Devastating result for the Azzurri, but Italy will be over it a few days after the Cup has finished. Contrast that with the French and the existential crisis its collapse has brought on. They’ll be gnawing on this for years, agonizing over what it means for French culture, society, and world stature — while the Italians are off chasing women/men, eating pasta, and sacking their governments. Maybe it’s something in the soil — Italians make happy wine; the French make anxious wine.
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Commentary
A Little Love for the USA Captain
A tribute to our 91st minute man behind the link (or click the picture for a full blast of star-spangled glory). Let’s hope we show up as strong against the Black Stars on two-days rest.
Commentary
Incredible Win Fills US with Joy
The greatest win in US Soccer history? Absotively. After dominating possession and creating chances all game, our boys finally broke through just when it seemed we’d be going home frustrated. It’s the kind of finish you dream about as a little kid—late in the game, counting down the final seconds in your head as you take that last touch and fire your shot past the imaginary goalkeeper. Incredible stuff.
I can’t even bother breaking down the game with any specifics because I’m too emotionally spent. Every US match I’ve attended has been packed with passionate fans, and today was no different. The bar crowds chanting “USA USA” as if the team can hear them, people around me gasping with every foray into offense, groaning as the ball goes harmless wide after a strike, and a celebration with today’s 91st minute goal that sparked spontaneous hugging and even some tears. Even my great new haircut was overlooked, such an amazing win it was.
We’ll be liveblogging more tomorrow, with special looks at the German/England rivalry to come, and more dispatches from South Africa in the pipe. Stay tuned, kiddos. We love ya!
Commentary
“I take no joy in the collapse of the French”
Lifted from today’s France v South Africa / Mexico v Uruguay open thread of comments:
Strangely, I take no joy in the collapse of the French (how many times in history has that phrase been used?). I suppose it’s more fun to watch a team you dislike lose at full strength, but this is just sad. Like some strung out 80s movie star — it’s hard to watch, and you wish they’d go away quietly.
Commentary
Digging Europe’s Dark Vision of Futbol: The Unsettling Language of UK Futbol Announcers
One of the best side benefits of World Cup soccer has been the chance to listen to non-American announcers cover the games. It’s not so much that the U.S. seems to have few legitimate broadcasters who can competently, unpretentiously offer their opinion, which is basically a true statement, no it’s more about the subtle nuances like terminology. Take the following examples:
1) “the smash and grab” – in the overwhelming cluster$#%k that was Switzerland’s goal against Spain the UK announcer repeatedly described it as a “smash and grab” goal. Likewise, Paraguay’s set play success against Italy received the same moniker. I swear no American announcer would ever imply both theft and violence in the purest of all things a world cup goal. No, our man would say the Swiss were “gritty”, “dogged” or “had a nose for the goal”. I’d say the “smash and grab” is all those things and more.
CommentaryGeneral Knowledge
Today’s mathematics: 32 games done, 31 to go
We just crossed the halfway point of the tournament, when measured in terms of number of games played. The tournament consists of a total of 63 games, of which:
32 games have been played over the past 11 days: 4 games in each of the 8 groups;
there are 16 games remaining in the group phase: 2 games in each of the 8 groups, with 4 games per day over the next 4 days (Tues-Fri);
16 teams will advance to the knockout phase: 2 teams from each of the 8 groups;
15 games will be played in the knockout phase: 8 + 4 + 2 + 1.
So the total # of 63 can be broken down as follows:
63 = 32 + 16 + 15 = 8*4 + 8*2 + (8 + 4 + 2 + 1).
Let me know if you see anything wrong with the math here.
Commentary
The Big E.A.S.Y. (via @johnglally)
Via an Englishman in New York, @johnglally (whom we hope will soon shift (or at least crosspost) his commentary from Twitter to CultFootball):
“I wonder why England players might suffer from complacency and overconfidence…”
Dateline = December 2009, when the group draw was announced.
Commentary
Sunday’s News
A big day for the two teams who were in last tournament’s final. France refused to train in solidarity of Anelka’s sending home (after calling Domenech a “son-of-a-bitch” when taken off during the 2-0 loss to Mexico). Italy looked lifeless today against the All-Whites, until they were scored upon and need to level. They dove, wow did they dive, their way back to a 1-1 scoreline, then sat back and relaxed again, never really threatening for the whole 3 points.
What can you say other than, WTF? We’ve all seen the players on both these teams at club level, and they are fantastic week after week. They play beautiful team ball and are punished if they don’t. Then they throw on the national team jersey and everything goes to hell.