WORLD CUP OPEN THREAD, Day 23: Maradona? But I Hardly Know Her
by RossWB on Jul 3, 2010 9:27 AM CDT
in Iowa Hawkeyes Game Threads
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The quarterfinals wrap up today with a pair of games, one dripping with history and talented players, and one featuring Paraguay. We kid; it's not as if there's no reason to cheer for Paraguay or care about whether they win or lose. Larissa Riquelme, Paraguayan superfan and supermodel, has vowed to run naked through the streets if Paraguay wins the World Cup (and we can all work Google Image Search, so there's no need to post pics). So there's that. To get to that point, though, Paraguay will have to beat Spain (1:30pm CT, ABC) and doing that might require them to actually come out of their defensive shell once or twice... which may be asking a lot from our patriotically-colored friends from the "other" Guay. They've scored only three goals in the tournament thus far and none in the last 210 minutes they've played; they made it this far only by besting Japan in a penalty shootout in the previous round. Spain counters with a roster dripping with world-class talent, including arguably the world's best striker, David Villa, who has four goals all by himself in this tournament, tied for the most. One historic World Cup underachiever (Holland) advanced yesterday; can Spain make it two this afternoon? (Probably.)
The more enticing match-up is probably this morning's clash between Argentina, led by the irascible Diego Maradona, and Germany (9am CT, ABC). Between them the two nations have won five past World Cups and clashed on a number of occasions; most recently, they tangled in this exact same spot in the 2006 World Cup. Germany advanced on penalties (4-2) in that clash, a game in which Argentina's marvelous Lionel Messi never got off the bench. (Oops.) There's no love lost between these squads. Between them, they've played some of the most attractive attacking soccer of the tournament; both teams are loaded with an abundance of scoring options up front. Argentina can offer Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito, Maxi Rodriguez, and Angel Di Maria, while Germany counters with Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolwski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, and Thomas Muller. Both teams have been a bit shaky on defense (indeed, as of this writing Germany's already gone 1-0 up after some bad Argentine defending on a set piece). Hopefully the goals will flow in this one.
You know the open thread rules by now.
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Germany wearing their Gestapo chic look today, apparently.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
FT, Fear the Germans
4-0.
Well, there were a lot of goals… just all from Germany.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I just got back from work. Seriously?
Master of the convoluted IOWA cheers!
by EnergizerHawk on Jul 3, 2010 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, to their credit
Argentina didn’t get Mexico-style thuggish when they knew they were done. In fact, they had a number of chances to pull one back but just couldn’t avoid the keeper.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 3, 2010 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, the Germans saved the world from...
having to see Mr. Diego Maradona running naked through the streets.
Master of the convoluted IOWA cheers!
Germans saving the world from something... huh.
Truly we do live in a brave new world.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
The only bad news for Germany?
Muller’s going to miss the semifinal game because of accumulated yellow cards.
On the other hand, Klose remains in stunning form; one more goal and he ties Ronaldo for the most goals all-time in the World Cup. And he’s got two games (the semi and either the final or the 3rd-place game) to do it.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
More suspect officiating!
It’s a World Cup tradition.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
And Torres has been awful in this World Cup.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
It's weird
he’s had about five opportunities on the edge of the box. Every time he’s faced with the decision to either run at the defender and create or cross the ball he’s seemingly chosen incorrectly. He’s just not been able to adjust post-surgery. I would sub in Fabergas and play David Villa alone up top.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 3, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
He looks very rusty.
They need to bring in some new faces. Navas to add width or Fabergas to shake things up or Llorente to add a more direct option (worked against Portugal).
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Look who's listening to me...
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 3, 2010 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions
And speak of the devil...
Torres off, Fabregas on.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Where was this ref when we needed him against Slovenia?
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Woo... nice save by Casillas there.
Still 0-0.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
HOLY FUCK!
Penalties galore!
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
And Alonso converts...
But no! Encroachment! He’s gonna have to retake it. Hoo boy.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
That encroachment call looked pretty ticky-tack.
Much like holding in football, you can call the shit almost every damn time.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
And the second attempt is saved!
UTTER MADNESS
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Is Ian Darke just a magnet for bizarro penalty kicks or something?
He did the Ghana-Uruguay game too.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I should manage.
What did I say, Ross, what did I say?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
David Villa should kiss those posts.
Wow.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Iker to the rescue!
And again!
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
FT! Spain wins, 1-0
Casillas should be Man of the Match. He was fucking massive.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
spain that was so very weak! overrated! just like argentina. only argentina was more of a fraud than anything. led by a complete ass. the media tries to downplay it because it was paraguay. spain lost for a reason in its opening match. this team is not the same 98 team whether they have the same players or not
god i love germany putting maraprimadonna in his place…and mueller scoring the first goal! freaking sweet humble pie back at you JERK maradona.
Three months ago Argentina coach Diego Maradona approached a postgame interview podium, eyed this young German already sitting there and immediately dismissed 20-year-old Thomas Mueller as a ball boy. He then refused to share an interview stage with him.
"What’s the matter Schweinsteiger? Are you nerrrvoushhh?" yes im nervous of facing holland in the final!
anybody ripping on pele deserves an ass whooping. germany did it! that was as sweet as holland shocking brazil.
i dont dislike spain but they are NOT the favorites. that performance yesterday was “cheeky” at best
i said from the very beginning after germanys first game and watching every other team, this team is the favorites and nothing has changed. just waiting for arjen robben to comeback to holland and this could be the best world cup ever to make them the team nobody is paying attention to.
the best coached team easily is germany. no one is nerrrvoushh in germany
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