2007-09-08T18:23:16Z tag:blog.washingtonpost.com,2007:/worldcup//104 Copyright (c) 2007, WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive 2007-09-08T18:23:16Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-09-08:/worldcup/2007/09/not_watching_the_eagles.html

OK, maybe that was an overly antagonistic headline. Sorry, Dan. Jon DeNunzio here, just creating a thread for those who want to comment on the Euro 2008 qualifiers today. Already a good day for England and Scotland, to name two. Bad day for the Ukraine. The match of the day, one would think, will be the Italy-France tilt at San Siro -- kickoff in less than an hour. I have no Gol TV access this...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-09-06:/worldcup/2006/09/my_new_favorite_person.html

I got this email the other day. Man, this dude is easy to please. I think this guy had been busting my chops lately via email, then,. I go and drop a "penultimate" bomb in a Mark Brunell story the other day, and he's my biggest fan. If only I'd known sooner. Okay, so here's the email, verbatim: Mr. La Canfora, Perhaps about 2 weeks ago I wrote you about your mis-conjugation of the...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jason La Canfora 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-09-06:/worldcup/2006/09/quote_of_the_season_so_far.html

My favorite quote of the season thus far came from rookie Rocky McIntosh Tuesday. He was asked that most innocuous of TV-ready questions, about his confidence level entering the season. He responded thusly, and with glee: "I'm way far from being a sissy." Okay, so it's something of a nonsequitor, and, trust me, no one was questioning the kid's manhood in any way. But that's football, eh? Got to love that response. That's a...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jason La Canfora 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-12:/worldcup/2006/07/zidane_news_conference.html

Here's what Zizou said. Still no idea what Materazzi said. Also interesting: The France captain said he felt no regret for his act, "because that would mean (Materazzi) was right to say all that."...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-12:/worldcup/2006/07/repercussions.html

Well, I can't let it drop just yet. Interesting news in the last 24 hours, and more to come shortly: - Klinsi steps down. Key graf: Klinsmann, whose contract expired on Sunday, has dismissed reports he received a lucrative offer to coach the United States and has said he has no interest in coaching another national team. - Lippi steps down. Key graf: He was recently linked with a move to Manchester United as a...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-10:/worldcup/2006/07/cant_resist.html

Ok, one more post. Enjoy this game....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-10:/worldcup/2006/07/the_song_is_over.html

... it's all behind me. We started this blog on April 5, more than three months ago, and it'll be shutting down very soon. What else is there to say? Well, first, thank you. Thanks to: - The readers and the commenters. It was especially gratifying to see some people turn into regular commenters -- WOW, delantero, futebol fan, deanna come to mind, but I'm sure I'm forgetting others. Like K Moon -- what ever...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-09:/worldcup/2006/07/championship_final_italy_1_fra.html

Well, we have a dramatic -- if not completely satisfying -- end to an entertaining 32 days of soccer. In extra time, France continued to play a better brand of football than Italy ... but then Zidane went out on that red card (holy cow). You have to think that, plus Henry getting subbed off, gave Italy a little better chance in PKs....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-09:/worldcup/2006/07/extra_time.html

Still 1-1. But France has definitely played better over large portions of the second half. Seems likely the winning goal will come from France's left side, which seems to get a guy free on attack after attack ... Italy, unless something changes, will have to hope for a counter-attack opportunity. How hurt is Zidane? They had a shot of him grimacing ... impressive that he's still out there....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-09:/worldcup/2006/07/halftime_at_the_final.html

It's halftime, and France and Italy are tied at 1. First goal came quickly (8th minute?) on a Zidane PK. Materazzi was called for fouling Malouda, and the call looks bad on replay. But in this observer's opinion, in real time, it was not a surprising call. Ref was behind the play and to the players' right (where he should be), and from that angle I think it probably looked worse than it did from...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-09:/worldcup/2006/07/last_goodbye_from_berlin.html

From: Jason I've tried to savor the final days of the World Cup with my friends in Berlin, all the while incredibly eager to return to my family back home. I knew Sunday would be a long, long day at the stadium here, so we saved our last all-nighter for Friday, making our way from West Berlin to Mitte and then on deeper to the East. Mortiz and his friend, Elisa, showed my buddy Don...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jason La Canfora 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-07:/worldcup/2006/07/to_get_your_blood_pumping.html

The anthems we'll hear at about 2 pm ET Sunday: France Italy...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-07:/worldcup/2006/07/italyfrance_who_ya_got.html

Ok, folks, last prediction of the blog ... who will win the final, and what will the final score be? (If you want to predict the third-place game, too, feel free. Did you see that our old friend MSOK is starting for Germany?) Another question -- if I do live updates during the final, will you all be there to read 'em? I seek guidance here. My prediction: Italy wins, 1-0. Luca Toni scores, and...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-07:/worldcup/2006/07/best_and_worst_time_to_put_the.html

From: Jason I actually failed to represent the USA well on the nightlife circuit Thursday, and crashed pretty early. I think the night trains caught up to me, and it was too hot to take a nap Thursday afternoon - air conditioning is a rare pleasure around here - so by 10 pm I was fried. Didn't even see my boy Moritz across the street for a pop or two. Guess this really is starting...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jason La Canfora 2006-10-04T08:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-07-06:/worldcup/2006/07/alltournament_team.html

We're working on an all-World Cup team for publication over the weekend. Here are some nominees by position. Who would you pick as your best XI? GK: Buffon, Lehmann D: Cannavaro, Grosso, Lahm, Marquez, Thuram, Zambrotta MF: Ballack, Essien, Frings, Pirlo, Ribery, Maniche, Maxi Rodriguez, Riquelme, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vieira, Zidane F: Henry, Klose, Robben, Ronaldo...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jon DeNunzio