World Cup 2006
apalazzo | July 12, 2006This will be my last entry on this topic (i.e. the World Cup) ... c'est fini après ça. Here is Zidane's interview:
For all those of you that don't understand le français, I'll translate a couple of things ...
He was first asked if there was bad blood between the two teams, any insults being thrown about. Zidane says that there wasn't anything too bad, there's always a lot of tension but nothing that doesn't usually go on in a big game. He never had any problems with anyone of the Italian players, not even Materazzi. Then they switch to the incident, Zidane says, that nothing had happened…
apalazzo | July 10, 2006I just got home from work, sat down in front of my laptop, and read this article from the Guardian. At the risk of turning my blog into a football/soccer gossip column, here's the article:
An Italian lip-reader last night claimed to have deciphered the words Marco Materazzi said to Zinedine Zidane that provoked the French captain into butting him in the chest during Sunday's World Cup final, the great midfielder's final act before a red card ended his career in top-level football.
According to the BBC, Materazzi said, "I wish an ugly death to you and all your family," and then told Zidane to…
apalazzo | July 10, 2006Wow, the events of yesterday are still bouncing around in my brain. Lots of dodos are blaming Zidane for the loss. Give me a fxxking break. Zidane was sent off with 10min to go and no gas left. If it was anyone's fault, blame Trezeguet who missed his penalty kick. To me the key moment was a couple of minutes earlier when Zidane ALMOST scored. Remember, it's the second half of OT after a long month, everyone is exhausted and out of nowhere Zidane, one of the oldest players in the tournament, plays a "one-two" splitting the Italian defense. This is capped with a header to the Italian goal,…
apalazzo | July 9, 2006
How can I say this? I'm happy for Gli Azzurri, but life isn't perfect.
The day started off superbly. Having won a bet on the Italy-German semifinal, we had an incredible brunch on Veit's roof deck in Beacon Hill. (Thanks Veit, we need to have more bets!) On the menu: smoke salmon, croissants, eggs, waffles, champagne and many other goodies.
The plan: head down to City Hall Plaza to watch the game.
It was the beginning of a bittersweet day.
(many more comments and pics below the fold)
The World Cup in Boston.
Bitter: I'm burnt to a crisp.
Sweet: Watching the game in City Hall Plaza with…
apalazzo | July 8, 2006This is so funny. A series of photos of the winning goal in the France-Brazil game. Poor Roberto Carlos, I guess that's why he retired.
BTW - Germany-Portugal is shaping up to be a good game. It's 2-0 right now, but it would be 4-0 if not for the Portuguese goalie, Ricardo.
Update: Schweinsteiger, GOOOAAALLLAAAZZZZZZOOOO! A hat-trick for the man with the great name!
apalazzo | July 8, 2006This world cup has been marked by beautiful games and people accusing refs of making bad calls. David Hirshey in today's NY Times OpEd section:
Several months before the 1999 Women's World Cup, I accompanied the United States national team to Brazil for a series of exhibition matches. One afternoon, at a training facility outside São Paulo, I was pressed into service to help officiate an intra-squad scrimmage. The team's coach, Tony DiCicco, handed me a red flag and told me to raise it if I detected any infractions.
The field was about 30 yards shorter than the regulation size, which is…
apalazzo | July 5, 2006Well it was an incredible game. Both teams played impressively well. Italy had the advantage in the first half, Germany had the advantage in the second half. Overtime varied between end to end play, and exhausted players walking around. As the final whistle approached, Italy kept on substituting in forwards. The turning point was when Iaquinta came in. Italy kept on going down the right flank generating momentum. Gilardino -- post. Zambrotta -- crossbar. And then the last two minutes:
Incredible. Simply incredible. Pirlo is a smart player, and Grosso always seems to show up in the last key…
apalazzo | July 4, 2006Here I am, with my affiliations to Italy, the land of my origins, in a "German" lab. Many bets are on the line. So can Gli Azzurri make it? Although history may predict that the home team has an advantage, Germany has never defeated Italy in either the Euro Cup or the World Cup. There has always been some bizarre logic, akin to numerology, associated with the World Cup:
- Latin teams have always won the Cup when it was played in latin countries (except once). Non-latin teams have won 3/5 cups on non-latin soil.
- European teams have never won the Cup outside of Europe, but they've won every…
apalazzo | July 2, 2006Why did France beat Brazil? Because they have the greatest living soccer player.
... and then the winning goal (note how at the beginning of the play, Zidane flips the ball over Ronaldo's head):
Incredible, one of the best games of this World Cup.
apalazzo | June 26, 2006... Italy last minute penalty. Goal.
So was that "foul" worthy of a penalty shot? Was this a second game ruined by a bad ref? You tell me.
All I know is that this victory for Gli Azzurri, left a bad taste in my mouth.
apalazzo | June 24, 2006If you played for Brazil, what would your name be?
Go to BrazilName to find out.
apalazzo | June 23, 2006Wow, what a tournament. A day after the US loss and I'm flabbergasted by the attention that the US team is getting. Soccer mania is spreading in the US, and I'm happy for it. It might be that unlike other areas (the Olympics, military might, world economic supremacy) soccer is hard. It's the happenin' party that the American public wants to attend, but just can't get invited to. It's that itch that is just a little too far to scratch. This is the sensation that turns bystanders into soccer nuts.
So the US lost. Unlike most commentators (especially ESPN - get rid of those jerks and get real…
apalazzo | June 17, 2006Well if some Americans say soccer is boring, it's because they clearly weren't watch today's games.
This group which was called by some the group of death (I guess all disputes about this title are resolved after today's games).
So here the wrap up:
Ghana vs. Czech Rep.
The Czechs (rank #2 by FIFA) went into the game as clear favorites, while the Ghanaians who have been called the Brazilians of Africa played well but failed to score against Italy in their last match. What happened? It was a near slaughter. The Ghanaians have incredible individual talent, but unlike in their previous game (and…
apalazzo | June 17, 2006OK I know, I'm usually good about keeping my blog focused on Science, Biology etc...
There has been quite an interesting debate going on at several blogs/sites about peer review and challenges to the conventional methods of publishing.
But for those Soccer Maniacs (or Futbolistas) here's my take on the first round of the World Cup:
Biggest Surprise: The lack of any big surprises. It would seem like all the traditional powers in soccer are winning all their games. Of all the smaller countries, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Trinidad & Tobago have played great soccer. What is impressive with…
apalazzo | June 10, 2006With regards to the World Cup, the Dutch Bank ABN AMRO has asked the question, "which team is our 'economic favourite', that is, the country which should become world champion in order to maximise the impact on the world economy."
Say what?
Yes they released a report on this very important issue.
So why do we do this?
Leaving aside the fact that many economists who are also soccer fans will use any excuse to bring soccer into their work, we are convinced that soccer has an impact on the economy and therefore justifies some research effort.
So ... the goal is to help the world economy. And…
apalazzo | June 8, 2006Brain drain, brain sucking ... whatever. Here is my take on this:
Right now you are better off in the US than abroad. Even with the terrible visa policies here in the US. (For your info, I'm Canadian.)
Anyway ... all I know is that there are many non-Americans around our department and this week the #1 topic of discussion is the upcoming World Cup. In the Longwood Medical Area (Harvard Medical School, Boston) there will be at least two spots that plan to show almost every game (contact me if you would like to know where the viewing areas are located). In addition, the games will be shown…