It's been only two days of football (soccer for American fans), and suddenly the world looks smaller than ever, my schedule looks tighter than ever, and the adrenaline box, busier than ever. You name it, I got it: actions, thrills, swinging motions on the field and emotions off the field, moments of stick-it-up-glories and moments of stick-it-in-disappointments: a 24-hour roller coaster ride. Not often does my left give a high five with my right, and it's happened over the last 48 hours. I am not kidding.
The schedule is tailor-made for me. Let me run you through it: the day begins with a FIFA World Cup game, at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast break at 9:00. Another game at 10 a.m. Lunch break at noon, and yet another game at 1:00 in the afternoon. Since each game lasts less than two hours, the routine is simply too good, just enough break to recharge myself with a coffee and smoke.
Add a drive to the office on weekdays during the breakfast break and you get the entire picture. Cool, isn't it? And yes, I get to watch the matches in a BIG screen from the office.
The evenings are equally glorious with the Stanley Cup and Larry O'Brien Trophy (NBA Finals) games keeping up with the football engagements in the morning and afternoon.
Okay. Enough rambling. Let's get on with the games.
Day One (Friday, June 9)
Germany-Costa Rica (10 a.m., MST): Germany coasted with a victory 4-2 against one of the minnows but not without a scare or two for the fans. I missed the first 14 minutes (my car was stuck in the traffic) and therefore missed the first two goals. The rest of the game the Germans played all right, nothing overboard although their defense looked questionable at times as the scoreline suggests.
Poland-Ecuador (1 p.m., MST): This was widely touted as a cakewalk for the Poles. Instead they walked into a 0-2 hammering. An ideal lesson for paper favorites who forgot that the winners are decided on the field and not on reputation. By the way, is scouting a common practice in football? How could the Poles not see this coming? They better regroup or else they are leaving the cup little too early.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
I need to get used to the game ending whenever the ref feels like it. Watching the tail end of Ivory Coast/Argentina, I thought the Cote was gonna take one last stab at a goal, but before they got cross midfield the whistle blew.
2 - Q Bit
It's not really whenever the ref feels like it; he ends the game when the time is up (45+stoppage) mins.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
But nobody really knows how long the stoppage is.
4 - Q Bit
A FIFA official keeps track of the stoppage time; usually a min (or less) before the allotted 45 mins in the second half is over, he/she shows an electronic board displaying the stoppage time to be added to the playing time.
Now the system is more reasonable. It used to be the referee himself kept track of the stoppage time (among his other duties), and invariably generating controversies.
5 - RJ Elliott
Group C is the "group of death" but Group E is the runner-up!
6 - Q Bit
Yes RJ, Group E is pretty tough too and US didn't help themselves losing to Czech Republic (2-0).
7 - Douglas Mays
The tournament started off great with the Germany-Costa Rica match. That first German goal from about 25 yards out driving with a curve to the upper right corner of the net, kissing the post! Oh man, I have orgasms to shots like that! I have dreams of goals like that.
One girlfriend of mine said she thought I was talking about girls after hearing me talk about that goal.
Girls/Futbol? One has to take a back seat to the other at times.
The USA looked flat today. We'll see if they can do anything in their tough group....
douglas
8 - Douglas Mays
Sussman, your comments on the game are interesting in terms of when the game ends and all. That is the beauty of it. The clock runs continuously, not stopping for anything. the wasted time (injury, out of bounds balls taking time to get into play, etc.) is kept track of and added as regulation time runs out. The ball is not out of bounds (or a goal) until the entire ball crosses the entire line. And other rules that are not polluted with all sorts of technicalities are part of the game. Penalties are based on playing the man, not the ball. Well, offsides and making body contact with your elbows out (instead of shoulder to shoulder) might be considered a technicality.
Anyway, it is a very pure sport in the manner it is played and ruled. Maybe one reason it is the 'worlds game'.
I am hardcore into it.
best,
douglas
9 - RJ Elliott
"Yes RJ, Group E is pretty tough too and US didn't help themselves losing to Czech Republic (2-0)."
Sadly, it was 3-0, not 2-0... :-(
10 - Douglas Mays
Today (6/14/06), the classic Germany vs. Poland match. We are talking WWII as far as history goes. Two tough strong teams. They battle to a draw in an evenly played match. THEN, with just a few minutes remaining, Germany puts one in the back of the net. 1-0, Germany over Poland. A very attractive match to watch. Not boring at all. Well played by both sides.
You know how some soccer naysayers like to joke about low scores then saying 'you wonder why it isn't popular here in the states!' What a moronic statement that holds no water. Baseball? How many 1-0, 0-0 game have you seen?
USA vs. Italy on Sat. The USA is not out of it. They do have the ability to win that one. 3-0 is not a 'drubbing' in reference to the USA loss.
peaceloveguidance
11 - Q Bit
DM:
It was a must win game for the Pols but the Germans mostly outplayed them; with luck on their side, the margin should have been 3-0. The Pols had their chances though.
I don't think US would win against Italy. They should consider themselves lucky if they can escape with a draw.
12 - Douglas Mays
Q Bit, yeah, very true. I was just being optimistic regarding the USA chances. If Italy is prepared and on their game, they are unbeatable. We could see a drubbing or an upset. The beauty of high level competition.
best,
douglas
13 - Q Bit
DM:
Upset is highly unlikely. Admittedly Italy is a much better side with better talent, skills and everything else you could think of.
Even if you factor that out, and for argument's sake if we also assume Italy having a bad day, their players are more experienced in handling the odds as they more often play in pressure packed situations.
Strange things have happened in World Cup though. Remember in 2002 Turkey and South Korea were in the semi-finals.
14 - RJ Elliott
"Baseball? How many 1-0, 0-0 game have you seen?"
I've never seen a 0-0 MLB game...