July 4, 201014 yr I want to fit in by talking about calls but I don't get the rules yet . So...congrats to Germany and Spain ...
July 4, 201014 yr That was worse than what happened to England and Mexico - at least those incidents were genuine mistakes by the officials (and both teams were eventually beaten by far better opponents). By the letter of the law, justice was actually done last night and yet Uruguay were still rewarded for blatantly cheating. <_<how did Uruguay cheat?They're through to the semis by virtue of committing a red card offence, how is that not cheating? Ghana weren't denied a goalscoring opportunity, they were denied a certain match-winning goal and the punishment didn't fit the crime. The sending off meant nothing in the context of the game and although Gyan should have put the penalty away, there's always an element of doubt about taking one. Referees should be given the authority to award a goal in a situation like that. it is not cheating precisely because he got the red card and Ghana was given the opportunity to score A goalscoring opportunity isn't the same thing as a goal, and while I don't dispute that the rules of the game were upheld by the referee, a goal is what Ghana were denied.
July 5, 201014 yr Bye Brasil I won't miss them. They're welcome to come back once they play like Brazil again.
July 5, 201014 yr FFFFUUUU... Die Germans are going fur die Weltmeisterschaft. Nicht gut!Godverdomme!They're a lot more likable than either Brazil or Argentina were. And I say that as a Messi fan.
July 5, 201014 yr Bye Brasil I won't miss them. They're welcome to come back once they play like Brazil again. Maybe that will happen now that Dunga is a goner.
July 5, 201014 yr FFFFUUUU... Die Germans are going fur die Weltmeisterschaft. Nicht gut! Godverdomme! They're a lot more likable than either Brazil or Argentina were. And I say that as a Messi fan. There's a lot to admire about the Germans this year. Slick, pacy, attractive football, goals by the truckload. Well organised, enthusiastic and fearless. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing them win the tournament. In other news, Paul the psychic octopus's 100% prediction record continues...
July 5, 201014 yr I've just about recovered enough to post in here again... Pah! Though, to be honest, we went further than I'd expected. Terrible qualifying, very odd selection and a crap opening game against Nigeria. Two good games does not a great team make, and Germany proved that. Not happy losing at the same stage - and to the same team - two Cups in a row though. I know I've not spoken kindly about the manager on these football threads (and I hope he doesn't stay on) but, ultimately, he's bloody Maradona - and my heart weighed heavy for the little fella... You see, it does no good, revelling in schadenfreude - only the day before I was happy at Brasil's capitulation to the Dutch. And, like most everyone else, I was so sad for Ghana (plus, naturally, I never want to see the Uruguayan neighbours doing well!). So, bizarrely, I find myself kind of rooting for those Germans too - they are, by far, the most entertaining team left. (proxima vez... proxima vez)
July 5, 201014 yr Joachim Löw is the man. Never got credit for nothing until what, a week and a half ago? But hey is Alan Hansen still describing Germany as 'very average'? I blame the performance in 2002 for such sloppy declarations. Then again all the German people I know are trying to find ways to remain negative, waiting for poor old Per Mertesacker to make the crucial mistake that's apparently inevitable. It all reminds me of 2006 when this lovely middle-aged couple from Berlin WINCED when I told them as home nation they'd definitely get to at least the semi-finals. They were about to ring for the men in white coats I tell ya. And to think I held in my mockery of those who put money on Serbia to win the tournament cuz they're like totally a dark horse and stuff. Oh mercy.Don't get me wrong, I like everyone who's left in the tournament (except Spain). Good ol' Forlan, always burrowing around but the Dutch, oh the Dutch. Let's have a Germany-Holland final. Old school styley but with a new age attitude (yeah?). And Baron, you poor thing. But never mind, apparently Maradona and his "delightful antics" have been the real star of the World Cup. Yeah, I mean doing things such as shouting instructions and occasionally kicking a ball to a player about to take a thrown in, or even celebrating with members of his own coaching staff after scoring sure are audacious. So much so that we have to be shown highlight reels at half-time. Bum slurping inane media idiocy.
July 5, 201014 yr inane media idiocy. That reminds me - my favourite piece of World Cup commentary so far... Mark Lawrenson - "It's called tackling, Guy." Guy Mowbray - "I'm with you, Mark." Mark Lawrenson - "I've noticed."
July 5, 201014 yr Michael, how dare you criticise the brooding witticisms of Lawro! Why he's almost as eloquent as Mark "always try and say five words simultaneously" Bright! And yet Jim Beglin is still more irritating. Gawd he's such a dripping tap, a permanently befuddled spectator of life's idiosyncrasies, a non-stop human festival of misery and self-righteousness. And Chris Coleman! How many times has he said "you won't see a better cross than that all tournament!"?! I counted, FIFTY TRILLION TIMES.
July 5, 201014 yr Speaking of eloquent people, I had to edit my long post from this morning. Who needs proper paragraphs and good sentences? Not me. But the last bit didn't make sense! I blame all those Fabio Capello press conferences! Mama mia!
July 6, 201014 yr Michael, how dare you criticise the brooding witticisms of Lawro! Why he's almost as eloquent as Mark "always try and say five words simultaneously" Bright! And yet Jim Beglin is still more irritating. Gawd he's such a dripping tap, a permanently befuddled spectator of life's idiosyncrasies, a non-stop human festival of misery and self-righteousness. And Chris Coleman! How many times has he said "you won't see a better cross than that all tournament!"?! I counted, FIFTY TRILLION TIMES. Coleman makes me yearn for a red button option to turn the vuvuzelas up. His commentary style seems to revolve around making one early observation and then repeating it in slightly different ways for the remainder of the game. I mean really, how many variations on "the Chileans tend to pick up a lot of yellow cards" are there?
July 6, 201014 yr There's a part of me that doesn't mourn Ghana's exit from the tournament because at least it might spell the end of ITV treating Marcel Desailly as their resident dancing Russian bear. OHOHO LOOK HE'S HAPPY THEY SCORED, QUICK MAKE HIM DANCE. OHOHO THEY MISSED A PENALTY, QUICK GET THE CAMERA ON HIS HEART BROKEN FACE. I mean I know he looks game but it got to a point where there was something faintly pornographic about it.
July 6, 201014 yr I've just about recovered enough to post in here again... Pah! Though, to be honest, we went further than I'd expected. Terrible qualifying, very odd selection and a crap opening game against Nigeria. Two good games does not a great team make, and Germany proved that. Not happy losing at the same stage - and to the same team When i heard the result, my first thought was you. Feel for you dude. Even tho the Germans were looking in impirious form i thought you'd have a chance, i was convinced your best was yet to come My heart was with a Argentina V NL Final(Cousins are dutch and Amsterdam is my home away from home. So they are my 2nd fave naturally )
July 6, 201014 yr There's a part of me that doesn't mourn Ghana's exit from the tournament because at least it might spell the end of ITV treating Marcel Desailly as their resident dancing Russian bear. OHOHO LOOK HE'S HAPPY THEY SCORED, QUICK MAKE HIM DANCE. OHOHO THEY MISSED A PENALTY, QUICK GET THE CAMERA ON HIS HEART BROKEN FACE. I mean I know he looks game but it got to a point where there was something faintly pornographic about it. I had Marcel down as an excellent pundit four years ago, so to see ITV try to paint him as a kind of Ian Wright-like jester this time around is a bit odd. Someone obviously thought it'd be interesting and/or funny to show his reactions, but he seemed fairly restrained for the most part. Still, he's a much more likeable character than I gave him credit for in his playing days. Not quite up there with Klinsmann, Hodgson or Seedorf, but not half bad.
July 6, 201014 yr Michael, how dare you criticise the brooding witticisms of Lawro! Why he's almost as eloquent as Mark "always try and say five words simultaneously" Bright! And yet Jim Beglin is still more irritating. Gawd he's such a dripping tap, a permanently befuddled spectator of life's idiosyncrasies, a non-stop human festival of misery and self-righteousness. And Chris Coleman! How many times has he said "you won't see a better cross than that all tournament!"?! I counted, FIFTY TRILLION TIMES. Coleman makes me yearn for a red button option to turn the vuvuzelas up. His commentary style seems to revolve around making one early observation and then repeating it in slightly different ways for the remainder of the game. I mean really, how many variations on "the Chileans tend to pick up a lot of yellow cards" are there?^You chaps do seem to have a lot more fun football presenters over there in 'Blighty'. I feel I'm missing out. We just have the one token comedy fat guy - and some (South American requisite) ridiculously hot women!
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