On the first day of the knockout competition both Blues players saw victory and passage to the Quarter Finals. Ballack had nine shots on goal of which five were on target but was thwarted by some great goalkeeping by the Swedish goalkeeper who kept the score reasonable in a very one sided game.


Crespo scored his third goal of the competition (even if it may have also had some help from Mexico & Bolton's Borgetti). Certainly the Argentina v Mexico game was the best of the tournament so far and the deciding goal by Athletico Madrid's Maxi Rodriguez was something special.


Tomorrow sees Eight Chelsea players in action with England (4) taking on Ecudor and Holland (1) taking on Portugal (3). We will all be hoping England can play to their potential against Ecuador and Holland v Portugal has the potential to be another World Cup classic.


On the club goal scoring stakes the current table reads as follows:

Read more »

With the final group stages completed, Chelsea Players walk away with another two FIFA Player of the Game awards, three more goals and fourteen of the sixteen Chelsea players appearing at the World Cup are through to the last sixteen


Michael Ballack and Joe Cole won the FIFA Player of the Game awards for their respective performances in the final round of group stage games - bringing Chelsea's total awards in this category to seven. The nearest any other team comes to that total is Bayern Munich with three then there are eight other club teams with two awards, being AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Rennes and Guayaquil. Joe Cole's Goal was arguably the best goal of the tournament so far and justifies Pele's claims that he is good enough for the Brazillian team.

So as a reminder Lampard, Robben(2), Makalele, Essien, Ballack and Cole were the six players gaining seven player of the game awards.


On the scoring front Joe Cole, Maniche and Schevchenko all scored in the final round of group games taking Chelsea's goal scoring tally to eight. Arsenal sticking close in second place with seven goals.


Goodbyes to Didier Drogba and Petr Cech who will team up with the non world cup players a week earlier than any player making it to the quarter finals.


Chelsea are now down to fourteen players left in the World Cup plying their trade for eight different countries. Only one of the second round games pitches Chelsea players against each other in the Holland v Portugal game. Unfortunately for Ghana, Essien is suspended on two yellow cards and will miss the Brazil v Ghana game.


Hopefully Terry, Lampard & Joe Cole can help inspire England to victory over Ecuador whom I must admit I did not think they could perform below 7,000 ft - but they proved me wrong in their demolition of Poland and Costa Rica.


Come on England!!!!!!!

Chelsea Games Highlighted

Saturday, 19 August 2006
Arsenal v Aston Villa, 15:00

Bolton v Tottenham, 15:00
Chelsea v Man City, 15:00

Everton v Watford, 15:00
Man Utd v Fulham, 15:00

Newcastle v Wigan, 15:00
Portsmouth v Blackburn, 15:00

Reading v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Liverpool, 15:00

West Ham v Charlton, 15:00


Tuesday, 22 August 2006
Charlton v Man Utd, 19:45

Middlesbrough v Chelsea, 19:45
Tottenham v Sheff Utd, 19:45

Watford v West Ham, 19:45


Wednesday, 23 August 2006
Aston Villa v Reading, 19:45

Blackburn v Everton, 19:45
Fulham v Bolton, 19:45

Man City v Portsmouth, 19:45


Saturday, 26 August 2006
Aston Villa v Newcastle, 15:00

Blackburn v Chelsea, 15:00
Charlton v Bolton, 15:00

Fulham v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Liverpool v West Ham, 15:00

Man City v Arsenal, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Portsmouth, 15:00

Tottenham v Everton, 15:00
Watford v Man Utd, 15:00

Wigan v Reading, 15:00


Saturday, 09 September 2006
Arsenal v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Bolton v Watford, 15:00
Chelsea v Charlton, 15:00

Everton v Liverpool, 15:00
Man Utd v Tottenham, 15:00

Newcastle v Fulham, 15:00
Portsmouth v Wigan, 15:00

Reading v Man City, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Blackburn, 15:00

West Ham v Aston Villa, 15:00


Saturday, 16 September 2006
Blackburn v Man City, 15:00

Bolton v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Charlton v Portsmouth, 15:00

Chelsea v Liverpool, 15:00
Everton v Wigan, 15:00

Man Utd v Arsenal, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Reading, 15:00

Tottenham v Fulham, 15:00
Watford v Aston Villa, 15:00

West Ham v Newcastle, 15:00


Saturday, 23 September 2006
Arsenal v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Aston Villa v Charlton, 15:00
Fulham v Chelsea, 15:00

Liverpool v Tottenham, 15:00
Man City v West Ham, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Blackburn, 15:00
Newcastle v Everton, 15:00

Portsmouth v Bolton, 15:00
Reading v Man Utd, 15:00

Wigan v Watford, 15:00


Saturday, 30 September 2006
Blackburn v Wigan, 15:00

Bolton v Liverpool, 15:00
Charlton v Arsenal, 15:00

Chelsea v Aston Villa, 15:00
Everton v Man City, 15:00

Man Utd v Newcastle, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Tottenham v Portsmouth, 15:00
Watford v Fulham, 15:00

West Ham v Reading, 15:00


Saturday, 14 October 2006
Arsenal v Watford, 15:00

Aston Villa v Tottenham, 15:00
Fulham v Charlton, 15:00

Liverpool v Blackburn, 15:00
Man City v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Everton, 15:00
Newcastle v Bolton, 15:00

Portsmouth v West Ham, 15:00
Reading v Chelsea, 15:00

Wigan v Man Utd, 15:00


Saturday, 21 October 2006
Aston Villa v Fulham, 15:00

Blackburn v Bolton, 15:00
Charlton v Watford, 15:00

Chelsea v Portsmouth, 15:00
Everton v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Man Utd v Liverpool, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Newcastle, 15:00

Reading v Arsenal, 15:00
Tottenham v West Ham, 15:00

Wigan v Man City, 15:00


Saturday, 28 October 2006
Arsenal v Everton, 15:00

Bolton v Man Utd, 15:00
Fulham v Wigan, 15:00

Liverpool v Aston Villa, 15:00
Man City v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Newcastle v Charlton, 15:00
Portsmouth v Reading, 15:00

Sheff Utd v Chelsea, 15:00
Watford v Tottenham, 15:00

West Ham v Blackburn, 15:00


Saturday, 04 November 2006
Aston Villa v Blackburn, 15:00

Bolton v Wigan, 15:00
Charlton v Man City, 15:00

Fulham v Everton, 15:00
Liverpool v Reading, 15:00

Man Utd v Portsmouth, 15:00
Newcastle v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Tottenham v Chelsea, 15:00
Watford v Middlesbrough, 15:00

West Ham v Arsenal, 15:00


Saturday, 11 November 2006
Arsenal v Liverpool, 15:00

Blackburn v Man Utd, 15:00
Chelsea v Watford, 15:00

Everton v Aston Villa, 15:00
Man City v Newcastle, 15:00

Middlesbrough v West Ham, 15:00
Portsmouth v Fulham, 15:00

Reading v Tottenham, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Bolton, 15:00

Wigan v Charlton, 15:00


Saturday, 18 November 2006
Arsenal v Newcastle, 15:00

Blackburn v Tottenham, 15:00
Chelsea v West Ham, 15:00

Everton v Bolton, 15:00
Man City v Fulham, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Liverpool, 15:00
Portsmouth v Watford, 15:00

Reading v Charlton, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Man Utd, 15:00

Wigan v Aston Villa, 15:00


Saturday, 25 November 2006
Aston Villa v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Bolton v Arsenal, 15:00
Charlton v Everton, 15:00

Fulham v Reading, 15:00
Liverpool v Man City, 15:00

Man Utd v Chelsea, 15:00
Newcastle v Portsmouth, 15:00

Tottenham v Wigan, 15:00
Watford v Blackburn, 15:00

West Ham v Sheff Utd, 15:00


Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Bolton v Chelsea, 19:45

Watford v Sheff Utd, 19:45


Wednesday, 29 November 2006
Aston Villa v Man City, 19:45

Fulham v Arsenal, 19:45
Liverpool v Portsmouth, 19:45

Man Utd v Everton, 19:45


Saturday, 02 December 2006
Arsenal v Tottenham, 15:00

Blackburn v Fulham, 15:00
Chelsea v Newcastle, 15:00

Everton v West Ham, 15:00
Man City v Watford, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Man Utd, 15:00
Portsmouth v Aston Villa, 15:00

Reading v Bolton, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Charlton, 15:00

Wigan v Liverpool, 15:00


Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Charlton v Blackburn, 19:45

Tottenham v Middlesbrough, 19:45


Wednesday, 06 December 2006
Newcastle v Reading, 19:45

West Ham v Wigan, 19:45


Saturday, 09 December 2006
Blackburn v Newcastle, 15:00

Bolton v West Ham, 15:00
Chelsea v Arsenal, 15:00

Liverpool v Fulham, 15:00
Man Utd v Man City, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Wigan, 15:00
Portsmouth v Everton, 15:00

Sheff Utd v Aston Villa, 15:00
Tottenham v Charlton, 15:00

Watford v Reading, 15:00


Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth, 15:00

Aston Villa v Bolton, 15:00
Charlton v Liverpool, 15:00

Everton v Chelsea, 15:00
Fulham v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Man City v Tottenham, 15:00
Newcastle v Watford, 15:00

Reading v Blackburn, 15:00
West Ham v Man Utd, 15:00

Wigan v Sheff Utd, 15:00


Saturday, 23 December 2006
Arsenal v Blackburn, 15:00

Aston Villa v Man Utd, 15:00
Fulham v West Ham, 15:00

Liverpool v Watford, 15:00
Man City v Bolton, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Charlton, 15:00
Newcastle v Tottenham, 15:00

Portsmouth v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Reading v Everton, 15:00

Wigan v Chelsea, 15:00


Tuesday, 26 December 2006
Blackburn v Liverpool, 15:00

Bolton v Newcastle, 15:00
Charlton v Fulham, 15:00

Chelsea v Reading, 15:00
Everton v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Man Utd v Wigan, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Man City, 15:00

Tottenham v Aston Villa, 15:00
Watford v Arsenal, 15:00

West Ham v Portsmouth, 15:00


Saturday, 30 December 2006
Blackburn v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Bolton v Portsmouth, 15:00
Charlton v Aston Villa, 15:00

Chelsea v Fulham, 15:00
Everton v Newcastle, 15:00

Man Utd v Reading, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Arsenal, 15:00

Tottenham v Liverpool, 15:00
Watford v Wigan, 15:00

West Ham v Man City, 15:00


Monday, 01 January 2007
Arsenal v Charlton, 15:00

Aston Villa v Chelsea, 15:00
Fulham v Watford, 15:00

Liverpool v Bolton, 15:00
Man City v Everton, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Newcastle v Man Utd, 15:00

Portsmouth v Tottenham, 15:00
Reading v West Ham, 15:00

Wigan v Blackburn, 15:00


Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal, 15:00

Bolton v Man City, 15:00
Charlton v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Chelsea v Wigan, 15:00
Everton v Reading, 15:00

Man Utd v Aston Villa, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth, 15:00

Tottenham v Newcastle, 15:00
Watford v Liverpool, 15:00

West Ham v Fulham, 15:00


Saturday, 20 January 2007
Arsenal v Man Utd, 15:00

Aston Villa v Watford, 15:00
Fulham v Tottenham, 15:00

Liverpool v Chelsea, 15:00
Man City v Blackburn, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Bolton, 15:00
Newcastle v West Ham, 15:00

Portsmouth v Charlton, 15:00
Reading v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Wigan v Everton, 15:00


Tuesday, 30 January 2007
Arsenal v Man City, 19:45

Bolton v Charlton, 19:45
Portsmouth v Middlesbrough, 19:45

Reading v Wigan, 19:45
Sheff Utd v Fulham, 19:45


Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Chelsea v Blackburn, 19:45
Everton v Tottenham, 19:45

Man Utd v Watford, 19:45
Newcastle v Aston Villa, 19:45

West Ham v Liverpool, 19:45


Saturday, 03 February 2007
Aston Villa v West Ham, 15:00

Blackburn v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Charlton v Chelsea, 15:00

Fulham v Newcastle, 15:00
Liverpool v Everton, 15:00

Man City v Reading, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Arsenal, 15:00

Tottenham v Man Utd, 15:00
Watford v Bolton, 15:00

Wigan v Portsmouth, 15:00


Saturday, 10 February 2007
Arsenal v Wigan, 15:00

Bolton v Fulham, 15:00
Chelsea v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Everton v Blackburn, 15:00
Man Utd v Charlton, 15:00

Newcastle v Liverpool, 15:00
Portsmouth v Man City, 15:00

Reading v Aston Villa, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Tottenham, 15:00

West Ham v Watford, 15:00


Saturday, 24 February 2007
Aston Villa v Arsenal, 15:00

Blackburn v Portsmouth, 15:00
Charlton v West Ham, 15:00

Fulham v Man Utd, 15:00
Liverpool v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Man City v Chelsea, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Reading, 15:00

Tottenham v Bolton, 15:00
Watford v Everton, 15:00

Wigan v Newcastle, 15:00


Saturday, 03 March 2007
Arsenal v Reading, 15:00

Bolton v Blackburn, 15:00
Fulham v Aston Villa, 15:00

Liverpool v Man Utd, 15:00
Man City v Wigan, 15:00

Newcastle v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Portsmouth v Chelsea, 15:00

Sheff Utd v Everton, 15:00
Watford v Charlton, 15:00

West Ham v Tottenham, 15:00


Saturday, 17 March 2007
Aston Villa v Liverpool, 15:00

Blackburn v West Ham, 15:00
Charlton v Newcastle, 15:00

Chelsea v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Everton v Arsenal, 15:00

Man Utd v Bolton, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Man City, 15:00

Reading v Portsmouth, 15:00
Tottenham v Watford, 15:00

Wigan v Fulham, 15:00


Saturday, 31 March 2007
Aston Villa v Everton, 15:00

Bolton v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Charlton v Wigan, 15:00

Fulham v Portsmouth, 15:00
Liverpool v Arsenal, 15:00

Man Utd v Blackburn, 15:00
Newcastle v Man City, 15:00

Tottenham v Reading, 15:00
Watford v Chelsea, 15:00

West Ham v Middlesbrough, 15:00


Saturday, 07 April 2007
Arsenal v West Ham, 15:00

Blackburn v Aston Villa, 15:00
Chelsea v Tottenham, 15:00

Everton v Fulham, 15:00
Man City v Charlton, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Watford, 15:00
Portsmouth v Man Utd, 15:00

Reading v Liverpool, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Newcastle, 15:00

Wigan v Bolton, 15:00


Monday, 09 April 2007
Aston Villa v Wigan, 15:00

Bolton v Everton, 15:00
Charlton v Reading, 15:00

Fulham v Man City, 15:00
Liverpool v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Man Utd v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Newcastle v Arsenal, 15:00

Tottenham v Blackburn, 15:00
Watford v Portsmouth, 15:00

West Ham v Chelsea, 15:00


Saturday, 14 April 2007
Arsenal v Bolton, 15:00

Blackburn v Watford, 15:00
Chelsea v Man Utd, 15:00

Everton v Charlton, 15:00
Man City v Liverpool, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa, 15:00
Portsmouth v Newcastle, 15:00

Reading v Fulham, 15:00
Sheff Utd v West Ham, 15:00

Wigan v Tottenham, 15:00


Saturday, 21 April 2007
Aston Villa v Portsmouth, 15:00

Bolton v Reading, 15:00
Charlton v Sheff Utd, 15:00

Fulham v Blackburn, 15:00
Liverpool v Wigan, 15:00

Man Utd v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Newcastle v Chelsea, 15:00

Tottenham v Arsenal, 15:00
Watford v Man City, 15:00

West Ham v Everton, 15:00


Saturday, 28 April 2007
Arsenal v Fulham, 15:00

Blackburn v Charlton, 15:00
Chelsea v Bolton, 15:00

Everton v Man Utd, 15:00
Man City v Aston Villa, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Tottenham, 15:00
Portsmouth v Liverpool, 15:00

Reading v Newcastle, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Watford, 15:00

Wigan v West Ham, 15:00


Saturday, 05 May 2007
Arsenal v Chelsea, 15:00

Aston Villa v Sheff Utd, 15:00
Charlton v Tottenham, 15:00

Everton v Portsmouth, 15:00
Fulham v Liverpool, 15:00

Man City v Man Utd, 15:00
Newcastle v Blackburn, 15:00

Reading v Watford, 15:00
West Ham v Bolton, 15:00

Wigan v Middlesbrough, 15:00


Sunday, 13 May 2007
Blackburn v Reading, 15:00

Bolton v Aston Villa, 15:00
Chelsea v Everton, 15:00

Liverpool v Charlton, 15:00
Man Utd v West Ham, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Fulham, 15:00
Portsmouth v Arsenal, 15:00

Sheff Utd v Wigan, 15:00
Tottenham v Man City, 15:00

Watford v Newcastle, 15:00

Unfortunately we are now halfway through the World Cup in terms of games played with 32 of 64 games done & dusted. The next 8 days will see another 24 games and then we will all suffer withdrawal symptoms with only 8 games to be played over the last 12 days and 6 of those days with no games at all!!! What the hell are we supposed to do??


Chelsea's players continue to excel at the World Cup with both Crespo and Shevchenko getting on the score sheet since our last post and Chelsea share top spot on World Cup scorers with 5 goals (tied with Arsenal and Athletico Madrid).

Juventus remain the only big club side in Europe without a goal to their credit so far.


John Terry saved English blushes with an amazing goal-line clearance against Trinidad and Petr Cech kept the score reasonable against Ghana who could have scored a hatful.

Chelsea now have five official FIFA Player of the game awards as Robben picked up his second accolade for the Dutch against the Ivory Coast and Essien picked up his award for his midfield general performance in Ghana's 2-0 defeat of the #2 ranked Czech Republic.


58 of the 75 goals scored so far have been scored by players who make their living in Europe.


The goal scoring charts now look as follows:

Read more »

The past two World Champions both got off to a slow start with the French dropping two points in an unispirational display against Switzerland and Brazil made to look almost mortal against a battling Croatia side


Claude Makelele became the third Chelsea player to gain the official FIFA 'Player of the Game' with his normal industriuos performance for the French. According to FIFA:

He was defending well in front of his two central defenders. He was winning the ball and making sure that he was giving it to a team-mate and also thinking about the best way to organise the play of his team. He’s been an example of fighting and creativity.

That proves that the game was a bunch of tripe - and Ronaldo gave a good impression of a fat Sunday league pub league player as he Donkeyed about in his atrocious performance for Brazil - which gives hope to the rest of the World. In fact he was even worse than Emile Heskey in his haydays for England.


Chelsea Players in Action: Day 6


Day 6 hopefully pitches Shevchenko into action for Ukraine against Spain and Ballack is now fit and should start for Germany against Poland.


With only four teams yet to play their first match in the World Cup it is noteable that no player from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Liverpool, Juventus or Inter Milan has yet to score.


I am especially looking forward to the drubbing of Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow who are making some outrageous claims about England and talking up their chances. The coach has said that if they can stop giving England set plays, then England will be unable to score - unfortunately for the Trini's the only way to stop the speed of the English team will be to bring them down otherwise it may just be a cricket score. That is unless Erikson does his normal 'get-a-goal-and-park-the-bus-for-the-rest-of-the-match policy