Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Everybody saw this coming.

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

Books are my comfort food!

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

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

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

You are here: Home / Sports / England v Sweden Open Thread

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48Comments

  2. 2.

    handsmile

    Which hulking be-ponytailed striker will be dominant today?

    After its loss to Ukraine, the Swedish coach Erik Hamren berated his players as “cowards,” and Captain Zlatan was reported to be furious with his teammates for their lackadaisical play. Not the customary headlines from that pacific nation.

    No less uncharacteristic is the quiet and harmony issuing from the English camp. Who knew that Frank Lampard was such a troublemaker!

    A draw is not in the best interests of either team, though of course with a loss, Sweden joins the Irish in the early departure lounge.

    As disclosed previously, I will be watching this match in my Swedish national team jersey.

  3. 3.

    Maude

    The president was heckled by a reporter twice today.
    Obama answered the first time and the second time he said in effect that he wasn’t there to argue.

  4. 4.

    Linnaeus

    No particular loyalties in this game, although my great-grandfather played football as a young man in England, so I guess I lean toward England here.

  5. 5.

    Amir Khalid

    @Maude:
    I wouldn’t worry about Obama, and I doubt any commenter here would either. But as a former journalist, I feel very strongly about this: heckling a speech, disrupting an event you’re supposed to be covering, should be a firing offense for a reporter. Then again, given that it was the Daily Caller he works for, I doubt anything like that is going to happen.

  17. 17.

    burnspbesq

    The blue unis are for Andy Carroll. “Blue” doesn’t rhyme with “row zed.”

  19. 19.

    Onkel Fritze

    Just been reading up on the statistics: England have never won against Sweden in a tournament; they haven’t won in 44 years.

    And now….2:1

  21. 21.

    Mark S.

    England, it works better if you have your defenders between your opponents and the goal.

  24. 24.

    Amir Khalid

    And Sweden come from behind to take the lead. I said from the beginning that England would find a way to raise fans’ expectations and then dash them. See? See?

  27. 27.

    Paula

    Who the bleedin’ fuck is this Olaf person?

    In related topics, how the fuck do FIFA rank Blighty in the top 10 permanently? Is the whole “we codified football” thing constantly grandfathered in?

  35. 35.

    burnspbesq

    @curiousleo:

    Not disagreeing, but Hart has the play in front of him and should be able to see that Mellberg is unmarked. American keepers are trained to go in that situation. Timmeh would have gone and gotten it off Mellberg’s head. Worst case, you give up a PK.

  37. 37.

    curiousleo

    @burnspbesq: Timmeh wouldn’t have taken that silly shuffle left to then be out of position for the reaction save/dive to the right. I don’t disagree that Hart could have done better. But that’s not the first or even 2nd miscue that resulted in a goal.

    Even b/f Hart was needed, the English defense should have done MUCH better. It was a ridiculous slide by Milner that gave the free kick. And then to leave Mellberg *completely* open?

  38. 38.

    Amir Khalid

    In keeping with my pre-tournament prediction for England, I expect Sweden to score a winner just as the ref is about to blow for full-time.

  44. 44.

    otmar

    I haven’t seen the first games of this group, but based on what I saw today:

    How in god’s name did Sweden manage to lose vs. the Ukraine?

  45. 45.

    pete

    In light of the political news, I had to enjoy the US commentators saying “England is DREAMing.”

    Ukraine could be tough, and England needs something out of that game, right? I mean, other than Rooney not getting sent off.

  46. 46.

    WindyCityCat

    The match tonight was fantastic. My seats were right next to the English section, and now i’m at a pub in Kiev celebrating the England victory. Good times all around.

  48. 48.

    handsmile

    As one rooting for Sweden, I must say this was a thoroughly deserved defeat. Allowing in two goals in less than 20 minutes after taking the lead is simply unacceptable for a squad of such seasoned veterans. Midfielder Kim Kallstrom, in particular, with 94 caps to his name was atrocious.

    After the success enjoyed and offensive flair revealed in friendly matches since spring, it was all the more puzzling and dispiriting to witness Sweden’s erratic and anxious play in this tournament. Following Mellberg’s goal when England should have been on the back foot, it deteriorated to the primitive: simply hoofing the ball forward. With such ponderous play and a defensive corps known to lumber, Sweden risks embarrassment in its final match against France. Zlatan may well look into dual citizenship options before the 2014 World Cup.

    And England, while appearing decidedly average in both matches, looks to advance with a draw against Ukraine (current goal differential makes that a reasonable option). Much credit must be given to Danny Wellbeck for his delightfully inventive goal today and to Ashley Young whose pace and wiles unnerved Swedish defenders throughout the match. Perhaps it was canny after all to discount English prospects at Euro2012.

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