[Tsundoku]

Bauchelain the Evil, on 19 June 2010 - 04:47 PM, said:

Sombra, on 19 June 2010 - 03:49 PM, said:

Oh wonderful - refs FINALLY decide to start enforcing the rules, just in time to fuck us over. I'm starting to think we should just nuke Italy (sorry Bauchelain) because it seems anything we have to do with them in soccer terms is just going to fuck us over. Anyone notice where the ref is from? Oh, that's right - ITALY.



It's enough to make you start believing in FIFA conspiracy theories ...

And that BUZZING. Seriously, anyone who thinks the vuvuzela "adds to the atmosphere" is ... well ... retarded.

EDIT: that's it, 1-1. For us to have a chance we have to beat Serbia as well as Ghana copping a hiding from Germany. Stranger things have happened but I would put this outcome as the least probable.

Sombra I can understand you, even I was outraged when Italy got that penalty in 2006, however if there is one good thing in Italy it's our referees, who are constantly top class. Rosetti especially is a very good referee.

Grazzi, amico.

EDIT: you know, if Australia DID beat Serbia, it would create a weird circle of wins - Ghana beat Serbia, who beat Germany, who beat Australia, who beat Serbia ... Fingers crossed.

This post has been edited by Sombra: 19 June 2010 - 05:59 PM

[Illuyankas]

I didn't see England versus Algeria. I watched twenty dudes dick about in a field, but I certainly didn't see a football match at any point.

[Tavvar]

The refs were good until Friday. The beginning of the Serbia-Germany game had a yellow card at any contact, a couple for both that should not have been called, then in the US-Slovenia game, the ref was ... not watching the same game as everyone else on the planet. At least the USA still just needs to win on Wednesday, not that that is an easy proposition. THe only team that I want to US to avoid is Germany, but now we have no idea where they will end up; Group D as a whole has not impressed me (not that I'm very knowledgeable about soccer/football) how did Serbia and Ghana struggle while UP a man? It looked like it was the other way around and several points in those games. I'm definitely enjoying the 2nd round better, good luck to everyone's teams.

[Tsundoku]

Stupidity truly is viral.

----------------------------

http://www.news.com....r-1225881960628

Low blow: Vuvuzelas hit Sydney

* By Brendan Hills
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* June 20, 2010 5:06PM

STOCK up on earplugs - the vuvuzela craze is coming to a footy game near you.

The head-splitting horn which is providing the soundtrack to South Africa's football World Cup is already on sale in Sydney - and retailers say they are struggling to keep up with demand.

They predict the droning buzz will soon be heard "everywhere" in coming weeks at sports events in Australia.

The prospect drew a mixed response from administrators. The AFL said horns were already banned, the NRL said it would monitor the situation while Football Federation Australia said it would only act if the vuvuzelas became a problem.

The plastic horns emit just one note - a b-flat - at a decibel level just shy of a jet take-off, depending on the lungs of the blower. They have created a blaring brouhaha at the World Cup with complaints the noise drowns out TV commentators and all other sounds in the stadiums.

How easy is it to find a vuvuzela in Sydney?

In one hour, The Sunday Telegraph had bought a box of 12 vuvuzelas from Appaloosa Toys in Western Sydney for $70.

Appaloosa director Vaughn DeKretser said their popularity increased dramatically at the start of the World Cup.

"I usually sell 200 in a week but I've already sold 1000 in three days, he said. "I'd say we'll see a few more at games in Sydney."

It is believed retailers are already inquiring about boosting imports of the instruments in the wake of the World Cup.

The Sunday Telegraph road-tested the vuvuzela on the streets of Sydney last week to gauge the reaction of Australians and quickly found it was not a good way to win friends and influence people.

We were ejected from the steps of the Opera House, no fewer than five pubs, the Australian Stock Exchange, and failed to impress when we joined a group of buskers at Circular Quay.

People in Pitt Street Mall blocked their ears and scurried past as they came into earshot.

A bar worker at Circular Quay gave us a lengthy dressing down.

When asked what he thought of the vuvuzela he said: "I'd love you guys to leave; I don't want to hear that again, that's for sure."

On a bench in Hyde Park, two young lovers said being serenaded by a vuvuzela love song did nothing to heighten their romantic feelings. "It's the worst noise I've ever heard, can you stop?" Zoie, 18, said.

McDonalds at Circular Quay, which sells a 2010 World Cup Mug with Big Mac Meals, asked us to leave after six or seven toots.

[Sindriss]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT, DENMARK WON!!!!!!

Such a great game, definetely one of the best in this WC so far. Man, I am so hangover because we celebrated the victory last night, damn it was awesome. Rommedahl has taken so much criticism from every angle, and then he goes out and plays his best match ever, greatness!!

[Thelomen Toblerone]

I was not alone in observing that nearly all the danes looked alike. I think you need some genetic variation there.

[Tapper]

Oooh, New Zealand, how happy doth thou make me? Hee hee.

[Gothos]

I must say I enjoyed the Cameroon - Denmark game. Fast play, magnificent goals, pure win.

[caladanbrood]

France's world cup is getting funnier and funnier almost by the second!




http://news.bbc.co.u...010/8750302.stm

Quote

France's players refused to train on Sunday following an on-pitch row between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne.

The public training session was about to begin when coach Raymond Domenech had to separate Evra and Duverne.

Following the incident, the squad left the pitch and walked towards the bus.

The French Football Federation's managing director subsequently quit, leaving France in crisis a day after striker Nicolas Anelka's was sent home.

Earlier on Sunday, coach Raymond Domenech had played down his row with Anelka and insisted the exiled striker could have stayed with the French team had he apologised.

Anelka was sent home after verbally insulting Domenech during the defeat by Mexico which has left France unlikely to qualify for the last 16.

"I had another chat with him and left open the possibility for him to apologise," said the 57-year-old.

"[That was] something which he did not want to do."

Chelsea forward Anelka was substituted after reportedly insulting Domenech after the coach criticised him for straying out of position during the goalless first half of last Thursday's 2-0 defeat.

"He did not react in the most suitable fashion. But it was just a guy sitting in his corner and muttering" - Raymond Domenech


But Domenech insisted the incident could have been dealt with without such damaging repercussions, had a leak to the media not escalated the problem.

"People cannot imagine the pressure," said Domenech, who took France to the final of the last World Cup in 2006.

"We are in a dressing room, the coach says something to a player who is already under pressure, he can react angrily, and with strong words.

"He did not react in the most suitable fashion. But it was just a guy sitting in his corner and muttering - that would not have mattered had it stayed there.

"What was important was that it made the front page of a newspaper, and that exposes the internal life of the squad."

He continued: "I sorted out the problem internally, and as far as I was concerned it was done and dusted.

"[But] the decision to exclude him was the right one. I am sorry for the children for whom the French team represents something. Anelka does not have the right to say such things."

Anelka's Chelsea team-mate John Terry, who is playing for England in South Africa, said he disagreed with the decision of the French Football Federation to send the former Arsenal and Real Madrid player home.

"As a person, you won't find a better man in football," he said.

"He's someone who's very quiet, obviously he's been in the game a long time, and he knows his football. If Nico had something to say to me, I'd stand up and listen.

"It's obviously the wrong decision. He's a great player as well."

Domenech has now led France for a record number of matches but his six-year stint as coach has been consistently controversial and he will be replaced by out-going Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc once their World Cup is over.

That will happen on Tuesday, unless they convincingly beat hosts South Africa in their final Group A encounter - and Uruguay and Mexico do not draw the other match

[polishgenius]

English fans can take solace from the fact that they're not French or Italian.

[Coco with marshmallows]

caladanbrood, on 20 June 2010 - 03:32 PM, said:

Quote

Anelka's Chelsea team-mate John Terry:

"As a person, you won't find a better man in football," he said.

Yeah, because John Terry is a GREAT source for judging the character of another human being....

[Thelomen Toblerone]

He must mean that Anelka's wife/gf is easy and a good fuck, that seems to be his favoured assessment method of teammates.

[Aptorian]

[Silencer]

DRAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that's right bitches, we still haven't lost!

[Tiste Simeon]

I would love NZ to get through. Considering they don't have a professional football league I would say they are doing pretty well! Also, I take solace that if I am down about England, I look at what the French are up to and suddenly it doesn't seem so bad.

[Aristai]

South America and Oceania undefeated! Good times..

[Slick Mongoose]

So I went in to work today for one of my few work days during the world cup, only to find that someone had flooded one of our offices, and most of accounts were sent home to make room for the more essential day-to-day staff.

What a shame. I shall console myself with football and beer.

[Tiste Simeon]

Slick Mongoose, on 21 June 2010 - 09:23 AM, said:

So I went in to work today for one of my few work days during the world cup, only to find that someone had flooded one of our offices, and most of accounts were sent home to make room for the more essential day-to-day staff.

What a shame. I shall console myself with football and beer.

Tragic. You are truly taking this in a noble and dignified manner.

[Gothos]

Rooting for North Korea. Would be nice if they kicked Christine out of the trournament.

[Aristai]

It was a pretty goal by Portugal, but I'm definitely cheering on North Korea.

Oh well 4-0 now...So much for that.

This post has been edited by Aristai: 21 June 2010 - 12:54 PM