I wonder if the Italians have a clause in the contract that pays them every time they fall on the ground when an opposing player gets close?
3.
Amir Khalid
Based on the luck that England have had at World Cup 2014 so far, I’m predicting a win for Costa Rica tonight.
ETA: … Or a draw. That will still knock England out, right?
4.
Alex S.
It will be interesting to see how good Costa Rica really is. I can’t imagine them winning though. 2-0 Italy.
After watching that first surprise Costa Rica win at the home of Tico friends who were ECSTATIC at the results, I have an emotional attachment for the team. But then again, my grandparents were Italian immigrants, so a win by Italy would suit me as well. Really just hoping to see a match that is more exciting than last night’s crapfest between Greece and Japan…
7.
Calouste
@Amir Khalid: The only way England go through is if Italy win both their next matches and England wins theirs. And probably they also need to win by more than one goal.
A statistic I heard yesterday: England haven’t won a World Cup match in which they conceded the first goal since the Final in 1966.
Because playing with numbers amuses me, I spent some time thinking of ways of breaking the group ranking system. It turns out to not be all that difficult to contrive situations where there’s a three-way or four-way tie in a given group. The easiest is the 12-point solution: All group matches end in ties, all of which have the same score (say 1-1). There are also 15-point solutions (3 teams, each of which has a win and two ties, plus one team that gets shut out), 16 point solutions (all four teams have one win, one loss, and one tie) and a 18 point solution (three teams with two wins each, one loser).
12.
piratedan
@dmsilev: easiest way is to see which refs are bought by which associations and then do a cost comparison….. :-)
13.
Morzer
I hope Costa Rica win, although if you had asked me before they played Uruguay, I would have predicted a walkover for Italy.
14.
scav
I’d nearly side with Amir in re Italy, were it not for the sneeking suspicion this WC is animate and tweeking the upset and suspense dials. (or it’s all really about The UK and prolonging their mathematical hope.) As for the diving, I find it as much an affected performance of masculinity and signaling as the carefully squared jaw and belt-buckle swagger post ignored obvious concussions. Peacocks got different tails but the same end goal. And, as an advertising ploy to attact referees, there are worse. Both extremes can be overdone, that is manifestly true — refs must have perfected the eye-roll by now. “You? Off on a stretcher. You? Off to the Emmys. Play Ball!”
15.
Valdivia
@Morzer:
Even we thought that too! Now we are too excited as a country!
Well then, for the honor of Costa Rica and Valdivia, ¡Vamos Ticos!
Costa Rica to win 2-1.
18.
Valdivia
@Morzer:
:) I hope so. I think we are doing a good job so far defending.
19.
scav
@Morzer: If it gets a result, we’ve seen the equivalent in boardrooms, courtrooms and on the floor of the stock-market. Advertising, “sneaky” self-promotion and flash.
20.
dmsilev
@piratedan: I wonder how much it would cost to buy sufficient referees to arrange for one of these pathological results. Just for giggles and to see what sort of contrivances FIFA would come up with to break the ties.
My wife and I enjoy imagining the impassioned appeals uttered to the referee by the latest cripple who will be miraculously healed 2 minutes later. Simple pleasures, but they entertain us.
22.
Amir Khalid
@dmsilev:
A few World Cups ago, my memory tells me (but I could be wrong about this), one group finished with each team having one win, one draw, one defeat, and one goal to its credit. I don’t remember how they sorted that one out.
23.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Valdivia: Hey, you are around. People have been asking about you – specifically in regard to the recent DC meet-up thing.
24.
raven
@Amir Khalid: Didn’t England have some guy that was about 6′ 7″ in the last WC?
25.
Morzer
Liz Windsor breathes again as Balotelli just misses.
Don’t ever say that Feefer never did anything for us!
30.
Valdivia
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): hi!
I was off line as I was traveling in Scandinavia. First vacation I’ve had since my dad got sick. It was great! :)
I’m going to have a heart attack in this game. That was close!
31.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
If one considers all possible outcomes (win, draw, loss) for all six matches in a group, there are 729 (= 3^6) different outcome combinations possible. However, a certain number (115) of these combinations lead to more than one team occupying the second place in the group. In such case, the ranking among these teams is determined as follows:[43]
Greatest combined goal difference in all group matches
Greatest combined number of goals scored in all group matches
If more than one team remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined as follows:
Greatest number of points in head-to-head matches among those teams
Greatest goal difference in head-to-head matches among those teams
Greatest number of goals scored in head-to-head matches among those teams
If any of the teams above remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined by the drawing of lots
So, the ultimate tie-breaker is indeed ‘pick numbers from a hat’.
Actually, 1994 had quite a few instances of teams finishing on equal points but being separated by goal difference, goals scored or head-to-head results.
42.
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: Costa Rica is no joke, they are most certainly on par with the second tier South American teams and they play the best defense in the Western hemisphere
43.
Alex S.
Should have been a penalty, and a yellow card, at least.
44.
raven
Tico’s!!!!!!!!!!!
45.
Valdivia
Si!!!!!!!!
And even with that jerk of a referee who stole the penalty from Campbell
46.
SRW1
Ole, Ole, Ole!!!
Sorry, that’s the only Spanish I know.
47.
HumboldtBlue
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL , well done!
48.
tsquared2001
Don’t start pouting like a little kid, Mario. He needs Marlon Brando to grab his face and say – You can act like a Man!
And the gambling high line pays off. Son of a bitch
49.
Alex S.
Really impressive, if Costa Rica can keep this up, they’ll be the biggest (positive) surprise of the tournament.
50.
Amir Khalid
Per the Beeb, former England striker Gary Lineker tweets:
“I know we’re reliant on them, but that’s no excuse for Italy to play like us.”
51.
HumboldtBlue
And the gambling high line pays off. Son of a bitch
No shit. They are also winning more than their share of 50-50 balls
Sorry I missed it. I’m always up for one. Even if I’m not online here. But this time I was enjoying the white nights of Helsinki and having lots of beer! :D
@HumboldtBlue: Italia looks like the Brazilian night life has got their claws in them. I hear that can happen but, boys, you make a shitload of money and can party in Rio whenever the fuck you want. On the other hand, maybe they just want England to not go through. I can get behind that plan, if a plan it be
Half-time: Italy 0-1 Costa Rica
Time for England players to make a decision on that always-tricky moral dilemma: to sneak some hotel towels and toiletries into your case before check-out or not. Unless Italy change dramatically in the second half, England are homeward bound. Costa Rica don’t look like letting this slip – they have been mostly solid at the back, dynamic all over and incisive going forward. They should really be two goals in front, Campbell having been refused a blatant penalty.
62.
Valdivia
@Morzer:
I jumped up and down and screamed so much my cats went to hide.
Ps lol, I’d be a super terrible sub ;)
@Baud:
:D I promise! It was such a hard year it was difficult to do anything but lurk and when I finally got the chance to get away I just took it. But I’ll tell next time.
63.
lol chikinburd
A denied clear penalty, and moments later ESPN gets to go to Ruud van Nistelrooy in studio. “Where was that penalty call?” “Um…, I eated it back in the 1990s.”
@Morzer: Haha. You got jokes. Unlike England, Italia will not be letting Suarez run free.
72.
HumboldtBlue
Italy is far from done, they are one long Pirlo pass that opens the back line and Balotelli finishes
73.
HumboldtBlue
Ticos can counter attack with Italy upfield
74.
tsquared2001
@SRW1: Why the hate for Italy? I know the diving is completely insane but Italy IS my first soccer love and I don’t like anybody talking shit about my baby.
75.
tsquared2001
@HumboldtBlue: From your voice to the futbal Gods ears
Nothing to do with hate. It’s just that tournaments like this live from underdogs doing the impossible (as long as it doesn’t happen at the expense of the baby I take no shit about, of course).
ETA: Actually, I am an admirer of Prandelli. That guy is a tactical genius.
What are the local conditions?. Hot and humid I supose, and not very conducive to European gentlemen, some of whom close to retirement, chasing after a ball. Any more detailed info available?
97.
HumboldtBlue
Well, not Howard, Ochoa and Guzan, but only because Ochoa has been standing on his head and has opened a lot of eyes, he wasn’t even going to be on the WC squad
98.
Alex S.
Italy’s last chance: Del Piero!
99.
tsquared2001
@Onkel Fritze: I think that is going a bit too far. How about the 78 Argentina side? How about Goddamn Germans? Seriously, everybody has got to hate the Germans.
100.
Morzer
Super Mario not looking so happy today. I guess Liz Windsor isn’t going to have to smooch him after all.
101.
HumboldtBlue
And yes, Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda is named for the former Russian premiere.
102.
Burnspbesq
Costa Rica does a great job in transition when they lose the ball. They get seven back in a big hurry.
Right now the Germans are rolling over and laughing at this performance by Italy. They must be seeing themselves strolling through to the finals now that their main European rivals have apparently collapsed. Spain have fallen, Italy look empty, Portugal are a one trick pony without its trick, and England.. well, probably not considered a rival these days.
105.
Burnspbesq
Michael Umana, who was an absolute bust in MLS, is holding his own against the best that Serie A has to offer. Go figure.
I can’t stand Italy, either, but I’m not taking them lightly. Three points (at worst) after the first two games of the group phase? Heh. Italy has looked worse than this at the same point in some recent major tournaments, only to end up in the finals.
@tsquared2001: Gesticulates madly with both hands while head and body shake with faux-rage while exclaiming in a loud voice the poor moral character of your mother
@SRW1: Wondering actually about a little extra oomph to it given the current economic situation actually.
138.
HumboldtBlue
@Burnspbesq: I am not surprised at all. I have commented earlier that the international gap in quality play has closed dramatically over the past 8 years
139.
Morzer
It warms the heart to see the fraternal embraces in the Costa Rican penalty area.
Yeah, I would, too. If Forlan was the same player he was four years ago, I might see it different, but…
150.
Burnspbesq
Hijo de pera. Costa Rica is through.
151.
piratedan
congrats to the Ticos, well deserved three points!
152.
Morzer
Well, heartiest congratulations to Costa Rica, both team and people. Valdivia the Terrible comes off the bench to lead the team to glory.
Roy Hodgson, you might want to register a pre-emptive appeal for mercy.
153.
HumboldtBlue
What a win. Fantastic, way to go, Ticos!
154.
Amir Khalid
After his failure at Liverpool, I figured Woy Hodgson didn’t really have the tactical nous or the force of character England needed in a manager. I was surprised at his appointment to this job, but not so much at the results he got. Hmm. I wonder if Mike Bassett is available?
155.
Morzer
Elizabeth Windsor @Queen_UK
Text from Roy Hodgson: “Football’s not coming home”. Neither are you lot, one can assure you. #WorldCup2014
156.
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: I believe you have started an internal and WC specific meme — The Ticos have an unheralded and previously unsuspected special weapon — Valdivia The Terrible.
I hope Randinho is paying attention
157.
Hill Dweller
Bob Ley and Mike Tirico are soooo self-conscious about their lack of soccer knowledge. They over-compensate by shoehorning superfluous stats into every damn sentence. It’s annoying.
158.
tsquared2001
Italia got undressed like a lady of the evening who was bought for the night.
That was…….quite disappointing.
159.
Burnspbesq
OK, that VW spot with Andres Cantor is awesome.
160.
Amir Khalid
@SRW1:
Hannibal Suarez could win it for Uruguay. Just the other day, he helped send half his club’s starting eleven back to England.
It makes for some damned amusing syntax though. They sound like the first run at a translation of a German manual for “how is the football to discuss”.
It might sound harsh, but this could be the failure that English soccer desperately needs. No more of the Olden Generation, for starters.
164.
burnspbesq
Ticos need a result against England to win the group. And they’ll want that result. You would much rather play Ivory Coast than Colombia in the round of 16.
165.
KG
@Hill Dweller: i think the problem is that American viewers are so used to sports that actually have more than three stats, so the announcers don’t know what to talk about.
also, was listening to the game on the radio, the Irish color commentator said one of the players was out there with no “jizz”. There was a bit of awkwardness in the booth for that one. then he had to explain what jizz meant in Irish slang.
Luis Suárez has said that Roy Hodgson made him more determined to beat England when he denied the striker was worthy of being called a “world-class” player.
Spunk, as used by Americans, always amuses the British, since for them it has the same meaning as “jizz” in the non-Irish sense of the word. Thus, to say that a girl “has a lot of spunk” is not quite the compliment one might intend to offer.
No doubt, Suarez is Uruguay’s weapon and as we have seen against England, Cavani is capable of delivering a fine cross.
I just think that Uruguay’s back line is somewhat suspect and Prandelli will find a way to neutralize, or at least diminish, the threat originating from Surez.
170.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
Who are they to be amused? They’re a nation well known for their seamen.
171.
KG
@Morzer: yeah, I’ve heard that one before… but it was just great because the play by play guy was like “um, what?” and when it was repeated he just says “oh, ok…”
172.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Woy’s plainly out of his depth, and England need a new manager as well as a generational change in the team. But alas, England’s FA can’t hear you.
173.
scav
tiki-taka -> tico
?
174.
big ole hound
@Morzer: L’Orange will beat the Germany for the last European team which will lose to a team from the Americas
I’d support that. Holland looked like the absolute world beaters in the group stage of Euro 2008 and then they got dispatched 3-0 by Russia without any resistance.
That’s been the Dutch story in most major tournaments since they lost in the ’78 WC final: They look magnificent in the group phase, they get shut down in the first round of the knockout phase. 2010 was the outlier.
185.
scav
@Morzer: V. good. all I could think of was Trifle, as Besos are South American, sigh, Reinas or no Reinas. How about Gooseberry?
Hard to bet against that, although I have a feeling that Mexico might spoil someone’s party before all is said and done.
191.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: There are a lot of very nice pubs in Chelsea. Not at all a dry place.
192.
mali muso
Well, my first comment got held up in moderation until the game was over, but I did get my wish. A very exciting game! Enjoyed the commentary. Sorry England. No luck today.
193.
daveNYC
@Amir Khalid: That’s pretty insane. You’d think that the smart move would be for Hodgson to resign with the the standard “I take responsibility for our poor performance… blah blah blah.” Right now he’s just setting himself up to be the most hated person in the country unless England crushes at the 2016 Euro Cup.
Nut up, take responsibility, fall on your sword, get a fat severance package. It’s the best way to go out looking somewhat good.
I don’t agree with you. England has some promising young players coming through. If they can find a way to strengthen the defense and give Sturridge a partner up front, Hodgson might well have a good team on his hands, just as Italy and Spain are fading.
197.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
The Spanish fade is likely to be temporary. They’ve won the last two Euro U-21s. At the U-20 worlds last year, they went unbeaten in a group that included eventual champions France, Ghana, and the US, before being upset by Uruguay in the quarters.
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Dave Ruddell
¡Vamos Ticos!
? Martin
I wonder if the Italians have a clause in the contract that pays them every time they fall on the ground when an opposing player gets close?
Amir Khalid
Based on the luck that England have had at World Cup 2014 so far, I’m predicting a win for Costa Rica tonight.
ETA: … Or a draw. That will still knock England out, right?
Alex S.
It will be interesting to see how good Costa Rica really is. I can’t imagine them winning though. 2-0 Italy.
raven
@Amir Khalid: I look to you for answers!
mali muso
(longtime lurker, first time commenter)
After watching that first surprise Costa Rica win at the home of Tico friends who were ECSTATIC at the results, I have an emotional attachment for the team. But then again, my grandparents were Italian immigrants, so a win by Italy would suit me as well. Really just hoping to see a match that is more exciting than last night’s crapfest between Greece and Japan…
Calouste
@Amir Khalid: The only way England go through is if Italy win both their next matches and England wins theirs. And probably they also need to win by more than one goal.
A statistic I heard yesterday: England haven’t won a World Cup match in which they conceded the first goal since the Final in 1966.
Valdivia
@Dave Ruddell: si!!! Exactly!
Onkel Fritze
@Amir Khalid: Right
Valdivia
@? Martin: also lots of elbows.
dmsilev
Because playing with numbers amuses me, I spent some time thinking of ways of breaking the group ranking system. It turns out to not be all that difficult to contrive situations where there’s a three-way or four-way tie in a given group. The easiest is the 12-point solution: All group matches end in ties, all of which have the same score (say 1-1). There are also 15-point solutions (3 teams, each of which has a win and two ties, plus one team that gets shut out), 16 point solutions (all four teams have one win, one loss, and one tie) and a 18 point solution (three teams with two wins each, one loser).
piratedan
@dmsilev: easiest way is to see which refs are bought by which associations and then do a cost comparison….. :-)
Morzer
I hope Costa Rica win, although if you had asked me before they played Uruguay, I would have predicted a walkover for Italy.
scav
I’d nearly side with Amir in re Italy, were it not for the sneeking suspicion this WC is animate and tweeking the upset and suspense dials. (or it’s all really about The UK and prolonging their mathematical hope.) As for the diving, I find it as much an affected performance of masculinity and signaling as the carefully squared jaw and belt-buckle swagger post ignored obvious concussions. Peacocks got different tails but the same end goal. And, as an advertising ploy to attact referees, there are worse. Both extremes can be overdone, that is manifestly true — refs must have perfected the eye-roll by now. “You? Off on a stretcher. You? Off to the Emmys. Play Ball!”
Valdivia
@Morzer:
Even we thought that too! Now we are too excited as a country!
Morzer
@scav:
“Referee, I am blind. I can’t feel my toes! Tell me truly, will I ever play the violin again?!”
Morzer
@Valdivia:
Well then, for the honor of Costa Rica and Valdivia, ¡Vamos Ticos!
Costa Rica to win 2-1.
Valdivia
@Morzer:
:) I hope so. I think we are doing a good job so far defending.
scav
@Morzer: If it gets a result, we’ve seen the equivalent in boardrooms, courtrooms and on the floor of the stock-market. Advertising, “sneaky” self-promotion and flash.
dmsilev
@piratedan: I wonder how much it would cost to buy sufficient referees to arrange for one of these pathological results. Just for giggles and to see what sort of contrivances FIFA would come up with to break the ties.
Morzer
@scav:
My wife and I enjoy imagining the impassioned appeals uttered to the referee by the latest cripple who will be miraculously healed 2 minutes later. Simple pleasures, but they entertain us.
Amir Khalid
@dmsilev:
A few World Cups ago, my memory tells me (but I could be wrong about this), one group finished with each team having one win, one draw, one defeat, and one goal to its credit. I don’t remember how they sorted that one out.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Valdivia: Hey, you are around. People have been asking about you – specifically in regard to the recent DC meet-up thing.
raven
@Amir Khalid: Didn’t England have some guy that was about 6′ 7″ in the last WC?
Morzer
Liz Windsor breathes again as Balotelli just misses.
scav
@Morzer: see? a complete entertainment package!
tsquared2001
Can the Ticos beat the four-time champ?
Nope. SATSQ. Azzurri!
Amir Khalid
Why are Italy so nervous?
Morzer
@scav:
Don’t ever say that Feefer never did anything for us!
Valdivia
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): hi!
I was off line as I was traveling in Scandinavia. First vacation I’ve had since my dad got sick. It was great! :)
I’m going to have a heart attack in this game. That was close!
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@raven:
Peter Crouch
dmsilev
@Amir Khalid: Wikipedia says:
So, the ultimate tie-breaker is indeed ‘pick numbers from a hat’.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
Might be that they watched the Uruguayan humiliation and would prefer not to be victim #2.
HumboldtBlue
Ticos courting disaster with that off-side trap, Pirlo is gonna carve them up from 40 yards out
Calouste
@Amir Khalid:
That was in the 1990 World Cup, and it was between Ireland and the Netherlands. It was resolved by drawing lots.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Valdivia: Cool – about the Scandinavia trip not the heart attack, of course.
Valdivia
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
So there was a meet up here and I missed it? :( I haz a sad.
raven
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again): Thanks!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Valdivia: Just a week or so ago. Dee Loralei was in your neck of the woods and people got together in Alexandria. You were asked about and missed.
Morzer
I am really enjoying Costa Rica’s approach to this game. Italy are wise not to underestimate them.
Calouste
@Calouste:
Actually, 1994 had quite a few instances of teams finishing on equal points but being separated by goal difference, goals scored or head-to-head results.
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: Costa Rica is no joke, they are most certainly on par with the second tier South American teams and they play the best defense in the Western hemisphere
Alex S.
Should have been a penalty, and a yellow card, at least.
raven
Tico’s!!!!!!!!!!!
Valdivia
Si!!!!!!!!
And even with that jerk of a referee who stole the penalty from Campbell
SRW1
Ole, Ole, Ole!!!
Sorry, that’s the only Spanish I know.
HumboldtBlue
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL , well done!
tsquared2001
Don’t start pouting like a little kid, Mario. He needs Marlon Brando to grab his face and say – You can act like a Man!
And the gambling high line pays off. Son of a bitch
Alex S.
Really impressive, if Costa Rica can keep this up, they’ll be the biggest (positive) surprise of the tournament.
Amir Khalid
Per the Beeb, former England striker Gary Lineker tweets:
“I know we’re reliant on them, but that’s no excuse for Italy to play like us.”
HumboldtBlue
No shit. They are also winning more than their share of 50-50 balls
Amir Khalid
There, what did I tell you guys?
Morzer
Costa Rica, fuck yeah!
Baud
@Valdivia:
Welcome back. You were missed. Don’t leave again without telling us!
Valdivia
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
Sorry I missed it. I’m always up for one. Even if I’m not online here. But this time I was enjoying the white nights of Helsinki and having lots of beer! :D
Morzer
@Baud:
Could the Ticos have been holding Valdivia in reserve? Sort of like a super-sub?
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
You jinxed the jinx!
Morzer
@SRW1:
I think that’s known as reverse-jinxing.
Morzer
Wow, tunnel-fight between the two teams!
Give them the chair! Or maybe the bench.
tsquared2001
@HumboldtBlue: Italia looks like the Brazilian night life has got their claws in them. I hear that can happen but, boys, you make a shitload of money and can party in Rio whenever the fuck you want. On the other hand, maybe they just want England to not go through. I can get behind that plan, if a plan it be
Morzer
This is the Guardian’s summary of the half:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/20/italy-v-costa-rica-world-cup-2014-live-england
Valdivia
@Morzer:
I jumped up and down and screamed so much my cats went to hide.
Ps lol, I’d be a super terrible sub ;)
@Baud:
:D I promise! It was such a hard year it was difficult to do anything but lurk and when I finally got the chance to get away I just took it. But I’ll tell next time.
lol chikinburd
A denied clear penalty, and moments later ESPN gets to go to Ruud van Nistelrooy in studio. “Where was that penalty call?” “Um…, I eated it back in the 1990s.”
Morzer
@tsquared2001:
You realize that if Italy lose this game and then lose to Uruguay, they’ll be joining England on the long flight home?
Morzer
@Valdivia:
Valdivia the Terrible doesn’t sound like a bad sub to me.
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
@Morzer:
If only English footbal were as good as English snark is dry.
Baud
@Valdivia:
I’m going hold you to that! ;-)
Valdivia
@Morzer:
Biggest grin. I kind of like that. :)
SRW1
@Morzer:
Man, I tipped Italy to top the group, but I wouldn’t mind to have egg in the face if that is how it plays out.
Paul in KY
@Morzer: That would be wild!
tsquared2001
@Morzer: Haha. You got jokes. Unlike England, Italia will not be letting Suarez run free.
HumboldtBlue
Italy is far from done, they are one long Pirlo pass that opens the back line and Balotelli finishes
HumboldtBlue
Ticos can counter attack with Italy upfield
tsquared2001
@SRW1: Why the hate for Italy? I know the diving is completely insane but Italy IS my first soccer love and I don’t like anybody talking shit about my baby.
tsquared2001
@HumboldtBlue: From your voice to the futbal Gods ears
Morzer
@tsquared2001:
Well, Suarez is no Joe Campbell…
Morzer
@tsquared2001:
Dude, you talk plenty of smack about other teams. You’ve got no right to complain if other people talk it about the Flopping Berlusconis.
Burnspbesq
Navas is having a good tournament. Especially noteworthy since he’s maybe the seventh best keeper in CONCACAF.
Onkel Fritze
@tsquared2001: The Italian team is history`s greatest monster,
SRW1
@tsquared2001:
Nothing to do with hate. It’s just that tournaments like this live from underdogs doing the impossible (as long as it doesn’t happen at the expense of the baby I take no shit about, of course).
ETA: Actually, I am an admirer of Prandelli. That guy is a tactical genius.
HumboldtBlue
It’s so easy to hate the Italians. And enjoyable.
Morzer
@Onkel Fritze:
After the German Second XI (sorry, I meant to say the Argentinians) and Barack Obama, of course.
HumboldtBlue
@Burnspbesq: He’s the third best keeper in La Liga
Morzer
@HumboldtBlue:
Are you including Eek.. er… Casillas in that assessment?
HumboldtBlue
Diaz bombing down the left flank has been key, he’s got a great stride
NotMax
Howzabout a short ‘n’ swift Brazilian interlude?
Tico Tico
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: Iker was a backup, he hasn’t played in a year
Morzer
@HumboldtBlue:
Forcing Italy to take off Candreva is a big win for the Ticos. He’s been the architect of most of Italy’s better moves in this WC.
tsquared2001
@Morzer: So not a biter? That is a low bar but he did get over it. Well done Campbell.
Right now Italy looks slow and old and the defense looks like shite.
Calouste
Irrespective of the outcome of this match, does anyone see England beating this Costa Rica team? No takers? I thought so.
Morzer
@HumboldtBlue:
Poor Igor! I was actually joking about him. It is an ex-Iker, it has ceased to be.
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: Good point, he was the one who drove Italy to the win over England as well by attacking Rooney
Morzer
@Calouste:
Poor old Roy Hodgson, reflecting on how this is the way his universe ends, not with a bang but a whimper.
Burnspbesq
@HumboldtBlue:
If you were building a team from scratch, would you take him ahead of Howard, Ochoa, Guzan, Peneido, de Jesus Corona, or Rimando?
HumboldtBlue
@Burnspbesq: Nope
SRW1
@tsquared2001:
What are the local conditions?. Hot and humid I supose, and not very conducive to European gentlemen, some of whom close to retirement, chasing after a ball. Any more detailed info available?
HumboldtBlue
Well, not Howard, Ochoa and Guzan, but only because Ochoa has been standing on his head and has opened a lot of eyes, he wasn’t even going to be on the WC squad
Alex S.
Italy’s last chance: Del Piero!
tsquared2001
@Onkel Fritze: I think that is going a bit too far. How about the 78 Argentina side? How about Goddamn Germans? Seriously, everybody has got to hate the Germans.
Morzer
Super Mario not looking so happy today. I guess Liz Windsor isn’t going to have to smooch him after all.
HumboldtBlue
And yes, Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda is named for the former Russian premiere.
Burnspbesq
Costa Rica does a great job in transition when they lose the ball. They get seven back in a big hurry.
And Mario the Petulant Child makes an appearance.
SRW1
@Morzer:
You think Mario B. might know how to spell hubris if this is how the game ends?
Morzer
@tsquared2001:
Right now the Germans are rolling over and laughing at this performance by Italy. They must be seeing themselves strolling through to the finals now that their main European rivals have apparently collapsed. Spain have fallen, Italy look empty, Portugal are a one trick pony without its trick, and England.. well, probably not considered a rival these days.
Burnspbesq
Michael Umana, who was an absolute bust in MLS, is holding his own against the best that Serie A has to offer. Go figure.
Morzer
@SRW1:
I am sure her Maj will be happy to send him a polite note of condolence.
tsquared2001
@Morzer: I got NO problem with smack talking but just a little bit (you know, like on the side) respect for the FOUR time champions.
All the time with the giveaways. Just killing me.
HumboldtBlue
@Burnspbesq: They’re composure has been excellent as well. Italy can add pressure to pressurized situations and the Ticos are handling it very well
scav
Is there a certain populist underdog unexpected theme developing all in all? Or is this par for the course?
Onkel Fritze
@tsquared2001: Ich nicht. I love ’em.
Morzer
@Burnspbesq:
He’s probably not distracted by a detaching wig and sagging plastic surgery. That has to help in the heat.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
I envy your gift of understatement.
Valdivia
@HumboldtBlue: we have a tradition of using world famous names. It can be quite amusing. ;)
HumboldtBlue
@tsquared2001: They may be four-time champs but they’re still Italy and easily hateable. Just because.
Morzer
@tsquared2001:
This team aren’t four time champions. Right now they look like first round busts. Sorry, but them’s the facts.
SRW1
@Morzer:
‘We were not amused”
Best
Liz
tsquared2001
@Morzer: No chance in hell. The Germans, as history has shown, are front runners.
Burnspbesq
Somewhere, Paulo Wanchope and Hernan Medford are shaking their heads and smiling.
Amir Khalid
Had England defended like Costa Rica are doing today, they’d likely be top of the group.
Morzer
Pirlo seems to be compulsively flattening an uneven part of the pitch. Now that’s public spirit for you!
SRW1
@scav:
A giant tripping up always results in an oversupply of Schadenfreude. Nasty people, these football afficionados.
scav
@SRW1:
XXmight be gilding the lily.Burnspbesq
Great run, great pass … Not so great shot.
HumboldtBlue
@Burnspbesq: Other than Honduras, CONCACAF has had an outstanding first round
Morzer
@SRW1:
We need more bipartisan centrists in the beautiful game, because, as we all know, both sides do it.
scav
@SRW1: The hoi, the hoi-manity.
tsquared2001
Dang.
@morzer @humboldtblue @onkel fritze – obviously, I came to the wrong open world cup thread.
Valdivia
@Burnspbesq: we are dying here counting the minutes down.
SRW1
@Morzer:
Almost as in real life.
Burnspbesq
@HumboldtBlue:
As Americans, we shouldn’t be surprised by Costa Rica. They’ve kicked our ass a time or two.
SRW1
@scav:
It’s a working class ‘sport’. What you expect?
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@Morzer:
Belgium, France and Switzerland are all capable of giving the Germans hell. Maybe Croatia is, too.
@SRW1:
I can’t stand Italy, either, but I’m not taking them lightly. Three points (at worst) after the first two games of the group phase? Heh. Italy has looked worse than this at the same point in some recent major tournaments, only to end up in the finals.
Alex S.
Italy’s very last chance: Maldini!
Onkel Fritze
@tsquared2001: To the wrong World Cup, maybe?
HumboldtBlue
@tsquared2001: Gesticulates madly with both hands while head and body shake with faux-rage while exclaiming in a loud voice the poor moral character of your mother
Morzer
@tsquared2001:
Always look on the bright side of life…
scav
@SRW1: Wondering actually about a little extra oomph to it given the current economic situation actually.
HumboldtBlue
@Burnspbesq: I am not surprised at all. I have commented earlier that the international gap in quality play has closed dramatically over the past 8 years
Morzer
It warms the heart to see the fraternal embraces in the Costa Rican penalty area.
tsquared2001
Cassano needs to call the cops over that mugging
SRW1
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):
Well, this doesn’t knock out Italy. It merely turns Italy-Uruguay into a win-or-die game for both sides.
Given the squads, and especially the coach, I’d actually consider Italy the favorite in that game.
HumboldtBlue
Diaz on defense has been outstanding
Alex S.
Interesting. In the group of death, with 3 former world champions, nobody gave a thought to the fourth team.
Burnspbesq
@tsquared2001:
That’s the Umana that Galaxy fans thought we were getting in 2005: commanding physical presence in the box.
tsquared2001
If I could whistle, I would be whistling my ass off right now. Like call the cops whistling
Onkel Fritze
England and Spain can share a ride now.
Valdivia
Yes yes yes
SRW1
That was not on the horizon. Well done Costa Rica!
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@SRW1:
Yeah, I would, too. If Forlan was the same player he was four years ago, I might see it different, but…
Burnspbesq
Hijo de pera. Costa Rica is through.
piratedan
congrats to the Ticos, well deserved three points!
Morzer
Well, heartiest congratulations to Costa Rica, both team and people. Valdivia the Terrible comes off the bench to lead the team to glory.
Roy Hodgson, you might want to register a pre-emptive appeal for mercy.
HumboldtBlue
What a win. Fantastic, way to go, Ticos!
Amir Khalid
After his failure at Liverpool, I figured Woy Hodgson didn’t really have the tactical nous or the force of character England needed in a manager. I was surprised at his appointment to this job, but not so much at the results he got. Hmm. I wonder if Mike Bassett is available?
Morzer
HumboldtBlue
@Morzer: I believe you have started an internal and WC specific meme — The Ticos have an unheralded and previously unsuspected special weapon — Valdivia The Terrible.
I hope Randinho is paying attention
Hill Dweller
Bob Ley and Mike Tirico are soooo self-conscious about their lack of soccer knowledge. They over-compensate by shoehorning superfluous stats into every damn sentence. It’s annoying.
tsquared2001
Italia got undressed like a lady of the evening who was bought for the night.
That was…….quite disappointing.
Burnspbesq
OK, that VW spot with Andres Cantor is awesome.
Amir Khalid
@SRW1:
Hannibal Suarez could win it for Uruguay. Just the other day, he helped send half his club’s starting eleven back to England.
Morzer
@Hill Dweller:
It makes for some damned amusing syntax though. They sound like the first run at a translation of a German manual for “how is the football to discuss”.
Valdivia
@HumboldtBlue: @Morzer:
Ok guys now I’m taking up the moniker for sure ;)
I’ll be there for the next game!
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
It might sound harsh, but this could be the failure that English soccer desperately needs. No more of the Olden Generation, for starters.
burnspbesq
Ticos need a result against England to win the group. And they’ll want that result. You would much rather play Ivory Coast than Colombia in the round of 16.
KG
@Hill Dweller: i think the problem is that American viewers are so used to sports that actually have more than three stats, so the announcers don’t know what to talk about.
also, was listening to the game on the radio, the Irish color commentator said one of the players was out there with no “jizz”. There was a bit of awkwardness in the booth for that one. then he had to explain what jizz meant in Irish slang.
Amir Khalid
From The Guardian:
Woy lit a fire under the wrong guy.
Morzer
@KG:
Spunk, as used by Americans, always amuses the British, since for them it has the same meaning as “jizz” in the non-Irish sense of the word. Thus, to say that a girl “has a lot of spunk” is not quite the compliment one might intend to offer.
Burnspbesq
Headline at ticotimes.net:
“How You Like Us Now!”
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
No doubt, Suarez is Uruguay’s weapon and as we have seen against England, Cavani is capable of delivering a fine cross.
I just think that Uruguay’s back line is somewhat suspect and Prandelli will find a way to neutralize, or at least diminish, the threat originating from Surez.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@Morzer:
Who are they to be amused? They’re a nation well known for their seamen.
KG
@Morzer: yeah, I’ve heard that one before… but it was just great because the play by play guy was like “um, what?” and when it was repeated he just says “oh, ok…”
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
Woy’s plainly out of his depth, and England need a new manager as well as a generational change in the team. But alas, England’s FA can’t hear you.
scav
tiki-taka -> tico
?
big ole hound
@Morzer: L’Orange will beat the Germany for the last European team which will lose to a team from the Americas
SRW1
@scav:
Shouldn’t it be the other way round?
tico > tiki-taka
and for the particular combination of countries it should be
tico > catenaccio
(though catenaccio is more the Greek style these days)
Morzer
@scav:
Tico-taco, with a Uruguayan filling and an Italian sauce.
Morzer
@big ole hound:
Don’t put too many bets on that. Germany has a more complete team and the Dutch are notoriously inconsistent.
scav
@SRW1: I used my arrow for movement but yours might even be better as it looks like munching! so @Morzer is getting quite into the spirit of things.
ETA forget lego animations, let’s do recaps using lunchfoods.
SRW1
@Morzer:
I’d support that. Holland looked like the absolute world beaters in the group stage of Euro 2008 and then they got dispatched 3-0 by Russia without any resistance.
SRW1
@Morzer:
What’s the English desert gonna be?
cokane
@burnspbesq: they have a 3 goal edge over italy, 4 over uruguay. they just need for that gap to not be crossed.
to clarify, at best italy or uruguay can tie CR on points. and CR has a big edge on the first tiebreaker.
Morzer
@SRW1:
Rhubarb Crumble.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@SRW1: England doesn’t have deserts. Okay, culturally speaking, Essex qualifies, but still…
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@SRW1:
That’s been the Dutch story in most major tournaments since they lost in the ’78 WC final: They look magnificent in the group phase, they get shut down in the first round of the knockout phase. 2010 was the outlier.
scav
@Morzer: V. good. all I could think of was Trifle, as Besos are South American, sigh, Reinas or no Reinas. How about Gooseberry?
Calouste
@big ole hound:
That only works if one of them doesn’t win their group. If they both win their groups the first time they can meet is in the final.
I think Brazil-Germany and Argentina-Holland look like the most likely semi-finals at the moment.
Morzer
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
There’s always Chelsea. A desert of parked buses…
Morzer
@scav:
Gooseberry Fool, perhaps?
Calouste
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again):
Well, most major tournaments except the 88, 92, 2000 and 2004 Euros, and the 98 and 2010 World Cups.
Morzer
@Calouste:
Hard to bet against that, although I have a feeling that Mexico might spoil someone’s party before all is said and done.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: There are a lot of very nice pubs in Chelsea. Not at all a dry place.
mali muso
Well, my first comment got held up in moderation until the game was over, but I did get my wish. A very exciting game! Enjoyed the commentary. Sorry England. No luck today.
daveNYC
@Amir Khalid: That’s pretty insane. You’d think that the smart move would be for Hodgson to resign with the the standard “I take responsibility for our poor performance… blah blah blah.” Right now he’s just setting himself up to be the most hated person in the country unless England crushes at the 2016 Euro Cup.
Nut up, take responsibility, fall on your sword, get a fat severance package. It’s the best way to go out looking somewhat good.
Morzer
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
I was thinking in soccer terms.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: I know, but what fun is that?
Morzer
@daveNYC:
I don’t agree with you. England has some promising young players coming through. If they can find a way to strengthen the defense and give Sturridge a partner up front, Hodgson might well have a good team on his hands, just as Italy and Spain are fading.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@Calouste:
You’re right. My memory has conflated a couple of disappointing knockout phase losses into all of ’em.
Burnspbesq
@Morzer:
The Spanish fade is likely to be temporary. They’ve won the last two Euro U-21s. At the U-20 worlds last year, they went unbeaten in a group that included eventual champions France, Ghana, and the US, before being upset by Uruguay in the quarters.