…the Dutch been here for years. Giovanni van Bronckhorst may have hit a screamer against Uruguay in the World Cup semifinals, but it wasn’t his first. Hell, it wasn’t even his first from THAT EXACT SPOT.

Cute. Clever. Funny.

I still hate him, though.

Allow me to say “eff”. Glad I didn’t put money on my Spain-Germany Final prediction.

Michael Ballack, midfielder for Chelsea and Germany captain, will miss the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup due to an ankle injury. He suffered the injury in the English FA Cup final on Saturday, May 15, 2010 after a tackle from Kevin-Prince Boateng. Ballack has played in several World Cups and was expected to be a major part of the German squad in the midfield. Below is the official statement from the German Football Association (DFB).

The tomogram showed a torn interior ligament and a partial rupture of the syndesmosis ligament of his right ankle, which for the time being will have to be immobilized and put in a cast. Ballack will then wear a specially designed shoe for two weeks. German team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt said, that according to today’s diagnosis, Ballack can look forward to a complete recovery, but that a minimum eight weeks will be required before the German skipper may consider returning to regular training.

Well, since that screws up a ton of stuff. To make me feel better, here’s footage of the coolest dive ever by Jurgen Klinsmann from the 1990 World Cup:

Check out the “making of” “after the jump” (more…)