Sorry about the slight problem there, but here’s the fourth match in Group D, which sees Germany trying to end plucky Serbia‘s PWC dreams and send them home. But will it be that straightforward?
Voting in this match closes at midnight on 25th March
GERMANY: Daisy Door and the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra – “Oh, Oh, Ooh, Ei Ei Ei, Wo Immer Es Auch Sei” The Manager Says: After the scurrilous and incorrect suggestions that my last entry, Heinz, was in some way ‘not German’, I am going here with the much more Germanically-named Daisy Door (n.b. this, not Dor, appears to be the correct spelling despite what Amazon’s MP3 sales say) and the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra. Oh, Oh, Ooh, Ei Ei Ei, Wo Immer Es Auch Sei is from Peter Scores: The Erotic World Of The Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra, and I am reliably informed that the 85-year-old Herr Thomas is the oldest entrant into the Cup so far.
Audio PlayerSERBIA: Svetlana – “Nevaljala” The Manager Says: I’m rolling out the big guns now. There was a certain amount of controversy regarding the inclusion of Svetlana Raznatovic in the Serbian squad, what with her being the widow of notorious war criminal Arkan, but such a big name simply can’t be omitted. This is her 1997 hit, Nevaljala (Bad Girl), which was number 1 in Serbia for 17 weeks.
Audio PlayerGroup D Match 4: Which of these tracks do you prefer? [ballot]
- Germany - Daisy Dor 60%
- Serbia - Svetlana 40%
Total Voters: 40
Poll closes: 25 Mar 2010 @ 23:58
Loading ...Commentary Box Analysis Route one stuff here from Serbia, whereas Germany go for something a bit, um, more unexpected, mixing it up in the midfield just when you think they’ve settled into a pattern. It’s an interesting tactic, but not sure how the crowd will feel about it…
RESULT: Greece 1 Nigeria 2 Despite a strong start the Nigerians couldn’t hold on to their early lead with the Greeks equalizing half way through the second half. It looked like that was it until the fourth official held up his board to show two minutes added on. The Nigerians poured forward, the ball was FIZZED into the mixer, bounced off six bodies, hit the crossbar and bounced right by the line and OH the assistant referee has given it! The greeks go, in their own winsome way, completely wild, surrounding the ref, but the goal stands. “The Greek track reminds me of seeing black and white footage of the great Europop Cup sides of the 50s and 60s – gorgeous, elegant passing, colossal shorts and well-kept hair, a slow trot around the field.” “Nigeria are definitely aiming to please the pop purists here. And when Kefee Obareki is on the mic, there are definitely goals in prospect.” “This is the sort of game you tell your grandkids you were in the stands for.”
Coming Next: Netherlands vs Japan. The Japanese know they have to raise their game against the well drilled Dutch side, who’ll be hoping two wins will be enough to see them escape the group stage.
I’ve just discovered Peter Thomas is such a well-respected player, even Jarvis Cocker has borrowed some of his moves. This is one veteran I think can win. The way the German team selection is going, I’m expecting Johann Sebastian Bach to line up in the last group game.
Serbia are playing well enough here, but the relentless innovation of the Germans could take them by surprise.
Also, hi CarsmileSteve. I vaguely know you from about ten years ago. Hope you’re doing well.
The transition from attack to defense is a crucial part of the modern game but Germany’s veteran playmaker is showing that it’s hardly a new skill – even though the transition back is a tiiiiny bit clumsy. Their striker is the goal-hanging type I see, hardly there most of the game and then slots it in when you’ve forgotten she’s on the field.
As for Serbia, I think this is what the commentators have been expecting from them – a lot of running, straight down the middle Eurovision style play. Very successful at home, no denying that, but with respect the Serbian league doesn’t stand comparison with some of the big competitions and this performance is all effort but no flair.
The German manager’s selection process continues to baffle pundits and opposition alike. There is a deceptive simplicity to their play in the first part of the match with their striker drawing most attention. A sudden change of pace and formation gets the crowd on their feet in anticipation of some goals but the team seem unable to sustain the flowing movement and revert to hoofing the ball to the striker again.
Serbia in contrast maintain a consistent approach to their play but it takes a while for their front player to make an impact. When she does come to the fore she is beguiling and assured but a tad predictable.
This could go either way – or even result in a draw – but I’m backing Germany, if only because they’re so hard to predict.
hi weej, i’ve been wondering if that was you :)
I hope the Serbian manager – who’s produced two of the finest hard-pressing turbofolk performances of the tournament so far – is not discouraged by the results as they look at the moment. Connoiseurs of contemporary Balkan popfolk music will know the quality has been awesome both times the side has turned up, without any cheesy horn band crap that normally plagues western perceptions of what pop music in the Balkans represents. This style of play is sexy, pop-heavy, creolistic in its mixture of different styles and generally the way forward – quite the opposite of the clunky cosmo-eclecticism of the deadbeat germans.
Judging by Google Image Search results, Svetlana Raznatovic certainly seems to be relying on a big pair upfront here.
I really like the Serbian entry here! It’s got a lot more going for it than the naff Eurobosh that Eastern European managers tend to field in these games – it’s the rhythm section that make it, that and the insanely catchy synth hook.
I think the Germans may be a little too goofy for their own good here. You don’t win anything with kids TV themes.
Afternoon, my fellow “precious knobs” (seems a bit of a sweeping generalisation of 60+ people if you ask me but whatever).
Two good tracks here. Could go either way. The first part of the German song reminded me of Trio’s “Da Da Da” a bit.
(I was cranky. You’re not all precious knobs. Just some of you.)
Serbia for me.
First the Germans go up and down, then they go side to side, which may work in some endeavors but seems self-defeating here. The Serbs, meanwhile, dance and rock and wiggle and kick and easily get my vote, though it seems the refs have a different idea what the outcome should be.
[…] Proper post later, probably, but for now I’d just like everyone to go and vote in the Pop World Cup for Germany’s track -Daisy Door and the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra – “Oh, Oh, Ooh, Ei […]
Germany has the appeal of an unexpected formation on its side, but once you’ve learned the trick they have little else to offer; and while Serbia offers no real surprises, they’re better company over the course of an hour’s match. Serbia, in a game which doesn’t set the world on fire.
SRB’s game seems to be generic turbofolk rather than cheesy Eurobosh, which helps it a lot: as the Nigerian manager has pointed out, it’s got a more interesting rhythm section than most – and also a pretty heavy bassline. Svetlana’s vocal is pretty charismatic too – this is a powerful woman unaccustomed to taking any shit from anyone, and if she has to set her husband on you she will.
GER o_0 (in the bad way).
Mrs Arkan… oooh, this exercises me a little more than Heinz’s birth certificate or Nick Cave’s high profile. Apparently, Stalin was torn between politics and becoming a professional opera singer. Peter Sutcliffe was known as ‘folkie Pete’ or somesuch. Charlie Manson’s demos, anyone? Actually, Arkan – hero and leader of the Partizan Belgrade ultras – was possibly worse than any of them. If there’s a line to be drawn, I’ll have to draw mine here.
Besides, I’ve rarely come across a German performance quite as jerky, shape-shifting, and downright odd. I’m charmed.
Wichita – yeah, even were I not the manager of Germany, *AND* even if I didn’t think the German track were by far the better one, which I genuinely do (though my tastes aren’t precisely aligned with most people here, as I discovered last round…) I wouldn’t want to vote for the ‘honorary president’ of the ‘Party of Serbian Unity’ (a fascist party), even if she were a much better singer…
I wish I’d properly read the Serbian press conference before voting for them now. Then again, Di Canio, Mijailovic and Buffon have had their moments on the football pitch, I wouldn’t vote for any of them either.
This one ends at midnight (UK time) so vote late, vote often. The group’s on a knife-edge.
Come on you Serbs! Keep the Balkan colours flying high! (Although, considering the sender, I’m assuming the Serbs want to exterminate all the other Balkan teams. It’s all in the spirit, eh?)
A narrow win for Germany here in a low-scoring game.
So Serbia are the first team to be eliminated from the tournament then? I can’t see any way they could qualify what with the top two teams playing one another and guaranteed a minimum of four points.
Yes, Serbia are out – sorry Tim E! Only pride to play for in the last game, which might be good news for Australia.
Just out of interest, what happens if two teams have the same number of points? If I lose the next match (not that I believe I will, of course…) , and Australia win, then is there a knockout round?
No, it’s decided on cumulative percentages. You currently have 112 to AUS’ 88, so they need to a) win while you lose and b) get 24 percentiles more (the fewest they can get in this scenario is 16 more, so this isn’t as big an ask as it looks)
Commiserations to Serbia. I voted for their fascist pop this time and I’d do it again! Not like anyone worried about this with North Korea anyway.