Van Basten II

As I mentionned in the other thread, he was scheduled to play here a few weeks ago with Drake and Parker, it was not meant to be, RIP

Has Lippi done a Domenech ? What a wild game

http://photos.cyberpresse.ca/caricatures#enVedette/0/recherche/Rechercher%20un%20album/0/onglets/51/0/album/8103/198043/

Saw Globe Unity Orchestra last night

Oh, it would be a stunning upset if the U.S. by some miracle won this tournament. I have no illusions there. And that's kind of the point. I don't really care who wins, as long as it's good, clean, fair futbol. -- No more diving, no more feigned expressions of excruciating pain by a nicked player who is magically up and running at full speed minutes later. No more players wrapping their arms around opponents inside the penalty box on a free kick. And no more unaccountable referees. Agreed? Fair sportsmanship, in other words. That might help the game's image here. I still say the 'bashing' has more to do with the cultural peculiarities of the game outlined above than any result. Here's an example: I think the game of rugby is respected in the United States, even though we're no good at it, because it seems to be a sport that is played honestly and ruggedly, without the sort of theatrics that are all too common in soccer. Remember Argentina's "hand of God" goal vs. England in 1986? (Who doesn't?). That goal, I'm sure, was celebrated in Argentina, along with the 2-1 victory over England. And I'm pretty sure that if the United States scored a similar goal, and went on to win the game, it would be viewed with embarrassment. An unfair goal; a game not won honestly. But the result is accepted in Argentina as a proud victory. Seems to be something not right, not just, about that, doesn't there? That's the sort of difference in attitude that I'm getting at which Americans kind of scratch their collective heads over. Does Argentina really want to be proud of a game unfairly won? There is something to be said about that, will write you an answer a bit later when I'm back in a few days and have more time in my hands , great conversation by the way.

There may be some truth to that, but I don't think it's the whole banana by any means. For instance, there is tremendous interest in the United States during the Olympics in sports where the United States is certainly not the dominant power -- gymnastics in the summer and figure skating in the winter. I would bet these two events are by a wide margin the two most-widely viewed events in the United States during summer and winter Olympic Games. But the United States is not the preeminent power in either. Sometimes success is achieved. Sometimes not. And congratulations and admiration are generally offered (corrupt officiating notwithstanding) for the superior performance of whichever country wins. So, no. It's not entirely due to the fact that the United States isn't a power in soccer. And btw, we're ranked 14th in the world (out of 202), so that ain't too shabby. . Well gymnastics and Figure skating, the US used to do well internationally , although they seem to have hit hard times lately, but the whole Olympic thing is mostly nowadays a patriotic propaganda, it has little to do with sports but more about to see our compadre win and boast about it. So it's hard to compare it with a specific sport that you can follow on more than a two week period Regarding your footbal team, it has come a long way and from laughing stock it is not a dark horse and it is now a Concacaf fixture at the World Cup but it is not yet the team that you think that has a strong chance to win it all, to make a comparaison to tennis they are like Robin Soderling prior to this year, they are quite good but have not shown yet they can beat the best. And in a way, until the team is able to achieve this kind of success , the futbol bashers that are plaguing your country will be the main vociferous voices we wiil unfortunately hear.

Nice rationalization but you forgot to mention one thing this is a sport where the US is not a powerhouse, me thinks that you simply can not cope with the fact that you can not be the best at everything , so you elect to act like it is irrelevant. By the way , and it could be said for a lot of nations so I 'm not being accused of singling out your country, but how many sports generate interest where among the top performers they are not US born competitors ? Kudos to the Kiwis, this team grew between the Slovakia game and the one today, the late goal gave them confidence. They played with heart and gusto, can't say the same about the dreadful Azzuris. Didn't think they were so bad against Paraguay, but today they were lifeless . Too bad they still will probably qualify...

Paraguay is turning into maybe the best team of the group, although Slovakia made them look good, anyway this is not the negative team we saw when their star was the keeper Chilavert. Playing the Kiwis next they will a shot for the first place of the group.

Because refs are screwing up only in futbol, if they had more officials like Jim Joyce the game would be so much better

Too bad it's not a vynil, I would put my needle on it and play sweet music.

And Cameroon has the dubious honor of being the first team eliminated of this competetion. So far African teams have yet to be inspired by playing on their own continent. Japan-Danemark will decide the other team that will go t the next round The Danes will need another win since a tie won't be enough.

Not pretty but nonetheless entertaining and eventful half of futbol between the Danes and Cameroon.

Anelka has been thrown out of the team, good riddance.

No team seems to want to qualify, with more than half the game nobody is sure of a secound round slot and nobody is out of it either. Things may change with the late game, a win by the Danes eliminates Cameroon and gives the Dutch a spot in the second round, a tie does the trick for them also but it keeps alive chances for the rest of the group.

Not quite, Argentina have qualified yesterday because they won both their games and therefore can't be overtaken anymore by the two teams they beat, so they'll at least finish second - see rule d) above. There is a chance of a 3 way tie with 3 teams with 6 points if Greece wins and Korea wins and goal differential being the first tiebreaker, there is a very slim chance that Argentina fails if they lose by something like 3 goals and Korea doing something similar to Nigeria.

My eyes are hurting.. You're now it, guess we'll have to be crappy against South Africa big time . On somewhat positive news, we have three groups who are now down to their last match and no team has yet qualifyed or being eliminated

Any pictures of semi-naked English or Algerian female fans, to make something positive of that horrible sterile mess of a match.

I just felt that this post deserved to be quoted. Forget quoting, that's a screen saver

The next game will be his lasi one. Laurent Blanc will replace him. Forgot about that. I guess Blanc should have taken over two years ago, after France's equally dismal performance at Euro 2008.

It's like the balk rule in baseball, everybody fakes understanding it

The Greeks are back in the running. After a dismal first game they showed some spirit. Exciting end to the this group as all the team will still be alive and all teams can be knocked out also. Argentina has obviously the simpler task, as long as they don't lose by more than two goals they are in while Nigeria needs some outside help big time to manage a way to squeeze in the second round. Korea and Greece will have to do some scireboard watching while delivering a result.

And in nomination for the Zidane award for the dumbest red card in a competition Sami Kaita

Two of the better looking teams of the firstr series of matches are giving us a worthy reason to get up early this morning, although the Korean have mostly done figuration throughout the first half. But with both teams showing flair with the ball and defensive lapses, there still is some drama to be played.

Sky just fell on South Africa. Think of it, our national team can't beat the likes of Honduras.

You'd think the host team would be lifted to play at home but this is far from happening, great goal by Forlan, if the score holds the South-Americans will be in control of their destiny in the final match.