04/18/24
June 18, 2002
England v Brazil: and US v Germany kick off the quarterfinals tonight (US time). These are probably the games of the tournament. Although my picks are with the favorites (Brazil and Germany), my heart is with England and the US. Who do you favor? And, for those of us in the "unlucky" timezones, what's your stay-awake strategy? (Naturally, you'll be watching both games.)
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 09:29 AM - 22 comments
Actaully, the quarterfinals don't start until Friday June 21st at 2:30AM (EST). So now we have 2 days of no soccer/football. This is torture.
posted by grum@work at 09:36 AM on June 18, 2002
Yep, prepare for two days of digestion after this two-week banquet.
posted by etagloh at 09:48 AM on June 18, 2002
Well I live in the get-up early zone which to me is even more of a bind, as I'm a lazy sod. Fortunately, I have at least booked the day off work. Traditionally, for me at least, England games are always watched in the pub, whether they are on terrestial tv or not. The doors open at 7am at our local, so I'll be outside at 6.55am just to make sure we get our "lucky" table. Will probably drink about 3 pints of lager during the game then back home to hopefully catch a couple of hours sleep. Back to the pub for the USA v Germany game at 12.30 and doubtless another few pints. Obviously I want England to win, though I have little faith that we will. Also I'll be shouting for the USA because I would just love it if they knocked the Germans out. To be honest I think that Brazil and Germany will go through to the next round. Which will make for a miserable weekend :-(
posted by squealy at 10:00 AM on June 18, 2002
squealy, for the England-Argentina game, my pub was lined up at 4am for the 5:30 kickoff. And this was in Canada :) I'll be watching England-Brazil there (12:30 am kickoff), but I think I'll have to get there at 8 or 9 to secure a table. And what about the other results. Korea-Spain???? Turkey-Senegal??? wtf?
posted by sauril at 10:43 AM on June 18, 2002
Korea, Turkey, Senegal, and the US making up half of the quarterfinals, who on EARTH would've thought??
posted by elsoltano at 10:50 AM on June 18, 2002
Sorry for messing up on the dates. Well, hey, we get two days to catch up on sleep, and speculate, speculate, speculate. And anticipate, anticipate, anticipate. Hoo-ha!
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:33 AM on June 18, 2002
Squealy, stop being a doom merchant. Read this and laugh with anticipation. Piddle yourself, in fact. Germany are very poor and the U.S have an excellent chance of beating them. They are organised, disciplined and as fit as butchers dogs, that seems to be the style of this world cup. Germany haven't met anyone decent yet (Ireland included). And this is a mad world cup.
posted by Fat Buddha at 11:35 AM on June 18, 2002
I'm still picking Senegal v Brazil in the final -- altho my fantasy pick was Mexico v Brazil (oh, well) -- with the winner being, gosh, I don't know. Let's just wait 'til we get closer, shall we, and maybe some key player gets injured and I can stop making loser predictions. ;-)
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:42 AM on June 18, 2002
Worldcup2002 - I'll give you odds of 100-1 for a Brazil-Senegal final. On the other hand, the odds of a Brazil-Senegal semi-final should be quite short.
posted by salmacis at 12:10 PM on June 18, 2002
Not to rain on your parade again wc2002, but Brazil and Senegal can only face each other in the semi-final, not the final. They are on the same side of the playoff bracket.
posted by grum@work at 12:11 PM on June 18, 2002
I am 0-2 - messed up the day of the quarterfinal games AND the fact that Senegal can never meet Brazil in this Cup. I really need my sleep.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:12 PM on June 18, 2002
I mean Senegal can never meet Brazil in this Cup's final. Somebody get me a pillow and blanket.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:13 PM on June 18, 2002
/me puts on replay of England v. Nigeria. The little tyke'll be out in no time. Better than sleeping pills!
posted by kafkaesque at 01:51 PM on June 18, 2002
Thank god we're getting a break. I've spent too many days sitting around the house watching the previous night's tivo'd recordings well past noon, then getting to work after 1.
posted by mathowie at 08:02 PM on June 18, 2002
Something for the break - Futebol by Guardian writer, Alex Bellos, an excellent English-language book about the culture and significance of the beautiful game in Brazil. (Chapter 8 online).
posted by liam at 12:28 AM on June 19, 2002
Hokay, since we've got some time, can I encourage anyone to speculate on this scenario: 1. Korea topples Spain (mostly with better passing + 12th man/ghost/fans/Ecuadoran refs/whatever); 2. either Korea topples U.S. (tied last time, but U.S. looked wore out afterword -- and who hasn't against the Special K -- and Korea knows how to beat them this time) or Korea topples Germany (German D with too many holes for Mr. Ahn to slip through); 3. Korea vs. Turkey final (nobody watches, everyone goes to bed early, Korea wins and becomes the new kingpin team of football & FIFA has to include 6 Asian teams in 2006 -- meanwhile, all the Koreans care about is that they beat the team that beat Japan) Is any of this really possible?
posted by Bixby23 at 03:43 AM on June 19, 2002
Who I'm rooting for, in order: 1) England - heritage thing, being Canadian and all 2) Korea - what a celebration it would be 3) Senegal - see Korea, plus it would increase the odds of a World Cup in Africa in 2010. 4) USA - I hate the US, but winning would pop so many Euro-egos and increase the chances of good soccer on TV in North America 5) Brazil - truly the most talented team left and a thrill to watch 6) Germany - it would allow one more team to qualify for the next World Cup (since Germany would get the two automatic berths themselves) 7) Spain - they've been one of the stronger teams, but they don't really excite me 8) Turkey - zzzzzzzzz I can't wait for Friday. I never thought I'd get THIS caught up in the tournament, but the co-worker who sits behind me and I have been chatting about it non-stop since it started. This is almost as much fun as the Leafs run for the Stanley Cup. Almost...
posted by grum@work at 07:27 AM on June 19, 2002
US v Germany: Should Arena keep the same line-up as the Mexico game? The overhaul after the Poland debacle worked wonderfully, though I realize some of it was necessary given injuries and such. Masteoni deserves another start, in my opnion. Found this rather amusing ... Michael Davies at ESPN noted that prior to the start of the Mexico match, the U.S. team appeared confident "Despite the crushing, crushing dual blows of losing Jeff Agoos and Frankie Hejduk." Ummm, the loss of Agoos was "crushing"? The Hejduk loss I can understand, but I see nothing but positives coming from the absence of Agoos. What was up with that weird "I got hit with a battery from the crowd"-type gesture that Agoos made before he went off in the Poland game, anyway?
posted by skronk at 11:24 AM on June 19, 2002
Who I'm rooting for. 1)England - lived there for six months but love them like my own. (I'm from the US) 2)Brazil - Put Ronaldo and R. Carlos on any team together and it's going to be an exciting game. 3)US- The US may one day be my #1 choice but first they're going to have to get rid of their lingering 1st generation of players. (Kobe, I'm looking in your general direction. And Agoos? I'm farting in your general direction.) 4)Korea - Underdog host countries just make for a huge celebration. 5)The rest - I don't know any of ya, and I don't want to.
posted by kire at 12:10 PM on June 19, 2002
skronk: It must be true. Americans really don't get irony.
posted by salmacis at 12:22 PM on June 19, 2002
hardy har har
posted by skronk at 01:48 PM on June 19, 2002
Wait, my schedule says that these don't take place until this Friday (the 21st). Did I miss something?