Go Desert Foxes! Draw with England!
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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity
Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.
Fucking consultants! (of the political variety)
Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.
Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?
“In this country American means white. everybody else has to hyphenate.”
Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.
So fucking stupid, and still doing a tremendous amount of damage.
“woke” is the new caravan.
If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.
I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.
Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.
Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”
“A king is only a king if we bow down.” – Rev. William Barber
Republicans do not pay their debts.
They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.
Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.
If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!
Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.
The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.
When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson
Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.
Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.
If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.
MikeJ
Draw? Fuck that. Beat Boris Johnson’s favorite team like a rented mule.
(No, I don’t really think it will happen. But I can dream.)
Shalimar
Doesn’t really matter what England does. If the US wins against Algeria by 2 goals or more then they go through regardless of how England’s remaining 2 matches go. If they don’t then they really don’t deserve to anyway.
Leeds man
@MikeJ:
Surely Boris’s favourite team is the England RU team. I don’t mind them getting beaten.
Morbo
So if England wins and draws against Slovenia, and US beats Algeria, the whole group will be decided by who beats the Algerians by the most, right? Well, Slovenia only got one…
MikeJ
@Leeds man: Touché. Yes, you’re right about his favorite team. I’m guessing the team he supports in this tourney is England.
And since he said I’m supposed to be anti-British, I’ve taken it to heart.
Americanadian
@Shalimar: If we hadn’t just got jobbed like Gallaraga I’d agree with you, but after this morning we probably deserve a break somewhere along the line.
superfly
@Morbo: Yep.
Cacti
If Team USA does fall backwards into the elimination round, they’ll get beaten like a rented mule.
R-Jud
@MikeJ:
I’ve had a couple of ugly experiences with angry Brits since BoJo flapped his yap about the BP thing, and now I would really love to see them fail to advance. My husband too.
This is why we are watching the game at home tonight.
stuckinred
Anyone messes with Randinho on this thread I’m coin to see your sorry ass!
Leeds man
@R-Jud:
You guys are mad at the Tories. The England lads are all working class boys. Well, Lampard excepted.
Punchy
The wife is in England ATM, and says the pubs are butts-to-nuts packed. File that under The Most Unsurprising Thing Evah file….
I’m not sure if you offered me a $100 to point to Algeria on a map that I could do it successfully.
Der Blindschtiller
God damn it. My Slingbox just broke, so now I have to listen to the entire game in Swiss-German. Urghh….
peach flavored shampoo
Translation please?
fbihop
Algeria seem to be be sponsored by Surge en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_(soft_drink)
EDIT:
Incidentally, one of my indoor teams wore bright green t shirts as our jersey. We were called the Lightning Frogs (later: The Mighty Kites, a reference to Scrubs). So I will call Algeria the Lightning Frogs from now on.
Calouste
Interesting tidbit: England goalie David James becomes the oldest debutant at the World Cup aged 39 years and 321 days. You’d have thought that an unbreakable record of some kind would have been set in the 1930s by one of those teams that only participated because no one else bothered to qualify in those days, but apparently not.
Crusty Dem
@Morbo:
If the US beats Algeria by 2, they win the differential over Slovenia (in a situation where they tie England). If England wins both games, they’re ahead of Slovenia for 2nd in the group, if England beats Algeria and ties Slovenia (which is the worst case for the US, since both opponents would have 5 pts), then beating Algeria by 2 would put them ahead of Slovenia (independent of how badly England beats Algeria).
There, that’s the worst, most confusing possible explanation…
J.W. Hamner
I know it doesn’t really matter for us what happens today, as long as the USA guys take care of business against Algeria to a tune of a +2 goal differential… but it still would make me feel better if Algeria continues to look terrible.
stuckinred
@peach flavored shampoo: comin
fbihop
Here’s a drinking game:
Take a drink every time they mention the US disallowed goal.
Take a drink every time they mention the “Hand of Clod.”
Take a drink every time David Beckham is shown on the screen. Kill the bottle if Victoria Beckham is on the screen.
Chug when they mention Capello as a genius.
Drink every time Rooney shoots.
Drink every time Algeria shoots.
And, of course, chug every time there is a goal or red card.
Patrick
Color commentator: “England should have an advantage at least on free kicks”
Err…England has an advantage on every part of this game. This is the New York Giants playing Iowa State.
Pangloss
Would Algeria beating England be a bigger upset than Serbia over Germany?
peach flavored shampoo
Someone needs to tap that Spanish ref on the shoulder (the one who worked Germany) and show him that, yes, indeed, you can go 20 minutes without a requisite yellow card.
Crusty Dem
@Pangloss:
Yes.
fbihop
@Pangloss:
Much, much bigger.
Punchy
Probably bigger than the Swiss besting Spain. I suspect such an outcome would spark a run on ropes and How to Tie Nooses For Dummies books in better parts of Great Britain.
Dracula
@Punchy: I suspect Green would need to fear for his life if somehow England doesn’t qualify for the next round.
nevsky42
Wow, didn’t think England would go 25 min. without scoring…
Tim F.
ESPN has an English guy and a Scottish guy announcing. I suppose that counts for balance in the sense that a Scot will support any team playing England.
Pangloss
In the latest FIFA rankings, Algeria is ranked 30th— higher than Paraguay, Ghana, South Korea, and Denmark.
Davis X. Machina
There’s an old American (Shep Messing, ex NY Cosmo) and an Englishman on ESPN’s radio coverage, and neither of them is thrilled by England so far. ‘Dire’ one of the adjectives used….
TR
It’s a weird feeling cheering for a shitty game, but … so far so good.
fbihop
@Pangloss:
FIFA rankings are all but useless.
stuckinred
@Davis X. Machina: Shep Messing is 60.
Crusty Dem
@fbihop:
Exactly, Algeria qualified by beating Zambia and Rwanda and splitting with Egypt (though they were beaten 4-0 by them in the Africa Cup). They are not good, though England seems to be making them look good…
Dork
Have to assume this Jubilani ball may be the cause of all these shitty crosses and free kicks. Ball just seems to take off like a rocket.
MikeJ
@fbihop:
Seattle Sounders wear a lovely in its way, hideous green. Much worse than Algeria’s. Another reason to cheer for them.
Pangloss
I know there’s another half to go, but so far in this World Cup, I would have to pick England as the most overrated team in the tournament. Everyone knew France was going to be terrible. The Swiss had a great gameplan vs. Spain, who didn’t play all that badly. Portugal has been a bit disappointing, but not like the Brits.
charlie
Only following the FIFA liveblog, but it seems like Algeria is playing aggressively and their keeper is really good, correct?
fbihop
@MikeJ:
I’ve been a proud Galaxy fan since the beginning. I think it was Cobi Jones that made me a fan initially.
themann1086
From the Joe Barton Would Like To Apologize site:
Joe Barton Would Like to Apologize to:
Koman Coulibaly, referee of the USA – Slovenia World Cup match, for having to award any points to the USA at all. Obviously, scoring three goals was a shakedown on our part. I regret that you had to count two of them.
ETA: Slovenia, for tying them in the second half of the World Cup match. Completely insensitive on our end to shakedown those two goals, and we deeply regret putting the ball in the net those three times and making you look bad. Let me make it up to you guys, I’ll mail you some oil.
Leeds man
England should put Stuart Pearce in. And see if John Barnes is in the stadium. Kee-rist.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Out of curiosity, does a ref have to disclose what his call was at some point? Do we go forever without finding out what the foul he called was?
Mark S.
Well, it didn’t take too long to go through the first half highlights.
Leeds man
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
If the rules are the same as in my playing days, the ref is answerable to no-one during the game.
calling all toasters
@Leeds man: Zombie George Best is getting antsy to go in by now.
cmorenc
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): The referee assessment team that reviews each match among themselves and in-person conference with the referees for that match will doubtless pointedly, thoroughly cross-examine the center referee in the US v Slovenia game as to what he thought he was seeing and thinking in making the call of a foul against the US to cancel the apparent goal. Soccer referees have a term for key incidents like this, whether handled correctly and accurately or incorrectly and incompetently: ” MOMENTS OF TRUTH.” Yes, they really do use that term (or an equivalent foreign translation of same).
They will know for sure what the referee thought he was doing in making that call. However, neither the assessors nor the referee crew have any formal obligation to share this thinking or analysis with the rest of us.
stuckinred
@Leeds man: Soccer has laws not rules!
drblank.com/slaws.htm
MikeJ
@fbihop: I was a DC United fan, but not emotionally invested enough that I couldn’t transfer my loyalties when I transferred my body.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
@Leeds man: How about after the game? Does he *ever* have to justify his decision?
This is why I like MLB’s policy on this. They don’t fine anyone for criticizing the officials. (Claiming bias is different, but if a player or manager wants to say in an interview that an umpire was terrible, he’s free to do so.) They then let umpires talk publicly to defend themselves. It’s simple, and it works. Allowing public criticism of officials hasn’t hurt the game at all.
Also, there have been a lot of comparisons between the guy today and Jim Joyce. Let me just state, as a Tigers fan, that it isn’t even vaguely the same. Today’s ref was working his first World Cup game and is pretty much unknown outside of Africa. Joyce, on the other hand, is not only a long time umpire, but a poll of players found that he is considered to be the best umpire in the game. He’s not incompetent; he made one horrible mistake, but has an extensive body of work to stand on.
cmorenc
You know, a truly worrisome possibility for the US (and England) would be if Algeria were somehow able to pull off a giant upset v. England. The table would then be completely upside down, with both the US and England needing to win their third game to advance.
wengler
It’s hard to tell if Algeria is actually good, or England is just pretty bad.
England really lacks the speed up front though. I don’t know why they don’t put in Defoe.
fbihop
I guess I understand ESPN having foreign broadcasters, but can’t they have the Scottish guy at least speak English?
Bootlegger
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): No, he doesn’t. But FIFA will do a post-match review with all four officials and I’m sure he’ll have to explain it to them, though we’ll probably never hear what is said.
Here is what happens if the US beats Algeria by 1 while England and Slovenia tie (assuming England gets it in gear). They will draw lots for the two spots.
Donovan’s roof was phenomenal. The Slovene ‘keeper, who the announcers kept saying “is among the best in Europe” actually ducked out of the way.
EvolutionaryDesign
@MikeJ: Did you see the Seahawks wear their own version in solidarity last year? Burned out the pixels in my TV.
Leeds man
@cmorenc:
I don’t know whether “worrisome” is the right word as far as England is concerned. If Algeria beat them, they should go home and leave the tournament to the teams that came to play. Right now they look like a team of Long John Silver impersonators.
Calouste
@Pangloss:
England are always overrated. Hardly ever make it passed the quarterfinals in either the World Cup or the Euro, if they qualify in the first place that is. Perennial also-rans, except for 1966.
Pangloss
I was a Washington Diplomats fan in the NASL days. Now I follow the Chicago Fire (former team of Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley, Bob Bradley, Zach Thornton, etc.).
Bootlegger
@fbihop: I’m kinda fond of that accent, the British accent always makes me cringe.
Calouste
@calling all toasters:
Zombie George Best would also have to switch countries, as he played for Northern Ireland while he was alive.
Calouste
@fbihop:
Some would say that is impossible.
Who is it? Alan Hansen? He’s pretty bad accent wise.
Violet
I wonder what’s going to happen with this match as players start getting tired.
wengler
And Gerrard and Lampard still can’t play together. It’s hard to consider Capello as some sort of genius when he hasn’t found a way to make them click.
Oh yeah, Rooney still isn’t 100 percent. I wonder if the England commentators will say anything about it after this game.
MikeJ
Why can’t we have an attacker named Monie, so when they’re setting up a cross the announcers can tell us about Monie in the Middle.
Bootlegger
Why is Algeria named after a German WWII general? Perhaps they remember the Desert Fox more fondly than Patton’s boys.
Calouste
@Bootlegger:
There’s really no such thing as the British accent. I assume you mean Received Pronunciation, or as the locals call it, “posh”.
Bootlegger
@wengler: Will Capello dare to pull Rooney late in the game? Rooney usually gets stronger as his opponents tire, but I see the same thing you do, he’s just not right.
Bootlegger
Gerrard is seriously blaming someone else for that cross? Wanker.
Andy K
@Calouste:
Sir Bobby Charlton lives!
Bootlegger
@Calouste: Fair enough. And I like the the working class accents, its just the High Accent that sounds like nails on a blackboard.
fbihop
I’m starting to think that the US can WIN their group. England looks horrible. They look like the worst seeded team except for France (and South Africa, but they don’t really count).
Calouste
@Violet:
The BBC was saying that England already looked tired in the first half. Wonder what will happen if they get through to the next round and they have only 3 or 4 days to adjust from sea level to 4000 ft altitude.
Crusty Dem
I thought the England team was supposed to be familiar with the game of football.
My mistake*.
ast” I’ll be surprised if they don’t win (commenting here at the 65th minute), but they’ve just been terrible.
ast” does an asterisk make my comment bold-faced? I don’t understand..
Stroszek
Am I the only who thinks an England win is good for the US? We have to beat Algeria, and that being the case, I’d rather face a deflated team in game 3 and hope England/Slovenia doesn’t end up in a draw (or shoot for advancement via goal differential).
Bootlegger
@Calouste: And they trained for two weeks up in the Alps to get ready.
Leeds man
@Crusty Dem:
Well they are good spectators (the team, I mean).
Violet
@Crusty Dem:
Yes, an asterisk bolds comments here.
Bootlegger
@Stroszek: Yeah, its in the US interest for England to win, but as Americans its just hard to cheer for the Queen’s subjects. Plus I always support the underdog, unless its the US who is favored which is rare.
Violet
@Stroszek:
If Algeria loses by, say, one goal after fighting this hard against England, they’ll probably be really disappointed. Would they be deflated or determined to win a game?
The England-Slovenia match is looking to be very interesting now, isn’t it?
Violet
@Bootlegger:
I’m torn because I’ve got English family, including one absolutely mad Man United fan. There’s already much gnashing of teeth at England’s performance against the US. I hesitate to think what comments on this match are going to be. Shudder.
Morbo
Looks like they’re getting a little more aggressive now, finally. Sounds like the crowd doesn’t think aggressive enough though. And damn, they really need to get a shot off.
Dork
What happens to the US’s chances if this game ends in tie?
wengler
England fans must be ruing the fact that Paul Scholes opted out of international competition this time around.
Jermaine Defoe on. There’s the speed up front they were missing all game.
Bootlegger
@Violet: An eliminated Algeria would be ripe for a 3 or 4 goal skinnin’.
England v. Slovenia was always going to be interesting.
But as others have stated, no matter what happens here our fate is still in our own hands.
Bootlegger
@Violet: LOL. I like the Brits just fine personally, but they are damned arrogant when it comes to Association Football, particularly for a team that hasn’t won shit in three decades. Even their successful club teams are globalized with very few natives.
Socraticsilence
In terms of interesting soccer an Algeria win would be amazing (and arguably better for the US than a 0-0 tie).
Bootlegger
@Dork: Fate is in our own hands no matter what. But a tie opens the possibility of us going through with three ties.
Violet
@Bootlegger:
Yep. The US needs to learn how to play in the first part of the match, including the entire first half. If they played as well in first halves as they are doing in the second, they might do a lot better.
Andy K
@Dork:
Pretty good, actually. Through with a win. First in the group with a win and an England win over Slovenia. And still through if we tie Algeria and England ties Slovenia, as long as we’ve scored more goals in our three draws than England scores in their’s.
Bootlegger
@Socraticsilence: An Algeria win would put them on 3 points with on 2 and a game against them. Not sure how that benefits us.
fbihop
Algeria has as many goals as France.
Bootlegger
@Violet: No doubt. Is that a problem with team leadership? Coaching? Steroids and tequila shots at halftime?
Punchy
England with only 1 goal in almost 3 hours of soccer. Pathetic for being such fucking soccer snobs and hooligans.
wengler
It’s hard to believe that this is the same England team that walloped Croatia at Wembley last fall.
Andy K
@fbihop:
Algeria has a better goal differential, though.
Kostas
So far England seems to be another victim of stress… But i guess that resistance to stress makes the difference between a good and a great team
peach flavored shampoo
Here comes the Stork for the Brits.
Andy K
@Punchy:
A lot of major footballing nations have holligans. Dutch and Italian hooligans are nothing to sneeze at.
What differentiates England from the rest is the Scouser presence.
Bootlegger
@peach flavored shampoo: Capelli should wait for stoppage time to make his subs….dumbass Eyetie.
wengler
Rooney’s injured.
You can tell it by the way he is walking. He doesn’t want the ball and can’t get into place. Pity for the England fans, but he can’t play like that.
Bootlegger
@Andy K: Nah, it was the rampaging they use to do in foreign cities whenever their teams use to play there. Read Among the Thugs for an enlightening first-hand account.
Punchy
Can you explain what “Scouser” is?
Socraticsilence
Draw might be better than an England win- with a draw Algeria will actually try and win– which allows a counter, if they lost theyed might just try and salvage something with a tie.
Violet
From The Guardian live blog of the match:
Heh. The Guardian’s live blogging of the matches is a thing of beauty.
Bootlegger
@Punchy: Someone from Liverpool, who did the lion’s share of the rampaging in Turin.
MikeJ
@Punchy: youtube.com/watch?v=6QLBsTs4cVo
Paula
Ohmigod … are the Three Lions actually giving us the draw we need??
If so, are you all effin’ sure that scoring 2+ goals on Algeria is going to be “easy”?
TR
That Guardian live blog is great:
Kostas
Great game for Algeria !!! Well done… a good play that gave me an easy 1,72 under bet :)
PanAmerican
….and England’s dreaming
Dave
@Socraticsilence:
A 0-0 draw is the best result for the US because the US can advance with a win or with a draw versus Algeria (a draw against Algeria would put the US through if England lose or draw to Slovenia).
If Algeria win versus England, then a US draw with Algeria would eliminate the US. (Algeria or England would advance in that scenario) But an Algeria win over England would make it so that US would guarantee advancement with a win over Algeria . (no matter what happens in the England – Slovenia match)
If Algeria – England ends 0-0, then US will have more ways of advancing (like possibly a draw versus Algeria), but would have to keep an eye on point differential and goals scored. (point differential is tied at the moment over England, but US has two more goals scored)
TR
Sweet!
wengler
Fair play for Algeria.
Terrible passing for England. Terrible going forward. It’s hard to see how England takes anything positive away from this.
Mark S.
Since Slovenia is only going to need a draw to advance, look for them to play the ol’ 8-1-1 and get a 0-0 draw. So long, England.
Violet
@Paula:
None of these matches is “easy” it seems.
English fans booing their team. Not surprised. Bad showing by the English.
Bootlegger
@Paula: With a draw we don’t need to score +2, a win will do and if Slovenia gets a result against England we go through with a tie.
fbihop
@Paula:
Don’t need to beat Algeria by two now. Beating Algeria 1-0 will put the USA through now.
Andy K
@Punchy:
A Liverpudlian- although Everton fans aren’t that bad. Liverpool FC fans, though….
Stroszek
@Paula: Who says we need two goals on Algeria? We just need to beat them.
wengler
Oh nvm England scored a clean sheet. Fantastique!
MikeJ
edit: deleted for bad math.
Violet
@TR:
I love The Guardian live blog. I read them for every match, but especially for the England ones.
Bootlegger
@MikeJ: And the tiebreakers kick in.
Paula
Oh, right … thankee. In all honesty this is a shock. I was really expecting the English to rally and win, truly wanting a draw, but a scoreless draw was a little too good to hope for, it seems.
Bootlegger
Ok then, the half-full glass view is that Algeria will have to play for the win which will leave some space in the back. With Findley on the bench we should be much better.
burnspbesq
I apologize if my snoring during the latter stages of that match disturbed or inconvenienced anyone.
Bootlegger
@Paula: Yeah, the “scoreless” part is key because of total goals scored in the tiebreaker. We’re now second in the group going into the last game. Not bad.
Stroszek
If England loses to Slovenia:
We need to tie or beat Algeria for second place.
If England ties Slovenia:
We can beat Algeria for potential first place but we’re guaranteed at least second place.
If we tie Algeria, we advance in second place if we’ve scored more goals than England.
If England beats Slovenia:
We need to beat Algeria, but we’ll win the group if we do.
Oddly, the scenarios that would seem to give us less a chance of advancing are the only means of winning the group and facing the lesser Group D team in the round of 16.
Paula
I really don’t want to wade more into BigSoccer right now, so can one of the nerds here talk to me about a supposed yellow/red card violation by Dempsey in the first half (which I missed) that wasn’t called? His elbow, apparently. And a shove that was supposed to be called on DeMerit.
Face
Even if we tie, we advance with a England-Slovenia tie, right, as long as they dont tie something crazy like 3-3?
MikeJ
So if the US beats Algeria (not the sure thing I would have said before today’s two games)
US 5
Slov 4
Eng 2
AL 1
So whatever the outcome in Eng Slv, we go through if the US can do what England couldn’t. If England beats Slov and doesn’t score two more goals than the US has in the tourney, we *win* instead of coming in second. Which means our first game is against the second place team in D, rather than the first place.
burnspbesq
If both matches on Wednesday are drawn, then Slovenia wins the group, and the US and England will be looking at the second tie-breaker, goals scored. Right now we are two goals to the good.
Violet
There’s no telling how things will go in the England-Slovenia game. Everything’s on the line.
burnspbesq
@Paula:
On the very first contested ball of the match, Dempsey went up with an elbow extended to protect himself, in proper English Premier League style, and connected with the Slovene defender’s noggin. It could have been called a foul, but wasn’t – and even if it had been called a foul, a booking would have been extremely harsh, because it didn’t appear that Dempsey intentionally threw an elbow.
Face
@burnspbesq: Whats the third tie breaker, should England and the US tie in goal differential?
Leeds man
@Bootlegger:
It was in Brussels, not Turin.
wengler
@Paula
About 20 seconds into the game Dempsey and a Slovenian guy went up for a header. Dempsey hit the guy in the head with his elbow while trying to establish position.
It might’ve been fair to give him a caution, but it was really incidental. It was nothing like the knock that De Rossi gave McBride back in 2006,
Peter J
And if Slovenia at least ties England and Algeria wins over the US, then it’s bye bye to both England and the US…
MikeJ
@Face: Pistols at dawn. Or total number of goals, rather than differential. After that, pick a winner out of a hat.
Pooh
@Face:
Total goals, so basically if we tie and England ties and their score is 1 or more goals higher than ours, we’re in, if it’s 2 goals more it’s lol coinflip. 3 or more more and it’s them
burnspbesq
@Face:
If they tie in goal difference, the next tie-breaker is goals scored. If that ends up even (for example, if the US and Algeria draw 0-0 and England and Slovenia draw 2-2), you’re essentially down to drawing lots.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/world-cup-2010/writers/georgina_turner/06/16/fifa.regulations/…
wengler
England
Algeria
Slovenia
Yanks
Not so easy anymore, is it?
Paula
Thanks, all. :)
Peter, if Algeria beat us w/ such play as we’ve seen, we don’t deserve to advance. Ditto to England. Slovenians deserve much credit right now (as much as blame for blowing a 2-nil lead, but that’s for THEIR supporters to worry about).
Waynski
Slightly OT, but did anyone else hear the Irish commentator on ESPN radio after Slovenia’s first goal against the US this morning, ““ooooohhh, Slovenia, a small country, sticking a dagger into the heart of a great nation!”
It’s funny if you do it with a brogue.
Calouste
@MikeJ:
Depending on how much of a punching bag Australia is going to be, the USA finishing second might actually be better because they might avoid Germany then.
Interesting that half way through the first round, England, France and Germany already have to win their final game to qualify (assuming Australia is not really going to cause upsets, and of course France are sure to qualify even if they win.)
Violet
From the Guardian live blog:
Sure, blame the fans. Don’t think that’s going to go down very well.
MikeJ
@Violet: Rooney is obviously anti-British.
Violet
@MikeJ:
English. Not British. Big difference.
Mark S.
@Violet:
You’d think Wayne would be used to that by now.
scav
and OT, but if you missed energy and drama in the games today, a quick check of the storms moving in to Chicago provide at least a little excitement. well, tiny bit, for those that like that kind of thing. (ahh, the orangey purple of radar — sick sick sick . . . )
and can I just say how nice it is to witness a nerdy/techie spasm after the game?
MikeJ
@Violet: Nah, he hates the Welsh and the Scots too. And if you’re making fun of Boris, you have to use the phrase he did.
Dracula
Um….can you supply me some lotto numbers, please?
Paula
English fans and press need to STOP PUTTING SO MUCH FUCKING PRESSURE ON THEIR PLAYERS.
They’re delusional about their chances, so it makes the English coach delusional, and he puts in injured/slow players against underdogs that have nothing to lose.
Next time, wankers, step back, breathe, and assess your team in as objective a manner as you can and make all the necessary adjustments.
(Oh wait, what does Capello care — he’s gettin’ paid even if they all get tossed out on their arses in the 2nd round.)
Mark S.
@Violet:
And how does he now they were booing. They could have been yelling “Rooooooo-ney!”
I’ll be here all week.
Calouste
Interesting:
If Germany win their group and England don’t (neither of which are massively unlikely at the moment), one of the semi final spots will go to a team out of (most likely) Uruguay, Mexico, Greece, South Korea, Slovenia, USA, Ghana or Serbia.
Could be a USA-Mexico quarter final in the (not extremely likely) event that they both win their groups.
And before you put too much money on Argentina, they could have to play Germany in the quarters and Italy in the semis if all three win their respective groups.
fbihop
@Calouste:
Highest rated soccer match in U.S. history between ABC/ESPN and Univision. Guaranteed.
handsmile
At this moment, scythes, pitchforks and torches are being mustered in the quaint public houses of the Scepter’d Isle. Humble craftsfolk are patiently stitching effigies of Capello for the village squares.
And somewhere Steve McLaren is laughing and laughing and laughing…
Svensker
@TR:
LOL
EmmATX
@Waynski:
“Slightly OT, but did anyone else hear the Irish commentator on ESPN radio after Slovenia’s first goal against the US this morning, ““ooooohhh, Slovenia, a small country, sticking a dagger into the heart of a great nation!””
Yes, I did hear that! Heard it and LOLed :)
handsmile
@ Violet:
As you mentioned above your enjoyment and appreciation of the Guardian’s live blogging of each match, let me recommend the “World Cup Daily Podcast” hosted by James Richardson at the Guardian’s website, guardian.co.uk/football.
Fair warning: To protect your consumer electronics, drink no beverages while listening to their irreverent and insightful summary of the day’s World Cup news and matches.
Violet
@handsmile:
I’ve heard that’s good, but I haven’t listened. Will try find it tomorrow morning for a listen at breakfast.
Just heard that an England fan breached security and got into the England dressing room. The jokes just write themselves…
“Forget security breach. Has he got his boots?”
“The good news was, no one was woken up!”
“He’s got better penetration skills than anyone on the England team.”
Origuy
What little I’ve watched has been on Univision with the sound down. (It’s on in the cafeteria at work. They even pulled down the big screen.) I listened to a clip of Alan Hansen on Youtube. He’s not hard to understand for me, but I’ve spent a lot of time listening to Scots. He’s from Lanark, between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Glaswegians are harder to understand. If he was from Ayr, though, you’d need subtitles.
Davis X. Machina
@stuckinred: I meant “NASL-era, not MLS-era” old, not ‘biologically old’….
BGinCHI
Anyone want to defend Alexei Lalas?
After the match he said that “maybe the English players just aren’t that good.”
Sour grapes much? Watch football much?
Not good together, yes, but not individually talented??
What a JACKOFF.
Violet
@BGinCHI:
Maybe that’s what he meant? A team made up of really good players sometimes just doesn’t come together as a team, whereas a team of lesser players finds a way to get it done. Like Miracle on Ice or whatever.
Leeds man
@BGinCHI:
Anyone want to defend Alexei Lalas?
He played for the Arsenal reserves, so who could argue with him?
BGinCHI
@Leeds man:
Oh, please be snark.
I’m not sure I’d let him drive the team bus (short, Arsenal, or otherwise).
And no, Violet, he didn’t take McManaman’s corrective. He rolled his eyes, implying, I’m guessing, that the US is now moved ahead of England on the pitch.
What a joke.
Leeds man
@BGinCHI:
Definitely snark, mate. But England deserves whatever insults are hurled at them for today’s game.
They can still redeem themselves and go out nobly on penalties in the next round :)
Mark S.
@BGinCHI:
He just meant they aren’t LA Galaxy good.
Calouste
@handsmile:
‘Tis a good thing for Capello that there are 4 months between the end of the World Cup and Bonfire Night. That means there might actually be some other candidates for being burned in effigy that night.
Randinho
@Patrick: Apparently it was the Joe Pisarcik era NY Giants.
BGinCHI
@Leeds man:
England did stink it up. Does Rooney just not want to play? It was like he was in a pick-up game and he wanted to just wave someone else on to replace him.
No one else on the team was much better, though.
Dafoe needs to get more time and Capello needs to demand that Gerrard shoot every time he’s in the 18.
And Mark S., snap. Well played.
Randinho
@wengler: Neither is mutually exclusive.
Randinho
@Dracula: Sorry, nothing but blind luck. Honest.
Ben Richards
Why was what Lalas said so controversal? Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney are great, but really, after that? The rest of the team is average at best.