All Creatures Great and Small @ the World Cup

In blisteringly hot Singapore, it seems Mani the fortune-telling parakeet has confidently predicted (according to today's New Paper), that Spain will be the winner of World Cup 2010 *pui*, with Uruguay as the runners-up.

Over in Europe and on the Internet, media has gone rife over yesterday's "prognostications" of Paul the Octopus that Spain will triumph against Germany tomorrow. Today everyone is saying that it was a photoshopped image of the predicted Serbian victory. Apparently Paul has not decided yet.

[source: aakar tech blog]

Whatever it is, given the wild uncertainty of football betting in this World Cup, it is no wonder that everyone is turning to our feathered and many-legged friends for advice.

Read earlier post on Mani's correct prognostications on the semifinalists

Maradona gets to keep his clothes on

Well... all I can say so far now is Paul the Octopus is my hero...

I wasn't sure whether I should bet on who to win this match, as I like Maradona and I love the German team (for the last 12 years since World Cup 1998). I was hesitant then I decided to check on what my eight-legged Orakle would say. It decided Germany would win.

And so I decided to bet on the Octopus. I wanted to buy S$10 but when I got to the SingaporePools, I was afraid I might become takoyaki. So I bought S$5. Perhaps it's because the Orakle has spoken but Germany actually won, and Argentina's only vaguely successful attempt was a offside. Clumsy Neuer actually managed to catch the half-hearted attempts by the Argentine. And while Germany guarded their goal like a jealous wife, they were still determined to crush the hopes of Maradona for good. I personally thought it would have been nice to at least let the Argentine get one goal in, but it was not meant to be.

I had mentioned to my friend that Argentine is only good at attacking and trash at defending. And I was proven correct. They will win against teams that are not as good as them in passing (though they were showing signs that they were not that good last match) and crush their morale by sinking many goals. But against the Germans who have always provided solid defence and have been much more creative in scoring nowadays... Sigh, poor Maradona. Pele is going to have a field day.

My friend reminded me about the New Paper's football prognosticator Parakeet which works hard everyday as a fortune teller. So far it has predicted 3 of the World Cup semi-finalists correctly. He said the bird was more brilliant than Paul.

Germany, Holland (this is where I was laughing with disbelief several days ago), Uruguay and Spain
After 4am tomorrow morning, we will see if the ole bird is right. Check out this space...

Updated!!!
Mani the bird is right! 4 out of 4.

Did anyone notice Merkle during the Germany vs Argentina match? Everytime the Germans get the goal in, they focus the camera on Merkle who was obviously there as a supportive Grandma figure, who doesn't know what is going on, but wants to show her love anyway. The shot on her after the first goal was the funniest. Perhaps it was because of the embarrassing Lampard shot that was mistakenly thought as offside (and she apologised to Cameron), she was hesitant to cheer. She looked around the grand stand then confirmed "hmm ok, it's safe to cheer," then cheered. The German team certainly kept her busy, making her run back to her seat to show her happy face everytime they scored. Otherwise she was walking elsewhere (not sure where) and blocking the camera on Charlize Theron. =D

Tweeting to Meself - Argentina vs Mexico Top 16

2.30am
To watch the Argentina match, I slept a bit in the afternoon. Mexico coach and Maradona both crossing themselves. Wonder who God will answer

2.36am
Mexico almost scored. A playing rather poorly suddenly. Passing like shitty England. Could it be true that they are heading to the French self-destruction, as rumored?

2.41am
Messi almost scored. 3 Ms on his tail, just like first group match. Think M gg for shoot-on-sight. Maradona's 3 men attack is a vacuous idea. Sooner or later someone will break this tactic.

3am
Someone scored. I just woke up. Oh wait Higuain just scored again. Tevez scored the first goal. M disarray.

3.08am
Free kick to M. Shit job. Can't watch tv with sound. Can't yell. Stay awake by texting.

3.12am
How m I gg to survive half time. H just headed wrongly, that's a shock. A's glkeep is hardworking man.

4.22am
A won. Germany vs Argentina now an Ugly Reality.

zzzz

Takeshi Okada is Atashi ni Chi Papa

Japan's World Cup 2010 coach, Takeshi Okada looks like Atashi Ni Chi's Papa-san. So cute isn't he? It was interesting to see his reservedness at the sideline (would have loved to contrast that with drama papa, Maradona). He often looks like he should be at a izakaya drinking after a hard day's slog.

Now that he has brought his new tactical line-up into Top 16, all of this Japanese Salaryman-looking coach detractors at home can "eat his shorts", to quote Bart Simpson. Go Okada-chan!

Paul the British Expat in Germany predicts German World Cup results

[source: scienceblog.com]

Apparently there is a British-born Octopus living in Oberhausen's Sea Life public aquarium, which can (so far) predict accurately the outcomes of Germany's games. Sensationally it even got the Serbia win over Germany correct. Where was the octopus when I needed it?

If Germany doesn't not win against England as predicted by this seafood, I know of at least 8 recipes that uses Tako, e.g. Korean's raw Octopus, Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki...1 for each of liar Paul's legs.

Updated!!!
Turns out Paul was right. What are its thoughts on the upcoming German-Argentina match?

The Great Gatsby Ambush Marketing

I told colleagues that I will be chanting "Eye of the Tiger" when I watch the Argentina vs South Korea. I love Maradona and his theatrics (at least it is off-field and not on-field like that drama papa C. Ronaldo).

Instead I started humming the Japanese Gatsby commercial song, which is modified from "I can't give you anything". Why? Because the Argentine hair is out in full glory. Heinze's dirty blond hair fanned out slow mo when the commentators were playing back the part where he clashed with Park Chu Young (the same idiot who brought you the first goal of the match with his leg, straight into his own goal).


[source:fifa.com]

It was very funny. How Tevez's hair ran stiffly beside him whenever he drove the ball towards the Korean goal, was straight out of Takuya Kimura Gatsby commercial for Moving Rubber. Gatsby should endorse the entire Argentina team (and coaches) in South America.

16 June 2010 - Bloody Unbelievable Wednesday

Well, my friend saw the fantastic odds that Singapore Pools was giving for Swiss to win, she decided to go for the kill and buy. Guess what she is $65 richer now, covering her losses in believing in Italy. As for me, it was like I said, Bloody Unbelievable Wednesday.

I had to hobble home in my terrible heels. Don't buy Anna Nucci, it's crap. 2nd day, and all the rubber soles dropped. When I reached home, Swiss scored... Brudder opined that Spain must have betting against themselves. National pride be damned, the Central Bank needs the moolah. European champions of 2008 (and I checked that most of the team from that league made it to this WC team) lost to a team weakened without its best players? But I do say I admire the Swiss strategy of chionging for the goal. Pity Ivory Coast or Portugal didn't do that.

I had a bad feeling after hearing the results from the earlier 2 matches. Decided to go and zzz instead of watching Uruguay rape South Africa, given my terrible luck yesterday.

I was right.

Uruguay 3, South Africa 0.

Well done South Africa, you are going to be the first host nation that does not qualify for quarter final. I believed in the power of the vuvuzela in vain. =D Uruguay might have become deaf now from the noise but at least they go home knowing they may at least make it to quarter final, since all the Group A teams drew for their first matches. I think most teams will not be aiming for friendly draws for their second rounds.

Team Nibblez hasn't disappeared

We have been watching the World Cup, that's all. Well, I have been trying to watch of course, despite the best efforts of Singtel and Starhub. Malaysians, Indonesians, and even Africans can watch for free, we have to pay. I rather have free soccer than stupid fireworks.

Anyway, it has been very frustrating watching the Ivory Coast versus Portugal. My colleague said that Ivory Coast people should be very good at running, and that they are quite a strong team. Portugal, in my opinion, is that bunch of wayang actors from World Cup 2006. I pity the referee.

As usual, Portugal is back to their "O woe is me", roll on ground here, roll on ground there act again. Luckily the referee is a sensible man, and after he yellow-carded C.R and an Ivory Coast guy, Portugal stopped "invalid"ating themselves.


[source:fifa.com]

As for the Ivory Coast team? What the fuck. If they are not clustering at the midfield like a bunch of dozy orange hens, they are showing off their dribbling skills near the goal. Just kick the gott demn ball in already, you are not trying to impress the neighbor 's kids in your backyard.

Spread out!!!

They have the hero mentality, chiong all the way to the goal, and then oops, no one else from the team is there. Only the Portuguese are there. Crap. Don't spread out and don't run together as a team with the ball.

So frustrating. If C.R and gang can stop wayanging and concentrate, they would have trashed the orange biddies over and over again.

(This is my second time trying to blog this. I cancelled the entry by mistake just now)