My Twin and Other Stuff

Ok. I've been told twice in the same day that Ribery looks like me. Or I look like Ribery. Whichever strikes you as the least vain. Of course, how could it be vain? Ribery is the ugliest guy on the French side. To boot, he has this hideous scar which which makes him look like a deadly neo-nazi. Thankfully, he didn't get that scar in a fight. He got it the old-fashioned way: an accident. But it is still a very definite part of his visage. I wonder if people think of me when they see the scar.

Impossible. My complexion is so smooth. Have you seen the advertisement for the after shave or whatever where the guy is talking while these female hands are caressing his face? He gulps and says that the lotion really changed his life. "REALLY!" Well, I don't need the stuff. So it really unnerves me that I should be compared to Ribery. Of course, his teeth are all out of line. Mine are too. But can people see that through the television screen?

Of course, in the picture of him jogging with Zinedine, he looks like I do when I sleep. And one of the people that thinks Ribery looks like me (Or I look like him. Whichever strikes you as the least vain) is a teen who sits in the front row at church. I have to admit that the last two shots of Ribery could very well be me while I am speaking... Oh, well. Here I was hoping it was his tenacious spirit, his dazzling speed, and his amazing skill. I'm afraid it's his sheer ugliness.

One more way to end the World Cup on a sad note.

France v. Portugal

8:00 - Oh my. Ronaldo is outstanding and Maniche just sent a missle barely over the net.

5:40 - Portugal is coming out fast and hard. A good shot on goal already. Barthez, te timebomb, got a hand on it.

A Happy Bleu!

In my opinion, one of the best games of the tournement so far. Both teams played brilliantly. But France definitely deserved the win. Brazil is too cocky. There is really only one team in Europe that can beat Brazil. It is France. They should have known that their hardest game was today.

Allez les Bleus!

The Scoop on the Brawl

FIFA is goint to react with decisive discipline. They should. Here's the scoop. It would appear that an Argentine started the whole mess. As one of the players said, "they are no choir boys."

Football Governance

Now this is good politics!

70 % Possession in First Half

Well, if the first half is indicative of anything, my prediction about the better team is dead on. The Argentines have controlled the ball for 70% of the time. Problem: they're still scoreless. If I were Argentina I would worry about the German size and - this is something huge - the 12th man. The fans will fire up the German team. We will see a different game second half. Has Argentina lost its chance?

Spain v. France

I wondered if I might have thought too much of the game. Thankfully, I realize that my interest in the Spain. v. France game was mild compared to this guy.

So Says Rongen. . .

So says Rongen

I'm not sold on England, but I think it will find a way against a weakened Portuguese side that can't count on a 100-percent healthy Cristiano Ronaldo and an aging Luis Figo, who will be playing in his fifth match in 21 days.

As I said earlier, I favor Germany over Argentina even though I am a huge fan of José Pekerman, whom I coached against at the under-20 level. But a raucous Berlin crowd will be too much for his Argentine squad to overcome.

Ukraine simply doesn't have the horses to compete with Italy. Francesco Totti hadn't showed up at all before hitting the penalty kick that eliminated Australia, and I think that will jump-start him. And with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon playing as well as he is, there's no way Ukraine will get past the Azzurri.

Brazil is going to end Zinedine Zidane's career -- but this might be the greatest game of the tournament. France is a proud football nation and one of the best in Europe, and the French will show off all of their skill and tactical ability. But in the end, Brazil will avenge its loss in '98 and send Les Bleus home.

What do you say? Predictions, anyone?

World Cup Scents FOR SALE! (do i care?)

I really, really, really enjoy the big soccer tournements (the African Cup still being one of my all time favorites), but I can't decide if I will buy a bag of air from the World Cup stadiums. Hmmm. Veerrry tempting!

Congratulations, LES BLEUS!

Spain v. France

END: Zindine ends like a champion. No wonder his own peers say he is the best player of the century. What a way to finish. France is playing better each game. I am sorry for Spain though. Really. But, they are young. They will be strong two years from now.

91:00 - ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU! ZIZOU!

90:30 - Did Zizou get the yellow card or not? I missed it.

90:00 - Okay, Barthez is getting way too much action. I have to admit that he is still good in the air. But, slow. Scarey.

87:00 - Wow! Intense! Spain is making a statement. I like Wiltord. I watched him when he played for Bordeaux. Good defending by Zizou.

85:00 - Nice header from ?. Wow! Spain needs to kick it up a notch. They need to use their speed. If I'm Spanish, I am screaming at them to start running like crazy.

84:00 - The rational side of me admits that the yellow was harsh.

83:55 - GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL! GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!

82:00 - A VERY, VERY WELL DESERVED YELLOW CARD! FINALLY! THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR!

80:00 - Okay, my depressing prediction is going to be wrong, I hope. The pace of this game is great. I'm loving it. Some people want the referee to keep breaking up the game.... ;-), but champions come to play!!! (Okay, I'm getting to cocky in spite of my dire prediction about the last ten minutes.) A shoot out will kill us. Old men can't run after 90 minutes. Help!

77:53 - I thnk the good/bad calls are evenly distributed. Perhaps the Spanish side needs to - WHOAH!!!! Spain shoots on goal! Yikes! Barthez is seriously tested any time the ball crosses the half line.

76:51 - Spain gets a corner. Barthez makes a save.

72:13 - Interesting sub action going on. Not sure I quite understand what the Spanish side is doing.

68:00 - Here we go. Barthez is getting tested. That header was close. I begin to mourn. Already.

66:40 - Actually, I'm glad to see that he is not carding like nuts.

61:45 - France needs to keep winning corners. This is good. Henry is playing too selfishly, I think. Prediction: Spain scores on lightening speed corner attack in last ten minutes. Go on to win.

59:43 - Whoa! That as a close call. Spain is picking up tempo. This is not good news for Les Bleus. Barthez only needs to be tested a few times before he'll crack.

58:33 - I agree with Chris about Zizou getting tired. But, Zizou is like Michael Jordan was. A tired Michael Jordan could rest and then shine for a minute or two. That would make a big, dangerous difference.

56:00 - Of course in this picture, he was awesome. But that was in 1998.

53:31 - Does France not have a better keeper? They should hire me to scout one out. Barthez used to be good, but Manchest let him go for a reason.

51:00 - What a save by the Spanish keeper!

50:25 - The first few minutes of each half are always nerve-wracking as each side attempts to get rid of jiters and set the pace to their own liking.
The pitch looks very slippery.

Halftime - My sister shouldn't call so soon! This game is good so far. I think that if Spain doesn't adjust their strategy, France still has hope. Frankly, I'm amazed that anybody would face Zinedine and Henry and play such a high defense.... Even if they're old... But, I'm inclined to think that Aragones will make some significant changes. That's what I would do if I were the Spanish coach. I'm not sure what to do if I were the French coach except to take Barthez out and replace him with the water boy.

44:00 - France got a break with the no-call defending the Spanish counter-attack. I think. But, those kinds of no-calls happen all the time on counter-attacks because the ref is running full speed to catch up to the action.

41:00 - GOAL! I just had said that. nd they beat the trap for a goal.

Chris, the off-side traps killed Ghana against Brazil. But I think it will work better for Spain against France. France is slow. However, you're right. Henry can spark from time to time. And it only takes one time.

37:30- Zidane got superstar treatment with the no call.

34:50- What is everybody saying about the racist remark from Spain's coach? I totally missed that. And, I hope it fires Henry up. Henry is looking for it. Offsides though.

We are twenty minutes in. No real developments yet to encourage either side.

22:46 - Wow! Close one for France! We almost put it in! Zidane is proving why he was three time FIFA player of the year. Actually, though I said the above, I didn't mean to sound disparaging. I think both teams are playing well. And, can you belive this, no cards so far!

25:15 - I can't either, Chris. The pace seems to be going in France's favor at the moment. BTW, keep refreshing your screen. I'm updating regularly. But, it really does rot that they missed that cross.

26:55 - PENALTY. Grrrrrr. I said if Spain scores first, Spain wins...

Good call. The ref did not hesitate like so many have done this tournement. Thuram is good. But he can be too physical.

DID YOU SEE ZIDANE CATCH THAT BALL?

I Can't Miss This - Predictions

I have missed several games, but the Spain/France clash I must not miss. I am not sure, but I do not think Spain has ever beat France in a competitive match. If so, it has been ages. However, though my loyalties go to France, my mind tells me that today is Spain's big day.

If Spain strikes early, they have a better chance. But I'm inclined to think the longer the game goes, the better it is for the older, more experienced team which, today, happens to be France.

But France has not looked good. Unless they play differently than they have this tournement, I predict that Spain will carry the day 2 - 0.

And -- please don't kill me France supporters! -- I think the Cup will be much more interesting if Spain can beat France. If they beat France, suddenly the final rounds are going to become very, very fascinating. A Spain that has snapped the spell is a Spain that nobody has ever seen but nonetheless a Spain that everyone has acknowledge to have amazing potential.

Today's the day.

I shall be blogging throughout!

Bravo, Portugal!

I only saw the last twenty minutes. Wow! Was it ever intense!! That is the way World Cup games are supposed to be. But, come on! The cards... Chris, I know that you think the refereeing is great, but I have my doubts. Of course, as I said, I only saw the last twenty minutes. I just think that the cards had to have been flying. Nonetheless, I have never been a real enthusiast for the Netherlands (even though they wear Protestant organge). On the other hand, I have always enjoyed watching Figo play either for his national team or his pro team in Spain. This Cup is getting more and more interesting, I think.

I really would like to see England ousted.