Day 4 thoughts
Day 5 thoughts
Group F preview
Group G preview
Japan-Croatia
The Croat jerseys are either Pizza Hut tablecloth circa 1988, old-skool Nintendo version of Super Mario Bros., picnic tablecloths, or some sort of clown outfits. I think it is safe to say that they are the official squad of stoners, shroomers, and trippers the world over.
You know she's 420 friendly.
The match looks less than scintillating on paper, but should be open and free-flowing, as both teams like to go forward.
0-0. HT. Good chances for both teams, but better chances for Croatia. They hit the bar and also were awarded a penalty, but some dude who somewhat resembles Sergio Garcia had his kick saved by the Japanese goalkeeper.
Ever since his stint at Arsenal several years ago, every time I see or hear Inamoto, I immediately think or say his name in the voice of Beavis doing Cornholio, and for some reason this never gets old and always makes me chuckle.
Inamoto!
Yanigisawa for Japan has the miss of the tournament thusfar, when a cross comes in from the right and he has 90% of the goal completely open, but not only scuffs his shot but hits it back to the right of the goalkeeper and the goal. Tricky to explain, but is was horrid. Probably not quite bad enought to make this incredible tribute to astonishing misses, but still the miss of the tournament to date.
"Holy shit what a miss."
Japan 0-0 Croatia.
All things considered a fair result. Croatia hit the bar and had a penalty saved, but Japan has the miss of the tournament, missing a completely open goal from about 5 yards out. If my math is correct then both teams are still mathematically alive no matter what happens in the Selecao-Socceroos match.
Brasil-Australia
As a battle of nations with hott women, this is about as good as it gets.
2 words on the women of Brasil: Que Ridiculo.
I thought that Brasil didn't play as bad as everyone ripped them for, but I think part of that was down to the insane level of hype and them also being the centerpiece of Nike's marketing campaign. After being indundated for the past 6 months with how incredible they are, casual and not-so-casual fans alike would naturally be disappointed by anything less than a 24-0 win over Croatia.
Oz: no slouches in the hottie dept.
I look for them to play much better today, and it should be a very exciting match becasue Australia will not play cattenacio and try to stop Brasil, they will go forward and attack as only a Guus Hiddink coached team knows how to do. Also, they are a very proud and competitive sporting nation, and not at all afraid of big sporting matches on the world stage (Australia currently hold the World Cup titles in both Rugby AND Cricket). Should be super exciting.
Although I fancy Australia, and picked them before the tournament to go through, upset Italy and make it to the quarterfinals, I think Brasil will do the business today and win 3-1 or 4-2. I am expecting that Big East Ken will lead this team to a better performance.
They also win this battle about 4-2.
9.12 a.m. Exciting start, Brasil are up for it, and the atmosphere in the stadium is straight-up electric. This match should be a 90 minute ad for Joga Bonito.
Check that. Make it 5-1.
9.14 - Emerton for Australia is called for a foul, then booked (yellow) for screaming "Ooh, FUCK OFF!" at the referee. Rooney-esque.
9.19 - Just like Brasil-Croatia, the best and most exciting thing that could happen for this match would if if Australia could score first. It would be a Holy Shit! moment, and the excitement would really jump up a notch.
9.21 - Brasil's traditional uniforms are awesome, but I must say that these all-blue Australia alternate jerseys are sweet. Never seen them before, but they look sharp and clean. Good on ya, mates.
9.32 - That yellow for Ronaldo would not have been given by itself, but was given because earlier the referee had to stop play and warn him when he pushed a Socceroo in frustration while waiting for a free kick. Just FYI - refs often warn a player, then if he does something else, he is given a yellow card for an accumulation of things that by themselves would not merit a yellow card.
9.36 - Good building leading to a volley chance for Ronaldo in the box, but he whiffed. If you are a hockey fan, then the announcer would have said "he fanned on it."
9.43 - Adriano, who has the strongest shot in the world in my opinion, looks like he is going to try to use it, then backheels instead onto the diagonal crossing run of Ronaldo, whose long shot is just wide.
9.46 - Bresciano for Australia with perhaps the best chance of the match, just misses on a curling rocket shot from outside the box.
HT. 0-0. Brasil certainly look more dangerous and seem like they may very well score just about every time they go forward, but Australia are NKOTB: they are hangin' tough, and have even created a few chances of their own, especially that last one. This is one hell of a compelling scoreless draw.
10.04 - Game on. If Ronaldo doesn't score a goal by the 60 or 65th minute, look for him to be replaced by Robinho.
10.08 - GOL Brasil! A beautiful yet simple goal, great pass from Ronaldinho to Ronaldo, who is just onside. He then draws the attention of 3 Aussie defenders before squaring to Adriano, he of the massive left foot an nealy nonexistent right foot. Adriano goes to his left and slots home into the corner - nearly unsavable. Impressive that although Adriano has the hardest shot in the world, he went for placement instead.
10.09 - The next 5-10 minutes are HUGE for Australia. They need to settle down and maintain order, as Brasil's adrenaline is pumping and they sense blood and will try to turn their sudden momentum into another goal and open the floodgates to a romp.
10.15 - Australia: mission accomplished. They have a pseudo breakaway, which turns to nothing, then a rocket shot just over the bar, settling things back down and reminding them that they are still in the match.
10.16 - Harry Kewell blasts over the net with Dida on the ground and the wide open goal at his mercy. A horrible, horrible miss. Amazing. Reminded me of a Ryan Giggs miss with the goal completely at his mercy in a ManU-Arsenal match a few years ago (FA Cup 2003 maybe?)
10.17 - Australia's confidence is restored and they are doing the Guus Hiddink and going forward in "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" fashion. Awesome stuff.
10.20 - An hour gone, 30 minutes still to go. I'm saying it now: this is the best and most exciting match of the World Cup so far (CFB fans- this is USC-Fresno State from last year) What a treat.
10.26 - Liverpool's 'Arry Kewell just missed with a 35 yard screamer kicked on a full running sprint. Like Swindle's Arizona State preview, this match rocks your face off!
10.29 - Heart-stopping end to end action: Kaka with a good shot forces a great save from Schwartzer. 10 seconds later, Australia has a chance inside Dida's 6 yard box. I don't want this match to end.
10.30 - Aging holding midfielder Emerson is replaced by Arsenal's holding midfielder Gilberto Silva. Ronaldo has also been replaced with Robhino as predicted.
10.31 - Robinho has a long shot that is high and wide.
10.35 - Amazing, total Joga Bonito buildup by Brasil leading to a scissor kick from Robinho that is deflected onto the crossbar.
10.36 - Another rocket shot well saved by Schwartzer, followed by another long shot wide by Brasil's Juan.
10.38 - Wow! Flying scissor-kick volley from Bresciano from 15 yards is going for the corner but a world class save by Dida preserves the lead.
10.38 - Adriano runs into the 6 yard box but his shot is blocked.
10.39 - Roberto Carlos screaming free kick from 35 yards sails over, but results in a corner kick.
10.39 - R10's corner meets Kaka's head, and the ball meets the crossbar. Another corner.
10.41 - This match is flat out fucking amazing. Forget USC-Fresno State from last year, this is the Rose Bowl (presented by AT&T).
10.42 - Jesus this is just ridiculous. Australia free kick is headed by Viduka, beats Dida, and is wide of the post by about 4 inches.
10.44 - Viduka chips Dida, beats him, and the ball floats aganozingly slowly throught the air... and over by a foot onto the top of the net.
10.45 - Fred on for Adriano. 3 minutes left plus stoppage time.
10.47 - GOL Brasil! More Joga Bonito from Brasil, culminating with a rocket shot off the right (off) foot of Robinho, which is tipped by Schwartzer and comes back off the post. It falls right to Fred, who walks it in. Joy for Brasil, and you can't say they don't deserve it. Heartbreak for Australia, who battled so valiantly and deserve better than zero points from this match.
10.51 - Brasil shot blocked, falls right to Kaka, who blasts (barely) over from point blank range 12 yards out.
10.52. Full Time. The only bad thing that you can say about this match is that it had to end. My God what a match.
Brasil 2-0 Australia.
Easily and without question the best match of the tournament thusfar, and it may very well stand up and be the best overall by the time it is all said and done. At a minimum, go to the link above and watch the video highlights. Here in SF, there is a 2nd Univision affiliate that is relplaying 1 match each night at 8 p.m., and tonight they will obviously show this. If you have a similar situation in your town, watch the match. That's all I can say.
This was one of the best soccer matches I have ever seen, one of the best World Cup matches I have ever seen, and if it had finished 1-0 would defintely been the most exciting match with only 1 goal that I had ever seen. This was a 93 minute commercial for Joga Bonito. This match should be the Exhibit A refutaion for anyone who says that soccer is boring. I could go on and on.
Brasil were Brasil and you can't say that their win wasn't deserved. But in a way this match will end up being more important for Australia. This is the match that announced them to the world as a soccer nation. They played the beautiful game, battled the best team in the world, not by trying to negate them, but my challenging them to a mano-y-mano duel in Brasil's own style of play. They lost 2-nil but won the minds and hearts of fans the world over, and their jerseys will start selling like hotcakes the world over. With T&T's likely exit, this team is the world's new cinderella (think George Mason in the 2006 NCAA tournament). And their performance today, even in defeat, will put them on the world soccer map in the same way that Gonzaga's first run in the 1999 NCAA basketball tournament put their program on the map.
And if that match wasn't enough, the first 10 minutes of Republica Deportiva after the match featured the most ridiculous collention of hotttttttt women I have ever seen in my life, and I am NOT being hyperbolic. Please believe that 1) I was taping it, and 2) I am NEVER taping over it. If I knew how to get from VHS to YouTube, I would upload it for you to realize that I am not exaggerating one iota. There is only one thing to say, both to that and to the match in general: QUE RIDICULO!
Like this, but mulitplied by 20 and 100 times better.
I promise.
I would literally give my left arm to be in Rio right now. And I would literally give my right arm to be on that Republica Deportiva set right now. I defintely need own a Gulfstream G4 by the 2010 World Cup.
France-South Korea
This is a battle of two nations whose hottness-of-their-women is underappreciated. France have many more beautiful women then the are generally given credit for, and Korean women are the hottest in the Pacific Rim in my opinion because they tend to be the curviest.
Les jeune filles esperont que Francais gaigner cette match.
Et moi aussi.
Oh, soccer, right. France's somewhat aging talent but continuing disappointing play, against SK's pace. Should be another great offensive, free-flowing match with lots of chances. I like France to sort themselves out, do the business, and remind the world that they are not to be written off just yet. I'll go with 3-1 France. Allez Les Blues, et Allez Titi!
12.09 p.m. GOL! Ex-Arsenal striker Wiltord beats his man and plays a beautiful through ball to current all-time Arsenal goalscorer Henry, who clinically finishes like you would expect from the best striker in the World. Come on
"1-nil to
12.14 - France are rampant, or in Brit announcer parlance, they are "in the mood". They look much more likely to score the next goal than the Red Devils. But we all know that SK will run their socks off and never give up.
Like Korean women, the Red Devils should not be underestimated.
12.32 - Vieira scores a great headed goal off a Zidane corner kick that is saved, but not before it crosses the goal line by at least 1 yard. The goal is not given. A HORRIBLE call by the referee's assistant. Not at all like the Argentina one that wasn't given, where the replays suggested that it might have crossed the line but were inconclusive. This ball was clearly waaaay over the line, even to the naked eye in real time at full speed without the benefit of replay. Quelle dommage...
Pv4's goal, wrongly disallowed.
12.36 French fans are singing something at the top of their lungs to the tune of Beethoven's 9th. The SK fans are loud as shit as well, making the atmosphere once again electric in the stadium. Sweet. SK haven't done much to this point other than foul the shit out of the French.
12.38 - SK's 1st good chance, a header from an inswinging cross that misses by just a couple of feet.
12.40 - No less than 4 or SK's 11 players are named Kim, which is in no way confusing. Reminiscent of that old Bugs Bunny baseball skit: "First base: Bugs Bunny. Second Base: Bugs Bunny. Third base: Bugs Bunny: Left field: Bugs Bunny..."
HT. France 1-0 South Korea. Generally men against boys stuff, and unquestionably France should be ahead 2-0.
1.21 - France are rampant. They are playing Joga Bonito, which must really piss of the marketing department of Nike, since 1) they are an Adidas team 2) They are completely dominating a Nike team in SK.
1.25 - There is no question that to date, this match wins most/best/loudest/most frequent singing/cheering. Not even close, really. They must all support Pompey...
1.32 - I really like this left back for France, Abidal; hadn't seen him before. He is very Ashley Cole-ish: good skill on the ball, excellent left, foot dangerous going forward, and good at possession, vision, and passing. Makes me wonder if, like Ash, he started out as a striker, which would explain how comfortable he looks on the ball and going forward.
1.35 - This is about as dominating a 1-0 as you will ever see. It would almost be a shame if France don't get two more so that the final score would be more indicative of the level of domination (although they have already scored a 2nd, this will be forever lost to history where only scorelines are remembered).
1.38 - Yet for all that domination, the score is still 1-0, and all that France has done can be completely wiped out and nullified by one great strike, bad call, or defensice fuckup. France really need to get a 2nd and put this match to bed, especially because SK's pace advantage will be most significant in these last 12 minutes.
1.39 - Fuck me. No sooner do I write that last update, South Korea score the softest of bumbling, clusterfuck goals, causing William Gallas to pick the ball out of the net and Nick-Nolte-in-Blue-Chips that fucker deep into the crowd. Fucking unbelieveable. The worst refereeing fuckup of the World Cup thisfar now looms pretty fucking large, doesn't it? SIc minutes left: COME ON FRANCE, get a winner! Allez Les Blues!
Deux idiots donnex un cadeaux grand au Korea.
1.42 - Zidane puts Henry through 1-on-1 with the keeper, but the keepre saves Titi's shot. That would have been the first Henry goal for France from a Zidane pass.
1.44 - Henry head over. Good chance missed.
1.46 - Henry's diving header hits the crossbar, but it was (wrongly) called offsides.
1.47 - Last minute. Zidane needs to channel some of this shit.
1.48 - Nevermind. Zizou replaced by Tezeguet. You need to channel the Euro2000 final, Trezegol! Into stoppage time we go...
1.51 - SK free kick outside box. Might be last kick of game...
1.51 - JUST wide.
1.51 - Full time.
France 1-1 South Korea.
What a fucking joke. That 2nd goal that France clearly scored will go down as one of the worst calls in World Cup history. It was plainly obvious in real time, beyond doubt, without even needing to see a replay. A total disgrace.
Pretty much sums it up.
I want to post a photo of Vieira's headed ball clearly waaay over the line, so if any of you see one out there on the internets please let me know. I guess it will also be on YouTube soon enough...
Funny. That match was a draw, but SK did not deserve a point and France clearly deserved all three. A more indicative score would have been 3 or 4 to 1. This in contrast to the Brasil-Australia match, where both teams really deserved a draw but Australia came away with nothing. "It's a funny old game" as they say.
Disappointed and disgusted pretty much sums up my mood. I'm off to watch the last 10 holes of the US Open.
20 comments:
Doesn't England hold the World Cup in Rugby? I mean, I know they are rubbish--the New Zealander at work keeps telling me so--but I thought they won it the last time around with some sort of drop kick (no doubt a source of shame to true rugby lovers in England).
Yes - I am sorry. Australia won it in 1999, upsetting the massively favored All Blacks of New Zealand, then lost to Engerland in the final in 2003(FWIW Rugby purist dismiss the England team because their best weapon is Johnny Wilkinson's kicks not scoring touchdowns).
Sucks that Vieira got robbed. Can't see him scoring (again) but you never know.
For my money, I thought Wiltord scuffed a shot, and then it went to Henry, who scored. I will have to look at it again.
And, it is confirmed, that Republica Deportivo situation was indeed ridiculo. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Isn't the Univision studio in Miami? I don't care if it's 100 degrees every day with 90% humidity, a few more displays like that and I'm fucking moving. Truth be told, if not for the fact that one of those (of what, 15?) girls had a not-so-good-looking face--and, for whatever reason, she was being featured prominantly--I'd be gone already. She must be the host's wife or something.
Eh, I'm biased, but I say that the Chinese women are the best of the lot (and mucho respect to the Filipina's). But you figure, 500 million Chinese females, the odds are good. The stereotype in the Asian communities is that the Korean women's attractiveness are very much helped along by modern technology. And I don't mean just the odds and ends of the Korean women, it's to the point that you'd assume that a Korean gal had some work done until proven otherwise. Anyways, just a random note of warning about what's going on there.
Currently, my list of places to move to are as such:
1) Rio, Ipanema
2) Rio, Copacabana
3) French Riviera (anywhere)
4) South Beach
I think it's a pretty comprehensive list.
Si Si. The fact that I have it on tape, in addition to the legendary tape of "The Hit", and I really want to find out how we can get something from VHS to digital format. YouTube will forever be an incomplete site until those two vids are uploaded to it.
The list is incomplete if it does not include Barcelona, or anywhere on the "Costa Brava" (Spain along the mediterranean). Also from what I have heard, is that Prague sould be on any such list. And also fro what I have heard, Australia, specifically the East coast, from the reef up in the NE down to Bondi Beach and Sydney.
Hmm, I think I can add Costa Brava and certain islands of the Aegean on the list. The list is just places I'd move to at the drop of a hat kind of deals.
Oh, as the comic goal keeping that can only be described as BARTHEZZZZZZZ! *Fist in air, shouting up to the heavens* comes back to hunt the French. Why is he starting ahead of Coupet again? Oh yeah, because Domenench is an idiot.
The English have their own version of this, it's known as the Calamity.
I have never understood why SK, for the last two World Cups, has kept getting favorable, questionable calls.
Now, after seeing that red section of the crowd, it's all clear. I wouldn't want to piss those people off, either!
And, Prague--oh, hell yeah.
As for the French goal, I thought Gallas was to blame as much as Barthez (who is still shit, of course).
It almost looked like he had the clearance off the goal in his wheelhouse, and then he decided to skip instead of kicking, because he thought the ball wasn't going in or something. If he'd left his feet, he certainly could have kept it out.
Did anyone else see it this way?
Well, I suppose Sylvia Saint, Anita Blonde, and Allysin Chaynes do put up a fairly good case for Prague.
Sorry, "as for the South Korean goal"...
Hard to say Solon, he certainly looked like he wanted to give a whack at it but decided against it, maybe he lost his balance? It was an odd angle, maybe it was just slightly out of his reach? Either way, he should not have been left in the position of having to do that by Barthez. But the French had been reduced to playing some desperate defense the last little bit of the match, should have asserted themselves more rather than letting the momentum swing to SK.
France did the Italian thing, sat deeper and deeper with a 1-0 win and eventually got out physicalled by SK in the midfield (should NEVER happen with Vieira and Makalele bouncing about).
Undeserved, but you could see it coming.
Speaking of Domenech being a moron I offer Exhibit B:
Taking Zidane off at the death for Trezeguet. In the last 20 years, NO PLAYER is better known for pulling the rabbit out of the hat and simply being Mr. Fucking Clutch. If you want to get Trez on, then cool. But take off someone else, ANYONE ELSE (but Henry), and leave Zidane on you fucking dumbass! Did y'all see Zizou walk right past the coach in disgust at being substituted, all the while staring right through him and then tossing his wristband in disgust into the bench. Le plus grande idiot de France aujourd hui.
Additionally, if he was going to bring Trez on he should have done it IMMEDIATELY after SK equalized with 7 mnutes to go (so reminiscent of Wenger, in the CL final, not bringing Reyes on immediately after Barca's 2nd goal, but rather waiting for 4 more minutes for some reason).
These 2 things, on top of his insane commitment to Barthez in goal, can only lead to one rational conclusion:
Domenech = Un wankeur enormeaux
Well, put it this way, if France does not beat Togo (heads will roll if France does not, not to mention my sanity), this match could be Zidane's last match ever. Yes, by all means, sub off Zidane at the death. Isn't there a law against doing this?
Hell, France may need to beat Togo by 2 goals to go through. And this from a team that will have to play without Zidane, and that has scored 1 goal in WC play in 8 years.
Ideal situation for France is a Togo-Swiss draw, which will put them through with a win no matter what. If the Swiss win, it could all get a little tricky.
That stat about Henry never scoring from a ZZ pass is amazing, and it makes me wonder how much they'll suffer against Togo--where France should be able to control the midfield anyway (famous last words?)--without him.
I think without ZZ in there, the team will be forced to play the way Arsenal does, and just feed it to Henry time and time again (no one will be challenging TH12 for "Indian Chief," so to speak)--in which case, perhaps he could exhibit some of his Arsenal form, so sorely lacking on the International level.
Not sure, though--Domenech didn't play that way when ZZ had retired previously, so it's tough to say if there's any possible benefit.
If Sweden and Brazil ever play a match against each other. I'm THERE!
Harry Kewell, not only did he blow an open netter, he swore at the official and will probably be suspended. Good on ya mate.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1801091,00.html
In case you're still interested: the Ghana player who took out the Israeli flag after each goal had recently signed with Hapoel Pet'hatikvah, an Israeli club team, and promised the fans that he would wave the flag after each Ghana goal.
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