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DEL.ICIO.USWorld War III called off
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Even Henrik Larsson’s 90th minute goal wasn’t enough for Sweden in a 2-2 tie with England that dashes what would have been a mouth-watering second-round matchup.
For it will be the Swedes taking on Germany on Saturday, while England meets Ecuador on Sunday, which is Off the Ball’s day off. She plans to spend it at some watering hole or other watching Inger-land folks suffer during the knockout stages. They do it better than most.
No Germany-England, then. Ah, c’ést la guerre. Or the cease-fire, as it were.
At least England was fun to watch for a change, with Joe Cole’s cracking 35-yarder arguably the best goal of this World Cup.
But what a sad sight to see Michael Owen go down so soon, and so tragically, with what looks to be a Cup-ending knee injury.
How about other unexpected pleasures? Germany — yes, Germany, looks like a contender, and not just because they’re the home team. Klinsi’s offering a refreshing new approach. Both coach and players are hungry and eager to prove themselves.
Don’t wanna dwell on things that are a pure waste of energy, but I’ve finally found something as irritating as the American soccer-bashers. The flip side of the coin is just as unbearable, especially ex-pats from wherever arrogantly correcting us, like Oxford dons, about our use of the term “soccer.” I heard it again today on the radio, and I’ve read it here on this blog, and I’ve just about had it.
Forgive me this Ugly American indulgence, but a Brit with a one-way ticket to America has a lot of nerve chastising us on nomenclature. We have a sport that we call football, just as the Australians have a separate football code of their own. It’s not just us. Down Under, they even call their team at the World Cup “Socceroos,” affectionately, too. Yet I bet they’re not roasted by “Pommies” — Brits who reside in the former penal colony.
What does it matter what you call it?
(Oh dear, I think I’ve had a Fox News moment. Please! Exorcise these demons — now!)
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Nicholas Irwin
June 21, 2006 3:30 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Wendy. I could not agree with you more. There is nothing more pointless than arguing about that. If the game ever becomes big here (and I must say, I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how popular this World Cup has been. Lots of people are genuinely interested who weren’t watching before.), the terms are going to be Americanized and Brits (and snooty American soccer fans with no time on their hands whatsoever) are gonna have to freaking deal with it. We’re not gonna hire a bunch of British announcers to come over here and terms like “football,” “pitch,” and “kits” are gonna be weeded out, so you might as well get used to it. If a baseball league were started in England (assuming there isn’t one already) and it were covered on TV, would they hire American announcers to do the games? No. Would American announcers even want to? No (nor would British announcers want to come over and announce MLS). And would the British announcers doing the game call the field a “baseball pitch” and the batter a “batsman”? I think we all know the answer is yes.
By Henry
June 21, 2006 7:46 AM | Link to this
Hay Wendy, fair and balanced hurts, Does’t it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is it with you people, What have the English done for the game of soccer or international football besides inventing it? However, it is questionable that they invented it since it was reported by the AJC that the cavemen started it by kicking rocks with their bare feet. Oh shocks another blow to the English, gee with. They steal (Kerry’s and Gore’s saying) one World Cup and it is promoted as the greatest thing ever happened. They performed only in the first half of yesterdays game and now you guys think they are greatest, maybe they will great, but not unless they improve and play great for 90 minutes. Only the Brasilians can play lousy and winn games.
By Trevor
June 21, 2006 8:16 AM | Link to this
Wait..why was that a Fox News moment, because you were using common sense or because it wasn’t anti-American (for a change)? Given the amount of people who read this blog, it’s probably more of a MSNBC moment…