Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Joe Lieberman disappointingly reemerged to remind us that he’s still alive.

We’ll be taking my thoughts and prayers to the ballot box.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

Come on, man.

T R E 4 5 O N

It’s the corruption, stupid.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Republicans don’t trust women.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

I really should read my own blog.

After roe, women are no longer free.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

He really is that stupid.

Everybody saw this coming.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

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

American History and Black History Cannot Be Separated

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

You are here: Home / Sports / Germany v Ghana; Australia v Serbia Open Thread

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114Comments

  3. 3.

    wengler

    Yes, yes, yes and no.

    I’m expecting the socceroos to get something out of this one.

  5. 5.

    handsmile

    A depressing observation: hopes for any African team to advance into the knockout stages of their continent’s World Cup now rest on the wits and mitts of Richard Kingson, Ghana’s goalkeeper. His regular job is to serve as the third-string keeper for Wigan Athletic, for whom he did not play a single Premier League game this season. Even Lucas Podolski must fancy his chances this match.

    (To be scrupulously accurate on this matter, if anyone wishes to place a wager on Cote d’Ivoire scoring a minimum of 9 goals against North Korea (and thus advance), please contact me directly).

    OT, but nevertheless true, French media is reporting that Thierry Henry, at his request, will meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris tomorrow. Speculation that Henry will be offered the post of ambassador to Ireland may be unfounded, but any offer might spare the legendary striker from the ignominy of ending his career with the New York Red Bulls.

  6. 6.

    Calouste

    I’m torn here. On one hand I would like to see Ghana got through. On the other hand, I would like to see Germay go through so they can hand out a proper thrashing to the overrated England pansies in the next round.

    Ok, let’s cut deal here. Ghana through on the condition that they beat England 4-0 in the next round.

  7. 7.

    J.W. Hamner

    If Ghana and the Socceroos both win, they both advance… and the US would play the Aussies? Right? That’s what I’m rooting for I think.

  8. 8.

    MattR

    The Socceroors will not lose!! They may not win, they probably won’t advance, but they will not lose.

  13. 13.

    MattR

    Mahut with two break points at 50 all.

    (EDIT: First break points for him since the second set. And isner saves the first.)

    (EDIT #2: And he saves the second. Deuce.)

    (EDIT #3: And Isner comes back to win the game. 51-50.)

  14. 14.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Jesus, I’m trying to watch three things at the same time. Two soccer games, and the longest match in tennis history.

    Uh, oh. Double break point for Mahut.

    Edit: So Isner pulls a howitzer out of his back pocket to save the game.

  16. 16.

    Amir_Khalid

    @Andy K: That’s “die Mannschaft”. “Mannschaft” is a feminine noun, and the nominative case of the definite article for such nouns is “die”.

    (Sigh.) Us grammar fusspots. We can be such a pain.

  17. 17.

    Punchy

    It’s 51-51 all, I believe.

    IN this Germany game….no yellows, no reds, no goals, no subs….

  18. 18.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Isner is out of gas. This can’t last much longer.

    Edit: The scoreboard gave up before the players did.

  19. 19.

    MattR

    Before this match, the record for aces in a match was 78. Mahut has 82. Isner has 92. And counting.

  22. 22.

    MattR

    Even though there is a ton of stuff going on at once, there is really nothing going on. Zero goals through halftime of both games and zero breaks (and five break points) in 105 games in the fifth set.

  23. 23.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Diving for that shot was amazing, but really not very smart at this point. Jesus Nic, just let it go.

  25. 25.

    MattR

    @That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):

    Isner is out of gas. This can’t last much longer.

    I was saying this two hours ago.

    At the same time, I don’t see how Isner can win. He has been completely hopeless when Mahut has served (this set he has only won 17% of points – 45 of 262). He has been pretty impressive on his serve, though, so it may still take a while for Mahut to get the break.

  26. 26.

    Face

    @You Don’t Say: I realize this match involves a bunch of nobodies, but I’m still shocked this isn’t even front-page news on ESPN. The match is 53-53, and they cant be bothered to mention it at all (other then on their tennis page)?

  28. 28.

    You Don't Say

    @Face: Well, it’s not Federer or Nadal, but not exactly unknowns. And one of them is American.

  30. 30.

    MattR

    @You Don’t Say: Mahut got a pair a couple games ago. And Isner hasn’t had any since it was something like 35-34. (And of course he goes up 0-30 as I type this)

    (EDIT: And Mahut responds with his 61st ace of the set to take the game and tie it at 54. Darn shame both players used their challenges several hours ago)

  33. 33.

    Morbo

    Isner’s looking like he can’t get a point if he doesn’t get it on the serve this game.

    ETA: well then…

  34. 34.

    MattR

    BTW, I am getting match stats here

    (darn. can’t link there directly but click on “live scores” and it opens a new window where you can get match stats)

  35. 35.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Isner pulls a game out of his ass. I’m starting to believe that the soccer games will end before this match.

  36. 36.

    Andy K

    @Amir_Khalid:

    D’OH!

    The K in my handle leads my German surname, but we’ve never been into the whole German culture thing. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that the home town is in a part of Pomerania that’s now Polish.

  37. 37.

    Ash

    If the match goes on for another hour, it’ll have to break AGAIN for the night, which they already did yesterday.

  40. 40.

    Violet

    I can’t believe all the football matches are still 0-0. Crazy. But not as crazy as that Isner-Mahut tennis match. That’s one for the ages.

  41. 41.

    handsmile

    One subplot of the Germany v. Ghana match that I find darkly intriguing is to learn what German player will be deputized to scythe down Ghanaian midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.

    Last month in England’s Football Association (FA Cup) final between Chelsea and Portsmouth, Boateng (Portsmouth) recklessly tackled Chelsea’s Michael Ballack, who just happens to be Germany’s long-time national captain. Ballack sustained a ligament injury serious enough to cancel his participation in the World Cup (his final one given his age.) Following the incident, there was a fair amount of media-inflamed outrage that Boateng was insufficiently apologetic.

    In the Grimm’s Fairytale version of this story, Boateng’s half-brother Jerome, a defender for Germany who has been selected for the first time for this match, would be tasked with the hit.

  42. 42.

    GR

    Isner-Mahut

    http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/116/v-11656.html

    Gotta love wikipedia:

    “The world record for most aces in a match is held by John Isner, with 95 aces (although game still ongoing) in a first round match against Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships on June 23, 2010 (Mahut holds second place with 87 in the same match); the match also holds several other Open Era records, including longest match, at over nine hours in length, and most combined aces – 182 in total.”

  43. 43.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    The Aussies look more tired than Mahut does.

  44. 44.

    wengler

    Deep Thought: Only Ken Griffey Jr. (circa 1994) can pull off the cap backwards without looking like a d-bag.

  48. 48.

    MattR

    And the Germans finally break through. If these scores hold for the last half hour it will be Germany winning the group and Ghana in second.

  50. 50.

    Andy K

    @MattR:

    You’ve gotta think that Ghana doesn’t want to leave their chances to Australia keeping up a stalwart defense. Hopefully, the Africans go on the attack and Germany counters with another goal. As a Yank I’d much rather see Serbia than Ghana in the next game.

  51. 51.

    MattR

    Pancho Gonzalez beats CHARLIE PASARELL, first round, 1969
    __
    This match stands out from the rest only because its the longest Wimbledon match ever to be played and recorded. This was in the year 1969. This was when Wimbledon did not have tie-breaks in any of the sets involved in matches, one of the major reasons why the match lasted for five hours and twelve minutes. Gonzales emerged victorious in a long tussle. The number of games played in the match was a massive 112, with a scoreline of 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9.

    Isner and Mahut have already played 115 games in the fifth set alone.

  53. 53.

    MattR

    @Andy K: OTOH, now that Australia put one home, Ghana should get a bit more defensive. They don’t really need that point as much as making sure they don’t give up a couple more.

  57. 57.

    You Don't Say

    Isner finally takes a bathroom break.

    Sorry to highjack thread soccer fans, but this match is insane. So insane I am beginning to feel a little like a rubbernecker at a car accident.

  59. 59.

    Violet

    @You Don’t Say:
    Yeah, I keep switching between all of them. I can’t keep up with it all. It’s totally insane. They both look like they’re going to drop.

    How much more light do they have to play in? How much longer can this go on today?

  60. 60.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Uhm, did I say the Australians looked tired a while ago?

  62. 62.

    MattR

    @Andy K: Wow. And the Aussies score again. I said they would not lose.

    They are still goals away from advancing, but if Germany can get them one of those two they at least have a shot for a miracle like the Americans got.

  63. 63.

    Ash

    I stop watching for 5 minutes and Aus scores twice? yeesh, I should just stop watching everything.

  64. 64.

    You Don't Say

    @Violet: The commentator said 15 minutes of light about, uh, 15 minutes ago. I can’t imagine either of them, esp. Isner, could move tomorrow much less finish a match.

    Mahut just dove on the grass, laid there for a minute and when he got up he was shaking his head like he was dizzy.

  65. 65.

    Calouste

    Australia could do with some panicky attacks by both Ghana and Serbia that result in counter goals from Germany and the Aussies themselves. One more goal in both games and Australia is through on goals scored.

  67. 67.

    Calouste

    @Calouste:

    Well, Australia score another on and are halfway there. Another goal for them or Germany and they play the USA in the last 16.

  69. 69.

    Violet

    @You Don’t Say:
    I saw that. The commentators said it looked like a soccer match. Maybe he was trying to prove the French are better at soccer than they showed in the World Cup. LOL.

  71. 71.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Deuce

    Edit: Match point

    Edit II: Well, back to deuce.

  73. 73.

    Violet

    @Ash:
    He looked like he was going to cry after blowing that point. I bet they’re just sick of playing.

  78. 78.

    Violet

    I’m watching with closed captioning. They mentioned some “altercation”. What are they talking about?

  80. 80.

    wengler

    Serbia scores. Socceroos out.

    Looks like US gets to play Ghana on Saturday. Good revenge opportunity for the last group game in 2006. If I remember correctly Dempsey scored.

  81. 81.

    You Don't Say

    @MattR: Isner had a doubles match sked today.

    Match goes into a third day and rain had nothing to do with it! ;-)

  82. 82.

    Ash

    So…how the fuck are either of them going to be able to crawl out of bed tomorrow morning?

  83. 83.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Christ, Australia, don’t let Serbia advance.

  85. 85.

    Calouste

    Talk about uneven distribution of teams:

    As it stands now, one semi-final place will go to one of Uruguay, South Korea, USA, Ghana. Another semi-final place will go to one of Argentina, Mexico, Germany, England.

    Might have something similar in the other half of the draw:
    Holland, Italy, Brazil, Spain as one quartet and Paraguay, Japan, Chile, Portugal as the other.

  86. 86.

    You Don't Say

    @Ash: They’ll be playing with IV fluids attached tomorrow. ;-)

    Can’t believe they’re submitting them to on-court interviews, albeit brief ones.

  88. 88.

    Amir_Khalid

    The tennis must go on until one guy wins two games in a row. Or, in this match, says “uncle” first. And as I’m writing this, it’s the end of day 2.

    There’s going to be a day 3! Of a tennis match!

  89. 89.

    IM

    Well, a win is win.

    Of course it ain’t over until it’s over.

    (Ein Spiel dauert 90 Minuten!)

  90. 90.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    So, does the winner of the marathon have to play their next match a couple of hours after finishing this one, as scheduled? Honestly, I don’t think it will make a difference; you could let him have two days of rest, and he’ll still get destroyed due to fatigue.

  91. 91.

    MattR

    If the Serbs score a goal, they advance over Ghana. If the Germans score a goal, then Ghana and Serbia have to draw lots.

    (EDIT: And nevermind as the final whistle in both games sounds within seconds of each other)

  92. 92.

    Violet

    @MattR:
    Drawing lots is the stupidest thing ever. I like the suggestion a friend of mine made. They start with 11 men on the pitch. Then after a certain amount of time, say three or four minutes, they both lose one player. Then after another three or four minutes, both team lose another player and are playing with 9 players. And so forth until someone scores a goal.

    At least it would be interesting to watch and there would be some strategy to the whole thing. Drawing lots just seems wrong after all the hard work.

  93. 93.

    wengler

    Look at the way the Serbians are plunging forward in a way very unlike Algeria, even though they both need 2 goals with mere minutes left. Algeria really owes an explanation to their fans as to why they were playing for a draw when that would place them last in the group.

  94. 94.

    IM

    And once again the german team continues it’s proud tradition to somehow wiggle out of the group round and advance. A lot of luck.

  98. 98.

    IM

    Of course a german-english match is quite traditional too. I demand a penalty decision, as a tribute to tradition.

  99. 99.

    wengler

    Oh nevermind, I guess Serbia only needed one goal. Same difference though, Algeria’s play was deplorable in the end.

  101. 101.

    Tom65

    So now we face Ghana. I almost would have preferred to face Germany; Ghana runs straight at you all game long, and I don’t think our back line is up to it.

  102. 102.

    burnspbesq

    I’m just happy that the US plays on Saturday, since I have to be on a plane without wi-fi on Sunday.

  103. 103.

    Violet

    @Tom65:
    I’m not thrilled about facing Ghana. Aren’t they pretty much the only African team left in the tournament? The US is going to be a weird position of being the underdog and having the entire continent of Africa against them.

  104. 104.

    Cacti

    @Tom65:

    I dunno.

    If they can get an early lead on counter attacks and then hold onto it, they might be able to do to Ghana what they couldn’t to Brazil in the Confederations final.

    If only because, Ghana isn’t Brazil.

  105. 105.

    handsmile

    Kangaroos, wallabies and platypti are now the must-have plush toys throughout the nation of Ghana.

    Tim Cahill and Brett Holman to be declared honorary citizens!!

    The Australian national team to be honored with a ticker-tape parade through downtown Accra!!

    THE BLACK STARS ADVANCE!!!

    (What a remarkable day. Please tell me again how booorrring football is.)

  106. 106.

    handsmile

    @ Andy K (from way upthread re Thierry Henry)

    All reports I’ve read – though nothing definitive – have Henry moving next season from Barcelona to northern New Jersey (need I say more about penance).

    In fact, I’d be thrilled were he to sign with the Seattle Sounders. There, he’d rejoin his former Arsenal teammate Freddie Ljunberg, who was prematurely (IMO) dismissed from the Premier League squad several years ago.

    Also, I’ve learned that Blaise Nkofo, a veteran forward who has been a revelation for the Swiss national team in South Africa, will be joining Seattle. Perhaps at last an MLS team could provide more than comic relief.

  107. 107.

    Paula

    @wengler:

    That was, indeed, confusing, but maybe they knew attacking @ that point would leave them too open in the back, which is where they know their strength is. Maybe it’s to preserve the dignity of not getting scored on even in the last game, because they knew they couldn’t take the ball forward.

    Except, of course we did score on them. I mean, it really was attrition @ that point. The US has been in Algeria’s position a lot in the past, but unlike them we might be @ a point where we have had hard past experiences that we now know how to psychologically and physically muster through.

  108. 108.

    Dr. Squid

    So the USA will have the entirety of Africa against them, but how would they BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ know BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ?

  109. 109.

    mcd410x

    @wengler: Just because a team plays defensively doesn’t mean it’s playing for a draw. In fact, they were playing for a late winner on the counter attack which is how they got caught with only two defenders against four American attackers when LD scored.

  110. 110.

    Cacti

    @handsmile:

    “Real football” will be starting soon.

    You know, the kind that’s played mostly by throwing or carrying the ball with your hands.

  112. 112.

    cmorenc

    They need to appropriately rename the misnamed American “football” to “armball” or “pointyball” or perhaps American-Rules Rugby.

    Hard to believe, but soccer (the real “football”) and “armball” aka American “football” came from a single common origin just over a century ago. Back when the common ancestral game was evolving in Britain, a split arose between those who wanted to allow use of hands or feet to advance the ball, and those who wanted to prohibit use of hands once the ball was in play (except for as the position of allowing one player to be “goalkeeper” evolved among the faction wanting use of hands and arms on the ball otherwise prohibited). The branch which did NOT want hands-on-ball allowed evolved as soccer, the branch which DID want hands-on-ball allowed evolved as rugby. And rugby later eventually became the ancestor of “armball” aka American football.

  113. 113.

    SectarianSofa

    @cmorenc:

    Hmm. I had understood that soccer, football, and football, as well as rugby, etc. were all “foot ball” at some prior point, known as such to distinguish them from sports done on horseback. Like polo, fox hunting, and being Anglican. (I have the internet here, I suppose I could look it up.)

    Anyway. Glad to see Ghana go through!

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