So, we’ve had this debate before. Still, the result, Netherlands 2-1 over Brazil, will fuel the fire of the torch wielding “joga bonito acolytes,” screaming about the exclusion of Ronaldinho and Pato and hundreds of other Brazilians that can pull off an elastico with ease. After all, Dunga’s reliance on results and the discourse of [...]
The typical suspects have overcome group stage difficulties to rise to the top. However, no smoking gun has appeared to point out the single culprit most likely to win the tournament. Using a really big magnifying glass, a trench coat, a smart talking sidekick, and intuition, we embarked on an investigation of the remaining teams [...]
It’s that time of the year again. Another major tournament. Another quarterfinal round exit (or earlier) for team anglosaxon. While I was happy with the US performance and thought England put in a strong first half against sprightly Germany, now begins the inquest into the soul of our respective footballing cultures. Some will blame individual [...]
So, the US lost. I am sad, but happy we did not get played off the park and advanced out of our group. Salutations to Ghana – I do not wish you well, but you deserved to win. Daggumit!
Still, despite the unprecedented attention to the World Cup in the US, unfortunately big media continues to [...]
No, I am not referring to the pervasive US parties after Donovan’s spectacularly dramatic goal. Or the slight spike in internet traffic. No, I refer to a more personal stat for this site.
The tie against England, the stirring comeback against Slovenia, could the US world cup run get any more dramatic? In a word, yes. The Yanks brought an attacking verve to the clash with Algeria, but the ball simply refused to ripple the back of the net. Still, a combination of excellent fitness, quick thinking, and [...]
So, you enjoyed the world cup matches, didn’t you? The goals. The drama. The near misses. The crushing weight of expectations bearing upon broad shoulders, the dissipation of dreams like the dew of an August morning. Yet one very important victory escaped your grasp. It happened in Singapore. No, this is not some of that [...]
The World Cup group stages is an engineer’s delight. After each game, you can pull out your graphing calculator, whip up an excel spreadsheet, and coherently articulate the goals/points/wins necessary for the teams to advance. However, not all of us who follow the game revel in the hegemony of mathematical summation. Despite a very clear [...]
Instead of writing a lot, I’m just going to steal some content to try and brighten your Monday morning. Here goes….
The US mounted a stirring comeback against Slovenia, yet a third goal by the Yanks was incorrectly(?) called back. Alan Jacobs at Run of Play argues that referees are weak – they prefer to rule [...]
This is just a gentle remainder that tomorrow you can see a bunch of convoluted Elvis Presley references and photoshopped pictures. Oh, and we may occasionally reflect upon the Ivory Coast-Brazil game. Or as ye olde Spanish speakers may say, PARTIDAZO.
Please come joint the fun. Or at the very least email me a negative [...]
