Source:  Rotoworld

Meet your dad baby Illard! (See I can still narrate!)

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Yes, that's still Candice, her nose changed BIG TIME since being a young adult. It had me scratching my head for awhile. Stay tuned folks more posts are to come... :oD

After some thinking and planing I am ready to launch the blog!

It will be packed with LOTS of varities in everything from comedy, news, art, person stuff, cool links -- Basically: Something for each and every invidiual that visits this blog!

So stay tuned, there's gonna lots of stuff to check!

I will promiss that this site will contain articles which files under "Stuff you will tell your friends." ;)

Sincerely,

Alexander Jansen.

Trondheim, Norway.

Stav Economou - Piotor Kusmierz: not a particularly interesting heavyweight fight, which started badly with Kusmierz coming out accompanied by some irritating Polish rapper, thankfully Economou's hair provided enough of a distraction. Both fighters started by trading lots of wild blows in a stand-up slugfest, and they both appear to gas after about two minutes, the Pole more so, surprising as he looked in better shape than the fatter Economou. Economou manages some takedowns and imo does enough to take a close round 10-9. Second round sees Economou go for the early takedown again and ground and pound. He has good position, but Kusmierz is able to pull guard. However, his ground game isn't great and Economou is able to transition at will, and attempts an armbar, but Kusmierz avoids it and manages to get top position himself. After the ref stands them up, you can see their gas tanks are completely shot and Piotor keeps getting tagged with shots, backing off and offering nothing back. Another 10-9 Economou round. Third round saw Stav integrate low kicks into his game, however mutual poor cardio makes for neither fighter being able to land anything telling. Kusmierz manages a token late flurry, but is forced into the clinch quickly nullifying any chance of a needed KO. 30-27 in my books and Stav secured a unanimous decision.

John Phillips - Tom Watson: Watson's monkey-esque entrance is briefly amusing. Watson looks to go to the clinch early and lands some muay-thai esque knees. He secures a takedown, and mounts Phillips, allowing him to land shots, but Phillips moves away to side control. Watson's superior ground game is evident and one-way traffic ensues, with Phillips unable to get back up. He does at one point but is taken back down quickly, with an attempted guillotine during the takedown failing. Phillips is hit with an illegal knee when getting back up towards the close of the first, but no point is deducted. 10-9 Watson. Second round is similar but more emphatic, Watson again clinching early, and Phillips is taken down, again trying for a guillotine, but Watson pops his head out. It's basically all that Phillips is able to do, with Watson having a dominant position, eventually getting Phillips' back looking for a rear naked choke, mounting for more ground and pound, and then trying for RNCs again. It's so one way it was a 10-8 round in my opinion. In the final round, Phillips is able to keep it stood up for a minute or so, landing a decent combo but eventually it goes to the ground yet again. He tries for submissions again, but with time running out he opts for the safety first route and runs out the clock to get a unanimous decision, 30-26 for me.

Mustapha Al-Turk - James McSweeney: In a fight for the vacant British heavyweight title, Al-Turk dominates his opponent, nailing an early takedown, getting into a top position and looked for trademark GnP. He moves to the mount and is able to rain down punches easily. McSweeney attempts to turn but this just allows Al-Turk to get his back, resulting in more unanswered shots, some being borderline to the back of the head, and the ref stopped the contest midway through the first.

Neil Grove - Robert Berry: Grove has the better of early standup exchances, utilising leg kicks frequently and to good effect, with Berry switching stance often, possibly to limit damage. Berry manages to grab Grove's leg and takes him down, but cannot keep him there and he is up immediately. More shooting for takedowns is countered by solid defence from Grove, and by the time that he is able to get Grove on the deck, there isn't long enough left in the round to do anything with the position. 10-9 Grove. Round 2 sees a less explosive start, but the fight is finished quickly when Grove rocks Berry with leg kicks and knocks him down via punches, following him to the ground and finishing quickly.

Phil Baroni - Scott Jansen: The fight seemed to be far too big of a leap for the inexperienced Jansen, with Baroni taking the fight to the ground straight away. Jansen offered some resistance from the bottom, but Baroni quickly looks for an armbar. He isn't able to finish from a good position though, and eventually transfers to the mount. The ref stands them up, too quickly for my liking, but the British public are notoriously impatient as a whole. Soon after, Baroni lands perfectly with a right hook, knocking out Jansen with one shot. Hilariously in the post-fight antics, some random nutter headbutts Baroni, something we don't want to see.

All-in-all, some good action but the lack of depth showed again, with those lower on the card unable to offer anything into later rounds. For a free card you can't complain though.

Zur Verfollständigung meiner Sammlung fehlt natürlich noch die audiovisuelle Interpretation des Gedichtes "Die Todesfuge" von Paul Celan.

Inhalt

1944 - Ein deutscher KZ-Aufseher experimentiert an jüdischen Gefangen und überwacht die Aushebung ihres eigenen Grabes. Am selben Tag schreibt er einen Brief an seine Geliebte.

Erläuterungen

Der Arbeitsauftrag lautete, das Gedicht Die Todesfuge von Paul Celan auf eine beliebige Art und Weise zu interpretieren. Zum Verständnis des Kurzfilms sei dieses Gedicht auch empfohlene Lektüre ;-)

Mein Team hat sich - naheliegenderweise - für eine filmische Interpretation entschieden. Das Ergebnis könnt ihr oben herunterladen. Vielleicht erkennt ihr das ein oder andere Motiv wieder. Bei Bedarf kann ich auch Auszüge aus unserem damals angefertigten Interpretationstext veröffentlichen. Die Drehzeit beläuft sich auf drei Tage, die Nachbearbeitung fand innerhalb zwei Wochen statt.

Zugegebenermaßen haben wir das Gedicht recht frei interpretiert um so etwas wie einen Spannungsbogen zu erzeugen. Gleichzeitig haben wir versucht die abschreckende und verunsichernde Wirkung des Gedichts durch dunkle Bilder und rasche Schnitte beizubehalten.

Screenshots

Download
Todesfuge.wmv (ca. 73 Mbyte)

Jap, die Seite wird auch genutzt mein Portfolio zu vervollständigen und dabei darf unsere schöne Literaturkurs-Produktion ja nicht fehlen. Überlasst nichts dem Zufall, zieht ihn euch lieber noch mal rein...

Ich zitiere mich einfach mal selbst aus dem Amateurfilm-Forum, in dem ich diesen Film schon im Dezember 2007 vorgestellt habe:

"

Inhalt

Kommissar Rainer Zufall sieht sich zum ersten Mal in seiner Karriere mit einem kniffligen Fall konfrontiert. In einem Theaterstück wird ein Schauspieler von einer per Infrarot-Fernbedienung ausgelösten Pistole umgebracht. Der Mörder scheint schnell gefasst, doch der narzisstische Polizist muss sehr schnell feststellen, dass nicht alles im Leben so ist wie es scheint, auch im Eheleben...

Hintergrund

Dieser Film wurde innerhalb eines Dreivierteljahres von meinem Literaturkurs realisiert. Er ist eine typische Kriminal-Komödie mit leichten Fantasy-Anleihen. Auf Visuelle Effekte wurde weitgehend verzichtet. Schauspielerische Darstellung und eine Vielzahl von Schauplätzen standen im Mittelpunkt dieser Schulproduktion. Insgesamt war es mein erster richtiger Spielfilm, was man ihm - zugegeben - sehr gut ansieht. Trotzdem haben wir viel Zeit in dieses Projekt gesteckt und ich wollte euch diesen Film nicht vorenthalten.

Typ:...............Spielfilm
Länge:............42 Minuten
Codec:............DivX

Cast & Crew

Regie.................Peter Smits, Pascal Schnaudt
Kamera..............Pascal Schnaudt, Thomas Reul, Peter Smits
Schnitt & PP.......Peter Smits, Pascal Schnaudt
Drehbuch...........Kathrin Morawitz, Laura Jonas, Laura Schürmanns, Christina Kaminski
Maske & Req......Sabrina Friedrichowski, Sarah Dahlmann, Denis Hartwig

Rainer Zufall.......Tobias Janßen
Assistentin.........Anna Louven
Engel................Philipp Wälbers
Gretchen Zufall...Eva Louven
Gott.................Patrick Donner
Täter 1.............Nadine Manderla
Täter 2.............Madeleine van Rossum
Täter 3.............Matthias Caus
Regisseurin........Kathrin Morawitz
Opfer 1.............Eike Roosen
Opfer 2.............Pascal Schnaudt
Fr. Sommer.......Christina Kaminski
Mr Andersson....Thomas Reul
Mrs Andersson...Katja Poguntke
Po.Prä.Vor.........Philipp Brüx
Fr Chantrè........Kerstin Sowislo
Zicke 1.............Julia Schoofs
Zicke 2.............Laura Jonas
Holmes.............Denis Hartwig
Kollege.............Georg Ries
Himself.............Igel

Schnappschüsse

Download

Überlasse nichts dem Zufall (.wmv | 364 Mbyte)
(Rechtsklick -> Ziel speichern unter)

Collage: a form of art in which various materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric are arranged and stuck to a backing.

In one of yeasterday's post, I wrote about the house where Henri Matisse grew up. I mentioned his mother's shop but did not mention that part of it is now a nice and colorful café and a place for temporary exhibitions.

The current exhibition features a Dutch artist Kiek Jansen. Kiek Jansen, who was educated at the Rijksacademie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam (1980-1984), does drawings, oil paintings and paste-ups out of cloth glued onto paper - in other words collages.

At present she mainly makes collages and draws her inspiration from frequent visits to Asia and Africa. I assume the reason she exhibits her works in Matisse's childhood home is her use of colourful fabrics in her works.

Gister ochtend om half 7 opgestaan. Nog even 5 keer mijn koffer opnieuw ingepakt, alles wat ik toen niet nodig dacht te hebben en zwaar was er uit gelaten. Om kwart voor 8 naar de bus die me naar schiphol bracht, en inchecken maar!

Eenmaal in het vliegtuig beland begint er een stelletje te zeuren over hun zitplekken, en verdomde het om te gaan zitten voordat ze andere zitplaatsen hadden. Naast me kwam een wat.. Zenuwachtige, zweterige, ongemakkelijke man zitten, 50/60 jaar, die constant zenuwachtig op zijn armleuning aan het tikken was.
Gelukkig houden oude mensen van slapen, dus heb er maar de helft van de reis last van gehad. De andere helft combineerde de man het getik op de armleuning met zonnebloempitten eten. En geloof me, wanneer je 4,5 uur slaapt, en de andere 4,5 uur zonnebloempitten eet, heb je een heel veld zonnebloemen uitgeroeit.

1:25 pm, lokale tijd in Chicago. Hier moest ik simpelweg mijn bagage ophalen en gelijk weer afgeven aan de bagage mensen, een stukje verderop. (waarom ze dat niet gewoon gelijk doorvoeren naar het andere vliegtuig snap ik ook niet.) Simpel toch? Ja, dat dacht ik ook, tot ik er achter kwam dat een stukje verderop een stukje terug was, en ik net langs een groot bord loop, met een grote rode ronde erop, met een streep erdoor. Wat er dus duidelijk op doelde dat ik niet, maar dan ook NIET meer terug kon. HELP!
De paniekaanval volgde snel. Ik ben in Chicago, nog nooit van me levensjaren geweest, en nu ben ik verdwaald op een luchthaven, waar je treintjes moet pakken om bij de overige 3 of 4 terminals te komen. 1,5 uur voordat mijn andere vlucht vertekt... WAAR MOET IK HEEN EN WAT MOET IK DOEN?
Een aardige mevrouw zei dat ik het treintje moest pakken om opnieuw in te checken, en opnieuw door security moest. Leuk. Vooral wanneer iedereen in heel chicago besloot om in te checken en door security te gaan, wat dus hele lange rijen betekende. Dus heb ik wat mensen lief aangekeken, en met me betraande puppy oogjes me weg gebaand door de miljoenen mensen in die wacht rij! Hetzelfde verhaal bij security, waar ik aan een meneer vroeg of ik voormocht dringen. Geen probleem. Het mooie was dat hij op de zelfde vlucht zat als mij, dus kon ik hem volgen naar de Gate, want waar dat was, wist ik ook niet. Hersenactiviteit stond op -30..
Maaaar 3 minuten voor Boarding kwam ik aan bij me gate, en zat ik eindelijk, ja EINDELIJK, in mijn "connecting flight" naar L.A. Baby!

Films had ik die dag al genoeg gezien, boeken had ik genoeg gelezen, ik had ondertussen ook al een record aantal POGINGEN gedaan om te gaan slapen, pogingen mislukt, dus in die 4 uur van chicago naar LA heb ik alleen maar naar buiten zitten staren.

Meneer Marty Kovalsky stond al op me te wachten. Nadat we me koffer hadden opgehaald door naar "huis"! Mijn nieuwe huis voor a.s. 7 weken! Daar Myriam ontmoet, en natuurlijk de lieve kleine Laura! Ontzettend aardige mensen! Marty is een advocaat en Myriam is een "Stay at home mom". Laura is 4,5 jaar oud, en te schattig voor woorden. Donkerblonde krullen, en vrolijke ogen! Eerst wat verlegen, maar nadat ze me haar kamer had laten zien, en ik haar wat boekjes had gegeven, kwam ze los.
We zijn toen naar een restaurantje in de buurt wezen eten. Bij een Grieks/Mexicaans/Amerikaans restaurant. Hoe verzinnen ze het om 3 totaaaaaaaaaaaal verschillende culturen, met ieder zijn eigen ding qua eten, te combineren met elkaar? Geniaal!
Ik kon niet alles van mijn "mexican plate" op, maar lekker was het wel! Fried brown beans met gele rijst en 2 rund tortilla's en 2 kip tortilla's. Erg pittig ook.
Thuis werd ik een beetje wegwijs gemaakt, en hebben Marty en ik nog even gezocht naar connecting flights naar North Carolina voor wanneer ik weer terug naar huis ga. Daarna nog even mee naar de supermarkt, waar ik 2 dingen MOEST uitkiezen die ik lekker vond. Aangezien mijn hersenactiviteit tegen die tijd niet meer op -30 maar op -100 stond heb ik Lucky Charms Cerial en Welches Grape Juice gepakt.

Thuis, douchen, snel even gemailt en SLAPEN! Het was ondertussen alweer 7/8 uur sochtends nederlandse tijd, en nog maar 10/11 uur LA tijd. Zodra ik plat ging was ik vertrokken naar dromen land. Nu is het half 8 's ochtends. Ik was alweer om 6 uur 'sochtends wakker.
Vandaag ga ik even Long Beach proberen te verkennen. Hopelijk eindig ik bij een strand of bij een Mall. Maakt niet uit welke van de 2![gallery]

Tutto liscio, questa volta non c'è stato spazio per le sorprese, le cenerentole e le out-siders. Questa volta l'Europa è nelle mani giuste, la coppa è stata alzata dalla squadra che ha dato spettacolo, ha divertito, ha concretizzato, ha difeso bene, ed ha quindi meritato, ed è già una notizia, visto il successo del catenaccio Greco di 4 anni fa.

La Spagna si porta a casa il trofeo ambito dopo 44 anni di aria fritta, di gironi vinti a punteggio pieno e ottavi o quarti disastrosi. Finalmente dopo quasi mezzo secolo gli spagnoli possono rispolverare quella parola che sembrava ormai sepolta : Campeones. Fantastica la vittoria degli spagnoli, una cavalcata trionfale, apparte i dissapori e i dispiaceri che ci hanno dato gli spagnoli con quei fatali rigori, alzi la mano chi, quando capitan Casillas ha alzato la Coppa a Vienna, ha osato dire: "Non l'hanno meritata". Ed invece la Spagna ha rispettato i pronostici, compreso il mio che la dava per favorita. Una squadra giovane, ma allo stesso tempo piena di esperienza. Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Senna, lo stesso Torres, Ramos, sono giocatori che non arrivano ai 30 anni ma che giocano come se li avessero, e che hanno già alzato coppe nazionali ed europee, ho le hanno viste alzare ad altri come secondi. Freschezza, esperienza, continuità sopratutto. Non c'è stata una partita nella quale la Spagna del "sabio" Aragones non ha tenuto sempre palla e non ha fatto gioco. Gli stessi spagnoli si sono "congratulati" con noi, quando Aragones, Torres e Casillas hanno rivolto il pensiero ad una settimana fa, quando di fronte a loro c'eravamo noi, e li abbiamo portati fino ai rigori: "Senza dubbio il match con l'Italia è stato più duro e soprattutto più emozionante" ha detto Casillas. Grazie Iker, ma questa coppa ve la meritate voi.

Sì, perchè alla fine la Spagna è una delle poche squadre che negli ultimi tempi ha vinto qualcosa dando spettacolo. Non è successo in Italia con la mia Roma, per meriti, diciamo, interisti ed arbitrali, non è successo in Inghilterra con l'Arsenal, frenato dal Manchester di Ronaldo e dalla poca esperienza, non è successo in Champions, nè ai Mondiali che abbiamo vinto noi, per non parlare di 4 anni fa con la vittoria greca. Finalmente il calcio spettacolare ha vinto, ha vinto il calcio del 4-2-3-1, o del 4-1-3-2, anche se questa finale la Spagna l'ha giocata senza Villa, e con una punta. E che punta, Fernando Torres, finalmente convince, nel momento più importante, più difficile, dimostrando a tutto il mondo che non è un prodigio incompiuto. Cristiano Ronaldo trema, e dalla Sardegna guarda con paura Fernando Torres, "El Nino", re di Spagna, re d'Europa.

Un pensiero va anche ai tedeschi, qualche giorno fa avevo citato la celebre frase ("Il calcio è uno sport che si gioca in 22 e alla fine vince la Germania"), forse sarebbe ora di modificare l'aforisma. Non vince, la Germania, però, anche se con tante difficoltà, arriva sempre lì, ad un passo dal trionfo. Sono 12 anni che i tedeschi non alzano una coppa, ma ci sono andati vicini innumerevoli volte. Nel momento decisivo gli uomini decisivi non si sono presentati. Podolski un fantasma, Schwecc. ecc. (quello con i capelli ossigenati, insomma) impreciso, Frings lottatore ma mai incisivo, Ballack, il capitano, gladiatore sconfitto, eterno sconfitto. In Inghilterra si divertono a chiamarlo "uomo d'argento", per le innumerevoli medaglie d'argento che ha in bacheca, sempre ingiusti gli inglesi, sempre bravi a chiacchierare, che ci giocassero loro a centrocampo contro Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Senna, Xabi Alonso, Silva...mi dispiace per Michael, prima il Brasile (6 anni fa), poi il Manchester, poi la Spagna. I migliori del mondo, tutti contro di lui nel momento più importante. Ma prima o poi la spunterai, Michael.

Ma è giusto concludere con un tributo alla Spagna, e un grazie. Sì, un infinito grazie per aver chiuso quest'era che sembrava cominciare, la nuova era del catenaccio, per aver scongiurato la scomparsa dei fantasisti, e per aver ricordato a tutti come si vince un Europeo. Giocando a calcio, divertendosi, rischiando, segnando. Questa è la Spagna, signori, questi sono i nuovi campioni d'Europa. Grazie Spagna.

4 min: Sergio, stay with Lahm. He will kill you if you give him that much space.

7 min: Ballack skips past Puyol with ease. Germany looking very calm.

11 min: Spain has not really passed the ball. Midfield is a bit clogged. Game is too slow to work for Spain. They need to speed up the passing. Long balls forward are not working. Put it through on the ground.

13 min: That's much better. Great save off the redirect by Lehmann.

17 min: I think Torres has a mismatch that he is going to exploit as the game goes on on the left side of the German defense. If Friedrich is not at home, Mertesacker can't stay with him.

22 min: Great ball Ramos. Torres got open. Great jump and header. Game on. German backline can't handle him.

Torres scores.  Great burst past Lahm and chip finish.  Spain is all over Germany.  Ballack now needs to be careful with the yellow card he has received.

Loew - bring on Kuranyi or move Podolski up front with Klose and bring Lahm up to left wing and bring on Jansen or Fritz to play left back.  You need more going forward.  Make the change at about the 58 min mark.

Injuries seem to be have made Aragones a lucky man. It looks like Cesc is going to start. He has been forced to make the right decision and start Cesc Fabregas only due to the injury to Villa. Bad as it is to say it, Villa's injury was a blessing in disguise for Spain who were able to win the game due to the strength in midfield that Cesc brings. Not only that, it looks like Ballack might miss the final due to a calf injury. As it usually is, sometimes its better to be lucky than good...

If Ballack's injury keeps him out of the final, he will have never played in a major final for Germany. He missed the 2002 World Cup due to suspension, got knocked out of the 2006 World Cup Final in their semifinal overtime loss to Italy and now potentially Euro 2008 as well. May be just as well, because if he suffered through a repeat of 2002, it would be just too cruel. In 2002, when he played for Bayer Leverkusen, he lost the German Bundesliga in the last week and lost the Champions League Final to Real Madrid with a brilliant Zidane volley leaving him trophyless. That was followed by the defeat in Korea to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final. Fast forward to 2008 and the same thing could happen - Chelsea lose the Premier League title to Manchester United in the last week and then the Champions League Final by the width of a post. Ironically, the tournament Germany most deserved to win - when they were playing their best football - was the 2006 World Cup when Grosso and Del Piero's last minute goals in overtime knocked them out of appearing in the final on home soil. I don't foresee the Ballack curse changing tomorrow...

If Ballack is out, it might turn out alright for Germany. It might force Loew to have a three man defensive cordon to jam up the Spaniards. Frings, Hitzlsperger and Borowski or Rolfs to hold behind Schweinsteiger, Podolski and Klose. I personally think that Loew should use this setback to become more aggressive. Have Kuranyi join Klose up front and have Schweinsteiger, Frings and Hitzelsberger play behind the front three. Challenge the middle of the Spanish defense and it will cause Ramos to stay home more which will help slow down the Spanish attack. Keeping three in defensive midfield is going to result in death by a thousand cuts against the superior passing Spanish midfield...

The other side of Ballack being out - the height advantage is gone. Podolski, Hitzlsperger, Frings, Lahm, Klose (he can jump though) and Schweinsteiger aren't that tall. So in midfield and at the offensive end, Germany is going to have to win the battle on the ground during regular play. That's why dead ball situations are going to be even more critical...

Should Loew try another tactic and use Lahm at left wing and move Podolski up front to partner Klose? Lahm didn't really played that well defensively against the quicker moving Turks - Sabri undressed him a couple of times. If you move Lahm up front and have the quartet of Podolski, Lahm, Klose and Schweinsteiger free to interchange and attack, it will give Spain problems. Have Frings and Hitzlsperger hold and bring in Jansen or Fritz at left back. Lahm can drop back and help defensively but will provide more drive down the left if he plays at left wing. Podolski and Klose should be playing up front together where their movement will cause issues for Puyol and Marchena thereby giving Klose more room for the high balls. Just a thought, Joachim...

Very glad to see that Domenech is supposedly going to be fired and replaced by the man I had picked as my choice - Didier Deschamps. Domenech is Aragones' more arrogant twin - except he doesn't have the luck to balance out his lack of ability...

Chi di spada ferisce di spada perisce, così dopo aver vinto le ultime 3 partite all'ultimo secondo i Turchi di Terim hanno perso la semifinale contro i favoritissimi della Germania al 90', grazie a un goal del terzino del B. Monaco Lahm. Partita fantastica a Basilea, piena di capovolgimenti, giocata meglio dalla Turchia, ma vinta dalla Germania, la solita Germania, sempre incisiva e tremenda sotto porta. Terim può essere contento del suo lavoro, ha portato in semifinale una squadra che secondo i pronostici non doveva neanche passare il 1°turno ed ha giocato la semifinale con appena 14 uomini in rosa con il coltello fra i denti e mettendo in difficoltà i tedeschi.

La chiave della partita è stata sicuramente la rete di Boral che sveglia i tedeschi e galvanizza i turchi. Schweinsteiger risponde a Matthäus che lo aveva criticato in settimana ("Il tedesco è un buon giocatore ma non è un campione. In Italia ne abbiamo molti di giocatori bravi almeno quanto lui.") e segna il suo secondo goal ad Euro08 in 4 partite, assistito dall'amico e compagno di squadra Podolski, sempre precisissimo nei passaggi. La partita dopo il goal di Bastian (basta, non scrivo più quel cognome) non cambia, è la Turchia a fare il gioco, i tedeschi provano a sfondare un paio di volte ma la squadra di Terim è messa troppo bene e va vicino un paio di volte al gol del vantaggio.

Gol che arriva, ma dalla parte opposta, infatti dopo uno splendido cross di Lahm, Rustu esce male regalando a Klose l'opportunità di segnare il suo secondo goal ad Euro08, opportunità che ovviamente non spreca. La Germania adesso può far quel che vuole della partita, ma la Turchia dimostra ancora di essere un osso duro ed all'86' (seguendo sempre la regola del gol negli ultimi 5 minuti) pareggia con Semih, che insacca d'esterno dopo un ottimo lancio di Sabri. Per i Turchi è un sogno andare ai tempi supplementari, ma Low non ci sta, i favoriti salgono tutti in attacco, e proprio al 90', complice la difesa della Turchia, ed anche un pò di fortuna, Lahm chiude bene il triangolo con Hitzlsperger e porta a casa la vittoria.

Fantastica partita, che in molti ricorderanno, la Germania vola dunque in Finale, aspettando Russi o Spagnoli, ma con la consapevolezza di essere ancora la vera favorita per la vittoria finale.

• They are great at set pieces. Ballack has scored the only free kick in the tournament and Podolski and Schweinsteiger are also good strikers of the ball. They are strong in the air and have scored two goals off set pieces against a supposedly strong Portugese defense where Pepe and Carvalho are good in the air.
• This is the knockout stage and the Germans traditionally get stronger as the tournament starts getting to the business end of it.
• Ballack has now scored two straight winners. Look out. Klose is off the mark too.
• Schweinsteiger had a hand in all three goals against Portugal. While Turkey is not Portugal, he has now had a hand in six goals against a strong Portugal side in the last two matches. His drive was missing in their games against Croatia and Austria. Now you can count on Podolski and Bastian to provide energy from the wings.
• Loew is back on the sideline.
• Turkey is decimated (they would be happy with a decimation - this is a thirdamation) by injuries and suspensions. It's a bit much to have your entire starting attacking trio be out for the match - Nihat, Tuncay and Turan - along with your starting central defense and goalkeeper. It might not be a good thing to be captain of Turkey - first Emre and now Nihat are out with injuries.
• By now they know that you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need to concentrate against Turkey from minute 87 till the final whistle... and then keep playing for another 30 seconds to make sure the ref actually blew the whistle.

Why Turkey should win:

• Why ask why? Just look at the last three games. If you can beat the host nation on a lake in the last second, then have one of the best goalies in the world drop a ball for you to equalize and then score again (all in the last three minutes) and then score in injury time of overtime after conceding with a minute to go - all on fumes and with three days rest in between in each game - what barrier does Germany pose. It's not like Der Kaiser is suited up on the other side.
• Super sub, thy name is Semih. He has played a total of 148 minutes and put in two last minute goals. Let's see how he does from the start.
• Hamit Altintop (his name supposedly translates to golden ball - Beckham the singular). He had a great game once he was restored to the center of the park instead of playing at right back. He knows the German game - he regularly tangles with Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Jansen, Klose and Podolski in practice at Bayern Munich. He has nothing to lose and one of his blasts is due.
• I think the stadium will look like a Turkey home game.
• Turkey should win, because the underdog seems to be winning most of the time at this tournament.

CH12 believes that Germany will win. Turkey has just too many injuries and the adrenalin will wear off when they find themselves two down and without the firepower to bring themselves back into it. Also, they will not be able to deal with the German height on set pieces. Whoever scores first in this game will win.

Pre-game prediction: Germany 3 Turkey 1

I would like to see Turkey win, though. Maybe they will come back from being two down with three sets of penalty kicks to go...

Nel big match di ieri sera i tedeschi,più concreti, hanno battuto il Portogallo favorito e passano alle semifinali. Davvero Germania killer, domina nella prima mezz'ora del primo tempo e segna 2 gol su 3 occasioni. Splendida l'azione del primo gol, con doppia triangolazione Ballack-Podolski, l'attaccante del Bayern crossa al millimetro per Schweinsteiger che insacca. Dopo appena 6 minuti Klose fa 2, ancora Schweinsteiger protagonista, punizione perfetta, dormita dei portoghesi e primo gol in Euro08 per Miroslav Klose.

Il Portogallo finalmente si sveglia, Scolari inserisce Raul Meireles e toglie Joao Moutinho, così Deco, libero da ruoli di interdizione, ispira Ronaldo con un grande lancia al 40', il futuro Pallone d'Oro sbaglia di fronte a Lehmann ma Nuno Gomes sulla ribattuta fa 2 a 1. Si va negli spogliatoi con il Portogallo che riapre la partita, che ricomincia nel secondo tempo sulla falsa riga del primo. Ronaldo finalmente entra in partita, ed il Portogallo si fa pericoloso. Pepe si mangia un gol a porta aperta, e per la solita legge "Gol sbagliato, gol subito", alla prima occasione del secondo tempo ancora punizione di Schweinsteiger (ci sempre 2 anni per scrivere sto cognome) e Michael Ballack chiude virtualmente la partita con un gran colpo di testa, ed anche con uno spintone ai danni di Ferreira. L'arbitro non vede, i portoghesi si lamentano, ma è 3 a 1.

La Germania quindi con il vantaggio di 2 gol può fare il gioco che predilige, ad una ad una escono tutte le punte ed entrano i difensori, il Portogallo prova l'assedio, e riesce ad accorciare le distanze all'87'. Nani fa tutto da solo, si mangia 3 tedeschi, crossa in area ed Helder Postiga di testa insacca. E'ormai troppo tardi però per i portoghesi, Scolari viene eliminato sul più bello e torna a Londra, il Portogallo dimostra ancora una volta di essere una squadra con poca esperienza, troppi solisti e una difesa non proprio impeccabile.

Il Portogallo pecca sicuramente per alcuni episodi clou, il primo gol è solo bravura tedesca, ma il secondo è puramente colpa dei difensori. Non si può lasciare uno come Klose libero di saltare in area. I Portoghesi sicuramente non meritano di uscire così, ma questa sconfitta servirà loro da lezione. La Germania è stata sottovalutata, e tutti noi sappiamo quanto sia pericolosa la squadra di Loew. Ballack re del centrocampo, difende ed attacca, cuce e ricuce una partita che i tedeschi hanno vinto sicuramente lì, a centrocampo. Schweinsteiger batte Ronaldo nella personale sfida sulle fasce, il numero 7 portoghese si vede poco e niente, invece Bastian è sempre presente nelle azioni clou della partita, sicuramente il migliore in campo.

Peccato per Scolari, ma in queste due settimane c'era troppa tranquillità nel ritiro portoghese. Non si parlava d'altro di Real Madrid e Ronaldo, Scolari e Chelsea. In un certo senso, son contento che sia finita così, la stella annunciata Ronaldo ancora una volta ha fallito nell'appuntamento più importante. Bravo, pallone d'oro.

Cronaca della partita.

As you see this Kinetic Professional, Theo Jansen, makes things move with so little energy.

OK, now to my opinion. We are in a crisis stage where as the world is growing warmer (Global Warming), black gold (petrol) is becoming very expensive and all that leads out to a world with a huge energy crisis. If, and only if the world can make Theo Jansen's creations in to more then what looks very artistic. We could save energy by using resources that is never ending such as the wind, the waves from the ocean or even human energy (where as we can see it uses just a tiny force to make something move in the movie).

And if so, my God, humans can save all the energy needed for a sustainable development and protect the next coming generations of human being. Just imagine a world with so much energy efficiency where it leads human to the upcoming and newer technology. A cleaner air, we don't need to use bio-fuel and waste our food supply for gas, we don't need any nuclear reactors that create waste, nor would there be war for energy. I know it sounds so utopic but dreams are a start for a better future.

Now the questions are: 'who would do all that?', 'would there be any government that would give such an enormous amount of money for such research?', 'and after that research, would that government be generous enough to give such technology for other countries who need it and not think of profit?'

Anyone got a comment?

Considerazioni sparse:

• Gli arbitri in questo Europeo fanno veramente cagare.
• Complimenti alla Croazia e a Bilic, grandissima squadra, davvero pericolosa.
• Olic mi piace sembre di più, grandissimo calciatore. Roma, pensaci.
• Rakitic, n'altro che finisce in "ic", n'altro che mi piace.
• Complimenti a Schweinsteiger per la figura di merda più bella dell'anno. Entra, si mangia un gol grosso come una casa e si fa espellere XD.

Cronaca di Croazia - Germania

Cronaca Austria - Polonia.

Gefühlte fünftausend Chancen verhalfen den Franzosen nicht zum Sieg, denn ihnen stand der vermeindliche Europameister entgegen. Die Rede ist von den Niederlanden, die im Sturm unwahrscheinliche Knipserqualitäten und in der Abwehr eine Melange aus Glück und Zuversicht aufweisen. Wir sahen die momentan mit Abstand stärkste Mannschaft des Turniers. Kommentar von Tom Bartels: "Es ist ein Genuss da zuzuschauen." Groot, großartig!

Gleichwohl sahen wir am Vorabend das schwächste Italien seit Jahren, dass zehn Minuten vor Schluss schon kurz vorm Aus stand und denen nur durch einen verschossenen Elfmeter der Rumänen der Zugang zum Viertelfinale noch nicht verwehrt ist. Und damit konnte es auch zu einer Wiederaufnahme des WM-Finales von vor zwei Jahren kommen, das damals die Italiener nach einem unsittlichen Kopfstoß des französischen Ausnahmefußballers Zinédine Zidane gewonnen hatten.

Im deutschen Team wird indes weiter getrauert. Und was sagt Jogi Löw? "Wir schaffen das!" Wie? Da kann er mit keiner konkreten Antwort dienen. Einige Spieler sind leicht verletzt (Poldi, Lahm), etliche haben Formtiefs (speziell Jansen und Odonkor), anderen fehlte es an Führungsqualitäten (Frings und Ballack). Viel Arbeit und wenig Zeit: Doch wann ist die deutsche Mannschaft immer am Stärksten gewesen? "Unter Druck!" Naja, wer daran noch glaubt ...

Der Glasperlenspieler

Germany’s performance made me almost have to retire CH12.  The crystal ball was looking very opaque.  Football reiterated to me – “CH12, you think you know me but you don’t.”  Or to paraphrase  Biggie, “If you don’t know, now you know”… that you don’t know as much as you think. 

Croatia did improve their performance as I anticipated, and Olic and company did give Mertesacker and Metzelder problems.  However, the first goal was Jansen’s fault, not the central defenders’, while the second Croatian goal was lucky but the two M’s didn’t react as quickly as Olic.  Modric was great in the first 20 minutes, the last 20 minutes and skated through the time in between.  However, Kovac and Pranjic picked up the slack during that period, the defense was solid and, if not for Kranjcar’s profligacy, the game should have been over in the first half and the result could have resembled Spain’s scoreline against Russia.  Coach Loew, Fritz is not working out.  Start Schweinsteiger – Podolski and he were the only ones who showed a sense of urgency.  Too bad you won’t be able to yell Bastian till the quarters at the earliest given his silly red card, but something needs to change on the wing.  Odonkor is not really the answer either.  Maybe Hitzlsperger.  Super Mario - you are killing me.  It may be time for Kuranyi to start.  He's good in the air and better on the ground than Mario has shown himself to be in this tournament. 

Having said all that, I give Bilic credit.  They played well and didn’t let the Germans play their game.  I have to also give them credit on the set up work on the first goal.  The pass into the box sucked the right back into the striker, but instead of turning or laying it off to his teammate in the center of the park, he sent it back to the passer who had all the time and space to make the telling cross.  It was very much like an inbounds play in basketball where the ball goes back to the inbounding player and no one is there to pick him up.  And of course, they needed Jansen to be asleep on the back post, but that’s already been picked up in the earlier rant.  

Man of the match for Croatia was Modric for asking for, and taking care of, the ball when he needed to; Rakitic was also brilliant in spots. For Germany, Podolski again was their best player on the pitch.

Pre-game prediction: Germany 2 Croatia 0

Result: Germany 1 Croatia 2

Scorers: Darijo Srna, Ivica Olic (Croatia) Lukas Podolski (Germany) 

The second game gets going, gets toward the end and I am starting to have confidence in the crystal ball again… and then injury time happens.  That’s two picks that have been blown after the 90 minute mark.  Not that I am keeping score or anything but I am now at 50% at 6 and 6. Good thing I don’t bet on games.   

Watching Austria blow two one on ones – too bad Harnik’s not an out and out striker – and one point blank shot, I had no doubt that it was going to come back to bite them.  It’s the same as when the shooter doesn’t throw the dice hard enough to hit the back wall – you almost always seven out.  Boruc kept Poland in the game and, sure enough, Roger scored a goal – offside though it was.  Poland actually played well thereafter, with Roger and Krzynowek (that man has a harder left foot than Jon Arne Riise, and that’s saying something) creating options every time they came down the field.  It was probably a just result that Austria pulled a goal back but it’s ridiculous that they called that a penalty after all the tugging and pulling that has gone on, and will continue to go on, unpunished in dead ball situations.  Great penalty.  Anelka, that’s how you strike it.  Man of the match for Poland was Boruc, though Roger ran him a close second; for Austria, I was digging Korkmaz.   

Pre-game prediction: Poland 2 Austria 1

Result: Poland 1 Austria 1

Scorers: Roger Guerreiro (Poland) Ivica Vastic (Austria) 

Now we will hear about all the permutations that can occur to determine who goes through from this group.

On to the game of the tournament.  I can’t wait.  Italy vs Romania…  Okay, so that’s a close second to the other game – Holland (that’s what you call them when they play fantasy football.  If they lose, they are back to Netherlands IMB… In My Book for you non literary 18 year olds) vs France.  Hup Oranje, Allez Francaise… Forza Italia?? 

Ailalti : mici si smecheri.

Arbitrul : penibil dar trebuia sa apara si unul din asta.

Croatia merge in sferturi. Prima gluma de la Euro.

Jansen in fund, Lehmann in cap, mingea in poarta.

Com gols anotados no início de cada tempo, a Croácia foi superior: lidou bem com a pressão alemã e mereceu a vitória.

O time alemão apresentou dificuldades em superar a marcação da equipe croata. Jansen não foi bem na lateral esquerda e havia problemas na ligação entre meio e ataque. O esquema com apenas um meia, montado pelo técnico Low é uma das explicações.

Foto: EFE

Para jogar com três atacantes - Klose, Gomez e Podolski - o treinador abdicou de um meia e deixou apenas Ballack com a responsabilidade de armar o time.

No entanto, jogar com três atacantes não é garantia de ofensividade. Podolski não é um jogador adequado para voltar e buscar jogo.

O time croata entrou num 4-5-1, com apenas Olic como jogador ofensivo. Modric, Kranjicar e Niko Kovac funcionaram bem no meio e os laterais Corluka e Pranjic atuaram de modo eficiente. Corluka se aproveitou da avenida aberta por Jansen no lado esquerdo da defesa alemã.

O jogo
Srna foi a única alteração na Croácia em relação ao time que estreou contra a Suiça. E foi justamente Srna quem abriu o placar: após bela troca de passes na esquerda aos 23 minutos, Pranjic cruzou e o meia croata se antecipou a Jansen.

O time balcânico procurava jogadas curtas e toques rápidos para envolver a Alemanha. Já os germânicos não conseguiam repetir o padrão de jogo apresentado no jogo contra a Polônia. Assim, a vitória parcial da Croácia era justa.

Schweinsteiger e Odonkor entraram na Alemanha, substituindo Gomez e Jansen, respectivamente. Lahm foi para a lateral esquerda e Odonkor foi improvisado na direita. As mudanças deixaram o time alemão mais equilibrado taticamente. Com isso, o time exerceu mais pressão sobre a Croácia.

Ironicamente, quando o empate alemão parecia iminente, foi a Croácia quem marcou. Rakitic cruzou da direita, a zaga tentou cortar e após tocar na trave, a bola sobrou limpa para Olic. O atacante croata só empurrou e fez 2 x 0 no placar com 16 minutos.

De tanto pressionar, a Alemanha diminuiu aos 33 minutos. No desespero, o técnico alemão pôs Kuranyi em campo e deixou o time com quatro atacantes para tentar o empate. Mas a defesa croata conseguiu segurar a pressão alemã.

Nos descontos, Schweinsteiger foi expulso após sofrer falta e revidar. Foi o primeiro cartão vermelho da Eurocopa 2008. Agora, a Croácia tem seis pontos, contra três da Alemanha. Na próxima rodada do grupo B, jogarão Croácia x Polônia e Alemanha x Áustria.

O arraial mais bonito de São Luís, o da Lagoa da Jansen, começa com uma programação variada: às 20h, a programação começa com a Quadrilha Flor do Sertão do Monte Castelo; logo em seguida, é a vez do Boi de Leonardo (sotaque de zabumba); depois, o Cacuriá de Dona Teté deve convidar o público a dançar com o ritmo maranhense; seguido por show de Papete; Novo Boi de Viana; e, para finalizar a noite, Boi de Sonhos (sotaque de orquestra).

A programação completa do Arraial da Lagoa 2008 você encontra no site da cobertura especial do evento, pelo endereço saojoao.mauriciohomepage.cjb.net.