I was watching this nutmeg compilation set to "Rock Ya Body" by MVP and I realized that I am often not impressed by nutmegs because they often don't seem intentional. The first one in this clip probably is, but it's one where the "nutmegger" is backing down the "nutmeggee" and has plenty of time to wait and set up for a back-heel or turn through their legs. I suck at soccer and I could do that. Several in this clip are similar.
I guess the second one by Jose Antonio Reyes seems intentional too but even then he really has to set the stationary defender up in a 1-v-1 situation. This is certainly a legit way to "burn" someone but it doesn't seem to be how most of the 'megs in this video transpire. The attackers mostly make attempts to sidestep fast approaching defenders with a quick touch through their legs. I guess these could be on purpose but when you think of how small that space is and how little time a player has to see that space and make their move before it closes, most of these nutmegs seem like luck. Even worse, if these players were actually trying to take a touch around their defenders, they failed miserably.
Plenty of other people must have caught on to this, but I feel like no one mentions it because we like to think that players more often than not mean to do exactly what they do because it goes along with a sense of fairness and justice that we desire for sports and other things more important that sports. More simply, people are made uncomfortable when things they deem important are determined by luck. If Maicon didn't mean this goal, it takes away from its worth, effects our perception of how much Brazil "deserved" to win (though in this case they obviously did), and makes us wonder if Maicon is as outlandishly brilliant is this goal makes him out to be. Every bit of sense I have tells me the first goal is bs, but I still maintain the slightest belief that it could be forreal because I have committed to the idea that Maicon Douglas Sisenando is above suspicion and wouldn't try to fool me like that. Also being Brazilian helps.
Anyway, I ended up watching the nutmeg video because this video of Juan Mata housing Raul Albiol has been circulating recently. It's in training so I'm not counting it.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
World Cup: USA vs. Ghana
Pre-game: Damn Prince Tagoe isn't starting. Feel like Ghana just lost some refinement.
Is Ghana sponsored by Micky D's?
1 min: This Ayew character has looked sharp in the tournament. He's no slouch. Gets forward early.
3 min: This site I'm streaming from has an ad for a game called "Bubble Boomers"
4 min: Only 1 announcer for my illegal stream. Just play-by-play. No color. Not sure who this dude is. British bloke. Will keep updated.
5 min: Wow a proverbial howlitzer from Dempsey. Kingson deals well. No "t," mind you.
6 min: Goal! Kevin Prince-Boateng scores for "Africa's last hope." "The prince is king" Fantastic run. Fantastic goal.
10 min: Damn I'm missing chunks of the game because of this shitty stream. Did ABC show sad puppy faces from a bar in Denver or something when Ghana scored?
11 min: Ghana is looking slick. Just wish Michael Essien could have played. World Cup misses you, Bison.
12 min: Damn Ricardo Clark needs to injure someone or something. The US is really losing the plot.
16 min: US getting a little possession. Not a bad ball by Dempsey over the top aiming for Altidore.
18 min: Deserved yellow for Cherundolo. Really got his foot into his calf. Well-taken and saved free kick by Gyan. Ghana lookin hecka-dangerous.
20 min: "Howard responds with the fist," a phrase that applies to all the actors in "The Expendables"
21 min: Haha Bornstein eats a footlong turkey sandwich before every game. Maybe he'd make it out of MLS if he didn't get cramps off that dumb ass ritual.
23 min: On 2nd thought I guess I function highly after eating a footlong from Subway. Won't catch me running anywhere though.
25 min: Haha Inkoom the Ghana right back has "modeled his game after Emmanuel Eboue." I like Eboue but if this dude has any ambition he needs to aim a little higher. Cafu!
29 min: Maurice Edu gettin ready on the bench. Did I miss an injury? Kinda early for a strategic sub. Guess I won't question Bob "The Boss" Bradley.
31 min: Hm, Clark of, Edu on. Guess it's not a bad decision. He's more likely to be part of a goal. Just to clarify, I intended "The Boss" to be pronounced like Rick Ross says it. More like "Tha Baws."
33 min: I still just kinda feel like subs should wait for the 2nd half. It's too early to really know how the game is gonna go, and subs are precious in the case of injuries, cards, etc. Guess Bob's still Tha Baws
36 min: Great chance for Finley. Seems like the best US chances are coming from errors at the back from Ghana. Finley almost snuck in before in what looked like a chance to nick one, though this shitty stream may have made it look like a better chance then it was. Great foot-save by Kingson btw.
38 min: Damn missed the Asamoah chance cuz I was busy live blogging. The modern game moves so fast and is so overwhelming, not unlike modern society.
? min: Ah my stream got blocked by the admin! Don't even know what minute it is. Feeling kind of vulnerable.
Halftime: Damn missed the last few minutes I guess. BUT, I found a different stream that has Kevin Keegan on the halftime show. Things are looking up. Anyway have to say that Ghana played well and the early goal was only indicative of the positive football they would play the rest of the half. They have sometimes looked a bit lax at the back, and the US could definitely sneak one that way. Otherwise most of the American efforts have been from long range, particularly from Clint Dempsey. The US don't looked shell-shocked per se. They know Ghana is good. But they definitely don't seem quite sure what to do just yet. Just now hearing they've made another change. Feilhaber on. Finley off? He looked dangerous when Ghana has made mistakes. O well, we'll see. Baws.
47 min: Wow great chance for Feilhaber immediately. Really good looking football from the US. Composed pass by Altidore. Kingson comes through again. Respect to the Baws.
52 min: "Boateng has so much wind in his personal sail at the moment"
54 min: O so at halftime I guess they were showing Tim Howard's family at a bar in Tennessee? Are they showing this on ABC? God how down-home is that shit. Really trumps fuckin Seattle.
56 min: Bornstein looks like a pretty big herb. Looks like he might have been in like a "Future Entrepreneurs" club or something in college. Also weird that Americans are pretty much the only footballers that go to college.
58 min: DeMerit does well to get in a block on an Ayew cross that was surely head for Gyan (I think). Could have been a disaster for "our boys."
61 min: Penalty! Clever nutmeg from MC Clint. Well-earned penalty.
62 min: "All square!" Captain America becomes all time leading US goal scorer. A bit lucky off the post, but really a pretty good penalty. I kind of dislike Landon Donovan, mainly cuz he is too good to play in MLS (which is embarrassing), but he is always great for the National Team. I mean there are other reasons to hate him you saw that dude crying. Anyway you get the point. 1-1.
66 min: US have pretty much deserved a goal for the way they came out this half. I guess the changes have worked? Hard to say for sure what difference subs make unless the player single-handedly takes the game on their shoulders. Can't say that Edu or Feilhaber have done that, but they seem to be playing well.
69 min: Was that Mick Jagger?!? What a traitor...
73 min: I guess The Stones played enough (African) American music to become naturalized citizens. I'll allow it.
75 min: Ghana looking a little lost since the goal. Inkoom playing it to the top of the box for a header is not gonna get it done. He's played well in fairness. But yea Ghana not looking as incisive as before, especially in the first half.
76 min: O man weak finish from Baws, Jr. Didn't he used to have hair? Seems like that dudes got some daddy issues...
78 min. Dang Boateng off with an injury. Bummer. Appiah is obviously a good player but along with Ayew, Boateng had looked the most dangerous (and scored) and Appiah probably doesn't quite have that in him.
80 min: Strong run from Altidore, fighting off Mensah. Effort went just wide. Would really like to see Altidore score. He's worked hard in the tourney, and has passed well. I heard someone compare him to Emile Heskey. That's probably not fair to him. Also probably just based on race.
83 min: I'm watching on itv right now. Reminds me of this.
? min: Damn this stream is letting me down now. Always toward the end of the half. *Sigh*
End of 90: Shit missed like the last 10 minutes of the game. Really got a get a tv if I wanna become a successful live blogger. Anyway on to extra time. Guess the game turned out pretty fair considering that each team played better in their respective scoring halves. Altidore off now. Maybe he's tired but I would have liked to see him finish. Honestly don't know much about Gomez but he is 28 and plays in Mexico so I doubt he is world class. Kind of hoping no matter what happens Landon doesn't score....
93 min: OMG! Gyan with a goal for the Black Stars. Takes a hard bump off DeMerit and then composes himself to finish excellently. What a dude.
96 min: Will Gyan's goal mean victory for Ghana? Or will it only result in even greater hyperbole about how "clutch" the US are if they come back?
97 min: Lol I like the overreaction from Feilhaber when his shot was blocked. You shot it into like 6 Ghanaians bro what do you expect? Really pulling a C. Ron.
100 min: Unknown British announcer dropped the "its a strange old game" on me. How quaint.
104 min: I guess that was mean what I said about Gomez. Apparently he led the Mexican league in goals with 10 in 14 matches. Is the season really that short in Mexico?
End of 1st ET: Damn really thought Dempsey might get a ball in at the end there. He made a nice change of direction move but was cut off quickly. Announcers mentioning the US defending of the 2nd goal being poor. Guess so. Still a cracking finish.
108 min: Jeebus that was a quick break. Is Sulley Muntari still not in the game? He must have really rubbed the manager the wrong way. Nice punch by Kingson on Donovan's free kick. He's been immense.
111 min: US doesn't put the ball out after Inkoom's cramp. Not surprising. Doesn't seem like time wasting though. Probably easy to get a cramp on an overhead kick like that. Here's Munatri! Didn't realize he was sent home before. Must've been actin up somethin fierce.
? min: This quality sucks and I can't really see how much time is left. I've kind of been guessing since extra time started.
116 min: Got the first stream I had back. Missed the US free kick. Obviously amounted to nothing anyway.
118 min: US looks desperate. As they should. Am I wrong to put these minutes in aggregate terms? ESPN seems to think so.
119 min: I don't know how "disciplined" this performance has been from Ghana. They gave up a pen, most of the US chances have been off Ghana mistakes, and Kingson has had to make some good saves. Anyway late corner for US. Tim Howard up!
120+ min: Kingson punchin like a Ghanaian Zab Judah. Right in Howard's face, too.
Lol calling Sulley Muntari "old" (he's 25) and "wise" (he got sent home earlier in this World Cup) is a bit silly.
And it's over! US thwarted by Ghana once again. Kinda wanna see what L-Don has to say. Really nothing to be ashamed of. Ghana played better in the first half and extra time and deserved their goals. Hate to say I was right, but could the US have used a sub in extra time? I guess Bradley would have used one in regulation if he had saved it. They certainly weren't playing for extra time. Anyway Ghana looked more lively at the end and had the energy to defend long balls, free kicks, and crosses, as well as keep the ball away from the US when they had the chance. Two really impressive goals as well, and the Black Stars are going through. Hopefully Prince-Boateng will be fit by the next match. And can Muntari get a start? Rajevac should have left him home if he was only going to use him at the end of the 2nd extra time. Sorry to the US, but it just wasn't quite good enough today.
Is Ghana sponsored by Micky D's?
1 min: This Ayew character has looked sharp in the tournament. He's no slouch. Gets forward early.
3 min: This site I'm streaming from has an ad for a game called "Bubble Boomers"
4 min: Only 1 announcer for my illegal stream. Just play-by-play. No color. Not sure who this dude is. British bloke. Will keep updated.
5 min: Wow a proverbial howlitzer from Dempsey. Kingson deals well. No "t," mind you.
6 min: Goal! Kevin Prince-Boateng scores for "Africa's last hope." "The prince is king" Fantastic run. Fantastic goal.
10 min: Damn I'm missing chunks of the game because of this shitty stream. Did ABC show sad puppy faces from a bar in Denver or something when Ghana scored?
11 min: Ghana is looking slick. Just wish Michael Essien could have played. World Cup misses you, Bison.
12 min: Damn Ricardo Clark needs to injure someone or something. The US is really losing the plot.
16 min: US getting a little possession. Not a bad ball by Dempsey over the top aiming for Altidore.
18 min: Deserved yellow for Cherundolo. Really got his foot into his calf. Well-taken and saved free kick by Gyan. Ghana lookin hecka-dangerous.
20 min: "Howard responds with the fist," a phrase that applies to all the actors in "The Expendables"
21 min: Haha Bornstein eats a footlong turkey sandwich before every game. Maybe he'd make it out of MLS if he didn't get cramps off that dumb ass ritual.
23 min: On 2nd thought I guess I function highly after eating a footlong from Subway. Won't catch me running anywhere though.
25 min: Haha Inkoom the Ghana right back has "modeled his game after Emmanuel Eboue." I like Eboue but if this dude has any ambition he needs to aim a little higher. Cafu!
29 min: Maurice Edu gettin ready on the bench. Did I miss an injury? Kinda early for a strategic sub. Guess I won't question Bob "The Boss" Bradley.
31 min: Hm, Clark of, Edu on. Guess it's not a bad decision. He's more likely to be part of a goal. Just to clarify, I intended "The Boss" to be pronounced like Rick Ross says it. More like "Tha Baws."
33 min: I still just kinda feel like subs should wait for the 2nd half. It's too early to really know how the game is gonna go, and subs are precious in the case of injuries, cards, etc. Guess Bob's still Tha Baws
36 min: Great chance for Finley. Seems like the best US chances are coming from errors at the back from Ghana. Finley almost snuck in before in what looked like a chance to nick one, though this shitty stream may have made it look like a better chance then it was. Great foot-save by Kingson btw.
38 min: Damn missed the Asamoah chance cuz I was busy live blogging. The modern game moves so fast and is so overwhelming, not unlike modern society.
? min: Ah my stream got blocked by the admin! Don't even know what minute it is. Feeling kind of vulnerable.
Halftime: Damn missed the last few minutes I guess. BUT, I found a different stream that has Kevin Keegan on the halftime show. Things are looking up. Anyway have to say that Ghana played well and the early goal was only indicative of the positive football they would play the rest of the half. They have sometimes looked a bit lax at the back, and the US could definitely sneak one that way. Otherwise most of the American efforts have been from long range, particularly from Clint Dempsey. The US don't looked shell-shocked per se. They know Ghana is good. But they definitely don't seem quite sure what to do just yet. Just now hearing they've made another change. Feilhaber on. Finley off? He looked dangerous when Ghana has made mistakes. O well, we'll see. Baws.
47 min: Wow great chance for Feilhaber immediately. Really good looking football from the US. Composed pass by Altidore. Kingson comes through again. Respect to the Baws.
52 min: "Boateng has so much wind in his personal sail at the moment"
54 min: O so at halftime I guess they were showing Tim Howard's family at a bar in Tennessee? Are they showing this on ABC? God how down-home is that shit. Really trumps fuckin Seattle.
56 min: Bornstein looks like a pretty big herb. Looks like he might have been in like a "Future Entrepreneurs" club or something in college. Also weird that Americans are pretty much the only footballers that go to college.
58 min: DeMerit does well to get in a block on an Ayew cross that was surely head for Gyan (I think). Could have been a disaster for "our boys."
61 min: Penalty! Clever nutmeg from MC Clint. Well-earned penalty.
62 min: "All square!" Captain America becomes all time leading US goal scorer. A bit lucky off the post, but really a pretty good penalty. I kind of dislike Landon Donovan, mainly cuz he is too good to play in MLS (which is embarrassing), but he is always great for the National Team. I mean there are other reasons to hate him you saw that dude crying. Anyway you get the point. 1-1.
66 min: US have pretty much deserved a goal for the way they came out this half. I guess the changes have worked? Hard to say for sure what difference subs make unless the player single-handedly takes the game on their shoulders. Can't say that Edu or Feilhaber have done that, but they seem to be playing well.
69 min: Was that Mick Jagger?!? What a traitor...
73 min: I guess The Stones played enough (African) American music to become naturalized citizens. I'll allow it.
75 min: Ghana looking a little lost since the goal. Inkoom playing it to the top of the box for a header is not gonna get it done. He's played well in fairness. But yea Ghana not looking as incisive as before, especially in the first half.
76 min: O man weak finish from Baws, Jr. Didn't he used to have hair? Seems like that dudes got some daddy issues...
78 min. Dang Boateng off with an injury. Bummer. Appiah is obviously a good player but along with Ayew, Boateng had looked the most dangerous (and scored) and Appiah probably doesn't quite have that in him.
80 min: Strong run from Altidore, fighting off Mensah. Effort went just wide. Would really like to see Altidore score. He's worked hard in the tourney, and has passed well. I heard someone compare him to Emile Heskey. That's probably not fair to him. Also probably just based on race.
83 min: I'm watching on itv right now. Reminds me of this.
? min: Damn this stream is letting me down now. Always toward the end of the half. *Sigh*
End of 90: Shit missed like the last 10 minutes of the game. Really got a get a tv if I wanna become a successful live blogger. Anyway on to extra time. Guess the game turned out pretty fair considering that each team played better in their respective scoring halves. Altidore off now. Maybe he's tired but I would have liked to see him finish. Honestly don't know much about Gomez but he is 28 and plays in Mexico so I doubt he is world class. Kind of hoping no matter what happens Landon doesn't score....
93 min: OMG! Gyan with a goal for the Black Stars. Takes a hard bump off DeMerit and then composes himself to finish excellently. What a dude.
96 min: Will Gyan's goal mean victory for Ghana? Or will it only result in even greater hyperbole about how "clutch" the US are if they come back?
97 min: Lol I like the overreaction from Feilhaber when his shot was blocked. You shot it into like 6 Ghanaians bro what do you expect? Really pulling a C. Ron.
100 min: Unknown British announcer dropped the "its a strange old game" on me. How quaint.
104 min: I guess that was mean what I said about Gomez. Apparently he led the Mexican league in goals with 10 in 14 matches. Is the season really that short in Mexico?
End of 1st ET: Damn really thought Dempsey might get a ball in at the end there. He made a nice change of direction move but was cut off quickly. Announcers mentioning the US defending of the 2nd goal being poor. Guess so. Still a cracking finish.
108 min: Jeebus that was a quick break. Is Sulley Muntari still not in the game? He must have really rubbed the manager the wrong way. Nice punch by Kingson on Donovan's free kick. He's been immense.
111 min: US doesn't put the ball out after Inkoom's cramp. Not surprising. Doesn't seem like time wasting though. Probably easy to get a cramp on an overhead kick like that. Here's Munatri! Didn't realize he was sent home before. Must've been actin up somethin fierce.
? min: This quality sucks and I can't really see how much time is left. I've kind of been guessing since extra time started.
116 min: Got the first stream I had back. Missed the US free kick. Obviously amounted to nothing anyway.
118 min: US looks desperate. As they should. Am I wrong to put these minutes in aggregate terms? ESPN seems to think so.
119 min: I don't know how "disciplined" this performance has been from Ghana. They gave up a pen, most of the US chances have been off Ghana mistakes, and Kingson has had to make some good saves. Anyway late corner for US. Tim Howard up!
120+ min: Kingson punchin like a Ghanaian Zab Judah. Right in Howard's face, too.
Lol calling Sulley Muntari "old" (he's 25) and "wise" (he got sent home earlier in this World Cup) is a bit silly.
And it's over! US thwarted by Ghana once again. Kinda wanna see what L-Don has to say. Really nothing to be ashamed of. Ghana played better in the first half and extra time and deserved their goals. Hate to say I was right, but could the US have used a sub in extra time? I guess Bradley would have used one in regulation if he had saved it. They certainly weren't playing for extra time. Anyway Ghana looked more lively at the end and had the energy to defend long balls, free kicks, and crosses, as well as keep the ball away from the US when they had the chance. Two really impressive goals as well, and the Black Stars are going through. Hopefully Prince-Boateng will be fit by the next match. And can Muntari get a start? Rajevac should have left him home if he was only going to use him at the end of the 2nd extra time. Sorry to the US, but it just wasn't quite good enough today.
World Cup 2010: Uruguay vs. South Korea
0 min: The South Korean national anthem is called "The Song of Love for the Country."
2 min: Damn looks like it might be a "low quality" day for me on ESPN 3.
6 min: Park Chu-Young hits the post. Japan really killed it on free kicks the other day. Maybe S. Korea will follow suit.
8 min: Goal! Yikes. "Somehow made it through" indeed. Adrian Healey's laying blame on the defense, but it was in enough behind them that I think the keeper should have collected.
10 min: First mention of "teams who score first in X game win X amount of times." Now we're cookin.
15 min: Nice foul by Jae-Sung. Really tried to block him and trip him at the same time. Combo points.
19 min: Robbie Mustoe: "The (Uruguayan) defenders like to defend. The front players like to play and score" Fascinating stuff.
22 min: I thought Robbie Mustoe was a good announcer. Must be confusing him with another Englishman.
25 min: Haha Godin taking a dive in his own box. Maybe the Uruguayan defense isn't as "rugged" as we all thought.
28 min: I think Robbie Mustoe is assuming "S. Korea isn't that big up front." Wiki tells me that at 5'11'' 1/2, Park Chu-Young is taller than Diego Forlan.
`
32 min: Speak of the Devil, Park Chu-Young looks up for it. Good effort just wide.
36 min: Isn't it tough to say that Uruguay were "disappointed" to finish 5th in WC Qualifying when they didn't even make it in 2006? I feel like no one is really mentioning that.
38 min: Kim Jung-Woo looked like he was jumping into the slip and slide on that tackle. Probably dangerous but maybe no harm no foul? At least should be no card.
43: Will Mike Tirico bother to ask Alexi Lalas about this game at halftime? I just think Lex is gonna be too jazzed about the U.S. game to focus on such matters.
44: Hand to ball? Ball to hand? Uhhh I dunno live blogging is too much pressure.
Halftime: Seems like S. Korea actually kind of played better. They have a pretty solid swag about their passing, shooting, etc. Uruguay have gotten forward plenty, but I kind of feel like the goal was mainly a keeper mistake. Should be more goals in this one eh?
Steve McManaman seems to be complaining about the pitch. Feel like that's something I don't pay enough attention to unless announcers outright mention it. Thanks, Stevey.
Oh, they've got Lex on-site at the U.S. game. Probably for the best.
Lol at this Gatorade commercial using that Swizz Beatz "Swing Ya Rag" beat. That song legitimately sucks.
47 min: Just to go back a bit, I guess it was a tough cross from Forlan. He put it in really the best possible place. Still thought it should have been gobbled up real quick.
50 min: O man nice run from Lee Young-Pyo. He plays in Saudi Arabia. Go to Europe, dude. Guess its tough when you're 33. "I've been 'fraid of changin" -Stevie Nicks
52 min: My boy Chu-Young gettin mad chances. Put one away, homie!
57 min: Ah this stream is lagging. Suarez and Forlan really haven't seen much of the ball. They linked up for the goal but otherwise where are they at?
60 min: Suarez looks a little slow when he's got the ball. Kind of just chipped it to a well-covered Forlan without much intention.
62: Realized I'm being harsh on Uruguay. Don't know why. Feeling guilty.
64 min: I think I started this blog just to make fun of footballers haircuts but I can't even do that cuz the quality on this stream is so low right now. Broken dreams.
66 min: Lol at this basketball comparison by Mustoe. Yes, defense is important in sports. You're "told" the Celtics have a good defense? Well were you told they lost?
68 min: Bam! SK finally scores. Lee Chung-Yong, the Bolton player. Just kind of let it hit his head. Deserved.
72 min: Despite his best efforts, looks like Jung Sung-Ryong didn't catch the ball into his own goal. Will he be SK's undoing?
73 min: Suarez might have been shooting.
74 min: But was he shooting with that header? Maybe sneezing?
76: Uruguay finally seems like they want to possess the ball. SK still pressing as well, though.
78. Bout fitty-leven stepovers from the left back, Lee Young-Pyo. Why does Mustoe seem shocked every time a full-back "gets forward." It's 2010, dude. Shit is common.
81 min: O wow. Suarez really got me back for shit-talking him. Dude has quietly scored 2, the second one a curler of real class. Dagger? Kind of hope not.
82 min: It's funny to think of Suarez "getting me back" for shit-talking him on a blog I started today.
88 min: Wow Dong-Gook should have done better. Almost got lucky with a "Robert Greener" but no dice.
89 min: Not like Uruguay need an excuse to sit back with like 18 players behind the ball, but this late lead has given them one.
93 min: Lol what a spaz Cavani is. Slippin on the ball like a lame.
Full time: Damn. Uruguay comes through. Credit to Suarez. Mustoe got it right; SK's performance, especially in the 2nd half, was certainly better. I guess Uruguay kind of had a strategy to pack it in and then counter, but when you consider their goals, a mistake by the keeper on what was, granted, a tough cross by Forlan, and a piece of individual class by Suarez, the victory probably didn't exactly go as planned. SK's poor and sometimes unlucky finishing didn't help, but I'm a sucker for wishing that the team who played better would go through. Guess it comes with being an Arsenal supporter...
Thanks for reading my first live blog!
2 min: Damn looks like it might be a "low quality" day for me on ESPN 3.
6 min: Park Chu-Young hits the post. Japan really killed it on free kicks the other day. Maybe S. Korea will follow suit.
8 min: Goal! Yikes. "Somehow made it through" indeed. Adrian Healey's laying blame on the defense, but it was in enough behind them that I think the keeper should have collected.
10 min: First mention of "teams who score first in X game win X amount of times." Now we're cookin.
15 min: Nice foul by Jae-Sung. Really tried to block him and trip him at the same time. Combo points.
19 min: Robbie Mustoe: "The (Uruguayan) defenders like to defend. The front players like to play and score" Fascinating stuff.
22 min: I thought Robbie Mustoe was a good announcer. Must be confusing him with another Englishman.
25 min: Haha Godin taking a dive in his own box. Maybe the Uruguayan defense isn't as "rugged" as we all thought.
28 min: I think Robbie Mustoe is assuming "S. Korea isn't that big up front." Wiki tells me that at 5'11'' 1/2, Park Chu-Young is taller than Diego Forlan.
`
32 min: Speak of the Devil, Park Chu-Young looks up for it. Good effort just wide.
36 min: Isn't it tough to say that Uruguay were "disappointed" to finish 5th in WC Qualifying when they didn't even make it in 2006? I feel like no one is really mentioning that.
38 min: Kim Jung-Woo looked like he was jumping into the slip and slide on that tackle. Probably dangerous but maybe no harm no foul? At least should be no card.
43: Will Mike Tirico bother to ask Alexi Lalas about this game at halftime? I just think Lex is gonna be too jazzed about the U.S. game to focus on such matters.
44: Hand to ball? Ball to hand? Uhhh I dunno live blogging is too much pressure.
Halftime: Seems like S. Korea actually kind of played better. They have a pretty solid swag about their passing, shooting, etc. Uruguay have gotten forward plenty, but I kind of feel like the goal was mainly a keeper mistake. Should be more goals in this one eh?
Steve McManaman seems to be complaining about the pitch. Feel like that's something I don't pay enough attention to unless announcers outright mention it. Thanks, Stevey.
Oh, they've got Lex on-site at the U.S. game. Probably for the best.
Lol at this Gatorade commercial using that Swizz Beatz "Swing Ya Rag" beat. That song legitimately sucks.
47 min: Just to go back a bit, I guess it was a tough cross from Forlan. He put it in really the best possible place. Still thought it should have been gobbled up real quick.
50 min: O man nice run from Lee Young-Pyo. He plays in Saudi Arabia. Go to Europe, dude. Guess its tough when you're 33. "I've been 'fraid of changin" -Stevie Nicks
52 min: My boy Chu-Young gettin mad chances. Put one away, homie!
57 min: Ah this stream is lagging. Suarez and Forlan really haven't seen much of the ball. They linked up for the goal but otherwise where are they at?
60 min: Suarez looks a little slow when he's got the ball. Kind of just chipped it to a well-covered Forlan without much intention.
62: Realized I'm being harsh on Uruguay. Don't know why. Feeling guilty.
64 min: I think I started this blog just to make fun of footballers haircuts but I can't even do that cuz the quality on this stream is so low right now. Broken dreams.
66 min: Lol at this basketball comparison by Mustoe. Yes, defense is important in sports. You're "told" the Celtics have a good defense? Well were you told they lost?
68 min: Bam! SK finally scores. Lee Chung-Yong, the Bolton player. Just kind of let it hit his head. Deserved.
72 min: Despite his best efforts, looks like Jung Sung-Ryong didn't catch the ball into his own goal. Will he be SK's undoing?
73 min: Suarez might have been shooting.
74 min: But was he shooting with that header? Maybe sneezing?
76: Uruguay finally seems like they want to possess the ball. SK still pressing as well, though.
78. Bout fitty-leven stepovers from the left back, Lee Young-Pyo. Why does Mustoe seem shocked every time a full-back "gets forward." It's 2010, dude. Shit is common.
81 min: O wow. Suarez really got me back for shit-talking him. Dude has quietly scored 2, the second one a curler of real class. Dagger? Kind of hope not.
82 min: It's funny to think of Suarez "getting me back" for shit-talking him on a blog I started today.
88 min: Wow Dong-Gook should have done better. Almost got lucky with a "Robert Greener" but no dice.
89 min: Not like Uruguay need an excuse to sit back with like 18 players behind the ball, but this late lead has given them one.
93 min: Lol what a spaz Cavani is. Slippin on the ball like a lame.
Full time: Damn. Uruguay comes through. Credit to Suarez. Mustoe got it right; SK's performance, especially in the 2nd half, was certainly better. I guess Uruguay kind of had a strategy to pack it in and then counter, but when you consider their goals, a mistake by the keeper on what was, granted, a tough cross by Forlan, and a piece of individual class by Suarez, the victory probably didn't exactly go as planned. SK's poor and sometimes unlucky finishing didn't help, but I'm a sucker for wishing that the team who played better would go through. Guess it comes with being an Arsenal supporter...
Thanks for reading my first live blog!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)