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Post by CentreHice on Jun 9, 2014 12:35:10 GMT -5
Great piece from John Oliver.
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Post by blny on Jun 9, 2014 12:59:31 GMT -5
Great stuff. Bit of a British John Stewart.
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 9, 2014 13:50:13 GMT -5
Great stuff. Bit of a British John Stewart. Big time. First time I saw Oliver, he was a correspondent on The Daily Show. That show has produced quite a few very successful spin-off solo careers. Carrell and Colbert chief among them. |
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Post by blny on Jun 9, 2014 16:49:10 GMT -5
I guess he 'poked' FIFA lol.
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Post by blny on Jun 9, 2014 18:27:13 GMT -5
Food for thought re the Qatar WC. They host motorcycle races at the Losail circuit a couple of times a year. They do it at night. Reduces track and ambient temps so that it's easier on riders and tires. I assume the majority of the games will be played in the evenings as well (if not all).
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Post by Cranky on Jun 11, 2014 11:56:34 GMT -5
Who doesn't want to run around and play soccer in the middle of 122 degree day? How else can you have a "great death" for a religion?
I love humour like Olivers, I just don't like it when it's used as a biased, political weapon.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 11, 2014 13:53:09 GMT -5
Unbelievable amount of money being discussed ... £6.62 billion Pounds Sterling when all is said and done ... FIFA says it has covered the entire 2 billion in operational costs ... passion and money make for a dangerous process ... Cheers. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 11, 2014 14:35:09 GMT -5
Be interesting to see which media outlets cover the impending violence irrigated by FIFA's bypassing of the "no-beer sales at games" law.
It won't be the networks carrying the games. Negative coverage = No future broadcasting rights.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 11, 2014 14:51:15 GMT -5
Always support Germany (lived there) and England (grew up watching EPL) ... served with the Danes while in the Middle East, so I follow Denmark a bit ... too bad they didn't qualify: Group A ... Brazil (world ranking 3rd), Croatia (18th), Mexico (20th) and Cameroon (56th) ... can't help but think of the run Cameroon had back in World Cup '82 when the WC comes around ... Brazil 'shouldn't' have any problems advancing here ... dark horse, Croatia ... Group B ... Spain (1st seed) can t ake the Netherlands (15th), Chile (14th) and Australia (62nd)... dark horse, Netherlands ... Group C ... Should be between Columbia (8th), Greece (12th), Côte D'Ivoire (23rd) make it a competitive division ... Japan (46th) will be in tough ... Group D ... Italy (9th), England (10th), Uruguay (7th) and Costa Rica (28th) ... anyone drawing or losing against CR might be in trouble ... Group E ... Switzerland (6th), France (17th), Ecuador (26th) and Honduras (33rd) could be a tough division ... Group F ... Argentina (5th), Bosnia (21st), Iran (43rd) and Nigeria (44th)... Argentina should advance but the Balkans always have good soccer clubs ... Group G ... the US (13th) will be in tough against Germany (2nd) and Portugal (4th) and Ghana (37th) ... wonder if Portugal has solved their diving issues ... Group H ... Belgium (11th), Algeria (22nd), Russia (19th), and Korea Republic (57th) ... could be up in the air ... just don't let Russia advance ... and don't draw/lose to Korea or ... Cheers. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 12, 2014 15:15:30 GMT -5
Croatia with a big first goal on host, Brazil ... a Brazilian defender deflects it in while trying to clear the ball ... need luck at that level, too ...
Cheers.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 12, 2014 15:49:40 GMT -5
Brazil ties it up and is dominating Croatia territorially ... like watching the high level of skills ... I haven't seen the Croats do it yet, but the Brazilians have diving down to a science ... 1-1 at the break ...
Cheers.
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Post by christrpn on Jun 12, 2014 17:17:15 GMT -5
Brazil ties it up and is dominating Croatia territorially ... like watching the high level of skills ... I haven't seen the Croats do it yet, but the Brazilians have diving down to a science ... 1-1 at the break ... Cheers. do you see Claude Julien anywhere on their sidelines? |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 13, 2014 14:15:55 GMT -5
Makes NHL refs look good! FIFA should send replays to Toronto. I can't believe I'm saying that?
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 13, 2014 17:30:29 GMT -5
Netherlands embarrass Spain 5-1 ... talk about an implode ... Chile up 2-0 on Australia ...
Cheers.
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Post by seventeen on Jun 15, 2014 1:35:35 GMT -5
My Italians overcome England 2-1. Good game and all 3 goals were top notch. England is a bit scary on the back line but with Sturridge, Sterling and Rooney attacking, they are a danger to score on each foray. Nice to see instead of that plodding style from the past. Big surprise by Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, but well deserved.
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Post by franko on Jun 15, 2014 12:10:23 GMT -5
My Italians overcome England 2-1. Good game and all 3 goals were top notch. England is a bit scary on the back line but with Sturridge, Sterling and Rooney attacking, they are a danger to score on each foray. Nice to see instead of that plodding style from the past. Big surprise by Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, but well deserved. decided to have dinner in Little Italy last evening . . . not thinking about "the game". Turns out it was the Italian Festival as well . . . and a Ferrari show. just a little crowded . . . just a little loud. |
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Post by blny on Jun 15, 2014 16:08:49 GMT -5
Been the highest scoring first few days in Cup history. Games I've seen have been entertaining.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 16, 2014 15:04:56 GMT -5
My Italians overcome England 2-1. Good game and all 3 goals were top notch. England is a bit scary on the back line but with Sturridge, Sterling and Rooney attacking, they are a danger to score on each foray. Nice to see instead of that plodding style from the past. Big surprise by Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, but well deserved. decided to have dinner in Little Italy last evening . . . not thinking about "the game". Turns out it was the Italian Festival as well . . . and a Ferrari show. just a little crowded . . . just a little loud. Just a good time? ... would have loved to go with you folks ... Cheers. |
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Post by Polarice on Jun 16, 2014 15:53:17 GMT -5
My Italians overcome England 2-1. Good game and all 3 goals were top notch. England is a bit scary on the back line but with Sturridge, Sterling and Rooney attacking, they are a danger to score on each foray. Nice to see instead of that plodding style from the past. Big surprise by Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, but well deserved. Boooooo!!!  |
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Post by franko on Jun 16, 2014 16:42:50 GMT -5
decided to have dinner in Little Italy last evening . . . not thinking about "the game". Turns out it was the Italian Festival as well . . . and a Ferrari show. just a little crowded . . . just a little loud. Just a good time? ... would have loved to go with you folks ... Cheers. to quote Bill Vander Zalm or Christopher Eccleston . . . fantastic! |
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Post by Cranky on Jun 17, 2014 18:36:43 GMT -5
WTF! I bought TWO Greek flags to hand on the car......and they lose the first game 3-0.
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Post by seventeen on Jun 17, 2014 19:00:21 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Jun 18, 2014 16:56:00 GMT -5
Spain eliminated in a 2-0 loss to Chile today. Wow. I believe Italy also didn't get past the first round in 2010 after winning the 2006 cup, but it's rare for a defending Champ to fall so soon. In Spain's case, the team is very similar to the one that won it all. Just 4 years older. A lesson for us all, you have to integrate young blood. The sad part for Spain is that they have a number of very good young players. I guess they'll get their chance now. Too bad as I really like Spain's brand of the beautiful game. Very skilful and artistic.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 18, 2014 19:01:47 GMT -5
Saw the game and I couldn't believe it when Spain went down 2-nil in the first half ... even the announcers said it would be near impossible for Spain to come back from that deficit ... Australia came close in their match against the Netherlands ... they missed a golden opportunity to take the lead only to see the Dutch score the eventual winner on the ensuing rush ... I liked what I saw from the Aussies, though ... Croatia with the big turnaround against Cameroon 4-nil ... when is Chile/Netherlands?
Cheers.
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Post by Yossarian on Jun 18, 2014 20:52:01 GMT -5
Funny you mentioned Italy in 2010. While watching Spain get trounced in at last year's Confed Cup final, and in the first game against Holland, I thought the same level of complacency that hit Italy in 2010, has now settled into to the Spanish team. They still have a ton of young talent. They just need to regroup and infuse some its promising young players into replacing Xavi, Alonso, Torres and even Casillas who may have all played in their last WC and not take success for granted after a fantastic 6 year run. Spain eliminated in a 2-0 loss to Chile today. Wow. I believe Italy also didn't get past the first round in 2010 after winning the 2006 cup, but it's rare for a defending Champ to fall so soon. In Spain's case, the team is very similar to the one that won it all. Just 4 years older. A lesson for us all, you have to integrate young blood. The sad part for Spain is that they have a number of very good young players. I guess they'll get their chance now. Too bad as I really like Spain's brand of the beautiful game. Very skilful and artistic. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 19, 2014 16:22:10 GMT -5
Tough luck for England, who are clearly in rebuild mode. Or will be now.
Suarez with both goals for Uruguay who win 2-1.
Happy for Rooney to get his first WC goal…but no doubt small consolation for him.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 19, 2014 19:37:41 GMT -5
This is a big deal to the English ... I was on exercise with the Brits one time when their club were eliminated from the Worlds ... you couldn't even find their officers the next day ... all of them went into hiding ... had a Brit student come through my classroom a few years back and it was the same thing ... England had been eliminated and he just clammed up ... took his notes ... didn't talk to anyone ... and he walked around like he had the wind knocked out of him ... kind of reminds me of Bruins fans ... #notreallybuuut
Cheers.
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Post by franko on Jun 19, 2014 20:35:30 GMT -5
from a good buddy: "they always live down to expectations"
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 19, 2014 20:48:56 GMT -5
These days it seems England + major international tourney = epic collapse.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 19, 2014 21:37:27 GMT -5
Anyone see Greece/Japan ... 0-0 and I haven't seen the highlights ...
Cheers.
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