Thanks for the link, Ian. Jason's also provided me with some handy links to help me get started, so hopefully I'll be downloading some missed matches later on.
I actually did watch the first half of the Portugal-Mexico match last night, and was suprised to find out this morning that there were no goals in the second half. Portugal came out of the gate like lightning, and then Mexico started clawing their way back into it. I was sure the second half was going to see more action. I guess there was a send off, though?
I was also surprised to see a nil-nil draw between Holland and Argentina. That was definitely unexpected.
And what happened to Michael sucks. When I read about it yesterday I just couldn't believe it. The poor guy deserves fantastic luck for the rest of his life!
This will likely be my last post for at least a couple of days, as I've got to get a bunch of things done before we leave the house real early in the morning tomorrow. So have fun! I'll be with you in spirit.
Ain't we in for some exciting ganes from group E.
All the teams in that group have a possibility of going through.
Italy 4
Czech 3
Ghana 3
USA 1
Let me see if i can come up with all the possible scenario's:-
If
(Italy beats Czech) & ( Ghana beats USA);
then
Italy,Ghana = Last 16;
Else If
(Italy beats Czech) & ( USA beats Ghana);
Italy,USA = Last 16;
Else If
(Czech beats Italy) & ( Ghana beats USA);
then
Czech,Ghana = Last 16;
Else If
(Czech beats Italy) & ( USA beats Ghana);
Czech = Last 16;
Italy's Goal diffrence = x;
USA Goal diffrence = y;
If x>y
( Italy= last 16 );
else
(USA= last 16);
Now am not sure I got everything covered.
But all the same....GO GHANA GO....i believe this guys might go all the way..if only they could put on there shooting boots.
A nuther crucial day for the beautiful game
I have been interested in the Football v Soccer mini debates I've heard online and on the street so I decided to try to take it further and do a little research. Off to the local library I went and straight to the etymology section to get to the root of it, I thought. After a good hour of searching through some fascinating literature on Bombadier beetles (they make thier own explosives you know) I realised that I was in the Entomology section, not the Etymology one. My curiosity can't spell and my research skills are not what you would call sharp.
I was however, a little more productive online and it appears that my first assumption that "soccer" was introduced by our American cousins to differentiate between "The Beautiful Game" and American Football was erroneous.
Here are a couple of links that clarified the situation: The Online Etymology Dictionary Spiegel Online
On a slight diversion this was interesting too John Quiggin Soccer or Football
I know now that some of us are glued to the TV watching the World Cup thinking "I wonder what fonts are used on the various countries football kits? Come on, I know you were, well wonder no more. Football Jersey Fonts
Thanks for that breakdown binary, I'll be rooting for the USA and Australia today. COME ON YOU ExCOLONIES!!
[doh] Fingers can't spell either[/doh]
From: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
posted 06-22-2006 14:16
I expect Brazil to totally crush Japan.
Australia and Croatia should be interesting. I expect Australia to win.
Italy vs Czech is going to be THE game to watch! I expect Italy to go fully offensive (due to the fact that Czech has no power forwards to field due to yellowcards) and to pull out a win.
US vs Ghana - my heart is with "Da Boyz" of course...and with the lead forward for Ghana out (yellowcard), we have a great chance! I hope that the team is fully set for offense and that we grab and hold the tempo and initiative. If the US can do that, then they will win.
GO USA!
WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles
soccer is a contraction of association football, and was coined by you Brits I laugh when Brits say "soccer" with contempt!
I'm in real danger of missing the US match this morning, I've left it tl late to figure outhow to watch it and I'm madly looking through p2p streaming channels hoping to find one that doesn't buffer madly
If I don't get to watch this game I'll be in a tizzy all day
I'm with you, Jason. Can you believe this? They are showing the Italy-Czech match here on three different channels and don't have the US-Ghana match anywhere! I am very, very, very pissed!
And they promised this year that they would show all the matches! How can three separate stations all concentrate on the same match?!
[Edit: By the way, if you figure out some way to watch it, will you let me know? Although if I don't figure out something soon, I may just go to bed. We have to leave the house at 4:30 tomorrow morning...]
From: The Land of one Headlight on. Insane since: May 2001
posted 06-22-2006 16:38
If there's one thing that really impresses me with the world cup... it has to be the camera work. I don't know what type of lense they use for thosed long, almost aerial shots, but it's just really great to see virtually both sides of the field..watch the plays taking shape... without being so far back the players look like ants. And of course the replays are fantastic. I think it's gotta be watching the plays take shape..or fall apart for that matter... that I like most.
- You'll never have to think outside the box if you don't get in the damn box in the first place. -
From: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
posted 06-22-2006 17:54
It does look dismal
I hate it when I am right...
Oh well, at least we did not play like losers in the last two games!
One can still be proud of our boys, even if they do have a negative goals scored to goals scored against. At least we finally have scored a point in a Cup game on European soil!
WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles
You know, we may have gotten screwed by the ref on that penalty kick, but it was a defensive error that led to that whole situation in the first place. And the truth is that Ghana outplayed us. The US just did not play the match that they needed to play. A very disappointing match.
I'm just gutted. I was ready to pull for Ghana if they beat us and got out with Italy but after that display of poor sportsmanship (time wasting) in the second half I don't even have that option. They've lost my respect in that regard.
The US needs to have a vacation, go buy and Italy shirt, go buy an Argentina or Holland jersey and kick around Germany and watch some matches. This is not the end of the world as the announcers on ESPN seem to think. Arena's head they say
The US was outmatched physically or technically byt all three teams in this group. In some case, the Czechs, both physically and technically. They really were my last pick to come out of the group. I can say this now that I can longer root for them I think they did well to just show as well as they did against Italy and Ghana. We sometimes forget that there's another team in the equation when ours lose, the teams we played were some of the best of the 32. That said, the US is a winner by spirit, we find it hard to accept a loss and we'll shake things up I'm sure.
I'm having a hard time figuring out the lacklustre showing of some of our players. I need to go back and watch these games again to determine if it was the players or the system. I think the players didn't step up. Dempsey was it. Dempsey played like an American every minute on the field.
I did end up getting an ESPN feed myself Suho, didn't buffer at all the whole game. TVUPlayer, lots of good channels and peers.
Freddy Adu will be in the lineup next time around for the USA. But it's not likely enough for them to do much more than this time.
Croatia needs to wake up. If they play mediocre or better I think they'll run away with today's match. But they haven't scored a goal yet, and you can't get out of your box without scoring. I still think they'll end up winning today, they're much more dangerous than the Aussies, they just need a little more finish for their chances. Hopefully Niko Kovac isn't still diving around at every oportunity.
I don't know anyone who thinks that penalty should have been awarded against the US, no way at all.
The whole game was not shown on terrestial TV here so I can not comment too much about the performance. Tough luck USA, you had a hard group to play in, some shocking refereeing decisions, and perhaps some key players not totally focused on the task in hand.
Does this mean Football /Soccer will still not be popular in the US?
From: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
posted 06-22-2006 23:21
WOWOWOW!
Brazil vs Japan! 4-1!!!
Those japanese awoke Godzillihno! Ronaldo is baaaaack!
He is now tied with Gerd Mueller with 14 World Championship goals apiece, and poised to be the all-time high scorer!
I am not going to comment on the Aussie vs Croats. Bad, bad referee! Bad!
Just a good on ya, mates! Welcome to a Brazil on fire! Be sure to let Ronaldo score at least once, so that he can set the new record!
WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles
Both games were on TV here tonight, but I must admit I only really watched the Brasil game. The Aussie game sounded like madness had broken out, for the first time in history a player has been given three yellow cards in one game, at least that's what it sounded like. Harry Kewell has been improving with Liverpool FC all season and it looks like he has carried on getting better during the WC.
Mark Viduka looked massive during the brief highlights I have watched in that game, keeping possession, holding the ball up till the attack got more players up. Well done Australia
Brasil while still not near their own excellent best looked marvellous. The same can be said for Ronaldo too. Even though he is carrying a lot of extra timber he is so important to the team. They play with their heart, and their collective hearts would be broken if Ronaldo was not in the side. As WebShaman said "Those japanese awoke Godzillihno! Ronaldo is baaaaack!
JK: "the US is a winner by spirit" yeah right ....but they could go join the Samba girls in supporting brasil
"Those japanese awoke Godzillihno! Ronaldo is baaaaack! "....
I dont think this is true....if you noticed through out the game most of the players we trying to pass the ball to him...One thing abt the brazillian players is that they are like a family unit...and since this match was not that serious...they decided to let the boy shine coz he has been recieving lots of bad press...their next game will be with Ghana...i know its a long shot but...GO GHANA GO..miracles do happen
quote:"Those japanese awoke Godzillihno! Ronaldo is baaaaack! "....
I dont think this is true....if you noticed through out the game most of the players we trying to pass the ball to him...One thing abt the brazillian players is that they are like a family unit...and since this match was not that serious...they decided to let the boy shine coz he has been recieving lots of bad press.
While there may be some truth in that binary you miss the obvious. Ronaldo is the permanent striker, that's why they keep "trying to pass the ball to him.."
I have to go walkabout again and I'm not sure how long for, so it is most unlikely I'll be able to post for a while. I'll only be able to hear the football matches on the radio till I get back Happy, happy, joy, muckin' joy!
posted 06-22-2006 03:38
::cell::
....but they could go join the Samba girls in supporting brasil