O.K., I give up, I've been waiting for somebody, anybody to post on the World Cup, so I could "join in" the thread (hate starting them myself...). Is nobody out there a football fan? Is nobody watching this year's World Cup, except me??

Charlene

yes, charlene. we haven't missed a game! my husband is german and we lived in latin america for years so this is a HUGE event for us. my husband was holding onto the couch with his fingernails during germany's game yesterday and got a huge thrill when they won at the very last moment!

Well thankfully I'm not totally alone, Barbara! I get SO caught up in it, can't stop watching it at home and at work. At work, I'm lucky enough to be in an area where we have huge projectors playing all 3 daily games on the wall for us!

Because Canada is NEVER in the World Cup, at work we "pick our team", and we cheer them on and fly their flags on our cars etc. I have many Italian friends, so I chose Italy. I must say, I've been very impressed with the "debutantes" this year, especially Trinidad and Tobago. I almost found myself cheering them on against England today (but couldn't quite, or my Dad would've killed me). Their game against Sweden was fantastic.

We'll keep in touch! And obviously I can't say "good luck to the U.S.A. tomorrow" - LOL.

Charlene

Wow, Charlene. You are so fortunate to have huge projectors playing the games at work. Argentina was incredible today, 6-0 against Serbia Montenegro. However I tend to root for the underdog so didn't really enjoy the massacre! How is Italy doing? Waiting now for the Mexico-Angola game to begin in a few minutes. My husband was sweating bullets until Germany passed onto the next round. We watch the games on the spanish channel, Univision. The announcers are so much fun, full of witty comments and of course the never-ending shout of 'goooooooooool' when someone scores. I'm pretty confident that you'll be happy with the outcome of the game tomorrow, it would pretty much take a perfect game by usa to stay alive! Will be thinking of you guys tomorrow while watching!!

As Expats living in England, let me just say the World Cup has taken over this country! The cars are decorated, everyone has a team shirt for game day and the pubs are overflowing with fans! It is fun to be in such a frenzied atmosphere and we are definately rooting for the home team.
Cheers, Pam

It really is fun immersing yourself in it. Pam, if you don't already understand the rules of the game, have someone simplify it for you (as I did last world cup) and just dive in, jump on the band wagon, you'll find yourself crazy about this "beautiful game" as it's called!!!

Toronto is a VERY multi cultural city, and the flags flying around town are amazing. I'm flying Italy's flag, but my Dad's flying England's, so there you go. There are a lot of England flags/pubs/parties. England is my 2nd team pick.

Every ethnic group has an "area" of Toronto they claim as their own (street signs are officially printed with the names, i.e. "Little Italy" underneath the name of the street), and the parties erupting after every win in the right area are great fun.

I'm like you, Barbara, if "one of my teams" isn't playing, I'm always for the underdog, so I didn't enjoy today's massacre by Argentina either. And I honestly thought Ivory Coast could've taken Holland....and should have.

Tomorrow, Italy plays at 3:00 p.m., against the USA... Czechs play Ghana (and I really want the underdog to win that one........Czech has too many "goals for" at this point, and if they beat Italy in their division, Italy will be stuck playing Brazil...)

Will check in with you both on Sunday. CHEERS!!

Charlene

One more thing, ladies. GO ANGOLA! I can't believe they kept Portugal on their toes (only lost 1-0), and they managed a 0-0 draw with Mexico today. What a fantastic debutant team! Gotta love it. That they even MADE the World Cup was reason to celebrate, imagine all this magic for them!

Addicted, and admitting it.

Charlene

I was amazed that Angola kept up nose to nose with Mexico too! I would've sworn Mexico wouldn't have a problem dominating the game. Then I remembered that Angola had been colonized by Portugal who plays very well, they're also competing in the world cup. So they learned from one of the best! Life will stop here at 3 p.m. today for the usa-italy game. just hope i'll want to go on living afterwards!

How exciting to find this thread! My husband and I are football fans. We started really following the EPL when we found Fox Soccer Channel on our satelite system. We even watched the England v Paraguay match in French on our hotel tv in Papeete, Tahiti after getting off the PG!
We've been watching as many games as possible. The officiating of the USA v Italy game yesterday was interesting, to say the least.

I was away from my computer for a couple of days, but I"m back! Yes, Jill, the officiating was interesting in that USA/Italy game. But the whole game was bizarre, with the "own goal" and Italians flopping around on the field half the time. Red cards, yellow cards, Italian offsides....who could keep up.

I am actually glad to see that FIFA has ordered the refs to really crack down on two footed slides and violence and "simulations" as they're called. It's about time they did that.

I missed Brazil/Australia yesterday due to sunny weather (they're mocking me enough, had to join my friends outside), did anybody see it? Was Brazil totally dominating, or did the Aussies hold their own?

Well, upstairs to watch Togo and Switzerland now. And it's raining out, so I have a good excuse to stay in and watch, today!!

Cheers! Charlene

Barbara, tell your husband I'll cheer for Germany on his behalf today - LOL. I'm secretly hoping that England beats Sweden, and then Trinidad & Tobago wins their match - I think that might take Trinidad and Tobago to the final round. Wouldn't that be an upset for Sweden if that happened - they'd be just kicking themselves for drawing with T&T last week. I'd love to see it. Love an underdog - as long as they're not playing MY teams.

Have to sleep a couple of hours, just got off nightshift, then it's "let the games begin".

Charlene

Hey Charlene; it's been quite the weekend. i'm already feeling withdrawal symptoms as teams are eliminated and sent home. the u.s.-italy match was something for the books, wasn't it! as Jill said, interesting to say the least. for awhile i wasn't sure if i was watching soccer or the gladiators in rome! yes, my husband was so happy that germany won, 3-0 over ecuador just now. germany is in first place in group A. the commentators on univision weren't thrilled at all with the russian referee. i'm rooting for england too this afternoon! and have to confess that i was thrilled that korea tied with france.

Hello Barbara, Pam and Jill. Just wrapped up my tour of nightshifts, so now I have 5 lovely days off to enjoy games! I'm so glad Germany won, so there would be peace and tranquility in your home, Barbara. I suppose I'll have to settle for England drawing. It's really been fantastic, I've enjoyed this tournament so much. And now, off to bed, but believe me, more later!!!!

Excellent games today - my Italy won (and they didn't flop around on the field too much, it was much less embarassing than the last game) and Australia beat Croatia (I was torn there, but found myself cheering for Australia). That game was particularly fun to watch, I thought. And little Ghana, making it to the second round, how fun is that? Who knew!!!