still no home based internet for me

My new modem hasn't come yet which is a disappointment. Patience, I say, patience. On the positive side, I wasn't in my apartment much today, which means I didn't have the air conditioning on too much. Yay for keeping the electric bill down!

And the wrap-up of FIFA action today...
"Germany vs. Ecuador. Go Ecuador! 2-1."
Nope. Germany won 3-0.
"Costa Rica vs. Poland. Costa Rica! 2-0."
Nope. Poland won 2-0.
"Sweden vs. England. I want England to LOSE LOSE LOSE. Sweden 1-0."
Nope. a 2-2 tie. I am convinced they fixed it... harumph harumph.
"Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad! Sorry Paraguay. 3-1."
Well I was right about Paraguay winning. 2-0. Dale Pepino :-)

And tomorrow's games:
Iran vs Angola. Go Angola! 3-1.
Portugal vs Mexico. Portugal! This could knock out the Mexicans, jejeje. I shouldn't be so pleased about that possibility. Portugal 2-0.
Ivory Coast vs Serbia. I want Ivory Coast to win. I'll call it for them 2-1.
ARGENTINA!! vs Holland. I don't think anyone should have a doubt as to who I think is going to win this game. ARGENTINA 4-1.

Ominous

There was thunder last night. I hate thunder and lightning, it gives me the chills. Anyways I have everything on surge protectors, but for whatever reason something went wrong with my modem. So my Internet is out at home and I have to trek to the library... I should get my new modem by tomorrow, but it is frustrating. Especially because everything else is fine. Harumph. So I couldn't do my updates last night because at 9 PM when I got off the phone with the internet people, there was NO WAY I would be coming back to campus! So -

My belated updates:
Togo vs. Switzerland. Togo 1-0. Nope, Switzerland 2-0.
Saudi Arabia vs. Ukraine. Saudi Arabia 3-1. Dead wrong, it was Ukraine 4-0.
Spain vs. Tunisia. Spain 2-0. I was right about Tunisia not being a weak team, but they lost to Spain 3-1.

So my predictions from yesterday weren't stellar.

For today:
Germany vs. Ecuador. Go Ecuador! 2-1.
Costa Rica vs. Poland. Costa Rica! 2-0.
Sweden vs. England. I want England to LOSE LOSE LOSE. Sweden 1-0.
Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad! Sorry Paraguay. 3-1.

And may I just note that 1. my class was amazing yesterday and 2. FIFA sucks for the scheduling of the third games of group stage. Really sucks. No one can physically watch all the games live. Boo.

And I am a little sad because numerically we are past the halfway point in number of games. The frenzy is becoming, well, less frenzied. Which makes me sort of sad. But ARGENTINA plays tomorrow so WOOHOO!!!!!

Soy mujer futbolera!

Japan vs. Croatia. I'll call it for Japan 2-1. It was a 0-0 tie.
Brazil vs. Australia. I'll call it for Brazil 2-0. Spot on! Go me! Though Brazil's form still left something to be desired, considering how everyone makes such a big deal about the style with which they play... START ROBINHO! Though Australia is definitely one of the surprises of the tournament for me. Though I was surprised when they beat Uruguay to get to the Finals...
France vs. Korea. Korea 3-1. A 1-1 tie. Actually quite satisfying. I liked Henry's goal.

I have spent way too much time watching the highlight videos on FIFA's website... though I sometimes wonder why they include what they do. The Italy US game highlights were disappointing - they didn't really show any of the shots from either team in the 2nd half. I wanted to see the US-goal-that-should-have-been. But it is not on the reel. I also don't know why the Germany-Poland reel is still the first one up. That was like 10 games ago, people. And I have lost count of how many times I have watched the Argentina-Serbia reel... even though it was only Friday! All they have time to show is the goals! Though I wish they showed more of the buildup for Cambiasso's... We see fewer than half of the total 26 touches on the highlight reel. Then again, they only allot 2:28 to each game.

As a friend's away message says, World Cup makes it really hard to get work done. Luckily for me, I have been able to do some reading in the last few days and cross a few works off of my gigantic list. It feels good to do that.

That said, the group stage of the Cup is my favorite part! Where else do you get such a concentration of (usually) high quality, frenetic, passionate, IMPORTANT games? Besides which, it only happens every 4 years. The group stage is when you get to see the widest variety of styles and players, not to mention the greatest chance for upset. It makes me happy to be alive. Which brings me to the title of this post.


S observed today that I am not really typical in my soccer/footbal/futbol/futebol obsession, for several reasons. One, I am from the US. While it is becoming less rare for (North) Americans to follow soccer, it is still not really seen as "normal." Two, I am a woman. Between these two demographic observations, being a woman is much more unusual in terms of being a soccer fan. Perhaps that is not the case among soccer followers here, but in Chile, I definitely stand out. I can talk to (men) people about team's line-ups, coaching gaffes, history, quality of play... as the brother of a friend once said, it's like talking to a guy! The same happened when I was travelling in Argentina - random people (again, men) were impressed that I knew (a lot) about local teams. Well, duh. But that's just me - a mujer futbolera. There are more of us than you might think. I promise.

Perhaps I'll return to that idea at some point... but on to the daily predictions. I have to enjoy the group stage while it lasts! Even though the organizers (Germany! ahem) have games doubled up for the 3rd game of group play, meaning it will be much more complicated to follow ALL the games in real time... Another idea I want to return to at some point is that of why the English-speaking press is so pro-Brazil and so (relatively) anti-Argentina. But that is another post for another day. Predictions:

Togo vs. Switzerland. Sorry Grandma, but I am going to have to root for Togo on this one. Togo 1-0.
Saudi Arabia vs. Ukraine. Continuing my down-with-the-Europeans tendency, I call it for Saudi Arabia 3-1. And no, my problems with European football have nothing to do with European attitudes towards the US. I just want non European teams to win because the Europeans have enjoyed a (in my opinion) undeserved advantage in FIFA's structure.
Spain vs. Tunisia. Here I depart from my anti-Europe tendency to root for Spain! Because they play prettily. And they're not the French. Spain 2-0, because Tunisia is a stronger team than the Ukraine.

It's way too hot to be outside today

I thought I was going to cry while watching the MatchCast for the US game. Uf. But we could still go through... what sucks is that my desire for the US AND Ghana to go through the group is numerically impossible. I'll be pleased as long as one of the two goes through, preferably on the top - because whoever is 2nd probably has to face Brazil.

Portugal vs. Iran. Portugal 2-0. I was totally right! Go me!
Czech Republic vs. Ghana. 1-1 tie. One of the most amazing games... Ghana wins, 2-0.
Italy vs. US. Even though I'm probably wrong, I'll call it for the US 1-0. I wasn't too wrong... it was a crazy 1-1 tie with three red cards! Group E is wide open!

Tomorrow:
Japan vs. Croatia. I'll call it for Japan 2-1. Though I'm not overly familiar with either team.
Brazil vs. Australia. This should be an interesting game. Unless Brazil plays with more creativity than they did against Croatia... I'll call it for Brazil 2-0.
France vs. Korea. I want France to not move on... no one thought they were a great footballing nation until 1998. Korea 3-1.

Somos el equipo de Jose

There is a Mexican restaurant down the street that I had never been to. We had lunch with the students there today - it was actually pretty nice. Good times. I wore my jersey. Je, je.

Argentina vs. Serbia. Argentina all the way! 2-0. If you haven't realized yet - and you should have - Argentina won 6-0. People are finally taking notice. It was pretty. Very pretty. Though there are always those who say, well it is only two victories, over Cote d'Ivoire and Serbia. Before Argentina beat them, these same people were saying that this was a very difficult group. And the goals from today's game were very, very pretty. Jogo bonito! Watch the FIFA highlights reel. It will make you smile.

Holland vs. Cote d'Ivoire. A 1-1 tie? Unfortunately and with a score that does not show the great skill of Cote d'Ivoire, Holland won 2-1. The Argentina game was better.

Mexico vs. Angola. ANGOLA 2-1. A 0-0 tie. Woohoo! An African team got a point!

Tomorrow's predictions:
Portugal vs. Iran. Portugal 2-0.
Czech Republic vs. Ghana. 1-1 tie.
Italy vs. US. Even though I'm probably wrong, I'll call it for the US 1-0.

And the Argentina game. Really excellent. Even the English admit it. ;-)

I would...

... feel badly for Serbia. If I weren't an Argentina fan.

6-0.

DALE ARGENTINA! And good for Pekerman!

Thank you, Abbondanzieri, Ayala, Sorin, Cambiasso, Heinze, Mascherano, Gonzalez, Crespo, Riquelme, Saviola, Maxi Rodriguez, Burdisso, Tevez, and Messi. You have made my day.

A Rejected Greeting Card

late in the game goals

I was such a space cadet today that I got all the way to campus before realizing that I had forgotten to bring the materials to photocopy for my class today. Go me.

Argentina plays in less than 12 hours... woohoo!

And my record today:
Ecuador vs. Costa Rica Ecuador, 2-0. Actually, it was 3-0. Ouch for Costa Rica.
England vs. Trinidad. Optimistically calling it for Trinidad! 2-1. Harumph. England 2-0, but the English played like crap. At least they scored their own goals this time. But they really don't deserve to advance, given their play this tournament.
Sweden vs. Paraguay. Tie 1-1. Sweden 1-0. Sweden picked up 3 points and Paraguay's out.

TOMORROW:
Argentina vs. Serbia. Argentina all the way! 2-0. I hope Saviola scores another goal!!!
Holland vs. Cote d'Ivoire. What do I want to happen? Cote d'Ivoire to win. What do I think will happen? I really have no clue. A 1-1 tie?
Mexico vs. Angola. What do I want to happen? Mexico to lose. Yes, I have said this before. So I will throw caution to the wind (is that the correct phrase?) and say ANGOLA 2-1. And hey then an African team would actually win a game.

PS - what's up with all of the late in the game goals? It's crazy!

And for some diversion: From The Onion, Devastated by US World Cup Team's First-Round Loss, Nation Grinds to Halt.

I'm stuffy and exhausted, so all I can talk about is the Mundial!

Spain - Ukraine. Spain 1-0. I was right... but Spain scored 4 goals, not 1! :-)
Tunisia - Saudi Arabia. 1-1 tie. It was a dramatic 2-2 tie. Go me.
Germany - Poland. Germany 2-0. It was Germany 1-0. poor Poland doesn't have any points...

And tomorrow's games...

Ecuador vs. Costa Rica Ecuador, 2-0. Though I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other.
England vs. Trinidad. Optimistically calling it for Trinidad! 2-1. I'll let the English score a goal for themself, though. They should do that much... but I hope Trinidad wins.
Sweden vs. Paraguay. Tie 1-1. Though I lean towards rooting for Paraguay...

Argentina plays Friday! Yay!

Achoo part two

I can't breathe! I slept so little last night that I am ready to fall asleep... like... now. My nose is red and I am almost out of tissues. Not cool. My response? Frantically clean my entire apartment. Wash all things fabric - yes, that includes the curtains... I hope I got all the allergens out. We'll see. I'm mostly just allergic to molds (ew!) and I haven't found any recently but still... it's summer and there is lots of humidity. Plus there were workpeople doing things in the apartment next to mine - namely, taking out the carpet. The person who lived there was definitely a smoker. Also not good for my sinuses.

Class started today, I think it went pretty well. I like the group, they should be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, my voice is all gravelly and my hearing is weird because my head is all stuffy, but it went well nonetheless. Hopefully I can hear better tomorrow.

And for my favorite part of the day! World Cup wrap-up.

I said: Korea vs. Togo. Korea 2-0. Well... I was right about Korea winning. 2-1. So not too bad.
France vs. Switzerland. France 1-0. TIE! Woohoo for the Swiss! 0-0
Brazil vs. Croatia. Brazil 4-1. A disappointment... S told me (since he could actually see the game) that the first 20 minutes were pretty and then it got pretty boring. Yes, he called the game boring. Brazil won on a Kaka goal, 1-0.

Next up: Spain - Ukraine. Two Europeans... I'll call for Spain 1-0.
Tunisia - Saudi Arabia. I don't know much about either team... I'll call a 1-1 tie.
Germany - Poland. Hmmmmmm...... fraught with history.... I'll probably be rooting for Poland, but I think Germany will win, 2-0.