Page 18 of 29

France beat Brazil 1-0. TH-12 finally played like TH-14, and managed the goal to get past the reputed, best team in the world. Guess that’s why they have to play the matches. To ruin my day.

All three of France’s fans are probably over the moon. At least there were 3 before the tournament started. There will be 3 million of them now.

Zidane was fabulous. If he think’s he’s over the hill, then 90% of the players in the world ought to quit as well. Maybe he’s angling for an MLS spot.

I think it was a good match. I was still a bit gutted over the first result of the day, though. I certainly didn’t want it to end. Especially not 1-0 to France.

England lose once again on penalties, this time to the diving Portugal 0-0 (3-1). I was thinking about a holiday there soon, I hope the women go down as easily as their footballers.

England have no gas pedal to step on. They were pathetic the entire cup. No offense whatsoever. You keep waiting for them to show up, but there’s nothing there. Good riddence Sven, take McClaren with you, please.

The ref actually did a decent job in the match. Rooney, being Rooney once again, was sent off as he should have been. There were dives, typical anytime Portugal is playing, but it didn’t get out of hand.

England looked orders of multitude better after Lennon came on for a nothing Beckham. They looked on the verge of being able to put something together, but it never materialized. Picking Crouch for the team was comical. Either Darren or Marcus Bent would have been a massive improvement to the side. Either would have given England a chance in this game. Defoe? Anyone, someone that can possibly produce some offense? Rather than continuously chipping flyers at Frankenstein and hoping for a bounce.

I think I’d feel better with a 10 yr old girls team taking penalties than the England team. They have to be the worst in the universe at it. No confidence at all. They never had a chance once it came down to that. You might think the law of averages would eventually swing their way–but the law of ‘rubbish at penalty kicks’ supercedes that one. Lampard, Gerrard, Carragher (put in just to take the kick)–all money players who choked.

Ta England. Now, where’s my Ipswich fixture list?

Football came back after a couple of days off with a nervous, but highly entertaining match. In what had to be touted as the match-up of the quarterfinals, Germany clipped Argentina with penalty kicks 1-1 (4-2).

Germany reverted back to the old-style, looking adequate in defense, but showing no offense. I’m not sure who the guys were in the blue. They looked nothing like the Argentinian team that was playing up to now. Playing a very solid team–in that team’s home, in the quarterfinals, would tend to do that to you. It also didn’t help that the keeper went out with an injury that screwed up the substitution rotation. Peckerman opted for fresh legs in the midfield rather than bolster a flagging front line. Hindsight is 20/20, but that was clearly the wrong choice now.

Despite both teams being the class of the tournament going in, offenses clipping away at a steady clip. Chances were hard to come by for either side.

You never liked Argentina’s chances if it came down to kicks. Germany, at home would have been enough, but the Argies also had to cope with their number two keeper guarding the net. He did a fair job of it, though.

In the end it was the home crowd lifting up the tired Germans just enough to beat the dead Argentinian legs. By that time, every one of Argentina’s main scoring threats were on the bench watching.

Klinsmann’s American training tactics seem to have paid off a little as well. Except for Ballack, who might need to get with the program, the German side looked fresher at the end than the South American’s did.

This sets up a very possible German/Italy match in the semis (please don’t let Ukraine win). Perhaps not as thrilling as Italy/Argentina with both sides on their games would have been, but still…

With a couple of off days until the Quarter Finals get under way on Friday, I came across a site that has compiled some interesting stats to help kill the time. It’s obviously very subjective, but they’ve got the numbers on such things as dives, tantrums, faking injuries, even the number of the team members not singing their national anthem. It won’t kill the entire two days, but it might help. The US actually faired well in most of the catagories.

On the ball statistics

I had a feeling at the start of this match that France was going to win this thing. Spain shows flashes at times of how brilliant they should be. But, in the end, they always duck out earlier than they should–and things are starting to get late in the World Cup. It was time for them to make their exit. France obliged with a couple late goals to send them packing 3-1.

I always start thinking that things are going to be different this time, but they almost never are. Brazil will probably win the Cup. England will lose somewhere on penalties. The sun will come up tomorrow. Spain will get knocked out earlier than expected by losing a match they should have won.

France has its own funk to deal with, but for now, they live to fight another day. It should still be interesting against Brazil. Both teams may actually show up ready to play. I’m looking for Brazil to put on the first real demonstration of what they are actually capable of, though. Losing to Brazil in the quarters is no great shame, and France seem more intent to avoid another shameful tournament rather than actually thinking they can win it.

Brazil, on the other hand, act like they already have won it and are just playing some exhibition matches for the fans. It’s about time for them to show up. I thought Spain would have a chance to upset them, but I don’t think France has it in them. Brazil will Beat France then Portugal (or England on penalties), then Italy.

It’s starting to look as inevitable as the sun rising.