World Cup
Germany 2 Argentina 1
France 1 Brazil 0
England 0 Portugal 1
Italy 3 Ukraine 0
The healing power of foosbal was put to the test during the Germany v. Argentina match. And also during the England v. Portugal match. And a few others.
In particular, after Germany won on penalty kicks, a mob of Argentine players rushed the German coach and subs and fists and kicks flew. Sore losers. Although Germany did not have as much flair, the Argentines did not exactly "deserve" to win, nor was the match stolen out from under them. Rather, Argentina was undone by some crap coaching decisions. Pekerman decided to use up his subs and sit on a one-goal lead with 20 minutes to play, a strategy that proved catastrophic.
Germany equalised in the 80th minute and left Argentina with their thumbs up their arses because they'd taken off their playmaker and goalscorer (Riquelme) and put on a defender. During the pk shootout, Jens Lehmann came up with a couple of huge saves, which are now called into controversy because he had written notes on the Argentine kickers tucked into his socks, telling him which way to leap for each kick.
When England took on Portugal, it had high hopes of being an electric clash, since the 2006 England side had been touted as the "best since 1966" which was, incidentally, the only time England won the World Cup (in controversy).
In the 51st minute England skipper David Beckham had to come off after a shitty challenge from behind by Nuno Valente, which went unpunished. The only consolation for the teary Beckham is that he didn't have to be one of the penalty-takers who would later send England home on the next flight.
During the match Portugal again failed to do anything of note besides dive repeatedly. I've lost all respect for this Portugal team and I hope France eats them alive in the next round. A scoreless 120 minutes resulted in a pk shootout. England had a nightmare day as Ricardo stopped kicks from Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Jamie Carragher. Only Owen Hargreaves converted.
The match was marred by further controversy not only for the foul on Beckham, but then for a handball in the box that also was not awarded. Instead of thinking of it as a harsh decision, think of it as a harsh rule. But a rule nonetheless. The defender ran at Beckham and raised his hand into the flight of the ball. It's a penalty, plain and simple.
Minutes later, Wayne Rooney struggled through repeated fouls by 3 Portugal players and then stomped down on Carvalho, a curly-haired cunt who looks like Paulie Shore gone to seed. Cristiano Ronaldo immediately ran over to the ref to felate him to give Rooney a red card sending off, which he did. The 3 other United players on the pitch were not happy with the young twat Ronaldo. Rooney saw red and with him went England's hopes and dreams.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
World Cup
More upsets. I am really doing poorly in my online pool. Where once I rode high in 2nd place, now I am not even on the first page!
Today's results:
Spain 1 France 3
Ghana 0 Brazil 3
Some have said Ghana outplayed Brazil in the first half, but that's almost like saying a hockey team should be graded on their pirouettes. Fuck Ghana. They lost, get 'em the fuck off the pitch and send 'em home! I am still incensed over their bullshit play against the USA. They did not deserve this match.
France has suddenly found form, however, and dumped heavily-touted Spain out of the Cup. Spain was playing beautiful football but as soon as it gets to the knockout stage, bam!, they get knocked out. France's talisman Zizu came through and led his team to victory. I don't think France is going to have the bottle to take on Brazil, although in '98 Zidane did knock two past the Brazilian goalie, so anything is possible.
And as I said before, my predictions have been wrong 6 out of the last 8 matches!
More upsets. I am really doing poorly in my online pool. Where once I rode high in 2nd place, now I am not even on the first page!
Today's results:
Spain 1 France 3
Ghana 0 Brazil 3
Some have said Ghana outplayed Brazil in the first half, but that's almost like saying a hockey team should be graded on their pirouettes. Fuck Ghana. They lost, get 'em the fuck off the pitch and send 'em home! I am still incensed over their bullshit play against the USA. They did not deserve this match.
France has suddenly found form, however, and dumped heavily-touted Spain out of the Cup. Spain was playing beautiful football but as soon as it gets to the knockout stage, bam!, they get knocked out. France's talisman Zizu came through and led his team to victory. I don't think France is going to have the bottle to take on Brazil, although in '98 Zidane did knock two past the Brazilian goalie, so anything is possible.
And as I said before, my predictions have been wrong 6 out of the last 8 matches!
Impeachable Offense: Crimes Against The Constitution
The Senate Judiciary Committee today heard testimony regarding Bush's "signing statements" which have allowed him to ignore parts of laws he doesn't like. Their finding? Bruce Fein, testifying, said,
Citing Bush's behavior as "alarming," Fein suggested that the President could be impeached for "political crime(s) against the Constitution."
Here's the link, found by Buzzflash.
The Senate Judiciary Committee today heard testimony regarding Bush's "signing statements" which have allowed him to ignore parts of laws he doesn't like. Their finding? Bruce Fein, testifying, said,
Citing Bush's behavior as "alarming," Fein suggested that the President could be impeached for "political crime(s) against the Constitution."
Here's the link, found by Buzzflash.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
World Cup
Ghana 2 USA 1
Fuck Ghana. They played like a bunch of pussies. Their soccer team should be rechristened the Diving Team. Granted, USA did not show the form they were capable of and we just couldn't score, but Ghana goes through after a fairly shameful performance. The only solace will be watching them play Brazil, who will destroy them 5-0.
The USA did at least show up for this game. We had a blinder of a goal, Beasely pounced on some slack Ghana play and ran down the left flank, whipped in a cross left-footed all the way through the box, and Dempsey ran onto it and volleyed it into the back of the net from 18 yards. It was a tremendous goal. Because this game was a must-win for the USA, we needed 2 goals to advance. Seeing this, Ghana just sat back and played the ball around the back. And herein lies the difference between true sport and pussies. A country like Brazil or Argentina will continue to attack the goal even when ahead, because that is what makes soccer beautiful. That is what the world expects. Ghana sat back and tried to run down the clock. Any time a USA player came near them, they fell to the grass clutching an ankle/shin/foot as if shot by a deer rifle. On replay you could see that there was minimal, if any, contact.
It seems all Ghana wanted to do was advance even if it meant playing without any honor and showing the world they're a bunch of shitty players. Brazil will destroy you, and you will deserve it.
Portugal 1 Holland 0
This match was a spectacle of poor sportsmanship and pathetic refereeing. Fuck Portugal. My, how they celebrated after their win, but anyone who watched this match without Portuguese blood in their veins will have seen a bunch of bloody cowards running about the pitch who would stop at nothing to win. Holland dominated, but, as is so often the case, football is not about possession and only the goals tally really matters. There were half a dozen blatant fouls on Arjen Robben that went unpunished. The Dutch coach does have a lot to answer for, despite playing a bunch of jackasses. At the end of the match, there stood Ruud Van Nistelrooy, one of the finest strikers in the world and one of the most clinical of finishers to have ever played the game - in a substitute's vest. Why play Kuyt ahead of Van Nistelrooy, who has proved himself at every level of this game? Holland is out, I guess the plan worked like a charm.
Ghana 2 USA 1
Fuck Ghana. They played like a bunch of pussies. Their soccer team should be rechristened the Diving Team. Granted, USA did not show the form they were capable of and we just couldn't score, but Ghana goes through after a fairly shameful performance. The only solace will be watching them play Brazil, who will destroy them 5-0.
The USA did at least show up for this game. We had a blinder of a goal, Beasely pounced on some slack Ghana play and ran down the left flank, whipped in a cross left-footed all the way through the box, and Dempsey ran onto it and volleyed it into the back of the net from 18 yards. It was a tremendous goal. Because this game was a must-win for the USA, we needed 2 goals to advance. Seeing this, Ghana just sat back and played the ball around the back. And herein lies the difference between true sport and pussies. A country like Brazil or Argentina will continue to attack the goal even when ahead, because that is what makes soccer beautiful. That is what the world expects. Ghana sat back and tried to run down the clock. Any time a USA player came near them, they fell to the grass clutching an ankle/shin/foot as if shot by a deer rifle. On replay you could see that there was minimal, if any, contact.
It seems all Ghana wanted to do was advance even if it meant playing without any honor and showing the world they're a bunch of shitty players. Brazil will destroy you, and you will deserve it.
Portugal 1 Holland 0
This match was a spectacle of poor sportsmanship and pathetic refereeing. Fuck Portugal. My, how they celebrated after their win, but anyone who watched this match without Portuguese blood in their veins will have seen a bunch of bloody cowards running about the pitch who would stop at nothing to win. Holland dominated, but, as is so often the case, football is not about possession and only the goals tally really matters. There were half a dozen blatant fouls on Arjen Robben that went unpunished. The Dutch coach does have a lot to answer for, despite playing a bunch of jackasses. At the end of the match, there stood Ruud Van Nistelrooy, one of the finest strikers in the world and one of the most clinical of finishers to have ever played the game - in a substitute's vest. Why play Kuyt ahead of Van Nistelrooy, who has proved himself at every level of this game? Holland is out, I guess the plan worked like a charm.