2022 World Cup GDT

[1995hoo]

We are one people, divided by a common language...

My only surprize is issue being taken with 'starting-eleven' - due to substitutions, the players change during the game, but there will still be eleven on the field, at the end. And the NFL uses 'starting' all the time...Not quite sure what other expression would describe it so succinctly?...

….

I was referring primarily to the weird use of a Roman numeral: "starting XI." But "starting lineup" is equally clear—as you note, it’s a given that there will be 11 players, so there’s no need to specify a number.

[Dave in Fairfax]

I'm pretty sure "riding the pine" has its origins in baseball, but it might also have come from another sport which also has sideline benches. Do you not traditionally make benches from pine in England? Does one "ride the larch"?

[Natsinpwc]

I was referring primarily to the weird use of a Roman numeral: "starting XI." But "starting lineup" is equally clear—as you note, it’s a given that there will be 11 players, so there’s no need to specify a number.

In basketball announcers say starting five all the time.

[1995hoo]

In basketball announcers say starting five all the time.

But nobody says "starting V."

[Natsinpwc]

But nobody says "starting V."

Roman announcers.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Does one "ride the larch"?

Only in British Columbia.  Depending on the bench wood, sometimes it's the "Giant Redwood Tree" or the "little whopping rule tree."  Whatever the lumberjack provides.

[Natsinpwc]

[English Natsie]

I was referring primarily to the weird use of a Roman numeral: "starting XI."

Ah - I see...In the same way that 'soccer' was used to differentiate from'rugger', so the use of numbers became journalistic shorthand (when most sports reporting was written) to allow the reader to easily identify which sport was being reported. So 'starting XI' for soccer, 'starting XV' for rugby union, 'starting XIII' for rugby league, and so on (professional rugby league players still wear a '13' or 'XIII' patch on the sleeve of their jerseys).

Unusually, Aussie Rules commentators generally don't differentiate between those out on the field, and interchange players - they refer to the 'starting 22' (the whole playing squad)...

(edit) at the time the use of numbers was adopted - late Nineteenth Century - the use of Roman Numerals was far more common than today. I mean, who'd call the Superbowl 'Superbowl LVII'?...

[English Natsie]

Croatia defeat Morocco 2 - 1 in the most meaningless game at any WC - the third-place playoff...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

What Ali Wagner (a usa woman who played in a 3rd place game) said players approach 3rd place games much freer and more willing to try things because the stkes are so much lower.

[1995hoo]

... I mean, who'd call the Superbowl 'Superbowl LVII'?...

Well, seeing as how the name is two words—Super Bowl, not "Superbowl"—I’d say nobody would say "Superbowl LVII." 

[English Natsie]

Well, seeing as how the name is two words—Super Bowl, not "Superbowl"—I’d say nobody would say "Superbowl LVII." 

But, I take it you accept the use of Roman Numerals?....

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Giroud: I unplug my nose at you, Argie pig-dog.

[welch]

But, I take it you accept the use of Roman Numerals?....

I don't. I well remember watching Super Bowl 22 and SB 26.

[welch]

Good grief. Looks like Argentina is playing with five extra players. Seems to me that this game should have been England against the Netherlands.

[Natsinpwc]

Good grief. Looks like Argentina is playing with five extra players. Seems to me that this game should have been England against the Netherlands.

Wut?  These were clearly the two best teams.

DiMaria is playing like a guy possessed. 

[welch]

Wut?  These were clearly the two best teams.

DiMaria is playing like a guy possessed. 

No. England was better than France.

Could have been Netherlands -- they swarmed over Argentina at the end of regular time, but then took off the pressure in the two extra periods.

[Natsinpwc]

No. England was better than France.

Could have been Netherlands -- they swarmed over Argentina at the end of regular time, but then took off the pressure in the two extra periods.

Argentina was the much better side most of that game. They seem adept at blowing late leads. France does not need much room to score goals. Outplayed badly today and yet they have it tied.

[Natsinpwc]

Extra time. Hope someone wins it then. Hate to see penalty kicks.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

This is interfering with NFL Today pregame. The nerve.

This play on the line late was an argie foul, but it was outside the penalty area. The play on was the right call

[welch]

We are one people, divided by a common language...

...

And how could we forget, from 2013, the BBC News website describing baseball as 'cricket for Americans'....    

Social history finds that both baseball and cricket descend from medieval English bat-and-ball games, games in which two villages would line up across a meadow and hot a ball at each other.  Of course there were variations. The New England colonists brought the game over, adding variations. One variation was played in that first game at Elysian Fields in New Jersey. That first game was played by gentleman New Yorkers, gentlemen somewhat like the English gentleman's game called cricket. Baseball, in near its current form, seems to have spread throughout the Union armies in the Civil War. In the 1880's, for instance, several versions of the Washington Nationals were organized at Mike Scanlon's 9th Street poolroom. Scanlon had served in the Army of the Potomac, where he came to love baseball. Thus, baseball became a people's game, with a popular base similar to soccer-football in Britain.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm so glad I have no dog in this hunt because I would have died already. I am just smiling like an idiot now.

[Natsinpwc]

What a fantastic game. Penalty kicks is such a dumb way to end it but so be it.

[imref]

That was incredible. Great to see Messi get the win.

[Natsinpwc]

Glad for Messi. I think he was really mistreated by many Argentines over the years for having not grown up there. Maradona tried to make some other guy the star of the team in 2010. Idiot.

Argentine GK seems to be a penalty savant. Other than against Mbappe who is a goal scoring savant.  What an effort by him to have France even. Great game.