Tony heslop. (20/06/06)

Everton Fans In Frankfurt

Marc York & Phil Madin in Frankfurt for the ENGLAND V PARAGUAY game. Marc. (19/06/06)

Everton Fans In Munich

Just got back from Munich a few hours ago. Me and my mates went to the Tunisia vs Saudi Arabia game - the only one we could get tickets for. While there we came across another 7 Toffees at this unlikely game and apparently Trevor Steven was also there. Over the week we spotted far more Evertonians then any other Premiership club which just shows what a widely travelled and knowledgeable bunch we are! Here's a pic of the good lads we met and my mates John R and Jim Mc at the big screen for the England game at the Munich Olympic Park. Met a lot of Aussies - they certainly think a lot of our Tim - Hope we can hang on to him! Cheers.

Paul Tandy. (18/06/06)

Nuno Through With Portugal

Nuno Valente is a happy man having played the full 90minutes in Portugal's 2-0 win over Iran. The win puts Portugal into the next stage of the competition. His next game is against Mexico on Wednesday 21st June 2006. (18/06/06)

Cahill Wants To Play Against Brazil

Coming on and scoring two goals in the World Cup and the prospect of playing against the World Champions Brazil next, you would think Tim would be a happy man, but his manager may have other ideas due to him being booked.

Guss Hiddink says: "We had silly yellow cards and that's a bit of criticism from me. I have to think strongly if I can use all the players who were booked."

Cahill says: "I'd take the opportunity to start against Brazil with both hands. The Japan game was all about getting through. It was difficult with the weather and you don't know until you try it. But I got through and I'm a fit lad. We're not looking forward to Croatia. The biggest thing is to give everything against Brazil." (17/06/06)

Toffee Man With The Adidas World Cup Girls

Check out this photo! This is ingo who is a quality german guy who was an intern at my work. He was so cool that I gave him an old everton top. He is now at the world cup - putting the shirt to good use! See where a good old everton shirt can get you!! Be great if you could put this on the site.

grrrrrrrrrrrreat site guys, absolutely quality!

cheers. Mez (16/06/06)

Cahill Mania Back In Oz

Since Tim scored Australia's first ever World Cup goals,which made him the most famous footballer on the planet for 15 minutes. Back in Australia, the country has gone Cahill crazy, with newspapers and TV interviewing anyone who knows Tim. At the game was all of Tim's family. Tim's mother, Sisi. Tim's younger brother, Chris. Tim's partner, Rebekah, and their two boys, Shae and Kaya. They all went bonkers, except his Dad.

Football Federation Australia spokesman, Adam Mark says: "Tim's goals were definitely one of those 'where were you' moments, and they are one of these examples of never giving up, never say die. There's no doubt that a lot of kids, whatever their background, will relate to that."

Tim Cahill snr says: "I've never jumped up and down in my life. No, I don't react at all. People don't understand it sometimes, but that's me. He's a football player, that's his job, and when he's scoring, or passing, that's what he's doing - his job. I've never made a fuss about it. It shouldn't all be about who scores the goals. It's a team effort, and Tim is just one of 10 players out there. But I will say this - I hope his goals motivate all the young kids back in Australia, and prove to them you can come from nowhere to play in the World Cup. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of him, But we've got two more games to play, and I'm not getting carried away. If Tim scores against Brazil, and if we win the game, then I might jump up off the chair."

Tim says: "This is a reward not only for the team, but for my family," said 26-year-old Cahill. "They've played a massive part. My old man, my mum, my missus and the kids. Obviously it goes back a long way, and these are the moments I want to share with them. They were all here today, even one of my old football coaches, George Psaroudis. Nobody knew I was going to score the winner, or be the first Australian to score in the World Cup. But that's how it turned out, and I'm just so glad they were all here to see it." (16/06/06) Thanks To Gwladys.

Cahill Takes A Chance

Tim Cahill is willing to take a risk and play for Australia today in their opening game against Japan. Tim has been out since 22nd April, when he partially tore his knee ligament in the Everton's 1-1 draw with Birmingham.

Tim says: "The only way to find out if it is ready is by playing. I'm getting a lot of training sessions under my belt and doing what everyone is doing. It's been a long time coming and the excitement's definitely there. Japan's a big game and a lot of us have played in big games in front of big crowds, but I think it's different in a World Cup." (12/06/06)

Blatter Wants Premiership Reduced To 18

At the World Cup, Fifa's Congress endorsed a proposal for Europe's top leagues to be reduced from 20 to a maximum of 18 clubs by the start of the 2007-08 season. This could mean that 5 teams could be relegated at one time. Everton are against it. This will effect the Spanish, Italian, and French leagues, as well as the Premiership.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says: "We've been given the power to work on it. We'll do it. It'll give four more days to the international calendar."

Everton's C.E.O. Keith Wyness says: "I think it's a very bad idea. I think the Premiership functions very well with 20 teams. To lose 4 fixtures a year will be quite damaging to all the clubs in terms of revenue generation. I don't think there is a need for the fans to do it. If that was to happen, with 5 clubs possibly relegated in one season, it means you really have to push on and it means you have got to push the envelope wherever you can to strengthen the squad." (12/06/06)

Looking Forward To Season

First it was Joey Yobo who never said he wanted away and now it's Nuno Valente. Everton have been in touch with the Portuegese international and he has said he was not guilty your honour.

Nuno says: "I would like to state that I am completely happy at Everton and that I have never indicated that I would like to leave the club. I did not say the words that appeared in the newspaper and I am looking forward to the new season with Everton." (12/06/06)

Bloody great. Another International Tournament and another Everton player who does not believe we are a big enough club for him. Nuno Valente and his Portugal team mates got off to a winning start by turning over the might of Angola in Cologne last night. That's the good bit for Nuno, but he then he opened his gob to say that Everton were not ambitious enough for him.

Nuno says: I've got a contract with Everton and everything indicates I will continue for another year. But if another offer appears I can change. I'd like to play for a more ambitious club." (12/06/06)

Bring on The Japs

Tiny Tim is fit and raring to go, and looking forward to Australia's opening match against Japan, on Monday afternoon at 2pm.The squad is confident after good results against Greece and the Dutch in past weeks, but after just one weekend of wall to wall footy, my marriage is back on the rocks. Get in there.

Tiny says: "We've played two really massive games against the European champions in Greece and Holland and we've gained a lot of respect and we've played some really good football. Japan's a big game for us. We're focusing on that. Getting three points under your belt straight away is very important. It's also confidence and the first game's always massive and if you win then you can go off the back of that."(11/06/06)

Saint Nic Fancies Sweden's Chances Against England

Ex-Everton player Niclas Alexandersson, who is now playing for IFK Gothenburg is in confident mood. Saint Nic thinks the Swedes have a chance when they play England in the last group match.

Nic says: "We prefer being underdogs. We are more relaxed and don't have as much pressure on us when we play them. When the draw for the World Cup finals was announced on 9 December, there were many smiles from the England camp, particularly on the face of Swede Eriksson. But there would have been knowing grins from the Swedish contingent because of the Scandinavians' recent record against the English.

We have raised our standards when we played against good teams. It will be more of an open game now. We know if we have a good day we can beat any team. The difference with Sweden now, compared to five or 10 years ago, is that some of our players are playing in the biggest clubs in Europe, not just in England but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Juventus and Henrik Larsson at Barcelona. We have players in top clubs that have become individual stars in their own right and we haven't had that for a while. Before, it was always based on team spirit and hard work with no stars. Now we have famous players with experience of playing in the Champions League. That takes away a bit of our respect for the big countries and those players also know what it's like to play against the big players each week. Our players know how to play against them and get used to coming up against them.

There is always a lot of hype and build-up when we play against Sven, but once you get on the pitch you don't think about it too much. It's like playing against a good friend. I think the criticism of him has been unjust as he has got a good record in his matches. If you look at the managers who have been before him I don't think they had that direct criticism on him, and the high expectations on England make it hard for anyone to manage them." (05/06/06)

Arnold told Australia's assistant manager, Graham Arnold says: "That's the best Timmy Cahill has moved since he has come back from his knee injury. He's looking good. I'm not sure if Tim will start against Holland, but it's important to see him keep progressing." (02/06/06)

My story really is a fairytale. We have a big family back home and I had to wear tennis shoes when I played at school. The amount of times my parents took me and my two brothers to training with different teams and sacrificed the weekends . . . it's not a cheap thing for parents either with boots, registrations, and the steak sandwiches at the game. Parents only earn so much a week. But they never talked about the money. They were always only interested in how I was playing.

I could score two or three goals in a game but it was like, 'Why didn't you score five?' I'd get in the back of the van and my mum would have her sandal off her foot and give me a slap on the back of the head while the old man was having a giggle in the front. I always think about what they did for me and I'm really pleased to give things back. Not just materialistic things but things like being in the FA Cup final, playing at Wembley, playing for Everton. Each week I play in front of 40,000 people and they watch it in Australia. Just scoring is better then sending a cheque home. That is the biggest reward."

When I was 14, playing for Western Samoa was the biggest moment of my life. But how could they not let me play for the country that was closest to my heart? How could they not let me play on the world stage and show what I could do? Lucky for me, common sense saw a rule change. It was a difficult time but it's all sweet now. I'm really happy to be part of Australia." (30/05/06)

If's & Buts For AJ

Everton may have an England player at the World Cup if Andy Johnson signs for the club tomorrow following his medical and Wayne Rooney is ruled out of the England squad. Rooney's scan has been brought forward to 7th June in order to help the England management to make a decision on his fitness before the deadline on 9th June. If the scan shows that Rooney won't be fit, it's odds on that AJ will go. (29/05/06)

Everton Coaches & Scouts At World Cup

As well as a few players, Everton will be represented at the World Cup with a team of backroom staff who will not only looking our for players, but also seeing if there are any playing styles or systems they can use.

Alan says: "It's difficult because anybody who plays exceptionally well in the World Cup is going to be sought after by many teams and the price is probably going to go up a great deal as are the player's demands. So, from a recruiting point of view it's limited. We might get a little more knowledge about players but are we going to sign a whole load of players on the back of the World Cup? I don't think so. But from a management and coaching point of view the World Cup is very important because we'll probably see different styles of play, different systems and we might see some things which we can use.

We've tried to split the country up into different regions and in order to cover as many games as possible, we're going to split the staff up. For example, I'm probably going to go to Berlin and Leipzig because I can see three games in three days and, geographically, it's not bad. Robbie Cooke, our chief scout, will also go out to Germany as will Jimmy Lumsden and Andy Thorn and it may be that one or two other staff will go out as well depending on what we feel we need." (29/05/06)

Clean Sheet For Tim

Everton new boy Tim Howard, did his World Cup claims no harm at all as the United States beat Venezuela 2 - 0 in front of 30,000 fans in Cleveland Ohio. (28/05/06)

Neville Called Up

England may yet have a Royal Blue interest at this year World Cup, as Phil Neville has been called up to the stand by squad to replace West Hams Nigel Reo Coker. Phil who has missed out in the 1998 & 2002 World Cup squads, will be hoping that this time it is third time lucky. So do we, good luck Phil. (22/05/06)

Toffee Men At The World Cup

Evertonians will be following with interest, Tim cahill with Australia, providing he gets fit, new signing American goalie, Tim Howard and Nuno Valente with Portugal if he's selected.

Ex-Everton players at the World Cup are Tobias Linderoth and Niclas Alexandersson from Sweden. Italy could have Marco Matterazzi and Bake McBride plays for USA. (14/05/06)

1. All the previous winners are engraved on the bottom of the trophy.