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Speaker: KICK IT! The Faces of the Defeated

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  • Graham Dunster,

    Peter Jackson may have stayed to help build an NZ industry, but he seems to have forgotten to use the local actors to help make it work.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 184 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    Peter Jackson may have stayed to help build an NZ industry, but he seems to have forgotten to use the local actors to help make it work.

    I don't really want to get into that but I will say that I have many actor friends who had a great deal of work from Jackson and his productions - a lot more than they would have had otherwise. Several are working for him right now, in fact.

    Can we go back to talking about the football, now?

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Enjoyed the Public Address commentary team. And the world cup too, in spite of the somewhat sullen nature of the last three games.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Agreed, it was a good chance to spend a few weeks chatting about footie. Thanks to Russell and Hadyn for letting us do it.

    So, who's going to do the rugby one next year? :)

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Aaron Alexander,

    Swiss defence was also outstanding. Extremely well drilled, worked as a unit, gave up one goal in three games.

    I agree the man-to-man on the ball contest this morning was spectacular. Felt like watching the best in the world.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2010 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    the man in the column is not
    the man on the column dept

    I’ve never been a big fan of Ryan Nelson

    Who he?
    oh Ryan Nelsen!
    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    Who he?
    oh Ryan Nelsen!
    :- )

    My mistake, but Hadyn will have to correct it...

    Sorry.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I've enjoyed these futbol posts, and I don't really know much about it, other than it is quite fun at times. Cheers, lads.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    I didn't include this due to space, but I also wanted to acknowledge that FIFA really knows to how to organise an event - and that South Africa played their part in a hugely succesful World Cup.

    Here's the New York Times talking to Chief Executive, Danny Jordaan.

    And not everyone enjoyed watching it. Here's my favourite comic strip, Get Fuzzy, with some suggested improvements to the rules.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • BlairMacca,

    in spite of the somewhat sullen nature of the last three games.

    Agreed. For me the best round was the quarters, what with the Netherlands and Germany causing upsets, the Ghana and Uruguay's crazy game, even Paraguay almost upsetting Spain. And for all the talk of a dead rubber the third and fourth playoff was surprisingly good.
    Plus the added bonus and joy of the All Whites doing as well as they did. Bring on the next season where I am hoping Spurs will storm Europe.....

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Here's my favourite comic strip, Get Fuzzy, with some suggested improvements to the rules.

    excellent suggestions...
    maybe post-match pillory for blind referees...

    ...and just to weave in another current thread
    relating to Fuzzy's suggestion 4 –
    Emily Dickinson in 1861 said:

    I like a look of Agony,
    Because I know it's true –
    Men do not sham Convulsion,
    Nor simulate, a Throe –

    The Eyes glaze once – and that is Death –
    Impossible to feign
    The Beads upon the Forehead
    By homely Anguish strung.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    I didn't include this due to space, but I also wanted to acknowledge that FIFA really knows to how to organise an event - and that South Africa played their part in a hugely succesful World Cup.

    Whereas the IRB has struggled to bring rugby to a wider audience outside of the Anglo-Commonwealth.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    UNDEFEATED!

    Just wanted to say. Also, the Euro 2012 qualification starts in September.

    And here's to a wonderful South African World Cup. I'll leave discussion of the other one to elsewhere...

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Day,

    Sadly I thought this year's WC was the most disappointing WC I've seen - except for perhaps the 1994 one. Both involved the favourite team deservedly winning but also completely failing to light up the tournament. Most of the big teams and big players didn't really step up to the mark and it seemed that risk-free defence was more highly valued than creativity or attack.

    NZ's contribution, was to exemplify the key lesson of this year's world cup = that a stodgy, boring team can crush the spirits of better, more creative and visionary teams.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 9 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    except for perhaps the 1994 one

    I think it was miles better than 1994. You can't really compare any tournament with the shambles that was USA 94, possibly the worst major tournament of any global sport in history. The atmosphere was terrible, the level of play was terrible - and couldn't have been otherwise, since the games were scheduled for the European prime time which coincided with the middle of the day in mid July in some of the hottest places on the bloody planet. The final: in Pasadena, at noon. Crazy stuff.

    I actually liked this world cup, although I struggle to explain to myself why. Perhaps it's just that I had lots of work and so following all the games in the background (I only missed Paraguay Japan) would have been a pleasant diversion anyhow.

    I thought there were some great games in terms of drama if not technical quality - Netherlands v. Brazil, Ghana v. Uruguay, Spain v. Germany - and the demolition of Argentina and England by Germany was very spectacular. There were good stories, interesting contrasts in styles. A final between two teams who had never won it. An African nation in the quarterfinals that very nearly made it to the semis. The final was a disappointment, granted, but so it was in 2006. I wouldn't think the tournament in Germany was better than this one - and my team won it! 2002 was very poor, a shambles in some respect. You'd have to go back to France 98 I think to find a better tournament.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    In the past we might have had to wait for the 35mm movie film (narrated by Sean Connery) to see that much detail.

    This has probably been mentioned somewhere on PA and I'm too lazy to look for it, but: last week Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent informed me that ESPN managed to get Martin Sheen in to narrate some game intros for the USA. A+++++++++++.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Indeed they did.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    some miscellaneous thoughts...

    Thanks Dan, Peter et al - enjoyed the banter.

    I'm not that bothered about the comparison between different world cups. I've loved this one. And it was the World Cup. Its not a thing that should come in and out of fashion, it just is. Each tournament has its own vibe.

    They are all different. I'll be tuning in again in 4 years time (well actually I'm hoping to be on a beach in south Brazil planning tickets to the next game, but thats another story). The timing wasn't too bad this tournament, an early morning game before work each day, perfect tonic.

    Great to see a new name on the cup, and equally pleased that Arjen Robben (or Van Bommell) doesn't have a winners medal. Good player and all, but for me he epitomises all that is unnecessarily cynical about the modern game - a man who, as a friend memorably said during the final this morning, would wince when he wipes his arse if he thought it would get someone else booked.

    Also pleased to see Diego Forlan winning the golden boot - great tournament by him (and he didn't seem to have too many problems with the Jabulani) and Uruguay (pop about the same as NZ) can certainly hold their head high (perhaps with the exception of Suarez - no quibbles with his instant cost/benefit decision to handle the ball, but a distinct lack of class once his risk paid off).

    Odd that an octopus has become a global celebrity.

    Wish I'd put a few hard-earned on NZ being the only unbeaten team - awesome.

    In the end, I'm rapt that Spain won - don't agree with the Barney Roney sniffily dismissive taunt of 'Coldplay Football' (brilliant description as it is) - they proved (belatedly) that the game is all about the ball. Tactical suffocation is a huge part of the game, but it shouldn't be the game.

    Biggest disappointments? - England without a doubt, looked tired and devoid of inspiration, they didn't play with any joy or expression at all. Ronaldo was anonymous, and Messi was superb but proof that an individual must be part of a team. Tragic that an African team didn't progress further - that poor guy from Ghana who missed the penalty probably still can't sleep.

    Some bouquets for individual players from the games I watched .... Ramos looked like Rafa Nadal storming up the wing, Ryan Nelsen was a rock who would not look out of place in a bigger team, Thomas Muller - like a young and athletic Martin Peters ghosting into dangerous positions, Xavi - does this guy ever misplace a pass?, Iniesta - apt that he scored the winner. Ozil - turning german stereotypes upside down.

    What else? (couple of wines into it now), Sepp Blatter - he's like the Don King of football - will Berlusconi be angling for this job next? How does one get that job?

    Lastly - Raymond Domenech (snigger). What an implosion.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Sepp Blatter - he's like the Don King of football - will Berlusconi be angling for this job next?
    How does one get that job?

    better get your CV in before John Howard ...
    he seems to be going for all the sports jobs now

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    Tragic that an African team didn't progress further - that poor guy from Ghana who missed the penalty probably still can't sleep.

    Rumour is he might be signing for West Ham which might explain the sleep problems.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Also pleased to see Diego Forlan winning the golden boot

    Golden ball?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    doh, sorry, yeah golden ball, Muller wins golden boot by virtue of more assists

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Bah!

    Ok that is the extent of my sadness about the Dutch defeat. I didn't like the way they played but I could see that it was probably their only chance to win and it might have worked.

    The spanish play very nice football and it's great they've won, beside they do know how to party.

    On the plus side the extra time meant a day off work was required :).

    big players didn't really step up to the mark and it seemed that risk-free defence was more highly valued than creativity or attack.

    I think this is unfair. The blame lies squarely with the marketing dickhead who agreed to allow a proprietary ball to be designed for the tourney. Yes it made Fifa money but I personally believe it was the reason so many of the great players could not find the goal. Of course the ball designers who made light ball that would be used on the high veldt deserve special mention for lack of neuron use. The great players simply could not control the ball.

    But despite the difficulties with the ball Spain showed that passing well wins games and I really loved that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Here's my favourite comic strip, Get Fuzzy, with some suggested improvements to the rules.

    I love the refs as MMA fighters suggestion. I sadly came away from the final feeling incredibly cynical (it's bound to be gone in four years time). Germany-Spain or Germany-Uruguay I felt, were the best games to end the tournament on and just ignore the snore fest we actually got.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Jo S,

    Although I've loved watching the football, I'm kind of glad that it has finished.
    What with watching Le Tour as well (recorded not live - I'd die of sleep deprivation) the few days of overlap meant that my brain nearly seized with oversportedness.

    is it autumn yet? • Since May 2007 • 80 posts Report Reply

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