Middle-Earth Football World Cup 2007

[the phantom]

Erebor 0 - 1 Angband

The result was not surprising here, but I am shocked that Angband didn't outshoot Erebor by more than 6-3. Thuringwethil played up to expectations, displaying the speed and guile of a true vampire queen.

Lothlorien 0 - 0 Shire

Boring to watch, and honestly these two teams deserve to be disqualified after that gutless performance. They played as if they had already sewn up births in the next round, which they may have just kept themselves from doing by being content to pick up one point instead of three. Within their group, Tuna is superior at every position and Brethil is solid with an all-star scorer up front, so really I don't understand Lothlorien and Shire's tactic. At least there was one positive note- I didn't see blatant underhanded play from the Shire. Perhaps it was Frodo and Merry behind all the schemes last year, and with them gone we will see better sportsmanship.

Mordor 0 - 1 Roverandom

Sauron has got to be furious after dominating shots and posession and yet still managing to lose. This was not so much a great game by Roverandom as it was Mordor swooping in and seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. Of course, that sort of thing seems to happen to Sauron now and then.

Rohan 0 - 2 Inklings

Despite the fact that I didn't pick Inklings to advance, this result is not terribly shocking to me. I knew Inklings had a bit more potential than the other new teams, but I didn't want to rate them too high early on seeing as they've never been in the tournament before. If today's match was any indication, they are a real contender, because Rohan is no push over.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by the phantom

SHIRE- Every single member of the Shire team will be slower, weaker, and shorter, and have less reach than his/her opponent in every single game. So naturally, they will win lots of matches. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Teams of twelve year olds regularly beat World Cup teams after all, right? But seriously, so long as officials refuse to crack down on various illegal activities, I fully expect the Shire to carry on winning matches by continuing their practice of poisoning opponents’ water jugs, paying referees, rigging the ball with magnets, and other such nonsense.

Aw, you're just smarting still from the success of The Shire last year.

Originally Posted by TP

Within their group, Tuna is superior at every position ...

Last year, I would have put this down to your traditional contempt for Hobbits and bias towards anything Feanor-related. Unfortunately, though, I think that this asessment is correct this time round. The Shire is clearly not the team it was last year.

Originally Posted by TP

... Rohan is no push over.

Logically, that's right. But Rohan are Middle-earth's Spain. Great players, great team, much expected of them by fans and analysts alike but, year after year, they fail to deliver.