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Andy Lee: could still do a job at centre half, you suspect. ©Russell Pritchard/Presseye
AS IT HAPPENED

World Cup hangout: Andy Lee joins us to talk Suarez, bonuses and more

We’re holding in our gut and watching the football with The Champ.

We’ve had the likes of Ken Doherty and Jarlath Regan ’round TheScore.ie clubhouse (shoes off at the door, please) during this tournament and today we were delighted to welcome Andy ‘One Punch Lee’ to watch the footie.  

Let’s get ready to ruuuuuuuumle!

Luis Suarez is banned for biting someone like Tyson, Ghana are sparring with each other and we have Ireland’s top boxer Andy Lee in to watch this evening’s games.

You can follow Germany v the USA here while here — in the more chilled-out backroom — we’ll be discussing the topics of the day over a few iced caipirinhas.

What do you want to ask the Limerick native?

We have a class adidas retro Brazil jersey for the best comment or question:

brazilretro

And there’s one of these for the worst:

TheIgorotWarrior07 / YouTube


Earlier in the week we gave away a cool-looking Sony Xperia smartphone to one of you. Today it arrived, thanks to our good friends at Budweiser:

That’s a river alright.

BudweiserIreland / YouTube

So the big news of the day — apart from Will Ferrell’s pep talk — has been the banning of Luis Suarez.

To paraphrase The Great Escape, for the Liverpool striker, the World Cup is over.

What do you make of the decision?

Andy’s had his say:

“Think the ban is just about right. I love watching him play but as a United fan I’m obliged to ‘hate’ him and although it’s harsh on Liverpool it may keep him at the club.”

And has anyone ever tried a Tyson?

“I’ve never been bitten in the ring but I remember ( Irish amateur champ and now pro ) Paul McClosksky getting bit by a lad Belarus in the EU championships. The ref missed it, Paul let out a scream, mayhem ensued and the fight was stopped. All in all it was a pretty entertaining end to the fight.”

Ronaldo’s gone and done this:

858261339

That reaction from the goalkeeper is gold.

Sky Sports yellow ticker…… Away from the World Cup, Louis van Gaal has made his first signing. And he’s not Dutch.

GOAL! Portugal have taken the lead thanks to an own goal. 

Meanwhile, question from our Facebook pals for Andy:

‘Lee-Macklin in Croke Park. Discuss.’

“I still want the fight and hopefully it’ll happen later in the year. I think it’s a barnstormer of a fight. Our rivalry has grown over the years, we both would hate to lose to each other. I know I will win, he believes he will win… hopefully we’ll soon find out who’s right!”

Italy Soccer WCup AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Some proper journalistic probing from Colm here:

“How did you grow such a cool beard? Did Pirlo ask for advice?”

Andy: “Years of cultivating! And yes I help Pirlo out a little, Tim Howard… That took a little more work!!

Hot off the AFP news wire:

“The Uruguayan Football Association said Thursday it would appeal against a four month global ban imposed against star striker Luis Suarez for biting an Italian opponent at the World Cup.

FA president Wilmar Valdez called the FIFA punishment against Suarez ‘totally exaggerated’. He said the appeal would be lodged on Thursday.”

Oh my days. Look what the last winner in the Hangout is up to.

Phones have dinosaurs now?

Our man in Brazil, Mikey Stafford, has held off on his usual evening bucket of beer to take in a game of football.

These are the scenes before kickoff in the USA-Germany game:

 

It’s half-time; time for some more of your questions for Andy Lee:

Who’d win in a fight – Katie Taylor or Bernard Dunne:

“I’d put Katie Taylor up against anyone! As I would Bernard. The first four rounds I’d give to Katie but after that it’d be all Bernard”

And who do you fancy to win the tournament? 

“Spain were my pre tourney pick… shows how much I know. I’ll go with Holland. RVP all the way!”

Ronnie Whelan talking Suarez on RTÉ: “You’d wonder if biting is acceptable in Uruguay because this appeal is ridiculous”.

Maybe it’s a sign of affection?

Didi reckons he’ll never play for the Reds again. What do you reckon?

Donal O'Grady leads out Declan Hannon, Shane Dowling, Sean Tobin and Kevin Downes before the game James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Talking hurling with a boxer in a football hangout? Wacky. But our Andy’s the proudest Limerick man this side of Blindboy Boatclub. Will he be able to get a ticket for the date with Cork down the Páirc?

“I got a ticket for last year’s game from a good friend. I might be giving him a call again.”

And can the Treaty repeat last year’s result? “Yes we can!”

Agree with that, sports fans?

GOAL! Germany have gone a goal up against the USA, thanks to a good Mueller strike. Follow the action here.

Rihanna’s on a wind-up again. God, she’d be good craic.

Good one from Fran Heavey on the Twitter machine.

“If you could’ve delivered one famous punch in boxing history, which one would it be?”

AL: “To be honest, my last KO is up there. Although it wasn’t historically significant it changes my whole career path.”

Thought: To change my career path with a punch, I’d have to hit my boss.

And what’s the champ’s verdict on Germany after that strike?

“They’re up there with the favourites. Well organised, quality throughout the team. Great goal by Muller.”

What about this from Ghana though:

Best cross ever.

See this earlier? File under kablamo!

If you’re confused about the permutations by the way, that NYTimes graphic is updating live. It’s pretty impressive.

Gordon Taylor’s been wheeled out on Sky Sports, to talk Suarez.

“We felt things had got back on track (following his ban with Liverpool), it was up there for everybody to see, but of course this is a massive backward step on the world stage,” the chief executive of England’s Professional Footballers’ Association said. He reckons the Uruguay striker needs help.

You may know Sabine Lisicki from tennis. But here she is in her civvies watching her native Germany.

GOAL! Ronaldo’s scored to put Portugal 2-1 up against Ghana thanks to a mare of a punch from the ‘keeper.

When I’m on a plane I have to watch episodes of Container Wars. Obama gets to watch live football:

All over America, people are thanking Ronaldo for this:

That volley ball spike of a clearance is desperate though.

Question for former Kronk boxer, Andy: You spent a lot of time in the US – particularly Detroit – do you still have a grá for the country. And are you surprised the country seems to have gotten behind the team so much?

AL: Yes, I have fond memories of my time there. As a big fan of Ronaldo, I’m a little torn here. I’m rooting for the USA to get through just for the goodness of the game in the States. If they can get through here it could be a turning point for football there.

It’s full-time! Germany top the group, USA take second while it’s the end of the road for Ronaldo’s Portugal and the in-fighting Ghana squad. What did you make of all that?

So that’s your lot for another evening, internetland. Thanks to Andy Lee for joining us on the couch. Top guest.

Jerry Springer’s Final Thought: What odds on Spain, Portugal, England and Italy all falling at the first hurdle.

Man Utd send gift to Bohs to thank them for Liam Whelan Bridge clean-up

Suarez to miss 13 Liverpool games under terms of four-month ban

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