The A2K World Cup 2010 Striker Fantasy Game

I pmed Failure Arts last evening inviting him to play. I got a reply from him at 8 am this morning with his picks which he asked me to forward to the thread.
1) Messi - Argentina
2) Dempsey - USA
3) Ronaldo - Portugal
4) Elia - Netherlands
5) Podolski - Germany

The vuvuzelals supporting the U.S. team fall silent as Ghana wins 2-1.
Donovan scored for the Yanks, giving McGentrix 3 points and Calamity Jane 2.
In the earlier game, Suarez scored 2 goals for Uruguay in their win over South Korea. I have Sjaradona earning 6 points, Pantalones getting 4 and Robert 2.
Don't trust me, though. Official stats will come from Fbaezer later.

Yeah, the pundits here are likely to be focused on more... talent-laden teams. ;-)

Suarez scored twice! I knew I should have gone with 1) Forlan 2) Suarez.

I was URU-heavy this round because theirs was the biggest mismatch against the worst defense of the remaining 16. I had had Forlan first because he'd seemed to be the designated penalty-kicker but really liked Suarez as well. Shoulda gone with the all-in play on that read.

Sadness...

Altidore needs to learn how to run.
R
T

A great deal more than that needs to be learned.

For once, we agree. I'll just insist that this go on the top of the list for now.

A
R
T

at 4.52 p.m. yesterday, I received this email message:

"Pancho,

Te envío la lista ya que el Capaz de Saber está abajo. La exclusión de argentinos de lo dicta el corazón no la cabeza.

Podolski (ALE)
Villa (ESP)
Robinho (BRA)
A. Gyan (GHA)
Robben (NED)"

The sender doesn't sign, but the addresss is Pantalones'.
I found particularly lovely the phrase "el Capaz de Saber está abajo" (a Babelfishy translation into Spanish of "the Able to Know is down").

Pantalones actually lost points with respect to his former list (he had Suárez as his third striker).

So how do I say, "viva, Pantalones!" ?

While A2K was down I received a message text from Don Camilo. He doesn't change his strikers, but the order, to:

Fabiano
Villa
Van Persie
Messi
Rooney

Up with Pants!

Scoreboard, phase 2:

1. Sjaradona 6 points (2 goals)
2. Mc Gentrix 3 (1)
2. George 3 (1)
4. Robert Gentel 2 (2 goals)
5. Pantalones 2 (1)
5. Calamity Jane 2 (1)
7. 9 players with 0 points

General scoreboard

1. Calamity Jane 29 (11 goals)
2. Robert Gentel 27 (8 goals)
3. Sjaradona 25 (6 goals)
4. fbaezer 24 (6 goals)
5. Francis 23 (9 goals)
6. McGentrix 20 (7 goals)
7. Pantalones 20 (6 goals)
8. ossobuco 19 (7 goals)
9. ehbeth 19 (5 goals)
10. George 18 (6 goals)
11. lmur 13 (6 goals)
12. Walter Hinteler 13 (5 goals)
13. Realjohnboy 12 (5 goals)
14. Don Camilo 11 (6 goals)
15. Failures Art 0

Very good, Fbaezer. I warned yall not to trust my "back of an envelope" attempt at scoring.

Sunday:
Germany vs England
Argentina vs Mexico
I am so excited I could pee.
Actually I am beginning to pay attention to this sport. Argentina will win.

That in fact was me, forgot to sign, thanks for making the updates (even though, as you correctly note, I lost points in the first day of this stage)

Regarding the word for word translation, a couple of friends and I get a particular delight when using them on everyday conversation. Also a big fan of "mexicanglish" (word for word spanish to english translations) with winning phrases such as:
- Don't come to me with that Chuchita has been bagged. (No me vengas con que a Chuchita la bolsearon)
- Unleash the soup (Suelta la sopa)
- Verb kills little face (Verbo mata carita)

Anyways, WE GO MEXICO, PART THEM IN THEIR MOTHER TO THE ARGENTINIANS!

Pants is ahead of me. Oh, noooooooo.

You do know, johnboy that such is considered unpatriotic?


And the result of the other will be ... as usually.

Speaking of Suarez reminds me of this gem, which has gone down in folklore here. An Irish soccer commentator became very excited when Spanish manager, Luis Suarez, decided to substitute Emilio Butragueno during a world cup qualifier with Ireland in Seville, 1992 and exclaimed at the top of his voice:

"He's pulling him off! The Spanish manager is pulling his captain off!"

In Mexico City we'd say:

Scroll kills little face (Rollo mata carita).

But then...
Bill kills scroll (Billete mata rollo)
Organizational chart kills bill (Organigrama mata billete)... the last phrase being soooo Mexico City!

Anyways
Let's go put them in their mother to the kitchen helpers Argentinians!

A
R
Today I'm cheering for Mexico and the UK.