So this is it.

The World Cup is officially over.

I don’t know whether to be sad or happy or both.

I’m sad because, well, the damned thing only comes every four years. And four years is a long, long time. Four years ago I still didn’t know what a blow job was. Or how a penis looked like. (I am not joking.) In four years, we will be done our third year of university. I can’t even imagine how I will have changed by that time. If you think about it, four years in the future is actually a scary thought, for us people who have no idea what’s going to happen in the future.

But at the same time, I’ve been so focused on the World Cup for the entire past month and I have to admit I am a little tired. Maybe it’s nice to get away from soccer/football for a while. And besides, I’ve decided to start following club football (mainly the Bundesliga) and of course the UEFA championship is only 2 years away.

As for the result of the final — of course Spain has won 1-0 yet again. Of course. I’ve repeatedly told everyone so, but few people felt inclined to believe me. Ah, well. That always happens. Sorry for sounding, uh, smug or whatever, but I’m more often right than not and now my dad worships me.

I’m not going to bother to explain again why I dislike Spain (the football team – not the country. You wouldn’t believe the amount of girls on Facebook accusing me of “attacking their country”). Because, as usual, no one understands what I mean anyway. Most people probably just end up wanting to stone me. Or someone named Hitler from dicks@dicksdicksdicks.com will just write me a horribly offensive comment again (I am not making this up. It has happened).

So, you know, congratulations, Spain. Good job.

That’s all I’m going to say on that subject. I felt surprisingly little after the final because since Spain beat Germany 1-0 I knew this was going to happen. So whatever.

I just feel sorry for the Netherlands for making the finals three times and not winning a single one.

But, well, my parents said that if you look at World Cup history, you’ll find that usually the team that ends up winning always kind of tumble through. The teams that win outrageously in the beginning of the tournament somehow end up losing in the end.

Like how Spain scored 8 goals in 7 matches and won the World Cup, whereas Germany scored 16 goals and ended up with the third place.

Anyway, here’s a list of all the things I’m going to remember from this World Cup:

• Paul the Octopus. He predicted 8 matches correctly in a row. The probability of that, by the way, is 0.39%.
• Frank Lampard’s “goal” in England vs. Germany
• Germany trashing Argentina 4-0
• Uruguay vs. Ghana penalties
• Spain vs. Paraguay penalties
• Robert Green’s super fail against USA
• Thomas Mueller wins the Golden Boot AND Best Young Players award

Now I will commemorate my beloved “Die Nationalmannschaft”:

First up, Thomas Mueller:

Oh my god. This kid is only 20 years old. He scored five goals in six matches. In his first World Cup. He only debuted for the German national team in March. And now he’s won both the Golden Boot and Best Young Player.

For your information he won the Golden Boot over the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Diego Forlan, and David Villa. Who scores in every single game.

That’s just simply unbelievable. I smell the birth of a new legend.

And besides it just makes me happy that these awards are passed from one German to another:

Miro won the Golden Boot in 2006

And Lukas Podolski won the Best Young Player award in 2006 as well

And now Mueller’s won both of them. Keeping the awards within the Mannschaft sure is sweet.

Next up is my darling Eyebrows:

He was given the Captain’s armband after the injury of Michael Ballack. He’s done such an amazing job. I’m so proud of him.

Then we have Arne Friedrich, who scored his first goal for Germany (he’s a defender):

He was so happy he died.

I’m so happy for him. He deserves it so bad. Oh also, he has a super badass MAN-ROAARRRR.

I told you so. (The rain sort of makes it even more epic.)

And lastly, I just have to say that I feel so, so sorry for Klose. This was his last World Cup. He was SO CLOSE to making history and surpassing Ronaldo’s record for the most World Cup goals (he did make history – he’s now at 14 with Gerd Mueller). But he did not play the last match – whether because he really had a back injury or because he just didn’t feel like it, we’ll never know. Which I totally understand because  the disappointment of being second place and then third place two in a row in the World Cup must be devastating. He just looked so sad at the third place ceremony it broke my heart.

…It still breaks my heart. He is just such a nice person – there were always people saying how he didn’t deserve to be counted among the legends and that he doesn’t deserve to break the record and whatever, but he never says anything. He’s always been the kind of person that just lets his actions speak for him. He’s never been involved in any kind of scandal or controversy and he always plays better when you put him in a National Team jersey. Seeing him so dejected in the last match really made me feel all sniffly. But, really, he shouldn’t be sad. He’s done what most footballers cannot achieve.

And I’ll always remember this picture of him lounging on the table sexily.

Danke schoen, Germany. For the great matches and the great football and the great Teamgeist. You lose just like any other team (except Spain), but when you win you destroy (unlike Spain). That’s why I love you.

And lastly, here’s a video of emotional Casillas to please the Spain fangirls:

And just remember: that’s never going to happen to you.

EDIT: Annie adding some stuff on because it’s neither long or significant enough to garner it’s own post.

Bloody hell, that last match.

Thirteen yellow cards. Friggin thirteen. Was that even a match?

Why doesn’t finals ever end in a clean game? Sometimes its the referee being mean, but kicking someone in the chest is just low. And stop diving, please. If I wanted to watch people sissy-fighting I would’ve just gone to school. I know every team cheats to a certain degree, but you have to make it so painfully obvious? Even the newspapers were raving about it.

The outcome was pretty obvious, previous world match finals all ended with a one-nil victory, its just a question of which team.

Personally I think the German team was better than the Netherlands, so I dunno. The system is weird.

Paul the octopus is retired. At least nobody ate him! He’s innocent! (I read somewhere that people were going to send him bodyguards. LOLEUROPEANS.

Spain Wins, OLÉ!

PAUL THE MATCH PREDICTING OCTOPUS WAS RIGHT. This was the first sign that this match was not going to go the way expected.

The second sign was that David Villa DIDN’T score a goal.

Image lovingly stolen from Google.

Who, you know, has been scoring in every game Spain played so far.

You know, Torres, if only you grew a goatee.

Then Torres got send off to bench again. Normalcy is restored!

Then the goal was scored by PUYOL.

Image illegally stolen from Facebook.

There is a certain satisfaction when the underdogs win.

This is Annie, official Spain Supporter of NFC. I should be doing my literary essay right now (it’s due tomorrow) but I don’t want to. Screw the essay.

Sure, the Spanish team definitely haven’t been exactly underdogs, but they don’t exactly stand out. Their playing techniques seems almost too “safe” and  they never seem to be after spectacular victories. Just enough? Yeah. That’s the word.

But numbers don’t lie. 50 games, only lost once. *whistle*

I was apprehensive about today’s game. Germany was strong this year with stunning victories and some very impressive plays against the strong countries (Argentina, par example), while Spain grazed by with victories barely over one point.

We were discussing the World Cup in summer school English hell inferno class. Everybody supported Germany in this match. Not one Spain supporter? My ESPAÑA bracelet kinda… glared…

(Don’t ask me how. I could feel waves of heat coming from it. Maybe it was me hallucinating from the heatstroke. 44 degrees with humidex in Toronto today! And I was stuck in a classroom of 30 people with no air conditioning…)

I was supporting Spain (of course), but I had doubts whether they would win. Germany has been very impressive this year, but Spain has been very steady. It was almost as if the two teams switched personalities — Germany with its aggressive, passionate  (but nevertheless effective) attacks, and Spain with it’s calculating little passes and careful maneuvering.

Throughout the tournament, Spain has been making pretty little webs on the field with their passes, dominating the possession in all games. It was a very safe method. Although it made for some frustrating games, it narrowed the chances of the opposing team scoring.

Their forwards are slightly lacking aim though. Torres is useless, and the rest of them have a weird tendency of aiming OVER the net.

But the German forwards are freakishly efficient.

So when people asked me who do I think will win, I answered that it would be nice that Spain won, but their chances were limited. Germany has been very impressive. I was afraid that I would get attacked.

One friend wouldn’t stop talking about why Germany would win, and another, in tears, almost choked me when I said I was happy that Spain won the Spain vs Portugal game.

So when I got home, checked the scores, I squee’d like a fangirl. Then laughed at how Torres was benched. Again.

Spain will face off against the Netherlands for the cup on Sunday.

Thank you Spain, you have made Inigo Montoya very proud, very proud indeed <3.

One more thing: Come on, people, why so glum? It’s just a game. Sure I may feel like choking Torres every now and then, but that’s only because his face demands it. The number of BAWW’ing Portugal supporters are phenomenal. Can’t you be happy for other teams? Get over it, be happy and finish the games in good spirits, m’kay? It might be an international event, but it’s still just a game. And all you fans aren’t even the players. It’s entertainment. You might get attached to the players/team/nationalism/whatever, but it’s not as if they died. They’ll be alive and kicking next season.

World Cup and sporting events will only have a huge impact on your life if you allow it to.

EDIT: I’ve been told that apparently support between Spain and Germany were kind of equal. I don’t know about if that’s true or not. I spotted more German flags than Spanish ones, but maybe that’s just because I’ve been driving around Oakville? Portugal flags outnumbered them all, even in Korea-town.

On a happier note, I will close this post with a GIF of Spain’s goal keeper Castillas.

Happily stolen from a GIF spam forum.

Germany lost. I don’t freaking care. I will support you forever.

*Foreword: I’d just like to warn you that this post does not put Spain in a very favorable light. I’m just writing about my own silly opinions. I don’t want to argue with anyone, so if you strongly support Spain please stop reading now.

So, Paul was correct once again. Spain has won over Germany. I’m having you for dinner, Paul.

But you know what? As soon as I knew that Germany would be playing Spain, I kind of knew this was going to happen.

Yeah, I was worried before Germany played England. I was even more worried before Germany played Argentina.

But this time I was actually more…resigned rather than worried.

Because I know that no matter how unconvincingly Spain plays, no matter how it fails to live up to its reputation every time, it somehow always wins at the end.

That was what happened in all of Spain’s elimination games.

1:0 against Portugal.

1:0 against Paraguay.

Now 1:0 against Germany.

I found the following quote on one of the comments at another blog:

“Why can’t the ‘best team in the world … over the past two years’ seem to find the net more than once per game? Three games, three one-nil results. Credit great defense or whatever you want, but watching Spain slowly throttle three teams one-to-nothing isn’t my idea of exciting soccer. “

Yes, Spain always wins.

But did Spain ever win perfectly convincingly? Did Spain ever give one glorious performance in which it dominated from the beginning to the end? The only game Spain managed to win with more than a 1-goal margin was 2 – 0 against Honduras. Honduras.

I rather think that it always seemed like they managed to scrape by.

Yes, in the end winning is what matters.

Yes, in the end Spain was able to keep the opponent from scoring in all its matches.

Kudos for that.

But I will never support Spain.

Because I’ve always felt like Spain just keeps hogging the ball all the time.

I know that this is a legitimate strategy.

I know that being able to retain possession the way Spain can is a very valuable skill.

And from the match results I know that it works.

But I just can’t respect that strategy. I don’t find their so-called “Flowing Football” style enjoyable to watch at all.

I mean, time-wasting is also a legitimate strategy. But do you love it?

Instead it frustrates me to watch Spain play.

If I think rationally, yeah, Spain deserved to win its matches. Spain certainly deserved to win this game, because Germany didn’t play well. I’m not bitter enough to say that Spain didn’t deserve to win today. So I keep telling myself to try to think logically and count all the good things about the Spanish team.

But in my case, even though I know that Spain technically deserves to win, I never feel that way. Do you know what I mean? Like how sometimes you know that your parents are right but you’re still just not convinced?

My friend Monta understands what I mean. I know that because he summarized the whole situation with one sentence:

“Spain is a very aggravating team.”

Yes, aggravating. That’s the word I was looking for. Thanks, Monta!

Even my dad, who spent money betting on Spain, keeps saying to me how he doesn’t understand what the big deal about Spain is;  Spain never looked like the oh-so-amazing team that everyone made it out to be.

I guess our family just really need a team which, when it wins, manages to actually convince us emotionally that it  deserves to win. Okay since that sentence is so wordy and messed up, I’ll put it in a simpler way: We want a team who makes us feel like it lives up to its name. We like a team who wins so dynamically that even its opposition will have to admire its victory. (Asking for too much? xDDDD)

And that’s why I supported Germany. It has given me some positively DELICIOUS matches which made me so giddy with joy afterwards. It has won its matches so epicly and decisively.

You know you can’t say the same about Spain.

And don’t even try to convince me otherwise. We all have our opinions, and mine is that I don’t like the Spain plays.

Though I still want to say congratulations to Spain for making the finals for the first time in history.

But Germany, I’m with you all the way.

Thank you so much for playing an incredible tournament. Thank you for giving me those moments when I thought I might cry from excitement and happiness. Those moments make your loss today seem almost inconsequential. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so freaking much.

And lastly,

GO ORANJE! Go kick some butt! Even if you don’t win, please make me proud!!!!!!!!

Germany write thank-you note to fans. Paul predicts Spain.

Our super nice German boys have written an appreciation note for all their fans:

D'aww.

Translation:

To our fans in Germany,

We all have seen the pictures from home. Hundreds of thousands in the public squares, millions of television screens, emotions in black, red and gold. Our country celebrates a peaceful football party. Goosebumps for the whole team.

Even if you are almost ten thousand kilometres away: your support is here for every single one of us. Your enthusiasm gives us an extra kick. Your support makes us stronger.

Our road to the final has not yet come to an end; the party will go on. In South Africa and Germany. We are all one team. And we all have a very big goal. Together we can do it!

Your team

Yet despite the boys’ niceness, PAUL PREDICTS SPAIN FOR TOMORROW’S MATCH.

…Paul, remember who’s feeding you!!!!

!!!!!

Paul, you’d better be wrong.

Or I’m going to eat you.

Germany – I will never doubt again.

So, for today’s post, I shall open with a line from one of the best movies ever, the Princess Bride:

“I will never doubt again.”

– Princess Buttercup

That’s exactly how I feel, Germany.

I can’t believe I ever doubted you. I can’t believe for the past week I’ve been saying, “Oh it’s okay if you lost, Germany. I’ll still love you anyways.”

I will never doubt again.

4 – 0.

4 – 0?!?!?!?!!??!

Against ARGENTINA?

It’s simply surreal. And I thought they were going to lose!

Once again, Germany has won because of their immaculate organization.

If you look at the World Cup, Germany is kind of he only team without a “superstar” — like Lionel Messi, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, etc, etc.

And yet they did so well against England and Argentina, both teams with an abundance of stars and pre-tournament favorites.

How? I think it’s because the German players work so well together as a team. None of them are selfish, none of them try to hog the ball. They pass with such precision and organization.

No wonder they are known as “Die Mannschaft”, “The Team”. (To us who don’t speak German anyway. In Germany the team’s known by a couple of nicknames.)

It’s just so impressive the amount of composure these German players have in front of the opposition’s net, despite being barely over 20 (Mueller is 20 years old, Oezil 21).

No one expected anything out of Germany before the tournament started – with Michael Ballack, Rene Adler, Simon Rolfes and Heiko Westermann (? on the spelling) all injured, everyone condescendingly wrote off the German team as being too young, too inexperienced, lacking  a real leader.

But I guess no one’s laughing now.

I’m sorry for spazzing again, but 4 – 0!!!! Against Argentina!

I think Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor (Bundeskanzlerin? xD;; German fail), also gave the German team motivation to do well by coming to South Africa to watch the game.

After all, you gotta impress the boss lady.

Merkel was also there when Germany beat Argentina in the penalty shootouts 4 years ago.

So looks like the Bundes Queen brings good luck again! You go, Angela! (I love her. She personally greeted the boys 4 years ago as well. And today she showed up with the same red suit as pictured above – too much luck can never hurt!)

Anyway, I’m such a doubter. When Germany was ahead 1 – 0, I kept thinking that OH MY GOD, Argentina’s going to score any minute now, it can’t be this easy!!! When Germany was ahead at 2 – 0, I was still not completely confident on the German team winning. After all, anything can happen.

But then the game got to 3 – 0. And I was like, Okay, Germany’s going to win!!!

At this point, the lovely Annie told me, “Okay, Germany, go score another goal to make it 4 – 0, to make the score perfect!” and I still thought, “No way they can score ANOTHER goal.”

…

And I was proven wrong once again by the mighty German perfectionism.

They just HAD to score another goal, didn’t they? xDDDD

I swear, it’s so freaky. They beat Australia 4 – 0, England 4 – 1, and now Argentina 4 – 0. They sure seem to like that number 4.

Annie, I bow down to you. You rule.

Also, never ever ever underestimate German OCDness.

Later, I asked my dad, if Germany’s strategic organization works so well, then how come no other country are imitating them? And my dad said that it’s not so easy to just imitate that kind of organization. It’s kind of in the tradition of the country and its people. I suppose that makes sense – even Klose said in an interview, that the German team is always so confident because “it comes down to a quality that we know we possess”.

So, all around plenty of good news for Germany:

My idol Miroslav Klose scored two goals today, bringing up his World Cup goal total to 14, which  equals the legendary German striker Gerd Mueller, and is only 1 behind the record holder Ronaldo (the retired Brazilian one. Not Cristiano, oh god of course not).

That’s right, Miro. Flip for me, baby!

He also won is 100th international cap for Germany.

His international goal count is now at 52 goals in 100 games for Germany.

Thomas Mueller, who scored 2 goals against England, scored the opening goal at 3 minutes (!!! 3 minutes!!!), which brings his goal total to 4. He’s only 20. This is his first World Cup. Also his goal was the 200th FIFA World Cup goal for Germany, as well as the quickest one scored in this tournament.

(And he’s also married – engaged at, like, 18. =_=”’ Okay Sarah, no bias against teenage marriage, no bias.)

And today Argentina was so fail it let a defender score a goal.

Not joking.

The 3rd goal for Germany was scored by Arne Friedrich, a defender.

I love it. Defenders finally get some glory! (Now Philipp, perhaps you should consider scoring as well? Your eyebrows want you to.)

Why so glum, Eyebrows?

(Sorry, I can never resist putting up more pictures of his caterpillar-esque brows.)

And the Man of the Match is Bastian Schweinsteiger, who deserves to win purely because of his awesome name – one look at it and you know exactly which teams he plays for.

No offense to Argentina, but I’ve always sort of questioned Maradona’s coaching abilities. Yes, he was a brilliant player and he is a great motivator, but I don’t really know what to say about his ability to come up with the right tactics for each opponent. I mean, he’s so superstitious he prepares for a match by asking God who will win (Argentina of course) and singing a song.

All in all, I’m just so damned proud of my German darlings right now.

As I said, I will never doubt again.

Also, let’s all hail Paul the Psychic Octopus, who has correctly predicted the German victory yet again:

Holy Mother of God.

O Almighty Paul the All-Seeing, please forgive me for ever doubting your psychic abilities. *Bows down…We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy!*

Actually, I’m pretty happy with myself so far as well. Pretty much the teams I support always win.

I supported Germany against England and Argentina, and Germany won both games despite both England and Argentina being pre-tournament favorites.

Then I supported the Netherlands against Brazil even though everyone thought that no way in hell Brazil would lose. Netherlands won.

The only game Germany lost so far is the Serbia game, and I didn’t watch that game.

In fact, I had a nightmare about how Germany lost against Serbia right as the match was happening at 7:30 am.

…I’m not bragging or anything. Just being happy. ;D

One last thing, I’m not saying that Germany will lose, but since both my dad and Annie support Spain, I suppose I would be okay with it if Spain beat Germany in the semifinals.

Now, a little picspam of my Great German Boys :

Poor Mertesacker gets a ball kicked right into his face. HAHAHAHAHA. Sorry. I may be immature, but something like this is never not funny.

Michael Ballack was also there to cheer Germany on, bless his injured ankle.

Hey, he's surprisingly well-dressed today. I bet Angela Merkel made him. He looked GOOD.

Paul. I swear I'm going to visit you one day.

And can you BELIEVE that Argentina got a bunch of posers to act like Paul?

Stop copying Germany, Argentina.

All of you were wrong, ha! Now stop trying to be Paul. You will never succeed. He’s too epic.

Yes, laugh on, my babies!

It's even better that the boys showed up in their black jerseys, which are fucking hot.

Arne Friedrich, the champion for all under-appreciated defenses!

And of course Philipp was amazing.

YES. Miro's doing his flippy thing again! Love him!

That's right. Hug it out, my pretties.

You may now kiss the bride.

…Sorry. That one didn’t have anything to do with today’s game, but it’s so lols.

LOL JUST GET MARRIED ALREADY, YOU TWO.

Black-jerseyed German manpile = *fans self*

Angie - "Wow, I'm so lucky!" (I love her expression to death.)

DEUTSCHLANDDDDDD!!!!!

Special mention to the adorable goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who was fucking amazing today. If not for him, Argentina would've scored like 16 times.

That’s all for now.

STAY AMAZING, GERMANY!!!!!! :’DDDDDD

Oh, and here are the highlights:

Uruguay vs. Ghana game was so dramatic, it wasn’t even funny.

Once again, the World Cup has managed to completely flabbergast me (grammar nazis will probably want to kill me but that’s the only word that describes how I felt adequately).

I wasn’t even going to watch Uruguay vs. Ghana. Because I didn’t really care about either team.

However, my dad started watching it and in the end it got so dramatic I couldn’t even look away.

First, Ghana scored at 45′ + 2 minutes.

Yes, that’s right. Ghana scored in the 2nd additional minute at the end of the first half. It literally scored right before half time. I was so shocked.

Although inwardly I kind of groaned because between Uruguay and Ghana I’d support Uruguay. It won way back in 1930 and 1950 and it’d be cool for them to rediscover a little glory and whatnot.

But!!!

The awesome Diego Forlan scored an equally awesome free kick. I’ve had a soft spot for this guy ever since that spectacular goal he scored against South Africa:

Sorry for the awful quality. But that goal was amazing.

Now I’m going to skip to the end of the match because that’s where I basically flipped out from the improbability of it all.

So, tied at 1 – 1, the game went into extra time. There were plenty of chances in the extra time, but at 119 minutes neither side was able to score another goal.

So then, it was approaching the 120th minute, and I was just fully expecting a penalty shootout.

HOWEVER, right at this moment, Ghana got a free kick.

The first time the Ghana player kicked, the goalkeeper blocked it out.

And then another Ghana player kicked the ball and it was blocked by a Uruguay defense.

Then yet another Ghana player tried to head the ball into the goal, except –

This Uruguay forward hilariously reached out and fully swung the ball using his arm.

!!!!!!!!!

And since this was fully intentional and right in front of the net, this guy, Suarez, got a straight red card and Ghana was award a penalty kick.

And all of this happened in, like, 2 seconds!!!!

I was so in shock. No freaking way.

So at this point me and my dad were like, oh, okay, this is it then.

Ghana’s going to score a penalty kick right at the 120th minute.

And this is so ironic because in the group matches, Ghana was able to win a game and draw a game purely because of two penalty kicks award in the exact same manner.

I was all like, ugh, I can’t believe Ghana’s going to win another match with a penalty kick. I just felt so bad for the Uruguay team – 120 minutes of fighting and in the end losing by a penalty kick at the last second.

And then I see Suarez being escorted off the field CRYING and I was like, AWWWW POOR BABY .

Except 2 seconds later…

GHANA DIDN’T SCORE ON THE PENALTY KICK.

It hit the crossbar.

It fucking hit the crossbar.

Can you believe it?

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Ghana was given this giant incredible lifeline from the sky and it fucking missed.

And now Suarez, who was crying one second ago, STARTED JUMPING FROM JOY.

The whole Uruguay team, who 2 seconds earlier thought they were surely doomed, were now also jumping from joy.

I would too, if I got so lucky!

Not to mention the Uruguay goalkeeper, who started kissing the crossbar and blessing it.

So, now, we’re going to have a penalty shootout.

Turns out that Suarez was actually such a hero for Uruguay because of that handball. If he didn’t block that ball out then the game would have been over then and there. Ghana would’ve scored from that free kick right there. Suarez took his chances and basically saved Uruguay.

Okay, at this point, I really wanted Uruguay to win because come on, how lucky was that????? It’s almost meant to be!

Both teams netted the first 2 penalty kicks.

…Then Ghana missed the third one. I was like, YES! Now Uruguay, you just have to get the next one in and you’ll have a huge advantage.

So I watch the guy run towards the ball…and then…

He completely missed the net.

It went flying over the net by, like, three metres. I was like, WAY TO GO. =___=””

So now I was like, oh shit, oh shit, Uruguay’s going to lose. Because there’s no way Ghana’s going to miss the next one.

Except it did.

The Ghana guy kicked the ball in the exact same direction as the failed attempt before him, and the Uruguay goalkeeper blocked it easily.

By the way, I love the Uruguay goalkeeper. He was so calm and collected the whole time. Before the shootouts he even touched the crossbar and then touched the side bars for good luck — after all, if not for the crossbar, Uruguay wouldn’t even get to play a penalty shootout. And he blocked out two penalties, which is AMAZING.

So now, basically the next Uruguay guy just has to get the penalty in and Uruguay would win.

This time I was fully like, Okay, if you miss now, I’m going to break the TV, and then break you.

…

……

HE SCORED.

YESSS!!!!!

I swear, even though I didn’t really care about this game, my heart rate was something like 2000 per minute.

The two teams were so evenly matched that this match ended up a lot more exciting than, let’s see, Brazil vs. Portugal (that was like a tea party).

Not to mention all the drama. Oh, the drama.

Congratulations, Uruguay! This is like their first semifinal in half a century.

Enjoy your victory. Because my Dutch boys are going to own you in the semifinals.

Here be the highlights

And now I’ve got to go and mentally prepare myself for the big Germany vs. Argentina tomorrow.

Netherlands won over Brazil, baby!!!!

Oh, my god.

I’m so goddamned happy right now.

Because Netherlands just won over Brazil.

!!!!!!!

My German team got its revenge over England, and now looks like the Netherlands has also avenged its years of loss against Brazil!

In your face, Mr. Luis “That-Double-Handball-Goal-Was-The-Most-Brilliant-In-My-Career” Fabiano. Looks like your cheater butt got kicked by my awesome orange team.

I do feel sorry for Kaka though. He has the most dazzling smile of all time.

Super Blinding Kaka Smile

SBKS #2

But, you know. Brazil has won way too many times already – It just won in 2002! I just want the others to have a chance, the teams who really should have won at least once, like the Netherlands. How boring would it be if Brazil just won every single time? It has five titles already, for God’s sake. (Feel free to stone me, Brazil fans. I’m sorry.)

Alright, onto the match!

First, Brazil scored at 10 minutes because of a terrible mistake from the Dutch defense.

Going into half time, the score was still 1 – 0 Brazil.

I was like, uh, okay, this is over. D:  No way the Netherlands can score two goals in a row.

EXCEPT MY DUTCH BOYS BOUNCED BACK SO BRILLIANTLY!

First they made Brazil score an own goal (HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!)

And then Robben got the own-goal scorer, Felipe Melo, sent off on a red card! (Melo  stepped on Robben after Robben fell, so he only has himself to blame.)

Shame, Melo, shame.

And THEN the man who made Brazil score an own goal, Wesley Sneijder, scored another brilliant header!!!!

But what did you expect? It was BALDIE POWER!!!! :’DDDDDDD

Seriously, the two best players on the Dutch team in this game, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, both lack hair:

Wesley Sneijder

Arjen Robben

…See? Baldie Power! Totally!

Take that, Wayne Rooney’s chest hair.

I’m just so happy that both of the teams I support are doing so well – Germany bombed England and now the Netherlands, despite all odds (Are you kidding? NO ONE expected Brazil to lose), prevailed over Brazil!

Epic, epic, EPIC! I’m so, so proud of my Dutch babies.

I’m even more happy about this because I think the Netherlands deserves to win. The Netherlands is  the best team to never have won a World Cup (I know lots of people say that Spain is the best team to never have won, but Spain, talk to me when you actually reach a final. The Netherlands have reached the finals twice. The only time Spain reached the semifinals was way back in 1950.), and I just think that they really should have won one of the two finals they’ve been in. That whole “total football” thing the Dutch had going on was really cool! They deserve better. They really do.

And now they’ve done it! As far as I’m concerned I think they’re already in the finals. Because their semi-final match is against either Uruguay or Ghana. Uruguay or Ghana. Whereas Argentina, Germany and Spain have to settle among themselves before they can advance to the finals, which, you know, ouch. So I definitely think that my Dutch boys can reach the finals once again.

If they can’t even beat Uruguay or Ghana then I’m not rooting for them no more

Alright! Even if Germany loses tomorrow to Argentina, at least I know that the Netherlands is pretty much in the finals. So I still have hope!

I freaking love you guys so much, Oranje.

Here be the orangey highlights

I also feel good about myself *shameless*. I sure picked the right teams to support! Together, Germany and Netherlands have given me more happiness than I’ve had in weeks. Wait, months.

Go get ‘em, boys!!!!!!!!

Robin van Persie is already picturing victory...Yum.

I’m so sorry for posting like crazy but this song is so great!

…Remember how Mesut Oezil did that rap for the World Cup?

Well, now it turns out that German band “Basta” made an awesome, awesome song!

It’s called “Gimme Hope Joachim” (German coach = Joachim Loew)

LOL France! LOL naked Ronaldo! LOL Podolski and Schweinsteiger holding hands! LOL Angela Merkel, Beckenbauer, THE POPE, Lena from Eurovision, yay!!!!!!! : D : D : D

Ooh, and here are the lyrics, translated by mrs_obsessive @ Livejournal.

The Africans have Vuvuzelas
The Englishmen have humour
The Australians have a strong defense
but we have the prettiest goal

The Spaniards have the best referees
Ronaldo has a gorgeous body
David Beckham has a foot made of steal
But Jogi Löw has the nicest hairstyle

Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim for the Weltpokal (World Cup(?))
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim hope for South africa

The Koreans showed emotions
The Mexicans have a hard shoot(?)
The Italians have a good goalkeeper
But we have the biggest bus

The Frenchmen stand together
And the Englishmen have a sex ban
The Argentinean suffer in the jungle camp ( I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! )
Only Jogi smears Nutella-bread

Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim for the Weltpokal (World Cup(?))
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim hope for South africa

The Serbs are he high-achiever
Everything’s running smoothly for the USA
The Dutchs are still present
But nevertheless Jogi will get us the cup

Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim for the Weltpokal (World Cup(?))
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim hope for South africa

Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim for the Weltpokal (World Cup(?))
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim hope for South africa

Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim for the Weltpokal (World Cup(?))
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim
Gimme Hope Joachim hope for South africa

I don’t listen to music much (because I just don’t like metal/rock/pop/whatever), but I do enjoy these fun little songs so very much. They are so humorous and just plain awesome.

I just wish there were more songs like this! From other countries too!

Germany vs. England – Germany wins 4 – 1!!!!!!!

This morning I suddenly woke up at 6am because I guess subconsciously, I really didn’t want to miss the big game between Germany and England. (I went back to sleep afterwards, but still.)

And it turned out that the game was worth every single second of missed sleep.

Every time Germany plays England, the game turns out to be dramatic, exciting and, ahem, controversial.

This time was no different.

First, Germany scored two goals, by Miroslav Klose (20′) and Lukas Podolski (32′). Because the England defense sucked. Sorry, but it’s true. Both the goalkeeper and the defense plain sucked.

Maybe they should’ve brought Robert Green back

However, I was getting even more nervous with the two German goals because I knew something really bad was going to happen now. There’s no way this could be so easy.

And of course I was right.

Five minutes after the Podolski goal, England scored a beautiful header. That was a good goal.

And this is where the heart attack moment happened: (I really hope people above the age of 70 weren’t watching this game)

One minute after England scored, Frank Lampard (ENG) kicked the ball onto the crossbar, and the ball deflected into the goal.

Okay that was obviously a goal.

However, the referee did not acknowledge the goal. The goal was not counted. Like that American goal in the USA vs. Slovenia game.

Of course, this decision was very important because if the goal had been counted, then the teams would’ve gone into half time at 2 – 2.

At this point I was feeling very very shitty.

Because I would never want Germany to win this way.

Even though the fault entirely lies on FIFA for refusing to use goal-line technology, if Germany won the match 2-1, every single person would say that Germany cheated and does not deserve the win. I would say that Germany didn’t deserve to win either.

In fact, I would prefer that Germany lost the match than this kind of result.

So throughout the half time break, I was just sitting here chatting with Lena, feeling horrible. (By the way, I got her to watch this game. Can you believe it? She couldn’t believe it either. Her message says, “*Is actually watching football! SERIOUSLY*”. I’m proud.)

I just thought that, okay, Germany, YOU’VE GOT TO SCORE ANOTHER GOAL. You’ve GOT to win by more than 1 goal. Because then you can at least say that even if that goal for England counted, Germany still would’ve won.

And guess what?

Germany did more than that.

Germany scored another two goals. Both my Mueller, within three minutes of each other (67′, 70′).

I was so relieved and happy, I felt like I was going to faint.

Seriously.

Even LENA was so excited. LENA, who doesn’t give a shit about football. Who told me that she wouldn’t be bummed out if Germany lost against England because she just doesn’t care.

We had an all-caps fest which looked something like this:

SZ – WORLD CUP. YAY. said (11:23 AM):
*GOALLLLLL!!!!
Mirai says:
*YES
*!!
SZ – WORLD CUP. YAY. says:
*I KNOW
*I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
Mirai says:
*xDD
SZ – WORLD CUP. YAY. says:
*!!!!!!
*Yay Mueller!!
*My heart
*is going to give out =_=
*ANOTHER GOAL
*MY HEART
Mirai says:
*HELL YES
*DAMNIT
*I’M ACTUALLY WATCHING THIS+
SZ – WORLD CUP. YAY. says:
*I KNOW
*ISNT THIS
*SL\Ar[awe[r5aw8et9aetaugpioasjg
*!!!!
*SEE
Mirai says:
*BHNJMK;
SZ - WORLD CUP. YAY. says:
*ITS SO MUCH FUN IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING A TEAM
*AND WATCHING WITH A FRIEND.
*!!!!!
*spiuaspiuaspiugasdg
*I'm like
*HYPERVENTILATING
Mirai says:
*SO EVEN WITH THAT DAMN GOAL! IT WOULD BE 4:2!!!
SZ - WORLD CUP. YAY. says:
*EXACTLY.
*EXACTLY.
*WE ARE TYPING IN ALL CAPS
*THIS IS SO GREAT.
*Yo dude. You know, in 1966 it was England 4-2 Germany
Mirai says:
*XD CAPS LOCK RULZ!!!
SZ - WORLD CUP. YAY. says:
*and now it's Germany 4-2 England!!!!
*It's like
*GERMANY'S REVENGE.
Mirai says:
*YES!

Yeah, so you can see how high we were... :'DDDD

Now it is time for the highlights:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifaworldcup/watch/highlights/?ID=1531508994

(Sorry, I will embed a youtube video as soon as it becomes available)

Now that I look back, this game was so creepy in its resemblance to that infamous 1966 World Cup final between England and West Germany.

In that 1966 game at Wembley, England got into the exact same situation -- Geoff Hurst (ENG) kicked the ball onto the crossbar and the ball was deflected...onto the goal line.

And at the time, the goal was counted in England's favour.

The final score was England 4 - 2 Germany.

Today, counting the goal that England scored but the referee didn't acknowledge, the final score is Germany 4 - 2 England.

...Mein Gott.

I definitely think that this is Germany's revenge.

Here’s that controversial 1966 goal.

The definition of a goal is that the ball must completely go over the goal line. Which it didn’t.

I quote,

“However, a study conducted by the Engineering Department at Oxford University concluded that the ball did not cross the line entirely and that it was 6 cms away from being a goal (Goal-directed Video Metrology).”

So basically that goal shouldn’t have counted.

And today, when the goal should have been counted, it wasn’t.

Karma? O_O”’

All right, I’m going to talk about how I feel about today’s game now.

First of all, yeah, England definitely should have been given that goal. They scored without doubt.

Even as a German supporter, I was really bummed out by the decision and I felt unfair for the English team.

But, with that said, I feel that the view that the whole match would have been different if only that goal counted and It totally wouldn’t have been a 4 – 2 result is not entirely correct.

Yeah, sure, you could argue that the English team’s mindset would have been different and that England would’ve used a different strategy in the 2nd half of the game had the goal been allowed, yada yada yada, I’ve already heard it all from England supporters.

But the thing is, if that goal had been allowed, would that have stopped Germany from scoring more goals in the 2nd half?

I don’t think so. The way I see it, England’s defense did suck. Or the first two Germany goals wouldn’t even have happened.

And whatever else you might say, you cannot deny the fact that even with the entire English team attacking the German net non-stop from the 30th minute to the end, England could not score four goals.

And Germany did.

Germany did not need a controversial goal to win. It deserved the victory.

The decision against England was very unfair and tragic, but Germany was the better team today.

I find Fabio Capello’s view that “If only that goal had counted we would not have lost” a tad overboard.

Would you really have been able to win?

Honestly, do you really think that the entire blame lies on that one goal?

Well, here’s a thought, maybe you could have played better: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifaworldcup/blog/2010/06/englands-pathetic-exit.html

I always thought the English team and media are a bit of a crybaby. They’re always so eager to put the blame on someone else.The British tabloids are simply unbelievable.

Okay, so if England really deserves to win this game, then how do you explain the poor performance of the English team in the group stage?

How about the English team just isn’t as good as it should be? I mean, England has all these international superstars (Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Terry) with an average of 70 caps, and it was so outscored by a team of players barely over 20 with, what, under 20 caps?

Which is why I think it’s just poor sportsmanship to blame everything on that one blasted goal.

If Capello had just reacted more gracefully towards the loss, then I would feel so bad for England right now.

But you know what?

At the end of the day the Germans deserved to win.

Love you, Mueller.

Love you SO MUCH, Miroslav Klose. (Also your name sounds so cool. Rolls off the tongue like crazy )

I don’t even care if the Germans lost in the quarterfinals (probably against Argentina).

Because this young, inexperienced team that all the experts looked down upon before the tournament has played so well and has scored so many fantastic goals. It’s simply unbelievable that a team with so little international experience, a team who’s so recently lost its captain to injury and its goalkeeper to suicide (……), has played such an incredible match today.

So take that, England, you pre-tournament favorite. Looks like your superstars didn’t do you much good (Have you seen how useless Rooney was?)

And regarding your loss: Please suck it up.

Germany freaking lost the World Cup FINAL to you with a goal that didn’t even go in.

You lost the Round of 16 to a team who played better than you anyway. So if you don’t suck it up, I swear I’ll hate you forever.

(…I apologize for being so, uh, vehement about this.)

More random soccer/football stuff, mwahahaha

I feel so bad about writing post after post after post of soccer/football (uh, well, I suppose I did also write about the Blonde Parade), but since exams are over and summer school doesn’t start until July 5th, I’ve been just lounging at home and watching the World Cup all day long. I bet I’m already more nearsighted than I was in April. Oh shit.

All right. This will be a brief post.

So I found the best soccer/football blog ever, and here are a few of my favorite posts:

1. Maradona being gay himself
   
2. Germany victory predicted by Octupus
   …Wow. This Octupus-Oracle is so epic. Also, HAHAHA, GERMANY. Really? :’DDD


Paul the Psychic Octopus!
(Except then a hundred stupid people started commenting about what the correct plural form of “Octupus” is. =__=)

3. Just watch the video.
4. American restaurant sells lion burgers to celebrate World Cup. WOULD YOU BUY ONE? No way in hell
5. England’s coach is not too bright.
6. Oh my god, PLEASE PLEASE go watch this one –> Fellowship of the Vuvuzela
7. Poor Gerard Pique. I personally watched his pain & suffering @ World Cup
8. So apparently the reason why England didn’t win its first 2 games was because that it has been cursed by a pigeon.
9. This lucky Australian guy is getting paid to live in a giant soccer ball. I’m SO jealous.
10. Fernando Torres tackles himself. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP WITH THAT. Wow, Fernando. You’re such a pansy.

Alright. So I’ve been wasting my whole afternoon reading these posts. But they are so funny.

Now I have to go, uh, clean the apartment yeah right so toodles.

Until tomorrow in which I shall write even more about football/soccer! Yeah!

Please forgive me.