Virtually all the beef is in the Cro – Mex game. Hope it stays halfways civil. Won’t dare a prediction.
ETA: The Mexicans appear to have brought some Aztek warriors. Somebody sighted the Illyrian pirates?
2.
Valdivia
Should be exciting that Croatia Mexico game.
3.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
The Croatians look as thought they are, on average, six inches taller than the Mexicans.
4.
Morzer
I once had a beautiful Mexican girlfriend, so, go El Tri!
Cameroon, I fear, is going to suffer today.
5.
scav
Query. But wouldn’t all the honor / whatever it is / in play for the Brazil – Cameroon match possibly make for an interesting game, even if less important for advancing? Well, except for the Cameroon part, although they’ve definitely something to prove I would think.
@Morzer: Well, finding Bimbo brand futbal cards in the local grocery caused me to have no end of a public-snort-meltdown event and caused me to buy twinkie equivalents for the sheer joy of it all, so MX it is. Not quite the same.
14.
Amir Khalid
These Brazilian commentators do take their time saying “Goal!”
15.
Origuy
@scav: Are those the Bimbo twinkies with the strawberry flavored filling? I have to stay away from the Bimbo section in the supermercado.
16.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
CRO/MEX has plenty of action.
17.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Great pass by Luis Gustavo, or maybe Paulino great goal by Neymar.
18.
mali muso
woohoo! Just talked a colleague into taking a few of our vacation hours over lunch on Thursday to go watch the US-Germany match at a local pub. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment. I wanna believe we can tie or at least not lose by too much. But the soccer gods are fickle. Who knows what they have in the cards….
Croatians remind me of a peoples of whom I would not want to fuck with. I sense the Mexys sense this as well. We’ll be staring at a nil-nil final here today.
@Amir Khalid:
Cameroon 1-1 Brazil. See what I mean?
23.
scav
@Origuy: Probably. Don’t remember the strawberry, but I was pretty busy being otherwise amused. Have been sometimes tempted by other offerings of the white bear.
ETA, Cameroooooon!
24.
2liberal
is if off topic if this is the wrong game/group/round/whatever?
Klinsmann got in a nice little zinger in a media availability today. He was asked about the possibility of something Gijon-esque on Thursday, and said, “The US always goes for the win. Otherwise Mexico wouldn’t be here.”
Ba-da-BING!
27.
LeeM
Cameroon seems to be throwing the Mexicans around for sport.
28.
LeeM
Cameroon seems to be throwing the Mexicans around for sport.
@burnspbesq:
A Schande von Gijon style deal between the US and Germany would be a very stupid thing to do. FIFA will not want to be seen as soft on corruption (he said innocently).
37.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: Marquez and Nigel de Jong are among the most despicable players in the game.
38.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Amir Khalid: At least not corruption that doesn’t involve a direct exchange of cash.
@SRW1: In the 2002 WC USA against Mexico, he tried to decerebrate Cobi Jones and in a qualifier he simply slammed into Tim Howard, both got red cards. If you type his name into YouTube’s search function, the words red card pop up.
48.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: In the 2002 WC USA against Mexico, he tried to decerebrate Cobi Jones and in a qualifier he simply slammed into Tim Howard, both got red cards. If you type his name into YouTube’s search function, the words red card pop up.
49.
scav
@Morzer: Forget that, GoogleDoodleDefault was just the Brazil-Cameroon game.
Collusion not required. In antitrust law, it’s called “conscious parallelism.” Both sides know what’s in their interest. And they have a built-in excuse here: “of course we went for the win. We would much rather play Russia or Algeria in the round of 16 than Belgium. We just couldn’t get it done.”
51.
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
You might say that I’m casting a longing look at my smiting hammer.
Yeah, the coaches don’t have to say or do anything. All 22 players on the field will instinctively know to not do anything that risks a cheap counterattack. They’ll all play under the (correct) impression that they are playing as though it’s 1-0.
54.
scav
Does Amir have two three types of hammers rather like Eros gold silver and steel arrows? The smiting hammer v sowing confusion hammer v. the joyous mayhem hammer? or???
ETA smites wrong number for the sheer meta of it all. Go Mozer!
they don’t call him ‘Ammer Khalid for nothing, you know.
56.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Cacti: Hulk, none that I’m aware of, remember, he was injured. Fred has been teased a bit, but as they’re doing well, not too much. Fred scored as I wrote this, by the way.
Fred is actually from my wife’s city of birth (Teofilo Otoni, MG) and her family knows his.
57.
Belafon
According to Newmax, the US has been cooling since the 30s. News to me, and even if it were somehow true, they’ve missed the point of “Global” Warming.
58.
Amir Khalid
@burnspbesq:
As I recall, the 1982 Schande didn’t involve pre-arranged collusion between West Germany and Austria, either. None that could be proved, at any rate, even though both teams plainly stopped competing after the one goal was scored. (I had the bad luck to be watching that match live on TV.) But we’re in a post-Schande world, and two teams in cahoots like that would have to disguise their cahooting much better.
If you enjoy watching offenses patiently try to pick the lock on massed defenses, USA-Germany will be just what you’ve been waiting for.
I’m used to seeing one team hammering away at the other team’s defense in that scenario, but less sure I’ve seen games where both teams are playing mass defenses and sending token attackers forward. Nigeria v Iran maybe?
64.
Amir Khalid
@Stan Gable:
I think both sides could do that, but it would make for a hella dull game.
65.
Amir Khalid
Speaking of Croatia-Mexico, the Grauniad live-blog has a photo (at 53 minutes) of doctors watching the match on TV while performing an operation. I do hope it’s Photoshopped.
Nice catch by the Croatian defender. Even remembered to use both hands.
68.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Was that the second handball the Croatia got away with?
69.
Morzer
Croatia have got away with quite a bit of questionable behavior today.
70.
JCJ
@Amir Khalid:
I was watching that game as well. I was going to Universität Hamburg and had been to a couple of matches of HSV and developed a big interest in football. I always wondered if West Germany losing to Italia in the final was revenge of the soccer gods. So I ask, oh great soccer deity, was that indeed a smiting done in punishment of that horrific 1-0 game of patty cake?
71.
WaterGirl
@raven: Tried to catch you on the other thread… are they going to pay for a hearing aid?
72.
Amir Khalid
@JCJ:
No, alas. Had I been the deity in charge at die Schande, I would have had both sides rack up a massive amount of accidental own goals, followed by Germany losing their first knockout match by an own goal, and Turkey winning the World Cup.
73.
Morzer
Borges!
1-0 to El Tri!
74.
SRW1
That Mexican goal was kind of coming.
75.
⚽️ Martin
Well, that’s that.
76.
Morzer
2-0! Bye bye, Croatia!
77.
scav
MX! Gladder than I would have expected. Bieeeemmmmmboooooo!
ETA: But, in this WC? Down to the final peep.
78.
SRW1
I hope the Croats can hold their self-control together for the remainder of the game. There were already some omnious signs of frustration getting the better of them.
79.
SRW1
How many points for the successful body-check on his coach?
80.
Morzer
3-0. Croatia must be longing for this game to end.
81.
⚽️ Martin
Could Mexico win the group?
82.
Old Dan and Little Ann
I picked a good time to start watching this game. 3 goals in about 15 minutes. Go Mexico!
83.
scav
Smite Smite Smite Smite! Why Not?
84.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Morzer and SRW1: Here’s a good compilation of Mr. Marquez’s filth.
85.
Onkel Fritze
YES! Now let’s have one more or one for Cameroon, and we’ll get to see Holland-Brazil in the next round.
They could. If Mexico or Cameroon score one more goal, Mexico would have the advantage in the goal differential tie breaker.
91.
raven
@WaterGirl: Dunno, the VA is promising. Hearing loss is very difficult to get but tinnitus seems much easier. I had a basic intake physical today following my usual stellar blood work Friday. There is an audiologist at the mini-clinic here and it will take a few weeks to get in. If I do get a disability rating for the tinnitus then the hearing aids are free.
@⚽️ Martin: Only if they score two more goals. Brazil right now has a plus five goal differential and Mexico plus four. If they are even on differential, then it’s total goal scored.
Thanks, I’ll check after the game, though it’s presumably not what one calls enjoyable.
95.
Amir Khalid
Sorry, Mexico need two more goals now that Brazil have scored a fourth.
96.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Roger Moore: now Mexico would need to score three more goals.
97.
scav
Like the chaotic endings in stereo.
98.
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
Make that three goals, not very likely in the time remaining.
99.
Morzer
And a red card to round off Croatia’s evening.
100.
SRW1
It appears that the prognostications have a hard time keeping up with developments on the ground.
101.
Onkel Fritze
Croats show their well-known composure in defeat.
102.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Onkel Fritze: I had an uncle who worked for a time in copper (?) mines in Arizona; he used to tell stories about huge Croat with whom he work. One day someone referred to him as a Serb and he went after the guy with a sledge hammer; luckily, he was tackled before he got to the guy.
103.
Amir Khalid
I didn’t realise this before, but Cameroon keeper Charles Itandje is the Liverpool FC player who got thrown out of the club a few years ago for clowning around at a solemn moment in the Hillsborough memorial service.
I grew up in Cleveland OH, where there are immigrants and descendants of immigrants from both Serbia and Croatia. Neither ever showed any sense of humor about the other.
105.
Comrade Luke
@James E. Powell: Serbs and Croats are very similar to Israelis and Palestinians. They hate hate hate each other.
Both sides know what’s in their interest. And they have a built-in excuse here: “of course we went for the win. We would much rather play Russia or Algeria in the round of 16 than Belgium. We just couldn’t get it done.”
It is tough to look ahead that far, but IMO the bigger difference will be in the quarterfinals. The second place team will be slotted to face Argentina (assuming they win their 2nd round game against Ecuador or the Swiss) while the first place team will be looking at France (with a possibility of Ecuador, Switzerland, Nigeria or Iran). I am aware that I am jinxing the US and have pretty much guaranteed that France will beat the US if they end up meeting :)
107.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Comrade Luke: Serbs during the break-up of Yugoslavia, Croats during WWII, and so on going back through the years. One group always behaves a little more barbarously than the other, thus stoking the fire for revenge in the future.
France is going to win their group, their goal difference is massive. Ecuador has to win by at least 4 goals to get past them, Switzerland has to win by 8 or 9 minus the number that Ecuador win by.
110.
MattR
@Calouste: Thanks. Had not looked too closely at that group. All the more reason why winning the group is a decent incentive. I would rather face Belgium and then France rather than Algeria/Russia and then Argentina.
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SRW1
Virtually all the beef is in the Cro – Mex game. Hope it stays halfways civil. Won’t dare a prediction.
ETA: The Mexicans appear to have brought some Aztek warriors. Somebody sighted the Illyrian pirates?
Valdivia
Should be exciting that Croatia Mexico game.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
The Croatians look as thought they are, on average, six inches taller than the Mexicans.
Morzer
I once had a beautiful Mexican girlfriend, so, go El Tri!
Cameroon, I fear, is going to suffer today.
scav
Query. But wouldn’t all the honor / whatever it is / in play for the Brazil – Cameroon match possibly make for an interesting game, even if less important for advancing? Well, except for the Cameroon part, although they’ve definitely something to prove I would think.
⚽️ Martin
On behalf of half the people I know, go El Tri!
Valdivia
@Morzer:
I like how you think :)
Amir Khalid
You know, a Cameroon win over Brazil could have interesting repercussions …
Just thinking aloud.
⚽️ Martin
@SRW1:
Not off to the best start on that one.
SRW1
@Amir Khalid:
I trust you’ll ring the alarm bell if things develope in that direction.
Morzer
When did Croatia acquire Mr Data as their coach?
SRW1
@⚽️ Martin:
I’ll admit that I wasn’t too optimistic.
scav
@Morzer: Well, finding Bimbo brand futbal cards in the local grocery caused me to have no end of a public-snort-meltdown event and caused me to buy twinkie equivalents for the sheer joy of it all, so MX it is. Not quite the same.
Amir Khalid
These Brazilian commentators do take their time saying “Goal!”
Origuy
@scav: Are those the Bimbo twinkies with the strawberry flavored filling? I have to stay away from the Bimbo section in the supermercado.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
CRO/MEX has plenty of action.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Great pass by Luis Gustavo, or maybe Paulino great goal by Neymar.
mali muso
woohoo! Just talked a colleague into taking a few of our vacation hours over lunch on Thursday to go watch the US-Germany match at a local pub. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment. I wanna believe we can tie or at least not lose by too much. But the soccer gods are fickle. Who knows what they have in the cards….
catclub
@Amir Khalid: And Cameroon hears you!
Punchy
Croatians remind me of a peoples of whom I would not want to fuck with. I sense the Mexys sense this as well. We’ll be staring at a nil-nil final here today.
Amir Khalid
@mali muso:
Heck, even I don’t know that.
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
Cameroon 1-1 Brazil. See what I mean?
scav
@Origuy: Probably. Don’t remember the strawberry, but I was pretty busy being otherwise amused. Have been sometimes tempted by other offerings of the white bear.
ETA, Cameroooooon!
2liberal
is if off topic if this is the wrong game/group/round/whatever?
https://twitter.com/FauxPelini/status/481163374084898816/photo/1
Amir Khalid
@2liberal:
That match is tomorrow, I think.
burnspbesq
Klinsmann got in a nice little zinger in a media availability today. He was asked about the possibility of something Gijon-esque on Thursday, and said, “The US always goes for the win. Otherwise Mexico wouldn’t be here.”
Ba-da-BING!
LeeM
Cameroon seems to be throwing the Mexicans around for sport.
LeeM
Cameroon seems to be throwing the Mexicans around for sport.
SRW1
@2liberal:
Yep, wrong group. I think the technical term is e. praecox.
LeeM
@LeeM: Croatia, not Cameroon. Have two games streaming at once.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
And a child will lead them. I will call him Neymar.
mali muso
@Amir Khalid: Well if you could at least arrange for about 30 seconds LESS of stoppage time next go-round, that would be appreciated.
scav
It is getting rather complerlicated in parallax or whatever it is where supposed to be maintaining here.
SRW1
That could have been a red card, but then the ref probably gave a bit of a rebate for his error in the initiation of the counter attack.
raven
@Amir Khalid: thursday
Amir Khalid
@burnspbesq:
A Schande von Gijon style deal between the US and Germany would be a very stupid thing to do. FIFA will not want to be seen as soft on corruption (he said innocently).
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: Marquez and Nigel de Jong are among the most despicable players in the game.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Amir Khalid: At least not corruption that doesn’t involve a direct exchange of cash.
SRW1
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
I know about de Jong and I agree, Marquez’s list of transgressions is not familiar to me.
Amir Khalid
@raven:
Thanks. I was a little too lazy to look it up.
Cacti
It’s hard to decide whether Hulk or Fred has been worse for Brazil in group play.
Neymar has 4 of the 5 team goals.
If the other two don’t figure out what they’re doing on the pitch, another quarterfinal exit is likely in the future of the Selecao.
raven
@Amir Khalid: I have more interest in that tilt than you do!
Cacti
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
So, how much grief have Fred and Hulk been getting in the Brazilian press?
Morzer
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
De Jong I know, but what has Rafa Marquez done that is so evil?
Amir Khalid
The Brazilian defence is all over the place. It’s not beyond Cameroon to equalise again.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
A god lacking faith in Brazil?
Ominous signs there for the Seleção.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: In the 2002 WC USA against Mexico, he tried to decerebrate Cobi Jones and in a qualifier he simply slammed into Tim Howard, both got red cards. If you type his name into YouTube’s search function, the words red card pop up.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: In the 2002 WC USA against Mexico, he tried to decerebrate Cobi Jones and in a qualifier he simply slammed into Tim Howard, both got red cards. If you type his name into YouTube’s search function, the words red card pop up.
scav
@Morzer: Forget that, GoogleDoodleDefault was just the Brazil-Cameroon game.
burnspbesq
@Amir Khalid:
Collusion not required. In antitrust law, it’s called “conscious parallelism.” Both sides know what’s in their interest. And they have a built-in excuse here: “of course we went for the win. We would much rather play Russia or Algeria in the round of 16 than Belgium. We just couldn’t get it done.”
Amir Khalid
@Morzer:
You might say that I’m casting a longing look at my smiting hammer.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
There have been hints that Mexico-Croatia might yet turn into a brawl, so you might want to keep that hammer handy, Thor Khalid.
Stan Gable
@burnspbesq:
Yeah, the coaches don’t have to say or do anything. All 22 players on the field will instinctively know to not do anything that risks a cheap counterattack. They’ll all play under the (correct) impression that they are playing as though it’s 1-0.
scav
Does Amir have two three types of hammers rather like Eros gold silver and steel arrows? The smiting hammer v sowing confusion hammer v. the joyous mayhem hammer? or???
ETA smites wrong number for the sheer meta of it all. Go Mozer!
Morzer
@scav:
they don’t call him ‘Ammer Khalid for nothing, you know.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Cacti: Hulk, none that I’m aware of, remember, he was injured. Fred has been teased a bit, but as they’re doing well, not too much. Fred scored as I wrote this, by the way.
Fred is actually from my wife’s city of birth (Teofilo Otoni, MG) and her family knows his.
Belafon
According to Newmax, the US has been cooling since the 30s. News to me, and even if it were somehow true, they’ve missed the point of “Global” Warming.
Amir Khalid
@burnspbesq:
As I recall, the 1982 Schande didn’t involve pre-arranged collusion between West Germany and Austria, either. None that could be proved, at any rate, even though both teams plainly stopped competing after the one goal was scored. (I had the bad luck to be watching that match live on TV.) But we’re in a post-Schande world, and two teams in cahoots like that would have to disguise their cahooting much better.
burnspbesq
@Stan Gable:
If you enjoy watching offenses patiently try to pick the lock on massed defenses, USA-Germany will be just what you’ve been waiting for.
scav
STRIKE not SMITE. we need better tags. Fink. Got excited there.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
I am pretty sure that whichever of Mexico or Croatia goes through, their countrymen won’t give a cahoot about what it took to achieve it.
Morzer
@burnspbesq:
Muller, Muller on the floor,
Who’s the floppiest of them all?
Stan Gable
@burnspbesq:
I’m used to seeing one team hammering away at the other team’s defense in that scenario, but less sure I’ve seen games where both teams are playing mass defenses and sending token attackers forward. Nigeria v Iran maybe?
Amir Khalid
@Stan Gable:
I think both sides could do that, but it would make for a hella dull game.
Amir Khalid
Speaking of Croatia-Mexico, the Grauniad live-blog has a photo (at 53 minutes) of doctors watching the match on TV while performing an operation. I do hope it’s Photoshopped.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Morzer: For your viewing pleasure. In particular look at 1 minute 54 seconds on the USA v Mexico clip.
Stan Gable
Nice catch by the Croatian defender. Even remembered to use both hands.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Was that the second handball the Croatia got away with?
Morzer
Croatia have got away with quite a bit of questionable behavior today.
JCJ
@Amir Khalid:
I was watching that game as well. I was going to Universität Hamburg and had been to a couple of matches of HSV and developed a big interest in football. I always wondered if West Germany losing to Italia in the final was revenge of the soccer gods. So I ask, oh great soccer deity, was that indeed a smiting done in punishment of that horrific 1-0 game of patty cake?
WaterGirl
@raven: Tried to catch you on the other thread… are they going to pay for a hearing aid?
Amir Khalid
@JCJ:
No, alas. Had I been the deity in charge at die Schande, I would have had both sides rack up a massive amount of accidental own goals, followed by Germany losing their first knockout match by an own goal, and Turkey winning the World Cup.
Morzer
Borges!
1-0 to El Tri!
SRW1
That Mexican goal was kind of coming.
⚽️ Martin
Well, that’s that.
Morzer
2-0! Bye bye, Croatia!
scav
MX! Gladder than I would have expected. Bieeeemmmmmboooooo!
ETA: But, in this WC? Down to the final peep.
SRW1
I hope the Croats can hold their self-control together for the remainder of the game. There were already some omnious signs of frustration getting the better of them.
SRW1
How many points for the successful body-check on his coach?
Morzer
3-0. Croatia must be longing for this game to end.
⚽️ Martin
Could Mexico win the group?
Old Dan and Little Ann
I picked a good time to start watching this game. 3 goals in about 15 minutes. Go Mexico!
scav
Smite Smite Smite Smite! Why Not?
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Morzer and SRW1: Here’s a good compilation of Mr. Marquez’s filth.
Onkel Fritze
YES! Now let’s have one more or one for Cameroon, and we’ll get to see Holland-Brazil in the next round.
SRW1
@⚽️ Martin:
Yes.
Morzer
@⚽️ Martin:
One more goal and Mexico will be top. If Brazil don’t score, that is.
Onkel Fritze
Make that two more.
Amir Khalid
@⚽️ Martin:
They need
two more goalsone more goal to beat Brazil’s goal diff.Roger Moore
@⚽️ Martin:
They could. If Mexico or Cameroon score one more goal, Mexico would have the advantage in the goal differential tie breaker.
raven
@WaterGirl: Dunno, the VA is promising. Hearing loss is very difficult to get but tinnitus seems much easier. I had a basic intake physical today following my usual stellar blood work Friday. There is an audiologist at the mini-clinic here and it will take a few weeks to get in. If I do get a disability rating for the tinnitus then the hearing aids are free.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
3 goals, even.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@⚽️ Martin: Only if they score two more goals. Brazil right now has a plus five goal differential and Mexico plus four. If they are even on differential, then it’s total goal scored.
SRW1
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
Thanks, I’ll check after the game, though it’s presumably not what one calls enjoyable.
Amir Khalid
Sorry, Mexico need two more goals now that Brazil have scored a fourth.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Roger Moore: now Mexico would need to score three more goals.
scav
Like the chaotic endings in stereo.
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
Make that three goals, not very likely in the time remaining.
Morzer
And a red card to round off Croatia’s evening.
SRW1
It appears that the prognostications have a hard time keeping up with developments on the ground.
Onkel Fritze
Croats show their well-known composure in defeat.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Onkel Fritze: I had an uncle who worked for a time in copper (?) mines in Arizona; he used to tell stories about huge Croat with whom he work. One day someone referred to him as a Serb and he went after the guy with a sledge hammer; luckily, he was tackled before he got to the guy.
Amir Khalid
I didn’t realise this before, but Cameroon keeper Charles Itandje is the Liverpool FC player who got thrown out of the club a few years ago for clowning around at a solemn moment in the Hillsborough memorial service.
James E. Powell
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
I grew up in Cleveland OH, where there are immigrants and descendants of immigrants from both Serbia and Croatia. Neither ever showed any sense of humor about the other.
Comrade Luke
@James E. Powell: Serbs and Croats are very similar to Israelis and Palestinians. They hate hate hate each other.
MattR
@burnspbesq:
It is tough to look ahead that far, but IMO the bigger difference will be in the quarterfinals. The second place team will be slotted to face Argentina (assuming they win their 2nd round game against Ecuador or the Swiss) while the first place team will be looking at France (with a possibility of Ecuador, Switzerland, Nigeria or Iran). I am aware that I am jinxing the US and have pretty much guaranteed that France will beat the US if they end up meeting :)
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Comrade Luke: Serbs during the break-up of Yugoslavia, Croats during WWII, and so on going back through the years. One group always behaves a little more barbarously than the other, thus stoking the fire for revenge in the future.
James E. Powell
@Comrade Luke:
Has anyone ever compiled a Top Ten Implacable Ethnic Hatreds list?
Calouste
@MattR:
France is going to win their group, their goal difference is massive. Ecuador has to win by at least 4 goals to get past them, Switzerland has to win by 8 or 9 minus the number that Ecuador win by.
MattR
@Calouste: Thanks. Had not looked too closely at that group. All the more reason why winning the group is a decent incentive. I would rather face Belgium and then France rather than Algeria/Russia and then Argentina.