World Cup Draw [P+R]

[farmboy]

I think Brazil is overated. They've got a rather underperforming Kaka and that's about it.

Funny. I'd argue the opposite - the fact that they don't have a huge crop of superstars makes them all the more dangerous. In terms of the world cup, nothing is more scary then a team full of beach-trained Brazilians trying to get themselves noticed by the big money teams. It happened in '02 and it's going to happen again this year.
Tangental topic: does Ronaldo get a callup, and if so, how dangerous is he going to be in south africa? I'd personally like to see him prove to the world that he's still a force to be reckoned with. he deserves to retire from his international career on a high note.

 

[cmc211]

It's true that Euro winners didn't actually made good efforts in next WC after 2 years.

Example

2004 Greece → Eliminated
2000 France → Group Stage
1996 Germany → Quarter Final
1992 Denmark → Eliminated
1988 Netherlands → Round of 16

 

[Kibe Kru]

Tangental topic: does Ronaldo get a callup, and if so, how dangerous is he going to be in south africa? I'd personally like to see him prove to the world that he's still a force to be reckoned with. he deserves to retire from his international career on a high note.

Dunga already told the media not to push him into a mistake as it happened in 2006 when they asked him about the possibility of a Ronaldo call up. His form at Corinthians has been good enough, though obviously not to the level of the other Brazilian forwards... If he does go to SA, I'm sure he'll score some goals, but he won't be the 2002 Ronaldo. I'd be more than happy if he helps Corinthians to a first Libertadores title.

 

[1966+2006]

Brazil are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
At the moment it looks like we could get a Spain - Brazil final.

 

[Zlatan]

I'm not a Brazil fan boy but Brazil manages to win games even at their worst shape.

In 2006 they were in bad shape and lost in the first knockout round. And they had more quality players than they got now.

Did you watch the Confed Cup?

I did. But the only 'strong' nation they played there was Italy, who quite frankly weren't(and still aren't) in very good shape.

 

[Bobby]

Fat Ronaldo for the World Cup!

 

[night]

Fat Ronaldo for the World Cup!

Agreed!

 

[Filipower]

I did. But the only 'strong' nation they played there was Italy, who quite frankly weren't(and still aren't) in very good shape.

I disagree, but what-evah.

 

[adedawson]

English commentators on the international English audio feed covering the big international football events ... the increased decibel level in declaring an English goal is amply tangible ("Lampaaaaaard!!!" - Martin Tyler), and they constantly harp on about how a certain player plays for a certain English club, or if they are the subject of an English club's interest, or if one of their cousins, twice removed, at age of 15, had a trial with an English ... no mention or care for any other perspective ... again, EURO 2008 was a little better for, though there were obviously still going to be players connected to the Premiership in some way ...

Every Commentator is exactly the same international game or domestic. In fact its so much worse else where, Just listen to this, its a joke.

 

[Arnau]

haha! but thats a radio comentator (barça fan as well) in a barça-madrid, they use to be crazy, at least here. I love those comentators.

 

[adedawson]

haha it is pretty funny

 

[Xifio]

that is a local radio station, not an international audio feed ...

 

[Sevillista]

Yep, international English announcers are insufferably biased (if you're not English).

 

[RobbieD_PL]

Brazil are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
At the moment it looks like we could get a Spain - Brazil final.

Boo! How come we didn't get that at the Confed Cup...

 

[adedawson]

that is a local radio station, not an international audio feed ...

yes the previous poster highlighted that fact... but the point remains the same. Every commentator domestic or international go nuts for the home crowd. Then there the commentators who just go nuts, its a common thing.

There are countless clips around that highlight the above. Are you trying to denying that fact on the grounds of a bad example? Would you like me to find another's.








Don't ask me where these come from but just look around there's stacks of them from everywhere. Just type in crazy commentator, literally 1000's come up. Its not just the British. I bet you would get even more results typing in the language of the nation your after.

*edit* btw why do so many of you listen to the bbc international service? Are these games not aired in your own country? Seems mad if you don't like it... why listen?

 

[Scout FC]

For the most part I prefer the British announcer to the ones we've got over here in the States. Occasionally I'm at a lost with the lingo. When you get a, "Their bulldogging in the wheel house god almighty it a full on chicken wing battle!" "Knocked like a bear kiss Johnson was, he's alright."

But in the end it's very entertaining and they make it interesting. I sometimes have trouble understand certain words, especially if the announcer is Irish, but anything beats listening to freak'n Alexi Lalas and that guy who calls the game like Captain Kirk.

 

[farmboy]

Alexi Lalas

A passable player in his time. The worst announcer I've ever heard for any sport in any country at any level. My local radio station has better announcers for HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL.

 

[Xifio]

yes the previous poster highlighted that fact... but the point remains the same.

I don't see how the point remains the same ... a local station goes as far as its city/county/province ... the international audio feed goes out on every single broadcast of the match that wants english language commentary, be it in england, or in asia, or in africa, etc. ... I think it is not unreasonable to expect commentators covering the global english language feed to refrain from the bias of supporting england or promoting its league ...

... Every commentator domestic or international go nuts for the home crowd.

Then there the commentators who just go nuts, its a common thing.

There are countless clips around that highlight the above. Are you trying to denying that fact on the grounds of a bad example? Would you like me to find another's.






Don't ask me where these come from but just look around there's stacks of them from everywhere. Just type in crazy commentator, literally 1000's come up. Its not just the British. I bet you would get even more results typing in the language of the nation your after.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by "go nuts for the home crowd" ... I don't think "home crowd" is the right choice of words ...

anyway, my point about Martin Tyler screaming "Lampaaaard" on the international audio feed wasn't to point that he was going nuts ... in fact, the best thing about English commentary is that they do not go crazy like the Arab or Spanish commentators (whose yelping can be described as annoying) ... Martin Tyler has an excellent voice -- refined; eloquence personified ... I would describe a lot of English commentators in that way ...

what I was trying to point out was that despite the fact that the commentators know they are on the international audio feed, and despite the fact that the commentators are expected to be unbiased on the international audio feed, it is far too common to find a significant rise in decibel level (e.g. "LampAAAArd") when an England goal is reported, and a very tangible emptiness (e.g. "oh, Rui Costa") and drop in decibel level when a goal against England is reported ... that is one of a few points I made in the earlier post where I was discussing this issue in a little more detail ...

*edit* btw why do so many of you listen to the bbc international service? Are these games not aired in your own country? Seems mad if you don't like it... why listen?

refer to my response to the first part of your quote ... hopefully that clears up what I mean by the "international audio feed" ...

 

[night]

At least none of those commentators have a particular fascination with 1 player:

 

[Bobby]

He calls Peter Crouch the "pink panther"

But yea, the Simao thing was weird!