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WC 2006 Match Chat: Portugal vs. France
2006-07-05 11:00
by Bob Timmermann

Live from Munich!

Italy's opponent in the final Sunday will be decided in this one. The loser plays Germany in the 3rd place game Saturday.

France has seemingly risen from the dead in this tournament. After opening the tournament with a scoreless draw against Switzerland, France got a tie with Korea. This left France needing to beat Togo by at least two and hoping that Korea or Switzerland did not tie. And that's what happened. France beat Togo 2-0 and Switzerland did the same to Korea.

Portugal has made it to the semifinals for the first time since 1966, when they lost to England 2-1. Portugal went 3-0 in group play, defeating Angola, Iran, and Mexico. Then the Portuguese won a yellow card filled match over the Netherlands in the Round of 16 and then got past England on penalties in the quaterfinals.

And if you think the Portuguese got a lot of yellow cards before, keep in mind that the man in the middle today is Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda, a man who red carded three players in the USA-Italy match.

For those curious, FIFA rules strongly suggest that teams stop playing if they can't put out more than seven players.

Contest standings:
Standings:
1) Penarol1916 - 15
2) yankee23 - 11
3t) minxtscore, Phil Birnbaum - 10
5t) Los Longhorns, ddger - 9
7t) Abreck, humma kuvala, John Matthew - 8
10t) adg, Sam DC - 7
12t) jen, Ken Arneson, ravenscar, Suffering Bruin - 6
16) Mr. Customer - 5

minxtscore has Italy winning the final which is worth 8 points. Nobody else can earn any more points. So the Team Togo t-shirt (it's a lovely green) is either headed to Chicago or to wherever minxtscore lives. And I really hopes it's within the U.S. so I don't have to pay more for shipping.

There were 32 possible points in the contest and it looks like, at best, only one person will get over 50% of them.

If you don't wish to scroll down, I had this post earlier linking to a WSJ article about Dave O'Brien and company.

JP Dellacamera and John Harkes are calling the action today.

Comments (96)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2006-07-05 11:19:30
1.   Kayaker7
I'm cheering for France. As a 36 year old, I would like to see the old men beat the young men. ;-)

Also, although Korea was lucky to draw with France, it would still be cool to say that you drew with the WC champ.

2006-07-05 11:21:22
2.   Bob Timmermann
Of course, American fans will want to say that they drew with the WC champ too.

Except for the members of the ABI Club, who will be watching this match with keen interest I believe.

2006-07-05 11:28:39
3.   yankee23
"keep in mind that the man in the middle today is Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda"

Not to mention the dislike these two teams have for one-another after the Euro 2000 meeting.

2006-07-05 11:29:49
4.   Bob Timmermann
Eusebio has said that there is no place for revenge on the football pitch.

Except I think he said it in Portuguese.

2006-07-05 11:33:04
5.   Kayaker7
4 North Koreans would disagree. I watched a documentary on the 1966 NK soccer team. One of the team members commented on the game they lost to Portugal 5-3, after leading 3-0, "Eusebio is a great player. He was just too good. Too strong..."
2006-07-05 11:36:21
6.   Bob Timmermann
I just don't get to talk to a lot of North Koreans now...
2006-07-05 11:45:18
7.   Kayaker7
6 You should, in order to maintain journalistic objectivity.
2006-07-05 11:45:32
8.   Suffering Bruin
Off topic but has anybody seen this?

1986, Game 6, Vin Scully with the call...

I used to play this game a lot but I never had this much time on my hands. Still, it's impressive.

http://tinyurl.com/h8yey

2006-07-05 11:47:16
9.   Bob Timmermann
I linked that video a couple months ago. It was a big hit.

You need to stop writing lesson plans, SB, and surf the web more. Just make it up as you go along.

2006-07-05 11:48:16
10.   Suffering Bruin
2 We will, fearless leader. We will watch closely. For there are those of us who feel the US would've beaten the WC champ were it not for (fill in your favorite conspiracy theory) and that the noble Socceroos would've beaten the WC champ if not for (fill in another theory).

Viva la France! Viva la France!

2006-07-05 11:49:31
11.   Suffering Bruin
9 Oops! Sorry about that. And I just posted it on DT.

See, I think I'm making a new discovery and, you're right, I really need to get back to what I was doing before I started working... surfing the web as a full-time dad while telling my kid, "not now, son, I'm busy."

2006-07-05 11:52:27
12.   Bob Timmermann
10
I am not the leader of the ABI club. I don't have a dog in this hunt after Germany lost.

I think it would be somewhat cool if Portugal could win it all since it is hard for any nation to break into the exclusive World Cup winning club.

2006-07-05 12:05:29
13.   Bob Timmermann
Should we set an over/under on yellow cards?

Each team is starting five guys with an outstanding yellow.

2006-07-05 12:05:43
14.   yankee23
12 I'm with Bob on this one. Portugal was my dark-horse from the beginning and now that Deutschland is out (about which I'm still incredibly bitter).

Oh, and save me a place in the ABI club. I don't want a team I can't respect to win the cup!

2006-07-05 12:08:00
15.   Penarol1916
12. Wanting to keep the World Cup winners list as exclusive as possible is why I think I'm rooting for France, because I cannot think of any reason to root for either team and I'm not exactly looking forward to rooting for either against Italy in the final.
2006-07-05 12:08:59
16.   Kayaker7
I used to be in the ABI, but after seeing the attacking soccer against Germany, I'm less negative on Italy. If anything, Germany played negative soccer.
2006-07-05 12:09:06
17.   yankee23
I've heard that Cristiano Ronaldo won't be returning to Man U next season, for those who are interested.
2006-07-05 12:09:44
18.   Kayaker7
17 That's the rumor, but not sure how certain that is.
2006-07-05 12:10:15
19.   yankee23
I just can't force myself to respect Italy with all their flopping and whining. Which isn't to say that other squads don't do it as well, but the Italians just do it too often for my tastes.
2006-07-05 12:10:19
20.   Bob Timmermann
Isn't Critiano Ronaldo going to Real Madrid and isn't more of a case of getting a better deal more than just the Rooney Red Card?
2006-07-05 12:11:14
21.   D4P
Can someone explain what Italy has done to warrant opposition? (I'm ignorant).
2006-07-05 12:11:26
22.   Bob Timmermann
15
Uruguay would still be the smallest country to win the World Cup.
2006-07-05 12:11:34
23.   yankee23
And it looks as though Van Nistelrooy may be moving to Tottenham.
2006-07-05 12:12:27
24.   Bob Timmermann
21
The Italians are extraordinarily graceful and skilled players.

Unless they are in the 18 yard box, in which case, the trip and fall at the slightest provacation.

2006-07-05 12:13:40
25.   Kayaker7
24 I'm anti-vacation, myself. Haven't taken one in 9 months.
2006-07-05 12:13:46
26.   yankee23
20 It seems that because Juan Migel Villar Mir didn't win the presidency at Real, that the transfer there won't happen. But he seems to be determined to get out of ManU.
2006-07-05 12:14:31
27.   Bob Timmermann
25
I should have looked in a dictionary.
2006-07-05 12:15:09
28.   yankee23
24 Fully agreed. This is why Italy bothers me so much, simply because they're good enough not to resort to such tactics, but they do it anyway.
2006-07-05 12:16:54
29.   Kayaker7
27 I've found myself misspelling words more often lately. Maybe old age? Stress? Lack of vacation? Even words I spelled correctly sometimes look odd.
2006-07-05 12:17:17
30.   Greg Brock
14 We are always eager for new members of the ABI. Consider yourself a member. We're a 501c3, so keep that in mind for tax purposes.
2006-07-05 12:17:35
31.   Penarol1916
22. Doesn't matter, I still want the club to be as exclusive as possible.
2006-07-05 12:18:13
32.   Bob Timmermann
I typed the freakin' word about five times and it never looked write either way. I should have just used a different word.

That wasn't a typo. That was just a flat out
E - Timmermann (spelling).

2006-07-05 12:21:06
33.   Bob Timmermann
Portgual would be the smallest winner in terms of area. It's just 92,000 sq km.

England's share of the UK is 130,000 sq km.

2006-07-05 12:21:09
34.   Greg Brock
21 They also engage in activities such as game fixing, talking unbelievable junk, and sending tapes to FIFA to get other players suspended. The theatrics, however, take the cake.
2006-07-05 12:21:48
35.   yankee23
Wow, I just realized that I rented the German film "Der Untergang" (the Downfall) about an hour before Germany went down yesterday. Talk about a juxtaposition.
2006-07-05 12:22:27
36.   D4P
32
I hate it when I don't use the rite spelling.
2006-07-05 12:22:32
37.   yankee23
34 Not to forget how unbelievably racist their fans can often be!
2006-07-05 12:23:27
38.   D4P
Well, I'm sorry to hear about Italy's tactics and behaviors. I was tempted to root for them because my wife's father's family is from Italy.
2006-07-05 12:24:49
39.   Kayaker7
32 LOL..."it never looked write either way"

Was this intentional? Either way, it's worth a chuckle.

Regarding ABI, as a Korea fan, of course I used to be a charter member. But, hate only gets you so far. Italy has fantastic talent. The diving has become so common now that it's not just the Italians. My new least favorite player is Lee Youngpyo of Korea. He gives Totti a run for his money.

2006-07-05 12:25:51
40.   Bob Timmermann
I'm sticking to Morse code the rest of the game.
2006-07-05 12:27:41
41.   Bob Timmermann
.-.. . - .----. ... / --. --- / .--. --- .-. - ..- --. .- .-.. null
2006-07-05 12:28:16
42.   Greg Brock
Ribery sure has been a revelation at this cup.
2006-07-05 12:28:39
43.   Bob Timmermann
-. --- / -.-- . .-.. .-.. --- .-- / -.-. .- .-. -.. ... / -.-- . -
2006-07-05 12:30:02
44.   Kayaker7
I briefly thought about looking up Morse code, to see if Bob actually wrote something. But it's just a bunch of dots and dashes, right?
2006-07-05 12:30:20
45.   Penarol1916
37. I'm sorry, but there is not a European soaccer contingent that is not incredibly rascist, it is not as overt in France as it used to be, but it is still there, and we all know that the Spanish are the worst, but in general, they all have a pretty decent sized contingent of racists among their ranks.
2006-07-05 12:30:59
46.   Bob Timmermann
- .... . / .-.. .- ... - / -- --- -. .- .-. -.-. .... / .. -. / - .... . / .- -- . .-. .. -.-. .- ... / .-- .- ... / . -- .--. . .-. --- .-. / -.. --- -- / .--. . -.. .-. --- / .. .. / --- ..-. / -... .-. .- --.. .. .-.. / .-- .... --- / .-- .- ... / -.. . .--. --- ... . -.. / .. -. / .---- ---.. ---.. ----.
2006-07-05 12:31:37
47.   Bob Timmermann
http://morsecode.scphillips.com/jtranslator.html
2006-07-05 12:32:10
48.   Kayaker7
45 True. The Spanish coach was quoted as calling Henry...umm what is it Spanish? Mierda negra (I'm assuming "mierda" is feminine).
2006-07-05 12:32:38
49.   Bob Timmermann
.--. . -. .- .-.. - -.--
2006-07-05 12:32:51
50.   Penarol1916
48. No, mierda is fecal.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2006-07-05 12:38:04
51.   Bob Timmermann
Ok, back to the Roman alphabet.

Was the penalty justified?

2006-07-05 12:39:08
52.   D4P
Bob - I think you spelled "---" wrong...
2006-07-05 12:39:50
53.   Greg Brock
51 It was a foul. No problem with the call, and the Portuguese didn't even protest too much.
2006-07-05 12:40:07
54.   Bob Timmermann
52
..-. ..- -.-. -.-
2006-07-05 12:40:27
55.   Kayaker7
50 Merde!
2006-07-05 12:43:28
56.   D4P
54
Woah, nellie! We're not on Dodgerthoughts anymore, are we Toto?
2006-07-05 12:44:43
57.   Bob Timmermann
56
You can only swear here if you do it in Morse Code or in a language written in a non-Roman alphabet.

Feel free to swear in any Cyrillic letters you want.

2006-07-05 12:47:34
58.   Kayaker7
씨발.
2006-07-05 12:47:49
59.   Bob Timmermann
I guess it's time for me to enjoy the second half from my local sports bar.

Which is a Carl's Jr.

2006-07-05 12:47:58
60.   yankee23
이탈리아 사람은 잡종이다.
2006-07-05 12:48:25
61.   Bob Timmermann
My boss is Korean, so I shouldn't show her 58 then?
2006-07-05 12:48:48
62.   Penarol1916
57. So I would assume that all of this mierda talk will get Kayaker7 and myself banned for swearing in a romantic language?
2006-07-05 12:50:04
63.   D4P
Which is a Carl's Jr.

Did you know that Carl's Jr. is called "Hardees" on the East Coast?

2006-07-05 12:50:17
64.   Kayaker7
61 LOL...no you shouldn't.

60 Babelfish? It sounds funny that a polite tone is used while disparaging an ethnic group.

2006-07-05 12:50:26
65.   yankee23
57 What about ümläüts? Can I get away with those?
2006-07-05 12:50:30
66.   Bob Timmermann
I figure that if you're going to swear, make people get a learning experience out of it by trying to figure out how to translate it.

That's my educational goal.

Most people in Southern California already know the bad words of Spanish.

2006-07-05 12:51:21
67.   yankee23
64 Close! Google translate. I only meant the team, btw. Did that even make sense?
2006-07-05 12:51:26
68.   Bob Timmermann
65
Umlauts are part of a Roman-alphabet based language.
2006-07-05 12:51:43
69.   Penarol1916
66. When I lived in California I only learned bad words in Italian.
2006-07-05 12:52:43
70.   yankee23
.-. .- ..- ... / -- .. - / -.. . -. / .. - .- .-.. .. . -. .. ... -.-. .... . -. / -- .- -. -. ... -.-. .... .- ..-. -
2006-07-05 12:52:56
71.   Kayaker7
67 It made sense. It said, "Italians are a lowly breed."
2006-07-05 12:53:21
72.   yankee23
Yeah, but people would still have to look 'em up! Plus, few people know how to pronounce them.
2006-07-05 12:53:35
73.   Greg Brock
viper/quail chick/basket/basket
reed leaf/mouth/arm/lion/double reed leaf!

Heiroglyphs are fun!

2006-07-05 12:54:02
74.   yankee23
71 Even better than what I wrote! I said they were born out of wedlock.
2006-07-05 12:54:04
75.   Kayaker7
Actually, a more literal translation would be, "Italian people are a lowly breed."
2006-07-05 12:55:13
76.   yankee23
75 Oh, well then that's a bit extreme. I like Italians, just not their style of football.
2006-07-05 12:58:59
77.   yankee23
이탈리아 사람들에게 나의 가장 근실한 사과.
2006-07-05 12:59:57
78.   Kayaker7
66 I found out through my friend's Spanish bride that "chingada" has no meaning in Castilian Spanish.
2006-07-05 13:00:09
79.   yankee23
Does hex work?

4d 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 61 6c 69 61 6e 73 20 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 75 72 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 69 74 73 74 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 64 20 63 61 72 64 73 21

2006-07-05 13:01:10
80.   Kayaker7
77 "To the people of Italy, my utmost, sincere apology..."
2006-07-05 13:02:07
81.   yankee23
80 That translator isn't half bad, I guess.
2006-07-05 13:07:00
82.   Kayaker7
81 They seem to work fine for simple phrases, but have problems with something more complex or obscure jargons. I tried reading an article in Le Monde, regarding France's tie with Korea. I could only make out 1/3 of the meaning.
2006-07-05 13:36:25
83.   Greg Brock
Ha! The adventure that is Barthez.
2006-07-05 13:38:15
84.   Kayaker7
83 Are you talking about the freekick?
2006-07-05 13:39:15
85.   Greg Brock
83 Yes. Sure, the ball knuckled a little bit, but goodness me...
2006-07-05 13:40:29
86.   yankee23
83 He's one of the main reasons I didn't pick France to advance very far.
2006-07-05 13:42:05
87.   Kayaker7
85 Must be the new, tricky ball.
2006-07-05 13:43:22
88.   yankee23
87 Apparently there have been a lot of complaints from goalkeepers about it.
2006-07-05 13:47:27
89.   Kayaker7
A yellow card two minutes into the game. Sahahahahah.
2006-07-05 13:52:34
90.   Greg Brock
Le dimanche, nous sommes tous les Français
2006-07-05 13:53:39
91.   Kayaker7
Ich bin ein Berliner.
2006-07-05 13:57:36
92.   yankee23
I'm very happy for Sagnol, Zidane, and Henry. VIVA LA FRANCE!

91 Dann sicherlich schmeckst du gut!

2006-07-05 14:01:09
93.   Kayaker7
92 Using the handy-dandy Google translator..."Then you surely taste good!"

???? Is a Berliner something edible?

2006-07-05 14:03:30
94.   Greg Brock
93 It goes back to the JFK/Jelly donut thing.
2006-07-05 14:11:37
95.   Kayaker7
Ah...I see. I didn't know about all that, so here's what I found:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/jfk_berliner.htm

2006-07-05 15:12:26
96.   Benaiah
I dont know how you can maintain ABI when the Portuguese, especially Christian Renaldo, are much bigger floppers. I generally don't mind a little flopping, but Renaldo goes down hard on the slightest contact EVERY TIME. Sickening, thankfully the French sent him home. Go Les Bleus

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