FIFA World Cup 2010

[Eikman]

i suppose it's time to start a thread about this one.

germany has a bit of bad luck these days...five players out in the past few weeks due to injury including Ballack and one of our full-backs. add this to some rather irritating choices on behalf of our beloved coach (Podolski, one of our strikers has scored only two goals this season for his club. two!!). not sure what to think of this squad...for the first time in ages i am actually sceptical about their performance.

i consider spain (obviously), argentina (despite their poor qualifying matches) and - gasp! - england to rank among the favorites, although i'd love to see some underdog at least in the Semis. what about you?

[Jason Roth]

I'll be in Johannesburg for the round of 16 and quarterfinals.

GO USA!!!

[Eikman]

i'd rather see the Socceroos advance to the round of 16 than the US boys to be honest ;)

[stimpee]

I would like the see the USA!USA!USA! go through (in second place naturally). The sheilaroos dont have a chance.

[Eikman]

The sheilaroos dont have a chance.

probably not, but they played a fantastic WC in 2006, before the italian ponces robbed them with a (probably undeserved) penalty in overtime. AND they beat denmark the other day. but of course in order to advance, australia has to compete with Germany, so all they can hope for is second place in the group stage anyway ;)

[//\/\/]

(Podolski, one of our strikers has scored only two goals this season for his club. two!!)

we can beat that - heskey has only had 8 shots on target all season* :confused:




*and they didn't all go in.

[Dunwho]

Well i dont want to start about why Ireland SHOULD be at this world cup...

... i got Greece and Ivory Coast in the sweep stakes im in so im gonna support them!

[stimpee]

Well i dont want to start about why Ireland SHOULD be at this world cup...

... i got Greece and Ivory Coast in the sweep stakes im in so im gonna support them!shite, shite and shite. You'll be hoping for a first round exit for France then?

Ivory Coast have got Sven so lets see if that helps... Greece? hmmm. dont see the point in the sweep stake for a world cup. Theres only a few teams capable of winning, so unless you get any of the 3 or 4 probable winners its a waste of cash.

Ian: I too am shaking my head at the inclusion of Heskey... again. They do say he's a link-up player not a goalscorer. But isnt that what midfielders are for?

[Dunwho]

Ivory Coast have got Sven so lets see if that helps... Greece? hmmm. dont see the point in the sweep stake for a world cup. Theres only a few teams capable of winning, so unless you get any of the 3 or 4 probable winners its a waste of cash.


Well we are doing it by points... 3 for a win, 1 for a draw... that way all of your teams can make you points and whoever has most at the end gets the most cash... after that the actual team that wins the cup gets only 20e... (tho they may also win on points too)

Whoever gets Brazil gets the lowest seeded team... 2nd highest gets second lowest and so on... so to get two middle of the road teams could get you lots of points ... theoretically

[matt]

Well i dont want to start about why Ireland SHOULD be at this world cup...

... i got Greece and Ivory Coast in the sweep stakes im in so im gonna support them!

Ok, don't then. I mean, get over it.

Stuff like that happens in football but the Irish over-reaction to the incident wound me up a little. I mean, even if Henry's goal had been disallowed the scores would have been level and there may have been extra time and even penalties yet most of Ireland seem to think they automatically would have won or something. I've got some very good Irish mates who were extremely embarrassed by the whole thing (the reaction not the incident).

As for the World Cup I'll be supporting England even though I'm Welsh. Like to see any of the British sides do well (even the Republic if they were there). Apart from Portugal Brazil nothing really jumps out at me from the group stages in terms of must see matches (and Portugal aren't the side they were a few years ago). However once we get to the knockout stages it look like there could be some really tasty match-ups.

And as in nearly every major tournament I'm sure there'll be a few surprise underdog teams that everyone falls in love with.

[stimpee]

If England finish top and the Aussies second in their group, then we'll play them in the second round. I havent thought about further than the quarter finals (france?) because, well... that would be silly. This is England. Whereas Eike has probably planned his march to the Final and who will be defeated by Germany on the way. They've probably got the ribbons on the cup in german colours already.

[matt]

If England finish top and the Aussies second in their group, then we'll play them in the second round. I havent thought about further than the quarter finals (france?) because, well... that would be silly. This is England. Whereas Eike has probably planned his march to the Final and who will be defeated by Germany on the way. They've probably got the ribbons on the cup in german colours already.
There's a good predictor thingy (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/inc/v4/world_cup_2010/wallchart/main.html#p) over on the BBC site

I get a mouthwatering QF line up of:

France v England

Argentina v Germany

Holland v Brazil

Italy v Spain

Although that's unlikely to happen as there's sure to be some surprises along the way

[Eikman]

Whereas Eike has probably planned his march to the Final and who will be defeated by Germany on the way..

the way i see it, everything past the QF would be more than lucky for Germany.

[matt]

Ivory Coast look like losing Drogba now

Click (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/04/didier-drogba-world-cup-injury)

[Jason Roth]

Ferdinand out.

GO USA!!!!

[Eikman]

here is a neat flash-based world cup calender (http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html)

[ndrwrld]

the new adidas / star wars video is wicked.

[//\/\/]

Ferdinand out.

GO USA!!!!

(not the biggest of losses, tbh...)

[//\/\/]

shame this (http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-the-world-cup-in-south-florida/9338) isn't my local!

[Jason Roth]

(not the biggest of losses, tbh...)

We're gonna need all the help we can get.

[rayray]

I'm in for Spain - would love to see it go England's way though....and on any given day I'll get root for US (would really commit if they would loose that nike sponsorship)

[matt]

I've set up a World Cup Prediction league if anyone's interested.

Just click here (http://www.sportguru.co.uk/worldcup) and then on the register button (it's free) enter your email address and the code: swabowes

Only takes a few minutes to register and make your first score predictions

[Eikman]

TODAY!!

[BrotherLovesDub]

Wow a tie! That was awesome.

[rayray]

nice second half to that opening match

[Eikman]

the draw between france and u r gay is good for south africa. i'd like to see them advance.

[Eikman]

oh, and now for a classic....south korea vs greece ;)

[Dunwho]

Greece were a disaster! Just no idea what they were at, S.Korea deserved the win.

[Eikman]

Greece were a disaster! Just no idea what they were at, S.Korea deserved the win.

i've heard some of the greek players already participated in the first Olympic Games, so they are a bit rusty these days :p

[stimpee]

the draw between france and u r gay is good for south africa. i'd like to see them advance.no host country has ever failed to advance... gonna be hard for SA to beat u r gay and france tho!

ok now for England. lets see if the fans can make themselves heard over the RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRR of the vuvuzelas.

http://i.imgur.com/KsVJ7.gif

[Eikman]

omg rofl. maybe we should give england one of our goalkeepers? we got plenty of good ones ;)

[Eikman]

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/4482/greenpatzer.jpg

[rayray]

CCCCKKKK!!!!

[Dunwho]

Ha the second it went in everyone in the room instantly wondered how the English press was going to react. There goes his career!!! Done for! They'll never forgive him!

So much pressure is not healthy!!

Yet we declined to jump to conclusions that the press would pounce on this cock-up as yet another early scapegoat to explain why an England team "with the best chance ever" (always!) to finally win the nation's second World Cup would fail under South African Skies....

.... but it didnt take long really... even the extremely level headed BBC delved deep into the statistics and forked up some reason to BLAME BLAME BLAME!!!

Love this....

"It is not the first time Green has made a high-profile error in an England shirt.
He ruptured his groin when mis-kicking a goal-kick that allowed Belarus to equalise in a 2-1 England B defeat at the Madejski Stadium in 2006.
According to Opta statistics, too, Green made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the Premier League last season."
BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8737289

[cured]

Whoops :D

Both sides were crap. USA doesn't have any creativity but England was so pedestrian. England will make it through to the next round but they can't afford to play like this against Germany, Italy, Brazil, Spain, etc..

[Eikman]

apparently all the english people in this forum don't care anymore :p

well, at least Germany was the only team so far that scored more than two goals. eat this, bitches!

[Jason Roth]

i still care :)

COME ON YANKS!!!

btw eik, germany looked unbelievable today. if they come first and we come 2nd, i think we meet in the round of 16 ;)

[//\/\/]

still in shock. moreso about the overreaction here than the result, which wasn't entirely out of the blue. more concerned about fabio preferring sean w-p to joe cole to come and shore up the left. that and the continual faith in heskey. everybody will say 'but he had a great game' - yes; but it meant that rooney was displaced and was often hunting for the ball in midfield, and so the best chance of the game (or ever) fell to old numbnuts, with predicable results. (i groaned out load when i realised who was through on the keeper). the commentator here said what a good save it was. no way- howard couldn't've got out the way even if he'd tried!

germany beat an awful australia, but did it in fine style.

jason, with 'gooch' in your back 4, i'd be scared of algeria (even with bruno in goal for them - what a coup by sacha baron cohen!)

[Jason Roth]

jason, with 'gooch' in your back 4, i'd be scared of algeria

aww, BITTER MUCH?

:D

[//\/\/]

aww, BITTER MUCH?

yes; but only as a newcastle fan who had to endure his stay with us ;)

[//\/\/]

erm... (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gallery/2010/jun/14/world-cup-2020-newspaper?picture=363671898) i thought it was supposed to be the north korean propaganda machine that was going to go mental?! :D

[Jason Roth]

yes; but only as a newcastle fan who had to endure his stay with us ;)

the gooch always steps it up for the red white and blue. I'm not worried about him at all.

GO YANKS! BEAT SLOVENIA!

[King of Snake]

Holland - Denmark

2-0
\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/

[Eikman]

did anyone watch japan against cameroon? jesus, that must have been the worst abomination of football i've seen in ages.

[Troy McClure]

USA vs. England in Lego form.

http://gu.com/p/2hke8

Jason

[//\/\/]

excellent!

[Jason Roth]

USA vs. England in Lego form.

http://gu.com/p/2hke8

Jason

good part @ 0:52

[cured]

wow horrible stop by the Paraguay keeper. At least Green got a hand on the goal he gave up!

[Eikman]

this is going to be the world cup with the most disastrous goalkeeping.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5980/italienparaguay.jpg

[cured]

HAHA man I was just thinking someone should photoshop a Superman cape on that guy!

[Jason Roth]

this is going to be the world cup with the most disastrous goalkeeping.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5980/italienparaguay.jpg

i lol'd

[//\/\/]

first world cup point for nz! :)

[Eikman]

quite a disappointing match between ivory coast and portugal, but obviously both teams tried their best not to risk anything. should be interesting in the second round.

[//\/\/]

very dull - i was hoping for a red-card fest!

[Eikman]

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/666/northkorea.jpg

[BrotherLovesDub]

"should be interesting in the second round" seems to be the mantra by those foolish enough / desperate enough to not think football/soccer is the most boring game on earth.

[//\/\/]

so, what's your sport, sport? i'm dying to know where the majority of the planet is going wrong...

[BrotherLovesDub]

There's no right answer to that question because all sports have their flaws. I will say that games should never end in ties and penalty kicks/shootouts should never determine a winner, especially in the Championship game.

edit: I will list sports that are more exciting to watch than 'football/soccer'

Basketball
Hockey
Lacrosse
Table Tennis
Tennis
Water Polo
Cycling
Softball
Handball
Racketball
Ultimate Frisbee
Jai Alai
Marbles
Checkers
Hop Scotch
Double Dutch
Cricket

[Rog]

If you dislike football so much why post in a football thread:confused::rolleyes:

[Eikman]

haters gonna hate. players gonna play.

[BrotherLovesDub]

If you dislike football so much why post in a football thread:confused::rolleyes:

To piss off football fans, obviously. Never seen a detractor post in a thread before? Welcome to the internet.

Ask Eikman why he posted in the Chemical Brothers thread. :)

[King of Snake]

http://www.sputnikk.nl/1276610097.gif

[//\/\/]

There's no right answer to that question because all sports have their flaws. I will say that games should never end in ties and penalty kicks/shootouts should never determine a winner, especially in the Championship game.

why should a game never end in a tie?

and let's have a look at the list of games THAT YOU FIND ''more exciting to watch than 'football/soccer' '' (quite why you need the punctuation there is beyond me, and probably beyond you)

Basketball barge around scoring a zillion points. only good if you're tall.
Hockey girl sport
Lacrosse girl sport
Table Tennis child game
Tennis tedious grunting game
Water Polo are you serious?
Cycling more of a pastime
Softball snigger
Handball minority indoor sport for when it's too cold
Racketball ditto
Ultimate Frisbee
Jai Alai
Marbles
Checkers
Hop Scotch
Double Dutch
Cricket it goes on for 5 days and can end in a tie - you're undone by your initial premise - out of the game :p

[Rog]

To piss off football fans, obviously. Never seen a detractor post in a thread before? Welcome to the internet.

Ask Eikman why he posted in the Chemical Brothers thread. :)

ahhhh i see.........................................

how extraordinarily petty................

[Eikman]

Ask Eikman why he posted in the Chemical Brothers thread.

not quite the same. the chems track in question simply sucks, but all things considered, I still like them. so my post was not meant for detraction but rather to express my disappointment. ;)

[Rog]

but....but.....i was lead to believe you posted there to piss off chemical brothers fans.......

[Eikman]

that was an additional bonus ;)

[Jason Roth]

lol spain

[cured]

jeez Spain didn't want to play much defense the few times they were called on to do it, eh?

[stimpee]

lol spainsays NYCs biggest Barcelona ass-kisser :D

[Jason Roth]

says NYCs biggest Barcelona ass-kisser :D

That's what they get for having an ex-Real Madrid manager ;)

If Brazil win their group and Spain come in second, I get to see Brazil vs. Spain in the Round of 16. So this Spain loss is setting things up perfectly for me. :p

[BrotherLovesDub]

Was that a whole day of matches without a tie?

[cured]

Uses for vuvuzela:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs618.snc3/32496_439220545629_580945629_6147815_4942277_n.jpg

[cured]

or just go this route:

http://m.blog.hu/vi/vivaargentina/image/maradona.jpg

[Rog]

ROFL!:D:D:D

[King of Snake]

lol that's the best one yet :D

[TheBang]

Man, those Vuvuzela's are just everywhere, eh?

http://www.aloha.com/~tabanger/underworld/bornvuvuzela.m4a

[Jason Roth]

lol that's the best one yet :D

yup

[//\/\/]

jeez Spain didn't want to play much defense the few times they were called on to do it, eh?

come again?




;)

[//\/\/]

mexico-france - excellent first half!

or if you're bld

terrible first half with nothing to commend it.

[cured]

That goal by Mexico...looked like their guy was a mile off-sides.

Not that it matters much...France is only going to get points in this WC if they hold their opponents to 0 goals lol.

[cured]

Now that I've lost 1st place on my office WC pool, I'm hoping France can salvage a tie against South Africa in their last game but I am not holding my breath about that one.

[//\/\/]

so, what price mexico and uruguay drawing to go through at the expense of france and s.a.? can't see either of them trying to beat the other tooooo much!

fully deserved victory for mexico; fully deserved defeat for france...

[BrotherLovesDub]

The game was pretty exciting from start to finish. Of course, I fucking hate the French, so i'd happily watch a game for 4 hrs to see them lose.

BTW, these troll kibbles you're feeding me are damn tasty, keep it up.

[cured]

as someone else pointed out, it should have been Ireland losing 2-0 :)

[BrotherLovesDub]

That goal by Mexico...looked like their guy was a mile off-sides.



Really? Maybe i don't understand off-sides, but it looked to me that at most he was a shoes length off-sides. Maybe a few inches, but miles? Are you serious? I'm sure there's a screengrab online you can find.

[mmm skyscraper]

so, what price mexico and uruguay drawing to go through at the expense of france and s.a.? can't see either of them trying to beat the other tooooo much!



A draw would put Mexico 2nd in the group meaning they would most likely have to play Argentina. They would probably much rather play one of the other teams in Group B.

[cured]

Yeah, the freeze frame will show he was a tad bit off-sides but I've seen plenty of matches where a guy starts off onsides when the ball is played and ends up with the ball 20 yards from the nearest player and the flag goes up. It's either an amazing job by the ref to see where the player was when the ball was played but I'm just surprised they let that one go.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Yeah, the freeze frame will show he was a tad bit off-sides but I've seen plenty of matches where a guy starts off onsides when the ball is played and ends up with the ball 20 yards from the nearest player and the flag goes up. It's either an amazing job by the ref to see where the player was when the ball was played but I'm just surprised they let that one go.

you're talking about a few inches. at game speed, it looked like a good goal. it takes a freeze frame to see he was 'a tad' off.

[cured]

at game speed, he looked way offsides to me :)

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l46666MzL71qzado8o1_400.gif

[BrotherLovesDub]

we both agree that France can eat a dick though right? a dick covered in truffle oil and quail eggs.

[Rog]

we both agree that France can eat a dick though right? a dick covered in truffle oil and quail eggs.

oh yes!:D...and garlic?

[cured]

yeah. France fucking blows. I think team USA could kick their asses pretty hard.

[Rog]

at game speed, he looked way offsides to me :)

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l46666MzL71qzado8o1_400.gif

hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa! good one:D:D:D

[Rog]

yeah. France fucking blows. I think team USA could kick their asses pretty hard.

:D:D:D.......yep, they're pretty shite alright

[cured]

http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/link-vuvuzela.jpg

[Dunwho]

as someone else pointed out, it should have been Ireland losing 2-0 :)

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Seeing France lose is good enough for me.

Pizza Hut here had a deal that they would give a free pizza to their facebook fans for every goal scored against France....

...yum.

[Eikman]

you're talking about a few inches. at game speed, it looked like a good goal. it takes a freeze frame to see he was 'a tad' off.

referees and linesmen are told to rule in favor of the attacking side in case of doubt. and given the course of the match, the goal was definitely deserved.

[//\/\/]

A draw would put Mexico 2nd in the group meaning they would most likely have to play Argentina. They would probably much rather play one of the other teams in Group B.

good point; but wouldn't it be fun all the same? i'm thinking team a. race into a 6-0 lead by half time, only for team b. to score 6 in the last 10 minutes :D

[matt]

http://i.imgur.com/WXNmF.jpg

[//\/\/]

apparently all the english people in this forum don't care anymore :p

well, at least Germany was the only team so far that scored more than two goals. eat this, bitches!

yikes - not a good minute for your boys there :eek:

[//\/\/]

germany in missed penalty shock!

[stimpee]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fapphoto%2F8917e5f6-d2b1-42db-9d46-2b62580dacc7.jpg

[big screen satellite]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fapphoto%2F8917e5f6-d2b1-42db-9d46-2b62580dacc7.jpg


not even Klose :D

[//\/\/]

that's what happens when your coaches look like they are more interested in making experimental electronic music and art. in berlin. in 1973.

[Rog]

not even Klose :D


aarrrgghhh!:D

[Eikman]

jesus. i still wonder who was worse - that referee or our team. it's probably a klose (ha!) call.

[stimpee]

jesus. i still wonder who was worse - that referee or our team. it's probably a klose (ha!) call.Apparently the referee handed out 11 red cards in 17 La Liga matches last season. Hmm.

[big screen satellite]

merkel, kraftwerk, lena, eikman, beethoven, paul van dyk - can you hear me - paul van dyk? - your team took a hell of a beating

[big screen satellite]

now for england :(

[//\/\/]

that was a bollocks bit of reffing, i have to agree. but also a not-very-good penalty, it has to be said.

now for england :(

i know - just as the underdogs are starting to take over the competition!

[Eikman]

merkel, kraftwerk, lena, eikman, beethoven, paul van dyk - can you hear me - paul van dyk? - your team took a hell of a beating

1-nil is not "a hell of a beating" in my book, especially considering the missed penalty. however, we deserved to lose, no doubt.

[//\/\/]

shall i explain the 'hell of a beating', or do you want to, matt?

[//\/\/]

looks like usa are continuing the overdog defeat trend today - cracking goals!

[BrotherLovesDub]

I ordered the Kraftwerk box set this week. There's one group of Germans who don't suck.

[//\/\/]

2-2 - another win the usa!

[big screen satellite]

shall i explain the 'hell of a beating', or do you want to, matt?

i'll leave that to the Norwegians

Maggie Thatcher Maggie Thatcher....!!!

[Jason Roth]

Worst call in FIFA history. This is bullshit.

[m.g.]

erm... I've read a few "funny" things about France (and French) here... :mad: but :) also.

And even if I'm not really a football fan (I'm more into rugby), there should be some French lines here.

French team was just PA-THE-TIC!!! (but at least everyone knows it now) and they fully deserve what happened yesterday.

I'll support Germany now... (Hi Eike) and I love garlic :p

[//\/\/]

aww, BITTER MUCH?

:D


:p:D;)

[cured]

Didn't catch the US game today (was going to catch the tail end when I got in the office). Was the US robbed of that third goal or no?

[//\/\/]

in a word, yes...

[Eikman]

USA ROBBED BY EVIL COULIBALY!

[Jason Roth]

Mali. They need refs for the biggest sporting event in the world and corrupt-as-hell FIFA look to Mali.

Hi Eik ;)

[cured]

US gotta beat Algeria then. Do they have to do it by more than a goal, though? Hrm...

[//\/\/]

Mali. They need refs for the biggest sporting event in the world and corrupt-as-hell FIFA look to Mali.

not at all bitter, then?

jason; this is football - its beauty and its pain are that it's like life - sometimes it really JUST ISN'T FAIR, and sometimes you get the breaks - but it's only the JUST NOT FAIR bits that stick in the craw and you don't realise that, over a lifetime, there's generally a balance. this isn't a time to chuck your toys out of your pram and start getting into conspiracy and xenophobia. were that so, then sepp (german) blatter would have made damn sure that no german player got sent off for petty fouls, such as we saw today. it's a WORLD cup - that also means that officials from The World are selected to take part. that does mean that officials with less experience of major tournaments may be present; but part of the point is that they gain experience and can pass that on, making The Game stronger - fifa are very concerned with this sort of thing. it's also why they resist taking power away from officials on the field - the beauty of the game is that it's the same, be it the world cup final, or my son's sunday team.

hard to take now, and i understand. as an england fan i've had big decisions go terribly in bigger matches than this. it's shit; but you deal with it. i think it's called 'character-building'. :)

[//\/\/]

US gotta beat Algeria then. Do they have to do it by more than a goal, though? Hrm...

certainly wouldn't hurt..

[Jason Roth]

not at all bitter, then?

jason; this is football - its beauty and its pain are that it's like life - sometimes it really JUST ISN'T FAIR, and sometimes you get the breaks - but it's only the JUST NOT FAIR bits that stick in the craw and you don't realise that, over a lifetime, there's generally a balance. this isn't a time to chuck your toys out of your pram and start getting into conspiracy and xenophobia. were that so, then sepp (german) blatter would have made damn sure that no german player got sent off for petty fouls, such as we saw today. it's a WORLD cup - that also means that officials from The World are selected to take part. that does mean that officials with less experience of major tournaments may be present; but part of the point is that they gain experience and can pass that on, making The Game stronger - fifa are very concerned with this sort of thing. it's also why they resist taking power away from officials on the field - the beauty of the game is that it's the same, be it the world cup final, or my son's sunday team.

hard to take now, and i understand. as an england fan i've had big decisions go terribly in bigger matches than this. it's shit; but you deal with it. i think it's called 'character-building'. :)


This wasn't a bad break. This was a straight up robbery.

[//\/\/]

this is why we invented the phrase 'we wuz robbed' it might be the first time it's happened to you; but it's by no means the first time it's happened.

[Jason Roth]

The only invention I care about right now is whiskey.

[Eikman]

sepp (german) blatter would have made damn sure that no german player got sent off for petty fouls, such as we saw today.

except that Blatter is Swiss, which brings us back to another conspiracy theory, right Spain? ;)

[potatobroth]

this is why we invented the phrase 'we wuz robbed' it might be the first time it's happened to you; but it's by no means the first time it's happened.

hardly the first time for the US. from recent memory:

2002: uncalled handball v. Germany in the quarters. clear handball on teh line stopped the ball from goin in the net.

2006: phantom red card to onyewu after he was dragged to the carpet allowing italy keep a tie

2010: phantom penalty on a player who was being bear-hugged.

I watch SO much soccer that it does roll off me now, but... FUCK THIS. I'm so sick of it (and not just because its the US.) I rarely see this in the 50+ EPL games I see each year. Always in the WC though.

US was robbed of the winning goal. It doesnt change anything after the fact, but for fuck's sake, FIFA/ref just has to admit it.

And Mali? Are you serious?

[bas_I_am]

this is football[sic] - its beauty and its pain are that it's like life.

I never thought about like that... you're right though....

Mind numbing tedium occasionally interrupted by onlookers making a whole lot of noise about nothing of real import....

Yes, soccer is a lot like life

:)

[Jason Roth]

2002: uncalled handball v. Germany in the quarters. clear handball on teh line stopped the ball from goin in the net.

Torsten Frings! I remember this one. The ref let Germany use 2 keepers that game. No big deal right?

Yes, we've been fucked on a consistent basis, but I take it as a compliment. They fear us bro, that's why they don't want us in their little football tournament.

USA RESPECT! :)

edit: Gee, I hope I don't run into that Malian ref in South Africa ;)

[cured]

Is it me or do the England players just have no idea what their team mates are thinking as it pertains to how they are attacking. No imagination, very pedestrian. They look like France out there :/

I expected them to come alive and score a goal or two.

[//\/\/]

Is it me or do the England players just have no idea what their team mates are thinking as it pertains to how they are attacking. No imagination, very pedestrian. They look like France out there :/

I expected them to come alive and score a goal or two.

absolutely. fucking rubbish, that. not even the basics of control and passing were right. garbage.

rooney moaned about being booed off - what did he expect - and wtf was going on with him? never seen him play that badly - every element of his game was poor, and by the end he looked either pissed or injured.

cured; you got some of that whiskey spare?!

[//\/\/]

except that Blatter is Swiss, which brings us back to another conspiracy theory, right Spain? ;)

sorry :o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o etc!

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

NOW DO YOU BRITS UNDERSTAND WHY AMERICANS DON'T LIKE SOCCER!?!?

Seriously...I get amped up for the WC every 4 years...and now that's THREE in which the US get cheated in some way. But today was the worse. This one was flat out robbery...I was upset when it happened, then I saw the overhead replay and I was furious!! It's not only clearly NOT a foul, but if ANYTHING, you could have called up to 3 penalty kicks against Slovenia!! I'm not asking for anything as logical and sensical as say, instant replay, but maybe hiring some competant refs would be nice. Biggest sporting event in the entire world and FIFA apparently does not care about the officiating. That's why most of us don't like soccer. You better believe the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL would have gotten a call like that right.

tl;dr: :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[//\/\/]

see earlier post re. 'life' - if you only get involved every 4 years, you can't see (or, more importantly, feel) the balance sheet clearly...

and i don't believe it's the reffing that you don't get - isn't it more the fact that there's not dozens of points being scored?

and for instant replays - again, see what i put about world cup and my son's team - the game is largely the same simple thing at any level, on any pitch. that's what makes it globally far more important, successful and popular globally than the XXX games you mention.

[cured]

absolutely. fucking rubbish, that. not even the basics of control and passing were right. garbage.

rooney moaned about being booed off - what did he expect - and wtf was going on with him? never seen him play that badly - every element of his game was poor, and by the end he looked either pissed or injured.

cured; you got some of that whiskey spare?!

I ran out of booze following the Lakers win over the Celtics in game 7 of the NBA finals last night.

So what's the deal with game 3 for England and the US? If both tie, does the US advance based on goals scored if both teams play to, say 1-1?

I'd say England should have an easier time with Slovenia; the US shredded them in the second half. It'd just be nice to see my country playing with a lead for once.

Back to today's game: you're right. The passing was just awful, even when they had a play in mind. It was on set pieces that I felt they just didn't know what they wanted to do. I felt they were pressing towards the end, launching shots from 35 meters out and going away from trying to get through-balls to the guys standing at the 18. They had some decent chances but, most of the time, they held onto the ball too long.

I'm surprised a country as advanced in the game as England is playing the wait-and-see approach to attacking; I thought they'd be one-touch passing into the box with regularity. What the hell is up with that?

Back to the US: we can cry and whine about getting jobbed by the refs but giving up those two goals so easily has those types of consequences. As far as officiating, it is surprising that in the showcase tournament, they're essentially using training referees when there are plenty of quality officials out there. Not to say this happened in any way but what's to stop a ref who knows he's only going to officiate one or two matches from taking a few coin to skew the result of one group match? When you don't go with proven commodities, all sorts of things can happen.

[matt]

http://cdn.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-sun-world-cup-2010.jpg

[matt]

So what's the deal with game 3 for England and the US? If both tie, does the US advance based on goals scored if both teams play to, say 1-1?Yes, England would have to draw 3-3 and USA 0-0 for England to advance

[cured]

Yes, England would have to draw 3-3 and USA 0-0 for England to advance

what happens if the US draws 0-0 and England draws 2-2?

[//\/\/]

I ran out of booze following the Lakers win over the Celtics in game 7 of the NBA finals last night.

too bad!

So what's the deal with game 3 for England and the US? If both tie, does the US advance based on goals scored if both teams play to, say 1-1?

something dreadful like if you draw 1-1 and we draw 2-2 then it'll come down to drawing lots :eek::eek::eek: interesting new way to go out of a tournament!

I'd say England should have an easier time with Slovenia; the US shredded them in the second half. It'd just be nice to see my country playing with a lead for once.

not if we play like that - slovenia look a far more technically accomplished team than algeria - we got away with a draw only because they have nothing up front - i think you'll take them apart.

Back to today's game: you're right. The passing was just awful, even when they had a play in mind. It was on set pieces that I felt they just didn't know what they wanted to do. I felt they were pressing towards the end, launching shots from 35 meters out and going away from trying to get through-balls to the guys standing at the 18. They had some decent chances but, most of the time, they held onto the ball too long.

I'm surprised a country as advanced in the game as England is playing the wait-and-see approach to attacking; I thought they'd be one-touch passing into the box with regularity. What the hell is up with that?

you're as baffled as all of us, believe me. playing heskey certainly robs rooney of the space he needs; but this wasn't about that - it was just rubbish. no excuses. booed off - and i've never heard that before at a world cup; but deservedly so.

Back to the US: we can cry and whine about getting jobbed by the refs but giving up those two goals so easily has those types of consequences.

not that you could do anything about the first - fantastic shot.

As far as officiating, it is surprising that in the showcase tournament, they're essentially using training referees when there are plenty of quality officials out there. Not to say this happened in any way but what's to stop a ref who knows he's only going to officiate one or two matches from taking a few coin to skew the result of one group match? When you don't go with proven commodities, all sorts of things can happen.

i still think that bribery intimations are wrong, whatever you might think. reffing really isn't easy - overhead views and replays are fine; but the ref isn't able to look everywhere. certainly the standards will vary in the early stages - we've seen over-officious, card-happy and a bit dozy at times. but again; it's part of the humanity of the sport. it's another uncertain element - it leads to us talking and arguing and gnashing teeth and being relieved and praising and swearing. it's like life again...

[//\/\/]

Yes, England would have to draw 3-3 and USA 0-0 for England to advance

as the commentator put it - ''it feels like 2 years since england scored'' :(

[//\/\/]

what happens if the US draws 0-0 and England draws 2-2?

can't see either happening - you'll beat algeria easily - 3-0 at least. they're hopeless.

and as for us scoring 2? :confused:

[BrotherLovesDub]

I have an idea to make this less confusing.

PLAY THE FUCKING GAME UNTIL THERE'S A WINNER!

American's don't like soccer because it's so fucking annoying. A point for a tie? This isn't the fucking Special Olympics, but then again, maybe it is the way the England team played.

[bas_I_am]

There's no right answer to that question because all sports have their flaws. I will say that games should never end in ties and penalty kicks/shootouts should never determine a winner, especially in the Championship game.

edit: I will list sports that are more exciting to watch than 'football/soccer'

Basketball
Hockey
Lacrosse
Table Tennis
Tennis
Water Polo
Cycling
Softball
Handball
Racketball
Ultimate Frisbee
Jai Alai
Marbles
Checkers
Hop Scotch
Double Dutch
Cricket
Let me add...

Competitive paint drying

[cured]

i still think that bribery intimations are wrong, whatever you might think. reffing really isn't easy - overhead views and replays are fine; but the ref isn't able to look everywhere. certainly the standards will vary in the early stages - we've seen over-officious, card-happy and a bit dozy at times. but again; it's part of the humanity of the sport. it's another uncertain element - it leads to us talking and arguing and gnashing teeth and being relieved and praising and swearing. it's like life again...

It isn't like us Americans don't have referees in our sports. Criticizing referees is part of our culture.

Plus, there's that whole Tim Donaghy thing. Ref who bet on games, even the ones he officiated, because he knew the culture of referees and how the league preferred them to call games.

[matt]

I have an idea to make this less confusing.

PLAY THE FUCKING GAME UNTIL THERE'S A WINNER!

American's don't like soccer because it's so fucking annoying. A point for a tie? This isn't the fucking Special Olympics, but then again, maybe it is the way the England team played.

You're a strange one aren't you.

Why not just watch your American "World" Series and let the people here who enjoy football post in this thread. Is the concept of a draw, sorry tie, that abhorrent to you? Nice comment about the "Special" Olympics too.

[//\/\/]

Let me add...

Competitive paint drying

oh, and welcome to technique :rolleyes:

[//\/\/]

http://cdn.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-sun-world-cup-2010.jpg

only team that could have been easier would have been wales. but then, they didn't qualify.

for a change :p

[//\/\/]

I never thought about like that... you're right though....

Mind numbing tedium occasionally interrupted by onlookers making a whole lot of noise about nothing of real import....

Yes, soccer is a lot like life

:)

wow - that's some life you're living! ;):)

[cured]

I have an idea to make this less confusing.

PLAY THE FUCKING GAME UNTIL THERE'S A WINNER!

American's don't like soccer because it's so fucking annoying. A point for a tie? This isn't the fucking Special Olympics, but then again, maybe it is the way the England team played.

There's plenty of people who don't like footie out there but why bring your apathy into the thread if it isn't your thing?

I mean, hasn't this mantra been repeated at least 100 billion times in Internet forums around the world since the 9600 baud days?

I love the game. Sure, a lot of the games have left something to be desired but there have been some good ones. The second round will have a lot of high drama, not to mention the teams will have shaken the rust off.

Go watch faggy baseball.

[//\/\/]

PLAY THE FUCKING GAME UNTIL THERE'S A WINNER!

why?

[BrotherLovesDub]

I love watching lots of sports and especially big tournaments. I thought one of you real fans could explain the benefit of having a game (or lots of games) end in a tie. I've watched nearly every game of this WC so I don't hate the sport, I just completely disagree with any sporting event ending in a tie. It shouldn't happen, ever.

[BrotherLovesDub]

why?

Seriously? Why play until someone wins? You play to win. Games are played to be won or lost, unless you are retarded or in grade school where everyone is a winner.

Which are you?

[cured]

The first round games can end in draws but the second round (playoffs) do not.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Why allow games to end in a tie anyway? Wouldn't it be easier to play until someone scores? I'm not just being combative, I really want to know why football fans think it's ok to play to a draw.

Maybe it's an England thing where you'd rather tie than lose?

[//\/\/]

Seriously? Why play until someone wins? You play to win. Games are played to be won or lost,

unless, over the period of time allotted to the game, both teams prove to be the equal. there's nothing wrong with that.

unless you are retarded or in grade school where everyone is a winner.

Which are you?

ooh, saucy. it's not about the black or the white, the winner or the loser. there's shades in life. it's about subtlety and detail - appreciating different things and seeing more depth. maybe one day you'll see that; though clearly you're lacking a certain intellectual fine-tuning at this stage in life.

or in short: grow the fuck up and give a better reason before you come hurling insults.:rolleyes:

[//\/\/]

Why allow games to end in a tie anyway? Wouldn't it be easier to play until someone scores?

easier for the dim of aspect.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Ah, so a tie game is intellectually superior. I get it now, thanks. I also had no idea that a tie score meant that both teams played equal. I always thought one team could play better than the other and still not score more points. I guess football is superior in that the team that plays best wins every game. Sometimes in faggy baseball, a team can outplay another team with the exception of 1 pitch and lose the game.

[cured]

Why allow games to end in a tie anyway? Wouldn't it be easier to play until someone scores? I'm not just being combative, I really want to know why football fans think it's ok to play to a draw.

Maybe it's an England thing where you'd rather tie than lose?

Let's put it this way: in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, etc, you can substitute any number of players at any time without limit. In soccer (footie), you can't. You get 5 subs to make for the entire game and that's it. That's a lot of running for a group of players and the quality of play suffers if you have to play overtime after overtime in the first round of a tournament, let alone a season. Should the teams be allowed as many subs as they want? Not for me to say.

Tactics do come into play, though, when teams know there is a tie looming. Some teams are fine playing for the tie and they pull their players back. Teams in desperate need of a win need to push forward. It's a small but interesting element to the game.

Because of the substitutions rule, it wouldn't be much of a game if they played until one team fell over and the other team taps in a goal just because of fatigue.

[//\/\/]

a tie doesn't mean that - it can mean just that a superior team can be thwarted either by luck, or by a well-organised or committed inferior team. it's why sport is, well, sporting. so in baseball, because you insist on all or nothing, the crushing team can walk away with nothing due to the crushed team getting lucky at the end. sounds crap. at least today your team got a point from the game.

[cured]

Ah, so a tie game is intellectually superior. I get it now, thanks. I also had no idea that a tie score meant that both teams played equal. I always thought one team could play better than the other and still not score more points. I guess football is superior in that the team that plays best wins every game. Sometimes in faggy baseball, a team can outplay another team with the exception of 1 pitch and lose the game.

Ain't outplaying by much if one pitch costs the team a game, is it?

I'm in the minority here around the office by not liking baseball, I prefer to have action going on at all times. The NFL and NBA are the kings of my sports world, save for the times I can wake up early enough to catch an EPL game or a WC game.

[//\/\/]

football tried 'golden goals' and it was a stinker - it just 'wasn't football' - it felt totally wrong that there was no comeback!

[cured]

^ us yanks actually like golden goals. At least I think so. Sudden death in sports makes games really interesting. As far as not having a comeback, the losing team already had 90 minutes to score and end the game so they forfeit their comeback :)

I think golden goals are MUCH fairer than, say, penalty kicks.

[BrotherLovesDub]

cured's explanation makes the most sense but wouldn't the team with the best fitness win if it came down to that? it seems like it would be pretty easy to allow for a larger team and more substitutions. why not let a player come back on the field?

what was the issue with the golden goal? why didn't it work?

[BrotherLovesDub]

Also, FIFA needs to implement instant replay on important plays.

[cured]

cured's explanation makes the most sense but wouldn't the team with the best fitness win if it came down to that? it seems like it would be pretty easy to allow for a larger team and more substitutions. why not let a player come back on the field?

what was the issue with the golden goal? why didn't it work?

You gotta keep in mind the World Cup happens right after just about every league in the world ends their season, so teams with good players are usually having to nurse injuries from playing a long season. Also, the World Cup is often times held in the northern hemisphere and there are lots of issues with players cramping and being dehydrated in summer heat.

Draws are not a bad thing. It's a good way for a David (Algeria) to take some bragging rights away from a Goliath (England). If Goliath isn't good enough to beat David in regulation, just give them both a point and have them move on. In today's case, a draw for England could very well be their death knell. Just wait to you see what the tabloids have to say about it.

Don't worry, though, draws will be a thing of the past after next Friday. When that second round starts, you'll get overtime and, if that doesn't settle it, penalty kicks.

It all evens out. I've been watching the World Cup since 1994 and the best teams generally always manage to escape out of their group since there are 3 games to be played.

[//\/\/]

what was the issue with the golden goal? why didn't it work?

it just didn't feel satisfactory for football. penalties, however nerve-racking, at least reduce the game to its essence ie kick the ball into the goal.

replays? again - it's about the world cup being intrisically the same game that my son plays in his sunday league - controlled and decided by the same set of officials...

as cured knows - 'it all evens out'

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

see earlier post re. 'life' - if you only get involved every 4 years, you can't see (or, more importantly, feel) the balance sheet clearly...

and i don't believe it's the reffing that you don't get - isn't it more the fact that there's not dozens of points being scored?

and for instant replays - again, see what i put about world cup and my son's team - the game is largely the same simple thing at any level, on any pitch. that's what makes it globally far more important, successful and popular globally than the XXX games you mention.

What do you mean I don't get the dozens of points being scored? Ohh I get it lol americans right?

Also, the whole "game is played the same at every level" thing is ridiculous...how can that be a good thing? Are you really arguing that soccer is a better sport because the officiating is done by people who are barely qualified to ref peewee soccer? Do you think the reason baseball or football hasn't caught on overseas is because there's instant replay? You sure it has nothing to do with tradition?


Back to the US: we can cry and whine about getting jobbed by the refs but giving up those two goals so easily has those types of consequences. As far as officiating, it is surprising that in the showcase tournament, they're essentially using training referees when there are plenty of quality officials out there. Not to say this happened in any way but what's to stop a ref who knows he's only going to officiate one or two matches from taking a few coin to skew the result of one group match? When you don't go with proven commodities, all sorts of things can happen.

That's not an excuse!! Are you saying the second half shouldn't matter? Yes USA could have played better but they still deserved the win!

[cured]

That's not an excuse!! Are you saying the second half shouldn't matter? Yes USA could have played better but they still deserved the win!

What I was saying was the US could have avoided letting this come down to a bad ref by playing a little defense and not giving up two first half goals. That first goal, while a nice shot, shouldn't have happened. They gave the shooter way too much room to line up his shot.

It's all academic if the US wins against Algeria, anyway. We'd have to celebrate quickly because we'd likely have a date with zee Germanz.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Yeah, Ian's arguments are complete 'rubbish', to use the parlance of his superior countrymen. The game is worse for not having instant replay available. If a team wins any game they shouldn't have won because of a poor call by the official, the game loses it's credibility. I like how the NFL has limited challenges and put automatic reply review in play. I also think tennis has benefitted from instant replay. Baseball is starting to use it on certain plays too and that has ensured that the correct call is made. None of this fantasy fulfillment about tradition. It's about getting the calls right when the game is on the line.

Of course, it sounds like English football fans are content to tie and not at all concerned about the correct call being made.

[Dunwho]

And Mali? Are you serious?

I am not liking the way people are so quick to presume a referee would be less proficient because he is from Mali. All the referees have reached a certain level of ability at their job, they know the rules and do the best they can in the unique situation that is presented at every match.

They are only human, and just like players they can have bad days, even the "best" referees!

In fact the "best" are often just the least controversial who have pissed off the least amount of people.


I think the best way to approach a bad call like what happened today against the USA is to accept that nothing you can do will change anything, the past is the past... but what you can do is use it to create that unique rivalry and desire to "put things right" that makes football a proper experience for so many people.

To really understand you have to invest yourself in the game, follow a team for a season... for a lifetime... with your parents... grandparents... family... son... - also following a team that is a bitter rival to those family members favourite team is good fun too....

...and then... after years of watching players grow and develop... have marriage breakdowns and drink driving offences... broken legs and arms... disappointing music careers and embaresing adverts... that player breaks through and beats a ragged offside trap at the world cup finals.. your off your seat with your heart in your mouth... you think about all the times he has skipped so easily past the goalkeeper and slotted it in the back of the net like a piece of cake on a cold winter's Saturday morning.... you grab the arm of the closest family member - united by an indescribable pride for your common nationality - for fear of falling over in excitement.....



..... and the ref fucks up.


.... shit happens.. we'll do it next time.



I have taken my utter disgust at Henry's handball against us (Ireland) in the playoffs and have turned it into a competitive desire to see them lose at all costs... but i have accepted that there is nothing i can do about it and nobody wants to hear me moan about it.

Shit happens.... move on....

Perhaps MLB, NFL, NBA etc are over controlled and slaves to television evidence... and there is a lot of benefits for TV evidence, but football has been preserved because it is essentially the same game whether you are playing with your mates with jumper goalposts... or in the Champions League Final.:D

[Dunwho]

Also, the whole "game is played the same at every level" thing is ridiculous...how can that be a good thing? Are you really arguing that soccer is a better sport because the officiating is done by people who are barely qualified to ref peewee soccer? Do you think the reason baseball or football hasn't caught on overseas is because there's instant replay? You sure it has nothing to do with tradition?


Oh and the reason why football has been so popular around the world is because the essence of the game is so easily achieved with the most simple of items. If you had grown up in a country outside of North America you would nearly definitely have spent a few hours a day in the school yard kicking a flattened can around with your friends - goals made out of jumpers or traffic cones..

-you would have had that all too familiar argument with your friends "THAT WAS OVER!!!!" - "NO IT WASNT IT WAS WELL UNDER THE BAR YOUR JUST REAL SMALL!!!" - and after everyone has had a good shout, the majority rules and the defeated swallow their pride and use that anger either in a dodgy tackle, or score a more legitimate goal and rub it in their friends faces!!

Because it is so simple to play football it thrives in lower class societies that have less money, and because the majority of earth population is in poverty it thrives! Basketball? Tennis? American Football... not so easy.


And just to get things straight!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14668_208974999914_710129914_3096575_7635709_n.jpg

[BrotherLovesDub]

but football has been preserved because it is essentially the same game whether you are playing with your mates with jumper goalposts... or in the Champions League Final.:D

Wow, you guys really think Football is superior because a Champions League game where millions of pounds/dollars/duckets are at stake is indistinguishable from a pickup game on the weekend with your overweight, talentless mates? Seriously? These games actually mean something. Peoples careers, livelihoods, futures are at stake. There is a lot of money on the line. I'm baffled at the attitudes of the English/Scottish/Irish fans. You like games that end in a tie because at least you get a point and you think your beloved football is superior because an actual meaningful match is not officiated any differently than a casual game with friends. I think we're getting to the heart of why Americans are hesitant to embrace soccer. We actually play our sports to win. We actually want the right call to be made, regardless of whether our amateur sports have replays. We actually care about a game deciding goal being properly called. In the British Isles, close is good enough.

[BrotherLovesDub]

btw, totally agree w/r/t the names of the sports. Football should be football and American Football should be Handegg or at least something else entirely.

[Jason Roth]

That call hasn't gotten any better with age.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Oh and the reason why football has been so popular around the world is because the essence of the game is so easily achieved with the most simple of items. If you had grown up in a country outside of North America you would nearly definitely have spent a few hours a day in the school yard kicking a flattened can around with your friends - goals made out of jumpers or traffic cones..

-you would have had that all too familiar argument with your friends "THAT WAS OVER!!!!" - "NO IT WASNT IT WAS WELL UNDER THE BAR YOUR JUST REAL SMALL!!!" - and after everyone has had a good shout, the majority rules and the defeated swallow their pride and use that anger either in a dodgy tackle, or score a more legitimate goal and rub it in their friends faces!!

Because it is so simple to play football it thrives in lower class societies that have less money, and because the majority of earth population is in poverty it thrives! Basketball? Tennis? American Football... not so easy.


And just to get things straight!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14668_208974999914_710129914_3096575_7635709_n.jpg


Ummm isn't American football easier? You don't even need the cones...

It wasn't called 'football' for nothing. Back when it was invented most sports were played on horses. For football you used your feet. It's just a name. In rugby, making it to the end zone is called a 'try' even though you get points just for that...but we never use that as an excuse to say "rugby sucks"

[Dunwho]

Ummm isn't American football easier? You don't even need the cones...

It wasn't called 'football' for nothing. Back when it was invented most sports were played on horses. For football you used your feet. It's just a name. In rugby, making it to the end zone is called a 'try' even though you get points just for that...but we never use that as an excuse to say "rugby sucks"

A try in rugby is called so because originally you didnt get any points for getting past the line... it was considered "a good try" but not good enough. I believe the only way you got points was from the resulting kick at goal.

Maybe im wrong but isnt the shape of the american football pretty essential to the throwing technique?? Last time i threw an empty can it didnt go very far :D and youd need something to mark out where the end-zone started...


And let me get one thing straight I enjoy watching Basketball a lot - in fact that is the sport i played most in school and still a good bit today... I make a huge effort to keep in touch with the Celtics (pity about last night) and aswell as Basketball i also follow the Red Sox and enjoy the Superbowl every year (I cant seem to get into Ice Hockey though :confused: )... So please be sure to understand that i by no means consider American sports inferior or that they "Suck" and have never wanted to insinuate that they are bad because of the way they are played or refereed....


... but in response to BLD who I must have come across quite strongly to in my post (Not intended)...

Yes, in essence a game of football between my EXTREMELY FIT AND ATHLETIC friends is (essentially!!!!) the exact same as the Champions League final. The rules all apply and whoever scores most wins... it is a beautifuly simple idea that works wonders.

But to think that we are less competitive!? That we are somehow happy with a draw!!!!???? Why in gods name do you think people invest so much time in Football?? Football is the biggest sport in the world - not just Europe - THE WORLD!! - And that is not because people who play football are happy to draw, its because everyone wants to win.

And if it is just America that really really really wants to win they have a shit hard time achieving that don't they? ... and USA didnt look like they wanted to win more today until they went 2-0 down.. and woke up and realised that they are playing a pretty decent side.

The beauty of football is that on a given day anyone has a chance - even "Tiny Slovenia" (as ESPN so big headedly put it)... whereas in fact i would consider Slovenia's qualification to the world cup a bigger achievement because of the high quality of teams in Europe - much much higher quality than those up against the USA in CONCACAF. Although over the years the USA have gradually gotten much better since World Cup 94 I still think there is a strange ignorance that is promoted in the USA that suggests they are the best by right.. when in fact they are still a little off the mark and the game of football is not as rigorously controlled and predictable as many other American sports are.

[cured]

whoops!

Malian referee Koman Coulibaly, criticized for disallowing a potentially U.S.-winning goal off a free kick in Friday's U.S.-Slovenia World Cup clash, may be dropped by FIFA for the rest of the World Cup, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.

Citing a FIFA source, the report says Coulibaly is poised to face an expedited performance review from the refereeing committee of world football's governing body. Officials plan to review footage on Saturday from the Group C game to evaluate Coulibaly's performance after several U.S. players blasted his handling of the match, Yahoo said.

Second-half sub Maurice Edu appeared to put the U.S. ahead in the 86th minute, poking in a close-range shot after Landon Donovan's free kick to him. But the goal was waved off by Couilibaly, though it was not clear on whom the foul was called or what the foul was.

After the match, Landon Donovan said he asked the referee what the call was but did not get an answer.

"We asked the ref many times what it was or who it was on and he wouldn't or couldn't explain it," Donovan said. "I don't know what to think of the call because I didn't see any foul, just a normal free kick and a goal."

In the NBA and NFL, there are such phenomenon known as "make up calls". Let's see if the US gets any when they play Algeria.

video clip here:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5304289/ce/us/fifa-ax-us-slovenia-ref-wc?cc=5901&ver=us

[//\/\/]

Yeah, Ian's arguments are complete 'rubbish', to use the parlance of his superior countrymen. The game is worse for not having instant replay available. If a team wins any game they shouldn't have won because of a poor call by the official, the game loses it's credibility. I like how the NFL has limited challenges and put automatic reply review in play. I also think tennis has benefitted from instant replay. Baseball is starting to use it on certain plays too and that has ensured that the correct call is made. None of this fantasy fulfillment about tradition. It's about getting the calls right when the game is on the line.

Of course, it sounds like English football fans are content to tie and not at all concerned about the correct call being made.

to use another piece of anglo-saxon - you're talking bollocks. you might be content with stop-start, let's look at the t.v. sports, with yaaaaaawning intervals between seconds of action- which is what you get in NFL and ROUNDERS. football matches haven't got time for that.

[//\/\/]

anyway; aside from the witless name-calling here, england were shocking last night. unbelievably bad, abject, shapeless, devoid of a plan. it's incredible to have it happen to every single player. yet they couldn't, to a man, get even the basics right. rooney can't moan about the fans booing - i was booing at home - especially as he was the worst player on the field. looks totally unfit - fergie's masterplan at the end of last season has come to fruition!

listening to david james this morning, it sounds like fab's lost the dressing room, brian.

[stimpee]

Do not feed the trolls.

[Dunwho]

anyway; aside from the witless name-calling here, england were shocking last night. unbelievably bad, abject, shapeless, devoid of a plan. it's incredible to have it happen to every single player. yet they couldn't, to a man, get even the basics right. rooney can't moan about the fans booing - i was booing at home - especially as he was the worst player on the field. looks totally unfit - fergie's masterplan at the end of last season has come to fruition!

listening to david james this morning, it sounds like fab's lost the dressing room, brian.

The co-commentator on RTE's coverage blamed their bad play on "fear". Afraid of upsetting the fans, the media, Capello... actually especially capello because he seems to use selection as a toll against them by not announcing the team sheet.

I thought that was a bit of an easy explanation ...

but then i switched over to ITV just as they lost and the commentator says something like: "Cue the boos from the crowd, cue the newspaper articles, cue the wrath of Capello after this disastrous performance!!!"

and i laughed

[Eikman]

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7361/t7jfpg.jpg

[Jason Roth]

Eik, that's the best one yet. Brilliant and sad at the same time.

[stimpee]

This is well on its way to being the worst world cup ive ever seen. I'm hoping for a completely vuvuzela-less Euro 2012. Terrible refereeing. And i thought Graham Poll and his 3 yellow cards was a lowpoint of 2006. Thats nothing on the refs from the Germany and USA matches. Blame blame blame. New ball? Vuvuzelas? Bad refs? what to do...

[potatobroth]

and the cards continue with Kewell. i believe every player on Ghana got a second-half yellow as well.

i don't feel like this watching club matches... only the WC. its like for some reason with the World Cup, the refs go absolutely nuts. Blown calls, card-happy, you name it. There've been how many Red cards already? 7 or so? Ridiculous.

[cured]

As soon as the feed for Den/Cmr came on....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Please make it stop.

There's a way to get rid of the vuvuzela sounds is you are able to drop certain frequencies...surprised the networks haven't done that yet.

[BrotherLovesDub]

"But technology can help more and eliminate 90% of the most common problems in referee decisions: Off-sides. They only need to incorporate location microchips into players' boots and the ball. It doesn't have to be GPS. It could work with local location, with a computer triangulating the position of players and balls using receptors placed around the field. It's not science-fiction technology. It can be easily done and it's not expensive for a sport that generates more money than any other sport in the planet.

A technology like that, plus the multiple cameras, would eliminate most of the problems and randomness of soccer, while avoiding interrupting the game too much. So why they don't do it? Some say that, if you make it all too perfect, you take power away from the referees and the soccer federations. Others say that you will take la salsa off the sport. And then there's the ones that say that this would stop the game.

It's all bollocks, especially the last part: The game stops every time there's referee call, but even more so when it's a dubious fault, penalty, goal, or offside. It's then when players and referee waste minutes discussing the play (and frustrated players get pissed off too, which later usually leads to more adrenaline and violence in the field)."

http://gizmodo.com/5567120/usa%2Bslovenia-match-proves-why-soccer-needs-tech?skyline=true&s=i

[Eikman]

lol gizmodo. where's my iphone 4g?

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

As soon as the feed for Den/Cmr came on....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Please make it stop.

There's a way to get rid of the vuvuzela sounds is you are able to drop certain frequencies...surprised the networks haven't done that yet.

Didn't they do it to some of the games this week? I don't recall hearing it much in USA-Slovenia or Mexico-France

[Dunwho]

This is well on its way to being the worst world cup ive ever seen. I'm hoping for a completely vuvuzela-less Euro 2012. Terrible refereeing. And i thought Graham Poll and his 3 yellow cards was a lowpoint of 2006. Thats nothing on the refs from the Germany and USA matches. Blame blame blame. New ball? Vuvuzelas? Bad refs? what to do...

A lot of the Cards have been the result of offences that the Refs cant do anything about, they are cardable offences and cant be ignored - if they dont enforce them they wouldnt be following the rules and they wouldnt be consistent

perhaps the problem is the game has become slightly too regulated and now that the world cup has come around the Refs are afraid to let one slip by!

[BrotherLovesDub]

Italy are a bunch of whiny, flopping sissies. In fact, there is a ton of acting and crying in football.

[BrotherLovesDub]

I guess the USA guys should have flopped when they felt their jerseys tugged instead of trying to score. Suppose flopping and faking is one of those things that makes football a superior sport.

[Jason Roth]

I guess the USA guys should have flopped when they felt their jerseys tugged instead of trying to score. Suppose flopping and faking is one of those things that makes football a superior sport.

We're better than that.

[Jason Roth]

A better way to read the forums: http://www.vuvuzela-time.co.uk/darktrain.org/dirty/forums/

[chuck]

All Whites 1 - Italy 1

Not all draws are equal - but for all you sooks moaning about draws - if you want to tell me I shouldn't be chuffed as all get-out over that result - in the language of my locals ... you can go suck eggs.

Wooohoooo!!!!

[rayray]

brazil - ivory coast....fathers day gift, hoping for an open match!

[cured]

Nah, Chuck...this is one of those matches where a tie is huge. This was supposed to be a completely one-sided match! An offsides for a goal for NZ and a dive (go figure) for the Azzuri. A complete onslaught the Italians put forth and couldn't crack the NZ wall. On top of that, NZ almost stole a win! Great match, this is where having ties in the WC is a good thing...NZ didn't deserve to lose this match.

[cured]

oh, and how about that meltdown the Frogs are having? Anelka sent home, the team director quitting, the team refusing to practice...epic!

[//\/\/]

world cup suddenly coming alive -the french meltdown is pretty funny - a big slice of karma pie, maybe?

i was stuck in a traffic jam for the nz match - hilariously over-excitable co-commentary by robbie savage with the best quote of the competition so far, just at the final whistle: "incredible! brilliant! there's even topless women! fantastic! oh! me voice has gone!"

great stuff for the all-whites!

[cured]

Weird match between Ivory Coast and the Brazilian volleyball team. Not a whole lot of chances but 4 goals.

[BrotherLovesDub]

The best thing about NZ is they play like men. Unlike Brazil and Italy.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Also, if you are gonna stop play, stop the fucking clock. It's pointless to keep it running and use stoppage time. Stop the fucking clock.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Flopping needs to be stopped. Not sure how they can moderate it but it ruins the game.

[//\/\/]

(retrospective red cards would soon cut it out)

[chuck]

(retrospective red cards would soon cut it out)

Don't they have that in the Premiership?

Wasn't one of the Arsenal players done for that earlier in the season?

I'm going to have to watch the replay - I fell asleep waiting for the game - got woken by Nutters text at 5am - got up hoping for a replay - and there wasn't one. Couldn't get back to sleep.

So today - have sleep deprivation - and missed the game. Talk about a lose-lose!

Stoked for the All White players - in terms of gulf in class - Andy Barron, who came on at the end, works in a bank. He had to get time off work for this tournament. There's some perspective.

Apparently his own workmates didn't know he played in the national squad - until they saw him on the field in the qualifier against Bahrain.

:D

[matt]

world cup suddenly coming alive -the french meltdown is pretty funny - a big slice of karma pie, maybe?

i was stuck in a traffic jam for the nz match - hilariously over-excitable co-commentary by robbie savage with the best quote of the competition so far, just at the final whistle: "incredible! brilliant! there's even topless women! fantastic! oh! me voice has gone!"

great stuff for the all-whites!Robbie Savage has been quite refreshing this world cup so far. Was listening to 5 live rather than ITV's shite commentary team for the game and you could see that Savage is a genuine fan of the game and genuinely happy to see the All Whites get the draw. He also had an uncontrollable fit of the giggles when the commentator mentioned Oh Bum Suck during the Korea Argentina match last week,

[//\/\/]

the strangest thing is hearing him slag off players for fouling, arguing, feigning and all the rest of the stuff he used to do so shamelessly: and suddenly admit how wrong he'd been! "oh yeah, that's just what i'd've done. but now i look at it from 'ere, it's inexcusable"

[//\/\/]

got woken by Nutters text at 5am

sorry mate :o

[chuck]

sorry mate :o


All good fella. should have stayed up for it anyway.

Kaka's sending off was another complete joke - the Ivory Coast player was just ridiculous.

One could say it's karma for Rivaldo's pathetic impersonations of being hurt during the Japan/Korea Cup - ball hits him in the chest/stomach - he grabs at his face and flails around like he's been shot. Just random.

But Ryan Nelson got a yellow for walking off the field with cramp in his legs?! wtf? Was it because he didn't get on the stretcher? His comment about the ref was telling "Well if that's a good one, I don't want to see a bad one!"

Roll on Paraguay - will defo get up for that game. NZ on the same points as England after 2 games - who would have thought it. :)

[matt]

Tidy showing from Portugal so far

[cured]

WTF LOL
http://twitter.com/DPRK_FA

[cured]

Spain back on track. That was one of the most lopsided 2-0 games I've ever seen. Did Spain play in their own half for more than 30 seconds in the first half? They left about 3 goals on the field, including that PK miss by David Villa.

Can never know what to make of this team. They dominate possession and can get chances seemingly whenever they want, but 2 goals in 2 games is just not good enough for them.

[cured]

New theory (LOL)

http://www.tnr.com/blog/world-cup/75711 ... -good-shag


Does England Just Need a Good Shag?

Capello has forbidden his players from having sex during the World Cup. Not even "Nice goal" sex or "Sorry about the yellow card" sex. And if you’ve seen some of the wives and girlfriends these guys have, you’ll join me in wishing them the worst of luck in what is, hopefully for them, their last match of the 2010 World Cup this Wednesday.

Capello, in his characteristically no-nonsense coaching style, has instituted this rule for one simple reason: to win games. He subscribes to the belief that abstinence before a game will make a better player—assuming that the act of having sex will result in lowered levels of testosterone, and therefore lower levels of aggression on the field. Boxers and mixed-martial arts fighters tend to fall into this camp as well. It’s considered common sports knowledge that dates back to the ancient Greek Olympics, ahead of which Olympians would avoid what they thought would be energy-draining sexual activities.

...

For the English, though, abstinence is and will continue to be the gameplan. Capello has even installed cameras in his players’ rooms to ensure that nobody gets any. And to cut deeper, alcohol has also been banned, though this is mainly to avoid a repeat of the team’s publicized drunken antics of during the 2006 World Cup that many say cost them the Cup. England is under what seems to be the only sex-ban of any team in the tournament. That makes them the perfect test subject to prove whether not getting laid is really what it takes to win a World Cup. And if we can take their first two matches as any sort of scientific evidence, it seems that what England needs this Tuesday night is not a quiet evening alone but an epic, patriotic shag in the name of salvaging their hopes for World Cup glory.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Also, if you are gonna stop play, stop the fucking clock. It's pointless to keep it running and use stoppage time. Stop the fucking clock.

Totally agreed!! I never got this either :S

Funniest thing so far in the WC - the fact that some of the NZ players had to ask off from work to play in the tournament (and still tied the defending champions), or the faces of the North Koreans after getting absolutely destroyed yesterday??? You make the call...

[King of Snake]

how about France getting their asses kicked by South Africa right this moment

[//\/\/]

Also, if you are gonna stop play, stop the fucking clock. It's pointless to keep it running and use stoppage time. Stop the fucking clock.

again, refer to fifa keeping the game as simple as possible as widely as possible. the ref has a stopwatch and is keeping an eye across the time, besides the 4th official who is also supposed to be totting up time. he, in turn, gets the ref to add time on after the 45.

[cured]

...anyone feeling Honduras getting a draw against Switzerland? If they do I win my office WC pool :(

[cured]

French manager refuses to shake hands with South African manager...what a bitch.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EDrq1SM9f_o

[cured]

ESPN just put out a fantastic (yet gut wrenching film) called "The Two Escobars" as part of a series of films about sports. This one deals with Medellin cartel head Pablo Escobar and the ways the drug industry was tied into the Colombian football team. And yes, it also tells of how the death of Andres Escobar, the guy who scored the own goal when they played the US, was tied to the fate of Pablo himself. Fascinating yet horrifying film. If anyone can catch a torrent of it, you should watch it.

http://30for30.espn.com/film/the-two-escobars.html

[//\/\/]

French manager refuses to shake hands with South African manager...what a bitch.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EDrq1SM9f_o

arsebag! :rolleyes:

[rayray]

big day for the E A S Y bracket : )

England
Algeria
Slovenia
Yanks

[//\/\/]

"it's cup football now, brian"

[cured]

Awesome...another disallowed goal.

[//\/\/]

best 45 minutes we've played so far - no heskey!

[potatobroth]

this is fucking ridiculous. FIFA should ban multi-camera angles and instant-replays from soccer broadcasting because all its doing is exposing their inability to get the important calls correct and drawing attention to their religion-esque secrecy to how they handle complaints.

fucking horrendous. USA should be leading the group right at this exact moment, instead they are 45min from going home.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

THIS IS WHY AMERICANS DONT LIKE SOCCER

[//\/\/]

you should be winning this, and still should - altidore should've put the goal into the stands with that chance - you look like you're all over them.

[cured]

WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[//\/\/]

WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

(that's why the world loves football!)

[cured]

btw does this mean the US won the group, seeing as how we scored more goals than England?

[Eikman]

w00t. if germany wins later, we'll play england next round :)

[cured]

http://i50.tinypic.com/29wswa8.jpg

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I LOVE SOCCER
(not really...i'm still a touch bitter...but how heroic was that!?!?)

[Jason Roth]

GROUP C CHAMPS, SUCKAS!

COME ON YANKS - KEEP IT GOING!!!!!

[potatobroth]

fantastic heart-stopping ending. Ignoring Dempsey's goal that never tallied... you still have Dempsey's pipe followed by Dempsey's miss. Altidore's skying over the goal. Buddle's pass just inches too low for Altidore to receive. Algeria's two super chances at the end -- one that sprang Donovan down the right flank and set up the game winner.

Poor Slovenia.

[Jason Roth]

Poor Slovenia.

They shouldn't have mugged our guys in game 2. Fuck Slovenia - they got exactly what they deserved.

[cured]

...and how about what's going on in England at Wimbledon...36-35 in the fifth set?!?!

[Troy McClure]

...and how about what's going on in England at Wimbledon...36-35 in the fifth set?!?!

up to 47-47 now....:eek:

[//\/\/]

48-48?!

[//\/\/]

50 all - 8'48 minutes and still going!!!

[//\/\/]

but yes - fair result from the group - can't argue with usa topping out, the best 2 teams squeak through after some harem-scarem moments...

much better from engerland today - looked far more like a premiership performance, where the pace was combined with control at last. i wish rooney was 100% as he showed some good bursts and finally has learned how to link up with gerrard. promising.

we're good enough to get knocked out now. bugger.

[matt]

Much better performance from England today. Should really have won by more but I don't think the shocking state of the pitch helped. At the moment it's Ghana in the next round.

And for tennis fans it's now 53 games all in the final set

[//\/\/]

GROUP C CHAMPS, SUCKAS!

of course, due to fifa totally rigging things against the usa, winning the group could prove to be quite the double-edged sword...;)

[cured]

Breathing a bit easier, Eik?

[cured]

hah! That Wimbledon match was suspended until tomorrow tied 59-59