Yeah, there was some questionable calls now you mention it. Totti was sent off despite the ref being out of sight, etc. Even Blatter criticized the referee in the Italy match. Spain had goals disallowed in the QFs that wouldn't have been disallowed today. That said, it's where my love affair with Park ji-Sung started and the general "vibes" of the tournament were infectious.
Later games today. Predictions? I'll go France and Senegal to tie, Norway to win, and Argentina to win. Maybe 2-2 (maybe even 3-3 - expect goals) / 3-0 / 2-1.
France, Argentina and Norway to win. I’m backing Jordan to get a draw based on absolutely nothing but hope and wishes.
Went into my local corner shop after work today (for Americans, think super small shops in the middle of housing estates that sell the basics only, usually ran by south east Asian immigrant families). The owners son served me, and we get on pretty well. He told me they’ve just got loads of American sweets and drinks for the World Cup and gave me a “creamy peanut butter” Snickers (9/10) and a weird strawberry lemonade (6/10) with an eagle plastered across it to try. He said he has family in Canada so he’s supporting them as well as England. Even the corner shop boss mans are getting into it!
Ha, great stuff. My local corner shop is run by a Sri Lankan family. I talk to the owner about his runs to Costco all the time. In typical fashion, they're not interested in Football, massive Cricket fans as you'd expect with that part of the world. It's the Kurdish barber I've been winding up, Walked past today, gesturing "5-0" with my hands, and he just started laughing. I secretly hope Iraq get something tonight, though, as the banter will be off the charts.
Senesi, Robertson, van Hecke all in and we’ve spent 52m. Pretty good business imo. I’ll be shocked if we actually pay up for Tonali though.
Ha, going to my barbers this weekend. They’re super proud Kurds too, so hopefully Iraq can do the business and get a result.
Best haircut of my life was from an Egyptian barber in Italy. My barber in Knoxville is the bass player for Bitter End/vocalist for Shogun.
They usually ask at the end if you want a hot towel shave. It's an incredibly nice feeling around the neck, but it's primary objectives are to relax facial muscles and pores so the hair is easier to cut close.
Keeping this out of the WC thread cause it’s only sort of related, but my girlfriend and I have been doing WC themed dinners. I send her the teams involved in any game that kicks off before midnight UK time and she picks one, and then we (mostly I) make a dinner from that country. We did Brazil on Saturday (frango churrasco, corn, spicy rice), Japan on Sunday (ramen), Spain on monday (Spanish risotto), and France yesterday (cassoulet). Today is fish and chips cause England & Portugal. Aaaanyway, Friday is Mexican so if any North American in here has any very good Mexican recipes, send them my way please lol.
Rumor has it FIFA just dropped 180,000 more tickets into the sales portal and the queue is very long right now, so maybe it's true. I've got 23 minutes until I can see what matches have tickets (not resale).