12/22/24
June 10, 2006
English fans turn win into 'home' match: You will never see this much excitement in any other sport. To think this is just their first game of the Cup... What a party!
posted by zippinglou to football at 02:39 PM - 28 comments
Man, that giant tarantula on the pitch was really annoying. Whoever designed that stadium needs kicking in the nuts. I only watched the first half, but England were on cruise control. Kinda dull, actually.
posted by afx237vi at 05:07 PM on June 10, 2006
But T&T vs Sweden and Arg vs Ivory Coast were crackers. Even though the first was a 0-0. And the T&T fans looked a good bunch to have a party with.
posted by owlhouse at 08:32 PM on June 10, 2006
"You will never see this much excitement in any other sport." Do you think your being a little bit over zealous? lol
posted by panteeze at 08:40 PM on June 10, 2006
80 degrees is not hot at all. I imagine some of those stadiums might trap the heat a little bit, though.
posted by igottheblues at 11:52 PM on June 10, 2006
I really wish ABC would just rebroadcast the BBC or Sky coverage (whoever's got the UK rights) but superimpose the their own screen graphics (i.e., ads next to the score box). Four games I've watched so far and not one decent commentary or camera management.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:17 AM on June 11, 2006
TV coverage is on ITV and BBC, as the World Cup has protected status and has to be broadcast on terrestial tv over here. AFAIK the camera shots are under the control of German tv and will be the same for everyone worldwide. Certainly they aren't of the quality that we're used to in England where Sky has raised the benchmark in televising football. The temperature was reported to be 30c in the stadium during the game, which may not seem extreme but our players aren't used to it coming from somewhere that's invariably cool and wet. England's performance was under par, especially in the second half. However, it's the result that's imperative in the first game. Combined with Sweden's inability to beat 10-man T&T, things are looking good for England to progress into the knockout stages. In terms of the "partying", we were in the pub at 1pm (an hour before KO) and I was drunk enough to be in bed immediately after the Argentina/Ivory Coast game finished at 10pm. But then, I'm getting on a bit, and ain't the party animal I used to be.
posted by squealy at 04:15 AM on June 11, 2006
Ain't no party like an England party.
posted by squealy at 04:35 AM on June 11, 2006
posted by squealy at 04:42 AM on June 11, 2006
80 degrees is not hot at all. Maybe not, but the England camp report that their players lost between five and ten pounds per man during the 1-0 win and have requested that FIFA make water more available during games from now on.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:44 AM on June 11, 2006
England being so affected by the heat does not portend well for them if they have any hope to make it to the Final. In the quarters of the last World Cup, they started out so strongly against Brazil, but visibly wilted in the heat and barely made a showing in the second half, while Brazil was not bothered by it at all. I think that (and Beckham's unforgivable mistake at the touch line before the end of the first half that resulted in a goal for Brazil) were the differences in that England lost. I was really hoping they would have been more prepared for the heat. But... only the first game, maybe water will help. Or else, they need to pray for rain and overcast skies.
posted by psmealey at 08:07 AM on June 11, 2006
I really wish ABC would just rebroadcast the BBC or Sky coverage Amen to that, the American commentators are utterly abysmal. No insight whatsover and lots of yapping about totally distracting BS. Shep Messing is a moron ("PK! PK! PK!"... uh, they're called "Penalties" you rube!). You'd think he could offer a little inisght, but most of the time you'd you wish he would just shut up. Marcelo Balboa was marginally better, if he could offer some perspective having played more recently and at a higher level than NASL dinosaur Messing, but he was still terrible. By the time Julie Foudy inevitably steps up to the mic, I'll be ready to pull my hair out.
posted by psmealey at 08:17 AM on June 11, 2006
I watch the Sweden-T&T match on ABC yesterday - the coverage was jarring. Sound effects associated with graphics coming in and out. The "lineups" presented NFL style (big colour head shots, a row of defenders, midfielders and forwards - goalie in there somewhere too) with those graphics appearing after the game had started and took up the WHOLE bottom half of the screen. In Canada, TSN and Sportsnet are using a pool feed (might be BBC/Sky's, forget where I read this) but are not using the British commentarty (too expensive) and instead have another commentary stream (which is a British guy anyway, i guess just not the A-level British commentators).
posted by gspm at 09:25 AM on June 11, 2006
psmealy: Luckily for England, their remaining group games are both in the evening, and the mid-afternoon kickoffs are no more once it gets into the knockout phases.
posted by afx237vi at 09:31 AM on June 11, 2006
Do you think your being a little bit over zealous? lol I don't let my passion cloud my judgement. So, No!
posted by zippinglou at 02:22 PM on June 11, 2006
ok, i am not going to pretend to be a fan of soccer. I have tried to watch ABC's coverage and I agree with previous posters that its lacking in quality. Soccer has yet to fufill its potential in the USA; its hardly appointment tv for the masses like football. The current ABC tv coverage will not help the cause.
posted by panteeze at 02:23 PM on June 11, 2006
They had Tommy Smyth and Derek Rae for the Champions League, couldn't we at least have one of them as a team? I've watched six of the eight matches so far and am waiting for a decent broadcast.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:06 PM on June 11, 2006
The US comentators seem to be trying to hard to hype MLS and team USA (and Landon Donavan). Really sucks too because if they really wanted to turn more Americans on to soccer, insitefull comentary and showing they have at least some knowledge of the game would work so much better. IMO anyway.
posted by Folkways at 05:09 PM on June 11, 2006
That's not the only reason it sucks, Folkways. If the US do not advance out of their group (which is more than just a small likelihood), then they have shot the effort (and their ratings share) in the foot. I realize that I am biased, but really, but if you can't watch, say Italy versus the Czech Republic, or Brazil versus Croatia and not be enthralled by the beauty and grace of how the game is played at its highest level, despite not having a fanboy stake in the outcome of the game, there's really no hope for you. Sometimes the best match you will see all year ends 0-0. I'm not sure why many Americans can't get past that, as it seems such a simple concept. Terrible commentary notwithstanding, one thing I have enjoyed the past couple of days is the commercials before the games and during half time. They are almost completely bereft of any pro-USA chauvinism, and capture a lot of the joy and promise. The impossible is nothing campaign is really very well done.
posted by psmealey at 07:09 PM on June 11, 2006
I heard the BBC had a commentary channel of children watching the game and making fun of the players. That would be so much better than what we've got, and I don't even hate JP Dellacamera. Oh, and that Sweden/T&T scoreless tie was riveting. I was screaming at the TV with every save and shift in momentum.
posted by chicobangs at 07:55 PM on June 11, 2006
Great Kudo's to the excellent World Cup coverage provided by Univision and Telemundo.... I've really enjoyed the passionate, knowledgeable commentary and outstanding use of the German feed. The graphics are minimal and non intrusive. The audio feed was smack on the money, you could feel the crowd emotion ebb and flo, the level of professional analysis, pre and post match coverage is outstanding. I tried watching ABC after watching several matches on Univision and found myself wanting to slap the Producers for the over-production, lack of coherent analysis, overt homer-ism, grossly over produced graphics, crap audio feed and garish set layout, 10 second feed delay and audio sync problems, low fidelity monotrack audio was more then pure crap, to name a few annoying problems I encountered, last but not least, to see the lower third of my screen occasionally covered by an advertisement for a local Real Estate Company during play was more then I could stomach. I encourage everyone with a desire for top flight coverage of the World Cup in North America to brush up on your Spanish and tune into the Univision/Telemundo World Cup Coverage. The difference is like night and day.
posted by skydivedad at 09:00 PM on June 11, 2006
If you want to be enthralled by exciting soccer then DO NOT watch an Italy game. The most negative side in football today, and for the past several years. Their primary goal is to achieve a 0-0 tie at the beginning of every game - a win is a bonus.
posted by mikelbyl at 09:46 PM on June 11, 2006
If you're gonna slag off catenaccio, at least get your facts right. The primary goal is 1-0 at the beginning of every game, followed by 84 minutes of defense and a tying goal by the opposition at the 90'th :D
One must consider the final result. - Machiavelli
Guy de Parnesse: How do you recork a bottle of champagne? Girl de Parnesse: I don't know. Ask the ItaliansJust a wee bit of pre-game self depreciation. Forza Azzurri!
posted by romakimmy at 08:30 AM on June 12, 2006
Forza Azzurri! As an American living in Italy for the past 4 years... Traitor.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 08:53 AM on June 12, 2006
That was vaguely tongue in cheek, btw...
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 08:54 AM on June 12, 2006
It's also worth noting that the Italians haven't exactly been proponents of the catenaccio for a while now. Sure they still like to be solid at the back, but that might have something to do with having some pretty bloody handy defenders. They're also techincal going forward, rather than free-flowing, because that's the nature of their domestic league. But if Totti and Del Piero are on form on the same day then you're going to see some beautiful football.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:16 AM on June 12, 2006
Never fear Texan, I've been biting the nails over my crisis of "Go USA/Forza Azzurri" since the group draws were announced. And I really enjoyed your comment about Richardon footie in the other thread, Texan, as I am a tranplanted Yankee from Plano. Was planning to comment as such until I was distracted by something small and shiny... On preview: pretty bloody handy defenders. Nesta & Cannavaro - my favorite pair of defenders and not just because they are pretty, pretty eye candy. Only hope the former is able to play tonight or Friday. Totti I fear still has a little way to go to be on par with his previous form; Del Piero either drives me batshitinsane or makes me cheer wildly depending on which side of the bed he woke up on. Keep an eye out for Toni - he was the lead scorer this season. De Rossi is also one of those up & coming youngsters to watch.
posted by romakimmy at 10:25 AM on June 12, 2006
Plano, eh romakimmy? I remember when it was just the country and the only landmark was the water tower broadcasting all the football championships. At least it infamously made its way to the silver screen, which is more than I can say for Richardson. It's a shame it had to lose its soul along the way.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:37 PM on June 14, 2006
Others thought the weather played a factor. "I put that down to the heat. We started well," said (England supporter) Dave Sempers, who watched the game on a TV screen outside a bar. "But we lagged a bit toward the end." Wimps.