FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

[Nino]

Hey Nino,

Any thoughts on the Trinidad LE and the HdM Diadema? Both are intriguing. I agree that the price point on the Trinidad is a bit shocking. Looks tasty though!

Ok,

here are my thoughts on the Trinidad Short Robusto T EL 2010, the HdM Diadema and all other cigars in general smoked so far in the Cup for you & all fellow FOH readers plus my thoughts on today's matches.

http://www.flyingcigar.de/smoking_cigars/2...ruguay_vs_g.php

I loved the second half of NED-BRA, the Dutch really "resurrected" and crushed the Brazilians, Dunga is out, the "Prussian" test too and I look forward to Samba coming back home to Rio in 4 years at the latest.

Very impressed by the Oranje team, great match, a pleasure to watch !

I smoked the Trinidad SR T EL during the second half plus extra time of the URU-GHA drama and feel really very sorry for the great and last of the African teams. Ghana should have deserved to win, really !

Small Cigar - Big Drama.

As for tomorrow : ARG-GER Big Cigar Small Drama ?? Don't think so, the Germans are hot. The game will be aggressive and messy and guess not all 22 will finish on the pitch.

ESP-PAR : Spain should make it past the defensive Paraguayos ......

Nino

[partagasd4]

With Netherlands beating Brazil, I suddenly have more faith that Germany can beat Argentina

[strayvector]

Just shows ya,what do I know?

At the end of the day,it's a game of two halfs,and whoever scores the most goals wins.Brazil will be sick as a parrot.

Would love to see the Orange win it.

The main thing is,Argentina don't win it.

Addendum.

I hate cheats,and uruguay just cheated their way through.Gutted for Ghana,who deserved the win.They were robbed.

Even though I was pulling for Ghana, I disagree. Not cheating...equivalent of a professional foul. He knew he would get red carded, reacted accordingly, and accepted his punishment. He played by the rules and gave his team a slim chance which worked out. His reaction in the tunnel before and after the penalty miss says it all. He won't be playing the next game, but I'm sure any player would take that sacrifice.

[Habanos2000]

Addendum.

I hate cheats,and uruguay just cheated their way through.Gutted for Ghana,who deserved the win.They were robbed.

I disagree on the cheating comment if that's directed to the red card foul. When he hand balled the kick I though he was an idiot for doing so. Ultimately that won the game for Uruguay, not that I'm happy about that either, and the odds were that Ghana would have won by making that kick with 15 seconds left. I assume you could compare that action to a sacrifice bunt in baseball. He sacrificed himself and that play ultimately ended up winning the game for them when Ghana couldn't convert the PK. Dramatic ending.

[mazolaman]

Obviously,I understand the tactical influence of his handball.

According to the rules of football,it is cheating.

It definitely was cheating,the only positive,in terms of this world cup,is that the linesman spotted it!

[Ken Gargett]

Even though I was pulling for Ghana, I disagree. Not cheating...equivalent of a professional foul. He knew he would get red carded, reacted accordingly, and accepted his punishment. He played by the rules and gave his team a slim chance which worked out. His reaction in the tunnel before and after the penalty miss says it all. He won't be playing the next game, but I'm sure any player would take that sacrifice.

if that isn't cheating, i'd be very interested to know just what one would have to do for it to be considered cheating by yourself?

under no possible interpretation did he play by the rules.

he deliberately broke the laws of the game to gain his side an advantage. in other words, he cheated.

that said, no way in the world would any player not have done it. and if i'd been coach, i'd have expected every one of my players to be prepared to do it. i completely agree with you that any player would take the sacrifice. i completely disagree that it isn't cheating.

the problem is that these things go largely unnoticed 99 times out of 100 but when they are at key moments (henri for france and now this), we all get excited.

[zuma]

if that isn't cheating, i'd be very interested to know just what one would have to do for it to be considered cheating by yourself?

under no possible interpretation did he play by the rules.

he deliberately broke the laws of the game to gain his side an advantage. in other words, he cheated.

He only took advantage of the situation (e.g., speeding where there are no police/cameras or always driving 5km/hr over the limit)... However, how the foul was handled is a refereeing error (Suarez reacted quickly to the situation possibly knowing the consequences, like driving after drinking and no mate to give youse a ride).

The referee should have used the advantage clause (that prevents a team gaining advantage from committing a foul) and awarded a goal to Ghana... as HAL9000 said "It can only be attributable to human error". Infallibility and absolute wisdom ain't human qualities...

But it's all damned good fun to watch... it'll only get better... for the good of the sport, I hope a team that has not won the Cup before wins it...

[bunburyist]

goodbye Dunga, welcome back samba football in 2014?

Otherwise, great win for the Oranje, I really hope they can go all the way.

Technically the best team, Spain for me will come unstuck as they seem to try to pass the ball into the net. Unless Torres starts playing I think they might come unstuck in the semis.

As for Germany - Argentina....if both teams keep playing how they're playing now, I think Germany might steal it. If Messi turns it on even a little, it's goodnight Berlin.

[bunburyist]

And as for the Suarez cheating (what else is it?)....I'm not sure what to do. In rugby the ref can award a penalty try. In football, immediate goal awarded for handball on the line...not sure about that. A penalty is enough I think. And Suarez will likely not play in this cup again. Devastating for Ghana though...

[MoneyPit]

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch!

Sorry, but I couldn't resist. This has been quite an interesting World Cup and yesterday's match against Brazil just added another twist that I didn't expect. I've enjoyed watching the remaining games even though we're out of it.

Good luck to those of you who still have teams alive!

[bunburyist]

oh wow what a show by the Germans. It's not often you see such a complete performance as that. Brilliant, brilliant football.

Yes Messi didn't have a good game, but you have to point the finger at Maradona I think. Absolutely no structure or visible game plan at all. Just a collection of stars who weren't playing together and they got blown away.

Germany - Holland final anyone.....?

We might be witnessing the emergence of a great team. Most of the Germans are in their early 20s. Goodnight Buenos Aires!

[Nino]

Wow,

what a match !

The whole village is celebrating - 2 pictures tell the story :

Bye Bye Argentina - don't cry

I hate to see Spain play the Germans - what a nightmare ............

[jquest63]

Looking forward to the Spain vs Germany match. Go Spain!! Hope they have their breakout game and shred Germany!

[khomeinist]

Another great day of football. Paraguay put up a good fight. Another bizzare penalty sequence in the second half. Oh well. Spain/Germany is clearly an impending classic.

Would have loved a Ghana/Oranje scrap. Happy that Forlan is sticking around for an encore though. Regarding cheating? I have to say Suarez did what many of us would have done in that situation. I feel for Ghana. I really feel that somebody other than Gian should have taken that penalty. He rolled his ankle badly just a few minutes previous. Anyway. My dream German/NED final looks very possible.

Thanks for the reviews nino!! I am a big Trinidad fan. Not a fan of the petite robusto vitola, nor the price point, but I am curious what experienced smokers think of this cigar. Nice website! Cheers!

[partagasd4]

Klose!!!

[Ken Gargett]

Regarding cheating? I have to say Suarez did what many of us would have done in that situation.

i agree completely but that still does not mean it is not cheating.

and is it any better or worse than the endless diving we see. again, cheating. but everyone does it so no one seems bothered, yet if someone gets a free for a dive and 2 minutes later, their side gets a goal - the diving/cheating has influenced the game. just as bad.

i'll give you a different example for those that follow cricket. the infamous underarm bowling.

now, agreed it was a stupid thing to do and completely unnecessary. but it was, at the time, within the rules. and yet no one seems that bothered when a side appeals for a wicket that they know is not out. happens all the time. surely that is cheating. the day i believe no kiwi has ever done that then i'll start being bothered by the underarm. till then, whinging endlessly about it is wasting breathe. and this was not so much intended as bagging the kiwis (tho everything has a silver lining) as trying to make sense of the cheating in sport - as i would never suggest that australians, as with every nation, are not equally as bad re the appealling. but, as a kiwi gift to australia used to say, "if you fly with the crows, you get shot with them".

if i recall correctly, around the same time as the underarm, andy hayden's autobiog came out wherein he described how he'd taken a dive in a lineout near the end of the final game (v scotland from memory) in the grand slam tour early to mid 70's. got the all blacks a penalty and the goal from that won the game and they got the grand slam. he is a hero. yet he has deliberately cheated. and happy, indeed proud, to admit it.

as dumb as the underarm was, it was not cheating. touch of double standards?

the point is again not to bag kiwis but that one's perspective so often deepends on what colour jersey one wears.

[Habanos2000]

"Cheating" to me implies doing something outside of the normal events on the field such as payoffs, doping, etc. Fouls are fouls and I can't see this red card offense being any worse than another. Just part of the game, like it or not. If it had backfired and Ghana had converted the PK no one would be talking about cheating.

[Ken Gargett]

i should add that i am as guilty as anyone re the appealing.

[Alberto_Magnus]

DEUTSCHLAND!!!!

What a show! I started watching the match rooting for Argentina (because of Diego) and ended up totally fascinated by the incredible football these young Germans are able to deliver.

This is the new football: young players, a few "senators" (Klose, Podolsky) and an incredible team-play. In my opinion Germany represents a role model for football today.

Even Bundesliga is not entangled in all the horrible money-slave dynamics we suffer in Serie A in Italy or in Spanish Liga. Thumbs up!

[mazolaman]

Yep,there have some great and unexpected results.

Many interesting facets also,ie,the countries with the strongest leagues(or big money leagues)have struggled ie,England Italy,and even Spain have not looked brilliant.

All the Premiership players in various international teams have looked tired,ie the English team,Torres,Mascherano

Where the German team have succeeded is with a mid season break,and their fa has the rite to demand their international players when they want them,and can prevent them playing for their club if there is an internatinal coming up.

They have geared their league for the benefit of the national side.

The Premiership views the national side as an inconvenience.

As for the cheating,I'm sure many in Uruguay feel uneasy about their progress,and I'm so pleased to see Marradonna out of the frame.

I expected a World cup for the Americas,but it is Europe who look likely,another twist!

Who knows who'll win it,I hope for the Dutch.

[frenchkiwi]

He only took advantage of the situation (e.g., speeding where there are no police/cameras or always driving 5km/hr over the limit)... However, how the foul was handled is a refereeing error (Suarez reacted quickly to the situation possibly knowing the consequences, like driving after drinking and no mate to give youse a ride).

The referee should have used the advantage clause (that prevents a team gaining advantage from committing a foul) and awarded a goal to Ghana...

I agree clear-cut case where the goal should be awarded by the ref as well as the red card - much like the penalty try in rugby. I have never heard of this advantage clause being applied though?? Hand ball preventing goal on the goal line = Goal. Simple.

Penalties and red cards are all very well but they do nothing for the scoresheet, which is all that matters. Otherwise there is always an incentive to volleyball slap the ball away - especially towards the end of a game!! - which is ridiculous as it is a common situation in football especially at corner time.

Just read a Suarez interview where he talks about his intentional gamble and joy at it paying off... enough said!

[Morientes50]

Wow,

what a match !

The whole village is celebrating - 2 pictures tell the story :

Bye Bye Argentina - don't cry

I hate to see Spain play the Germans - what a nightmare ............

A nightmare for Germany. We will celebrate like in 2008!!

QUE VILLA ESPANA

[Nino]

A nightmare for Germany. We will celebrate like in 2008!!

QUE VILLA ESPANA

I'm not so sure about whose side the nightmare will be - watching Germany yesterday I am really afraid for any team facing them right now.

More so as my heart is for Spain and my brain for Germany.

It's not easy being Spanish and living in Germany right now .............

On the other hand, I have 2 of the very best teams in the world to cheer for !!

Mara-VILLA and KLOSE-range

And regardless of outcome I will celebrate with my German friends smoking a fine Diadema like in 2008 see:

http://www.flyingcigar.de/smoking_cigars/2...iva_espana_.php

Nino

PS : Hola Morientes,

no me hagas mas infeliz, por favor, que tambien soy castizo de pura cepa – Un saludo y esta foto es para ti :

[LeafLover]

Mr. Nino,

You bear a striking resemblance to the MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD.

[partagasd4]

Nino, Germany is my favourite team, but Spain is my #2. I'm not looking forward to their match this week, but either way, I'll have a team to cheer for in the finals