Closet journalist

The more I look at the long list of posts on this blog by our dear Mr Roy Lim, the more I'm convinced that he's actually a closet journalist. From soccer commentaries to movie reviews - Roy, this blog doesn't do you justice. Start your own personal star blog lah ;)

Wonder how Lyn is doing? No news, has it been a month already? I owe you guys some photos from the last restaurant get-together. Don't kill me, but I think I deleted some photos accidentally. Not used to this new laptop! Will try to salvage as much as I can.

Closet journalist

The more I look at the long list of posts on this blog by our dear Mr Roy Lim, the more I'm convinced that he's actually a closet journalist. From soccer commentaries to movie reviews - Roy, this blog doesn't do you justice. Start your own personal star blog lah ;)

Wonder how Lyn is doing? No news, has it been a month already? I owe you guys some photos from the last restaurant get-together. Don't kill me, but I think I deleted some photos accidentally. Not used to this new laptop! Will try to salvage as much as I can.

Seen Thank You for Smoking?

I saw 'Thank You for Smoking' recently and for those of u who haven't...WHAT ARE U WAITING FOR? Just listen to this cast; Aaron Eckhart (who has the lead), Katie Holmes, Sam Elliot, Rob Lowe, Maria Bello, William H. Macy, and Robert Duvall. Yeah, one hell of the cast.

'Thank You for Smoking' is a satire on a man (Eckhart) who is a spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies aka BIG cigarette manufacturers. Yes, a movie about a spin master for Big Tobacco. Basically, the movie show how Eckhart has to A.bribe a cancer-stricken former spokesman (Sam Elliot) to keep him from badmouthing the cigarette companies; B.convince a Hollywood exec (Lowe) to make smoking sexy in movies again; C. spin an expose being written by a reporter (Holmes) with whom he's having sex. The last of which he just fail miserably. Oh, he also has to babysit his son (Cameron Bright). In fact, the movie also show Eckhart when he is not working, and this is where the movie works. Outside the relationship with his son (talk about fatherly advise!), the man is also in a group nicknamed the MOD Squad "Merchants of Death." The squad meet up for dinner to compare who has killed the most people in the week. Yes, it's that kind of satire. It also has some very good performances. Eckhart, Bello and Bright were all very good. So WHAT ARE U WAITING FOR?

The 'REAL' last World Cup post

Ok, everyone is doing it so why not me. My first XI for the World Cup

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Leftback: Philip Lahm (Germany)
Centreback: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
Centreback: William Gallas (France)
Rightback: Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy)
Left Midfield: Zinedine Zidane (France)
Central Midfield: Deco (Portugal)
Central Midfield: Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
Right Midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Striker: Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Striker: Hernan Crespo (Argentina)
Coach: Marcello Lippi (Italy)

2nd Team
Goalkepper: Richard Kingston (Ghana)
Leftback: Fabio Grosso (Italy)
Centreback: Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal)
Centreback: Roberto Ayala (Argentina)
Rightback: Willy Sagnol (France)
Left Midfield: Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina)
Central Midfield: Steven Gerrard (England)
Central Midfield: Stephen Appiah (Ghana)
Right Midfield: David Beckham (England)
Striker: Fernando Torres (Spain)
Striker: Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)

The last World Cup post

Best Player: I have to disagree with the sport writers on this. The best player in the World Cup should be Fabio Cannavaro not Zinedine Zidane. True Zidane is the better player, but Cannavaro was in inspired form throughout the tournament. He was the rock in the Italian's defence and bought experience as Italy marched to their title. His leadership is such that most people didn't even notice that Nesta was injured. In short, Italy would not have won if Cannavaro wasn't playing. The Golden Ball should go to him.

Most Disappointing Player: I think even the most die-hard English fan will have to agree that Frank Lampard was a disappointment. He has the most shots on goal in the whole competition but did not score a single goal. And at times, it looked like he couldn't even buy a goal. He blazed sitter after sitter high, wide and into the sky. Terrible!

Best Goal: Maxi Rodriguez's wonderful volley in the 98th minute that gave Argentina a 2-1 victory over Mexico. Watch it if you don't believe me.

Best Surprise: Before the World Cup started, how many of you thought that Portugal will get to the semis? Luis Figo has his swansong and without question, it was a great one.

Worst Surprise: Zidane's full-blooded headbutt to the chest of Macro Materazzi. Don't know what was said between the two, but hard to argue with the decision. Sad end to a great career.

World Cup: Italy wins the World Cup!

Italy won their 4th World Cup when they beat France in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. Ignoring the scandal back home, the Italians showed why they are in the finals with 5 penalties that all hit the net. However, it started very wrong for them. Florent Malouda won a spot-kick with a theatrical fall inside the Italy penalty box in the 7th min. It was one of those, slight touch by the defender and go down like you have been shot. Zinedine Zidane chipped the spot-kick againest the crossbar...the ball then landed past the line and then spinned out. Not much protest as the ball had clearly crossed the line. Italy recovered well from that setback and both Andre Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso quickly began to set the tempo of the game. The Italians got level on the 19th min. Pirlo whipped over a corner from the right and Marco Materazzi soared over the French defence and thumped a header past Fabien Barthez. Like I said before, this guy should be a high jumper. I mean. he out-jumped Patrick Viera to bet to the ball and then still have the power to get it past Barthez. Moments later, France got lucky...twice! Materazzi saw another header cleared off the line by Lilian Thuram before Luca Toni nodded it onto the bar. Both efforts were also from Pirlo corners. However, the save of the match, maybe save of the World Cup belonged to Gianluigi Buffon. In the 104th min, Zidane fed Willy Sagnol on the right and then slipped into the area. Sagnol's cross was met by Zidane near the penalty spot. He flashed the header towards goal...only for the Italian keeper to soar high and knock the header over with one hand. 6 mins later, with the game seemingly winding down to penalties, came Zidane's moment of madness! He and Materazzi exchanged words, then Zidane gave Materazzi a full-blooded headbutt to the chest. He almost got away with it too. Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo didn't see the butt, but Buffon charged out of his net imploring Elizondo to seek help. The ref then talked to his linesman but giving Zidane the red card. I like to know how he came to the decision. He didn't see it and it seems that the linesman didn't see it also. So how did he come to the decision to give the red card? No doubt it's the right decision, but how did he come to it?
The game then went to penalties and I thought France has a great chance. The Italians has only ever won 1 penalty shoot-out in their history, losing one of them to France in 98. But this Italian is made of sterner stuff. Andrea Pirlo, Materazzi, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Del Piero all easily beat France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in the shootout. The difference was the miss by David Trezeguet. His shot hit the crossbar, bounced on the line (but not over) and spinned out! Almost a carbon copy of Zidane's effort but not the luck! When Fabio Grosso connected with his left foot, Italian fans roared! They are the World Cup winners.

World Cup: Germany claims 3rd place

In a match which no one really takes seriously, Germany claim third place at the 2006 World Cup by beating Portugal 3-1. Bastian Schweinsteiger scored twice in the second half to give the Germans a comfortable win. The first goal came in the 56th min; Schweinsteiger cut inside from the left and unleashed a right-footed shot from the edge of the area that somehow went through Ricardo's hand. The keeper from Portugal have had a great World Cup, but this was his mistake all the way. 5 mins later, Schweinsteiger was involed in the second goal. His free-kick was unfortunately cannoned into the net by Petit. An own goal and Germany were 2 up. In the 78th min, Schweinsteiger hit an unstoppable shot past Ricardo. 2 mins from time, Luis Figo sent over a perfectly placed cross for Nuno Gomes to head past Oliver Kahn. It was such a prefect cross Gomes couldn't miss even if he wanted to. With the game ended, it signal the end of some great international careers. Luis Figo was on his final appearance for his country and so was Oliver Kahn, who will bowed out of the international arena after this World Cup. Gomes too might retire after this competition. 3 players out and there are several more in the French team. For better or worse, this World Cup will be remembered as a World Cup that has seem a changing of the guards.

World Cup: Zidane dream on

France againest Portugal. Zinedine Zidane againest Luis Figo. It was to be a classic. It wasn't but France did enough to win 1-0 and move to the Finals againest Italy. France's winning goal came in the 33rd min when Thierry Henry went down under a Ricardo Carvalho challenge and Zidane struck his spot-kick low to Ricardo's right. Ricardo again went the right way, but the penalty was too well placed. English players please take note. France was comfortable the rest of the way save for a 78th min free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo. The free-kick was parried by Barthez and the ball ballooned into the air. Figo met the ball but could only head it over...with the goal at his mercy! After that you know it was France's day. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said his side's inability to score was the reason they are out. He is right! Pauleta was again a disappointment again. Portugal's midfield is good but they did not have anyone to put the ball in the net. France has Henry to do the job at the other end and he was the one who got the penalty. France againest Italy for the World Cup and it is a fitting swansong for Zidane. Zidane said that a dream told him to play for France one last time. On July 10th, the dream will end but the world will remember the great player that is Zinedine Zidane!

World Cup: German Heartbeak

Two goals in the final minutes of extra time gave Italy a 2-0 win over Germany to enter the World Cup Finals on Monday. With the score tied at 0-0 at fulltime, penalties seems a given until Fabio Grosso broke the deadlock in the 119th min. Yes, that's right. 119 mins! Last minute of extra-time! From a corner, Andrea Pirlo got possession at the edge of the box and teed up Grosso for a superb left-foot shot that curled just inside the post. Jens Lehmann had no chance. Substitute Alessandro Del Piero made sure of Italy's place in the Final in extra-time injury-time when he collected a reverse pass from Alberto Gilardino on a breakaway and carefully place it into the net. A evenly-fought match but Italy did deserve to win as they took their chances. They also hit the woodwork twice. Francesco Totti had his best game so far and outplayed Michael Ballack but the best Italian player on the field was Gattuso. He gave Ballack, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski a torrid time defending the Italian goal with his life. And when the Germans did get past him, Cannavaro and Buffon stop them dead in their tracks. Buffon especially made a great save from Podolski early in the second half. Klinsmann chose to start Sebastian Kehl for the suspended Torsten Frings to shore up the German midfield, that was a good decision but in the end, it wasn't enough and Italt are though to the final. Still, the Germans played well in this World Cup and with this young team, the future look very bright for German football. Italy turned back the clock in this World Cup. The famed Italian defence is back and the Finals is just rewards for a team which kept their concentration despite huge off-field problems. Great work!

World Cup: Breakdown of the contenders!

The semis are almost here, so here is my breakdown of the teams still in it.

GERMANY
Best player: Philip Lahm
Before this World Cup, how many of you have even heard of Philip Lahm? No one? Count me in that list. Lahm has given Germany an unexpected attacking option (from leftback), and his performace has been such that even money-bags Chelsea are now interested in him. He has been nothing short of sensational.

Worst player: Micheal Ballack
After the last World Cup in Asia, Ballack became a mega-star. After this World Cup, his star will be greatly dimmed. Yes I know he is carrying an injury, but he is the man that was supposed to make Germany click. Thus far, he hasn't done that. Disappointing!

Weakness: That defence
Without doubt, Germany greatest weakness is that defence. For that, I blame the coach. They are such a attacking team that the defence are usually without cover from midfield. I think they should remember that since 1986, only teams with a strong defence has managed to win the World Cup.

ITALY
Best player: Defence
Actually, its' Players because that defence has been rock solid. Italy has let in one goal in the whole competition and that was an own goal! It might not be that exciting but it works. Even if you managed to past the defence, Buffon is there in goal to greet you. You can't beat them if you can't score them and it's very hard to score againest them!

Worst player: Totti
This is the World Cup where Totti finally make good on his early promise as a footballer. Has he done that? NO! Totti has been so bad that Lippi actually dropped the golden boy in the game againest Australia. Yes, he says that Totti was dropped because he was tired. Now how many of you believe that?

Weakness: Attack
I am not convice about the attack of Italy. The highest scorer for Italy is Toni with a grand total of 2 goals. And with Totti's poor form, that is just not good enough!

PORTUGAL
Best player: Deco
The Barc play-maker has been great. While all the early attention has been on Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco has quietly played himself into the books as Portugal most important player thus far. Just see how they missed him againest England!

Worst player: Pauleta
Yes, he give Portugal good movement upfront but condisering that midfield of theirs, Pauleta should be scoring goals by the hatful. Basically, Pauleta is not in the same class as Figo and co. With a better striker, Portugal would be in a much better position to win the whole thing.

Weakness: Attack
They played againest 10 men England for an hour and could not score. One wonders how they will cope againest say a 11 men Italy or France. Not well I think.

FRANCE
Best player: Patrick Vieira
Henry may be scoring, Zidane may have found a second wind but Vieira winning the ball for them to work their magic. It's no surprise that the last 2 games are France's best because Vieira has been great in them.

Worst player: Sylvain Wiltord
I'm sorry but I expected better from Wiltord. He has been dropped (and rightfully so) due to poor performances but he is a much better player than he has shown thus far. Like Totti, a player in poor form!

Weakness: Age
France is the oldest team left in the World Cup and I wonder if that will work againest them. Zidane, Vieira and Thuram are all 30 and above, and France do not have anyone on the bench to replace them. In extra-time, old legs are tired legs and that will work againest them.

World Cup: Old Zidane sensational, Young Rooney stupid

Portugal march on to the semis after defeating England 3-1 on penalties. This was following a 0-0 game which was turned on his head when Wayne Rooney was sent off in the 62nd min. Rooney was fighting for the ball with Ricardo Carvalho, Carvalho fell and then Rooney trod (stamped?) on Carvalho's groin. Cristiano Ronaldo sprinted to the referee, apparently to demand a red card. Rooney turned to Ronaldo and pushed him away, right in front of the referee! Talk about stupid! He was in danger with the incident with Carvalho already, and then he go and push another player. The referee had no choice. But give credit to England. They kept Portugal at bay with only 10 men for about a hour. In a game largely void of clear chances, the best one even fell to England. Unfortunately, it fell to Frank Lampard. From Steven Gerrard’s corner in the 53rd min, the Chelsea midfielder found himself unmarked near the penalty spot. He tried to volley the shot, which hit the ground and over the bar. The best chance of the game wasted! From there, the game was largly quiet till the penalty shoot-out. England have even won a single shoot-out in the World Cup. I know, amazing isn't it! Ricardo was the hero for Portugal with saves from Lampard (yes, him again), Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. When Ronaldo tucked away the winning spot-kick, it was already over. Portugal were a little lucky because till Rooney was sent off, England were the better side. In fact, Portugal didn't really have a chance till the sending off. England played well even with 10 men, but they missed their penalties. And when you hit only 1 penalty out of 4...I'm sorry but you deserve to go. Portugal will meet France and they will have Deco back. Good, because they really miss him yesterday.

A masterful display by Zinedine Zidane gave France a 1-0 win over Brazil. Zidane swept a free-kick to the far post in the 57th min, where it was volleyed home by Thierry Henry. As usual, the Brazilian defence was no where to be seen. A deserve win for France as they were by far the more dangerous side, everytime a cross or freekick went into the Brazilian box, France looked dangerous. Brazil hardly had a sniff at goal. In fact, they were lucky to have 11 men in the game. In the 44th min, Zidane created a chance for Patrick Vieira. Zidane skipped past 2 tackles, before slipping the ball to Vieira who was racing clear of Brazil’s back four. Brazilian defender Juan brought down the Juventus midfielder on the edge of the area and got a yellow card. It should have been red! Vieira was clear and Juan did what he had to. Unfortunately, the referee didn't. After-all this is Brazil. Brazil only had one real chance in the game. In injury time, Ronaldo fired a shot (I think the only one he had on target the whole game) which Fabian Barthez parried. William Gallas got to the rebound just ahead of Adriano to clear. A clear win for France, and with Zidane in this form...who wants to be Portugal?

World Cup: Lehmann & Zambrotta stars as Germany & Italy go to semis

Germany advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after beating Argentina 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out. It was a tight and tense game, with both sides giving nothing away in the first half. However, Argentina broke the deadlock in the 49th min. Juan Riquelme swung in a corner from the right, Roberto Ayala got to the ball just in front of Miroslav Klose and his header went between Jens Lehmann and Philipp Lahm into the net. In the 80th min, Micheal Ballack’s ball from the left was cleverly flicked on by Tim Borowski and Klose headed home. A 1-1 draw! In the penalty shoot-out, Jens Lehmann saved from Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso to be the hero of the day for Germany. Sad for Argentina as they were slightly the better team but the fault I must say go to the Argentina coach Jose Pekerman for making some strange substitutions. When they were 1-0 up, he first took out Riquelme and sent on defensive midfielder Cambiasso. That I can understand. But then he took out Hernan Crespo and replace him with Julio Cruz! They played without a striker and without one, there was just no outlet for the defence. Germany just lay seige to the Argentinan goal, without any fear of any counter-attack. If he want to replace Crespo, Pekerman should have put on another striker. He didn't and Germany scored. In extra-time, it was all Germany and then came Lehmann's heroics. Germany are in the semis.

Italy had a much easier time with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ukraine. Gianluca Zambrotta set the tone for the evening in the 6th min. Zambrotta gathered possession at right-back, stormed down the wing, cut in on his left foot and lashing the ball low and hard into the back of the net from just outside the box. The power of the shot gave Olexsandr Shovkovskyi no chance. From then, Ukraine actually played better. Andriy Shevchenko and Anatoliy Tymoschuk had good chances but were denied by some great defence. Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro was especially good, shadowing Shevchenko like a leech the whole game. Then in the 59th min, Francesco Totti flighted in an inswinging cross that Luca Toni only needed to get his head to. Down low, Toni send the ball beyond Shovkovskyi for the 2 goal lead. The 2 goal-scorers then removed any lingering doubts about the result when Zambrotta, this time popping up on the left, sprung the Ukraine offside trap and slid the ball across for Toni to tap into the empty net from all of three yards. The 3-0 result was a little harsh for Ukraine as they didn't play that badly but Italy was very good. Their all-round play was great. Strong defence, steady midfield and potent attack! They will give Germany some problems in the semis.