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Speaker: KICK IT! End of Act One

71 Responses

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    yep, if Slovakia showed Italy anything it's that we really struggle when the game speeds up. If they run at us and get their passing game going I'm worried we'll get steamrolled.
    Not entirely certain if predictions of a tepid 0-0 draw btwn Mexico and Uruguay will come to pass. While that would ensure both would go thru they also know that the 2nd place team from their group will then play Argentina. I guess it'll depend on whether the think just making the 2nd round will make their campaigns a success.
    I expect/ hope Spain will bounce back with a vengence. While upsets are grand I prefer watching the big guns in the later rounds. I really don't want a repeat of the Spain/ South Korea cock-up from the last cup.
    And hell yeah, I'd love to hear some singing. As it is I'm tuning the background out as static. Has there been a more pointless form of barracking?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    You're not fooling anyone, Mr Kick It.

    It's an old blogger's trick to include deliberate mistakes in a post to provoke replies. Not going to work. Oh, all right then ... the USA did make the second round in 1994. There you go.

    As for 2010, if anybody hasn't seen Argentina v South Korea, it comes highly recommended. We've been asked not to mention scores, I'm told, so I'll just say ... watch.

    Italy will beat NZ, of course. It was fun while it lasted. Sadly, we've missed our chance at making history - if we'd renamed the country Aotearoa we'd now be top of the group. Above Italy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    You're not fooling anyone, Mr Kick It.

    It's an old blogger's trick to include deliberate mistakes in a post to provoke replies. Not going to work. Oh, all right then ... the USA did make the second round in 1994. There you go.

    Aaah, yes, that's right, an old bloggers trick... *coughs*

    Of course it was the best 3rd team rule in the old 24 team competition and the USA did indeed go through to be beaten in the next round by Brazil. I do remember the drop-off in interest when they went out though.

    Thanks for that.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Chiles,

    I remember the drop-off in interest in the 1994 World Cup occurred as soon as USA were named as host nation.
    Only the USA and FIFA thought that was a good idea.

    Paraparaumu • Since Feb 2010 • 10 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Not entirely certain if predictions of a tepid 0-0 draw btwn Mexico and Uruguay will come to pass. While that would ensure both would go thru they also know that the 2nd place team from their group will then play Argentina

    I think Mexico ought to play to win. Unless you rate South Africa a chance - but with their goal difference, it's hard to see how they could pull it off - then they really have nothing to lose: if they lose their game and France win or draw theirs, they still advance, they probably would even if France loses. Uruguay tops the group with a draw, so they might play a little more conservatively.

    My guess is they'll keep an ear on the other game. If France scores, then Mexico can just unleash. Not having to face Argentina is a big prize. (Incidentally, I think both Mexico and Uruguay could beat Argentina.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham,

    Totally agree with your What do we now know 10 points.

    re point 1 goalie gaffes - they're replayed endlessly (and re-recorded in Lego), but when a striker misses an open goal it doesn't get the same emphasis. I've been waiting for someone to bring up the old Scottish goalkeeper joke...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    The match against Uruguay will be a test of Mexico’s ambitions. Normally they’d take a Round of 16 finish, but this side’s been hyped up as something special and they’d fancy themselves with a Sth Korea knockout match.

    Having said that; watch Uruguay park the bus.

    Maradonna might have the manner of a demented goblin, but how good have Argentina been?

    Talk of problems in the Socceroo dressing room (and surely the same must be going on with France). Probably happening with the Netherlands too, but that never seems to bother them.

    Germany have been the surprise for me. And not having Ballack has probably done wonders for their dressing room.

    And Spain choking a fortnight early; hadn’t picked that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Maradonna might have the manner of a demented goblin, but how good have Argentina been?

    They haven't impressed me half as much as their scorelines. They had a couple of hairy moments today playing a team that seemed designed to make them look good. Against Nigeria they were average I thought.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    Giovanni - what is your faith in Mexico and Uruguay based on?

    otherwise I agree that Mexico still has more to play for in their last pool match. and they seem to lost some of the brittleness they usually exhibit.

    I'd love to rate RSA a chance as any party has a greater buzz if the hosts are still alive, but I suspect they're done. which could mean we get to hear some singing in the next round...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Giovanni - what is your faith in Mexico and Uruguay based on?

    I liked Mexico against South Africa. They were very good against Italy in their warm up match and *very* solid against France today. They can bring Blanco in with twenty minutes to go. I like them a lot. Uruguay impressed me a little less but they disposed of SA with ease, looked poised against France. Argentina is vulnerable in defence and could struggle against either - although they'd go in as favourites for sure.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Julian Melville,

    Does anyone else think the South African goalkeeper was a little hard done by? Yellow card, sure, penalty OK, but a red AND a penalty, for that? Really?

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    I hope Mexico get a run on as well, for their fans if nothing else. Some awesome beer explosions during the goals this morning.

    And did anyone else see Maradona's cute little back flick with the ball going out, today? Dude's still got the magic.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    He's been pretty good value in practice demonstrating how it's not at all hard to score free kicks from just outside the box with the official championship ball.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    cool, but I think I'll stick with pronouncing tomato my way.

    I'm liking how Spain are now blaming their loss on a babe reporter who was parked on the sidelines.

    and hell yeah, I'd swap Ballack's sub-pah Zidane impression for that Ouzo bloke any day - minus the hapless dive in the first half though. looking forward to seeing if the Germans can back that performance up.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham,

    Julian - I agree. You could say that it was careless, but definitely not dangerous or malicious.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Does anyone else think the South African goalkeeper was a little hard done by? Yellow card, sure, penalty OK, but a red AND a penalty, for that? Really?

    Yes, I think my colleague Mr Green might have some feelings on this matter. I still haven't seen it so can't comment.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Does anyone else think the South African goalkeeper was a little hard done by? Yellow card, sure, penalty OK, but a red AND a penalty, for that? Really?

    The build-up for the URU-SAF game showed a highlight reel of Suarez. All of the footage showed him falling over and the faintest of touches and none of him scoring goals. So I wasn't shocked when I noticed that falling over seemed to be all that he did.

    Needless to say that when I saw his tumble upon contact with the goalie (in super slow motion and high definition) a stream of incredibly filthy and mostly four-letter words (it was hard to tell because they were strung together) flew from my mouth towards the television.

    Suarez, in my mind, embodies everything I hate about football. Diving, self-important arseholes and playing to screw over the other team.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Oh look, here he is now! :-)

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Yes, I think my colleague Mr Green might have some feelings on this matter.

    Ha!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Jonty,

    Poor Ribery? And he works so hard?

    I'm still a bit suspect about the Jubalani. Never seen so many balls skied over the bar.

    I think Brazil, for all the hype, knew they'd had a game after the DPR Korea match. What a surprise, not knowing what to expect?

    I loved watching Mexico this morning, not just spanking the frogs, but seeing some pure latino magic.

    Katikati • Since Mar 2007 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • Jonty,

    <Suarez, in my mind, embodies everything I hate about football. Diving, self-important arseholes and playing to screw over the other team.>

    Been getting lessons from Ronaldo.

    Katikati • Since Mar 2007 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • Jo S,

    Well I certainly didn't pick Spain to lose to the Swiss. Not that my picks have been going so great - I'm well down the table in the comp I'm entered in.
    Haven't called nearly enough draws. Hmm.

    But I'd quite like to see the Swiss make it through to the next round, so I'm really looking forward to the Switzerland v Chile match ...

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Suarez, in my mind, embodies everything I hate about football. Diving, self-important arseholes and playing to screw over the other team.

    I do wonder if there's a reason why the governing body hasn't gotten tougher on that sort of stuff.

    Who enjoys the part of football where players are rewarded for diving and feigning fatal injury, and then both sides yell at the referee with looks of disbelief? What reason is there for it not being stomped on?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • stephen clover,

    Suarez, in my mind, embodies everything I hate about football.

    Word.

    I'm glad it's just not me.

    There were enough expletives flying around at the antics of the little coach's son Weiss in the NZL v Slovakia match. The Suarez thing caused me heart-stopping apoplexy.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report Reply

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