Michael*

So is TEAM USA impressing you yet for the WC?

Absolutely, I was sad to see the American team go home. To a man, I thought they were fantastic for the whole tournament. Proper footballers, too. No diving, whinging, surrounding the ref or throwing fits when teammates don't pass them the ball. They just play football. Part of what makes them so likeable, in my opinion. They showed more fight and will to win those last ten minutes than... well, you know who.

Very interesting insight Michael, thank you! I cannot help myself to also compare this biting thing with other much serious injuries that we experience during football matches everyday - though, I give you credit about re-appearing biting not being the part of any sport at all.

Maybe the only option for Suarez will be some kind of anti-biting machine attached to his mouth in the end??

I think wheeling him onto the pitch like Hannibal Lecter is the only way to go.

Oh, don´t worry about that, during my long absence on personal threads, I think I lost like 75% of all conversations I once had. I was checking you on FB from time to time, though my FB attendance rate was low as well.

All´s well, and all´s not There are so many things to deal with before we can move to our own place (and we would like to do that this year!), plus some kind of family issues always going on, and recently FL´s father was hospitalized with a heart attack (they are installing him a cardio stimulator today).

How are you?

Fine thanks, still going strong. Trying to fit work in around the more important things, like enjoying the good weather and watching the World Cup and Wimbledon tennis. Quite honestly, I'm thankful just to have some semi-regular work on the go, I know a lot of people who don't at the moment.

Sorry to hear of what you’ve had to deal with lately, sounds rather challenging. I hope that means he'll be on the mend sooner rather than later.

Who's that in your avatar by the way?

Your description of Suarez sounds like the artist who needs his/her drugs .

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The Cup has made the dual citizenship I bragged about in the beginning come to nothing .

Yeah, I suppose he does have a bit of a 'mad genius' thing going on.

Double the nationality, double the anguish when the teams you support go out, I suppose. I myself have no such worries, except that my one team has enough problems to ruin two.

Are you rooting for anyone else now, then? For me, in a perfect world, the Colombians would win it. Lots of teams are playing good football, but I think they're the best to watch. Pace, movement, skill, hard working players and fantastic support. And most importantly of all, cool goal celebrations.

Absolutely, I was sad to see the American team go home. To a man, I thought they were fantastic for the whole tournament. Proper footballers, too. No diving, whinging, surrounding the ref or throwing fits when teammates don't pass them the ball. They just play football. Part of what makes them so likeable, in my opinion. They showed more fight and will to win those last ten minutes than... well, you know who.

I must say I was surprised TEAM USA made it as far as they did but they had so much heart for the game and boy did it show I'm still not over those last minutes with Belgium and all those close opportunities that just didn't pan out And I must give a huge shout out for Tim Howard, dude more than gave an exemplary performance on his part And onto a positive note for TEAM USA and this WC, it's gained a HUGE fan base and interest for the sport from many who didn't give a hoot last time around. I hope to see soccer here in the states grow even more after this amazing performance from TEAM USA and hopefully next time around we will be a more intimidating force to be recon with

And oh man the Howard memes have begun!

those pics are precious

 

Very interesting insight Michael, thank you! I cannot help myself to also compare this biting thing with other much serious injuries that we experience during football matches everyday - though, I give you credit about re-appearing biting not being the part of any sport at all.

Maybe the only option for Suarez will be some kind of anti-biting machine attached to his mouth in the end??

I think wheeling him onto the pitch like Hannibal Lecter is the only way to go.

 

Oh, Hannibal Lecter could for sure give him some lectures - though I´m afraid it would end up in eating bad football players

 

Oh, don´t worry about that, during my long absence on personal threads, I think I lost like 75% of all conversations I once had. I was checking you on FB from time to time, though my FB attendance rate was low as well.

All´s well, and all´s not There are so many things to deal with before we can move to our own place (and we would like to do that this year!), plus some kind of family issues always going on, and recently FL´s father was hospitalized with a heart attack (they are installing him a cardio stimulator today).

How are you?

Fine thanks, still going strong. Trying to fit work in around the more important things, like enjoying the good weather and watching the World Cup and Wimbledon tennis. Quite honestly, I'm thankful just to have some semi-regular work on the go, I know a lot of people who don't at the moment.

Sorry to hear of what you’ve had to deal with lately, sounds rather challenging. I hope that means he'll be on the mend sooner rather than later.

Who's that in your avatar by the way?

 

I see you have your prirorities right same here, though - I´m only 1/2 at work, the rest of me as at home, cottage and garden. Fortunately we do not have much work now - so I can concentrate on these things

Who are you favourite teams?

I hope so too today he´s already at home, so I guess it´s been without complications

It´s Monica Jagaciak - I´m sure you know her!

Love the Howard memes guys, especially the 'Matrix' one.

 

I must say I was surprised TEAM USA made it as far as they did but they had so much heart for the game and boy did it show I'm still not over those last minutes with Belgium and all those close opportunities that just didn't pan out And I must give a huge shout out for Tim Howard, dude more than gave an exemplary performance on his part And onto a positive note for TEAM USA and this WC, it's gained a HUGE fan base and interest for the sport from many who didn't give a hoot last time around. I hope to see soccer here in the states grow even more after this amazing performance from TEAM USA and hopefully next time around we will be a more intimidating force to be recon with

 
The USA fought so well, it was almost the classic American movie storyline. I was having a few visions of a 'Mighty Ducks' style comeback towards the end, where they rose onto their feet and clawed their way back into the game. When they needed it most, they pounded the enemy with unexplained god-like reserves, and utterly dominated all the way to the finish. I don't suppose the end result will quite make for a blockbuster script just yet, but give it another four years (when they'll undoubtedly be even more dangerous) and you never know!

- Though I am somewhat bias as I play goalkeeper in my amateur games, I must say that there have been some pretty amazing saves even despite there being already more goals than this point in the last one. 

- No matter what countries are playing, the camera men outdo themselves searching the crowds to find the prettiest women to put on television. 

- It never takes said women long to realize that they are on television/the big screen. 

- The female equivalent of the random pretty woman is the man in face paint or costume . 

- Much like the basketball referees, the football referees savor every opportunity to show that they have some skill with the ball. The little tricks here and there when they think no one is looking and such. 

- Most teams have either a guy with Side Show Bob hair or a celeb lookalike. 

Yeah, the high standard of shot-stopping has been a real theme of the tournament so far. That and goals from substitutes. Goal assists from full-backs, too.

The changes in mood you see when fans realise they're on camera in the stadium (and therefore to a worldwide TV audience of millions) are indeed amazing. Especially when a team is losing, or on the edge of going out, the camera pans to the fans of said team sitting in the crowd looking miserable, and they suddenly and miraculously cheer up. Makes me think you could deal with anything life throws at you simply by having your face shown on a big screen.

Conclusive proof that World Cup cameramen have no shame (which I'll confess to loving them for )...

Who are you favourite teams?

 

I hope so too today he´s already at home, so I guess it´s been without complications

 

It´s Monica Jagaciak - I´m sure you know her!

I was hoping the Colombians would win it, they played wonderful football and were probably the most exciting team to watch. Captured my imagination in a way that I'm sorry to say England never have. But now that the so-called 'hipster's dream' final of Belgium and Colombia is off the table, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for an all-South American or all-European affair. None of the other combinations appeal to me as much as Argentina and Brazil or Germany and Holland. Both grudge matches between near neighbours.

I see. Well, that's great, hopefully the outlook is pretty good from here on in.

Oh yeah! I know Monica. Not sure why I didn't recognise her. Weirdly enough, I became aware of her work and a song with her name in the title at around the same time, so I tend to associate her with the lyrics now, even though they're probably totally unrelated. Silly I know, but I can't help it.

I´m all for Argentina-Brazil finale! It would be amazing, if you ask me, and I´m not even a huge footbal fan

That editorial is not quite her "look" - it´s something totally different and I love it, it shows her amazing variability! And yay for that song when did you become fully aware of her work?

Love the Howard memes guys, especially the 'Matrix' one.

The USA fought so well, it was almost the classic American movie storyline. I was having a few visions of a 'Mighty Ducks' style comeback towards the end, where they rose onto their feet and clawed their way back into the game. When they needed it most, they pounded the enemy with unexplained god-like reserves, and utterly dominated all the way to the finish. I don't suppose the end result will quite make for a blockbuster script just yet, but give it another four years (when they'll undoubtedly be even more dangerous) and you never know!

I'm panning out for the hopes that TEAM USA brings more to the table in skill, performance and strategy next WC for sure. We almost had that Cinderella story but we just couldn't manage it at the end Oh well, at least the Howard memes sort of made up for it

I'm still in aww over here at the horrendous and utterly humiliating loss Brazil took from Germany, and without lube I might add I was under the expectations of Germany closing that game but there was no way in hell anyone saw them winning by 6 goals Truly a game to be told and spoken of for YEARS to come.

Unfortunately, even the cameras couldn't console them after this thrashing . Someone said Americans can relate because of how Jamaicans thrash us in sprinting now, but I strongly disagree. They would have to have been like in the screen by themselves for it even to be a discussion. Not to mention, track doesn't mean half as much as football means to Brazil. Most Americans only care about track during the Olympics and only then because they think its an easy medal. I can't imagine what its like for Brazil. On the positive side, there are some kids that watched that who will probably be the better. Well, probably some German kids who ill too .

I went ahead and ordered Doctor Who Season 1, but its amazing how far behind I am anyway  . 

I´m all for Argentina-Brazil finale! It would be amazing, if you ask me, and I´m not even a huge footbal fan

 

That editorial is not quite her "look" - it´s something totally different and I love it, it shows her amazing variability! And yay for that song when did you become fully aware of her work?

It was my dream final before the tournament started, a South American rivalry like no other with the subplot of Messi vs Neymar (the master against the apprentice). Obviously, there's been a lot of water under the bridge since then. Second choice of Holland and Germany could still pan out, but I’m certain that it'll be a wonderful final, regardless of who the Germans play.

There was a particular editorial with Monika that really caught my eye, must have been about 18 months ago. It was the kind of thing that someone like ASOS might do, although if I'm not mistaken it was for a Polish magazine. I'll post it here if I can find it again. Anyway, she's been steadily growing on me ever since. Wonderful and so versatile. :wub2:

Who else are you liking at the moment?

Edit: found it! September 2012, a bit older than I thought.

Cover of Polish fashion magazine Viva! Moda's Fall 2012 issue and cover story "Jac sama w domu" ("Jac alone at home")

Photographer: Maciek Kobielski

Stylist: Agnieszka Ścibior

Hair and Makeup: Wilson/ Warsaw Creatives

Model: Monika "Jac" Jagaciak

Source: Scans by OlgaMaria at the Fashion Spot at Ms. Jagaciak's thread

Cover:

Cover Story/Editorial:

I'm panning out for the hopes that TEAM USA brings more to the table in skill, performance and strategy next WC for sure. We almost had that Cinderella story but we just couldn't manage it at the end Oh well, at least the Howard memes sort of made up for it

I'm still in aww over here at the horrendous and utterly humiliating loss Brazil took from Germany, and without lube I might add I was under the expectations of Germany closing that game but there was no way in hell anyone saw them winning by 6 goals Truly a game to be told and spoken of for YEARS to come.

I was sitting there last night just going 'Tim Howard would have saved that. And that. And that, and that, and that'. And so on and so forth.

Seriously though, I really couldn't believe what I was seeing. A mixture of German brilliance and Brazilian incompetence but, indisputably great though Germany were, I think the latter was the bigger contributor. I genuinely can't think of a worse team performance in any competition ever. Had it been a boxing match, the referee would have needed to step in. Scolari will take the blame for failing to reorganise the team after the losses of Neymar and Silva, but he certainly wasn't helped by each of them putting in career-worst individual performances.

Unfortunately, even the cameras couldn't console them after this thrashing . Someone said Americans can relate because of how Jamaicans thrash us in sprinting now, but I strongly disagree. They would have to have been like in the screen by themselves for it even to be a discussion. Not to mention, track doesn't mean half as much as football means to Brazil. Most Americans only care about track during the Olympics and only then because they think its an easy medal. I can't imagine what its like for Brazil. On the positive side, there are some kids that watched that who will probably be the better. Well, probably some German kids who ill too .

 

I went ahead and ordered Doctor Who Season 1, but its amazing how far behind I am anyway  .

Yeah, there's only so much damage you can do to your rivals in a ten-second race.

It's hard not to feel for the Brazilian people. No country sings the anthem louder and prouder and they do, and no country has fans that want it more. Unfortunately, there are times when all those things, far from being essential can be an unbearable pressure. If nothing else, the result will forever put to rest the idea that passion and effort alone can be a substitute for skill, organisation and confidence at the highest level of the game.

I actually watched one of the season 1 Doctor Who episodes recently, I was shocked at how quickly the production values have gone through the roof in recent years. Still very enjoyable stuff, though. One of those shows you have to judge with a slight grain of salt at times, but always excellent fun. Do let me know how it goes.

I was sitting there last night just going 'Tim Howard would have saved that. And that. And that, and that, and that'. And so on and so forth.

 

Seriously though, I really couldn't believe what I was seeing. A mixture of German brilliance and Brazilian incompetence but, indisputably great though Germany were, I think the latter was the bigger contributor. I genuinely can't think of a worse team performance in any competition ever. Had it been a boxing match, the referee would have needed to step in. Scolari will take the blame for failing to reorganise the team after the losses of Neymar and Silva, but he certainly wasn't helped by each of them putting in career-worst individual performances.

I guess that's a good key indicator of a really good goal keeper...reminisce as you watch others

That was a live slaughter played on TV for all the world too see. I was at a lose for words as the goals kept coming in and the second I had one... here comes another There is no doubt that even with a fully healthy Brazil there was no way they could take up the power house that is German futbol

Now we await to see who is victorious between Argentina vs Germany I'm rooting for Argentina even though the numbers tell me otherwise