Life In 19x19

Wow, I watch almost every match of the World Cup. I think The Netherlands will win. They rock!

Articles relating to the Changqi Cup (a domestic Chinese tournament) often contain asides and commentary about the World Cup--players tended to chat with reporters about soccer rather than Go.

Nie Weiping commented that the South Korean team and Korean Go professionals share the same strong point: tenacity.

He also stated that Spain's chances to win are second only to Brazil. He compared the Spanish team to young Go professionals: they possess the necessary skills, but they lack the experience and confidence of champions. Spain reminded him of a young Gu Li or Chang Hao.

Li Zhe is cheering for Spain.

Gu Li thinks Spain will do well (and predicted that they would emerge from their group), but he noted that it is very difficult to predict the ultimate winner because the skill levels among the teams are so close. He thinks the Changqi Cup is similar in this regard.

Japan is really the team that reconciliates with Soccer.

There's 3 things that make a French happy in a World Cup :
1) Italy loses
2) France loses
3) France wins

Nie Weiping commented that the South Korean team and Korean Go professionals share the same strong point: tenacity.

He also stated that Spain's chances to win are second only to Brazil.

And yet it's not that unlikely that Spain and Brazil could meet in the round of 16. If not a match against Brazil, Spain will have to face Portugal which isn't an easy task, either.

So much disappointment.

Very nice match.

Today really sucked...

Aphelion wrote:Today really sucked...

Only if you're American (or Korean). Go Ghana!

I must say, the refs hate us! Two US goals disallowed for basically no reason and they let Ghana run away with the clock today.

In all fairness though they were all exciting matches, and I think the U.S. can be satisfied with their play. It's just a shame they have such a habit for giving away goals so early

Jedo wrote:I must say, the refs hate us! Two US goals disallowed for basically no reason and they let Ghana run away with the clock today.

In all fairness though they were all exciting matches, and I think the U.S. can be satisfied with their play. It's just a shame they have such a habit for giving away goals so early

The two goals in dispute didn't matter (USA still topped the group, and by doing so, got the easier draw, i.e. they avoided Germany). The USA had 120 minutes to win today, I don't really think you can blame the Ghana time tactics. I don't think there is any shame to losing to Ghana - they're a damn good side.

When the game started, I was quite indifferent, but in the end, I hoped that Ghana would lose. The ghanaese time play was just too blatant, and they also played it very rough (18 fouls to 9). They were very lucky that they did not reduce themselves to 10 players.

My prediction for Uruguay-Ghana is 3:1, and Ghana ends the game with 10 players.

Harleqin wrote:The ghanaese time play was just too blatant

Eh? You've obviously not seen much football then. Not once did they take the ball to the corner flag, and even if they had, so what? It's the nature of the game. Believe me, if the USA had been ahead, they would also have played for time (and if they didn't, they be fools, which they're not).

btw, the USA were very fortunate to get a penalty - take a look at the replay, and you'll see that the Mensah touches the ball. Not very hard, the ball only diverts a fraction, so one can understand the ref not seeing it, but it was a legal tackle.

In three hours we are having the match Germany vs. England. I think the winning chances are 50:50. Germany was kind of lucky to win against Ghana, imo. Ghana was doing very well and I think they could have won the game just as well.

So here's a video to get ready for the match: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFd9JvyFRYo

Well, that match is sure to spark another debate concerning the use of video for referees. What an utter blunder by the man with the whistle, let alone the other goon with the flag. Germany 4 - England 1. Even without the flagrant miss by the ref, still a deserved win by Germany, they played a very good match.

Wow, we even got a Wembley-Goal.