If this creature’s right, I think someone in Oberhausen, Germany is going to have krake for dinner.
Reader Interactions
157Comments
Comments are closed.
by Randinho| 157 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
If this creature’s right, I think someone in Oberhausen, Germany is going to have krake for dinner.
Comments are closed.
EmmATX
Can’t wait can’t wait! Viva Espana!
SRW1
No trivia question for the game? Can I offer a two-part one?
Which are the ‘pioneering’ associations in world football, and when was the only World Cup all of them participated?
dmsilev
I was going to say something sarcastic, but then I remembered that we regularly rely on groundhogs for long range weather forecasts…
dms
J.W. Hamner
Octopuses can open up boxes!?
Where ever will we keep things safe from their nefarious tentacles? Oh right… on dry land. Whew.
I think Germany will win since they’ve been playing the best of anybody, but obviously it wouldn’t surprise me if it went either way. No real rooting interest for me here… I adopted Spain during Euro 2008 to have somebody to cheer for, but I don’t have any particular fondness for them. In World Cups past I’ve found Germany’s style to be a bit boring, but this team seems pretty creative and exciting… and I like counter attacking football. So either way… just hoping for an exciting match.
Calouste
I think Paul the Octopus will be in for a bit of a grilling the next time he tries to predict something.
Eric S.
I’m ordering calamari for lunch. Go Germany!
Bill E Pilgrim
So it’s the winner who gets eaten by an octopus?
See, if the actual matches were like that, I would have started watching even years earlier.
Randy Paul
@SRW1: Wales. Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. 1958.
SRW1
@Randy Paul:
Wales. Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. 1958.
Bingo! You know your stuff.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
@SRW1:
The English FA, Scottish FA and Welsh FA? The first World Cup was the only one they all participated in?
edmund dantes
@SRW1: It also explains why the United Kingdom is one of the few countries allowed to have Multiple federations representing one country in the World Cup.
I don’t believe there are any other exceptions to that rule, but I might be wrong.
Mike E
Release the Krake!
Leeds man
Too Klose to call. Extra time goal. Can’t argue with the cephalopod. Let’s say Torres.
valdivia
Go germany!
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Question: Are those cute kids older than half of the German team?
valdivia
oh noes Germany is wearing white!!!!!
stuckinred
OK you weenies!
wengler
Go Barcelona!
I mean Spain!
HumboldtBlue
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das Deutsche Vaterland.
Danach laßt uns alle streben,
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand.
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand.
Blüh’ im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe deutsches Vaterland.
Sing with me, you can even use the words for the Spanish anthem, they have no words
HumboldtBlue
Is it just me, or is Puyol really Kathy Griffin in men’s clothing. Eerie, eerie similarity.
HumboldtBlue
Oh, and Germany’s pig-sticker will be the man of the match and will influence the end result.
Randy Paul
@SRW1: Ich habe meine scheisse zusammen. Yo tengo mi mierda junta. :-)
@edmund dantes: Denmark has the Faeroe Islands.
SRW1
@edmund dantes:
Don’t know either whether there are any other cases than the UK today. There is an interesting historical one though: In 1954 Saarland, which before WW II had been a state of Germany and in 1956 re-joined as the result of a referendum, had its own FA and participated as an independent association in the qualification for the 1954 WC in Switzerland. Oddly enough, they were drawn into the same qualification group as West-Germany, but failed to proceed because they lost twice against the big brother. However, since they managed to beat Norway in Oslo, Saarland ended up second in that qualification group.
valdivia
is Torres playing?
stuckinred
I will not fall asleep
I will not fall asleep
I will not fall asleep
I will not fall asleep
I will not fall asleep
HumboldtBlue
Is Germany playing a 4-3-1-2?
Andy K
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:
The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. 1958 (Sweden) was the sixth World Cup tournament (None in ’42 and ’46 for obvious reasons).
HumboldtBlue
Torres is out, Pedro is in.
Paula
@valdivia:
Oh noes indeed.
No horse in this race. I want a good match is all. The teams have such contrasting but equally entertaining styles.
Juergen Klinsmann essentially told all of America that Miroslav Klose is a little boy who needs to be hugged and coddled before he can play well. I’m kind of embarrassed for the dude (Klose).
valdivia
WTF?
valdivia
@Paula:
huh? what a jerk Klinsman. where did he say this?
IM
That vile octopus should be eaten anyway. Traitor to the national cause.
HumboldtBlue
Lovely thru ball to Villa
Bill Murray
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: England’s first world cup experience was 1950 and not one of their best. They felt they were too good for the rest of the world pre-WW2
IM
The vile octopus could well be right, though.
J.W. Hamner
@HumboldtBlue: ESPN claims they are playing with 3 forwards and 3 midfielders, but I’m pretty poor at telling the precise difference between an attacking midfielder and a forward.
HumboldtBlue
The vuvuzelas are horrendous today. Thank goodness we’ll never have to listen to them again after the final.
wengler
@edmund dantes
Don’t forget Puerto Rico. And the infamous America Samoa.
HumboldtBlue
Kathy Griffin just missed a header
folkbum
@J.W. Hamner: Not even on land!
Paula
@valdivia:
Well, I’m harshing Klinsi’s words a bit … It was in answer to the question of why Klose doesn’t perform well for his club but for some reason scores a lot for Germany in the World Cup. Klinsmann said that it was the amount of positive reinforcement that he got from the team and whether the rest of his personal life is going well.
Calouste
Spain reminds me of Holland in their less successfull campaigns: lots of nice passing at the back and then you lose to Germany.
HumboldtBlue
Sheesh, no wonder the Poles can’t qualify, three Germans on the field are from Poland. The Germans just can’t help themselves, raiding Poland never gets old.
valdivia
@Paula:
so Klose is the anti Messi? :)
amorphous
@HumboldtBlue: And now Ghana, and Turkey, and Italy, and Spain, and Croatia…
Andy K
@amorphous:
Weren’t the Boateng brothers born and raised in Germany?
SRW1
@IM:
Octopussi has a problem with Germany – Spain games though: predicted Germany to win over Spain in the Euro 2008 final and, as we know, that didn’t quite come to pass.
J.W. Hamner
I know the Germans are a counterattacking team, but you’d think they’d need to posses the ball at least a little bit.
SRW1
@Andy K:
Yes. They are half-brothers though, father is Ghanean, mothers are German.
Andy K
@SRW1:
Yeah, and after I looked it up, they both have German mothers, too.
HumboldtBlue
@amorphous: Well at least Kevin Prince Boateng was actually born in Germany.
stuckinred
@SRW1: I want to see their birth certificates!
amorphous
@Andy K: Yeah sure, but Klose’s father (or mother, too lazy to TheGoogle it) is German. So it’s all the same.
Paula
@valdivia:
Poor guy. He did what he needed to do other than score, though. It’s kinda hard when you’re being marked tighter than a tick w/ every match you play.
He’s young yet! More World Cups, hopefully w/o the insanity that is Maradona.
SRW1
@stuckinred:
Which one, the long form?
valdivia
@Paula:
yes I was just kidding. I think Messi got a bum rap.
come on Germany!
stuckinred
@SRW1: :)
Alex S.
So far, Spain’s attacks have been too predicatable and Germany didn’t put on enough pressure. I don’t get a sense of danger from either team at the moment.
Randy Paul
@valdivia: In England a bum rap sounds like the sort of sandwich one doesn’t want to eat.
valdivia
@Randy Paul:
you’re going to make this girl blush :p
IM
That was a penalty!
SRW1
I think what we have seen in the first 45 minutes, at least from the German team, is called ‘Rasenschach’ in German. (Rasen = the green, Schach = check)
IM
Well, they there lucky to have reached the second half 0:0.
Randy Paul
@valdivia: I just meant to make you laugh.
otmar
Now: Günter Netzer’s comments on ARD.
Andy K
@amorphous:
I’ve never had a problem with that sort of thing. Do I wish Giuseppe Rossi would have chosen to play for the US rather than Italy? Sure, but at least he’s had dual citizenship since he was born.
What gets me is the players- mainly Brazilians- who choose to play for another country because they couldn’t land a spot on their home team’s roster.
J.W. Hamner
@IM:
I dunno… he was pretty out of control when the contact came. I think a penalty call there would have been somewhat dubious.
otmar
Either Spain is that much better than Argentina or Germany really has a problem once they don’t get their early goal.
valdivia
@Randy Paul:
you did that, for sure.
otmar
@IM: Even the German TV commentator said it wasn’t a penalty.
Edit: the Austrian commentators disagree. The ref in the studio said a penalty call was not that unrealistic.
MattR
Boy is Germany playing a bunker defense. I feel like I am watching the women’s national team play about a decade ago where all most teams could do is play defense, hope not to give up a goal and maybe get lucky in the counter attack. Germany has quite a bit more offensive skill than those teams, but it is still quite a boring strategy to watch.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
I’m looking forward to a final between the Dutch and either one of these teams. Germany and Spain are disciplined. My impression is the Dutch like to play helter-skelter. (I’d say “undisciplined” or “out of control” but it’s hard to dis a team on a 24 game winning streak.) They’re willing to risk making a mistake in the hope of forcing you to make one.
Who can force the style of play?
IM
I was joking a bit about the penalty. In the replay it didn’t look much like one.
And I think Spain is better than Argentine.
Andy K
And conversely, what I find most admirable are players who have the option to play for either a powerhouse or a team that has a tough time qualifying, and goes with the latter choice out of love for his country and countrymen. Prime example of this is Ryan Giggs, son of one English and one Welsh parent, raised in Wales, who sacrificed the higher profile and attendant international endorsement deals to represent Wales on the pitch.
stuckinred
@MattR: I’m glad you said that!
Leeds man
@Bill Murray:
They felt they were too good for the rest of the world pre-WW2
I think that only, maybe, applies to the 1934 Cup. Uruguay was too far away in 1930 (only 4 European sides went), and I believe 1938 had more to do with politics (although England played a friendly in Berlin that year).
HumboldtBlue
This game has all the excitement, drama and action of marathon match of the “quiet game.”
J.W. Hamner
I guess Muller is a big loss for the Germans? They don’t really seem all that dynamic without him… but maybe that’s just Spain.
Paula
Ugh … based on my own visceral reactions, I think I’m rooting for Spain. Why? I don’t know.
That tackle of Oezil was fugly, though.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Well, that was close.
Mark S.
Spain should have scored there.
You Don't Say
At least it’s getting more exciting. Don’t know if I’m soccered out or …
valdivia
why are they bringing Torres in?
Andy K
@J.W. Hamner:
Nah, Germany’s playing pretty much the same counterstrike game that they played against Argentina. The difference here being that Germany isn’t playing with a lead, so Spain feels no need to take dangerous risks in attacking, patiently looking for space instead.
Alex S.
Spain plays like a handball team.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
@Andy K: I think Spain is also playing a lot better than Argentina did, independent of tactics.
HumboldtBlue
Spain has grabbed a bit of control, they’ve kept the German counter attack in check and as I type that the Germans get a great chance on the counter attack
valdivia
at least germany finally made it into the spanish side.
Andy K
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
There’s that, too, also, but I didn’t want to come across like some kind of Mr. Know It All.
;)
IM
Well, Germany is still in the game.
HumboldtBlue
There it is … Kathy Griffin scores
IM
As expected.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Given Lahm’s comments about wanting the captainship, is Michael Ballack not popular among his teammates? Given what I think I remember of him from 2006, that wouldn’t surprise me.
Of course, they now have to figure out how to tie it up.
valdivia
ok I am saying it: this is over. and I recognize now why people were saying Spain was the favorite.
SRW1
And now the game strategy of the two teams invert.
J.W. Hamner
Well now they have to score… so I guess we’ll see if that opens things up.
folkbum
Vindication for the octopus, it seems.
HumboldtBlue
Is it me or is Germany’s midfield being wholly out-played?
Randy Paul
No subs yet for Spain
HumboldtBlue
Here comes Torres for some reason.
Alex S.
Spain brings Torres… that will probably have been a bad decision.
MattR
Germany is definitely showing that they have the ability to score. But do they have enough time?
Leeds man
@valdivia:
Never, ever, count out the Germans until the whistle blows.
HumboldtBlue
And for Villa no less
stuckinred
What’s the big deal about Torres?
Paul W.
Torres is in, let’s see if he can make a difference or at least hold the balance of the game together for Spain.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Not even getting a shot on a 2-on-1.
HumboldtBlue
Sheesh Pedro pass the fucking balll
MattR
@Leeds man: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Randy Paul
Germany just subbed on Mario Gomez. That’s almost like throwing in the towel.
HumboldtBlue
He’s still recovering from surgery
folkbum
F’in weather. Thunderstorms killing my satellite!
Nethead Jay
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN): According to a German cow-orker, it’s a case of Ballack being a large ego who doesn’t quite fit in the team collective and besides is getting somewhat old.
stuckinred
@folkbum: espn 3
SRW1
The Germans are not as good as Spain in the Spanish style, i.e. patiently building an attack, and the Spaniards are not as good as the Germans in the counter attacking style. Spain is 1:0 up though, and in the end that is all that counts.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Germany’s not going to win from their own end.
HumboldtBlue
You know what’s awesome, if Spain hold on we’ll have a first time cup winner since …. 1986?
HumboldtBlue
France was the last, yes? ’98?
Randy Paul
@HumboldtBlue: 1998 it is.
Bill E Pilgrim
oh man I can hear Madrid getting ready to explode from here…
HumboldtBlue
Viva Spain! Well done.
valdivia
I’m sad. But the Spain team played a better game.
Next: Go Holland!
You Don't Say
Well, I’m glad the final winner will be a first-time winner. Think I’ll root for Spain.
J.W. Hamner
@Andy K:
It does look like I gave them too much credit for how well they play from ahead.
And also too little credit to the psychic cephalopod. I will never underestimate their powers again.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
I was rooting for Germany, but the Spanish played one hell of a game.
Randy Paul
@HumboldtBlue: It’s the first time since 1978 when both teams have not won the WC.
HumboldtBlue
There is nothing in sport more heart-warming then watching a nation celebrate a WC win … that never gets old.
Alex S.
Germany will always have the problem that Spain is 2 years ahead in the formation of their team… I guess Spain doesn’t need the glitter anymore and they’re just satisfied being one goal ahead, no matter if it’s against Germany or against Chile. They deserved to win though, of course.
Andy K
Well, here’s where it gets tough for me. I’ve had Spain winning the Cup since ’08, but I always cheer for the Netherlands (unless it’s against the US, of course). Jus hoping for an exciting game. More exciting than this game, for sure.
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
Does Klose have one more World Cup in him to try to overtake Ronaldo?
stuckinred
@HumboldtBlue: Ha.
SRW1
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
Klose may still have the game for place three, though the Germans tend to award the bench players in that game. I doubt that Klose will feature in Brasil 2014.
Calouste
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
Don’t know, but he will have the third place play off, and that is traditionally a free flowing, high scoring affair.
otmar
@Bill E Pilgrim: My wife would give a lot to be in Madrid right now.
HumboldtBlue
@Randy Paul: That’s what I was looking for and that either means we’re going to see to very nervous teams in a snoozer or an early goal that leads to a wide open contest.
wengler
Anybody anticipating the third-place match on Saturday with Germany v. Uruguay?
Yeah…I thought not.
Mark S.
Eighty Years War–The Rematch!
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
Klose has got the third place game.
HumboldtBlue
@otmar: My buddy and his wife just returned from a 3-week trip to Spain. He watched two of the early matches and swears he’ll do it all again in 2014.
otmar
Whenever I see http://soccernet.espn.go.com/manager/_/id/130/vicente-del-bosque I have to think of
http://ebj-prof.net/DESCUBRIR/MortaFile/super.jpg
Mark S.
@SRW1:
I’d be shocked if the Germans didn’t play Klose when he’s chasing a record like that.
valdivia
@wengler:
I am! I want to see Klose break that record.
SRW1
@Alex S.:
Not sure about that. Given the age of most of the German players I think they are still on an upward trajectory, whereas Spain is probably at its peak right now (maybe even slightly past it).
What is obvious though is that the Spaniards have learned how to come together as a team and successfully go through a tournament. Their Euro 2008 title was no fluke in that regard.
I think they are the favorites for the final on Sunday.
SRW1
@Mark S.:
You’re probably right, because, as I said, I think this is his last WC.
Steeplejack
Who was it who noted that the white jerseys were unlucky in this World Cup? Violet? Kudos again.
After seeing the finesse of the Spanish today, I am really looking forward to the final with the Netherlands. Two extremely well matched teams.
Gozer
Germany lost and I has a sad.
I’ll be rooting for Holland on Sunday.
valdivia
@Steeplejack:
the white curse indeed progresses! why I said oh noes! when i saw them wearing white. plus the octopus was right.
Steeplejack
@Gozer:
Well, too bad they won’t be playing. It’s the Netherlands, I tell you. Uh, either them or the Dutch. Definitely one of those two. But Holland is right out.
Paula
Wow for that octopus.
Impressive German side, though. And young yet.
I have no idea who I’ll be rooting for on Sunday.
Calouste
@Steeplejack:
No white in the final. The Dutch are the “home” team and will play in orange, and the Spanish will play in their dark blue away kit. (Unless of course their is some rule that makes an exception for the final and they draw lots or something.)
That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)
What would have happened had the octopus picked the team in white?
valdivia
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
superstitious cognitive dissonance?
Eric S.
One of my coworkers thinks it is already too late but what’s the possibility of getting the octopus to select 6 numbered ping pong balls for me?
SLKRR
I was favoring Germany going into this game, mainly because Spain (like Brazil) really hadn’t played a complete game up to their level of talent yet during the tournament. They finally did, and damn did they shut the Deutschen down.
One of Randy’s trivia items is no longer going to be valid… up until now, Brazil was the only Cup winner not to have won at home, but this year there is guaranteed to be one more.
The white jerseys thing is bunk – Germany whupped England while wearing white. The octopus, however, is GOLDEN.
SLKRR
@That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):
The octopus picked the team in white in the Germany-England game and the team in white won.
superfly
@Leeds man:
No, the English really did think they were too good to play against the rest of the world in an actual competition, or just too scared.
It wasn’t until Hungary, the Magnificent Magyars, came to Wembley in 1953 and kicked their ass 6-3, that England figured out that maybe the rest of the world had passed them by.
Irritable Liberal
The British FA’s got into a dispute with FIFA in 1928 over payments to amateurs in the Olympics and all left FIFA so they weren’t eligible for the World Cup. They rejoined after WWII although they did use to think they were better than everyone else.
They played their first international in 1872 and only lost their first home game to a foreign (non British team) in 1953
Leeds man
@superfly:
or just too scared
Well, they beat Germany 6-3 in ’38, in Berlin, so I dunno ’bout that. And I’ll get my history ex-blogcommentariat.