World Cup

Gailh · #1 06-15-2006, 01:54 PM

Anyone been watching?

England are stumbling along but played two won two so not bad but could do (a lot) better.

Argentina look good.

Brazil were not too impressive and Ronaldo didn't seem interested.

I bet John's watching

Gail

cliffdweller · #2 06-15-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gailh

Anyone been watching?

England are stumbling along but played two won two so not bad but could do (a lot) better.

Argentina look good.

Brazil were not too impressive and Ronaldo didn't seem interested.

I bet John's watching

Gail

How's Germany doing?

bretonbanquet · #3 06-15-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

How's Germany doing?

Germany are through to the 2nd round after beating Costa Rica 4-2 and scraping a win over Poland 1-0. Both those two teams now have no chance of progressing. If Germany can't beat Ecuador in their next game, the Germans will probably play England in the 2nd round... cue cheap jibes about the war and disgusting jingoism in the British press

England will be lucky to get past the 2nd round if they carry on playing like they have up to now. I alays support Spain, and they won their first game 4-0, so I'm really happy about that

cliffdweller · #4 06-15-2006, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

Germany are through to the 2nd round after beating Costa Rica 4-2 and scraping a win over Poland 1-0.

Cool. I'm pulling for 'em for a friend of mine who is German (surprise, surprise) and is back home right now to see Germany win the whole thing [according to him

] .

Another team I'm interested in is Sweden...how are they doing? I hear they're really strong this year, and thanks for the info by the way....

bretonbanquet · #5 06-15-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

Cool. I'm pulling for 'em for a friend of mine who is German (surprise, surprise) and is back home right now to see Germany win the whole thing [according to him

] .

Another team I'm interested in is Sweden...how are they doing? I hear they're really strong this year, and thanks for the info by the way....

Sweden are playing right now! They're 0-0 with Paraguay so far but there's an hour to play yet. They drew their first game 0-0 with Trinidad & Tobago, so the Swedes received a lot of criticism for that - T&T are one of the least-fancied teams in the tournament. It's going to be tight for Sweden but if they can win this game tonight they have a great chance of progressing

cliffdweller · #6 06-15-2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

Sweden are playing right now! They're 0-0 with Paraguay so far but there's an hour to play yet. They drew their first game 0-0 with Trinidad & Tobago, so the Swedes received a lot of criticism for that - T&T are one of the least-fancied teams in the tournament. It's going to be tight for Sweden but if they can win this game tonight they have a great chance of progressing

I'd love to see a Germany/Sweden face off, but it sounds like the Germans would trounce the Swedes. I have another special place in my heart for the Swedes for various reasons

Woo-hoo!! You're making all this sound very interesting. I'm going to have to catch some coverage tonight. And good luck to England too!! I don't know much about soccer, does England usually have one of the best teams? And be honest! No bias!

bretonbanquet · #7 06-15-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

I'd love to see a Germany/Sweden face off, but it sounds like the Germans would trounce the Swedes. I have another special place in my heart for the Swedes for various reasons

Woo-hoo!! You're making all this sound very interesting. I'm going to have to catch some coverage tonight. And good luck to England too!! I don't know much about soccer, does England usually have one of the best teams? And be honest! No bias!

No bias, honest. England usually have a good team, and are always well-respected by the other big names. This time round, people here have been saying it's the best English team for decades and that they have a real chance of winning - but so far they've looked really unconvincing in beating two unfancied teams. They'll have to turn it up to win the tournament! One of the biggest stories was that our star player, Wayne Rooney, broke his foot 6 weeks ago - now it's miraculously healed and he's playing again... hmmm...

I might add that the USA got a serious beating in the opening game against the Czechs (3-0) and they look like they're going to be on a plane home anytime soon

Shame 'cos they did really well last time.

The usual favourites Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France etc also look good, and World Cup Fever has seriously taken hold out here in the rest of the world!!

bretonbanquet · #8 06-15-2006, 02:50 PM

I've also got to say that there's a bit of a tendency here to make fun of how little Americans know about soccer - even Budweiser have a series of ads with American sports anchormen making idiots of themselves when they talk about the World Cup.

I also saw a clip of American people being interviewed in the street about what they thought of Maradona (Argentine soccer legend - one of the most famous players in history) and of course they all said stuff like "Oh yeah, I've got all her albums" and "I think she's a slut" etc - hilarious

cliffdweller · #9 06-15-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

No bias, honest. England usually have a good team, and are always well-respected by the other big names. This time round, people here have been saying it's the best English team for decades and that they have a real chance of winning - but so far they've looked really unconvincing in beating two unfancied teams. They'll have to turn it up to win the tournament! One of the biggest stories was that our star player, Wayne Rooney, broke his foot 6 weeks ago - now it's miraculously healed and he's playing again... hmmm...

I might add that the USA got a serious beating in the opening game against the Czechs (3-0) and they look like they're going to be on a plane home anytime soon

Shame 'cos they did really well last time.

The usual favourites Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France etc also look good, and World Cup Fever has seriously taken hold out here in the rest of the world!!

Oh yeah, I know! But you know as far as cities in Texas go, we have some pretty big soccer fans here in Austin. I think it's due to the large population of international students we have here (BIG college town). Yeah, it's a shame about the Americans but hey, we can't be the best in everything now can we?

All kidding aside, I wouldn't expect the Americans to have that great of a team anyway. I mean, soccer isn't really all that encouraged or supported over here like basketball, football, or baseball is

.

edit: and btw, I'm a tennis player so I totally know the "no-love" for other sports (but the 3 mentioned above) crap.

bretonbanquet · #10 06-15-2006, 02:59 PM

Yeah, you guys definitely have your own sports - I mean, baseball and American football are just so minor over here, and basketball isn't much more popular - yet soccer is the total opposite. Apparently in areas where there's a very high Hispanic population, soccer is more popular, but apart from that it's only played by kids, is that right?

NASCAR is another one - huge in the States, especially in the south, but over here we just laugh at it

Gailh · #11 06-15-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

They'll have to turn it up to win the tournament! One of the biggest stories was that our star player, Wayne Rooney, broke his foot 6 weeks ago - now it's miraculously healed and he's playing again... hmmm...

We don't look awfully convincing do we? Still early days yet.

Wasn't there a website created "healrooney.com"

We do seem to get a bit carried away in England at major football tournements. And then it all ends in tears!

Anyway I got my flag on the car now so all will be well!

"Three lions on a shirt, Jules Rimmet still gleaming, forty years of hurt never stopped me dreaming"

Gail

bretonbanquet · #12 06-15-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gailh

We don't look awfully convincing do we? Still early days yet.

Wasn't there a website created "healrooney.com"

We do seem to get a bit carried away in England at major football tournements. And then it all ends in tears!

Anyway I got my flag on the car now so all will be well!

"Three lions on a shirt, Jules Rimmet still gleaming, forty years of hurt never stopped me dreaming"

Gail

It does usually all end in tears, doesn't it? Ah well, it wouldn't be right somehow if we won it...

I was in Southampton only today, in the lovely Marlands shopping centre... I really know how to live

cliffdweller · #13 06-15-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

Yeah, you guys definitely have your own sports - I mean, baseball and American football are just so minor over here, and basketball isn't much more popular - yet soccer is the total opposite. Apparently in areas where there's a very high Hispanic population, soccer is more popular, but apart from that it's only played by kids, is that right?

NASCAR is another one - huge in the States, especially in the south, but over here we just laugh at it

Yeah, little kids play soccer but as far as pro-soccer is concerned, meh, people in the States couldn't really give a rat's ass. Well, at least down south they don't, I can't speak for those yankees up north and to the east

.

NASCAR--I don't get it. But you are correct, it's very popular down here. I think it's kinda stupid. I mean, really, cars that go around and around on a track? Who cares?

bretonbanquet · #14 06-15-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

NASCAR--I don't get it. But you are correct, it's very popular down here. I think it's kinda stupid. I mean, really, cars that go around and around on a track? Who cares?

And your tracks don't even have proper corners on them - it's all drive fast and turn left, until some guy drives into you at 200mph - madness, but maybe that's what those crazy southern boys like to see!!

cliffdweller · #15 06-15-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretonbanquet

And your tracks don't even have proper corners on them - it's all drive fast and turn left, until some guy drives into you at 200mph - madness, but maybe that's what those crazy southern boys like to see!!

Probably...the more insane and f*cked up, the better I guess

I think that NASCAR business of going around a track over and over again is all rather repetitive but to each their own

Oh, and I forgot to add..."proper corners" = cute! I need to brush up on my British English.

I work with a very dear friend of mine who is from London. She was schooling me on all the bad words in British English yesterday. We were laughing so hard we were crying. For instance, "gobble?" WTF?!!?!