Will this be a case of lambs to the slaughter.?
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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Every day Vance writes another chapter in the book called “Worst VP Pick Ever”.
The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.
How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?
Battle won, war still ongoing.
Republicans would impeach Biden if he bit into a whole Kit Kat rather than breaking the sections apart.
They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.
I was promised a recession.
If marriage is the equivalent of selling yourself into slavery, women with self respect should reject the offer.
The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.
Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.
if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.
Let’s not be the monsters we hate.
Cole is on a roll !
Everything is totally normal and fine!!!
“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”
It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.
Republicans do not pay their debts.
Optimism opens the door to great things.
Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!
Trump’s legal defense is going to be a dumpster fire inside a clown car on a derailing train.
Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?
There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.
I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.
FFS people, this was a good thing. take the win.
Calouste
I think it will be a case of another crappy Spain game where they beat a minor team by a dodgy penalty or something.
cleek
mmm… lamb chops.
Onkel Fritze
Spain absolutely has to win their next 2 games. And they will. Today they will want to follow Portugals lead and score a bunch of times.
Strange as it sounds right now, I think this group will see 3 teams finishing with 6 points each and Chile going out on goal difference.
Let’s see whether Honduras can do anything about that.
danimal
Lamb (Spain 0-1 v. Switz) vs lamb (Honduras) violence? Could get ugly.
Leeds man
Torres will score a bagful despite the drastic hairstyle change.
But who cares? Portugal-Brazil on Friday will be an opera classic, and England-Slovenia will either be a Vale Of Tears or an opportunity for us Limey bastards to get ridiculously obnoxious again. Can’t wait!
Stroszek
The Spaniards still look embarrassed.
Violet
Well I’m pulling for Honduras. Spain is going to want this win really badly, though. I hope Honduras can pull a surprise, a la New Zealand.
Waynski
If Honduras wins, will we all have to wear our underwear on the outside?
wengler
It’s not going to be 7-0, unless Honduras stops playing defense like North Korea did.
Mitch Guthman
Ah, but who will play the role of the lamb? I was shocked at how fragile the Spanish team was in response to an admittedly unjustified setback. By their own admission, the perpetually hungover Spanish players are distracted by an abundance of very available, very beautiful women. They do not seem like professional athletes in quite possibly the most important tournament of their lives. But it is very early in the tournament. If the Spaniards regain their self-control, then I believe they will probably win the World Cup.
I certainly hope so because they play the most beautiful football I have ever seen. They are certainly capable of winning the tournament, especially since Brazil also seems to be struggling to find itself.
That said, I would not underestimate Honduras. They are a solid team with a lousy defense but with some very good strikers.
Also, off topic, I wouldn’t take Algeria too lightly either. I have watched them play on television several times. They may not have as many flashy, premier league players but they are a good solid team with what I think is good balance and good teamwork.
I will, however, be retiring my France t-shirt. Particularly after this morning Domenech’s comments of this afternoon (well, afternoon where I am, anyway). I will follow the lead of Credit agricole, a sponsor of les Bleus who has taken down all of their posters. Not sure whether to keep wearing my England shirts.
calling all toasters
Goooooooal!
Well, somebody from the Old World has to beat somebody from the New World eventually, so why not today?
Andy K
That was a beautiful goal by Villa.
Leeds man
Nice Eddie Gray impression by Villa.
calling all toasters
Off topic, but the tournament got much better when I turned the treble down all the way.
\http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/06/fifa-world-cup-2010-vuvuzela-annoying-buzz-sound-audio-filter-app-noise-killer-scam-setting-minimize-horns-tips.html
J.W. Hamner
I’m only watching the ESPN Gamecast out of the corner of my eye, but from the comments it sounds like Spain is pretty serious today.
drkrick
Non-futbol interlude:
Rand Paul: “”As bad as it sounds, ultimately we do have to sometimes accept a wage that’s less than we had at our previous job in order to get back to work and allow the economy to get started again,” he said. “Nobody likes that, but it may be one of the tough love things that has to happen.”
Isn’t this the same guy raising hell because the new Medicare rates won’t support him in the style to which he’s become accustomed? I understand that there are good reasons to fix the rates, but the person responsible for that statement isn’t entitled to make them. It’s amazing how much of an acolyte of principle this guy can be when the costs don’t affect him, and how completely he abandons the same principle when it does
pharniel
With no dog really in this fight GOOOOOOOOOO Mexico!
arguingwithsignposts
@drkrick:
I think we could all accept Dr. Paul receiving minimum wage for his work. He seems to be amenable to everyone else doing so.
Mark S.
Does the Guardian live blogging need to come with a parental advisory label:
mcd410x
Whatever happened to Arsenal signing David Villa, or anyone for that matter?
pharniel
drkrik
THat’s why we call them Glibretarians.
They’re basically hypocrytical victim mentality 4year olds who think it’s well and right for other people to go without, but you keep your goddamned hands off my entitlements motherfucker!
MikeJ
@Mark S.: Why would it? I don’t see anything there requiring it.
Amusingly, the night England tied Algeria the podcast did have an explicit label because a “fuck” went through. I don’t think anybody has explained that by their nature podcasts are recorded, and as such, are editable.
Jared
Red ships of Spain, baby.
Andy K
@mcd410x:
Villa’s a bit old for Wenger’s tastes, no?
Jason Bylinowski
My answer is
YES!
but I do not understand the question, so identifying the lamb on my end consists of flipping a coin. However, I’ve got it on good authority that flipping a coin would a better factor of determination than my own judgment, where sports are concerned.
Mark S.
@MikeJ:
Leeds man
@Mark S.:
Before the, er, coming of ubiquitous porn, “cum” was used in it’s Latin sense of “with”, or “combination”. Still is, apparently.
Dr. Squid
Hey, you really can play an entire half on one half of the pitch.
wengler
@Dr. Squid
But now they get to play on the other half of the pitch.
cmorenc
Even if Spain does slaughter the Honduran lambs today, they will still have only recovered from hanging off the precipice to standing precariously on the edge of the precipice of Group H, tied in points (3) with Switzerland, and (unless they score more goals the second half) even with Switzerland in goal differential, since the halftime score of Spain v Honduras is only 1-0. Spain’s problem is that in the third, decisive set of games in this group, Spain has to play Chile, pretty formidable team themselves, while it will be Switzerland’s turn to play the lambs, er Hondurans. A Spanish draw v Chile and a Swiss win v. Honduras, and the Swiss are through. It’s even possible for the Swiss to tie Honduras and go through instead of Spain (based on their head to head win) unless Spain manages to pad their lead against Honduras before that game’s over.
To add to the degree of difficulty, even though Chile is the only team in the group to finish the first two rounds with a clean set of two wins and six points (to 3 each for Spain and Switzerland), Chile has NOT locked up one of the top two spots in the group yet, unless they win or draw vs Spain. And so Spain will face a Chilean team strongly motivated by their own urgent necessity rather than merely advantage of advancing as the #1 team from the group rather than #2, or else simply team pride. And even if Spain wins against both Honduras and Chile, so long as Switzerland beats Honduras by a greater goal differential the third game, Spain goes home. The only way the Spanish are a lock to go through is to win both games and for the Swiss to tie or lose against Honduras.
Randy Paul
Of course to beat Honduras, the Swiss will actually have to make a shot on goal. They are averaging one shot on target per game.
cmorenc
UPDATE: I see that the Spanish have now scored a second goal, and so if Spain bets Chile, the Swiss will now need to beat Honduras at least 1-0 to advance.
There’s so many ways that the Chilean/Swiss/Spanish drama could play out in the third round that it makes what the US and England need to do in their group appear so easy and straightforward: if they win their respective third round game, they’re through, regardless of what happens in the other third game in their group.
cmorenc
@Randy Paul
Not necessarily. Recall that Slovenia won just fine against Algeria on what amounted to the Algerian GK’s own goal, even though technically it was a on a botched straightforward save from a shot on goal by a Slovenian attacker. Likewise, although the USA certainly had shots on goal in their game v England, in the end it was similarly an “own” goal by egregious GK mistake (even though that was also admittedly on a US shot on goal that should have been a straightforward save.
Dr. Squid
@wengler: Heh.
PK wide right. Time for Florida State to sign him up.
Randy Paul
@cmorenc: They were still shots on target and they were not ruled own goals. It’s an own goal only if the ball is not heading towards goal and it’s diverted to the goal.
The Algerian keeper did not touch the ball in the Slovenia game.
My larger point is that the Swiss have an anemic offense. They’ll have to do better to go through.
Dr. Squid
Stat: Touches in penalty box: Spain – 41, Honduras – 2.
Onkel Fritze
If Spain keeps missing their chances, they actually may not make it against Chile. They’re playing too slow and they don’t score enough. Disappointing.
JohnR
Almost as tight as I expected, but after seeing Spain missing by inches so much, I figure they’ll get another goal or two as the game winds down. I don’t see them going through the next rounds though unless they calm down a bit.
Svensker
@Leeds man:
Yes. My hub is a Latinist and he’s found that he can locate books/texts that he’s looking for by searching “cum”. Unfortunately he also picks up all the porn sites. If the Feds are watching us, they must think he is very strange.
cleek
@Svensker:
there’s a band called “Blonde Redhead”.
searching for info about them is not recommended, if you’re at work.
JohnR
I think I’m going to put down $5 on Spain not beating Chile. They just seem too nervy, and today’s game was not the pressure-cooker that one will be. Spain, France and Italy. Interesting year.
Calouste
@JohnR:
England and Germany also still need to win their last match to go through.
Statistical tidbit:
Since the current group structure was introduced in 1958, every team that eventually became World Champion only needed to draw their last group game to qualify for the next round. In the current tournament that leaves us with Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina, Slovenia, Ghana, Holland, Paraguay, Brazil, Portugal and Chile.
Punchy
This is funneh.
What happens when he searches for Latin porn?
peach flavored shampoo
Pretty sure Holland and Brazil dont even need a draw…they’re in already.
Calouste
@peach flavored shampoo:
Ok, change that to “didn’t need to win the last game to be sure of qualification”.
Thlayli
@Onkel Fritze:
This has only happened once since the modern format was introduced: the infamous West Germany-Austria-Algeria group in 1982. The fourth team in that group? Chile.
For those who don’t know the story: the last game of the group was the West Germany vs Austria game, played after the Algeria vs Chile game. Only a 1-0 West Germany win would put both them and Austria through; any other final score would qualify Algeria. So they start the game, the Germans score about 10 minutes in … and they stopped playing. The remaining 80 minutes, everybody stood still and kicked the ball back and forth in the center of the field. Game over, Algeria out.
That’s why starting tomorrow, each group will play its last two games simultaneously.
Punchy
@Thlayli: Damn, I had no idea about the “same time” thing. The stuff you learn on this blog…..
wengler
@Thlayli
That’s why the Mexico v. Uruguay game tomorrow is going to be so interesting to watch. If the game is a draw, they both go through, BUT the second place team is almost assured to play Argentina in the Round of 16.
So do you play for the win in an attempt to avoid the Argentines with the possibility of not advancing? Or do you kick the ball around for 90 minutes?
While a draw seems almost inevitable, a entertaining beatdown of France by the hosts South Africa would at least cleanse the palate.
Leeds man
@Thlayli:
I saw that game. I’ve never been more disgusted by football (on the pitch, anyway).
Dr. Squid
@peach flavored shampoo: This is true. In addition, Japan only needs a draw.