World Cup nicknames

The USA is the soccer equivalent of the Detroit Lions:

The 3-and-outs.

 

That's a good one, too, Kirk.

But the U.S. is so f---ed up the a-- right now that we could now call them Boots' Bickering Backdoor Buddies.

 

Angola: Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes)
Argentina: Albicelestes (White-Sky Blues)
Australia: Socceroos
Brazil: Seleçao Canarinho (Canary Selection)
Costa Rica: Ticos (from the local linguistic habit of creating diminutives by adding “tico” instead of “tito” to the end of words)
Croatia: Vatreni (the Fiery Ones)
Czech Republic: Lokomotiva (the Locomotive, rarely used)
Ecuador: La Tri (Tricolors)
England: Three Lions (rarely used)
France: Les Bleus (Blues)
Germany: Die Nationalmannschaft (National Team)
Ghana: Blacks Stars
Iran: Team Melli (National Team)
Italy: Azzurri (Blues)
Ivory Coast: Les Eléphants (Elephants)
Japan: Blues
Mexico: El Tri (Tricolors)
Netherlands: Oranje (the Orange)
Paraguay: La Albirroja (White-Red)
Poland: Bialo-Czerwoni (White-Reds)
Portugal: Seleçao das Quinas (Selection of the Shields)
Saudi Arabia: Al Akhdar (the Green)
Serbia and Montenegro: Plavi (Blues)
South Korea: Reds
Spain: La Furia Roja (the Red Fury)
Sweden: Blagult (Blue-Gold)
Switzerland: Die Eidgenossen (the Oath Comrades)
Togo: Les Eperviers (Sparrow Hawks)
Trinidad and Tobago: Soca Warriors
Tunisia: Les Aigles de Carthage (Carthage Eagles)
Ukraine: Zbirna/Sbornaya (Selection, in Ukrainian and Russian)


http://worldcup.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=147

 

I've actually heard Netherlands referred to as clockwork orange. Maybe I'm dreaming.

 

That was true back in the days of Cruyff and second place. Man, you should have seen this move he had. If you don't like it, you are not a good citizen of the world.

 

I thought the Ukraine's nickname was the Sleepy Frog Hunters.

 

Dave Barry called. He wants his jokes back.

 

You talkin about the Cruyff Turn? Search for it on YouTube. Good stuff.

 

Dave Barry made the 'Sleepy Frog Hunters' joke?
When?
I'm distressed by this. I don't steal bits.
If I use somebody else's bit, I give credit.
I did not cop that bit.

 

Socceroos is outstanding.

 

Team Heimlich?

 

You guys call yourselves soccer nickname experts? How could everyone forget Tartan Army for Scotland? I know it probably refers as much to their fans as the team, but I've heard it used in reference to the squad. Damn, I'm not even Scottish!

Isn't Wales the Red Dragons or something?

I know Belgium is the Red Devils.