Drama, Oh..Drama

One by one European football team packed up their suitcase and heading home from South Africa where the World Cup final round being held. France, Greece, Algeria, Slovenia, Serbia, Denmark, and Switzerland were crumbled down by the domination of South America which was way too strong this time. And last night, England added the list after got hammered by Germany 4-1, what a humiliation for the country as England national team was never been conceded by any other team internationally more than 2 goals.
Here is the thing, English team was supposed to be one of the biggest team in the world as they have so many great players individually. But, a fact was, the team seemed to have a problem finding a great manager. And now that they have Capello as a manager, there's no different whatsoever. As a manager, I don't know, I think Capello had trouble to find a great tactic that suit the players as a team. Their draw against USA on their first game in South Africa with the goalkeeper's blundered was unforgivable for such a big team like them. Their performance in this World Cup was a huge disappointment in so many ways. Including last night when they got butchered by Germany. Fact, that Germany got advantage from a wrongful judgement by the linesman which disallowed Lampard clear shot which miles in before the German goalkeeper punched the ball out, but still, their performance was unbearable. For such a big team, it's so normal if we expected more than that. But everything about England last night was disappointing. Even Beckham's hair wasn't look that great either last night! Hah!
Again, the fools were not only belong to the players. Since the beginning, I couldn't understand why did Capello played Defoe up at the front together with Rooney? I mean, even me, knew that the gap between those two was way too big. Defoe couldn't provide any high balls which Rooney needed to scores. If I were him (Capello), I would've put Crouch instead. Upson, who were scored for England last night, was no different. I would've put Carragher instead. But, all in, the three lions team made fool of themselves last night. Not to mention their lack of fighting spirits. Seriously, I screamed so loud when 5 minutes to stopped time, the stupid defender back passed the ball to James, the goalkeeper. Come on, you were like 3 goals behind and only have 5 minutes time left, then why didn't you kick the ball as far as you can so your striker can do something about it? Aaaaaarrrgh!! So frustrating! And even more joke for your entertainment was when Capello took Defoe out (finally...duh!) but replaced him with Sean Wright-Phillips! OMG, what for? Just because he was never been play in the World Cup yet so Capello decided to gave him a chance? What a wasted! Maybe if he listened to me and put Crouch in, the story would be different. So when I watched the news this morning, I couldn't stop laughing as the headlines said that Capello is trying to hang on to his job. I mean, seriously?
^_^

Les Misérables

It wouldn't be a World Cup without the confirmation of a few international stereotypes. Yes, the French team (if you can believe it) is bringing the drama. Day after day French football sinks further into crisis and offers a pathetic view of themselves to the world. I thought we'd seen and experienced it all with Les Bleus. Just when you thought you'd seen it all, read it all, understood it all, Les Bleus spring more surprises on us. Unworthy, lacking in communication and the exclusion of Nicolas Anelka accused of insulting the coach. However, there was worse to come as the other day afternoon, in front of 350 supporters and the world's media, French players refused to train. Their motive? They're opposing the exclusion of Anelka and holding the FFF responsible. This time we're really scraping the barrel. The morning after Les Bleus' training session coup, the French press have not held back in voicing their annoyance with what they have called 'the ultimate humiliation.' Through the national team and its coach, the very image of French football has been sullied in the eyes of the world. The team returned to training this morning, but the series of conflicts - which amounted to a high-profile meltdown in the spotlight of one of the world’s most fervently followed sporting events - has left a country for which football is often a source of national pride reeling in disgust and humiliation.
The blue boat is now worthless. There is no leader on board and things are out of control with speculation suggesting every effort is being made to ensure Nicolas Anelka is reinstated before the side face the hosts tomorrow. But, this circus needs to stop, South Africa and the World Cup does not deserve such an insult. Players, coaches, directors – they're all responsible for this regrettable fiasco. A rebellion? No, a caprice. A strike? No, cowardices. Don't deceive yourself. The republican solidarity that the players showed the world the other day was an illusion. Clearly nothing can be expected of Les Bleus. Their achievements are shameful: France is the laughing stock of the world
While the French players talk to the press about traitors, yesterday in Knysna we found 22 of them. Even French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked his sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, to prolong her stay in South Africa to try and calm the situation before Tuesday’s final Group A game against South Africa. France - which made it to the final in 2006’s World Cup, but lost to Italy - is unlikely to qualify for the second round of the tournament this time. Bachelot told French news media that she and the president were calling for “dignity and responsibility,” and warned that “disciplinary action” could follow.
Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, formerly a member of the national synchronized swimming team, slammed the boycott, telling a French TV channel: “I am appalled because I have worn the French national colors, and when you wear the French national colors, you have added responsibilities”. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner added his voice to the chorus of politicians expressing dismay at the team’s behavior, calling it “an appalling soap opera” and “a caricature of France”. Also speaking out were some of France’s former soccer greats. Emmanuel Petit (who scored in France’s 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil) denounced the team’s actions as “intolerable”, and Alain Giresse told the same French TV station, “It’s sad, it’s shameful, it’s pathetic”.
As one of French National Team haters, I was truly blessed with the team crisis. Hey, what else should I say? Am a true hater! So, thank you Les Bleus for the wonderful image you have presented the world with since arriving in South Africa. Bless you for all the happiness you have provided for me. The mutiny of Knysna will always be remembered as the Waterloo of French football. And yeah, shame on them. Shame on these players who have no idea about the realities of life's difficulties and who can strike at a World Cup - a global event which they qualified for thanks to Thierry Henry's cheating.
^_^

Hall Of Shame

Words can get you into trouble. Not if your name is Wayne Rooney and you are valuable to the money men, but if your name is Nicolas Anelka and the money men from your country have real values - you are on a plane home. And no, it wasn’t the first to happened in the world of football itself as back then in World Cup 1994, one of the Danish players was also sent back home over something that he said.
I don't know the full story but what I do know is that during the half time break in the match between France and Mexico, coach Raymond Domenech said something to Anelka about tactics and Anelka didn't like what he said and responded, in not such a polite manner. According to L'Equipe newspaper, Anelka unleashed a scathing attack on Domenech after being criticized during the interval as France sank to a dismal 2-0 defeat in Polokwane on Thursday. When Anelka took issue, Domenech threatened to substitute him, and the player unleashed his foul-mouthed tirade, reported L'Equipe. Anelka allegedly told Domenech to "go screw yourself, dirty son of a wh*re" in the dressing room at the Peter Mokaba Stadium after the coach criticized his first-half performance. Domenech's response was immediate. Anelka was replaced with Andre-Pierre Gignac for the second half. Anelka was asked to say sorry by French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes and he said no, so he was asked to leave the French squad.
“Words spoken by Nicolas Anelka to the national coach, Raymond Domenech, are completely unacceptable to the FFF, French football and the values they defend," read a statement from the French Football Federation.
"After being informed on Friday evening of the serious incident during half-time of the France-Mexico match, federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes asked Nicolas Anelka in the presence of captain Patrice Evra to present an official apology to the French public and to express regret for his remarks to Raymond Domenech, the staff and 23 players from the France team.
"Upon refusal by the player to deliver a public apology, he [Escalettes] made the decision - in full agreement with the coach and members of the official delegation in Knysna - to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the group." That was not the only drama that happened so far in the event of the year, the World Cup 2010. Wayne Rooney stuck two fingers up at thousands of England supporters that travelled to South Africa to support England but those England supporters get an apology.
As one of the football fans, I can totally understand why were the fans booed the team over their two previous disappointing performances. I can see where was this frustration came from. I mean, there is a huge gap between the average supporter and the average football player these days. The gap is even bigger when you look at the type of player that plays for England - earning millions each season and living a life so far removed from the real world, that they can hardly be blamed not really knowing what is going on and acting the way they do. They are coached on what to say, how to say it and when to say. Some are told to kiss the badge and if you offer one of them a little more money they will happily jump ship or say whatever you want. The gap is so large these days that Wayne Rooney, someone that has only ever known football, can not be blamed for his outburst after the shambles of a performance he and the rest of the England players put in last night.

But, as one of the football fans as well, I can also understand Rooney’s frustration as I do believe that every players who were in South Africa at the moment did their best to defend their country on the field. To be there and fight for your country was something amazing. So of course, just like the fans, all of the players want the best for their team and their country. Then yeah, for me, as much as my disappointment, I suggested the fans to be wiser and still support their team as they were probably needed it even more at this point.
The other drama that caught my attention on this year World Cup was how the Ghana team took advantages from the nervous referees who were too excited to became one of those important guys in the event, hence their over reaction on the games that their managed. Who was the luckiest in these things? Those Ghana players who scored 2 and collected 4 points over two unnecessary red cards that awarded them penalties. And who was the unluckiest one? The Aussie socceroos who were awarded with two yellow cards for Cahill when the team played Germany and one red last night for Harry Kewell when they played Ghana. What a drama! I think any team who is going to play Ghana next should be careful as they seemed to have some kind of ‘red cards’ angel follows them around . But the game that I thought was going to served even more drama was the Portugal vs. Ivory Coast which was not. Maybe because of the King of Drama from Ivory Coast, Didier Drogba, was not playing so that the Portuguese King of Drama, Ronaldo, had no sparring partner, hah!
One of the best games of the World Cup group stage will be Brazil vs. Ivory Coast tonight. Ivory Coast will be on a high from their strong performance against Portugal but the odds say Brazil has this game in the bag. The Brazil vs. Ivory Coast have Brazil as the clear favorites, picking up points and securing their place in the next round. But after a week full of shockers, don’t dismiss the Ivory Coast just yet. They don’t have many talented players but Drogba is expected to make a return. He’ll surely help boost their confidence and their chances of giving Brazil a run for their money. This game will kick the recent World Cup trend of low scoring games. Both teams are great attackers with a weak defense. A popular bet is over 2.5 goals and 2-1 looks like a good bet. Oh, how I wish I have someone to bet with on this one!
^_^

Too Tired For An Affair

"What do you want for dinner tonight?"
"I don't mind,"
"We're having liver,"
"I hate liver,"
"I thought you don't mind,"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Do you love me?"
"What a question!"
"Say it!"
"OK, I love you!"
"Don't say it like you were ordering food in a restaurant,"
"I love you,"
"I don't believe you,"
(A Marriage Made In Heaven : Or Just Too Tired For An Affair - Erma Bombeck)

Sounds familiar with this conversation? For tthose who were marriage, of course. I mean, come on, you have got to admit it that it was almost impossible to find a marriage made in heaven at this time being. When I said a marriage made in heaven, I mean literally, a happy and harmonious marriage or partnership. The thing is, human is a very selfish and individual creature himself. So yeah, it took a huge heart for a human to understand others, mostly they don't. Or, if they do, normally that was a result of some kind of deal or an agreement. Or, they must be half an angel or saint.
The problem was almost the same, seemed like everyone married the same men. Seriously, how many times you heard your girlfriends complaining about their partners which linked you to your own relationship? Exactly! From a woman point of view, sometime I put myself to that lame thought that all of the differences between man and woman would be disappear as soon as the Priest said, "Now I pronounce you husband and wife," But I was dead wrong. If we were come to our common sense, that was the time actually, when the problem started. I mean, many of us blinded with the status as a husband and a wife, hence our confusing whether trying so hard as a great spouse to our partner or just becoming ourself. Many of us change as soon as they got marriage, for a better or a worst reason, it doesn't really matters. The thing is, we tend to became someone else according to what our spouses wanted and we call it a sacrifice that we made to have a marriage made in heaven. But that was wrong.
My point is, in order for marriages to be made in Heaven there has to be a Heaven. Some people don't believe there is. So, if there's no Heaven that pretty much answers the question. If, on the other hand, there is Heaven (God): It's possible that when there's genuine love at the time of a marriage that marriage was "made in Heaven", but if love dies then maybe we can assume Heaven didn't plan to have that love last forever. It's possible that everyone in our lives are supposed to be there at the time they are and that Heaven has plans for people that don't always include remaining married. People learn a tremendous amount about life, themselves, marriage, and love when a marriage fails. Many failed marriages result in children. Marriages could be made in Heaven, but maybe they're not made to last for a reason.
I, personally, suppose I believe that each life and each soul has its individual journey and that there isn't a one-size-fits-all rule that Heaven imposes on everyone. If there's a plan that even a marriage that's made in Heaven is to dissolve then that's what happens. Another possibility is that people marry the wrong person, which amounts to going against Heaven's plans for what it takes for a good marriage. As a result, the people suffer the consequences of divorce. If this is the case, you can't blame the people most of the time because most of the time they marry the wrong person out of not knowing any better.
But, on the other hand, is there a chance that all marriages - wonderful, ok-enough or rotten and destructive - are made in Heaven and are supposed to last forever? In all objectivity, I suppose there is that chance. I suppose the punishment for divorce could be all that awful things that can happen as a result of it. I suppose, too, maybe divorced people even get sent to Hell. I don't happen to believe that, but in all objectivity, I have to acknowledge that it's also a possibility. Maybe Heaven decides that some people shall be deprived of love, peace, and happiness for their whole life - for no reason that anyone understands. Maybe Heaven doesn't want people trying to find those things in their life. Maybe Heaven wants children coming from empty, cold, destructive, home environments for some reason. Or maybe there was a marriage made in heaven. Or maybe it was just people who were involve in those kind of marriages were too tired for affairs. Or maybe it was just me with my weird way of thinking. As I might not believe in marriage made in heaven, but I do believe that an arrangement could make a marriage feels like heaven.
^_^

Privacy Violation

For these last few weeks, everyone in Facebook thingy was talking about how their privacy been violated by the site. Now here is the thing that for me was kind of funny. When we decided to join the site, I believe that no one ever force us to. We registered ourself voluntarily. And as far am concern, no one has any access to give this social network our information but us. We, the members, took a fully responsible on what kind of information that we want them to show on our profile, which pictures we want to share with whom, and how far do we want people to see our profile. So, when everyone started to blame the site for their privacy that 'they claimed' being violated, for me, this was a joke! And when they asked everyone else to join their group to leave Facebook on a certain date, I couldn't stop laughing. Seriously!

Now, let me tell you guys something. When you first decided to join this site, what was your intention? Me, to have fun. So yeah, of course, I was never took this thing that serious. It was just purely fun. Hence, I was never feel violated by anything this site done. Because I aware very much so that I was the one who is responsible with any of these. When I put a certain picture of me on the site, I knew totally that, that means I lost my right to sue anyone when the picture ended up in a wrong hand. So yeah, get real guys...don't blame the site, blame yourself! I mean, after posted those pictures of you with those skimpy bikinis and now you said that your privacy had been violated? Duh!

^_^