Italian newspapers... Sicily: http://www.gds.it/ Sport Network http://www.corrieredellosport.it/ Milan http://www.ilgiorno.it/ Rome http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/
I have my Italian investor flying in from Milan next Tuesday, I'm going to have a little fun at his expense upon arrival. I wish there was a Costa Rica jersey I could get before his visit.
How badly do you want it? http://shop.bigsoccer.com/shop-by-national-team-costa-rica-national-soccer-team.html
Lol, well since I texted him already asking what his shirt size was for a Costa Rica shirt I may not be able to afford a jersey anymore. His only reply was that "it's not a funny thing"..... I may be the new Walmart greeter in your neighborhood but I gotta have a little fun along the way... :lol:
The Walmart store located near my home, which rests close to the border seperating Serbia and Mexico, only sells Mexican soccer shirts, so I can't use my friend's employee discount to help you, Ralph.
Bobda, Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoy our ramblings about our passion. Gip, Agreed. Costa Rica's defense is really something to behold. They're playing with great discipline. Today: -The first game.. Lionel Messi is the world's greatest player and he beat Iran today. The officials did no favors for Iran, but Messi pulled a rabbit out of his hat and flat stole one. The Iranians held the tempo on the counter and held better scoring chances. I know people said it was boring, my mom included, but we can't applaud Italy for being a defensive juggernaut and then fault Iran for playing the same exact style. They don't have anything like Messi and they certainly don't have the support Argentina does, yet they looked the better side. Good for them. -The 2nd game... Holy cow, easily one of my top 5 favorite games that I can recall. What happens when perhaps the world's best team and the one team that the Brazilians even seem to fear faces off against a very talented African team who doesn't give one sh*t that you're name is Germany? A classic, that's what. Although this is an over played comparison, this was truly like a great prize fight. The two came out measuring one another. Once the favorite landed what they thought to be a knock out blow, the upstart came back and punched them right in the mouth putting them on their heels. The 2 didn't stop pummeling each other and trading hay makers until the final whistle blew with players from both side strewn across the pitch with some of them bleeding openly. I was wondering if we'd ever see what the weakness of Germany was since the loss of Marco Reus and today we saw it. I know Americans are upset because Ghana showed the world how to beat us, well they just did the same thing to the Germans. They're playing such great tactical ball for a nation considered 3rd tier in terms of support and development. The only thing Ghana could not account for was that Germany went back to the bread and butter to pull out a tie. I am VERY familiar with German football. What you need to know is that the current version of Die Mannschaft isn't just their team (which is enough), but these guys are a massive pop sensation in Germany as well. They are young and pretty. They play a fluid and quick style that's a combination of Brazil, Spain and Holland all at their best. Today, the boy band got hit in the grill and were falling apart. Joachim Low (the German skipper) did exactly what I thought he'd do. He pulled Khedira and German uber pretty boy Mario Gotze (who scored their first goal) and went big ugly. He replaced them with Schweinsteiger and Klose. The only player who didn't go in who I expected to see was Podolski. It took them exactly one minute to tie the game. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying these guys should be in the game always. Klose is 36 while both Schweinsteiger and Podolski are only 29, they aren't as fluid as Gotze or Ozul, but they are physically punishing with high motors. Basically, what Germany did is akin to an American football team getting the ball back with 1 minute on the clock, down by 7 on their own 5 yard line and saying.... okay, we're going to do this running on the ground right between the tackles.. and doing it. Still, Ghana didn't back down and their team speed along the left side exploited the taller, slower German back 4. Man, I'm just sad to see that game end. I didn't catch the 3rd game since I had to go work on the new house, but I guess it was 1-0 Nigeria. You guys would have to fill me in on that.
At least Bradley showed signs of life in this match, although he's still making terrible mistakes. The problem is, we're not in a group in which you can make terrible mistakes. I have no idea how 5 minutes was warranted for that match. In a game that had the first ever water break in the world cup due to the heat, 5 minutes seemed a bit much. When they announced that at the game watch, it was all I could talk about. 5 minutes was too long and I feared we'd wear out defensively. It was a world class cross and score. Still, as Gip mentioned, if Bradley takes care of business, it never happens. I took Carson to his first game watch hosted by the American Outlaws. I'm pretty sure I made an AO member for life today.
The ref originally gave only four minutes. Then he changed it to five when the Americans were stalling on a late substitution. He added an additional minute. I've never seen that before and the Portuguese scored in the final 30 seconds of the FIFTH minute. Hey Mike...you're a ref. Have you ever added an additional minute after you had already added time?
No I never have. Just watching all the other games, if a team is leading the departing player usually walks off and the sub runs to his position. I didn't think the US was any slower than the rest. At least now you know how long the stopage time is. It used to be you didn't know.
I've never even heard of such a thing. I read multiple accounts saying the same thing, so I watched the replay last night. I couldn't believe my eyes. I'm not sure why more isn't being made of that. The match itself didn't warrant 4 additional minutes, let alone 5. That was just an odd match and certainly one that lends itself to rumors about corruption about FIFA preferences/match fixing which have always plagued the sport. Which brings me to Der Coach, who blasted FIFA for putting the US at a disadvantage in terms of scheduling and travel. He said the schedule favors the favorites. I'm fairly sure that he's doing this intentionally and knows the cards he's playing here. There are so many dipshit sports writers with no real knowledge of the game who like to get onto Klinsmann, but I'm glad we got the guy. He also took a shot at Mexico in his press conference yesterday. I'm never one for conspiracy theories, but when it comes to the drama of the USMNT circles, I think a good bit of the stuff is true. Anyone who puts a mic in front of Bruce Arena's face is doing this team any favors. There's also those sympathetic to former coach Bradley and the other 'American only' folks who seem to do all they can to undermine Klinsmann's efforts. I know this... I appreciate the work they've done, and all the building that has taken place led us to this. I appreciate all of it. We will always owe those men (who go back generations now) an endless thank you for their sacrifice. However, all of that work led us to being in a position in which when drafted into 'The Group of Death', we weren't expected to garner so much as a single point. That's where American football was, that's the sum total of their efforts. We were 30 seconds from winning the damned thing in the 2nd match. That's a reality that most everyone involved in international football would have laughed at until it happened. That's what Klinsmann has brought us. If some folks would stop being so ungrateful, they could possibly learn from the guy so we can carry forward and build from this. We're fighting a lot of history and tradition that works against us. Respect is long and cruel in being earned in this world. We're on the right path if we'd only just get out of our own way. BTW, Bradley is man of the match for the opponent for the 2nd straight game. He was better, but worse.. if that makes sense.
Re: Klinsmann: My wife started out not liking him because he cut a popular player. After watching yesterday's match, she has changed her mind and now likes him, so he gained at least one fan yesterday. :lol:
Is that shaving cream they spray on the field when there is a penalty kick. It's some sort of white foam that's for sure. Why do they do it?
That's something new. It's a white aerosol spray to mark the 10 yards that are supposed to be given between the spot of the ball and the wall of defenders. It's one of those things that was long needed, as the walls would cheat up or just flat out not get 10 yards back. Now, the official marks the 10 yard spot and can get into position without having to baby sit the guys looking to get an extra inch. I've no scientific data though on the ozone impact of this spray
Probably not a good idea to have a surgery scheduled in Mexico when the national team is playing a World Cup game. https://mobile.twitter.com/MedicoLoco/status/481181779030577156/photo/1
re: Dr. Santana .......ROTFL!!! Monday's games Spain 3 Australia 0 The Socceroos had a good trip, showing much improvement. In the end they were clubbed down and embarrassed out of town. Let's hope that doesn't happen to us... Brazil 4 Cameroon 1 Neymar is making this look way too easy. He really is that good and so are several of his compadres. Cameroon embarrassed itself (again) on the way out of town and I hope they never send another bunch like that to an international tournament... Netherlands 2 Chile 0 Arjen Robben was the best player in this entire World Cup in the qualifying round. He's one of the fastest players in the world, and his motor never stops. This is also a team that includes Robin van Persie and several other world-class ball-handlers who seem very motivated to prove a point. If this Dutch team falls short, it won't be for lack of effort or talent. Mexico 3 Croatia 1 I'm sorry to report that Mexico did it again. They're the all-time front runners who go limp as an old dishrag when the breaks go against them, but right now, everything is falling their way. Croatia deserved a better fate. They were a good team that was missing only two parts: a goalie and a target striker. Unfortunately, those are two of the most important positions and this cost them dearly against a hot team like Mexico. BIG game tomorrow, with the loser of Italy/Uruguay going home. Costa Rica/England has a chance to be very entertaining as well, now that Wayne Rooney has apologized to his entire country...
Being a hard working but somewhat slow student of the tutorials provided by JoCo and Corey regarding the World Cup, I wanted to check with my instructors if I am progressing in my understanding of soccer. So, my question is -- if the hierarchy of world soccer could be compared to college football's conferences, would this be a good comparison? SEC = Europe Pac 12 = South America Big 12 = Africa Big 10 = CONCACAF