What sports teams do you support?

[Lianachan]

I'd forgotten that was on. Last minute own goal, eh? Good stuff.

[Heid the Ba]

Indeed, shame for the centreback who did nothing wrong, other than put the ball past the keeper.

[Heid the Ba]

Andy Murray would appear to still be British.

[Мастер]

Paul O'Connell and Leigh Halfpenny appear to be French.

[Heid the Ba]

I'm surprised at Halfpenny, but as I have never understood anything O'Connell has said he might as well be.

[Мастер]

Halfpenny is almost human-looking, at least by rugby-player standards.

[Arneb]

Germany 0 - 1 England. Yes, you read that right. In the match for 3rd place of the Women's FIFA World Cup.

that the once mighty German team weren't able to convert a single chance against a sorely limited English team (which displayed all the dirty tricks, but none of the ability of their male counterparts), handing them the decisive penalty on a platter form an incredibly weak referee), is very, very disconcerting. There is a lo of work to do for the next German coach.

[Arneb]

Some consolation:
Chile 4 - 1 Argentina after penalties (0 - 0), in the final of the copa América.

That'... nice!

[Heid the Ba]

Oh fuxking fuck, the English commentator for the final has just said "It is a shame England aren't here, I'm sure if they were they would win". The very first words out of his fucking mouth.

[MM_Dandy]

Germany 0 - 1 England. Yes, you read that right. In the match for 3rd place of the Women's FIFA World Cup.

that the once mighty German team weren't able to convert a single chance against a sorely limited English team (which displayed all the dirty tricks, but none of the ability of their male counterparts), handing them the decisive penalty on a platter form an incredibly weak referee), is very, very disconcerting. There is a lo of work to do for the next German coach.

Do they still qualify for the Olympics?

[Lianachan]

Germany 0 - 1 England. Yes, you read that right. In the match for 3rd place of the Women's FIFA World Cup.

that the once mighty German team weren't able to convert a single chance against a sorely limited English team (which displayed all the dirty tricks, but none of the ability of their male counterparts), handing them the decisive penalty on a platter form an incredibly weak referee), is very, very disconcerting. There is a lo of work to do for the next German coach.

I watched that game. Very poor referee overall and a pretty weak penalty.

Oh fuxking fuck, the English commentator for the final has just said "It is a shame England aren't here, I'm sure if they were they would win". The very first words out of his fucking mouth.

I turned over onto the final when it must have been half time, and they were talking about England. I lasted about 1.5 seconds before I had to turn it off.

[Arneb]

Do they still qualify for the Olympics?

Yes. Europe gets three slots in the Olympic tournament, so the best three European teams in the World Cup qualify. These are England and Germany as semifinalists, plus France as a quartfinalists. England don't qualify, since there is a unfied UK team at the Olympics. I don't quite know who the third European team will be. Of the other European participants who lost in the round of last 16, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands had finished 3rd in their group. Only Norway had finished second, so I guess it's them.

[Heid the Ba]

Germans sweep through Belgium and into France, crushing all others. German cyclists first and second in the Tour today, and leading the GC and points competitions.

[MM_Dandy]

Germans sweep through Belgium and into France, crushing all others.

They've done that before. Do you suppose it'll take this time?

[Arneb]

ve havvnt decidet yet.

[Heid the Ba]

Should be a sprint today, so every chance Martin will stay in yellow, Greipel in green. Not sure we'll have a German winner today though.

[Arneb]

Andy Murray would appear to still be British.

F.A.Z. put it nicely today: "Die Partie hatte prächtig angefangen für den Schotten, der 2013 als erster Brite nach 77 Jahren in Wimbledon triumphiert hatte."

'The match had begun splendidly for the Scot who, as the first Brit in 77 years had triumphed at Wimbledon in 2013'.

So will the English press make him a Scot again now that he has foundered against this obscure what's-his-name cheese-roller?

[Heid the Ba]

Someone said last night: "Scot Andy Murray went out in straight sets, while his brother Briton Jamie Murray is in the final of the doubles."

[Lianachan]

Someone said last night: "Scot Andy Murray went out in straight sets, while his brother Briton Jamie Murray is in the final of the doubles."

An absolutely perfect demonstration!

[Heid the Ba]

On reflection I think it was on "The Last Leg" and said to make that point.

[Мастер]

Argentina put up a surprisingly good fight against New Zealand during the first half yesterday, but went to shite during the second. Australia/South Africa starts in a few minutes.

[Мастер]

Feckin' Australia.

[Мастер]

Did you know about this one, Heid?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_Langkawi

Doesn't seem to have displaced the Tour de France, at least not yet.

[Мастер]

New Zealand vs. South Africa in The Rugby Championship in less than eight hours.

If New Zealand wins, South Africa is out of contention. NZ is currently in the lead in terms of points - one win over Argentina, plus a bonus point for scoring four tries, gives five points. Australia has four points, having beaten South Africa last week. However, NZ arguably still has its two toughest opponents ahead of them, whereas Australia has already beaten one (South Africa).

At this point, it is still possible for any of the four teams to win. This year, it is an abbreviated schedule (everyone plays everyone else just once, instead of twice), to leave more time to get ready for the World Cup. But we should have much more clarity in about ten hours (after New Zealand v South Africa), and still more twenty hours from now (after Argentina v Australia). Argentina must win this week to stay alive. South Africa can stay alive with a draw.

[Heid the Ba]

Did you know about this one, Heid?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_Langkawi

Doesn't seem to have displaced the Tour de France, at least not yet.

Yes, it is a second level Tour, it does get a lot of good riders but not the main GC men from the Grand Tours.