It’s been a remarkably strong round of sixteen, and here we are at the end of it! Alberto’s Spain and Wichita Lineman’s Cote d’Ivoire both looked very classy in the group stages and both will be entertaining realistic hopes of progression. Pop football is a cruel game, though, and one of these teams will be going home tonight, while the other tastes the glory of the quarter finals, and holds on to the biggest pop football dream of all…
This match closes at midnight on Thursday 13th May.
SPAIN: Vinila von Bismarck and the Lucky Dados – “Where’s My Sugar” The Manager Says: “After winning our group, we are ready to face our toughest test yet this tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. Many players were called up to the squad for this match, but in the end we have decided to turn to flamboyant striker Vinila von Bismarck to wreck damage on the Ivorian defense. She will get support in midfield from her band, The Lucky Dados.”
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COTE D’IVOIRE: Soum Bill – “Zambakro” The Manager Says: “Taking on the fast moving World Cup favourites, CIV counter their cut and thrust with Soum Bill and his loping, hypnotic Shuggie Otis-esque rhythm. A bit of a veteran after singing the CIV official 2006 World Cup anthem, Soum is on first name terms with Didier Drogba – he’s clearly more New Order than David Baddiel. AND he used to be in a group called Mini Choc. The quarter finals beckon. Chocks away!”
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Round of 16 Match 8: which track do you prefer? [ballot]
- SPAIN: Vinila von Bismark & The Lucky Dados 54%
- COTE D'IVOIRE: Soum Bill 46%
Total Voters: 41
Poll closes: 13 May 2010 @ 23:59
Loading ...Commentary Box Analysis Spain have decided to employ a formation we haven’t seen elsewhere this tournament. Theirs is a slice of retro rock ‘n’ roll which shows considerable flair and charm. Vinila’s pronunciation, in particular, introduces an intriguing shot of strangeness into the mix which might wrongfoot an opposition. The Cote d’Ivoire play in a style closer to their group stage tactics, but this is a slinky, fluid style, with a playmaker on the Hammond popping up all over the pitch.
It’s a fittingly unpredictable end to a tremendous and unpredictable Round of 16.
Result! Round of Sixteen Match 4: Ghana 3 – Slovenia 1Slovenia’s manager, Kat, famed for her rigid 4-4-4 formation, tried to change her tactics somewhat this time, and while her team may have been a little easier on the eye, they didn’t have enough in the tank to match up to the attack of the dancehall/hip hop approach which Ben employed this time. “Once the initial rush of kangaroo goes away, the Slovenian track seems to linger more. Genuinely torn here.” “Absolutely tantalizing match here. Both sides playing with no inhibitions. Amazing.” “Easy win for Ghana here I think. Slovenia’s track is kind of beguiling and I would have voted for it in an earlier round but we’re at a different level now and this Ghanaian team just feel like an irresistable force of nature.” “KANGAROO! KANGAROO! An eternal classic.”
Coming up Results roll in for the remaining Round of 16 matches over the next week and THEN! It’s Quarter Finals time. Three songs from glory.
… and then I suddenly woke up by the abrupt end of the CIV track. Surely two easy listening tracks are facing eachother here, but in a totally different way. The pleasant cadence of the African tune, versus the whipping swingrhythm of the Spanish bigband.
Conga’s vs. trumpets. Nice trumpets.
Ping pong rhythm tracks!! I love ping pong rhythm tracks.
Oh. After 7 stunning matches this round I suppose there was bound to be one disappointing one. I just wasn’t expecting it to be this one. I have no enthusiasm for either, but I’ll grudgingly give my vote to CIV – sorry captains, but these just leave me cold.
Oooh, might need until next week to sort this one out. Lovely loping rhythm you could chill to all day from Drogba’s mate, versus a leftfield approach which sounds like Sophie Ellis Bextor fronting the Stray Cats, and could deserve the nod just for the sheer daring of it. A hung parliament of a tie, this.
Spain are a beguiling outfit here with their striker’s command of the English language. “Where’s me Shergar” has put a grin on my face. Music to drunkenly jive to…always a good thing to do, but not necessarily to witness. CIV come up short unfortunately.
The Spanish striker is swinging fists when what I wanted was hips, gets carded, but this doesn’t seem to open up the game for laid back Ivory Coast, who lay back even further. At the break this is nil-nil, but perhaps the Coastal groove will jell into beauty if I give it long enough. Or maybe the burlesquing hepcat Spaniards will roll one by the somnolent Coasters.
This could be the first time both sides have tried to throw the same match. The Ivorian method, staying on their sun loungers round the pool, proves flawed as it leaves the Spaniards free to score an elaborate set-piece own-goal. If there was any justice both teams would be sent packing. As it is, Ivory Coast have to win by default.
Last chance to vote on this one – closes at midnight tonight. Voting has been a little slow so your voice counts even more!
This game got totally lost in post-election miasma – voting closes tonight so PLEASE listen and vote!
A very narrow win for Spain. The distinct styles of these two sides seemed to cancel each other out and it could have gone either way.
Congratulations to Alberto, who will face more African opposition in the quarters as he faces up to Cameroon.Farewell and thanks to Wichita Lineman, whose Cote d’Ivoire picks have won many admirers.
Interesting – this means all 8 quarter final qualifiers come from 4 first round groups – with the other 4 groups having no representatives left
That’s a remarkable stat! Talking of stats, high time I put some on the PWC extrasite.
meaning there’s a larger than usual chance of a REMATCH come the finals