OT World Cup Day 6 Open Thread

Submitted by skurnie on

Everyone recovered sufficiently? What a night for the USMNT. Here we go on Day 6:

Group H

Belgium - Algeria 12pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)

Group A

Brazil - Mexico 3pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)

Group H

Russia - Korea Republic 6pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)

 

FreddieMercuryHayes

June 17th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^

Hmm...Belgium makes some really good beer...think I'm going to have to cheer for them today.  Although I can't say I've ever had any Algerian beer, so maybe I'm rushing to judgement here.  It's just that I have a hard time seeing Algeria topping what the Belgium produces.  The Brazilian and Mexican beer I've had have been equally as crappy, so I don't care who wins that game.  I have no idea what South Korean's drink, and the Russians make some decent vodka, but I don't feel like I can make a fair judgement here until I'm more familiar with South Korean drinking habits.  Anybody have any input?

MGoBrasil

June 17th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^

guess I'll use my first official post (long time mgoblog reader, first time poster) to defend Brazilian beer! Brazil is going through a huge craft beer revolution now adn there are some really amazing breweries down there. I've found some good Brazilian beer here in Ann Arbor before, notably Cervejaria Colorado's Guanabara (Imperial Russian Stout with dried cane sugar) and Berthô (Double Nut Brown Ale w/ Brazil nuts), as well as Eisenbanh's Dunkel Lager... and there's a bunch of other ones too (Bodebrown collaborated with stone on a kickass Cacao IPA and a way too easy to drink saison from Wäls & Brooklyn Brewing)... cheers!

FreddieMercuryHayes

June 17th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

Huzzah!  I've only had the macro lager type stuff from Brazil; you know, the stuff that's from the Brazilian part of ABInBev (the Bev part specifically).  Good to know there's a real beer scene.  Thank you for the education.  Up-vote for you.  Also means that I guess I have to cheer for Brazil now.  Which hooray!  Because I hate Mexico (in soccer at least).  I'll have to keep my eye out for those beers you mentioned. 

Wolverine In Exile

June 17th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^

So the first game is easy... Waffles over North African deserts all day.

Second game: Do I reflexively cheer against Mexico, or do I cheer for chaos inducing upset if Brazil loses? If Brazil loses, do the people sacrafice the coach to a river teeming with man eating piranhas? Cause that'd spice things up a bit.

Third game: We are SO anti-Russia still, yes? I mean for what they did to Apollo Creed? And how can you cheer against Korean girl pop groups? Can CRex comment on whether his wife is going Korea-zy? (get it? Crazy? Korea-zy? huh? huh?)

nowayman

June 17th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^

I'd say having to have police in riot gear shielding players taking corner kicks is ample reason to dislike a team.  

 

Among other things.

 

That doesn't mean I dislike Mexico or Mexicans.  Just their soccer hooligans and because of them their soccer team.  

 

Plus, sports are more fun when there's a "them" and an "us."  

nowayman

June 17th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^

Being one of the largest stadiums in the world (should be in the top ten with Michigan, excluding stadium sprawls).  Moreover, it's one of the higher stadiums in the world, altitude wise.  

Mexico has some really impressive stats defending the place.  

 

But Azteca fans are like Raiders fans that have been up all night binge drinking and decided to start the day out with 'all the meth.'  

1464

June 17th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

I was the only white boy on a soccer team in a Battle Creek Mexican soccer league.  Their level of competition was around that of a smaller college division.  I provoked a several hundred person bleacher clearing brawl by pushing one of their forwards after he took a stab at a ball I had firmly saved.

They get scary competitive about soccer...

Everyone Murders

June 17th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^

This is probably not quite thread-worthy, but after Zusi's wonderful corner kick yesterday, this Washington Post ARTICLE is a great read.

A statistical analysis of the value of a corner based largely on EPL stats concludes that what we saw yesterday is a bit rarer occurrence than I would have guessed.  Two charts tell most of the story, but the entire article is worth a look:

 

skurnie

June 17th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^

Belgium:

Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany (c), Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard, Van Buyten, Dembele, Chadli

Algeria:

Mbolhi, Bougherra (c), Ghoulam, Halliche, Feghouli, Medjani, Bentaleb, Soudani, Taider, Mahrez, Mostefa

skurnie

June 17th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^

Check out the talent on Belgium's bench:

Vermaelen

Fellaini

Mirallas

Mignolet

Bossut

Mertens

Defour

Origi

Lombaerts

Januzaj

Vanden Borre

Ciman

FreddieMercuryHayes

June 17th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^

But Ommegang is owned (and partially founded I believe) by Duvel, so by that metric, I am adding Boulovard to Belgium's line-up.  And I am also adding Budweiser, Bud Light, Goose Island, Corona, Stella, Skol, and Bass to their line-up.

Mr. Yost

June 17th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^

Is still up on WatchESPN for those who care...

...I was really hoping the World Cup Tonight show from last night would be on.

I wasn't able to make it to watch from midnight-1:30am, but it's actually a really good show. Especially the "LAST CALL" portion where they have a relaxed chat, just kick the shit and talk World Cup soccer.

If anyone can find a replay from last night, I'd love to watch.

Also, I'd like to have the Kiefer Sutherland intro from last nights match (at the 1 minute mark if you watch the WatchESPN.com replay).

taistreetsmyhero

June 17th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^

that if you are an american fan wanting to hear former international superstars talk candidly about the game, you don't want to hear a conversation about how unskilled the usa team is at soccer relative to the rest of the competition.

it's very clear that martinez and van nistelrooy are keeping their comments very tame.

my buddy in london was sending me some clips of the bbc commentary, and they were openenly mocking the terrible first touches. and they had a field day making fun of the usa for the long throw-in they had early in the second half

Needs

June 17th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^

For what it's worth, the commentators on the guardian's world cup daily podcast today are very complementary to the US, particularly in the first half. They called Dempsey's goal one of the best of the tournament and Brooks's reaction one of the tournament's best moments.

They did compare the second half to the Alamo, but overall, they complemented the US for remaining very organized in back and frustrating Ghana, giving them very few real chances in the run of play.

Yeoman

June 17th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^

I thought ITV had the coverage in Britain.

ITV was also mocking Germany yesterday. They have some fine commentators; they also offer idiocy beyond anything ESPN has on tap over here. Ask your English friend what he thinks of Adrian Chiles.

 

 

Ed.: Never mind--I looked it up and they're splitting the coverage. BBC had the US game yesterday.

Mr. Yost

June 17th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^

Turico, Lalas, Ballack, the guy from the Netherlands who's name I slips my mind, the British chic, and then one other person. Usually one of the coaches, although Foudy was on a couple nights ago.

It's pretty cool. Turico just sets the table and they all just sit around and chat about stuff and provide some really good insight. And because Turico isn't an expert he's perfect because he asks GREAT questions that the former players can really answer with insight.

skurnie

June 17th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^

Lalas had some really good years and the '94 World Cup was his breakout (like all the USMNT players). He was the first American to play in Serie A in Italy. He's a huge Red Wings fans and tweets about them a decent amount.

You must be young because "that van Nistelrooy guy" is one of the best strikers in the past 25 years. His years at PSV, United and Real Madrid were just incredible. I like him as a commentator as well. 

goblueram

June 17th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

Damn it, if he's a huge Wings fan I am physically unable to dislike him!

I know nothing about van Nistelrooy's career outside of the World Cup because I hardly watch soccer.  From what I've seen, I do agree with you that he's a solid commentator. 

 

Mr. Yost

June 17th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^

Listen to the John Brooks goal and then listen for Taylor Twellman. He looses it and just has an outburst of jibberish.

Then in the 90' he completely stops talking. Ian Drake asks him a question on two seperate occasions and he can't even speak because he's so nervous and wants the final whistle.