World Cup

[Sander]

Hehe, yeah I heard the commentator too: "Landzaat is coming on to give Cocu some rest... oh, um, van persie is coming off, yeah, an extra midfielder is obviously necessary because our midfield is being overrun"

The coach is always right, eh?

Yeah, that commentary was pretty weird. But midfield was being overrun. Almost all the seoncdary balls were for the Argentinians, and that did change after Landzaat came on. Landzaat played a good match, really.

And saying "We can't possibly win, so we might as well not even try" is good for team spirit?

...
That's not what I said at all. Not bringing on an extra striker isn't the same as throwing away the match, that would be bringing on an extra defender when you're already behind. Not bringing on an extra striker basically means that you're content with how it's going now, and besides the fact that by the end of the game we couldn't subsititute anyone anymore, but we did get some decent changes.
Although, yeah, bringing on Vennegoor instead of Maduro would've probably made us lose the match, but would've been interesting to watch.

 

[Hovercar Madness]

Yeah, that commentary was pretty weird. But midfield was being overrun. Almost all the seoncdary balls were for the Argentinians, and that did change after Landzaat came on. Landzaat played a good match, really.

They did play better in the last 5-10 minutes, but I saw it more as the result of Argentina ceasing to apply pressure. Their more defensive attitude may have returned dominance to us, but now our strikers had zero space.

Plus they countered nicely with that Tevez fellow.

...
That's not what I said at all

Huh? I thought we were having a bout of amateur sports-psychology here. I just meant that giving it all you have with an extra striker could very well have a positive effect, no matter the outcome.

 

[Sander]

Huh? I thought we were having a bout of amateur sports-psychology here. I just meant that giving it all you have with an extra striker could very well have a positive effect, no matter the outcome.

Possibly, doubtful, though. Especially because that would more be an act of desperation instead of an act of faith in the team.

 

[Hovercar Madness]

Possibly, doubtful, though. Especially because that would more be an act of desperation instead of an act of faith in the team.

Act of balls/sand/grit/cojones if you ask me.

I don't even know why I'm arguing for Vennegoor, I hate that guy.

Lets just say: had Huntelaar been there, he should have been brought on.

PS damn me for my late edits

 

[Sander]

Act of balls/sand/grit/cojones if you ask me.

I don't even know why I'm arguing for Vennegoor, I hate that guy.

Lets just say: had Huntelaar been there, he should have been brought on.

PS damn me for my late edits

Had Huntelaar been there, Babel should never have come in there in the first place.

 

[victor]

You know, there's a commercial here that says "During the World Cup everyone's a football expert". I guess that's kinda true here.

 

[Stag]

I'm going Italy, but I'm sorry to say that the team doesn't appear to be living up to my expectations. As a second, I'd go Germany.

 

[ztl_olmi]

I was disappointed at Trinidad & Tobago dropping out. Now I'm rooting for Argentina, I guess.

I must say, Sweden's second goal against England was just pathetic. I mean, he almost threw the ball in the goal! What was that about?

 

[Lukus]

You know, there's a commercial here that says "During the World Cup everyone's a football expert". I guess that's kinda true here.

Is it more true here than anywhere else? What do you expect, that everyone who enjoys soccer should just go "Ugh, score, team win game" instead of commenting on the matches? One doesn't need to be a full feathered connoisseur to comment on the dinner wine. And if you care so little for the World Cup, why do you care so much?

 

[victor]

Stop being so angry. I was just saying a lot of people don't know what they are talking about.

 

[DJ Slamák]

CZE-ITA - This first period was ass. So the Czechs fire like ten shots on the Italians with no results, while they get a goal out of two shots? And Polák got himself kicked out too.

Well, looks like I can start ignoring cricket again.

Update: Hahaha, holy shit. That second goal was the lamest thing I've ever seen.

 

[Duckman]

Fuck Yeah!!
Australia through to the second round after draing 2-2 with Croatia!!

Too bad we now face Italy in the second round

 

[Mani]

Fuck Yeah seconded!

Italy is overrated, bunch of overpaid crybabies, Australia has a chance for sure.

Also the referee was a complete and utter retard. There has been some bad refereeing in this WC, but this guy takes the fucking cake. Did he give FOUR yellow cards to that one Croat player before finally pulling the red, after the final whistle no less?

His obvious grudge against Viduka was also repulsive.
Someone take this guy out behind a shed and strangle him with his whistlecord.

 

[Briosafreak]

I could swear he gave three yellow cards to the same player


By the way best game so far

 

[Jebus]

Fuck Yeah seconded!

Italy is overrated, bunch of overpaid crybabies, Australia has a chance for sure.

Also the referee was a complete and utter retard. There has been some bad refereeing in this WC, but this guy takes the fucking cake. Did he give FOUR yellow cards to that one Croat player before finally pulling the red, after the final whistle no less?

His obvious grudge against Viduka was also repulsive.
Someone take this guy out behind a shed and strangle him with his whistlecord.

Arbiting is always crappy on World Cups. It has something to do with Sepp Blatter bribing re-election votes from small countries by allowing them to send referees to the WC - the Jamaican Prendergast is a perfect example. The guy did an awefull job at the last WC (he, for instance, dissalowed a Belgian goal against Brazil - a match that Belgium was dominating up to that point [believe it or not]); and still the only reason why he isn't around on this one is because he injured his knee.

It's fucked up.

 

[Sander]

Fuck Yeah seconded!

Italy is overrated, bunch of overpaid crybabies, Australia has a chance for sure.

Also the referee was a complete and utter retard. There has been some bad refereeing in this WC, but this guy takes the fucking cake. Did he give FOUR yellow cards to that one Croat player before finally pulling the red, after the final whistle no less?

His obvious grudge against Viduka was also repulsive.
Someone take this guy out behind a shed and strangle him with his whistlecord.

Graham Poll is usually an excellent referee, and did a good job here as well. He only drew two yellow cards on Simunic, but had to draw a third one to rectify his mistake in the final minute and send him off. Hence, the only mistake he made was forgetting that Simunic had already gotten a yellow card.

Anyway, fuck the Czechs. How did they not advance to the next round?

 

[DirtyDreamDesigner]

Fuck Yeah!!
Australia through to the second round after draing 2-2 with Croatia!!

Thank God all this football shit is over here, it was giving me an aneurism.

 

[quietfanatic]

Graham Poll is usually an excellent referee, and did a good job here as well. He only drew two yellow cards on Simunic, but had to draw a third one to rectify his mistake in the final minute and send him off. Hence, the only mistake he made was forgetting that Simunic had already gotten a yellow card.

Anyway, fuck the Czechs. How did they not advance to the next round?

Poll did a give a good impression of being retarded, showing a bias favouring Croatia with the fouls and losing control of the game at times, especially at the end, but he made other mistakes as well. Firstly, he missed Simunics' rugby tackle of Viduka. The Aussie fans saw it, as did our TV commentators, but the rest of the world seemed to miss it (Interestingly, they edited out this bit from the 5:00AM Sydney broadcast for the replay at 5:00PM.) I can't find a picture on the net, but he actually wrapped both arms around his old team-mate and wrestled him to the ground. He also missed a clear second handball by a Croatian, with a high punch. Poll probably made history by forgetting Simunics' previous card, but missing the rugby tackle as well makes it all the more amusing (seeing that we did win in the end). Never say die!

In case people don't know, Simunic was one of the Aussie defectors, born here and trained in the Australian Institute of Sport and previously playing with Viduka in the Melbourne Knights. He was offered a place on both national teams, but his heart was in Croatia. Before the game he was talking calmly about being a friendly professional etc., before trying to kill his old friend in the match.

It was very lucky that Kewell got to play, but it's sad that Emerton is out. Kalac seemed to totally lose his nerve, so Schwarzer should be back. I suspect Hiddink is playing mind games with the team, but he seems to know what he's doing. Kewell's goal was excellent but the Croatian penalty was outstanding. We still deserved to win though.

The Aussie crowd was outstanding and the Croatian one very warm as well, but I suspect few Aussies will be able to get tickets for later matches. Just in case, it's up to all you Euros to give us support. According to our media, everyone loves us over there, even if the referees seen to hate us. Is that true? I would guess that most would only care about their own team and Australia would largely be ignored, but that's not the impression I get here.

I was shocked to see the Czechs eliminated, although it's great to see the Africans progressing. Italy should be tough, but we have a decent chance.

 

[Sander]

Poll did a give a good impression of being retarded, showing a bias favouring Croatia with the fouls and losing control of the game at times, especially at the end, but he made other mistakes as well. Firstly, he missed Simunics' rugby tackle of Viduka. The Aussie fans saw it, as did our TV commentators, but the rest of the world seemed to miss it (Interestingly, they edited out this bit from the 5:00AM Sydney broadcast for the replay at 5:00PM.) I can't find a picture on the net, but he actually wrapped both arms around his old team-mate and wrestled him to the ground. He also missed a clear second handball by a Croatian, with a high punch. Poll probably made history by forgetting Simunics' previous card, but missing the rugby tackle as well makes it all the more amusing (seeing that we did win in the end). Never say die!

Mistakes like that happen, Poll still whistled a decent match, I say.

In case people don't know, Simunic was one of the Aussie defectors, born here and trained in the Australian Institute of Sport and previously playing with Viduka in the Melbourne Knights. He was offered a place on both national teams, but his heart was in Croatia. Before the game he was talking calmly about being a friendly professional etc., before trying to kill his old friend in the match.

It was very lucky that Kewell got to play, but it's sad that Emerton is out. Kalac seemed to totally lose his nerve, so Schwarzer should be back. I suspect Hiddink is playing mind games with the team, but he seems to know what he's doing. Kewell's goal was excellent but the Croatian penalty was outstanding. We still deserved to win though.

The Aussie crowd was outstanding and the Croatian one very warm as well, but I suspect few Aussies will be able to get tickets for later matches. Just in case, it's up to all you Euros to give us support. According to our media, everyone loves us over there, even if the referees seen to hate us. Is that true? I would guess that most would only care about their own team and Australia would largely be ignored, but that's not the impression I get here.

People always like to see underdogs go on. Especially when Hiddink is coaching them.
And the refs don't hate you, don't be silly. You got a few decisions against you, big deal, it happens in football.

 

[Ratty Sr.]

Besides, Poll also made a few mistakes in your favor. For instance, your second goal was irregular, because the ball was clearly in offside. Still, Poll also ignored one of Tomas' idiotic moves in the penalty area, so those two oversights kind of even out.

Funny thing about Stjepan Tomas - no one has been able to explain what the hell he was trying to pull, playing with his hand in the penalty area and all. Another funny thing - he is a very good friend of Mark Viduka. Word got out that SOA (the Croatian intelligence agency) might haul Tomas in for questioning, because it's just mind-boggling that a player with almost a decade of experience playing for the Croatian national team could do something so stupid, not once but *twice* in the same match.

Regardless, even if SOA don't subject Tomas to their excellent interrogation techniques, he can start looking for a new job, because his football career is over. He need not fear, though - I hear the national handball team is looking for defenders.