- 07:40 PM
- 01/09/09
| Name: | Kari Tulinius |
|---|---|
| Member since: | June 17, 2002 |
| Last visit: | December 02, 2003 |
Kattullus has posted 4 links and 32 comments to SportsFilter and 0 links and 0 comments to the Locker Room.
The best assessment of this World Cup I've seen so far: from Paul Wilson of the Observer (of whom I know nothing). As it comes to an end how will we remember it. Was it a classic? Was it a dud? Somewhere in the middle? What do you think? Will things be different from now on? Do you have answers to some other questions? Chip in and make the World Cup last one more day before the normal everyday drudgery of life comes rushing back in ;)
posted by Kattullus to soccer at 07:28 PM on June 29 - 7 comments
Brazil v Turkey.: Predictions anyone?
posted by Kattullus to soccer at 10:17 AM on June 25 - 16 comments
Business as usual.: It seems that football's "great powers" always seem to blame anyone but themselves for losing (France being the solitary, laudable exception). As BBC's Andy Gray points out everyone needs a bit of luck to win the World Cup, but at least the Koreans have played honestly, and with integrity, unlike some other teams.
posted by Kattullus to soccer at 09:56 AM on June 24 - 9 comments
"Smug ``We knew it'' expressions: : Okay, we could have told you this team was good, but that would have spoiled a lot of the enjoyment" says Eoghan Sweeney, Chief Football Writer for the Korea Times. This prompts a question, is South Korea's success a fluke in this tournament, or are they an emerging power? Of the semifinalists they've had to go through the most difficult opponents, will they get further? What do you say?
posted by Kattullus to soccer at 04:04 PM on June 22 - 4 comments
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
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.