We’ll have an open thread later for the 2:45 (eastern) deluge, but everyone’s favorite choreographer, Rubin Kazan, kicks against reigning European Club Champions FC Barcelona in about oh, an hour.
This probably seemed like a laugher at the draw, but the plucky little Russian team that could pulled a stunner at the Nou Camp on the last matchday. As a result there is exactly 1 point separating all 4 teams in the group (Barca, Rubin Kazan, and Dynamo Kiev on 4 points, Inter Milan on 3). So yeah, this could be a really fun day in Group F with both the favorites needing points but playing away.

Wow thanks, would not have realized this. On TV?
Yes Georger it is on TV, it’s on FSC, but according to them the kickoff is not until 12:30.
Oops… My bad. FSC is correct. I f’cked this one up (I’d blame the time change somehow, but really I’m just a ‘tard who couldn’t properly subtract 1). Will change post to reflect.
@PR — I use this fequently:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
I love Juventus’ jerseys, they’re one of the few teams that has the sense to change the sponsor badge color based on the colors of the jersey.
(yes that seemed random, they’re replaying the Juventus/Haifa game on FSC right now)
Whiz: While helpful, I was given the time in Eastern. I literally subtracted an hour from 12:30 and somehow got 10:30.
STELLA!
So there’s still a chance that Bayern, Liverpool, and Barca all end up in the Europa League. How pumped would UEFA be about that? Until they realized that all three would throw the tournament.
Ah David Trezeguet, probably the most criminally underrated player of the last ten years.
@Georger – you’re baiting me with that last comment, aren’t you?
Nope, I honestly think that. But hey, it’s not like the French team is struggling without him!
well, if he hadn’t slept with Raymond’s missus, perhaps this whole situation could have been avoided and we would be experiencing the wonders of Trezegoal
He really slept with Domenech’s wife?
Max, that is not the kind of shirt to be wearing with a suit like that. Come on!
And learn to tie a knot, dick snuggler.
And the U.S. U-17 team was eliminated from the Kiddy Cup today by Italy, 2-1. There was a missed penalty. And a Polak from Nebraska.
Hahahaha the temperature in Kazan is in the teens (Fahrenheit) and the field is a mess. Oh yeah, this suits Barca.
Domenech didn’t have a wife at the time did he? He proposed right after the Euro 08 flameout to his girlfriend, IIRC.
Pep Guardiola’s pre-match thoughts “My players will run fast, otherwise they will freeze.”
Instead of neck warmers they’ll all be wearing leather ties.
Hoooooly s**t the referee jerseys are atrocious.
Oh lord I hope someone else is watching and saw the rat tail / mullet on that child.
Pep looks miserable.
can’t find a stream at the moment.
Zlatan should have scored in the second minute, had everyone and the keeper beat, clank off the far post.
the erudite Caroline Cheese is keeping me informed.
They just showed the Russian Elmer Fudd. That guy is fantastic!
Yeah that hat was outstanding.
Barca’s yellow jerseys are really sharp, so much better than the day glo.
My football-score-predicting penis tells me this will be a 2-1 Barca victory.
@HL: Nobody wants to know how your “football-score-predicting” penis comes up with the score.
Only a matter of time before Messi scores, Kazan defense is doing everything right in the box though.
There’s a Baldwin brother in net for Kazan.
@Georger: doing everything right in the box though
is that related to HL’s “football-score-predicting” penis?
Well I don’t want to give away any of the specifics of the system while the patent is pending, but I will say that it is not unrelated.
@PR – I have no idea if that rumor is true or not, but I heard it from a certain Closer
@TFA – I just meant his hoochie in general
@NYK: you should be on top of this frenchie.
well, I’ll ask Titi next time we talk
“you should be on top of this frenchie.” … was said while pointing at HL’s prediction machine.
Wow that shot was moving.
Are Barca really in danger of taking 1 of 6 points from Rubin Kazan? It’s just one guy, and there are 11 of them…
So, do Liverpool really have enough midfielders to start Aquilani on the bench? Is he just not fit enough yet?
I guess it ends up looking like a pretty typical Liverpool midfield without him. Kuyt, Lucas, Masch, Benayoun.
Not sure how, but the Ivans are somehow still hanging on in this match. The possession was somewhere near 80/20 to FCB at one point.
That shouldve been one-nil to Rubin Kazan. Nice feed from the one Russian guy to the other Russian guy.
He had the flu, guess he isn’t ready. Don’t like Voronin playing again though.
should have been Babel instead maybe?
Barca should be losing by 2, holy s**t.
If the Russians could finish it would be 2-0. Still no score.
“If the Russians could finish it would be 2-0.”
The Germans said the same thing.
Henry on. In need of a shave and a fresh fade.
If the Russian horse could finish, Catherine might not have been crushed to death.
Barca look like dick right now.
Hey Henry, Trez buries that s**t.
Wow…
EVERYONE MOVE UPSTAIRS!
If Kazan gets to the knockouts it will be the only soccer they play until March. I think that might be an advantage.
Just caught the last 10 min…what was accomplished by the giving the keeper a yellow for time wasting during injury time and then calling the game at exactly 2 min?
nasri with the start…exciting
and Torres starting for liverpool. Consequently…is this the last we see of Torres this year? (and that’s intentionally vague, 2009 or the whole 09/10 season?)