I seem to recall that some astrologers give the ascendant to the team that kicks off at the beginning of the game. This could be interpreted as 'starting the war.' So in the current chart, where Mercury seems to be the stronger, we could hope that England doesn't kick off tonight (or tomorrow morning if you're in my part of the world).

Hi Sue
well, I've always liked the idea that the team who kicks off should be given the ascendant and its lord. It seems a logical step, since this is the team that initiates the game. However, the problem is it doesn't always work.
England kicked off tonight, so they are shown by Jupiter, who is in a right sorry state: cadent and detrimented. I think this reflects the poor team performance compared to Portugal, who's ruler Mercury is angular in the 7th, and has strength by face. Certainly it's true that the Portugese were in England's half of the pitch for most of the 2nd half! That debilitated Jupiter also suggested that our team would be weakened in some way, and there's no doubt that we seemed to lose all our impetus when Rooney limped off injured after half an hour. From that point on our midfield looked like a spent force.
Another interesting point is that Mercury is just leaving combustion, and that said to me that whoever would be represented by Mercury would perhaps feel a marked decrease in pressure after the game. The fact too, that Jupiter is in the dignity of Mercury shows that Mercury would hold the authority.
It's quite easy to see all this, of course, with 20/20 hindsight, but nonetheless I think it's a good idea to hold this kind of "astrological post-mortem", to see what we can glean from the chart.
As a fascinating aside, I received a text from Ficina with 5 minutes to go of normal time, when England were losing 2-1. It read something like "Don't panic, we're going to score a last-minute goal!" So it proved (even though it was scandalously disallowed!), and I have to take my hat off to Fi' for that amazing prediction!

And the penalty shoot-out? Hmm, I dunno how you read that in the chart. Pluto on the ascendant maybe?: intense, heart-stopping tension?
Anyway, we lost - beaten by a referee from a country that we beat 3-0 in the group stages. (Not that I'm suggesting scullduggery, you understand. No, no, no.....)
--
Cheers...

well, I've always liked the idea that the team who kicks off should be given the ascendant and its lord. It seems a logical step, since this is the team that initiates the game. However, the problem is it doesn't always work.

It's quite easy to see all this, of course, with 20/20 hindsight

but nonetheless I think it's a good idea to hold this kind of "astrological post-mortem", to see what we can glean from the chart

As a fascinating aside, I received a text from Ficina with 5 minutes to go of normal time, when England were losing 2-1. It read something like "Don't panic, we're going to score a last-minute goal!" So it proved (even though it was scandalously disallowed!), and I have to take my hat off to Fi' for that amazing prediction!

And the penalty shoot-out? Hmm, I dunno how you read that in the chart.

I?ve never been very comfortable with the idea of giving the ascendant to the favourites. Even going by betting odds, this isn?t always an objective thing to do and sometimes there is such a very slim margin between the two teams as to make it meaningless. And I find the term ?favourites? to be open to interpretation. Are people voting for their favourite that they want to win or for whom they think will win? This might not really matter but I just find this way of doing it too open.

I think people who use this method would disagree with you. John Frawley, for one, has had excellent results.

Have you personally found this not to work in practice?

I tried the "castle besiegement" method (using 4th/10th) a while ago but it didn't work. As you say, perhaps it only works when the match involves a team defending the cup.

Sorry about your loss.

once people started expecting it of him, his results got progressively worse to the point where he stopped doing it.

It's not until kickoff that I can then attribute the 1st/7th to a particular team having already worked out which significator is the stronger and should win the game.

but whenever I take on a particular method the most important thing for me is that it makes sense. Astrology can be such a personal thing. Different methods might work for different people.

You're right when you say that none of the methods seem to work all of the time. But I have to wonder whether there is a method that can be expected to give consistent results if used properly.

In the post mortem, we often know where to look.

With a 'castle besiegement' chart you take the 4th and the 1st, giving the 4th to the holders of the cup and the 1st to the challengers.

And 'castle besiegement' charts are only for matches where there is a cup at stake. This method is not used for any other matches.

Ficina wrote:Portugal v Holland 7.45pm Lisbon

I am giving Jupiter to Portugal, who are the home team and (very marginally) the favourites. However, we can look to see who kicks off and perhaps adjust accordingly

Moon in Jupiter's sign often means lots of goals but not so sure with it being in 12th. This is another difficult one but I'm going for a win for Portugal with a one-goal margin. Possibly 2-1 but I'm not putting money on it