ways for passengers and their luggage.
Thanks to a craft that revived memories of the glory days of Airfix models, there was no room for all luggage required to sustain the press pack through a gruelling stint in Germany.
So it was that we waved farewell to our cases and other crucial personal effects on the tarmac as they waited to board a flight to Frankfurt while we headed off in the direction of Stuttgart.
Excess baggage
- 5 Jun 06, 07:39 PM
BADEN-BADEN - The World Cup came tantalisingly into view for the media party as we left Heathrow for Stuttgart at the start of our five-week campaign 鈥 and some time-honoured travel traditions were strictly observed.
Namely the customary parting of the ways for passengers and their luggage.
Thanks to a craft that revived memories of the glory days of Airfix models, there was no room for all luggage required to sustain the press pack through a gruelling stint in Germany.
So it was that we waved farewell to our cases and other crucial personal effects on the tarmac as they waited to board a flight to Frankfurt while we headed off in the direction of Stuttgart.
About Phil McNulty
- 27 Apr 06, 05:04 PM
I have been chief football writer for the 大象传媒 Sport website for six years, covering the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Euro 2004 in Portugal, and I will be following England again in Germany.
I was born in Liverpool and had previously worked for local and national newspapers, covering the contrasting fortunes of Everton and Liverpool - and with a long enough memory to recall when both were champions and Chelsea were a mere twinkle in Roman Abramovich's eye.
I'll be based in - although not at the fortress that will be England's team hotel - and I'll bring you daily insight on how England's campaign is developing and the mood in the camp.
The height of my football career was "starring" in a Press v Wales match at what is now the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, sharing a pitch (if not the ball) with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed and Neville Southall. It's been all downhill since then.
I'm led to believe "Posh" Spice is also staying at my hotel, so there may be gossip for the entertainment pages as well.
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