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You are here: Home / Sports / Some Thoughts on Tuesday’s Games 6-15-10

Some Thoughts on Tuesday’s Games 6-15-10

by Randinho|  June 15, 20109:17 pm| 94 Comments

This post is in: Sports

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Quote of the Day from  Martin Tyler Ian Darke on ESPN: “And you know contact with Ronaldo will make him fall. Any contact at all. Maybe even a puff of wind.”

I have never liked Carlos Queiroz as a coach. Not because he coached Real Madrid and I’m a Barcelona fan (I like Vicente del Bosque), but because apparently he likes boring football, even when he coached  the NY/NJ Metrostars. His tactical plan for Portugal against Ivory Coast was anti-football.

Don’t panic Brazil fans. In 2006 Brazil beat Croatia 1-0 in their first game. In 2002 they beat Turkey on a very dodgy penalty call. In 1998 they beat Scotland 2-1 on an own goal. They had a better start in 1994, beating Russia 2-0, but this is why they play three games. Besides, a win is a win!

While I’m sure the Kiwis are thrilled with the point against Slovakia, in my humble opinion, they ought to feel hard done by, given that Robert Vittek was clearly offside when he scored his goal for Slovakia.

I thought Sven Goran Erikson was a bit questionable in his tactics in 2002 when, in the loss to Brazil, losing 2-1 with a man advantage, he took Michael Owen off – for Darius Vassell (?!?!). I think keeping Gervinho in this game was a good move today, notwithstanding the result. As an Arsenal fan, I hope Arsene Wenger saw Gervinho’s game today.

I love Portuguese wines, I just don’t much care for Portuguese whiners.

Kaka and Luis Fabiano failed to impress. I believe that Luis Fabiano would be better served with Nilmar than Kaka.

I would love to see Dunga find some way to get Dani Alves to start in the next two games. I just don’t know how.

I believe Italy will go through. Slovakia was even more lackluster against New Zealand than Italy against a vastly superior (to New Zealand) Paraguay.

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Reader Interactions

94Comments

  1. 1.

    Mike Kay

    June 15, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    How did the Celtics and Lakers do in werld cop?

  2. 2.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    @Mike Kay: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  3. 3.

    Mark S.

    June 15, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    North Korea was a lot better than I expected. Their defense is pretty solid. I could definitely see them holding Portugal or Cote d’Ivoire scoreless and getting a lucky goal.

  4. 4.

    Violet

    June 15, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Yay! Finally a World Cup thread.

    Sorry, Randinho, I was pulling for North Korea today. Secretive, closed off society and underdog team. I know, their leader does awful things to the people, but I’m not blaming the football team for his actions. I enjoyed watching them play and they did really well against Brazil.

    The commentary about N. Korea today was priceless. Paid actors from China to impersonate fans? Bwahahahaha!

    That goal. Did Maicon mean it?

    Also, did you see that Sven-Goran Eriksson called for a summit on the World Cup ball?

  5. 5.

    stuckinred

    June 15, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    @Randinho: After the games that have been played in the world cup you can say zzzzzz about the NBA finals. jesus what a joke. Of course the NBA players have been influenced by all these ferenirs, the flops are getting as bad as futbol!

  6. 6.

    Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne

    June 15, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    I’d love to see goalless draws rewarded with 0 points, if not with a negative 1.

  7. 7.

    stuckinred

    June 15, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    @Miss Kitka’s Comrade Wayne: why not reward them with

    zzzzzzzzzzzzz’s?

  8. 8.

    Mike Kay

    June 15, 2010 at 9:35 pm

    soccer is the most boring sport in the world.

    Even the hwat WAGS can’t save the snoozefeast.

    [This is your only warning. I won’t tolerate trolling comments trashing the sport. If you don’t like it, don’t trash it in these threads, please. Any such additional comments like that will be deleted – Randinho]

  9. 9.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    No games tomorrow that are even remotely interesting, so I can finally get some work done.

  10. 10.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    @stuckinred: The ZZZZZZ’s were my way of saying that the thread-hijacking trolling comments like Mike Kay’s are soporific. I happen to enjoy the NBA. I don’t like the NFL, but I don’t go to NFL threads and post comments about it being boring.

    I wasn’t raised to be disrespectful.

  11. 11.

    Violet

    June 15, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    I was really happy for the All Whites today for getting that goal. First time for everything. [Full disclosure: I’m an All Blacks fan, so soft spot for NZ.]

  12. 12.

    Mike Kay

    June 15, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    @Randinho: don’t take yourself and soccer so seriously. this is a blog remember, not the munich conference.

  13. 13.

    Mike Kay

    June 15, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    @Mike Kay:

    I won’t tolerate trolling comments trashing the sport.

    Holy cow. No wonder riots break out at soccer matches. We laid back yanks just tear down the goal posts.

  14. 14.

    stuckinred

    June 15, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    @Randinho: Fair enough.

  15. 15.

    Morbo

    June 15, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    How much do you think weather is having an effect on the scoring? McCoist (true Scotsman) even said he was cold. I know in picks so far I have overshot some and knew that I had probably overshot them about 2 minutes into the feed.

  16. 16.

    Keith G

    June 15, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    I just listened to a Freakonomics podcast discussing 1) home pitch advantage and 2) where to kick a ball on a penalty kick.

    http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/what-to-do-with-your-penalty-kick/

    Since their musings are usually interesting; and still, many of their conclusions bizarre, I was wondering if you had heard this report and had any notion of its validity?

  17. 17.

    beltane

    June 15, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    So far, the team that has really stood out for me is Germany. Portugal was a let-down, and Brazil looked like they felt sorry for North Korea. I am hoping Spain, at least, impresses tomorrow.

  18. 18.

    MikeJ

    June 15, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    @Mike Kay: It’s not his being too serious, it’s the total lack of originality. Be fucking funny. Every post you make is dull. Dull, dull, dull. You say the same thing 57 time per thread and you think it’s clever. Then you go to a soccer thread and say “soccer is boring” and think it’s clever. The problem isn’t touchiness, it’s lack of talent. Please, come up some new material. Don’t be so goddamned dull.

  19. 19.

    Kevin

    June 15, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    I loved that comment on Ronaldo. It was disappointing seeing someone with his talent playing a cynical game of trying to draw fouls. Also, I think Ivory Coast wins that game with a healthy Drogba. Portugal was not impressive.

    I thought Brazil looked OK, they got victimized in the end because they were getting greedy, pressing for a third goal.

  20. 20.

    Keith G

    June 15, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    @Mike Kay:

    Frau Blucher? Or Nurse Ratched?

  21. 21.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    @Mike Kay: Let me dumb this down for you. Back in January I wrote the owner of this blog with the following request:

    I’m writing with a bit of a bleg. As you may know, the soccer World Cup, the single largest sporting event in the world dedicated to one sport and is starting in June. I have been a fan of the sport for more than thirty-five years. I don’t know if you have any interest in covering the tournament, but if you do I would be honored to guest post coverage of the games. I did so in 2006 for Tim Dunlop’s old blog, The Road to Surfdom and would be honored to provide just a summary of the events each day (where possible) as well as informed commentary on the knockout rounds.

    His response was:

    I bet folks would love that.

    You see, essentially this is his living room and I’ve been invited to lead a discussion here which, with the exception of two or three trolls seemingly hell-bent on hijacking these threads, has been interesting and informed.

    So what you’re doing in effect, is coming into someone’s house and being a rude guest because you don’t like the subject. I would imagine you wouldn’t tolerate rude guests in your living room.

    Do you think you could find it in yourself to afford us the same courtesy?

    Moreover, I hate having to be a schoolmarm with adults.

  22. 22.

    SLKRR

    June 15, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    Brazil played like they believed the hype that they were going to trounce the DPRK… the entire first half it looked like they were just running practice drills. They controlled the ball and the tempo but seemed like they didn’t really want to work to actually score goals. I was thoroughly unimpressed with both Kaká and Robinho. I agree that Daniel Alves needs to get more time, and I enjoyed seeing Maicon out there working his a$$ off and finally getting the ball into the net.

  23. 23.

    JenJen

    June 15, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    @MikeJ: Marry me?

    Favorite part of the matches today? When, during halftime, Alexi Lalas just kind of went off on Ronaldo for being a “crybaby diver” or something to that effect. He wasn’t quite as kind and gentle as the play-by-play announcers were being during the game and I got a bit of a kick out of it.

    Really enjoyed Cote d’Ivoire’s style and speed today too.

    @Violet: The story about the North Korean “fans” being Chinese actors was whack! Is it true, or is it just rumor?

  24. 24.

    Mike Kay

    June 15, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    @MikeJ: I thought Rex Reed died. Dude, loved you in superman.

  25. 25.

    Nemo_N

    June 15, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    North Korea was good until they finally broke down later on. They made the match far more interesting that what I expected though.

  26. 26.

    martha

    June 15, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    @Mike Kay: You’re just being an asshole. And rude too.

  27. 27.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    @Mike Kay: Stay on topic (if you need help determining what that is, please read the title) or take it elsewhere.

  28. 28.

    beltane

    June 15, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    @Randinho: Don’t worry, lots of us are enjoying this discussion. It’s funny how my kids who couldn’t care less about the Super Bowl are absolutely riveted by the World Cup.

    Glad to see you reconsidered your position on Italy. They’ve managed to get to the final before without playing particularly well so anything is possible.

  29. 29.

    Mentis Fugit

    June 15, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    @Violet:
    Not our first goals in the World Cup. We scored two against Scotland in our only other appearance in the competiton in 1982, but unfortunately they scored five against us.

    It is, however, our first point in World Cup competition.

    Now watch the All Blacks choke in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. [sobs]

  30. 30.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    @SLKRR: Several times during the match up until Maicon’s goal (which he said was his intention, btw) I counted all eleven North Korean players not only in their own half, but in the last 30-35 meters of their own half.

  31. 31.

    Keith G

    June 15, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    @Randinho: With respects, we have never, in my memory been school marmed into staying on topic. And speaking of school marms, the best handle disruptive kids with grace and wit and not threats.

  32. 32.

    EvolutionaryDesign

    June 15, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    I thought DPRK played rather well – decent speed and passing (better than the US I thought), but man, was that Maicon goal freaking AMAZING. He might as well have been on the touch line.

    Also, too – awesome to see another US fan of the Gunners! All my friends are either Man U (whom I detest), or Chelsea (whom I can at least tolerate). Would be nice if Arsenal could finish a season though.

  33. 33.

    BC

    June 15, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    Paid actors from China to impersonate fans?

    I heard on The World on NPR that the fans for the North Korea soccer team are expatriate North Koreans living in Japan. In fact, according to The World, some of the players on the North Korea team are North Koreans living in Japan.

  34. 34.

    Kevin

    June 15, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    So does South Africa have a chance against Uruguay tomorrow? I’d love to see the host nation advance and I’d love to see Uruguay punished for their ugly game vs. France.

  35. 35.

    EvolutionaryDesign

    June 15, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    @beltane: Couldn’t agree more – Germany tore it up. Think they can take that skill far?

  36. 36.

    Horse

    June 15, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Randhino – loving the cup updates and your commentary. Keep up the good work, including moderation.

    As an actual NZer, I was watching the game last night – yeah he was offside, but I thought it marginal. And the All Whites were decidedly average during most of the 2nd half. That equalising goal occurred at about 1:20am local time – I bet there were a few people woken up by the shouting from living rooms around the country as Reid put that one away.

  37. 37.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Here’s a bizarre theory on the demise of jogo bonito.

    http://www.tnr.com/blog/world-cup/75539/the-evangelicalism-brazil?utm_source=TNR+Daily&utm_campaign=f56c34a595-TNR_Daily_.com061510&utm_medium=email

  38. 38.

    SLKRR

    June 15, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    @Randinho:

    I didn’t actually count them, but it sure did seem like Brazil was getting smothered by the defense during the first half… part of the problem, it seemed to me, was that they were content to slow down play and let all 11 Koreans get into position before trying to move the ball towards the goal. But then, I was impatient to match Germany’s 4-0, so maybe I was just too greedy. ;-)

  39. 39.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    @Horse:

    Interesting and sad post up at mlsnet.com. They had a reporter at the Columbus Crew training facility today, watching Duncan Oughton watching a match he should have been in.

  40. 40.

    Horse

    June 15, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    @Mentis Fugit:

    Now watch the All Blacks choke in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. [sobs]

    QFT. Sadly.

  41. 41.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    @Keith G: Understood. I have participated in forums on this sport on blogs and sports websites and much like cow pies attract mushrooms, it seems almost inevitable that these forums seem to pull in people who feel determined to trash the sport rather than add to the discussion.

    Part of my response was fueled by the sheer tedium of having to face this yet again. As MikeJ commented it’s very unoriginal and all it’s done is waste everyone’s time. I believe that my comments in the comment that you linked to were not threatening, but explained to Mr. Kay, precisely why his comments were out of line.

  42. 42.

    wengler

    June 15, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    I thought that North Korea had a really great tempo and workrate and fully deserved their goal. Robinho and Kaka really have carried over their form from the club season. Man City and Real Madrid fans would not be surprised(though Robinho did have a good feed to Elano for Brazil’s second goal.

    Fair play to the minnows on Monday. The Slovakia/New Zealand game wasn’t great to watch, but the All Whites never gave up to the final whistle and were rewarded with a point. The cross in was one of the best ones of the Cup so far.

    Ivory Coast deserved all 3 against Portugal but lacked the sort of finishing that Drogba specializes in. Drogba himself looked tentative with his broken arm, but had some pretty good balls across the box, arriving to…no one. Portugal looked like the same time that had trouble qualifying. I would be interested to see how they play without Cristiano Ronaldo, because along with being their best player he seems to screw up their offensive attacking. Not that I’m complaining. Unless their game against Brazil is a repeat of the Germany-Austria scandal of yesteryear, I don’t see Portugal advancing out of this group.

  43. 43.

    MikeJ

    June 15, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    A few days ago we had a history lesson about the colour orange and the Dutch and Northern Irish. Can anyone explain it with Côte d’Ivoire?

  44. 44.

    BGinCHI

    June 15, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    No comments on North Korea?

    Typical Arsenal fan: no fucking brains.

  45. 45.

    Leeds man

    June 15, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    @beltane:

    Brazil looked like they felt sorry for North Korea

    Were we watching the same match? Brazil was obviously frustrated by PRK’s awesome organization and selfless teamwork. They tired in the second half, but Maicon’s lucky (but definitely intended) shot is the only thing that saved Brazil from a draw. Portugal and Ivory Coast are shitting themselves.

  46. 46.

    mextremist

    June 15, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    dani alves has been on fire with barcelona the last year. i can’t make out why he is not starting the matches. but i’m sure he’ll shine through.

    the bitching about brasil is ignoring that the pkr played a disciplined game. their wingmen are fucking fast, they left the brasilians behind in more than a couple of plays. i don’t like their style AT ALL, but they played brasil “al tu por tu” (all up on their grill) and maybe deserved a tie.

    i’m glad you hate real madrid. i hate those fascist scumbags. i think i enjoy more them losing than my team winning…

  47. 47.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    @burnspbesq: The founders of Kaka’s church spent five months in jail in the US trying to bring in more than 50K to the US.

    Perhaps he shouldn’t throw any stones . . .

  48. 48.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    @mextremist:

    In their worst moments, the New York Yankees aren’t nearly as evil as Real. I look forward to their inevitable bankruptcy and liquidation.

  49. 49.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    @BGinCHI: Gee. Now I’m going to cry.

  50. 50.

    EvolutionaryDesign

    June 15, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    I look forward to their inevitable bankruptcy and liquidation.

    Here here!

  51. 51.

    wengler

    June 15, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    I know this is going to sound like a stereotypical criticism of Dunga’s style of coaching, but Brazil passed the ball around way too much and looked uncomfortable in possession. Their individual quality over a squad like North Korea is so immense that samba style futbol should come back at least for one game when the opposing team stacks the middle. The couple of times the Brazilians showed flair they beat their man and found some space.

    Now I certainly think Dunga’s tactics work a lot better on much better teams where the gap in individual talent isn’t so huge, but there should be some room for versatility in match tactics.

  52. 52.

    BGinCHI

    June 15, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    OK, sorry Randinho, I’m a Liverpool fan and WE ARE VERY SENSITIVE right now.

    Keep up the WC blogging; it’s awesome. The cretins who don’t get the game will never experience the joy and pain it brings.

  53. 53.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    @Leeds man:

    Welcome back to the Championship. You are cordially invited to City Ground for the opening of a very large can of whoop-ass. ;-)

  54. 54.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    @wengler: It will be interesting to see how the DPRK does against Ivory Coast and Portugal.

  55. 55.

    Mike E

    June 15, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    Maicon’s shot was the best-struck ball so far. Any closer to that post, it would’ve lit it like a match. Definitely not a cross.

    For some reason, I find myself rooting for Ghana — I’d love to see them advance deep into this tourney.

  56. 56.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    @BGinCHI: Who’s going to replace Rafa?

  57. 57.

    Mike E

    June 15, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    @Randinho: I wonder if the DPRK are for real, or just playing up to the talent of their competition. Anyway, I hope to see some desperate play from these sides, here on in.

  58. 58.

    mextremist

    June 15, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    as a mets fan, your yankee analogy is spot on. the mexican equivalent is america, the whole huge bankroll, bought ref’s, capital-city, state-funded, sportcaster idolizing bullshit.

    fuck real madri, fuck the king, and fuck the falanguist franco-worshipping racist assholes that root for them.

    whew, i need a cigarette after that rant…

  59. 59.

    Stroszek

    June 15, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    Thanks for the update, Randinho. This is the most enjoyable analysis I’m following, professional or otherwise.

    And just nuke the troll comments. They just want attention and won’t be reasoned with.

  60. 60.

    Irritable Liberal

    June 15, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    It’s not how you start out in the World Cup but how you finish. It’s seven games after a long European season and especially when it’s in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s played in the heat of summer.

  61. 61.

    Irritable Liberal

    June 15, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    It’s not how you start out in the World Cup but how you finish. It’s seven games after a long European season and especially when it’s in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s played in the heat of summer.

    No heat problem in South Africa no will have seven great games. If you’re going to have a couple of average games it’s best to have them early on.

  62. 62.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    @mextremist:

    “as a mets fan”

    I knew there was a reason I liked you.

    Vamos Metropolitanos!

  63. 63.

    Irritable Liberal

    June 15, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    It’s not how you start out in the World Cup but how you finish. It’s seven games after a long European season and especially when it’s in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s played in the heat of summer.

    No heat problem in South Africa but no team will have seven great games on the trot. If you’re going to have a couple of average games it’s best to have them early on.

  64. 64.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    @Stroszek: Thanks

  65. 65.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    @mextremist:

    I know I hate the Goats more than I hate America, and I probably hate the Cementheads more than I hate America. Both of those stem from being a Galaxy fan.

  66. 66.

    EvolutionaryDesign

    June 15, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    @Mike E:

    For some reason, I find myself rooting for Ghana—I’d love to see them advance deep into this tourney.

    To bad they ain’t playing the US again!

  67. 67.

    mextremist

    June 15, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    i don’t mind chivas so much, ‘coz it hurts americanistas the most when they lose against them.

    and randinho, any chance you get a thread going at the start of every game? in-game blog commenting is fun…

  68. 68.

    Violet

    June 15, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @Mentis Fugit:

    Not our first goals in the World Cup. We scored two against Scotland in our only other appearance in the competiton in 1982, but unfortunately they scored five against us.

    It is, however, our first point in World Cup competition.

    Ah, yes, that’s what I meant. That’ll teach me to post on the run as I’m cooking dinner!

    Now watch the All Blacks choke in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. [sobs]

    Isn’t NZ hosting this time? They can’t choke at home, can they? Right?

  69. 69.

    Irritable Liberal

    June 15, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    Kevin: South Africa has every chance tomorrow. French incompetence made the Uruguayan defense look good. The altitude will help them – Uruguay played their first game at sea level. South Africa’s nerves which plagued them for most of the first half will be gone.

    As long as their defense doesn’t make any abominable mistakes like the one that gifted Mexico a goal they will do fine.

  70. 70.

    Violet

    June 15, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    @mextremist:

    and randinho, any chance you get a thread going at the start of every game? in-game blog commenting is fun…

    Yeah, I was sorry we didn’t have one for the Brazil-North Korea match today.

  71. 71.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    @mextremist: John had been doing that early on. I’ve actually been taking this week off to watch games, and next week is going to be a bit difficult, but I’ll see what i can do. It’s actually easier for me to make one post with a few points on the day’s games after reviewing match stats, etc. Let’s see.

  72. 72.

    mextremist

    June 15, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    has anybody else started drinking beer in the early games? i always feel awfully guilty, but football and no beer? that’s just unnatural…

  73. 73.

    Violet

    June 15, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    @Randinho:
    Can you set up a post to auto-post at a certain time? Or maybe John can do it? Just a general “World Cup Game Open Thread” for a match might do.

  74. 74.

    Leeds man

    June 15, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Can’t wait, mate. At least you’re not Blackpool.

  75. 75.

    Randinho

    June 15, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    @Violet: I’ll see.

  76. 76.

    mcd410x

    June 15, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    @Randinho: It was Ian Darke sted Martin Tyler. Tyler did the Brazil game.

  77. 77.

    BGinCHI

    June 15, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Randinho, about Rafa, well….the blogs are burning up with speculation. Could be a placeholder like S G Eriksson, but I doubt it.

    I think they’ll end up luring someone younger and talented, but I don’t even want to speculate yet. After the WC it’ll get focused.

    The roster is going to change big time too.

    Best rumor for mgr, btw: Sammy Hyppia. I shit you not.

  78. 78.

    burnspbesq

    June 15, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    @Leeds man:

    Blackpool are just keeping our rightful place in the Premiership warm for us for one season. You can start beating up on them again in the 2011-12 season.

  79. 79.

    Irritable Liberal

    June 15, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    Another Leeds fan here. Our suffering will soon be over.

  80. 80.

    Mentis Fugit

    June 16, 2010 at 12:03 am

    @Violet:

    Isn’t NZ hosting [the Rugby World Cup] this time? They can’t choke at home, can they? Right?

    Can’t?
    Can’t?
    Can’t?
    Oh, they’ll find a way!;

  81. 81.

    Mark S.

    June 16, 2010 at 12:06 am

    I just caught the last minutes of a replay of Portugal and Cote d’Ivoire. Drogba looked pretty fragile; I’m not sure he could play a full ninety.

    Brazil’s main problem, at least in the first half, was spacing. They didn’t have anyone out wide to spread out the eight Communist defenders in the box.

  82. 82.

    mcd410x

    June 16, 2010 at 12:08 am

    @Mark S.: Communist defenders? I didn’t see Obama there at all!

  83. 83.

    Mark S.

    June 16, 2010 at 12:24 am

    @mcd410x:

    Yeah, but Obama in his speech tonight wanted us to send prayers to North Korean team.

  84. 84.

    Mary G

    June 16, 2010 at 12:24 am

    I shocked my Norwegian sister-in-law by discussing the games intelligently today, so thanks Randy.

  85. 85.

    meander

    June 16, 2010 at 12:48 am

    Saw the 2nd half of Brazil-North Korea on Telefutura’s “Juego del Dia” rebroadcast and enjoyed it more than anything I’ve seen so far. Some questions:

    How will the North Korean “media” report on the game for the North Korean public? Does the North Korean public even know the World Cup is going on? If so, perhaps something like “A heroic effort by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il allowed our glorious team to defeat Brazil. The Leader used his grace and strength to score ten goals against the Brazilian team, but nine of them were nullified by the imperialist oppressor puppet referee, making the final score one to zero.”

    Is anyone on the internet providing nearly real-time translation of the Univision coverage? I’d love to see what they are saying about the game, but my Spanish is very limited: pelota, cabeza, esquina, falta, goooooooooooooooooooooool, and a few others.

  86. 86.

    mcd410x

    June 16, 2010 at 12:54 am

    Wonderful quote from The Guardian: “But it soon became apparent this would not be the walkover that football’s World Cup casuals, the folk who swallow the myth of joga bonito every four years, had assumed.”

    Precisely.

  87. 87.

    Comrade Kevin

    June 16, 2010 at 1:06 am

    Thanks for the post, Randy, I unfortunately was unable to watch today’s games.

  88. 88.

    Phoenician in a time of Romans

    June 16, 2010 at 1:11 am

    You are so going to wake up with a dead sheep’s head in your bed one of these days…

    – The GodzoneFather.

  89. 89.

    Pooh

    June 16, 2010 at 1:14 am

    Ian Darke, not Tyler.

  90. 90.

    ExNewYorker

    June 16, 2010 at 1:43 am

    Kaka was somewhat of a disappointment. His passing was quite off target. Hopefully he’ll improve, but tonight wasn’t his best night.

  91. 91.

    SRW1

    June 16, 2010 at 5:34 am

    @Randinho:

    … I counted all eleven North Korean players not only in their own half, but in the last 30-35 meters of their own half.

    Maybe that explains why I thought on more than one occasion in the game that the PRK team was playing with a five player defensive line. You have to give them though that they were very well organized. I don’t think they will be walkovers for Portugal or IC either.

    Never been a great fan of Portugal, as I don’t like their bone hard style. I guess there’s somewhat of a parallel between Portugal and Spain on one hand and Argentina and Brazil on the other in terms of style difference.

    What struck me in the Portugal – IC game was the seemingly concerted change in tactics by both teams at the half. In the first half both teams didn’t want to allow each other one inch of space and were both pressing like mad, whereas after the interval they both fell back slightly and the game opened up a bit. Not an impressive game overall, but you have to say that Erikson seems to have done a good job in instilling quite a bit of tactical discipline in the IC team. I’d love it for being them, rather than Portugal, to join Brazil in advancing from this group.

    I know it’s still early stages in the tournament, but indications so far are that we may be in for an Italy 1990-like WC. Let’s hope it won’t come to that. Maybe Spain will serve up a delicacy against Switzerland.

  92. 92.

    Blue Neponset

    June 16, 2010 at 8:30 am

    Thanks again Randhino.

    It seems like nearly every team is playing not to lose in the first round. I hope things pick up in the second round. If there aren’t a lot of goals scored in the England v. Algeria, France v. Mexico, and South Korea v. Argentina matches then we may be in for dull second round too.

  93. 93.

    Mark

    June 16, 2010 at 8:47 am

    North Korea did, in fact, play a five-man back line for most of the match. It’ll be interesting to see if they deploy such a tactic in their matches against CIV and Portugal, teams of less overall offensive power than Brazil.

    While I realize this is a minority opinion (based on analyses elsewhere on the intertubes), I found CIV v. Portugal the most riveting match thus far. (And I’ve had the good fortune to be able to see all but Japan v. Cameroon). The game was on a knife’s edge throughout, with either side just about to break through defenses and score. Far too much on-air commentary was devoted to Cristiano/Didier while ignoring spirited play by other team members.

    I too would live to see CIV advance. The remaining matches in this Group will be “must-see TV” indeed.

  94. 94.

    Randinho

    June 16, 2010 at 8:54 am

    @Pooh: Thanks, it’s fixed.

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