Ladies and Gentlemen Welcome to Footcall 2012…

09/06/12 01:50

So we are off and running... Footcall 2012 rumbles into town for the 7th time!
Not only are we here again for another lap round the Footcall circuit, but we're back bigger and better with a new website (big shout out to my buddy Spencer for his work behind the scenes) and an amazing record entry field. Our target of 113 from 2010 was looking a real challenge to surpass especially when the list was knocking about the 60 runners mark at the start of the week. Well we smashed the back doors in of the previous record and pulled in an unbelievable 138. Many thanks to all the returning Footcall veterans and a warm welcome to those whose arm I twisted to give it a go for the first time, I promise to do my best to keep you entertained over the next four weeks whilst the results determine the fortunes (and misfortunes) for you all. You noobs had better get used to content of these postings… it's a fur-lined, ocean-going, pun-tastic, no-holes-barred, cliché city!

So the Champion returns; Mr Kevin Appleton was in fact one of the early entries, obviously very keen to defend his Footcall crown. I'm sure there will be seasoned campaigners prepared to take him down a few pegs. One of whom will be double winner Mick Mallion (Kevin's colleague) who very nearly missed the entry deadline this time round. Plenty of new names ready to give it a go and I shall do my best to mention you all, especially if you do well. However I might need your help to give me some banter ammunition especially for those taking part that I don't know. Get in touch via the CONTACT PAGE with any correspondence. Don't forget we have a FACEBOOK GROUP which you are all welcome to join. For all of you prepared to offer fellow Footcallers a bit gentle ribbing on the Facebook Wall, don't forget we do have some young kids taking part… I'll leave Michel Platini to any heavier handed threats ;-)

And so to the league table…
The opening game of Euro 2012 was contested by hosts, Poland and cash strapped Greece! Rumour was Stavros Flatly had a whip round to see if they could get €60bn down as a win bonus accumulator on with Paddy Power for every goal they scored. It might just bail them out of the proverbial, failing that they would buy half a dozen Euro Millions tickets for the big payout! Well the Poles took charge of this game right from the off and looked in command as they carved the Greek defence wide open and Lewandowski caught their keeper flapping to go 1-0 up. Then the fireworks happened, Papastathopoulos received two bookings for nothing challenges and was promptly sent off putting all the pressure on Greece. Poland squandered a chance to go two nil and then suddenly Greece made a break through and got a surprising equaliser. Then soon after Poland were also down to 10 men as the Arsenal keeper Szczesny made a rash challenge and received a straight red! The sub keeper came on and then saved Karagounis' penalty. Phew what a half… I'm sure the Greek manager would have been smashing the tea cups and saucers at half time in the dressing room! The second half arrived and then promptly went again with barely a highlight to mention, clearly this was a game of ONE half :-) So it finished 1-1 and there were a quite a number of Footcallers to predict this scoreline, in fact 21 in all. Chris and Nick Kotsonis were the notable ones here mainly because Nick's family are Greek but he wasn't quite patriotic enough to pick them to win, good job too. Nathaniel Ridley, Nick Stacey and Spencer (no bribes taken) Collins, along with Simon Dudson and Kim Gilbert all picked it to be one all. Brother and sister, Jack and Hannah Wakefield also pulled in a valuable three pointer.

Game two of day one saw Russia take on Czech Republic. It was clear that the Russians were the class act here as they dominated the game as they took an early lead from Dzagoev after the post saved the Czechs. They followed it up with another before half time from Shirokov. Pilar did well to round the Russian keeper to get the Czechs back in it but it was that man Dzagoev again to power it past Petr Cech and Pavlyuchenko sealed a convincing win for the Russian dark horses. Bad day for the Chelsea keeper, I suspect the Champions League final is a distant memory now :-) The Footcall league was bouncing around as the players went up and down with each goal going in. John Trent took the top spot alone for a moment then to be followed by David Kilbey and then Hannah Wakefield all momentarily had 6 points in the bag. As the fourth goal was scored for Russia the table equalised and left twelve people top-o-table with four points including Robert McNamara, Joff Funnell and Tony Gardner.

Let's see what day two brings. I'll tell you, Netherlands v Denmark and Germany v Portugal. Should be a good day, so sit back and enjoy the biggest football tournament in the world and let's see how far your predictions take you.

Stay tuned folks and happy Footcalling!
David Jenner