“Do you consider international soccer an excuse to celebrate past military victories? Yes? USA”
That’s so damn true
5.
Morzer
Japan to win 2-0.
6.
humboldtblue
25 goals scored through seven games, four years ago it was nine
7.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): I am, too, now that I’ve gotten a look at their kit. Anyone willing to appear on global television wearing that shade of orange is presumed awesome.
I don’t know who to pull for here! Japan would be an upset, but I have a soft spot for Cote d’Ivoire.
Incidentally…I always say Cote d’Ivoire instead of Ivory Coast because, I don’t know, I’m pretentious…but then obviously that name has some kind of colonial connotation. I wonder how residents of the country feel about it, and what name they prefer? And yes, I’m insufferable, sorry. Just like to think about things like this.
13.
humboldtblue
My 3-year old grand niece plays fiercer defense keeping me from her toys than IC does in defending
Despite the Ivorian government’s request, the English translation “Ivory Coast” (sometimes “the Ivory Coast”) is still frequently used in English, by various media outlets and publications
@Alison: I have a couple of former colleagues from Côte d’Ivoire, and I am the same as you: I always use the French name (because my friends, natives of the country, do) and I am rooting for them in this match.
Okay, I’ve got a bit of a problem with that. It is a near-universal practice to refer to countries by their names in one’s own language. Spaniards refer to England as “Inglaterra,” and I haven’t heard of Japan demanding to be called “Nippon.”
If I were talking with friends or colleagues from there, I would also use “Côte d’Ivoire” out of politeness, but if I were writing something for publication I would use “Ivory Coast.”
22.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Steeplejack: I think most countries don’t care. They do. For whatever reason.
Yeah, it does sound like that. I was wondering what was producing those trumpet-like blats. I would have thought all likely-looking instruments would have been suppressed.
Generally you want a traditional Italian or Argentinean team for drama, flopping, brutal fouls and impersonations of cripples robbed by heartless thugs.
31.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: Yep. An Italy vs. Argentina march would probably sweep the Oscars.
32.
scav
I either get kicked off the chart or I’m wandering down with the Cote d’Ivory (splitting the difference) or Ghana. I have to lie a bit to get to Belgium.
@SiubhanDuinne: That’s what i was looking for – what do people from there call it. Obviously they won’t all be the same, but I’ll defer to the anecdata we have and stick with the fancy French name :)
Kolo Toure as well as Yaya Toure. I guess we have to include Khal Drogba, if only to keep the Chelsea fans happy.
40.
? Martin
@scav: I get pretty directly to Belgium assuming I reject the US. My grandmother – the WWII nurse I’ve spoken of, was not liked by her parents. Not kidding about that in any way. In an act of rebellion she bought a car (in the 30s, in New York City) which was a black Ford. She named it ‘Satan’ and hung a little devil figurine from the rear mirror. Her parents and sister were impossibly Catholic – her sister went to church nearly every day of her life. Needless to say that didn’t help the relationship.
So team nicknamed after Satan? I’m all over that. And I would like to support a team that can at least get out of the group.
I’m still hopeful that the US will advance. There’s a non-zero probability that a meteor will hit Ronaldo in the next few days, and with Brazil at the equator that probability is slightly higher than usual.
41.
? Martin
@Morzer: Oh, right. I always forget about him. (Everton fan)
I’ve seen that on three teams so far, so I guess it must mean something.
UPDATE: Apparently Puma is making their athletes wear said shoes.
It’s good of the CIV to provide a free pitch-rolling service to Brazil.
46.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@? Martin: I thought Cristiano Ronaldo was annoying before I went to China. Six weeks seeing him on every other billboard and every third TV commercial in Xi’an convinced that he is, in fact, the most irritating person on the planet.
Well, either him or Football Spice; he was plastered all over the place, too.
47.
? Martin
I guess we need to count Bony after all.
48.
Violet
Elephants!
49.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
I guess that counts as one of the greatest substitutions of all time, even if Drogba didn’t actually score either goal
50.
? Martin
Wow. Japan has just unravelled here.
51.
Morzer
Well, that’s soccer for you. Can the Japanese strike back?
52.
Steeplejack
Quick one-two punch. Crunch time for Japan Nippon.
53.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
So… Um… Holy fuck.
54.
Gin & Tonic
Univision is calling it “Costa de Marfil”. That’s the only TV I get.
55.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
I missed why Drogba wasn’t starting. Can someone catch me up?
56.
Gin & Tonic
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): I remember when you were going there, and envy the experience. Very interesting food in Xi’an.
Apparently derived from the Arabic for.. shock, horror.. “elephant bone”.
68.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Awesome. With Buffalo Wild Wings filling up for the UFC fight I volunteered to sit out on the patio so that they had another table to seat people. (It’s enclosed but for some reason they weren’t seating it tonight.) It’s got TVs so not only do I get to watch the World Cup, I don’t have to watch people trying to give each other brain damage. And for taking advantage of this opportunity, the manager gave me a free meal.
That’s true, but you probably refer to the Russian capital as “Moscow,” not “Moskva,” and to the Italian cities as “Turin” and “Venice,” not “Torino” and “Venezia.” And London is still “Londres” in Spanish. The conventions were largely laid down hundreds of years ago, by European writers who “named” the places they wrote about or referred to in conversation. Other places, that they didn’t care about or possibly even know about, didn’t have their names transmogrified.
Were you able to see the end of the game before you had to bolt?
81.
Diana
@SiubhanDuinne: Brilliant. I live in the East Village of NYC, where the world cup is a big deal because every nationality has not merely its own bar but more than one, and I’ve shown this chart to at least two people (one Italian, one Columbian) who found it fascinating. Thanks for posting.
I would never say that this year’s WC championship is going to be played in River of January.
True. But the govt of Côte d’Ivoire has asked nicely not to be called Ivory Coast by English-speaking governments (and especially not ‘the Ivory Coast’, with the ‘imperialist “the”‘) and most English-speaking governments are polite.
If you want to see lots of people with too much time on their hands, the Wikipedia Talk page for the name of the page now called “Ivory Coast” is a prime example.
Great substitution, great comeback. And I’m now footballed out.
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SiubhanDuinne
Don’t know much about the futból (despite Randinho’s great threads), but this flowchart made me laugh.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
This is refreshing after Italy/England: a game where my problem is that I’d like to root FOR both teams.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@SiubhanDuinne: Oddly, the chart gets me to US, then France. Even more oddly, those are the teams I would would take anyway.
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): I am vaguely pro-Elephant.
humboldtblue
“Do you consider international soccer an excuse to celebrate past military victories? Yes? USA”
That’s so damn true
Morzer
Japan to win 2-0.
humboldtblue
25 goals scored through seven games, four years ago it was nine
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): I am, too, now that I’ve gotten a look at their kit. Anyone willing to appear on global television wearing that shade of orange is presumed awesome.
humboldtblue
IC strength plays an early role
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): They say orange is the new black.
SiubhanDuinne
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
Nothing odd about it. This chart is SCIENCE.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Damn. We’re losing the satellite signal in the thunderstorm.
Alison
I don’t know who to pull for here! Japan would be an upset, but I have a soft spot for Cote d’Ivoire.
Incidentally…I always say Cote d’Ivoire instead of Ivory Coast because, I don’t know, I’m pretentious…but then obviously that name has some kind of colonial connotation. I wonder how residents of the country feel about it, and what name they prefer? And yes, I’m insufferable, sorry. Just like to think about things like this.
humboldtblue
My 3-year old grand niece plays fiercer defense keeping me from her toys than IC does in defending
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Alison:
According to Wikipedia. It’s official language is French.
Steeplejack
Japan scores, and I saw a disturbing shot of some Japanese fans in the stands either wearing hazmat suits or doing some very weird cosplay.
Steeplejack
Damn, Japan is hammering on the door. CIV better wake up and smell the [whatever beverage they drink for breakfast].
humboldtblue
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): It’s the same reason I don’t say “Deutschland” or “Italia” I use the anglicized version
SiubhanDuinne
@Alison: I have a couple of former colleagues from Côte d’Ivoire, and I am the same as you: I always use the French name (because my friends, natives of the country, do) and I am rooting for them in this match.
Steeplejack
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
Okay, I’ve got a bit of a problem with that. It is a near-universal practice to refer to countries by their names in one’s own language. Spaniards refer to England as “Inglaterra,” and I haven’t heard of Japan demanding to be called “Nippon.”
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Woo hoo! Got the signal back!
Steeplejack
@SiubhanDuinne:
If I were talking with friends or colleagues from there, I would also use “Côte d’Ivoire” out of politeness, but if I were writing something for publication I would use “Ivory Coast.”
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Steeplejack: I think most countries don’t care. They do. For whatever reason.
Morzer
@Steeplejack:
Those are seals (hanko) as in stamps for documents.
Steeplejack
@Morzer:
Huh. What’s the soccer/team connection, if any?
Morzer
@Steeplejack:
Beats me. I am enjoying the music – it sounds oddly like a steam-powered production line with trumpet flourishes.
Steeplejack
@Morzer:
Yeah, it does sound like that. I was wondering what was producing those trumpet-like blats. I would have thought all likely-looking instruments would have been suppressed.
Morzer
@Steeplejack:
Stealth vuvuzelas, maybe? There’s probably an app for that.
Morzer
I have to say, I am very impressed by the Japanese goalie.
Garbo
I was hoping to see more overly dramatic flopping about and anguished expressions. Or do the fouling performances come in the later games?
Morzer
@Garbo:
Generally you want a traditional Italian or Argentinean team for drama, flopping, brutal fouls and impersonations of cripples robbed by heartless thugs.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: Yep. An Italy vs. Argentina march would probably sweep the Oscars.
scav
I either get kicked off the chart or I’m wandering down with the Cote d’Ivory (splitting the difference) or Ghana. I have to lie a bit to get to Belgium.
Morzer
@scav:
Think of it as a creative improvisation in midfield.
Alison
@SiubhanDuinne: That’s what i was looking for – what do people from there call it. Obviously they won’t all be the same, but I’ll defer to the anecdata we have and stick with the fancy French name :)
Steeplejack
@Morzer:
Exactly. I was thinking maybe four people each bring in an innocuous object, then the parts get fitted together like a sniper rifle to create a horn.
KG
@SiubhanDuinne: this one Is also useful
? Martin
Japan is looking not terrible. I love the Japanese. They’re adorably unique.
CIV is what, 2 players? Drogba and Toure, and Drogba is out?
Joel
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Hard to root for the Italians, but easy to root for Balotelli.
Morzer
@? Martin:
Kolo Toure as well as Yaya Toure. I guess we have to include Khal Drogba, if only to keep the Chelsea fans happy.
? Martin
@scav: I get pretty directly to Belgium assuming I reject the US. My grandmother – the WWII nurse I’ve spoken of, was not liked by her parents. Not kidding about that in any way. In an act of rebellion she bought a car (in the 30s, in New York City) which was a black Ford. She named it ‘Satan’ and hung a little devil figurine from the rear mirror. Her parents and sister were impossibly Catholic – her sister went to church nearly every day of her life. Needless to say that didn’t help the relationship.
So team nicknamed after Satan? I’m all over that. And I would like to support a team that can at least get out of the group.
I’m still hopeful that the US will advance. There’s a non-zero probability that a meteor will hit Ronaldo in the next few days, and with Brazil at the equator that probability is slightly higher than usual.
? Martin
@Morzer: Oh, right. I always forget about him. (Everton fan)
Garbo
Mismatched shoe colors. Meaningful or not?
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
The Man is on the pitch.
Violet
I’m digging the CIV fans in the stands!
Morzer
@Garbo:
I’ve seen that on three teams so far, so I guess it must mean something.
UPDATE: Apparently Puma is making their athletes wear said shoes.
It’s good of the CIV to provide a free pitch-rolling service to Brazil.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@? Martin: I thought Cristiano Ronaldo was annoying before I went to China. Six weeks seeing him on every other billboard and every third TV commercial in Xi’an convinced that he is, in fact, the most irritating person on the planet.
Well, either him or Football Spice; he was plastered all over the place, too.
? Martin
I guess we need to count Bony after all.
Violet
Elephants!
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
I guess that counts as one of the greatest substitutions of all time, even if Drogba didn’t actually score either goal
? Martin
Wow. Japan has just unravelled here.
Morzer
Well, that’s soccer for you. Can the Japanese strike back?
Steeplejack
Quick one-two punch. Crunch time for
JapanNippon.Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
So… Um… Holy fuck.
Gin & Tonic
Univision is calling it “Costa de Marfil”. That’s the only TV I get.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
I missed why Drogba wasn’t starting. Can someone catch me up?
Gin & Tonic
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): I remember when you were going there, and envy the experience. Very interesting food in Xi’an.
Morzer
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
He’s not fully fit, so they’ve been saving him for later in games.
Garbo
It’s just ONE guy with the vuvuzela?!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: Got it. It had seemed weird to for them not to have him on the pitch
Morzer
@Garbo:
According to the commentators, it doesn’t count as a vuvuzela. Why, they do not say.
Garbo
@Morzer: I’m just surprised all that noise is coming from one instrument, whatever it’s called.
Morzer
@Garbo:
I believe the technical name for it is “John McCain”.
Garbo
@Morzer: ha!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Morzer: It was a POW?
Randy Paul
@Steeplejack: I would never say that this year’s WC championship is going to be played in River of January.
Steeplejack
@Gin & Tonic:
Marfil is “ivory” in Spanish (as you would expect).
Morzer
@Steeplejack:
Apparently derived from the Arabic for.. shock, horror.. “elephant bone”.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Awesome. With Buffalo Wild Wings filling up for the UFC fight I volunteered to sit out on the patio so that they had another table to seat people. (It’s enclosed but for some reason they weren’t seating it tonight.) It’s got TVs so not only do I get to watch the World Cup, I don’t have to watch people trying to give each other brain damage. And for taking advantage of this opportunity, the manager gave me a free meal.
This is 100% pure upside.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Take the win and enjoy it.
Morzer
I am not sure which surprised me more.. Drogba missing or Drogba not falling over in the penalty area.
Gin & Tonic
@Steeplejack: I know. So this blog and other English-speakers say Cote d’Ivoire, but Univision says “Ivory Coast.”
Garbo
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Mmmmm. Buffalo Wild Wings. Deep Fried Pickles.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
How is jumping on top of someone at the top of the box not a foul?
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): They were both going for the ball is what I would guess.
Morzer
CIV’s time-wasting is leaving a pretty sour taste.
Steeplejack
@Randy Paul:
That’s true, but you probably refer to the Russian capital as “Moscow,” not “Moskva,” and to the Italian cities as “Turin” and “Venice,” not “Torino” and “Venezia.” And London is still “Londres” in Spanish. The conventions were largely laid down hundreds of years ago, by European writers who “named” the places they wrote about or referred to in conversation. Other places, that they didn’t care about or possibly even know about, didn’t have their names transmogrified.
Steeplejack
@Gin & Tonic:
ESPN is using “Ivory Coast” in its graphics and announcers’ commentary.
Gin & Tonic
@Steeplejack: OK, thanks.
raven
Well, the play was good.
Steeplejack
@raven:
Were you able to see the end of the game before you had to bolt?
Diana
@SiubhanDuinne: Brilliant. I live in the East Village of NYC, where the world cup is a big deal because every nationality has not merely its own bar but more than one, and I’ve shown this chart to at least two people (one Italian, one Columbian) who found it fascinating. Thanks for posting.
pseudonymous in nc
@Randy Paul:
True. But the govt of Côte d’Ivoire has asked nicely not to be called Ivory Coast by English-speaking governments (and especially not ‘the Ivory Coast’, with the ‘imperialist “the”‘) and most English-speaking governments are polite.
If you want to see lots of people with too much time on their hands, the Wikipedia Talk page for the name of the page now called “Ivory Coast” is a prime example.
Great substitution, great comeback. And I’m now footballed out.