- 07:14 AM
- 11/22/09
Favourite moment '90: Seeing Argentina lose. I supported Germany and relished their win but seeing these bastards lose was even sweeter. It hadn't anything to do with Argentina as a nation (I like the country a lot) but seeing that team foul and penaltyareapack its way to the final was bloodcurdling. Favourite moment '94: Seeing the US put up a fight against Brazil and nearly fighting them to a draw. I predicted then that the US would win the title in 2014 (not that I'd lay a bet on it... well not a lot of money). Friends and "pundits" laughed... who's laughing now. (hmm... aren't I a negative, cynical bastard. My favourite moments so far are gloaty-type ones... well, on to a more positive one) Favourite moment(s) '98: Seeing the French defenders getting tired of Stephan "couldn't hit a barndoor if he were standing two inches from it" Guyvarc'h (who, to be fair, was excellent in many other departments, just not in the one he was supposed to) and simply going forward to score themselves. Blanc in the Paraguay match and Thuram (twice!) in the Croatia match. They were kind of the mirror-image of the Brazilian '70 side which had the goalkeeper "couldn't put his hands on a barndoor if he were standing two inches from it" Felix. Favourite moment(s) '02: Seeing the S-Korean side taking everything southern Europe could throw at them and emerging victorious at the other end (not to mention seeing Portugal and Italy crash out ignomiously ;>). And seeing Sweden turn into a (nearly) lethal attacking side in extra-time against Senegal.
posted by Kattullus at 11:41 AM on June 28
worldcup: Well... the Costa Rican game was special in a spot-the-defender* type of way. And I agree, Ronaldinho is definitely one of the top hundred players in the world (so is Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Juninho, when they are playing as well as they should be, which they haven't done in quite a while). But really, the Brazilian attack hasn't really impressed me as greatly as certain journalists tell me I should be. They manage to put one goal or two in every game but haven't really done anything to amaze me so far (Costa Rica game excepted, but it's easy to look good when no one is trying to stop you). It seems to me that they've coasted to the finals on the fact that most people think they're superhuman. Much as they did in '98. I think that Germany might win if only because they're not really given to think that other people are superhuman, but who knows, they might become as blinded by the yellow jerseys as the ref in the Belgium match. (Ref: Sorry Wilmots, the goal is disallowed. Wilmots: What? Why? Ref: Section 94, subsection 28 of the offical FIFA rule book forbids opposing teams from scoring against Brazil. Wilmots: You just made that up didn't you? Ref: Look! Bird! [ref runs away blowing whistle]) Oh, and the England game... what the hell happened to England in that game? They went all "what, Brazil is winning. That's not very nice of them. Oh well, what can you do... look at all these beautiful flowers in the center circle. I think I'll simply stop playing and make a wreath". Jesus Christ! And bloody David Beckham looked like he made a bet with Rivaldo about who could "simulate" more during the game (though, to be fair, Rivaldo won that bet easily). But there are Brazilian players which have impressed me. Cafu has been good when he has bothered to stay in defence. He's not really an attacker no matter how much he wants to. And Silva has been great. He's the only reason they have never been overwhelmed in midfield. Carlos, however has been truly uninspiring. Excepting his one free-kick goal he hasn't done anything to warrant his reputation. And Marcos as well, he's consistently been Brazil's best player and has hauled them through the competition. Ronaldo has managed to score once a game or so, doing his bit so to say, but it's pretty obvious he'll never deliver on the promise of his younger days. It's kind of sad really. And as to the chicken or egg question... well... I don't know... probably the approach... once you have an approach you pick the players which suit the approach. That's probably the reason Juninho isn't a starting member of the squad. He might actually threaten to build up an offense from in deep. Instead we have Stig Tofting look-alikes punting the ball upfield for Rivaldo to shoot straight at the goalkeeper. While Ronaldinho is an excellent shot and has excellent technique, his first impulse when he gets the ball is to run at the defense and then either having a go himself or sending it to someone else. He doesn't seem to have a strategic bone in his body. *Answer: Picking flowers in the center-circle
posted by Kattullus at 12:44 PM on June 26
I think the thing that most gets to me is the way the media handles Brazil. Most of the journalists grew up in the golden age of Pelé and seem unable to see Brazil as anything else than that squad. Case in point is Marcotti's newest column on cnnsi.com. He says that Brazil have been the most exciting side to watch this tournament, which is just complete nonsense. Senegal, to name just one side, have been oodles more exciting (except in the Turkey game, where they seemingly lost the nerve to play their "fearless football"). Argentina, in the last twenty minutes of the Sweden game, were more exciting than the Brazilian team has been in all their games put together. France, for those fifteen minutes against Denmark were they managed to find their rhythm, were beautiful to watch. The oooh-Brazil-attitude annoys me (which I then vent by coming here to rant ;) ). Also, is it me, or could whatever world champion from say... 1982 onward, beat whichever team win this time around? And no, it's not just a football game. It's the football game. Except perhaps for having set foot on the Moon, there is nothing that gives you similar bragging rights as having won a world cup final. Hell, that's just for the supporters, you'd have to be Neil Armstrong himself to have bragging rights in excess of Zidane, Maradona, Pelé or Muller, to name a few. Winning a Nobel prize maybe gives you similar bragging rights, but just maybe. And only if you win it solo :)
posted by Kattullus at 11:05 AM on June 26
goal scored after a corner, not from after...
posted by Kattullus at 10:26 AM on June 26
But you'd have to agree, etagloh, that Brazil haven't exactly played attractively so far. And that this German team doesn't exactly bring up memories of Klinsmann's squad, or Beckenbauer's for that matter. It's not really a compliment to their attack that their best man in the tournament has been their goalkepper Marcos (much as in '94, where Taffarel saved their asses time after time). Worldcup: Brazil won't show us samba-futebol because they made the deliberate decision to drop it. Mario Zagallo (the coach of the '94 team) said simply that the samba beat wasn't appropriate for the modern game. I don't think he was right, if they would have the talent to play that kind of game they could get away with it, but they simply don't. Liam: Well... most of the chances they create are sort of half-chances. Y'know, some guy has ball in the penalty area but is surrounded by 58 defenders. And the shots are usually not very good. Ronaldo, however, scores often enough from these things so that they get away with it. Mostly he does that because defenders don't seem to want to have a go at him. His goal came because of that. If I had to bet on the game I'd bet on Germany... because Kahn would've managed to push the Ronaldo goal away. Not that Rustu isn't excellent. But then again, they'll be without Ballack. But I suspect that it will go 1-0 to Germany with a goal scored from after a corner or a free kick.
posted by Kattullus at 10:23 AM on June 26
Who would've thought that a World Cup final between Brazil and Germany would be something to dread... The final in '90 was horrible, the one in '94 even worse, I thought '98 (which was an excellent game no matter how you look at it) had broken the rut but I think this one will break new ground for terrible. The two most mindnumbingly boring teams in the competition face each other in the final. Oh well, there really hasn't been a pretty game on offer since the second round. I just hope that Korea v Turkey will be good. And I don't see Brazil playing with any joie-de-vivre, they're just as robotic as the Germans... win the ball in defense, a run upfield followed by one or two passes, usually at Ronaldo/Neuville, who then shoots at the goal. A game between two teams with that kind of game-plan just doesn't excite me. I'm actually kinda sad that I've never really gotten to see a really great Brazilian side. I didn't start watching the World Cup until '90, which was samba-football's last outing... but after they got knocked out by Argentina in the second round they've switched to a very germanic football... not that it hasn't gotten them results, three finals in three consecutive World Cups, it's just so awfully painful to watch. Not as painful though as to hear some people ramble on about how beautifully they play. When you get right down to it Brazil are the Germany of today. They're boring, but get results. Oh and besides, they never really play much as a team. They don't build up offenses, or pass the ball between them stretching out the opposition before a lethal pass. They just hack it accurately forward and hope one of their forwards score a goal... the same can be said of Germany by the way.
posted by Kattullus at 09:12 AM on June 26
Rather them than Brazil, etagloh. I'll support Germany against Brazil but Turkey against Germany. That, by the way, would be a grudge match. And possibly a riot, if Turkey would win.
posted by Kattullus at 11:45 AM on June 25
Damn! Oh well... I can't really say I'm too distraught, because the Germans suddenly decided to play well. I don't really know what happened to the team but they played as excellently now as they have played horribly in the past. Well... in the end it came down to one mistake, which is what usually happens in games this close. Funny though, because Ballack had been the worst player on the pitch (much as in the US game) but then suddenly he came out of nowhere and scored. And damn is Kahn good. Also Frings and Hamann, they were excellent. It was also obvious that Korea was hurting offensively being forced to play without Ahn until the 60th minute, but it was also obvious that he wasn't fully fit. Oh well, at least we get to see the Koreans play one more game. Which, by the way, I'll think will be against Brazil, if only because whenever Germany and Brazil have looked likely to meet each other in a game, something has happened to stop it. Also I think that the Turks have an excellent team, and Brazil will be a wounded team without Ronaldinho.
posted by Kattullus at 08:45 AM on June 25
Look, SF, that's just complete bollocks. They've made it this far because they've never given up and they've played good football. To quote CNNSI.com's Grant Wahl: "... the style of the South Korean team. Not only are they relentless, but they're also skilled and tough, and they know how to come back. (Ask the U.S. and Italy.) Have they gotten some breaks from the referees? Maybe, but guess what that's called? Home-field advantage, folks. The Koreans deserve to be in the semis, and all the whining Europeans should sit down and shut up. "(Does anyone think Duke doesn't deserve to win so much just because the Blue Devils get a lot of calls? No. I rest my case.) " Oh, and why do people pound on Korea for being lucky while Brazil, who benefited from the most outrageous call of this tournament, Marc Wilmots' disallowed header, are called "mighty", "imperious" and "glorious"? That pisses me off. It's just such incredible stupidity that "big teams" are lauded when they are lucky, but "upstarts" get accused of paying off referees. That just makes want to pound someone. And even if they thrash Germany 8-0 and then win Brazil with a scoreline more reminiscent of an American football game than a world cup final, I know that there will still be self-described "purists" and "pundits" (not to be confused with people who actually are purists and pundits) who'll say that they didn't deserve it and some other team should have won. That just makes me mad. On a more happy note. I've yet to see anyone make a bad joke of Hiddink's "we'll come at them like young dogs" statement. If it had been made earlier in the competition I'm sure I'd have seen a rash of "a dangerous thing to do in a land where dogs get eaten for lunch" type comments. That shows that the respect for them is growing.
posted by Kattullus at 12:28 PM on June 24
Some people are still calling France's world cup win a fluke. They think there was a Nike conspiracy that forced Brazil to play with an unfit Ronaldo. They shut up a little bit after Euro2000 but came back in force when France didn't make it through the group stages. They seemed to have quieted up a little bit after Portugal, Italy and Argentina went home as well. That said, I've heard that the assistant ref (who I believe are not allowed to comment on any calls they've made) called the ball out of play in the air, not on the ground. Though I haven't seen anything on the web about it. And in a just world that-Spanish-guy-whose-name-I've-forgotten would have been sent off for that brutal studs-first tackle on Kim Nam-il. That was just nasty. I heard someone the other day on the BBC talking about an exhibition match he had seen featuring Korean preteens which he had been extremely impressed by. The impression I've gathered from all this is that before Hiddink came along they were inhibited by cultural factors (such as always deferring to their elders, i.e. rather than shoot, a young player would pass it to an older player. Another thing was that they should keep their emotions in check, always) and not by technical skills. I think this tournament has also proved to them that they needn't be afraid of anyone (as Saudi-Arabia was of Germany) and that if they put in the necessary effort they can be just as good as any team in the world. Because of that I think that South-Korea at least (if not the rest of Asia) will continue to do well in future World Cups. Fat Buddha: Spain didn't really fuck up, at least not in the same style they've done previously. I think that if they'd have won now they would have been front-runners for the cup. But they do seem cursed. But yeah, Bixby, nothing will be certain until after a decade or so. And even so, countries have had golden periods only to sink back into obscurity (Hungary anyone?).
posted by Kattullus at 08:43 AM on June 24
Me and a friend watched a tape of the match and looked for questionable ref calls and Spain had more go their way. Spain kept fouling Korea in a most "spirited" manner without getting punished for it. Seeing it again Spain look worse than they did first time. Besides Joaquim nobody was doing anything even remotely interesting on the attack. I thought that they had been the slightly better team but ultimately both teams were pretty even. And by the way, Belgium had a much worse call go against them, why is noone crying foul over that?
posted by Kattullus at 03:06 PM on June 22
As Gary Lineker (approximately) put it: "Football is a game where two teams play with one ball and Germany wins" Well, to be fair to the Germans they've deserved every World Cup and European Championship title that they've won (so far... if they win now it would be a disgrace). However on "off" years (by their standards) they tend to crush the dreams of other nations by grinding down the opposing teams through tough defending and having a team if good for nothing else offensively could always be relied on to score a goal or two from free kicks, whether direct or from a header. They've never won on an off year so far... who knows, that might change this year. What would be worse though, is if Brazil would win... that would be awful. In the semifinals I'll root for Korea but my brain tells me that Turkey are the most likely winners.
posted by Kattullus at 12:55 PM on June 22
I meant Guus, of course. Oh, and I read that the Korean goalkeeper (who's been excellent by the way) had to battle hepatitis before winning a spot for himself in the team. That's spirit.
posted by Kattullus at 12:11 PM on June 22
Is it me or is the person most surprised in the whole world at the Korean success Guss Hiddink? In the post-match interview he looked someone expecting to wake up any moment now.
posted by Kattullus at 12:00 PM on June 22
The way things are looking now Turkey seem likeliest to win the world cup. Whoda thunk? Obviously not (brace yourself, this pun will brake new ground for bad) Hack 'n' Sucker! Hah! But seriously, what the hell has happened to Hakan Suker? Hmm... I never imagined that the quarterfinals would be so dull... exciting and tense sure, but in a dull way... does that makes any sense? Or am I just too sleep-deprived?
posted by Kattullus at 10:46 AM on June 22
They should win. Especially with Ronaldinho out and Ronaldo doubtful. And besides, they played much better than Brazil did.
posted by Kattullus at 09:52 AM on June 22
Well... as with the Italian goal we'll never know because the Korean team simply stopped playing. Before the cross was sent in. But that penalty was dodgy in a lot of ways. The keeper advanced a little bit off his line (but not really enough to warrant a retake), but the real dodgy part was having Joaquin take the penalty at all. He was limping the last few minutes of the game and you could see it in his face that he wasn't ready to take the penalty. According to the BBC he suffered a groin injury to his right foot. You just shouldn't send a player in that state to take the penalty. And I disagree that Spain were the better team. They only managed to dominate for a part of the first half and even then they seemed reluctant to push their advantage. You can't really expect to win if you don't do that.
posted by Kattullus at 06:12 AM on June 22
Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Do you realise that Korea have quite by themselves cleared the slate of southern European teams? To be fair Spain were unlucky having the linesman calling it over the line but still, Korea deserved it. They seemed to lose the plot in the second part of the first half but they came back fighting and won the day. Again, the other team, Spain this time, have really only themselves to blame. It's true that they were unlucky but they also wasted chances and didn't push hard enough when they had the upper hand, letting the Koreans back into the game. It's true that the Koreans were lucky but if you play well enough luck won't matter either way but in a game this close luck will inevitably decide the outcome. Still... I do feel sorry for Spain. They really do seem cursed. I watched the game at this sportsbar and a lot of Spaniards were watching and they never, ever believed that their side would go through.
posted by Kattullus at 06:03 AM on June 22
Well... to be honest, as much I've always kindaliked Spain, and as I said before, I wouldn't terribly mind them winning, it would be even more wonderful for football if Senegal and Korea would meet up in the finals, because it would guarantee a non-Europe/S-America winner, which would be a great start to the century. By the way, I think that it was fitting and appropriate and other synonyms that France won the last world cup of the 20th century since it was their bloody idea in the first place. I think it would be an equally fitting start to the 21st if an Asian or African side would win it. However, Spain are long overdue for a win... or a spot in the semis anyway. But tomorrow I'll still cheer for Korea... Korea Team Fighting! And it's true, Turkey are supremely unlovable, out-Italying the Italians as they do. And Africa are long overdue for a place in the finals. And also, on the political front, Senegal are a plucky young democracy trying to make its way in a treacherous world with terrible odds stacked against, while Turkey (though admittedly a democracy) spend its time massacring everyone they don't like, i.e. people who aren't Turks who happen to have lived within the borders of Turkey since about, say, the Dawn of Time, but won't simply roll over and play dead, i.e. the Kurds. Plus, Senegal play such a eye-pleasing game. Go Lions of Teranga! Gobble up that Turkey! ...to steal a joke from some guy in Senegal I heard on BBC... I can exploit the third world with the best of them (i.e. Nike)
posted by Kattullus at 08:03 PM on June 21
oops... meant to say semi-finals instead of quarter-finals in regards to Spain. When I think of it I don't think Spain has ever reached the semis. Y'know, of the "old guard" nations, I'd like it best if Spain won it. But I still hope they won't reach the semis this year. Korea Team Fighting! Go Lions of Teranga!
posted by Kattullus at 04:48 PM on June 21
Fat Buddha: It wouldn't really be the old order asserting itself if Spain got to the finals. It would be just as surprising as, say, the US beating Portugal, to pick one upset at random. Spain have usually self-destructed before now. I don't remember when Spain last got to the quarter-finals, but I think it was sometime not long after WWII. They haven't really performed up to expectation since they won the inaugural European Championships back in 1956 (or wait... did they win the second one in 1960? Can't remember...). A number of theories have been put forward to explain this which I won't bother getting into right now. People have always expected them to win, but have known that really they'd crash out in a humiliating fashion. They still look likely to do so, but then again, (to shift into BreathLessFootBallCommenTatorTalk) in a World Cup of Surprises... the Ultimate Surprise Might Be... Spain... Lifting the Golden... Trophy... !... But yeah, the Sputnik teams have been those who were fit and uninjured. But some do play excellent, beautiful football. Both Korea and Senegal for instance. And seeing the US on attack was also really amazing. They were amazingly well coordinated. They were almost like set pieces. They kind of reminded me of the Germany '90 team, the last truly excellent German team. If DaMarcus Beasley develops into a Klinsmann as he is threatening to do, and Mathis into a Voeller, and O'Brien into... (hmm... I think I've gotten caught up in the analogy, but I'm ready with a few more paralells)... the US could do a repeat performance in '06. Or perhaps do one (or two!) better. But the US shouldn't get their hopes up. A lot of really talented European sides with lots of axes to grind will show up in Germany in '06, and they won't make the same mistakes as before. (I have to say that I feel really sorry for any team that will be forced to share a group at the European Championships with France in 2004. It's not a team I'd like to compete against when they are trying very hard to prove themselves (as every team playing against them in Euro2000 got to know)). thekorruptor: Well... the French have been very good (being forced to analyze the failure of Les Bleues might have better prepared them for the rest of the tournament) and also the Americans. Marcotti at www.cnnsi.com has been excellent (except today, for some reason). The English have often been awful, but with some bright spots (Guardian's minute-by-minute match reports for instance). P.S. Hmm... can you tell that I work at a job where I have a lot of time to surf the web? ;)
posted by Kattullus at 04:35 PM on June 21
Hmm... both are very tough to call. Spain hasn't been convincing but if they get their shit together they should be able to beat Korea. However, Korea are an awfully intimidating side to face, if only because the level of support they receive from their fans. The way I see it both teams can do themselves in. Korea can become to pleased with themselves for having got this far to want the win over Spain as badly as they wanted to win Italy (I suspect the chance to outperform Japan and equal North Korea's famous '66 victory helped push them on). Spain, on the other hand, can do what they always seem to do in a major tournament and self-destruct in spectacular fashion. If Raul doesn't play, which seems likelier by the minute, they might lack confidence and do just that. But then again, Mendieta might be boosted enough by his winning penalty to actually perform at his usual level. If he has a brilliant game I fear that Korea must be very lucky to win. And after the Ireland match Spain might actually believe they have luck on their side. But then again, they might be petrified going up against a team that is just as (if not more so) hardworking and spirited than the Irish. You never know. Then there are expectations. Spain must win. If they don't they'll get their (admittedly usual) scorching from the Spanish press. That could either motivate them or petrify them. Korea are already the heroes of a whole nation. That might either blunt their edge or drive them on. Hard to say. Nobody expected them to get this far and nobody really expects them to get further. (But then again the same thing applied to France in '98. Even their own press didn't think they had a chance. Sample French headlines: "The Team Won't Survive First Round" "Plucky Paraguay Will Beat Striker-less France" "Italy's Wall Will Stop French Team" "Upstart Croatia On Their Way to the Finals! - To Play Les Bleues" "Our Boys Will Put Up a Good Fight Against Brazil - But Will Lose Anyway to Ronaldo's Golden Squad" "Ronaldo - Greatest Player Since Pelé" "We Won!!! - Like We Always Said We'd Do - Greatest French Team Ever Wallops Brazil 3-0!" "Zizou, We Love You! You're The Greatest Player Ever!" At the time I felt like the only person in the world who was convinced France would win the World Cup. Or recognizing the beauty in their play. But enough with this, back to '02) Well... that was a lot of words spent on saying: Well, it could go either way, depending on who scores more goals. Turkey v Senegal will probably be the game England v Brazil was hyped up to be. Attack-minded team playing beautiful football versus defensive WALL, coupled with lethal strikers. I think Senegal have the edge because, if the quotes that have been coming from the teams' camps are indicitave of their mindsets, Turkey are already focusing on the semi-finals while Senegal just want to reach them. But really, again, this game will be won by the team scoring more goals ;) But I certainly hope that Korea and Senegal go through... and then meet up in the final... wouldn't that be a sight for sore eyes! Instead of say... Brazil v Germany *shudder* Once upon a time that would have been something to look forward to. How times change. And also, I'd hate to have either team win because Brazil really doesn't need another World Cup win. What they need to do is to clean up their hopelessly corrupt football federation. Germany doesn't need it either, because if they'd do that they'd defend their title in '06 in Germany... Why do I feel confident in predicting that? Because they're bastards who do that sort of thing. That would be okay if they played at the same level as in say '90 or '96, but now they don't deserve it. And neither does Brazil. Oh, since I've mentioned poor performances I'd like to ask you people: Does it seem to you that though this World Cup is certainly the most exciting World Cup... well, ever probably... the level of play doesn't quite reach the standards of '98. Brazil were certainly better then, but were still lucky to make the final, and no team has been playing as beautifully as France were. And on a sidenote, Aimé Jacquet, the coach of the French '98 team, heaped praise on Korea in a recent article for Le Monde, even semi-endorsed them to win by saying that they "remind me strongly of a certain team in '98 which I had a passing acquaintance with" (translation mine, from memory, so it might be wildly inaccurate, but the sentiment was something like that). So hmm... that was certainly a rambling post. I think I'll leave it at that. Oh, and I'm sorry for possibly hijacking the thread. So feel free to pelt me with whatever tomatoes you have left after pelting the Italian team.
posted by Kattullus at 01:29 PM on June 21
What an awful game. It was almost as boring as Germany v Paraguay (did anyone beside be see paralells between that game and Monty Python's philosopher's football skit?). I can't believe I got up at 6 am to watch this. Sadly this was one of those games were it wasn't the better team that won but the less bad. If Senegal get through tomorrow (depends on which Turkey shows up) they should make short work of the Brazilian side that showed up today (plus they'll be without Ronaldinho, who was the only Brazilian being any brilliant). If this was the "real" final we can just forget about the rest of the tournament. Awful.
posted by Kattullus at 09:56 AM on June 21
Damn this was close. Both games today actually. Germany and Brazil keep scraping through. I'm telling you I'd love to see them play for the third place, if only to finally see them play. Too bad that they are both far, far away from their best. Well... I hope Senegal and Korea win tomorrow, hopefully convincingly so that they'll have oodles of self-confidence. Also, good game for the US, it's a shame they couldn't equalize. They deserved it. It's just hard to get the ball at the goal when there are 11 players in the penalty area. Though the Germans have to take credit for managing to marshal their defences after looking shaky for the first half. And Oliver Kahn was truly amazing. Landon Donovan was unlucky, against every other goalkeeper in the quarterfinals it would have been in. Oh well.
posted by Kattullus at 09:28 AM on June 21
Well... after seeing the game again I can't say that the refereeing was terrible in any major way. It wasn't up to Anders Frisk's or Collina's standards but it was okay. For what it's worth Christian Vieri should have been sent off for his elbowing of Kim Tae-young in the first half. So the Italians really can't complain. Oh, and what's-his-Fabioface was offside. Not by a lot, but he was. Excellent call really.
posted by Kattullus at 12:03 PM on June 19
Yeah, I'm sick of poor losers too. Well... they really only have themselves to blame. They should have finished Korea off instead of simply retreating to their penalty area. But I understand their anguish since this was their best match so far in the tournament. Maybe this will convince them to get rid of their awful catenaccio style, who knows? But I understand why the ref would have been disposed to call this a dive since Totti had been diving like a submarine captain all match. But still, the second yellow was harsh. However, no matter how you look at it (except if you're Italian) the Koreans fully deserved to win.
posted by Kattullus at 12:11 PM on June 18
Depends on the spin, etagloh, sure England won in 1966, but who are the hosts now? ;) By the way... I never ever expected that I'd cheer for England two games in a row, but that's what's happening now... My dream semis are Korea v USA and England v Senegal... that would be awesome.
posted by Kattullus at 10:11 AM on June 18
Shit... the way things have been going it could well be Korea v Senegal in Yokohama. Or maybe tradition kicks back in and we'll have Brazil v Germany... which by the way would be a stinker which Germany would probably win. But Korea v Senegal would be a classic any which way you look at it. Since France went out I've been predicting that the world champion would be a first-timer... and I'm sticking to that one.
posted by Kattullus at 09:35 AM on June 18
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!!! Ahn is my new hero. After misusing a penalty kick, he still battled on and managed to score a golden goal... Damn the Koreans were good. They fully deserved it. Too bad about Japan though, but I guess you can't have it all. It's funny, in the second round one game per day has gone to the established nations and one to the upstarts. Only four european teams in the quarter-finals and one south american... This almost makes up for France's exit.
posted by Kattullus at 09:13 AM on June 18
I have to say, I've been impressed by the US. I did expect them to progress to the last 16 (although I doubted after I saw their group) but I didn't expect them to play such attractive football. They probably have the fastest counter-attack of any team in the World Cup. Truly impressive. They fully deserve to be in the quarter-finals and I could well see the team beating Germany.
posted by Kattullus at 05:09 PM on June 17
I hope hope hope South Korea can beat the living snot out of Italy for a number of reasons. 1) I like their style. Korea have played beautifully. Fast and ravenous, they've shown that Asian teams can play beautiful, attacking football. 2) I hate the catenaggio. For me Italy is combines all the worst elements of European football into one nauseous whole. They keel over like cows getting hit by a train if someone as much as breathes on them, this combined with their signature we've-scored-one-goal-let's-just-all-pack-into-our-own-penalty-area-and-be-bastards makes them about as lovable as four week old milk. 3) It will be yet another egg in the face of the Europeans-and-South-Americans-will-always-rule-football crowd. They need more eggs thrown their way. (For the record, I'm Icelandic myself). 4) Spain v Italy: Boooooooooooooooring. Spain v S-Korea: Classic. Everytime I've seen two teams from southern Europe playing the games have been as exciting as the Spitzbergen Paint-drying Competition. I think the same principle is at work as that which make Belgium v Russia become goal frenzies. On the other hand all the S-Korea games have been superb. 5) It will increase the likelihood of a first time world cup winner. Lest people forget, France was the first new world champion since 1978 (to many "pundits" and "purists" that was quite a blow since France had traditionally been a second-tier football nation, one that gets into the semi-finals but no further. Similar to Sweden or Belgium. They're still blaming luck for this. Even after Euro2000). So keep on expanding the field. Am also rooting for Japan for similar reasons. But without the dislike for the opponent. But then Japan have shown themselves to be an even better side than Korea and Japan v Senegal would be a truly mouth-watering quarter-final in a way that Turkey v Senegal wouldn't be. Turkey has been lacklustre so far (except against Brazil, where they were unlucky not to win), while Japan has impressed. Adding the home advantage they should win. But Turkey can pull any number of tricks out of its bag so nothing is certain. Discarding emotions for a while I'd have to say that Italy are slightly more likely win, but only because they're complete bastards that always manage to score one goal and then hang onto that until the final whistle blows (except against France in 2000, YES!). However their defence is in tatters due to Nesta's injury problems, and if they can't organize properly, which they've failed to do sans Nesta, Korea should have more than a fighting chance to win. And if Totti can't pull himself out of the slump he's been in this tournament their midfield will continue to look asleep, especially with Cannavaro gone. Adding to that the advantage of having 70.000 red-clad maniacs cheering for you... So... Korea! Team Fighting! Korea! Team Fighting!
posted by Kattullus at 05:02 PM on June 17
Brazil wins!!!
It was better than I expected, but, you know, I was kinda expecting the worst, it wasn't a classic though. What most surprised was how the German defense was. It was pretty obvious to me by half-time. I think Voeller should have played with a back four. Funny that the Germans failed because they were too attack-minded (or for that matter that Marcos was brilliant and Kahn made the most egregious blunder I've ever seen him do... it was almost Barthezian ;) ). Oh well... but the better team won... if not the best team (but that's another story entirely). But I'm happy for Ronaldo, he's a nice guy (or so I gather from reports and interviews). Now I'll have to deal with four years of unsufferable "purists" (I use that term to describe the kind of person who describes himself with that word) who'll now talk about this Brazilian team as if they were the team of the '70 world cup. And why do otherwise smart and objective sportswriters like CNNSI.com's Marcotti for instance, turn into starstruck fanboys when watching Brazil. But it was okay... it was a game I was emotionally disassociated from... if it had been France or South Korea playing in the final I'd have been gutted now... but oh well. Oh, and though everyone will remember Ronaldo from this match for me the man of the game was Oliver Neuville (followed by Jeremies)... to bad the rest of the team were to busy being Neverkusen. And Silva and Kleberson were also very good... and Marcos of course. And Rivaldo managed not to be a selfish bastard once, at a very crucial moment, and that won the game... who'd have predicted that? ;) But he regained his title of most selfish bastard in the world by fighting through a pack of photographers to get into Ronaldo's spotlight when the game ended. Actually it's a shared title because Sepp "Complete and Utter Disgrace of a Human Being" Blatter tried to tear away the trophy from Pelé so that he could present it to Cafu with him. But still... an okay game. Though I think the image that will stay with me from this WC (hmm... why doesn't anybody ever abbreviate it?) is the shot of Ahn facing the crowd after his goal against Italy... it was magical.