I don’t care about soccer but I am overjoyed the blog works again —Many, many thanks, Alain!
P.S. except for saving my nym and address but that is minor
2.
raven
For some reason they double up today with two games at 10 and 2.
3.
Onkel Fritze
@raven: The reason is the Germany – Austria game in World Cup 1982, otherwise known as the Disgrace of Gijon.
4.
Amir Khalid
@raven: In all tournaments with a group stage like this (four teams to a group) the last two matches in each group are played simultaneously. This is to avoid a recurrence of the Disgrace of Gijón.
This is going to be Russia’s first real test of the tournament. Uruguay aren’t all that, but they’re a damned sight better than Saudi Arabia or Egypt with an unfit Mo Salah. Both teams have already qualified, this is for the ‘privilege’ of finishing first. Winner takes on the 2nd place team in Group B and visa versa, which is anyone out of Spain, Portugal and Iran.
Suarez! 1-0. What’cha gonna do now, Russia?
10.
Amir Khalid
The thing I remember about the Disgrace of Gijon is that in 1982 the broadcast in Malaysia of some World Cup matches were crowdfunded by the public. That year state broadcaster RTM had decided to cheap out and pay for only a few matches, nowhere near enough to satisfy the local kaki bola. So an enterprising fan started a public campaign to raise the money to buy the broadcast rights for more matches. So, many World Cup 1982 matches that you saw here were preceded by a title card that said “Ditaja oleh Rakyat Malaysia” (Sponsored by The People of Malaysia). And one of those matches was Die Schande von Gijón.
11.
Tony Jay
2-0. Uruguay taking their chances while Russia aren’t.
So it looks like Suarez and co are going to be avoiding Spain in the next round, probably. It depends on how Morocco play tonight but I can’t see them pulling off an upset. So Russia will get the winner of Portugal vs Iran, with Portugal only needing a draw to make their progress certain.
12.
mali muso
I really dislike Suarez, but given geopolitical events, any humiliation for Putin’s team is a-ok with me.
13.
Amir Khalid
Meanwhile The King of Egypt is leading Saudi Arabia 1-0 and threatening to score more. This is good news for Liverpool FC and Jürgen Klopp.
14.
Platonailedit
Own goals seem to be the winnah in this edition.
15.
Platonailedit
And russians down to ten. You got a yellow card. Get a clue.
16.
Amir Khalid
@mali muso:
As long as he doesn’t bite anyone in the process, I’m okay with Luis Suarez scoring a lot of goals.
Some people like Country & Western when they feel sad, some people like bananas when they feel hungry, and some people like biting professional footballers when they feel frustrated. Everybody has – something – they like that other people don’t, we shouldn’t be so judgemental. 8-)
18.
mali muso
@Amir Khalid: That guy bites more people in a 90 minute match than my 19-month old toddler does in a whole week at daycare.
19.
Platonailedit
And saudis level after missing the 1st penalty.
20.
Amir Khalid
Egypt’s 45-year-old keeper Al-Hadary saves a penalty!
@Tony Jay:
Thank you for that good advice. I shall henceforth strive to remember that Luis has a right both to express his personality, and to say to his kids, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
21.
NobodySpecial
@Amir Khalid: Maybe we’ll get lucky and at some point he can bite Ramos?
22.
Amir Khalid
Saudi Arabia get another penalty, and this time Essam Al-Hadary doesn’t save it. No blame on him, but Egypt can’t hope to compete in tournaments with Mo Salah + 10 mooks.
23.
Onkel Fritze
The Russians are not going to make it past Spain or Portugal.
Exactly. It’s hard enough being a multi-millionaire professional sportsman these days without people tut-tutting a little light cannibalism at times of great stress.
Re: Salah, I really do feel for him. After the amazing season he’s had and all the joy he’s given to LFC fans everywhere, to have his Champions League and World Cup final(s) spoilt by a deliberately inflicted injury… must be hard. I just hope he’ll be able to heal properly over the summer and come back strong next season so we can get about the job of knocking Manchester City off their bloody perch.
Well done Iran keeper for thwarting Cronny’s cheaty diving. Now tell your shouty player to zip it before he gets a red.
43.
Tony Jay
Getting very tasty in the Portugal v Iran game since that Ronaldo penalty was saved. Iran looked like they were losing their heads for a while but the manager had a word and they’re pressing Portugal much better than they were before. Whenever they get the ball, that is.
Cards being flashed. Someone will be sent off if tempers keep rising.
44.
Tony Jay
That could have, maybe should have, been a straight red for Ronaldo. Nasty little elbow to chin. But just a yellow.
And Spain now losing to Morocco. Wow.
45.
SRW1
Jesus Holy F, Spain about to lose?
46.
Barbara
@Tony Jay: If Spain loses, and Iran ties, Iran goes through, but if Spain loses and Iran loses, Spain goes through. So Iran must be really motivated to score at this point.
47.
SRW1
… and penalty review. Don’t see how the Portuguese player could get his hand out of the way.
48.
Barbara
Whoa — Spain trying to take control of its fate!
49.
SRW1
And Spain equalizes.
ETA: … and tops the group.
50.
Tony Jay
I’m not the biggest fan of Portugal but that was never a penalty. Literally the definition of ball to hand.
So 1-1 and oooh that should have been a winner for Iran.
If he bites Ronaldo, that’s not as good as biting Trump, but I can surely find a little forgiveness in my heart.
56.
smintheus
Portugal has many reasons to be p#ss@d off. Iranian ‘fans’ were allowed to keep them up all night by Putin’s thugs. Then you have this idiot of a ref who keeps letting the Iranians game the game. The award of the penalty was beyond absurd.
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Ohio Mom
I don’t care about soccer but I am overjoyed the blog works again —Many, many thanks, Alain!
P.S. except for saving my nym and address but that is minor
raven
For some reason they double up today with two games at 10 and 2.
Onkel Fritze
@raven: The reason is the Germany – Austria game in World Cup 1982, otherwise known as the Disgrace of Gijon.
Amir Khalid
@raven: In all tournaments with a group stage like this (four teams to a group) the last two matches in each group are played simultaneously. This is to avoid a recurrence of the Disgrace of Gijón.
Onkel Fritze
I can’t get the link to work. It’s on Wikipedia.
ETA Amir beat me to it.
Steeplejack
@raven:
What they said above. This is also why on the last day of the Premier League season all 10 matches are played at the same time.
Platonailedit
@raven: To avoid match fixing.
eta: Others have beat me to it.
raven
What a wicked web we weave.
Tony Jay
This is going to be Russia’s first real test of the tournament. Uruguay aren’t all that, but they’re a damned sight better than Saudi Arabia or Egypt with an unfit Mo Salah. Both teams have already qualified, this is for the ‘privilege’ of finishing first. Winner takes on the 2nd place team in Group B and visa versa, which is anyone out of Spain, Portugal and Iran.
Suarez! 1-0. What’cha gonna do now, Russia?
Amir Khalid
The thing I remember about the Disgrace of Gijon is that in 1982 the broadcast in Malaysia of some World Cup matches were crowdfunded by the public. That year state broadcaster RTM had decided to cheap out and pay for only a few matches, nowhere near enough to satisfy the local kaki bola. So an enterprising fan started a public campaign to raise the money to buy the broadcast rights for more matches. So, many World Cup 1982 matches that you saw here were preceded by a title card that said “Ditaja oleh Rakyat Malaysia” (Sponsored by The People of Malaysia). And one of those matches was Die Schande von Gijón.
Tony Jay
2-0. Uruguay taking their chances while Russia aren’t.
So it looks like Suarez and co are going to be avoiding Spain in the next round, probably. It depends on how Morocco play tonight but I can’t see them pulling off an upset. So Russia will get the winner of Portugal vs Iran, with Portugal only needing a draw to make their progress certain.
mali muso
I really dislike Suarez, but given geopolitical events, any humiliation for Putin’s team is a-ok with me.
Amir Khalid
Meanwhile The King of Egypt is leading Saudi Arabia 1-0 and threatening to score more. This is good news for Liverpool FC and Jürgen Klopp.
Platonailedit
Own goals seem to be the winnah in this edition.
Platonailedit
And russians down to ten. You got a yellow card. Get a clue.
Amir Khalid
@mali muso:
As long as he doesn’t bite anyone in the process, I’m okay with Luis Suarez scoring a lot of goals.
Tony Jay
@Amir Khalid:
Some people like Country & Western when they feel sad, some people like bananas when they feel hungry, and some people like biting professional footballers when they feel frustrated. Everybody has – something – they like that other people don’t, we shouldn’t be so judgemental. 8-)
mali muso
@Amir Khalid: That guy bites more people in a 90 minute match than my 19-month old toddler does in a whole week at daycare.
Platonailedit
And saudis level after missing the 1st penalty.
Amir Khalid
Egypt’s 45-year-old keeper Al-Hadary saves a penalty!
@Tony Jay:
Thank you for that good advice. I shall henceforth strive to remember that Luis has a right both to express his personality, and to say to his kids, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
NobodySpecial
@Amir Khalid: Maybe we’ll get lucky and at some point he can bite Ramos?
Amir Khalid
Saudi Arabia get another penalty, and this time Essam Al-Hadary doesn’t save it. No blame on him, but Egypt can’t hope to compete in tournaments with Mo Salah + 10 mooks.
Onkel Fritze
The Russians are not going to make it past Spain or Portugal.
Tony Jay
@Amir Khalid:
Exactly. It’s hard enough being a multi-millionaire professional sportsman these days without people tut-tutting a little light cannibalism at times of great stress.
Re: Salah, I really do feel for him. After the amazing season he’s had and all the joy he’s given to LFC fans everywhere, to have his Champions League and World Cup final(s) spoilt by a deliberately inflicted injury… must be hard. I just hope he’ll be able to heal properly over the summer and come back strong next season so we can get about the job of knocking Manchester City off their bloody perch.
Tony Jay
@NobodySpecial:
That would fill me with great joy and would make next year’s El Classico a must-watch.
Mr Stagger Lee
Argentina has totally shown it’s @as
It is unknown if their coach will be at the last game.
Platonailedit
Nothing is working out for Uruguay in the 2nd half. So many missed chances.
Platonailedit
Finally, cavani scores after so many desperate attempts.
Amir Khalid
Saudi Arabia nick it at the death. 2-1 to them. They had nothing left to play for save pride, but pride is still something.
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
The People of Malaysia should take the DFB to court for a refund. There can be no statue of limitation on that offense!
HumboldtBlue
I just can’t back Iran. If they knock out Portugal, oh well, but I aint gonna back the bastards.
raven
Which is the better game?
HumboldtBlue
@raven:
Iran-Portugal, winners go through
Portugal goes through with win or draw.
raven
@HumboldtBlue: Cool that’s what I have on.
raven
I love “go through” ! The first time I became aware of the phrase was when Doc Martin would have people “go through” into the “surgery”!
raven
“He is down for a gaff”!!!!!!
SRW1
What boots are the Iranians wearing after Nike dropped them to obey the Trumpster boycott?
HumboldtBlue
Hate to have to do it, but have to give Russians credit, there have been no ugly incidents and no hooliganism.
HumboldtBlue
@SRW1:
Somebody gave them footwear, they aint playing barefoot.
HumboldtBlue
Iran loosely man-marking Ronaldo, always keep a player on his shoulder.
raven
@HumboldtBlue: And the trains are on time.
TomatoQueen
Well done Iran keeper for thwarting Cronny’s cheaty diving. Now tell your shouty player to zip it before he gets a red.
Tony Jay
Getting very tasty in the Portugal v Iran game since that Ronaldo penalty was saved. Iran looked like they were losing their heads for a while but the manager had a word and they’re pressing Portugal much better than they were before. Whenever they get the ball, that is.
Cards being flashed. Someone will be sent off if tempers keep rising.
Tony Jay
That could have, maybe should have, been a straight red for Ronaldo. Nasty little elbow to chin. But just a yellow.
And Spain now losing to Morocco. Wow.
SRW1
Jesus Holy F, Spain about to lose?
Barbara
@Tony Jay: If Spain loses, and Iran ties, Iran goes through, but if Spain loses and Iran loses, Spain goes through. So Iran must be really motivated to score at this point.
SRW1
… and penalty review. Don’t see how the Portuguese player could get his hand out of the way.
Barbara
Whoa — Spain trying to take control of its fate!
SRW1
And Spain equalizes.
ETA: … and tops the group.
Tony Jay
I’m not the biggest fan of Portugal but that was never a penalty. Literally the definition of ball to hand.
So 1-1 and oooh that should have been a winner for Iran.
Spain back to 2-2.
raven
@Barbara: you can’t control fate
Tony Jay
@Barbara:
They’ve had one gilt-edged chance but just lack the quality. Portugal looked dead on their feet by the end but Iran just left it too late.
Phew. Football, eh?
burnspbesq
Per the Guardian live-blog, both stoppage-time equalizers were questionable.
Spain wins the group and faces Russia in the round of 16.
I may actually root for Uruguay against Portugal.
Strongly recommend “Red Card,” the book about the joint FBI – IRS investigation into football corruption.
SRW1
@burnspbesq:
Everyone deserves a second
bitechance.burnspbesq
@SRW1:
If he bites Ronaldo, that’s not as good as biting Trump, but I can surely find a little forgiveness in my heart.
smintheus
Portugal has many reasons to be p#ss@d off. Iranian ‘fans’ were allowed to keep them up all night by Putin’s thugs. Then you have this idiot of a ref who keeps letting the Iranians game the game. The award of the penalty was beyond absurd.