Fuck this shit

Chelsea, the eyes of the world are upon you.

Do the right damn thing. Strongly worded statements aren't enough.

Ruud is right

I think Ruud isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and that's being kind, but his response to Platini's idiotic, asinine, and plain stupid statements on what players should or shouldn't do in response to racist taunts directed at them, is dead fucking on point.

Yes, tell the refs, then walk the fuck off.

Platini's a naïve tool. He doesn't grasp the enormity of the problem.

Considering the Dutch incident already, he's about to find his shoulders are about to get much heavier.

Really, England?

You're doubling down on John Terry, aren't you?

Seriously?

You're gonna make me root against you in the Euros, aren't you?

Fuckers.

Maybe his hurt hammie will help keep him from embarrassing the team.

Did I hear right?

This World Cup is UEFA's qualifying tournament for the women in the Olympics?
If so, shame on UEFA.
Spend some fucking money on women's football you selfish bastards.

Germany is apparently out for the 2012 Olympics.

Dear FFF,

If you want to keep more of the young dual nationality players you're training, then maybe you shouldn't put forth racist quotas keeping them out. Try counteracting the things that make non-white citizens feel unwelcome.

1998 wasn't a myth.

Sincerely,
Me.

United vs Barca

Looks like a divided house again.

Let the celebrations begin!

I stumbled upon this parade of Spanish supporters while I was driving around San Francisco the afternoon after the final.

Day 25 - The Final

You don't finish your chances; you don't win. Spain didn't give up many chances, bully on them for that, but Robben had two chance to beat the keeper and Casillas came up with big saves.

Not the most open game ever, and probably not a fun game to watch for the newbies, but it was gripping enough for those of us who had a rooting interest.

Congrats to Spain on their first World Cup. Dammit, I've cheered on the loser of the last three finals (2002 I barely leaned towards Germany...but just barely).

I guess I have to get back to job hunting now. :)

Day 24 - Karma, bitches!

Watching Forlán's free kick clank off the crossbar was pretty good redemption for Ghana (although, I'm sure the Ghanaians would have preferred to have been in that game. Well done, Germany. Well done, Uruguay.

Time for the main event.

Day 23 - Okay, didn't see that coming.

All hail the mighty Spanish defense.
You know I kept saying it'd be nice if we had a new country win the cup this time around, and so karma bit me in the ass and put a team I'm not fond of in the final.

Well, make no mistake, I have a rooting interest now. C'mon Dutch!

Day 22 - Way to keep it close

Any goodwill Uruguay had, evaporated with that goal line handball. However, I have to give them credit for staying with the Dutch and continuing to press the game.

Ruud's dick must be putting dents on the underside of that ESPN desk. Man, I can see why the Galaxy players hated him. What a fuckin' dork.

Day 21 - The German scoring machine (giggle)

Since when do the Germans out-Brazil Brazil?
I'm still amused and stunned at watching Die Mannschaft ping the ball around with counter-attacking prowess. Their defense did well to hold Argentina at bay. Especially in the final third.

Spain has yet to really impress me this tournament, but man what a second half with Paraguay. Trading penalties with two saves and one rightfully called re-take. Spain finally breaking through with a two-posts-and-in goal.

I still think the Germans will roll over Spain.

Day 20

You know I was all set to gloat about picking the Dutch, but then Uruguay/Ghana happened.

That was the cruelest ending to a game I've ever seen. Luis Suarez's desperate act paid off.

I think a Dutch/German final is on the way. The Dutch seem to do what they need to do to get it done.

Day 19 Quarters are all set

Could use a break, too. I realized the other day that I haven't done any walking or hiking since the World Cup started. :)

Maybe I'll even play tomorrow, we'll see.

Japan, I'm so sorry you didn't move on, but you gotta convert your chances. See what happened to the US.

I'm still a little bitter about the Luis Aragonés incident about Thierry Henry so I have trouble rooting for them, but it's still always fun to watch C. Precious Ronaldo pout.

Day 18

Games where pretty predictable today.

The Dutch spent a few minutes of defensive worry in the second half of their game, but still managed to shut down Slovakia. Still it shows a small chink in the armor of their defense. My pick to win is gonna have to be air tight against Brazil.

Chile went down swinging in their fight, but Brazil is a heavyweight to Chile's middleweight.

Day 17 - Ruh row

To the tune of Rule, Britannia!:

O dear England,
her fans too blind to see,
you're the Queen of Mediocrity.

Well, they might be seeing it now. At least we US fans weren't expecting them to win the whole thing. Missed goal call or not, y'all got your ass whooped.

Same with Mexico. I was cheering for ya, but damn, Argentina made you look like an amateur side.

Day 15 - Zzzzzz...

Now you know what happens when teams know the score. Brazil/Portugal? What a snoozer!
Spain/Chile? Boring!

At least Ivory Coast and North Korea went down fighting.

Day 14 - Away Auzzurri

Hahahahahahahaha.
Italy are out. Finito. Andato. Addio.
Not that I'm biased or anything. :)
The U.S. is now officially better than Italy, France, and (for the moment) England.

Good run Kiwis, sorry to see you go.

I think I'm back to the Dutch being my favorites to take the whole thing.

Day 13 - A Lucky Day

As my household watched the US/Algeria game, my partner started to believe the US was cursed.

For the first 90 minutes of that game, I couldn't say I blamed her.

Now the Yanks are through, and face Ghana (and all of Africa) next. I'm interested to see if the boys can get their focus, and beat this team.

Congrats to England and Germany (whew, we don't have to face them until the final), too.

I think the US has a chance to make it to the semis now. Uruguay is playing well and is the team to beat in our quarter of the bracket, and the US needs to finish better, but it's possible.

Day 12

Congrats to Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, and South Korea for making it through. South Africa made Mexico sweat for a bit, but it was nowhere near the excitement of Nigeria/South Korea. Yakubu with the miss of the tournament. Even the penalty he scored moments later won't ever wash the taste of that miss out of his mouth.

As good as it looks for South America, is as bad as it looks for the African teams. I'm rather sad about that.

My focus now is trying to figure out the ways the U.S. can avoid Germany in the round of 16. :)