Is that a Swiss person emoting up there? Never seen that before.

you can go all soccer all the time if you promise to never, ever link to anything Debbie Clemens related again. I almost lost my manhood looking at the jacket happy site.

Damn, I thought that Debbie Clemens link was going to supply some more Joe "Catfish" Perry pics.

Just promise us you'll call it soccer, or flopball, or kickball for foreigners, anything but football.

I have learned much more about this "soccer" from Deadspin commentors than any other source. Of course, my only other option is that white kid with dreadlocks down the street.

There's just way too much shit going on at that Debbie Clemens site. I think I'm developing an aneurysm.

And it's the Dutch version of Bruce Vilanch top right.

I think Josh Q. Public wants to volunteer. In his first blog, he'll drop the bombshell that Brazil are the favorites...

Surely you could have found an image of a female Brazil fan who was not so, well, so clad.

Now, all we need is a Brazillian girl or two like the Jenn Sterger (sp?) trio and we got ourselves a party.

By the way, Debbie thinks I should try to be the best I can be.

If you get tired of Debbie, check out Kirk.

For anyone still unclear, I don't hate soccer. Debbie & Roger Clemens on the other hand...

Followed by Josh Q's "World Cup Q and A," which sadly will be just an A and A, since his "?" button is broken.

Necktie, that was, as they say in soccer, sublime...

i've just discovered some horrifying facts about espn's coverage. they aren't airing anywhere near the full slate. their "3 network" coverage does not apply to the opening round of pool play. some days they show no more than 1 game. only one england game is televised (actually i'm f'n THRILLED about this...owen pitches, becks catches. i've been told telemundo will have some coverage to compensate

Roll Call: Anyone actually going? I've got tickets to US/Czech and will be in Geleskirchen, hopefully in a brand new Onyewu jersey.

Thanks for the laugh, SN. Jokes about grammar and punctuation are my favorite.

I'll be at US-Italy and US-Ghana. You should be able to get a reasonable ticket for the Ghana game over there from what I have heard.

Wait, only one England game???? That's garbage.

Speaking of hot brazilian chicks, I still have fond memories of the last world cup. Not so much the games, but the preview show on Univision or telemundo or whatever. It featured a bevy of hot latinas, each of which had painted their respective national flags on their respective top notch asses. Made me a soccer fan on the spot. I'm hopeful they'll do the same thing again this year, but with breasts. Anyone remember show?

I will also be at the US/Czech match. Also scored tickets just recently for Tunisia-Saudi Arabia. Not exactly the clash of titans, but it's in Munich and that stadium looks like the balls. (Extra tickets pop up on the FIFA Web site at all sorts of odd hours if you keep trying.) Beyond that, just planning to check out different city FanFests throughout the week.

Unsilent majority, where did you hear that? www.soccertv.com paints a very different picture. The full tv schedule, updated yesterday, says all are on. I think I'm also subscribing to sentana sports anyway - it's only $11.99 a month and they also have chelseatv. All the games with German commentary. Not to mention how much fun it will be to watch in your local soccer bar.

Talking about the silly painted faces has anyone else noticed that ESPN's commercials for the world cup - "One game changes everything" - features Scotland fans. One problem ESPMmeisters.....Scotland didn't qualify for the freakin World Cup! If you can put Tommy Smythe out to pasture before the shin-dig begins....I may forgive you.

a - I'm going to all three first-round USA games. b - Yes, ESPN/ABC/ESPN2 are carrying the entire first round, live. 8 games on ...]

a - I'm going to all three first-round USA games. b - Yes, ESPN/ABC/ESPN2 are carrying the entire first round, live. 8 games on ABC, 10 games on ESPN, 30 games on ESPN2. I have no idea where you're getting your information, Unsilent Majority. http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006/Mar_06/cup_sked.htm

Unsilent: I don't think you are correct. I looked at the TV schedule for ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC (http://www.soccertimes.com/worldcup/2006/tvsked.htm) and compared it to the actual game schedule (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/calendar.html) and all the games are broadcast on one of the networks. Now if you don't get "the Deuce" then you might be screwed because most of the games in pool play are on that channel.

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/events/world_cup/2006/schedu... This TV schedule seems to be more promising. One England game each on ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN through the first three rounds. Seemingly all live, unless I'm doing the math wrong on the time zones.

UM,all games will be broadcast on Univision, for those of us who get it, and they will be broadcast live except for the last group phase games, which are played at the same time. Plus even if you don't understand Spanish, the announcing will be much better.

If there's something at stake involving both games, it doesn't get any better than the simultaneous final pool play games, especially when crazy shit goes down in the 90th minute and word starts to filter through the stands and benches.

ok, so perhaps my previous tv listings leave something to be desired...COMCASTIC!

now i'm going to go cry myself to sleep

Unsilent come to Canada or get the Canadian sports package. The two major sports networks are actually working together to host it, (Sportsnet and TSN). Too make sure that they get all games live in the first round. And think of it this way, you won't have to support Berman and his ESPN entourage.

UM: I'm taking time off work the week of June 12th to watch soccer. I presume Fa-Do, altho entirely fake as an Irish bar, will show games, as will Stetson's. Anybody else in DC have any insight?

Walken: The last time I saw the flags of Latin America painted on perfect bottoms was Telemundo's pregame of the Brazil-Argentina final of the 2004 Copa America. I think their show is called Ritmo Deportivo, and it features an incredible proportion of reporters wearing bikinis. Like Bob Ley.

OOOh - I'll be in DC on 6/16 for the Ivory Coast/Holland match. (I've a mtg. in the morning and I'm skipping out by about 10 a.m.)We can have a Deadspin Happy Hour or something. Comcast sux.

PimpMyPR - you must have had your sound off, because they talk about how Scotland didn't quality during the commerical -- the point being that the Scottish fans are going anyway.

Here in Cincy they'll probably have fun times at Hap's Irish Pub in Hyde Park, as well as all the Willie's locations, Mount Lookout Tavern, and DEFINITELY the Hofbrauhous across the river for the Germany games.

Siobhan, we should all go to ESPN Zone downtown wearing You're With Me Leather shirts (and we should definately pay with a bad check).

I sure hope Rooney plays. The kid may be a soccer savant, but he's an amazing talent. Any athlete that routinely visits brothels to 'have an enormous amount of fun with a busty grandma called Trisha and then with 40-year old busty blonde Morgan Hennessey' is cool in my book. Plus, he looks like Shrek. COME ON ENGLAND!

Anyone know any Chicago pubs or bars for good watchin'? Keep in mind I am under 21 and my fake features a man with a full beard. I do not have a full beard.

June 12th is my birthday and the first day of the US game. I CAN'T WAIT!

Good luck Kevin. Stop shaving right now!

get a better id boy wonder

Kevin, the US games are going to be at 10 in the morning and noon...if you're at a bar that early, something's very wrong.

DC deadspinners - Do you want to get together to watch the soccer? Not at ESPN Zone, despite what UM has to say. Email me:bosoxsiobhan(at)hotmail.com. Does anyone think The Dubliner will have the games? Or perhaps The Flying Scotsman, even though we've established, that, you know, the Scots aren't actually in the World Cup. Wearing the "You're With Me, Leather" t-shirt is entirely optional, although I would imagine encouraged.

In Baltimore, I plan to be at Slainte in Fells Point. At 10 a.m. You haven't lived til you've hit a bar at 7 a.m. and gone home all buzzy at 9:30, like I did for some of the Chelsea games. Time is just a state of mind.

I'll be holding court at Mad Dog in the Fog on Haight St. here in SF for all the games. Footy, Irish coffee AND -- if we're lucky -- some sectarian conflict. Yea British people.

The games will be on later in Newfoundland. You can go to the bars there.

i really don't think i'm bailing on work to go to the dubliner at 10 am.

whoa, whoa, whoa, Rectum. I was reeling from Debbie Clemens, especially after I clicked "fitness" and got vintage 90's porn music, but the Kirk site really threw me. After two minutes I renounced my flimsy ties to Christianity, embraced paganism and seriously considered Satanism. And I felt good about it.

Your loss, UM. Nothin' better than beers at 10 AM.

Hey Kevin, Fado's Irish Pub will be open for it. But since you're not 21, well, I dont know. Wear one of those fake glasses and mustache and try to get in. Hey, you know what would be really cool? If they showed some of the games on the giant tv screens in Millenium Park, which are normally used to show peoples faces. Just imagine, you could have water squiriting out of Ronaldinho's face!

Manny Ortez, I heard rumor that Mad Dog won't open until 9am. The Chieftain (5th and Howard) will be showing every game live. There are fewer places in SF nicer than 5th/Howard at 5:30am....

The fact that Scotland didn't qualify is, in fact, the entire point of the commercial and what makes it hilarious. "Scotland didn't qualify for this year's World Cup....not even close." For those in the Chicago area, the Fire will be hosting a viewing party at the new stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois (71st and Harlem) for the USA-Italy fixture. Admission is free but I believe they are charging for parking and concessions.