Sorry for the late post, folks. I thought AL had retaken World Cup posts. So I’m unprepared.
Enjoy the matches, I have no info on the matches today as I’m rushing this and out the door. I know Switzerland is playing in a few, a match I will watch and hope they win!
ok so I’m a dumbass.
Mexico v Sweden and Korea v Germany on right now.
At 2, it’s Switzerland v Costa Rica and Serbia v Brazil.
Shell
Looks like another rainy day here i Maryland, with flood alerts till 10pm tonight. Bracing from another bad backyard report from Cole.
Morfydd
Fine, I’ll comment. The South Koreans are certainly holding their own, emphasis on holding… are they having a wrestling match out there? 2 yellow cards and a free kick for just blatant dragging down the other in the first 20 minutes.
I’m surprised to see Özil and Khedira back in, as they were lackluster in the first match. They’re not being much more effective now.
Amir Khalid
I have no quarrel with either die Bundesrepublik Deutschland or die Mannschaft, but it would be intriguing to see Germany lose to South Korea and watch how it affects the knockout stages.
MJS
Open thread? No? Well, anyway, another shit sandwich from the Supreme Court. Freeloaders rejoice! Public employees can now enjoy the fruits of a union’s labor without paying a penny.
Amir Khalid
Hmm. Germany have plenty of possession — they’ve set up camp in the South Korean half — but little penetration. A goalmouth melee in the SK penalty box just came to nothing.
Platonailedit
Much touted teams have been flakes in this wc.
Tony Jay
@Amir Khalid:
Correct me if I’m wrong but South Korea need to beat Germany by two clear goals and hope Mexico beat Sweden to go through.
Sweden need to beat Mexico and hope Germany lose, or draw with Mexico and hope Germany lose, or if Germany win they need to beat Mexico by more goals than Germany put past South Korea.
Germany just need to match whatever Sweden do to go through, other than lose to South Korea by two clear goals.
Mexico just need to win or draw to go through on top. The only way they don’t progress is if they lose to Sweden by 2 or 3 goals and Germany do the same to South Korea.
Half Time. 0-0 in both games.
laura
@MJS: Hooray, Sam Alito just fucked me out of a career!11!
Day drinking and hate reading the decision is on tap for today.
Barbara
@Tony Jay: Yeah, this one is kind of Rubik’s cubelike. Every team has a chance to advance, at least in theory. Unless Korea’s goal is to just stop Germany, it seems like its defensive play is unlikely to help it advance. One would have hoped for a much looser match, but maybe they just can’t play like that.
Amir Khalid
@Tony Jay:
Sounds about right. I’m surprised to find myself saying this, but this dire Mannschaft doesn’t deserve to go through.And if they do, they won’t get as far as a semifinal.
Tony Jay
@Barbara:
Germany are bossing possession, even though they’ve looked toothless up front, but South Korea have definitely had chances to go ahead. If they spurn them when they get them, out they go, but should they go ahead the Germans are going to have to press even harder and take more risks and – that – is when South Korea an break quickly and get at the dodgy German defence.
Whoever scores first probably wins this game, but if it’s South Korea and they only score one then Sweden can go through just by drawing with Mexico. This is why I love the group stages of these big tournaments, sometimes you don’t have a clue what is going to happen until after the final whistles have blown.
Tony Jay
@Amir Khalid:
I have to agree. Germany almost always starts tournaments slow but they always look menacing. This team just looks slow and vulnerable.
smintheus
Sweden was robbed in the first half when the ref refused to award a penalty for a very plain handball in the box. Now Sweden has scored.
Amir Khalid
Sweden 1-0 Mexico. Germany must score or go home.
Tony Jay
Just as Sweden score Germany end a sweet move with a total spanner of a shot. That won’t get you to the next round, Fritz.
Platonailedit
Do or die time for the germans, thanks to swedes.
smintheus
@smintheus: And now the ref is awarding a penalty to Sweden that was no penalty! Bizarre.
Tony Jay
2-0 Sweden v Mexico.
I did not expect this.
Amir Khalid
Sweden convert the penalty. Germany now need a 3-0 win over South Korea, but on this performance I don’t see that happening.
Platonailedit
Germans are in disarray! Koreans are playing good football.
Tony Jay
That was a very dodgy yellow card for Korea. The German defender semi-blocked him off as he entered the box at speed. He had every right to go down, even if the Ref didn’t think it was a foul.
rikyrah
Good luck to the underdog.
Tony Jay
But with Sweden hammering Mexico’s goal difference down to zero, one German goal would put the Mexicans out and Germany through.
Couldn’t happen. But I thought there was no way Argentina were going through last night.
Platonailedit
@Amir Khalid: As it stands now, germans need just 1-0 win.
Calouste
@Amir Khalid: Germany only needs a 1-0 currently. They won’t pass Sweden on goal difference, but they will pass Mexico, who are now down to a goal difference of 0.
Platonailedit
Sweden go 3-0.
smintheus
Ok, it’s fitting that Sweden’s third goal comes off a Mexican handball own goal.
Barbara
Okay, I had to step away. Should I try to watch the last half of the last half of these matches and take an early lunch, or go down at 2:00 to watch Brazil-Serbia? I can’t do both . . .
Steeplejack
@Tony Jay:
Yep. The Fox commentators were saying it was a good call, even as the slo-mo replay was showing that Reus gave him a hard shoulder-bang with no attempt at the ball.
Tony Jay
Dear me, what’s going on Mexico?
Tony Jay
@Steeplejack:
Good old Fox. Reliably full of shit.
Mike E
@Steeplejack: “There’s no crying in soccer to begin with.” Heh
otmar
Brandt, who was just switched in, has a face straight out of an Hollywood nazi movie.
Platonailedit
@Steeplejack: pox network. They can’t stop lying even in football games. That yellow card on SK captain was stupid
otmar
fwiw, the Austrian commentator is not at all sympathetic towards the Germans. Chides the SKs a lot for not scoring on their counters and thus ease the tension for all of us.
Amir Khalid
I stand corrected re the scoreline Germany need. But they haven’t looked good enough today to beat South Korea. I doubt they’ll win on the last kick of the match twice in a row.
Platonailedit
Kroos can’t make his long shots count.
Tony Jay
I was about to say that Korea are looking tired and groggy and it’s only a matter of time before the Germans, encouraged by news on the Swedish front, pierce their defences. Then Korea hits back with quick breaks that – should – have ended in at least one goal.
Time for a late attacking substitution, Korea. Get fresh legs on.
Platonailedit
SK don’t deserve to lose today. They just can’t seem to close.
Tony Jay
@Amir Khalid:
Well that’s fate well and truly tempted.
Platonailedit
SK goalkeeper is the germans’ nightmare.
Tony Jay
Fricking hell! How did Hummels miss that?!?
Amir Khalid
Germany miss from the edge of tho goal area! It’s just not their day, methinks.
Tony Jay
I think the Korean number 2 just lost any chance of fathering a child. Ouch!
otmar
fsck. offside
otmar
or maybe not. video review
Tony Jay
6 minutes of injury time. The tension is appalling..
Korea Score!!!!
Offside?
Platonailedit
6 minutes to salvaging this or going home.
And South Korea goal is disallowed. It was not a half side.
otmar
It’s over for Germany!
Platonailedit
And VAR comes to the aid of SK. It wasn’t a half side and koerans created history even if they are going home.
Morfydd
Um? My screen still shows it as live… nm, missed the review.
My German company is going to be so much more productive this year…
Tony Jay
Nope. Can’t be. It was a German player who put it through.
Amir Khalid
South Korea score! Upheld by VAR! Germany are out!
Mike J
England will not leave the tourney by losing on penalties to Germany.
otmar
and an empty net goal.
Platonailedit
Unbelievable. Koreans score 2nd goal with no german player in sight. Utter stupidity from germans. They deserve to lose.
Mike E
Germany picked a good game to wear green uniforms
SRW1
Well-earned holiday for the Germans coming up.
Platonailedit
Korean goalie playing the game of his life.
PaulWartenberg
Sweden just stomped on Mexico???
Gotta root for Korea now to ruin Germany’s hopes.
…my German great-grandfather just disowned me…
otmar
Poor Hummels. Not his day for headers.
Platonailedit
And the one of the biggest upsets happens.
Amir Khalid
2-0 to South Korea at the death!
Platonailedit
Hats off to south koreans for keeping this match extremely alive from the beginning till the last minute.
Amir Khalid
Liverpool should sign this South Korean keeper, Cho Hyun-Woo. He’s been magnificent today.
ETA: Gary Lineker shows me the Group F table with Germany finishing at the bottom.
Hill Dweller
Germany played poorly for most of their 3 matches. I guess the rumored rift in the team is real.
mali muso
Holy crap! Just got back from visiting my daughter to see the end of the Mexico/Sweden match and then they flipped over to the end of the SK/Germany match. Wowza. Did not see that coming…
Platonailedit
From world champions to the last of the table. How the mighty have fallen.
mali muso
Feeling kind of bad for my sports-mad friends who are visiting Germany right now and were planning to soak up the local atmosphere around watching the matches. Gonna be pretty grim now.
Paul W.
Wow
eric
Three words in response to German loss: Dems in disarray!!
Platonailedit
South Korea would actually have gone through had Mexicans beaten Swedes.
SRW1
And the recent curse of embarrassing exits for the title holder continues.
Amir Khalid
West Germany’s 1954 World Cup-winning manager said, the round thing must go in the rectangular thing*. Germany didn’t manage that today.
*“Das Runde muss ins Eckige.”
Rob
(Lurker here) I was driving home from an appointment listening to the local Spanish radio station’s broadcast of Mexico vs. Sweden. At about the end of regular time the station switched to the Germany vs. South Korea match … just in time for the first South Korean goal. I think I finally regained my wits just as the second goal was scored. I am still in shock. At least Mexico goes through to the next round.
Gin & Tonic
@Amir Khalid: Just as the legendary Red Auerbach said about another sport: “The name of the game is put the ball in the hole.” Not as concise as the German, but still clear.
Platonailedit
@Amir Khalid: Germans were just thinking outside the box.
Platonailedit
Fifa’s world rankings – what a laughing stock it has become.
Litlebritdifrnt
My DH has got Switzerland in the pool at the gym so he is rooting for them. No doubt it will be on TV for him while he is working out and he will be full of it when he gets back. I went into town today and picked up two England flags for the car from the charity shop so I will stick them on the car tomorrow. BTW went to the Zoo yesterday. Great day, hotter than hell, but a great day.
Platonailedit
South Korea boss Shin Tae-yong: “I feel great but at the same time I feel a little bit empty, so I feel a little bit ambivalent.
“Yesterday we said there was only a 1% chance and so I told my players it really was a last-ditch effort for them and I told them that they had to fight until the end.
“Germany are the defending champions and number one in the Fifa Ranking, so I thought about what mistakes Germany might make, because they probably felt they would be able to beat us – that’s what everybody thought. I thought we could use that as a reverse strategy and that has really hit the nail on the head.”
Cacti
I’m sure this has been asked and answered at some point, but what ever happened to Randinho, our futebol guru?
HeleninEire
Somebody stop me. In my favorite restaurant having dinner. A 25 year old American girl was so unbelievably rude to one of my favorite waiters. After he left the table she said to her friends “God, didn’t know it would be so hard for him.” She’s also loud as hell. I apologized to my waiter friend.
I want to go over and say:
“Shut the fuck up, you ugly American. I have had it up to my eyeballs with trying to convince people here that Americans are good people. You cunt.”
Somebody stop me.
Carolina Dave
@HeleninEire: Fire at will. It’s all the rage here in the States. Several times while in Europe I’ve been on the verge of telling an Ugly American to STFU or go home, only to have a Brit do or say something as bad or worse.
HeleninEire
“They don’t have ranch dressing here. What restaurant doesn’t have ranch dressing?” Bitch wants it for her Caesar salad. The Caesar salad that she wants salmon in instead of chicken. For the same price of the chicken. Which was what originally confused my waiter friend.
mali muso
@HeleninEire: Do it! I wouldn’t stop you.
Barbara
@HeleninEire: Please don’t use c*nt as an insult. Personally, I would take the “what’s wrong with you? Did someone slip a burr up your ass this morning?” approach.
Steeplejack
@Cacti:
Real life got in the way and he went on indefinite hiatus. Nothing sinister.
blackcatsrule
@HeleninEire: She’s probably a trumpette. Tell her off in your best Queens accent. (Queens NY not THE Queen)
Steeplejack
@HeleninEire:
I thought Caesar dressing was sort of what makes a Caesar salad. Otherwise it’s just a mound of romaine with ranch dressing.
TenguPhule
@Platonailedit:
Sports as a metaphor for life.
HeleninEire
@Barbara: I gotta disagree with you there. I was a feminist 45 years ago, way before it was cool. Of course c#nt is not an insult. But I’ve decided that insults are all about the recipient. For sure she thinks it’s and insult. And that is all that matters.
I am trying to insult her. That’s the whole point.
HumboldtBlue
Wow, so Germany is out. You can never trust the Germans when they make a foray into Russia. They always seem to find defeat. It would have been rather ironic if they played their final game in Volgograd.
Leto
@HeleninEire: You described how my wife and I felt during our 6 1/2 years in Europe. Lots of apologizing to friends/people we like for ugly Americans.
HeleninEire
OK you guys are not gonna get what you want. She just asked for the check and then asked for separate checks. When my waiter friend said that they don’t do that her she flipped him the bird. I am running out of here. If I go anywhere near her I will punch her in her fake nose blond skinny FUCKING face
I have no clue how to get put of jail in Dublin.
Also? She is having trouble splitting the bill herself. Because of course she can’t count. But my friend is the stupid one.
Running. See you on the flip side.
HumboldtBlue
@HeleninEire:
If I knew any Irish bail bondsman I’d tell ya to give her a good smack, but fleeing before you do so is probably the best move.
smintheus
@Leto: This January I took a class of American students to Italy for a 3 week course. Virtually every single day I had to apologize to Italians for their atrocious behavior. Not all of them, but a significant proportion of the class, just refused to respect explicit instructions to do/not do really basic things. Within about an hour of their arrival, it appears that one of them was tossed out of a local pharmacy apparently for attempted shoplifting. Disgusting experience. That plus they all cheated on exams for the course, and lied about it. And one of them went around making “White Power” hand gestures every time we took a group photo.
Barbara
@HeleninEire: Nothing personal, but I find that to be such a risibly insufficient understanding of the issue, notwithstanding your feminist bona fides, that I will just be ignoring you henceforth. Go right ahead. Use female attributes as an insult. Why don’t you refer to her as a sissy or an old hag while you’re at it?
Barbara
@smintheus: Lots of tourists are awful, not always Americans. The locals could probably tell you tales that would make your patriotism wilt. They’ve usually seen it before.
SRW1
Brazil vs Serbia. I expect some serious play-acting. From both sides.
mali muso
Back to the soccer…
I’m pulling for Brazil over Serbia. Mainly because of my impression of Serbs as kinda racist. Is that wrong of me?
PsiFighter37
OT, but Anthony Kennedy is retiring.
Litlebritdifrnt
@HeleninEire: I can remember being in a restaurant in the US and there were a bunch of Ugly Americans in it. They were loud and obnoxious and deserved to be thrown out. At one point one of the Ugly Americans said to the waitress “do you know who I am?” (Apparently he was a prominent local vet). The waitress was about to have a meltdown and I sat her down and said to her what my Uncle (who ran a pub and a restaurant for decades) said to me “the people who matter don’t mind, and the people who mind, don’t matter”. You complain in restaurants so the rest of the punters can hear? You are a piece of shit and should be treated as such.
Leto
@smintheus: My family and I were stationed in Italy for 2 years. A very remote spot, on an Italian base, with no American services within 90 minutes (by that I mean Americanized food/grocery store, a Wal-Mart or something similar, nor American military base support). We were a geographically separated unit (GSU) attached to an Italian base. No base housing, so everyone lived in the local towns. About half of us integrated pretty well. Loved where we were, loved the ability to travel everywhere (France, Switzerland, Austria were all about 2 hours away, Germany/Belgium/Netherlands 8 hours), and loved being integrated into the Italian culture. We did our best to speak Italian whenever we could (horrid at first, but eventually better), to respect how they did things (1 hour minimum for lunch/dinner? When in Rome…), but basically to not be assholes. We were super aware of the American stigma, so we tried our best to be the best ambassadors for our country as we could. And that paid off as we made a ton of Italian friends, were able to sort of blend in with the local population (they’d speak Italian to us first!), but we left a great impression with our host towns.
The flip side is the other half of the base population that were like the class you had. Most of them would unceasingly complain about EVERYTHING. Why do I have to pay my bills at the tobacco store? Why does it take so long to get my food? Why don’t the have Kraft Macaroni and Cheese? “Well, I don’t really like to shop at the local grocery stores because they don’t stock Billy’s favorite cereal (Fruit Loops/Fruity Pebbles/etc…)”, or “Their meat tastes funny/all they sell is pasta/etc.. etc…”. Which was always followed by, “I CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK TO THE STATES SO I CAN GO TO WAL-MART!”
My wife and I just could not fathom how stupid these people were. Were there some conveniences we missed? Sure. But they were absolutely trivial compared to the experience we were given. I’m 100% fully aware of the problems Italy has (systemic, long-term issues), but we’d still go back to live there, in our little town, in a heart beat. We wwould drop everything and just move.
I’m sorry you had such a shitty experience with that class. Hopefully the next one will be better. And if you ever need an extra chaperone, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m always available :)
HeleninEire
@Barbara: Oh don’t worry. I would never take anything you say personally. I don’t even know you. Why would I take you personally? Perhaps you should not just ignore me. Perhaps you should pie me. This way my further “risibly insufficient understanding of the issue[s]” will no longer upset you.
Cacti
@PsiFighter37:
Beat me to it. Not good.
Cacti
@HeleninEire:
Even at BJ, we have tone police.
Leto
@Barbara: This is true, lots of ugly tourists everywhere. But Americans have earned a special distinction over the past 40 years (if not longer). We’re a special kind of ugly. It’s one thing to be told about it, it’s another to witness it first hand.
VeniceRiley
Kennedy retiring. It’s over. We are effed
Amir Khalid
1-0 leads for Brazil over Serbia, and Switzerland over Costa Rica.
Sam Dobermann
@PsiFighter37: Late to report.
ANTHONY KENNEDY IS RETIRING !
We are so fucked.
I see now that the news is getting thru’ and others feel the same.
Barbara
@HeleninEire: Yeah, that’s my plan. Sissy. Old Hag. Blonde Bimbo. Dumb Broad. Fucking C*nt. Lady driver. Runs like a girl. I am sure when you use those, everyone looks up and says, “wow, now she must be a REAL feminist! Not.”
Barbara
@Sam Dobermann: Not fucked if we vote.
Amir Khalid
Switzerland 1-1 Costa Rica, Brail 2-0 Serbia. It looks like Brazil and Switzerland will be going through.
Amir Khalid
Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica, Brazil 2-0 Serbia. That’s it for the football.