Players

With the Final of the World Cup approaching in just over an hour, the Gorse Fox would like to provide his retrospective:

• It was a shame England were knocked out so early – but they cannot complain, they didn’t deserve to go further.
• There seemed to be less diving and cheating overall during this tournament – but it needs to be stamped out entirely.
• Referees need to remember that football is a contact sport. Touching or tackling an opponent is not, of itself, a foul. (Bring back Dave Mackay and Billy Bremner)
• Video replays and/or goal line technology must be introduced to assist the referees.

The Gorse Fox would like to make the following awards:

• Player of the tournament,  was Diego Forlan of Uruguay. He played with grace, intelligence, and skill. He remained good humoured throughout, always playing with a smile on his face. He scored some of the best goals of the tournament, and he lost with dignity. A true gentleman, and a role model.
• Best Pundit, was Jürgen Klinsmann who spoke better English than most of the native English commentators, was incisive in his analysis, and showed a real intelligence.
• Best Coverage, the BBC by far.
• Most Incomprehensible Pundit, Emmanuel Adebayor.
• Worst Commentator, Clive Tyldesley. In fact even if he hadn’t been there he’s still be the worst. Full of fatuous irrelevance and unable to let the game speak for itself.
• Best World Cup Discussion, Baddiel and Skinner’s podcasts.
• Most Petulant Losers, this award is a tie between Brasil who resorted to some disgraceful behaviour when they lost the lead to the Netherlands (just as they did in the last World Cup against Turkey) and Portugal who seemed out of their depth, clueless, and subject to diving fits.
• Most Amusing Team, obviously goes to the French.
• Most Over-Hyped Team, is of course our own England.