Does Paraguay have a chance? Will Vicente del Bosque come to his senses and start Fernando Llorente instead of Fernando Torres?
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by Randinho| 255 Comments
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Does Paraguay have a chance? Will Vicente del Bosque come to his senses and start Fernando Llorente instead of Fernando Torres?
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Martin
Perhaps Paraguay will learn what Argentina did not and field 3 goalies.
Corner Stone
No. Teh guay will have no chance.
Viva Espania!
Alex S.
Spain has got to show something. Some proof to confirm their reputation, and to show that Germany will have a real enemy next time. On the other hand, Paraguay is an expert at suppressing their opponents’ game.
JenJen
La Furia Roja! So stoked. And yes, David Villa, I would still very much like to make sexy-time with you.
It occurs to me now, watching those terrific Nike ads, that all the big stars of the ads have gone home (Ronaldo, Drogba, Rooney, and Ronaldinho, who didn’t go to SA to begin with). Loved the ads, but they’re almost better now, knowing that the glory-scenarios didn’t play out. I guess Rooney is eating beans in a trailer now, after all? :-)
SLKRR
I’m really not seeing how Paraguay pulls this one off, though theoretically anything seems to be possible this year. España hasn’t looked really strong yet in any game, which means they will probably squeak by and then get pasted by the Germans.
Tetracampeonato para Alemanha.
fucen tarmal
i am rooting for an all guay all the time final.
the guay of pigs final
the guay cup
valdivia
@SLKRR:
yeah I am leaning Germany too. Also I just don’t see how if Paraguay pull it out today they would deal with Germany.
Has anyone seen anything about the maradona press conference?
You Don't Say
@JenJen: Someone I know pointed out the only winner in that commercial is Kobe and he just squeaked by.
superfly
I’d take Torres at half strength over Llorente anyday, the only way to get Torres up to speed is to get game time, and if Torres isn’t doing it after 60 minutes, by all means, bring on Llorente.
The better move may be to get Fabregas on somewhere, though as an Arsenal fan, the more he sits on the bench while Xavi and Iniesta play, the better, let him see what it might be like if he moved to Barcelona.
Corner Stone
@Corner Stone: My “ni” was supposed to be an “ñ”.
I am mortified.
superfly
@fucen tarmal:
Hmmm, you make a strong case…..
KG
ok, someone please explain the use of plurals when discussing national teams in soccer. I read something like:
And I feel like there is an “s” missing. Is this something unique to soccer? Or is this one of those instances where the English is speaking their language properly and we Americans are fucking it up?
JenJen
@You Don’t Say:
Oh, that’s beautiful!! Even Federer is a loser, now. ;-)
I still love the ad; as far as the Ad Wars go, Nike kicked Adidas’ ass this World Cup. Maybe it’s just me, but the Adidas ad with Zidane, David Villa and Messi is just creepy and dark. Not nearly so much fun as Nike’s.
valdivia
@KG:
or me not paying attention to my spelling? :D
Ugh
Germany just scored on Argentina again.
KG
@valdivia: yeah, but I hear it all the time in the play by play, too. I just don’t get it.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
Spain are in their dark blue kit. Reminds me Scoatland, except for that whole competence thing.
Violet
@KG:
That’s English English, not American English.
Looks like Paraguay has white shorts on. We’ll see if the curse of the white uniforms holds.
valdivia
@JenJen:
but the adidas ads from the last world cup were incredible. I loved that add of the fantasy game in a made up pitch with the little kids? just awesome.
Randinho
I think you all sell Spain short.
Andy K
@Corner Stone:
Woohoo! My meme is catching on already!
If Paraguay wins, then we should consider proclaiming Guay Pride Week.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
@Ugh:
that, Sir or Ma’am, is fun.
valdivia
@Randinho:
I just read in The Guardian that if they win tonight they are favorites. How is that possible? They have not been playing that great. And I don’t see them wining against the Germans. But maybe I am wrong?
Bill E Pilgrim
@KG:
It’s UK English. I suspect that some of the commenters here are from outside the US, or else it’s just become habit when speaking of Football since it wasn’t such a thing in the US for a long time.
One of the more curious and interesting of the exceptions to our mostly common language. When I lived in London I was continually puzzled, not so much by “Manchester United have won another match” and so on, but when seeing billboards in the Tube for example that read something like “Safeway want you to have lower prices” or etc. Strange, at first.
JenJen
@valdivia: Oh, I loved the Jose +10 ads by Adidas in 2006!
During the anthem, anyone notice that David Villa was a little misty-eyed? I can appreciate that. He’s having an amazing tournament, and he clearly loves playing for his country. Gosh, I sure do love the World Cup.
JenJen +4 (early match, too, you know) ;-)
KG
@Violet: ah, thanks. Couple years back, I was playing poker in Vegas and there was an English guy at the table. Someone commented about his accent and I felt obliged to point out that of all the people at the table, our English fellow was probably the one speaking it without an accent. The other guy didn’t get it.
Andy K
@valdivia:
I thought the Nike Joga Bonito ads from 2006 had it all over Adidas. But then Eric Cantona is my favorite footballer evah.
Randinho
Some trivia: the Paraguayan players speak Guarani to each other when palying Spanish-speaking teams. Guarani is an official language in Paraguay.
KG
I’m kind of liking the Adidas/Star Wars commercials right now. Something about Snoop Dogg brandishing a lightsaber is just fun.
Randinho
@valdivia: Vamos a ver. The quality of their competition has been better IMHO.
Bill E Pilgrim
@KG:
BTW couldn’t let this go by without debunking the myth ;)
What’s spoken in the UK is a distant descendant of English spoken at the time the first colonials departed, as is US English.
Two languages sharing a common ancestor in other words, rather than anyone corrupting anyone’s language.
In many cases in fact the US is closer to the original.
@KG:
Even the accents, actually! Linguists tell me that Americans doing Shakespeare would in many ways have accents closer to Shakespeare’s actors than those in the modern UK would.
valdivia
@JenJen:
yeah, it was those. loved them.
@Andy K:
yeah there was something about the adidas ads that I thought were better, captured the spirit of the cup the last time.
@Randinho:
gracias. I just have seen the German team growing and this team while very good just not as cohesive you know?
Bootlegger
Paraguay is trying out the pressure defense, but we saw how well Spain handled Chile’s version. Spain is susceptible to big athletic teams–US, Switzerland–that clog the middle and force them to play hall balls into the box, but it looks to me that ‘Guay is lacking in size. So they’ll stay compact and pressure the passers to try and break up Spain’s short passing attack. As the ESPN guys just said, we’ll see if they can keep up that work rate before Spain breaks the pressure.
Violet
@Bill E Pilgrim:
Have you read Bill Bryson’s “Mother Tongue”? He talks about that stuff a lot. There are some really interesting linguistic pockets in the US that they suspect are a lot closer to what was spoken in England at the time of the Revolutionary War.
Alex S.
@Randinho:
It’s the Guay agenda.
Bootlegger
@Ugh: This is the “this is good news for John McCain” of the World Cup.
Bill E Pilgrim
@Randinho: Very cool. Code talkers.
You Don't Say
@JenJen: I’m most upset about Federer, being a tennis fan. Nike deserves to be taken down a notch, though. But, yes, it is a great commercial. I’ll have to find the Adidas ad. If I’ve seen it I don’t remember it.
mcd410x
Didn’t the Germans rather comprehensively thrash the white jersey curse and England in the process?
Bill E Pilgrim
@Violet: I loved that book. Others by him as well, he’s a very good writer.
I actually learned all this from academics in the UK though, long before reading that.
He did a good job of tracing some words that had returned to the UK from the US, or had gone round-trip, UK –> US –> UK. Fascinating stuff.
Corner Stone
@Ugh: Ooooo….ouch.
That’s gonna leave a mark.
Corner Stone
@Andy K:
Por supuesto! Es normal odiar en el guay.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
Would Paraguay be the Arkansas of South America?
Bill E Pilgrim
@Alex S.: Putting the you in gay?
mcd410x
This game is primed for a Fabregas-off-the-bench moment later on.
valdivia
is it me or is this kind of not very exciting game?
Bootlegger
@Miss Kitka’s Comrade Wayne: Or is Arkansas the Paraguay of the South?
Violet
@Bill E Pilgrim:
Yeah, there are some very interesting linguistic things in English. It’s such a fluid language in so many ways. I loved the section on why there are different names for the animal and the meat.
Ooh! So close!
Violet
@valdivia:
I was just going to post the same thing. I’m kind of bored. It seems to be picking up a bit, though.
Bootlegger
@valdivia: You gotta appreciate Paraguay’s defensive tactics and Spain’s adjustments to it. Defensive teams are rarely pretty (see Baltimore Ravens).
Leeds man
@superfly:
Seconded. And seconded (except for the being an Arsenal fan bit).
Getting Torres match fit for the (possible) next two games is definitely worth the risk. Best striker around IMHO.
Bill E Pilgrim
@Violet: “Lisa, this is lamb, not a lamb!”
valdivia
@Bootlegger:
yeah I also think after this morning and yesterday this was going to seem sedate no?
ETA: @Violet: thought now we might get a more exciting game but that didn’t pan out.
Bootlegger
@valdivia: Certainly, but again that is a matter of tactics. I can appreciate this in the same way I can appreciate a Ravens or Steelers defensive gem, and like both those teams it would be nice if they had more offense.
Oh my, almost got onto one there.
Randinho
@Miss Kitka’s Comrade Wayne: More like the Taiwan of South America. Paraguay is very famous for a duty free zone in Ciudad del Este where a lot of cheap goods are sold.
Corner Stone
@Bootlegger:
Is this to say that the Ravens were or were not pretty to watch?
Because when they had Siragusa stuffing two in the middle, Boulware with 7 sacks, Woodson with 4 INT’s and and Ray Lewis in his prime chasing down RB’s he outweighed by 30+ pounds ~ that was freakin beauty personified.
burnspbesq
@JenJen:
None of this year’s ads come close to meeting the standard set by the Cantona ghost ship ad.
Bootlegger
@Corner Stone: Yes, and Paraguay is the world football equivalent. After the game you can check the stats and see that Paraguay’s midfielders will have outrun Spain’s and have a very high number of tackles. Spain will likely have a lower-than-usual pass completion percentage. Paraguay has allowed one goal in the tournament and they it’s not like they just pack it into the penalty box and pray, their defensive scheme is very deliberate.
To me, it is a thing of beauty.
Bootlegger
Offside, Spain dodges a bullet.
valdivia
don’t know how many of you saw this from the other thread but it is so so good that I have to spotlight it here:
https://balloon-juice.com/2010/07/03/some-notes-on-argentina-v-germany/#comment-1868108
enjoy. :)
Bootlegger
‘Guay was robbed!!!
stuckinred
The Chicago Bears were as beautiful as it came when Buddy Ryan coached them!
John Cole
I just resent the way Paraguay plays. Just boring.
Although after Argentina this morning, it is nice not watching people whine and dive after every touch.
Bootlegger
@stuckinred: To an NFL fan, yes. To someone just tuning in, defense is ugly.
Bootlegger
@John Cole: Try comparing their D to the Steelers and see if that helps.
licensed to kill time
@Bill E Pilgrim:
That made me think of the Mad Men episode where they were trying to rebrand the horse-meat based dog food, and they realize that there is no other word for horse-meat in English. Pig is pork, cows are beef, etc, but no pony for horse or whatever.
edit: sorry, OT, back to the game.
Bill E Pilgrim
@John Cole:
I was just about to engage in speculation here that watching the hyper-aggressive, organized Germans and the larger than drama queen Argentines and their coach has gotten everyone spoiled so a normal match looks like watching paint dry by contrast.
BTW, the Germans were diving just as much. So were the Dutch, one of their goals was a direct result of a dramatic performance.
burnspbesq
Paraguay may never have a better chance that that, and Valdez put it in Row LL. Once he had the defender turned, he should have driven for the penalty spot.
JenJen
@You Don’t Say:
Zidane-Messi-Villa Adidas ad
There’s also a Star Wars Adidas ad with Beckham out there somewhere. It’s not good, either.
@valdivia: Not the greatest quality, but if you want to take a stroll down memory lane… Jose +10. “If you don’t give my football back, I’m gonna get my dad on you…”
Anya
is there more vuvuzela in this game than this morning?
I have a feeling this game will end Paraguay 1 Spain 0
Randinho
Torres is not getting the job done.
Bill E Pilgrim
@licensed to kill time:
Sure there is: “MacDonald’s”.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
@Randinho:
Corrigido.
Last time I was in CdelE it was still called Puerto Stroessner. Ah. The Goodle Days.
frankdawg
Speaking of sports real Americans hate (I keed – I keed)
Anyone following the Tour de France? Wifey lives for this 3 weeks like you guys do for the WC. I have to hear about every little detail – not that that is awful, I’m learning to appreciate it like soccer.
Lance finished 4th today, a couple of spots & 5 seconds ahead of Contedor in the match up that the announcers are beating into the ground.
You Don't Say
Being a new soccer fan, I’ve enjoyed the ESPN commentators. I’m sure more seasoned watchers feel otherwise. ;-)
Alex S.
Paraguay plays even more attractive than I expected…. although Spain looks better, but not by much. Paraguay even had the better chances to score. And yes, Torres is almost useless.
licensed to kill time
@Bill E Pilgrim: D’oh!
Corner Stone
@Bill E Pilgrim:
I’m the last person to claim authority on this, but I just didn’t see that.
JenJen
@Randinho:
Story of his tournament, so far.
stuckinred
@frankdawg: Man. I hear you. Went up to Wisconsin last summer and rented Harley’s. One of my friends could not stop babbling about it and making us watch the goddamn Versus network.
burnspbesq
Headline on univision.com: Alemania masacro a Argentina.
Yeah, I’d say that about sums it up.
Corner Stone
@Bootlegger: Yeah, saw your follow up and I agree. To me, a team playing as a team and forcing the other guys to deviate from what they wanted to do is awesome to watch.
Bootlegger
@You Don’t Say: I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by their quality and they ain’t dumbing it down for us stoopid Murkans. Harkes was lame early in the tournament but he’s gotten better.
frankdawg
@Bill E Pilgrim:
Probably is beef @ McAwfuls – its cheaper than horse!
I love German, no euphemisms for their carnivorous urges.
Schweinefleisch, literally pig flesh & Rindfleisch, cow flesh – none of this namby-pamby pork or beef :)
Violet
@valdivia:
That is awesome. I just quoted it to one of my English family members who chortled with great glee.
Bootlegger
@Corner Stone: There is a difference between “diving” where you fake fouls, and going down “to easy” when there is contact. The Dutch certainly did this. But I agree about Germany, those guys never went down too easy and they got their second goal because of it.
Bill E Pilgrim
@Corner Stone: I did. Lots of it. I also saw one case where the German player had his thigh stomped on and just ignored it, but there was plenty of tripping over someone then many seconds later grabbing the shin and writhing in pain.
Bootlegger
@Corner Stone: So far so good for Paraguay, though you can see Spain just one pass away from cracking the Guay’s pressure D, they will need a goal or two to knock Spain further off their rhythm.
valdivia
@Violet:
yeah it was wasn’t it? I have been emailing it around and it has been a great success. Thanks BJ for giving me the comment of the day about Maradona!
frankdawg
@stuckinred:
I have to ask, do you live near Minneapolis? Thats the only place I have seen that people rent ‘Harley’s’
I’m just being dickish, sorry – there was a rental shop in suburban Mpls that had a sign “We rent Harley’s” – I always wanted to stop in in ask. Harley’s what & is Harley OK with it? I find that crap amusing.
Bill E Pilgrim
@frankdawg: I suppose you’re right.
I pass a horse meat butcher most mornings, nice old place, horse head decoration like a ship’s figurehead, prominently displayed. I always figured it’s probably more expensive, not less, but have never tried it myself.
stuckinred
@frankdawg: I live in Georgia but we flew in to Appleton to meet up. Most Harley dealers rent and it was totally spur of the moment. We all rode together when we lived in Champaign back in the day and this seemed like a good way to spend a couple of days. Especially at the cost of a brand new softail. I guess if I could have rented a Huey we could have done that.
burnspbesq
Yo, Spain. Shoot the damn ball!
Bootlegger
@Bill E Pilgrim: We had some scholars visiting from Slovenia and they told me about the horse meat there. Apparently they have a meat breed of horse and the steaks are served in the best restaurants.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
They’re playing good defense, but I still don’t think either of these teams look interested in beating that German team this morning.
Leeds man
Spain need their fans to start that flamenco clapping thing they do.
Bootlegger
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): No doubt, and the Germans are capable of playing several different tactical styles.
Randinho
@Bootlegger: They serve it in the Veneto region of Italy.
JenJen
Aaaaaaaaand, Torres is coming off. Wow.
And!! Pique draws a PK. WTF, Spain!
ETA: Casillas!! You stud!!
ETA2: Villa denied a goal-scoring opportunity! Send Alvarez off!! Wow. I’m getting heart palpitations over here.
Bootlegger
A PK! From Pique. oooo.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
¡Ay Caramba!
valdivia
wow.
Randinho
Upset in the making
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Is there any sport where that’s not holding?
SRW1
Senor del Bosque, there is a red light flashing on your switchboard.
Doused it, hugh hugh!
Now its flashing green!
burnspbesq
That’s a fairly obvious penalty.
Bootlegger
choke.
Corner Stone
Nasty!
Violet
OH! What a save!
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Whoops.
valdivia
wow. again. could have made the game.
Randinho
Remember what I said about penalty taking yesterday
burnspbesq
You could see in his eyes that Cardozo was going to blow it.
Corner Stone
Doble Choque!
Alex S.
Jeez, at least Casillas shows why Spain won the European Cup.
Bootlegger
I don’t know about that call.
valdivia
penalty again?
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
¡Ay ay ay, caramba!
KG
This might be the most insane three minutes of soccer that I have ever seen.
No, wait, the most insane three minutes of sports that I have ever seen.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Dueling penalties.
Randinho
Alcaraz was lucky not to be sent off.
PanAmerican
This should put Spain through.
Turgid Jacobian
So poorly taken!
OMG! Villa gets fouled for ANOTHER pk. Wow.
Bootlegger
@Randinho: How quickly the tide turns eh?
Whoa, whats this?
Amazing!
Violet
Wow. What a sequence of events.
valdivia
wow this game is now mucho exciting!
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Jesus. This is silly.
Corner Stone
BS
PanAmerican
This is surreal.
Leeds man
I will never, ever, understand why players hound the ref after a penalty is awarded. The chance of changing the call is 0%. The chance of getting carded is significantly higher.
Violet
This is awesome! What a crazy game. From boring to gripping in just a moment.
Mark S.
What the hell is going on?
Alex S.
Ahahahahaha!
SRW1
Jesus Christ, there’s gonna be an epidemic of heart attacks.
wengler
Well I know one ref that won’t be working the final…
Svensker
The Irish ESPN Radio announcer: “This ting has come to life in a big way, boys!”
Randinho
Should have been another penalty for Spain
Corner Stone
Viva España!
Bootlegger
@Leeds man: I agree and they should hand out more of those cards for “dissent”.
What a sequence! Boring just got crazy and of course the officials factor in.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
What happens if the goalie commits a foul that gets a red card on a penalty? Can they replace him? What if they’ve used all three substitutions?
burnspbesq
Villar = national hero.
stuckinred
@Svensker: Used to drink Ting in Negril, mon.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
Ok. Watching World Cups since 1970 and nevereverever saw anything like that.
Anya
Those were some of the strangest moments I’ve ever seen in football. And I’ve been watching since I was a child.
Bootlegger
@Randinho: I agree. So what was up with the re-kick? If Spain encroaches why do they get another chance? Shouldn’t that be Paraguay’s ball?
Violet
Are World Cup matches usually like this? There seems to be a lot of edge-of-your-seat craziness in a lot of matches.
Bootlegger
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): Yes, they can replace and if they have no subs left it has to be a player on the field.
stuckinred
@Bootlegger: Another “fine point”? :)
Randinho
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): They can replace him, but a field player must come off. If they’ve used all three subs, a field player must play keeper and change his jersey.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
As for whether Suarez cheated last night, it depends upon the sport. I’m not quite sure what the equivalent action would be, but if a cricketer did something like that, it would be considered cheating.
It disappoints me that the tradition of walking has all but disappeared.
Bootlegger
@Violet: IMO that is just world football generally. There can be long stretches of tactical play followed by five crazy minutes, then back again. Sometimes its the team that manages the crazy better that comes out on top.
JenJen
OK, La Furia Roja. I’m officially getting concerned now.
@burnspbesq: Que? Quoi?
Alex S.
Well, these quarterfinals surely had their fair share of drama…
Randinho
@Bootlegger: Because they made the initial pk. If it had been saved, it would have been a free kick for the defending team even i they had converted the rebound.
stuckinred
First 2 missed penalty kicks since 1930. And that’s a long long time!
Anya
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): The g’keeper’s team can substitute another keeper if their team has not used up all their subs. If they have no subs left, then another team member acts as a goalie.
Bootlegger
@stuckinred: I think I just misunderstood the rule, that particular thing rarely gets called but happens often, kind of like lane violations in the NBA. It just seems to me that if the team taking the kick encroaches it hardly seems fair to let them go again.
valdivia
The Guardian says the paraguay penalty should have been a re-take too cause the spanish players had encroached there too.
Randinho
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): I’m amazed that there’s even any debate about this. Of course he cheated. If he hadn’t cheated, there would have been no punishment.
Bootlegger
@Randinho: Ok, but that isn’t much of a penalty especially given the high conversion percentage.
Mark S.
I bet Germany wouldn’t have missed any of those penalties. They’d already be up 5-0 by now if they were playing either of these teams.
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
@Violet: 2d what Bootlegger said @ 151. And that particular 5-minute stretch was wholly unique.
Randinho
@valdivia: Agreed.
Turgid Jacobian
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): You would have to replace him with a field player! And I don’t know about the rest… that’s a poser.
Bootlegger
@stuckinred: Nice job on the stats.
KG
@valdivia: on the replay it looked like the goalie came off the line early, too.
Bootlegger
@Miss Kitka’s Comrade Wayne: Yeah, a first for me too.
valdivia
again it seems that Spain is not finishing off anything tonight.
Bootlegger
@KG: Another frequent violation that is rarely called. Though IMO they should let the goalie do it, start play on the whistle.
stuckinred
@Bootlegger: Me too! I’m clueless!
KG
overtime is two 15 minute periods, sí?
stuckinred
@Bootlegger: I am especially skilled at reading the graphics that ESPN/ABC put on the screen!
Bootlegger
@valdivia: Paraguay has a thing or two to do with that. Its not like Spain is peppering the goal and blowing sitters.
KG
@Bootlegger: Not sure about on the whistle, but I’d say let him off the line once the shooter moves.
Randinho
@KG: Si
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
When was the last time a play-by-play announcer on ESPN used the word “obdurate”?
stuckinred
@KG: jes. and NO frikin golden goal! See, I have been paying attention.
Bootlegger
@stuckinred: LOL. I missed that while I was tapping on my laptop.
Still an amazing factoid
valdivia
@Bootlegger:
yeah I agree I just keep thinking that Spain is not looking superior or controlling in any way.
Violet
We need some more craziness. For the most part this match is really dull.
I do like Spain’s blue uniforms. Very natty.
Bootlegger
@KG: That works too.
Turgid Jacobian
@KG: I would like that for the post-OT shootout.
stuckinred
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): When Stephen A Smith was holding forth!
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
@stuckinred:
SRW1
@KG:
Si, 2x 15 min. No break in between.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Nothing comes easy in this game, does it?
Randinho
This game is killing me.
Bootlegger
Two off the post before it goes in. A little more crazy.
valdivia
spain scores. finally.
KG
@stuckinred: there may be no phrase in all of sports that I despise more than “golden goal.” It’s sudden fucking death!
Ok, I take it back, I may equally loathe the phrase “World Champion Boston Celtics” and “Super Bowl Champion Saint Louis Rams.”
I’d add “World Champion San Francisco Giants” but since those words have never been said as anything but a joke, I’m good with it.
zzyzx
Geez, what an insane game.
wengler
3 seconds. 3 posts hit. 1 goal. Spanish football.
Corner Stone
¡Viva España!
JenJen
Villa!! Villa!! Villa!! Villa!! Villa!!
I am so having all of his beautiful Spanish babies.
Violet
Oh, wow. What a crazy goal.
KG
Can’t believe the defender that dropped back to the goal line didn’t clear that second shot out.
Randinho
Is there anyone more poker-faced than Vicente del Bosque?
SRW1
Maybe someone should have informed the Spanish team a little earlier that the game was billard.
stuckinred
@KG: How bout, “Man of the Match”. Or for that matter “going for the gold”!
Turgid Jacobian
Holy crap. Iker Casillas gave a look of pure relief there.
Bootlegger
Zonal Marking predicted Paraguay would have to control David Villa to win:
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
¡Coño! It had to hit three posts before going in.
Bill E Pilgrim
I never realized how much like pinball this sport is.
@Bootlegger:
I would think that would definitely be a penalty offense. Maybe just an oral warning though.
Bootlegger
@Randinho: The Japanese coach didn’t flinch when they missed the PK.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
In the second half, Paraguay hasn’t sniffed a goal in regular play. They are missing their passes badly, typically hitting them a bit too hard.
Randinho
@JenJen: Roque Santa Cruz was voted sexiest player of the 2006 WC. He’s #9 for Paraguay.
KG
off topic, but the overtime rules for soccer are the same as water polo (my game of choice). Except we don’t do shoot outs, we play sudden death. Actually, I think shoot outs may have snuck into some tournaments for time constraint reasons.
stuckinred
@Bootlegger: Smile when you say that, bub.
Violet
@Randinho:
Is that officially sanctioned by FIFA?
stuckinred
@Bootlegger: Buddhists believe in destiny?
Bootlegger
@stuckinred: ‘k
;-)
Bootlegger
How did they miss that? Casillas is amazing.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
I need to wait until after the game to say things like that.
Randinho
@Violet: Not to my knowledge
Nethead Jay
Man, what a goal. Only thing that could make this match any crazier would be Paraguay equalizing in the last minute…
JenJen
@Randinho: Whatever. Clearly those voters had never seen David Villa. ;-) Rrrrowr!
Violet
@Randinho:
Probably just as well. The FIFA refs would miss the call and pick someone unsexy.
stuckinred
@Bootlegger: thanking you
stuckinred
Whoa, now that was a shot! That’s it bro, tape it up and get back in there!
Violet
That looked like it hurt.
Mark S.
@Violet:
Like Carlos Puyol.
stuckinred
@Violet: You’ve never been kicked in the face?
Violet
@Mark S.:
’80’s hairband bass player?
Violet
@stuckinred:
In judo class. It hurt.
stuckinred
Wow, thanks for all the insight ya’ll!
Violet
The curse of the white uniforms continues.
burnspbesq
That’s why Casillas makes all that money.
Randinho
@Mark S.: or someone from this webpage.
Violet
@Randinho:
Oooh! They just showed #9 for Paraguay. Hotness. I see why he got the vote.
JenJen
OK, who’s taking Wednesday off?
Squeeeeeee! Was that a great day at the World Cup, or what?
Bootlegger
@Violet: Yes. I’m not the only one who noticed.
mcd410x
@Violet: Except for the Germans. When they trounced England.
You know who else wore white?
Alex S.
Can’t say that Germany should be afraid of Spain. Paraguay may not allow a beautiful game, but the way Spain has played throughout the tourney reminds me of Argentina and Brazil.
Svensker
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
And miserly?
Ha ha, thought the same thing.
Leeds man
@mcd410x:
Hitler?
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
@mcd410x:
Stalin.
SRW1
@mcd410x:
Does his first name start with an A?
JenJen
Know what? Müller is going to be missed against España. It’s a freaking shame this amazing young player won’t be in the semi. Grrrrrr.
@Alex S.: I mostly agree, but discount David Villa’s clutchy, game-making plays at Germany’s peril. He’s having the World Cup of his life.
I am so f’n torn!! I lean Deutschland always, but I’m loving this Spanish team.
Leeds man
@Alex S.:
No. Many times no. This Spain side is a hair’s breadth from greatness.
Leeds man
@Bootlegger:
More like Pat Metheny.
zzyzx
So, how about those underachieving Europeans only having 3 of the last 4 spots…
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
ESPN Analyst:
But only about a half hour since Germany put one in the net.”
Miss Kitka's Comrade Wayne
@Leeds man:
not if Carles Puyol can help it.
Violet
@mcd410x:
Yeah, I mixed that up. I thought England was in white. There’s always an exception. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s been pretty dependable and I think it’s been 100% in the quarter finals.
JenJen
Just to reiterate:
@Ugh:
Might be the Golden Quote, Randinho.
Mark S.
Villa has scored 5 of Spain’s 6 goals in the whole tournament.
Randinho
@zzyzx: My original point was this: all five South American teams qualified for the knockout round. Six out of thirteen teams qualified from Europe. The number of European teams that qualified for the knckout round was the lowest number since the competition went to 24 participants. Considering that they now have 32 participants, that’s even more stunning.
Alex S.
@Leeds man:
I actually believe that the spanish team is in a state of decline, from awesome heights, though, since Del Bosque took over. They may still get their act together in a good moment. But the way they depend on David Villa makes it easy to disrupt their game. But Iker Casillas is still brilliant – and sometimes a good keeper can keep the 0:0 for 120 minutes… We’ll see…
zzyzx
@Randinho: yeah but it’s amazing how different the issue looks now…
Randinho
@Alex S.: I still think Victor Valdes is better these days.
Calouste
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
The equivalent in cricket would be “handled the ball”, “obstructing the field” or “hitting the ball twice”, all which result in the batman being given out.
Alex S.
@Randinho:
Hmm, I don’t feel safe making a comment on that. But why not… a team can have 2 brilliant keepers.
Randinho
@Alex S.: Last year he had 20 clean sheets in La Liga and Casillas had 15. I really believe that Valdes has been the better keeper the last two years.
Turgid Jacobian
@zzyzx: I know, and with just 13 of the qualifying spots!
Leeds man
@Alex S.:
I haven’t been watching them since Del Bosque took over. I’m basing my opinion on the games they’ve played in South Africa. I can’t defend it with dazzling tactical/technical language. There’s just a sense that this is the first Spanish team I’ve seen in a long time that looks like a team, as well as having brilliant players. Kinda like Holland. Discounting Holland or Spain because of Germany’s performance is a mug’s game, and a disservice to all three teams, as well as an undeserved compliment to Argentina.
All that said, I thought England would get to the semis at least, so grains of salt, etc.