Six of eight teams decided for the semifinals. Comments on today’s games hidden for those of you who don’t wish to blunder upon the results, having DVR’d the games.
For people who have only warmed to footie in the last few years it’s hard to explain how much has changed in 16 years. In 1990 the World Cup was hardly on the radar. In 1994, despite hosting the tournament, the majority of the media coverage was negative along the lines of the [...]
Joss Whedon talks about equality and writing strong female characters.
To answer my own rhetorical question in the title, I think it’s about a month old. Strange I haven’t seen it making the rounds yet. Watch it. ‘Tis good.
You should have bought stock in this blog last July.
Through the roof! And what’s more, about half of the hits are direct requests instead of odd-ball searches. I’ve also received a whopping 631 referrals from http://snurri.livejournal.com/friends—do I have to pay a commission? If so, I would be quick to point out to [...]
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I have to say that a lot of my emotion drained out of this World Cup once Spain capitulated against France. It’s not that I don’t care—you should know better than that—but rather that I’m just ambivalent about the teams that remain.
I guess I’m still pulling for Germany to win it—I am Hergenrader after [...]
A sobering look at the compiled World Cup table. Unless you’re European or South American.
WORLD CUP as of 06/28/06
TEAM
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Pts
Confederation
1
Germany
4
4
0
0
10
2
8
12
UEFA
2
Brazil
4
4
0
0
9
1
8
12
CONMEBOL
3
Portugal
4
4
0
0
6
1
5
12
UEFA
4
Argentina
4
3
1
0
10
2
8
10
CONMEBOL
5
Italy
4
3
1
0
6
1
5
10
UEFA
6
England
4
3
1
0
6
2
4
10
UEFA
7
Ukraine
4
3
0
1
5
4
1
9
UEFA
8
France
4
2
2
0
6
2
4
8
UEFA
Eliminated in Round of 16
9
Spain
4
3
0
1
9
4
5
9
UEFA
10
Switzerland
4
2
1
1
4
0
4
7
UEFA
11
Holland
4
2
1
1
3
2
1
7
UEFA
12
Ecuador
4
2
0
2
5
4
1
6
CONMEBOL
13
Ghana
4
2
0
2
4
5
-1
6
CAF
14
Sweden
4
1
2
1
3
4
-1
5
UEFA
15
Mexico
4
1
1
2
5
6
-1
4
CONCACAF
16
Australia
4
1
1
2
5
6
-1
4
OCEANIA
Eliminated in Group Stage
17
South Korea
3
1
1
1
3
4
-1
4
AFC
18
Paraguay
3
1
0
2
2
2
0
3
CONMEBOL
19
Ivory Coast
3
1
0
2
5
6
-1
3
CAF
20
Czechs
3
1
0
2
3
4
-1
3
UEFA
21
Poland
3
1
0
2
2
4
-2
3
UEFA
22
Croatia
3
0
2
1
2
3
-1
2
UEFA
23
Angola
3
0
2
1
1
2
-1
2
CAF
24
Tunisia
3
0
1
2
3
6
-4
1
CAF
25
USA
3
0
1
2
2
6
-4
1
CONCACAF
26
Iran
3
0
1
2
2
6
-4
1
AFC
27
T&T
3
0
1
2
0
4
-4
1
CONCACAF
28
Saudi Arabia
3
0
1
2
2
7
-5
1
AFC
29
Japan
3
0
1
2
2
7
-5
1
AFC
30
Togo
3
0
0
3
1
6
-5
0
CAF
31
Costa Rica
3
0
0
3
3
9
-6
0
CONCACAF
32
Serbia
3
0
0
3
2
10
-8
0
UEFA
32 TEAMS
UEFA – Europe, 14 teams, 29-10-13, 67 GF, 43 GA, +24 GD, 6 teams still alive
CONMEBOL – South [...]
My latest effort entitled “Five African Beers” was completed today at approximately 3600 words. Short, yes, and a first glance suggests it needs a lot of work but I’m going to try and get it distributed to my first readers no later than tomorrow. You’ve been forewarned.
Three World Cup limericks courtesy of Paul [...]
Hands down the best article on the referee madness that’s descended on this World Cup and why all cards not equal.
A snippet:
When I went to referee school, we were told that no matter how old the game was, a booking is a booking, a red card is a red card. The offence does become more [...]
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Okay, one World Cup tidbit. I’m a little nervous about Spain vs. France this afternoon. C’mon Spain!
I have not written as much as I ought to have since returning from Portugal. My output has been, in a word, pathetic. The biggest factor is a spike in work and the rest of [...]
Two qualms with this generally excellent World Cup thus far: 1) the generally low quality of officiating (a repeat of 2002) and 2) lack of upsets.
The men in the middle aren’t entirely to blame for the debacle. I have to believe a FIFA directive told them to be liberal in doling out the cards [...]