IT HAS BEGUN! 2010 World Cup Open Thread (Day 1)
by mikev on Jun 11, 2010 8:58 AM PDT
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South Africa and favored squad Mexico finished even at 1 in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in from Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Mexico seemed to control the first half, yet The Bafana Bafana opened the scoring on a brilliant left foot shot from Siphiwe Tshabalala, but then Mexico equalized on a defensive breakdown by RSA on a set piece.
Uruguay and France get underway at 11:30 Pacific Time.
As I type this, South Africa just missed a game winner in the 89th minute, off the post. Unbelievable.
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Great start to the World Cup....
I’m so not getting any work done in the mornings for the next month….. sigh
There's no crying in baseball!
I thought that one would go in
Also, not sure about the penalty kick that could have been awarded to SA (will watch all the replays now). Great start!
It was close.
The SA attacker has to do better than just getting tossed aside and barely getting a shot off.
SIG SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP. INQUIRE WITHIN.
T'was very soft from the Saffer.
I’ve seen them given, but they never should be.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
hm. i side with the ref. he seemed to punish going for the penalty when the player should have been going for the goal.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions
That was kinda my thought, too.
especially as someone who plays forward, you have GOT to go for the goal there and not the PK.
SIG SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP. INQUIRE WITHIN.
That's awesome.
I was in the car driving to work when they scored that game, and they mentioned something about this….
There's no crying in baseball!
I'd rather see a vid of the goal
It was spectacular!
by El Cerrito Steve on Jun 11, 2010 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions
yes it was
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
Crazy offsides call
But the 2nd last player makes sense. People tend to forget the goalie is normally the last line of defense…
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
yeah, mexico was robbed
but then a few calls went against south africa, too. great opening match, imo.
How were they robbed?
There has to be two players between the player receiving the ball and the goal. That picture clearly shows that there was only one player between the receiving player and the goal, therefore, the Mexican was offside.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
it was a trick of the eye and habit. i was turned around myself when it first happened. but it’s right. when we watch a normal offside, we forget to count the goalie and it seems all that matters is the last defender. but no, as young mr. old pointed out, the rule says 2 players, of any position.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, that was a good explanation
I’m so used to that as well, just always assume the goalie is between the ball and the goal. This is a perfect shot – the goalie is a few steps too far out to be between the attacker and the goal to count.
yeah i was watching the game at a pro mexico bar
although the few RSA fans were very vocal. Nonetheless, it got rather loud (or, at least loud for 7 am) when they called that offsides
I was shocked that the color guy seemed to have no idea how the offsides rule works
This exact same situation came up in the Spain-Poland friendly, and the color guy there (Andy Gray, or maybe the Irish dude ESPN has in studio whose name I forget at the moment) caught it immediately.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
My girlfriend is actually from Mexico City
She was a bit jazzed when they tied the game. That is an understatement. Can’t wait to lay on the couch tomorrow and watch the US match!!
These may be your father's A's!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 11, 2010 9:19 AM PDT reply actions
I have a soft spot for Mexico
Osorio and Pardo helped VfB Stuttgart win the championship two years ago.
Quick question
Are all the games going to be televised on ESPN or will other channels pick up some?
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
Thanks
Just saw that. I’m setting up my DVR to record all the games so I’m trying to figure out all the channels and times
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 11, 2010 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey an Arse-fan!
Hear Thierry Henry might be playing his trades in MLS next season?!!! I’m sure it will be in NY or LA but heres hoping for SJ!
Is that the rumor?
I’ll still see him when they play SJ…
by the way, Spurs play the Quakes in a few weeks. Going? I’ll be there clad in Red. LOL
They are all on the ESPN family of channels
I know tomorrow’s USA-England game is on ABC. So is Sunday’s Germany-Australia game.
There's no crying in baseball!
Found the schedule
(link)
Looks like the Saturday and Sunday 11:30am (our time) starts are on ABC, all others on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3.com
There's no crying in baseball!
Formerly ESPN 360
On the interwebs.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
yes, go there! they broadcast in different languages. for mex-rsa, i took the opportunity to bone up on my portugues, just for, um, kicks…
and if you go to the replay area, you can watch anything you missed.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
The kid and I are going to watch the game tomorrow AM at the Grand Tavern.....
anybody else??
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Spare ribs, sausages, pisto, grissini, dip, salad and steaks ready
BBQ with the neighbors till the next game
And I didn't even mention beer
The only time I met someone from AN was during last World Cup in Germany. A guy from AN was in the neighborhood so I invited him to Stuttgart and waited for him at the train station with four bottles of beer. Good beer, too.
That's so awesome.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
what are "pisto" and "grissini" ?
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
tomato sauce and bread sticks. but very good tomato sauce and bread sticks.
don't care if i ever get back.
Yum!
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Surely, no one in this thread needs a soccer/futbol primer
But when it’s done by the Onion, you might just check it out for “kicks.”
EH? EH?
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
what I have trouble understanding are the uniform colors
Why did South Africa wear yellow and green? There’s very little yellow or green in their flag.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 10:30 AM PDT reply actions
Obviously, so AN would cheer for them!
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
by Englishmajor on Jun 11, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
They wanted some Brazil mojo to rub off on them
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 11, 2010 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I think it's the Rugby team that made those colors famous
south the footie team just picked them up. IT’s confusing since Australia has the same color scheme.
And everyone has away kits...........so it's not confusing in the slightest.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
the flag, to me, represents a wodge of african nationalism within a context/history of dutch/british colonialism. so it makes perfect sense that they want to eschew that european connection and focus on the african. only wonder why they didn’t pick up more black, especially to set them off from brazil’s traditional palette.
don't care if i ever get back.
If it were up to me,
teams would have to incorporate all the colors in their flags in the uniforms, and not be allowed to wear colors that aren’t on the flags.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
I was just thinking of NZ!
I’m guessing that the All Whites don’t do a haka before their matches. It would be unbelievably cool for them to introduce Ka Pane to the World Cup!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Or the Oranje!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
+1
bad idea
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
Well then change the flags!
Soccer kits are more important than flags.
New Zealand and Australia have needed new flags for a long time now anyway. They can get rid of the stars and Union Jacks and Australia can have a yellow and green flag, and New Zealand can have a black and white flag.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
The Union Jack makes both those flags.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
They should have changed their flags back when Canada did
that was about 60-70 years ago, IIRC
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Why?
They have a close relationship with Britain.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Anything official other than friendship and alliances and history?
‘cuz the US and Canada have that too, but we’ve got our own flags.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Well the US rebelled, so I wouldn't expect you to retain the Union Jack.
Australia and New Zealand were granted independence. And they’re proud of their relationship with Britain. The USA, not so much.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Yeah it's called a "Commonwealth of Nations"
and Canada is as much a member as Australia or New Zealand. Basically they all cow-tow to her majesty the queen.
But that's mostly symbolic, like the monarchy, right?
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Well in a way it's cymbolic...but...
imagine that anything our congress passed still had to be formally “approved” by some foreign monarch. The Queen may be ceremonial, but she still holds some power which she rarely uses. For some folks it’s no big deal but for poeple in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Australia and lots of folks in India it’s seen as degrading and is holding them back from true independence.
That's how I would see it.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
You could be creative with change kits.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
That's a beautiful flag, by the way.
One of my favorites.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Definitely recommend watching all the WC action on Univision
Got an HD Tuner on the comp that’s only picking up antenna signals and gotta love the passion on the mic. Can’t let those quarters of Spanish go to waste.
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Almost time for game two
Great start to the day this next game should be good too. I don’t know much about Uruguay’s team but if France continues to play below their talent level they could be in trouble.
good to see a world cup thread on AN
unfortunately i won’t be posting here, i’m following it elsewhere, but i wanted to add this:
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
Those things are horrible!
I like bees, but not swarming near me
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
It's like an A's game
Just with maybe one or three of those.
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 11, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah whoever invented those should be shot.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Without Russia in the WC, I think France wins the "best national anthem" contest
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
ever read the lyrics to the Marsiellaise? Makes no sense...
I used to read about how Revolutionary groups around the world would break into it during marches and such and I just wondered how anyone could possibly remember those lyrics who isn’t French.
They make perfect sense
if you’re singing about driving out a bunch of Germans after you soak the furrows of your fields with their blood.
The lyrics make sense for an indigenous liberation movement trying to throw off colonials, for instance. Though there’s some truly putrid, bloodthirsty stuff in the rest of the verses, especially the “children’s verse” in which children are supposed to sing about being less eager to survive their (fallen) predecessors than to join them in their coffins, and to extol the “sublime pride” of avenging or following them.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
That sounds like a false flag anthem written by colonials to try to get natives to fight suicidally
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
No loss to the Bourgeoisie either way, right?
Freeroll!
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
meh, the French revolution was a mess
essentially it was a coup where the rich merchants took out the monarchy and tried to pretend it was a grassroots movement by the poor. The French have been grappling with that ever since, a conflict between an elite ruling class and a very well organized working class who still feel left out of a government supposedly created for them…see The Paris Commune or the events of Paris May 1968
Fair enough.
I guess I can’t go too much further than this without getting political, so I’ll leave you with this:
I never deface $10 bills.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
We'll leave the joshing to Josh.
Leave the K’ing to me,
and of course,
leave the driving to Russ.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
You didn't really want me to say
“We’ll leave the knifing to Mike,” did you?
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!
I’m not French and I remember most of the lyrics. I don’t share Nick’s love for the song, but the lyrics are surely memorable. And they do make sense, in a gruesome sort of way.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Aux armes, Thierry Henry!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I know, it's "bras" in French (or "mains" if you mean hands)
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
only thing i don’t like about uruguay this time around… my namesake isn’t with them anymore. it’s nice to hear your name announced on a world stage.
(oof, that was close for france just now.)
don't care if i ever get back.
C'mon Uruguay! France shouldn't even bloody be here!
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
SB Nation had a great article about the likeability of each team.....France near the bottom.
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
I'm no fan of Serbia, but
it’s wrong to blame them for starting WW I. Austria and Germany were chomping at the bit to attack Serbia. When Serbia thwarted Vienna’s attempt to make it look provoked by actually caving in to virtually all of the terms of the impossible ultimatum, they seized on a technicality and attacked anyway.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
WW1 started for a lot of reasons.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
The Notre Dame of football?
Erm…..thanks, I guess.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I'm not sure what that even means, exactly....I don't know that much about soccer historically or college football either!
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Nobody likes us and we don't care.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
why don't they like you?? I like you.....but I'm not sure yet about your team!
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
That article outlines it pretty well:
we harp on about how superior we are, yet we’ve only won the competition once. Not to mention the English media is shocking at building the England team up and talking down everyone else.
Though you’ll notice our fans are excellent – we’d be kicked out of tournaments if we were as racist as the Italians and the Spanish, or as violent as a multitude of nations. That’s because other countries simply dislike England and have cracked down on our fans (who have a history of hooliganism) in the past – for example at one point English teams were banned from competing in European competitions due to fan troubles.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Have all the sub-countries in the UK always competed on their own?
Has there ever been a unified UK team in the Cup?
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
No - it's why there isn't a UK 'soccer' team at the Olympics.
It was ruled that if we fielded a UK ‘soccer’ team at the Olympics then we’d have to field a combined team in every other competition – which, if you have any idea how much the Scots and Welsh dislike the English in sports, is why it has absolutely no idea of happening.
Not to mention it’d literally be the England team anyway.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Scotland doesn't ever make the World Cup?
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions
They do sometimes
I’m always curious about how these team lines get drawn. In the Olympics, Great Britain fields a team (including Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland). So players on the GB Olympic soccer team are really from 4 countries as far as FIFA is concerned. On the other hand, Puerto Rico fields its own Olympic team.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
There is no GB Olympic 'soccer' team.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I see from googling this that some of the Football Associations
seem afraid that their independence as international sides would be threatened if they played as a single GB team in the Olympics. Seems a little odd to me, especially since no one seems to have a problem entering a combined GB Rugby Sevens side at the next Olympics. But different sports, different associations, different decisions, I suppose.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
They do occasionally. Not since 1998 though.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
"Though you’ll notice our fans are excellent"
Stuttgart downtown demolition of 2006 World Cup disagrees. You want excellent fans – that would be Dutch.
Except when they play germany
It’s the Swedes you want to hang out with. Hot women and viking hats – who could ask for more?
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
so has anyone gotten espn3 to work?
ooo I sound just like those mlb.tv whiners I mock. Thank heavens for piracy because the legal way ain’t working. Not that I really need to watch, I work near to Cafe Bastille and if France scores I can hear the cheers.
Yup. Low quality, though
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
on televisual innovations: i’m enjoying the “kick cam.” love seeing the motion broken down like that, especially when it looks like the anatomy couldn’t possibly bend like that (kind of like in a pitcher, when it looks like their chest has moved to just below the armpit). though i wonder if the technology was perhaps invented by adidas to get up and close on the shoe logo.
don't care if i ever get back.
I love how the announcer just said
“Diego Maradona and all that”
in such a dismissive manner
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 11:54 AM PDT reply actions
Cheating sod.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I like him like I like Pete Rose
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
but maradona only cheated a few times! we’re still counting with rose.
don't care if i ever get back.
Maradona cheated against England.
That’s the ultimate crime
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Hurst's goal never crossed the line ;)
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
ALLEZ LA FRANCE!!!! Although Uruguay has the hotter players!
wish i stayed home from work so i could actually what’s going on
I'm sure he has no problem getting laid.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
oh yeah I know all about him
I just don’t think his ability to get action (which is a given for all sports and showbiz stars) prevents me from saying he’s the ugliest toad in the swamp.
I would love to hear Ally McCoist do baseball pxp
That would be unintelligibly awesome!
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:04 PM PDT reply actions
the flipside of that is Tim McCarver doing footie play-by-play with Joe Buck
“Man, there are a lot of Ronaldos aren’t there?”
“None of those ‘footballers’ are a Derek Jeter. A guy that can just will his team to victory and carry them on his back.”
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 11, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, that would be horrible!
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Forlan? Really?
Though I suppose he’s no uglier than Buck and Sweeney.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
All football players are that fit.
Well unless they’re named Blanco or McCarthy.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Somewhat irritated
He’s had a couple of good runs, made one opportunity for himself about 20 meters out right in front of the goal, but the French defense closed quickly and got in the way of the shot.
There’s been some sloppy passing, from what I’ve seen — poor aim, a few hit too softly and intercepted. Uruguay seems to be emphasizing longer, sort of knifing passes up the center to guys on the run, and they haven’t been precise enough so far.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
oh snap!
It’s been kind of a pitchers’ duel…
A couple of singles, but also a couple of caught stealings and a pickoff
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I just woke up. Has anything exciting happened?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 11, 2010 12:27 PM PDT reply actions
I'm on the edge of my seat over here
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 11, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Somewhere in the BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
BrettAnderson49
Someone know how to get a new iPhone early? 1 minute ago via Echofon
So when you subbed in FIFA you don’t get to come back?
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
indeed, FIFA rules are a little more stringent than AYSO.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Is it sad that I’m not watching the game?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 11, 2010 1:05 PM PDT reply actions
no it's ok, but if someone scores can you write a post that says:
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!
like the tv announcers : )
There's no A in GOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!
That’s a Spanish language call. Even if Anglos imitate it, they should say it in Spanish.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Gee
I hope the Power Play doesn’t get Uruguay.
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Tuning in finally
What have I missed?
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
Erm - first game ended up 1-1 between South Africa and Mexico.
South Africa scored a cracking goal – which is in a gif higher up in the thread.
In the current game Uruguay are hanging on for dear life after having a man sent off. It’s 0-0.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
didn't watch....does that mean red card? and loss of a man next game??
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
The player received two yellow cards (which equal a red).
He was dismissed for this game, so Uruguay had to play with 1 man less. He won’t be able to play in the next game either. However, Uruguay will be able to field 11 players for the next game.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
does that change when they get to elimination rounds??
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
A team is never penalised by a red card in a subsequent match.
The player is the one that’s punished. If it’s a straight red card he’s banned for two games (I think – normally it’s three games, but I think in the World Cup it’s 2)
I’d have to look up the rules for FIFA tournaments, but I think yellow cards carry over to the next match. So a player could be booked in back to back matches and then suspended for the next one (though those yellow cards are ‘wiped’ once the elimination rounds begin, and the process starts all over). Just to confuse you more – this doesn’t happen in the Premier League (you have to receive five yellow cards in separate matches to receive a suspension)
If that makes sense?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
it does make sense. because it’s impossible to get 5 yellow cards over 3 games if you can’t play the game after your double yellows. so for short rounds it’s either 2 or 3 yellows that add up to a game suspension.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I was just trying to explain how it works outside of tournaments.
It’s two yellow cards in the World Cup. They carry over.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
yeah, i was agreeing with you. did you look it up by the way? because now i’m wondering how many yellows it takes in the second stage. prolly also 2.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I didn't, but I think it's two again.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
yes....I knew something was wiped clean...just didn't remember if there is ever a situation where the team plays a man down.
I seem to recall this happening in some friendlies the US played….
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Well a player can't continue to play in the game he's been red carded in.
So I imagine that’s what you’re referring to? Unlike American football, for example, where a player can be ejected, but the team can continue to play with it’s full complement of players – in ‘soccer’ the team is punished by having to play with one man less.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I recalled that after I read your posts above....^^^^
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
I think this is one of the reasons depth is so important in the World Cup
The incredibly deep teams, like Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and the Netherlands (possibly excepting their backs), can afford to sit someone to keep him from getting a 2nd yellow, or can deal with someone being disqualified for a match. But if Bradley (or Donovan or Dempsey) is DQ’ed for a match, the US is screwed. I think depth is one of the things that keeps England out of the top tier of teams.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I disagree. The England team is firmly in that top tier.
We have our talisman, Rooney – without whom we couldn’t win it. Otherwise everyone has a good replacement.
For some reason the strength of the the England team is constantly overlooked – we have very, very good players across the board. That strength is dismissed for reasons I can’t fathom.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I watch a lot less football/soccer than you do
and obviously way, way less English football than you. Still, everything I hear has people sweating bullets over the center of the English defense with Ferdinand out (will King’s knees hold up?), and worrying about if/when Barry will return. But maybe that’s just standard-issue sniping and griping.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
We're not short on quality centre backs.
Losing Ferdinand is a blow, though he’s been crap for Utd this year, but we have back up for him.
Honestly Barry wouldn’t be in my starting 11 – we have better players to play that role. Capello seems to love him though. Either way, his fitness is an issue, but I’m not concerned if he can’t play.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I judt re-read this and now I get it....
I mean world cup is the time I really pay attention AND it’s been four years!
so forget what I said below!
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
The cheek of Henry asking for a handball!
What a cock.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
That one guy for Uruguay looks like Luis Scola.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 11, 2010 1:20 PM PDT reply actions
The Japanese ref is a tad more liberal with the cards
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
He's been excellent so far.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Another Draw
Suddenly reminded why American sports are fun to watch. Clear cut winner, clear cut loser…
Bay Bridge Madness tonight!
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Maybe someone will win a game tomorrow.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 11, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I prefer clear cut winners and losers too,
but within the context of World Cup, ties are tolerable.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Within the context of football ties are good.
I don’t understand why Americans always want a winner and a loser. Sometimes neither team deserves to win – and sometimes a draw is as good as a win for the lesser team. It adds to the beauty of the game.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Maybe, to a lot of people,
ties feel more like losses than like wins.
I don’t see any need to revamp it, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if they did.
Then again, just about the only sport on the planet I wouldn’t radically revamp is baseball. All I would do to baseball is call balls and strikes electronically, with sensors in balls, plates, and uniforms. The ump would carry a smartphone rather than a ball/strike indicator, and receive the electronic calls and announce them, rather than make them himself.
American football, I’d make them take off most of the pads and allow many forms of “holding,” as well as get rid of many of the clock stoppages…
Basketball… The players should wear spandex bodysuits full of pressure sensors under the blousy tops and shorts, moving the onus of foul calls to the sensors rather than crooked officials. There also should be booth officials watching the live TV feed(s) and making calls that on-floor officials miss/ignore. Plus, David Stern should be disemboweled and hung from a flagpole for all to see, and as a lesson to the next guy. Dick Bavetta and Joey Crawford should be drowned in their own excrement on TV, just as a further grisly reminder.
As for soccer, the only changes I would make would be to have larger rosters, freer substitution (including allowing a 12th man on the field for a few seconds so the new guy can run in while the old guy runs out) no non-team colors in kits, and no shootouts or ties. Play until someone scores a goal, or until someone has a lead after 90:00. (no extra time. Extra time is lame. They should stop the clock for injuries) I don’t care if they end up having to play 2 or 3 or 4 hours of football once in a while to achieve that. Sometimes, baseball teams have to play 10, 11, 12 or more innings to determine a victor, and the occasional battle of endurance is just part of the grind, especially if there’s an off day the next day or three (unlike our poor baseballers)
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Why their own?
Wouldn’t the punishment be more severe if they were drowned in someone else’s excrement? Or is this your idea of clemency?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
not if they slowly have to sh*t it out over the course of weeks
and eat it or drown in it…
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I couldn't disagree more with your 'soccer' and American football suggestions.
The baseball one I like………..and basketball should be banned as a sport, so who cares?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Basketball will always be "sports-entertainment"
as long as the referees have the power to swing any given game by 10-20 points.
However, mark my words here- in 100 years, if we’re still here, and our bodies aren’t significantly altered, the #1 sport in the world will be MMA Deathsport, and the #1 peaceful sport in the world will be 20/20 cricket.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Why do you say that?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
In an overpopulated world, lives will have less social value
and eventually, deathsports, suicide, and destructive vices will all be legalized and taxed.
Plus, baseball will never take over the whole world, due to it being a 90 degree game with too much downtime. 20/20 cricket is exciting, covers 360 degrees, and is close enough to baseball that it could conceivably get a foothold in American markets after the eventual collapse of the baseball bubble.
I also think that eventually, as Americans give up tight control of their homegrown sports and adopt/adapt other sports to American tastes, what American sports will end up leaving on the world stage is hunger for offense and hunger for victories. Eventually, the subtleties of defensive oriented sports like Football/Soccer and Baseball are going to be lost on a tech-enhanced/addled world of media consumers, and they’ll dwindle in popularity to niche sports.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Football isn't a defensively oriented sport. It's all about scoring more goals than your opponent.
Just because they’re difficult to score does not mean the game is defensively minded.
I figured you were talking about the HUGE population boom in India and Pakistan when you brought up 20/20. It has the potential to be a huge sport – it also has the potential to flame out as it’s being pushed without mercy down the throats of the cricket playing nations.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
at this stage, it’s all about the points. sometimes you’re playing to earn the 1 when you know risking a 3 is going to get you a 0.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
That might be what makes Americans most upset
In American sports, you always play to win, and there’s never an excuse to play for the tie.
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
By the way, the Cleveland Indians called up catcher Carlos Santana. He’s starting tonight against the Nationals.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 11, 2010 1:25 PM PDT reply actions
IIIIIIII take it I'm meant to know that name?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Coming into this season, Baseball America ranked him as the number 10 prospect in all of baseball. Santana, a catcher, hit .316/.447/.597 in 246 plate appearances for Triple-A Columbus this season.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 11, 2010 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
Age?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Also, his name is Carlos Santana.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
Or only one of the best guitar players in the world......IMHO of course....
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Smooth
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 11, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions
That stadium is so freaking cool.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
This group is very poor. Anyone can win it.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Yeah, draw suits France and Uruguay a lot
Mexico failed to beat the worst team in the group, so all they have to do now is not lose in their games against the Mexicans, and take care of business against SA.
Though,yeah. Gourcouf. Jeez.
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
hm...
So I was wondering…
You have Uruguay vs France, and the officials were Japanese. What language was being used when they were arguing with the ref?
More of a general question, really – what’s the “official” language of the World Cup? Or do the refs have to be tri-lingual or something?
English I imagine.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
and hand signals
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Dunno
but I heard on NPR this morning that the refs had to take a few lessons in the various curse words and gestures of the languages and cultures of participating countries. That must have been entertaining.
Cliff Pennington wakes up in the morning and he's 0-2.
I heard that they made sure to learn lots of cursing phrases that those from England use b/c they are different than those used in the US
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Oh so they're not targeting the English or anything. Love how fair FIFA are(!)
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
what do they do about the other myriad of languages that all the teams use!!!
oh wait….the teams only curse in English, right?? It’s in the rules, right?? Hahaha
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Exactly. We're being singled out again. Used to it by now.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
well they already knew our (US) favorite suspects!!!
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
Goddam. If Forlan hadn't missed that sitter, I win $40.
He really does know how to screw me over
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
Bob's English, or so I'm led to believe....
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Well I was just checking......not that it really matters......
are you able to watch the game tomorrow?
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
I will probably be very drunk in a bar full of England fans shouting obscenities about Americans. =P
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Ha ha - it'll be harsher than that.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I don't know much more limey curses.
naff off, sod off, uh.. thats about it really
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Yet I know plenty of septic ones. Go figure.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
The Old Berkshire Hunt?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
If you're getting at what I think you're getting........possibly.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Of course that's what I'm getting at.
Is there ever any doubt?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Well, yeah, England, of course
But I have a few side bets on. Actually, i"ve gone against my normal practice of not betting on teams I support and put five quid on England winning 3-1 today. Though, I’m not sure that TUSA will manage a goal, so I’m not feeling too good about it.
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
I would like to take this opportunity to...
offer my sympathies to the USA team and all it;s fans for the Football Lesson that England are going to inflict upon them tomorrow.
;-)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 4:20 PM PDT reply actions
If you're looking for uneducated reciprocal smack talk, you've found it.
I think it’s going to be a tie, and Dempsey’s going to score for the US
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by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions
No, I was simply.....
trying to be magnanimous to those who are about to be faced with harsh reality, and bitter disappointment
I would call a tie an excellent result for the USA.
I would also call it very very unlikely.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd call for heads to roll if it was a draw.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Opening matches can be difficult....
especially when you teams collective arse is handed to you by a team several levels above you.
I have a great affection for the USA having been across the pond something like 30 times.
But at 7.30 pm tomorrow it will be time to teach the former colony about class.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Opening matches can be difficult....
especially when you teams collective arse is handed to you by a team several levels above you.
I have a great affection for the USA having been across the pond something like 30 times.
But at 7.30 pm tomorrow it will be time to teach the former colony about class.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 4:47 PM PDT reply actions
You may want to talk to the fuckbag Liverpool "fans" who burned the US flag about class before talking about teaching a damn thing to us.
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Liverpool and class have not been mentioned in the same sentence since the 1960's.
Rather like a man may compliment his friends not too attractive GF by saying that she has a great personality, within the UK the Liverpudlians are praised for their spirt and sense of humour.
Nonetheless, I sincerely hope that the USA team can pick themselves up from tomorrows England training session and qualify for the 2nd round.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Thank you, and good luck getting to your second Final ever!
Time to catch up to Uruguay, France, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Really? This thread is going that way?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
If he chooses to start it, I'll choose to end it.
It’s really that simple.
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mikev....
you’re wayyy too serious :-)
Dude, you live in sunkissed California, I live in grey rainy London….. who really won?
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Well you live in Laaaandon, so that sucks.
But England’s a nice place. Granted, I love rain.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Saff Laaaandon actually.
But you’d never catch me saying that way!! :)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I've found Laaandoners don't appreciate it when you mock their accent.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Or Americans when you mention class
;-)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions
My 12 yr old says it exactly that way
:-(
Not so much the proud dad at those times!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Meh, this is a low-risk situation for Americans
a) not many people here care all that much about soccer;
b) those who do see us as generally an underdog team — nobody on Earth expects the US team to win the WC, and losing to England won’t be seen as a national crisis;
c) the English, on the other hand, are once again looking forward to their team winning the World Cup in what they see as their game, in a competition whose final round they’ve reached once, which the majority of their current population wasn’t even alive to experience.
The US team and people in US soccer are under tremendous pressure because they always think that they have it within their power to make soccer break through as a big spectator sport in the US, and I think they see the WC and this match against England as their best chance yet — if they beat England, win the group, upset someone like Germany and generally shock the world, then MLS will sell out the rest of the season, tv ratings will go up, US players will get big contracts from teams in top leagues, etc etc etc.
But as far as fans are concerned, I think US fans would be generally fine with a draw and wouldn’t be crushed by a loss (especially if the team ends up 2nd in the group anyway). English fans will be furious and miserable if their team loses to the US, and will be plenty grumpy if they draw.
Anyway, that’s my take on the situation.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Nick...
I agree with 99% of what you, except….
I don’t think that there are really that many, even within England, who think England can win the competition. A good run to a semi final, with a valient defeat would more than satisfy.
England are traditionally poor starters in competitions. For all my playful smack talk, I recognise that tomorrow could actually be "interesting".
Anyway, the USA has a wealth of sport. The last thing the rest of the world needs is for you guys to get good at football too!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions
My impression
(and this is from listening to some English football podcasts, and reading miscellaneous English commentators on the web, as well as chatting with folks here) is that people felt during qualifying, “Hey, we’ve got Rooney, Capello’s got the team playing well, maybe we could really do this…” and that it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster in the last 2 or 3 months (Rooney getting hurt, then recovering, for instance).
Now, it seems to me that people are torn: they still have a bit of that feeling that this could be the year (Rooney is a fantastic player, after all), but they feel a bit foolish for thinking that, and are deliberately trying to downplay their chances by being sensible (one English commentator I heard said, “This is basically the same squad as 2006, except older”).
Some of it, of course, will have to do with what happens in the actual matches. If they’re down in the quarters and heroically tie it late, then win in extra time, and then fight valiantly but lose to one of the superpowers in the semis, I’m sure everyone in England would hold their head up proudly, as they should. But if they lose on penalties in the semis after conceding a late equalizer, the glass will look half empty.
So again, I think that, despite OldhamA’s disagreement above, England looks to me to be below the absolute top tier. Brazil and Spain will not, under any circumstances, be satisfied if they lose in the semis. Dunga is a failure if they don’t win it all. And if Argentina loses any time before the finals I’m pretty sure Maradona’s not going to do a happy naked romp through Buenos Aires.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
You won't find many England fans satisfied with a defeat in the semis.
As for it being the same squad as 2006, except older. I’d argue that Rooney is a MUCH better player than he was 4 years ago. Likewise, Lennon is a different player – his pace will terrify defences.
Look I’m not saying I’m betting the farm on England winning the thing, but with the way Capello has this talented squad playing, I’d say we have as good as shot as any team in the competition. Everyone has strengths, everyone has weaknesses.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
1990 and 1996 semi losses on penalties....
Despite that they were losses, I still tingle when I think back and hear “Nessun Dorma” or the original “3 Lions”. I know exactly what I was doing and who I was with for both those moments, and for the days afterwards.
The whole country came together in a way and with a buzz unlike anything I have ever seen at ANY other time.
I’d take that again.
Anyhoo, I’m off to bed………….Big day tomorrow ;-)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think it's obvious that a 24-year-old Rooney is much better than a 20-year-old Rooney
I just quoted that as an example of an English commentator trying to downplay the team’s chances.
As for their chances, of course they could win it all. They have lots of very good players and one fantastic player who’s fully capable of making this his World Cup.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Well you say that, but some players simply don't progress. Vela for example is stuck in reverse.
At 20 Rooney was still a precocious talent. Ferguson has turned him into an absolute world beater.
Who was the commentator? Certain ones like to stay grounded, which I have no issue with. I’m one of the more realistic people you’re ever likely to meet, but I still think we’re in with a big, big shot.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I didn't mean that generically, I meant that applied to Rooney
If there’s any evidence that Theo Walcott is better than he was 4 years ago, in comparison, Capello certainly didn’t see it.
I don’t know the commentator’s name — he was one of the regulars on Chapper’s World Cup Podcast, which I gather is the World Cup version of a regular, weekly EPL podcast that the BBC puts together. All the people on that podcast seem to think Brazil or Spain will win, with one guy naming the Dutch as a possible winner.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Walcott hasn't progressed at all.
Partly because he’s been injured a lot and partly because he’s struggling to adapt to a new position – he thinks he’s a striker whereas Wenger thinks he’s a winger/outside forward.
Brazil and Spain are the hot picks – mainly because Spain have an exceptional team and recently won the European Championships and Brazil are, well Brazil (though what else do Brazil do?).
As for the Dutch – they have some quality players, but it’s whether than can pull together for 7 matches. I don’t see it happening.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I have a sentimental attachment to the Dutch, and I love watching them play
so they’re the folks I’d most like to see win it, although I know that they seem to have always had an incredible ability to spend more time bitching at each other than figuring out how to win. I’ve read accounts that say that Sneijder has really matured since joining AC Milan, though, and winning the triple sure doesn’t contradict that account. But it could definitely all blow up in their faces, too.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Dude, you can't root for the Dutch on AN.
That’s like saying you have a sentimental attachment to the Angels.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
i don’t get it. is there a connection AN-non dutch?
so here’s a story ‘cause i’m drunk. it’s 1978. a small town in argentina. well, big enough to host 5 games, 3 including the netherlands. in a stadium my dad helped build. i, showing my first colors as a life-long contrarian, decided orange was the best thing ever and that holland was my team. even though my dad was taken by the poles visiting our town. and the kilts of the scotch too. but this was during a swell of nationalism. and i never did well with that first-hand. the census had just taken place. a new song, entitled (in lose translation) “25 million argentines, we will win the world cup,” was all over the radio.
simply everybody i knew was hoping argentina would win. and i, sill clinging to my orange-love, sat watching game after game, circumstance leading to circumstance, barreling down toward what seemed personally inevitable: a showdown between holland and argentina. i was the only person i knew who liked holland (and i have to admit it was mostly about the uniforms). hell, i was the only person i knew who rooted against argentina. and sure enough, when the final came, it was me against my country.
everybody knew whose side i was on, from my parents to my neighbors to my school friends. and almost because everybody wanted to know why, the game proved to be a long night. we all got together, sort of, to watch the game. the kids of three or four families were all in one apartment, while the parents were all in another—doors open to the lobby in between. but it seemed like the whole city had doors open that night, and that we were all sitting in one huge living room. rooting together. except for me.
and i’m sure googling would set me straight, but it seemed the game went on forever. at some moment, i was losing. argentina had scored. and holland didn’t seem like it could get it together. it was all over. so i adapted a trick my friends had taught me at the beginning of the game. if you tie your shoelaces in double knots and swear never to untie them unless your team wins, then your team will win or, well, you couldn’t take your shoes off again. so in desperation i tied knot ofter knot up and down my shoelaces, making a web that nobody would be able to undo. unless… toward the end of the game when it seemed almost over, holland scored. my friends hated me. i was so happy though. my knots had worked. and now it was overtime and everybody was tying knots in their laces. but again, i was outnumbered. and i couldn’t tie any more in my own laces anyway.
and the game went on. till kempes scored again. and it was over. except for the nail in the coffin, bertoni. everybody erupted. i was so sad. with the game over and argentina champions, simply every single soul went out in the streets to bang pots and pans and sing together. everybody but me. well, almost. i recognized the joy and didn’t want to be left out. i ditched holland right about there. and ever since, i’ve been blind for that lovely sky blue and white shirt. (and holland a little bit too.) (till they betrayed me in 98! actually i blame ortega for that. but still, holland was present and they benefited.)
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
So was Bergkamp's goal thrilling or horrible for you?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
that’s the one in 98. horrible. but i was in horror before it happened and saw it coming from a mile away. that’s the one where ortega (i really don’t like him. dirty, dirty player.) tried to “slyly” (ariel, there are cameras here. do you really think nobody’d see?) headbutt the dutch goalie. in arguing with the ref, argentina’s mental concentration crumbled and let bergkamp waltz his goal in.
but this is our achilles heel. argentina’s national psychology makes people want to pull a sly one (picardía) for short gain, but immediately forgetting the big picture. it almost always backfires.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions
It's an old joke.
Whenever we talk about how welcoming we are here on AN and how we love everybody, the one exception is that we hate the Dutch.
Yes, of course, I know the Dutch are sweethearts and there’s no people less hateworthy. That’s the point. It’s not funny to hate the French. Or Americans, for that matter.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I met Rooney and Coleen in a pool...
at the Wynn when they were on their honeymoon 2 years ago.
He is one ugly bastard….. but the body of a god!!!
Reminded me of the joke “what would Wayne Rooney be if he wasn’t a professional footballer…….. A virgin!!”
Coleen however. PHWORRRRR!!!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
That's Crouch.
And I’ve seen enough young fathers that look just as bad as Rooney to know that’s not true.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Would the all-ugly team beat the all-pretty-boy team?
Internationally speaking, of course.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Who's who?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Well, I'd say that Ribery, Rooney, and Crouch get to be on the Uglies
Puyol could be up front with Rooney, right? I’m pretty sure a bunch of the Italians belong on that team, too. Ronaldo is on the PBs (he’d name himself captain, of course). That would be a start.
You guys would be much better at filling out the rest of the rosters than I’d be.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Ronaldo?
Am I the only one that thinks he’s a goofy looking greaseball?
And yes I could…….but I’m really not going to. =P
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
i agree with you because i really dislike him. but he’s definitely a pretty boy. i’m only going to say it one last time: he makes zoolander faces when he scores!
tevez on the fuglies!!!
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 11, 2010 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Ronaldo scores?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
and Ginger to the Bone!!!
Like a freckle universe underlain by blinding white, even in Vegas and after a week+ in Italy getting married!!
Scary!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
What god didn't give him in looks he made up for with footballing talent.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Gave him Coleen instead!!
I’ll say it again….. PHWORRRRR!!!!
Even hotter in the flesh.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Nick...
I agree with 99% of what you, except….
I don’t think that there are really that many, even within England, who think England can win the competition. A good run to a semi final, with a valient defeat would more than satisfy.
England are traditionally poor starters in competitions. For all my playful smack talk, I recognise that tomorrow could actually be “interesting”.
Anyway, the USA has a wealth of sport. The last thing the rest of the world needs is for you guys to get good at football too!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:20 PM PDT reply actions
The USA has a wealth of their own sports. They're very insular like that.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Sort of Insular.......
…they took cricket and came up with Baseball.
Piss taking aside, I believe this is now accepted fact??
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
American Football is really pretty much isolated to the US
and as far as I’m concerned, that’s one country too many. I don’t hate the sport on its own terms, but it’s got a lot of intrinsic flaws, and football fandom and media in the US, IMHO, is pretty awful.
We stole basketball from a Canadian, and in any case it’s a legitimately international sport (in a way that American football absolutely is not). Baseball is also very, very international. Hockey is too, though that’s a really poor sister in the US and, again, is really Canadian.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I know, I'm just saying you have your sports and you like to stick to them.
I still think American Football is the pick of the bunch though.
Basketball and Ice Hockey have become international for reasons unbeknown to me. Infact there are rumours that the Greek/Italian league (I forget which) is on the verge of bidding for NBA stars in the near future.
I can see the attraction of Baseball – and I can see why it’s taken off in countries that don’t play cricket.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I think that's partly the influence of business
The big leagues hold immense power, in combination with the tv networks, and none of them has any financial interest in seeing soccer or any other sport take down their market share. One huge obstacle for making soccer a major sport here is that the calendar is already occupied by its potential rivals, and they’ll do everything they can to keep the sport from catching on.
That being said, soccer is manifestly a much bigger deal here than in the past, and a couple generations of American kids have in fact grown up playing the game.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
American sports guy on the radio here this morning...
suggested they’re expecting viewing figures akin to a NFL playoff for tomorrow.
Really???
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Could be, I suppose
I’m near Philly. Now, Philly actually has a very long soccer heritage, and the new MLS team here has built a very strong fanbase (sold over 12,000 season tickets, and could have sold more if they’d offered more), and will likely sell out their soon-to-be-completed 22,000 seat stadium pretty much every match. So this is the kind of place that should be on the leading edge for the coming soccer wave.
But the Flyers just lost the Stanley Cup finals, so the local sports media was going all-in on that until yesterday. The Philly paper has done one or two World-Cup-related stories a day (compared to 8 on the Flyers and 3 or 4 on the Phillies, and 1 or 2 on the Iggles), but not the main story on the sports page, and absolutely not on the front page of the paper. No extra supplement for the World Cup.
Standard US sportstalk radio almost never even mentions soccer, though I don’t listen very much at all so it’s possible it’s being discussed.
Maybe they’re counting on every single immigrant and every first-generation American to tune in. That could be a lot of people. I’d be curious to see what the numbers were like for the Mexico-SA match this morning.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Is baseball popular in any country that
hasn’t had a history of visits from the U.S. Navy? I can’t think of any.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I don't think so
Baseball in Croatia actually started after kids from Split stole some equipment from one of the US Navy vessels.
Seriously?
I wasn’t thinking of Europe or Africa. Your ventures notwithstanding, I don’t think baseball is really big over there. Seems like it’s a Caribbean and Pacific Rim phenomenon.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Seriously
No, it’s not really big anywhere in Europe (Dutch being the exception, due to their Caribbean ties, but it is still a marginal sport there – just much less marginal than in the rest of Europe).
In Germany it is tied to US Army barracks – most of the teams were founded very close to those. And it is getting more popular – last year Germany hosted some World Cup games and the ones where Germany played drew just about as well as Coliseum. European Championship is in Stuttgart this year, which should be fun, too.
You could ask the same question about cricket, but it doesn't detract from the international nature of the sport
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Another imperial sport.
Is cricket popular anywhere that wasn’t part of the British Empire?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
i think it’s “international” mathematically. that is, if you count the (admittedly growing) number of nations that play it at some level, yes, you find out that there are quite a few. but it’s insular, almost hermetic, if you count the number of nations that don’t even understand how to watch it—it’s unclear even what constitutes scoring or winning (consider the various types of scores that are kept: balls, strikes, outs, and runs, hits, errors, which one means you’re winning?). and from the point of view of these other countries, it’s not just a weird game. it’s a weird game from the US that the US already closed the rest of the world to by self-importantly claiming its national championship to be one and only world championship.
this is a miniscule complaint, but it shows a lot about attitude, and attitude takes a long time to change. i know calling the competition between the national and the american leagues the “world series” happened a long time ago, and that there are now various other competitions that truly do include the world (although in these competitions the US sometimes shows up with team B, perhaps showing disrespect to the other teams), but there’s a pathology with the US to aggrandize itself and psychologically invade places by nomenclature that truly leaves the casual worldcitizen cold. the whole calling the united states “america” as if the rest of the american continent didn’t exist, for example. apart from the actual history, cooperative or imperial as it may be, it’s an attitude that makes others want to have nothing to do with the US. it touches baseball. and i’ve seen first hand how that taints any sort of possible interest or enjoyment of the game.
i’m talking about friends and family in other countries who love sports, and watch some from other countires each following his or her own interest toward NBA or EPL or F1 or whatever. but every one of them, when i tried to show them something i liked with much enthusiasm, had absolutely no interest in baseball. partly because it’s strange. but mostly because of the centrism is represents. you can count the countries and call it international. but it really doesn’t feel that way.
don't care if i ever get back.
I absolutely agree about the privileged, clueless arrogance of American cultural imperialism
Soccer is the most international sport in the world. It is odd, though, that 3 of the 4 most populous countries in the world take only marginal interest in the game — China, India, Indonesia. The entire Indian subcontinent is fanatically devoted to cricket, and I’m pretty sure that’s more people than Europe and South America combined.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
India alone is more populous
than any continent other than Asia.
Australia = 22 m
South America = 382 m
North America = 528 m
Europe = 731 m
Africa = 922 m
India = 1,182 m
China = 1,338 m
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Sort of Insular.......
…they took cricket and came up with Baseball.
Piss taking aside, I believe this is now accepted fact??
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 11, 2010 5:53 PM PDT reply actions
I'll just post it here, since we're in the mood.
I scored on a bicycle kick tonight in my indoor game. First time in my life, and it was fucking legit. Full cross from the outside, I was just on the other side of the box and I absolutely crushed it. It was, like, stunned silence when I hit it and a bunch of people said how awesome it was.
It was.
SIG SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP. INQUIRE WITHIN.
it's fieldturf
basically synthetic grass with shredded rubber instead of dirt.
SIG SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP. INQUIRE WITHIN.
good idea.
It’s past midnight, should I put up a Day 2 post :P
SIG SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP. INQUIRE WITHIN.
First time watching soccer
and i have a question? What is stoppage time and how do they determiine it?
HILLIS...where are you???
The game clock never stops (except at halftime)
but the 4th referee (the one who stands on the sidelines at midfield, not the assistant refs who rule on offsides) keeps track of how much time has been lost due to injuries, celebrations after goals, that sort of thing (“stoppages”). So when the game clock says 45:00 or 90:00 (remember, the clock counts up rather than counting down) he holds up a sign indicating how many minutes to add on at the end of the half/game, and they keep playing for that many more minutes.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Argentina has had the best of it so far, but Nigeria has put together some genuine threats, too.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Nigieria is close if they just keep attacking
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
on my broadcast, they’re not explaining what nigeria’s doing wrong when throwing the ball in from the side lines. anybody know what’s the infraction?
don't care if i ever get back.
I've not been watching the game, but I assume you're talking about a foul throw?
If I’m remembering the rules correctly:
The thrower has to start with the ball behind his head.
He has to throw it with both feet behind the sideline.
He can’t throw the ball deliberately into the ground – it has to be thrown AT a player in the air.
Finally the player has to throw it with both feet on the ground.
I assume the Nigerian player was breaking one of these rules…
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
i think they were throwing it at the ground. (i didn’t know about that rule.) all else looked right.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Does anyone ever do cartwheel throw-ins in serious matches, or is that just for show?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I want to say Rigoberte Song did for a while, but Youtube is failing me.
There certainly was one African full back that did it at one point.
Link. They do happen though – they’re just very, very rare.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
All the signage along the sidelines seems like it would make it very hard to do.
Back when I was a kid there was an African guy who played for USF and then for the Earthquakes who did them. Very impressive.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Wow, that was a terrible job on the wing there
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
not sure what play you mean… i think i’m on a time delay.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions
The breakaway by Nigeria, when that guy who'd just come on was bringing it up the left with a teammate going towards the goal
and he ended up just dribbling it over the touchline. Pass, shoot, do something.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
and then he yelled at the other guy!
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
i love it that my commentator had to clarify that it’s ok for men to hug and kiss on the cheek in argentina. and i’m listening to the spanish broadcast.
don't care if i ever get back.
Do you think the "4-centerbacks" decision has been a problem for Argentina in this match?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
jonas was outmatched and showed to be the weak link early on. but tevez changed his place and dropped back to cover, and forward again to team with the forwards. but that’s what tevez does: everything. i’m not sure if that modified the 4 centerbacks game plan. at some moment i heard the commentator say they switched to 4-3-1-2.
and that’s game.
steady D, aided by some bad nigerian shooting. on the other hand, nigeria was aided by a super goalie. this game could easily have ended up 1-1. or 4-0. i’m happy with the 1-0. argentina feels good, but it knows it has something to work on still instead of going to game two under pressure, or worse, cocky.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Well Nigeria were a disappointment. Typical African team though - littered with talented
individuals, but no team play.
Argentina don’t look that threatening either. Then again Messi was quiet, so there’s definitely more to come from them.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
i created a new thread for US vs england
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
wait a minute. why isn’t the US game on the ESPN 3 menu? aren’t they showing it?
don't care if i ever get back.
no, ESPN3 is only showing the ESPN and ESPN2 games, not the ABC games
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
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