World Cup

World Cup: Reflections and Final Predictions

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It’s been a great few weeks of international soccer, and we now arrive at the apex. For one last time, Alex & -J. reflect upon World Cup 2014, and make their inexpert-but-enthusiastic predictions for the final couple of games.

2014 Reflections & Discoveries

-J.: As we approach the final two games, I’m both ready for it to end, but also a bit sad to see the end arrive. I’m looking forward to devoting my full attention to being disappointed by the Chicago Fire and demoralized by the Milwaukee Brewers. I’m waiting to see what happens in Brazil — culturally and politically — now that the financially crippling World Cup did not result in a 6th title for host Brazil. They laid out so much money and sacrificed so much of the common good for FIFA twice (Confederations Cup last year, World Cup this year), and are doing the same for the IOC (Summer Olympics in 2016). I’m going to enjoy the ability to pretend that Sepp fucking Blatter does not exist on a regular basis.

(image via Chicago Tribune)

But I will miss the fans and the coverage of this tournament. Chicago went outlaw wild for Team USA and the World Cup. I loved the ESPN coverage, which is no small feat for a network I tend to give the side-eye. The nightly analysis from former World Cup stars like Michael Ballack, and from the few American international vets like Alexi Lalas, was entertaining and illuminating. When the analysis would break up for the “last call” style of reflection, it was a perfect way to end the day. Hell, I could watch Lalas and Ballack go back & forth, even if Alexi needs to let others get a few more words in. [Read more…]

World Cup Picks: Semis

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It’s been a long, strange ride at this World Cup, yet despite that, we have a final four of teams that have regularly finished here (5+ times for each team). Not only that, but the combination of Brazil, Germany, and Argentina have more World Cup titles than all other countries combined.

Back again are Alex and -J. to discuss their inexpert-but-enthusiastic picks. Before that, naturally, we take another look at U.S. Soccer:

(image via ESPN)

Team USA’s 2014 Legacy

England Should Emulate the USA?

-J.: Before we get to the predictions, I wanted to reiterate just how topsy-turvy this World Cup has been, despite the final four teams all being expected powerhouses. Back in England, one of the big takeaways from this tournament apparently is… be more like Team USA. With CONCACAF advancing ¾ of its teams into the knockout stage, there was a level of surprise and disbelief, followed by “how can we get in on that.” It may be a case of hemispherical advantage (five of the six South American teams also advanced to the Round of 16), but it does seem that Team USA’s performance not only inspired fans at home, but also a few opponents abroad.

With that, let’s get to the picks. [Read more…]

World Cup Picks: Quarters

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Deep breath. Team USA is out, but the World Cup goes on. Before it does, though, we write its epilogue.

Team USA Departs

-J.: Uff da, where to begin? How about with the standard Team USA post-loss assessment: that we’re a young team with good energy, but the Belgian game exposed the fact that we weren’t quite ready for primetime. Knowledgable sports writers have posited that this is the takeaway from the World Cup 2014, and… it’s a little bit of bullshit, honestly.

To recap, Team USA had the worst travel schedule of all 32 teams, played in the most debilitating location (Manaus) more than any other team, sustained significant injuries to three of its most critical players (including its primary striker), and was stuck the ridiculous Group of Death. AND YET, Team USA made it to the Round of 16, where they lost in OT, 2-1, to a team that is a dark horse pick for the Finals. Not only that, they almost won in FT and almost later sent it to PKs. Not too shabby for a supposed not-world-class team from a supposedly fourth-rate continental federation.

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World Cup Picks: the Round of 16

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Alex and -J. did such a good job picking the 16 teams to make it past the Group Stage, we brought them back to predict the Round of 16.

(That said, “good” is a relative term here, as they each picked 10 of 16. If a 62.5% success rate is good, these guys are solid.)

To the picks!

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Brazil vs. Chile

-J.: Every team in these first two games is from CONMEBOL, which means we’re guaranteed to have a South American team in the semi-finals. As the home team, it’s really difficult to pick against Brazil. They’re getting favorable calls from the refs, they’re one of the best teams in the world, and Neymar is scary-good. Chile had a great group stage, but couldn’t beat strong Dutch team. Chile also has yet to beat Brazil in the last 18 months, and I don’t see it happening here. Can you find a reason to pick against Brazil here, Alex?

Alex: Sadly, I cannot. I really liked watching Chile spank their old colonial masters out of the tournament last week. They looked young, aggressive, and confident; who could ask for anything more from a South American side? Well, you could ask for a history of complete dominance and a stupefying home-field advantage. Brazil hasn’t lost a competitive match within its borders since the 70’s. The 70’s! They will win here.
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World Cup Cocktails: Group G

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Group G. The most important group. The Group of Death, Part II (Electric Boogaloo).

Within this group is Team USA, and thus the most important cocktail selections will be within this group. The United States (and those other teams’ countries) offers up a plethora of liquor options and a storied drink-mixing history. But for me, there choice is clear. This group’s cocktails will be built with a booze our Founding Fathers distilled and drank: brandy. Glorious brandy.

Now, as a child of Wisconsin, my heritage dictates that I am an expert on things like supper clubs and brandy. Even if I did move out of state prior to being able to legally drink brandy at a supper club, it matters not — distillate derived from fruit is in my blood. Literally, as I’ve just tested the recipes listed below.

Behold: the supper club. (I think this was actually Albright’s Tavern back when I was a kid…)

Brandy isn’t a new ingredient in this series; slivovitz, pisco, and some aguardiente would fall under the classification of brandy or eau de vie.

Or “schnapps.” It’s a word derived from German, and tends to be a generic term for a strong distilled liquor. One of the more common spirits in Germany associated with this term is kirschwasser (or just kirsch) — an unaged cherry eau de vie. It’s not uncommon to see it referred to as “dry cherry brandy” here in the States, to distinguish it from flavored liqueurs that are sometimes called fruit “brandy.” [Read more…]

World Cup Cocktails: Group F

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Welcome to Group F, the group of Argentina.

Messi greets you with hugs!

Okay, there are three other teams that are fighting to be the group’s runner-up, but none of them have Lionel Messi. Argentina’s fortunes rise and fall with their star player, and we start with a cocktail as potent as Messi’s left foot. In fact, you’ll find that all the cocktails in this group are made with uniquely bold spirits, so you may want to strap in for this trio.

I was initially tempted to do another highball as part of this series, as Fernet & Cola is pretty much the national drink of Argentina (or so the Internet and its targeted ads tell me). But then I ran across a recipe from Imbibe that used Fernet Branca with Scotch. There has been a dearth of whisk(e)y cocktails in this series, so I jumped at this one.

(For those who want Fernet & Cola, it is: a shot of Fernet Branca into a Collins glass, add a few ices cubes, fill with cola to taste. Highballs are rather easy drinks.)

[Read more…]

World Cup Cocktails: Group E

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Like the England/Italy combination in Group D, I’ve been looking forward to France/Switzerland in this group. That’s because these two countries are closely tied with the scandalous spirit of absinthe.

This also means I have an excuse to include a gratuitous image of L’Absinthe by Degas:

Boom. ART.

I used a tiny dash absinthe in a previous group’s cocktail, but here it’ll take the center stage. France is popularly associated with this spirit, as its artists and celebrities brought it prominence in 19th- and 20th-century Paris. But the creation of absinthe goes back to 18th-century Switzerland, and Swiss politicians are trying to prevent other countries from using the term “absinthe.”

This is actually why I enjoyed the French drubbing of the Swiss team last week. I imagine that a soccer victory has somehow invalidated their silly politics.

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World Cup Cocktails: Group D

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I have been looking forward to Group D ever since I envisioned this series, because it offered some of the most interesting possibilities for cocktails.

The cocktail selection hasn’t been static, either. As this group has played its matches in the World Cup, I’ve changed one of the cocktails based on the way its team has played. That team is Costa Rica, who have laughed at this so-called “group of death.” To be sure, it still is such; it is Costa Rica who is that Death.

Along those lines, I started to think about something celebratory for Los Ticos, something that also hearkened to their status as a harbinger of woe unto all other Group D teams. This brought me to sparkling wine, and champagne cocktails like the infamous Death in the Afternoon. Riffing off a couple such cocktails — the Old Cuban from Jeffrey Morganthaler, and the classic French 75 — we have a balanced, herbal drink that will surprise you after a couple games:

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Los Ticos de la Muerte

1½ oz – Zhumir aguardiente (or rum)
¾ oz – simple syrup
½ oz – fresh lime juice
barspoon of absinthe
2 dashes of Bolivar bitters (or Angostura)
dry sparkling wine

Combine everything except the sparkling wine in a shaker. Add ice, shake until chilled, and pour into a champagne flute.* Top with sparkling wine, and garnish with and orange curl.
*Champagne flutes have different volumes; adjust proportions accordingly.

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World Cup Cocktails: Group C

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Another World Cup group, another chance to talk history. There will be many things fizzy, bitter, sweet, and smoky, but first we have history! Woo-hoo!

This cocktail discussion starts in South America, in the region that would come to be known as Gran Colombia (modern-day Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and parts of neighboring countries). In the early 19th century, the people of Gran Colombia revolted against the Spanish crown. One man who emerged from this war of independence was Simón Bolívar, a military and political leader whose legacy in South America would grow to the level of George Washington’s in the USA.

Within Bolívar’s army was a German born-doctor, who created a medicinal tonic from local Gran Colombia ingredients. As the army pushed into modern-day Venezuela, this doctor created his first batch of tonic in the city of Angostura. Even though the city’s name changed, and the operation moved to Trinidad, this medicinal alcohol retains the name — Angostura bitters.

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World Cup Cocktails: Group B

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One of the reasons I enjoy international competitions like World Cup is the opportunity to lace both humor & drink-mixing with history:

He’s referencing the defeat at the Spanish Armada at the hands of English (and Dutch) naval forces. Naturally. This little tete-a-tete was a part of the broad, bloody epic of the Eighty Years’ War, a continent-spanning conflict that was ostensibly about Protestant Netherlands revolting against Catholic Spain.

If you look closely, you’ll see a Van Persie launching cannonballs with his head.

What better way to celebrate the Netherlands dispensing a revenge-fueled soccer beatdown against highly-favored Spain than with a cocktail? If we’re going to build a drink that pays homage to these two belligerents, it’s only fitting that we build it around their nationalistic alcohols: genever and sherry.

[Read more…]