Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Republicans in disarray!

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

People are weird.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Let me file that under fuck it.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Fear and negativity are contagious, but so is courage!

You are here: Home / Sports / World Cup / World Cup: The End Of Th Round Of 32

Reader Interactions

56Comments

  1. 1.

    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

  4. 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.

  6. 6.

    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.

  9. 9.

    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?

  10. 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. 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. 12.

    mali muso

    I really dislike Suarez, but given geopolitical events, any humiliation for Putin’s team is a-ok with me.

  13. 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.

  17. 17.

    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-)

  20. 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.”

  22. 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.

  24. 24.

    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.

  26. 26.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    Argentina has totally shown it’s @as
    It is unknown if their coach will be at the last game.

  29. 29.

    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.

  31. 31.

    HumboldtBlue

    I just can’t back Iran. If they knock out Portugal, oh well, but I aint gonna back the bastards.

  35. 35.

    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”!

  37. 37.

    SRW1

    What boots are the Iranians wearing after Nike dropped them to obey the Trumpster boycott?

  38. 38.

    HumboldtBlue

    Hate to have to do it, but have to give Russians credit, there have been no ugly incidents and no hooliganism.

  42. 42.

    TomatoQueen

    Well done Iran keeper for thwarting Cronny’s cheaty diving. Now tell your shouty player to zip it before he gets a red.

  43. 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. 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.

  46. 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. 47.

    SRW1

    … and penalty review. Don’t see how the Portuguese player could get his hand out of the way.

  50. 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.

    Spain back to 2-2.

  52. 52.

    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?

  53. 53.

    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.

  55. 55.

    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.

  56. 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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