SOCCER

marina

Any soccer fans in the family?
GO ITALYYYY !!!!! Let's hope we win today!!

ray a

Marina, when was North Carolina moved to Italy?

OK, who is Italy playing? Obviously I'm not a soccer fan. But, I am rooting for the Boston Celtics in basketball.

marina

Italy has moved to N.C. since I moved here, ah, ah.
Today WE play Romania and if we lose we are out. If so I shall be in mourning for 1 year!!
My husband is a Lakers fan although he is not as 'dangerous" as I am if they lose!!
Good luck to your team!

Paul in Cannon Beach

Is Albania closer to Romania or Italy? I am guessing Romania since they share more of the same letters. Yeah, I went to public school.

If so, I am afraid I will be cheering for Romania as one of my co-workers is from Albania. Unless of course I find out Albania hates Romania (which is ALWAYS a possibility given those feisty European tempers). In that case, I'll be rooting alongside Marina for Italy.

But otherwise, GO ROMANIA!!!

marina

Well, Paul, although your reasons are slightly confusing, i wish you good luck ( see how behaved I am !!!!). Because if the World Winners will play as they did 2 years ago you can kiss your Romania "CIAO"

ray a

Is USA team playing?

marina

No, this championship is only for Europe and it is played every 4 years just like the World Cup.
USA has a very good team now: they just played against Argentina last sunday for the qualification to 2010 World Cup. The score was 0-0 but USA played a very good game.
I am sure they'll qualify.

ray a

So, since the USA team is getting so good, do they have any Americans on the team or are they all imports who really know how to play the game?

marina

When you play international you can ONLY have players from that country; therefore, USA has all american players (have you heard of Landon Donovan? He is the team captain, he is 26 and he is SUPER GOOD) . Some of them play for European teams, but as I said when it is time for USA to play they all come back here.
There is one player (Pablo Mastroeni) who was born in South America but is American citizen; therefore, he is allowed to play.
Watch a game one time and you'll see how far USA has come from 15 years ago.

Paul in Cannon Beach

Dont mind me, Marina. In all seriousness, we discussed soccer back during the world cup. I was extremely impressed with the artistry of the Brazilian team. They are truly amazing athletes.

marina

Paul, I honestly do not understand why everyone is so "amazed" by the brasilians. There was one player who did magic a while back (Pele). In the last 10 years Brazil is just as good as all the others and many times less.
Their performance was vary poor in 2006 World Cup.

ray a

Marina, your husband must be a decent guy if he enjoys basketball, even though he's a Laker's fan. Does his eyes glaze over when you talk soccer? Do you drive a minivan like the typical soccer-mom?

marina

Ah, ah, I drive no van!!! I drive a small Suzuki Gran Vitara that is full of flags (Italian , the 'FORZA AZZURRI", and Juventus's my italian team!!!
When Juventus or Italy plays on TV my husband leaves the house!!! because he can stand all my shouts and (yes )curses if we lose!! I am terrible but in Italy we are alike!!

ray a

Yes, Italians all look alike. Bet you wish Fiats were still sold in the US.

ray a

1-1 tie. Marina, are you cussing?

marina

yeeeesssss

ray a

As long as you are doing it in Italian, we won't know what you are saying and it won't matter.

So, what happens now?

marina

You are so right, I even used languages I have never studied!
Italy plays France next tuesday (France is getting ready to play Holland in a few minutes).
Right now Italy has only 1 point, Romania 2 (are you happy Paul?)
France 1 and Holland 3.
Nothing is certain yet: if Holland wins again today it will certainly go to the quarter finals, if Italy wins next week it might have the chance to be the 2nd team to go on (only 2 teams per section). It just depends.................
I am suffering!!!!
Ciao

ray a

Now I"m confused.... what's new?...... Online it says the Italy/Romania game ended up a 1 to 1 tie.

Paul is always happy no matter what happens.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I have to disagree with you Marina. As a non-soccer fan, I was most impressed by Brazil. They are poets on the turf, artists of the field, and they elevate the game to a near spiritual experience.

marina

Good morning. It is Monday and I just would like to wave my hand to Paul. Such a poet!!
I can tell you are not a soccer fan because Paul there is absolutely nothing spiritual in soccer, especially when or if your team is losing!!!
Anyway, Italy plays tomorrow: we MUST win to go the quarter finals. Anysone saw USA play Barbados last night? Good game.
Good monday everyone. Ciao

ray a

No, but I watched the Celtics lose last night.

marina

I thought you would. Our priest is a Celtics fan and he always asks for us to "hope" (he does not want to say pray) for their victory. Did they win?

ray a

Celtics lost, but the series goes back to Boston for the next 2 games.

I actually checked the local newspaper for the results of the last Italy soccer game, but it wasn't reported.

marina

The "European championship" is not as popular as the World Cup and it is understandable. All the games are on ESPN channels.
Presently Holland, Turkey,and Portugal are going forward.
Today GROUP B is playing: Austria - Germany
Poland - Croatia.
We''ll see what happens.

ray a

OK, I look forward to more reports from you.

marina

Ray, if yuou hear nothing tomorrow you'll know I'll be in mourning!!!!

ray a

So, Italy plays today, or has the game already happened? Marina, how are you doing?

marina

Hey Ray, Italy plays today at exactly 2.45 pm our time. We must win and Romania must lose in order for Italy to go forward.
Now consider this: Holland (who won twice and is already qualified for the quarter finals) could "just" let Romania win or tie if it does not wish Italy to go forward. Yes, it is a devilish thought but feasible!
My hopes are quite low right now: but miracles happen even in soccer.
So 'FORZA AZZURRI" !!!
Ciao

ray a

I just remembered, there was that head butt situation between Italy and France.... what was that, last year or the year before? Wasn't it the Italian player who head butted the French player, or the other way around? It was because one of the guys made a crude comment about the other guys wife or mother or sister or something like that. Is there still bad blood between the two teams?

marina

The episode you are referring to happend 2 years ago during the World Cup 's final game between Italy and France. Zidane (the captain of the French team and a VERY good player) became upset with Materazzi (the Italian) who supposedly cursed Zidanes's women, at least that's waht Zidane told reporters. Zidane speaks Italian very well having played in Juventus for many years; therefore, I am sure he did not misunderstood what Materazzi said.
So Zidane turns around and "BAM" hit Materazzi in the stomach with his BIG head!!
It was so unfortunate and so uncalled for especially because he was the French captain and was expelled just before the end of the 2nd half.
Zidane is not playing any longer.
I think that the episode has been forgotten by now and the teams will play well today.