phyncke

Here I am and on the East Coast. I am posting in from my vacation. Got the game on the television. My parents have a nice bigger TV and sound system, so much better. This is living. I think I am voting for the orange crush here but may the best team win. It would also be nice to see Spain get their first World Cup title so...I will say I am for either here. Got to watch this game as I have been following this so closely.

A note on the coverage. I have really liked the announcers and television coverage here. Nightly replays and they have showed all the games a few times on ESPN. I found the commentary pretty intelligent.

No predictors from me as I don't know enough. I hope it is a good game. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the week. My vacation is perfect.

Game commentary
I love the opening part. All that ceremony. :P
Interesting - both countries have royal families. Just observational comment.
The orange color appears to dominate because it is brighter but Spain is pressing right now.
I was very disappointed in the amount of penalties and yellow cards in this game.
For most of the regular time play it seemed that someone was flailing on the ground and acting up in dramatic fashion. Just stop it already and play the game. All those interruptions really wrecked it for me.
I am SO glad that Spain got that goal in the extra time. A great kick and they really deserved it as they were pressing on goal most of the time there. Just great.
We ended up wanting Spain to win because of how the Netherlands played and acted during the game...so YAY!

Nederlands 0 Spain 1

Alright!

LJ seems so quiet without the World Cup posts. I am missing my soccer fix. Jonesing for a game. No posts, no results, no evening recap on ESPN. What am I to do tonight if it is not some fanatical post about the World Cup. I am watching So You Think You Can Dance but that is a poor substitute, sloppy seconds to those really toned men running around on a field of green. I tell you. Gimme my boys!

Anyways. Today was a day. I decided, after getting an email in which my landlord accused me of negligence and alluded to eviction, that I did not have to take this and that this demonstrated (at last) a pattern of harassment. I consulted with my contact at the rental board, who confirmed my thoughts, and I have decided to pursue this legally. I have access to legal services at the University, a benefit which I pay for monthly and signed up for when this landlord took possession of our building. I had a feeling that this would be necessary. I have dutifully filed every crazy email this guy ever sent. So stay tuned for more posting on this or some stress coming from this journal.

Think good thoughts, I am going to need them and I expect this to get nasty. I am also ready for this fight. I turned the corner, got mad today and now it is time for an action plan. We have been living in a climate of uncertainty created by this person and now, well, I have the evidence to go after this guy. I will rely on a tenant lawyer to tell me if I have a good case so there is that.

Anyhoo. It was a day and no football! Wah.

What a game so far Paraguay-Japan. No score...overtime minutes and still NO SCORE.

*bites nails*

Now some kind of sudden death thing? And the stream goes to stoopid commercials. Gah!

Final 0-0
5-3 penalty goals (Paraguay wins)

Penalty Goals: Kick Off

Paraguay 1
Japan 1
Paraguay 1
Japan 1
Paraguay 1
Japan 0!!!! (defender kicking there)
Paraguay 1
Japan 1
Paraguay 1!!!

That does it. How tense was that...that poor guy who blew his goal. You could see it go off the top of the goal. Poor him. Refs were very fussy about the ball being ON that spot...right on it. Fussy fussy. :P

What a game!

I watched the beginning of the Netherlands vs Slovakia match today and have to say that this is an apt descriptive. That is what they are saying on the ESPN site. Orange Crush. The Dutch really took them to town. I did not see it all but the beginning was well...good for the orange crush. I really dig their uniform color too...and why too...for William of Orange, very cool that. I want one of those jackets!

Netherlands 2 Slovakia 1 (Final)

Hotly contested goal here by Argentina, who was off side....meaning up field too much and ahead of the D. The thing that is happening with the refs here is that they are not using any replay technology for their stuff here and they could not see that from the field. We have the TV angles and can see it all here but the refs are running on the field and cannot see it really. Too bad for Mexico. This kind of thing can tip the balance. That is too bad, really. I like both teams here and just want it to be a good game. The players were SO upset by that on both sides really. Just a huge disarray there during that call.

So watching here. I am truly addicted to the World Cup. Skipping the farmer's market (well I am broke this week) but this is too good to miss. :P Will update.

So...right now ---

Argentina 3 Mexico 1 (Final)

Impressions:

-OMG -- Argentina just scored! What a score...nothing but net there. Not out of reach for Mexico but an uphill battle now and Argentina usually takes a lead and goes with that.
-Really nice goal by Mexico, the player who they nickname - "little sweet thing". That is totally cute. High on the net and the Argentine goalie looked flatfooted there...totally surprised by it. It was a strong kick to the back of the net but high on the goal...
-Mexico needs to pour it on...
-Missed the end of the game!

That call has totally affected this game and the refs are all powerful here.

Cheers.

USA LOST!!!!

The US is out of the cup but on the bright side, an African team stays in. Go Ghana!

I am really pleased with how the US played today. We are out but not defeated. That is how I see it. Slow coming out in the first half but they really played well for the second half. Well done boys. Well done!

(Previously stated)

Got the game on and will update. How exciting. May the best team win. It is SO great. They showed this US fan in the pregame or ESPN coverage and he had shaved GO USA in his chest hair. That seems a bit much but heh.

Remember, the US is a comeback team so -- It's not over, til it's over!

Score Final
US 1 Ghana 2

For running commentary and updates
-Oh man, first goal by Ghana and really early. Not good folks. Concede that it was a beauty.
-Ghana is doing well at keeping the ball and pressing on goal. In their favor.
-Ghana dominated the first half, good offense and passing play with precision.
-US needs to step up here and get their game going. They are a second half team and have been through the competition so far. They are usually sluggish at first and then get going. I hope that is the case today. Will see.
-Better start to the second half already. That ALMOST went in on that first play. Alright now!
-Penalty kick for US-O-M-G!! Donovan comes through! What a beauty!
-US doing much better in the second half. More shots on goal etc. Alright now.
-Oh that goal hurt. That really hurt. Nice one.
-Overtime - two fifteen minute rounds. Woo! Lots of football!
-A well played game on both sides and the US kept in on for the whole time. Good show by our boys. Well played!

All over now -- Ivory Coast won 3-0 over Korea (DPR) and Brazil and Portugal tied 0-0 (very tight match). Ivory Coast totally dominated their game. Ivory Coast goes on. Waka! Brazil and Portugal move on from the other match.

I play the games in the background here and listen and pop in when I hear something worth watching. Cannot watch the whole thing. I do switch back and forth between them.

A note on player theatrics. I think and my dad confirmed this as he saw a story on this that the players total act it up for the referees and draw fouls in soccer play. Most of the time, and I will say this seriously, they are putting it on and making something, out of nothing. I have not seen any action really worth an injury there and it is all dramaticus really. They are good, and very entertaining.

Just so you know. LJ is letting paid members send free soccer balls as v-gifts for a few days. They are cute. *got one! Thank you weepingnaiad!* I sent a bunch but they are not getting through. (bummer)

I cannot help it, it was so beautiful. Here is the US goal from today's match, complete with funny captions and comments on the video. Very funny youtube person. LOL. My parents watched the game, people were talking about this on the street here, at the cafe, the import shop dude (a Germany fan) said props to the USA...I mean rly. We winned!



Not to gloat but HOW AWESOME ARE WE?! Ok, I am gloating. But we deserve to gloat a little bits. :P

I love this video. Ignore the pop ups on there. Very fun! Shakira in this one and a very peppy song... with good clips of the World Cup in there. I love how she says:


"It's time for Africa"




Here is a link to Shakira's performance during the opening ceremony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRDgVGHB6eM&NR=1

(embedding disabled)

I am looking forward to the USA match which is coming on now.


by cherany

I am posting in with a bit of fun today. I hope you will enjoy this one and encourage comments on my posts. Let's me know people are taking a peek.

( DMK Photo Shoot... )

In other news...

I am catching a bit of the World Cup this weekend. Just caught a replay of the Italy-New Zealand one. Go KIWIS! That was a nice tie up there and the New Zealanders were stoked. Condolences to the Brits for their team's performance and I think we in the US are really excited about our team. GO USA!

I am off to market and out for the day. Have a great one. I am also off tomorrow. Woot.

Cheers!



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