Portugal 1-0 NetherlandsThis probably being the most awful football game I've ever seen. Never have I seen such a breakdown in sportsmanship and officiating in a World Cup game. The man of the game is not Maniche (although he did score the winning goal) but Von Bronkhorst (NET) and Deco (POR) for chitchatting on the benches after both had been redcarded. Speaking of Deco, hopefully, Scolari will appeal his red card to FIFA, as it was completely unfair. Deco had been manhandled by Cocu (NET), not the other way around.
There was much shoving, much elbowing, much headbutting on both sides (actually, more coming from the Netherlands, unsurprisingly, since that was the way they won over the Ivory Coast). Luis Figo (POR) headbutted Bolarhouz (NET)(earning Figo a yellow card), followed by Bolarhouz elbowing Figo in the face (red card), Sneijder shoving Petit after a foul while the referee wasn't watching (both yellow carded), Kuyt kicking Ricardo in the butt (okay, that one was an accident) and of course Deco being manhandled by Cocu.
Of course, Portugal was responding to the Netherlands' provocations, but that is not a reason to lose your cool. That being said, the Netherlands deserved to lose this game.
In contrast, yesterday's game between Argentina and Mexico was one of the cleanest I've seen. I was almost hoping that Mexico would equalize in overtime, just so that the game would end in penalty kicks.
Received in the Mail:
-Logan's small town, issues #5, 7 and 8, all of which looks fantastic. Why didn't I notice Armand Capanna before?
-A nice note from Eric Unger of Spell, which was also sent to other people whose work I quite like.
Comments
armand is the johnny depp (in looks) of the po-scene...
you two look at this
Or Germany.
What do you think, Claire?
Claire doesn't like sports.
And Claire just left.
seems like you or john should do it, to Woo properly.
Argentina. Lord, don't let it be the Germans. (Though I suppose Argentina was technically the repository for the worst Germans)
Can't rough up the Swedes and stay on my good side, no sir.
Ghana! Ghana! Ghana! Go Appiah, go!
Argentina would be nice too.
My favorite: Deco gets thrown to the ground and gets a red card for it!
Or: When the Dutch decided to forgo the whole pass the ball back out of sportsmanship
Kuyt totally went for the goalies' genitals. No doubt about it!
Oh, that was a classic match. Probably the worst refereeing I've ever seen in any game.
Argentina is the most over-rated team in this tournament. So they beat Serbia 6-0. That won't help them against the Germans. (I hate both those teams.).