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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Germany/Australia Open Thread

Germany/Australia Open Thread

by John Cole|  June 13, 20102:26 pm| 165 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Sports

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I try to root for underdogs, but with a German background and having lived in Germany for a few years, I’ll be rooting for them.

As an aside, I have never seen a sport that has better, more consistent, and more controlled officiating than what I have seen so far in the World Cup. They are decisive, accurate, but very unobtrusive.

Which means I have no jinxed them and there will be a horrid call in no time.

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Previous Post: « Some Observations About Saturday’s Games 6-12-10
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Reader Interactions

165Comments

  1. 1.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Klose starting is a bit of a surprise. It’ll be bunker-and-counter for the Aussies.

  2. 2.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    June 13, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    First it was Hockey threads, now it’s Soccer. Doesn’t anybody watch good murrikan base-a-ball. Bunch a commies.

  3. 3.

    Betsy

    June 13, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    You know who else rooted for Germany?

  4. 4.

    Ash

    June 13, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    @Betsy: Dammit, you beat me!

  5. 5.

    Chat Noir

    June 13, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Glad to see you’re back posting. I missed your comments while you were on hiatus. And virtual hugs to Charlie.

  6. 6.

    Comrade Jake

    June 13, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    Nice win for Ghana earlier.

  7. 7.

    CJ

    June 13, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    @Bootlegger:

    Klose is well known for his rapid improvement once he puts on a national team shirt. Same for Podolski.

  8. 8.

    mr. whipple

    June 13, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    @Betsy:

    You know who else rooted for Germany?

    Pat Buchanon?

  9. 9.

    I have issues with Baltimore

    June 13, 2010 at 2:37 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Here’s a base-a-ball update: the Orioles suck. Let’s go, Mets!

  10. 10.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:37 pm

    Maybe its just me, but what I see in those new balls isn’t an erratic flight path, instead the ball seems to skid on the bounce and take off. Balls played over the top that would usually land softly and check instead race for the touch line. The goals against England and Algeria are a direct result of the funky skidding bounce IMO. Anyone else see it?

  11. 11.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    @CJ: So it seems. But they were both awful for Bayern Munchen and Koln this year.

  12. 12.

    Morbo

    June 13, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Well that didn’t take long. And yet it could’ve even been a minute sooner.

  13. 13.

    Calipygian

    June 13, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Well they just blew it by not calling Germany for offsides right before that goal.

  14. 14.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Goooooool!!!

    Hope this isn’t a total blood bath.

  15. 15.

    Comrade Kevin

    June 13, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Australia just got shafted there.

  16. 16.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Three-hour games with 12 minutes of actual action. ‘Nuff said.

  17. 17.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    @Comrade Kevin: yeah, they did.

  18. 18.

    mr. whipple

    June 13, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck:

    I got the base-a-ball on in the shop. Soccer sucks, plus the lamestream media is trying to ram their soccer agenda down my throat. I hate that. Fucking trendmongers.

  19. 19.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    @Comrade Kevin:

    Australia just got shafted there.

    Worse than when they joined the Coalition of the Willing.

  20. 20.

    CJ

    June 13, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    @Bootlegger:

    It’s really amazing how they improve tenfold during international play. Klose barely got off the bench at Bayern and Poldi did nothing at Cologne.

  21. 21.

    Kryptik

    June 13, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    The one thing that consistently makes me wonder is where countries end up deriving some of their official sports colors from. Like Netherland’s creamsicle orange. While you saw some of it in the WBC, the World Cup is the only place where you can see such things consistently.

  22. 22.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    Baseball and the NBA could learn something from these referees.

  23. 23.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    @CJ: That factor is always the wild card at the World Cup. You have some players that play out of their heads for their country, and others, too often the “best” players, phone it in. It compresses the talent differentials which makes for a better tournament IMO.

  24. 24.

    Ed Drone

    June 13, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    @Bootlegger:

    Australia just got shafted there.

    Worse than when they joined the Coalition of the Willing.

    Well, no one has died from this shafting, so perhaps your statement is exaggerated? Hmmm?

    Ed

  25. 25.

    Kryptik

    June 13, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    Wow. That was a beautiful chance right there. Australia seems to have gotten more actual shots on goal, but Germany is the one getting the genuine scoring threats here.

  26. 26.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    @Kryptik: Dutch royal family color.

    Edt: Much like Italy and blue

  27. 27.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Ahhh, was still posting in the other thread. So, just to repeat…

    We could use some subtitles for this Scottish announcer. WTF? I can understand maybe every fourth word and keep waiting for him to say “Trebek.” I’d so rather hear the match auf Deutsch if we can’t find a Yank announcer to call these games.

    Gaaaaaaah Klose!! Thought that was going in. But c’mon soccer haters, you gotta love the German speed and style! Isn’t this fantastic?

    As I mentioned in the other thread, having lived in Deutschland for years, and having first fallen in love with Fußball as a HSV (Hamburg) fan, I’m quite partial to the Germans. Gehen wir, Deutschland!!

    ETA: Da ist es!! Wooohooo! JAAAAAAAAAAA KLOSE!!

  28. 28.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    @Kryptik: Apparently orange is the color of the Dutch royal family.
    I’ve been to two World Cups and saw the Dutch play in each one and the sea of orange is a sight to behold. Especially on the backs of thousands of 2 meter giants.

  29. 29.

    jeffreyw

    June 13, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    Mrs J’s famous zucchini bread.

  30. 30.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    @Ed Drone: Exaggeration? On Balloon Juice? No sir, I am the paramount of honest comparison, no satire here.

    Klose is in the books.

  31. 31.

    mextremist

    June 13, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    screw the krauts!!!

    still, they’re freaking scary when they play well. fast, strong, precise, clean…

    but where’s the flavor, the dribbles, the “jogo bonito”?

  32. 32.

    Morbo

    June 13, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Oh shit, Germany’s part of Al Qaeda, terrorist fist bump, terrorist fist bump!

  33. 33.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    @JenJen: Try Close Captioning if it is such a problem for you. I’m sure they offer it given that it is on a major network.

  34. 34.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    @mextremist: Not their style of play but still are a joy to watch if there is a good match up.

  35. 35.

    Mark S.

    June 13, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    Yikes, that should’ve been 3-0.

  36. 36.

    FlipYrWhig

    June 13, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    @Bootlegger: Also, Orange is a province of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Remember that William III, King of England, was also William of Orange, which is why the Irish Protestants use orange in their own heraldry.

  37. 37.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    June 13, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    I’ve been too busy canoeing, backpacking and fly fishing Batten Kill to take seriously a bunch of grown men running around in short pants, kicking a ball and faking injuries.

  38. 38.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    @wobblybits: Sheesh. You can’t even make fun of the Scots around here. What has become of us? :-)

  39. 39.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    @wobblybits: Lol. I pay good money &not& to hear Americans announce soccer!

    Edt: God save us from Ty Keough and Jack Edwards. BULLET HEADER!@

  40. 40.

    Stroszek

    June 13, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    Germany refuting all attempts to blame sloppy play on the ball design. This is just brutal.

    @mextremist: I like how countries bring their culturally appropriate flavor to the game. Should the Germans be anything other than cold, terribly efficient machines? I don’t think so.

  41. 41.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    @JenJen: Try a snark tag next time. I thought you were serious.

  42. 42.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: I didn’t know that about the Irish use of orange.
    @The Grand Panjandrum: So you expect us to care about a grown man traipsing through the woods and water in shorts pants, sleeping on the ground, and shitting in the leaves? My 7 and 9 year old do that all day.

  43. 43.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    @mcd410x: LOL same here, we are watching on Globo.

  44. 44.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 3:06 pm

    yay,

    go russia

  45. 45.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:06 pm

    @wobblybits: Uhhh, OK, Mr. Serious. /snark

    ETA: Off to Twitter where the fans aren’t joyless.

    @wobblybits: And I was supposed to know that how, again? I always associated Wobbly Bits with male-folk. Get over yourself. Seriously. /snark

  46. 46.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    @JenJen: Nope, I’m a girl. Try again :)

  47. 47.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    Time for a worst Jack Edward-isms thread in honor of Englishmen and Scots announcing the Cup!!

    Torpedo header

    Speed move

    He climbs the ladder!

  48. 48.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    @JenJen:

    As someone who has played a lot of EA Sports’ FIFA series I’ve learned to understand what Ally McCoist is saying – and once you do you’ll find that he’s a wonderful color man.

    Listening to Martin Tyler call a soccer match is like listening to Vin Scully call a baseball game.

  49. 49.

    Kryptik

    June 13, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Wow. That was a beautiful pass. It’s a shame he lost balance after the goalie slid in, that would’ve been guaranteed.

  50. 50.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    scheisse, the germans haz das boot.

  51. 51.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    @JenJen: Es ist mir egal, was sie denken. Noch Frage?
    Besides you are the one acting all crunchy. You made a remark that I replied to (thinking you were serious, I made a serious suggestion) and instead of letting it go, you are going on and on about it.

    Instead of focusing on lil ole me, just enjoy the game.

  52. 52.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    @wobblybits: Vertraust Du mir, es ist auch mir egal.

    Ja, ich habe “Du” gesagt.

    Anyhow, enough about you and your Scottish sensitivity, it was just an f’n joke. Great match so far!

  53. 53.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    @The Grand Panjandrum:

    As someone who has seen one too many compound fractures the last few years I can understand the initial shock that your lower shin may have just been separated from the upper shin.

    New England Revolution goalkeeper Preston Burpo suffered a gruesome injury just a few weeks ago.

  54. 54.

    mr. whipple

    June 13, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    @The Grand Panjandrum:

    Anything hatching?

  55. 55.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    Deutschlanders look good, maybe the Aussies need a better name than the Socceroos.

  56. 56.

    mextremist

    June 13, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    @Stroszek:

    good point. there’s exceptions, clearly: the dutch play beautifully AND strong and fast, and i find italian soccer devoid of style and flourish. of course i’m for mexico, but i can’t wait for spain to play. that’s some beautiful football: offensive, fast, delicious, team oriented but with shining personal plays.

    and all the people that complain about dives and fake injuries, it is totally cultural. english fans will boo and abuse their own teams if they play divas. the germans barely ever do that kind of shit either, which is why i respect them, even though i cant stand the bundesliga: too many teams with a goalie, 9 defenders and some freakish lightning-fast mutant up front.

  57. 57.

    John Cole

    June 13, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    Is it just me, or does the German coach look like someone who directs low budget porn flicks?

  58. 58.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    @JenJen: I have no scottish sensitivity (have no idea how you came to that conclusion)
    I use’ Sie’ with people I don’t know until the “duzen” is offered. If you are offering it now, then we can go with duzen.

  59. 59.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    @John Cole: It’s a feature, not a bug :)

  60. 60.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    Can’t say it has been the most exciting match but the Germans are doing what the Germans do.

  61. 61.

    John Cole

    June 13, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    We could use some subtitles for this Scottish announcer. WTF? I can understand maybe every fourth word and keep waiting for him to say “Trebek.” I’d so rather hear the match auf Deutsch if we can’t find a Yank announcer to call these games.

    I honestly am not even noticing it, it is so slight. Although I did date a girl who couldn’t understand Sean Connery. The slightest hint of accent and she was lost.

    I lived with a Geordie from Newcastle as an undergrad- once you get used to one of them blathering on drunk for a couple years, no accent seems thick.

  62. 62.

    Comrade Jake

    June 13, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    Fuck. I really did not need to watch that.

  63. 63.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    Australia is trying to do the bunker-back-and-counter… but they’re basically letting Germany do whatever they want on offense.

    Australia looks absolutely horrible.

  64. 64.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    @John Cole:

    He looks like Kyle McLachlan.

  65. 65.

    I have issues with Baltimore

    June 13, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    @Bootlegger: And to bring this home, it’s why the Knicks and Mets colors include a lot of orange. It’s to honor New York’s dutch heritage (which can be seen everywhere if you know what to look for) as well as the dutch privateers who raised hell against the New England yankee forebears. In fact, one of New York’s greatest bad-asses was a peg-legged dutch governor named Peter Stuyvesant.

  66. 66.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    @wobblybits: Fair enough. No reason why we can’t be friends. You speak German, you’re probably a progressive, and you love football, so in real life we’d surely get along famously. Sorry for the misunderstanding, seriously. I apologize for that. Online nuance is tricky sometimes.

    And if I’m alone (here, at least; my friends at the bar are also taking a little glee in mocking the Scottish accent), then so be it. It was just a joke and I thought the “Trebek” snark would’ve given it away, but maybe I shouldn’t be so subtle next time.

    @John Cole: Wouldn’t be the first time “ich stehe allein” on the Juice. I mean, I’m a Habs fan, after all, right, Cole? ;-)

  67. 67.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    @fbihop:

    The Aussies looked terrible against the U.S. last weekend. If Findley had finished two prime chances and they didn’t mysteriously call back a goal it would have been really ugly.

    Australia has no chance against the Germans in the second half.

  68. 68.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    @JenJen: No problem. The internet is good for misunderstandings :) and yes to all three (plus I speak Portuguese).
    Feel free to make fun of their accents, I do the same to the Portuguese (hehe)

  69. 69.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    I was kind of thinking that tune up match might have been a aberration, because I’m not sure how a team this bad made the WC. Then again, North Korea made the cup and by all accounts they are horrible.

    This ref is yellow card happy. With Germany possessing and doing the bulk of attacking i wouldn’t be surprised to see Australia finish the game with 10 men.

  70. 70.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    @John Cole:

    i think he looks uber wunderbar

  71. 71.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    @wobblybits: Cool! Really sorry about all of that. Let’s hug it out. ;-)

  72. 72.

    JasonF

    June 13, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    I’m pulling for Australia, since we’ll likely be playing the winner of Group D in the next round and if that turns out to be Germany, our odds don’t look good. But unless Australia plays a second half completely different from their first half, it’s not looking good.

  73. 73.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    @JenJen: deal :) now let’s watch some futebol!

  74. 74.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    I honestly am not even noticing it, it is so slight. Although I did date a girl who couldn’t understand Sean Connery. The slightest hint of accent and she was lost.

    ala michael scott.

  75. 75.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    That moved deserved a goal. Sharp.

  76. 76.

    IM

    June 13, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    A positive surprise. At long least properly aggressive football in this tournament. Normally the german tean is much to defensive, making the ply rather boring. I hope they keep it up.
    If you were in Germany you could see a rare sight, Germans flag-waving.

  77. 77.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    @IM: That started at the last World Cup. It was a sight to see.

  78. 78.

    Nemo_N

    June 13, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    That was a yellow, not a red.

  79. 79.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    You were right John, you jinxed the calls.

  80. 80.

    mextremist

    June 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    that was not a red card. he pulled his feet back, there was no intent to hurt.

    still… australia is fucked….

  81. 81.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    I can’t tell if Germany is so great or if Australia is just that bad.

    Also, my prediction that Australia would finish with ten men seems to be borne out by a slightly harsh straight red card.

  82. 82.

    IM

    June 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    W

    ith Germany possessing and doing the bulk of attacking i wouldn’t be surprised to see Australia finish the game with

    10 men.

    That was quick. And now it’s all over save for the crying.

  83. 83.

    jomo

    June 13, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    That red card was not a good call. You had to go and compliment the officiating.

  84. 84.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    Well, you can take the player out of Millwall but you can’t take the Millwall out of the player.

  85. 85.

    Mark S.

    June 13, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    @Nemo_N:

    I thought it was a little harsh too. That’s means Cahill’s out for the next game as well.

  86. 86.

    sven

    June 13, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    I am suddenly find myself really hoping that the U.S. wins group C…

    It is way too easy to picture our fullbacks being humiliated in the same fashion by Germany.

  87. 87.

    Kryptik

    June 13, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    That yellow looked bad too. From the replay, it didn’t look like any contact at all.

  88. 88.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    See you, Socceroos.

  89. 89.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    @wobblybits: I owe you a drink. :-)

    Deep Thought: It’s been at least 15 minutes since some hater came along to say how lame soccer is. What gives? ;-)

    Deep Thought #2: The vuvuzelas are as nap-inducing as watching a Cubs game on a weekday afternoon. Something about the cicada-esque drone is quite lulling.

  90. 90.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    The red card was harsh, but not an absolutely horrible call. He was from behind and late, the ref was right there. Plus this ref has been handing out yellow cards like they were candy and it’s Halloween; the players have to adjust for a ref calling a tight game.

    EDIT: Though if the US sees this ref, is there any doubt that Michael Bradley is gone by the 60th minute?

  91. 91.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    bad call

  92. 92.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    @I have issues with Baltimore: I’ve got $10 on 12:1 odds for the Netherlands to win it all.

  93. 93.

    burnspbesq

    June 13, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    Well, you can take the player out of Millwall but you can’t take the Millwall out of the player.

    ROFL.

  94. 94.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    @sven: A rematch with Ghana? I could get into that.

  95. 95.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    Jaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

    Love you Oz, but boy, is this ever a fun match for fans of Deutschland!

  96. 96.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    At times like this, you wish there was a mercy rule. This is just painful to watch (as a soccer fan)

    ETA: I’m thrilled for Germany.

  97. 97.

    PanAmerican

    June 13, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    ESPN has been floundering around for a couple of World Cups. In 2006 they went with familiar voices like Dave O’Brien for the soccer neophytes. The result was a massive English language audience bleed off to Univision. So this time they went with the British accents to placate the purists.

    I suspect the problem is Pablo Ramirez and Jesus Bracamontes are the shit.

    We’ll see how the rating shake out.

  98. 98.

    burnspbesq

    June 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    If you think the Socceroos are lame, wait til you see the All Whites. No team whose best player is Ryan Nelsen belongs anywhere near a World Cup.

  99. 99.

    Mark S.

    June 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    Drei!

  100. 100.

    IM

    June 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    Hey! Müller. Now that is a traditional name. Like in 1974!

    Ok, is is also a common name. Still. And it is good we are not only defending our advantage.

  101. 101.

    Nemo_N

    June 13, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    Rumor has it there is a secret factory in Germany (run by Daimler and Wolkswagen) where german players are manufactured.

  102. 102.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    gut gemacht!
    Of course it was a Brasilian that made the goal :)

  103. 103.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    @fbihop: I thought Bradley Jr. did a good job staying on his feet verse England. Maybe his German coach finally got through his thick head when he benched the gaffers’ son.

    Ouch. 4-0. I’m going outside and pretend I’m doing something useful.

  104. 104.

    IM

    June 13, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Now, now. 4:0. There were complaints about not enough goals in soccer here, right?

  105. 105.

    Mark S.

    June 13, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    All right, I’m starting to feel bad for the Aussies.

    And it’s really not fair if the Germans are going to start having Brazilians on their team.

  106. 106.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    What will the final score be? I’m thinking 6-0

  107. 107.

    Ked

    June 13, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    …ouch. Poor Aussies.

    My ABC affiliate is fuxxored, so I’m watching on Univision. Is it just me, or do they have the stadium sound tuned differently than ESPN/ABC? I can actually hear identifiable crowd noise above the tooting. Or maybe the acoustics are different at this location.

  108. 108.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    The referee has killed ze game

  109. 109.

    IM

    June 13, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    We import players nowadays, too. And it even works. My decision to start drinking red wine (south african!) was justified.

    Poor australians.

  110. 110.

    mcd410x

    June 13, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    If the Roos just had more Brazilians and Poles and Turks, they might have a chance …

  111. 111.

    JenJen

    June 13, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    @wobblybits: Just for you, and in honor of the 4th Kraut goal, my favorite German joke:

    Q: What lies between fear, and sex?
    A: Fünf.

    Ba-dum chhhhh!

  112. 112.

    Comrade Kevin

    June 13, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    Well, you can take the player out of Millwall but you can’t take the Millwall out of the player.

    Nobody likes us, and we don’t care?

  113. 113.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    @JenJen: Haha. I have never heard that one before. I’m going to tell my students that one.

  114. 114.

    Steeplejack

    June 13, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    Well, whoever was calling earlier today for more scoring is getting their wish: Germany 4-0. And I’m looking like a genius for saying they might whale on Australia. (Pure chance, I assure you. Or just pointing out the obvious.)

  115. 115.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    @Mark S.:

    The Germans have a Brazilian (Cacau), a Turk (Ozil), a Tunisian (Khedira) and two Poles (Klose and Podolski).

  116. 116.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    This isn’t even the worst beat down handed out by Germany in the last few World Cups. Remember the 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2002?

    Kinda makes me think that Asia has too many spots that the World Cup. Give one of them to Africa, FIFA!

  117. 117.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: The Portuguese National team has three Brasilians. Pepe, Deco and Liedson.

  118. 118.

    John Cole

    June 13, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    I’ll let those of you with more experience discuss this, but to me, it seems what Germany does better than anyone else is precision passing on the interior of the field while on the attack. They put the ball perfectly in play in the middle of the field and remain onside and open up magnificent possibilities. Much better than anyone else we have seen, I think.

  119. 119.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    @wobblybits:

    I’m almost surprised at this point when teams DON’T have a Brazilian on their team.

  120. 120.

    Ked

    June 13, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    @fbihop: …I thought I heard one of the commentators Friday talking about Africa having more slots than they used to, though I’m struggling to find real numbers. …I’m only counting… three? Asian teams this year, though maybe if Austrailia and NZ are tossed in with them it’s five.

    Also, North Korea? WTF.

  121. 121.

    wengler

    June 13, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    With Tim Cahill out, I don’t see how the Socceroos have a chance after this drubbing. My favorites Germany and Ghana will be in great position after this first round. BTW if the US get through they will be playing a team from this group in the Round of 16.

  122. 122.

    Steeplejack

    June 13, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    @John Cole:

    They gots the tight feet for sure. Very few botched passes or putting the ball where they thought the guy was going to be rather than where he actually was. Creates relentless pressure.

  123. 123.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 4:12 pm

    @wobblybits:

    It’s a shame Jermaine Jones could not get fit to pair alongside Michael Bradley.

    If the U.S. had a healthy Jones and Davies I think they would have been real dark horses this tournament.

  124. 124.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 4:12 pm

    germany plays like a bunch of germans: structured and precise.

  125. 125.

    wengler

    June 13, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    @ mcd410x

    Too many Croats?

  126. 126.

    Ked

    June 13, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    @John Cole: It’s the German style of play, and has been for a long, long time, at least on the national squad.

    I was in-country there in the summer of 96 during the European Championship, and at least on the surface level they’re doing the same things today as I saw then. Maybe they’re going forward with the ball a little more, maybe their control isn’t quite as good.

    Germany won that year. The party which followed was one of the most terrifying nights of my life.

  127. 127.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    @John Cole:

    The Germans are technically superior (passing, touch, spacing, etc) and they are up against 9 gassed, old Aussies.

  128. 128.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    @John Cole:

    I think their aided by the fact that Australia has had trouble following their marks all game. Same problem the USA had on the goal yesterday against England — and Germany has punished them like England did the USA.

    Germany feasts on poorly organized teams, and Australia’s defense seems like they have no idea how to play alongside each other.

    And once Australia went down to ten men, Germany switched to cruise control.

  129. 129.

    Mark S.

    June 13, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    @Ked:

    Here you go. I think Africa got an extra slot because it’s in Africa, but they got 6 total.

  130. 130.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    June 13, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    Aaah, finally there is mercy for the Aussies.

  131. 131.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    @Ked:

    Asia has four (Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Australia). New Zealand is in Oceania (where Australia used to be but Australia moved to Asia because otherwise they were just beating tiny island nations 20-0).

    Africa has six this year, thanks to host South Africa getting an automatic bid.

    South America has five and could easily have another one.

    It just seems like Asia has their crappy teams qualify.

  132. 132.

    jomo

    June 13, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    That was interesting. Two yellow cards for flopping. Don’t think I’ve seen that before.

  133. 133.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    @Mark S.:

    Beat me to it…

  134. 134.

    Cacti

    June 13, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    Well, this one went about like I thought it would.

    Being a fan of Brazil, I’ve never been much for the joyless Teutonic efficiency of team Germany.

    I must say, the trend of giving citizenship to foreign ringers makes me laugh. Mario Gomez the German. Good times.

  135. 135.

    Ked

    June 13, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    Hmm. Looking at wikipedia it looks like qualifying didn’t change from 2006, but they did tweak after 2002 to give Africa one more guaranteed slot, where before they had four and a playoff for a fifth with some other areas.

  136. 136.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    Mario Gomez: traditional bavarian name.

  137. 137.

    PanAmerican

    June 13, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    You would think the English would be all over importing a keeper or two or three.

    The CONCACAF vs. CONMEBOL play-in is bullshit. They should have continued to let those two sides to clean out the AFC-OFC deadwood.

  138. 138.

    kgrant1073

    June 13, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: You know who else had Tunisians, Poles, Turks, and Brazilians on their side? (Well, maybe not Brazil, but that is where they all went after the war, no?)

  139. 139.

    lethargytartare

    June 13, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    @Nemo_N:

    That was a yellow, not a red.

    maybe it was karma for Cahill’s 2006 behaviour.

    Really loving this dismantling of the Aussies, in much the same way I enjoyed watchign Henry complain about a missed hand-ball call Friday…

  140. 140.

    MBSS

    June 13, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    you know who else used vuvuzelas, don’t you?

  141. 141.

    kgrant1073

    June 13, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    @kgrant1073: Oh, hell, I forgot Turkey was neutral in WW2. A bad joke is made even worse where you get the bloody facts wrong. Bah.

  142. 142.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    @kgrant1073: No. They went to Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. The germans immigrants we (Brasil) have (my great grandmother was one) came over in the 19th century to mainly the south and southeast.

  143. 143.

    IM

    June 13, 2010 at 4:39 pm

    I am rooting for the home team here, but I think it was a nice game. No “joyless efficiency” from my point of view.

  144. 144.

    fbihop

    June 13, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    I can only hope the non-German German guns for hire end up blowing up in their face.

    David Regis, anyone?

  145. 145.

    kgrant1073

    June 13, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    @wobblybits: Kindly pay no attention to my hamfisted joke that is now withering away at an alarming pace. Nothing to see here, move along. :)

  146. 146.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    @kgrant1073: gotcha ;) Me and my corneta are going to have a seat outside and watch some waves roll in.

  147. 147.

    SRW1

    June 13, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    @Cacti:

    His father is Spanish and his mother German. He was born and grew up in Germany. So, what’s the problem? His name?

  148. 148.

    Cacti

    June 13, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    @SRW1:

    Didn’t know that.

    But if you want to get huffy and puffy and maybe call me a name of some sort, go ahead.

  149. 149.

    SRW1

    June 13, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    @Cacti:

    Thanx, but no thanx.

  150. 150.

    Isik

    June 13, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    “the non-German German guns for hire”
    So that would make me a “non-American American” since my country of birth is the same as Mesut Ozil’s parents? But I’m still not clear on how Mesut is a non-German German, having been born in Germany, lived in Germany and chosen to play for Germany despite unbelievable pressure to play for the Turkish team.

  151. 151.

    Onkel Fritze

    June 13, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    @cacti:
    Didn’t know but complained anyway. Classy.

    Btw., Khedira has the same history. Tunesian dad, German mother. Özil was born in Germany. Klose and Podolski came to Germany as little kids and grew up here. Lots of Polish people emigrated to Germany in the 80s and 90s.
    Cacau is the only one who came to Germany as an adult (at the age of18). He lived in Germany 10 years before he was nationalised.
    On the bench we still have Trochowski, also Polish-born and Aogo and Boateng who are both half-African. The half-brother of Jerome Boateng actually is playing for Ghana.

    Maybe we should only allow native Americans for the USA? I’m looking forward to the US qualifying in second place, though :-)

  152. 152.

    TR

    June 13, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    @fbihop:

    David Regis, anyone?

    Why must you make Jeff Agoos cry again?

  153. 153.

    frankdawg

    June 13, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    @Bootlegger:

    Three-hour games with 12 minutes of actual action. ‘Nuff said.

    Wait – are you talking Futbol or basebol?

  154. 154.

    frankdawg

    June 13, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    @Kryptik:

    Yes, Orange is the royal color of Holland – William the Orange, who became King of England was of the House of Orange-Nassau who threw the Spanish out of Holland & became strong Protestants – the reason the Protestant Irish are called ‘Orange’ & is also remembered as the reign of William and Mary.

  155. 155.

    tgp

    June 13, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    Even America has a brazilian–Benny Feilhaber–but he isnt nearly as good as cacauo. We got ripped off.

    I still dont understand why castillo didnt get more of a run out at left back. We could really have used another person who could actually play that position as opposed to bornstein who is there to allow other teams to score.

  156. 156.

    wobblybits

    June 13, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    @tgp: He was actually offered a spot on the Austrian team a few years back but opted for the American team instead. Didn’t know his family had immigrated to the U.S. when he was 6.

  157. 157.

    Randinho

    June 13, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: The Tunisian has a German mother and was born in Stuttgart, the Turk was born in Gelsenkirchen to gastarbeiters. You forgot the Spaniard (Mario Gomez).

    Three of Turkey’s starters in2002 were born in Germany.

  158. 158.

    Cacti

    June 13, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    @Onkel Fritze:

    I know. I’m a horrible person.

    I think I’ll go kill myself now.

    The thought of offending some anonymous poster is just more than I can bear.

  159. 159.

    Randinho

    June 13, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    @MBSS: Mario Gomez has a Spanish father and German mother. He was born in Riedlingen, Germany.

  160. 160.

    burnspbesq

    June 13, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    @tgp:

    Benny’s family moved from Brazil to Irvine when he was six. Any other questions?

  161. 161.

    SLKRR

    June 13, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    @wobblybits:

    LOL @ os portugueses… já ouviu isso?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMNWpC8WW1Y

  162. 162.

    slightly_peeved

    June 13, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    Man. I got up at 4am for that?

    The main trouble for Australia is that two of our main forwards – Bresciano and Kennedy – were out injured, which just left Cahill sitting up the top.

    Germany had no pressure on their defence, and could just sit hammering our goal.

    Without Cahill, it’s looking pretty grim.

    That said, Lucas Neill could spend a little less time whining to the ref and more time working on the offside trap.

    the non-German German guns for hire”

    It’s called immigration, mate. I know the US are going to paint over that inscription on the Statue of Liberty and replace with “Dey took ar Jerbs!” any day now, but the rest of the world are still doing it. Half the Australian team could play for Croatia, and half the Croatian team (at least in 2006) could play for Australia. That’s not including the other players on the Australian side who could play for Italy, Greece or England. Kewell has an English accent for crying out loud.

  163. 163.

    burnspbesq

    June 13, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    @slightly_peeved:

    Man. I got up at 4am for that?

    At least you don’t have to get up at 4 a.m. for Netherlands – Denmark.

  164. 164.

    DaveInOz

    June 13, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    What Pim Verbeek was thinking I’ll never know. I know the odds of Australia getting a result here were pretty slim but playing without a striker? Madness.

    Having said that, Germany were excellent – their passing and movement were first class. Cahill’s sending off was a bit harsh but no complaints – it could have been a lot worse.

    And congratulations to Scott Chipperfield for finally catching up with one of the Germans…. to exchange shirts.

  165. 165.

    Bootlegger

    June 13, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    @frankdawg: baseballs of course

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