http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:11:02 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729996 I thought it was a reference to '66. Wasn't sure. 729996@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:11:02 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729993 LOL @ #7... Interestingly, England won the World Cup in June 1966 and I was born that August, since when England have been unremittingly crap. Coincidence? Or yet more proof that the universe hates me? 729993@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:56:09 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729968 4-2 would have been good... 729968@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:15:14 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729961 Dr. Dreadful. Yeah, true, some of the finishing on both sides could have been better. We could have been looking at a score of 5-2 or something... 729961@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:23:16 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729928 Douglas, it's all good. As you said, time to support North American soccer. Sounders here we come! 729928@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:02:52 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729927 Doc, Therein lies the contradiction of Italian culture/society/soccer! You're right, Italian soccer is predicated on tactical and organizational discipline. There is a strong Germanic root to its soccer - with the occasional Latin flair when needed. But as a general rule, Latins are a little more, shall we say, suspect of authority figures. Perhaps in Northern Italy it's less prevalent because if its Germanic/Romano heritage as you point out. Just as a side issue, Spain won this particular game on defense. Senna, Ramos and Puyol were the workhorses. They matched Germany's tenacity foot for foot. At least, that's what I saw. I must admit, I wonder if Germany would have gotten this far had they been in a tougher group - say, like Group C? Nonetheless, I NEVER take credit away from a runner-up or champion. Ever. If they are there then more often than not they deserve. That's just me. 729927@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:33 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729915 As an Englishman, it's always nice to watch Germany get their comeuppance! Spain showed them up as - we've seen this so often before - a flawed team once again riding their luck to squeak into the final of a major competition. Spain throughly deserved their win and as you say, Douglas, it could and should have been three or four - although I wouldn't give Lehmann and his defence as much credit as you. After the first 20 minutes or so - in which, as I observed on another thread while watching the game, the Germans appeared to be packing the penalty area with the entire back four of every Bundesliga team - the Spanish were running rings around them and it was often a sloppy or mishit final pass that kept the score down. I'm not sure about Alessandro's comment on Latin discipline either. The one thing Italian football is best known for is tactical discipline. Then again, that might be a relic of the Lombard heritage...! 729915@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:01:31 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729910 btw, Alessandro, I didn't mean to divert the points behind your article. Good information about the why and how behind the success of Spain's victory. all I know is that they played a very nice match. best, DM 729910@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:37:19 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/30/053705.php#comment-729887 Yes, it as a good match. Spain played a very nice game. They did a great job of maintaining control. Sometimes they caught the great German team completely offgaurd. Give some credit to the German goalkeeper (and a German defender for playing his near post properly on one play in the second half) for keeping the score being run up against them. Let me just say that Spain played 'attractive' futbol. hhhmmm...and I should say the LA/DC match televised on ABC before the Spain/Germany match was not too bad for USA league soccer. That match was played attractively enuf to keep my interest. It is good to see the USA playing a smarter, more sophisticated game. Anyway, I love the beautiful sport. Uh, OK, look out for Sounders FC of the MLS in 2009! best, DM 729887@blogcritics.org Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:27:38 EDT