You'd have to add Callum Chambers and Luke Shaw, but perhaps the most deflating thing is that our only really nailed on defender right now is Cahill, who I definitely think is solid but represents a bit of a step down after the likes of Adams, Terry and (at his peak) Rio.

I've had a life-long fascination with LA but never with any other part of California.

Although I've never been I actually imagine Los Angeles almost to be a country unto itself and California more like a continent. I wonder if people from LA consider themselves Angelenos(sp?) first and Californians second and see themselves as quite different to people from, say, San Diego, or San Francisco.

I grew up in Southern California and have been living in Northern California for over 10 years now and its funny, when I was in "so-cal" I never heard of anything deragotory against "nor-cal" but after I moved up here all I heard was "fuck, so-cal". I think Northern Californians don't want to be associated with LA and I think people from LA don't care about anything but themselves (hahah, see my nor-cal side coming out!)

Also, fuck these international games! It seems like they are just good for getting key players injured at a critical time in the season

I hate friendlies being played mid season but I kind of tolerate qualifiers, although I'm not that into internationals generally.I take an interest in England and like them to do well but I don't have much passion for them. Although that sometimes changes during an actual game.

And thanks for the Nor-Cal - So-Cal stuff. Don't know why but that kind of stuff fascinates me.

When all of your wishes are granted..

...many of your dreams

Will be destroyed..

Nice one Marilyn

my problem with qualifiers is they drag on forever, would be much better to hold them tournament-style a year before the actual world cup. june/july, "international season", everyone plays who they have to, be done in a month, then everyone goes on vacation.

the confederations cup would probably have to be eliminated to make room for this, but that would be a boon.

I agree. It'df definitely work for the Euros and in terms of the WC I'm sure something could be worked out with the confederations that have different season times. Apart from anything else its more tournament style would help players get used to each other and prepare in a way that'll be relevant when the tournament actually arrives.

Problem is the big clubs in Europe make a fortune going on summer tours to places like the US and Asia (under the guise of 'pre-season training').

they could always go in august during pre-season training

and true about other confederations holding elimination matches according to their schedules.

as long as everybody is in place, say, 6 months before the world cup, then it's no problem.

Yeah, the big clubs want it all ways. They hate midseason internationals cos of the risk of injury and don't want down season games cos it interrupts their touring schedule.

"Finally ... a cup!"

Fantastic.

haaaa haaaa haaaa!!

You watching Italy-Bulgaria?

Yes, i like that cali really is like its own continent yo, and LA has larger population then over half the actual countries so..

As to our self identity: Angelinos > Southern Californians > Californians > West Coast > Americans..

And yes, we have rivalries with other cali cities but as was mentioned we ain't beefing wiyh them so much as they clearly beefing with us. We rarely even mention San Diego or San Francisco but if LA people visit those towns those folks get in our ear about it.. as a matter of fact whenever i visit ANY city anywhere outside of LA folks generally spot me right away and ask, "you from LA" so i guess we really are original out here enough to stand out

The older i get the more in love with LA I become, i really ain't got no business moving elsewhere and if i got to trod in Babylon might as well live in its heart

oh shit! 2-1 at halftime!

i don't have time/energy to go to the nearest satellite but i'm reading the comments-- immobile missing chances? noooooocanttttbeeeeee. dammit, that poor man. for capocannoniere to dortmund's curse in just one year.

i'll see if i can catch a very blurry stream for 2nd half. thanks!

Italy stole a draw but in balance probably should've won it. Immobile had a bad night, and Bulgaria defended pretty well, otherwise Italy could've had a good 3 or 4. Verratti looked decent filling in for Pirlo. I really like him and he looks the obvious replacement once the great man calls it a day.

Did you manage to catch Chiellini's dive in the first half? Absolutely world class!

immobile is having a bad--a terrible--year!


i found out too late! and i never caught a stream anyway. maybe if/when highlights surface.

Back to Pirlo, he picked his dream team a couple of months ago, made up of players that have played during the span of his career



You'd never guess he was Italian, ah?