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Friday, June 01, 2012

OT: The Soccer Thread: June

Euro 2012 Kicks Off!

Notable Early Round Matches:

Basically anything in Group B, which features teams currently ranked second, fourth, fifth and tenth in the FIFA rankings. That’s insane. Matchdays are June 9 (Saturday), 13 (Wednesday) and 17 (Sunday—Father’s Day). Don’t miss ‘em.

RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 01, 2012 at 09:52 PM | 2536 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: soccer

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501. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 11:53 AM (#4152910)

Ballack and Rossi are analysts. WTF.

Rossi is so popular with the Yanks, you know...

502. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 11:54 AM (#4152911)

So you're going to get worse?

Is that possible?

503. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 11:57 AM (#4152914)

Rossi is so popular with the Yanks, you know...

Let's not go down this road.

504. Textbook Editor Posted: June 10, 2012 at 11:57 AM (#4152916)

I can't figure out what the best result would be here for Ireland. I suppose a draw or an Italian loss, since ideally you never want other teams picking up 3 points in any fixture.

505. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 11:59 AM (#4152917)

Let's not go down this road.

I have no ill will for him. When his name comes up in the blogosphere, though...

Is today the logical conclusion of tiki-taka? Will this work without a Messi to supply the end-product?

506. Jeffo has an El Camino full of Rampage Posted: June 10, 2012 at 11:59 AM (#4152918)

And I just finished the work that I had to complete over the weekend. Just in time! First matches I've been able to view live so far. Let's do this!

507. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:01 PM (#4152919)

I have no ill will for him.

Cool, we're on the same page.

508. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:09 PM (#4152923)

Spain probably could have used someone used to working in tight traffic in the box there...

509. Jeffo has an El Camino full of Rampage Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:10 PM (#4152924)

Really Ian Darke? Spain will "literally" pass you to death?

510. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:11 PM (#4152925)

Balotelli did a great job of breaking Spain there...

511. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:11 PM (#4152926)

Really Ian Darke? Spain will "literally" pass you to death?

Yeah that was ridiculous.

512. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:15 PM (#4152930)

It's fascinating to watch Italy playing so directly. This is going to be a great game.

513. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:18 PM (#4152931)

Motta's histrionics just cost Italy a chance.

514. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:18 PM (#4152932)

I think they spray that cold stuff on you as a price to pay if you're faking it.

515. Jeffo has an El Camino full of Rampage Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:19 PM (#4152933)

The real question is does Motta score any points for that?

516. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:20 PM (#4152934)

Italy are doing a great job of bypassing the midfield and escaping Spain's pressing. I think Italy are going to take this game.

517. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:20 PM (#4152935)

He doesn't, but since he stopped a run for his team it should.

518. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:23 PM (#4152936)

Could Macca be any more British: "It's only 11 against 11, really"

519. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:25 PM (#4152938)

Could Macca be any more British: "It's only 11 against 11, really"

Although that might have been bettered by Drake talking about having a coffee in "lovely Gdansk."

520. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:26 PM (#4152939)

Although that might have been bettered by Drake talking about having a coffee in "lovely Gdnask."

Because of the Grantland podcast I always say SIR Ian Darke in my head.

521. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:28 PM (#4152940)

Italy is really packing the center of the pitch, Spain is paying for not having a wide game.

522. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:30 PM (#4152941)

Anyone else think Italy could use DiNatale in there in place of Balotelli? I think I'd take DiNatale's savvy in this game.

523. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:32 PM (#4152942)

Ah, Cassano, you cheeky monkey!

524. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:32 PM (#4152944)

Woah, that was a dirty play.

525. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:34 PM (#4152948)

Are Spain planning on taking shots at any point?

526. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:34 PM (#4152949)

Leave the grass alone, Mario. UEFA will not stand for plantism.

527. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:35 PM (#4152950)

No card on that tackle of Casillas does not bode well for Twatball points today.

528. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:36 PM (#4152953)

Italy look positively English on offense. I am really enjoying this game.

529. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:37 PM (#4152954)

Balotelli picks up the expected yellow.

530. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:37 PM (#4152955)

YES! BALOTELLI YELLOW CARD!

531. Jeffo has an El Camino full of Rampage Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:37 PM (#4152956)

Points for everyone!

532. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:37 PM (#4152957)

Mario! Love that man.

533. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:37 PM (#4152958)

Nickleback FC score some points! Yay!

534. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:39 PM (#4152961)

We pretty much all have Balotelli, but Clownshoes FC did jump a place in the standings with that.

535. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:40 PM (#4152963)

I'm no longer in last place.

536. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:43 PM (#4152965)

I'm still in second place, which is pretty good. If Xavi could do something foolish, that would be outstanding.

537. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:44 PM (#4152966)

We're basically congested into two packs and it's entirely because of Szczesny.

538. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:46 PM (#4152967)

Great save from Casillas.

539. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:47 PM (#4152970)

Well, I think Italy are doing well. I'd put on DiNatale now with Balotelli about 90% certain to get sent off if he stays out there.

540. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:51 PM (#4152973)

I would keep Balotelli out there. He's as likely to do something sublime as something ridiculous. That risk is worth taking here.

541. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:51 PM (#4152974)

People who hate Alexi Lalas, I give you the commentators flanking him.

542. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:54 PM (#4152977)

People who hate Alexi Lalas, I give you the commentators flanking him.

I actually don't mind Lalas, for some reason. Ballack and Rossi...it's like they've never done this before! ESPN should have hired Redknapp. God knows he likes to talk and be in front of the camera.

So...does Lloriente come on for Spain?

543. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 12:58 PM (#4152979)

I like Lalas. He doesn't pull his punches but isn't controversial for the sake of being controversial. Ballack's been terrible and Rossi was a poor decision from the get go. This is the best they could get?

544. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:01 PM (#4152980)

ESPN should have hired Redknapp. God knows he likes to talk and be in front of the camera.

Yeah, but the finance department gets mad when they hear he wants to be paid in a brown envelope full of small bills to be delivered in the underpass of M1 in Watford, the password is "Crouchie".

545. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:03 PM (#4152983)

Yeah, but the finance department gets mad when they hear he wants to be paid in a brown envelope full of small bills to be delivered in the underpass of M1 in Watford, the password is "Crouchie".

Would that bother ESPN? Don't they pay Michael Irvin in cocaine? The great thing about Harry is you know he's not reading from a teleprompter...

546. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:04 PM (#4152984)

Would that bother ESPN? Don't they pay Michael Irvin in cocaine? The great thing about Harry is you know he's not reading from a teleprompter...

Yeah. Cause he can't read. Poor soul.

547. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:05 PM (#4152986)

ESPN hasn't employed Michael Irvin in years. Probably because he cost them too much cocaine.

Everyday Should Be Saturday: "Giuseppe Rossi's on-camera presence suggests he is being held hostage. This may actually be true."

548. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:06 PM (#4152988)

Spain is taking their cracks at goal now.

549. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:09 PM (#4152990)

Well done Balotelli. Well done.

550. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:10 PM (#4152991)

Should have shot or passed, instead waits for the foul and gives the ball away. That should also be worth points.

551. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:10 PM (#4152992)

How much slower could Balotelli have been there? What a mixture of brilliance and confounding that was.

552. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:10 PM (#4152993)

Well, that was ridiculous.

553. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:11 PM (#4152995)

I love all these long balls from Italy. It's like watching England if they were technical.

554. Jeffo has an El Camino full of Rampage Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:11 PM (#4152996)

When he slowed down, I thought there was a whistle that I didn't hear....

555. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:12 PM (#4152998)

Yay! My favorite Serie A player is coming on!

556. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:15 PM (#4153000)

Darke and Macca still can't get over the lack of a target man for Spain. Heh.

557. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:16 PM (#4153001)

DINATALE!!!!!!!!!!

558. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:16 PM (#4153002)

All Di Natale does is score goals. Who knows why Italy doesn't regularly play him.

559. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:17 PM (#4153003)

Oh yeah, suck on that, tiki-taka fanboys!

560. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:19 PM (#4153004)

Kind of surprised that being subbed off and your replacement scores a goal isn't worth points in Twatball.

561. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:20 PM (#4153006)

I love what Italy is doing.

I've been reading Goldblatt's ” The Ball is Round”, and this makes me think of the Italians beating Das Wunderteam in '34.

Without all that unpleasant fascism, of course.

And now this is shaping up as a classic in its own right.

562. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:21 PM (#4153007)

Don't write off tiki-taka yet. I love this game. Most fascinating game since Inter against Barca in the CL semi-final.

563. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:21 PM (#4153009)

Nice goal.

Navas?

564. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:22 PM (#4153010)

This is a great, great game.

I would like to see Spain win, on general principle, but the way Italy has played deserved all kinds of respect.

565. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:23 PM (#4153012)

We need RMC to tell us Americans don't care about the Euros about now.

566. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:26 PM (#4153014)

I'm thankful you're not wishing for an RdP appearance...

567. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4153016)

What's RdP?

568. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4153017)

Responses to both of those would be simple.

RdP is Ray.

569. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4153018)

I think Pique just saved a goal there.

570. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:28 PM (#4153021)

RdP is Ray.

Naw, Ray wouldn't piss on this thread.

571. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:29 PM (#4153023)

I agree. Now we need to stop talking about people behind their backs.

I say that half jokingly. Let's just talk about this game, okay? It's really good.

572. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:30 PM (#4153024)

Why Torres instead of Llorente? Does Spain want to win or be famous?

573. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:31 PM (#4153026)

AHAHAHAHAHA TORRES.

574. Swedish Chef Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:31 PM (#4153027)

Nice save by Buffon there.

575. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:31 PM (#4153030)

Truly, I am a prophet.

576. greenback

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:33 PM (#4153031)

We need RMC to tell us Americans don't care about the Euros about now.

Shouldn't it be the US don't care about Euro fixings. I don't quite have the vernacular down, particularly the use of the plural conjugates.

577. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:33 PM (#4153032)

Jeffo, you are currently tied for 11th overall in Twatball.

EDIT: Now, 13. Fun stuff.

578. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:34 PM (#4153034)

I've been reading Goldblatt's ” The Ball is Round”

That's a good read, but so much of it.

579. President of the David Eckstein Fan Club Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:35 PM (#4153035)

Spain look pretty vulnerable. Actually, all the tournament favorites have looked shaky in their first match.

580. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:35 PM (#4153036)

Torres really Fernandoed that up, didn't he?

581. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:35 PM (#4153037)

More points for Nickleback FC!

582. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:36 PM (#4153038)

That's a good read, but so much of it.

I wished it had been longer.

583. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:37 PM (#4153039)

Spain look pretty vulnerable. Actually, all the tournament favorites have looked shaky in their first match.

It seems like a lot of the pre-tournament favorites are shaky at the back.

584. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:38 PM (#4153040)

I'm currently reading Inverting the Pyramid and it's really good. "Pedro Petrone refused to head the ball for fear of disturbing his heavily brilliantined hair." I may owe Ronaldo and Torres an apology.

585. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:38 PM (#4153042)

I don't think Spain look vulnerable so much as italy look really strong.

586. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:38 PM (#4153043)

Spain look pretty vulnerable. Actually, all the tournament favorites have looked shaky in their first match.

That's not uncommon, though maybe not quite to the extent we've seen so far. That said, Denmark, Portugal, and Italy are no mugs. It's not like the big kids have been struggling against Costa Rica or something.

587. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:39 PM (#4153044)

Ah, Torres.

588. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:39 PM (#4153046)

I wished it had been longer.

I did and I didn't. On the one hand, a lot of the stuff was hugely fascinating and worthy of more attention. On the other hand, I feel like I only retained 5% (if that) of what I read because there was so much that I couldn't even remember some of the stuff I wanted to go back and read more about.

589. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:39 PM (#4153047)

Torres. Come on!

Spain have to have about 50 options better than this guy right now. Good lord.

590. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:40 PM (#4153048)

Watching Torres cough the ball up in the box is losing its appeal to me.

591. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:40 PM (#4153049)

Ah, Torres.

592. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4153050)

Ah, Torres.

593. President of the David Eckstein Fan Club Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4153051)

Oh, Torres

594. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4153052)

Oh. My. God.

595. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4153053)

Holy crap, poor Torres.

596. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4153054)

I just wrote on Twitter "Fernando Torres is doing everything he can to ensure he never plays the rest of #Euro2012" and then as soon as I said that he hoofed that shot.

597. Jeffo has an El Camino full of Rampage Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:42 PM (#4153056)

It feels like Italy think they have 4 at the back, when they only have 3. Or maybe they're just not worried about letting Torres continually run free...

598. Borussia, Du bist so wunderschön! (Mark Edward) Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:43 PM (#4153060)

I've read both Inverting the Pyramid & The Ball is Round. I wish I read The Ball is Round first; Inverting the Pyramid is a little too technical and I needed more background on the sport like The Ball is Round provides.

599. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:44 PM (#4153063)

Hmm, I might do that. I only recently started Inverting the Pyramid. It would be easy to put it down and go back to it.

600. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 10, 2012 at 01:45 PM (#4153065)

I've read both Inverting the Pyramid & The Ball is Round. I wish I read The Ball is Round first

That is definitely how I would recommend reading them.

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OT: The Soccer Thread: June

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