Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

The words do not have to be perfect.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

So many bastards, so little time.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

Second rate reporter says what?

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Disappointing to see gov. newsom with his finger to the wind.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

You are here: Home / Sports / France v South Africa Open Thread

Reader Interactions

41Comments

  1. 1.

    Sebastien

    This soccer-indifferent Frenchie has to admit that he shares your hopes. Please let this bad comedy end !

  2. 2.

    Violet

    I hope South Africa destroys France. I realize that’s probably not likely. But here’s hoping.

  3. 3.

    wengler

    France looks like they hate each other, and yet they are still bossing the ball and getting the chances. Bafana bafana just aren’t very good.

  4. 4.

    BGinCHI

    Cisse on the pitch is like watching a vintage match. I can’t believe France is down to the like of him.

    50/50 he breaks a major bone.

  8. 8.

    Montanareddog

    Saffer goal!

    I work at a company that was taken over by a French multi-national a couple of years ago – they laid off loads of local staff (with generous packages to be fair) but then shipped in a load of arrogant young French managers. They have set up a big screen in the staff restaurant. I shall be going downstairs now to get me some nice hot schadenfreude.

  9. 9.

    Sebastien

    @BGinCHI: Don’t bet on it. After a week of moping and Laurent Blanc’s arrival, we’ll be back, as unsufferable as before.

  11. 11.

    BGinCHI

    Sebastien, don’t get me wrong. Love France and almost always root for the French.

    It’s just the team at this point: no reason to reward such behavior. And you’re right: France will be back. Plenty of good players.

  13. 13.

    Sebastien

    @BGinCHI: Don’t worry, I was completely appalled by the meltdown, and I perfectly understand the desire for a serious comedown. That’s why I want a defeat. At this point, the humiliation must be complete if we want a real catharsis.

  16. 16.

    Sebastien

    @burnspbesq: The litteral translation would be “catastrophe ferroviaire”. And that would be insulting to our fine train industry. ^_^

  17. 17.

    BGinCHI

    I thought Ian Darke was about to suggest that the French were on the verge of surrender.

    I’m guessing the ESPN producers have made it clear that the commentators are NOT to say the word “surrender.”

    OH, goal #2!!

  18. 18.

    Sebastien

    Oh Lord… I’m never thought I would be feeling sorry for them, but at this rate…

  20. 20.

    BGinCHI

    10 more red cards and this will really be a tight game.

    Are Uruguay and Mexico just sitting at the halfway line drinking Coronas? They should just take it easy today.

  21. 21.

    J.W. Hamner

    So I guess Mexico and Uruguay better be careful… South Africa might actually catch up from a minus 3 goal differential if one of their D’s breaks down with all this attacking futbol.

  22. 22.

    Violet

    Wow! I’ve been watching the Mexico Uruguay match. Had no idea what was happening. Go South Africa!

  24. 24.

    Violet

    J. W. Hammer: Can you please edit out any dot, dot, dots and any dashes or hyphens in you post. I think they might be effing the thread.

    edit: nevermind. Looks like it’s fixed.

  26. 26.

    Sebastien

    Given the first half, we are about to do as well as in 2002. Somewhere, Roger Lemerre starts breathing again.

  27. 27.

    Violet

    This is crazy. I hate how the games are played at the same time. It makes sense, but it’s tough on fans.

  30. 30.

    Face

    ESPN said Mexico will be willing to lose if SA cant score…IOW, they’ll stop trying to score to avoid giving up easy counterattack goals by Uruguay.

    So much techinical posturing and positioning….

  32. 32.

    John

    Mexico is currently at a +1 Goal differential (+2 vs. France, -1 vs. Uruguay)

    South Africa is at a -1 (-3 vs. Uruguay, +2 vs. France)

    Both have scored 3 total goals.

    For South Africa to advance, they’d have to score two more, or else they and Uruguay would both have to score one more. If Uruguay scores two more, it would go to a coin toss, I believe.

    If South Africa scores one more, they still lose to Mexico on goal differential.

  34. 34.

    wengler

    And with France scoring that is the end of that.

    Uruguay will win the group, with Mexico coming second. Mexico fans will be most pleased for that goal.

  36. 36.

    Sebastien

    @Calouste: Indeed. And now our reporters are drawing out the knives. The hunt for the reponsibilities is probably going to be the only fun part of the World Cup for us. I guess that right now, Laurent Blanc is hooked to an antidepressor IV.

  37. 37.

    cmorenc

    @Sebastien

    I guess that right now, Laurent Blanc is hooked to an antidepressor IV.

    Blanc may be momentarily distressed at the embarassing consequences of the shambles Dominec has made of the French team Blanc once played on in the WC-winning glory days of ’98, but the current disasterous mess actually does work to his constructive advantage as the new coach of the French team. It will doubtless give him COMPLETE freedom to sweep the deck and remake the team from the ground up as he sees fit. His status as a starting member of that 98 team also gives him a huge resevoir of credibility and good will and respect. It will be quite awhile before any carping, sulking, or dissent from current members of the French team, either from being dropped from the starting lineup or the team altogether, or from the way the team is being run, will be well-received by anyone else.

  38. 38.

    Sebastien

    @cmorenc: Snark aside, I agree with you, and that’s why I wanted this team to lose today. Now, neither the player nor the federation have any straw to grasp at, nor any excuse, no way to contest that the whole team will have to be rebuild. And his ’98 teammates are quite confident on Laurent Blanc’s willingness to take it on. Let’s hope he makes it. I would like to be able to cheer on a football team one day.

  39. 39.

    ppcli

    @Sebastien:
    Yep. I’m in France right now, and I was hoping for a repeat of ’98 during my stay. But second best has been reading the howls of outrage every day in Équipe. Each day more outraged than the last. Educational too: I didn’t realize how many ways there are in French to say “they suck”.

  40. 40.

    Sebastien

    @ppcli: We have a rich language when it comes to mockery. Maybe we wanted to hoard it so other countries would not be able to use all these against us. :p

  41. 41.

    Irritable Liberal

    At least Bafana went out winning. It’s painful cheering for the African teams. South Africa have a great coach, Gavin Hunt waiting in the wings who will probably take over after this as Parreira was leaving no matter what happened.

    Hunt knows and understands South African players. The team is mostly still young and has talent. It just needs to be harnessed in the right way.

    If only they had shown up with today’s attitude against Uruguay it might have been different.

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