World Cup Final 2010 : Netherlands vs Spain

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48320000/jpg/_48320327_009777749-1.jpg

Who do you think will win?

I'm no octopus but I'm sayin Spain

Spain.

But it makes a terrific change, really, to have a world cup final where either team would be a cheering winner; the opposite, for me, of eg 1990.

i was quite happy with those 2 teams in the 1990 final (shame it was a shit game mind)

But a new winner is exciting. I do feel it will be a case of first goal the winner. The dutch are quite defensive this tournament compared to what they are usually. And Spain aren't exactly gonna attack for 90s mins either.

Prediction: 1-0 to Spain. I'm not really too bothered either way, but I think I'll start off cheering the Dutch (but pretending it's the Euro 2008 version, who really were worth watching).

Fun facts:

- first final ever not to feature Brazil, Argentina, Italy or Germany
- Holland are aiming for a 100% record through qualifiers and tournament
- 17 of the players in the two squads were youth players at either Ajax or Barcelona

Not only it is the World Cup final, the game also sees the Netherlands defend their Unofficial Football World Champion title.

I was wondering about that! Assumed Spain would be holders tbh

- 17 of the players in the two squads were youth players at either Ajax or Barcelona

― Ismael Klata, Sunday, July 11, 2010 4:35 PM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark

Yeah, amazing. That's like 1/3 of the combined squads!

Picked Holland before the tournament so gonna have to stick with them. But tbh I'd quite like Spain to win it. Much like last time when Italy were my pick but by the time the Final came round was rooting so hard for Zizou that I was crushed when France lost.

I want to see a game where Spain score early to see how a match unfurls from there. Holland reacted well to going behind against Brazil and I'd like to see how expansive Spain could become faced with a team attacking against them.

I think a Spain goal first would be the best thing for the final. The Dutch couldn't just sit back & defend then.

i think germany will win

Anyone watching the ceremony? Just seen some elephants on the pitch and now some african lady is singing

God no.

Shakira again etc
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/photo/photolist.html#1272547

Don't! It's atrocious, of course. xp

2-1 Holland

Your first word got deleted accidentally: "Spain 2-1 Holland"

"on behalf of the president and the whole of South-Africa, thank you to all our new friends"

Yeah, in two hours you're that country we never hear about in that continent down there again. Enjoy it while it lasts.

It will be 1-0, but who knows to.

There he is, Nelson Mandela being driven onto the pitch on a golf cart

did fifa put the same pressure on him that was exerted on Ronaldo in 98?

Waved to the crowd for a couple of minutes and then left again. His health isn't very good anymore (hence: no speech or anything) and he's not able to watch the match, the Dutch pundit said here.

Dutch TV has Joeri Mulder and Louis Van Gaal in their in-stadium studio.

I saw Mandela speak in Trafalgar Square three or four years ago. He was introduced by June Sarpong, and followed by Jamelia :(

Spain to win I think, which would make me happy. Don't like this Holland side much, Robben and Sneider aside.

That. I wanna see Spain prove their dominance and pass their way into history.

Unchanged teams btw apparently - Torres starts on bench.

Concerns about Villa playing centrally aside, Pedro played very well on Wednesday, bar that ridiculous 2 on 1, and if a change is needed Torres is still there. I don't expect him to make a mercurial improvement just cos it's the final tho.

Yeah, Robben and Sneijder are the two things I like about Holland, for them alone I'd be OK with them winning, but I can't see past Spain (also, have money on them).

xposts

I'm a little ticked off at that free kick vs. Brazil that's been given as Sneijder's goal, makes a bit of a farce of the Golden Boot imo

I want the team who plays the best to win. No refereeing crap, no diving, like the match yesterday.

eep i gotta get across town!

Will be slightly disappointed if there's no refereeing crap and no diving.

Yeah, Robben and Sneijder are the two things I like about Holland

agreed

The city of Amsterdam has announced it is now completely full.

my system predicts spain, which i'm happy with. but i'd be happy with holland. i just hope it's a decent game. not long to go now.

Don't remember much of 2006 except the Butt that Launched a Thousand Gifs, but sometimes in a final a moment like that is plenty.

Dutch TV pundit audibly tearing up as the players enter the pitch for their warm-up.

Nice piece on ITV just now with Chiles, Southgate and Townsend being shown around a church which played a part in some of the worst violence in Soweto. Respectful and interesting and approx 10102024 times better than "Alan Shearer tackles apartheid".

Zidane had a great header & Buffon made a flying save a couple of minutes before the craziness. If he'd scored he'd be on his own at the top of the all-time list imo

There isn't a joke goes by on the bbc without Shearer filling in the punchline to show he got it too

Am controversially thinking of sticking with ITV, at least for the build-up. Chiles' irreverance is more fun than the earnest bollocks over on the Beeb.

Who's commentating on both? Mowbray/Lawro and Tyldesley/Beglin? If Craig Burley is on dis ting, I'm on dat other ting.

Lawro sounded in good humour on the radio this afternoon. I cannot put myself thru Tyldesley in any circumstance, and if nothing else I find Mowbray easier to tune out. Fiver for anybody who watches the whole match with the alternative Chris Moyles commentary.

The next pundit I hear who misuses the phrase "Total Football" is gonna be on my Raoul Moat list tho.

Desmond Tutu, Jacques Rogge, Kofi Annan, loads of celebs are there (Platini doesn't look like he's been in a hospital at all)

Dutch NOS is interviewing the Spanish queen! (diplomatic "Whatever happens, both teams are wonderful, etc")

Rooting for the Dutch, but I don't know enough about the game or the teams to actually make a prediction. This --

I want the team who plays the best to win. No refereeing crap, no diving, like the match yesterday.

― StanM, Sunday, July 11, 2010 12:39 PM (16 minutes ago)

-- is extra-OTM.

Dutch NOS is interviewing the Spanish queen! <- in front of the wall with sponsor logos, where they also interview the players and the coach. Vv weird.

Seat of honor should have been given to El Pulpo Paul, just to see his calm regard of the game.

Van Gaal hopes Webb doesn't whistle too much, which he tends to do, and that has a big influence on both team's playing styles, he says.

soul patches are gross: hup holland hup

I'm not buying this 'Spain's's defence is the best' schtick - they're great at breaking down attacks early, but not convinced by them as a back four

Craig Burley on ITV. Back to the Beeb before I break stuff.

Alan Davies had Shearer on his 5 Live show this morning and they were completely taking the piss out of him and he didn't even notice.

Mugabe is there :-/

Wil Hel Mus Van Na Ha Sa Ha We!

C'mon Holland!

How long until Van Bommels first foul?

good start: "it's orange against clockwork"

5 minutes xp

man nobody dives like puyol

Spain already faking injuries.

Diving needs to be penalized.

The CBBC commentary team is currently explaining vuvuzelas to the kiddies.

spain is really shameless about diving, I think their first dive this game was within the first minute

It's been an excellent start. Hope we get a quick goal.

Heitinga nearly done an own goal.

there we go, a van bommel foul

Footballers are babies.

*falls down in pain*

his face there

Nice, confident start from the Rotherham lad.

Lots of mockery at both sides at the bar I'm in. "Wah wah wah!"

At least American football players don't fake injury. It makes a mockery of the sport.

True. We actually break legs.

never forget

http://www.youtube.com/v/UgfRCa71Kmw&fs=1&hl=en

We just spend 15 minutes celebrating

better be a red

disgusting

how is that not a red? ffs

the world cup of slide tackles

Casillas makes it look so easy sometimes.

not as bad as aogo's last night

Torres just heard about Benitez

http://imgur.com/OHrxX.jpg

oh for fucks sake

how was that not red???

Lucky to get away with yellow there.

fuck both these teams

forget headbutts....

webb you got that wrong THAT IS A STRAIGHT RED

WTF was that

let's play nine-on-nine

jackie chan action

So the score is 6-0 Webb, yes?

Fuck holland. Hacking bastards.

Morgan Freeman in the house!

Come on. I agree van Bommel might've got red. De Jong no way. Do you actually want to see red cards?

At least one Englishman made an impact this year.

intent? xxxxxxxxp

Slapstick comedy half of the year so far.

the dutch should be down to 9 men.

both were yellow card offences, not red

wtf

this is the kinda final you get when you don't crack down on diving earlier in the tournament imo

Hahaha - what if it had gone in?

wth why did holland kick the ball back?

Ismael, surely you've read enough football threads to know that vehemently disagreeing with refereeing decisions is pfunkboy's entire raison d'etre.

lol Casillas, yay Robin Van P being decent.

Why did they give the ball back?

momentary lapse of reason

de jong's kick was amazing btw

Oh, you muppet.

Hahah what was that.

Whiffed!

OH at bar: "They can't hear because of those damn bamboozelas."

:D

Yes, I was forgetting. The refereeing has generally been fantastic here though, it'd be nice if that sunk in.

I saw it spelled Bubuswela on FB

I think the thing I'll miss most is the opportunity to say van bommel over & over

van bommel van bommel van bommel

wow, that was sorta beautiful

oh synchronised diving now

dutch guy clearly in a lot of pain here

Why not just kick the ball off to the side and put on a production of Swan Lake instead?

we get it

It's the Goodyear blimp!

easily the least fun game to watch in two weeks

Hansen OTM for once

Guy Mowbray and Lawro are so fucking bad that I turned over to ITV

only to discover Craig Burley

Well I think it's been fascinating

"down to AT LEAST nine men"

Guy Mowbray and Lawro are so fucking bad

very much so. I just shout over the top of them.

aerosmith otm

Hansen and Shearer not only look like they're at a funeral, they're acting like it too. They make me hope the BBC lose the rights after 2014.

p lame first half

Guy Mowbray and Lawro are so fucking bad that I turned over to ITV

Press red button and put on CBBC commentary, they were playing music to liven it up.

Guy Mowbray is a fucking abomination

when Casillas punted one through the middle: "Great ball by Casillas for Villa..."

when that same ball bounced harmlessly through to Stekelenburg: "That was very unSpanish"

I'm beginning to consider the red button Moylesathon, at least you expect him to be a twat. The sheer level of "this is terrible" emanating from everyone on the BBC is doing my head in. It's not been that bad! There's been chances! RvP did something nice! Quite nice that they are ostensibly ripping into England's Howard Webb without actually explicitly saying he's awful.

With underrated aerosmith here, some moments but both teams look unsettled.

Tense first half. Spain's rhythm is off and I don't think that's particularly down to the Dutch. Nerves imo. They look like they've watched Brazil's goal against the Netherlands and figure they can thread a killer ball thru the middle. Need to chill out, get their passing on again and it'll come.

Not sure whether Webb's gonna have the nuts to send anybody off unless something especially egregious happens. Two Spanish yellows were both classic "I've booked one of theirs so I'd better even it up" chickenshit nonsense. Van Bommel looks capable of doing something stupid tho.

I'm enjoying this btw

It's a bloody excellent match! Punditry, you and me are through

also pfunkboy shut the fuck up about red cards, neither was a red card offence - both were 'strong yellow card' offences, but van Bommel's wasn't studs-showing and De Jong's was a clumsy, slightly cowardly attempt to win the ball

the game itself is kinda enthralling, everyone at the BBC can go to hell

Ramos' foul was a slightly harsh yellow IMO, Puyol's a cast-iron yellow

Hey, Ramos and Puyol perfectly capable of getting themselves booked but the Puyol foul was small beer and his first of the game.

wow can't believe alonso's still on the pitch

The BBC panel all pishing themselves laughing as they invent the concept of purple cards for things worse than reds. I'm going to suck up my Burley rage and go over to ITV for the second half. Anyone watching them? Are they hating it and sucking the life out of it as well?

Didn't the BBC used to have a button where you could just hear the crowd noise and not moronic whining from ADHD pundits?

Puyol powered studs-first through Robben's ankle = yellow card - more of an attempt to win the ball than the MVB one but also more likely to cause injury

Right, looking for the best team in the world to rise above these kicking wankers and win it properly. COME ON SPAIN

loving this

keep kicking holland

yeah, good game, typical tense final, european style. still have spain to win.

wow can't believe alonso's still on the pitch
--progressive cuts (Tracer Hand)

srsly, can't even watch the replay on that one

the way they then showed a succession of good mvb tackles as evidence that he was lucky not to be sent off

pffft that was nothing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYWY4Pf9_M
xp

typical tense final, european style.

the tension of wondering who will be the next player to feign the most exaggerated facial expression of anguish in order to draw a penalty

Ouch! That hurt, aerosmith! Aaaaaarrrrrggggh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCmz2ymM1qU

Puyol foul was small beer and his first of the game

Looked like a straightforward bookable foul to me. If that's the case, the argument that it's your first foul is kind of irrelevant.

http://imgur.com/i62HG.jpg

R.I.P. Villa

Weak!

is there a single american in this thread who thinks this game is enjoyable to watch? it seems like this game is a pretty good summary of what we don't like about soccer, whereas the brits are somehow finding some value in this.

What did he just book him for? Presumably he didn't see the foul?

retarded yellow there, again

Ref is Oprah: "you get a yellow card! You get a yellow card! Everyone gets a yellow card"

This USAian is enjoying xp

Do cards here carry over into another stage of international play? Quals or such?

Think Villa camped that injury up a bit but Holland are such cocks. Del Bosque ironically applauding Van Bommel was great.

I don't mind a good defensive game but I do mind constant stoppages. this game is like watching the final minutes of an NFL game in which the team that's ahead is trying to run down the clock.

What did he just book him for? Presumably he didn't see the foul?

He's miked up, though, could have been told about it by a linesman

Agree. This game is awful. The whole first round was terrible too. With all the talk of how superior football is because there are no timeouts etc, there is a lot of wasted time flopping, celebrating goals and arguing calls. The flopping, the ties, the penalty kick resolutions. Many, many huge issues with this sport that supporters blindly ignore.

They do carry over but nobody cares - Zidane got an extended ban right after he retired

is there a single american in this thread who thinks this game is enjoyable to watch?

yeah and the sad thing is they'd be pretty simple to fix xp

This game is hilarious. Moar chest kicks!

the tension of wondering who will be the next player to feign the most exaggerated facial expression of anguish in order to draw a penalty

― les yeux sans aerosmith (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Sunday, July 11, 2010 7:35 PM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

doesn't this apply to each and every football game these days

Should've been it

Remind me next time the Superbowl is on to constantly post on the relevant ILX thread comparing it to cricket or darts

fuck what a save

Great save from Casillas though.

xposts

the flopping is a complete embarassment for me but i imagine i'd react the same way if a loleuropean complained about lebron traveling or something

Robben was sad picard there :(

right after I post that casillas reminds me why I like watching casillas

Yeah, wonderful from Casillas

Spain sliced open so easily

I am American...enjoying game immensely! (Also an Australian, understand diving & opera)

It was a great pass and run though, props to Nedderland.

If Spain win this tournament Casillas is the difference

Worth noting that the person synonymous with flopping in the NBA was European.

Casillas is pwning this game. Tite!

xp absolutely

If Spain win this tournament Casillas is the difference

Yeah, and the other one is Argentinian - but saying Americans never flop is the exact analogue of "Gerrard never dives, only foreigners"

(wrong quote! meant that bortherlovesdub one)

Man, that was close.

Stupid question I can't be arsed googling - why does David Villa have his full name on the back of his jersey?

woooooow

Not only did Villa miss, I think his shot was going wide too

how did that not go in?

This game is going to end up 0-0 after penalties.

Crikey that was so close!!

Kuyt out

(Not the thread for this discussion but I would so much prefer it if England never dived, even if it meant going out a round earlier every time)

Last decent World Cup final..... 1986?

I could't tell, was Villa's shot just way high or did Dutch goalie deflect it?

Ref is sucking all life out of this, IMO. He whistles for everything, so they automatically dive a lot more than normal -> reinforcing loop

Love Spain's passing atm

Got to score

ew @ sergio ramos' ring tattoo

Oh Ramos

Moar shin kicks!

Last decent World Cup final..... 1986?

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, July 11, 2010 8:02 PM (48 seconds ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

probably yes, but shows that nearly all football competition finals are pretty dull affairs.

i'd like webb to send a dutchman off now.

ooooh he could have gotten a red there

V.Bommel is a right cnut

Vam Bommel must have something on Webb, otherwise he would've been off by now.

lol @ van Bommel bouncing himself off Iniesta. Seriously, do these dudes forget that people can see them on the telly?

Every final 'til 1986 was good, since then they've all struggled

This is great

Ref is sucking all life out of this, IMO. He whistles for everything, so they automatically dive a lot more than normal -> reinforcing loop

― StanM, Sunday, July 11, 2010 8:03 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

the dutch started it....

Think the New Zealand team were the only team not flopping all over.

Is he going to bring on Huntelaar for van Persie, ffs?

Every final 'til 1986 was good, since then they've all struggled

Thereafter, would that I were not among the men of the fifth generation, but either had died before or been born afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and men never rest from labour and sorrow by day, and from perishing by night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble upon them.

So just so I understand -- is it lierally impossible for Span to be assessed a penalty unless Robben falls down, even though he was obviously getting wrestled in the box?

Needs extra time imo

what's the yellow card tally?

Robben booked for doing a Ballack on the ref. Webb now officially the most card-happy final ref ever.

xpost - 6-3 to Holland

Thereafter, would that I were not among the men of the fifth generation, but either had died before or been born afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and men never rest from labour and sorrow by day, and from perishing by night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble upon them.

Didn't like France-Brazil '98 then?

oh look there is some Arsenal DNA coming on

So just so I understand -- is it lierally impossible for Span to be assessed a penalty unless Robben falls down, even though he was obviously getting wrestled in the box?

Ozil did fall over - didn't help either.

Basically, eephus - not impossible, it just rarely happens. Then everyone complains about diving

Lol BODYSLAM

Haha " doo dit doo, I'm not offsides, what whistle?"

Could have gotten a yellow card for that.

I want one of those gold jabulanis

for taking his shot even after he was called offsides? (xp)

Yep! I've seen it happen before, especially with a ref like this.

mute button

http://www.google.com/#q=";yellow+card+for+playing+on+after"

Was Xavi drinking a coffee?

game needs a goal imo

these are the worst two penalty-taking nations in history iirc

http://i28.tinypic.com/10ylz86.jpg

300 years of xposts: yes, 86 probably the last good final.

iniesta can't shoot

chelsea might argue

OOH SOMETHING HAPPENED

Why did Robben get a yellow card for asking for a penalty but Xavi didn't? (I don't get football, sorry for stupid question)

CESC, MOST HATED MAN IN SPAIN, STAYS AT ARSENAL

anyone still saying this game is boring?

somebody must want to score ffs

I don't think I've actually really enjoyed a World Cup final. I wasn't allowed to stay up late enough to watch the 82 final. The 86 final was good, but ultimately won by The Man Who Punched The Ball In Against England. 90 and 94 were anticlimaxes. In 98 I wanted Brazil to win. 02 was one-sided and unmemorable. 06 started brightly, but all I can really remember is the Zidane headbutt.

Straw poll of me, other half, and my dad = none of us were finding this boring earlier. But aye, exponential drama increase since it went to extra time.

I seriously recall nothing about 2002 final.

somebody must want to score ffs

Doesn't look like it.

Gadzooks

I seriously recall nothing about 2002 final

(Fat) Ronaldo had a seriously wanky haircut

This could well be the last 2D world cup final we'll ever see - next time we'll all have be wearing those ridiculous Virtual Reality 3D glasses.
(at least, that's what you'd think if you buy into the TV manufacturer-created buzz)

pass the ball!!!!

Man, this could be 5-3.

ahhhhh

Are you kidding me

This is really good fun now

Rest of the game shoulda been this way

Cripes...cmon Spain

Amazing cheeky turn and nutmeg from Iniesta on Robben just now.

(Fat) Ronaldo had a seriously wanky haircut

Yes! He had that stupid triangle of hair! Thanks (still remember fuck all about the actual game).

OMG EDSON BAWHEID WORST LEFTBACK IN THE WORLD!

whois: Edson Braafheid

oh ok

do Spain bring on Reina if it's penalties?

Bayern Munich, spent half of last season on loan at Celtic where he was basically shit and lost his place to Lee Naylor. One redeeming feature: is not Danny Fox.

xpost

Toro Toro Torres!

Torres the gamechanger! Uh.

Think Villa might have come in useful for the penalties but maybe that's just me...

Torres...Toro...more like Ferdinand lol

WHO KNEW

Okay here we go...maybe

ffs

ooh, Heitinga off.

eh

Had to happen, at this guy's yellow card giving rate.

Sheitinga more like.

Oh xavi

is that 11 yellows now?

This has more than a touch of Isner-Mahud about it

I'm entering the event horizon here.

0-0 game decided by penalties = the single worst way you could end this tournament

Jesus, Navas

Xavi choking on all that Barcalona DNA he's swallowed.

Worst way this could have ended is with a boring game, which this isn't.

I'd take a boring game over penalties

corner, no?

Fuck!

lame

Oh fuck, bad refereeing leading to goal

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Book some Spanish players for time-wasting, maybe?

Since play stops anyway, why can't they actually stop the clock rather than just guessing how much time to put back on?

...did that all happen?

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

Two minutes added? FFS, there was three minutes wasted in between the goal and the restart.

Spain win = money for me after an ENTIRE SEASON of not winning a single penny off the bookies. Small victory.

Torres is borked.

lol Torres

^ this

Extra time delivered

lols

Olé

Well done Howard Webb.

Made England proud

Casillas crying

Prediction: 1-0 to Spain.
― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 17:35 (4 hours ago)

Just call me Paul the Octopus.

Hope Cesc enjoys the Barca bench, ffs.

Hope Torres enjoys the hospital.

Paul the psychic octopus to lift the cup imo

Howard Webb did fuck that up, but better than penalties I guess

And EL PULPO PAUL wins the World Cup!

so many games not influenced by a referee....

well played spain

not that justice and football have anything to do w/each other but I guess the 'right' team won

Frankly I'm all happy to see Casillas win that.

Webb papered the bloody field with cards

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:59 (6 minutes ago)

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:59 (6 minutes ago)

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:59 (6 minutes ago)

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:59 (6 minutes ago)

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:59 (6 minutes ago)

1-0 to the monkey-chanters

― I Ain't Committing Suicide For No Crab (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:59 (6 minutes ago)

NEW ZEALAND - INVINCIBLES!

The right result, Holland were such cunts.

Could have gone both ways for a long time, imo, but in the end, Spain scored and NL didn't, so there.

"lipstick on a pig and this was a pig of a game"

Holland's moment of biggest cuntery was the Van Bommel giving-them-a-throw-by-their-corner-flag after they kicked it out for treatment

Oh shut up Hansen et al, people have to listen to you

Xpost for once I agree with Lalas

Hansen: "I don't think there is any place in football for how Holland approached this match."

...says the guy full of praise for shitkickers like Bolton every week on MoTD.

otm

a tournament with 4 top scorers then?

Presumably del Bosque gets sacked now

seedorf v.classy at the end

Holland did their best to spoil this but I can understand why they'd feel that was the way to go. Thing is that I think Spain got inside their own heads and were there to be taken on the counter. Some world class choking tonite tho, looking at you Robben, Fabregas, etc

Didn't realise that the stars would get applied instantly! I guess they had a set of black(/white?) ones ready to go in case it went the other way?

Alan Partridge appears to be commentating on BBC1 at the moment

HE COULD ONLY HAVE IMPROVED THE MATCH COMMENTARY

Haha at the booing drowning out the vuvuzelas

Webb getting the boos in.

seedorf v.classy at the end

Best pundit on the beeb by far.

And Howard Webb lifts the trophy!

Ruud was crying, poor guy.

<3 Spain with their newly starred shirts.

The winners of the 2010 world cup: Catalonia and Basque Country! (most of the players are from there and both want more independence from Spain)

Why are there Emirates cabin crew handing out the medals?

and Liverpool, the minute rafa gets sacked

Shocked to discover that Catalonians aren't big fans of the Spanish state.

delighted for Casillas

<3 Casillas

Next thing somebody'll be telling me there's one or two Scots who aren't nuts about the Westminster parliament.

Van Marwijk whipping his losers' medal off pretty swiftly was awesome.

Blatter forcing his way into the photos of the Spain team lifting the cup, what a cunt.

The explosion of soft rock makes the moment more poignant

WHO'S UP FOR WATCHING SOME CRICKET THEN

TOUR DE FRANCE!

MAX
Dad loves ya

What are we going to do now?

Couple of days of detox then start worrying about the start of next season.

Seeing Casillas hoist the trophy up was a beautiful moment.

Delighted to find out that the Spanish for Championees is, um, Championees.

Had to turn over as soon as Lawro, when asked to summarise the tournament, turned on his negative bollocks attitude "yeah, it's been decent" AARGH NO SHUT UP.

lol @ Max from Halifax. His dad loves him!

Obviously, winning the World Cup is just a nice little bonus for Spain, after Nadal won Wimbledon.

Woah fireworx

Farewell South Africa! Good luck with your economy and stuff, we're all out of here.

Yeah back to work nothing to see here last one out turn off the lights

Now we have transfer FEVER to get excited about

NL TV before the match: "HISTORY in the making! Our heroic Gladiators enter the stadium!"
NL TV, just now: "it's only a game"

The moral of this story - NEVER make the World Cup final the last game of your career. You will lose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ36Cfw3u80

also, classic social psychology: before = "WE're in the final!" and after = "THEY lost".

I hope Holland win the next one. See y'all in four years' time.

Iniesta obviously man of the tournament? Only his dad could vote for Forlán?

OMG BBC now - a fucking District 9 parody.

This might be more 1000x more culturally insensitive than Drury's bedsheets comment.

xxpost -- Alas for you:

http://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/18304584877

tdf and the open

summer of sport continues to be amazing

haha, OK, am watching Chiles, what did the BBC do?

Always thought Jules Rimet cup looked like a bollock, mid-autopsy...

xp The montage of the tournament leading out the BBC show is this District 9 thing with flying stadium spaceships and mystical negro voiceovers.

Alas for bbc pundits more like xp - everyone else knew Forlan was brilliant

I don't think they shot the District 9 anywhere near a township. Probably somewhere in Borehamwood.

nice win to a frustrating match, but the flopping made me think Spain signed Manu Ginobili to play soccer....

i thought that was a fine match! not the best of the tournament by a long shot but nice and tense with a terrific finish, not to mention controversial refereeing decisions

b-b-but he wasn't very good in the Premiership once ages ago! He's basically rubbish! Don't you KNOW this stuff?

xposts

i went into the bar just rooting for a good game but there was a guy in a sleeveless orange shirt and some kind of sickening... fedora.. or something and he was so loud and ignorant and seemed interested in cheering as a way to draw attention to himself and i found myself rooting for spain so much that i was ecstatic at that goal

what did iniestas shirt say on it

we're all ignoring the real cunt: paul the cuntopus

xp Iniesta's vest had message for Dani Jarque, the Espanyol player who died of heart attack last year, aged 26.

Couldn't make it out. "Something something siempre something something"

Was a tribute to Dani Jarque, the young Spanish player who died of a heart attack last year.

xposts

as a vegetarian I'd like to proclaim paul the only animal I'm willing to eat; nom
http://www.hainam.com.vn/images/SP/fbachtuocluoccat.jpg

"Dani Jarque, siempre con nosostros" = Dani Jarque, you are always with us.

^classy touch

Paul el pulpo, siempre con nosotros

max, do you happen to be from Halifax?

OK, that Paul-based dish looks like those sucker things that grannies have as soap-holders in their showers. Yuk.

I wonder if Paul might like to take part in the SPL predictor competition next season?

no but i am reasonably sure my dad loves me

The octopus basically ruined all the tension for me.

Nah, great end to the tournament, but Forlan was definitely the best player overall for me, Iniesta second. Can't believe the BBC had the gall to include England in their tournament highlights.

All I could think of when I saw this:

http://i28.tinypic.com/10ylz86.jpg

Was this:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w29/Nibbler2535/kick.gif

if someone was wondering what was written on Iniesta t-shirt:

"Dani Jarque always with us" - Dani Jarque spanish player who died last year from a heart attack at the age of 26

Looked like a pretty even game to me; also quite intriguing, not dull despite some media attitudes. Could have gone either way. A pity the goal was disputed or dubious, for whatever reasons (not sure), but probably better to end that way than pens. No bad thing for Spain to be a world cup winner, though Holland would have satisfied me more. I now don't think the Dutch will ever win a world cup (but then I didn't before, so that thought doesn't tell me much new).

So, so, so glad that Spain won.

Hey, does anyone know what was on that Iniesta t-shirt?

xpost some were crying that spain was offsides but that was proven to be wrong

Always thought Jules Rimet cup looked like a bollock, mid-autopsy...

― THIS BOOK EQUAL CONJOB (suzy), Sunday, July 11, 2010 9:35 PM (28 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

the jules rimet trophy was stolen in 1970. this one's just called the fifa world cup.

Iniesta was offside when the first shot was blocked, not sure how that shd have been interpreted tbh

thought muller was way more effective than iniesta. and in terms of surprise value was better than forlan.

Spain not offside, was some controversy over the goal kick which was awarded leading up to the goal (was clearly a Holland corner)

Whatever, it still looks like a dead man's testicle.

well that WAS a bad call, itw as clearly deflected off of Spain.

the ball, not the testicle

wait nm

Okay, Torres tries a through ball to Iniesta - he's offside at this point I'm sure - Dutch defender cuts it out, Fabregas picks up the ball, plays Iniesta thru - this time he's onside - goal. Think there's a decent case for Iniesta being given offside on the first pass but stand to be corrected.

I thought the Dutch were complaining cos they thought Elia was fouled on the edge of the box directly before Spain broke, but that looked dubious to me.

Nah, it was onside. No controversy about the goal imo - the foul at the other end should've been given but wasn't, but it didn't lead directly to the spanish goal, there was a reasonable amount of play in between

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_64

The vid of the goal's on there anyway.

He's six inches off, first ball in, I swear.

i thought the block and the 2nd player not touching the ball would invalidate any offsides...

The corner that wasn't given thirty seconds before that, though, took a huge looping deflection off the wall AND Casillas saved it - preposterous decision by Howard Webb (in fairness to him it was a very difficult match, is I think the official line here)

What was ITV's end of tournament video montage like? What tune did they use?

i thought the block and the 2nd player not touching the ball would invalidate any offsides...

I am not at all sure of the interpretation there, and the problem is I don't think a lot of officials/players/coaches are either.

I mean hey it's history but the whole sequence to the goal had a holding your breath "is this gonna be given?" vibe.

I didn't watch it, but suspect they used that irritating "sing sing Africa" music.

xpost

I quite like Sing Sing Africa.

It also occurred to me that I have gone through the entire tournament without hearing the BBC's World Cup music. What did they even use?

"Theme from Steptoe and Son" for the England games.

Low hum of Shearer and Lawrenson booing for non-England games.

This 'vuvuzela' thing was a BBC conspiracy all along!

WHO'S READY FOR THE WOMEN'S U-20 WORLD CUP STARTING THIS WEEK???

AWWWWWWWWW etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IejFgxW49fw

also yeah dan bring it the fuck on

as controversies go the goal wasn't this tournament's best and definitely not befitting for the final

who even said that?

Think Asamoah Gyan hitting the bar was the closest thing to a crushing Zidane moment for me.

That night was intense, yeah.

Lolpard no goal was just a staging post on an afternoon of crushing inevitability, plus reignited my least favourite football argument ever.

Lazy North Korea zings were a little bit funny.

Germany dismantling Maradona's carefully prepared strategy was a pretty great moment too.

that and Suarez's tears/celebration happening simultaneously must be the tournament's pinnacle

God I nearly forgot France's free-wheeling Laurel and Hardy tribute.

those quarter finals though, we may never see their like again

Harry Kewell - never forget

I will sniff a sad tear when James Corden's shit mate does an unfunny vuvuzela reminiscence on BBC3's Greatest Football Clip Shows next February.

Yeah all the quarter finals were k-classic. Even Spain v Paraguay was enlivened by five minutes of mentalism after half time.

The moment the whole world's jaw dropped as Germany ran rings around Australia was another cracker.

Nothing beats France for exploding comedy clown car action, not even Italy and England, who I almost forgot were in this World Cup. When it felt for a few minutes like South Africa might beat France comfortably and go through was pretty magical.

Germany dismantling Maradona's carefully prepared strategy was a pretty great moment too.

^^^this was the best game

best moment was Heinze Versus The Volcano Camera

I am currently working on turning my Football Manager 2010 Grimsby side into Chile btw.

Really hard finding a decent sweeper on League 1 wages, I'm telling ya

^hero

WHO'S READY FOR THE WOMEN'S U-20 WORLD CUP STARTING THIS WEEK???

An England squad with Arsenal players in it and a DPRK side that has a chance of winning the tournament? This is what I've been waiting for all summer.

The corner that wasn't given thirty seconds before that, though, took a huge looping deflection off the wall AND Casillas saved it - preposterous decision by Howard Webb (in fairness to him it was a very difficult match, is I think the official line here)

It's funny, i was saying before the match how there's been a preposterous amount of corners not given in this World Cup, but that one really took the biscuit. Also, i'm pleased for Muller but this thing of awarding the Golden Boot to the player with most assists is ridiculous. Assists are such a bullshit statistic.

The thing of awarding goals to takers of crossed free kicks that go in because they've deflected off an opposing player's head was pretty bogus too.

Indeed. I think Sneijder showed himself up for the egotist he is in this game too, with a couple of ridiculous long range shots when he had other options. He's not a very likeable guy really.

great result

Agree with Matt about the highlights, though at the risk of sounding contrarian, the World Cup doesn't get me excited like the Premiership does. That was fun and everything, now back to the real stuff.

I enjoyed that I did. Was fun to leave the student union where I watched it to find a few dozen singing and dancing Spanish teenagers too. Didn't hear a word of Shearer or Hansen either.

lucky for iniesta he finally got a shot directly on his right foot so as not to fuck up three one on ones in a single game. not as good as he's rated tho...not at all. was happy to see either side one tho in ldn the rush of people who weren't watching the game into the pub to sing "ole ole" once spain scored was really terrible....some of them even looked spanish too!

And to sum up, from El Pais's site:

http://www.elpais.com/prom/201007/pro_photo1278895830.jpg

Oh, and easiest post-game interview ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9_D9lyALJY

Ahem.

They're gonna break up in a month anyway when Rafael Nadal wins the French and muscles in on Iker's turf

...the French Open in a month. Got it.

But speaking of him:

http://www.elpais.com/videos/deportes/Rafa/Nadal/ha/pitado/arbitro/he/llorado/nino/elpepudep/20100712elpepudep_3/Ves/

all this football has scrambled my brain into oblivion xp

proper Lois Lane + Superman shit, though, that interview

really wanna repost that Twilight joke from the other thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4oHOgv0xug&feature=player_embedded

not bad, but I still prefer Cantor tbh

Meanwhile in America:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13351901&l=6e12061353&id=149646220009

ok i am only about ten minutes in the game of the thread, a couple points:

good i was out when ned mentioned "lol we actually break legs in american sport" or whatever or I would have gone all soccerball radge repository on this thread.

kerr never change. he would have already sent off like 12 people. god knows if he's still alive by the end of the match. (will do a full 'what i think of the refs/fouls/etc.' when i've read the whole thread).

The corner that wasn't given thirty seconds before that, though, took a huge looping deflection off the wall AND Casillas saved it - preposterous decision by Howard Webb (in fairness to him it was a very difficult match, is I think the official line here)

Still trying to figure this one out... the ref obviously blew the call at a crucial time in the match and almost nothing was said about it later.

Stupid question I can't be arsed googling - why does David Villa have his full name on the back of his jersey?

― ailsa, Sunday, 11 July 2010 20:57 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I googled this (lol waking up at 5) and... dunno. He has never played with another player called Villa, unless he was a youth team guy who fell out of the game.

btw i will say it in full later but yeah, still nowhere near finished reading this thread (that ailsa quote is from halftime)

to america, sincerely http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/A-Message-To-All-Vuvuzela-Haters.gif

btw more answering to the thread-

'98 was a terrific final, while '06 had fucking zidane v. materazzi so no, '86 wasn't the last good final.

iniesta can't shoot

― moullet, Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:28 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

chelsea might argue

― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:30 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

still made me lol.

Since play stops anyway, why can't they actually stop the clock rather than just guessing how much time to put back on?

― brotherlovesdub, Sunday, 11 July 2010 21:58 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

There are many things in play here as to why. Firstly, it is presumed that the amount of time a game will take would change and considering this is a sport that is too afraid of cameras telling correct decisions, sepp blatter would prefer to suck off platini's shaking body live on television than consider it. The second big reason: fear that stopping the play would lead to it being abused for television advertising purposes. The game still exists primarily for the enjoyment of the crowd, no matter what corny fuxx like myself who never go to games say, and so for them to wait two minutes between every throw in to advertise carlsberg would presumably drive down attendances. (this, even more than it being a ridiculously shit sport, is why i cannot watch that one super game of lol american football they show a year). Plus many other reasons.

i gotta say it kind of blew my mind to turn on these games and get to watch two hours of nearly uninterrupted sports. sooooo much more fun to watch without commercials.

Hansen: "I don't think there is any place in football for how Holland approached this match."

...says the guy full of praise for shitkickers like Bolton every week on MoTD.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 11 July 2010 22:08 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss_7WGYa9nQ

Fat Ronaldo being forced to play aside, 98 was shit. 2 Zidane goals from poorly marked corners, Fat Ronaldo missed two really good chances, Desailly sent off for something innocuous, Petit makes it look impressive with nearly the last kick of the ball. France flooded the midfield to kill the game from the start, playing with only Stephane Guivarc'h up front and even he got replaced by another midfielder on about the hour mark.

dude http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/46914328_60e966ef3e.jpg

Point taken, forgot that WC was your Rafa thread.

Ok I have read the thread.

Iniesta's tshirt said something about Daniel Sturridge moving to Chelsea, iirc.

This was the best fucking game. This was the best world cup I've lived through (i.e. no '86).

It had everything you could want. Karate kicks, intense chances, great saves, someone nearly scoring from the halfway line, pantomine villains (srs fuck you robben, if you easily rounded the keeper on your RIGHT FUCKING FOOT YES IT DOES EXIST you would have won the world cup), it had everything.

The tactical game was intense. Spain went for it and so the Dutch changed the game and stuck their foot in. The Spanish added width with Jesus Navas and so the Dutch bought on VDV to win the middle of the pitch, while van Persie went wide and Robben could use his speed to catch them on the break. Both keepers were excellent. van Bommel v. Xavi AND Busquets and De Jong v. Alonso was fucking mental. Sneijder scared the shit out of Pique; Iniesta had Matt Tyson (as the commentators kept calling him, think they just started calling him Tyson in the end) losing his marbles. Fouls were made. Of course they would be! It's the World Cup final and the likes of fucking Champions League winning creative midfielders Xavi, Iniesta and Sneijder done got on the ball, what you gonna do, let them pass? Spain were cunty and surrounded Coward Webb and fell over too easily but its Spain and I've already covered the pantomine villain aspect. I guess America doesn't understand this because their villains are into dog fighting and murdering and etc.

Football is not about goals, it is about drama. And this game had it more than any match I've seen since City beat Arsenal 4-2 w/ that Adebayor celebration. Plus now if I ever meet Casillas I want to give him a big hug.

The world cup in general was the best fun as well and I finished it £30 up, thank you Forlan to score anytime bets.

France, England, Maradona and Italy bought the lols. Uruguay, Ghana and Paraguay bought the underdog fun. Portugal, Germany and Uruguay scored a shit load of goals. Maicons! Gios! Full backs killed it, again. Forlan finally got the appreciation he has deserved for the past five years - if only Freddie Kanoute also made it, ey? Suarez's celebration, not to mention his finish off the turn onto the post. So glad I chose Uruguay as my team.

Germany(/Bayern) and Spain(/more than a dna), and to a lesser extent Holland(/Ajax) have shown the world how it is done. England and France and Italy will never learn their lessons, the comedy value too high. Germany were the nuts in this world cup! After a decade of boring Ballack-Klose shit, it turns out that there was a very obvious solution to making the world root for them. Hope Capello takes the Ballack-to-Ozil step in his next team.

Plus lolbert green.

Here's a thing, me and all the people I was watching with were laughing when Iniesta took his shirt off after scoring, because we were all sure he'd been booked in the first half. Lawro said as much at the time, something like "he's been booked before..." slightly off-mike. It was even mentioned in the commentary earlier when there was an Iniesta/van Bommel handbags thing and it looked like they were both going to be booked and the commentator talked about them both maybe being off. I was texting onimo at the time, and he was sure too.

So how did we all hallucinate it?

only remember puyol and ramos getting yellows in the 1st?

Yeah, it was 3-2 to Holland on yellows at the end of the 1st.

Webb had a below par game - all the players he could have sent off and he gives a red to Heitinga for something pretty innocuous (a hand on a shoulder for which the Spaniard went down like he'd been hit in the back with an axe).

Would argue that was an exactly up to par game for Howard Webb.

It was a bookable offence and his second of such, don't really see what the quarrel is there - didn't think the boot to the chest was anything like a straight red either, dangerous play sure but not something that was gonna land anyone in the emergency ward. Basically I really really dislike the unspoken notion that when more than say eight yellows get given out in a game it's automatically some weakness on the part of the referee

the previous record for a final was six cards in 1986

iniesta didn't get booked in normal time for body-checking van bommel but he should have

Graun claiming this was the worst World Cup of modern times which is surely bollocks for anyone who remembers 2002.

Football is about 22 men in search of a result, nothing more and nothing less.

really? nothing more and nothing less?

Basically I really really dislike the unspoken notion that when more than say eight yellows get given out in a game it's automatically some weakness on the part of the referee

^^^^this.

John O'Shea didn't get a yellow for his karate kick on Drogba did he? The one that made him have a stroke on the floor? So sending off De Jong for something as similarly awesome would just be rong by Coward Webby.

http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/drogbafit.gif

oh wait webb in not being the ref for a game where a utd player doesnt get sent off for something horrible shocker. must have been another of the any refs in the game.

Blatter's photobomb was successful:

http://imgur.com/TQzdO.jpg

Every corrupt international federation gets the Karl 'Fat Neck' Power it deserves

Let's all laugh at English refereeing (and English goalkeeping and English managers)

Remind me next time the Superbowl is on to constantly post on the relevant ILX thread comparing it to cricket or darts

But that would entail actually watching the Superbowl

I think it would have been a travesty of justice if O'Shea had got sent off for the late challenge by Evans.

But that would entail actually watching the Superbowl

No, just knowing when it was on, and then posting endlessly 'hey these guys flop a lot more than Eric Bristow' (or something).

New LOLAmericanism = 'flop' for 'dive'

Worst loss since the Cape Colony in 1795 iirc

- Dutch had the right tactics but it boiled over with De Jong who should have been sent off. No huge deal that he wasn't and it nearly worked. Football is not just 'beautiful game' bollocks sheesh. Seedorf was excellent.

- Well done Spain for showing a lot of resilience (as did the Dutch against the likes of Brazil) against Chile, Paraguay and the Dutch. They were tested and came through every single time. Iniesta goal excellent. Glad it didn't go to penalties.

- Seen every final since Italia '90, and this has been the best one. Actually really good game. This and last WC have been great.

- Don't see why Holland won't 'ever win a WC' like someone upthread said. England may never win a WC tho'.

- Premiership (and Sky) can go away for the next six months. WC will always rule.

New LOLAmericanism = 'flop' for 'dive'

Not as bad as PK for penalty. Or, even worse, the 'PK shootout'.

'98 final rubbish (brazil didn't turn up), as was '02 (Brazil did turn up).

'02 tournament remains worse in living memory (South Korea's run aside)

'02 = more French comedy

Okay final, good tournament - not quite as good as the mighty 06 (my favourite ever), but much better than anything going back to 94. God, '02 was vile.

Thoroughly dislike Spain, their pass dive pout 1-0 football, and the tiresome arselicking they get from the socceratti despite featuring in pretty much every single one of the dullest games in the tournament, but yeah, they deserved to win the final. Kudos to Holland for trying to kick them into doing something memorable.

Fond memories of Uruguay, Ghana, Germany, Chile, France, England (the latter two for lols) and Paul the fucking octopus.

Graun claiming this was the worst World Cup of modern times which is surely bollocks for anyone who remembers 2002.

Pretty much everything the Graun says about football these days is bollocks, even Jonathan Wilson has jumped the shark with his 'germany are reactive, goals are overrated' nonsense.

Pretty much everything the Graun says about football these days is bollocks

The World Cup final drew a peak audience of 17.9m viewers on BBC One, and 3.8m on ITV1

Each and every one of those 3.8m people should be hunted down and placed in camps for their own protection.

No way??!?! That's a disaster for ITV!

xps if we exercised every potential strikethrough there we'd be looking at another 8,000 post thread tbf

Where's that from James? That is hardcore comedy if tru stats

BBC News.

It's on the BBC website, so probably not true stats. Or they picked the BBC's peak figures and ITV's lowest over the course of the evening.

Good to see all that money ITV spent on Chiles paying off though.

tbh 17.9m Brits watching Spain play Netherlands is just as unbelievable.

Live coverage of Spain's 1-0 victory over Holland in extra time averaged 18.4 million viewers and a 66% audience share across four channels – BBC1, BBC HD, ITV1 and ITV1 HD – between 7.30pm and 10.05pm.

However, the BBC's audience was 15.1 million (54%), compared with 3.3 million (12%) for ITV.

The BBC1/BBC HD coverage peaked at 17.9 million (60%) in the five minutes before 10pm, while ITV1/ITV1 HD's peak of 3.8 million (13%) was five minutes later.

And this is spite of the Beeb having the deadly dull duo of Mowbray/Lawrenson

The BBC1/BBC HD coverage peaked at 17.9 million (60%) in the five minutes before 10pm

Lots of these people just switched on for the news basically?

Yes, the nightly news will always be more popular than any World Cup Final held every four years

Kevin McCarra's Graun match report is on some Helen Lovejoy shit - I'm not saying it was pretty but wind it in man, the spotless face of football is not being seriously threatened by a bunch of niggly bookings

Yes, the nightly news will always be more popular than any World Cup Final held every four years

Not what I'm saying, just wondering why coverage peaked after 9.55.

The end of Top Gear on BBC2?

That's reason to celebrate

'After a World Cup final of so toxic a nature the stadium is in need of decontamination more than the regular clean-up.'

Jeeeeeez, football pundits need to take a dose of reality and lighten the fuck up. Best World Cup moments EVER have to include: Rattin (66), Schumacher (82), Maradonna handball, Caniggia getting clogged by Cameroon, ZZ headbutt and Suarez handball. This shit is gold!

Christ, imagine how insufferable that cockfarmer Alan Green would have been.

Kevin McCarra's Graun match report is on some Helen Lovejoy shit

This guy gets paid to write about football? Example:

Before an hour was completed it had been necessary for Webb to caution Holland's Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Despite being captain, veteran and cultivated left-back, not even he was above the ugliness.

Did he actually see the incident that led to van Bronckhorst's, entirely unnecessary imo, booking?

Some of these lads better not see Stoke play next season or there's going to be coronaries.

Surely the Guardian would not sully themselves by sending one of their correspondents all the way to Stoke-on-Trent?

It's not that far from Manchester.

oh hang on what century is this?

It's not that far from Manchester.

^ line used by Guardian Sports Editor to staff

I actually quite like McCarra in that I used to know him and he is a decent bloke, but he suffers like all football journalists from this weird jaded romanticism that means they cannot celebrate or enjoy or relish ugliness in any form because they are so imbued with tired nostalgia.

The guardian has it worse than most. Bloody Richard Williams after the quarter-finals was bemoaning how these games (esp. uruguay-ghana, holland-brazil and spain-paraguay) left a bad taste in the mouth, stained the morality of the game, blah-de-fucking blah, when they were actually absolutely fucking brilliant because of the simple honest-to-good old-fashioned drama.

I'm not a footballing nihilist, but I do like a bit of rule-bending and comedy thuggery. Does this make me satan?

Somebody being the heel is an essential part of a lot of great football matches, especially when you're more or less neutral. That said I wanted Spain to beat Holland's one-note kicking last night, but like I said at the time if Holland had combined their stopping tendencies with a little more commitment to the counter then they could've actually won the thing.

Football, like Art, has fuck all to do with morality afaic

If Robben had taken his chance they would have been WC winners. Cassilas did well.

Its not nihilistic at all. All the stuff that gets branded as 'anti-football' is a totally valid part of the game.

Okay final, good tournament - not quite as good as the mighty 06 (my favourite ever), but much better than anything going back to 94. God, '02 was vile.

Thoroughly dislike Spain, their pass dive pout 1-0 football, and the tiresome arselicking they get from the socceratti despite featuring in pretty much every single one of the dullest games in the tournament, but yeah, they deserved to win the final. Kudos to Holland for trying to kick them into doing something memorable.

Fond memories of Uruguay, Ghana, Germany, Chile, France, England (the latter two for lols) and Paul the fucking octopus.

― Pete W, Monday, 12 July 2010 11:50 (45 minutes ago)

Agree 100% with this post

Thirded

Chile - Spain was a memorable first half; Spain-Paraguay was a memorable 2nd half; Germany-Spain was an excellent SF.

This WC final was better than '06, so how were all the games that Spain were involved in 'dull' again?

Second half of Chile - Spain, after Chile scored in the 46th minute, was the most abysmal spectacle I've ever seen on a football pitch

although the reason why the Spain games were so fundamentally dull is that they kept winning by one second-half goal, as if they were a horrible machine of torture sent to torment Everyone Else

People need to wean themselves off this terrible addiction to goals imo

Have you seen much WC, lj? The last group games do sometimes go into dullsville.

Maybe people who don't like low scoring games might like to try American sports?

Have any World Cup Winners scored fewer goals than Spain (on average)? There's a good one for the statisticians.

Spain have the lowest total and the lowest average scored by the champions of any tournament. That's my kind of record.

from optajoe twitter 8 - Spain become the lowest scoring side to win the #worldcup with just eight goals to their name. Functional

I don't mind low-scoring games, but I don't particularly enjoy games in which a large number of the attacks fail on the edge of the penalty area, or through poor crosses and so on. It leads to feelings of frustration. The exception to this is when I am supporting a team, so for example I really enjoyed North Korea's defensive play against Brazil.

NB I am totally not on this Beautiful Game nostalgists bollocks "THIS IS HOW THE GAME SHOULD BE PLAYED" shtick, but a) Spain are really fucking entertaining to watch imo and b) the 1-0 drubbing is maybe my favourite football score.

I've given up arguing with people who think loads of goals = fantastic football. I don't think I've ever succeeded in anything other than making them all o_O

OK, Spain weren't involved in THE dullest games, consider me agreeing with Pete W merely 95%. But there's such a thing as a 1-0 win done with a well-executed teamplan overcoming a side it might not otherwise beat, playing to the best of its ability and using resources well - and there's such a thing as a 1-0 where you have better players and you stumble cautiously over the line like a maiden aunt driving a Wrangler

LOOK I DON'T THINK FOOTBALL NEEDS LOADS OF GOALS TO BE FANTASTIC, DID I EVER SAY THAT?! HAVE I NOT PRAISED NUMEROUS LOW-SCORING GAMES FOR BEING GREAT? IN 2006 MY FAVOURITE GAMES WERE PORTUGAL 1-0 HOLLAND AND SWEDEN 0-0 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FFS

I think it takes something special to win the World Cup through a series of 1-0 wins and still have commentators salivating.

Kind of disagree with "Holland tried to kick Spain into doing something memorable"... The first 10 minutes had Spain slotting several little balls behind the Dutch defense, it seemed like they were really going for it.

You should be in 66% agreement with Pete.

When Greece won euros everyone was up in arms, now Spain win everyone is pissed off. Premiership has really done a good job here.

there's such a thing as a 1-0 where you have better players and you stumble cautiously over the line like a maiden aunt driving a Wrangler

But sometimes you do shitloads of donuts round and round the carpark, play your music really loud, nearly flip the thing over a couple of times, spin a load more donuts, then vroom off into the distance parping the horn and flicking vees at passing old people.

You usually need a certain amount of goals just to shift the focus of the drama - I was getting frustrated by the passing up of chances as we went on last night. Not always though - again I'd cite Italy-Germany 2006 as the perfect match, but I appreciate it needed its godlike resolution to reach that pinnacle.

I'm really looking at things from a narrative-structural perspective though, which is not I think how anyone else watches football, so I tend to keep quiet in real life.

The stats are striking:

2010
Spain 8 goals (average 1.1)

2006
Italy 12 (1.7)

2002
Brazil 18 (2.6)

1998
France 15 (2.1)

1994
Brazil 11 (1.6)

1990
Germany 15 (2.1)

1986
Argentina 14 (2.0)

1982
Italy 12 (1.7)

1978
Argentina 15 (2.1)

1974
Germany 13 (1.9)

1970
Brazil 19 (3.2)

1966
England 11 (1.8)

1962
Brazil 14 (2.3)

1958
Brazil 16 (2.7)

1954
Germany 25 (4.2)

1950
Uruguay 15 (3.8)

1938
Italy 11 (2.8)

1934
Italy 12 (2.4)

1930
Uruguay 15 (3.8)

'1-0 to the Espanol'

Note previous lowest goals scored by winning teams: Brazil 1994 (bit of a surprise there?) and England 1966 (no surprise there - and 4 of those were in the final!)

x-posts

I don't like the way Spain play football particularly, they stifle the opposition with possession which is every bit as tedious as ten men behind the ball and less prone to hilarious schedenfraude, and it doesn't have the tightrope drama of a great defensive display. Iniesta is a marvel, and the rest of them are outstanding technician but not in a way that makes me actually want to ever watch them play. (Cesc would make a big difference.) (I liked them in 08, especially Senna.)

On dullsville: Spain-Chile was so-so, Spain-Paraguay had a great two minutes and a whole lot of shit, and Spain-Germany was impressive but in a very antiseptic way, and it was sad to see the most entertaining team in the tournament drained of vim.

Spain are like watching a technically profficient but utterly tedious keyboard solo or something. This probably makes me horribly English, but I like a bit of rough about my football teams, a bit of wtf? With Spain you knew what you would get: lots of passing, almost as much pouting and a 1-0 victory.

And they do it all with such haughty, we-are-above-all-this, self-important grandeur.

Oh, and I also don't have a problem with low-scoring games at all. hell, I'm a Mourinho obsessive, how could i dare?

No surprise Brazil 94, they were horrible and the final finished 0-0

I should add that my football outlook is currently almost entirely shaped by the Chelsea-Barcelona semis of 2009.

When Greece won euros

I was all 'HAHAHA AWESOME' :D

The worst thing about Greece 04 is that I now keep wanting underdogs to lose, lest they get successful playing like that

Would really love a Ghana or a South Korea to go all out and win something playing positively sometime.

Japan ftw

Was delighted with those two Asian sides. They'll both be playing like Spain in four years' time.

was schumacher really comedy thuggery and not just straight-up thuggery?

Thanks to Pete w for reminding me of Caniggia vs Cameroon in 1990. Hurdling one knee high challenge only to be felled by a second thigh high one. Majestic!!

lol never realised the schumacher tackle had such brutal results

Battiston was knocked unconscious, and later slipped into a coma. He also lost his two front teeth and had a damaged vertebra. He received oxygen on the pitch. Michel Platini later said that he thought that Battiston had died, because "he had no pulse and looked pale".

Yes yes, but did you see how disgusting Holland were last night?

This probably makes me horribly English, but

ILFootball board description plz

I've never felt that that Schumacher tackle looked at all malicious, just incredibly reckless, but ppl talk about it like it was the Rodney King beating

New LOLAmericanism = 'flop' for 'dive'

― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Monday, July 12, 2010 5:28 AM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Not as bad as PK for penalty. Or, even worse, the 'PK shootout'.

― James Mitchell, Monday, July 12, 2010 5:42 AM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

going for the Sun 'soccerball' angle here I assume

And they do it all with such haughty, we-are-above-all-this, self-important grandeur.

how can you tell this!?

i really enjoyed the spanish possession game; the passing is quite beautiful and sometimes even thrilling, and the whole 'pouting'/'haughty' thing--i dunno they are about a million times more likable than the english team

In general the Spanish players appear to be level-headed kind of alright sound guys don't they?

From what you can tell by looking at them on TV anyway!

yeah i do my fair share of projecting too but i dont really see any of the spanish players being hateable, not the way c ronaldo is, for example

I think its the involvement of Americans on this thread that has got us going lol. All their sports are like lebron runs up the court and scores, kobe runs up the court and scores, lebron runs up the court and scores etc. etc. until its over. ok there was once that time spurs scored a lot against wigan last season but really most of us learnt that watching football and expecting goals is bullshit and stupid under the age of ten.

Except it's mostly British people getting pissy about the lack of goals.

americans get all pissy about 'diving' which is another thing i cant really bring myself to care about

I am not pissy about the lack of goals

yeah i do my fair share of projecting too but i dont really see any of the spanish players being hateable, not the way c ronaldo is, for example

― max, Monday, 12 July 2010 14:52 (24 seconds ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

http://www.gfdb.com/images%5Cpictures%5Cplayers%5Csergio-ramos.jpg

and Busquets is a dick. But yeah, Spain seem to be made up of decent players. Lots of their cunts got left at home for this reason (lol reyes having his first good season in forever and the rest of that ahtletico side while i think about it.)

Just fucking hate Barcelona and Barcelona players. Imagine being a Cleveland fan if Miami took a LeBron from them every other year and years they couldn't afford to do so, they try and unsettle a player until he wants out, plays badly and gets cheaper on his wavering form.

penalty kick system bothers me more than diving and lack of goals

Yeah I was mostly calling out Sam for being a lazy kneejerk merchant.

Diving is more annoying than either of the others because, well, it's actually cheating.

cleveland only had one lebron iirc

penalty kick system bothers me more than diving and lack of goals

― iatee, Monday, 12 July 2010 14:57 (1 minute ago)

I agree with this, actually

I really hope Sergio Ramos is going to celebrate by spending the summer on the beach surfing and drinking beer and jamming with his band who end every gig with a cover of Pretty Fly For A White Guy.

Also: Spanish spending the past decade perfecting monkey chants, hiring racist cuntflaps like Aragones, driving away Eto'o etc. makes it a pretty dislikable federation/league/whatever now I think about it.

^ This really but that appears to be Spain for ya.

Can't help but think it's interesting how few goals they score.

Yeah its mostly Britishes* going on about how exciting 4-3 scorelines are.

*Not Britishes, just lj.

lol its just lj? but that dude is our reactionary 'defending and boringness is awesome bros' guy, so i dunno if i believe this? he hasn't been HANSON'D has he?

also xxxxxxxposts yeah my bad for blaming oshea for an evans karate kick.

When did 4-3 become the typical exciting game scoreline? Was it after Liverpool - Newcastle in 1996?

Teams that concede three or four goals to anyone do not habitually reach World Cup finals.

Hang on hang on, wasn't the Matthews Final 4-3?

Also, why didn't BBC or ITV show Shakira and the elephants doing their thang in the Closing Ceremony?!

I was kidding.

I don't know much about Spanish footie beyond what I see in CL. I think 1-0s are simply a product of the specific way that Spanish team play. Weirdly not into counter-attacks or anything, but they really hold the ball in a way that just hasn't been attempted by an international side before. xp = sorta, yeah...the amount of times the BBC panel has said 'this is not exciting', the kind of 'we want goals' mentality, might go back to those results from the premiership. All I think about when I hear those scorelines is how crap the defending must have been for supposedly top sides.

but that dude is our reactionary 'defending and boringness is awesome bros' guy

None of you know me very well, do you?

Football works both as a narrative (and goals can only add to a narrative) and as a team effort (i.e. to overcome an opposition via attack AND defence) - a great game of football is a conglomeration of narrative and team will, and consequently be it 0-0 or 5-4, it can either be a thing of wonder or an error-strewn mess

and yeah, I HAVE seen a bad 5-4. Arsenal 5-4 Spurs a few seasons ago. Not a good game.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yoIcUU-0DB0/S8h6MTzeMWI/AAAAAAAAAYk/FyWso2DA6R0/s1600/Monocle-man.gif

Andres Iniesta, pictured at Spain's World Cup victory party.

Just before falling over in mock agony and running whingeing towards the ref.

i am admittedly not an expert but isnt this mostly the same spanish team that won a bunch of euro 2008 games by higher scores than 1-0? suggesting that the proliferation of 1-0s has less to do w/ their specific style of play and more to do w/, say, an injured player who is a valuable goal scorer?

it has a lot to do with opposition teams playing strictly on the counter-attack and asking Spain to find a way to break them down

Torres only scored two at Euro 2008

Teams that concede three or four goals to anyone do not habitually reach World Cup finals.

West Germany '82, Italy '70, Germany '54, Czechoslovakia '62... ;)

lj that was obviously a joek.

Is there a decent write up of that Dutch team anywhere? I feel that the reason why Spain were so god damn effective is because it was SO many players who are at the top of the game all at once, put together with smart tactics worked out, more or less together for years. In essence that should describe the total football Dutch team but were they all actually that good? Or in reality was it more of a 'Maradona makes this Argentina team look super awesome when they really only have a handful of decent players' but with Cryuff and Neeskens?

Spain in 2008 beat Russia 3-0 and 4-1 and Greece and Sweden 2-1. The difference is that no one expected them to win the tournament, everyone thought of them as serial chokers. This time round everyone was terrified of them.

Just looking at that German team that lost in the 2008 final and it's amazing how much the team has changed in such a short time.

it has a lot to do with opposition teams playing strictly on the counter-attack and asking Spain to find a way to break them down

― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Monday, July 12, 2010 10:14 AM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

ok, sorry, if this is actually why spain is winning a bunch of 1-0s, and you guys still hate spain, than i dunno, fuck u all--if opposition teams are playing from a defensive position and demanding that spain do all the work, and then spain does all the work and beats them, thats amazing!

yeah i do not understand the spain hate!

when they really only have a handful of decent players' but with Cryuff and Neeskens?

... and Rep, Haan, van Hanegem, Krol

It takes a lot of work to disrupt Spain's midfield passing! Teams were putting in a massive shift, but Spain played with little imagination or variance IMO.

Spain were the favourites in every game they played, and yet in the knock-out stages they stuck to one gameplan and it was just about good enough.

I wouldn't hate them if they'd filled me with any sort of joy! Only VERY rarely could one say 'too good' to oneself, mostly when countenancing their admittedly hugely impressive defensive organisation.

you are such a psycho

if a team consistently winning games doesnt excite or interest you it may be your problem and not the teams

LOL, I think he's right tho

If only they could put Carlos Puyol upfront and hoof it up to him more often.

if a team consistently winning games doesnt excite or interest you it may be your problem and not the teams

Far too American

max: The '08 team played significantly different in a defensive sense. Marchena was seen as a liability and so Senna was told to sit back at all times. But with Senna as an out-and-out anchor man, the likes of Silva and Iniesta were given free reign to push forward, leading Spain to have more men in and around the box, being faster on the counter attack and so on.

Senna is now 33 or 34 and only playing a bit part role for a stagnant Villareal team and Pique has made Spain have a much stronger back four, so Del Bosque was able to be frivolous and play three similar midfielders, all as registas. This midfield three of Alonso, Xavi and Busquets meant that Spain controlled the ball, and who controls the ball controls the game but only having 11 players and 3 of them in or around the centre circle meant they had sufficient width and not enough players trying to get into attacking positions in front of these three to make attacking moves. Their passing imo became self indulgent because of this and less chances could be created, obviously leading to less goals being scored.

when they really only have a handful of decent players' but with Cryuff and Neeskens?

... and Rep, Haan, van Hanegem, Krol

― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Monday, 12 July 2010 15:23 (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Yeah, so what about the rest is my question. Were they journeymen made great by a select few?

World Cup Final, 2010, some thoughts:

I was really happy that this didn't go to penalties, something I started dreading from about twenty minutes in. That said, I held hope the entire game that one side or the other might score.

I really hate it when a ref tried to impose hismelf so much on a game and so early. Webb not only made the game too much about him as opposed to the players, he made the game more tentative and duller. It was a good game, imo, but it might have been a little brighter had he not been such a card wielding nanny.

would netherlands winning have added to the narrative? the narrive of you can win tournaments through shitty deflections and offside goals and bad tackles and arjen robben?

Like max i thought i well enjoyed watching the possession game Spain were playing, the way players moved around to make themselves available and the quickness of mind and feet and the skill of just moving the ball around so quickly and controlling them (i thought it was impressive with netherlands pressing hard esp during the first half and the spanish players never looked hurried or panicked - put the england team in there they would have hoofed the ball out to touch after the second pass) perhaps it's just that that's the way I play pro-evo too.

Thought germany actually played a similar game and perhaps even better or maybe they were against more naive/inept defenders more of the time.

if the world cup was a league table all the way, with all 32 teams, who do you think would've won it?

the dutch.

robben/sneijder/vdv regularly pwnd barcelona when they were in spain as my explanation.

http://cache.techie-buzz.com/images/postimg/PitchInvaderPuttingHatonWorldCupTrophyVi_E418/world_cup_pitch_invader.jpg

frivolous! self-indulgent!

so many negative adjectives to describe a team that just won the world cup!

Yeah, so what about the rest is my question. Were they journeymen made great by a select few?

Well, journeymen is a bit of a loaded term. How many of the Spanish side are actually "great"? None of the defence, if you ask me,

max, Spain are blessed with many great, great footballing talents, and it seemed to me that they were coasting a bit, rather than making the most of their resources - teams I like the most are teams that innovate depending on who is available and what is within the grasp of the team to achieve

Spain were very hard to beat, and they were solid all the way up the pitch, so they deserved to win.

The two centre-backs are very, very good, albeit with weaknesses (Puyol = a bit slow these days, Pique = not the finished article)

I really hate it when a ref tried to impose hismelf so much on a game and so early. Webb not only made the game too much about him as opposed to the players, he made the game more tentative and duller

lol this is like the exact opposite of most ppl's beef with him I've seen - I'm more sympathetic to it than the legions of knownothings adamant that Holland should have been playing with eight men by the end of the first half, but I still think it's harsh on him. The actual amount of (at least potentially) important decisions he had to make was abnormally high for a football match played at any level, I suspect

every single world cup goal in one video. wonder if they put in fat franks.

Puyol is still p fast - only Robben was able to get past him all summer? Pique is about a season away from being the next Beckenbauer. Ramos, cunt though he is, is the 3rd best right back in the world.

max: they are an outstanding team, there is no doubt. man for man only the brazilians come close. but the tactics were indulgent and overly cautious, esp considering how many goals Barca scored the past two seasons.

lol this is like the exact opposite of most ppl's beef with him I've seen

Really, most people I spoke too thought he dished out far too many cards and lost control and the respect of the players

Webb ever getting respect in the 1st seems p lol.

And they do it all with such haughty, we-are-above-all-this, self-important grandeur.

Forgot you were talking abt Spanish players and thought you were talking abt English people complaining about 'PK'/'flop'/'soccer'/ya-KOO-bu or YAKKA-boo or whatever the wrong way to say it is/defenseman vs. defender/goalie. I think since USA outclassed every other English-speaking country in the world this year at the world cup MAYBE IT'S TIME TO HUSH UP AND LET EM TALK LIKE THEY WANNA TALK. but what do i know my english-speaking country is ranked 63 by FIFA and one of our commentators is Jason De Vos (wtf) and my local team is called THE IMPACT and everyone thinks they know shit about the game because the cup is on TV and they get hockey and how different are they really etc.

a million xposts obv

fun fact about our national team: the latest squad has a combined 15 international goals, almost half of which are PAUL STALTERI'S and one of which is a goalie's. haaaaaaaa

Bolton Impact?

Ghana has 47 local languages. English is the country's official language and predominates government and business affairs.

GET IT UP YE. (no offence like.)

lol Will M.

srsly hat off 2 u

btw was gonna post this, still feels good man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S58rstMhKK8

will never forget Stalteri's 60-yard long ball into the top corner for me in FIFA 06. :')

got to say I don't normally follow any of the rolling football threads (epl; spl; etc, on here or other forums) but did for this WC but had to stop just after the knockout stages... whodda thunk football fans on the internet had such virulent ~opinions~? : )

not so much on ilx but on other forums the amount of sanctimony, contrariness and just plain wrongheadedness was p.tiring (I'm no innocent party either)

~so naive~

yeah guys if you think I'm bad you should try reading some other forums

anyone ever read BigSoccer? yeah.

I mean that site's US National Team board alone would probably put most of the Britishes off the game for good.

i guess im just going to have to agree to disagree with these nutbars about spain

and I am going to disagree with you about the New York Yankees