World Cup Last 16 Throwdown! (And Other Throwdowns If You Must)

It's anyones. I reckon Germany will reach the final.

Mexico and the US -- heh heh heh. Brilliant match-up, I predict a commanding Mexican victory.

I predict a penalty shoot out for Brazil vs. Belgium.

It would be wonderful if Mexico beat USA, it really would. I would also like to see Japan advance. And I'm not even much of a fan of the game. I was a bit teary eyed last night when the Hurricanes lost.

grrr i have not seen a SINGLE MATCH HURRAH yet i am not included in the hataz

US-Mexico is never a rout, Ned, except when the Mexicans send their B side to play a friendly, like at the Meadowlands last year. But I think it'll be 2-1 to Mexico, even if Agoos doesn't play-- Aguirre is one of the best managers in the tournament, and his player selection is flawless.

yer, and i have actually half-watched some matches. pretty sure i will "see" tomorrow's. i mistakenly go along with it in the idea that "it's a social get together innit". unfortunately, people seem to get irritated when i try to engage them in conversation.... DURING A MATCH I MEAN hur hur.

I am tipsy now from drinking in pub while others gawped at crap match. tho red card was /very/ exciting. by very exciting, i mean i glanced at screen.

haha my cousin mike trying to get sympathy last night re his signif othah's anti-footballing ways asked sistrah becky and i a q which contained the phrase "asking irrelevant questions during the match itself" and we both said in spooky telepathic unisonb "we don't understand the meaning of the phrase 'irrelevant questions' in this context" (actually we didn't quite use the same words but the meaning overlap was still hilarious and scary)

You are both aliens like on Roswell, obv.

*points at nicole and makes frightening shrieky noise w/o moving lips*
*dido supplies top soundtrack*

Germany
England
Sweden
Spain
Mexico
Brazil
Turkey
Italy

Japan can beat Turkey I think. (I also hope).

Come on the Danes!

A lot of potentially great games here despite the missing Argentina, France and Portugal.

what is all this "throwdown" malarkey? it just means "FITE" doesn't it, come on admit it!

viva japan! japanese attitude to master almost everything after few years of obsessively passionate training will pay! not in this world cup, maybe, but they're going to be big!

Italy vs. S Korea should be a cracking game. Italy generally improve as tournaments progress, but I still think Korea could win.

Brazil should beat Belgium but I think (hope) it will be close.

Yeah! I definetely want Japan to beat Turkey.

I watched the korea portugal game this morning in halls of residence where they have a TV room. It was full of overexcited koreans. It was a great atmosphere. I'm sorry for portugal but yo're asking to be eliminated if you lose to USA.

Italy should beat them but korea are playing at home (I think) so it will be difficult for the italians.

''Come on the Danes!''

Do you wanna FITE, man!

The Turks have some quality players, especially Yildiray Bastürk (Sükër always seems to disappoint somehow on the big stage). They work hard for each other.

Unfortunately they are also extremely temperamental and may struggle to keep it cool in what will be a super-charged, hostile atmosphere (like Portugal today).

After their shock defeat to North Korea in 1966 the Italians reportedly still refer to any disastrous performance as 'another Korea'. This is a great fixture. Guess who Korea lost to in the quarter final? Portugal. This World Cup just gets better and better and better.

You Americans really are rubbish at following football, aren't you. Even when you take an interest in it, you want the other side to win.

I have developed a strange conviction that Mexico will win the World Cup though. If I don't put a bet on now I could be kicking myself.

Basturk goes to ground too easily for my liking. To put it another way, he's a diving little shit.

Driving home last night I counted more Mexican flags than Lakers flags flying from car antennas! That's significant, because the Lakers just won a third championship recently, and they are probably the most popular team (of any sport) in my area.

US-Mexico is never a rout, Ned

Granted, but you just look at the respective most-recent performances -- Mexico holding Italy down almost to the very end, while the US was taken out within the opening minutes by an already eliminated Poland -- and to me it's all clear.

Definitely hoping for Japan and Korea winning their matches, oh yes. And Ireland as well.

Probably a good time for me to point this out then... have you ever wondered why these two are never seen in the same room together?

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/es/fi/20020421/i/3087 917082.jpg

http://www.theforce.net/timetales/tt1-8/JAR-JAR.JPG

A nuisance about the USA sneaking through, but anyway England will win it.

Quarter finalists : Germany, England, Senegal, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey and Italy.

You know I'm right.

That's if Brazil make it to the quarter finals. They won't make it to the semi's that's for sure.

What do we think of doing a Sven?

You first. In my case, I would look like Peter Gabriel circa 1974.

http://www.fhu.com/roymnewpic.jpg

Brazil will win it all.

The United States will win it. They were just very unlucky in their last match with many of their shots bouncing off the pole!

Hakan Sas is looking a bit useful, as is Emre, though I think he may be suspended for the Japan game. So, yes, Turkey to beat Japan, but it will be close. I am nervous about tomorrow, very nervous.

Mexico will piss on the States if they play anything like the way they've played in the first stage, look wghat Portugal did to them with a similar (but in this topurnament, inferior) style of play.

Germany to win by golden goal, bastards.

Senegal v Sweden will end 4-3, to who, I know not.

Ireland will beat Spain on penalties

Brazil will beat Belgium, narrowly whereas Italy will hit form and find that South Korea have shot their bolt too early.

bouncing off the pole!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH.

Sorry Ned!

Mexico will piss on the States if they play anything like the way they've played in the first stage, look wghat Portugal did to them with a similar (but in this topurnament, inferior) style of play.

The first stage? You mean, a win over Portugal (to whom you seem to think the US lost), a draw with Korea (the only points any team has taken from Korea Fighting! so far), and a loss to Poland that saw the US play good attacking football against a team that knows how to defend a lead, after conceding two quick goals (and having one perfectly good one disallowed) in the first five minutes? Did you even watch the group matches? I really don't think it's possible for anyone to have seen more Mexico matches than I have, seeing as every single one of them is shown live on television here, and I've seen the US play them plenty of times, and win. Were this at Azteca, yeah, Mexico would win, but then again, they would beat any team in the world at that smoggy, high-altitute hellhole. But as long as Jeff Agoos doesn't get within fifty yards of the pitch, the US will do just fine against the Mexicans.

I hope Paraguay beat Germany, and think they might, though I won't be surprised if Germany get through. I am optimistic about England beating Denmark, though I also fear a penalty shootout. I hope Senegal beat Sweden, though there's nothing much between them. I'll support Ireland against Spain, but short of determined defence, some luck and penalties I don't see Ireland winning. Mexico will outclass the USA in a very spirited encounter. I'd love Belgium to get a freak win over Brazil, since England (if they win) will face the winner of this, but I can't see it. Japan-Turkey is very hard to call. Turkey looked excellent against Brazil, but Japan have been good and have home advantage. I don't know. Italy should outclass South Korea, but again there is the home advantage, and I thought Portugal would beat them. Note that although my fantasy side is doing well, I have not been tipping results well.

Ireland will beat Spain on penalties

Good man Chris! I am primed for Sunday, physically and mentally and obviously I'm not even playing. (not physically primed at all obv.)

But as long as Jeff Agoos doesn't get within fifty yards of the pitch

Yes, but this is the problem. ;-) You are right that us beating Mexico has happened with (to them) depressing regularity as of late...*ponders a bit more*...nah, I really think it will be Mexico and that it will be less of a closely-fought match than expected, though the goal total might not reflect it. Call it a hunch.

Predictions: Germany to beta paraguay in a tight encounter (could well go to penalties).

England to just beat the danish but it could go to penalties. The argument that they will play in cooler conditions instead of in the heat against senegal is not v.credible since cooler conditions will be to denmark's liking as well.

Sweden will beat the inexperienced senegalese team. The heat could play a part though.

Spain will beat ireland but spain could underestimate the irish, which could play in their favour.

Mexico to beat USA but i don't care. Japan will win but again i don't care. Italy will beat korea.

I'll make some predictions, instead of trying to prop up my sorry American side.

Germany 3:1 Paraguay Denmark 1:0 England Sweden 2:0 Senegal Spain 3:2 Ireland Mexico 1:1 USA (somebody wins on pens) Brazil 4:2 Belgium Japan 2:1 Turkey South Korea 1:1 Italy (Italy on pens)

If Mexico wins the world cup it will be absolute insanity around here. I'm rooting for them and the Koreans. No-one around here gives a shit about the Americans but that Agoos guy is REALLY terrible, and he looks like a total creep. Does he have pictures of the coach fucking a donkey or something? I'm not surprised they lost to Poland. Why didn't Beasley start the game?

What do we think of doing a Sven?

I would, see, but....*light flashes on*....others would say I already am.

As for the contenders:

***Germany will roll over Paraguay, as their play seems more disciplined.

***As my heart is bleeding St. George's blood, England will win over Denmark (though probably not by a large lead---again).

***USA will probably win over Mexico.

***Spain will win over Eire.

[I suspect I'd feel less confident about that if I were actually betting money.]

How important are the individual venues? Suwon (Spain v Ireland, Sunday) has played host to the three most bonkers games so far: Por 2- 3 USA, Sen 3-3 Uru, Crc 2-5 Brz, whereas the southernmost stadia (Kobe, Osaka, Oita), erm, haven't seen very many goals. And it's been hot.

Not entirely sure where I'm going with this...

Paraguay were awful - hard to believe they steamed in three goals late on vs Slovenia in order to do *that* in the knockout stage. South Africa would've given it more of a go (but possibly would also have lost more heavily).

Benjamin: what's the coverage been like in the mainstream US media? Practically every American I know is a football (soccer) fan, but I realise this is far from the norm. This is a terrific achievement by the US, I do hope they're getting some props from the broadsheets. (If they beat Mexico and Germany, surely we're talking [small box on] front-page stuff?).

strangely the germany (1) paraguay (0) match reminded me of england nigeria, and yet the commentators were going, "this is god awful" whereas england got away with it... only an hour to go til the england match, time to go and buy lots of breakfast foods for frying, numnum.

3-0 at half-time! Brazil must be quaking in their boots! Or maybe not - we've not passed well at times, but every time we've attacked we've looked dangerous. Denmark do not look much good, so I'm very confident now.

Don't know about what Ben's getting -- English-language papers out here are noting the progress in the sports sections with some front page stuff, but that's about it. Spanish-language media, unsurprisingly, is all over this.

3-0...so I'm guessing England now hopes for the Belgian performance of their lives, only for them to mysteriously lose form after said match? ;-)

Oh I dunno, England look very solid, they could take on Brazil without an inferiority complex. Defensively they should be able to stop the Brazilian attack and offensively Owen will have his changes against the overrated Lucio and some other guy who is also slow.

Anyway, the game went perfectly for England, going one up so early against a counter-attacking team just doesn't get any better. Suddenly the Danes didn't look so good, basically they miss an idea- man in midfield.

3-0 up at half-time and coasting in the knock-out stage of the World Cup is definitely a feeling I could get used to. Shame England took the foot of the pedal in the second half but 'solid' is a good description, 'confident' another. Five days rest and bring on Belgium or Brazil.

BRING ON BRAZIL SAY I!!!

Comfortable win for England again.
So it's Sweden, Argentina, Nigeria and Denmark played with no defeats and only a single goal conceeded (the best tally of all the teams remaining), and hopefully Brazil will beat Belgium (not a foregone conclusion, but hopefully the Belgians will have an off day) so it'll be England vs Brazil on Friday. Fantastic! And England can (and should) win it.
I said before the tournament that it'll be a Spain v England final and, amazingly, it seems to be falling that way.
Spain will demolish Ireland tomorrow. Just as well, I don't like Mick McCarthy and I'm sick of seeing him on my TV, with his no-nonsense Yorkshire bullishness. with Roy Keane ireland May have had a slim chance, but Spain are on absoloutely top form. They can tear through anyone. Even England.

I really, really want USA to beat Mexico (nothing against Mexico), but it'll be difficult.
Japan vs Turkey is going to be close, and Italy are dead lucky to even be in this round. But maybe the two home nation's momentum will finally die away here. I hope not though.

Bring on the best.

What the hell happened to the US team against Poland? The team could have used a taser up the butt (or something). They couldn't have done any worse, if each player was jacked up to an IV. One of the announcers said Poland had "heart". If passion was all you needed to win, then the US team was definitely lacking it.

*sigh*

Off to bleed for Eng-er-land (the kickoff is in one minute....)

I'm very confident of Mexico beating the US - I think Mexico have looked about as good as anyone in this so far. And I think dismissing Italy is unwise. They are notoriously slow starters but often pick up form as the tournament continues, and I don't think it's wise to take lightly any team with players of the quality and experience of Nesta, Maldini, Totti and Vieri. They are likely to be playing Spain next Saturday morning, and I expect the winner to make the final. Same as I expect the other finalist to come from the Brazil/England section of the draw. Still, I can just about imagine a final between, for example, Mexico and Turkey. I'm hoping for England-Italy, though.

I hope england play spain. That would increase our chances. Italy is the main threat.

To continue Michael's train of thought:

The BBC's man in Japan said that yesterday's England-Denmark match was played in typical Eiropean conditions of wind and rain. I meant European, but I'm leaving that in as a lucky mascot for Ireland- Spain. But it will be much warmer in Ulsan (?)

I've always liked Belgium.

Shizuoka, not Ulsan.

>So it's Sweden, Argentina, Nigeria and Denmark played with no >defeats and only a single goal conceeded (the best tally of all the >teams remaining),

Not so....Germany have won 3 games, conceded 1 goal and scored 12. England have won 2, conceded 1 and scored 5.

Im starting to think England will win the fucking thing. Oh dear god! NO!

Drama in the 90th minute, Spaniard Hiero in effect shirtlifts Quinn from a corner - Hiero sent off ! Penalty to the Lucky Irish ! - step up Robbie Keane - Scores !

NOW XTra Time - 30 Minutes - the Irish have 11 men against the Spanish - don't forgot it's GOLDEN GOAL time - one strike and it's over.

Game ON.

in all the drama - Hierro not sent off just yellow card !

2:59pm BST. Anyone else a nervous wreck at this point?

I thought Spain looked like the WC winners for 70 minutes. Raul, Mendieta subbed - who's gonna take the kicks? Eng v Spa, Euro96: Spain had a couple of goals disallowed that day (but unfairly on that occasion) and lost on pens...

the Spanish Soccer Armada continues as the Irish luck runs out in Penalty shout out drama !

Fuck, I jinxed that obviously. Morientes was subbed.

Three misses in a row though - jeez...

I expect Spain to win the tournament now.

Matty Holland was unlucky to hit the woodwork from his pen ! If only ...

Poor bastards... still, when you play penalties as badly as that, you deserve to go out.

Italy vs Spain then, with any luck, in a choke special.

balls, that was close, a great game though, Jonnie, Jack and I were screaming at the telly by the end, but the penalties eemed like suc an anti-climax, especially with three missed, poor poor Matty. But most of all poor poor Breenie, he's become a cult hero amongst some of us, he typifies the Irish team I think, and has certainly earned himself a good new contract in the Premiership, and also will always be known now as "Fucking Breenie".

all together now.....

we all dream of a team of Gary Breens, a team of Gary Breens, a team of Gary breens.

and another rant about Bruce Arena too, when describing one of his players the other day in an interview, the rotten bastard was heard to say "yes, he produced some excellent plays" WHAT THE FUCK????? Expel this man from the game now!!!! he obviously knows fuck all about it.

Benjamin: what's the coverage been like in the mainstream US media?

Well, there are two sets of media, especially in NYC: the English and the Spanish. The Spanish language newspapers television and radio stations are going apeshit about US-Mexico, but it's a bit different in the English press. There has a good deal of print in the east coast papers. The US-Portugal game made the first page of the NY Times, in fact, and results are featured on the sports-unfriendly national television newscasts. And there's a lot of hype in the papers and on television for the Mexico game-- were the US somehow to win, it might cement respect for not only the team, but the sport itself, in the American press.

What's more remarkable to me, actually, is that more people seem enthusiastic, and there is more press attention, about this iteration of the World Cup than in 1994, which was PLAYED here and all.

But anyhow, that's from a New York perspective. We're notorious for being out of sync with the rest of the country.

No-one seems to have mentioned Sweden-Senegal yet, which was an excellent match after Camara's equaliser; in the last 20 minutes of normal time and throughout extra time, it was end-to-end stuff.

I still haven't been that impressed with England yet, which I suspect is a good thing - getting to the quarters with a handful of players still not quite gelling suggest we're about to get really good. Or not. The opening five minutes vs Denmark were manna from heaven: a corner needlessly conceded leads both to Sorensen chucking the ball over the line to gift us the lead, and Helveg colliding with the post under Ferdinand's challenge to end his involvement in the game. Comedy. All tension evaporates.

Come on Belgium...

As we say: Iker Casillas, viva la madre que te pario! At last the reincarnation of Zamora has been found. :)

For about 60 minutes Spain played the best footie I've seen this tournament (alongside Mexico), what delicacy and elegance. Shit, the best football I've seen Spain play since that Denmark game in '86. In retrospect it was kinda obvious they couldn't keep that level of play up for 90 minutes, but damn it should have been 3-0 by half-time. Bit of bad luck, too early changes of Raul & Morientes spelled trouble esp. after that diving bastard got awarded a penalty.

(1)

After that the old maladies again and some nerve-wracking extra time. Strange thing with the atrocious penalty shoot-out record we had (no win since 1984) I was certain we would win because of "sure goals" by Hierro/Baraja/Mendieta. And of course extra help of my girlfriend who shouted MISS! during the first Ireland shot. Shjeet that actually worked. If only they could keep up that intensity of the first half with just a pinch of German cynicism when they're ahead we could of course win this damn thing. Isn't going to happen, but tomorrow I'm of to Spain to see the rest of the tournament. Greetings.

(2)

The diving bastard deserves about ten more penalties to make up for having the fucking legs kicked off him all season in the premiership and in every world cup match. And if Spanish defenders want to stick their legs out then they're going to get punished aren't they.

Spain's defence is fantastic, really excellent but I thought our offside trap was very good. I was expecting it to fail eventually but it didn't. I think to be fair Spain deserved a 1-0 lead by half time but having said that 2-0 or 3-0 would have been very harsh.

All this talk of Puyol being fantastic is complete bullshit aswell, the evil twins Harte and Kilbane are hardly difficult to contain and he looked awfully precious as soon as WORLD CLASS STRIKER DAVID CONNOLY came on. Jesus, Puyol indeed.

I think a draw was a fair result and Spain won the shoot out so good luck to them. Have to say this is the first year when one could honestly take us seriously and believe we had a chance against anyone. I'm really gutted. Totally and utterly, more than I thought I would be. I guess if we'd lost 1-0 that would have been that, you've given up all hope on 89 minutes and then you get sucked back in, that's the best/worst thing about football. The moment where we scored is something I'll remember forever I suppose and it's why you watch football.

I was surprised Holland missed and feel especially sorry for him. I knew Kilbane would miss and as for David Connoly, I felt sorry he had to take a peno in the first place.

Damien Duff is some player though, who's going to buy him? Diving or not.

Congrats Omar, part of me wants your boys to go on and do it so I can wheel out the beaten by the champs line : ) I feel both sorrow and hatred towards Ian Harte though, it may never subside.

I was surprised Holland missed

Really? With a name like that. :)

Spain were nothing special in my opinion. Ireland should have wrapped things up in the first period of extra time when they appeared to be all over Spain. Missing four penalties is ridiculous though.

USA playing a very clever match vs Mexico at the moment - conceding an enormous amount of possession, but hassling the Mexicans to such a degree if they so much as edge into the US half that they can't create anything. (Someone else can make a joke about border controls here). Good goal by (Joe) McBride, but Prof. Heinz Wolff should've wrapped it up.

And no Agoos, which must be a blessed relief to a couple of board regulars. Instead, we have a Crystal Palace player out there - hurrah!

USA have kicked the ball between the poles! 1-0.

I hope Omar has access to digital TV, because the World Cup is *not on* Spanish telly, except games involving Spain. So from that point of view, it's a good job Spain won. I think a sprinkling of qaurter and semi final matches are on too, and the final. At least the commentators won't be able to refer to the Irish as British and (gulp) English any more.

Things are hotting up in the FIFA Golden Bloke award, Mick McCarthy was doing very well until they got knocked out, Guus Hiddink another favourite, but defeat against Italy would effectively scupper his chances. Who else has been a good bloke so far?

First clean sheet for the US in the WC finals since Bel Horizonte in 1950? A bit lucky with Berhalter's flailing arm (and he'd been booked, so it may've been 1-1 and 10 v 11 - but then again, Friedl would probably have saved the pen), but Mexico were a bit rubbish (were they any good against Ecuador? I feel they've been overrated a bit - the Croatia game was dire, but they were excellent against Italy).

Wonderful stuff - I particularly enjoy Cobi Jones' role in these games: introduced with 15 mins left to absorb all the opposition's frustration. I hope he's got a big bottle of Nurofen. Now for Germany. I hope the US don't turn up two years late for that one! Ho-ho!

Up yours, Mexico.

Wor Jackie Charlton blames Ireland's penalty takers, for whom he has no sympathy. Wor Mick McCarthy says Ireland have done 'irreparable damage' to Spain. Are they right? Has this comment done irreparable damage to McCarthy's Golden Bloke challenge?

Omar lives in the Netherlands, not Spain, yes?

Michael Jones third from last post upthread was spot on in every respect. I do hope he's cheering on Belgium for the right reasons tho' ;-)

"A bit lucky with Berhalter's flailing arm"

Pretty sure it was McBride... so he would've just had the yellow, I'm guessing. And Friedel would have stopped the penalty, yes. But we've been lucky all tournament (exhibit a: Korea's goal at Portugal's expense), so why stop now?

Ben: oh yes, you're right - it was FabMacca. I was paying too much attention to what Joe Royle was saying on the BBC; I trust Big Joe implicitly. Berhalter almost conceded a pen five minutes earlier when he got his booking - fortunately for him the ball was still dead (Mexico in the process of taking a corner).

Will that pressing operation work against the Germans? The only USA game I'd seen live prior to this WC (and since '98) was that 4-2 defeat vs Germany in a friendly in March. It was a bit of a battering, I have to say.

Oh, and before we lay the corpse of Ireland's brave challenge to rest - does anyone else find the switching of camera angles during penalty shoot-outs unbearable? I think the three kicks (two Irish, one Spanish) which were shown from the dynamic cherry-picker behind the goal were all missed. Pens shown from directly behind the taker are even worse.

I think in France '98 there was a craze for showing corners and their immediate aftermath from a point ten yards from the corner flag, which was also a rubbish directorial decision.

Oh yeah - while I'm on this TV rant, is the lousy picture quality we're experiencing in the UK (balls in flight have a stop-motion appearance) down to NTSC-PAL conversion, or some nefarious digitisation? I'm noticing a lot of digital-type glitches during live transmission (which disappear when the highlights are shown - e.g. build-up to USA's 2nd vs Portugal). While I'm at it, I bet widescreen viewers are getting to see long-shots actually hit the net, rather than disappear past the post for a split-second into unknown territory.

I expect a very sound loss, but the most recent non-friendly the US and Germany played was a 2-0 win against pretty much first choice players in the moribund Confederations Cup way back in '99. Before that, of course, was France 98, when we all hoped the US would tunnel out of the bath in locker room a la "Escape to Victory."

That Germany game was an experimental US lineup-- Arena wanted to see if a small, fast side could play around a much bigger team. (A: "No.") But Mathis played a great game that day-- two goals and Bayern Munich were asking for a transfer valuation. I hope to see what he can do on a week's rest.

My throwdown today concerns the very troubling fact that for a SIGNIFICANT PERIOD yesterday afternoon there was sport on all 5 terrestrial channels and while yes I should have done something else e.g. read a book, have a bath, do something edifying, I wanted to watch the fucking telly but could I? OH NO. Also despite the fact that the football was on about 12 channels simulateneously (OK only 2) the BBC saw fit to postpone the Stenders omnibus by 25 minutes thereby ruining my plans to go to see Spider Man afterwards. Why did the BBC not just show Stenders ON TIME? Anyone who wanted to watch the football could've just SWITCHED OVER to ITV and I don't care if their coverage is allegedly worse, it is still the same effing match. Sheesh. It made me very cross indeed.

emma do you like videos

Spanish telly yesterday showed alarmingly regular shots of manager Camacho's wife sitting in the stands. OK, she is the luckiest woman in Spain, but even so. It's not as if she was going mental or anything. I think they were trying to cater to the female viewers.

Of course they couldn't do this with Sven, they'd need hundreds of cameras and there'd never be any time for any on-field action.

But Emma, very bad things would have happened had BBC dumped coverage and said 'watch it on ITV':

1) The Irish diaspora would have found proof positive that the British Boradcasting Corporation were nothing but a bunch of London based imperialists who cared more for a cockernee drudge fest than the real drama taking place. It could have terminally derailed the peace process.

2) The BBC's public service remit would be irreperably damaged, as simultaneous broadcast of football matches is the one true time where the public vote with their remote controls, and show themselves to not really like adverts of commerical TV at all. It justifies the licence fee and keeps the barbarians at the gate.

3) I would have kicked my TV in at being forced to listen to Peter Drury.

All pretty damn apocolyptic, I'm sure you'll agree.

Why did the BBC not just show Stenders ON TIME? Anyone who wanted to watch the football could've just SWITCHED OVER to ITV and I don't care if their coverage is allegedly worse, it is still the same effing match.

Yes, that's a likely scenario Emma. Gary Lineker: "Well, we're heading into the second period of extra time here, but I'm afraid we've over-run our Sunday afternoon slot, so please stay with us on Radio 5 Live".

Is there possibly more soap on the terrestrial channels than sport? I'm not sure - but I imagine it's pretty close, even taking into account something like Grandstand.

Well, Benjamin's faith is rewarded -- I have to admit it was a damn sight better than mine on the matter! ;-) Ah, the joy of no Agoos. Quarterfinals against Germany, hm...

Our video is broken, there is a Craig David karaoke video jammed in it.

I think the real point is why the hell does the football have to be on 2 sides at once? I might be prepared to ATTEMPT to understand this if it were an England game but it wasn't, it was Ireland! (And Spain).

i failed to see the stenders omnibus, so i missed the big friday night ep AGAIN. what happened?

B-B-But everyone luvs to see the Oirish, as we all become plasticine paddies. Everyone's second team, boys in green, David O'Leary sticking it in, lotsa Guiness, dancing on the streets of Kilburn etc.

It is also the time to see that the BBC Rulz, and ITV is shit. And more power to their elbow.

I am vaguely sympathetic to Emma here (what with living in the same house I could possibly get killed if not) but the simulcasting on the BBC and ITV of an Ireland(!) game was shocking. I don't think it is even justified for an England game - especially when all the other sides are showing sport (what sport was on Channel 5?).

There are more hours of soap on TV than sport in a usual week of the year on terrestrial TV but during the World CUp obviously things get a bit skewed. They should maybe have a Soap Cup event to redress this balance showing five hours of Eastenders and Corra a day.

And whilst this may be the most unpredicatable World Cup evah - none of it can be as unpredictable as watching the shock sight of Les Battersby headbanging to the Ace Of Spades last night.

Is the word "oirish" meant to teasing, offensive, humorous, or affectionate?

Mexico were a disgrace today. I can't understand teams who get this far then decide they can't be arsed. They had a real chance of making a semi-final and yet...nothing. They were like this in 1998, and 1994. What is it with them? The same with Paraguay - what gives? Why not bother? Denmark still tried and worked to claw back a three goal deficit, but Mexico just retreated into some horribly cynical fouling. Sheesh.

Both sides at once? As 'Nathan' says, with the BBC it's a public service thing, with ITV it's a commercial decision (they would be utterly routed in the ratings if they failed to show a sporting event of such great national interest - very bad for advertising; they do tend to get stuffed anyway when the Beeb show it...).

I don't think Eng v Arg in France '98 was on the BBC; I only recall the Brian Moore commentary, and I certainly wouldn't have chosen to watch it on ITV if there was an alternative. The two rivals seem to have jumped into simultaneous transmission a round early this time. I watched most of Euro96 on ITV because I got a better picture on that channel.

Please bear in mind that my soapless trauma was already there as I missed the Hollyoaks omnibus as it was shifted to some ungodly hour (i.e. 8:30) due to the fucking cricket.

Alan: what happened WAS: Kat decided that in order to get Trevor good & proper they needed witnesses to his evil woman beating so she told him to come round if he wanted to know where his sprog REALLY was, then he attacked her but Mo had already called the feds & they came round & caught him! Ha ha! Go Kat! Also Steven told Ian he knew about him & Janine and Ian gave Janine some money to make her go away once & for all. Also Sharon confronted Tom with the fact that he is married and gave him an almighty slap in the lying face. And Gus (Sonia's new boyf) gave her exam papers his mate had nicked from the college but she refused to take them. And Paul and Precious seemed to be about to get it on (even though I am convinced she is a tranny).

Oirish - meant to indicate the way in which English media patronise the Republic; faux Irishness ala O'Neills pubs. It does annoy me when the commentators constantly refer to parties, happy to be here, partying, overachievers etc. The idea that people might be absolutely gutted at having gone out in a cruel manner seems to be alien. Put it this way - I can't see anyone saying if England lose on Friday 'well, they came out for a party, and there'll be tears and beers tonight - but what a ride.'

i see private eye this week went against the doxa and declared that itv's f/b coverage was bettah than bbc's

a tranny with unusually persuasive and over-sized knockers? ta. i didn't realise that they had swiped psychotrevor's sprog! baby stealing seems to be a bit of a stenders theme of late.

doxa on the go / doxa: who? / doxa-ing the house, ho ho ho.

That's what I thought Nathan. It's odd though because I've seen it used in the attempts to patronise in various magazines. I kind of thought it might have been part of this new Irishness bollox that was all over our papers last year. There was all this talk of how we have a new identity and it's Anna and Brian from Big Brother and I remember thinking can we have the leprechauns and toothless drunk old men back.

Yeah I don't like the party talk either, but it's sort of true aswell, there's a real tendency among people to go "oh we're through, well another day at the pub then". I can't remember ever feeling as bad as I did after the match yesterday and the praise all just irritated me. There'll be little or no talk of blame either with Ireland, unlike if England do badly.

Hold on: to take disappointment as a supporter with a smile and a laugh and a pint rather than a grimace and recriminations and a half- brick is surely the right way to go about losing, no? There's nothing to be proud of in the snarling, mostly-unjustified self regard of many England fans and the English papers.

The Ireland fans sat on the bus next to me yesterday after the game were irritatingly loud and good-humoured and I can't see it would have been better if they'd been in tears or in the mood to threaten.

Jack Charlton blames the penalty takers.

Spain blamed the referee and injuries, even though they won.

Sorry but some Stenders points need clarifying: 1. OK I know Precious has breasts etc. but she is about 10 ft tall and has quite a mannish face and dresses ridiculously hence the tranny allegations. 2. Kat didn't steal the baby, Donna asked her to look after him while she was in hospital so Trevor couldn't get his hands on him.

Metro says that 70% of viewers watched the footie on BBC and only 30% on ITV so WHY DID THEY BOTHER grrr.

There's nothing wrong with being miserable when your team lose, it doesn't mean violence etc.

Mark - Private Eye hate football, so them liking ITV is further grist to my BBC mill.

Tim - I agree - it is a better way to respond to defeat, and I wasn't making a value judgement about it as a response; more the automatic assumption than Irish supporters wouldn't be in that place - they'd be too busy having the craic and Guiness and pinching themselves that they got so far in the first place.

True enough. But happy is better. It remains, after all, only a game. Etc.

What is this etcetera?

The idea of Ptee being bald and somewhat swarthy amuses me greatly.

The observer has also been bigging up ITV's coverage which is mind boggling considering some of the awfulness that Graham Taylor has committed. His commentary during the Paraguay Germany game (especially his pretend hissy fit when reminded of the anniversary of that fateful game) was cringeworthy.

The Observer has also been bigging up ITV's coverage which is mind boggling considering some of the awfulness that Graham Taylor has committed. His commentary during the Paraguay Germany game (especially his pretend hissy fit when reminded of the anniversary of that fateful game) was cringeworthy.

prolly the same writer: who was it at the obs (which has historically had terrible tv reviewing)?

Pete I do hope you weren't watching the appalling cartoon of The King and I yesterday afternoon. Even I switched it off in disgust & read my book.

It was Ian 'I luv Tony Adams' Ridley. They're really annoying me at the moment. When oh when oh when are people going to see that Simon Kuper is a one trick pony who can't write, that Will Buckley is becoming like Victor Meldrew, Denis Campbell is a tab-hack and his exclusives are far from it and Amy Lawrence really should tone down the Arsenal stuff. Apart from that though, it's great.

Lucky, lucky Brazil. A travesty of a result - Belgium completely dominated the second half and missed an appalling number of chances.

Conclusions to be drawn? Brazil can't be that ordinary again? Can't be that jammy again? Brazil flattered by the relative weakness of their group opposition?

Conclusion:

Brazil aren't all that. They struggled in qualifying and played so-so opposition and have looked vulnerable. The only people talking them up have been the commentators who appear to lose all sense of proportion when faced with men in yellow shirts and blue shorts.

1982 all over again?

Were you guys referring to television channels as "sides" up there a ways? If you were then this football mania has truly gotten out of hand.

Haha Tracer this is a common usage - we only have 5 terrestrial channels after all, and for a long time had only 3. The 2 BBC ones were counted as one and ITV (the first commercial channel) was seen as its rival - hence "what's on the other side?" etc.

also hilarious comedy moment = when someone says "what's on the other side?" and Designated Wag goes and looks at BACK of tv my sides my sides

Also it's the class system Tracer. Move along, nothing to see here.

Can't believe senegal beat sweden but heard they played well but theres always one thing that does well that nobody predwicts beforehand. USA will be finished by those 'efficient' germans.

Brazil were not lucky. Belgium had chances but they couldn't finish them off. I'm glad brazil got through 'cause now Owen can run riot with their 'defence' ha ha...

Apparently one of the Spanish players has got a testicle injury - is this the irreparable damage Mick McCarthy was talking about?

Bloody Brazilians, they were bloody lucky in that Wesley Sonck was too injured to play more than about 20 minutes of football, he caused that defence no end of trouble, hope for little Michael there.

I bought three papers yesterday, the Observer, the Independant and the News of the screws, and they were all bigging up the ITV coverage over the BBC, AND THEY WERE ALL WRONG!

Brazil were very unimpressive today - and they only scraped by Turkey thanks to a wrong penalty. Turkey and Belgium are not that terrific - no better than Denmark, I'd have thought, and England cruised past them. And we deservedly beat Argentina. I fancy our chances on Friday.

As for TV, all the papers think ITV has had a really good World Cup, and they have so many people sitting around the studio that they can usually find a non-awful one or two (Robson is okay, for instance), but they do keep habing Graham Taylor, who is stupid and depressing, and Gazza's vox pops are unspeakably dull and crap. How can anyone prefer all that to Alan Hansen? And twice as much half-time analysis and highlights is good too. I'll stick with BBC every time, given a choice.

BBC's audiences for the football are four times that of the ITV coverage. I wonder why...

when do you NOT have a choice martin? are you sometimes not allowed to watch the commercial channel as per my "taking sides: sides" thread?

mark: not all the matches are on both sides at once, for example today the first match was only ITV and the second was only BBC

Michael is of course right but also I have watched some games in pubs and they don't seem to survey the clientele as to which channel we have on.

Japan out in rather feeble fashion. Why substitute Alex at h/t? Why bring on Morishima so late? Biggest disappointment of the WC so far.

And, of course, listening to Graham Taylor moan for 90 minutes through the Miyagi rain has just about finished me off for the day.

Japan lost (as expected). Bummer.

"not all the matches are on both sides at once" = the terrorists have won

Oh, it's all going horribly wrong. South Korea have missed their second penalty of the tournament and Vieri's nicked one from a near- post corner for Italy. I'll be amazed if this, like the earlier match, doesn't finish 1-0.

The reason I cannot and will not root for the US is because of Landon Donovan. How can anyone of sound mind support a team that has a player NAMED AFTER MICHAEL LANDON?????? I ask you...

Is that the actual reason he's named that way? Little House on the Prairie has done more damage than anyone knew.

3 minutes left and Korea have just equalised! come on Korea!

Maybe I'm Amazed.

The Koreans had a couple of chances to win it in injury time too (after Vieri ballooned one over the bar from six yards). There must be a golden goal in this surely?

Don't care if that's the real reason, either way it makes me think of Michael Landon. Yucky.

Quite understood. Now hum the theme, you know you want to. And then there's Highway to Heaven and...

The only good reason to want the US to win is because the pictures of them in the New York Times had a very pronounced gay porn quality to them.

Of course no one is more gay porn than Beckham, but since he's married to that orange-tanned mantis he is disqualified.

that orange-tanned mantis

Not entirely true, surely. They appear to have had sex and she hasn't scissored his head off.

You haven't looked downstairs.

Oi! Stop dissing Posh & Becks! They are the UK's no. 1 couple! And the fact that she is having another sprog shows that Dave's tackle is in full working order, mmmmmmmm.......

Hmm.

In the meantime, red card for Totti! Holy heck! This match is getting more fraught by the second and I have to get ready for work, bah!

It's probably Scary's baby, I'd wager her tackle is in working order.

Korea 2-1 with a golden goal! goddamn! Bring on some more upsets, dammit!

david beckham looks like ANGLE!!! it is TROO *sulks*

Oh, so the dog munching cheating bastards who can't go five minutes without kicking another player in the skull are through. Great.

Giovanni Trappatoni is an abject moron. We go 1-0 to France, defend, lose 2-1. We go 1-0 ahead to Croatia, defend, lose 2-1. We go 1-0 ahead to Korea... what do you do? Yes, that's right curnuto, defend you prick...

Why don't you take Del Piero off as well, just because you've got a dislike against the man? Yeah, play Totti in the main striking role instead, because he's had such a great world cup, hasn't he?

Moron. Abject cunt. He'll be crucified by the Italian press, and rightly so.

(still i was right about Dom being a grumpy man eh kids?)

Donovan's dad named him after a Canadian hockey player, Lanny McDonald. (Pops Donovan is a Nova Scotian by birth, but moved to California for work in the 70s and married an American.) Believe it or not, the Michael Landon libel came up elsewhere.

I must say, you've taken it very well Dom. Obviously I think it's wonderful - the best moment of the WC so far, but that's just me.

This habit of defending single goal leads though - this is something I associate (possibly quite wrongly) with all Italian national sides since the 60s (with the exception of the '82 WCF performance), not just Trappa's crew. Why do they do it?

So does that mean that your sole reason for not supporting the US is gone, Nicole?

Headline today folks:

Korea Killer GOAL Kicks Italia out of the World Cuppo

what a great match! there are some benefits to being unemployed

Un-fucking-believable: not the result, but that I switched off the telly and went back to the office with ten minutes to go in normal time.

congratulations Korea!! The Italians were as cynical, shirt pulling and diving as the Koreans Dom, seems to me the Azzuri got their just deserts. I'd go on to say that there's no way they'll beat Spain, but then I don't really feel I can......

I am so gutted right now I can't tell you........my dad is in tears and he done threw a glass ashtray at the wall and busted it.....a sad day for us wops.........that last offside was NOT RIGHT.......the ref deserves to get bodied with the slug salt.....and yes the wop coach is a stupid fuck.........but still, hats off to the korks, i dont find them dirty........like i told anthony last week that AHN kid is the handsomest guy alive, but fuck his ass with the jaws of life for that last header..........Dom, i'm all about fun slurs but I'm also all about being original........that dog comment is so played.........but youre that guy that has to make friends with the super corny pics so whatever......ILE get-along-gang cheers any old robot into the fray these days and that's why I'm avoiding this shit.....i fuckin pisseed mang.......back in a few...DAYS.......bleeeeeed, all of you.......revenge in 4 years, what

I kind of wish (but DON't) that I was still living with my Italian king of the twunts housemate so I could slap him.

I wasn't really in the mood for originality, to be honest. If I had a dog, I'd have kicked it to death. Awful... awful.

It was a dodgy offside decision but I still think the Koreans deserved to win for general attitude. That banging on the perspex wall was the funniest thing I've seen all World Cup.

I want Trappatoni's head on a plate this time tomorrow morning. And I have to interview the fucking Moldy Peaches tonight as well. Great. Absolutely great.

That was great, no sympathy for Italy. All that talent, so little joy, defend, defend, defend. Bravo Korea.

If you're going to kick a dog to death you might as well eat it.

I kind of wanted it to go to penalties to see the first ever 0-0 after five each score ever. (Both teams have the fear of the pen).

This World Cup just gets better and better and better. Magnificent!

I'm noticing a distinct lack of sympathy for the Italian cause...

one Italian is still in the World Cup - that bald ref with the starring eyes ! could ref the final?

calling people dog munching bastards doesn't illicit a lot of sympathy, you racist prick

Err Dom - you were the one who said har har I hate the English and the Italians will go further than you, weren't you?

all you Italians - cool down with just one Cornetto !

Whadsamatteryou? (hey) Outtadaworldcup (hey) Youraloadpoo, (hey) Youafuckedup, (hey) itsanotsobad, Koreagotyourplace Yourwereadisgrace

>I'm noticing a distinct lack of sympathy for the Italian cause

I'll say this much for Italy : at least they're immune to that ugly, ugly, UGLY mowhawk-hairstyle virus that's infected every other team at this tournament.

But as for the team's actual playing -- I can only say I enjoyed the first match. After that, it was all over except for the sprawling, and the fouling and the shouting and the bleeding and the cheating ...

... oh, and the occasional inspired moment from Tommasi. (yay!)

So, who to cheer for now? There are good reasons for wanting each of the remaining teams to win. How will I choose just one?

Who to support?

Korea - bundle of fun, make a lot of people happy, bags of energy, play the game the way it should be played.

Spain - Boo hiss conquerers of Ireland and so naughty.

USA - It is not their time. Poor excuse, but it would terrify me if they won it.

Germany - they're doing an Argentina 1990 - poor team getting through despite their flaws. They must be stopped at all costs.

Turkey - cynical divers and assaulters of Costa Rican assistant coaches. Bad and naughty.

Brazil - overrated. Time they got knocked down a peg or two. Roberto Carlos is crap and Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have silly names and very big front teeth. Though Rivaldo's triumph over childhood poverty is an inspiration, but his dive was a disgrace.

England - They deserve your support, and deserve to win it because it would make me the happiest man in the world.

Senegal - if not England, then these boys. Time to kill off the stereotypes and upset the form book and to remind Des Lynam of his quote on day 1 that they wouldn't win it.

Here endeth the lesson.

TEAM KOREA FIGHTING!

What a great, exciting win! So, Italy go out: deservedly so, for favouring long, lank, greasy hair; for being boring and for being one of those teams (along with pundits and fans) who seem to think that they have a god-given right to be in the final, and now they're being served their just desserts.
So it's all aboard the Plane of Shame for the Italians - you're going home with the Argies. Brazil: you're next (unless the spawney gits scrape another win).
Imagine: a S. Korea vs USA final.

Note to all: it's 'just deserts' not 'desserts'. Pronounced the same way. Makes sense if really.

'If' shouldn't have made it to that last sentence. And the whole thing sounded really wanky anyway. It's just that I only realised about the 'deserts' thing last year and I thought I might as well point it out. Desserts though - yum.

I agree with everything ramosi and the dom said. TRAPATTONI MUST GO!

Gutted, and I strongly advise any of you seeing me soon not to mention the result, especially if you're representing ILE in the rematch against Sinister...

David: South Korea and USA would meet in the semi, not the final. I'm primed for a Senegal-USA third-place playoff.

i feel sorry for the Korean player who plays for an Italian side - he scored the winning goal as well. i bet he's not looking forward so much to the start of the season now