Euro 2012

[Tomsmithbloke]

And Czech Republic is a desperate team... there's a minute on the clock and Cech's come up for the corner... they're about to take it... hang on... what's this.... commotion on the sidelines ... it's Eusebio... Eusebio and Figo... and they want on... they're pushing and shoving... the stewards are holding them back, but the legends are having none of it... they want on... and Webb... Webb's lost the plot! Forget Karagounis, bonkers Webb's waiving them on... Czech players surround him but he's not interested. On comes Eusebio and he's lost the suit... it's Eusebio in his undies... the corner's a poor one and Coentrao clears the ball to Figo... Figo beats one... good to see he's still got his speed... he beats another... Cech's running back... he's sprinting but it's Figo ahead of him, tearing down that right wing... on goes Figo... he ignores Ronaldo and aims a curling cross to the far post... in gallops Eusebio... could it be?... he traps it with the shoulder... Cech's back between the posts... Eusebio lets it bounce... could it be? He feints a shot... oh it has to be! he swivels around... it's a bicycle kick... GOAL!!! GOAL FOR PORTUGAL!!! Eusebio's done it... it's 1966 all over again... Portugal through with a wonder goal from Portuguese legend Eusebio.

I wonder whether this would suffice...

Probably not...

[Shakes Spear]

Incense me? Epic fail. Nothing you could do would incense me... by all means go on watching - in fact, please do, you might learn something and spare the rest of us having to put up with your 'hakuchi' moments. Sycophant? LOL. brain fart much! Me des ka? You des ka? Kodansha Eigo, des ka? Talk about lost in translation.

Mate, you've been in Japan so long you've not only lost your rag, you've also lost touch with your native language! What an utter, pure disgrace. Don't worry - I pity you and those who have to put up with you.

Japlish one on one - that's what I freakin' need.

Just know that the Eurosport article agreed with me, not with you... so there!


Sycophant
noun a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

Might wanna journey out side your bubble boy.
The world is an amazing place if only you open your mind to it.

sycophant (noun)
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; (Euro soccer) fawning parasite

Example Sentence
But history will likely remember him as the ultimate sycophant, the loyal (Euro soccer) sidekick.

Nope, that's pretty much the word I meant to use.
Glad you took the time to look it up though.

[John Grey]

Might wanna journey out side your bubble boy.
The world is an amazing place if only you open your mind to it.

sycophant (noun)
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; (Euro soccer) fawning parasite

Example Sentence
But history will likely remember him as the ultimate sycophant, the loyal (Euro soccer) sidekick.

Nope, that's pretty much the word I meant to use.
Glad you took the time to look it up though.

I am amazed.... do you really think it is a good idea to answer someone like.... well... whatever he is?

[Tomsmithbloke]

Might wanna journey out side your bubble boy.
The world is an amazing place if only you open your mind to it.

sycophant (noun)
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; (Euro soccer) fawning parasite

Example Sentence
But history will likely remember him as the ultimate sycophant, the loyal (Euro soccer) sidekick.

Nope, that's pretty much the word I meant to use.
Glad you took the time to look it up though.

Here they come... oh yes... and it's shake spear by a nose... shake spear by a nose, ladies and germs... shake spear by a nose.

Listen, I'm not here to argue semantics with a moron.

Ask anyone who can speak English properly, and they will tell you that to 'fawn' is to do the opposite of what I did. What I did is argue, perhaps aggressively, and make my point using facts (whether you agree with them or not).... I was not meek or servile, so if you still think the word sycophant applies to someone who makes a point in the manner I did, then you should reduce your dosage and apply for some electroconvulsive...

alternatively, invest in a dictionary. Words have an image, and the image of someone arguing is hardly the image of a simpering, grimacing fool who is meekly and subtly appealing to his target, trying to flatter and manipulate him in order to win a favour.

Have a look at the synonyms, genius: toady, yes man, flunky, fawner, flatterer, adulator, backslapper, bootlicker, groveller, minion, lackey.

When I did I flatter? Whose back did I slap? Did I grovel to make you see my point, or criticise aggressively and argue my position?

Perhaps you can ask one of your friends, a moderator who could intervene and stipulate whether your use of the word corresponds with my behaviour, or whether I am correct.

You are wrong Shake spear, and after reading this, I think even you will realise it.

Now, if you are half a man, you will post a reply and admit that it was the wrong word to use.

I won't hold my breath.

[Tomsmithbloke]

I am amazed.... do you really think it is a good idea to answer someone like.... well... whatever he is?

Whatever I am is someone who tried to help you. Someone who stuck up for you.

I'm also someone who's entertained you. Did you enjoy Eusebio's goal?

Who knows, we might see Beckenbauer in the mix tonight... or Oliver Bierhoff...

[cortomaltese]

Any bar/pub in (possibly central) Tokyo airing EURO2012 LIVE? Anything that's not a German pub!

[HarderFasterBaby]

Why? Because they play to score. Soccer has become so bogged down it's just painful to watch. That England Italy game was a disgrace. How can the biggest sport in the world allow one of it's premiere events to be contrived to such a ridiculous extent with these god awful penalty shoot outs. Both teams couldn't score a goal in 110 ten odd minutes of play. That's is simply unacceptable. I say both teams should have been kicked out of the competition for serving up such absolute tripe! England have to be the biggest chokers in world sport. The Buffalo Bills got nothing on the English national soccer team!

I'm simply not going to watch soccer anymore. It's run by corrupt officials and rife with political shenanigans.

[Shakes Spear]

Why? Because they play to score. Soccer has become so bogged down it's just painful to watch. That England Italy game was a disgrace. How can the biggest sport in the world allow one of it's premiere events to be contrived to such a ridiculous extent with these god awful penalty shoot outs. Both teams couldn't score a goal in 110 ten odd minutes of play. That's is simply unacceptable. I say both teams should have been kicked out of the competition for serving up such absolute tripe! England have to be the biggest chokers in world sport. The Buffalo Bills got nothing on the English national soccer team!

I'm simply not going to watch soccer anymore. It's run by corrupt officials and rife with political shenanigans.

How DARE you speak about the greatest single tournament the world has EVER known!
TomFoolsBloke will be along shortly to give you a thorough dress down for speaking such utter blasphemy!

On a more serious note, I was going to post my predictions for a nil nil England Italy QF, but didn't want to incite the poor lad further.
I will say though that while I would have been dead on, the game was actually fairly entertaining. Well, the first half anyway.

Thank god Iberia's part of Europe!

[Tomsmithbloke]

How DARE you speak about the greatest single tournament the world has EVER known! TomFoolsBloke will be along shortly to give you a thorough dress down for speaking such utter blasphemy! On a more serious note, I was going to post my predictions for a nil nil England Italy QF, but didn't want to incite the poor lad further. I will say though that while I would have been dead on, the game was actually fairly entertaining. Well, the first half anyway. Thank god Iberia's part of Europe!

Hi, Harderfaster. Let me apologise on behalf of our mentally-challenged troll here on Gaijin Pot. On the rare occassions he is able to use proper English vocubulary to express himself, he forgets to take his 'happy' pills and falls all over himself, exaggerating and indulging his hysteria, one of the chronic mental disorders that afflicts him.

As a cursory view of the above posts will evidence, nobody here said anything about 'the greatest single tournament the world has ever known'... But what can you do? Not everyone possesses the faculties of being able to separate their delusive torments from what is actually written on the computer screen before them.

You know, I hate to go off subject, but I was once at a wedding reception where a waiter approached the father of the bride and disclosed that someone was in the kitchen toppling trays of the catering onto the floor. The father said something like 'What do you mean?', and ran into the kitchen. We all followed and found a hulking, mewling figure with his back to the door, throwing pastries at the wall and screeching with joy when they splattered chocolate everywhere. The father spun him around and I guess he was about to say something horrid when he got a good look at his face. His anger dissipated and he slackened, and for a moment nobody knew what to say or do. Then the poor git's minder came along and apologised profusely. The man making the mess, you see, he had Down's Syndrome.

How does this relate to the posters in this forum? Well, you do the calcuations, but I, for one, won't be offending Shake Spear any time soon. In fact, after reading his latest post, I realise he is worse off than I thought, and that I should issue an apology. Here I was, explaining his misuse of a word, making my point, wondering why the fool lacked the gumption to admit that I did not behave as the word he used describes, and all the while, I was typing for a watermelon, picking on an apricot, arguing with an aubergine. What I'm trying to say, I suppose, is that I should have left the poor spastic to his own devices. As I said, I apologise. I was not aware...

I have found the games a lot more entertaining than most people on these fora, so I suppose you and I will agree to disagree. I will say this, though: the tendency to engage in Barcelona-style hogging possession and overplaying the short pass seems to have pervaded the football culture of more than just a group of Europe's top teams. I mean, it was no surprise to watch the Spanish string together something like a God-awful 51 short passes in the defensive midfield area that cut almost five minutes out of one of their games, but to watch other countries' attacking midfield and striker players reach their opponents defensive midfield line, slow down to walking pace, and start cycling the ball between them was as surprising as it was tedious. It's a shame that Barcelona's enormous success has translated into other teams thinking they can imitate their style by overusing the short pass.

In a sense, as success in football continues to become more about tactical and technical proficiency than anything else, the games are likely to become more calculated, the formations more cautious, the midfielders more hesitant, and the game, as a result, more about 'smarts' than the sort of wild wizardry we enjoyed in decades of the past.

[Tomsmithbloke]

Any bar/pub in (possibly central) Tokyo airing EURO2012 LIVE? Anything that's not a German pub!

Yes. At this stage of the tournament (three games to go), you can be accomodated. There is a pub/darts/burger restaurant in nishi (west) Ikebukuro called 'las cabajos' (or something to that effect) that is showing the remainder of the games Live. According to a friend, they are full every match night (football fans and other pub-goers), there is no cover charge, and they show the matches on a large projector. The matches are transmitted on WOWOW and accompanied by Japanese commentary (at home, you can change the commentary to English by clicking the designated button on your remote control).

Unfortunately, I am unable to supply you with an address. All I can tell you is that there is a 'Wakana' shop next door and a Yamaya (liquor store) further down the road (that is, away from the train station). It's on the same road as the westernmost station exit, so if you're on that road and start walking away from Ikebukuro station, you'll find it - they have a glass display case showing off an absurdly gargantuan burger right outside, so it's all about locating that road... unfortunately, I don't know its name, so sorry about that.

[cortomaltese]

Thanks so much!

[wernst]

I know noone gives a ____ but

Tonight Spain vs Portugal

And then Italy vs Germany.

My bet is Germany vs Spain in the final and

Germany takes the cup.

I hope

[John Grey]

How DARE you speak about the greatest single tournament the world has EVER known!
TomFoolsBloke will be along shortly to give you a thorough dress down for speaking such utter blasphemy!

On a more serious note, I was going to post my predictions for a nil nil England Italy QF, but didn't want to incite the poor lad further.
I will say though that while I would have been dead on, the game was actually fairly entertaining. Well, the first half anyway.

Thank god Iberia's part of Europe!

It may be a bit late, but my method worked very well. I downloaded all matches in the morning after gettíng up and then watched them on VLC player, at 150% speed. It does wonders for the games, just try switching in the middle to the real speed, the best thing you can say then is indeed "fairly entertaining".

Sadly enough ALL the teams are not really playing good, and any of the four can win. All three games to come will probably end 1:0 or go to penalties.
After Chelsea defeated Bayern with God's help, it was a relief to see Italy win, a midfield with Parker and Milner... it was hard to stop laughing.
I actually also did bet on a 0:0 after 90 minutes, seems almost everybody did, the payout was lousy....

[Genkii]

I'm glad Holland got out fast. Can't stand the hypocrisy of dutch people.

[HarderFasterBaby]

In a sense, as success in football continues to become more about tactical and technical proficiency than anything else, the games are likely to become more calculated, the formations more cautious, the midfielders more hesitant, and the game, as a result, more about 'smarts' than the sort of wild wizardry we enjoyed in decades of the past.

You know, I use to marvel at the incredible feats on the soccer field when I was younger. I used to love staying up and watching the World Cup and even the Euro Cup. Hell, I played the game for 8 years and was coached by an Scottish 1st div. player, but I just don't think I can watch anymore. All the dirty dealing that have come with greater power in less stable parts of the word. The contrived drama (which FiFA seem to love) from the refs, player divings and the ridiculous anti TV-replay stance means I want to trash my TV every time I watch it.

I think you're right about what is happening to soccer. That won't stop the real die-hards like yourself, but I think people like me will be replaced by third world supporters as soccer becomes a means by which a lot of money can exchange hands.

I've said for years now that the goals should be a 1 or 2 cms higher and wider than they are now. Just that small adjustment would make all the difference. My goals, more attacking chances, more shots on goal. More fun. I also think outfielders in baseball shouldn't be allowed to wear gloves so there is a chance they will drop the ball and bring the game some much needed excitement!

But unfortunately, I'm not a major sporting administrator!

I will say this. Soccer is still better to watch than Rugby Union. What a pig of a sport that is to watch.

[Tomsmithbloke]

I know noone gives a ____ but Tonight Spain vs Portugal And then Italy vs Germany. My bet is Germany vs Spain in the final and Germany takes the cup. I hope

Well, I do give a (whatever you wrote). I agree with you 100% about Germany winning it... They deserve to do so, but we may be in for a surprise.

[Tomsmithbloke]

Sadly enough ALL the teams are not really playing good

Do you mean to say you think Germany is having a poor tournament?

[Tomsmithbloke]

I'm glad Holland got out fast. Can't stand the hypocrisy of dutch people.

I would be interested to know what you mean.

[Tomsmithbloke]

You know, I use to marvel at the incredible feats on the soccer field when I was younger. I used to love staying up and watching the World Cup and even the Euro Cup. Hell, I played the game for 8 years and was coached by an Scottish 1st div. player, but I just don't think I can watch anymore. All the dirty dealing that have come with greater power in less stable parts of the word. The contrived drama (which FiFA seem to love) from the refs, player divings and the ridiculous anti TV-replay stance means I want to trash my TV every time I watch it.

I feel as you do when forced to sit through the antics some players and teams put on.

In addition what you said about the increasing power of poorer countries, and the players they bring into the centre of the sport, I think changes in global culture also account for some of the reduction in gentlemanliness you're describing. Without intending to offend anyone, I believe modern society currently produces a dirtier and more vicious rendition of man (and, by all means, woman) than at any other point in history. In terms of moral conduct, virtue, and behaviour - despite the legacy of social engineering and political correctness we've had to endure, or perhaps because of it - I think most reasonable people would agree that the human race is moving toward the rodent, not away from it.

Who's to blame? You are, as am I. We make Gods out imbecilic thugs and selfish morons like Diego Maradona, Roy Keane, and Didier Drogba, who cheat, bully, and manipulate, and then we all sit around, stupid apes, and gawp at each other when the system doesn't work as it is supposed to. Listen, garbage in equals garbage out, and yes, I know they were/are talented footballers, but the thing with us humans when we start to worship someone is we take everything too far, we know no moderation. Young Mancunians don't just want to play like Keane, they want to be like him - loutish, rough, rude, stubborn, and violent. The think it's 'cool', 'gangsta'. We breed a chav society, and then we have the gall to complain about it.

Who remembers Alfredo Di Stefano? The so-called 'Die Hards' you described. Nobody else does, even though Maradona once said, "Pele might be better than I am, but Di Stefano was better than Pele ever was." Other experts (not that Diego's an expert, but anyway) have named Di Stefano the best footballer who ever lived. Di Stefano lacked charisma, as did Puskas and Fontaine and hundreds of others; yet who do we remember? Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Vinny Jones, and Diego Maradona. Bad boys. Men with charisma, spunk. Can you imagine Pele as the protagonist in a thriller? How about Zico? Ha! Now ask yourself the same question about Maradona or Cantona. Vinny Jones had so much charisma he is an actual actor!

And don't tell me my comparison are irrelevant because Cantona and Keane only 'just' retired, whereas Puskas and Garrincha are already dead. Italians still boast of how many prostitutes Meazza could bed the night before a game, and he was a professional player before Puskas and Di Stefano were born.

People are drawn to gusty characters. Messi could be an accountant: he's better than Ronaldo, sure he is, but most young people prefer the preening Portuguese prancer because of the 'presence' he exudes, a personality. He is someone the young person is programmed to venerate. With role models like diving Drogba, can we really expect any different? My prediction is that the problems you have outlined are just going to keep getting worse and worse and worse.

Sepp Blatter is your typical bureaucratic socialist idiot. The first time I said this was when he said, in broken English, "No, no. If the racism comes or the fan he make the racist thing I go home. I go home, everyone go home. I pack up World Cup and everyone go home." Yeah right... pull the other, prat. Now, after the England v. Ukraine debacle, he's come out in favour of goal-line technology. About time, too, and this is a FIFA president, if you'll excuse me: it's taken him this long to figure out that this might have happened in a final and ruined the competition's reputation, another 'Hand of God' scenario to damage football's reputation.

I've said what you are saying about having a referee watching an instant replay feed of the game and intervening if the referee misses something crucial, or when the referee consults him, since the 2002 World Cup. You're not a sporting administrator, but I think you'd do a better job than many of the fools at FIFA. Come to think of it, so would I.

[Tomsmithbloke]

Thanks so much!

Let me know if you find it. Good luck.

Are you going there tonight?

[cortomaltese]

Thank you for the tip.
I did go and did find it easily. Very small and chilled place, nice staff and good drinks and food. Oh, and more important, no Germany supporters!

[Tomsmithbloke]

Thank you for the tip. I did go and did find it easily. Very small and chilled place, nice staff and good drinks and food. Oh, and more important, no Germany supporters!

I'm glad you had a good time. What is its name?

[cortomaltese]

It's called Los Cabos, and it's part of a very big chain of Spanish/Mexican restaurants and bars with different names all around Tokyo.