208 replies to this topic

[SydneySox]

Vuvuzelas are really really loud, and everywhere. But awesome to hear anyway.

The Australian and Danish players were less than enthusiastic about those fucking things after their friendly the other day.

[Homa04]

Is anyone else tempted to collect Panini stickers?

Not for the last 20 years. I spent dozens of Deutschmarks on them. Best I ever had was the album for Euro88. I only needed one refree to complete it. Had a ton of doubles and triples.

[Nick Kaufman]

Is anyone else tempted to collect Panini stickers?

In the Greek forum I frequent, people are doing it/have done it.

I used to when I was a kid. In the US you have to go to collector's stores right? In Greece, they re on every local 711.

[Nick Kaufman]

Had a ton of doubles and triples.

People exchange extra stickers everywhere, right?

"Got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, I COMPLETE THE ALBUM!!!"

[Spacemans Bong]

Bongerette bought me an album and some stickers for when I get home. I think you can mail away for the last 50.

[goyangfc]

Jubilani made on less than £2 a day.

This is really sad.

Edited by goyangfc, 04 June 2010 - 10:12 AM.

[trekfan55]

People exchange extra stickers everywhere, right?

"Got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, I COMPLETE THE ALBUM!!!"

My kids did one, and they completed the album. There are prizes and everything.

[ifmanis5]

World Cup + Star Wars + Daft Punk + World Cup = Awesome

[Spacemans Bong]

Did anybody hear the BS Report podcast with Michael Davies? That guy annoyed the fuck out of me. The idea that the world wants the US team to fail and that they are the most underrated team at the World Cup because foreign journalists hate America was pretty ridiculous.

[ifmanis5]

Did anybody hear the BS Report podcast with Michael Davies? That guy annoyed the fuck out of me. The idea that the world wants the US team to fail and that they are the most underrated team at the World Cup because foreign journalists hate America was pretty ridiculous.

I heard that and thought the same. Didn't make me want to read his book.


Ref assignments released today:

Soccer-World-Referee assignments for the opening 16 matches
JOHANNESBURG, June 6 (Reuters) - Referee assignments for the
opening 16 matches of the June 11-July 11 World Cup.
Friday June 11
1. South Africa v Mexico, Group A
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan), assistants: Rafael
Ilyasov (Uzbekistan) and Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan), fourth
official Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)

2. Uruguay v France, Group A
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan), assistants: Toru Sagara
(Japan) and Jeong Hae-sang (South Korea), fourth official: Joel
Aguilar: (Slovenia)

Saturday June 12
3. Argentina v Nigeria, Group B
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany), assistants: Jan-Hendrik
Salver (Germany) and Mike Pickel (Germany), fourth official:
Khalil Al-Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)

4. South Korea v Greece, Group B
Referee: Michael Hester (New Zealand), assistants: Jan
Hendrik Hintz (New Zealand) and Tevita Makasini (Tonga), fourth
official: Martin Vazquez: (Uruguay)

5. England v United States, Group C
Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil), assistants: Altemir Hausmann
(Brazil) and Roberto Braatz (Brazil), fourth official: Eddy
Maillet (Seychelles)

Sunday June 13
6. Algeria v Slovenia, Group C
Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile), assistants: Patricio Basualto
(Chile) and Francisco Mondria (Chile), fourth official: Peter
O'Leary (New Zealand)

7. Germany v Australia, Group D
Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico), assistants: Jose Luis
Camargo (Mexico) and Alberto Morin (Mexico), fourth official:
Joel Aguilar (Slovenia)

8. Serbia v Ghana, Group D
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina), assistants: Ricardo
Casas (Argentina) and Hernan Maidana (Argentina), fourth
official: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)

Monday June 14
9. Netherlands v Denmark, Group E
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France), assistants: Eric Dansault
(France) and Laurent Ugo (France), fourth official: Roberto
Rosetti (Italy)

10. Japan v Cameroon, Group E
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal), assistants: Jose
Cardinal (Portugal) and Bertino Miranda (Portugal), fourth
official: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)

11. Italy v Paraguay, Group F
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico), assistants: Hector
Vergara (Canada) and Marvin Torrentera (Mexico) fourth official:
Joel Aguilar (Slovenia)

Tuesday June 15
12. New Zealand v Slovakia, Group F
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa), assistants: Celestin
Ntagungira (Rwanda) and Enock Molefe (South Africa), fourth
official: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

13. Ivory Coast v Portugal, Group G
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay), assistants: Pablo
Fandino (Uruguay) and Mauricio Espinosa (Uruguay), fourth
official: Martin Vazquez (Uruguay)

14. Brazil v North Korea, Group G
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary), assistants: Gabor Eros
(Hungary) and Tibor Vamos (Hungary), fourth official: Subkhiddin
Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)

Wednesday June 16
15. Honduras v Chile, Group H
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles), assistants: Evarist
Menkouande (Cameroon) and Bechir Hassani (Tunisia), fourth
official: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

16. Spain v Switzerland, Group H
Referee: Howard Webb (England), assistants: Darren Cann
(England) and Michael Mullarkey (England), fourth official:
Martin Hansson (Sweden)
(Compiled by Patrick Johnston, editing by Jon Bramley; To
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedbackthomsonreuters.com)

[Pxer]

Larrionda avoided!

[ifmanis5]

I get the feeling there's going to be a bunch of these in the next month...

Soccer-World-Photographer held at gunpoint as media hotel raided
By Chico Laxmidas and Peroshni Govender
MAGALIESBURG, South Africa, June 9 (Reuters) - A World Cup
photographer was held at gunpoint on Wednesday during a pre-dawn
burglary at a lodge used by journalists covering Portugal and
Spain, raising concerns about security in the host country.
The two robbers brandishing at least one handgun made their
way undetected through two rooms where journalists were sleeping
before rousing a Portuguese photographer in a third room, police
and victims said.
Antonio Simoes, the photographer, was awakened by the
burglars and held at gunpoint for a few minutes while they made
off with his camera, cash and credit cards.

Edited by ifmanis5, 09 June 2010 - 08:17 AM.

[EP Sox Fan]

Apparently, soccer was really big in the US in the 1920s. I had never heard of this league and had no idea that soccer was ever popular on any level like the one described in the article.

[soxfan121]

Carlos Simon, the referee (apparently) reviled by all, will call the USA-England match. Deadspin has the dirt.

Good thing the man loves his penalties—he gave out 17 cards in just three games the last time around

[Spacemans Bong]

USA-Mexico 2002 on now on ESPN Classic.

"Adios, amigos!"

[Phil Plantier]

I'm DVR-ing the USA-Portugal match right after, so I can hear those 20 American fans singing "Na Na Hey Hey" at the end of the match again.

[Bosoxen]

This is a really kickass calendar.

[cannonball 1729]

I didn't happen to see this anywhere here, so I apologize if it's already been posted, but there appears to be a bit of trash talk between the British and American Embassies in anticipation of Saturday's match:


http://g.sports.yaho...?urn=sow,246886

________________________________

From: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

To: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

Subject: World Cup Bet

Mr. Longden, It has not escaped our attention that a certain sporting event is fast approaching, and that our respective nations will soon be meeting on the fields of South Africa.

My Ambassador has asked me to see if your Ambassador might be interested in a small wager? We will understand if you decline, given the outcome of the last such encounter.

Sincerely, Philip Breeden, U.S. Embassy, London

________________________________

From: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

To: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

Subject: Re: World Cup Bet

Mr. Breeden,

Even for such an exceptionally optimistic nation as the United States, I am struck by the confidence with which your Ambassador proposes this wager. It is testament, I assume, to the generosity of your great nation - since the British Ambassador does not anticipate paying out.
Your email does not specify the exact terms of the wager. May I suggest that, in the event of an England victory, the US Ambassador agrees to entertain the British Ambassador at a steak-house of his choosing in downtown DC? And in the event that the United States is able to engineer a fortuitous win over England, then my man will entertain yours at a London pub of his choosing. Loser pays.

Your reference to a previous sporting encounter between our two countries puzzles me. Since the history of English football is long and extensive, in contradistinction to US soccer, I regret that I cannot immediately recall the encounter to which you refer. No doubt it is remembered fondly on these shores; we have quite forgotten it, however.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Yours sincerely, Martin Longden British Embassy Washington DC

________________________________

From: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

To: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

Subject: Re: World Cup Bet

Mr. Longden ,

It is with great pleasure, and no small measure of anticipation, that the U.S. Ambassador accepts the terms of the wager. I am surprised, given the well known love of the British for history, that you have forgotten what happened the last time the “special relationship” was tested on the pitch. Of course, given the result, you are to be forgiven for having misplaced that particular episode in your memory banks. I refer of course to the victory of the U.S. over England in the 1950 World Cup.

It is true that our soccer (a fine English word we have kindly preserved for you) history is not as long and illustrious as yours. However, as your generals noted during WWII, we have a unique capability for quickly identifying and advancing talent.

Game on!

Sincerely, Philip Breeden

________________________________

From: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

To: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

Subject: Re: World Cup Bet

Mr. Breeden,

Very well; it’s a bet!

Incidentally, you should know that the Ambassador takes his steak like American soccer victories - somewhat rare.

Sincerely,

Martin Longden

[Zomp]

If thats real, thats awesome.

[teddykgb]

i'm sure it's fake but at least i haven't read it before

[idontlikecricketiloveit]

The BBC ran a story on this as well, seems legit.

[Zososoxfan]

I get the feeling there's going to be a bunch of these in the next month...

DURBAN, South Africa -- Three Greece players at the World Cup have had money stolen from their hotel rooms, police say.

Lt. Colonel Leon Engelbrecht said Thursday the unidentified players reported $1,921 had been stolen from their rooms on Tuesday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the resort of Umhlanga, just north of Durban.

Engelbrecht said the Greek squad has told police it doesn't want a case opened over the theft.

The theft happened only hours before three foreign World Cup journalists were robbed, one at gunpoint, at a hotel in Magaliesburg, in the northwest of the country. The journalists lost money, camera equipment, laptop computers and mobile phones.

Let the games begin.

[sleepyjose03]

I get the feeling there's going to be a bunch of these in the next month...

Another...

JOHANNESBURG(AP) -- FIFA says a group of Chinese journalists have been mugged while covering the World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA spokesman Wolfgang Eichler said Thursday the attack happened in the Johannesburg city center on Wednesday, and police were investigating the incident.

Eichler says "it happened on the street, so we don't comment on this matter.''

A Chinese media report said four journalists from the central province of Anhui were held up by armed men on Wednesday and robbed of cash and a camera.

Meanwhile, South African police said three arrests have been made in the case of a Portuguese photographer and two other journalists who were robbed at gunpoint early Wednesday.

Read more: http://sportsillustr...l#ixzz0qTIiqxDC

[Jeff Van GULLY]

Fun fact: The best finish for the US in a World Cup is third, one better than Spain. They achieved this in 1930, when they beat Belgium and Paraguay to reach the semi-final against Argentina. Back then they did not have a third-place play-off and their W-L record secured them 3rd.

[Phil Plantier]

4:30am Saurday in Los Angeles. Greece v South Korea. Broadcast at the Staples Center.

sold out.

[SumnerH]

Fun fact: The best finish for the US in a World Cup is third, one better than Spain. They achieved this in 1930, when they beat Belgium and Paraguay to reach the semi-final against Argentina. Back then they did not have a third-place play-off and their W-L record secured them 3rd.

I'm pretty sure that remains the best finish ever for any team outside of the European and South American confederations.

[SoxScout]

Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter has been killed in a car crash after a World Cup-eve concert, reports say.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation reportedly said Zenani Mandela, 13, died when travelling home after the concert in Johannesburg. No-one else was reportedly injured in the accident.

Zenani Mandela was one of the former South African president's nine great-grandchildren.

The reports come hours before the World Cup is due to open in Johannesburg.

"The family has asked for privacy as they mourn this tragedy," the Foundation said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ca/10290830.stm

[Tony the Pony]

I'm pretty sure that remains the best finish ever for any team outside of the European and South American confederations.

South Korea made it to the semis in 2002.

So, no.

[idontlikecricketiloveit]

South Korea made it to the semis in 2002.

So, no.

Think he means the 3rd place finish. Turkey came in 3rd in '02 (though a case can be made for them being a team from Asia!).

[Tony the Pony]

Think he means the 3rd place finish. Turkey came in 3rd in '02 (though a case can be made for them being a team from Asia!).

The US didn't finish third in 1930 either.

First of all, who the fuck cares about the losers of the semis? Secondly, I remember seeing this program on TV back when I was a little boy in which members of the Yugoslav team (and/or their heirs) showed off the third place medals.

If you ask me, FIFA just decided to give the US the 3rd place finish decades after the the World Cup, based on metric that would allow them to rank all finishers from the second round onwards

(For example, the Dutch finished 7th in 1994. I have no fuckin idea how you can finish 7th in a World Cup, but they did. They started this shit in 1994, I think, probably to quench the thirst of the retarded American sportsfan and their obsession with rankings)


I have no use for a match between the losers of the semis, nor could I give two fucks about a 'ranking'. You know what teams fucked off in the group stage (hello Portugal!), and you know what teams are in the final. Everything in between is quite irrelavant.

Edited by Tony the Pony, 11 June 2010 - 12:30 AM.

[idontlikecricketiloveit]

The US didn't finish third in 1930 either.

First of all, who the fuck cares about the losers of the semis? Secondly, I remember seeing this program on TV back when I was a little boy in which members of the Yugoslav team (and/or their heirs) showed off the third place medals.

If you ask me, FIFA just decided to give the US the 3rd place finish decades after the the World Cup, based on metric that would allow them to rank all finishers from the second round onwards

(For example, the Dutch finished 7th in 1994. I have no fuckin idea how you can finish 7th in a World Cup, but they did. They started this shit in 1994, I think, probably to quench the thirst of the retarded American sportsfan and their obsession with rankings)


I have no use for a match between the losers of the semis, nor could I give two fucks about a 'ranking'. You know what teams fucked off in the group stage (hello Portugal!), and you know what teams are in the final. Everything in between is quite irrelavant.

Yeah 3rd place is especially useless. Though this is just a bit of trivia nothing more.

[Spacemans Bong]

The US didn't finish third in 1930 either.

First of all, who the fuck cares about the losers of the semis? Secondly, I remember seeing this program on TV back when I was a little boy in which members of the Yugoslav team (and/or their heirs) showed off the third place medals.

If you ask me, FIFA just decided to give the US the 3rd place finish decades after the the World Cup, based on metric that would allow them to rank all finishers from the second round onwards

(For example, the Dutch finished 7th in 1994. I have no fuckin idea how you can finish 7th in a World Cup, but they did. They started this shit in 1994, I think, probably to quench the thirst of the retarded American sportsfan and their obsession with rankings)


I have no use for a match between the losers of the semis, nor could I give two fucks about a 'ranking'. You know what teams fucked off in the group stage (hello Portugal!), and you know what teams are in the final. Everything in between is quite irrelavant.

If it's irrelevant than why are you posting about it?

Seriously..wah.

Edited by Spacemans Bong, 11 June 2010 - 01:10 AM.

[Tony the Pony]

If it's irrelevant than why are you posting about it?

What, you can't read?

Just gave South Korea credit were credit was due; with the exception of the US in 1930, no other country that was not part of the South American or European football associations has ever reached the World Cup semi finals.

[Zomp]

Shut the fuck up Dutch fan boy.

USA! USA!

[Dummy Hoy]

I was listening to the BBC's World Today, which was live from Soweto, on the way home last night. All the hosts did was harrass all of their guests about why it was good idea to have the World Cup in Africa, focusing on race issues and how useless the infrastructure was going to be after the WC. While these are valid points, is it really the time for them on the morning of the Cup? It felt like someone had been invited to a party and then started insulting the hosts while putting their balls in the cheese dip. Nice to also know there's never been reacism or poor people in England.

I find myself very happy for Africa to be holding this party. I really hope it goes well.

Edited by Dummy Hoy, 11 June 2010 - 08:00 AM.

[Mystic Merlin]

Huh?

What an embarrassing article.

[Infield Infidel]

Argentina Nigeria was a bizarre game. After der Heinze's goal, Argentina went all Italy and held it down like fat people on a blanket

At Ellis Park, the vuvuzelas were not overwhelming except prior to set-pieces, and even then not too bad. The stadium was more or less Buenes Aires East. I got to see Jonas Gutierrez fuck up a couple times, and cheered for Obafemi Martins for likely the last time ever.

Tomorrow we go to Soccer City, with earplugs in hand, for Denmark-Holland. Two enterprising terrorists, whom were planning to bomb this game, were arrested last month. Speculation has it that the impetus was the Dutch/Dane cartoonists depictions of Muhammed (his holy greatness whom shall not be imaged, praise be to Allah). I think we'll be fine.

People are nuts here, vuvezelas tooting at all hours, and every bar/pub, even the posh spots, are showing all the matches.

[shawnrbu]

Some ugliness outside Durban Stadium:

According to reports, riot police have dispersed HUNDREDS of protesters outside Durban Stadium, hours after Germany vs. Australia which ended in 4 – 0. According to unconfirmed reports,hundreds of stewards at Durban Stadium are protesting, saying they were getting not enough payment for their work from stadium owners.

Police have fired back with stun grenades and media has been forced to stay in their media center. The stun grenade explosions rocked the area, making people fear it could be a terrorist attack. However, it is not.

[Spacemans Bong]

16.8 million watched the USA-England game. 7.3 Nielsen rating on ABC, 3.8 million viewers on Univision. Cumulative rating must be close to 9 or so?

Plus you had a ridiculous amount of people around the US watching in bars or in public parks.

[CoRP]

from The Onion Soccer Officially Annouces It Is Gay

[dirtynine]

Just a quick dispatch from the field - been here in SA for a week and it's incredibly great. No major security problems that we've encountered; getting places is a hassle without public transportation (read:Rustenberg - Gillette Stadium is in downtown Manhattan compared to where they put Royal Bafokeng) but all in all it's wonderful. We are based in Joburg and attending the USMNT games, fitting in side trips between matches. Down in Cape Town now to drive the garden route along the coast before heading back up to Joburg for US/Slovenia. This country is incredible - maybe I'll be lucky enough to see it in warm weather one day. Neither security nor hooligan-esque behavior has been a problem at all.

On the soccer side, the US is in good shape, but of course primed to make life very difficult for themselves if they fail to at least draw Slovenia. There are a TON of Americans here, so support on Friday shouldn't be a problem. If I could only find a place to watch the Celts (the game came on - to cheers - at a packed CT bar at 2am last night)...

[Infield Infidel]

There's another sosher down here?!? Dirty Nine, you going to the USA-Slovenia game? If so we should meet up.

Yep, fans have been pretty well behaved all around. Transport infrustructure is wanting though. Got to th Holland Denmark game in Soccer City fine on the BRT, but then the bus drivers went on strike during that game. Took about 3.5 hours to get home.

Ellis Park lat night was like a game at Gillette in the middle of December (except for the attractive Brazilians). Must have been the coldest WC match on record.

[dirtynine]

II, definitely - I am using wifi where I can find it, hence the delay in posts. I'll be at the radium beer hall before the game tomorrow (seems to be the designated Yank meetup point) - I'll try to wear a Sox hat to be identifiable.

Jealous you got to hit up Ellis Park already - how was the in-stadium experience?

[SoxScout]

Just came across this blog, pretty sweet graphics: http://billsportsmaps.com/

[I12XU]

n00b question regarding uniforms: why aren't the jerseys skin-tight fitting underarmor type spandex like cyclists use? The players are constantly being leashed having their jerseys grabbed. Is it just that you can't market that type of shirt to fat fans, or does everyone just like the option of being able to yank a jersey just in case?

[DukeSox]

n00b question regarding uniforms: why aren't the jerseys skin-tight fitting underarmor type spandex like cyclists use? The players are constantly being leashed having their jerseys grabbed. Is it just that you can't market that type of shirt to fat fans, or does everyone just like the option of being able to yank a jersey just in case?

they should just play with body paint.

[I12XU]

they should just play with body paint.

Gee, thanks.

In football the players keep their jerseys as tight as possible to allow for no slack to enable holding. I'm sure that RBs would coat themselves in yak butter if it helped them have unimpeded progress and get farther. I just don't understand why soccer wouldn't have taken advantage of ways to reduce the ease of holding if it was something they care about. If grabbing a jersey is an option that everyone likes having and that's why they don't have a uniform that could eliminate the grabbing. I'm interested in knowing as someone who only pays attention every other year for international play.

[Billy R Ford]

If grabbing a jersey is an option that everyone likes having and that's why they don't have a uniform that could eliminate the grabbing. I'm interested in knowing as someone who only pays attention every other year for international play.

Officially, grabbing a player's jersey is illegal, as often as it happens; it's why players are encouraged to tuck their shirts in, so if it pops out the ref knows the opposing player was holding on to the shirt.

To answer your question, it's for one of the reasons you suggested in your first post: they can't be marketed to the average fan. In 2000, Italy and a few Premier League teams introduced a skin-tight jersey, but fans hated them because the average beer-drinking, fast-food-eating footy fan looked ridiculous wearing one. ESPN even named it in their "worst kits of the decade" feature:

They supplied the Azzurri with a skin tight Supplex fabric technology that certainly got people talking and provided the company with more than enough column inches, but Kappa overlooked one important thing.While lycra might look good adorning an Adonis it does not look good on the average football fan, who has not been at the peak of physical fitness for his entire working life and may have had one pie too many over the years.

The likes of Wales and Tottenham Hotspur subsequently adopted similar ill-fitting jerseys and so did their fans ... some things should remain unseen.

Edited by Billy R Ford, 18 June 2010 - 06:25 PM.

[RedSoxandBlueStripes]

Yeah 3rd place is especially useless. Though this is just a bit of trivia nothing more.

3rd place actually matters a fair bit to non-traditional powers like Turkey, Sweden, or Croatia who have finished there. These teams tend to take the 3rd place p/o seriously. Traditional powers who've been knocked out in the semis don't care.

Edited by RedSoxandBlueStripes, 19 June 2010 - 11:48 AM.

[Tony the Pony]

From "I prefer the whore that is your sister" to "Son of a whore". What's with the French?

And does l'Equipe have a verbatim account up yet?