CZECH FIGHTBACK STUNS BRAZIL

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Brazil 1 CZECH REPUBLIC 2

Brazil's defense of its Pop World Cup crown is over tonight after they fell to a Czech Republic side most commentators had expected them to brush aside. As the recriminations begin in the beaches and favelas of Rio, rookie manager mostlyconnect is living the dream - and preparing to face Ukraine or Togo for a place in the semis.


"No, Nipper! Not the mixer!"

In truth Brazil looked to have earned at least a draw in a fiercely contested game, dominating much of the match with their physical play but unable to get the ball in the net until a headed goal shortly after half time earned them the lead. The match should have been over, but ten minutes from time the Czechs scrambled in an equaliser, and Brazil's frustration turned to agony in the 89th minute, as a soft free-kick led to a second Czech goal. Brazil pushed forward and went close in injury time but the Czechs held on for a victory which will surely rank as one of the shocks of the Pop World Cup.

The post-mortem may focus on Brazil's overconfidence, with under-fire boss thenipper apparently claiming in private that he expected a walkover. A Czech spokesman refused to comment on these claims, simply commenting that "there are no easy games at this level, and Brazil learned that today."

Final Result
Brazil - 79 points
Czech Republic - 81 points

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It is RLY RLY hard to find either

a) pictures of unhappy Brazilian fans (in fact 90% of pictures of Brazilian fans seem strictly FOR THE DADS)
b) pictures of Pele with an other than impervious grin

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

wot no happy czechs?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Isn't Pele a Hawaiian goddess?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

No, google Czech fans and you get a bunch of goths queueing outside Rammstein gigs.

[juror8.livejournal.com]

No, he's a useful punchline for stand-up comedians doing impotency gags.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

No, they were a fifth rate early 90s nindie band.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

when the victory-margin is this close, surely it's a penalty shootout?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Dom you should know this, Tori Amos named an album after her!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

ARGH!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Take your sick lust for penalties elsewhere.

[juror8.livejournal.com]

This is a dog called Pele at its master's funeral:

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Wow, my last minute vote counted for something! (I did give Brazil more points than their opposition, but I very nearly gave them a perfect 10. But that would have been unfair on the Czechs. Well done mostlyconnect then.)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Your last minute vote = "went close in injury time" in the match report.

You were also Ghana's second consolation goal as it turned out.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

at the risk of bein a WORLD CUP MUSIC ROCKIST i wz disappointed that brazil didn't play closer to their "natural" game

(on the whole i have awarded UP for regional "traditionalism" not down -- viz ghana over japan)

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

yeah, I figured

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think playin the baile card was definitely the right thing to do at some point, and probably this was the point, but the Czech shouty man turned out to be a great spoiler tactic.

UNFAIR TO IDIOT LEX

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

also i still think the US were stiffed red-card-wise, given the free pass japan get for BLATENTLY SIMILAR TICTACS

Re: UNFAIR TO IDIOT LEX

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

The Czechs are definitely playing a miracle tourney. One of the most un-pop countries I have ever visited.

I agree we had to see some baile. I am disappointed we won't see more of the Brazilians cuz they coulda gone all da way! I mark this up to coaching.

Re: UNFAIR TO IDIOT LEX

[cis.livejournal.com]

what? I know Tommy's totally indie but at least she's at over the age of majority!

I am thinking of doing enka or okinawan folk music for the next round. :D

MULLAH RESMAT SAYS YES TO THIS CHANGE OF DIRECTION

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

"By the last decade of the 20th century it seemed that everything possible had been achieved. Then along came Enka with a new sound."