Greatest Show on Earth

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

Well done to NZ who go home undefeated.

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

Now THAT'S bizarre.

[VicVegas 70]

Went out to get something to eat last night at one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately they have a big screen and the Brazil/Portugal match was on. I watched the final 30 minutes while eating my fried pork with garlic and flirting with the waitresses.

 

All the Thai guys were glued to the "action" . They would jump up when either team got the ball close to the other's goal, then moan and slump back in their chairs when the shot missed. That happened about 4 times while I was watching. I just sat there scratching my head, totally perplexed as to what was interesting about all this. They ought to change the name of the sport to "Almost Score". There was one impressive stop by the Portugese goaltender, but the rest was just fancy footwork while kicking the ball back and forth . . . back and forth . . . back and forth . . .

 

The game ended in a nil/ nil tie. I figured they'd have some injury time, like the USA did the other night vs Algeria, but no, everybody just walked away and the girl behind the bar switched the TV to Thai music videos. Talk about a lackluster finish, but then again there really was no finish - no one was victorious, no one was defeated.

 

I know soccer fans, I know, in the next round there will be no ties. Instead they'll settle the matches with penelty kicks, which IMO is pretty much the same as settling them by coin flip. All the goaltender can do is try to guess which way the kicker will kick the ball - right or left.

 

Play 90 minutes, then decide it with penelty kicks. That's how you determine the winner of your once-every-four-years-super-over-hyped-world-wide-spectacle of a tournament?

 

"Should I dive to the right, or the left?"

Edited June 26, 2010 by VicVegas

[atlas2 4,329]

Went out to get something to eat last night at one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately they have a big screen and the Brazil/Portugal match was on. I watched the final 30 minutes while eating my fried pork with garlic and flirting with the waitresses.

 

All the Thai guys were glued to the "action" . They would jump up when either team got the ball close to the other's goal, then moan and slump back in their chairs when the shot missed. That happened about 4 times while I was watching. I just sat there scratching my head, totally perplexed as to what was interesting about all this. They ought to change the name of the sport to "Almost Score". There was one impressive stop by the Portugese goaltender, but the rest was just fancy footwork while kicking the ball back and forth . . . back and forth . . . back and forth . . .

 

The game ended in a nil/ nil tie. I figured they'd have some injury time, like the USA did the other night vs Algeria, but no, everybody just walked away and the girl behind the bar switched the TV to Thai music videos. Talk about a lackluster finish, but then again there really was no finish - no one was victorious, no one was defeated.

 

I know soccer fans, I know, in the next round there will be no ties. Instead they'll settle the matches with penelty kicks, which IMO is pretty much the same as settling them by coin flip. All the goaltender can do is try to guess which way the kicker will kick the ball - right or left.

 

Play 90 minutes, then decide it with penelty kicks. That's how you determine the winner of your once-every-four-years-super-over-hyped-world-wide-spectacle of a tournament?

 

"Should I dive to the right, or the left?"

 

 

I take back the words I took back in a connected post and my original comment stands.....But I reserve the right to take this comment back should it be proved inccorect

Edited June 26, 2010 by atlas2

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The game ended in a nil/ nil tie. I figured they'd have some injury time, like the USA did the other night vs Algeria, but no, everybody just walked away

 

C'mon, Vic. Don't make things up to reinforce the fact that you haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

 

 

 

[ashboy 22]

Five Australian football fans were among nine people tied up and robbed at gunpoint in a terrifying hold-up in their hotel room following the Australia-Serbia World Cup match in South Africa.

 

The Nine Network said that one of the female victims was sexually assaulted during the robbery, staged by four armed men at the hotel in Nelspruit.

 

They were found by another Australian guest, Steve Gaynor, who told Nine that one of the victims, believed to be a member of the Australian Federal Police, had kept the others calm during the nightmare ordeal on Thursday.

 

Mr Gaynor had found his room had been robbed with about $10,000 worth of equipment, including his laptop and passport, stolen.

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had confirmed the incident, News Limited reported.

 

The robbery and assault occurred after the group had returned in the early hours of Thursday morning after watching the Socceroos beat Serbia 2-1.

 

__________________

[joekicker 53]

The robbery and assault occurred after the group had returned in the early hours of Thursday morning after watching the Socceroos beat Serbia 2-1.

 

I'm sure they were taking exercise and touring the sights during the many hours between the end of the match and arrival "in the early hours" of the day.

 

Sorry, couldn't resist it. South Africa is a very nasty place at times, we knew this going in. In a way, I'm a little surprised there hasn't been more of what these poor victims got and thankful (and hopeful) there hasn't been.

 

.

[ozijeff 9]

Will be interesting to see in the washup of the Cup, if we get to hear about any criminal activities towards visitors.

Probably the Sth African Govt and FIFA will hush it up.

 

Really I guess its like anything if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It wasnt so long ago that Johannasburg had one of the worst crime rates on earth.

[ashboy 22]

I'm sure they were taking exercise and touring the sights during the many hours between the end of the match and arrival "in the early hours" of the day.

 

Sorry, couldn't resist it. South Africa is a very nasty place at times, we knew this going in. In a way, I'm a little surprised there hasn't been more of what these poor victims got and thankful (and hopeful) there hasn't been.

 

.

 

 

Never mind after dark. I wouldn't go out in parts of Sth Africa....anywhere in Africa...and many parts of Asia....within an hour of the impending sunset. "I Am Legend" springs to mind.

 

But did you miss the part about them being INSIDE their hotel when attacked?

[Obsession 571]

Went out to get something to eat last night at one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately they have a big screen and the Brazil/Portugal match was on. I watched the final 30 minutes while eating my fried pork with garlic and flirting with the waitresses.

 

All the Thai guys were glued to the "action" . They would jump up when either team got the ball close to the other's goal, then moan and slump back in their chairs when the shot missed. That happened about 4 times while I was watching. I just sat there scratching my head, totally perplexed as to what was interesting about all this. They ought to change the name of the sport to "Almost Score". There was one impressive stop by the Portugese goaltender, but the rest was just fancy footwork while kicking the ball back and forth . . . back and forth . . . back and forth . . .

 

The game ended in a nil/ nil tie. I figured they'd have some injury time, like the USA did the other night vs Algeria, but no, everybody just walked away and the girl behind the bar switched the TV to Thai music videos. Talk about a lackluster finish, but then again there really was no finish - no one was victorious, no one was defeated.

 

I know soccer fans, I know, in the next round there will be no ties. Instead they'll settle the matches with penelty kicks, which IMO is pretty much the same as settling them by coin flip. All the goaltender can do is try to guess which way the kicker will kick the ball - right or left.

 

Play 90 minutes, then decide it with penelty kicks. That's how you determine the winner of your once-every-four-years-super-over-hyped-world-wide-spectacle of a tournament?

 

"Should I dive to the right, or the left?"

 

Vic. Your posts are becoming depressing. You sound very negative.

[chacha 0]

Went out to get something to eat last night at one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately they have a big screen and the Brazil/Portugal match was on. I watched the final 30 minutes while eating my fried pork with garlic and flirting with the waitresses.

 

All the Thai guys were glued to the "action" . They would jump up when either team got the ball close to the other's goal, then moan and slump back in their chairs when the shot missed. That happened about 4 times while I was watching. I just sat there scratching my head, totally perplexed as to what was interesting about all this. They ought to change the name of the sport to "Almost Score". There was one impressive stop by the Portugese goaltender, but the rest was just fancy footwork while kicking the ball back and forth . . . back and forth . . . back and forth . . .

 

The game ended in a nil/ nil tie. I figured they'd have some injury time, like the USA did the other night vs Algeria, but no, everybody just walked away and the girl behind the bar switched the TV to Thai music videos. Talk about a lackluster finish, but then again there really was no finish - no one was victorious, no one was defeated.

 

I know soccer fans, I know, in the next round there will be no ties. Instead they'll settle the matches with penelty kicks, which IMO is pretty much the same as settling them by coin flip. All the goaltender can do is try to guess which way the kicker will kick the ball - right or left.

 

Play 90 minutes, then decide it with penelty kicks. That's how you determine the winner of your once-every-four-years-super-over-hyped-world-wide-spectacle of a tournament?

 

"Should I dive to the right, or the left?"

! What the fook is a goaltender ? 2 why the fook do you get all excited about a 30 second orgasm ?? 3 wtf

[Gonzo 419]

! What the fook is a goaltender ? 2 why the fook do you get all excited about a 30 second orgasm ?? 3 wtf

Our boy from Rayong was probably sexually abused by his "soccer" coach, when he had a try at the game as a junior. It seems he didn't enjoy the experience of receiving anal intercourse by his mentor and has had a pathological hatred of the game ever since. What other reason could there be for someone to vent one's anger to post hundreds of negative articles about a game most of the world loves with a passion.

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

Great excitement in London before this game with Germany. As an outsider you can see it means a lot.

[joekicker 53]

Good. Could be better.

 

What other reason could there be for someone to vent one's anger to post hundreds of negative articles about a game most of the world loves with a passion. rolleyes

 

Change to ... about half the world ...

 

Also, I suggest dropping "with a passion" completely, it's subjective and transferance. It's also just going to lead to equally questionable arguments which never can be solved about how much the other half might HATE it "with a passion".

 

.

[nidnoyham 30]

Win or lose today- England as a country is partying.

 

Blue sky, 28c+ everyone is out in the garden, smell of barbies. Crates of beer and cider being carted out of Tesco, while a guy drives by with "Vindaloo" playing at full blast on his stereo..... houses, cars, pubs, shops, decked with the St. Georges flag.

 

It is quite a day on our tiny island. you can feel the atmosphere- it's great !

 

Enger-land !- Enger-land !

 

" God save our Football team- long live our football team- god save our team.

Send them victorious- happy and glorious, long to reign over us- long live our team ! "

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

Let's see how my predictions are going so far:

 

Okay, all my predictions have been completely wrong so far, so I figure my luck has to turn soon. wink.gif

 

Here are my predictions for the knock out round:

 

Uruguay vs S Korea: Tough call but I'm going with Uruguay.

 

USA vs Ghana: Also tough but I think USA has momentum. Happy now Hub?

 

Netherlands vs Slovakia: I'm calling an upset here. Slovakia.

 

Brazil vs whoever: Who are we kidding? Brazil of course.

 

Argentina vs Mexico: Mexico is really out of sorts this time around and Argentina is as tough as ever. Argentina.

 

Germany vs England: Sorry boys, Germany is sharp and England still isn't focused. Germany will win for sure. Then again with my record, maybe you should take my prediction as a good sign for the nation of shopkeepers?

 

Paraguay vs Japan: I was really surprised by Japan's drubbing of Denmark. I'm calling another upset here, Japan over Paraguay, thus reducing the number of guays in the next round to one. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

Portugal vs whoever: Portugal.

 

 

Well, looks like I'm 1 for 2 in the knockout round. I predicted Uruguay over S Korea but didn't expect USA to lose to Ghana.

 

If England beat Germany I will be a-fucking-mazed.

[Gonzo 419]

Let's see how my predictions are going so far:

 

 

 

 

Well, looks like I'm 1 for 2 in the knockout round. I predicted Uruguay over S Korea but didn't expect USA to lose to Ghana.

 

If England beat Germany I will be a-fucking-mazed.

Good call to pick Germany. They played the best game of the tournament so far tonight and totally demolished England 4 : 1. Take no notice of the German haters on this board. They are only jealous. The goal not given to England tonight, which bounced well inside the German goal, was sweet revenge for the 1966 world cup goal, which was gifted to England. Actually 1966 was the last time England beat Germany. Winners are grinners.

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

Good call to pick Germany. They played the best game of the tournament so far tonight and totally demolished England 4 : 1. Take no notice of the German haters on this board. They are only jealous. The goal not given to England tonight, which bounced well inside the German goal, was sweet revenge for the 1966 world cup goal, which was gifted to England. Actually 1966 was the last time England beat Germany. Winners are grinners.

 

Yes, I'm 2 for 3 now, sadly. I know about as much about soccer as I do about rocket science but all the talk in the media was about the tensions between the players and that Italian coach, while Germany was laser-focused and haven't played a weak game yet.

 

I didn't realize that about England's 1966 win -- but with a 4-1 score, one bogus goal doesn't make much difference this time.

[nidnoyham 30]

Good call to pick Germany. They played the best game of the tournament so far tonight and totally demolished England 4 : 1. Take no notice of the German haters on this board. They are only jealous. The goal not given to England tonight, which bounced well inside the German goal, was sweet revenge for the 1966 world cup goal, which was gifted to England. Actually 1966 was the last time England beat Germany. Winners are grinners.

 

Win or lose, we are on the booze !

 

Today's goal was not nearly as close a call as Geoff Hursts. We had a spare one at the end anyway (4-2 ) The only bloke refusing goal line technology in football, was watching today. I hope he chokes on his free dinner.

 

Er, we have beaten Germany since 1966. 1-5 in one game a young lad named Owen got a hat trick.

[joekicker 53]

but with a 4-1 score, one bogus goal doesn't make much difference this time.

 

I think Germany were the better team without a shred of doubt. Okay, that out of the way.

 

The disallowed goal forced England's tactics. At 2-2, they hang around, look for opportunity. At 1-2, they play 9 men forward. They get a free kick near the Germany area. Lampard takes the kick and it bounces straight off the wall into mid-field, where THREE Germans pounce on it and head down the field against the one England defender - and of course score an easy goal. And now it's 1-3 because of a lucky bounce after a risible ref's ruling.

 

The referee in effect forced England to change its game and its play and effectively caused a goal that England would not have conceded in a 3-on-1 break had the score been 2-2 instead of 2-1.

 

Inferior teams beat superior ones all the time. That's why they play the game. When a ref's decision influences actual play and tactics, the ref changes the game itself. I don't know if England could have won from a 2-2 score. Neither does anyone else, because it was never 2-2 although it was supposed to be.

 

If the dreadful Sepp Blather and his odious, unaccountable multi-billion-dollar abusive multinational corporatation refuse to put cameras on the goal line now, there's something dreadfully wrong with the whole sport.

 

.

Edited June 27, 2010 by joekicker

[StefanH 3]

I think Germany were the better team without a shred of doubt. Okay, that out of the way.

 

The disallowed goal forced England's tactics. At 2-2, they hang around, look for opportunity. At 1-2, they play 9 men forward. They get a free kick near the Germany area. Lampard takes the kick and it bounces straight off the wall into mid-field, where THREE Germans pounce on it and head down the field against the one England defender - and of course score an easy goal. And now it's 1-3 because of a lucky bounce after a risible ref's ruling.

 

The referee in effect forced England to change its game and its play and effectively caused a goal that England would not have conceded in a 3-on-1 break had the score been 2-2 instead of 2-1.

 

Inferior teams beat superior ones all the time. That's why they play the game. When a ref's decision influences actual play and tactics, the ref changes the game itself. I don't know if England could have won from a 2-2 score. Neither does anyone else, because it was never 2-2 although it was supposed to be.

 

If the dreadful Sepp Blather and his odious, unaccountable multi-billion-dollar abusive multinational corporatation refuse to put cameras on the goal line now, there's something dreadfully wrong with the whole sport.

 

.

Interesting, that nobody of yours felt the urge of goal line cameras way back Wembley 1966

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

The random element in FIFA soccer is far too big a part of the action. That's why I've said, only half in jest, that soccer is more of a gambling vehicle than a sport, despite the brilliant athleticism on display every day in soccer. I can't think of any other professional sport where improperly allowed or disallowed goals, diving and bad calls play such an integral part in the results on such a routine basis.

 

Bottom line: Video replays. No excuses. Do it now.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Er, we have beaten Germany since 1966. 1-5 in one game a young lad named Owen got a hat trick.

 

Is that the same Owen who got a brace against Japan recently?

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

I'm 3 for 4 now. As expected, Argentina beat Mexico, and inevitably ANOTHER controversial goal!

 

Uruguay vs S Korea: Tough call but I'm going with Uruguay.

 

USA vs Ghana: Also tough but I think USA has momentum. Happy now Hub?

 

Netherlands vs Slovakia: I'm calling an upset here. Slovakia.

 

Brazil vs whoever: Who are we kidding? Brazil of course.

 

Argentina vs Mexico: Mexico is really out of sorts this time around and Argentina is as tough as ever. Argentina.

 

Germany vs England: Sorry boys, Germany is sharp and England still isn't focused. Germany will win for sure. Then again with my record, maybe you should take my prediction as a good sign for the nation of shopkeepers?

 

Paraguay vs Japan: I was really surprised by Japan's drubbing of Denmark. I'm calling another upset here, Japan over Paraguay, thus reducing the number of guays in the next round to one. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

Portugal vs whoever: Portugal.

[Gonzo 419]

Win or lose, we are on the booze !

 

Today's goal was not nearly as close a call as Geoff Hursts. We had a spare one at the end anyway (4-2 ) The only bloke refusing goal line technology in football, was watching today. I hope he chokes on his free dinner.

 

Er, we have beaten Germany since 1966. 1-5 in one game a young lad named Owen got a hat trick.

If I remember rightly, that 5:1 England win was only a preparation game for Germany's 2006 world cup campaign, where England failed to qualify for the tournament.