FIFA WC Tipping comp

[einlanzer]

Well, all the best to your team for the rest of the tournament, but to be honest, my primary concern was Serbia and still is, but seeing that Germany stayed in shape even after the (imo not so well played) game against Bosnia, I´m pretty sure they´ll put up a good show on Friday.

[Sephiroth]

I'd be more concerned about Ghana than Serbia. But if Germany maintain the standard they set tonight, they'll certainly win the group.


Bad night for Australia, and terrible for Cahill, who didn't deserve that. I think it'll be a struggle for the Aussies to pick themselves up after that. In such a tough group, I think the chances for qualification are looking slim, now.

[Tillane]

Yep, a bad night for the Aussies. More worryingly, a pretty good display from the Germans: any thoughts I might have had that their squad weren't up to much have gone out the window...

Shame for Cahill. Definitely a yellow at most - hope for Australia's sake that they can mount a successful appeal for it to be overturned, otherwise I think they'll really struggle in the next two games.

[Sephiroth]

Indeed. Given the quality of opposition they face, I think it's an uphill battle for them now, regardless, but having Cahill back would make a big difference to their goal threat. I have my doubts that they'll get it overturned, though. I think the powers that be will probably stick by the referee's decision -- unless the ref comes out and says he made a mistake, I suppose, in which case they may look at it. But how often does that happen?


I actually rather enjoyed watching the Germans, tonight. They surprised me with the fluency and creativity of their play. We know they're always strong, well-organised and comfortable in possession, but (in recent years, at least) they haven't always played with such panache.

If they keep playing like that, I'll be happy to see them go far. But then, I'm not English, so I don't view them as deadly rivals.

[Tillane]

I heartily agree; they were terrific to watch. It'd just be nice if, just once, they were a bit...well...crap.

Not that I have anything like an axe to grind. I've never been a patriot (in terms of sport or anything else), and if the Germans play like that throughout the tournament I'll be happy to see them win the thing. They'll be infinitely more fun than watching England.

[Sephiroth]

I know what you mean. Even when they're 'crap', they at least make the quarter-finals. Most of us would kill for that kind of 'crap'.

I'm not big on nationalism, either. I just enjoy the sporting rivalries. Speaking of which -- yes, watching Germany win is infinitely more fun than watching England win. Watching England lose, on the other hand.......

Heh. Only joshing, man.

[Tillane]

Funny thing is, I never get upset about England losing* - but my not getting upset often seems to upset some of my colleagues.**

*Now, watching the Toon lose...

**Particularly my Scottish friend. It never fails to annoy her that she can't annoy me.

[Sephiroth]

Ah, your Scottish friend. Well, knowing what team she supports, I'm just glad you can annoy her.

Because I'm the same as you. Club football is everything to me. The international game, I just don't feel the same about. Don't get me wrong -- as a neutral, I'm loving the World Cup. I'm a fan of football in general. But I don't get wound up about Scotland the way I do about United.

I'm happy to take part in a bit of banter, but it doesn't really bother me. Whereas, goings on at Tannadice are a matter of life and death.

[Tillane]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Ah, your Scottish friend. Well, knowing what team she supports, I'm just glad you can annoy her.

Oh yes. Not sure if I mentioned it, but I bought her a birthday card recently. She complained because there was "too much green" on it. Sigh.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Because I'm the same as you. Club football is everything to me. The international game, I just don't feel the same about. Don't get me wrong -- as a neutral, I'm loving the World Cup. I'm a fan of football in general. But I don't get wound up about Scotland the way I do about United.

Yes, yes and yes. I'm not sure if it's a quirk of geography or something, but most of the Geordie (and Mackem) fans I know seem to be largely indifferent to the national game in general and England in particular. I was chatting to a friend about the World Cup last week, and it took us about ten minutes to even mention England. Even then it was kind of:
"Reckon they'll win?" (please note: 'they' not 'we')
"Nah."
"Me neither. What about Spain?"
"Oh, now you're talking..."

[Lenny]

Win? What a concept!

But hey, we can always talk about '66, right?

---

I'm looking forward a lot to the Netherlands match tomorrow! I also want to stay in and watch the Italy match - not a huge match, but it could be entertaining (I'm wondering in what fit of madness I tipped Paraguay to score one...).

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Tillane

Oh yes. Not sure if I mentioned it, but I bought her a birthday card recently. She complained because there was "too much green" on it. Sigh.

Did you know that, in certain areas of Glasgow, people go around smashing the green traffic lights, because they're green? A well-known national pharmacy chain caved in to local pressure and changed the store livery for one outlet in Govan from green to blue. There was even talk of ASDA changing the colour of their logo in the area to blue, to avoid 'offending people'. I know there are other examples, too, but I can't think of them right now.

Says everything you need to know about the mentality of such folk, hmm?

Yes, yes and yes. I'm not sure if it's a quirk of geography or something, but most of the Geordie (and Mackem) fans I know seem to be largely indifferent to the national game in general and England in particular. I was chatting to a friend about the World Cup last week, and it took us about ten minutes to even mention England. Even then it was kind of:
"Reckon they'll win?" (please note: 'they' not 'we')
"Nah."
"Me neither. What about Spain?"
"Oh, now you're talking..."

That's interesting. You get people up here who labour under the misguided notion that 'the Geordies would rather be Scottish'. To which I reply: okay, why don't you go to Newcastle and ask people if they'd like to be Scottish... see what kind of response you get.

But perhaps there is something going on. Some kind of self-identification that maintains more of a distance from the concept of overt nationalism?

The use of 'they' rather than 'we' is fascinating. Although it doesn't have to imply anything deeply political. When I think about it, I've heard people who aren't very interested in the Scottish national team talk about them in the same way. I suppose I've done both.

In Glasgow, of course, half of them are more interested in the English national team, and half the Irish.

Originally Posted by Lenny

But hey, we can always talk about '66, right?

Yes. *nods*

Always, and always, and always. Again, and again, and again.......

I'm looking forward a lot to the Netherlands match tomorrow! I also want to stay in and watch the Italy match - not a huge match, but it could be entertaining (I'm wondering in what fit of madness I tipped Paraguay to score one...).

I'll miss the Holland game. The only game I have a remote chance of seeing is the Italy game, but I doubt I'll see even that. But... you tipped the masters of catenaccio to concede a goal?! That was brave. Heh.

[Sephiroth]

Soz for the double post, but here are my predictions for the week that I'm away. My predictions for Monday 14th are already in the thread.

Tue 15th
New Zealand 0 - 1 Slovakia
Ivory Coast 1 - 1 Portugal
Brazil 3 - 0 North Korea

Wed 16th
Honduras 0 - 1 Chile
Spain 2 - 0 Switzerland
South Africa 1 - 1 Uruguay

Thu 17th
Argentina 2 - 1 South Korea
Greece 0 - 1 Nigeria
France 1 - 1 Mexico

Fri 18th
Germany 2 - 0 Serbia
Slovenia 1 - 1 USA
England 3 - 0 Algeria

[GOLLUM]

Looks like we'll being packing our bags early....pretty much would have to win against Ghana and Serbia and with no Cahil for the next game.....MEH.

[Culhwch]

Don't be hasty, Gollum. We have every chance of beating Ghana and Serbia - stranger things have happened. I hope that 'meh' doesn't signify a sudden indifference now things have gotten a little tough! That's when Australians shine!

[Wybren]

We can still beat Ghana and Serbia, just because Cahill is out doesnt mean the end of the world. Aussies are amazingly resilliant!!

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