World Cup day: Argentina vs Germany and Spain vs Paraguay

[alexandral]

Oh noes!!!!!!!! Argentina is exiting the tournament in flames, losing 0:4 to Germany. Germany-the-team looks astoundingly awesome and slightly scary. The first goal was scored within the first 3 minutes and after that there was no stop to them. They are a killing machine, and I guess for me as a viewer the perfect efficiency of a killing machine is not as interesting.. I am returning back to my original assessment - they are going to win the whole thing (and luckily, this is not a hotness contest for there is not one good loking chap amongst them). Still - I will welcome their win, it will be fair.



Spain:Paraguay At first, this was one of those perfectly boring 0:0 Spain matches. Spain looked as if it was going to win on penalties or something like this, but who really cared? The next stop is Germany and Spain is going to go down. Then everything came alive and both Spain and Paraguay didn't even manage to score the penalties! At the end, Spain managed to pull off a goal. YES! It is Spain:Paraguay 1:0 , a match that was 3/4 of snoozefest and 1/4 of shambles.

Ghana: Their exit seems to have affected me the most. I am still very very sad. Also I have watched the game and I really think they were better than Uruguay , but lady luck was against them. To go through all that long match and lose on penalties , just when everyone is dead tired? So sad.

Comments

[linfer.livejournal.com]

I love a quote from the Guardian (I think it's taken from their live ticker)

"Joachim Löw has quietly put together an excellent side, easy on the eye, full of real world-class superstars; you know, players who actually do stuff."

If our team manages to get into the final (is this even English *gg*) I'm tempted to go to Frankfurt to see it. Because Idstein is way, way too small and I'd love to cheer with a bigger crowd.
OMG! Just relised that monday after the final is one of my free days. I'm so in Frankfurt, no matter who is playing. :D

I'm very sorry for Ghana, all I know had kept their fingers crossed for them. So unfair!

The Spain/Paraguy match has developed into the most insane thing, which is awesome.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

"Joachim Löw has quietly put together an excellent side, easy on the eye, full of real world-class superstars; you know, players who actually do stuff."

I agree with everything but "easy on the eyes" part. :D but you don't have to look pretty to play football, that is for sure. :D

YAY! You must! I think Spain should be semi-easy stop for them, and watching the final on a big screen would be GREAT.

They have a big screen in Leeds, but England never does well enough for it to be used properly!

[linfer.livejournal.com]

but you don't have to look pretty to play football, that is for sure. :D
Oh yes this team is definitely the proof. *gg* I mean, Özil looks cute, but cute =/= handsome or interesting, at least in this case.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Exactly, you nailed it, There are few Germany players that are fast and tiny and all , but hot - not quite! :D

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

there is not one good loking chap amongst them)
AHEM. Poldi, Badstuber, Friedrich, and Cacau would like to differ. Also, Loew and his "thrillingly metrosexual" attire from the sidelines would like to be included as well. :P

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I agree on Loew part - he is a pretty chap! His blue long-sleeve today totally made my day and I want another one of them.

the rest - our tastes do differ, i am sorry:


But in serious, i think the stardom status that easily comes to better looking players distracts them from the game itself, I think!

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

Heee. Caucau and Poldi look great in those shots! As for Bastuber and Friedrich, look how cute they are in their national team photos:
http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=137&action=showPlayer&player=friedrich_arne&lang=E&cHash=b22295b683

http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=137&action=showPlayer&player=badstuber_holger&lang=E&cHash=8069f251af

Plus, Friedrich is apparently trying to save the world!! :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Out of the four, Caucau is sort of all right, the rest - definitely not my cuppa tea.

but please tell me more about saving the world - I need to add the human face to the killing mashine-ness.

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

It's in Friedrich's bio page--apparently he supports some intiative to prevent HIV in youth, and works for a charity for some disease I've never heard of... Awwwwww.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

This is great!!!!!!!

On the negative side, it was brought to my attention that there were racist comments by Germany fans because of Ballack's injury. Oh noes!

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

Sure, and the neo-nazis officially hate this "new Germany" team. But if you look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_association_football
you'll find plenty of reasons to also hate pretty much every European team, especially the British, Dutch, and French along with the Germans...

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Still one doesn't minus the other?

you'll find plenty of reasons to also hate pretty much every European team, especially the British, Dutch, and French along with the Germans...

Hee! This is true.

[nebula99.livejournal.com]

What a bizarre second half in the Spain-Paraguay match! Very exciting though.

I too was sad for Ghana, and also for Argentina, cos I wanted to see some more Messi magic and we didn't really get any. Germany are frighteningly good though - they are so scary on the break.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

What a bizarre second half in the Spain-Paraguay match! Very exciting though.

I think I shouted more in the last 20 minutes than I do in some whole matches.

** sigh ** I am sad that I won't see Messi (and Maradona) anymore. My daughter was crying for them - poor thing! I think may be now everyone will be blaming Maradona for everything, which is also sad.

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

Even though I intensely dislike Germany (now) I have to admit that they have been the most consistent so far. Right now they are probably the best/strongest team in the tournament and I wouldn't be surprised if they won the whole thing. I think Germany-Netherlands will be the final match.

Spain... they are just such an uninteresting, boring team to me. I know everyone raves about their passing skills or w/e but I see nothing special. Their matches have put me to sleep. Imo the only reason they've made it so far is because they've played against weaker teams and most of those teams gave them a helluva fight anyways. They played horribly today and if this is how they play against Germany they're toast.

Sad to see Argentina go. I was really hoping this would be the year that South/Latin America sweep everything but somehow Europe has taken over AGAIN.

Ghana <3

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Even though I intensely dislike Germany

Why? They don't seem to be huge on diving (at least no more than eveyrone else) or crying. their only minus in my eyes is general un-hotness, but his may be helping?

Spain: I think everyone remembers the European championship when they breezed through the whole thing without losing a game 9I think ?) , making big scores and etc. For me they looked a pale shadow of 2008 themselves. But they keep pulling a rabbit out of a hat!

Sad to see Argentina go. I was really hoping this would be the year that South/Latin America sweep everything but somehow Europe has taken over AGAIN.

me too. ** sigh ** I don't like this!

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

I think I'm projecting my dislike for a lot of their fans and their older squads onto this new team which isn't fair. This new squad actually seems pretty great but I'm bitter as hell at all the German fans who are still butthurt about 2002 and Ballack's injury by Kevin-Prince! And feel the need to make racist comments about the teams and I just hate that. Though I should not hold that against the team. Idk maybe I'll get over it by the finals.

Yeah I only saw them in Confederations Cup and wasn't impressed then either so I guess I just don't see the big deal about them. David Villa's douchetastic face doesn't help either.
I'm actually hoping for Germany-Netherlands because it will be intense with the crazy rivalry between those teams.

me too. ** sigh ** I don't like this!
Ugh same here :(

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

but I'm bitter as hell at all the German fans who are still butthurt about 2002 and Ballack's injury by Kevin-Prince! And feel the need to make racist comments about the teams and I just hate that.

Please tell me more! I know nothing about 2002 nor did I know about the Germany fans racist comments (I have heard of some Ghana hate because of Ballack's injury and didn't like this bit). I don't like this. It is the same as a small crazy part of Enlish football fans - they spoil the way everyone views the team!


Yeah I only saw them in Confederations Cup and wasn't impressed then either so I guess I just don't see the big deal about them. David Villa's douchetastic face doesn't help either.

They were all new, shiny and hungry in 2008. Where has everything gone in 2 years? Even if they go all the way to the finals (unlikely), they are not the same team that I easily forgotten defeating the lovely team Russia had in 2008.

I'm actually hoping for Germany-Netherlands because it will be intense with the crazy rivalry between those teams.

I thought Netherlands had the nerves of steel - I wonder how they will play with Germany!

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

In '02 Germany was hoping to win the final and tie with Brazil's record but Brazil beat them FAIR & SQUARE 2-0. But apparently German fans can't get over this. I would understand this irrational hate and rage if Brazil had cheated but Brazil played better and scored two wonderful goals so they won. Not Brazil's fault that your team couldn't deliver and lost 4th time in a row.
And the racist comments are just awful. Stuff like "go back to your jungle, desert, etc./omg we should go and burn down their houses/countries/let's kill them all! (this is an esp. awful, insensitive thing to say because of German history)". Basically lots of stupid.

They were all new, shiny and hungry in 2008. Where has everything gone in 2 years? Even if they go all the way to the finals (unlikely), they are not the same team that I easily forgotten defeating the lovely team Russia had in 2008.
That sucks. I love teams who fight and give a 110% - one of the reasons I adored Ghana. Though I don't think I can like a team with players like David Villa and Sergio Ramos. I can't forgive the incidents during the Honduras & Chile games.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Well, this sounds awful, thank you so much for the info. I am always tempted to overlook the behavouir of the crazy side of the fan base, the players can't be always held responsible.

Though I don't think I can like a team with players like David Villa and Sergio Ramos. I can't forgive the incidents during the Honduras & Chile games.

Me too. But now only one of my adopted teams is left, Netherlands, and I am not sure whom I want them to play with in the final, assuming they win Uruguay. but if they don't I will cheer for Uruguay because it would be awesome for non-European country to win.

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

Yeah that's true. But it's annoying when 80% of the fanbase can't let go of something from 8 years ago. I mean jfc people just move on already and stop mentioning how much you hate them 15 times a day y'know? I hate a lot of teams too but I'm not yelling it from the rooftops.

Yeah I'm rooting for Uruguay but if they're out I'd rather root for The Netherlands because I'd rather my team lost to the champions than a team that gets knocked out in the next round.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yes, for myself I decided to give amnesty to everything that happened in the previous WC. :D

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

I thought Netherlands had the nerves of steel - I wonder how they will play with Germany!
I bet they'll try to frustrate them the way they did Brazil.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hopefully!

[blanqa.livejournal.com]

(I have heard of some Ghana hate because of Ballack's injury and didn't like this bit)

Me neither. I think it's getting ridiculous how those fans keep on bringing this up. Football can be very rough at times, accidents happen (news flash!), and the guy has apologized for it like three times already so give it a rest :?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I don't think he was going out on the pitch with the purpose of MAIMING Ballack.

[bluviolet.livejournal.com]

Sad as it is, I think comments like Sodahands was mentioning just come out during events like this. My point is just that people get extremely emotional and committed during times like these--oftentimes too much so. That doesn't make it right-it's definitely terrible-but yeah.

Did anyone see this picture? It bothers me a lot.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/photos?id=264119&photoId=719670&cc=5901&ver=us

What I like about Germany, besides some prior bias :P, is the selflessness they show when they play (game-wise). They make such smart decisions--one guy will have a great scoring chance, but he'll still pass the ball to a guy who has an even better scoring chance. They do this so often. Maybe it's more apparent with Germany because they are so good off the break and other teams aren't (and therefore, they don't get as many opportunities to show this behavior), but it's just really fun to see.

Ghana... While I wanted to see an African team get far in this world cup, I'm still a little bitter about the Ghana/U.S. game. Ghana is a really physical, strong team. But at the end of the game against the U.S., there was soooo much injury faking from them--way more than in a normal world cup game (and that's saying a lot). And it just was so much more unbelievable due to the strength of their team. I know all soccer players fake injuries and try to drag out the time, but it was just really excessive in that game. Annoying.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I tend to overlook the crazy behaviour from fans, unless it is something really special. I am giving Germany the benefit of the doubt - I know many sane and wonderful fans.

OMPH! The picture is creepy, though quite strongly on dark-humour side (being a teddy-bear) . I can see how it can bother someone - I don't know what to think myself because of the teddy-bear, the whole scene looks like one of those macabre-ish performances that happen during Spanish festivals.

Re: injury faking. I have seen so much of it in this Cup that it hardly registers with me anymore. For example, the first Germany goal with Argentina (the crucial one) happened after a free-kick given for a fake-diving incident. And although I personally don't like the technique (being an ice-hockey fan) I don't think it is 100% fair to say "oh, smaller footballers can do it, but not big ones" (this is just my opinion).

And yes! Germany looks incredibly disciplined!

[stabbim.livejournal.com]

I love Team Germany's team spirit. Philip Lahm's subtle style of leadership is very different from Michael Ballack's, and I just like that about them. They're a team, and it shows.

I'm so happy for Miro Klose, whom I adore greatly. He's played wonderfully so far (Arne Friedrich, too), so all the nay-sayers who complained why Löw wanted them on his team might finally shut up. Klose didn't play well this season, but his team is the Nationalmannschaft as they say, and he always delivers. I wear his jersey proudly.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

After some consideration, I am not sure yet 100% what to think yet, I will make my mind fully after the Span match. There were few glitches in German side during their Ghana match and Serbia match.

Klose is very close to breaking the record , I think - YAY!

[iheartkleenex.livejournal.com]

I was kinda happy Argentina got beaten. I was like "AHA! In your face Maradona!"

I am so scared the Germans are going to kill the Spanish. I'm cheering for Spain, although I wouldn't mind if Netherlands win, but I would be a bit sad if the Germans end up winning.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I was so sad for Messi. :D And even Maradona - who is going to amuse me in the next match like did?

I am very very interested in the outcome of Spain/Germany match. Spain doesn't look too strongly, but Germany also had some good games and bad games . On the other hand, Germany seems on a roll!