World Cup Germany 2006

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voila

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Sunday, 18 June 2006 19:56 (nineteen years ago)

at last

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 18 June 2006 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

Ian Wright - Hyena Man

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Sunday, 18 June 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, Ian Wright pissing himself laughing at Gallas was so bad, he should be transferred over to ITV immediately.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:08 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41781000/jpg/_41781968_koyair_afp_story300.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

My post was lost in the poxy-fule-void. Something about how I hope Sven was watching that as it might help him to realise that trying to defend a 1-0 lead for virtually the entire match is just asking for trouble (though he's already ignored a mountain of first-hand evidence for this).

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

To paraphrase that legendary Barry Davies quote from the last World Cup... and France are on their way out because they will NOT LEARN!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:21 (nineteen years ago)

I almost fell asleep in the 2nd half but those last 10 minutes were REALLY EXCITING. Barthez looks like a liability and the look of sheer fury on Gallas's face when the goal went in was hilarious.

Group G has gone mental. Togo are now potentially refusing to play their next two games due to that wages row. What happens then?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

booooo to wh3rd! i am not registered on it, so none of my bookmarks are there, and none of my followed links show up as such. Hooray for plucky p3r.net!

I want to rescue a magnificent word ailsa used in the first thread about this subject - she said that one of Brazil's goals was in fact not so great; he'd just "sclaffed" it in. Sclaffed!

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:25 (nineteen years ago)

The American color commentator actually called Ronaldo 'a fat waste of space.' True, but I didn't expect him to say it.

― jergins (jergins), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

Group G has gone mental. Togo are now potentially refusing to play their next two games due to that wages row. What happens then?

The entire World Cup is void, and the winner of this year's tournament is decided by a high jump competition.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:37 (nineteen years ago)

Peter Crouch comes in useful at last!

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

Brilliant, Ailsa, just brilliant!

― Lara (Lara), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:39 (nineteen years ago)

I'm auditioning for a part as a commentator - ability to state the bleeding obvious and relate it to England in some way = prerequisite.

Unless you're talking about the use of sclaffed, which is a proper word!

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 18 June 2006 20:41 (nineteen years ago)

BBC commentators were odd tonight. I heard this gem: "Zidane is like a ripple on a river. With a ball at it's feet."

And Lawro questioning the Togoans ability to organise an FA by themselves - "The Togo FA should sort it out, if they even HAVE such a thing."

Great rusult for the Koreans tho. The French looked like a side without a goal for eight years, even when they'd broken the duck. Instead of getting to he edge of the box and shooting, they always seemed to want an extra touch or make an extra pass, and with defenders running around exhausting themselves like they have been this tournament, they just can't do that. France can't mess around in their final match - if there's gonna BE such a thing.

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:05 (nineteen years ago)

Proper or not, ailsa, it's tremendous. It sounds very Scottish.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

"to sclaff" = what Ronaldo would have done to that ball that came over his shoulder IF HE HAD ACTUALLY MADE CONTACT WITH IT.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

If it's a world cup year, then it must be time for me to say that France are as overrated as Roberto Carlos.

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

Let's give some credit to South Korea. They brought this kind of intensity in 2002 as well.

― Super Cub (Debito), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

It's a golfing thing. But works just as well with bad attempts at goal-scoring.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

To be fair, France should have won that. I don't think many of the players, let alone the ref, really had time to catch that Roy Carrolesque scoop from behind the line. South Korea couldn't get into the game for 80mins and 2-0 would have killed them off totally.

South Korea have the best fans in the world, don't they? Those stands were rocking for most of the game. I'd like to watch one of the knockout games in Chinatown if anyone's up for it.

Also, Ian Wright thinks Saudi Arabia is in Africa. Ha.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:35 (nineteen years ago)

today's highlights:

1. ronaldinho trotting on the ball and fall over
2. itv commentator: "why does lee ho only has two names while everyone else has three". holy. shit. well done, ITV.

― ken c (ken c), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

3. the penalty save. what a save.

― ken c (ken c), Sunday, 18 June 2006 21:55 (nineteen years ago)

4. Brett Emerton getting booked for telling the referee to "fuck off"

― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Sunday, 18 June 2006 22:08 (nineteen years ago)

Did I hear right - did one commentator today say that Saudi Arabia were "no great shakes" [sheikhs!]?

The commentator's fawning over Brazil wasn't anywhere near as strong as Motty and Lawro's nauseating bum-sucking last week.

― David Orton (scarlet), Sunday, 18 June 2006 22:17 (nineteen years ago)

I just turn the sound down. I miss the chants but I'm American so I don't understand them anyway.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 18 June 2006 22:24 (nineteen years ago)

Saw France Korea in the Golden Lion with quite a few French who "boffed" a lot and did not get as upset as they should have been. The twol on our table were trying to explain where they are from "You know Asterix?" the blonde one said. "We are from there. And this is Oblisk" he said when his fat mate rocked up.

Korea Switzerland is a big Friday night game, Korean restaurants under Centre Point maybe a good place (I will be in Switzerland for it rooting for the Koreans). Togo will be playing the colonial hand after all.

― Pete (Pete), Sunday, 18 June 2006 23:17 (nineteen years ago)

After clicking on the previous thread, something I read there made me turn on the second half of the Croatia-Japan match. That's 45 minutes of my life I'll never get back again. I'm not trusting anything Dom says ever again.

― Sons Of The Redd Desert (Ken L), Sunday, 18 June 2006 23:25 (nineteen years ago)

Anybody know how close China came to making this final? Anyone care to conjecture on their chances of making the next final, or the one after?

― jergins (jergins), Monday, 19 June 2006 00:28 (nineteen years ago)

Ronaldinho looks like Jar Jar Binks.

That is all.

― Phooodball (Dough Boy), Monday, 19 June 2006 00:48 (nineteen years ago)

" PLUCKY REFEREE DARES TO BOOK RONALDO, MULTI-SKILLED GRAND MASTER OF FOOTBALLING EXECLLENCE.

-- Dom Passantino (juror...) (webmail), June 18th, 2006 12:31 PM. (Dom Passantino) (later) (link)"

i don't even know what this means but it is hilarious 2 me

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Monday, 19 June 2006 02:52 (nineteen years ago)

China lost their qualifying group on goal difference to Kuwait, who then went on to a second qualifying group where they came last.

― zappi (joni), Monday, 19 June 2006 02:58 (nineteen years ago)

The Observer reported a nice bit of ITV pre-match analysis from the Spain v Ukraine game, in which Ruud Gullit suggested that some tension within the squad could be caused by the Basque and Catalan players not feeling loyal to Spain. Andy Townsend said this was "pathetic" and that "the coach should sort it out."

Rudd then gently explained that it was a little more complicated than that, but Andy was having none of it.

Also, Lawro last night saying how "naive" the Koreans were, and commenting that they obviously don't play much high-quality football there, right before the clock hit 70 minutes and our Asian friends (some of whom play in, er, the Premiership) started toying with France much as a kitten plays with a catnip-stuffed mouse.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 19 June 2006 06:41 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41781000/jpg/_41781968_koyair_afp_story300.jpg

"That defender wants shooting"

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 19 June 2006 06:58 (nineteen years ago)

Ronaldinho looks like Jar Jar Binks.

That joke was so four years ago ;)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 19 June 2006 07:23 (nineteen years ago)

No one else saw Lawro on CBeebies?

I have discovered that by pressing the red button I can watch an FA Cup-like loop of the higlights of the previous day's games before going to work. They are quite estensive highlights, and there is no "Wrighty" or any of the other Top Quality Pundits that generally pollute one's viewing pleasure.

Ruud Gullit, incidentally, is/was talking out of his arse, re Basques and Catalans. They are all mates, both on and off the field.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 07:49 (nineteen years ago)

Who knows why SK didn't really get going until the last 10-15 mins?

If Spain end up playing SK in the 2nd round that might one of the more intriging encounters after what happened four years ago.

― xyzzzz__ (jdesouza), Monday, 19 June 2006 08:05 (nineteen years ago)

I realised, too late, that I could have pressed the red button at 8pm on the evening of the Argentian-S&M match and seen the whole thing, not just highlights! Pah.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:10 (nineteen years ago)

Lineker did explicitly state that you could do that too. Poor Mädchen.

Has anyone actually watched 'World Cuppa' on ITV4?? (the first question mark is actually part of ITV's branding).

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:30 (nineteen years ago)

So, are Togo going to bother turning up today?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:39 (nineteen years ago)

Come on, mighty mighty Switzerland! I've got a pound riding on you beauties.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:40 (nineteen years ago)

no, no one has watched world cuppa, even martin kelner who is PAID to watch sport stuff on telly can barely bring himself to mention it (after spending 8 paras saying how sh!te the ITV coverage is)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:42 (nineteen years ago)

I've seen that World Cuppa. It's very poor. Imagine Fantasy Football League's evil, rubbish twin brother.

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:44 (nineteen years ago)

I imagine it is a poor man's Greavsie's Gaff.

Baddiel and Skinner have a podcast from The Times website. Cannae be arsed masel'.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:49 (nineteen years ago)

I watched about as much or World Cuppa as I could bear - which worked out at about two minutes.

― theantmustdance (theantmustdance), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:49 (nineteen years ago)

Ah, it's all sorted out.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:52 (nineteen years ago)

we were wondering last night what the result would be if togo hadn't turned up, we were assuming it would have been given as 3-0 to the swiss, which would have CHRONICALLY nobbled the french, which we thought would have been funny...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:54 (nineteen years ago)

I imagine it is a poor man's Greavsie's Gaff

The mind boggles at that thought.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:03 (nineteen years ago)

in the kingdom of the poor, the man who hasn't seen Greavsie's Gaff is king.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:06 (nineteen years ago)

which would have CHRONICALLY nobbled the french

But if France beat Togo (or they don't turn up) then with 5pts France go through anyway no matter what, no?

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:09 (nineteen years ago)

The Baddiel and Skinner podcast is really good, I'm enjoying it. It's got the tone of a World Cup themed "The Now Show", but with less political satire and more bad Morrissey impressions.

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:14 (nineteen years ago)

i'm still finding it kinda disturbin how langston doesnt get the argentina goal! if anything it's so bloody clean and basketballey that it's proper footer fans that should be the ones not feeling it. is that so perverse?

― rtccc (mwah), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:25 (nineteen years ago)

But if France beat Togo (or they don't turn up) then with 5pts France go through anyway no matter what, no?

Yeah, automatic 3-0 wins for the Swiss and the French if the Togo team withdraws = very bad (and unfair) for the Koreans. Swiss draw with South Korea, there's a three-way tie on 5pts and SK go out on goal diff.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:28 (nineteen years ago)

(Presuming Togo stay and play, France can still be eliminated on goals scored if they only defeat Togo 1-0, the Swiss gain a better victory [2-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc] over Togo and the Swiss and the Koreans draw).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:38 (nineteen years ago)

There was some suggestion that if Togo walked all their results would be struck from the record and it would be as if they'd never set foot in Germany, so as not to be unfair on the Koreans, like.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:41 (nineteen years ago)

Blair on 606 with Chiles of the Moon.

Ask him about compulsory ID cards for all football fans!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sport/football/worldcup/2006/feature606.shtml

On a more serious note, what a great opportunity to listen to two broadcasting greats on the same programme.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 10:53 (nineteen years ago)

that would only really be fair on the koreans if they made the swiss and french teams run around* for 90 minutes (mind you, not that there are many french players who've done much running so far)

*presented by mike reid obv.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

The Togo players have apparently been paid, according to the BBC

― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:24 (nineteen years ago)

what a bunch of overprivileged prima donnas, or something.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:33 (nineteen years ago)

I think this whole epsiode might have unsettled to Togo squad.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:40 (nineteen years ago)

What a bunch of people who want to get paid, using the only think that the employee has over his employer, to get what they have been promised. Withdrawing labour is a right - and Fifa suggesting life bans and so on make them the worst kind of Tory strike breakers.

If I were Togolese, I'd check my bank balance just before I went on the pitch to double check the Togo FA had followed through. I completely understand that playing for your country should be a privilige (though of course to what extend the African nations can really be described as countries is a bit moot anyway and prob outside the remit of this thread) but if you have been promised a wage, then that should be delivered one way or another.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:47 (nineteen years ago)

If I were Togolese, I'd check my bank balance just before I went on the pitch to double check the Togo FA had followed through.

According to Five Live, the money arrived in cases.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:50 (nineteen years ago)

don't shoot the sarcastic messenger Pete!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:51 (nineteen years ago)

Fifa didn't ban Pierre "£5,000 a week might be good for a homeless man on the street, but not for me" van Hooijdonk when he walked out on Forest.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:55 (nineteen years ago)

hehe, i wonder if it was like that scene in dodgeball...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

If FIFA recognise Palestine as a nation state, do you think they'd recognise the Basque as well? Although they turned down applications from some Danish territory earlier this year that I forget the name of...

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:07 (nineteen years ago)

hold on, is the swiss left back called mann10n?

swiss 1 - 0 up already, btw.

hmmm, i think the basque thing is slightly different, the palestinian authority is recognised by the UN isn't it? whereas there's no "legitimate" basque government per se...

...clearly the home nations are the abberation that proves the rule ;)

are east timor in fifa yet?

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

I would say they would be very unlikely to accept Basque as a nation state. Their acceptance of Palestine is to some degree a sop to other arab nations, plus an awareness that Palestinian Arabs are not ever going to be in or be represented by a Israel team. Also the boundaries and definitions of who is Palestinian is easily assertained by their ID cards etc.

And since they haven't really got anywhere to play, they aren't going to qualify causing upset in the short term. And wot Carsmile Steve said (though pretty sure Palestines Fifa recognition predates the PA).

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:27 (nineteen years ago)

hold on, is the swiss left back called mann10n?

it's actually Magnin (P.I.)

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:30 (nineteen years ago)

aha, bad fivelive pronunciation...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

Of course there is a legitimate Basque government:

http://www.ejgv.euskadi.net/r53-2283/eu/

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:39 (nineteen years ago)

Wasn't there a WC for non-official states recently? Kurdistan v Basque etc.

― Pete W (peterw), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

East Timor joined FIFA in September 2005, but a quick google suggests they still haven't played a full international.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

See this 3-0 automatic win thingie if the opposition doesn't turn up? How come when Estonia failed to show against Scotland in 1996 this rule was overturned and we had to go play them in Monaco instead (and, being Scotland, contrived to get a goal-less draw)?

hold on, is the swiss left back called mann10n?

Switzerland also have Gygax and Wicky (pronounced Vicky) - should we be adopting them as the ILX team?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

PJ, isn't that the same as saying an american state has a legitimate government? my basque is a bit rusty so couldn't fully understand that page ;)

pete w, boyler informed us of this and then subsequently couldn't find anything on t'internet...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

Wasn't there a WC for non-official states recently? Kurdistan v Basque etc.

The FIFI World Cup

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

aha!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFI_Wild_Cup

― Pete W (peterw), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

I am currently fiendishly amused by the possibility that after this match the group leaders would be South Korea and Switzerland.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

Wild Cup, rather.

There was also supposed to be a similar thing held in Northern Cyprus this Novemeber called the Viva World Cup, with different nations, but I'm not sure if that's still happening.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.lehendakaritza.ejgv.euskadi.net/r48-7413/en/

Here is is in English, after a fashion. Not quite the same, no - they are autonomous regions. Not that I know how Amercian states work. This is an elected government, but there are some things they don't have authority over, such as taxes, whereas the Catalns do have some control over taxes.

I'm kind of out of the loop though, if I was ever in the loop.

But it is legitimate, with a clear mandate and all that, and nothing to do with the more extreme views we sometimes hear about.

I don't know anything about any alternative World Cup (OK, I do now, or will, when I click), but the Basque Selection played Wales not so lomng ago, due to Toshack love. They usually play one match a year. The Basque FA is also legitimate. I suppose the operate most widely at the grassroots level.

I will look for them now.

My head hurts.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.lehendakaritza.ejgv.euskadi.net/r48-7413/en/

I'm kind of out of the loop though, if I was ever in the loop.

But it is legitimate, with a clear mandate and all that, and nothing to do with the more extreme views we sometimes hear about.

I will look for them now.

Here they are:

http://www.eff-fvf.org/

Yes, it is very grassroots.

My head hurts.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

i'd like to see Basque in glory in one of those indie world cups i think.

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

Oh I posted twice. Spot the difference.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

once more with feeling!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

Cornwall should put a team together.

― Pete W (peterw), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

Bring back Saarland.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41784000/jpg/_41784936_green416.jpg

― caek (caek), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:28 (nineteen years ago)

Nice finish. Togo to go.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

Togone

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

like a 70s sleeping bag

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

so what's the score ?

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

2-0 to the Swiss

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

ooh. the swiss on a roll.

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

the radio five commentator actually made that "joke" when one of their players was tripped earlier...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

( for those, like me, stuck at work in the u.s. during weekday game hours, i just found this a very nice plugin for firefox with realtime score updates + stats + the like: for those interested, http://www.mozilla.com/add-ons/jogacompanion/ )

― nicenick (nicenick), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:00 (nineteen years ago)

so France qualifies if Korea or Switz wins their next game and we (france) beat togo. good. that's what great teams are all about...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

And even if they play out a draw, you'll still go through if you beat Togo by more than one goal (at the expense of South Korea, whose goal difference is currently one better than yours).

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

I don't S Korea to disappear from the competition. I hope the Swiss lose and France wins (though it will obviously be in dismal fashion). Actually, Zidane's absence from the team next match is good, maybe they'll actually manage to play a bit better.

― Jibé (Jibé), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

did the swiss players have any homoerotic celebrations when they scored? all kinds of swiss cottaging jokes to be made innit.

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

x-post
yeah, I don't see the absence of zidane as a problem. it might be better.. if that *!? domenech doesn't put dhorasso instead...
abidal's is more of a prblm.
the next step is not impossible (but then we'll get whipped by spain, so..).

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

did the swiss players have any homoerotic celebrations when they scored?

Not when the Togo coach, Otto Pfister, is about.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

http://wm.lidl.com/WC2006/flash/en/options/pub/header_left.jpg

I lolled.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

hahahahahaha, simon mayo is interviewing a swiss girl who CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH. all answers are SINGLE WORD.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

Sui 0-0 Kor; Fra 2-1 Tog = LOTS! (Drawing of)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

hmmm, dave's magic spreadsheet puts France through over Korea, but am unsure how to make it do LOTS...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

Would LOTS be televised and, if so, what extra content would my red button get me?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

Lots.
(Of extra coverage)

They have a camera in the ball bag.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

Of course, people who've watched ITV's coverage of European football this year will recognise several of the Ukraine team (because we'd never have heard of Shevchenko otherwise).

Incidentally, Hibs played Dnipro before Middlesbrough did, so people might have heard of them then too. But don't let that worry you, twatty ITV commentator dude (they are all blurring into one mess of unlistenable twaddle now).

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:14 (nineteen years ago)

They have a camera in the ball bag.

So Dwight Yorke was just winding on?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:17 (nineteen years ago)

Ha!

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but what's with all the lower-case lettering / odd fonts on the players' names on the backs of their shirts?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

Doesn't it depend on the shirt sponsor? I like the lower-case.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

Can't shed any light on the specifics of the typography, but this ESPN column on "uniforms", which doesn't usually cover football, has some details about other oddities.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/060608

xpost.

― caek (caek), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

I don't mind the lower case so much. I don't think I'd ever noticed anything other than normal capital letters before the UEFA Cup Final when Seville had some horrendous font that was one step off having Comic Sans lettering on the back of their shirts.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

Other typographic oddities spotted in that column:

Mexico's numbers appear to be a reference to their 1968 Olypmics design:

http://www.mlsnet.com/images/2006/03/30/npjMCQlI.jpg

Poland's player names are weird lower case affairs:

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fifa/20060521/i/610063525.jpg

France's player names are enormous:

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/xp/20060527/i/1399960274.jpg

― caek (caek), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

Saudis vs Ukraine: not exactly a classic.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

Hence why I'm obsessing about shirt numbers and stuff. The Ukraine lettering is really shiny and cheap looking.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

Rebrov scored, btw. It hasn't improved the game.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

Everyone at work with Shevchenko in their fantasy team is F5ing the BBC page every few seconds expecting a goal from their man; funny if this turns into the 6-0 drubbing it could well be but with a yellow card and no goal for Andrei S.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:40 (nineteen years ago)

Apparenty Spurs weren't wrong to spend £11M on Rebrov, they were just silly not to have thrown in an extra £30M for Shevchenko.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

Clever commentators!

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 15:48 (nineteen years ago)

3-0. Sweet.

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Monday, 19 June 2006 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

3-0. Boring.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

togo shouldn't have bothered (or is that what the commentators said?)

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 19 June 2006 16:45 (nineteen years ago)

4-0.... sweet/boring*

*delete as applicable

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Monday, 19 June 2006 16:47 (nineteen years ago)

oh diff game now!

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 19 June 2006 16:48 (nineteen years ago)

xpost

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 19 June 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

JEEBUS MARY MOTHER OF GOBMUGG, but tony blair on 606 is the single most embarrassing thing EVER. he actually said "call me tony" to the first bloke on the phone...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

" i'm still finding it kinda disturbin how langston doesnt get the argentina goal! if anything it's so bloody clean and basketballey that it's proper footer fans that should be the ones not feeling it. is that so perverse?

-- rtccc (giaou...) (webmail), June 19th, 2006 7:25 AM. (mwah) (later) (link)"

well, nobody's ever accused me of being the brightest bulb on the marquee. i get it now, but i think what fucked me up was that i didn't see the actual game, i just heard about how awesome the goal was afterwards and decided to youtube them shits. not knowing what to expect i was just like "oh okay", but if i saw it during the course of a game i probably would've been like "dang!!!!".

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Monday, 19 June 2006 17:43 (nineteen years ago)

Tony's a fan of "Rikwelm of Argentina"

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 19 June 2006 17:50 (nineteen years ago)

Tony's going to be on the ITN news later on tonight playing football and talking about England. He was such good value on Football Focus, with his mad wuv for Steed Malbranque, I can't wait.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

TUNISIA!!!!!!!!!!!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 19 June 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Oh noes incoming "Spain blowing it" cliches

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 19 June 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

man, the five live feed must be a minute behind...

anyway:

1. DANNY MILLS is punditing on the radio
2. he just said "bollocking" on her majesty's bbc

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 19 June 2006 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

Tunisia? WTF?

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Monday, 19 June 2006 18:55 (nineteen years ago)

went down to garden for 10 minutes and missed the comeback!

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

Turned over to watch Still Game and turned back just in time to see it. Goalie was all over the place for the second goal.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

Anyone want to explain the significance of the Confederate Stars 'n' Bars to Spain? Maybe they're just big Dukes of Hazzard fans?

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 19:50 (nineteen years ago)

And Torres scores again, this time from the penalty spot. 3-1 to Spain. Pundits presumably preparing to retract all "oh, Spain are imploding like what they do in every World Cup ever" cliches for now.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 June 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

Anyone want to explain the significance of the Confederate Stars 'n' Bars to Spain?

I was wondering about that myself.

We finally have a TV set up here at work, and all is bliss. After Tunisia's goal, coworker Jorge despaired, and finally around 70 minutes swore he would watch no more of the match. And then of course the turnaround happened.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 June 2006 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

what was wrong with puyol? he was hopeless tonight.

― michael wells (michael w.), Monday, 19 June 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

Typography - Costa Rica have the footballing equivalent of Comic Sans. they deserve expulsion for this alone, as do Ecuador for their goalie wearing tracky bottoms and having bloody face paint.

Hamburg stadium is pretty good - most legroom ever seen in a ground, but christ the consistent attempts to get a wave going were fucking tiresome. WATCH THE CUNTING FOOTBALL. Bah.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 19 June 2006 20:20 (nineteen years ago)

i love you, cesc fabregas! what a sublime performance that was from the little fella...he must start the next game. and props to raul for showing his worth despite his waning legs, he definitely wins the battle of the past-it galactico strikers against ronaldo. spain show the best way to break down a stubborn defence, great patience and terrific passing. i would be rooting for them to win it, but for the aragones factor.

is that the same saudi goalie as was at the last world cup? he certainly played like him - would he be good enough to get into a conference team?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 19 June 2006 20:32 (nineteen years ago)

I believe that when Nike were searching for a slogan for their World Cup marketing campaign, before settling on the Joga Benito option, they gave serious consideration to WATCH THE CUNTING FOOTBALL.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Monday, 19 June 2006 20:39 (nineteen years ago)

Ticket thief caught after sitting next to his robbery victim's husband at the game. Duh!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 19 June 2006 20:40 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41786000/jpg/_41786940_fabregas203.jpg

Why won't lickle Cesc let Torres join in his erotic paso doble?

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 19 June 2006 20:51 (nineteen years ago)

so... who wants to explain offside to me?

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

If it didn't exist, every game would be a enormous defense-fest and finish in a 0-0 draw.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:30 (nineteen years ago)

Offside:

http://www.fifa.com/en/laws/Laws11_01.htm

― caek (caek), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:31 (nineteen years ago)

That's it in legalese. In practice, the most common way of being penalised for being offside, is for someone to pass the ball to you when you are closer to the goal you are attacking than the last defender.

[All that stuff about "interfering with play" means you can be offside and not be the intended/actual recipient of the pass, but this is relatively rare. A recent exception to this was the disallowed goal scored by the US in the second half of their game with Italy. A US player hit the ball towards the goal. Another US player, stood directly in front of the keeper, jumped out of the ball's way and it went in to the net. The goal was disallowed because that player was interfering with play by obstructing the goalkeeper's view of the ball.]

― caek (caek), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:36 (nineteen years ago)

xpost:

Offside used to work like this:
If your side is in possession of the ball, and you are in your opponent's half of the pitch, and someone passes the ball to you, then you are offside if there were less than two players from the opposing team between you and the goal line at the time that the ball was played. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred one of those two players will be the goalkeeper, so in reality most people think of the rule as 'keep one of the other team's defenders between you and the goal line at the moment someone passes to you'.

Recently they've changed it, and now no one understands it. Broadly speaking the new interpretation of the rule favours the attacking team, because now you can be in an offside position but if you are not 'interfering with play' you are not offside. Exactly what constitutes 'interfering with play' is the subject of endless debate. Also, just to confuse things, in the past the linesman would have raised his flag as soon as the ball was played (if you were in an offside position), now they keep their flags down until they have decided whether you are interfering or not (which in practice usually means until you touch the ball).

The disallowed second USA goal against Italy was ruled offside because the striker between the 'scorer' and the goalkeeper was in an offside position. Under the old interpretation of the rules the goal would have probably stood, as nobody passed to him - it was a shot. Under the new interpretation, the fact that he was in the goalkeeper's field of vision meant that he wasn interfering with play, even though he never came close to touching the ball.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:37 (nineteen years ago)

If it didn't exist, every game would be a enormous defense-fest and finish in a 0-0 draw.

Noooooooooooo! If it didn't exist, every team would stick three strikers permanently in the six-yard box and pump endless long balls in there and every game would finish in a 13-13 draw.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe all the defenders would make pyramids on top of each other on the goal line.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:41 (nineteen years ago)

But what is the PURPOSE of the rule, is what I think Adrian wants us to work around to? My American understanding of it is that it's to stop teams from just putting a guy entirely forward for the whole game and receiving long passes and putting it in the goal. Because if teams did that, then the other team would out of necessity have to keep one or two defensive players back with the keeper for the whole game. Which would make everything really boring (Hi - I heard that!) and defense-heavy.

With the offside rule, teams bring their defenders way up the field - away from their own goal - in order to trap the other team into going into offside positions. This way they can contain the other team's offense better. Of course, this creates a big open gap in front of their own goal, so a particularly great dribbler or fast runner or perfect pass can create a spectacular breakaway run through that open space which is pretty fun to watch.

I might have it all backwards.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:42 (nineteen years ago)

One way or another, you'd have less back and forth team movement, less attacking development and more long balls.

― M. White (Miguelito), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

http://webpub.allegheny.edu/student/v/vilella/images/grimes%20pyramid.jpg

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:46 (nineteen years ago)

I'd like to beat their offside trap.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

nowadays the rules are so confusing, you never know what you can get away with it.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:51 (nineteen years ago)

If there's grass on the field, play on I say.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:55 (nineteen years ago)

thanks, that's pretty much what i thought - the 'interfering with play' distinction was indeed pretty mystifying, esp. in the case of that discounted US goal.

pump endless long balls

giggle

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Monday, 19 June 2006 21:59 (nineteen years ago)

If there's grass on the field, then stomp it with cleats

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Monday, 19 June 2006 22:00 (nineteen years ago)

Thank you for totally ruining my dirty fantasies, Adrian, GAH.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 June 2006 22:07 (nineteen years ago)

"Interfering with play" has been a part of the offside rule for decades; wasn't it Bill Shankly who said, "If you're not interfering with play, what are you doing on the pitch?" I heard David Coleman use the phrase on commentary on WG-Ita '70 recently.

It's the notion of successive phases of play (which was meant to clarify the idea of "interference") which has provoked some confusion. An attacker can exploit this by deliberately loitering a little too far forward as play builds (van Nistelrooy is the master here), then tracking back (so as to appear "inactive") and suddenly springing into action when the pass is made (by which time he's sneaked back onside).

Previously it was all about where you were on the pitch, now it's a lot to do with what you're doing there (are you part of this move?).

I reckon McBride's positioning for Beasley's strike for the US would've provoked a linesman's offside flag even before the recent rule clarifications.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 22:18 (nineteen years ago)

Hey I just realized Japan are screwed. Right?

― jergins (jergins), Monday, 19 June 2006 22:44 (nineteen years ago)

they need to go GOAL CRAZEEE against brazil, so yes.

― indie disco dancer, sweet romancer (haitch), Monday, 19 June 2006 22:48 (nineteen years ago)

well, not strictly true. but the way they've been playing you wouldn't think they would beat brazil, which they need to do (and then have the other result fall their way).

― indie disco dancer, sweet romancer (haitch), Monday, 19 June 2006 22:50 (nineteen years ago)

Jap 2-0 Bra; Cro 1-0 Aus would mean:

Bra 6pts +1GD (3-2)
Jap 4pts 0GD (3-3)
Cro 4pts 0GD (1-1)
Aus 3pts -1GD (3-4)

Japan through on goals scored.

Jap 2-0 Bra; Cro 0-0 Aus would mean:

Bra 6pts +1GD (3-2)
Aus 4pts 0GD (3-3)
Jap 4pts 0GD (3-3)
Cro 2pts -1GD (0-1)

Australia go through on head-to-head result vs Japan.

So, Japan need to go all out for a big win and hope the Aussies don't beat Croatia.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 19 June 2006 23:13 (nineteen years ago)

Er has anyone mentioned this? Sheesh.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=H2WxxwYBvrk&search=crouch%20hair%20goal

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 03:59 (nineteen years ago)

Yikes

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 04:15 (nineteen years ago)

One US newspaper, in its handy guide to "soccer" for new-found fans, said "offsides" was essentially "like basketball's three-second rule, but without the time limit".

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 06:01 (nineteen years ago)

As they say on Wikipedia, {{citation-needed}}

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 06:53 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/14824144.htm

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 07:43 (nineteen years ago)

she's taking the p!ss, right?

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:00 (nineteen years ago)

HOLD ON!!!

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/14857618.htm

THE RED FURY?????

i think they've got someone who understands football perfectly and is just adding stupid bits in to see if anyone notices...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:12 (nineteen years ago)

Wikipedia says:

Nickname: La Furia Roja

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:22 (nineteen years ago)

It's all about the football...
http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1800885,00.html
Apologies if it's been mentioned before...
I find this hard to believe. What if someone had been going..er..commando?

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:24 (nineteen years ago)

I agree, it is very hard to believe but I've not heard anyone denying it happened.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:28 (nineteen years ago)

Wasn't the Red Fury the Soviet super soldier who worked along Captain America, Prince Namor, and the Hunan Torch in those old Invaders comics in the 40s/50s?

xpost

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:29 (nineteen years ago)

I think that's the red skull

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:30 (nineteen years ago)

and maybe you're thinking of nick fury, too

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:32 (nineteen years ago)

"Aragones said after Spain's advancement to the second round."

Advancement?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:51 (nineteen years ago)

it's in the dictionary.com, but then so are a lot of words.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:54 (nineteen years ago)

standard americanism, that one i think.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:55 (nineteen years ago)

Bavaria got me through college. This is a sad day for football.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 08:58 (nineteen years ago)

I would've said it would be against my religion to remove my trousers in public. Couldn't they have just covered the bit that said 'Bavaria' with something? Not that I believe this actually happened.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:03 (nineteen years ago)

campest moment of the World Cup so far:

Bruce Arena's "oh ref you biiiitch" gestures during the match with Italy

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:10 (nineteen years ago)

yeah he was so camp.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:16 (nineteen years ago)

http://base58.com/ilx/campbruce.jpg

"Hiiiiii!"

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:16 (nineteen years ago)

whereas Lemerre last night was just a complete mentalist.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:17 (nineteen years ago)

Lemerre's face was so red it was horrible to look at it.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:21 (nineteen years ago)

the pics of these bavaria lederhosen seemed to imply that they were very large and that several of the fans were wearing them OVER their trousers, so reports of fans having to watch football in their pants may hav ebeen a touch exaggerated, but it does seem a little churlish, it's not like you'd be able to see the trousers very much...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:23 (nineteen years ago)

I might go to the Ukraine game in JUST some Bitburger-branded pants, to see what happens.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:25 (nineteen years ago)

Never do anything in life where you have the merest chance of being mocked by David Pleat.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:29 (nineteen years ago)

Go wearing Ayingerbrau fat mam memorabilia, stevem.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

i did think of it. it's a defunct brand so they can't claim it's harming Bud sales.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 09:58 (nineteen years ago)

I am glad the Spanish players managed to overcome their regional differences in the end. All the first half argy-bargy over centralised budgetary constraints seemed to threaten progress. Casillas seemed particularly irate, and Poyol's foul seemed a direct result of his frustration over Zapatero's stubborn refusal to... oh I can't be bothered.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 10:09 (nineteen years ago)

"Kasey Keller, he's a very educated man — he wears spectacles off the pitch."

ITV commentator during Italy-USA, reported in today's Evening Standard.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 10:54 (nineteen years ago)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g95/TwistidChimp/clock-1.jpg

What time is love, Crouchy?

― Venga (Venga), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 10:56 (nineteen years ago)

So, what's the betting England and Sweden will cynically grind out a 0-0 draw assuring mutual qualification and keeping both Sven and Lars happy, then?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 10:59 (nineteen years ago)

(Sven doubly so, obviously)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 10:59 (nineteen years ago)

Or both teams will try and blow it to avoid Germany in R2.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:01 (nineteen years ago)

I agree that both teams will try and avoid Germany, but since Ecuador may well top Group A it could lead to the amusing spectacle of both England and Sweden being desperate to win and throwing everyone forwards, for the privilege of playing the form side in the Other Group.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:14 (nineteen years ago)

I think Germany will try to blow it to avoid Sweden and everyone will end up looking a right chump.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:20 (nineteen years ago)

i figure Germany would rather play Sweden than England.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:26 (nineteen years ago)

i predict draws all round anyway - but there will be - MUST BE - goals.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:27 (nineteen years ago)

I truly beleive that England will go for a win tonight and I am hopeful that they may well get it (partly cos I have money riding on them winning all their group games)

Of course I am an enternal optimist. And probably a cretin.

― Guilty Boksen (Bro_Danielson), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:30 (nineteen years ago)

Atangerbrau is not defunct in Germany, so you would be asked to go nekkid.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:37 (nineteen years ago)

i don't know that they ever had the man in the box though, i think the proper logo is/was a bit more refined...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:45 (nineteen years ago)

they don't do the man in the box over there for fear that people will think they are looking in some sort of mirror.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:52 (nineteen years ago)

the new beer should be represented by an alpine fox

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

good post, Kenneth

― The Alpinefox (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

There's an additional frau in the box for just that purpose.

(xpost)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:57 (nineteen years ago)

haha, i've just googled ayingerbrau and it's all us and those kids who used to go round SS pubs dressed as the fatman, although they seem strangely quiet on this year's crawl, maybe they have all gone to germany instead...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 11:58 (nineteen years ago)

FIFA have, according to Five Live, warned England that they must try to beat Sweden. So my ideal scenario would be if England really really tried to beat Sweden, but the effort was completley invisible to the naked eye, such is their uselessness, so FIFA have to fine England or dock their tails or whatever.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:15 (nineteen years ago)

"those kids who used to go round SS pubs dressed as the fatman'"

I really hope you mean Sam Smiths pubs and not an altogether less pleasant type of 1930s German boozer.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:26 (nineteen years ago)

I don't understand why England wouldn't want to beat Sweden? Both Equador and Germany are capable of beating them at the moment, so what does it matter.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

mind you, if we came runners up in the group we'd play our next round on Saturday instead of Sunday. which is nice.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:29 (nineteen years ago)

No it isn't – I'm at work on a Saturday. I have informed Sven.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

The BBC are saying that Ecuador are resting 5 players for the Germany game this afternoon.

― Greig (treefell), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:35 (nineteen years ago)

I think their top two scorers are resting because of various injuries.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:36 (nineteen years ago)

FIFA won't allow an eleven against six game.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

Eriksson wants to beat Sweden in order to play on Sunday and have an extra days rest for the team. I'm assuming he also wants to beat them for prestige. I'm also assuming England team would like to beat them after failing to do so in previous eleven encounters.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

you're SHITTING me? i've just put effing delgado into my fantasy team, fer fucks sake...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:41 (nineteen years ago)

Good morning! Now here's hoping England/Sweden is actually somehow exciting.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

yeah that's why i'm choosing to just watch it at home, because i don't reckon it's gonna be

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

You don't think the inclusion of Owen Hargeaves as a holding midfielder necessarily equals sparkling football?

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

quite pissed off Hargreaves got the nod over Carrick.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

Me too. Carrick is one of the best passers of the ball in the Premiership.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

and i hate trying to watch England games in a pub full of people who will just all start chatting loudly amongst themselves after fifty minutes as England haven't "thrashed-the-opponents-by-5-nil-liked-we'd-hoped"

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

tsk knew i shoulda put a fiver on klose to be top scorer

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

knew i should've put him in my FF team earlier

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

You bunch of short-termists. We need to win our group because if we don't we'll end up playing Argentina in the QFs (assuming we get there, which is quite an assumption).

― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

I appreciate your holistic approach.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

Tony Blair last night was talking about having to play Brazil in the semis, which is a whole bunch of assumptions.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

What Chelsea fans can look forward to:

6 mins: Michael Ballack licks his lips after being presented with a tasty free kick on the edge of the area,

Germany are one-nil up. Klose.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

personally i am glad hargreaves is playing, because PPL DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY R BLOODY COMPLAINING ABOUT with him! if he's crap then we can finally put the whole thing to bed. also i quite liked the way hargreaves has handled himself in the media this week, in partic his "i came on at 1-0, it stayed at 1-0" quote; quite right!

it's not just germany and argentina if england finish second, it's probly italy in the semis after as well.

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

FIFA have, according to Five Live, warned England that they must try to beat Sweden.

How on earth would this get enforced? Isn't playing for a draw a perfectly legal, if unbelievebly shit, way of playing the game? Or are FIFA cracking down on defensive formations now?

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

gav peacock was also quite reasonable on motd yesterday in defence of his old qpr mucker crouch and the recent blaming on him for long balling - as he said, crouch plays better to feet than owen, and owen's presence always ends up with gerrard hoofing it fwd anyway. except ppl prefer to label that with some psychic scouse brotherhood.

lee dixon's feeble response was along the lines of "yeah, but crouch is tall so everyone can't help but do it automatically." you can see why carlton palmer refers to him as "dicko" on football focus.

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

we can't be playing to draw/lose if we're playing ROONEY!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

Have I mentioned that I *love* the way Sven says Rrrroooooooney.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

Come on Costa Rica, ya fuckin' beauties!

I hate those comedy text commentaries. The BBC are at it as well now.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:36 (nineteen years ago)

"I hate those comedy text commentaries. The BBC are at it as well now."

What gets me is the people who send 'funny' emails to the writers. it's weird.

― Pete W (peterw), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:40 (nineteen years ago)

Tony Blair last night was talking about having to play Brazil in the semis, which is a whole bunch of assumptions.

A whole bunch of wrong assumptions, because a team from groups A-D can't meet a team from groups E-H before the final.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

it is possible for England to play Brazil in the semis.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

Zwei

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

2-0 now, Klose again

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

What gets me is the people who send 'funny' emails to the writers. it's weird.

ouch, although to be fair I am under no illusion that I'm funny

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

does Klose score from beyond six yards much? he's the ultimate 'nicker'.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

Torres and Klose. This is good news for my Fantasy League team :)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

PI$$ OFF ;P

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

not been watching the game properly. how much is it down to Germany playing well vs only half of Ecuador's first XI playing?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

it is possible for England to play Brazil in the semis.

It's only now, double checking the Competition Prediction Spreadsheet I'm in against the BBC, that I realise this is the case.

I think I need to mail the organisers of it.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

He would have to change his name if he did, I guess, Konal.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

We live just 5 min away from Colon Square - Madrid downtown spot where the huge screens are for everybody to join and watch Spain's games by a even more huge flag that ashames most of anyone holding a Spanish passport, not just Catalans /Basques - Couln't get much sleep till 1.30 am, so go figure if we just arrive at QFs...

However, funny that all the talk is about Brazil. Nobody cares either about FR, SK or SW

― olenska (olenska), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry Haiku, it's not that weird. Honest.

― Pete W (peterw), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

forgive if already been posted, view all WC goals here:

http://www.11football.com/coupedumonde2006/

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

looks like England v Ecuador now unless Sweden win tonight.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:18 (nineteen years ago)

Where are the actual goals on that link? I mean, in between the mess of stats that is.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

click on the scores, and then another window opens up. click on the animated football.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

Podolski makes it 3-0

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

haha, no Pete W, you are right!

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:37 (nineteen years ago)

Lovefilm have a spurious World Cup mopvies tie in:
http://www.lovefilm.com/worldcup.php

Each country is represented by a film from that country. Except loads of them aren't. Particularly anachronistic is Togo represented by Animal House!

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

well done poland! four goals in one day, can't complain.

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

five even. bah

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

Pete - maybe it's the togas? If so - pretty poor.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

Its 100% Toga related. Its 100% poor. Its bad enough Poland gets 3 Colours White. Costa Rica = Jurassica Park, they would have been better off playing with Raptors today!

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:11 (nineteen years ago)

have you guys been using Dave B's spreadsheet? if so can someone send me a copy? ;) (i kind of forgot to fill in a lot of them and thus now it'll take too long for me to retrospectively fill them!)

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dave+boyle+spreadsheet

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 16:38 (nineteen years ago)

Wacky fun from Ballack:

'If we play at our best, we can beat England. It's not as if Sweden are a lot weaker,' he said.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

Is everyone in the pub then?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 17:49 (nineteen years ago)

I think it's just us godless foreigners on the thread tonight.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

But: Swedish girls walking around London in off-the-shoulder Ljungberg tops: HOT HOT HOT.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

pix plz

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

Owen carried off injured after 1 minute. lololol

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

Owen injured !

I warned SVEN about bringing only 4 strikers !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

haha! I was going to go to the pub for solidarity amongst godless foreigners, but couldn't be arsed.

"England don't have any other striking options" = "Theo who?"

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

What are the rulez if Owen out of WC? Can Defoe be called up?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

Rules = you should have thought about that before...

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

Zackerly.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Rules: Defoe, Bent, and Johnson do rain dances in their garden.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

Somewhat hilariously, according to the BBC it's been all England so far.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

Just for Haikunym:

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2006/06/20/swedishfangetmartinrose.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:23 (nineteen years ago)

hargreves is playing well shudder

― secondhandnews (secondhandnews), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

I liked the useless twonks they interviewed beforehand who suggested that the England team were all OK except Hargreaves who should "be sent back home", despite the fact that his home is, erm, Germany.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

hey you nicked that from the Guardian BUT THANK YOU ALL THE SAME

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:32 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck me Joe Cole is a great player.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

joeeeeeeeey cole

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

Joe Cole scores a goal ala Matt Taylor

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

Commentator's just made reference to "the only goal Sol Campbell's scored for England that hasn't been disallowed". So, the only goal Sol Campbell's scored for England then. With added chip on shoulder.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

in his defence though sol has had loads of (would have been vital) goals disallowed

― secondhandnews (secondhandnews), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

Well maybe he should stop elbowing people when scoring them then.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

Are you defending the commentator or Campbell, btw?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

their job is to state obvivous isnt it though

but i dont disagree with the disallowing in the past

― secondhandnews (secondhandnews), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

Due to a heavy workload I'm unable to make it to the pub tonight, so can share my thoughts with the godless foreigners of ilx.

1)Although still far from entertaining, I think England are looking a lot better tonight - better passing, joe cole looks good on the ball, rooney looks up for it, hargreaves (and it pains me to say it) looks useful - maybe gerrard should stay out the team?

2)It's not Sol's fault for the elbow, it's Shearer's.

3)If Rooney gets injured and the big fella gets a booking it would be interesting to see the forward line for the next match.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

Why does everyone hate Owen Hargreaves so much?

yes, one elbow was Shearer's. Campbell's had more goals disallowed than that one against Argentina though.

Forward line for next match = Steven Gerrard & Theo Walcott. Roffles all round.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

To be fair sometimes it was Shearer getting them disallowed.
(xpost re Sol)

Cracking goal from Cole. Poor game otherwise. Sweden look rotten so far - playing it forward too early and to players who have no space. Hargreaves looks alright so far but I'm surprised Carrick didn't get the nod. Rooney's done more with 3 touches than Owen did in two whole matches. I get the impression Sven's been itching to drop Owen and won't be too displeased by the injury, despite it costing him a sub.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

NICE goal from Cole, yes. Good watching it over lunch. Now roll on the second half.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

Why does everyone hate Owen Hargreaves so much?

To paraphrase the commentary "England have two Scousers, two Cockneys, blah, blah, A ONE CANADIAN!"

I don't recall John Barnes' place of birth being raised every time he played for England.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

I was wrong with "Owen won't play for England again" by 90 seconds, it seems.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

Jamie - our front room is a pub at the moment, if you're round the corner...

― Porkpie (porkpie), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

I think the Campbell 'goal' against Portugal was ruled out because of somebody else's 'foul' as well. I forget the details, but I think the referee 'saw' somebody 'impeding' the goalkeeper (before spending the next two weeks dodging death threats).

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

OK, rephrase to "England should stop trying so hard to make all of Campbell's goals get disallowed". Will that do? Do they all really hate him and don't want him getting all these what-would-have-been-crucial-if-they-actually-counted goals?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:04 (nineteen years ago)

Jamie - our front room is a pub at the moment, if you're round the corner...

Intriguing. Thanks for the offer, but I've got so much work to do at the moment as soon as the final whistle goes I've got to get straight back to it. FAP sometime soon though.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:05 (nineteen years ago)

I was gonna put a tenner on 1-1 as well :(

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

Sweden score!

Such a shame that the 2000th goal in World Cup history wasn't scored by an Englishman eh.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

Henrik Larsson: FORTUNE TELLA

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:09 (nineteen years ago)

Here comes Sol. Anyone care to bet on who'll get his "decisive" goal disallowed for him?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

Carragher.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

Clear handball there by Jamie "Anyone who handles it deliberately are cheating scum and should be banned from football" Carragher.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, but didn't you hear the commentator? It wouldn't be fair to give a penalty for that.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

Why take Theo if your not going to play the poor bastard?

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:31 (nineteen years ago)

cause he'll get to play sometime he'll be the only forward

― secondhandnews (secondhandnews), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:35 (nineteen years ago)

"Let's not mention that Hargreaves handball, seeing as e didn't mention the Carragher one."

Wayne's not best pleased, is he?

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:38 (nineteen years ago)

Commentators taking some comfort from the fact that "England made us sweat before scoring against Trinidad & Tobago". They seem to be ignoring the fact that Sweden are no strangers to a late winner themselves.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

(Perfectly good second Paraguayan goal ruled out during the first half, btw, just nobody seems to be paying attention to that match)

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

(bah)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

that was tempting fate ailsa

good old stevie

― secondhandnews (secondhandnews), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

nice one

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

"Frnak Lampard's goals for Chelsea, so vital in winning the league, all came from midfield. Maybe that says something."

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Go Henrik!

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

wha happen

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

Quality defending there.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

a little embarassing.

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

Bah, Larson - Celtic Jocks will be screaming with delight !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

(xx-post - it tells me he's a midfielder. And that the penalty spot's moved)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

2-2! Let's have a fifth, for Alcazar's sake.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, god, Domenech is getting more and more annoying by the minute, which seems amazing considering that he has always been very very very annoying. France play like shit, so when L'Equipe asks him what he thinks of the 2 matches they've played and the fact that both are draws, he declares that all this is cos of the refereeing that's not going France's way. Well get over it you cunt! Sure, France were denied a goal against Korea and a handball was not called in the Switzerland match, but blaming the refereeing for your poor poor performances seems so lame and desperate. Damn Domenech, I can't wait for you to be fired!

(xxxxxxpost)BTW AleXTC, I thoroughly agree with you on Dhorasoo. WTF is he doing in this team, and why the fuck does he come in every game? The guy is shit. Also, I realised with some friends he looks just like the guy selling marrons in the metro. Agree or disagree?

― Jibé (Jibé), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

Let's all underrate Ecuador!

(aldo, when do you get to Glasgow? Ecuadorian-themed FAP?)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

England to face Ecuador, in Stuggart on Sunday

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

A scrappy 2-2 draw which showed an inability to sit on a lead, and even less to pass the ball about midfield, apparently makes England "genuine World Cup contenders" according to ITV.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

PLS EXPLAIN TO JIMMY Y ENGLISH ANNOUNCERZ COVERING PARAGUAY Y TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO INSTED OF ENGLAND V SWEDAN? THIS IS ABT THE AMERICAN COVERAGE ON ESPN/2. ALSO WHO ARE THOSE TWO DIPSHIT AMERICAN ANNOUNCERS WHO TRY AND DO ONE (1) ENGLISH AND IRISH ACCENT WHILE COMMENTATIN?

― Jimmy Mod: NOIZE BOARD GRIL COMPARISON ANALYST (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

stuttgart

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

(ailsa - I could possibly make plans that involve the Ecuador match, yes, but I'm not still 100% coming up at all)

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

Better 2nd half. Joe Cole continues to be England's footballing footballer, if only he'd stop the histrionics when he's fouled. Sweden played a better 2nd half and had good possession and more than a few chances from set pieces. ITV bods accusing Sweden of "frustrating England" - from the 2nd half I'd say Sweden would have been more frustrated.

It'll be interesting to see who the 2nd Sweden goal is awarded to, given that half of Scotland seems to have put a bet on Henke scoring.

One up and five across the middle looks to be England's best formation with what they have available (i.e. one striker [the Arsenal ballboy doesn't count]).

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

Joe Cole is obviously really good but the fact he's playing on the wrong wing is kind of crippling, he cuts inside every time and it doesn't necessarily work.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

England win the group.

Trinidad & Glasgow: don't go home too soon, y'ken?

Whoops!

― David Orton (scarlet), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

I think if England had a brave manager, the obvious solution would be to play Stevie G on the right of midfield in place of Beckham. What does DB contribute? Corners and freekicks. He didn't deliver anything decent apart from that long ball to Rooney. His lack of marking led to the first Swedish goal. He has nothing in the way of pace.

As it is, I think Gerrard or Lampard could probably deliver as good a %age of good deadballs as he does.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

My thoughts: Owen Hargreaves was fantastic. Tried insanely hard. Looks in good form. However, like Peter Crouch, he does invite (sometimes justified) yellow cards.

Fat Frank was appalling. Nowhere throughout the second half. No touch when he got the ball in the first half.

Carragher was a bit nervy but his runs with Beckham were good. Would like to see Neville back. Otherwise the defense was excellent. Sol looked fine (apart from being slightly culpable for the second goal). Ashley was OK (although he certainly benefited from Joe Cole's peformance).

You remember in 2002 (?) when the England players had a bet on to see who could mention the most song titles in interviews? Well, Joe Cole obviously has a similar piss-take bet with Ronaldo to see who can do the most stepovers. Otherwise excellent. Lots of running.

Owen: Oh, shit. That injury is possibly fatal for England's chances. Crouch is not going to break down modestly sophisticated defences, and Rooney can't do this on his own (although he may have to, since Hargreaves may have forced his way into the starting line-up at Crouch's expense).

Overall, pretty good. Went to sleep a couple of times, but much better than the previous games.

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:03 (nineteen years ago)

A scrappy 2-2 draw which showed an inability to sit on a lead, and even less to pass the ball about midfield, apparently makes England "genuine World Cup contenders" according to ITV.

i thought it was inability to deal with any corners..

could have been 4-1 sweden after their barrage of corners! next game swap crouch to defence? (actually he's already there a lot)

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

p.s. not convinced Joe Cole's looping shot was intended. I think he meant to blast it, didn't time it, and got lucky because it wasn't hit hard enough to hit the (netting in front of) row Z it was headed for.

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

Has anyone ever seen Joe Cole "blast" a ball?

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

I watched some of ENG-SWE. There were millions of shots yet somehow it was sort of yawnsome to me.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

I think he meant the dipping volley.

xxpost

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

that final goal was the worst defensive effort by any team so far this world cup?

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

or maybe that italy goal vs ghana from the backpass was worse

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Jerry otm. Beckham is only there for setpieces, he hit one magic ball to Rooney and other than that did very little. The ball was never up the right wing at any stage that I can remember, and the only crosses that came from there in open play were from Rooney or Joe Cole.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

I think you're doing the Costa Ricans a disservice there.

xxpost

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

Ecuador scored their first against Poland from a throw, didn't they?

― xyzzzz__ (jdesouza), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

that's still one more contribution than lampard surely..

xxpost

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:16 (nineteen years ago)

If only Sven hadn't botched things up on May 8th

DESELECT Walcott..SELECT Defoe
DESELECT Jenas ..SELECT Bent

With Ashton on striker stand by

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:17 (nineteen years ago)

should have had fowler and sheringham in there

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

On a different note, how fucking annoying are those Budweiser ads.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

TOTP to be REMOVED from WORLD CUP unless PLANK sven gets act together. NME POPTRANCE must be removed to bench. ILLBIENT'N'BASS must start alongside MATTY taylor!! SVEN are you WATCHING?

― duff (duff), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:21 (nineteen years ago)

Brilliant

http://worldcup.sportinglife.com/Images/63403.jpg

― David Orton (scarlet), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:22 (nineteen years ago)

clothes untidy IN room. DISARRAY. i warned sven, dangers of UNTIDY room. KOROMAN must start with HOOVER.

― duff (duff), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

Is this where I finally reveal to ILx my theory that Joe Cole and Dita Von Teese could feasibly be brother and sister?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:26 (nineteen years ago)

Beckham bashing is about two years out of date. In Euro 2004 he was easily the worst player in the England team, did fuck all apart from ludicrously missing another vital penalty, and did nothing to justify his place in the squad, never mind his place as captain. This time round I reckon he looks alright. Yeah, so he's 'only' there for the crosses and the free-kicks and the occasional long ball, but that's all he was ever any good at. Half his problems stemmed from his mistaken belief that he was a good central midfielder and with a manager in love with him he was never going to be put straight on that one.

I thought Joe Cole looked great and I heart TEH STEPOVERS. He went down theatrically a few times, but then the Swedes were kicking lumps out of him all night.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:26 (nineteen years ago)

What does it matter if bashing Beckham is an old story? He's a passenger in the England midfield, albeit one who insists on taking all the Hollywood balls.

Everything England did in the first half came down the left. Once Sweden put a couple of lickle Joey, England didn't have another flank to attack on.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

I guess my point is: Stevie G has been perhaps the most influential player in the premship this season playing from right midfield - why not playing him there for England? It would solve in an instant the Gerrard/Lumpy conundrum.

Of course, this is all academic cos Svennis will never drop him.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:31 (nineteen years ago)

At the risk of stating the obvious, it is inconceivable that Beckham will not start and, if fit, finish every game in this World Cup.

xpost.

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:32 (nineteen years ago)

Of course, this is all academic cos ~~Svennis~~McClaren will never drop him.

Fixed for truth in a month's time.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:36 (nineteen years ago)

maybe play gerrard on right hand side and beckham in the middle, drop lampard and have hargraves (what a hero tonight!!)

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:36 (nineteen years ago)

Hargreaves was good tonight, tho having said that when the time called for it he didn't really assert himself.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:39 (nineteen years ago)

Doesn't look like Sven trusts Walcott's abilities much. Still you win nothing with kids, eh.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:40 (nineteen years ago)

i think walcott was chosen over defoe etc so that he would never have to be tempted to play them

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:41 (nineteen years ago)

It's really grim for England to be in this World Cup with such good players and Sven as manager.

I mean I'm not English so correct me if I'm being overly harsh here, but it seems to me that England are just spluttering through, that there's no real self belief and no plan b. As soon as Sweden scored it was total panic for England, those players can defend so why so awful on set pieces?

I used to defend Ericsson from what seemed like fairly prejudiced attacks but now I just think the team really befits a guy who's shown himself up to be a pretty weak character over the last few years.

I mean surely England should be attacking teams instead of this half arsed aping of Chelsea.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:44 (nineteen years ago)

"Still, Terry, we have nothing to fear from Ecuador, do we." Steve Ryder, tonight.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:46 (nineteen years ago)

Something akin to that was what prompted "Let's all underrate Ecuador!"

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

I am looking forward to Argentina v Holland tomorrow.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

That should be very interesting, ailsa.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:52 (nineteen years ago)

i don't think i've seen anything like owen's injury before.. it just seem to have happened

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:53 (nineteen years ago)

without anything causing it

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

It was spontaneous action on behalf of his nervous system, which desired a rest.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

I once saw Trevor Steven break his leg in similar-ish circumstances at Celtic Park (he stumbled and landed badly).

Holland v Argentina = two best teams in tournament, possibly. Both will want to top group for pride, I hope, and won't be all complacent.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:05 (nineteen years ago)

England and Sweden won't hang around long in the Final 16 judging by today's performance.

Ecuador to put two through Eng-er-land's shoddy, Swiss cheese-like defence.

― Bobby Charlton (Dough Boy), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:06 (nineteen years ago)

Holland v Argentina = two best teams in tournament, possibly

Have Holland looked that good? Argentina are definitely the best, Spain probably look second best.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:09 (nineteen years ago)

holland v. argentina is on during CLASS. It's the game I want to see most this week (other than US v. Ghana)

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:10 (nineteen years ago)

i really would love to see spain do well, i think.

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:12 (nineteen years ago)

Watching Owen crawl off the pitch is the single most heartbreaking thing I've seen in the World Cup so far. Not just for the way it sabotages Englands chances but the way that a potentially thrilling player's chance of glory vanishes so tamely.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:12 (nineteen years ago)

I said "possibly". I thought Holland looked kind of pretty good against Ivory Coast and competent enough against Serbia & Montenegro. I missed Spain's game against the Ukraine so ~~forgot about them~~ cannot comment on their overall likelihood of doing well, they looked OK against Tunisia last night though, so yeah, I'll include them in an arbitrary top three if you like. Anyway, I am looking forward to Holland v Argentina. Two OF THE best teams. Whatever.

I'm glad I didn't put that money on Sweden way back when I was threatening to do so.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:15 (nineteen years ago)

Holland's defence seems kinda weak.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, letting in that one goal, dreadful :-) They let in a grand total of three goals in their qualifiers.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:28 (nineteen years ago)

i think walcott was chosen over defoe etc so that he would never have to be tempted to play them

-- ken c (pykachu10...), Today 9:41 PM. (ken c) (later) (link)

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/2006/06/20/blessing_in_disguise.html

That Sven-Goran Eriksson did not bring Walcott on was the ultimate indictment of his decision to select him ahead of Jermain Defoe - who, as pretty much a like-for-like replacement for Owen, would have been on like a shot - but it could prove to be an almighty blessing in disguise. etc.

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:30 (nineteen years ago)

Well, it didn't look too secure against Ivory Coast.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:31 (nineteen years ago)

According to the BBC, Little Mikey has already txted Alan 'The Elbow' Shearer to tell him it hurts like buggery and he doubts he'll be playing again for ages.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

Shearer texted back saying if Mikey doesn't play against Ecuador he'll knock his block off.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:36 (nineteen years ago)

As an American with anglo- and francophilic tendencies this has been a bit of a let-down so far, though I didn't have the biggest expectations.

The U.S. has little talent, either individually or as a team but great heart occasionally. They looked mediocre at best during qualification and often sluggish to boot, so their thrashing at the hands of the Czechs was no great surprise.

The French have their moments of brilliance, but lack pace with a team that's getting a little long in the tooth and they lacked an incisive attack, setting up intricate attacks that fail on the basis of one missed pass or one good defensive tackle. If you do nothing but shoot from distance, it's either an admission of weakness or of foolishness, but if you hardly ever try it or opt only for would-be clever passes, you're not reminding the keeper that a goal can come from anywhere.

England, as usual, I'd say, look completely devoid of self-confidence. They look like they're playing not to lose, as a rule, with the exception of Cole and Rooney. Sven has mucked it up not bringing at least one more striker, Defoe perhaps, or Bent, and for a country that has been touting itself as having such a brilliant midfield, they seem to spend a lot of time lobbing balls over their heads from the back in hopes that Crouch or someone can get through. I'm not sure if Beckham is worth it anymore, though at times his crosses and free kicks are lovely. He's never been any good at tackling and his style of play lends itself very much to a variation on the old long ball and I wonder whether it might have better to bring SWP. Not that Beckham can't be lethal but he seems to force England into a style of play from which they don't seem to be able to score from the ordinary run of open play.

It's nothing new and no surprise to anyone now that I predict that the USA and France won't make it through. The only team, barring the far from improbable return to form of Brazil, that I see beating the Germans at this point is Argentina. I don't know what to think of Spain. They look good but I fear their confidence may be brittle. Portugal are good but not enough to beat them at home this time. This is why seeing what a disciplined Sweden side can do to them, or what the Dutch can do with the Argentines, or what the Swiss, of all countries, do against Korea and group H, will be telling. As long as I can, however, I'll be rooting for Ghana.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

Having just staggered home:

Owen looks out for the tournament, and Eriksson clearly doesn't have the spine to play Walcott - I'm not saying that makes Erikson a stupid cunt, but I'm certainly thinking it loudly.

Did Ferdinand get a knock, or was that an even less tactically astute substitution than every other fucking stupid thing Eriksson has done in his stupid career?

― Shadow of the Waxwing (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 22:34 (nineteen years ago)

I am all about Argentina! And my 2nd team is Korea. (both chosen prior to start of World Cup.) And teams that i now like because of this World Cup are Ghana and Spain! I'm sad about no more Poland.
(I am admittedly a bit of a soccer noob, having only fallen hard for it since 2002 World Cup, but still, one can never be too late for fandom, right? esp if one is Canadian? :) )

xpost to MrWhite's commentary

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 22:57 (nineteen years ago)

You latecoming Canadians with your fandom and your beer and Owen Hargreaves and...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 22:58 (nineteen years ago)

thoughts on tomorrow's games:
portugal v mexico has bore draw written all over it but they said that abt england sweden didn't they? and look what happened there! umm...

iran v angola. angola, after defending solidly against the group's big boys, go all out on the attack, hoping portugal can do them a favour. iran do them twice on the break.

if argentina and holland play like they have been so far then the dutch are in for a beating, haven't been at all impressed with them (bar robben), they switch off for the second half worse than we do.

ivory coast v serbia has all the makings of an oh-well-fuck-it-GOALFEST!

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:00 (nineteen years ago)

haha, at least we're okay with it! we even compile (unintentionally hilarious?) lists about our soccer capacity.

xpost
a dutch beating by argentina would be awesome

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:05 (nineteen years ago)

Argentina - Holland might well shape up differently than expected cos it will be the first match Argentina have played against a team that don't let them pass the ball around as they see fit. But they've both qualified so that game will be random.

Excitabilty re: Argentina & Spain ought to be tempered by the fact that they've played nobody yet capable of closing them down.

― Shadow of the Waxwing (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:06 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, i was thinking that. but my excitability is hard to temper.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:07 (nineteen years ago)

Craig Forrest: Goalkeeper played in 56 matches for Canada; also played in England for Ipswich Town and West Ham United.

This brought a :) to my face.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:08 (nineteen years ago)

xpost

I'll agree with anybody that Argentina have played two beautiful games. I think it'll count for shit in a knockout against well-organised opposition.

― Shadow of the Waxwing (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:11 (nineteen years ago)

Serbia & Montenegro were supposed to be a well organised opposition.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:42 (nineteen years ago)

"were supposed to be"

― Half loaf, half pompadour (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 23:44 (nineteen years ago)

For Serbia & Montenegro, their best defender Nemanja Vidic was suspended for their first game, and was subsequently injured in training and has played no part in this World Cup.

― David A. (Davant), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 02:41 (nineteen years ago)

England are rubbish. Seriously.

― ManonManchester (Dough Boy), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 02:52 (nineteen years ago)

The Continuing Saga Of Little Michael's Plans In Tatters.

I watched the highlights at 4.30 this morning, via the red button. I think England will win the World Cup. Meanwhile, I am going to change my nationailty by deed poll.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 05:46 (nineteen years ago)

For Serbia & Montenegro, their best defender Nemanja Vidic was suspended for their first game, and was subsequently injured in training and has played no part in this World Cup.

So you're saying they're a one-man team at the back, then? And that the best defence in the European qualifying groups are only there because of one defender? Really, they were taken apart by an excellent Argentina team performance. They stood up to Holland OK, pretty much. It's the cliched "group of death", that one. I think any one of those four could have got out of, say, Group B.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 06:03 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not saying that makes Erikson a stupid cunt, but I'm certainly thinking it loudly

Hahaha!

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 06:21 (nineteen years ago)

Hargreaves was immense last night - I never thought I'd say that. It really shows what we need - a tackler. And his distribution was good too. So it has to be 4-5-1 now.

― Dr.C (Dr.C), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 06:45 (nineteen years ago)

Hargreaves did have a great match, hats off to him. England don't seem to have any option other than to go 4-5-1, and with Rooney, Lampard and Gerard in the centre that might yet be good enough. So why do I have the sickly feeling he'll start Crouch and Rooney in a 4-4-2 on Sunday?

― Half loaf, half pompadour (noodle vague), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 07:11 (nineteen years ago)

I agree with Teh Hobb here - remember how many of England's recent goals he's set up. He faded hugely in the second half yesterday but not as much as Lampard, who's the player that should be dropped/rested on current form. What's he done in this World Cup apart from speculatively ping balls over the crossbar from the edge of the box?

Hargreaves looked tidy last night. Rooney's touch collecting that long ball from Beckham was sublime. Sol Campbell is now rubbish and shouldn't have been in the squad in the first place. He seems to lose all composure whenever someone runs at him these days, and his positioning is poor.

Am I the only person thinking Owen's injury is a blessing in disguise, as it means England should stop having to carry a half-injured and off-form striker through each game in the blind hope he'll get better? I'm more worried about the prospect of losing Ferdinand for a game or two right now.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 07:27 (nineteen years ago)

The other thing is that Beckham's best performance in this World Cup came as a stand-in right back with Aaron Lennon. Lennon running at defenders means left-backs are kept busy leaving lots more space for Beckham to get crosses in. Surely an option as a sub at least?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 07:29 (nineteen years ago)

Hargreaves seems to have followed Crouch into england fandom rehabilitation? it seems england fans were grudgingly coming round to this, even before last nights game

which leaves....Jenas as antihero? not a very good one though, as he seems about as likely to leave the bench as Scott Carson

― ∂ (duff), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:01 (nineteen years ago)

Am I the only person thinking Owen's injury is a blessing in disguise

No! http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/2006/06/20/blessing_in_disguise.html

― caek (caek), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:02 (nineteen years ago)

I also think Beckham has done fine. His crossing is good, he tackles back and he's disciplined. But he's suffering a little from having Carragher at right back - he's a game lad in the middle, but shite going forward and not too clever defensively. Also can't see what other options England have there.

Joe did okay, but got a bit 'look at me' and gave the ball away a lot after his goal while resolutely ignoring Ashley Cole on the overlap. He can probably get away with that against Ecuador, but a good team will take advantage of the space he leaves behind.

Poor old Frank still hasn't played well since January. Still, I don't care. We've got Ballack!

Hargreaves was very good, though needs to be more positive when he wins the ball. Rio was excellent. JT poor.

Why did Ashley Cole run away from the ball for the Swede's second?

― Pete W (peterw), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:24 (nineteen years ago)

Exactly, who is going to dive for that penalty against Argentina now?

I think Lars Lagerback (that's a proper football manager, Sven) deserves a lot of credit for the way he re-organised the Swedes at half-time, nullifying J. Cole and pinpointing the flaws in England's mighty and impenetrable defence. And Paul Robinson?!??! Crikey!

This is a mediocre Sweden team however, their worst in years.

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:40 (nineteen years ago)

There's rivalry and there's wankers

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:50 (nineteen years ago)

Hugo Clapshaw?!??!?!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:51 (nineteen years ago)

I like how you honed right in on the core message of the article.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:00 (nineteen years ago)

It jumped out at me and punched me right in the face - a bit like that guy did to wee Hugo

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:03 (nineteen years ago)

your reading skills could do w/ being honed, a little

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:06 (nineteen years ago)

A bit like your writing skills

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:07 (nineteen years ago)

what's that supposed to mean?

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:11 (nineteen years ago)

It means I'm in a foul mood at work today, so apologies to everyone in advance

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:16 (nineteen years ago)

: D

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:17 (nineteen years ago)

England were excellent last night. Really impressive, standing tall against the Swedes. Joe Cole was outstanding, his goal magnificent. And all this moan moan moan long ball, moan moan moan Beckham - Beckham's long ball to Rooney was perfect and what a goal that coulda shoulda been. And then...
I know England have this wacky tradition of wilting in the second half but WTF!? The last half-hour was the most shocking display of headless chicken-like scabbling about of the tournament (and still we scored, haha haters). But that shit-show from England at the end has soured the view of the whole game. I think Walcott would have come on in the second half if it wasn't such backs-against-the-wall time.
And what is going on with all the injured players hobbling off (or onto) the pitch? Someone's going to end up playing whilst on crutches soon if things continue the way they are. That's if we get past the mighty, mighty Ecuador, that is.
Let's all overestimate Ecuador, shall we?

― David Orton (scarlet), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:29 (nineteen years ago)

standing tall against the Swedes

Wow, what an achievement

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:32 (nineteen years ago)

I thought Carragher was a weak link last night. Gave the ball away several times under no pressure. No obvious replacement unlesss G Neville is fit though.

Also, why isn't Crouch the first man defending a corner? Better to have the tallest man near post rather than someone who worries whether heading the ball will mess his hair up.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:49 (nineteen years ago)

Owen's out for 5 months ):

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:50 (nineteen years ago)

standing tall against the Swedes
Wow, what an achievement

Wednesday, 17 November, 2004
Scotland 1, Sweden 4

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:52 (nineteen years ago)

roffle

― Half loaf, half pompadour (noodle vague), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

Playing better than Scotland - wow, what an achievement!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:00 (nineteen years ago)

dadaismus right about Sweden's crapness tho. i was gutted that the game followed the same old script - pretty good first half performance by England giving way to bobbins 2nd half show. they just won't learn. i'm resigned to the fact that England will never beat them ever again (although it would still be interesting to see the two play in an actual knockout situation someday rather than qualifiers, friendlies and group games which don't mean as much).

if England do beat Ecuador i doubt it will be at all pretty (dodgy penalty? or indeed penalties).

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:02 (nineteen years ago)

I expect England to beat Ecuador no problem

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:03 (nineteen years ago)

i don't. is this irony?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:05 (nineteen years ago)

I think we'll be OK. If it was up a mountain in Quito, it might be different.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:06 (nineteen years ago)

No, not at all, England are surely good enough to beat Ecuador else they may as well go home now (xpost)

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:07 (nineteen years ago)

Mind you, there is the fact that Eriksson is the manager

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:08 (nineteen years ago)

Must be great watching this World Cup as a neutral.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:14 (nineteen years ago)

It is!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:19 (nineteen years ago)

I am in a foul mood, too, Dadaismus! I'm not even apologising.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:25 (nineteen years ago)

can you still be neutral if you want particular teams to die on their arse?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:28 (nineteen years ago)

Wednesday, 17 November, 2004
Scotland 1, Sweden 4

Wednesday, 1 March, 2006
Republic of Ireland 3 Sweden 0

― Venga (Venga), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:28 (nineteen years ago)

can you still be neutral if you want particular teams to die on their arse?

Of course you can. I'm not actually supporting anyone - well, Germany I suppose.

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:30 (nineteen years ago)

Playing better than Scotland - wow, what an achievement!

Yes, playing worse than Scotland is the achievement...

Sunday, 30 May, 2004
Scotland 4, Trinidad & Tobago 1

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:35 (nineteen years ago)

i was gonna mention the Ireland game. Sweden lost to Croatia twice in qualifying too. perhaps if England-Sweden had been the second game for them it might've been different.

quality of T&T and Paraguay aside, 7 points is England's best group stage points haul since, well, ever, seeing as it wasn't 3 points for a win until '94 iirc.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:35 (nineteen years ago)


World Cup	Scotland	1-0	Sweden		10-11-1996
World Cup	Sweden		1-2	Scotland	16-06-1990
World Cup	Scotland	2-0	Sweden		09-09-1981
World Cup	Sweden		0-1	Scotland	10-09-1980
International	Scotland	3-1	Sweden		27-04-1977

5 wins since England last beat them.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:36 (nineteen years ago)

lol @ ancient tribalism

― gbx (skowly), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:39 (nineteen years ago)

or whatever.

― gbx (skowly), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:39 (nineteen years ago)

Exactly, who gives a fuck about the Scottish team anyway?

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:43 (nineteen years ago)

we English like to see them do well!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, I'm sorry for bringing Scotland into it. Just a gentle, reflexive dig. I'd love them to be there, McFadden looping in Cole-style screamers (but not playing *so* well than ManYoo sign him off us).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:58 (nineteen years ago)

Given that Scotland never qualify for anything there's not much chance of that particular Urban Myth being put to the test (xpost)

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:59 (nineteen years ago)

I would like a Scotland tracky top, I have decided.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 11:02 (nineteen years ago)

If you wear it, I will attack you, in the park.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 11:21 (nineteen years ago)

You're turned on that much, Alba?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 11:29 (nineteen years ago)

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said: "I'm sorry for [Owen]. But we have many players who can take that second striker role."

FNAR! At least he sees the funny side.

― caek (caek), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 11:50 (nineteen years ago)

Christmas Tree with Gerrard and Rooney just behind Crouch. Let's live dangerously!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 11:58 (nineteen years ago)

Good point, Alba. Better get a QPR tank top instead.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:00 (nineteen years ago)

I just bought an England shirt. £22.99! Red one too. Obviously no name on the back. The politics of club football don't allow it.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

Watch out a Scotsman doesn't attack you

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:27 (nineteen years ago)

Interesting about the football shirts : i've bought one for the first time since 86 !
are there many of the non huge football fans here who have bought one for the first time this year ?
it's a strange feeling. i feel kinda weird/silly wearing this.
(and to make things even weirder : i've asked for the shirt of another country - my girlfriend's one).
they are insanely expensive, by the way (65€)

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

I think the red ones are quite nice, what with their golden letters and numbers.

I really want an Italy shirt from the 70s or something, but I don't know if I could justify such a thing. Would I get attacked in a park?

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:29 (nineteen years ago)

i was looking at england 82 replicas on ebay yesterday, they're not all that cheap. still the best england shirt, though.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:34 (nineteen years ago)

I've never really understood why anyone who isn't playing football wears a football strip, I suppose I'm a bit old fashioned in that regard

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

(xxxposts)
Jibe,
it seems dhorasoo may not be in the 11 friday. apparently it might be trezeguet... let's pray for that (any player would be better than dhorasoo, anyway).
about the metro thing, I dunno. you might be a bit on the dodgy racial statement, there (and more than a marrons seller, he is a great poker player apparently... these PSG guys... always partying hard in the city !).

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

(xpost)
well, same reason as for tennis, polo, basketball shirts, baseball caps, etc, i guess.
cause you like the team or the design of the clothes (or both !).

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:43 (nineteen years ago)

The one Brian Clough described as looking like his mum's old pinny, Carsmile?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

I'm wearing my England shirt from Italia 90 as I write this. You can get replicas of these replicas (IYSWIM) from http://www.toffs.com/invt/7010emb (and I'm told Argos do them too, although this may be a lie).

― caek (caek), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

great football shirts replicas here : http://www.sportsaga.com

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

if that's what cloughie said, then I MUST HAVE ONE!!!

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

Who started the replica shirt craze? Was it Newcastle United, in the mid-'80s? Cos, when I were a lad, adults did not attend football games clad in their team strip. Kids, perhaps (I had a hand-me-down early-'70s Everton away kit and a 1980 Umbro home strip).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

But I should point out that I did not wear the socks or shorts anywhere other than on the bottom pitch at school (where all the uncoordinated and gormless kids were sent for a kickabout, while the PE teacher got on with the important business of fine-tuning the Third-Form XI on the top pitch).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

It is rare, in Spain. People could be going to, I don't know, a motor show.

Cloughie did say it, yes.

My dad, on the other hand, said, "It looks like something you'd go on holiday in" whatever that means.

Michael, for some reason I think it must have been Sunderland.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

for the final arsenal-barca, arsenal fans with shirts were all over paris (much more than barca's).
they were a bit scarry, i must say !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

Goal! Maniche.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

a good goal too. never looked like doing that at chelsea.

mexico in real danger if the angolans do somethind in the other game.

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

aw, they weren't scary bless 'em. on the day of the match itself there were quite a lot of barca fans with tops on, but not really the day before or after unlike the arsenal fans who i think had all brought enough for a week...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

Good, Mexico are one of those teams I want to see fall on their arses. Come on Angola!!!!!!!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

so 1-0 portugal ?
great !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

I just saw an elderly woman on Kentish Town Road in a replica Angola shirt.

I also may have seen rtccc near The Falcon in Queens Park yesterday evening. I didn't approach him because a) I wasn't sure it was he and b) he was wearing a hoodie that said "DIE" in great big red capital letters.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

Angola have a great flag!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:20 (nineteen years ago)

penalty!

ridiculous handball by marquez

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

simao scores it 2-0

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

Mmmh didnt know he was a great poker player. Fits in well with the PSG thing. The comment we made on Dhorasoo came at the end of the match (hence in a very drunk state). Good thing about Trezeguet (or Saha for that matter) getting to play!

― Jibé (Jibé), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

2-1 mexicans back in it. this could turn into a classic...

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

i ♥ the angolan flag too.

it's like a hammer and sickle, but it's A COG AND A MACHETE!!! marvellous, there.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:33 (nineteen years ago)

damn, I wish I could see the portugal game... stupid idea to play at 16h...

about your comment on Dhorasoo, yeah, i suspected that... i know how drunken game excesses can be !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

Fools, Dhorasoo rocks!

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

(la France tu l'aimes ou tu la quittes, ok?)

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

lol.
I like this statement so much.
I keep using it these days.
I should make a t-shirt of this !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

Great game so far! (Mex-Por that is.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

I think they should print it on the French jerseys
xp

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

can you translate for non-franophones?

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

France: love it or leave it

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

"France : you like it or you leave it"... (for some contextual elements, that's the motto of Sarkozy...our futur president !).

great idea on the jerseys !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

and considering the "ethnic diversity" of les bleus...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

It's the first England shirt I've had since I was a kid. I have a photo of me wearing one circa 1980. I had England wallpaper in my bedroom too. I'm not getting that again though.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

i reckon england will get to the final of the world cup through a mixture of luck and sudden lack of form of all the opponents. and

then the final will either:
1. england give away three goals and then someone gerrard scores loads and it goes back to 3-3 and then win on penalties 3-2.

2. robinson will be sent off for a rash challenge, and then sol campbell scores a thumping header to go ahead. then crouch misses a great chance and then the other team scores twice to win.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:02 (nineteen years ago)

Unfortunately, France are another team I want to see fall on their arses (Brazil also). Sorry!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

Well, you won't have to wait long...

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

and we won't fall from too high !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

penalty no2! to mexico this time. handball again.

ha! bravo skies it!

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

that was Waddlesque

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:15 (nineteen years ago)

So true!

xxpost

― Jibé (Jibé), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

The ~~first~~ Mexico goal (damn, missed the pen!) brought back bad flashbacks from last night. "Let's all just stand away from the goal, shall we? If the ball drops onto an opposing player they might not think of hitting it into the back of the net"

G.Neville hopefully okay for the w/end. Thank god, Carrager's rubbish.

― David Orton (scarlet), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

Bring on the red cards.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

mexico down to ten men. a harsh second yellow for Perez for an alleged dive in the box.

yep, Carragher doesn't offer too much at right back

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

angola finally lead iran but need a two goal swing to pinch second spot ... not going to happen is it?

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

Fingers crossed!

― The Aff Its Heid Show (Dada), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

Angola 1-0 up! Two more (or one more and another for Portugal) and they go through ahead of Mexico.

xpost

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:27 (nineteen years ago)

so wait, what's the score in portugal's game ?
2-1 still ?

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

still 2-1 though numerous chances missed at either end. mexicans had a fair shout at another two penalties as well as the one the launch into orbit.

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

WAIT! CONFUSED!!! fivelive went to a horse race and then the presenter man said angola might be going through!!

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

so if portugal ends 1st, who will they meet in the next game ?

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

WAIT! CONFUSED!!! fivelive went to a horse race and then the presenter man said angola might be going through!!

To a horse race??

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:37 (nineteen years ago)

Portugal will play whoever finishes second in tonight's group, right? The Dutch, probably.

Currently: Mex 4pts (3-2); Ang 4pts (1-1).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

Fifa in novelty tiebreak shockah. xp

bugger - iran have equalised so thats that.

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

well it is ascot, alba. considering it's ladies' day we're lucky they haven't spent the last hour talking about HATS...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

i'm watching Poirot now. shame they never did a World Cup-related murder mystery.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

Germany calling....

1) I am very glad to not have to listen to engerlish commentators

2) or Scottish chums munching loudly on shoulder chip butties with a layer of hard cheese

3) The German tv has no concept of showing what's happening in the other game. I still don't know the fucking Angola score. Their TV analysers are all very German, what with wearing shoes sans socks and jeans with t shirts and blazers ala Miami Vice.

4) Berlin is lovely.

5) As is Hamburg. The Hamburg fan-fest has food from all 32 competing countries, except the engerland stall which serves beer only. I lie not.

6) Chips with Hollandaise sauce is a gift from the gods. You can keep your pommes-frites rot-weiss.

7) Pork is nummy. Germany is bringing out the wurst in me.

8) I fear Sven will not use Lennon, who the game was crying out for last night, nearly as much as I was crying out for him.

9) The fact that Ecuador have players who want to prove a point, the match will be played in the most un-english stadium (fucking running tracks) at 4pm when it is still really hot here worries me.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

the Mexico manager would be a prime suspect (xpost)

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

so apparently france tomorrow will have malouda and ribery in the middle and trezeguet and henry in front...
sounds good. no marrons seller !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:13 (nineteen years ago)

err.. not tomorrow, by the way. i meant friday, of course.

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:14 (nineteen years ago)

Ooooooooh good! Maybe they'll actually manage to be somewhat good! That too, I'll finally have finised all my exams by then, I will be able to watch the game in true WC style, getting completely drunk and all.

― Jibé (Jibé), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Though I need not be drunk to type awfully.

― Jibé (Jibé), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

> i'm watching Poirot now. shame they never did a World Cup-related murder mystery.

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery is closest i can think of: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031055/plotsummary

― koogy wonderland (koogs), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

ITV-watch, and we've already had one sighting of Maradona jumping up and down like a loon.

"Holland and Argentina, the only way you can make fashion sense of orange and pale blue". WTF?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 17:55 (nineteen years ago)

oh fuck off Maradona already. they should be showing Cruyff in the crowd just as much.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

Whoever wins Argentina v Holland will win the World Cup amirite? Probably.

― David Orton (scarlet), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

Will they meet before the final, I can't really be arsed working it out?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

no they will meet again in the semis if they are both still around then (stolen from the intranets, didn't fact check)

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, OK, then I agree with David Orton. I don't think this game will necessarily have a bearing, but if (when) they meet again, that may well be the winner.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

no they will meet again in the semis if they are both still around then (stolen from the intranets, didn't fact check)

not true, teams from the same group could only meet other again in the final. this goes for all teams in all groups.

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

In which case I definitely agree with David Orton.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Peligro

― Collardio Gelatinous (collardio), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:12 (nineteen years ago)

In the game no-ones watching Serbia & Montenegro have an early lead against Ivory Coast

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:13 (nineteen years ago)

Commentators on about their fourth different pronunciation of Dirk Kuyt's surname.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:17 (nineteen years ago)

Ivory Coast makeshift defence looking a bit rubbish - 2-0 S&M.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

BBC write-up dude still going for teh rofflez, presumably since no-one's actually watching the S&M v IC game...

1957 BST: If any players bothered to put in hair gel tonight it was a wasted effort. In the time it has taken to sing the two anthems they are absolutely drenched - not a coiffured hair in sight.

2 mins: Arthur Boka, the diminuitive left-back, is known as the "African Roberto Carlos". As he fires a long-range free-kick into the wall it is clear to spot the similarity.

8 mins: Predrag Djordjevic, someone with no need for hair gel as he has no hair,

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:22 (nineteen years ago)

kite kioot coyt kiout

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:25 (nineteen years ago)

My ITV1/ITV4 reception is shaky tonight as I'm running the set-top box off an indoor aerial and watching the footy on the bedroom portable...but even so, break-up aside, ITV4 is so rotten the ball's practically a cube.

Argentina are marvellous, aren't they?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

i might have to turn it off as the frequent Maradona cut-tos are annoying me so much.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

ITV4 is so rotten the ball's practically a cube.

that's what happens when you knock it square.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

God yes I love Argentina. (xpost) I'm worried they'll exhaust themselves though. They're looking damn sweaty.

― Collardio Gelatinous (collardio), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

Ivory Coast pull one back from the spot...but no, it'll have to be retaken due to cockcroaches.

Same side. Nice.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:36 (nineteen years ago)

Reasons Why It's Great to Watch on Univision:

#1. Hearing the phrase "La Pulga" (The Flea) each time Messi gets the ball.

― Collardio Gelatinous (collardio), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:36 (nineteen years ago)

Holland looked like they should have had a penalty on the little melee that led to Burdisso's injury, I'm sure there was some kind of ludicrous headlock takedown in there somewhere.

― Fraggle O Rly (Ferg), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:47 (nineteen years ago)

ITV4 is so compressed it's like watching youtube. How do they get away with this?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

Quality moment of 'disrespect the foreign pundit' today. Steve Ryder asks Ruud Gullit to clear up once and for all the pronounciation of Dirk Kuyt's surname.

Gullit: "It's Koute"
Ryder: "Yes, Kiyte"
Gullit: *silent fume*, *visible look of daggers*

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 18:55 (nineteen years ago)

ITV now plugging downloads of Kasabian's cover of Heroes, currently one of the most annoying bits of ITV's coverage, along with everything else.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

i think its a perfect match. Kasbian insult Bowie in the same way ITV insult football.

― mason storm (mason storm), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:06 (nineteen years ago)

Just how are Holland hanging on???

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:31 (nineteen years ago)

No idea, what with that dodgy defence and all...

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:32 (nineteen years ago)

Meanwhile, ElephantBoneCoast have come from two down to lead Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) 3-2!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

Yawn. A meaningless game between Argentina reserves and Holland reserves finishes in an inevitable 0-0 draw.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

(other game's still going on ITV4. Fannydangling, fighting and red cards, and that's just in injury time)

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

predicted both of these results correctly. but i only bet on the ones i get wrong :(

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

Useless draw getting coupon busting bastards.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

one of the worst games so far

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Argie V Dutchies: impressive but very dull match overall. Hard hard hard as fuck to beat, both of 'em.
For entertainment's sake I kinda wish I watched the Serbia/Ivory C game instead. 'Spose I can watch it on that channel that re-runs all the games back-to-back.

ITV now plugging downloads of Kasabian's cover of Heroes

The main commentator bloke during the Mex/Portugal game mentioned the track on the show today! "By the British band The Kasabian"

― David Orton (scarlet), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, when I said ITV plugging it, I meant Steve Rider, not like an advert or something. Presumably they get money off it (see also "go to our website please please please" commentary all the way through matches)

I didn't think the game was that dull. Still, I wish I'd watched the other game instead. Commentator on ITV4 said some sort of paraphrase of "they'll be dancing in the streets of the Ivory Coast tonight", for those following this cliche-spouting malarkey.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:22 (nineteen years ago)

group betting* before tournament:
A
germany 4-9
poland 4-1
ecuador 9-1
costa rica 25-1

B
england 4-6
sweden 2-1
paraguay 8-1
trinidad & tobago 50-1

C
argentina 5-4
holland 8-5
ivory coast 9-1
serbia 9-1

D
portugal 10-11
mexico 6-4
iran 14-1
angola 18-1

*best price available

switch poland and ecuador and iran and angola. is this becoming the most predictable world cup ever? let's hope not, effing brazil.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:28 (nineteen years ago)

predictability in reasonably long stretches is a good thing, gives surprise results a rarity value, and heightens the drama when they are on the brink of occurring.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

well yes that's a valid point kilian, i'm just saying that's exceptionally accurate pricing by the bookies.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:57 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, surely everyone got sick of upsets after there'd been so many in the last World Cup? Makes it too easy for one of the few on-form teams to just walk to victory.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

I predicted the right order of finish for Groups A and D for my complicated office sweepstake but fannied about with B and C where I should have stuck with the bookies' choices. So I've only got 11/16 places right so far.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 21:02 (nineteen years ago)

"Ivory Coast makeshift defence looking a bit rubbish - 2-0 S&M."

LOL

― asdfasdf (Dough Boy), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

martin o'neill is chatting up leonardo on the bbc highlights!

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 21:15 (nineteen years ago)

just seen the highlights of ivory coast v serbia, they had the slickback mexican ref who comedically officiated the england paraguay game, marco rodriguez. he went for the lols with a dracula-style painted face and 2 odd made-up red cards. he's a shoo-in for the final.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 21:55 (nineteen years ago)

the russian guy is a WALLY too, mccarthy was right.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 21:57 (nineteen years ago)

he's a traffic warden.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 22:03 (nineteen years ago)

him and his red shirt

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 22:15 (nineteen years ago)

Van Basten was highly encouraged by his side's display. "I have seen progress in my team tonight. Argentina are a high quality team and they are playing 'Top of the Pops' football. But at the end we could have won the game, although that would have been too far. But it was a good performance."

― indie disco dancer, sweet romancer (haitch), Thursday, 22 June 2006 03:45 (nineteen years ago)

TOTP football = start with a bang, then suffer from diminshing returns until cancellation late in tournament?

― indie disco dancer, sweet romancer (haitch), Thursday, 22 June 2006 03:50 (nineteen years ago)

Little Michael's latest plan:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5104892.stm

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 22 June 2006 07:02 (nineteen years ago)

"It is strange to think that my farewell was the last I might see of Sven, a manager who has picked me whenever I have been available and for whom I have scored a lot of goals.

FOR WHOM I HAVE SCORED?????

what have they done with THE REAL michael owen?????

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 22 June 2006 07:58 (nineteen years ago)

How many times between now and Sunday night will we hear "Ecuador" by Sash beign played over a footy montage?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 22 June 2006 09:16 (nineteen years ago)

Only slightly fewer than the number of references to Xtina we'll hear.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 09:20 (nineteen years ago)

Motson: "The local delicacy in Ecuador is guinea pig. Did you know that Mark?"

Lawrenson: "I didn't, but I think I'll stick with my cheese ploughmans."

Motson: "Heh heh."

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 22 June 2006 09:21 (nineteen years ago)

That's remarkably funny for Lawro, actually.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 22 June 2006 09:26 (nineteen years ago)

they'll play loads of the Delgados i reckon

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:35 (nineteen years ago)

xxpost he missed a golden opportunity for "well at least you know it's been fully tested heh heh"

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:36 (nineteen years ago)

I quite like the idea of guinea pig. Someone make Chris buy some.

Think I'd rather watch the Australia v Croatia game than Brazil tonight. Doesn't look like it's being shown at all?

Scheduling kind of fucked up here as the twists and turns in Italy's group today could be a lot more exciting. Like, last day of Premiership 2005 style.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:41 (nineteen years ago)

Points 8 and 9 made by Dave B up there are things that have been bothering me too.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

I think England will beat Ecuador (fairly) comfortably, but I can't see them winning against either of their potential 1/4 final opponents.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:50 (nineteen years ago)

Matt, the Australia match is on BBC3.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:51 (nineteen years ago)

and bbci as well. although i'm not sure how you can get bbci but not bbc3...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:54 (nineteen years ago)

John Motson: "Ecuador's capital, Quito represented the northern base of the Inca empire after a dispute over the succession between Atahualpa and Huascar."

Mark Lawrenson: "I think creating divisions in an empire which by its very geographical nature was difficult to govern and also, remember John, was only in existence for barely a century, would invariably lead to civil war."

John Motson: "No wonder Atahualpa assumed Hernan Cortes was the returning god, Viracocha."

Mark Lawrenson: "Atahualpa simply wasn't wily enough to understand he was being played off against his half brother."

John Motson: "Gary Neville with the long throw, flicked on by Crouch."

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

hahaha

― Ste (Fuzzy), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:23 (nineteen years ago)

Posh-sounding fact:

I used to have a doorman from Ecuador.

What fun we would be having now.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

So then, P@ul M£rs0n liking the rapes: world cup thread material or to be placed elsewhere?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:35 (nineteen years ago)

I got mugged twice in a week in Ecuador once.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

Isn't there a whole footballer rape thread kicking around somewhere?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

The Aston Villa defender is aware of the anguish Rooney's metatarsal injury has caused and insists he will not hold back when it comes to facing Rooney.

He said: "The fact he is not totally fit gives us a boost. Perhaps I can give his foot a kick to test it out".

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

Group E highlight package set to "Sugar, We're Going Down".

America haven't had a single shot on target all tournament, you realise?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:47 (nineteen years ago)

Doesn't a goal count as a shot on target Dom?

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:50 (nineteen years ago)

Own goals don't, no.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

I guess disallowed ones don't either.

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

Thank you both.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

And shots off the inside of the post (Reyna - was it? - against the Czechs) are, by definition, off target. If only a bit.

Ghana 4-3 USA, match of the tournament, please.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

My guess:

Italy 0 Czech Republic 0
Ghana 2 USA 0

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

baros playing for the czechs, lively start.

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

Haha, Toni on the bench, Passantino explodes.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

To win the group:

Italy: 1/3
Ghana: 3/1
Czechs: 4/1

To qualify:

Italy: 1/10
Ghana: 1/3
Czechs: 6/4
USA: 5/1

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

nesta off for materazzi. italy are DOOMED!

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

ghana score!

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

Ghana to go through as group winners...

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

Why did Totti sit on that cross for so long?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:25 (nineteen years ago)

reyna being strechered off...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:25 (nineteen years ago)

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

Materazzi, of all fucking people. Man alive.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

haha materazzi, DOOMED I TELL YA!

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

nesta off for materazzi. italy are DOOMED!

Ho ho ho.

― Venga (Venga), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

Forget GROUP OF DEATH! This is GROUP OF PERMUTATIONS.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:30 (nineteen years ago)

He was rubbish for Everton.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:32 (nineteen years ago)

World cup lookalikes part 2019:

http://www.sporting-heroes.net/files_footballworldcup/CAMORANESI_M_20040618_GH_R.jpg
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/Michetti/2003/10/16/furio.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:32 (nineteen years ago)

(My comment was sort of a response to a text msg from Markelby [is he still Markelby?] which was the first I'd heard of the goal...got the sound off on the BBC stream in favour of Ge0ffr3y Palm3r and Jud1 D3nch in my headphones).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

indie boy dempsey equalises for the US

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

YEAH TAKE THAT U COMMIES

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

DON'T TREAD ON HIM

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

WOWOWOWOWOW

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

Jan Polak and his Love Parade dancer's haircut are OFF.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

GHANA 2-1!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

czech dude with funny haircut off

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

Group E is the group of INCIDENTS.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

pingpong dives and gets a pen and appiah slots it!

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

Today's fixtures promised much and have delivered so far.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

The agony and the ecstasy so far. ARRRRRRGH. Anyway.

(The US play frankly has been mostly rubbish. But Beasley to Dempsey forgives many sins.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

Considering the US invented them, how come they lag behind both Italy and the Czechs when it comes to having metrosexuals in the squad?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

that shouldn't have been a PK, dudes, and you know it

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

i thought the brits invented the metrosexual. they have the ur-metrosexual playing midfield!

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

Just watching the 1st half highlights.

Reyna injured by EMBARRASSMENT at first goal.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

Mark Mattresses (kinda)

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

Donovan fails to be embarrassed at being SHITE.

Never a penalty.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:00 (nineteen years ago)

Joe Cole is no metrosexual.

― Pete W (peterw), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

So, yeah, why a) don't Americans dive; b) do American defenders let themselves get into that position that makes it easy for the striker to dive (ie, covering the ref's view of it)?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

Czechs switch to 3-5-1.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:03 (nineteen years ago)

how come on tv this morning they made it seem like the US had a chance? what OPTIMISTS

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:03 (nineteen years ago)

(a) Pussies dive.

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

by sheer volume of comments I've heard, diving is the #1 thing my soccer-loving friends hate about the int'l game, and maybe the top thing holding us back from embracing the game.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

(a) Coby Jones isn't playing any more

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

Softest penalty ever.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:06 (nineteen years ago)

Diving is cool and funny when your team does it, and mean and nasty when it's anybody else (especially when they are FORIN).

― Pete W (peterw), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:08 (nineteen years ago)

Considering the US invented them, how come they lag behind both Italy and the Czechs when it comes to having metrosexuals in the squad?

All our sports metrosexuals play for the New York Yankees.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

also Pete you misspelled FURRIN

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

how come on tv this morning they made it seem like the UK (england) had a chance? what OPTIMISTS

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:10 (nineteen years ago)

by sheer volume of comments I've heard, diving is the #1 thing my soccer-loving friends hate about the int'l game, and maybe the top thing holding us back from embracing the game.

This is correct.

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

on the other hand, the Bush administration totally dove on Iraq and that motherfucker got re-elected, so y'know screw us.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICS ON FOOTBALL THREAD

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

http://superfrenchie.com/Pics/Blog/fun_captions/maradona_castro.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

It's time for, ahem, "Superpippo".

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

Maradona's breathing in there, isn't he?

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

From the BBC website: The Czechs need to find two goals with 10 men - against Italy. There's probably more chance of Sven-Goran Eriksson starting with Theo Walcott on Sunday.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:20 (nineteen years ago)

TS: Mark Bright vs. Gareth Southgate.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

Ooh, McBride hits the post.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:27 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not watching much of this, but it seems like it's Nedved or Nothing for the Czechs. No one else looks like scoring for them.

I want them to equalise so we have an Italy-Brazil last-16 tie. I can see Ghana or the Czechs playing Brazil off the park for an hour for no reward and ultimately losing 2-0. Italy are a different matter.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

TWO PALERMO PLAYERS ON THE PITCH. THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

xpost
Yup, they'd lose 3-0 in the end.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

So far there's "no-one better" at

a) keeping possession
b) taking advantage of the extra man
c) defending a one goal lead
and
d) soaking up pressure and hitting on the break
than the Italians.

(apart from that time the Argies did it and scored six goals...)

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

You mean Inzaghi's miss or Totti's back pass?

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

Inzaghi's miss. But:

http://www.antoniogenna.net/doppiaggio/anim/supermouse.jpg

lol 2-0

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

Buffon's bossing his box.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:46 (nineteen years ago)

Urgh - the Czechs have been so disappointing

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

BBC text thingy (edited to make chronological sense):

82 mins: Filippo Inzaghi misses his second open goal since coming on. Andrea Pirlo does a Ricky Villa-style shimmy across the area but can't tuck it away. The ball pops up nicely for Inzaghi but he somehow puts his header wide with 24ft of goal to aim at.

"I think Luca Toni will be back for the next game, don't you?"

GOAL: 87 minutes Czech Republic 0-2 Italy
Filippo Inzagi.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

ugh, landon donovan NOT SHOTTING BALL AT GOAL

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

excellent, the U.S. will lose because of a dive, no more interest in men's soccer for 3 1/2 years over here

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

HOORAY oh wait.

Though c'mon Matt, most of the US play this game was pretty weak to start with.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

You can still cherish those four seconds when the score caption changed to ITA 1-2 USA after Beasley's non-goal. Someone should make an looped animated gif of it.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

Losing Koller in the first game killed the Czechs - forced them to play a different and much more limited game. Sad to see a team with so many names go down so ignominiously...

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

"Urgh - the Czechs have been so disappointing"

Yeah Koller comes back for exactly ONE game and it has to be the one they play against us.

US got totally jobbed by the refs this game and the Italy one and each one was a total momentum killer too. That said we didn't play very well.

Sadly I don't see Ghana without Essien doing much against Brazil.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

Watching the Italy-Czech game with colleagues. 'Yeah, we could beat Italy, there haven't been many teams better than England in the tournament so far.' WHAT PLANET ARE THEY ON?

Also, Matt, I think FURRIN is good for the US market, but in London English it's definitely more a case of FORIN.

― Pete W (peterw), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:06 (nineteen years ago)

yaaay Ghana!
they weren't nearly as smiley this time, but still.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:10 (nineteen years ago)

shut up, you.

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:12 (nineteen years ago)

USA were rubbich but also unlucky. That pen shouldn't have been, that header should have gone in, so many free kicks given against them. Ah well. Tons of ludicrous, theatrical dives from Ghana as well: throwing Platoon-poster shapes before throwing themselves forward into gambols and rolling around in agonies. What a performance.
I started watching the Italy/Czech game but it was a bit meh after the first goal.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

according to ESPN talking heads: Arena is entirely at fault.

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

Sven for US manager!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

Hell of a pay-cut, I'd imagine.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:47 (nineteen years ago)

(xxpost)That's a fair assessment although Donovan played pretty terribly too. All that said, subtract the red cards and the terrible penalty kick and I think the US probably win the bracket 2-1 and no one has this conversation.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

landon donovan sucks.

― jergins (jergins), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:50 (nineteen years ago)

that was disappointing, but really, we were terrible and had no right to go through. forget red cards and penalties and all the rest: the US team was no good. now go on and make us proud, ghana.

― jergins (jergins), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

That's a fair assessment although Donovan played pretty terribly too. All that said, subtract the red cards and the terrible penalty kick and I think the US probably win the bracket 2-1 and no one has this conversation.

Well, let's say you went on to beat Italy with 11 against 10 (and you very nearly did with 9 against 10) and drew today with Ghana. That's 4pts and probably an inferior GD to Ghana, so you're out anyway. It's a shame but the damage was done against the Czechs.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

(That said, a group situation of 3-3-3-3 after the second phase would've made today's games so much better!)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

that was disappointing, but really, we were terrible and had no right to go through. forget red cards and penalties and all the rest: the US team was no good. now go on and make us proud, ghana.

i'll back that.

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

we were not as horrible as jergins says but I disagree with Alex in SF's notion that we somehow deserve to go on, I also think M.Jones is wrong and that we could have pulled out a victory today but we just don't have a better team than Ghana.

ANALYSIS COMPLETE. MOVING ON.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

Oh I didn't say that we deserved to go on. I'm just saying that the possibility isn't totally far-fetched. We go into the half of the game against Ghana tied up and without the momentum from the Dempsey goal killed and who knows how the second half plays out. Anyway it doesn't matter. As everyone has pointed out we did not play well at all.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:06 (nineteen years ago)

Ghana is a good team though, let's give them some credit, no?

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

HELLO EVERYBODY AMERICA SUCKS AT SOCCER.

i guess i have to root for sweden now? or somebody. yuck.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

btw: Clint Dempsey -- seemed to be one of the more reliable guys we had. Also, pulling footwork in traffic?? What are you, LATIN?

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

Ghana is a very good team. I sincerely hope they beat Brazil like a drum (even though I suspect that they will receive the same drubbing we would have.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

At least USA *got* to the World Cup finals. Ungrateful bastards.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:21 (nineteen years ago)

Oh please America's getting much better. We're def. one of the better non-SA/non-European teams. This was a strong bracket and we played poorly, but this whole sucks at soccer thing is lame.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

Clint Dempsey was born in Nagadoches Texas so yeah, I'd guess he is either part Mexican or at least learned some Sneaky Latin Tricks (NB: this is pure speculation)

OMG I am turning into jaymc

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

i am willing to bet BIGTIME that jaymc knows nothing about soccer players. unless they are on ilx.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

and Dom was right about how we'd go out (from that thread a month or two ago)

― jergins (jergins), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40250000/jpg/_40250399_gattuso203.jpg http://www.tagliners.org/pics/serpico.jpg

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:43 (nineteen years ago)

Ghana is a good team though, let's give them some credit, no?

Damn straight. I think their best game so far was the Czech one.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

A BOLD STAND BY NEDDERS

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:48 (nineteen years ago)

hot
xpost
(though i would pay CASH MONEY to see NRaggett sport serpico facial hair)

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

Weather forecast for England v Ecuador on Sunday = oh fuck.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 22 June 2006 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

Videos retirées à la demande de la Fifa|Videos removed on Fifa's request :-(

― StanM (StanM), Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

I'm with Haikunym.

― A Study In Redd Scharlach (Ken L), Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

Clint Dempsey shouldn't have cut his indie hair. This is his problem, like Samson or something.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

Total shame about the Czechs. The core of players still there but once the injuries came in they needed one or two others to emerge and make key contributions -- they've not quite moved on from Euro '04.

Italy looking ok now they've gotten their bad game out of the way. Gattuso jokingly strangling Lippi was funny stuff, innit?

― xyzzzz__ (jdesouza), Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:24 (nineteen years ago)

BBC pundits are discussing Zico and how he's one of the best Brazilians ever. Specifically 1982 World Cup. Lineker turns to Martin O'Neill. "Martin, of course, you were the other star of 1982, weren't you?"
MON: "Are you asking me to compare myself to Zico"
Jugears: "Erm..."
MON: "Well I didn't have a spell in Japan where I was useless."

/me roffles.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

A BOLD STAND BY NEDDERS

Hooray!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

Croats are leading Australia a goal to nil.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

Why the BBC is showing Japan/Brazil rather than Australia/Croatia I have no idea, other than EVERYONE LOVES BRAZIL RONALD E NO IS LIKE FERENC PUSKAS CROSSED WITH JERRY LEWIS.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

Kawaguchi making some pretty awesome saves though

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:22 (nineteen years ago)

so when you guys talk about dives you mean flopping right?

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:22 (nineteen years ago)

Why the BBC is showing Japan/Brazil rather than Australia/Croatia I have no idea

Same deal here. Thanks Univision!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:23 (nineteen years ago)

I'm watching Australia-Croatia on BBC3. Croatia 1-0 up but Australia look the better team (and they've got a better kit). It will be a crime if Australia don't get through, especially after their performance against Brazil. They've looked better than England so far.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:27 (nineteen years ago)

Doesn't galavision show the other game?

― A Study In Redd Scharlach (Ken L), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

it's also on espn2 (on |n+erne+ tv)

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

1-0 JAPAN!!!!!!!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

I'm watching CRO-AUS in one room, Neil's watching JPN-BRA in the other. We're shouting each other to turn over if anything good happens.

(and yes, big shout from the other room to turn over, then)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

Brilliant goal for Japan. Lawro is gonna cry I think.

Some good attacking play from Austrailia on the BBC3 match.

Flicking between...

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:36 (nineteen years ago)

JAPAN!!!!!!!

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

Pen for Aus.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

1-1

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

And Ronaldo just equalised.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:47 (nineteen years ago)

fatty.

so, should i quit studying and watch this game??

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:50 (nineteen years ago)

Well, we got to see the fatboy waddle all the way to the Brazilian record, I suppose.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

Your half time panel on BBC3 - Manish Bhasin, Adrian Chiles and Lee Dixon. On a balcony. With no replays.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

1-1
(both now)

C'mon Aus! They had the best half by far. They could go through! (Half-Croat) Adrain Chiles is looking glum.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:54 (nineteen years ago)

This "LOL RONALDO IS FAT AND SHIT" thing's getting really old really quickly. He's had two good shots saved, another blocked, set up a cracking strike that was tipped over then scored the equaliser. Not bad for a 900lb man.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

I think the commentator actually said "he managed to lever himself off the ground" at one point.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

He doesn't weigh 900 lb that would be impossible!

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

Having just seen the half-time highlights I would have to say Ronaldo is looking a lot better. For a fat bloke.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

it was a pretty nice goal too

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:03 (nineteen years ago)

By the way, did anyone else hear Steve Wilson look at Ronaldo and go "I predict a diet"?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:04 (nineteen years ago)

LOL @ Portsmouth reserve keeper.

Brazil are going to tear Japan to pieces now. That one-two between Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, complete with nutmeg, was beautiful.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

agh, i had a feeling japan wouldn't be able to keep it up after 1st half.

but omg, that was a beautiful long goal just now.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

Bah!

AUS 1 CRO 2

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

"Even Japan fans would like to see Brazil put on a show"

No, no they wouldn't.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

i hope switzerland win the world cup

― ∂ (duff), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

Croatia score after a soft-ish ground shot hits Kalac's hands and rolls in...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

switzerland vs croatia. DREAM FINAL

― ∂ (duff), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

a la Brazil's 2nd goal, the Croat goal was down to sloppy work by the goalie.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

Commentator on the sound of a firework going off in the Croatian end: "Given the security around these stadiums, he's done well to get that in!"

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:17 (nineteen years ago)

Here comes the cavalry: Aloisi on.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

Have to say, Scotty Chipperfield looks a handy player. Mile Sterjovski, not particularly.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:26 (nineteen years ago)

Graham Poll, is he sponsored by Specsavers? He needs an appointment prompto

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:33 (nineteen years ago)

He is sponsored by them in the Premier, yes.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:34 (nineteen years ago)

Goal!

AUS 2 CRO 2

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:35 (nineteen years ago)

Kewell does the business.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:35 (nineteen years ago)

HARRY KEWELL SCORESSSSSSSSSS

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:36 (nineteen years ago)

YEEEESSSS!!!! (Kewell)

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:36 (nineteen years ago)

Oh man - ten minutes to go. I think they've used all their subs...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:38 (nineteen years ago)

Ronaldo - Not bad for a fat bloke!

(commentator: "with a shot like that you don't have to be able to move")

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:38 (nineteen years ago)

bastard bastard Harry Kewell, you just cost me 150 quid.

the only way this'll get any worse is if Liverpool sign Lucas Neill.

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

brazil is now in killing mode

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

Croatians seeing red

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

It's going tits-up for Croatia, Red card for Simic.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

Siminic is off.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

"they [japan]'d take 4-2 just now".

Why, exactly?

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

HONOR!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

Holy shit did Australia just lose a man too??!?!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck! Croatia really should have scored then...

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Aussies down to 10 men now!!!

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Emerton is off with a red! 10 v 10!

Don't panic now, Aus!

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Brett Emerton's just been sent off for Australia!

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Commentators explode in surprise at Kalac holding a cross.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

Graham Poll confusion shocker!

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

graham poll scores a hatrick of sending offs ! another Croat sent off

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

except he didn't send him off! He forgot!

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:48 (nineteen years ago)

Oh dear, Poll's fucked up, what happens if Croatia score now?

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

Congratulations to Australia and all their fans on a tremendous achievement.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

WTF! Simunic finally off with three yellows!

"if Croatia score now it'll be one of the biggest controversies the world has ever seen!" - commentator keeps things in perspective.

Wow.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

Oh man, this is incredible stuff, Siminic is finally off and the Aussies go through.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

It's OK, he booked him in injury time for something else and sent him off for his, erm, third yellow card.
(xpost)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

What the fuck happened at the end? Was it a goal disallowed? If so - why? Was it a penalty that wasn't taken because time ran out? THREE yellow cards????????

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:53 (nineteen years ago)

Nightmare on Poll Street

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:53 (nineteen years ago)

Well there's a trivia question for the future - who's the only player to have received three yellow cards in a World Cup match?

By the way, did anyone else hear Steve Wilson look at Ronaldo and go "I predict a diet"?

He was so pleased with it he said it twice in a row. It was very odd.

What a night.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

Amazing. What a crazy game.
AUS 2 CRO 2
Yay. Croatia really fighting back in the final moments - but it cost them about 8 yellows and the game.

Brazil won did they? How interesszzzzz...

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

Oh good Christ, and over here Univision stuck with the Japan/Brazil match to the end. HMPH.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

So, yeah, where's good for World Cup match torrents and when are they having AUS/CRO up?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

lols:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_2010

― jergins (jergins), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

The Guardian's take on those frantic closing minutes:

90 min: Another red card! But... Graham Poll, who is a stupid bastard, is not getting the final, we can tell you that for nothing. After fouling Kennedy, Simunic is booked for a second time. He walks... then comes back when he realises Poll isn't going to show red. Ho ho hoh dear.

FULL TIME: Croatia 2 - 2 Australia Ha ha ha, Graham Poll is a complete clown. After a scramble in the box, Viduka sets about forcing the ball home for Australia... but Poll blows up for full time, Clive Thomas style, with the ball about to cross the line. He disallows the goal - not that it matters - but then he decides to book Simunic for a third time - and sends him off. He then blows up for full time AGAIN... before driving off the pitch in a car with square wheels.

Honk! Honk! The doors have just fallen off Poll's car, and there are jets of steam coming out of the engine. Let's hope nobody agrees to smell his funny flower!

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

I think I woke up the kid downstairs screaming. Awesome.

Amazing how all we Aussies suddenly care when we're good at something.

― Hotman Paris Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

"If Croatia score now it'll be one of the biggest controversies the world has ever seen!" - commentator keeps things in perspective

World Cup, he said.

Poll surely finished as an international referee now. See also: Clive Thomas, 1978 (a year too late in his case).

xpost!

A great night.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

Okay, so AUS-CRO game: 4 goals (one dubious, one goalie fumbling, one penalty), 3 people sent off (one with three yellow cards), 2 goals disallowed (one rightly, the other gawd knows what was going on by that point), and AUSTRALIA go through!!
Entertaining.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

Lineker: "14 World Cup goals for Der Bomber and...Der Blobby."

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

Not forgetting two stonewall penalties for Australian which weren't given (xpost)

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

Xpost

David, you missed out the penalty the Australians should have had when Tomas handled, for the second time.

Poll's performance was astonishing. He'd been pretty solid in the previous two games he ref'd but this one, oh dear.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

I thought we'd have gotten something after Croatia using its HANDS.

― Hotman Paris Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

Lineker compares Ronaldo to Gerd Muller: "Der Bomber and Der Blobby".

Other than that, best night ever. Unless you're Croatian. Adrian Chiles wasn't best pleased over on BBC3.

(xpost)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck Cricket, greatest moment in Australian sport right there, it's 7am in Melbourne, and I'm going to the pub.

― Akender (Seuss 2005), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

I'm going to, um, work.

― Hotman Paris Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

That Guardian thing's brilliant.

Good day of football today. Lots of they're in/they're out permutations. Lots of goals. "Fat" bloke becomes all time top goal scorer. Triple yellow cards. Shame about Japan.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:16 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck Cricket,
Yay!
greatest moment in Australian sport right there
I wouldn't know. Hasn't Jeremy Thorpedo won something or other?
it's 7am in Melbourne
Boo!
and I'm going to the pub
Yay! Give that man a beer.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

Best day's football so far.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:20 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I'm glad I got home in time for the second half of the afternoon games. And for the power of a remote control for the evening ones.

Tomorrow = roffle at France. I'll probably be in the pub. Does anyone expect Tunisia to qualify above teh Ukraine? I'll probably be in the pub for that too.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:24 (nineteen years ago)

Fifa website had three yellows listed for Siminic on its offical match report for about 15 minutes, it has now been changed to remove his one circa 90 mins.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:36 (nineteen years ago)

I wonder if the ref got confused as he had already sent of Simic before having to book Simunic - for the second time - but got the names muddled up somehow? I dunno.

Wow, 20 years ago today since the "hand of god" and Argentina sent us (ENG) home, apparently.

― David Orton (scarlet), Thursday, 22 June 2006 20:47 (nineteen years ago)

Meantime, stepping back a bit, gotta love the reaction to the victory for Ghana.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:02 (nineteen years ago)

American reaction if we had gotten in: "Oh, neat."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:04 (nineteen years ago)

"I think I'm going to die. I want to die. I'm ready to dieeee!" a young taxi driver shouted as he leapt out of his car, abandoned it in the middle of the road and ran in circles.

Ghana supporters celebrate
Revellers brought traffic to a standstill

"I can't believe this!" screamed Richard Apedonu, a telecom company office manager.

"It feels like a dream! It feels just like a dream, I don't want to wake up! This is simply magic! It's fantastic!"

"I am proud to be Ghanaian! This is a good time to be Ghanaian," yelled a bespectacled man.

A heavy-set roasted-plantain vendor, leaping up and down with amazing ease, screamed: "Ghana ye ye buei", which translates as, "Ghana, we're great!"

"I want to have Stephen Appiah's child," another woman shouted, referring to the player who scored Ghana's winning goal.

― Persecuted Decals (ex machina), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:10 (nineteen years ago)

I like the dude trash talking Brazil with beers in hand.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

But it is all history now. As one text message making the rounds put it: "After beating America, Ghana is now a superpower. Now we should get into nuclear enrichment!"

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

just read some reports on that croat-aussie game. bananas!

― gbx (skowly), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

I like Ghana.

― Persecuted Decals (ex machina), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:19 (nineteen years ago)

again: I love Ghana
haha, xpost!

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:20 (nineteen years ago)

"Brazil? Who is Brazil?".

Today, we are all Ghanaian.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

Presumably any week now we can expect to hear that the US will be withholding dues from FIFA given the country's unfair treatment during this tournament and demanding reforms.

Tonight at 8: Bush finally announces Iraq's replacement in the "Axis of Evil": Ghana!

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck, I really love Super-Pippo! The fact that he had no intention whatsoever to pass the ball to Barone(it was him right?) just increase my love for him. He's the hardest working striker in the world and deserves every goal he scores.

There is no better manager than Hiddink, is there?

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:03 (nineteen years ago)

Well Scolari's had 10 wins out of 10 in World Cup ties so far but Hiddink's no' bad.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:18 (nineteen years ago)

That's good sarcasm there, props.

― Crimea River (Mark C), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:24 (nineteen years ago)

You may not like him for whatever reason, and that's fine, but I can't think of any striker who works harder than him. Why? Because there is none.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:37 (nineteen years ago)

Henrik Larsson.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:38 (nineteen years ago)

Tony Cascarino in his prime.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:39 (nineteen years ago)

Marco Boogers

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:40 (nineteen years ago)

Henrik Larsson is a good choice, but I still rate Pippo higher in this regard. The man never stops running(yes, often foolishly, but whatever).

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 22 June 2006 22:41 (nineteen years ago)

Rooney!

― David A. (Davant), Friday, 23 June 2006 03:39 (nineteen years ago)

call him by his real name = Pippo Inzaghi-Offside

I hate that simpering twat. I am quite pleased that Italy have gone through, it keeps up the anticipation for the inevitable histrionics filled implosion :)

they'll go and win it now won't they?

― Porkpie (porkpie), Friday, 23 June 2006 05:41 (nineteen years ago)

I fucking hope so.

Apart from looking like Steve Buscemi's less favoured brother, and apart from missing open goals all the time, and apart from his horrific addiction to seeing the linesman raise his flag, and apart from his gameplan being "1. Goalhang 2. um, that's it", he's also a filthy diving cheat. Of all the players to like, you choose this one.

― Crimea River (Mark C), Friday, 23 June 2006 05:56 (nineteen years ago)

Why does Chiles of the Moon like Croatia?

I don't think commentators are worth taking the piss out of. This morning I saw an old tramp being ejected fromthe Nationwide cash machine area where he had obviously spent the night. I didn't take the piss.

Nice to see a proper competitive match last night. We4ll, second half. I watched 45 minutes of the Fatties on patrol.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 06:13 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently his Mum's Croatian, or something. (Chiles, that is)

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Friday, 23 June 2006 06:15 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, right. I bet she calls him her little dumpling.

I am trying to take money off Dave B's virtual pint fund for his spreadsheet, but the system won't let me :-(

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 06:21 (nineteen years ago)

At last, Graham Poll brings the lolz to this po-faced tournament.

― Half loaf, half pompadour (noodle vague), Friday, 23 June 2006 07:29 (nineteen years ago)

Plenty more where this came from sunshine!
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41801000/jpg/_41801424_pollcroat203.jpg

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 23 June 2006 07:57 (nineteen years ago)

You may not like him for whatever reason, and that's fine, but I can't think of any striker who works harder than him. Why? Because there is none.

http://hem.passagen.se/cisseanfield/liverpool%20heskey.jpg

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 07:57 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40882000/jpg/_40882490_dad_bbc.jpg

Graham Poll, yesterday.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 07:58 (nineteen years ago)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41801000/jpg/_41801424_pollcroat203.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41801000/jpg/_41801424_pollcroat203.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41801000/jpg/_41801424_pollcroat203.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41801000/jpg/_41801424_pollcroat203.jpg

I'M WARNING YOU! NEXT TIME YOU'RE OFF!

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:08 (nineteen years ago)

BBC now forecasting 39 degrees for Stuttgart on Sunday. Are they taking the piss?

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:12 (nineteen years ago)

Adrian Chiles: "What do you make of Graham Poll's performance?"

Lee Dixon: "Well, it's Graham Poll, isn't it?"

Amazing chaos.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:16 (nineteen years ago)

Big Sam also took great delight in Poll's rubbishness on ITV highlights. 'He's always going on about using the latest technology to help him referee, well it didn't help him then, did it?' (or words to that effect). I never knew he was so despised.

There's a Ghanaian restaurant on Wandsworth Road if anybody wants to pile over there to watch them take Brazil's pants down.

― Pete W (peterw), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:28 (nineteen years ago)

Graham Poll = CLASSIC! Another disaster for the Premiership as its leading referee is shown to be a complete ARSE in front of 33 billion TV viewers!

Also classic = Gattuso's celebratory strangling of Lippi!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:31 (nineteen years ago)

If France beat Togo 2-0 and Korea and Switzerland draw 1-1, my spreadsheet suggests Korea win group and Swiss and French draw lots.

Is this right?

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:36 (nineteen years ago)

Also, can I be the first to say "Pollaxed"? Cheers.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:38 (nineteen years ago)

P-LOL

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:51 (nineteen years ago)

can I be the first to say "Pollaxed"?

Sadly not — every newspaper and website on the planet had that one in the headlines first thing this morning...

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:53 (nineteen years ago)

I prefer 'Poll-ocks' meself.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:54 (nineteen years ago)

That evil Poll.

― dr lulu (dr lulu), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:29 (nineteen years ago)

Poll Plot-less

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:44 (nineteen years ago)

see, i assumed he blew his whistle at the end for a foul by an australian in the box after the corner was taken but well before the ball headed goalwards (rather than doing a clive thomas). then, before the croatians could take the freekick he blew for fulltime. then viduka gave him a hug and possibly told him he'd not sent chappy off so he booked him a third time (where do the rules stand on player conduct? surely he knew he'd been booked twice so should have walked regardless of not being shown a red...)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:45 (nineteen years ago)

The tramp is still outside.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:52 (nineteen years ago)

poll finds refereeing taxing, angered that-chairman of FIFA

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:54 (nineteen years ago)

Poll Loses His Bearings

(extremely convoluted pun)

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:56 (nineteen years ago)

Exit Poll

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:57 (nineteen years ago)

Tripoll whammy

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:59 (nineteen years ago)

Poll Dark As Lights Go Out For Graham

Croats Sue Poll Hard

World Takes Poll Pot Shot As Graham Branishes Card And Says "C'mere, Rouge"

Oh no I have used my jokes budget for the whole of next season.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:01 (nineteen years ago)

Poll: I'll Get Me Croat

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:02 (nineteen years ago)

If France beat Togo 2-0 and Korea and Switzerland draw 1-1, my spreadsheet suggests Korea win group and Swiss and French draw lots.

Er, no. Korea will be out:

Fra 5pts (3-1)
Sui 5pts (3-1) (lots to decide 1st/2nd place)
Kor 5pts (4-3)
Tog 0pts (1-6)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:02 (nineteen years ago)

I might get a Switzerland tracky top.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:11 (nineteen years ago)

Michael, I said "Croats Sue Poll Hard". I await the response of your entire office.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:21 (nineteen years ago)

Poll: I'll Get Me Croat

Lock thread now.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:23 (nineteen years ago)

France win 2-1 and draw SK 0-0 = draw lots for 2nd place.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:25 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.linotype.com/2710/footbaljerseyfonts.html

― caek (caek), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

Poll Yeller

― Fraggle O Rly (Ferg), Friday, 23 June 2006 10:56 (nineteen years ago)

http://tinypic.com/15e8jdc.jpg

Look at the cards,
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah they were all yellow.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 23 June 2006 11:07 (nineteen years ago)

There's bound to be problems when FIFA put referees from thrid world countries in charge of big games. They can't handle the pressure.

I thought Poll was looking good for the final - getting 3 matches is a grebt sign that you are loved by FIFA, and lets face it, he's not going to be disqualified by virtue of England being there. But that could be his last bow. I thought he was going to send Srna off for touching him, like Codesal not sending off the two argentinians who buffted him ion 90. He got rattled then, and lost it from then on.

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 23 June 2006 11:08 (nineteen years ago)

Graham Poll as Mr Silly

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 23 June 2006 11:27 (nineteen years ago)

Did no-one mention Lineker's wee Italian cheats dig? "Not bad for a bunch of lower league players, or soon to be..."

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 23 June 2006 11:33 (nineteen years ago)

I thought it was going to be a picture, Alba.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 23 June 2006 11:36 (nineteen years ago)

Michael, I said "Croats Sue Poll Hard". I await the response of your entire office.

Could it be tenuously extended to "YellowCroats Sue Poll Hard"? Maybe not.

My entire office = one person who wouldn't get it, one person who hates Perry & Croft.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 11:51 (nineteen years ago)

Aragones has rested the entire first choice XI for the Saudi Arabia game. The audacity!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

That's class!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 12:48 (nineteen years ago)

He'll probably get a bigger bollocking from FIFA for that doing than he did for what he said about Henry.

― Pete W (peterw), Friday, 23 June 2006 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

But look at the second eleven!

Look at the strength of goalkeepers: Casillas, Canizares, Reina. We have Robinson, David James and what, Scott Carson?

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Friday, 23 June 2006 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

Who is playing today, and when?

― the pinefox (the pinefox), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

Ukraine, Tunisia, Spain, Saudi Arabia now

France are going out later.

― theantmustdance (theantmustdance), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

omg France need to win don't they, i never noticed that

― Ste (Fuzzy), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

Difficult to tell from the websteam, but have the BBC changed their score-strip font? For both clock and score? I think they have - it's better. I should complain on t'internet (to a bunch of mentalists) more often.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

ukr-tun is teh boring. i blame steve m. ukr can't be too complacent though innit...

spn 1-0 up though.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

tun down to 10 men.

crowd "botherd"

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

Oh boo! I hope Tunisia win, come on you Carthaginians!

― TS: Alan Stivell - A l'Olympia vs. Magma - Live/Hhaï (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

There's bound to be problems when FIFA put referees from thrid world countries in charge of big games. They can't handle the pressure.

WTF?? third world cups referees are just as bad as anywhere in the world and the matches may have even more pressure(have you seen the crowds taking over the stadiums over a match?)

― Chupa-Cabras (vicc13), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

Chupa, I think Dave B was making a joke re: Graham Poll.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

Haha, several of my friends are at the Spain v Saudi game and get to see none of the top players. But they do get Jose Antonio Reyes. Arf.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

"13 mins: Saudi Arabia are forced into their first change, as Nawaf Al Temyat comes on for the injured Khaled Aziz who appears to have done his hamstring no good at all with his attempted backheel.

"He's actually pulled a hamstring trying a backheel that you wouldn't even see a Brazilian try in his own defence. But you shouldn't laugh."
Chris Waddle, BBC Five Live Sports Extra "

Why shouldn't you? That's hilarious.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

I just saw a bit of the half-time chat.

O'Neill: good

but Stubbsy: not good, these days

I don't suppose anyone wants to watch the fall of France with me?

― the pinefox (the pinefox), Friday, 23 June 2006 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

Chupa! You're back!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 23 June 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

I would like to watch the (non-)fall of France with you, Pinefox (could it be like 31/5/02 and Senegal?) but I have a bit too much to do at home. We have new floors! Not additional storeys, you understand.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

We brought him back for Hollywood Squares on the other thread, Ned.

― A Study In Redd Scharlach (Ken L), Friday, 23 June 2006 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

Mike, you sound optimistic!

About France, I mean.

And even about the floors, come to that. Possibly.

Floors pay the rent, and Jones lays his share.

― the pinefox (the pinefox), Friday, 23 June 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

So, um, yay Ukraine?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

Yay Spain.
They sat back a bit in the 2nd half though. Bit of a snoozer.

― David Orton (scarlet), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:12 (nineteen years ago)

Nah, fuck 'em, Blokhin's a racist blokhhead (xpost) Mind you so's Aragones

― TS: Alan Stivell - A l'Olympia vs. Magma - Live/Hhaï (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

Tonight, then. Switzerland-Korea or France-Togo?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

What does the question mean?

― the pinefox (the pinefox), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

Which of these pairs of nations should merge, I presume. Or be linked by a big tunnel.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

Yesterday's Daily Star headline deserves special kudos: "LET'S THUMP ECCY"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:53 (nineteen years ago)

I'm starting with France-Togo, that's potentially the most dramatic. Joy of digital TV being I can flick between the two if one gets dull.

― Half loaf, half pompadour (noodle vague), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Or as they would have said on the Glasgow club scene in the 90s:

"Let's Gub Some Eccies"

― TS: Alan Stivell - A l'Olympia vs. Magma - Live/Hhaï (Dada), Friday, 23 June 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

(i.e. which game to be watching - Switzerland and Korea's goal-scramble, or Togo's thrilling rearguard action?)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 16:06 (nineteen years ago)

I'm starting with France-Togo, that's potentially the most dramatic. Joy of digital TV being I can flick between the two if one gets dull.

You mean....ESPN and ESPN2?

I'll be watching the Togo-France game, because (1) one the students in my program just got back from a 2 yr stint there in the peace corps and (2) striking a blow against former blah blah blah.

Though, I'm curious to see how S Korea makes out. I've got a soft spot for them.

― gbx (skowly), Friday, 23 June 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

Marcel Desailly has a lovely smile, doesn't he?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 17:40 (nineteen years ago)

Who did Martin O'Neill just call the most overrated player on the planet?

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Friday, 23 June 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

Peter Eastoe. Bit harsh.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 23 June 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

The French have got the best national anthem, I'll give them that.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Friday, 23 June 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

One of the Korean subs was saluting during the anthems.

I had no idea Johann Vogel was captaining Switzerland. I mainly remember him for his appearances in international tournaments that basically involved him running about a lot and looking rather useful, but then kicking someone and getting booked, or sent off, occasionally.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

Senderos scores! 1-0 Switzerland - Senderos bullet header from a free-kick, nuts Korean player on the way down and busts his forehead open. Blood runs down face as he celebrates. Marvellous.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

Choi-Jin Chul, the Korean lad who got caught on the way down is being fitted with a hairnet/face-mask type thing to hold the wadding over his cut... looks a bit awkward.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 18:27 (nineteen years ago)

Who did Martin O'Neill just call the most overrated player on the planet?

ibrahimovic?

The French have got the best national anthem, I'll give them that.

but, the russians have got Go West?

― duff (duff), Friday, 23 June 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

Switzerland-Korea is looking really evenly matched at present - main Swiss threat is Yakin's set-pieces, which are looking a bit deadly - then again, the Swiss defence is looking severely collywobbled - there was an amazing flurry of shots and corners from the Koreans towards the end of the half, and then Frei missed a clear free header right at the death. Looking really open, quite good fun at the moment.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 18:51 (nineteen years ago)

(have just switched over for summaries of France-Togo. Tonight, the part of Raymond Dommenech is being played by Paul O'Grady)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

ESPN's halftime reports are freakin useless - they haven't even shown the bloody forehead!! this is what i get for missing the first half... never again! (haha?)

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

I had this problem the other day- you figure if you missed the first half and some goals were scored, you will get to see those goals during the halftime show- but if you are watching ESPN, you figured wrong.

― A Study In Redd Scharlach (Ken L), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:03 (nineteen years ago)

ESPN is too concerned with the US loss + selling us addidaaaas and Taco Bell crunchwrap supremes/more meals than necessary to be bother showing highlights.

they'll show some at the end. and they're always the magic of bbc/fifa/cbbc website footage later. but I WANTED IT NOW.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:09 (nineteen years ago)

France breakthrough at last, from Viera. Ribery is terrible.

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

NEW REFFING CONTROVERSY - Swiss score a second despite the linesman flagging a fairly clear offside! Korea surround the ref, the linesman withdraws his decision, Advocaat is FURIOUS on the touchline... this group may well have been decided.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:36 (nineteen years ago)

WTF WTF WTF

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:37 (nineteen years ago)

Ribery could be scarred by his performance.

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

sorry

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

commentator: "you gotta play to the whistle"
well, okay, but STILL
xpost to, uh, me

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

The referee is now handing out cards like it's Christmas, yellows for a whole bunch o' players. It's calmed down now - to be fair, the Korean finishing hasn't been great in any case, they've got no change out of the Swiss centre-backs this half.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

Incidentally, if it stays this way, Switzerland will be the only team to have gone through the group stages without conceding.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:45 (nineteen years ago)

Hop schwizz!!

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

And it stays that way - I feel for the Koreans, cos their work-rate was fantastic, but they just couldn't find a way through.

The Beeb has just pointed out that the second goal WASN'T offside - the swiss pass was a sideways one, but it hit a Korean defender to put the (admittedly offside) striker through, so it's not offside, which is why the ref over-ruled the linesman. Not that that'll be calming the Koreans any.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:56 (nineteen years ago)

FIFA has got a real problem with the officiating. It's just gotten ridiculous.

the swiss pass was a sideways one, but it hit a Korean defender to put the (admittedly offside) striker through, so it's not offside, which is why the ref over-ruled the linesman.

My understanding of the rule is that the defender must play the ball. The ball can't just hit the player.

― Super Cub (Debito), Friday, 23 June 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, it's a tough one - the flag did go up and then down again, plus no whistle. damn, were the koreans PISSED OFF - i felt it from here - it made ME pissed off. they pressed on, which was good to see though. alas, no luck.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:01 (nineteen years ago)

mmmmm... crunchwrap supremes...

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

I saw the swiss in hannover today, and their shirts had slogans in french, german and italian. What do they sing in the ground?

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

Romansch?

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:24 (nineteen years ago)

So, assuming England can beat Ecuador and provided that Portugal defeat Holland, we could have round three of the Eriksson vs. Scolari big international rumbles on July 1st.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:26 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sure the entire nation of Italy is laughing at the Koreans right now, though.

I have paid NO ATTENTION WHATSOEVER to the Swiss and suddenly it looks like they might conceivably make the quarters.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:27 (nineteen years ago)

Speaking of Sven vs Scolari, did anyone see Martin O'Neill get his rant underway yesterday? It was just after the Big Phil interview, and he practically accused the FA of installing McClaren as a puppet leader under which they could build their own entire coaching structure. Hansen and Lineker cut him off but still, very interesting.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

The winners of the swiss-ukraine play the winners of italy-aussies for a place in the semis. Moggi's work is done.

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:41 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sure the entire nation of Italy is laughing at the Koreans right now, though.

i recall a friend of mine almost getting beaten up, seriously, by italian fans in an italian cafe (in vancouver) last world cup. they didn't mind us cheering korea, but they did mind her rubbing it in their faces. she's good at the obnoxious stuff, that one.

― rrrobyn (rrrobyn), Friday, 23 June 2006 20:44 (nineteen years ago)

My understanding is that if the ball changes direction, as opposed to simply being deflected, then it counts as intervention. It's the same with own goals - a deflection is credited with an attacker, but a deflection that totally chnages thr trajectory is made an own-goal.

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 23 June 2006 21:16 (nineteen years ago)

I doubt that the Portuguese will beat the Dutch.

I thought Ribery was alright, apart from the shooting bit. I think he may be the French Beardsley.

France/Spain should be... tasty.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 23 June 2006 22:52 (nineteen years ago)

goodbye korea:( i will miss being the reds...

― jergins (jergins), Saturday, 24 June 2006 01:16 (nineteen years ago)

okay, so, elimination games: 15 minutes of sudden death and then a shootout?

― jergins (jergins), Saturday, 24 June 2006 01:17 (nineteen years ago)

Extra time is two halves of fifteen minutes - I can't remember if it's 'Silver goal' (i.e. if a goal is scored then the other side have til the end of that half of extra time to equalise) or just standard extra time, whereby they just play both halves and if either side's in front at the end of that time, they win. If there's no result after extra time, though, then it's penalties.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 24 June 2006 01:41 (nineteen years ago)

I'm thinking a new thread would be good, now that we're out of the groups -- list the next eight matches in the first post or something.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 24 June 2006 01:42 (nineteen years ago)

and could somebody post the rankings of 17-32? i can't seem to find it.

― jergins (jergins), Saturday, 24 June 2006 05:33 (nineteen years ago)

and could somebody post the rankings of 17-32? i can't seem to find it

Eh? Do you mean rankings for the 16 teams that have been knocked out? It doesn't work like that - they don't get a ranking, they just fly home.

Anyhoo, new thread with fixture list for Ned:
World Cup Germany 2006 - Thread Drei

― Teh HoBBercraft (the pirate king), Saturday, 24 June 2006 07:33 (nineteen years ago)

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World Cup Germany 2006 - thread two