Forget the beer, although it is not bad; try the Croatian wine instead. For, some of their wine is superlative.
(And I write/speak from experience as I know Croatia rather well).
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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
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Forget the beer, although it is not bad; try the Croatian wine instead. For, some of their wine is superlative.
(And I write/speak from experience as I know Croatia rather well).
Agree with the wine advice. This is shaping up to be an interesting World Cup, as a Canadian and son of Greek immigrants I have no horse in this race I am just enjoying seeing some of the old favourites get knocked down a bit.
Nice post, and I sort of agree with you.
And yes, I do like to see arrogance and entitlement humbled. That old hubris and nemesis stuff. Perhaps it is simply because - ever so fleetingly - it serves to restore a sense of equilibrium and equity and fairness in a disordered and fractious and unfair world, don't you think?
@Zenithal: As with Argentina, I think that the days when Brazil ran rings around such tournaments may well be coming t a close. But, yes, you did say that you looked forward to Brazil losing or tying/drawing their next match (snigger). As do I.
I did have a glass of wine last night. Though it doesn't fit the bill with the warm humid days we're experiencing. A crisp beer on the other hand...
Indeed. Though the last cup games should have been indicative of that. I was never a fan of the South American teams and wasn't a fan of some of the European teams. Though I think it's time to pass on the torch to new blood. Whether it's Belgium or somehow Croatia make it, I'd be happy either way. Argentina, Brazil and Italy faltering with the the last not having been able to qualify, it says something. At least to me.
Aside from the regional cup games, this is one of the few WCs I remember, in my lifetime that is, where I'm seeing absolute upset with classics and relative newcomers at the helm of destruction. To say I massively enjoy seeing landmark countries losing their sanity on the pitch is a major understatement.
I had you pegged as Czech. A Greek, though. Hrm, I'll keep my economic jokes to myself.
Indeed. Though the last cup games should have been indicative of that. I was never a fan of the South American teams and wasn't a fan of some of the European teams. Though I think it's time to pass on the torch to new blood. Whether it's Belgium or somehow Croatia make it, I'd be happy either way. Argentina, Brazil and Italy faltering with the the last not having been able to qualify, it says something. At least to me.
Aside from the regional cup games, this is one of the few WCs I remember, in my lifetime that is, where I'm seeing absolute upset with classics and relative newcomers at the helm of destruction. To say I massively enjoy seeing landmark countries losing their sanity on the pitch is a major understatement.
I did have a glass of wine last night. Though it doesn't fit the bill with the warm humid days we're experiencing. A crisp beer on the other hand...
I had you pegged as Czech. A Greek, though. Hrm, I'll keep my economic jokes to myself.
Indeed. Though the last cup games should have been indicative of that. I was never a fan of the South American teams and wasn't a fan of some of the European teams. Though I think it's time to pass on the torch to new blood. Whether it's Belgium or somehow Croatia make it, I'd be happy either way. Argentina, Brazil and Italy faltering with the the last not having been able to qualify, it says something. At least to me.
Aside from the regional cup games, this is one of the few WCs I remember, in my lifetime that is, where I'm seeing absolute upset with classics and relative newcomers at the helm of destruction. To say I massively enjoy seeing landmark countries losing their sanity on the pitch is a major understatement.
Er, giggle.
Croatia enjoys a very warm climate in summer (over the years, I have observed a number of elections in that country, and have travelled through it before and after observing several elections in BiH) and they drink wine. Yes, usually with meals, or snacks. And water. (And yes, beer). And excellent spirits.
But - seriously - their wines (some of them) are outstanding.
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Sorry, email? Did you mean tapas?
I've had Croatian beer in the past, so I'm a bit partial. Also some excellent Polish import. Sadly, these get picked up fast by those who discovered it. I get lucky from time to time. I wish I could give you some of the Polish beer names. I have trouble with their surnames let alone lengthy brewery names... Playing on @decafjava being Greek, used to know someone years back who made ouzo a habit during the 2006 World Cup. Pretty sure Dave (let's call him that) was stone drunk the entire month when it was possible to drink. Strong stuff apparently. I've never had it myself. I once had something called raki which is the same, or so I've been told. Wasn't a fan and I like anise flavors.
That damned spell-check: That word should have read "meals" not (obviously) "emails".
Re Polish beer names, yes, I know a few; in the 1990s, I traveled to Poland a few times - I was involved in (teaching on, drawing up courses for) an EU TEMPUS scheme (whereby a few universities from the UK, Ireland and Portugal) helped with curriculum development and related stuff for around 20 or more different Polish universities and teacher training colleges and medical training facilities.
Agreed: They have some quite good beers.
That is precisely why I disabled it in Safari. Pesky indeed. I've had my fair share of mistakes with autocorrect and using Dragon voice automation. That had to be late 90s, wouldn't it? My experiences in Poland are few and far in between. Nothing of true substance. Just a visitor and then in the form of an employee of the US. The first time I was there was more intimate and touching. Was able to visit some of the atrocities of the war. I had other reasons for visiting a variety of European countries at the time apart from visiting home, so to speak, but to view history as it was written in private communique.
Probably why I enjoy football. You may be mad at each other on the pitch, but after that last whistle, all is forgiven. Indeed I played it at university here. Wasn't as popular here then as it is now. I'm rather astonished at the growth of football here in America. Give it another decade and their contract rates will match the EPL with their outrageous pay.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't actively encouraging the kids to play football (soccer in case some others are confused) over 'football' or basketball. While I enjoy other sports, I don't see a point in them in terms of inner growth, so to speak.
[doublepost=1529626405][/doublepost]And, to tell you how much faith I had in this year's upset @Scepticalscribe, I passed on VIP tickets and service to this year's Royal Ascot.
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Mid late 1990s (1995-1998). I travelled for around a fortnight a year conducting workshops, lectures, and traveling to the universities and teacher training colleges with whom we had forged links.
My boss was the co-ordinator, and I was the lecturer or teacher (I taught EU Studies to the Poles who spent a term or semester in our universities) and the individual at my university who helped with the whole area of curriculum development (in order to make it compatible with EU standards and therefore also eligible for EU grants) - each of the western universities had this set-up, - a co-ordinator and a lecturer - and each year while the scheme ran I travelled to Poland with my western colleagues who also taught all of this stuff and we toured the country together for three years, delivering training sessions, workshops, lectures and mentoring them.
It was brilliant fun & awfully interesting, (history sometime broke out, in ugly and/or interesting ways - I observed Polish skin-heads run riot in a railway station when Poland played Israel one night and one thought about, well, history...)
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That's fascinating. Yes, they have a varied and rich history. Sometimes good, and sometimes bad. Sometimes downright disheartening. Skin heads are, well, interesting sorts. For however disturbed they can be, they had the right sort of mind when it came to footwear. The old school Dr Martens are comfortable. Think the new stuff is made cheaply in some third world hell-hole. Now, see, if I had gone to the Ascot, I wouldn't have known this about you or been able to watch the games in succession. Been there, done that, there's the future. You do it a few years in a row, you grow tired of it. Also beats flying in a small private jet for 10 hours with nothing to do but play cards or drink. Sleep if you can stand the turbine noise.
That country might have more players in the UEFA cup than los albicelste.
The match today was too feisty and agreesive for both teams that favored Croatia.
There was some rally bad sideline tackling that usually warrants red cards.
The problem was Argentina best players were in Argentina today.
Yes, and somewhere in a hotel, Mr. Messi is drowning his sorrows in strong beer or alcohol. The sodden idiot.
and? are you new to football, losing is part of football. you cant win all the time...
Let me try to keep this as civil as I can. (Joking here). First and foremost: Argentina was playing poorly since the beginning. But - and a massive but - the first half was somewhat even. They were trying - albeit colossally poorly - but with some sort of decency in their massively flawed strategy.
Second half starts. The absolutely paltry, horrid, appalling, flawed, poor, sad, cheap - I need stronger adjectives, sorry, not a native speaker - attempt of a goalkeeper ended the match for Argentina. His brobdingnagian, blatant mistake. What in the world did you want to do, Caballero?
Anyway, after that... mistake, players became desperate. They knew what was at stake. Attacks were disorganized and poorly executed, Messi was nowhere to be found. But the damage had already been done. It was too late.
End point is, we lost mainly due to the goalkeeper. If he hadn't done that (repeat adjectives) mistake, Argentina would have had a chance, even though game development was poor.
Second half starts. The absolutely paltry, horrid, appalling, flawed, poor, sad, cheap - I need stronger adjectives, sorry, not a native speaker - attempt of a goalkeeper ended the match for Argentina. His brobdingnagian, blatant mistake. What in the world did you want to do, Caballero?
Anyway, after that... mistake, players became desperate. They knew what was at stake. Attacks were disorganized and poorly executed, Messi was nowhere to be found. But the damage had already been done. It was too late.
End point is, we lost mainly due to the goalkeeper. If he hadn't done that (repeat adjectives) mistake, Argentina would have had a chance, even though game development was poor.
Yes, I’m new to football but not to competitive sports.
Colombia was ranked 16th and Japan 61st. That type of loss is always a target for humor.
Hi guys, Croat here...
Well, I've enjoyed the last game very much. Won't get into details, but I will comment on our wines and beer.
Croatian beer is a joke. People here drink it because it's cheap. Everyone drinks czech beers mostly.
But our wines are a completely different story, most of them are really great! So if you have a chance to try out 'Ilok Grasevina' or 'Istra Malvazija', please do, you won't regret it.
Now I'm gonna enjoy my vacation, and just calmly wait out for playoffs
Well, I've enjoyed the last game very much. Won't get into details, but I will comment on our wines and beer.
Croatian beer is a joke. People here drink it because it's cheap. Everyone drinks czech beers mostly.
But our wines are a completely different story, most of them are really great! So if you have a chance to try out 'Ilok Grasevina' or 'Istra Malvazija', please do, you won't regret it.
Now I'm gonna enjoy my vacation, and just calmly wait out for playoffs
So, 1 man team Portugal advance, while 1 man team Argentina look like they're heading home?
Why?
Well, you could argue who's best between Messi & Ronaldo all day, and both are legends. However, love him or hate him, Ronaldo seems to be able to inspire Portugal, where Messi doesn't seem able to do the same with Argentina
Look at the second half of last night's game, no one put in any extra effort that their team needed to drag themselves back in the game, where as with the Spain v Portugal game, you saw Ronaldo driving his team on, and them responding in a positive way
Why?
Well, you could argue who's best between Messi & Ronaldo all day, and both are legends. However, love him or hate him, Ronaldo seems to be able to inspire Portugal, where Messi doesn't seem able to do the same with Argentina
Look at the second half of last night's game, no one put in any extra effort that their team needed to drag themselves back in the game, where as with the Spain v Portugal game, you saw Ronaldo driving his team on, and them responding in a positive way
you cannot win all the time no matter what your ranking is, no matter if its in football or any other sport...got it, good.
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Yes, Portugal were inspired - as a team - by Ronaldo, whereas Argentina's players seemed to find the challenge of rising to - and supporting - Messi, too much.
But, in truth, I think Portugal's players are better, and they also played together better as a team.
However, I wonder, too, if the difference may also lie in the respective positions that Messi and Ronaldo play in; Ronaldo is an out and out striker, whereas Messi was more of a play-maker. To make the most of a really good playmaker, you need some very good players around them to be able to read them, anticipate them, support them, play off them and take full advantage of their strategic footballing intelligence. I'm not sure that Argentina were capable of doing that, and because they weren't, in a bizarre way, Messi almost diminished them as a team.
Of course, their defence was woeful - and that doesn't take anything away from an outstanding Croatian performance.
We don't tie patches in football its called a draw. Another example of trying to introduce Americanism into the great game.
You mean "the beautiful game." The Great Game was a political game between the major governments during the empires. I'll take your correction and still admonish you for your incredible lack of knowledge of the subject you wish to instill on others and your lack of tact. That's an incredibly glaring error for a so-called fan of the game. Clearly you are not and know little of history.
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Let me explain it in a way he won't because you and I go back a while. Ranking means about **** all these days. Football isn't really like basketball or hockey where you can expect the better team to win all the time. There are a lot of factors that come into play, pun intended, when it comes to a match. The Italians are currently ranked 19th according to FIFA, yet they didn't qualify for the WC. Brazil are ranked 2nd in FIFA and look at the mess they've made of this WC. @Scepticalscribe's words from last week ring true. You cannot build a quality team around a few people who carry the weight of the team and the prestige of the country. It has to be a unified effort. A multi-faceted weapon against the other team.
The 2014 WC seemed like a no-brainer for the SA teams to win. That didn't happen. Obviously. Germany won because of great talent all around, cohesive team work, and if I may say so, a very good head coach. Granted Germany were ranked in the top four at the time. Point is, on paper, the SA teams had a really good era of winning and they dominated. Though when you get too comfortable, **** hits the fan and you lose.
Also, I think this is sweet karma for Argentina for the utter foolishness they've had over the years, my general distaste for Messi, the hand of god BS, and me having to see Maradona's fat arse on TV each time they play. Someone ought to give him a kilo of coke and tell him to go away for good.
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I would refute that for a start. I've asked him on many an occasion to smite a few people I've never liked. It doesn't work that way, apparently.Because maybe there is a God after all..?
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