If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or email alerts. Thanks for visiting!
Just a day ago, I was busy trying to figure out which football matches at the group stage I should bother watching. I couldn’t watch them all because I don’t have cable and going out to the bar each time was pretty expensive. Thankfully, I chanced upon this wonderful piece of software on MeFi, TVU Player that streams a wide variety of channels (ESPN, ABC, Star Movies, Channel [V], etc.)
Unlike other streaming networks, the picture is pretty decent and the two matches I saw today, had little or no jerky movement that we usually associate with online streaming sites. After a initial bout of buffering and pixelating images, the screen eventually settles down for a uninterrupted session of football. Of course, you need a fast Internet connection [download and installation instructions].
The two games today kicked off the mayhem that is expected from Group E popularly called the Group of Death but unfortunately for upset pundits, the results were predictable and didn’t mess up calculations for the football powers. Czech Republic, surprisingly ranked number two in the world according to the FIFA rankings easily outclassed the even more surprisingly fifth-ranked, USA. After their amazing and unexpected run to the quarters, USA has risen in the eyes of the footballing nation at least in their ability to cause upsets. but they fell hard under the burden of expectations as the Czechs pummelled them with three merciless goals including two from hard-hitting Rosicky, joining Klose and Cahill at the top of the list for the golden boot. USA is going to find it hard to come back against Italy and Ghana if they continue playing in such lackluster manner.
Compartively, the Italy-Ghana match (watched only the second half) was fast and rough. The Ghana goalkeeper had a great match but couldn’t keep out the two goals that mattered in the end. Italy has begun to attack more ferociously and is less of a defensive team than I remember them to be. I hope they manage to keep their injuries in check if they are expected to have a realistic shot at the Cup. The Italy-Czech game should be one heck of a match in the group stages. The trio of Italians, Czechs, and the Americans tend to group together quite often; last time was in the 1990 and the Americans are almost repeating that performance.
For those who believe that football is boring and almost decided when more than 80 minutes have passed should have seen the Australia-Japan match, I just saw the first half and had to refresh the World Cup blog page to check the score in the second half. The Australians did the impossible - down 0-1 until the 84th minute, pumped in three goals in the last seven minutes. Japan was left gasping as they lost the three points they almost had in their bag. Of course, the Australians kept up the pressure by taking numerous shots at the goal and I guess, it ultimately made the difference. Football is all about perseverance and patience; you gotta keep plugging away. One minute changes everything.
by Patrix | on Monday, June 12th, 2006 at 5:36 pm | 
Recommended, Sports, Technology, United States . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
June 12th, 2006 at 6:48 pm reply
Patrix, thanks a bunch for the link. You should take the blame for me sneaking in to catch up with some football at work. I have been catching some football on the Mexican channel. The commentary is quite hilarious, whenever a goal is scored. Though I can’t make a thing, I am beginning to prefer it to some of the American comentary.
June 13th, 2006 at 5:35 am reply
looks back to see if Manager is around.
June 13th, 2006 at 7:04 am reply
Patrix, thanks for the link - will try it out. We managed to get a small TV in one of the conference rooms in the department. Watched the games there on Univision. There was a girl from Chile who could follow the commentary and sometimes explain what was being said. Found out that Chilavert - the Paraguayan goalkeeper famous for his set-piece free-kicks is on the commentary team - yesterday during tha US-Czech game he was predicting a Ghana win over Italy !!
The US looked totally unimaginative in their attack. Donovan had that one good potential run stopped by a foul and Reyna had a good shot - and hardly anything else otherwise. Their defense was bad too. Rosicky’s first goal was superb - like a guided missile - as someone on the WC Blog said - but the defense on that play was abysmal. He got the ball through a very poor clearance and then was afforded too much space to hit the shot. This defense will hardly survive Italy, whose offense looked pretty menacing. And I was quite suprised too at seeing an Italian team not content to just nurse a 1-0 and play defensively.
The Czech and the Italians have been the most impressive among the top teams so far.
June 13th, 2006 at 10:23 am reply
Naveen, go ahead, blame me…but hope your boss buys that :) The spanish commentators can be fun. I heard them during the Mexico-Iran game.
Arunima, plug in your headphones and don’t disturb anyone.
Bongo, I had expected the US to put up a stronger fight but something about their style is too boring to watch. They need to develop either discipline or flair. Czech just might be the team to watch this time if they can keep their injuries in check.
June 13th, 2006 at 10:25 am reply
Pat,
Thanks for the link. Will see if the computer at school will allow the live streaming.
Guess what, my Professor with whom I had to start my internship today took off to watch the world cup, he is like come tomorrow. :)
June 13th, 2006 at 12:23 pm reply
Confused, if you can install software on your school PC and aren’t block by a admin wall the I see no reason for it not to work. But your school will be damn pissed at the bandwidth consumption
Nice prof! Share the link with him…probably, you both can watch it together :)
June 16th, 2006 at 11:22 am reply
Good work keep it up
June 16th, 2006 at 4:46 pm reply
[...] Since I am receiving a ton of google searches for information on online streaming video for the 2006 FIFA World Cup [original post], I am putting up a short list of instructions to get things started: [...]
June 17th, 2006 at 12:57 pm reply
Thanks for the link! Great little app. Now I can enjoy more World Cup… even in USA! :)
June 20th, 2006 at 4:18 pm reply
Hurrey..
Thnx a lot man..
June 21st, 2006 at 10:33 am reply
hey there!
thanks so much for this link =)
i’m downloading it at the moment. hope its gonna be good. Portugal vs Mexico now hehe.
thanks again
June 21st, 2006 at 1:09 pm reply
hey…thanks for the link..argentina netherlands game on and i jus realised that i lost cable…so m downloading the software now…hope it works..
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:11 am reply
hi there
thanx sooo muchh for sharing with us abt this TVUPlayer..
its gr8! im so glad finally im able to watch World Cup..
as i dun have cable tv here, i thought i wont be able to follow…
but then.. now im able to.. all thx to u…
i can watch my fave team, Korea, play ltr..
haha.. wish i’d known earlier.. but nvm…
thx again… lol =)
2 all: enjoy watching!
Cheers,
Annz…
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:06 pm reply
Thanks a lot for this TVUPlayer
We are enjoying very well
Thanks
June 24th, 2006 at 11:33 am reply
hey,
guys.. i’ve try it and it work greats.. thanks a lot
June 27th, 2006 at 11:30 am reply
Is there any software for Windows 98 like TVU player which runs only on Windows XP and Windows200. Plz reply.
June 30th, 2006 at 2:34 pm reply
Awesome mate. Thanks a lot. I have been looking for something like this ever since the World Cup began. Thank You very much again.
Cheers,
rheinland
July 1st, 2006 at 1:17 pm reply
can someone tell me what channel the w.cup is on. Reply to bluebeans@gmail.com
July 1st, 2006 at 2:51 pm reply
thanks sooooo much for the link~~
cheers.!