Maybe it's just advance planning because they know they've got no chance of leaving the Group stage? You'd think professional footballers would have a little more I don't know, professionalism? in their attitude to the biggest tournament in the world?

Wow Portugal is dominating North Korea right now.

No chance? If France wins against South Africa, they just need a winner in the match Uruguay - Mexico. And at least Mexico wants to win that match, as a draw would see them facing Argentina in the next round, instead of the 2nd team from that group.

 

Funn thing is, this debacle might have managed what Domenech failed, bringing them together as a group.

 

 

That said, what the hell just happened? Portugal - North korea 7-0!

;D

Funny that I found this immediately after the Portugal rout of North Korea...  ::)

 

haha

Apparently the invisible cell phone reception was spotty during the Portugal game, preventing Dear Leader from relaying the correct strategies to the NK coach:

 

Yet another reason why Kim Jong-Il may just be the most talented person on the planet.

 

After their World Cup loss to Brazil, North Korea’s coach may need to call up the country’s Supreme Leader for some advice. Good thing Jong-Il invented those invisible phones.

 

From ESPN:

 

“Kim Jong-Su, the general secretary of the North Korean FA, has said the Dear Leader gave ‘in-depth guidance’ on how to develop the game in the country and the coach himself has claimed he received regular tactical advice during matches, apparently using mobile phones that are not visible to the naked eye.”

 

Jong-Il, a man of many talents, is said to have developed the technology himself. Before you laugh in disbelief, remember this is the man who scored 38 under par in his first-ever game of golf — with five holes in one — making him the greatest golfer of all-time. He’s got skills.

 

No word yet whether North Korea also has an invisible vuvuzela in the works.

 

 

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/06/16/north-koreas-kim-jong-ils-super-human-technology-skills/#ixzz0rUzkpzjj

Bit worried for the future of the NK players. Apparently this game was aired live, after the fairly impressive performance against Brazil. Considering how touchy NK can be about their "honour", there might be a few positions in the coalmines open when the team returns home...

7-0! You don’t have to be North Korean to want to defect to another country after such a defeat... But did you see Ronaldo’s face when he finally managed to score after a 16-month goal drought? Someone was a teeny weeny bit relieved.  ;D

 

About France... What can you say? <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/">The fellowship is breaking from within</a>, must be all those damn vuvuzelas driving them crazy.

 

Someone was a teeny weeny bit relieved.  Grin

 

Either that or he was amused at how he scored the goal... or both... looked a bit like a circus act.

And another stunning upset by the Swiss!

Well, my teams are still doing fine. Ghana and Chile did not impress this round, but Argentine and Portugal covered for that :).

Group A

Uruguyay 7

Mexico 4, +1

South Africa 4, -2

France 1

 

Uruguay and Mexico to the next round.

Yay for Mexico!

Group B

Argentina 9

South Korea 4

Greece 3

Nigeria 1

 

Argentina and South Korea to the next round.

It is sad that South Africa is the first host country to not go on, especially to not qualify based on goal differential.

But they took the elimination very well. Watching the fans celebrating after having won against France, you could almost believe they had won the final  ;D

 

 

Oh dear, one of the biggest scandals in the history of the World Cup made England collapse against Germany. I am obviously speaking about lampards goal that all the referees managed to not see. Had England got 2-2 there, the match would have been wide open. Now England had to continue chasing the equalizer, mking them vulnerable to counterattacks. Did not make it easier that Barry was absolutely useless, and Terry/Upson a joke in defence.

 

Argentina - Mexico also got its share of blind referees, as Tevez first goal was over a meter offside. Until that goal came, Mexico stood up quite well, and managed to ask the Argentinian defence some questions.

 

 

Oh dear, one of the biggest scandals in the history of the World Cup made England collapse against Germany. I am obviously speaking about lampards goal that all the referees managed to not see. Had England got 2-2 there, the match would have been wide open. Now England had to continue chasing the equalizer, mking them vulnerable to counterattacks. Did not make it easier that Barry was absolutely useless, and Terry/Upson a joke in defence.

 

Argentina - Mexico also got its share of blind referees, as Tevez first goal was over a meter offside. Until that goal came, Mexico stood up quite well, and managed to ask the Argentinian defence some questions.

 

Those calls were complete bullsh*t...I couldn't believe none of the refs noticed the ball half a meter in side the goal or that Tevez was completely offsides.

 

Also, the USA lost.  I'm very upset about this.  But at least we lost fair and square, with no bad calls or penalties.  Good going to Ghana, but I doubt they'll get very far.

Also, I can't believe Bradley put Clarke in as a starter.  He is totally incompetent and his incompetence gave Ghana their first goal.  Edu should have started; he played well leading up to the tournament and he's much better than Clarke.

It is very good for the tournament that Ghana won, so at least one African team gets a bit of success. Especiallly since I have heard supporters from the other African teams happily switch their loyalties, they treally see this as the African World Cup, instead of the South African.

But, I would be very surprised if their success continues. If Uruguay play on their normal level, they are simply too big a challenge. But then, since it is ghana we are talking about, I would on the other hand not be very surprised of one of Uruguays players decides that handball in the own box is a good idea... ;D

And just a little fun tidbit...Brazil - Colombia in the 2004 WC qualifiers,

 

The refs name in that match? Jorge Larrionda...

Ok, into the quarter finals...

Uruguay vs Ghana

Netherlands vs Brasil

Germany vs Argentina

Paraguay vs Spain

 

How are my predictions holding up so far?

 

 

1/8

South Africa vs England

Netherlands vs Brazil

Germany vs Argentina

Cameroon vs Spain

 

5 teams out of 8, two quarter finals spot on. Not too bad, but could have been better.

 

Time to revise the predictins...

Uruguay vs Ghana

Netherlands vs Brasil

Germany vs Argentina

Paraguay vs Spain

 

And Brazil are out!

Phew! Now that was probably the best match of the WC so far. I am dying to know what van Marwijk said to the players in halftime, because after the Brazil show in the 1st half, it was a completely different Netherlands that came out in the 2nd.