I woke up this morning to find that the air conditioner in my bedroom had leaked inside and bubbled the paint under the window. I took the dog for a walk, hoping to get coffee, and he stepped on my foot and sliced upon my big toe. The first coffee place had a line about 12 deep, and the dog doesn’t have that kind of patience, I was at the second spot for about two minutes, ready to place my order, when I saw him jumping at strangers and heard him barking. Walking home, coffee-less and in pain, wondering...
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Mario and Luis(i)
I really thought I was going to be able to talk about Mario Balotelli. I was sure that nothing of any import or excitement would happen in the closing minutes of Italy-Uruguay, as, indeed, there had been nothing worth discussing in the entire second half. Even the red card doled out to Claudio Marchisio at the hour mark was earned, if not deserved. Coming in late and high is stupid, and will get you a yellow most of the time. Coming in late and high when the referee is no more than three yards away is a sign you are no longer interested in playing...
Continue reading...Quick Hits on World Cup Groups C + D
Everything that happened yesterday as pretty much as expected. Brazil and the Netherlands finish top of their groups, joined by Mexico and Chile. Brazil will play Chile and the Dutch will play El Tri, and both of those games should be entertaining as all four teams have gone out to win matches rather than not lose them. Which brings us to today’s matches. We’ll start with Group C, which plays at 4:00. Greece actually have to try to score goals in order to beat Cote D’Ivoire. They should be able to score, but in making the attempt, they won’t...
Continue reading...Stoppage Time Blues: Weekend World Cup Recap and Day 12 Preview
I had to work until 8pm on Sunday. It was a terrible oversight on my part, the result of planning six months ahead, and requiring me to miss out on watching the USMNT take on Portugal in real time. Aside from Nani’s 5th minute goal, following an absolutely calamitous attempted clearance by Geoff Cameron, I avoided spoilers. I listened to nothing on the hour-long drive home and turned my phone off, lest someone assume I hadn’t made the terrible decision of trying to remain gainfully employed rather than watch a soccer game. As I approached my neighborhood, I realized...
Continue reading...On Rooney and Suarez, Playing the “What If” Game, and a World Cup Day 8 Recap and Weekend Preview
Wayne Rooney scored his first ever goal for England in a World Cup yesterday, in his 10th match. He had four shots in that match: one was a header that struck the undersides of both the crossbar and the post and another a stinging point-blank shot directly into the keeper’s stomach when anywhere else would have resulted in a goal. Either of those could have been his first goal for England in a World Cup. He’s scored 40 of them in other competitions and friendlies while playing for his country, for a decent return of .42 goals a...
Continue reading...A Day at the Park, Statistics and the Day 7 Recap/ Day 8 Preview
I spent the afternoon at Fenway with my father yesterday, taking in a beautiful day and one of the rare Red Sox games that moved at a brisk pace, as they played ten innings in under three hours. In the middle of that game, with the Sox still hitless, my father said something I never thought I’d hear leave his mouth. No, he didn’t tell me he was proud of me: he saves that for special occasions, like my college graduation and that one time I didn’t cry after making the last out in Little League. Instead, when we were talking...
Continue reading...Five Things to Know About the World Cup
Yesterday, good friend and former V+V contributor Jack Burden took to The Social Network™ and shared wahurd’s outstanding World Cup coverage with a note “World Cup discussion for Americans beyond the “5 things to know about the World Cup\” garbage.” Challenge accepted, B. 1. There are a bunch of countries playing in the World Cup Like, seriously, a whole bunch. Like, more than 10. That’s a lot! Did you see yesterday that they even let Iran play? That’s crazy! Okay, so it isn’t “countries” that “play” in the World Cup (that would be insane!) , but teams...
Continue reading...Whomp, You Do Not Sleep on the Fennec Fox – World Cup Day Six Recap and Day Seven Preview
Some quick hits today, since I actually have things to do. Day 6 Recap: Group H: Algeria actually showed some real determination and ability in the first half against a Belgium team that seemed to think a little too highly of itself. The first half demonstrated the two kinds of believing in yourself. Algeria came out with confidence and energy, convinced that they could fend off the Belgian attack and hit on the counter, which they may or may not have a history of doing. The Belgians, meanwhile, appeared to think the contest was a foregone conclusion and putting forth any effort was...
Continue reading...Pepe Has a Case of the Mondays: Day Five Review/ Day Six Preview
An eventful Monday began just 10 minutes after noon, when João Pereira brought down Mario Götze in the Portuguese 18 yard box, conceding a penalty and drawing a yellow card for his troubles. A little over fifteen minutes later, Portugal’s striker Hugo Almeida grabbed his hamstring and exited the match, swiftly followed by another German goal — this tally from Mats Hummels — and then, well, Pop covered this yesterday: What you can’t see from that angle is the referee staring directly at them as it occurs, nor the incident that preceded it, for which this was...
Continue reading...Quick Take: Portugal’s Pepe Gets Himself Red Carded for Being Stupid
Portguese midfielder Pepe just got himself red-carded for head-butting German attacking midfielder Thomas Muller. https://vine.co/v/MIdTOXbzzTe DID PORTUGAL\’S PEPE HEADBUTT THOMAS MÜLLER OR FORCE HIM TO JOIN THE ILLUMINATI? #WorldCup2014 pic.twitter.com/3Lnh2Io5Lz — STOP THE ILLUMINATI (@Illuminati_Stop) June 16, 2014 That makes three remarkably stupid red cards so far in this tournament, but this one might be the dumbest. That said, this is good for Team USA, as Portugal were favorites before, but no longer.
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