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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Off Topic => Topic started by: madelaide on June 10, 2010, 17:52
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The biggest event is almost here. Matches start tomorrow and I've got a pocket TV not to miss anything while in the bus. ;D
Who do you think will win the World Cup? Will Brazil reach its 6th triumph? Will Maradona walk naked in Buenos Aires to celebrate the victory of the Argentinians? Will Spain or Netherlands finally succeed? Will God's hand work again for France? Or is fate on the side of the Italians and their Dolce&Gabbana suits?
This is not about who will you cheer for, but who you think will win. The nine teams above are the top ones in the current FIFA ranking.
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I usually dislike football but a such great event can't be missed! For a month I'm football (and a lot of beer) fan! As I'm romanian, my favourites are Italy but I'd like to win the team who shows us the best show, best football and has the best skilled players.
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I live in Pretoria, South Africa and the soccer (we call it that) fever is running HIGH. On every car flags are flying, my own too, from every lamp post flags are flying and the sounds of vuvuzela's fill the air...My kids are having HUGE soccer parties at their schools today.This is a great event and even though I've never been a soccer fan I'm pretty sure that's gonna change within the next couple of weeks.
T minus 5 hours and I'm gonna plaster myself in front of the TV....
As to who will win I know too little to make a prediction. My only hope is that Bafana Bafana (what we call our national team) will do reasonably well ;D
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Yes - the England vote was mine, we can all dream..
I would have been supporting Ireland, had a certain handball incident not happened in Paris.
Anyone know the name of an English football team with a Scottish football name who play in Irish colours with a Welsh emblem?
Apologies to everyone else around the world who won't have a clue what I'm talking about.
Oldhand
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I would like to see Portugal in the final but if they finish in second in the group stage behind Brasil, that i hope will append. We will play in the next mach against Spain and i don´t think we will win. But will wait and see ;)
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I hope we (the Netherlands) will finally win it for the first time in life. Very exciting. Wish I could be there in South Africa now. For the games but also the country
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I hope we (the Netherlands) will finally win it for the first time in life. Very exciting. Wish I could be there in South Africa now. For the games but also the country
I'm with you.
Made the mistake the other day in Dublin to ask a cabdriver if Ireland was attending.
The poor man almost broke out in tears :)
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The Dutch would have a good chance, if they ever perfomed as a team! You should have won it in Cruyff's day. The Portuguese are an outside bet, but I'd rather they didn't because of Ronaldo's presence.
Agrentina have class, but a very poor manger, while Brazil have the strength and depth to go all the way.
Given England will at some point lose on penalty's, in my ideal world we'll have another repeat of the European championships where Denmark and Greece won in the past. I'd like a rank outsider, preferably from Africa itself.
One major obstacle will be the Germans (again).
The Irish would never have won it, but would have drunk more beer per fan.
Oldhand the pessimist
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An interesting start today. More coming tomorrow!
I don't follow football much, but I LOVE world cups. I'm taking part of four betting contests! ;D
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Oh XXXX!
Well done to all the Americans, you played well.
Oldhand
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Made the mistake the other day in Dublin to ask a cabdriver if Ireland was attending. The poor man almost broke out in tears :)
If you had a French accent, you might be dead now. ;)
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Hi All,
Got to watch the match from a party at the Guinness brewery last night to close out Cepic here in Dublin. We are very lucky to have tied that game. Being the fat headed person I am I placed 50 Euro on the Americans to win. I'll take the tie even though it didn't pay. We really played terrible football last night, we never controlled the mid field we had no use from the outside on the attack and pretty much played with only two men up. That won't hold up long in the cup, I do hope we start moving the ball better. I have 3 12 year old keepers on my team that would have stopped that goal, I'm glad the Brits don't have my keepers to support them: ) Green will never see the pitch again. Enjoy the matches, looking forward to Australians and Germans tonight.
Cheers,
Jonathan
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I think someone accidentally left Australia off that list....
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Hi madelaide,
You are here in Dublin I wish I had known. Yes they have t shirts that say Anyone but France here in Dublin after a terrible call made in a game last week. My wife is out buying the kids the England Kit. We'll see how well their friends feel when they wear them to school. We leave Dublin tomorrow. I am putting my money on Spain this cup.
Best,
Jonathan
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I've seen amazing players shut down in WC before but I think this Messi will NOT be denied.
ARGENTINA!
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You are here in Dublin I wish I had known.
It was Opla who was in Dublin recently.
Sorry for any ozzies here, but I had bet Germany 4x0. I've scored many points in that match, as well as in Slovenia 1x0 Algeria.
Tomorrow we have interesting matches, unfortunately everything is during working time. :( I will be able to see the second half of Italy x Paraguay at the bus.
PS: I'm curious about which teams got votes in "others", as the nine teams in the poll are the top ones in the current FIFA ranking.
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So it seems we already have some surprises. France, not likely the champion. It seems the leprechauns made a revenge! :D Spain was a deception, but has still room for recovering.
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Look like France are heading home - England need a win tonight to avoid the Germans in the next round. Argentina are playing attractive football, and the Spanish flatter to deceive.
I hope the US quailify....
All I see in the Uk papers is a picture of a South African soccer ball at the top of most pages in the colors of the flag.
Someone must be earning good money.
Happy birthday Fabio Capello!
Oldhand
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Just got an OD sale on Slovenian football ball on SS.
(http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/13222235/2/istockphoto_13222235-slovenian-soccer-ball.jpg) (http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=13222235)
Go Slovenia!
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Go Slovenia!
Was it before the second half? :)
So Germany fell today, after a beautiful start.
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Ohhhhh the irony.
(http://cdn.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-sun-world-cup-2010.jpg)
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Just got an OD sale on Slovenian football ball on SS.
([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/13222235/2/istockphoto_13222235-slovenian-soccer-ball.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=13222235[/url])
Go Slovenia!
ahaha that's a good one! OD on SS, linking IS! :P
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This is getting interesting. And now, even with a lousy team and a lousy coach, expectations have risen in Brazil. Not that we may not succumb to Ivory Coast on Sunday...
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This is getting interesting. And now, even with a lousy team and a lousy coach, expectations have risen in Brazil. Not that we may not succumb to Ivory Coast on Sunday...
Brasil and Portugal :) we will go together!
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Seem like spanish referees don't like germans :-\
I bet on Germany first and Argentinia second
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Oh dear yet again - a point earned agaist the Algerians, leaving a win necessary against Slovenia next Wednesday. If the US can beat the Algerians that's England and the US through.
In the interests, however, of special friendships across the pond, the US would deserve their place on current performance. For me Landon Donovan has been a star.
Problem now is that the second place in Germany's group play first place in England and the USA's. Let's say the Germans finish second, for me that's a good reason not to finish first and avoid them. They have a habit of coming good.
Will that man Capello please play Joe Cole and tell Steven Gerrard he is a millionaire, so should be able to play on the wing as well as centre of the pitch.
Well done to the Algerians (and Slovenians).
Oldhand (who is an oldhand at underacheiving in World Cups)
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Seem like spanish referees don't like germans :-\
I bet on Germany first and Argentinia second
I am sad saying this but you are probably right.. :P
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Was it before the second half? :)
It was when we were in the lead by 1:0. Was a though game, probably the best one till now for me (I'm biased though). In the end we were lucky to get a point. The ref clearly wasn't good enough for the game (the usa goal, the many usa elbows,...).
ahaha that's a good one! OD on SS, linking IS! :P
The SS preview was too big, so I used the IS one.
It's gonna be a thrilling last round. The fact that we won against Algerians and England lost against them gives me hope :D
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So it seems Italy wants a place in the plane that is taking France back home... They still have a chance, and they always do poorly on the first stages. Brazil is now in a very comfortable situation.
Will Portugal pass the North Korean barrier? Will the Swiss catch Chile too? Will Spain recover against Honduras?
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So it seems Italy wants a place in the plane that is taking France back home... They still have a chance, and they always do poorly on the first stages. Brazil is now in a very comfortable situation.
Will Portugal pass the North Korean barrier? Will the Swiss catch Chile too? Will Spain recover against Honduras?
YES WE WILL!! GO PORTUGALLLLLL :)
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Seem like spanish referees don't like germans :-\
I bet on Germany first and Argentinia second
After the game against Australia I would have been with you, but at the moment this world cup is allover the place - the South American teams are looking strong though.
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Don't write off England - send in the WAG's for a visit, and we'll be fine..
Oldhand
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PORTUGALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL PORTUGALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL :)
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Go Portugal!!! But i feel bad for the players in North Korea. Poor players, i think none of them want to go home afraid for what can the regime do!
Let´s see what can we do against your Brazilian brothers ;) madelaide
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Go Portugal!!! But i feel bad for the players in North Korea. Poor players, i think none of them want to go home afraid for what can the regime do!
Let´s see what can we do against your Brazilian brothers ;) madelaide
yeah nothing will happen to them I hope!
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Portugal could receive the North Koreans as refugees. ;D
The match on Friday will be a good one, but don't expect anything like today!
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In FIFA website, they say "Brazil put Elephants in the shade". Is "Elephants in the shade" some expression, or is the Ivory Coast team nicknamed "Elephant"?
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Portugal could receive the North Koreans as refugees. ;D
The match on Friday will be a good one, but don't expect anything like today!
eheeh we will see that :P
have you seen this?
http://tvuol.uol.com.br/#view/id=oscar-filho-do-cqc-se-vinga-dos-argentinos-04021B3270D0B913A6/user=uat3dix91wsf/date=2010-06-18&&list/type=user/codProfile=uat3dix91wsf/from=compartilhe-facebook/ (http://tvuol.uol.com.br/#view/id=oscar-filho-do-cqc-se-vinga-dos-argentinos-04021B3270D0B913A6/user=uat3dix91wsf/date=2010-06-18&&list/type=user/codProfile=uat3dix91wsf/from=compartilhe-facebook/)
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In FIFA website, they say "Brazil put Elephants in the shade". Is "Elephants in the shade" some expression, or is the Ivory Coast team nicknamed "Elephant"?
Yes, the nickname of the Ivory Coast national team is "Les Elephants" . . .
(http://a5.vox.com/6a010981593392000d0137e0159725860e-pi)
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Are there still elephants there after all the ivory sold?
So, it was "Adieux les Bleus", and it was sad to see the Bafana Bafana out of the show. Now, who's going home next?
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Now, who's going home next?
Nigeria and most probably Greece __ in about 4 hours from now.
Unfortunately there's a very good chance that England will also be on the 'Plane of Shame' by this time tomorrow. If it happens it'll be the first time in my life that they haven't made it through the Group stage.
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And France is out, now I really feel sorry for Ireland. Bafana is out, but at least they don't have to go anywhere, they are at home!
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And France is out, now I really feel sorry for Ireland.
. . .ain't that the truth!
What a disgrace . . the French REALLY stepped in it this time!
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Unlucky :(
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USA - down to the wire vs. Algeria - glad to see that it wasn't another bad call by a ref that made the difference this time.
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No plane of shame for England - I'm eager to see tonight's match to see if we end up playing the Germans on Sunday.
Well done USA, and man of the tournament so far, Mr. Donavan. Made me laugh to see Bill Clinton watching, he knows a think or two about scoring!
Oldhand
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England against Germany, the French surrendering without a fight and the USA late to the party!
Who said history repeats itself.
Only joking, apologies to all if the joke's in bad taste
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I'm glad USA managed to classify, because I think they had the best performance in their group (for what I read). England did one good match at last, not deserving much in fact. I'm also glad for Ghana.
Waiting to see what happens to Italy & the group E tomorrow. I have a meeting though and will be able to watch just a little at lunchtime.
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IT-A-LI-A! IT-A-LI-A! IT-A-LI-A!
Opps... they're out!
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England did one good match at last, not deserving much in fact.
Well you can't argue about their commitment. Here's England defender John Terry's headlong diving block in slow-mo. Is it a bird? Is it a salmon? No __ it's John Terry!
John Terry Superman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=170K6IcnL18&feature=player_embedded#normal)
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ehehe :)
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Brazil VS Portugal, good match!!
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Brazil VS Portugal, good match!!
really? I guess Portugal could have played way better but ok :) the only team that haven't suffer a goal
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Brazil VS Portugal, good match!!
What __ that dreary 0-0 draw you mean? Both sides spent most of the match watching the clock tick down knowing that they would qualify anyway. It was a real disappointment to the neutral.
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Brazil VS Portugal, good match!!
Boring, boring match. Ivory Coast vs North Korea was probably more exciting.
All South American teams are in the next round - that's great.
Sorry to see the Italians leave. Now I have to find another cute team to cheer for. ;D
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the only team that haven't suffer a goal
Don't forget Uruguay.
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I said "good match" because i don´t see the game by gools.
Yes they play in the defense.
Yes no one scores.
But this is all strategy, like a chess game. Don´t forget that for us is a game but for the people involved is a lot more. Portugal annulled the offensive that Brazil stands for, and Brazil have there mind already in the nex match.
Put your self in the shoes of Carlos Queiros and Dunga!
In the end they both go into the next phase.
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I'm glad Uruguay moved on. In the USA x Ghana, I was torn between having another American moving on and the only African team remaining.
PS: Great to see 7 out of the 8 American (5 out of the 5 South American) teams in the Round of 16. We may have 4 in the quarter finals, and even 4 in the semi-finals!
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Come on England..........
54 years of hurt and counting......
Let Rooney find his shooting boots and sweep aside the Teutonic onslaught!.
Oldhand with bottle at ready to drown sorrows later this afternoon
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Come on England..........
54 years of hurt and counting......
Let Rooney find his shooting boots and sweep aside the Teutonic onslaught!.
Oldhand with bottle at ready to drown sorrows later this afternoon
Wow has it been 54 years already... you'd never know it the way some people talk about 1966.
I think its time Uruguay won again!
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Er....did I say 54 years, I am sure I said 44 years...
Pass me another beer
Oldhand
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Er....did I say 54 years, I am sure I said 44 years...
Pass me another beer
Oldhand
Well 48 years next time round...
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Let's go Canada! ...Oh yea, we are not there, we got beat by the 14-15 years old brazilian team. Skating with spikes on the grass make it harder for us, not our fault.
I watch Argentina vs Mexico. It's 3 to 1 for Argentina, which is awesome I think. I have seen 2 on 4 goals in a 24 hour match, lucky me.
Next time maybe Argentina vs Germany and then I won't have a favorite team. If anyone can influence me to fav one team over the other please
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Even if Argentina's first goal was illegal, I believe they would win in the end. But the Germany vs England might have taken a different turn, had England's second goal not been cancelled incorrectly. A draw on the first half would have certainly given them more energy for the second half. Not that the Germans did not merit - they have a very good team. Germany vs Argentina will be a great match, for sure.
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Argentina, Brazil, maybe Germany.
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Somethings remain inevitable - normally disappointment. The disallowed English goal would have changed things, however we lost through shoddy schoolboy defending and lack of firepower up front.
A couple of players can hold their heads high, but not many... Argentina would have destroyed us as well. I'll tip Germany to beat them and Maradona to beat up the referee.
No more excuses for afternoon's off work now we are out.
See you in four years
Oldhand
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Ok, Brazil vs Chile begins now. Will we meet Netherlands next?
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I'm happy The Dutch made it to the next round
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Ok, Brazil vs Chile begins now. Will we meet Netherlands next?
I think so, we just have to wait the next 105 minutes
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Oh, yes, we're still in the game! ;D I was a bit uncertain at start, as Chile was attacking strongly. A good result in the end, without any help from the referee.
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@Luis Santos,
good luck today Luis :)
It's not going to be easy, you're meeting your big neighbour and they're very good.
Do your best Portugal, you're the underdogs :)
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@Luis Santos,
good luck today Luis :)
It's not going to be easy, you're meeting your big neighbour and they're very good.
Do your best Portugal, you're the underdogs :)
Underdogs?? come on!! 3rd place on ranks.. not that underdogs.. :P
thanks!
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Another way to see the "goal" in the Germany/England match I think
(http://acidcow.com/pics/20100629/acid_picdump_20.jpg)
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@Luis,
Sorry, I really don't know anything football :)
I want Portugal to win!
I said 'underdogs' only because Portugal is a smaller nation and I think I've heard the Irish on TV say Spain is more likely to win. But you know what, they didn't really know and they weren't very sure.
Anyhow, just so you know, the only match in the World Cup I've seen so far is your match. I watched every minute of the first part, and that's rare for someone like me :)
Second part is playing now, I'm half watching and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I want Portugal to win because :
1. The coach is handsome
2. Some Spanish footballers desperately need a hair cut. Too many curls gently flying around :)
I'm just joking, good luck Portugal, 40 more min to go!
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Ok Luis it's finished.
This is what the Irish are saying right now on TV:
1 - The goalkeeper was great and kept Portugal in the match
2 - Players lacked ambition
3 - Ronaldo only played for himself and not for the team
I'm sorry for Portugal and I'm sure you lost the match because of me. Every single time I want a team to win, it never does.
It's like a curse ...
Chin up, you'll feel a bit better tomorrow :)
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Portugal vs Spain was an excellent match, any of the two could have won. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't been having inspired moments in the cup. Playing for himself, maybe. Critics here say he spends too much time looking at the screens to see if he is on them.
Paraguay vs Japan was a totally different story, a boring game, they seemed to lack motivation, or were afraid to take risks. I'm glad Paraguay moved on because it's a South American team, but I'm afraid they will succumb under Spain.
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Ok Luis it's finished.
This is what the Irish are saying right now on TV:
1 - The goalkeeper was great and kept Portugal in the match
2 - Players lacked ambition
3 - Ronaldo only played for himself and not for the team
I'm sorry for Portugal and I'm sure you lost the match because of me. Every single time I want a team to win, it never does.
It's like a curse ...
Chin up, you'll feel a bit better tomorrow :)
no worries! better not to think too much I guess.. :P
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:'( :'(
Congrats to Netherlands. They dominated the second half, Brazil was totally disrupted emotionally. My only complain was, in the first half, a penalty that was not given to us. We were doing ok in the first half, Netherlands was not that well. Had we focused better and scored a second goal still in the first half (when we had a few chances...), history might be different. But we can not count on "ifs".
I didn't mund Brazil not winning, but I wanted to see all South American teams in the finals. My hopes are still with Uruguay and Argentina (although Germany can be as hard to them), and in a less extent also with Paraguay.
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I have no idea why the whole Brazilian team was so nervous. Even after the 1:0 lead. They clearly made fouls but they protested like they didn't even touch the player. Even Dunga (who I thought was a very calm guy) was a nervous wreck. I think that is the main reason they lost. Also the red card incident ???
I didn't see the penalty but I think there were some fouls on Kaka and Roubinho that should be punished a bit sooner in the game, de Jong especially. The dutch players had to stop those two by fouls (just like Robben on the other side).
I still think Brazil played better, they created more chances and actually scored a goal from gameplay and not after corner/free kick,... But thats football :D
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We are very happy here, that the Dutch made it to the next round. In the beginning they played very bad, but in the second half I think they played better then Brazil.
For us the red card was right. We read that Dunga was most afraid of Robben and you can see that, because they tried to tackle him al the time. And the kick on the hamstring (he had a big injury there, just before the worldcup) , was not nice, so good that a red card was given for that.
But it's always funny to read the differences in how someone sees a football game, depending on for which side you are.
I hope the Dutch make it to the finals and win it this time.
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Gana just unlucky. I liked how they played: running all the time, never giving up, fast passes forward. Now Suarez is a hero for playing with a hand. He didn't have anything to loose. If he let the ball in they would loose, if he used the hand they still had a chance.
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OK - what do you think about the Uruguayan handball in the last minute. Was he cheating or playing within the laws of the game - you handball it on the goal line, you will get sent off and miss the next game.
I'd have done exactly the same as he did, although it is very bad luck for Ghana.
Germany v Argentina this afternoon, that will be brutal. Hard to call.
Well done the Netherlands.
Oldhand
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Looks good for Germany :)
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Wow, what happened to Argentina? I had expected Germany might win, but 4x0?
I suppose they made the same mistake we did: get a coach who had never been a coach before. Although both Dunga and Maradona can help players with their experience, coaching is another story. In moments of crisis, they were unable to do anything.
I was hoping Paraguay would win - they played bravely against Spain. Oh, if Cardozo had not lost that penalty shot! He was so uncontrollably disappointed in the end.
Suarez did a desperate move, but withing the rules. Uruguay will miss him nest match, but if he had done nothing they would not even be in the next match. Sorry for Ghana too, pity they did not score in that decisive moment and then failed in the kicks.
I think Uruguay's Forlán is one of the most consistent players in the cup, with precise shots.
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Ok, guys, I've reset the poll with the four remaining teams. The original poll is seen below, for historical reasons. :)
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It seems a lot of us, including myself, was impressed by Germany. But we can not forget their match against Serbia...
On their side, I'm almost sure Mick Jagger won't be cheering for Germany, unlike he did in the recent falls of USA, England, Brazil and Argentina... One newspaper nicknamed him "angel of death". ;D
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The talking heads here in Germany explain their team's success so far to better technical abilities both from the individual players and as a team . . . . ie, they have been better playing as a team. I know there has been a long standing debate as to whether “superstars” can contribute as much as they should in tournments like this . . .but Germany has no real superstars, . . no Rooneys, Messis, Torres, or Robinhos and has found success so far, and the big named players have been disappointing.
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Stars can help in a decisive moment - a Pele or a Maradona always made a difference - but they are not the only factor of success. Some players are successful in their teams, but then when playing for the national team under a different scheme they disappear.
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This is my open bets from early stage of championship.
I invest 50$ in Bets who will be the first.
After @ is multiplier of stake so as you see I prefer Germany to be first.
For secure in early days I invest small amount on poor rated countries and if Uruguay wins I will make about 126 x 0,50 + 11 x 4 + 6,5 x 1,28 $
If Germany will be first I will make 9,5 x 1 + 8 x 2,47 + 6,5 x 8,24 + 6,5 x 1,78 + 3 x 25 $
I have left 5$ for live in play in situations if Germany score first goal than multiplier on Spain will rise btw 11 and 100 so in this case I will invest btw 2 and 3$ on Spain, this also will be if Uruguay score first goal vs Netherlands to secure me if Spain an Netherlands win at the end.
Any how I will make profit if Uruguay or Germany will bee first. Any how with small stakes in cases above I will be on small minus or small plus depends of multipliers.
Worst scenario is if Netherlands and Spain score first and win matches.
I hope that I will not loose my "investment" ;D
Small Wiki
Ball is spherical and rounded in the same time...
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Too bad Uruguay lost, they were tough and strong, played better than Netherlands IMHO. The 2nd goal shook them (a doubtful one, I think) and quickly came the third... But they went on fighting, and fell with glory.
Now, Paul the octopus said Spain will win tomorrow.
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Now, Paul the octopus said Spain will win tomorrow.
... and Paul the Octopus was right once again! You can see him make his prediction here;
BBC News - German 'psychic' octopus predicts victory for Spain (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10521867.stm#id10520000/10529300/10529309)
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I think I'll bet on Paul's predictions the next World cup. If he's still alive :D
Now I don't know for who should I cheer in the finals. I really like the Iniesta-Xavi double from Spain (even though I don't like Barca) but also love Sneijder from the Netherlands (especially because he can win it all this year, after Champions league, Serie A, Italian Cup).
PS: I think Ghana should be in semi finals instead of Uruguay. They played better. If the game lasted for 10 more minutes they would score (not counting the hand play). I also think they might win against Netherlands.
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I think I'll bet on Paul's predictions the next World cup. If he's still alive :D
There is a joke here that, after guessing today's match right, he will be turned into a paella. ;D
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God save the octopus... Holland... be aware of the spanish Tercios! 8)
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Could have done with Paul the Octopus in goal for England!
Very open final, but I'll tip the Spanish. Holland need the ball to play and Spain will deprive them.
I have to say, since England lost the World Cup has been more enjoyable than usual.
Well done the Netherlands and Spain!
Oldhand
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Good that Germany lost!! Otherwise it would have been much more challenging to sleep with all the honking!
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Paul the Psychic Octopus (aka 'The Tentacled Tipster') predicts Spain to lift the cup;
BBC News - 'Psychic' octopus predicts Spain to win World Cup (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10566287.stm#id10560000/10569900/10569977)
I might put a few squid on it.
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The octopus has spoken, but he is just an invertebrate. ;D
The final poll is on: Netherlands or Spain?
For the records, the quarter finals' poll results are shown attached.
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Wow, 5x0 in the poll, I didn't expect this.
But Paul the octopus got Germany right today, much to my disappointment as I was hoping Uruguay would win.
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Voting locked! The match is about to begin.
(http://www.google.com/logos/worldcupfinale10-hp.gif)
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A few very bad challenges (http://img.rtvslo.si/_up/upload/2010/07/11/64708801_alonso.jpg) till now. I'm glad that Webb started showing yellow cards, especially to v. Bommel, a few of his challanges were not punished in the last games even though he deserved a red card from my point of view.
Spain in control just as expected. Otherwise quite a boring game till now.
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For the moment 1 thing is clear, holland players are very good in taekwondo
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It was about time that Iniesta made a shot on goal. Before he tried to dribble all the way in the goal.
For the moment 1 thing is clear, holland players are very good in taekwondo
Yeah they probably learned those kicks from Remy Bonjasky :D
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Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Congrats Spain.
However for the sake of the beauty of this sport I hope that mister Webb goes back to being a cop or whatever he did before, because this was the worst referee I've ever seen in a World cup match, let alone in a final.
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I think he did a pretty good job. He should have give a yellow card to Sneijder and there were two mistakes before the goal (which is why the Dutch players protested), but still it wasn't those decisions that were decisive. It was still poor defending that prevented penalty shootout. And we know how the Dutch hate the penalties don't we? :D
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Congratulations to Spain. Although I had voted for Netherlands, I'm happy they won for the clean play. Oh, yes, and for having Casillas and Xabi Alonso too. ;D
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Just a side note: Spain had 5 votes in the original poll - about 12% of the votes at the beginning of the cup - and Netherlands had 4. Now at the end, the majority voted for Netherlands. The two most voted back then - Brazil and Argentina - fell much earlier.
We are very bad at guessing, uh? An octopus does it better than us! ;D
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Just a side note: Spain had 5 votes in the original poll - about 12% of the votes at the beginning of the cup - and Netherlands had 4. Now at the end, the majority voted for Netherlands. The two most voted back then - Brazil and Argentina - fell much earlier.
We are very bad at guessing, uh? An octopus does it better than us! ;D
Well I was one of the original 5, but missed the last poll :)
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Congratulations to Spain. Although I had voted for Netherlands, I'm happy they won for the clean play. Oh, yes, and for having Casillas and Xabi Alonso too.
and Iniesta, and Villa, and Torres, and Xabi, and Pujol........... and everyone, the best players in the world ;D
Just a side note: Spain had 5 votes in the original poll - about 12% of the votes at the beginning of the cup - and Netherlands had 4. Now at the end, the majority voted for Netherlands. The two most voted back then - Brazil and Argentina - fell much earlier.
We are very bad at guessing, uh? An octopus does it better than us!
Seeing how Spain play football, 2 options: few people in the forum knows about football or few spanish are in this forum ;D
However for the sake of the beauty of this sport I hope that mister Webb goes back to being a cop or whatever he did before, because this was the worst referee I've ever seen in a World cup match, let alone in a final.
Agree but.... who cares about that now? 8) 8)
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However for the sake of the beauty of this sport I hope that mister Webb goes back to being a cop or whatever he did before, because this was the worst referee I've ever seen in a World cup match, let alone in a final.
You have to be joking! With the Dutch determined to play-act and kick Spain off the park it was clearly a very difficult match to referee. Webb did a good job under the circumstances and Holland were fortunate to finish the game with 10 players.
At the start of the game I hoped Holland would win but after the first half I changed my mind. Spain quite are clearly the best footballing side in the world.
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Congratulations to Spain. Although I had voted for Netherlands, I'm happy they won for the clean play. Oh, yes, and for having Casillas and Xabi Alonso too.
and Iniesta, and Villa, and Torres, and Xabi, and Pujol........... and everyone, the best players in the world ;D
You missed the point: Casillas and Alonso are SO cute!
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Congratulations to Spain. Although I had voted for Netherlands, I'm happy they won for the clean play. Oh, yes, and for having Casillas and Xabi Alonso too.
and Iniesta, and Villa, and Torres, and Xabi, and Pujol........... and everyone, the best players in the world ;D
You missed the point: Casillas and Alonso are SO cute!
hahahah okkkkkk so I understand why you didnt mention Pujol or Iniesta ;)
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Congratulations to Spain!
For those interested, this is what the Irish commentators said about the match :
- the Dutch played a vicious and brutal game
- they were appalling to watch
- had the Netherlands won the cup, it would have been a sad day for football
- the referee should have been tougher. He should have given red cards much earlier in the game -to stop the Dutch from ruining the game
- the Spanish played football. The Dutch did not.
They said Forlan was the best player of the tournament.
And I actually managed to watch most of the game :)
Well done Spain :) Enjoy!
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Congratulations to Spain!
For those interested, this is what the Irish commentators said about the match :
- the Dutch played a vicious and brutal game
- they were appalling to watch
- had the Netherlands won the cup, it would have been a sad day for football
- the referee should have been tougher. He should have given red cards much earlier in the game -to stop the Dutch from ruining the game
- the Spanish played football. The Dutch did not.
Spanish media agree but perhaps they are a little more subjetive ;D ;D ;D ;D
They said Forlan was the best player of the tournament.
3rd better player Villa...
The world say Spain play the best football in he world but the players are not the best (neither the second) players....
UNBELIEVEABLE
but anyway... they have the cup ;)
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The world say Spain play the best football in he world but the players are not the best (neither the second) players....
UNBELIEVEABLE
I can only say about the matches I watched (several of them!) and Forlán was always playing well, unlike others who had one or two matches in which they were a bit null.
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Congrats to Spain.
I didn't like the game at all, not from the Dutch and not from the Spanish. The Dutch may played it hard, but I think the Spanish did the same, only they didn't get all the cards.
But I have to agree that the Spanish created much more chances then the Dutch. It only took them a long time to use those chances.
Third time the Dutch lost in the finals of the Worldcup. Will it ever happen that we win that cup?
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The game was on of the worst in wc , but is understandable because nobody wants to risk in final.
Netherlands should have lack 4 players before end not only 1 , and nobody can say that karate kick didn't deserve red card , same as that start from the back in beginning, and Roben
knew very well he is in offside when scoring that goal , should have been suspended because he already had 1 yellow card.
Than again , before Spanish goal it was clear fault on edge of Spanish 16m , so I agree 1 of worst referees ever in finals , probably worse.
Than again I remember another referee from same country showing 3 yellows in same game to same player in WC ;D
Personally , wanted Uruguay to win this
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The ref erred on the side of caution too long. An early red would have sorted the Dutch and Von Bommel out. As it was he made amends in the second half by giving a gola kick instead or a corner which led to the goal.
Spain were creative and played with flair, everything the Dutch used to be. Right result, entertaining game, and for my money fault must lie with Holland's manager. There game plan was negative, and relied on it all going to penalties.
Well done the Spanish.
See you in four years (if we qualify"
Adios - Oldhand
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Paul said it!
(http://static-p3.fotolia.com/jpg/00/24/18/28/400_F_24182842_Nxs509hE31AK2YaUxx8c2oNb6CeDiJuw.jpg)
http://us.fotolia.com/id/24182842 (http://us.fotolia.com/id/24182842)
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Some pics:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/07/2010_world_cup_comes_to_a_clos.html (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/07/2010_world_cup_comes_to_a_clos.html)
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/halfway_in_-_2010_world_cup.html (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/halfway_in_-_2010_world_cup.html)
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Some pics:
[url]http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/07/2010_world_cup_comes_to_a_clos.html[/url] ([url]http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/07/2010_world_cup_comes_to_a_clos.html[/url])
[url]http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/halfway_in_-_2010_world_cup.html[/url] ([url]http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/halfway_in_-_2010_world_cup.html[/url])
Thanks for posting, some really great examples of Sport photography . . . . love the last one on the boston.com site, touching way to end the series.