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You are here: Home / Open Threads / France v Mexico Open Thread

Reader Interactions

96Comments

  2. 2.

    Dave

    If there is any kind of footy justice, France will crash out. That handball vs. Ireland STILL pisses me off…

  6. 6.

    jacy

    Yay Mexico, boo France.

    Futbol isn’t really my thing, but don’t fuck with the Irish.

    (and knowing about the whole France/Ireland thing is really the extent of my current futbol knowledge)

  9. 9.

    Face

    If Mexico loses, the whole country goes into depression. To shake it, they’ll all want to move to America. So by cheering for France, you’re against Arizona. And John McCain.

    I’m surprised someone hasn’t called them the Freedom team yet.

  10. 10.

    charles pierce

    My teams are the USA and anyone who’s playing the Cheating French Bastards!
    And the spirit of the San Patricios is with me today!

  12. 12.

    J.W. Hamner

    Both teams with some nice chances… it’s good to see two good teams play when they both desperately want those 3 points.

    Oh, and let me say that those weird stripes on the French jerseys look really dumb.

  13. 13.

    Butch

    Since I’m always ready to jump in with one of my usual pointless observations, we were talking this morning about our introduction to international soccer. We were coming back from a scuba trip and landed in La Ceiba, Honduras. (The flight to La Ceiba was enlivened when a piece of the fuselage on this old Russian-built plane detached and slapped against the front passenger window for the entire flight.) I don’t remember particularly what tournament it was but I do remember that Honduras was playing; it was 4:30 in the morning and every loudspeaker in the La Ceiba Airport was turned up full blast broadcasting the game.

  15. 15.

    Splitting Image

    I’ll be cheering for France at the World Handball Championship next year. Today though I’ll be rooting for Mexico.

  16. 16.

    oudemia

    @Butch: Ahahah. I have my own flying in elderly Russian airplanes to dive in Roatan stories. (Thankfully valium was OTC there.)

  17. 17.

    fbihop

    Great end to end action in this game with both teams taking chances.

    Also, besides that yellow card at the beginning of the game, the ref is more or less letting them play. I think this actually helps Mexico, as they are a little … aggressive in 1-on-1 defense.

  18. 18.

    S.Bones

    What is wrong with you people?

    Mexico is our historic soccer enemy – we should only want losses and injuries for them. Moreover, remember it was in Mexico ’86 that the soccer world was introduced to the plastic horn – which is a lot to answer for.

    Ireland should have never been in the position that Henry’s hand ball kept them out. Come on people – nation over heritage.

  22. 22.

    J.W. Hamner

    @S.Bones:

    And we should always cheer for France in loving gratitude for the exploits of General Lafayette?

    I dunno man… Mexico beating France is good for CONCACAF and the US in my opinion… wanting Mexico to be embarrassed doesn’t make any sense.

  24. 24.

    wengler

    Cinco de Mayo redux.

    If I remember correctly the Mexicans had the best of that day.

    Real end to end stuff so far. I think the second round has heralded a return to positive play. Good news all around.

  26. 26.

    fbihop

    Mexico was storming down the field on that one. Professional foul.

    It’s kind of surprising that neither team has scored yet, though France’s defense seemed to tighten up after some really shaky defense at the beginning of the game.

    Also, Ribery dives at the slightest amount of pressure. He’s like a prostitute-loving, scarred Cristiano Ronaldo.

  27. 27.

    Krissed Off

    @Butch:

    I had to go look at my dive log – it was longer ago than I thought – February 1998.

    For a minute there I thought you were a player.

  29. 29.

    Randinho

    @J.W. Hamner: I may pull for Mexico in certain rare situations, but after Rafa Marquez tried to decerebrate Cobi Jones in the 2002 WC and after he tried to castrate Tim Howard in a qualifier last year, not to mention Luis Hernandez’s comments about what he wanted to do to Landon Donovan’s mom, it’s exceedingly rare for me to pull for them.

  30. 30.

    Randinho

    @Face: In 2002 they went three without a goal.

    @Butch: It was the CONCACAF Gold Cup in which the US beat Brazil for the first and only time. It was the semi-final game and Kasey Keller gave an amazing performance against Romario while Preki scored a beautiful goal.

    Mexico beat the US in the final 1-0 with a goal by the matricidal Luis Hernandez.

    Not much Lloris could do there. Javier Hernandez was definitely onside.

  31. 31.

    Butch

    @Randinho: I’m going to write that down in my scuba log. Mostly what I remember is the earsplitting volume of the airport loudspeakers at real dark thirty in the morning after a sleepless night and a bumpy plane ride.

  34. 34.

    J.W. Hamner

    Gotta see how that could have possibly been onside…

    Wow that was close, but I’d call that offside (with the benefit of replay). Nice display of composure though.

  35. 35.

    licensed to kill time

    My whole neighborhood just erupted in screams of “gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!! ay cabron! “

  36. 36.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal

    That may have been offsides, but at least one of the French defenders needs to keep playing instead of throwing their hands in the air.

  37. 37.

    calling all toasters

    It was just barely onside. The lazy French fullbacks were using Play #1: pretend the other side broke the rules.

    Although it would almost be sweeter if it was a blown call– like Dave @2 I’m still a little pissed about France cheating its way in.

  38. 38.

    S.Bones

    @Randinho: This. A thousand times this. The Mexicans (meaning El Tri) are not our friends.

    So does an offside goal balance the karmic scales?

  41. 41.

    Gordon, The Big Express Engine

    By the way, the correct word is “offside” with no “s” on the end. I hear it corrected constantly by an english colleague.

  42. 42.

    You Don't Say

    I don’t understand offsides.

    Anyone know how that French player got that facial scar? I don’t know his name but anyone who has seen him knows who I mean.

  43. 43.

    Morbo

    Given their personnel, it doesn’t even look like France is trying to score, does it?

  44. 44.

    Eric S.

    Took late lunch to see the another scoreless first half. Of course, there’s been a 2 goals since. I think my coworkers and I are Kryptonite to goals.

  45. 45.

    Martin

    @You Don’t Say:

    I don’t understand offsides.

    If someone on offense is between the 2nd defender (usually that means the goalie + one defender) and the goal when the ball is struck to be passed to him, then he’s offsides.

    Typically, there needs to be one proper defender ahead of you or next to you when the pass is struck. At the moment the ball is struck, you can take off. It’s okay if there are other attackers closer to the goal so long as they don’t take possession of the ball until they get onsides.

  47. 47.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal

    What was the penalty? I missed that. Damn, I’d forgotten that actually having work to do is annoying.

  49. 49.

    Onkel Fritze

    @ You Don’t Say: That’s Ribery. He was in a car accident as a kid.

    Looks like Uruguay and Mexico only need a tie for both to advance. Take a guess how excintig that’s going to be.

  52. 52.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal

    I’m new at watching this, but don’t you usually want to get your free kick over the guys standing right in front of you? It seems unlikely that you’ll put it through them.

  54. 54.

    4jkb4ia

    I forgot the incidents Randinho wrote about, but still, France had no right to be there and should be sent home ASAP. There is still time to punish Mexico as well.

    (I see an ad for Tablet Magazine.)

  55. 55.

    Martin

    @That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal: It depends. If you can put it through (don’t discount the accuracy of a top striker) then the wall often acts as a screen to the goalie, cutting their time to react.

    Often the problem with going over is getting enough downward spin on the ball to get it to dive down under the bar with a hard shot. That requires hooking your foot on the back of the ball which is tricky to do and get an accurate shot off. Again, good strikers can do it, but it usually requires taking speed off the ball which helps the goalie track it down.

    It’s very situational which to do, usually depending on what you think the goalie is looking for.

  60. 60.

    MikeJ

    Not really on topic, but isn’t the idiom, “a dog in this fight”? I’ve heard, “that dog won’t hunt”, but that’s a different thing altogether.

  65. 65.

    sapphirecate

    As a dyed blue france supporter, can I just say that that whole match was full of french suck. Ouch. If I were THierry Henry I’d hide my ass on the bench too – wouldn’t want to be associated with that posse of 11 out of shape, lazy ass so-called football players.

  66. 66.

    Calouste

    @stuckinred:

    Technically not yet, but practically it more or less means they have to beat South Africa by three goals while Mexico has to lose to Uruguay by two goals.

    The bookies give France 7/1 to qualify at the moment, and I wouldn’t think that is worth putting money on.

  67. 67.

    Der Blindschtiller

    Here is Swiss Occupied France (Geneva), it is so incredibly sweet to see Mexico win. I will now go to bed happy.

  69. 69.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    This was a tough one for me – I lived in France during and after the ’98 WC (which they won) and got really fucking tired of hearing their stupid “On est champions!” song break out over and over every time more than a dozen Frenchmen got together – and this went on for at least two years. I really lost any sympathy for them with Zidane’s appalling, unrepentant headbutt last time (even though that Italian is a total asshole). And the handball vs. Ireland was la goutte d’eau qui a fait déborder le vase.

    On the other hand, what @Randinho said.

    A plague on both their houses.

  70. 70.

    MikeJ

    Since, like sapphirecate, my team in this just sucked badly, I’ll note other marginally related trivia.

    Are those commercials for pretzels M&Ms vaguely dirty? I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something unwholesome there that doesn’t make me want their candy. And I generally gravitate toward the unwholesome.

  72. 72.

    Punchy

    @Randinho: Yes, CDT. This US gametime sucks hairy fetid balls. A 6:30 tipoff, and I come to work late. A 1:30 brawl allows me to get a late, extended lunch. But 9am just fucks me work-wise.

  74. 74.

    Punchy

    If I were THierry Henry Matt Forte I’d hide my ass on the bench too – wouldn’t want to be associated with that posse of 11 out of shape, lazy ass so-called football players.

    Fixed for Americans, specifically fellow Chicagoans.

  75. 75.

    Randinho

    @MikeJ: I’m just annoyed at that Hyundai commercial. The Portuguese being spoken is distinctly Brazilian by both actors, but the man’s corpse is flying the colors of Portugal. Crappy research IMHO.

  76. 76.

    SRW1

    Question:
    Is Domenech still going to be coach of the French team by the time they play SA? I mean, what tactical adjustments did he make once France was behind? He just gave in.

  78. 78.

    Paula

    @wengler: lol. Geeks gotta love international soccer if only for the reason that there’s always some kind of historical parallel to be grasped at the ready.

    (Oh, and revenge for a fellow colonized nation.)

  79. 79.

    handsmile

    Mercifully, the ignoble reign of le grand fou Domenech will come to its squalid end in one more match. Les citoyens francaise are rising up I hear, demanding the return of la guillotine to Place de la Bastille. I’m not sure if I can support such a swift punishment for what he has done to Les Bleus.

    And it is rumored that as penance for the “Hand of Gaul,” Thierry Henry will conclude his glorious career playing for the New York Red Bulls.

  80. 80.

    burnspbesq

    Allez les Bleus?

    Oui, bien sur.

    Allez chez vous. Vous etes merdique.

    (A New York, on veut dire “Go home. You suck.”)

  81. 81.

    wengler

    @Punchy

    It’s been fun yelling at Blanco to get up off the ground during Fire games, so it was extra cool to watch him hit that PK.

    @Paula

    This victory will be celebrated by drinking and partying. The only difference from the 5th of May is that the gringos won’t be using it as an excuse to drink.

  82. 82.

    wengler

    I was worried that Uruguay v. Mexico next week was going to be an unexciting draw, but I don’t think either of these teams want to be meeting Argentina after what they did to South Korea today.

  83. 83.

    mcd410x

    M Domenech, we bid you adieu.

    (My Uruguay-Mexico picks are looking pretty swell).

  84. 84.

    joe

    JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED, FRANCE CHEATED IRELAND OUT OF THE WORLD CUP, TONIGHT WAS PAY BACK TIME…

  86. 86.

    Paula

    @wengler:

    Geez, I saw a Fire game on teevee once. Sitting on the ground is a regular thing w/ him, I take it? Also, he NEVER SMILES.

    (As a USMNT supporter I really don’t want to inherit the hate for El Tri.)

  87. 87.

    burnspbesq

    And if the Lakers win tonight, the streets of Los Angeles will be epically insane.

  88. 88.

    Paula

    @burnspbesq: Man oh man … I’m just imagining that.

    What w/ France, Ireland, and Mexico in the mix I feel like there ought be an appropriate Catholic joke, but I can’t find it.

  89. 89.

    wengler

    @Paula

    Blanco is not only great at rolling around on the ground, but going off on a stretcher and coming back in the next minute. The man’s skills in this area makes an Italian blush.

  90. 90.

    Irritable Liberal

    @Onkel Fritze:

    A draw in the Uruguay – Mexico game would mean Uruguay wins the group on goal difference so Mexico would then have to face Argentina in the first elimination round. That is more than enough initiative to go for the win.

  91. 91.

    Liberal Librarian

    @handsmile: If France makes it to Euro 2012, perhaps the next manager will train by, I don’t know, playing football, rather than having his team ride bikes/ski/drive dune buggies/craft macrame. (I made the last one up.)

    And finishing your career by making a boatload of money in the US for a couple of years isn’t a bad way to go.

  92. 92.

    cmorenc

    Speaking of sir handball-that-beat-Ireland himself, where in the heck was Henri? The ONLY time the French side played inspired dangerously attacking soccer was during the last 20 minutes vs Uruguay, which also coincided with the few minutes the French manager had Henri in the game as a substitute.

    That said, I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED watching Mexico administer a buttwhipping to the French in the second half today. I’ll be pulling for Mexico in their upcoming game vs Uruguay, except I do have to admire the work of Uruguay’s star player Diego Folan. Aside from him, there’s not very much attractive about Uruguay’s team (who are prone to some very egregious dives and proved their capability to play long stretches of thoroughly boring futbol vs the French). Paraguay plays a possession game with lots of close passing that seeks to do just-enough to win or draw, but in a far more attractive style.

    I’m sure French NT manager Domenech will be greeted on the French NT’s return to Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris with wine and cheers – NOT! He’d better hope his own team doesn’t lynch him before the French public gets their chance.

  93. 93.

    cmorenc

    @cmorenc: Whups, that’s Diego Forlan, not Folon. Anyhow, I’ve liked his play as a striker from back when he played with Man United (Van Nistelrooy was still around back then too).

  94. 94.

    SLKRR

    Not really a big Mexico fan, but I do love to see the French lose! Looks like the Latin American teams are stepping up their level of play in the second games so far.

  95. 95.

    Comrade Kevin

    A good night to be a Mexican in Dublin. You can get stinking drunk for free

    Doubtful, that. Have you seen the prices of drinks in Dublin?

  96. 96.

    Jeff Simpson

    Mexico’s domination should come as no surprise. Just like with Italy in the “friendly”, Mexico outplayed France all game and the score is a clear result of a better team prevailing. It’s not that France played bad, it’s Mexico playing solid futbol. More to come……………Viva Mexico!

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