Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

He imagines himself as The Big Bad, Who Is Universally Feared… instead of The Big Jagoff, Who Is Universally Mocked.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

Washington Post’s Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

Bark louder, little dog.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

Maybe you would prefer that we take Joelle’s side in ALL CAPS?

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Republicans in disarray!

A consequence of cucumbers

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

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World Cup Quarterfinals Morning Open Thread: Croatia vs Brazil

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Al Jazeera:

Croatia is bracing itself for a “terrifying” Brazilian squad that’s eyeing its sixth World Cup after convincingly thumping South Korea 4-1 in the round of 16.

“Brazil is the favourite, let’s face it,” Croatia’s manager Zlatko Dalic told reporters in Doha on Tuesday. “Brazil is the most powerful and the best national team at the World Cup.”…

Croatia, who stunned Japan 3-1 on penalties in their first elimination match after drawing 1-1 — their third tie of the tournament, apart from steamrolling Canada 4-1 — head into Friday’s match a colossal underdog, despite their runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup…

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Tuesday Afternoon World Cup Open Thread: Portugal vs Switzerland

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SportsMole:

After both qualified for the World Cup knockout phase with two wins from three, Group H winners Portugal meet Group G runners-up Switzerland at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.

In one of just two all-European ties amid a diverse last 16, two teams who experienced very different fortunes in their final group fixtures contest a precious place in the quarter-finals.

A successful start to their Qatar 2022 campaign left Portugal needing just a point in the final round of group matches to be certain of finishing first, and qualification for the knockout stages had already been assured…

When they last met their Swiss counterparts in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, there were two very different outcomes in the space of a few days: Portugal were comprehensive 4-0 winners in Lisbon – with Ronaldo bagging a first-half brace – before Switzerland then turned the tables with a 1-0 victory in Geneva.

After that summertime win in the Nations League, Switzerland went on to beat both Spain and the Czech Republic in the same competition, before kicking off their improbable quest for a first World Cup by winning two of their first three games in Qatar…

The Swiss have never before won three matches at a single World Cup finals, and have failed to reach the quarter-finals in their past seven attempts, but just 90 minutes – plus perhaps a little more – now separates Murat Yakin’s side from such a feat this year.

Not since they hosted the World Cup in 1954 have Switzerland reached the last eight, but having seen off neighbours and reigning world champions France to make the quarters at last year’s Euros, a squad well versed in the ebbs and flows of knockout football will surely fancy their chances on Tuesday.

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Tuesday Morning World Cup Open Thread: Morocco vs Spain

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SportsMole:

The penultimate World Cup 2022 last-16 battle takes place at the Education City Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, as Morocco pit their wits against Spain.

La Roja finished second in Group E to set up a tie with their African counterparts, who fended off Croatia and Belgium to finish first in Group F.

With the golden generation of Belgium under-performing and 2018 runners-up Croatia struggling to find a consistent attacking spark, Morocco took full advantage to claim a surprising first-placed finish in Group F with seven points from nine on offer.

Even in their goalless draw with Croatia, the plaudits largely went to Walid Regragui’s men, who followed that point up with successive wins over Belgium and Canada to become one of only two African teams in the last 16 of the World Cup – the other being Senegal…

Luis Enrique did not pull any punches as his side failed to hang on to a one-goal lead against Japan on the final matchday in Group E, where Alvaro Morata’s 11th-minute opener ultimately counted for very little against Hajime Moriyasu and his perennial super subs.

Spain were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup in the last 16, but they have never suffered back-to-back exits at this point of the competition, and their tally of nine goals in the group stage was the joint-highest alongside England.

Morocco and Spain will be locking horns in the World Cup four years on from meeting in the group stages in Russia, where La Roja were indebted to a late Iago Aspas equaliser in a 2-2 draw, and a similarly close contest should be on the menu at the Education City Stadium.

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Monday Afternoon World Cup Open Thread: Brazil vs South Korea

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I get the feeling South Korea is officially ‘just happy to have made it this far’, but…

SportsMole:

South Korea will aim to pull off yet another World Cup 2022 shock when they take on five-time champions Brazil in Monday’s last-16 showdown at Stadium 974.

The Selecao finished top of Group G on goal difference, while Paulo Bento’s men stunned Portugal on the final day in Group H to qualify for the knockouts in second place…

Slow starts have been a theme for the five-time champions at the Qatar tournament so far, and they have now gone five World Cup matches without scoring in the first half, which will need to be rectified should they wish to hang on to their favourites tag a little while longer.

Nevertheless, the Selecao have now qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup for the ninth time in a row, and it has been 32 years since Brazil were last knocked out in the round of 16, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Argentina courtesy of Claudio Caniggia’s strike….

A historic all-Asian quarter-final at the World Cup is now a real possibility following the events of Friday afternoon, where South Korea recovered from Ricardo Horta’s early goal for Portugal to stun the 2016 European champions and advance to the knockout stages.

Neither Uruguay nor Portugal – albeit a heavily altered one – possessed the formula for success against South Korea, who could potentially meet near neighbours Japan in the quarter-finals, although their fellow Asians face their own daunting last-16 clash with Croatia on Monday as well.

The Tigers of Asia have only ever managed to progress beyond the last 16 at the World Cup once, reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 edition amid a wave of officiating controversy, and they locked horns with Brazil as recently as June, but that friendly match ended in a comprehensive 5-1 defeat.

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Monday Morning World Cup Open Thread: Japan vs Croatia

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I don’t pretend to understand soccer, but I do enjoy anime…

CNN:

In a World Cup of surprises, Japan has played a leading role in headline-making shock results.

Not many would have predicted that the Samurai Blue would beat both Spain and Germany to top Group E in qualifying for the knockouts, but so impressive has the team been that not many would now raise an eyebrow if Japan was to progress to the quarterfinals for the first time in its history…

First to the match in Al Wakrah. Croatia is a team undefeated in nine of its last 10 World Cup matches. Its only loss in that run coming in Russia four years ago when a Kylian Mbappé-inspired France secured a 4-2 win in the final.

Coach Zlatko Dalić told reporters Sunday that the country had performed brilliantly over the years and become a force in world football.

“The population of Croatia is four million and the results we have achieved on the world stage are miraculous,” said Dalić, per Reuters.

“We are continually present in tournaments and World Cups, and that itself is a great success. We have become a world football force.”

While Croatia, unbeaten in Qatar, has never lost in the last 16 in its previous two World Cup matches at this stage, Japan has never progressed beyond the round-of-16, suffering defeat in 2002, 2010 and 2018…

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Sunday Afternoon World Cup Open Thread: England vs Senegal

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SportsMole:

Vying for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, England and last-16 opponents Senegal go head-to-head at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.

After Gareth Southgate’s side topped Group B by beating Wales, a first-ever meeting between the nations sees the Three Lions tackle the Lions of Teranga, who made it through to the knockout rounds thanks to a crucial intervention from their captain.

Defying their doubters again, England’s second-half showing in Tuesday’s final group game saw them not only sweep aside their Welsh neighbours, but also reach the last 16 of Qatar 2022 as Group B winners…

Now set to meet Group A runners-up Senegal in Al Khor, England have yet to lose in 20 matches against African opposition, so Southgate’s current crop surely start as favourites to progress on Sunday.

Their quest for an elusive second World Cup started in the aftermath of an awful run of results through 2022 – during which time they were relegated from the top tier of UEFA’s Nations League – but a return to form for Manchester United pair Rashford and Harry Maguire has played its part in building momentum behind their Qatari campaign.

Despite their near misses, England have also accrued plenty of tournament experience over the past few years, so will kick off their last-16 clash brimful of confidence too.

Senegal should not lack in that most precious of commodities either, as they arrived in the Middle East as African champions and have since negotiated safe passage to the knockout phase for just a second time.

Edging out Ecuador in a winner-takes-all contest, they were indebted to captain Kalidou Koulibaly for his 70th-minute winner at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday…

While African teams have lost eight of nine World Cup knockout matches against European opponents to date – the sole exception being a Senegalese win over Sweden – if it comes to spot-kicks the Lions of Teranga could therefore hold a distinct edge over their English counterparts, who have so often seen shootouts result in painful failure.

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Sunday Morning World Cup Open Thread: France vs Poland

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Al Jazeera:

France will start their World Cup last-16 clash as overwhelming favourites but Poland are well equipped to derail Les Bleus’ title defence at Al Thumama Stadium.

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