You must be very proud, Bran! I hope they "gol" all the way!!! :0)

Yep, go, the Netherlands! (Sorry, don't know the team name.) I was just reading where Ghana lost a heartbreaker. I don't know much anything about soccer, but given the shock that was expressed when we got as far as we did, I wasn't surprised at our loss to Ghana.

(Note: yes, I know this is a language board. Special occasions warrant, y'know.)

I included a pun in my post, so it's all good Jackie :0)

Thanks on behalf of the Netherlands team. The orange that swallowed the crocodile. ( A Gazeta Esportiva, São Paulo ) So sorry Ghana lost. They were thàt very close. Holland-Ghana would have been nice.@twosleepy. Got the puns.

What I like about soccer is that you can see the players in their real shape, not wrapped up in matrasses, pads, helmets and other furniture ( specially when they are worth looking at ). Yes, U.S was doing vey well for a country that considers soccer is for sissies.

About language: Once more it is funny to remark that a winning teams is referred to as "we". When they lose they directly become "they". I heard someone say "I". "I prefer to play against a team like.... " He was a spectator, not a player.

What I like about soccer is that you can see the players in their real shape, not wrapped up in matrasses, pads, helmets and other furniture ( specially when they are worth looking at ). Yes, U.S was doing vey well for a country that considers soccer for sissies.

About language: dzoof!

Oh, MAN--what a heartbreaker for the Orange! They made 2 or 3 bad shots and had two good ones knocked away. However, if Spain had made all their bad shots they'd have had about seven points, I think--they really had some poor ones.
One of the announcers, whoever he was, revealed himself as a master of understatement when he said after a Spaniard let an opportunity go by: "That would have been a magnificent goal...had it been forthcoming".

Oh, Man --they were the better and the fitter one for the occasion. And we missed the luck we needed. Like the saying goes: 'You never know how the ball will roll'. They gave it the best they could.At least we all can act normal again.
Hurray!
For twosleepy . Congratulation on your birthday!! I saw the little cake this night and thought your birthday had just started. It was very late. Time-confusion.

I was a bit disappointed; it looked like they were trying to win through intimidation with all those yellows - and it ended up costing them in the end.

There 's a lot of critisism coming in, also by our own commentaters. I suppose they are right, I have missed large parts of it, as I find these type of events too impressive and I confess I listen from a distance without looking. I missed the goal, I missed the kickbox move; I just saw the sad end. But I rely on what Cruyff says, he's an expert- that it was an ugly finale.
I watched the comments right now and know a lot more about what went on. I liked the Spain-Germany match which I watched completely.

The little cake? I'm stumped on that!

My aunt, cousin and her husband and baby are here from England, and we were at the lake yesterday. My husband got a cake and ice cream, and I got some nice cards and little gifts. The bad thing was hearing that Spain won! I told everyone I had an internet friend in the Netherlands, and was rooting for them. Sorry they didn't win! :0)

It's pretty standard that we lose the finals. To better or no better teams. The Spanish deserved the win. And the uproar about fair play... acting hurt and dropping to the floor in agony is part of the basic training. Referees have a tough job. Still we were the smallest country to survive the biggies. Now for a nice hogwash. No tackling or pushing/pulling