Okay, this post isn't really anime or gaming related, but...oh well. We're finally nearing the end of the 2006 World Cup. Controversies, hilarious refereeing and some outstanding goals (probably due to the new Adidas Teamgeist design and 'lightness') have marked and marred this years World Cup. The quarter-final dust has settled and the four countries left standing more or less merit their places in the semis. Germany, the hosts, were of course expected to pull through, as they have quality and the nation behind them. Italy, who faced Ukraine in the quarter-finals, should be red-faced if they didn't make it.Jubilating Frenchmen, and deservingly so.The real surprises and controversial faces in these semis are of course, Portugal, and the seemingly aging France. Let's talk about France first, shall we? When I watched them in the opening games, I didn't just feel...but I KNEW this team were going home. There was nothing in their play to even hint that they were more than what the world was calling them, a group of has-beens. Zidane, Thuram, Makelele, even Barthez...they lacked the spark, they lacked the quality even. But how things can change. France scraped through to the 2nd round, sparking a series of inspiring performances to first down the then impressive Spanish, and then vanquish the Gods of Football themselves. Yes, Brazil were completely stifled by the French, with Zidane producing probably the performance of his life at that age to humiliate even the highly-touted Ronaldinho. The Brazilians created nothing, and even the rotund Ronaldo could not save them.Oh bother, looks like I'll have to cancel that countryside tour.The end of an era, the end of David Beckham.Then, we have Portugal, who defeated the ever-underachieving English, albeit in a penalty shootout. I actually felt it was best England left the competition then, because if they scraped through another round, it would be all the more painful for the players and the fans when they eventually, and ultimately fall at the next hurdle. England's performances have been close to abysmal, but maybe God is an Englishman. After all, with uninspiring displays, toothless attacking, the Three Lions made it through their group, went on to beat the quick and pacey Ecuador, before losing in controversial manner to the Portuguese.If you watch the World Cup, you know what happened in that match. Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo, both players from a club I support, losing it and causing chaotic reverberations in the world of the satanic tabloids and press. Rooney, either cynically or accidentally, stomped on the...crotch area of Ricardo Carvalho, a Portuguese defender. A foul was called. Ronaldo rushes up, for whatever reason, and starts complaining about the foul. Rooney gets pissed, as he always does, and pushes Ronaldo. Referee produces red card, Rooney is off, and Ronaldo is becomes England's enemy No.1.No mate, not THOSE balls! The other one!More like a soap opera than a football match.From what I watched, I cannot believe that Ronaldo would do this to a clubmate of his. But even if he did complain, he had every right, because then and there, on the pitch, his loyalties were to Portugal, not to Wayne Rooney or Manchester United. I've been to a few football forums, read a few articles, and many an England fan blames Cristiano for their team's eventual demise. I say, STFU and take off those rose-tinted glasses. The incident aside, England were a better team with 10-men and held on to force a shootout. Commendable. But both England and Portugal screwed up their penalties. It's just that England 'effed' their penalties even worse. The bottom line is, Rooney should not have lost his temper in the first place, and failing that, Lampard and Gerrard, usually reliable in every situation, should have done more than scuff their shots straight into Ricardo's arms.I feel this makes it worse for my favourite club, which is probably No.1 in the most supported and most hated charts, lol. Sir Alex has not made any significant changes to a team with an ailing midfield, and with Van Nistelrooy's impending departure, this little incident does not bode well. What can we do? On to happier things. Michael Schumacher won his first race in...errr 5?6? at Indianapolis last Sunday. Whoopee. At least now there's some life in this year's F-1.On another note, I just managed to collect a few of my backlogged figures this weekend. Good Smile's Ono Kanako, Bome Vol.12 and Alter's Sei. Well, it is my birthday today (cue embarrassed cough), so it was a nice 'personal' gift. Lol. =)Left to right: Sei, Kanako, Chidori and Tessa.Um, the back.Kanako is loads hotter than what I've seen of her in the manga, which was what made me buy the figure. And I don't care if it's a crime to say only nice things about stuff you like, but Kanako is awesome. I haven't taken her out of the box yet, but from early looks, this doesn't disappoint. Had to get an acquaintance of mine to pick up the Full Metal Panic Bome from Japan though...the entire KL was out of stock, and I wasn't prepared to get mine online. Sei isn't the most interesting figure ever...but she looks quite like in the anime, and I've always liked the mask, and her. Anyway, I've got Meg, I want to get Jo, so what the heck, Sei and Amy will just have to be bought too. ;PTerrible reflection here, didn't notice till I uploaded it.Ye gawd...lol, it's still visible, right?I really wanna do reviews on these figures, but that will just have to wait for now. I'm partially broke but there's just so much more to get, lol. Ignis...especially the lovely Ignis...so....pretty...need....air....>>> Football, MiscellaneousTags: Blog, Blogs, Blogging, Football, Soccer, World Cup, England, PVC Figure, Good Smile Company, Tenjou
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