Irene's Weblog

The first match today was Argentina v. Germany. Germany wasted no time in scoring, doing so in the third minute of the match. Müller’s goal is the fastest goal in the World Cup since 1978. It was an exciting first half that ended with Germany up 1-0.

Miroslav Klose taps the ball in for the second goal against Argentina.

In the second half, Germany walked all over Argentina. Miroslave Klose scored in the 68th and 89th minute. Arne Friedrich also scored in the 74th minute. Germany played brilliantly today and got the much-deserved 4-0 win.

It was pretty cool seeing Angela Merkel celebrate the goals.

Since I was so excited for the first match and wanted Germany to win, Paraguay v. Spain can’t possibly be as entertaining. Oh wait, is it half time already? Boooring! Pick up the pace guys. This game sucks so far.

For five minutes, things got exciting. First, Paraguay was given a penalty kick. Oscar Cardozo’s attempt was saved, leaving the game at 0-0. A few seconds later, Spain got a penalty kick. Xabi Alonso’s kick went in, but it didn’t count because Spain encroached into the penalty area. So, the kick had to be made again.  It too was saved and we went back to more boring football. It’s the first time since 1930 that two penalty kicks have been saved in the same game (Argentina v. Mexico). The score remained 0-0.

Around the 70th minute, I started thinking that I’d rather have all my teeth yanked out with no Novocaine than continue watching this painful match. Yet, I held out hope that it might get better. The refs in this World Cup disallow goals more often than I change my underwear.

Spain finally scored in the 83rd minute. You had to laugh at the goal. The ball just did not want to go in. Pedro kicked the ball, but it hit the right post and bounced back out to David Villa. He kicked the ball. It hit the right post, bounced over and hit the left post and then bounced into the back of the net.

At the final whistle it was Spain 1-0 Paraguay. It’s the first time Spain has ever made it to the semifinals. Touching moment of the game in which I laughed: The Spanish players were consoling Paraguay’s Cardozo, who was bawling like a baby.

After a two day break, World Cup action is back. The first match today was Brazil v. The Netherlands. I really wanted The Netherlands to win, but the Brazilians are the better team. Still, anything can happen so you have to watch the matches.

Brazil thought they had scored a goal, but they were clearly offside. It didn’t matter much because a couple of minutes later, Robinho scored a goal to put Brazil up 1-0. The Dutch had a chance to score around the the 30th minute, but the Brazilians shut them down. Three Dutchmen vs. nine Brazilians just doesn’t accomplish much. The first half was filled with far too many fouls and a flow to the game just never developed.

In stoppage time, Robben tried to get past seven Brazilians, but he just got no help from anyone else and couldn’t put the ball into the net. If the Dutch had been up in the box, they could have scored. They needed to talk halftime to discuss the fact that Van Persie and Robben can’t do everything. They also need to figure out that one man can’t do it all. It’s a team game.

In the second half, the Dutch scored in the 53rd minute with a goal that came out of nowhere by Felipe Melo of Brazil. It was absolutely beautiful. The second half was much more exciting. In the 68th minute, a corner kick by Arjen Robben was headed by Dirk Kuyt who headed the ball to Wesley Sneijder who put the ball in the back of the net with his own header. It was absolutely insane and I loved every minute of it.

Felipe Melo got a red card for intentionally stomping Robben. It was not a good day for Melo at all. The ref was right on top of everything today. The Dutch pull a gigantic upset and knock Brazil out of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory. Absolutely fantastic and I didn’t think it would happen. I had actually picked Brazil to win the cup.

Uruguay v. Ghana was next and I’m sticking with Ghana. They probably won’t win, but they’re my team today. Fucile had a terrible accident in the 42nd minute and fell to the ground. He lay on the ground, completely limp. Eyes closed, everyone thought he might be dead. It appeared as if he landed on his neck. I don’t know how Fucile isn’t dead, but he’s officially the badass of the match.

Uruguay subbed Lugano, their captain, in the 33rd minute. Just when everyone thought that it would be 0-0 at the end of the first half, Sulley Muntari scored two minutes into stoppage time with a beautiful kick that took a parabolic curve into the net, putting Ghana up 1-0 at the half. Everyone anxiously awaited the second half to see if Ghana could hold out and win.

Uruguay came back in the second half to even the score in the 55th minute with a masterful kick by Diego Forlán. As with the earlier game, there are far too much diving and fouling.

The match went to extra time and, just at the last moment, Luis Suarez got a red card and was sent off. This set up a penalty kick for Ghana and Asamoah Gyan could have won it, but he hit the crossbar. The match went to penalty kicks, where Argentina would prove victorious 4-2.

It was a dramatic game marred by the constant time wasting measures and missed opportunities from both teams. Unfortunately, Ghana are going home, but it was a great match to see.

The first match today was Paraguay v. Japan. Nothing happened in the first 12 minutes of the game. As a matter of fact, the first half was so boring, I’d rather watch Joachim Loew, the manager for Germany, eat his boogers.

Was the second half a nailbiter? No, not really. It was just as boring as the first half, so I went back to watching Joachim pick boogers and eat them again. I honestly thought that Paraguay would walk away easily with a win. With the threat of extra time, I thought to myself, “We don’t need thirty more minutes of this shit.” My threats were not heeded and we went on to extra time. The score is still 0-0 and I want to choke some football players right now.

Again, Paraguay and Japan do nothing. Sure there was a little more action, and the Japanese put forth some effort, but it wasn’t enough to score any goals. On to the penalty kicks. Finally, Paraguay wins on penalty kicks 5-3.

The second match of the day was Spain v. Portugal. Yeah, another snooze fest in the first half. Let’s see what the second half brings. David Villa finally scored for Spain in the 63rd minute. I don’t think I could have taken another game with extra time in another boring match. Spain wins 1-0.

The first match today was The Netherlands v. Slovakia. Naturally, I root for the Dutch. Robben scored for Holland in the minute. The rest of the first half was relatively uneventful. In the second half, it was mostly a boring match until the minute, when Sneijder put the ball in. The Dutch were up 2-0 at that point. At, literally, the last second, Slovakia got a penalty kick. Vittek converted the goal at which point the ref blew the final whistle. Vittek has now scored more international goals than anyone else in Sloveakia. Final score The Netherlands 2-1 Slovakia. I’m glad the Dutch won, but, wow, that was a boring match.

Here is a picture of The Netherlands’ “sexiest” fan:

In the second match of the day, Brazil took on Chile. It proved to be one of the better matches of the World Cup so far. Brazil won 3-0, sending Chile home. Brazil will next face The Netherlands, which should prove to be another exciting game.

So, I started my day early by watching the F1 European Grand Prix. This race was held in Valencia. It was an exciting race, including watching Mark Webber run up the backside of Heikki Kovalainen, destroying both cars. It was sad too because Webber drivers for Red Bull and I like both the team and their drivers. Speaking of which, Sebastian Vettel is my favorite driver and he drives for Red Bull. He won the race and is now in third place. Kobayashi also drove a fantastic race and made a nice passing move on Alonso. I hate Alonso and wish he would drive into Schumacher every single race so I don’t ever have to see either of them drive.

The first World Cup game today was Germany v. England. Miroslav Klose scored early and put Germany up 1-0 in the 20th minute. Germany scored again in the 32nd minute with a nice shot by Lukas Podolski. England came back in the 37th minute and scored a goal by Upson, followed by another goal in the 38th minute by Frank Lampard, that the ref said didn’t go in, but clearly did. At the half, Germany led 2-1.

In the second half, Germany scored again with Thomas Müller knocking the ball into the net in the 67th and 70th minutes, making it 4-1. Wayne Rooney was absolutely pathetic in this World Cup. He’s did nothing and there’s no good reason for him to be out there playing. He should have been benched for this game. England continued their terrible defense and Germany scored again, making it 4-1.

Although many think the final score should have been 4-2, it was 4-1. Either way. England didn’t do much and Germany won the day. It is the worst lost ever for England in a World Cup.

Unfortunately, the Brits will place the blame at the linesman and FIFA, even though England’s lack of basic defensive skills is what caused the loss. Rooney was terrible. Heskey was non-existant. There was no defense and just all around shitty play for England. Getting screwed out of a goal is one thing. Not playing to your potential is another. And that is why England are going home.

In the second game, Argentina soundly trounced Mexico 3-1, though there was one controversial goal for Argentina. The Argentinians were clearly offside, but the goal was allowed to stand. I fell asleep in the second half so I missed most of it.

Here are some amusing pictures of the goal that was not to be for England.  Click the photos to see them full size.