[Steve Bildermann]

Well they are going to have to pull something out of the hat. They seem very disjointed in the mid-field and are relying on Alex to go up front. Inamoto is well out of it. Turkey seem to have the measure of them but there's still time to go. The pitch must be terrible.

Ok 2nd half just starting.

[Steve Bildermann]

Dang. I was pulling for em all the way but they just seemed have lost the fire they had in the previous matches. Credit to Turkey for doing the job under really bad conditions.

Anyway - Well done lads - last 16 is a good place to be. Better than France or Argentina.

[GuyJean]

relying on Alex to go up front.

Yeah.. Why'd they take him out!!??? He was all alone up there about four times. Seemed like he was the ONLY one fired up... Him and rooster boy seemed to be snappin' at each other..

Too bad.

U!.... S!... A.... ! Here comes the sleeping giant..

GJ

[kamome]

You guys should have seen the looks of despair and sadness on my Japanese colleagues' faces after the game. They were all really down. I felt bad for them, but secretly felt a little bit smug. After all, only two Japanese came in to cheer on the Americans in the US-Mexico game with me and the other Americans in my company. The rest of the company doesn't give a shit about the US. When I realized that, I kind of lost my enthusiasm for cheering on Japan.

[GuyJean]

The Korean game seems to be good... There's even blood.

Why do the fans jeer and boo whenever Totti or Del Pierro touch the ball? Did they say something in the media?.. Or are the Koreans just jealous they're bonin' down on all their women?

What does the sign say on the left side, at the bottom of the stands? 'Justified Portugal'?

I was pulling for Korea until I saw the hi-lites from the US game.. After the Korean goal, the player does his best immitation of a small track speed skater. In reference to the Olympics when the Korean skater was, in my opinion, justifiably disqualified.. Wa, wa, wa, whaaaa!

Now I want the Korean's to lose for two reasons; They'd finish equal to Japan. And to know the US got further then them.

(Warning: stereotyping)I've met a lot of Koreans and they're great people.. for about 30 minutes. Then all I get to hear about is why America is a terrible country, and why they've had it so bad and it's my fault. But I love Korean food.. and the women are beautiful.

Doh.. it's back on..

GJ

[Steve Bildermann]

Good or bad attitudes on both sides not withstanding the Korea - Italy game was HOT. Talk about a cliff-hanger. One minute I was cheering Italy and next I was cheering Korea - very tiring, no rest time <phew>

Well worthy of the World Cup

Ok now for the F*** gaijin comment of the day. When the final whistle blew the Japanese match announcer seemed baffled to come up with a superlative until he screamed

'Japan's partner wins!'

How that for creative commentating.

[cstaylor]

(Warning: stereotyping)I've met a lot of Koreans and they're great people.. for about 30 minutes. Then all I get to hear about is why America is a terrible country, and why they've had it so bad and it's my fault. But I love Korean food.. and the women are beautiful.

Yeah, you've hit another one of my pet peeves: ungrateful bastards.

You can always ask them if they'd like living in Pyongyang... and why was Pusan and Inchon awash in American blood?

You can always tell them that you agree with Acheson's point that South Korea wasn't part of the American national interest... oh, wait, then they would have had to read history, know who Acheson was, and maybe even wonder why over 50,000 Americans lost their lives intervening in yet-another foreign war for a people ungrateful for the help.

I heard a South Korean died recently on an electric fence surrounding an American military installation. Given that we have enough bases in Okinawa and the other islands of Japan, perhaps now would be a good time to withdraw from the peninsula... and wait for the hammer to fall from the North... I can't imagine the U.N. intervening this time.

[cstaylor]

...and again, Korea just can't win a fair match:

Moments later, Italy was reduced to 10 men. Francesco Totti, who was booked in the first half, was adjudged to have dived in the area and given his marching orders for a second yellow card

I know rules are rules, but giving a team an advantage like that at end of the match with the score tied???

[cstaylor]

That's because the rest of Japan is too busy cheering for good treams like England.

That said, America have been doing really well, I just hope they get knocked out before we get any more smug comments about the way the world revolves around you

Man, nothing ever changes. 60 years ago, your grandfathers were complaining about our grandfathers stationed over in England during the buildup for Overlord:

The problem with the Yanks is they're overpaid, oversexed, and over here

The problem with the Tommys is that they're underpaid, undersexed, and under Eisenhower

Of course, one of your best Prime Ministers was half-American.

[cstaylor]

Man, who passed the shrooms to Rob?

[kamome]

That's because the rest of Japan is too busy cheering for good treams like England. I mean, you've got to start cheering for somewhere and stick with them really. There's no point in cheering for every single lucky team out there (or being fickle about who's winning at a certain time) That said, America have been doing really well, I just hope they get knocked out before we get any more smug comments about the way the world revolves around you

1) Japan is not cheering for England any more than it's cheering for any other team; at this point it's just a matter of who is betting money on who. Once Japan lost, believe me, the only remaining interest the Japanese have in the Cup now is whether they can make money in the office pool.

2) By beating Portugal and Mexico and tying Korea, I think the US has shown that it has progressed to this point on skill. And if you call the US "lucky" for getting this far, then you're accusing Senegal, Turkey and Korea of being lucky as well. None of them were favorites either for the Cup, and yet they have also beaten the big name teams--Italy, France, etc.

3) What smug comments? I haven't heard any American anywhere making smug comments like you're talking about.

4) Here's my smug comment: The Grinning Fool is a jackass.

[Steve Bildermann]

this is it, what a game! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and there it is! The Red, White and Blue Yanks have come from behind to defeat England 2-1 and steal the World Cup out of the hands of Beckham and his boys. Once again folks, final USA 2, England 1 - CONGRATULATIONS! USA - World Cup Champions of 2002! Goodnight.

Rob's post is rather ironic because the only time England played the U.S.A. in World Cup Competition the U.S.A. *Won*

So we are the underdog, looking for some payback

[kamome]

Steve,

When did the US beat England? I'm shocked!

[Steve Bildermann]

I'm shocked!

We were too!!

USA 1 England 0
29 June 1950
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
First round

You can read all about England's record here

http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWC1950Finals.html

[GuyJean]

You seem to forget that your country was founded by all the la-hooosers that couldn't hack it back in good old Europe and were kicked out "to find fame and fortune in the New World"

Is that what your Mummy tells you? God save the... (ah!. got you!) world.

GJ

[Steve Bildermann]

I was wondering if it was possible to contact England's manager and suggest he get a Shinto priest to come over, bless the team and pray for a cool rainy afternoon tomorrow - seriously!!

Every little bit counts right and when in Japan one should at least keep to the Shinto Gods are your side.

[kamome]

Well, the Americans are in Korea. I guess there are no Shinto priests to bless them over there. Maybe Buddhists monks....?

I find it funny that the last victory for the US against England was half-way back in the last century. Well, maybe, just maybe, we'll meet again in this Cup.

[cstaylor]

You seem to forget that your country was founded by all the la-hooosers that couldn't hack it back in good old Europe and were kicked out "to find fame and fortune in the New World"

Don't confuse the state of Georgia for all of the 13 colonies. Several states (Virginia being top of the list) were entrepreneurial endevors for harvesting raw materials.

Ah, so typically British, to believe that the circumstances of birth outweigh character strength. La-hooosers as in "not our class, dear" is probably what you meant.

[GuyJean]

I want to impress my un-American friends. Is there an online 'Football' dictionary?

I don't want may ass kicked for asking 'Who's pitching?', when I hear the "pitch is fast".

How bout some sexual connotations? I like 'Nice Header'.. Or 'Quick Dribbler'..

GJ

[mitch]

Well yes old chap, but only one of the plebs from the lower classes could plausibly come up with that kind of nonsensicle argument. Toodloo I'm off to slaughter some foxes with my hounds. Tallyho, what what icon_grin.gif

Don't make us kick all your british butts again. One would think you British would have learned from the revolution.

Edit: Smiley icons never work in quotes.

[cstaylor]

Yeah, I love how the Germans "convinced" the ref that Rayna stepped on el' floppo's toes, yet the same ref won't even consider the obvious HAND BLOCK used by the Germans to keep the Americans from tying.

Oh well, I guess those EU states need to stick together.

[Steve Bildermann]

[GuyJean]

It seems interesting how Korea seems to have some sort of 'good luck' game aftere game after game after..

Good on them, but anyone remember the 1988 Olympics? Roy Jones Junior 'beaten' by the Korean fighter.. Even the Korean fighter knew he lost.

Football is too frustrating for me to enjoy. They need two more refs..

GJ

[cstaylor]

Both teams went into extra time for the second time in as many games, and the mood soon turned ballistic after Spain had a goal controversially disallowed in the first half of extra time. Fortune then smiled on Korea a second time as Spanish striker Fernando Morientes made a quick turn and shoot for goal, only to watch his strike rebound off a post

I wonder if the Koreans can buy off the refs in Yokohama for the final match?

[kamome]

Hey, the Italians claim that the Koreans are on steroids. That, plus a lot of referees on the take, is the reason for Korea's unprecedented success and Italy's ignominious defeat.

Surprisingly (or maybe not), alot of Japanese are supporting Korea now. I asked a few co-workers why, and they said it was because they like to see an Asian country beating the European teams.

Unfortunately, the US lost, but what a great f-ing attack they had against Germany. I mean, the US attack was relentless. Germany has a great goalkeeper and big players; that's what got them through. Korea could probably beat them though, considering their speed and stamina.