Considering Messi is now making the tactical decisions for his nation’s team he had better run riot and if Iran remains within one goal by halftime I will make comments here, in this section, about Iran remaining within one goal by halftime.
Also, Randinho, you must make allowances for Valdivia the Terrible who has been the spiritual force behind the Ticos glorious romp through the group stages, please ensure we hear of this when appropriate.
Messi 3, Iran 0
2.
bk
Evidently no one on Argentina knows the words to its national anthem.
3.
Burnspbesq
This has every chance to be the biggest blowout of the group stage. If it’s not 2-0 inside 15 minutes I will be very surprised.
4.
Amir Khalid
On form, I’d give Argentina the advantage. But maybe not to the extent of running riot.
5.
Morzer
7-0 to Argentina. I am inspired by the 6-0 prediction for France versus the Gnome-fetishists from last night.
6.
HumboldtBlue
@Amir Khalid: Says the guy with the suspiciously Farsi-sounding name
Yes, especially since Argentina is close to another default – which is basically a communist trick.
11.
scav
So. my inane little comment was called FYWP Offsides or something? Is going to be an interesting sort of a day.
12.
HumboldtBlue
Iran looks like a club team
13.
Punchy
@Burnspbesq: It’s not. All Iran does is play D. Apparently all day long.
14.
Amir Khalid
Cote d’Ivoire nearly lost two players this week. Yaya and Kolo Toure’s brother Ibrahim passed away in Manchester, after a long battle with cancer according to reports. Yaya and Kolo are staying in Brazil, rather than returning to England. They’ll have missed the funeral, but Ibrahim was a professional footballer himself and would apparently have wanted them to stay with the national team at the World Cup.
15.
Xenos
@Corner Stone: Poor suckers are about to take over Bush’s war, pulling defeat from the jaws of victory. Seems like the least we can do.
@Xenos: I think they’ll have rather more success as they don’t have to appear impartial in the ongoing civil war.
19.
Tommy
@Corner Stone: I was kind of thinking the same thing. I am not remotely putting down Argentina, beautiful country. But I recall years ago I got an email from a not so liberal friend. A PPT with pics. Stunning pics of the landscape. Buildings. Heck the people.
I think the subject line was something like “can you guess what country this is?” I like to think I am pretty smart, but I never would have guessed those pics were from Iran. Stunning.
Or I will cheer for the underdog …..
20.
HumboldtBlue
@Corner Stone: No shit, their interests are pretty transparent
21.
Mr Stagger Lee
Praise FSM for Univision for their streaming for us cable challenged. O/t what is this fetish about England that sports networks seem to foist on us? Yesterday’s Italy-Costa Rica game (on espn radio)was filled with comments about England. Sorry sports execs England has not won 1966, move on.
Are you restricting your definition of sport to team sports?
28.
Tommy
@Mr Stagger Lee: Yes. Yes. Yes. Back in April I got rid of cable TV. Part of it was the check I had to write each month. But more than anything I used to read. You know do other things. Got cable for the first time in my life (I am 44) seven years ago and found myself in front of the TV far too often.
Via Roko and Hulu and Netflix I am a happy camper. Where I am a little stressed is sports. Glad Univision (and my Chromecast) gets everybody doesn’t have cable.
They is an ongoing series against Sri Lanka, followed by one against India, which is the big draw for the summer. Then they’ll go on tour overseas this winter.
37.
Cacti
Rooting for a total turkey of a World Cup for Messi.
He seems like a decent fellow on an individual basis, but Argie fans are a fairly insufferable bunch.
38.
Amir Khalid
@SRW1:
Per this report, Ibrahim Toure played as a striker in Egypt and Lebanon.
39.
Corner Stone
I wonder if we’re ever going to find out if Arg knows how to play defense?
I thought you were going to formally become Valdivia The Terrible and lurk among the comment threads weaving the threads of destiny to your will.
41.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Cricket is, um, beneath this deity’s notice.
ETA: Besides, there’s a Cricket World Cup and they’ve never won that.
42.
Alex S.
Iran: trying to advance with three 0-0 draws? (it’s possible if Nigeria and Bosnia draw and lose to Argentina.)
43.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
I’m in Belo Horizonte now, where this game is taking place. Perfect day: hig sixties, low 70’s. Clear sky plenty of sun. Great images coming into the city: truckloads of Argentine fans at Cidade de Galo, the training center for the lesser pf the two teams in Belo Horizonte, Atletico Mineiro. Will try to see if I can get to the FIFA Fan Fest tomorrow.
44.
HumboldtBlue
@Cacti: Argentina fans are utterly insufferable but don’t blame Messi, they have no love for him, he’s lived in Spain for the bulk of his 25 years and they don’t let him forget it.
45.
Corner Stone
@Alex S.: A friend and colleague lives in Argentina and she consistently tells me that international reporting makes conditions seem much worse than they are.
She’s otherwise very intelligent and competent, so I don’t really know how to assess what’s going on there.
Smoking hot, too, but that’s probably not relevant at the moment.
46.
Tommy
Watching the Univision feed I continue to think it would have been nice to go to high school in a town that wasn’t founded by Germans in like 1830. I would have taken Spanish and not German. Maybe I could remotely follow the commentary :).
The T20 tournament was a world cup, in that format of the game. They’ve never won the 50 over version.
50.
SRW1
One of the Iranian player sports a bun similar to one of the Swiss players yesterday. Is that the fashion alternative to the Mohawk among footballers this season?
Money controls the media. Some of those investors want the higher bond yield but not the associated risk.
55.
raven
I worked on an online Spanish course development team with faculty from several countries including Argentina. One of the members, a Cuban-American, said, “they are sooo vain but they talk soooo pretty”!
@Corner Stone: I had a co-worker from Argentina. I would argue she was the “hottest” person I’ve ever met. As you said, not sure that means anything right now, but my gosh I think it needs to be said.
Does that make Argentinians the mean girls of Latin America?
They certainly have the most racist fans of any of the Lat-Am countries.
66.
raven
@Morzer: Indeed I think it does. Then again I always heard the Venezuelans were the most beauty obsessed.
67.
Tommy
@raven: I don’t think I have a fetish. But if I did it would be accents. I used to work with this Nigerian women. I could have listened to her read the phone book and enjoyed it.
68.
Burnspbesq
Right now, Argentina is making it easy for Iran. There needs to be a much higher tempo.
There was a time when Gabriela Sabatini set the tennis world alight. Much prettier than Sharapova and rather less inclined to screech-grunt.
72.
HumboldtBlue
Iran is holding its own on defense, Argentina has had some good looks and no payoff
73.
Burnspbesq
This is only marginally more exciting than watching tomatoes ripen.
74.
Amir Khalid
This is not going to be a 7-nil win to Argentina. I have spoken.
75.
Tommy
Just got back from a quick run. The little local health club two blocks from my house, well they were installing solar. Oh and my favorite part, they were putting a little solar cell on their sign up the street, you know to power it. Times are a changing.
Actually, I am considering to follow that motto for the second half if the gouchos (is that a slur?) don’t step it up. 64 games is a big plate and a man’s gotta pace himself.
I’ve never really understood why Sharapova is supposed to be attractive. I see prettier girls than her working the check-outs at the local supermarket.
@Cacti:
I haven’t decided yet, but I might make it a draw or even a win to Iran.
93.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Cacti: That was the entirety of Mexico against Brazil the other day and the second was after the 85th minute.
94.
catclub
@Amir Khalid: Their one quick kick almost caught Argentina off guard.
But I think there is a chance of a draw.
95.
Tommy
@Valdivia: I am no expert on soccer. But I think clearly Argentina is a superior team. It is my experience playing sports you often play to the level of your competition.
96.
Valdivia
@Tommy:
I can attest that Argentinians as a whole are a very good looking and stylish people.
Now that’s true. I’ve seen so many “better” teams slump down to being second-rate against mediocre opponents. Which, I suppose, is proof that the free market works. Or something.
@Valdivia: In my limited experience I’ve found Venezuelan women, on the whole, to be much the best looking.
The problem I have is they seem to talk through their teeth, and almost breathe the words out instead of distinctive separations.
Always enjoy interacting with them, though. Incredibly happy, fun people.
Of course, the ones I’ve met have all been moderately well off relatively speaking.
103.
Valdivia
@Morzer:
I’m reserving my terribleness for the Ticos!
@Tommy:
I agree that they have the better team. I do wonder if the star status of many of its players gets in the way of the team coalescing during the WC. Last time they were a hot mess.
There is a quote from Oliver Kahn, a former goalie in the German national team. He was once asked how he would explain the mediocre performance of his team. His reply was: “A horse only jumps as high as it has to.”
106.
Tommy
@Morzer: My biggest problem in sports. I always played to the level of my competition. A really good team/player will destroy a lesser opponent. I never really did.
107.
Valdivia
@Corner Stone: oh yes. Venezuela is famous for its beautiful women. The men though are not necessarily at the same level. Argentinian men definitely have a leg up.
108.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Old joke: Argentines are Italians who speak Spanish who think they are British.
109.
Amir Khalid
@Valdivia:
The longer “the better team” goes without putting the round thing inside the rectangular thing, the less sure of themselves its players will be, and the more confident the other team will get.
Stunning in the sense of producing feelings much like those incurred when running into a brick wall, possibly.
Beautiful? Not so much.
Generic blonde on her best days.
113.
HumboldtBlue
What a great counter by the Persians
114.
Valdivia
@Amir Khalid: couldn’t agree more. I wonder too if the Argentinians underestimated the Iranians like the Italians clearly did yesterday with Costa Rica.
115.
Corner Stone
Iran seems to think they’re getting a raw deal. Playing defense for a solid hour seems to be getting to them.
116.
HumboldtBlue
@Valdivia: No way, it’s not like they are booting the ball wildly across the field, they have applied constant pressure and Iran will do all it can not to yield
117.
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
But when it comes to looks, Sharapova is simply not in Sabatini‘s class.
118.
HumboldtBlue
Two touches and Messi is shooting on goal, brilliantly done
119.
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
This match will turn on whom I grant the first goal to.
120.
SRW1
It looks like the Iranians are starting to believe they might really get something out of this. The game of the gouchos looks pedestrian. I thought they had horses. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
121.
Valdivia
@HumboldtBlue: I confess I only began seeing the game late in the first half so I was talking out of my experience (prejudice?) of Argentinians usually entitled attitude about their team always being better and more deserving of being at the WC. I do think the issue is their inability to translate opportunities into actual gols.
And let me guess, you haven’t decided yet, amirite?
123.
HumboldtBlue
@Amir Khalid: You seem to be getting interference from Nazi Marijuana Pope
124.
⚽️ Martin
@Tommy: It’s different in individual vs team sports, I think. Various forms of racing tend to favor the person behind as they get ‘pulled’ by the person ahead. You can see yourself making ground and that motivates you to push harder. Being ahead tends to make you a bit more cautious. I imagine the same is somewhat true in sports like golf where you can’t help but focus on your opponent.
For team sports, you usually play to your own team, not the other – at least on offense. You’re more focused on the breakaway, the pass opening, etc. You spend all of your time looking around the other team, not at them.
125.
Onkel Fritze
Argentina is a big disappointment so far. With this team (and with Messi) they should really be able to come up with a few ideas how to score.
@Morzer:
I am a deity. I reserve the right to be capricious, just to mess with the mortals.
128.
scav
@Morzer: Like Zeus, he seems to be getting distracted by all the human wimminz. Off shimmering into his shower of gold and bull costumes instead of paying attention to the battling menfolk going into their tenth year of an away game.
129.
HumboldtBlue
Give the Persians credit, they have taken their counter attack chances this half
It was the tennis discussion that triggered your question, am I right?
141.
scav
I just remembered the Persian have that Pomegranate, Walnut and Duck thing. My basic non-diety-level indifference may have just tilted.
142.
SRW1
Angel, that was subterranean.
143.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Impartiality? I do not mete out justice. You must be thinking of some other deity.
144.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
I won’t deny that Colombian, Argentinean and Venezulean women are beautiful, but every day I step outside in Brazil, I feel like I’m at a modeling agency where the women have much nicer figures.
Also, the original Shiraz grapes. And Omar Khayyam.
147.
Corner Stone
@SRW1: Ha. No, I’m on an interminable and intensely boring conference call. So, for once I am actually watching the match. And wondering how the hell a referee can keep these whiny whinebags in check and stay fair and not pull all his hair out. And then that made me think I should ask Mayhew, then I thought “Hmmm” and then I asked about him.
You’re on a boring conference call and can only watch a boring game to get through the call? You have my sympathies.
152.
Onkel Fritze
Comentator on Colombian TV just said something like: ‘55.000 people in the stadium, looking for a book to read.’
153.
Alex S.
Hmm, it is possible to advance with just 2 points. Team A, B and C all have to draw each other. And they all lose to team D – the goal difference decides. At the same time, it’s possible not to advance with six points. Team A beats B and C, loses to D. Team B loses all games, Team C beats B and D and loses to A. And team D beats A and B and loses to C. The goal difference decides again.
154.
Corner Stone
@SRW1: I generally don’t care to watch soccer so I tend to stay out of these threads. But I am dying over here.
I’ve been thinking about just meditating until someone makes A GD DECISION PEOPLE.
And 76 million Iranians are reminded that this game is a cruel, heartless bitch.
173.
Morzer
Iran can feel hard done by, but they made Argentina look like a distinctly second-rate team today. The more Germany see of the other teams thus far*, the more they must be feeling that this world cup is theirs for the taking.
*With the exception of France
174.
Amir Khalid
@Alex S.:
On this form, a win over Bosnia-Hercegovina isn’t that hard for ran — if, of course, I feel like allowing it.
You could argue that Costa Rica have looked at least as good as any of the Latin American teams thus far – and better than most.
178.
Origuy
I tend to favor blondes, but I went to the Axis of Evil Comedy show in Cupertino a few years ago, which had three Arab comedians and an Iranian, Max Jobrani. I swear, every Persian in the Bay Area was there, half of them were women, and most of those were knockouts.
179.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Their last group match is against England. Who might be grateful for three face-saving points even if they’re no longer of use. Or maybe I’ll just let them play to form, and let Costa Rica win.
Went to the gym and missed the game, but sounds like I didn’t miss much. Looking forward to the Ghana and Germany match!!! Do the Black Stars have a chance? I’ll be pulling for them.
HumboldtBlue
Considering Messi is now making the tactical decisions for his nation’s team he had better run riot and if Iran remains within one goal by halftime I will make comments here, in this section, about Iran remaining within one goal by halftime.
There is also some excellent coverage of the tourney in many places, ESPN has Men in Blazers and their post mortem of Engerland’s crashing out is pretty funny … “they’re CONCACUFFS!”
Also, Randinho, you must make allowances for Valdivia the Terrible who has been the spiritual force behind the Ticos glorious romp through the group stages, please ensure we hear of this when appropriate.
Messi 3, Iran 0
bk
Evidently no one on Argentina knows the words to its national anthem.
Burnspbesq
This has every chance to be the biggest blowout of the group stage. If it’s not 2-0 inside 15 minutes I will be very surprised.
Amir Khalid
On form, I’d give Argentina the advantage. But maybe not to the extent of running riot.
Morzer
7-0 to Argentina. I am inspired by the 6-0 prediction for France versus the Gnome-fetishists from last night.
HumboldtBlue
@Amir Khalid: Says the guy with the suspiciously Farsi-sounding name
Morzer
@HumboldtBlue:
Looks more Arabic than Farsi to me. But, it must be admitted, the revealed deity Amir Khalid can take what linguistic form he will.
scav
I don’t know which looks to be more interesting, the local predictions/support/comment positionning or the mere game in Brazil.
Corner Stone
Given the recent developments in Iraq, shouldn’t we be rooting for our new bestie Iran here?
Alex S.
@Corner Stone:
Yes, especially since Argentina is close to another default – which is basically a communist trick.
scav
So. my inane little comment was called FYWP Offsides or something? Is going to be an interesting sort of a day.
HumboldtBlue
Iran looks like a club team
Punchy
@Burnspbesq: It’s not. All Iran does is play D. Apparently all day long.
Amir Khalid
Cote d’Ivoire nearly lost two players this week. Yaya and Kolo Toure’s brother Ibrahim passed away in Manchester, after a long battle with cancer according to reports. Yaya and Kolo are staying in Brazil, rather than returning to England. They’ll have missed the funeral, but Ibrahim was a professional footballer himself and would apparently have wanted them to stay with the national team at the World Cup.
Xenos
@Corner Stone: Poor suckers are about to take over Bush’s war, pulling defeat from the jaws of victory. Seems like the least we can do.
Burnspbesq
@Alex S.:
It’s a bit difficult to feel sympathy for investors who bought Argentine debt after the last default.
Morzer
@Burnspbesq:
No need to pampa those suckers.
Corner Stone
@Xenos: I think they’ll have rather more success as they don’t have to appear impartial in the ongoing civil war.
Tommy
@Corner Stone: I was kind of thinking the same thing. I am not remotely putting down Argentina, beautiful country. But I recall years ago I got an email from a not so liberal friend. A PPT with pics. Stunning pics of the landscape. Buildings. Heck the people.
I think the subject line was something like “can you guess what country this is?” I like to think I am pretty smart, but I never would have guessed those pics were from Iran. Stunning.
Or I will cheer for the underdog …..
HumboldtBlue
@Corner Stone: No shit, their interests are pretty transparent
Mr Stagger Lee
Praise FSM for Univision for their streaming for us cable challenged. O/t what is this fetish about England that sports networks seem to foist on us? Yesterday’s Italy-Costa Rica game (on espn radio)was filled with comments about England. Sorry sports execs England has not won 1966, move on.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Burnspbesq: 20 minutes in and still 0-0.
Amir Khalid
@Mr Stagger Lee:
That and the Rugby World Cup win in 2003 are England’s only international tournament wins in sports invented there.
HumboldtBlue
That one Iranian at least has moves like Jagger
Corner Stone
I have the sound off, who is this (I’m guessing) Iranian pimp they keep showing in the stands?
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
You mean, he moves like a seventy-something grandfather?
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
Are you restricting your definition of sport to team sports?
Tommy
@Mr Stagger Lee: Yes. Yes. Yes. Back in April I got rid of cable TV. Part of it was the check I had to write each month. But more than anything I used to read. You know do other things. Got cable for the first time in my life (I am 44) seven years ago and found myself in front of the TV far too often.
Via Roko and Hulu and Netflix I am a happy camper. Where I am a little stressed is sports. Glad Univision (and my Chromecast) gets everybody doesn’t have cable.
HumboldtBlue
@Corner Stone: That’s Diego Maradona
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Yes.
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
I didn’t know there was a tird Toure brother who was a professional football player. Which club did he play for?
scav
@Morzer: I was wondering where Cricket fit in. Aren’t they condoling themselves with a test series or something?
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
England won the T20 tournament in 2010.
Valdivia
@HumboldtBlue:
I’m still grinning like a Cheshire Cat about this :)
Corner Stone
@HumboldtBlue: That’s frightening. Thanks.
Morzer
@scav:
They is an ongoing series against Sri Lanka, followed by one against India, which is the big draw for the summer. Then they’ll go on tour overseas this winter.
Cacti
Rooting for a total turkey of a World Cup for Messi.
He seems like a decent fellow on an individual basis, but Argie fans are a fairly insufferable bunch.
Amir Khalid
@SRW1:
Per this report, Ibrahim Toure played as a striker in Egypt and Lebanon.
Corner Stone
I wonder if we’re ever going to find out if Arg knows how to play defense?
Morzer
@Valdivia:
I thought you were going to formally become Valdivia The Terrible and lurk among the comment threads weaving the threads of destiny to your will.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Cricket is, um, beneath this deity’s notice.
ETA: Besides, there’s a Cricket World Cup and they’ve never won that.
Alex S.
Iran: trying to advance with three 0-0 draws? (it’s possible if Nigeria and Bosnia draw and lose to Argentina.)
Randy Paul aka Randinho
I’m in Belo Horizonte now, where this game is taking place. Perfect day: hig sixties, low 70’s. Clear sky plenty of sun. Great images coming into the city: truckloads of Argentine fans at Cidade de Galo, the training center for the lesser pf the two teams in Belo Horizonte, Atletico Mineiro. Will try to see if I can get to the FIFA Fan Fest tomorrow.
HumboldtBlue
@Cacti: Argentina fans are utterly insufferable but don’t blame Messi, they have no love for him, he’s lived in Spain for the bulk of his 25 years and they don’t let him forget it.
Corner Stone
@Alex S.: A friend and colleague lives in Argentina and she consistently tells me that international reporting makes conditions seem much worse than they are.
She’s otherwise very intelligent and competent, so I don’t really know how to assess what’s going on there.
Smoking hot, too, but that’s probably not relevant at the moment.
Tommy
Watching the Univision feed I continue to think it would have been nice to go to high school in a town that wasn’t founded by Germans in like 1830. I would have taken Spanish and not German. Maybe I could remotely follow the commentary :).
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
Thanks.
Punchy
Messi is thusfar messy. I came. I saw. Iran. Nobody scores.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
The T20 tournament was a world cup, in that format of the game. They’ve never won the 50 over version.
SRW1
One of the Iranian player sports a bun similar to one of the Swiss players yesterday. Is that the fashion alternative to the Mohawk among footballers this season?
Morzer
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
How does one say Belo Horizonte correctly? I’ve now heard something like five different pronunciations.
scav
@SRW1: does it look a little like a chicken tail on his head? I saw one of them in an earlier game.
SRW1
@Punchy:
I came. I saw. I ran?
Alex S.
@Corner Stone:
Money controls the media. Some of those investors want the higher bond yield but not the associated risk.
raven
I worked on an online Spanish course development team with faculty from several countries including Argentina. One of the members, a Cuban-American, said, “they are sooo vain but they talk soooo pretty”!
Corner Stone
Yeeesh.
SRW1
@scav:
Yep, kind of imperfect for a bun.
Tommy
@Corner Stone: I had a co-worker from Argentina. I would argue she was the “hottest” person I’ve ever met. As you said, not sure that means anything right now, but my gosh I think it needs to be said.
Cacti
@Morzer:
The last t in Brazilian Portuguese has a “ch” sound. The H in Horizonte is silent.
Bell-oh Or-ee-zon-chee is how it renders phonetically.
HumboldtBlue
@SRW1: And I ran, I ran so far away, couldn’t get away
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Morzer: BAY-lo or-e-ZON-chee.
Morzer
@raven:
Does that make Argentinians the mean girls of Latin America?
Valdivia
@Morzer:
I’ll do that during the Costa Rica matches. :)
Morzer
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
At least one commentator made it sound like Bellow Horror-scrunchy. Thank you for the authentic version!
Cacti
@Morzer:
Does that make Argentinians the mean girls of Latin America?
They certainly have the most racist fans of any of the Lat-Am countries.
raven
@Morzer: Indeed I think it does. Then again I always heard the Venezuelans were the most beauty obsessed.
Tommy
@raven: I don’t think I have a fetish. But if I did it would be accents. I used to work with this Nigerian women. I could have listened to her read the phone book and enjoyed it.
Burnspbesq
Right now, Argentina is making it easy for Iran. There needs to be a much higher tempo.
HumboldtBlue
@Cacti: And that’s not easy to do
Cacti
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
D’oh forgot to add which syllables got the emphasis.
Morzer
@Tommy:
There was a time when Gabriela Sabatini set the tennis world alight. Much prettier than Sharapova and rather less inclined to screech-grunt.
HumboldtBlue
Iran is holding its own on defense, Argentina has had some good looks and no payoff
Burnspbesq
This is only marginally more exciting than watching tomatoes ripen.
Amir Khalid
This is not going to be a 7-nil win to Argentina. I have spoken.
Tommy
Just got back from a quick run. The little local health club two blocks from my house, well they were installing solar. Oh and my favorite part, they were putting a little solar cell on their sign up the street, you know to power it. Times are a changing.
Morzer
@raven:
I always had the impression that Colombians were pretty interested in beauty, but I might be working from too small a sample.
Cacti
@HumboldtBlue:
Iran is in bunker mode.
2 shots on goal through 43 minutes.
SRW1
@HumboldtBlue:
Actually, I am considering to follow that motto for the second half if the gouchos (is that a slur?) don’t step it up. 64 games is a big plate and a man’s gotta pace himself.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
You’ll have to do a lot better than that for us to believe you really are omniscient!
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Also much better behaved, too. Sharapova is reputed to be a real prima donna.
HumboldtBlue
But Arg have booted away several good balls and are able to attack down both flanks
raven
@Morzer: I have a very close friend who is Colombian and she’s a sweeheart but very much a hippie.
Morzer
@SRW1:
Those gauchos are all ass-hat and no grass-fed cattle thus far.
Hill Dweller
@Morzer: She also played a far more attractive brand of tennis. Shriekapova can’t hit a volley if her life depends on it.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Cacti: I have read that in the early 19th century that the Afro-Argentinean population in Buenos Aires numbered close to 25%. More here.
Tommy
@Morzer: Played tennis most of my life. Oh I know Gabriela Sabatini. Well not personally, but she was amazing. Beautiful women.
Cacti
@Amir Khalid:
This is not going to be a 7-nil win to Argentina. I have spoken.
2-0 Albiceleste is my prediction.
Valdivia
The Argentinian team not looking very sharp today.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
I’ve never really understood why Sharapova is supposed to be attractive. I see prettier girls than her working the check-outs at the local supermarket.
Morzer
@Valdivia:
If only they had a Valdivia on the bench!
Cacti
No score through 1 half.
Argies need to crank up the heat in the second.
Amir Khalid
@Cacti:
I haven’t decided yet, but I might make it a draw or even a win to Iran.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Cacti: That was the entirety of Mexico against Brazil the other day and the second was after the 85th minute.
catclub
@Amir Khalid: Their one quick kick almost caught Argentina off guard.
But I think there is a chance of a draw.
Tommy
@Valdivia: I am no expert on soccer. But I think clearly Argentina is a superior team. It is my experience playing sports you often play to the level of your competition.
Valdivia
@Tommy:
I can attest that Argentinians as a whole are a very good looking and stylish people.
Morzer
@catclub:
Nigeria must be feeling that the rest of the world owes them a bit more respect after watching Argentina bumble around against Iran.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
She’s young, she’s tall (six foot two, so I hear), she’s blond, she’s athletic. A lot of people look no further.
Morzer
@Tommy:
Now that’s true. I’ve seen so many “better” teams slump down to being second-rate against mediocre opponents. Which, I suppose, is proof that the free market works. Or something.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
I still think she looks like a groundhog, albeit with longer legs.
HumboldtBlue
It appears the Pope talks a little shit about soccer as well, although I am pretty sure Nazi Marijuana Pope cheers for a team other than San Lorenzo
Corner Stone
@Valdivia: In my limited experience I’ve found Venezuelan women, on the whole, to be much the best looking.
The problem I have is they seem to talk through their teeth, and almost breathe the words out instead of distinctive separations.
Always enjoy interacting with them, though. Incredibly happy, fun people.
Of course, the ones I’ve met have all been moderately well off relatively speaking.
Valdivia
@Morzer:
I’m reserving my terribleness for the Ticos!
@Tommy:
I agree that they have the better team. I do wonder if the star status of many of its players gets in the way of the team coalescing during the WC. Last time they were a hot mess.
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: You’re just being silly, she’s a stunningly beautiful woman with extraordinary athletic prowess which is the key to her stunning beauty
SRW1
@Tommy:
There is a quote from Oliver Kahn, a former goalie in the German national team. He was once asked how he would explain the mediocre performance of his team. His reply was: “A horse only jumps as high as it has to.”
Tommy
@Morzer: My biggest problem in sports. I always played to the level of my competition. A really good team/player will destroy a lesser opponent. I never really did.
Valdivia
@Corner Stone: oh yes. Venezuela is famous for its beautiful women. The men though are not necessarily at the same level. Argentinian men definitely have a leg up.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Old joke: Argentines are Italians who speak Spanish who think they are British.
Amir Khalid
@Valdivia:
The longer “the better team” goes without putting the round thing inside the rectangular thing, the less sure of themselves its players will be, and the more confident the other team will get.
Valdivia
@Randy Paul aka Randinho: but it’s absolutely true! :)
Corner Stone
Even though the entire Iran team is on defense, you can’t say Arg isn’t getting it’s chances.
Morzer
@HumboldtBlue:
Stunning in the sense of producing feelings much like those incurred when running into a brick wall, possibly.
Beautiful? Not so much.
Generic blonde on her best days.
HumboldtBlue
What a great counter by the Persians
Valdivia
@Amir Khalid: couldn’t agree more. I wonder too if the Argentinians underestimated the Iranians like the Italians clearly did yesterday with Costa Rica.
Corner Stone
Iran seems to think they’re getting a raw deal. Playing defense for a solid hour seems to be getting to them.
HumboldtBlue
@Valdivia: No way, it’s not like they are booting the ball wildly across the field, they have applied constant pressure and Iran will do all it can not to yield
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
But when it comes to looks, Sharapova is simply not in Sabatini‘s class.
HumboldtBlue
Two touches and Messi is shooting on goal, brilliantly done
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
This match will turn on whom I grant the first goal to.
SRW1
It looks like the Iranians are starting to believe they might really get something out of this. The game of the gouchos looks pedestrian. I thought they had horses. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Valdivia
@HumboldtBlue: I confess I only began seeing the game late in the first half so I was talking out of my experience (prejudice?) of Argentinians usually entitled attitude about their team always being better and more deserving of being at the WC. I do think the issue is their inability to translate opportunities into actual gols.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
And let me guess, you haven’t decided yet, amirite?
HumboldtBlue
@Amir Khalid: You seem to be getting interference from Nazi Marijuana Pope
⚽️ Martin
@Tommy: It’s different in individual vs team sports, I think. Various forms of racing tend to favor the person behind as they get ‘pulled’ by the person ahead. You can see yourself making ground and that motivates you to push harder. Being ahead tends to make you a bit more cautious. I imagine the same is somewhat true in sports like golf where you can’t help but focus on your opponent.
For team sports, you usually play to your own team, not the other – at least on offense. You’re more focused on the breakaway, the pass opening, etc. You spend all of your time looking around the other team, not at them.
Onkel Fritze
Argentina is a big disappointment so far. With this team (and with Messi) they should really be able to come up with a few ideas how to score.
schrodinger's cat
Test
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
I am a deity. I reserve the right to be capricious, just to mess with the mortals.
scav
@Morzer: Like Zeus, he seems to be getting distracted by all the human wimminz. Off shimmering into his shower of gold and bull costumes instead of paying attention to the battling menfolk going into their tenth year of an away game.
HumboldtBlue
Give the Persians credit, they have taken their counter attack chances this half
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
What are the offerings that might sway you? I’m asking for a friend.
HumboldtBlue
That ball was going in
Morzer
I wonder if Frankie Pope is busily talking smack on Skype to whoever the head mullah is in Tehran.
Morzer
I wonder if Frankie Pope is busily talking smack on Skype to whoever the head mullah is in Tehran.
Amir Khalid
Argentine nerves look to be fraying. Heh heh heh.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
Your pose of divine impartiality seems to be fraying at the edges, your Amirness.
Valdivia
@HumboldtBlue: agreed. Really getting near and pressing for it.
Corner Stone
Has anyone heard from “Deuces” Mayhew since he broke the news to his (former) boss?
Morzer
That was perilously close to a penalty.
Amir Khalid
@SRW1:
I seek no human trifles, only my own amusement. Let your friend suggest something that appeals to me.
SRW1
@Corner Stone:
It was the tennis discussion that triggered your question, am I right?
scav
I just remembered the Persian have that Pomegranate, Walnut and Duck thing. My basic non-diety-level indifference may have just tilted.
SRW1
Angel, that was subterranean.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Impartiality? I do not mete out justice. You must be thinking of some other deity.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
I won’t deny that Colombian, Argentinean and Venezulean women are beautiful, but every day I step outside in Brazil, I feel like I’m at a modeling agency where the women have much nicer figures.
Valdivia
@scav:
I love that too. Fesenjhan I think?
Morzer
@scav:
Also, the original Shiraz grapes. And Omar Khayyam.
Corner Stone
@SRW1: Ha. No, I’m on an interminable and intensely boring conference call. So, for once I am actually watching the match. And wondering how the hell a referee can keep these whiny whinebags in check and stay fair and not pull all his hair out. And then that made me think I should ask Mayhew, then I thought “Hmmm” and then I asked about him.
raven
Oh, woke up from a nap and missed ZERO!
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
I will have him check out whether Gabriela might be available to perform a sacrificial rite.
Morzer
Argentina do seem to have gone Galtieri today.
SRW1
@Corner Stone:
You’re on a boring conference call and can only watch a boring game to get through the call? You have my sympathies.
Onkel Fritze
Comentator on Colombian TV just said something like: ‘55.000 people in the stadium, looking for a book to read.’
Alex S.
Hmm, it is possible to advance with just 2 points. Team A, B and C all have to draw each other. And they all lose to team D – the goal difference decides. At the same time, it’s possible not to advance with six points. Team A beats B and C, loses to D. Team B loses all games, Team C beats B and D and loses to A. And team D beats A and B and loses to C. The goal difference decides again.
Corner Stone
@SRW1: I generally don’t care to watch soccer so I tend to stay out of these threads. But I am dying over here.
I’ve been thinking about just meditating until someone makes A GD DECISION PEOPLE.
Corner Stone
Does the Arg team not practice passing?
Valdivia
@Morzer:
You killed me with that!
SRW1
I blame you, Amir.
Hill Dweller
Messi!!!!!!
Morzer
Well, that’s more than Argentina deserved, in my opinion.
JCJ
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
MESSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
morfydd
oh man… beautiful goal. but the poor goalie…
Onkel Fritze
Well that was fucking undeserved.
HumboldtBlue
Only takes one step to his left
Alex S.
Poor Persians, now they need a goal against Bosnia to advance.
Valdivia
That was a beautiful gol but a totally ugly way to win for the team. But ymmv.
Onkel Fritze
The Mullahs just didn’t pray hard enough.
SRW1
Whow, di Maria really tested the patience of the ref there.
Mr Stagger Lee
GOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL MESSI GOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL
Amir Khalid
@Onkel Fritze:
They did, just not in the right direction.
scav
They do likes their dramatic arc and uncertainties and upturns, the gods of these here series of games. Sheesh.
Mr Stagger Lee
@Morzer: Donde esta Giovanni Galtieri?
burnspbesq
And 76 million Iranians are reminded that this game is a cruel, heartless bitch.
Morzer
Iran can feel hard done by, but they made Argentina look like a distinctly second-rate team today. The more Germany see of the other teams thus far*, the more they must be feeling that this world cup is theirs for the taking.
*With the exception of France
Amir Khalid
@Alex S.:
On this form, a win over Bosnia-Hercegovina isn’t that hard for ran — if, of course, I feel like allowing it.
Morzer
@Mr Stagger Lee:
I believe that’s the title of the GOP Hispanic Outreach Movie.
Cacti
Neither of South America’s two biggest guns are looking very awe-inspiring as yet (Brazil/Argentina).
Morzer
@Cacti:
You could argue that Costa Rica have looked at least as good as any of the Latin American teams thus far – and better than most.
Origuy
I tend to favor blondes, but I went to the Axis of Evil Comedy show in Cupertino a few years ago, which had three Arab comedians and an Iranian, Max Jobrani. I swear, every Persian in the Bay Area was there, half of them were women, and most of those were knockouts.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Their last group match is against England. Who might be grateful for three face-saving points even if they’re no longer of use. Or maybe I’ll just let them play to form, and let Costa Rica win.
raven
Oh boy, teams getting off the bus!!!!!!!!!
Onkel Fritze
@Morzer: With the exception of Chile.
mali muso
Went to the gym and missed the game, but sounds like I didn’t miss much. Looking forward to the Ghana and Germany match!!! Do the Black Stars have a chance? I’ll be pulling for them.
Alex S.
@Onkel Fritze:
And Colombia.
Tripod
He’s a dynamic player, but yea….. that Iranian midfield was a horror show.