Goooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[mjazzg]

15 hours ago, BillF said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/04/mark-geiger-bias-allegations-colombia-england-radamel-falcao-world-cup

what i love about that article is the way Maradona, of all people, is presented as an advocate for the fair application of the rules in a WC. A marvellous use of irony by the article's author. 

Elephants and English football fans...

 

25 minutes ago, Brad said:

A quiz:

Guess the Manager

A little guesswork, but not as hard as it seems. I guessed 7 right. 

7 for me with one absolute Doh! when the answer was revealed

7 minutes ago, Dmitry said:

It seems that country loyalty is profusely coloring the recollections if this game. Rashomon, anyone?

 

but what else is national loyalty meant to do in a football competition? 

Edited July 5, 2018 by mjazzg

[Brad]

The Colombians play a rough brand of football at times, perhaps they feel that since they are outmanbed, it’s the only way they can equal the playing field. I just remembered how they treated Neymar in 2014. It’s a bit of a shame because they played a nice game against Poland.  In retrospect, all in all, it’s probably better that England went through. 

Maradona, considering his antics of 1986, is hardly a credible source. 

This may sound strange but I think Latin Americans — and I lived there when I was growing up and was a Latin American history major — feel this one more because of their history with England. I don’t know they’d feel the same way if some other European country had beaten them. 

Edited July 5, 2018 by Brad

[mjazzg]

37 minutes ago, Brad said:

feel this one more because of their history with England

God help us, given the number of other countries we've either fought or mistreated over the centuries. Don't even mention the lead up to the Boston Tea Party please 

[erwbol]

17 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

God help us, given the number of other countries we've either fought or mistreated over the centuries. Don't even mention the lead up to the Boston Tea Party please 

In that case, Belgium against the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be really heated.

[Brad]

I don’t think it’s quite like that.  More like besting a parent or a big brother. In the 19th Century, following independence, they were economically influential. In addition, many English and Irish emigrated to countries like Uruguay and Argentina.  I used to live in Uruguay and there were some Uruguayans who had Anglo names but couldn’t speak a lick of English. 

I also think that you can’t underestimate the effect of the Falklands War, especially for Argentines like Maradona (not forgetting of course that the war was started by a military regime trying to prop itself up). 

[mjazzg]

8 minutes ago, Brad said:

I also think that you can’t underestimate the effect of the Falklands War, especially for Argentines like Maradona (not forgetting of course that the war was started by a military regime trying to prop itself up). 

and engaged in, all too enthusiastically for many of us, by an elected government trying to prop itself up.  

Thanks for the interesting insight about 19c immigration, Brad. 

Immigration into South America from Europe is little mentioned here generally, I think. One byproduct I particularly like is the Welsh influence in Argentina, especially Patagonia, being the reason why the Argentinians play rugby

Edited July 5, 2018 by mjazzg

[BillF]

16 hours ago, Brad said:

I don’t think it’s quite like that.  More like besting a parent or a big brother. In the 19th Century, following independence, they were economically influential. In addition, many English and Irish emigrated to countries like Uruguay and Argentina.  I used to live in Uruguay and there were some Uruguayans who had Anglo names but couldn’t speak a lick of English. 

I also think that you can’t underestimate the effect of the Falklands War, especially for Argentines like Maradona (not forgetting of course that the war was started by a military regime trying to prop itself up). 

Ah, yes, the Falklands War. That takes me back. That was when Argentina offered Maradona to Manchester United for an asking price of a million pounds plus the Isle of Man 

[mjazzg]

1 hour ago, BillF said:

Ah, yes, the Falklands War. That takes me back. That was when Argentina offered Maradona to Manchester United for an asking price of a million pounds plus the Isle of Man 

You mean we had an opportunity to get rid of the Isle of Man and didn't take it?  Something else I can blame The Thatch for now

Edited July 6, 2018 by mjazzg

[erwbol]

Why would you want rid of the Isle of Man?

[Big Beat Steve]

19 hours ago, Brad said:

I also think that you can’t underestimate the effect of the Falklands War, especially for Argentines like Maradona (not forgetting of course that the war was started by a military regime trying to prop itself up). 

If you remember that war, maybe you also saw that cartoon circulating at the time (at least in Spanish satirical mags):

An angry flock of the MAJORITY inhabitants of the island holding up a huge sign proclaiming:

"LAS MALVINAS SON PINGÜINAS!°"

Edited July 6, 2018 by Big Beat Steve

[Brad]

I somewhat remember it but do remember that a lot of the Spanish speaking people I encountered in NY were pro Argentine.

Speaking of Argentina, the ref in the Uruguay France match is Argentine. I wonder what the French think.  Cavani is not starting; he’s on the bench.  I just read in The Guardian that Diego Godin, who is marking Griezmann, is godfather to Griezmann’s daughter. That should be interesting. 

Edited July 6, 2018 by Brad

[Dmitry]

Now I read that Man U wants Ronaldo back.

 

[mjazzg]

37 minutes ago, Brad said:

the ref in the Uruguay France match is Argentine

Hope he's bilingual or else his every decision will be dissected on this board 

[Big Beat Steve]

6 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Hope he's bilingual or else his every decision will be dissected on this board 

Honestly, Spanish and French are not quite as far removed from each other as Spanish and English are (though, as for the latter problem, I'd rather not go into the question of which language factually still is THE "lingua franca" in today's world ...).

However, if the protesting spirit seen elsewhere at this event continues then THAT pairing might raise more than a bit of protests by the French if they should decide to follow the "role model" of the Serbians (who were stupid enough to infer that the referee in the match against Switzerland was biased on grounds of nationality because "as everybody knows, part of Switzerland is a GERMAN region" - I have a hunch I know what the Swiss living in this region would have to say about THAT insinuation ... )

 

[BillF]

5 hours ago, Big Beat Steve said:

If you remember that war, maybe you also saw that cartoon circulating at the time (at least in Spanish satirical mags):

An angry flock of the MAJORITY inhabitants of the island holding up a huge sign proclaiming:

"LAS MALVINAS SON PINGÜINAS!°"

I also remember this one heard in Britain at the time:

"The Irish have decided to come in on our side in the Falklands War. 

Last night their planes bombed Falkirk."

Edited July 6, 2018 by BillF

[uli]

Allez les Bleus!

[Dmitry]

I just spotted the first Uruguayan flag on a building in Costa Brava. 

There were A LOT of people on the streets of Madrid wearing Mexicam and Colombian colors before their last matches.

Catalonians don't seem to give a shit about the WC after Spain's exit, and neither do the Castillians. Getting tough to find watering holes that show the matches. I've resorted to the Irish pubs.

[Brad]

Cataluñans (at least the nationalistic ones) don’t care much for the Spanish team. As far as the rest of the country, you can hardly blame them. They should be playing today. 

[mjazzg]

1 hour ago, Dmitry said:

I've resorted to the Irish pubs

Not a bad place to be, in my experience

[brownie]

At half time,  France leads 1-0 in a very physical game. Good goal by Varane and à great save by French goalkeeper Lloris.

Allez les Bleus!

[BillF]

42 minutes ago, Brad said:

Cataluñans (at least the nationalistic ones) don’t care much for the Spanish team. 

Similar situation in Wales? You can get t-shirts there that say: I SUPPORT WHOEVER'S PLAYING AGAINST ENGLAND

More seriously, it's a pity that Britain doesn't have a national team, as seems to be the case with other countries.

[Brad]

It’s a shame Britain doesn’t have a combined team. It would be a heck of a team. 

This match is going as I expected it, unfortunately.  French are too good. 

[Dmitry]

3 minutes ago, Brad said:

It’s a shame Britain doesn’t have a combined team. It would be a heck of a team. 

If Yugoslavia had a unified team, they'd be wiping the floor with any team in the world right now. 

[Big Beat Steve]

4 minutes ago, BillF said:

More seriously, it's a pity that Britain doesn't have a national team, as seems to be the case with other countries.

Wouldn't this require ALL the Home Nation divisions/premier leagues to be worked into ONE first? And how likely is that to happen?

 

 

[mjazzg]

12 minutes ago, Brad said:

It’s a shame Britain doesn’t have a combined team. It would be a heck of a team. 

Bale, absolutely. Ramsay maybe but I'm not sure who else would get into the current England team from any of the other sides?

8 minutes ago, Big Beat Steve said:

Wouldn't this require ALL the Home Nation divisions/premier leagues to be worked into ONE first? And how likely is that to happen?

 

 

Very unlikely, it's not in the PL's interest as no team from outside England would get in and the Scottish League isn't going to subsume itself and see Celtic struggle in the Championship and no longer have any chance of European football.

But we do manage to come together for the Olympics so there is precedent

11 minutes ago, Dmitry said:

If Yugoslavia had a unified team, they'd be wiping the floor with any team in the world right now. 

It would be good but not that good. Who would be the main striker? Still stuck with Mandzukic or Dzeko, both 32 years old. Croatia's attack and midfield with a few Serbs to strengthen midfield and defence. Can't think of too many players from other nations although I'm sure I'm missing someone