We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Major stakes here in the first match today - the winners will avoid a nasty second round clash with Argentina. Portugal haven't quite turned it on yet while Mexico didn't turn up for their second match. Join me for this sprightly affair this morning.
posted by gatorbob @ 9:57 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
19 Comments:
GOAL: 6 minutes; Portugal 1-0; almost identical goal to Portugals early goal against Angola, here Simao instead of Figo supplying a great cross penalty area ball for Maniche to slot home in the top corner. Bad start for Mexico.
This puts significant pressure on Mexico. They're on four points now. A win for Angola would put them into play for the second spot. It would come down to goal difference. Right now Mexico have a goal difference of 1 while Angola have a goal difference of -1. This could get interesting in a few goals go in.
Big Phil has rested five players on yellow cards, including Pauleta and Cristiano Ronaldo.
GOAL: 2-0 Portugal; Simao scores with one of those stutter-step penalties that I hate. Those should be banned.
Our old friend Rafael Marquez is having a nightmare. He's playing in an unfamiliar holding midfield role rather than at the heart of the defense and he's coughed up several balls in dangerous situations. Now he's given up a penalty with an inexplicable hand ball. He's looking to the heavens for an explanation, but it's his own damn fault.
Miguel for Portugal and Luis Perez pick up yellow cards in quick succession.
Simao is running riot here; Tiago now could've had a third.
Mexico now have a "0" goal difference. Even one in off the bum of the ancient Akwa of Angola could have them in trouble.
GOAL: 2-1; Fonseca scores a header from a corner after Ricardo had just conjured an incredible save from an Omar Bravo strike.
That eases the pressure on Mexico a bit. They now have a goal difference of 2.
Sorry, I was merely repeating Rob Stone's ignorant comment from the telly. Mexico has a goal difference of merely 1 after a 3-1 win against Iran and a 0-0 draw with Angola and now a goal down to Portugal.
Half-time: 2-1; This one's still on a knife's edge for Mexico. The other match is still at 0-0, so if this holds up Portugal would top the group and Mexico would come second.
But things could change in a second. This has been a surprisingly good match. I didn't expect this, especially from Portugal, who've shown impressive depth today, resting five starters.
i really have a grudging respect for mexico and i'd like them to advance. that handball of marquez's, did he even get a card for that? what a prat, but we've seen worse from that assassin.
when i saw that that big phil had rested so many starters, i thought that mexico would be all right here. but the promotion of marquez into the midfield has been a disaster and if mexico have any chance at all, it will be after the break when they bring on someone like torrado. he'll do the job that marquez is not doing now, and marquez can go back to doing the job of a central defender that the current central defender isn't currently doing.
what a crazy game. i just can't fathom why mexico would have done it this way.
i was saying to dad that we'll probably be able to follow who is winning in the the angola iran game by the effort of the mexicans in the second half. i'm back after the match
Right you are, Gooner. We'll see if the Mexicans begin to sweat. Personally I don't fancy the Angolans to score, so I reckon it could be moot.
La Volpe has brought the flash in the pan Zinha bloke on instead of Torrado for the second half. I've heard rumors that LaVolpe - an Argentinian - fancies meeting his home country in the second round. I don't understand his confidence.
A comedic series of events worthy of a Buster Keaton movie. First Miguel goes up to block a shot by Fonseca and falls on the ball hand down. Ref blows for a very soft penalty.
Then Bravo steps up and Chris Waddles it into the stands. I'm pissing myself laughing.
We're still on a knife's edge.
And another Buster Keaton sequence!
Bravo goes all floppity hoping to con the ref into another penalty and picks up a yellow for his troubles.
His mate Luis Perez steps into the ref's face and gets all mouthy with him and picks up his second yellow - he's off! Mexico down to ten men. They're trying to throw this one away!
Wow! Now we've got news out of Leipzig that Angola have scored their first WC goal! They're now at 0 goal difference and Mexico at 1. This is super tight.
The interesting thing will be to see the desire of the Portuguese to put the knife to the Mexicans; they certainly have it in them to do so, but will they be bothered.
The plucky Iranians have now equalized against Angola, so this one's just about done. Ten minutes left and it looks as if Portugal and Mexico will settle.
Full-time: 2-1; Mexico through by the skin of their teeth after an impressive display from Portugal who didn't really need anything from this match. They defeated Mexico easily without risking five of their starters. Argentina will be drooling at the prospect of meeting Mexico now. All they have to do is get a tie from Holland. I'll be back at 3 p.m. for that one.
fifa can send a letter off to the mexicans then. they definitely manipulated this one to meet the argies. bad enough that they started with marquez in the midfield to comic effect. then bravo wellies a penalty in to row double-zed, then because they still might accidently beat the sleeping portuguese, perez throws himself on a sword by mouthing off to the ref when he's already on a yellow.
one of the more peculiar outings you'll ever see.
Yeah, strange performance, that. They almost seemed to be egging Angola on, to say nothing of that match-up with Argentina. On that evidence they have no chance of beating the Argies.
Post a Comment
<< Home