Rubbish. Hrvatska for the world cup.

dear dw,

i saw every game. saudi-tunis was the worst by a LONG shot. i can't believe how bad both teams were. playing like this, there isn't even a point for them to continue. even the ukrainian team that got trashed by spain (4:0) is gonna have an easy job against those two.

still shaking my head in disbelief ...

--raf*

Well, since both Tunisia and KSA are going to be beaten by Spain, either could qualify if they beat Ukraine. If Tunisia beats Ukraine 1-0 and KSA beat Ukraine 2-0 then KSA is through. Still both very unlikely especially if Shevenchko is playing.

On another matter, what the fuck was going on with HRH's hair?

Shevchenko. Still, no chance.

Schevwhathisface, have to maintain the impression of honorary female cluelessnes re football, don't want to let the side down...

Despite the huge defending mistakes on both sides, and a lot of sloppiness overall, I actually thought the second half was pretty exciting; it's nice to see teams play aggressively in a close game. I'm not a fan of either team, but I was predicting a Saudi win, and that the Saudis would go through on goal differential with everyone but Spain losing two matches. Unfortunately a tie screws both of them.

I also thought Iran might have a nice run, but with
Daei out of the picture, maybe not.

Schevwhathisface, have to maintain the impression of honorary female cluelessnes re football, don't want to let the side down...

Ah don't worry, I'm totally clueless about football and couldn't give a fuck.

Raf*: The first half was indeed the worst football I have seen in the World Cup, but the second half was a big improvement. Not enough to get them any further in the tournament, but an improvement nevertheless.

Eerie: Maybe if you are lucky, our faqih will enlighten us about the likelihood of a fatwa prohibiting the Saudis from playing any further role on the tournament because Budweiser has large billboards by the side of the pitch.

Unfortunately I cant tell if the team is doing well or poorly because I know nothing about football. Anyway I am keeping up with the games, rooting for an African team- Ghana. Happy to see Trinidad and T didnt lose to a Swiss. I dont want to see a European, Argentina (esepecially because thats where my husband is from) and Brazil win. Its time for some new meat, PLEASE!

Ok, did anyone see the US get killed? Yikes! ITs a good thing Americans dont care about football. I mean soccer. GO USA!

Does anyone here want to see an underdog win?

dubaiwalla,

Dont be such a cynic, its the World Cup!

Dubaiwalla,

Nevermind. All bloggers from the MENA are cynical and jaded. I want someone from Aqoul to write about that. Why do you guys have such negative and derisive attitudes about every and anything?

Dubaiwalla,

Nevermind, I know why-- you guys are middle class.

Ok ok, thats enough out of me.

Ghana looked good, though lacking the finishers. And the Trinidad-Sweden game was probably the most exciting 0-0 game I've seen; down to 10 and with obvious weaknesses, but still hanging on with supreme determination. I think the high 30's heat is also playing havoc with the all teams' endurance.

I'm hoping for a Czech-Brazil final. The boring part of me says Brazil, but the part that matters says otherwise. Gotten close before, but not quite there. And I hope it cools down in Germany! Dang scorcher in LA gave us 0-0 final in 94.

Bikhair- what are you on about?

Zurn-

Re ghana. Exactly. They played impressively the whole game, just couldn't get a goal. If only they can resolve this weakness.
Incredible performances from this year's new comers I think you'd agree compared to risible france, blame-it-on-the-heat england, etc. Could this prove to be the year of the underdog?

bikhair: no, that would be swedes.

the swiss are another people entirely. they make cuckoo clocks, chocolate and win their games against puny island nations.

Sadly, though unable to watch the games due to callous bullshit revolving around licensing fees for mil networks, I still must nominate the US team as the worst performance thus far. To be ranked #5 in the world and not even manage a goal is rather pathetic. Go Ghana (its certain Italy will win on Sat.)!

I have no doubts Iran would rout the US, and having watched Tunisia play earlier this year, I think they'd beat the US too.

Speaking of Spain, could this really be their year?

And how bad of a loss is Daei to Iran? I was really hoping they'd advance.

Sorry to blather on.

The Czech strikers are dropping like flies. Before the tournament Smicer had to go home with an injury. Baros still hasn't played and might not even play and Koller went down during the first half of the USA match.

Ach, yes, Baros doesn't look good, though Koller might come back later. However, Rosicky is a rising star and Nedved was looking excellent, so I'm hoping dominating midfield play will be their edge, while they wait for recovery and/or give other strikers in the talented squad a chance.

Ecuador might be the most interesting underdog. Haven't seen their two big victories, looking forward to their match with Germany.

Re Daei: *Shrug*, I just know he's their captain, one of their better players, and coupled with other injuries and a sluggish performance against Mexico, it's yet another blow.

I've seen Ghana manhandle South Korea in a friendly before the real games began. That's one impressive looking team! (Ghana, not South Korea)

Ecuador looked quite impressive in their two wins--granted neither the Poles nor Costa Ricans had any luck converting whatever chances they had, but they stand to get some recognition....

Looks like my cynicism wasn't entirely misplaced: "No Saudi Arabia players can be named as the official FIFA man of the match in any of their World Cup matches because the award sponsor is" Anheuser Busch, the makers of Bud. Of course, the Saudis can easily afford to say things like that- their next two matches are against Spain and the Ukraine, and they are likely to go down hard.

HA! Watching the Saudia-Ukraine game, it's 3-nil already and I am reminded of an English football hooligan song meant to taunt the underdog..
'We thought you were shit, we were right we were right!'

Ahahahahhahahahhaha.

Happy, happy, I am haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapy.

And good job Tunisia, respectable show against a Spain that is kick ass. Okay 3-1, but still.

I only can hope that Spain doesn't give into laziness and really rubs the Saudi nose in its own poo.

Damn, I really need to get me some opioids.

my Project Manager is never going to let me hear the end of this. i'm glad i didn't take her up on her bet!

Tunisia must be commended for managing to hold out against Spain for so long.

and, E, i agree. i need some too.

After watching the tunisian performance today, does anyone else have a sneaking suspicion that some kind of financial agreement had been in place in the saudi v tunisia game?

By the way, before the tunisia supporters get carried away, tunisia still holds the record for the longest winless streak of all teams in this world cup (10 matches).

That first Spanish goal really blew. BTW, despite the utter lack of Tunisian flags up in Beirut, when it came down to the game, the blokes in the pub were definitely on Tunisia's side. (I have actually now seen a couple Saudi flags and at least one Iranian flag on display on various people's cars.)

Tom-

"That first Spanish goal really blew."

Yes it did, but not as much as the tunisian goal. That one had 'goal by accident' written all over it.

The tunisian goal keeper was the true weak link in that game; everybody else was in top form. Frankly, tunisia deserve to go on to the next stage just for holding up the spaniards for so long.

Tunisia seemed very unlucky against Ukraine. I only caught the highlights, but the one goal came off a dubious penalty (Shevchenko trips himself well), and a blatant handball by Ukraine should have awarded Tunisia a penalty. The handballs on goal shots are getting lame, this is the fourth I've seen in three days.