Nationaist/racist world cup fandom
 

Watching Iran v Mexico right now, and I decided that Iran should win. Because A) all the good Mexicans should come up here and become US citizens so we can have a better team, and B) I would like the Iranian people to have something *else* to feel all bad-ass about.

These are not really serious thoughts and now that Mexico has scored a second goal, not a likely outcome anyway. But I figure that 96% of the people of the world are thinking thoughts like that right now.

Ah now a third goal from Mexico, and a real beaut...

I would like to see the US go through to the next round, but if we lose to Italy, I won't mind since A) Jackie is of Italian extraction, B) the Italians make such great wine and food, and C) this Italian pizza place that I used to go to used to adore World Cup, and I can just imagine the guys there enjoying the game. More racist or more nationalist? As long as the thoughts aren't really serious, they feel like fun.

*Paints face in St George's flag colours and downs a large case of beer*

Engaland! Whooop Engaland!

UT, you better delete your post before you get banned from Eagles games for watching SOCCER. :vikingsmi

why? don't the eagles like athletes?

I'm rooting as a trans-American Nationalist. Every American loss is a kick in the nads. North to South USA, Mexico Costa Rica, Trinidad-Tobago, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Good weekend really.

I find the World Cup really annoying, personally. Pubs up and down the nation are decorated with England flags and when we had a match on Saturday I could hear all the people inside going, "Come on England!!!" and I'm just thinking, "They can't actually hear you, morons..."

The car flags also annoy me. They're just like the ultimate statement of mindless nationalism.

Loads of good TV shows also get cancelled, and why does it need to be on ALL the channels? Why?


I know, I'm scum, but it's just SO annoying...

I caught the end of the Mexico/Iran match and I'm a bit hooked.

I dont know much about the game, though. All my understanding is generalized from hockey. So anyone want to lay down a primer?

What are the position names? is there a sweeper or did I make that up? Whats a striker? Is that like the center, or any forward that strikes on goal?

I get the corner kicks, goal kicks, yellow cards, off sides, etc.

Can they call dives? or is it wrapped in delay of game?

When the tv flashed up player info there was some stat..CAP, I think. what's that?

Thanks in advance.

Traitor!!!!! *quickly whips up a makeshift gallows and buys some rope*

Actually....confession time...I don't much like football. I also don't like all the flags everywhere. During the recent local elections, we could generally tell when someone was a BNP (Xtreme right, neo-nazi party) supporter or activist, by the huge St George's flag hanging from their bedroom window.....now the flags are everywhere and I can't tell a fascist from a footy fan!

Position names vary a little bit. Generally it is Forwards up front. Strikers are in the middle up front and wings are on the outside.

Midfielders or halfbacks play behind them. Depending on your set you could have a sweeper between the middies and the forwards.

Defenders or fullbacks are behind them.

Goalie in the ah... goal.

I believe you can be carded for taking a dive.

Players get a Cap for each international appearance.

Yah, nice one Griff. Now explain the Offside rule?

(Forgive me, I should know on account of being English, but in my defence I am a chick)

I can do it! I can do it. (I think)

It is when the attacking team has a player enter the attack zone of the opposing team before the ball. Its so a player cant hang out deep by the goal waiting fishing for a pass and keeps the action going.


Thanks for the position names...so how many total players per side? 8? 9? 10?

Nice explanation w.

ellevenses per side just like football ;)

There's a difference? ;)

Aha! That's a BIG field to cover and they were running fast and hard to count...

On the upside, the German's have legalized prostitution so you don't necessarily HAVE to watch the football. You can indulge your penchant for Hot Carl if you want.

(hee, hee)

Impression so far-
US was hyped as a team with great communication and moderate to good skills. In the first game they had no communication. That doesn't leave much.

UK better start showing some creativity, they got a fortunate grouping but the tourney is going to get serious soon.

Trinidad Tobago gutty play by an over matched team (if the US had half their heart...) neat story Christopher Birchall the white guy on the team was approached by a large black man before a football match. "Where was your Mom born?" He told him the city in Trinidad. The guy gave him a big smile and walked away without saying another word. Later he was contacted by the National team. He knew England would never play him so he became a key player for T/T.

I much preferred the England-Trinidad & Tobago game last night to the Germany-Poland game the night before. Neither of them will go into the World Cup history books, but at least there were more near misses in the England game. And that lovely shot from Gerrard of course.

I know we should have given Trinidad & Tobago a harder time, but we were obviously outplaying them by the end of the second half and the substitutions were inspired.

I think we can pick things up and play some really exciting football in the next round.

(BTW we're not the UK when it comes to football, we all play separately, so it's England in the World Cup)

My bad. England has a ton of upside so they can get away with not playing their best game, but when single elimination kicks in they'd best take it up a notch. (I'm still a racist rooting trannationalist Americans though :))

The US played very good ball today, they should be proud.

I saw about five min. of US v. Italy. Looked like we were playing rather dirty.

Both teams played dirty to an extent - the elbow to the face from the Italian player (sorry, didn't take names) was quite shocking. And you didn't deserve a red card for the shin tackle...!

Am just looking forward to our next game regardless, and buoyed up by all the St George crosses I see - alone among the countries of the UK I think England has been afraid of national pride - why should we let the racists hijack our sense of national identity? You don't in the US. Go on England!

My schedule makes it nigh impossible to follow any of the games, but we have a doctor from Ghana here who is quite excited about the cup. Any comments on the Israeli flag controversy?

It was a smart way to solidify his fan base! No apology should have been given. It was fine for the spokesman to say that Ghana is neutral, but for him to imply that the player was somehow wrong in waving the flag is in itself politicizing an act that was not intended to be political.

Would anyone actually notice if the Arab Countries withdrew from the cup in protest? Ghana is apparently not at all concerned about them cutting off trade and diplomatic relations.

Well if Iran (I know, Persian) were to leave right now Angola could run up the score and maybe bump Mexico out of the next round since they are not getting it done against Portugal. (this post is time sensitive since the games are in progress)

This is what it has come to.
 

Blimey. I quite fancy Italy's chances against the Czech Republic though....

Good luck - it's a bit early for me to watch, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

And all for the right to be eliminated by Brazil in the next round...

no matter...

U! S! A!

U! S! A!

It would be nice to lose to the champs!

Italy is doing their part. Man I wish we we had some offense.

Sorry to see the USA didn't make it through. I didn't get to see either of those games, but I enjoyed Japan vs Brazil. Shocking for the game to nearly finish 1-0 to Japan at half time... normality was of course restored.

I didn't fancy Brazil previously, but they're certainly hitting their stride now. I'm tempted to bet on Argentina but it depends who they face on the way up (I'm hopeless at working these things out).

You didn't miss anything in the US-Ghana match, except a game-winning penalty awarded on a total non-call.

It was a bummer. Teams really have to come ready to play immediately. The US never got into their game. Thinking about the way the tourney is done, It seems like using the round robin to seed the brackets might produce better football. A slow start would put you in a tough place but not send you home immediately... it might just make the tourney too long though.

The referees have been horrid, I hope they get over themselves before they start knocking contenders out. The one that sticks in my craw was the red card for Mastroeni, that was a yellow. They wanted to even out the squads and they did without considering that they had a bunch of guys already carrying yellows from the previous match and it would even out eventually. The Italy match could have been won.

2 Guys from Holland want to help the US team. :D

Ecuador is out. :sniff: They had a chance but couldn't close the deal. Beckam is still scary good on the set pieces. Rooney is one hell of a player but man he looks like a scarey red-ass.

Don't know that I can get behind England with its stupid "supporters" still doing their very worst once again, how predictable and ugly.

Is racist-nationalist the explanation?

I am 100% behind my team and don't view any of the people back here at home flying the St George Cross as having any connection with the criminals currently abroad - except where they live.

I share nationality with some people who like to fight, hurt people randomly and cause trouble in the streets, but I do not share their opinions or sensibilities. I'd rather not open the paper/ watch the television and see men from my country behaving this way, but they are not the England football team and they don't represent the country or the real fans.

I do understand that the Germans living in cities where matches are played might be apprehensive. And yes, some will want England out, in the hope that the criminal element return home. I just hope enough people get a positive experience of England supporters to prove England + football + beer does not always = trouble.

Anyway, back to the football.... A frustrating game, but flashes of brilliance from Rooney. Yes he does look like he'd be a bit tidy - it's the red faced spud look. Glad to see Beckham's still got it - only England player to score in 3 world cups. (I was watching in my knickers, I hope that wasn't what made him sick.... they can't see through the tv can they?)

Portugal next for us - on my birthday! Here's hoping Sven's men can pull it out of the bag & make my night. If you see what I mean :) Not thinking any further ahead than that. Mostly because I can't work out who we would be facing.

I too feel so sorry for the german people dealing with our criminally drunken brain challenged exports, the only comfort to offer them is that they are truly a very tiny minority and to please THROW AWAY THE KEY!!!

It was such a relief to see Becks bend it, and restored my faith in the magic man he is. Half my town was screaming at him so to do and I'm sure he heard. (I think on the basis of that, he must have seen you too Sundae!) But, they really have to do more and do it better if they are to beat the old adversary Portugal. I am seriously concerned about the less than energetic play so far and yes it's warm but come on Engerland, they can relax after the game not during it.

I almost always start the World Cup swearing I'm not going to watch, there's cricket to watch after all, but here we go again.

I just watched the video highlights of Italy v Australia. You upside down folks can feel free the whine about that call even if it goes against your national character.

Saw that. That was my first take on it, but you don't just throw your whole body in front of the attacker in the box. Maybe it wasn't a penalty, but it wasn't a proper tackle either...!

Well, I was a fullback back in the day so I may have a wee bit of bias. ;)

Goal of the Tourney! Video of the top goals very cool.

What is this World Cup thing that you talk of.....?
Currently sulking as I believe we are out thanks to an Argentinian ref, but at some level I realise everyone feels victimised by decisions if their teams aren't good enough to win on their own.

BIG sigh

Will continue watching of course. Just with less passion (and less beers)

I think it may be too late for this, but oh well.
http://www.rathergood.com/football/

half time Final
 

I'm pulling for Italy. Very good first half of football... Very powerful comeback by the Italians, France just sat back too much. Referees are mostly keeping to themselves not messing with the flow of the game.

MAN! Obviously, everyone saw Dizane flip out and head butt that guy! WOW!

And I'm glad Italy won in the PK. yay for them.

That head butt was stupid, Zindane really screwed up. Still a great final. The Italians know how to have a good time eh? I loved the defense, that is a team with heart.

:lol: right! Zidane, not Dizane! :lol:

I'm a maroon.

yeah, well, zidane will be playing in america next year so watch out.

I thought he was retiring?

Undertoad started this thread referring to the idea of the World Cup and racism . Undertoad also seems to like Italy , and yes , Italy has won . Certain Italian politicians have also made some extremely racist remarks , such as the fact that Italy is truly glorious as all their players are white Italians and not Blacks and Muslims as they are in the French team . Perhaps these Italians should take a look at French history . For example , Lilian Thurman is Black and he comes from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe . Guadeloupe has been part of France for longer than Nice or the Alpine French region of Savoy .

No one is really sure yet why Zidane head-butted that Italian player , and of course that sort of violence cannot be excused . Zidane has said that he will try to explain when he has calmed down . Meanwhile , lip-readers believe that Zidane was called an Islamic terrorist by the Italian .

So yes , Undertoad is obviously right to wonder about racism in the context of the World Cup . Perhaps one should also remember that Italy is not just pizza and Michaelangelo . It is also Berlusconi and the heritage of Il Duque . Thank goodness for the likes of Nanni Moretti amidst the maelstrom .

...I think the reason the Italian team is mostly white because most Italians are white, meaning most of the good soccer players are white, and if all the best happen to be white, it would be racist to hire someone who WASNT white just because they arent white.

As advised by 'a friend':

Since Sunday evening the whole World has been debating what Italian defender Marco Materazzi said to Zinedine Zidane to make the retiring Frenchman react in the way he did. The French captain, in his last ever professional game, thrust his head into Materazzi's chest in Sunday's World Cup Final resulting in a red card and shame for Zidane. Today, with the help of Italian lip-reader Arturo Belladini, we can reveal what drove Zidane to self destruct; Materazzi was seen to hold Zidane's shirt on the edge of the penalty box in extra-time at which point Zidane said

"if you want my shirt so bad you can have it"

Materazzi responded

"I dont want your shirt you m***** f*****. you're a f****** old man"

As they jog away Zidane is seen to laugh at this and it is unclear how he responded due to him having his back to the TV camera

Materazzi then hit a volley of abuse

"you should've quit 2 years ago, you're a f****** has-been"

"m***** f*****! your mum is a f****** muslim terrorist and you are too,f*** you old man f*** you"

"old man, this arena is not for you anymore m***** f*****"

Zidane carries on jogging away

"you are only good enough for Tottenham now" It's at this very point Zidane turned and head-butted him.

Also from another 'friend' (yes, I know it's hard to believe I have more than one):

A snippet of overhead conversation in a pub about the World Cup final and Zidane's sending off :-

" That's the closest anyone in a French uniform has come to combat in 60 years"


and....

Sophie Ellis Baxtor has been found head butted to death in a hotel room where the French football team were staying. Police say there's blood on Zidane's floor.

I do not know who Sophie Ellis Baxtor is , and France was right not to send troops to Irak . France is proud of Zidane . Chirac has refused to condemn him , and Zidane has been officially nominated best player in the whole of the World Cup . Zidane is a good man whose mother , incidentally , is seriously ill in hospital in Vitrolles .

So, tell me again ... how did the best player in the whole world cup get himself ejected from the final game assuring his team's loss?

P.S. France has a long history of not sending troops anywhere, including France.

I think the World Cup officials liked his foot-work , Wolf .

France does not need to send troops anywhere . They gave you lot the Statue of Liberty for you to shoulder all that sort of responsibility .

And Zidane , like the Statue of Liberty, has feet of clay .

The world doesn't want French troops anywhere real work has to be done.

The Statue of Liberty is made from copper.

The pedestal is made from stone near here , Undertoad . Stone from Hauteville ( Hauteville is about half an hour away from where I live) I believe that the steps of the White House are also made from Hauteville stone .