OT: Futbol Schadenfreude
While I apologize for making another discussion on World Cup, I believe this needs to be noted:
England faces elimination on Wednesday should they fail to beat hot-streaking Slovenia or score enough goals against the former Soviet nation. This is notable not only for the fact England ranks easily as a top 5 nation, but also for this...
Congrats England for needing some of the worst calls to come out of Mali to even have a chance at advancing.
Tea sucks.
Amurrrrrrrrrica...
He's fat/ he's red/ He'll take your gran to bed
Saw this too.
Slovenia was part of Communist Yugoslavia, but never a Soviet country.
What's so funny? They were relieved to have such an easy time earning draws? No?
/sarcasm
I think England thinks it's "easily" a top 5 footballing nation. Realistically it's more like easily top ten.
This is pretty much their mentality every tournament, unfortunately they might go out at the group stage and I really enjoy them losing on penalties.
...we're experiencing football schadenfreude. For the Germans who lost to Serbia, it's Fussball schadenfreude. For the Spanish, its futbol schadenfreude for their loss to the Swiss.
Don't forget le schadenfreude de football, as the French are all but eliminated from a World Cup that they barely belong in. In order to advance they need to beat South Africa and have the combined score of that win plus an Uruguay/Mexico decision be more than four if Uruguay wins and five if Mexico wins.
And they've apparently kicked Anelka off the team for a profanity-laced tirade directed at Domenech.
France at international competitions doesn't seem to be capable of a middle-of-the-pack run. They either get to the finals or get sent home without a goal.
is 2004 USA basketball. A bunch of tremendously talented individuals who just don't/can't/won't play together as one cohesive unit.
England is so damn overrated. Their goalkeeping situation is mediocre at best. The central back pairing is easily the most overlooked part of their squad. John Terry was great, now he is just good and he's paired with Jamie Carragher, who came out of international retirement for this, because Ledley King gets hurt everytime he ties his cleats (oh, and Rio is gone).
Then there is the midfield. Stevie G and Lampard are both great players. I know people like to say that Lampard is overrated but he's not. These two just don't play their best football together, not that it's bad. However, I really don't understand their wingers. Barry as a winger? Where is the pace? Lennon has the pace but for some reason he forgot how to play once he got to SA. Either way, Lennon and SWP are above average wingers, not great.
Then there is Rooney and Heskey. Rooney is great. You cannot argue that. He is top 3 (probably 3) with Messi and Ronaldo and I love the guy but he has been absolute shit this tournament for some reason. The reason Heskey is starting is because he has shown to play the best with Rooney in the past, and basically, the entire offense does rely on Rooney. That's why England has been shit so far. It is because Rooney hasn't done anything.
Anyway, like any English team, the English media will hype them up well above their true value. It's actually quite a shame. The English media puts so much pressure on their team that indirectly they could be playing a part in sabotaging some of their team's success. Even if England had won 1-0 today, the English media would've still gave them hell. Unless they win the entire World Cup, the players will get completely blasted.
England is just too funny. They fill the team with Spurs and get surprised when they choke, hysterical!
Shouldn't that be Fussball schadenfreude?
I don't think ol' Bobby's mom spoke German. (Actually, I don't either, but I know that's the correct term for the sport in that language.)
Foosball:
At least someone in England has a sense of humor.
http://www.wsc.co.uk/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,73/func,view/ca…
...beyond hilarious.