Congrats to Italy, new World Champs
Weltmeisterschaft Deutschland 2006
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England exit at the Quarterfinals
Reactions to the World Cup updated every few days. Meanwhile, the games come thick and fast, but some of the "must see" match-ups (Pacific times indicated).......
FINAL
Sunday, July 9: Italy vs France 1*:1
Third Place
2. Sat., July 8: Portugal vs Germany 1:3
SEMIFINALS
1. Tues., July 4, 12n: Germany vs Italy 0:2
2. Wed., July 5, 12n: Portugal vs France 0:1
QUARTERFINALS
1. Fri, June 30, 8a: Germany vs Argentina 1*:1
2. Fri, June 30, 12n: Italy vs Ukraine 3:0
 3. Sat, July 1, 8a: England vs Portugal 0:0*
4. Sat, July 1, 12n: Brazil vs France 0:2
Rooney getting sent off was a death knell.
But I'm especially disappointed with the abjectly lame performances by Frank Lumpard. When I saw he was chosen to take the first penalty I knew we were sunk. If ever I have seen a player who was bribed to throw his performances, he was it. But wait a minute: he plays for Chelsea, he's got more dosh than he knows what do with, and realy doesn't want to spoil that by hurting himself merely playing for his country. I hope he gets the reception he deserves when he plays everywhere but Chelscum. Meanwhile the Spurs players did a great job: Paul Robinson in goal, and Aaron Lennon was inspirational. Unfortunately Sven chose to underutilize him and we paid the price.
FINAL SIXTEEN (Knockout Stage begins)
Stunning goal from Maxi Rodriguez was the highlight of a mesmerizing clash between Mexico and Argentina in the opening quarterfinal.
England struggled once again to make an impression, relying on another moment of individual brilliance, this time in the form of a free-kick special from Becks to put us through into the semis.
Sat, June 24, 8a: Germany vs Sweden 2:0
Sat, June 24, 12n: Argentina vs Mexico
Sun, June 25, 8a: Ecuador vs England 0:1
Sun, June 25, 12n: Holland vs Portugal 0:1
Mon, June 26, 8a: Australia vs Italy 0:1
Mon, June 26, 12n: Switzerland vs Ukraine 0:0*
* = through on penalty kicks
Tues, June 27, 8a: Brazil vs Ghana 3:0
Tues, June 27, 12n: France vs Spain 3:1
The Group Stages: What a start to the WC Finals
This tournament keeps getting bigger and better. What a start to World Cup 2006 which, despite every real football fan's best intentions, has again taken over our lives.
I think of just a few of the many stand-out events so far. The hugely entertaining opening match with some spectacular goals and the pleasure of seeing Klinsmann put out a German team that likes to attack. The usual goose-bumps of seeing England and Brazil take the field for the first time. The thrill of seeing excellent football played by the likes of the Czech Republic, Spain (Fernando Torres: wow, what a striker), Portugal, Italy, Mexico, and Argentina. The relief, as someone with a soft spot for The Swiss (among others), of seeing them keep France at bay, just as T&T's 0:0 frustration of Sweden was also anything but dull.
Above all, seeing plucky Australia defying the odds once again. After their momentous qualifying victory over Uruguay, who'd have thought they would, in the space of one World Cup match against Japan, propel the sport in their home country from "just entering the radar screen" to headline sport back down under? After that, the results kept coming and the crazy celebrations mushroomed. There is a very real chance of football taking its place alongside their crowded scrum of existing heavyweight sporting faves. Their media has even adopted the proper word as the leading description now, ie. football, before adding, in parentheses,(soccer). If only for this, World Cup 2006 has already been massively influential and potentially historic.
 Australia vs Croatia was pure aceness. A great, great match as well. A classic. Did anyone find the sight of Viduka going up to a red-card waving Graham Poll and hugging him, oddly moving. What a brilliant World Cup this is.
Matt P., OTF |
In the USA, despite Uncle Sam's sorry start, ratings show that our sport is continuing to grow. Although a whopping 7 million or so watched the NBA playoffs on average, the World Cup is threatening to break out of its relegation slot with around 1.2m watching an average English language broadcast, just shy of the average 1.3m for the NHL finals. Add to this the average of 2.6m tuning in to the Spanish language World Cup, and you can see we are well on the map. Keep in mind the World Cup games are shown outside prime time, unlike, say, the NBA or NHL. The figures may change and are only approximations based on a snapshot of a few days, but they show a very encouraging picture.
ABC/ESPN(2)'s coverage of the World Cup is a crime against the beautiful game. The first England goal of the contest, for example, was virtually obliterated by the on screen clutter and signage, like watching the game through a periscope. The commentators are absolutely horrendous, interpreting the action through constant analogies to American "sports", discussing Michael(?) Beckham, shrugging their shoulders over the meaning of the word "geezer", babbling on about anything but the action even when goals are being scored, criticizing the atmosphere (FIFA is corrupt and most of the people there are local soccer association menials being paid off for their loyalty, there are relatively few real fans) when, under the circumstances, the atmosphere has been pretty good, considering.
Luckily we have the Spanish alternatives to which I escaped and took refuge, given that BBC5-Live and Talksport commentaries are blocked out. Would that we could get a decent commentary in Shakespeare's own language. I sometimes think indigenous America and football can never really be integrated, it seems like a hopeless cause sometimes, the cultural disconnect is perhaps just too great.
In any event, I get so distracted by the screen clutter and commentating inanity of America's English language "soccer" programming, my ability to concentrate on the game becomes distracted by visions of ABC and ESPN commentators hanging from nooses attached to lamp posts. Stop it already. British commentators only, please (or German - like Setanta is doing - worth a trip to the relevant pub for that alone).
Owing to technical issues there will be a bit less updating of The Spur during the month of June as I get more familiar with the clunky PC platform, to code and upload, and ultimately in 2007 splash on a new Mac OSX to replace my now offline G3 (could be temporary, could be forever). No disrespect to the PC platform - my super duper IBM Thinkpad is a thing of beauty in its own way - but some things just go easier, quicker, and more creatively on the Mac. In fact, I've come up with a new slogan for the Mac: "More user friendly, more drinking time!" OK, techie wannabe talk over. Now back to the footie, eh?
Within the above described limits, The Spur will stay as active as possible during Tottenham Hotspur's off-season as The World Cup kicks into gear, featuring many of the stars that grace the hallowed turf of White Hart Lane. Please check back for this site's esoteric reactions. Cheers, -- Rob Francis
Fri, June 9, 9a: Germany vs Costa Rica 4:2
Sat, June 10, 6a: England vs Paraguay 1:0
Sun, June 11, 9a: Mexico vs Iran 3:1
Mon, June 12, 6a: Australia vs Japan 3:1
Mon, June 12, 9a: Czech Rep. vs USA 3:0
Mon, June 12, 12n: Ghana vs Italy 0:2
Tues June 13, 9a: France vs Switzerland 0:0
Tues June 13, 12n: Brazil vs Croatia 1:0
Wed June 14, 12n: Germany vs Poland 1:0
Thur June 15, 9a: England vs Trinidad & Tobago 2:0
Fri June 16, 12n: Angola vs Mexico 0:0
Sat, June 17, 12n: Italy vs USA 1:1
Sun, June 18, 9a: Brazil vs Australia 2:0
Sun, June 18, 12n: France vs S. Korea 1:1
Mon, June 19, 6a: Switzerland vs Togo 2:0
Tues, June 20, 7a: Ecuador vs Germany 0:3
Tues, June 20, 12n: England vs Sweden 2:2
Thur, June 22, 7a: Ghana vs USA 2:1
Thur, June 22, 12n: Australia vs Croatia 2:2
Fri, June 23, 12n: Switzerland vs S. Korea 2:0
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Ecuasnore, Ecuasnore, you will lose when England score.
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The First Lady Laura Bush offered her take during a recent visit to Germany: "Americans really are just learning about soccer. It's a new sport to the United States. I guess you can tell it's a new sport by the way our team plays."
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What was the first match you ever went to?
special thanks to One Touch Football
1/11/80 -- Everton 2 Tottenham 2
Joe Mcbride missed a pen I think, and the Spurs fans sang delightful songs about kicking scousers. Massive "off" after the match: Dad refused to take me for a while after that. -- GKI, OTF
Orient 4 Mansfield 2 old Division 2, December 1977.
John Chiedozie scored in the first minute and the immortal Peter Kitchen scored a hat-trick. It was all impossibly thrilling in front of what I thought as a seven-year-old was a huge crowd (in fact it was only four and a half thousand). As misleading introductions to what being an O's fan was about goes, that takes some beating. In fact I didn't see us lose at all until the semi-final against the Arse (still the only time I've ever been to Stamford Bridge) -- Tom D, OTF
4th April 1983 -- Spurs 5 Arsen*l 0
Dad took me, can't remember anything about the game other than George Wood's cap and
being caught up in the human traffic; feet off the floor carried from the half way line on the East to behind the goal in the Paxton Road. -- Still awaiting a repeat scoreline. -- Andy B, OTF
Birmingham City v. Fulham
Mid 1960's my grandad took me to my first game. Birmingham City v. Fulham, old 1st division. We change busses in Stetchford. Grandad dissapears into a pub, ' To get some change' leaving me shivering outside the front door for an hour. He emerges somewhat the worse for wear, and we move on to Saint Andrews. At the ground he is unsteady, and slurring his words, - emabarrased, I moved off down to the front row. I got into a one-sided conversation with a Fulham fan, he seemed like a nice bloke, but he's the first Londoner I have ever met, & his accent was so strong I could not understand a word he said. He continued to talk at me throughout the game, me smiling and nodding in what I hope are the right places. Birmingham lost, if I remember rightly, (no change there then), the incident that sticks most in my mind is Birmingham's Glaswegian left winger Bertie Auld, laying out a Fulham player cold, with a magnificent right hook. I can still remember the Fulham physio throwing water in the face of their unconcious player (Johnny Haynes?) as the referee carefully writes Auld's name in his little book.
A couple of other flash - memories. Blues's right winger Mike Hellawell jinking past two defenders, with the ball seemingly tied to his bootlaces. And the 'oof' sound the Fulham goaly made as he saved a Blues shot into his midriff. At the end of the game grandad is in a bad mood, partly through the result, and partly because he has sobered up. I arrive back at my grandparents place, and when my grandmother askes if I would like to go again, i say ' Yes' because I don't want to hurt grandad's feelings. -- PC, OTF
Enfield 1 - 2 Telford United
My Ars*nal supporting uncle took my brother & I (in our Spurs tracksuits) to see a Spurs - Ars*nal reserves game in the eighties. The first proper game I saw was Enfield 1 - 2 Telford United 23/9/89. Paul Furlong scored for the E's. I went with my schoolmate Geoff Lugg who lived just around the corner from Southbury Road. We stood behind the far goal (just to the left of the Telford keeper) then at half time we walked around the terraces to the other end. This struck me as quite peculiar. -- Jason K, OTF
What did? Paul Furlong scoring? -- Simon Treanor, OTF
First away match?
Danny Baker, 9, at Gills vs Millwall
In those days Gillingham's ground appeared to have been designed by Hans Christian Andersen. It certainly didn't look like our place. Instead of a wall around the pitch topped with iron mesh, they had a small white picket fence. Where we had policemen accompanied by alsatians parading the perimeter, they had a ruddy-faced and jolly old boy selling Wall's ice-creams from a tray. The sun shone in Gillingham, whereas in New Cross the sky rumbled and rained. The man at the turnstile took our money and said: "Enjoy the match!" At the Den they grimly checked your face against a series of mug-shots taped to the wall. -- courtesy Football 365
Salman Rushdie was once asked what life was like under the Fatwa death pronouncement. He replied: "It was not as bad as waiting for Tottenham to win the league."
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The Spur is a genuinely independent supporter site, unaligned with any commercial enterprise. The Spur is not an official organ of Tottenham Hotspur FC. We do provide abundant links to the official site (see links on pg2 or go to front page masthead) where merchandising is available.
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| Sergio Garcia. A European team player for 2004, and 2006!
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The only time you can drag a blue blooded footie fan away from the beautiful game is when the Ryder Cup kicks, er, tees, off.
Yes, as we graduated from the terraces to the executive suites who can blame us for dabbling in the world's most frustrating game to play, or watching grown men representing the USA and the mythical land of Europa attempt to demostrate how golf can be the new team sport.
Only the World Cup and the English football season captivates the imagination and gets the juices flowing more than the Ryder Cup. These three contests stand proudly aloft in the field of competitive sports.
Bloody impossible
It's so whacky it's positively addictive. Also, in contrast to the growing predictability of major football contests these days, it's bloody impossible to know which way this event will go, and fortune can swing wildy from one side to the other during the three days of golfing zaniness. Yes, it's the ultimate sporting rolllercoaster ride, even Man City fans may feel queasy.
And time flies, coz here we are again, another face off between Europe and the USA that has the globe entranced from first tee-off to final putt and eruption of celebratory fans. |
Never mind stastistics, until the Americans can get TEAMWORK into their heads, they start with a disadvantage.
After the footy World Cup, this is the greatest TEAM event in the world. We (Europeans), unlike the USA, bond better because we don't think of the money and can put personal differences aside, unlike the Yanks. Unless Lehman can instill esprit de corp into Woods & Mickelson etc then the Europeans are worthy favourites.
It will be decided on the first two days, as the Yanks ( playing as individuals) invariably win the last day singles. Come on Monty.
Ally Hill |
One of the psychological problems that will face the Europeans this time is simply this. Up until now, despite their recent success, they have always been considered the underdogs. Once it was so easy it seemed the Americans thought of the contest as charitable work or a practise match.
That has all changed. It's a very strange feeling, but the Europeans are in the weird position of being - just about - favourites. Their nostalgia for clear underdog status is palpable.
The US fans may be the worst dressed (which is a compliment by the way in golf) but the European supporters have been known to sing and chant, a far cry from the sedate, stuffy world of yesteryear's crusty golf tourneys.
In theory, the US, with Tiger Woods of course as the Ronaldhino of the sport, should win on individual prowess. Europeans cannot seem to win Majors.
Bjorn to be wild
But there's a widely held belief that the Europeans have the best team spirit. You wouldn't know that based on this year's bust up between excluded Dane Thomas Bjorn and Euro captain Ian Woosnam in the Euro build-up to the big event, but it looks like the Europeans will make up just in time.
Guardian Ryder Cup page
BBC Ryder Cup blog
Sports Ill. Ryder homepage
Wikipedia's Ryder Cup
Sky Ryder Cup site
Irish TV Ad
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