13 April 2010
Pop World Cup 2010: Group F – Slovakia 3 Italy 0
There is controversy afoot – controversy about the suspect timekeeping in key matches, controversy about the competence of some of the less prominent PWC administrators. It’s a fractious time. One one side of this game, Julio’s Slovakia: they have fought bravely but this is a farewell to the tournament, their tickets home have already been booked. Marna and her Italy team have a slim chance of progressing but need a stonking big win AND need Paraguay to lose in the other final group game. For reasons not fully understood by the World Pop FA, both managers have refused to speak to the press.
This match closes at midnight on Monday 19th April
SLOVAKIA: Robert Burian feat Zdenka Predna – “You” The Manager Says: “No comment.”
Length: 3:03 Played: 251 
ITALY: Alberto Remondini ft Luca Zeta – “I Can’t Stay” The Manager Says: “No comment”
Length: 4:19 Played: 202
Group F Match 5: Which track did you prefer?
- SLOVAKIA: Robert Burian ft Zdenka Predna (76%, 34 Votes)
- ITALY: Alberto Remondini ft Luca Zeta (24%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 45
Poll closes: 19 April 2010 @ 11:59 pm
Loading ...Commentary box analysis We don’t know why they won’t talk. There are screams of “cover-up” and suggestions of righteous indignation at some unspecified corruption within the Pop FA, but no details are available at this time. Meanwhile, what we do know is that this remains a fascinating game. Away from the sideshow of managerial non-antics, this seems to be a game of pop football the way it used to be played. Slovakia present a pleasing slice of melodic eurobosh, the Italians deploy a tune which seems a classic example of the Italian pop game – a combination of the wistful vocal line and the nearly-banging, with a vague sense of the anthemic lingering around.
Results: Group B: Nigeria 3 – Korea Republic 2; Argentina 4 – Greece 0. Chris R’s Korea Republic, needing just a point to be certain of qualification, conceded a heartbreaking goal to Matt DC’s Nigeria deep into the injury time which arose from shady timekeeping on the parts of the referees. All Korean eyes nervously turned to the result from the Argentina-Greece game, which was an absolutely stonking victory for an Argentine side decked out by manager Jonathan Bogart in their non-indie away strip. For the first time in the competition, Johan seemed to have misjudged Greece’s tactics.
Feverish calculations suggest that Korea Republic have qualified by the narrowest of percentage-difference margins.
Coming up: The conclusion of Group F. Steve M’s New Zealand (already qualified) vs Talia’s Paraguay (knocking on the door), two teams which have already pleased the crowds in the tournament face off in what promises to be another transcontinental feast of pop football.
Tim in FT • pwc10/pwc10 group F • 351 views
Here I was hoping for more house in the competition… and then it all comes falling thick at the same time! I like the Slovakian entry – though it should have been longer and built up tension more – but as a huge italo fan I can’t help but love Remondini’s come-late tribute, which manages to both capture the genre and be completely contemporary in one package.
Apols for the lack of comment – I have fled to FOREIGN and .fr internet hates me.
Haha Marna you’ve spoiled my made-up controv!
Yes apologies that I couldn’t do another 10th rate Celine style rant against the pop establishment!
Oh Birdseed I kind of agree — this track has a few mixes but I think the next longest version is 7 mins so I didn’t bother.
Enjoyed both tracks without loving them – I liked the big windswept sounds in the Slovakian entry and found the Italian vocalist rather got in the music’s way, so Slovakia get a tick from me.
Enjoyed this match.. with both teams on their way home, hints of melancholy — will these players ever get to play on the big stage in front of the whole world again? The teams are in harmony with eachother, a friendly match without the dullness usually associated with that term. I’ll have to listen to them some more before deciding on a vote, and I’m happy to do so!
The match of the last couple of days, the Slovaks deep and intense and evading the dark shoals of tastefulness thanks to the striker’s pugnacious vocalisms. The Italians meanwhile play with excellent timing, quick passing keeping up the pace. Front line not quite up to the pleasant but unnecessary melody; whatever we say, we can’t accuse the Italians of complacency. Nice job to both, and a tick for Slovakia.
Not wanting to add to Tom and Tim’s workload on this, but I’d have really liked to see league tables going into the last group games. I’m still not sure on how the goal difference works – is it like in the real world, or on totalled up percentages?
My mind is overloaded with football stats tonight as I contemplate a Charlton Millwall play-off semi, and wonder whether Wingate & Finchley will be at home in their one-off Ryman North play-off.
Oh, and to the matter in hand, Luca Zeta probably gets complaints from his neighbours when he’s singing in the shower. Shocking frontman. So, Slovakia get my vote.
My preferred format for the table would be as follows:
Country………………….Played. W D L %For Points
NEW ZEALAND…………..2……2 0 0 147…….6
PARAGUAY……………….2…….1 1 0 140……..4
ITALY………………………2…….0 1 1 72………1
SLOVAKIA………………….2……0 0 2 41………0
As we can see from this presentation it becomes mathematically impossible for Italy to qualify if Paraguay pick up 32 percent of the vote in its game. As it is unless Italy pick up 69% they can’t go through, and really they have to be looking for nearer to 90% or more to stand any chance of getting through. An upset of a League One team winning the FA Cup proportions.
Group tables can be found on the Pop World Cup mini site!
Click through to each group for said group’s expanded standings.
Pete’s saying that the important stat – the %ages – should be totalled, though, and shown as prominent (I think the votes are interesting too).
Whether Steve M wants to do this is up to him of course!
Yeah I quite like showing the ‘total votes’ there on the tables even tho it’s only the percentage total that counts (I will add these if someone works them all out and sends me them ;). Was interesting to see that Argentina actually received more votes overall than either Nigeria or Korea Rep (but only just)!
Great match. Have downloaded both, need more time with them!
I don’t really like either of these, the Italy track is the sort of thing I purposely avoided when managing with them, and I marginally prefer the big Slovakian eurobosh so that gets my vote.
The Italian team did not come out on the field very motivated in my opinion. The song is rather bland. I prefer the more upbeat entry of Slovakia.
Yes, this is rather a walk for Slovakia even if it’s not necessarily their best foot forward. Italy has quite a lot of good moves, but the cheesiness of the man up front sinks their game, I’m afraid.
Pride salvaged for the Slovakians who can claim this scalp against a team who never quite delivered on their initial promise, unlucky tho they were at times. Not for the first time ITA’s embarrassment of riches gives way to mere embarrassment. Arrivederci Azurri.