World Cup

[Ed_Reed20]

The tournament is exactly a week away and the amount of injuries to key players has been outstanding and probably the #1 story going in right now. Essien, Pirlo, Cesar, Drogba, Ferdinand and now Altidore have all either been ruled out, battling some form of injury or are fighting a fitness battle.

So who are you guys rooting for?

On another note, for those who haven't seen Nike's epic commercial for the event, here it is:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idLG6jh23yE[/media]

[Purple Nurple]

I was supposed to be there....but thanks crappy stock market! You suck.

My wife is South African so it was gonna be a blast. We're obviously rooting for SA, not hoping for much though. Rugby is their game.

[BuckWilds]

Regardless of their chances, I've got to root for the good ol' USA.

[Reddawn36]

gotta love the world cup.... winning that is probably the 2nd most prestigious award in all of sports (triple crown being the first seeing as it hasn't been won in a little over 3 decades, with 11 winners in it's history)

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='05 June 2010 - 01:06 AM' timestamp='1275714395' post='418153']
gotta love the world cup.... winning that is probably the 2nd most prestigious award in all of sports (triple crown being the first seeing as it hasn't been won in a little over 3 decades, with 11 winners in it's history)
[/quote]

Sorry man, I know this is America but the Triple Crown isn't in the same league as the FIFA World Cup trophy in my opinion. The Triple Crown is obviously more elusive but an entire country can enjoy and take pride when their nation wins the World Cup; the Triple Crown affects one person.

[Purple Nurple]

Honestly, My wife and I both worry about security in SA. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out and what our friends and family tell us vs. whats reported. SA can be a dangerous place if you're not in the know.

[ravens__]

Being a somewhat soccer fan, I'll certainly try to get the hold of as many games I can.

[BloodRaven]

In an attempt to expand my cultural horizons I too will be watching, which is terrifying, because it's so boring.

[MKdave]

ENGLANNNNNNND.
So damn pumped. Football is my favourite sport but nothing in Football comes close to the furore that there is over the World Cup.

[darklight1216]

I probably won't watch [s]any[/s] many games, but I'll root for USA.

[cursona pirate]

GERMANY!!! and USA!!!!!!
this is my first time watching the cup. i needed something new to watch

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='MKdave' date='05 June 2010 - 08:40 AM' timestamp='1275741602' post='418233']
[b]ENGLANNNNNNND. [/b]
So damn pumped. Football is my favourite sport but nothing in Football comes close to the furore that there is over the World Cup.
[/quote]

I wonder they'll choke this year?

[ravens__]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 June 2010 - 05:08 PM' timestamp='1275750524' post='418260']
I wonder they'll choke this year?
[/quote]

This might be their year..
They have all the tools needed for a victorious World Cup and a great manager.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 June 2010 - 01:28 AM' timestamp='1275715690' post='418159']
Sorry man, I know this is America but the Triple Crown isn't in the same league as the FIFA World Cup trophy in my opinion. The Triple Crown is obviously more elusive but an entire country can enjoy and take pride when their nation wins the World Cup; the Triple Crown affects one person.
[/quote]

I'm not dissing the World Cup in any way... but to win something that 1 hasn't been won since 1978, 2 only ELEVEN other people/horses have won, and you saying it affects one person isn't entirely true... (trust me, I've been raised in the horse racing environment)

Like I said, I'm not dissing the World Cup... nor am I that big of a fan of horse racing in upon itself... but the World Cup HAS to have a winner..... the Superbowl HAS to have a winner... the Triple Crown, not so much

[YYZ66]

[quote name='BloodRaven' date='05 June 2010 - 07:21 AM' timestamp='1275736905' post='418208']
In an attempt to expand my cultural horizons I too will be watching, which is terrifying, [b]because it's so boring[/b].
[/quote]

Indeed. If I have a bought of insomnia, I'll tune in.

[Ravenmore74]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' date='04 June 2010 - 10:38 PM' timestamp='1275709117' post='418121']
I was supposed to be there....but thanks crappy stock market! You suck.

My wife is South African so it was gonna be a blast. We're obviously rooting for SA, not hoping for much though. Rugby is their game.
[/quote]
Just for you, I'm rooting for South Africa as well.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='ravens__' date='05 June 2010 - 11:29 AM' timestamp='1275751798' post='418268']
This might be their year..
They have all the tools needed for a victorious World Cup and a great manager.
[/quote]

They've seemingly had all the tools and a quality manager in the past. We'll see if they can advance past the quarters this year but I doubt it.

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='05 June 2010 - 11:51 AM' timestamp='1275753090' post='418276']
I'm not dissing the World Cup in any way... but to win something that 1 hasn't been won since 1978, 2 only ELEVEN other people/horses have won, and you saying it affects one person isn't entirely true... (trust me, I've been raised in the horse racing environment)

Like I said, I'm not dissing the World Cup... nor am I that big of a fan of horse racing in upon itself... but the World Cup HAS to have a winner..... the Superbowl HAS to have a winner... the Triple Crown, not so much
[/quote]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

The Triple Crown is very much noteworthy within horse racing but outside of the sport, no one really cares.

Even if someone isn't a soccer fan, they can take pride knowing their country is world champion in the global game.

[George70]

I will try my best to tune in as many World Cup matches as possible, mostly because it can be such a riveting event.

From what I've been hearing elsewhere, Group G is supposed to be the so-called "Group of Death", with Brazil, Portugal, North Korea and Ivory Coast in the running. this should make for some interesting soccer here.

[XxSizzleXx]

Lets go Canada, wait a second.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 June 2010 - 12:39 PM' timestamp='1275755991' post='418287']
They've seemingly had all the tools and a quality manager in the past. We'll see if they can advance past the quarters this year but I doubt it.



I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

The Triple Crown is very much noteworthy within horse racing but outside of the sport, no one really cares.

Even if someone isn't a soccer fan, they can take pride knowing their country is world champion in the global game.
[/quote]
if someone wasn't a soccer fan... winning the world cup to them would be like winning the triple crown to someone who doesn't like horse racing....

or at least the people I know

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='05 June 2010 - 08:30 PM' timestamp='1275784219' post='418375']
if someone wasn't a soccer fan... winning the world cup to them would be like winning the triple crown to someone who doesn't like horse racing....

or at least the people I know
[/quote]

I just don't see how a horse winning three races is more prestigious than a global competition.

[Guest maryland1]

Never cared for soccer. The field is too big, the scoring too low (goals are normally few and far between, sometimes none), and two teams can run their butts off for 90 minutes only to have the game come down to a kick from a fixed point on the field for the win.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='maryland1' date='05 June 2010 - 08:39 PM' timestamp='1275784786' post='418379']
Never cared for soccer. The field is too big, the scoring too low (goals are normally few and far between, sometimes none), and [b]two teams can run their butts off for 90 minutes only to have the game come down to a kick from a fixed point on the field for the win.[/b]
[/quote]

Same can be said for football.

[Ravenmore74]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 June 2010 - 07:40 PM' timestamp='1275784840' post='418380']
Same can be said for football.
[/quote]
I'm a die hard Real Madrid fan! BWIN 4 life...

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 June 2010 - 08:37 PM' timestamp='1275784674' post='418376']
I just don't see how a horse winning three races is more prestigious than a global competition.
[/quote]

I probably shouldn't have said prestigious

[Ed_Reed20]

Now [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5255477/ce/us/netherlands-arjen-robben-injured-friendly-hungary?cc=5901&ver=us"]Arjen Robben[/url] could miss the tournament and [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5254552/ce/us/nigeria-john-obi-mikel-play-recovery-falls-short?cc=5901&ver=us"]Jon Obi Mikel[/url] has been ruled out.

[sliceanddic3]

With Dempsy out and Altadore hospitalized, the USA's chance of winning the Cup is highly unlikely..... But who cares??? GO USA!!!

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' date='05 June 2010 - 03:19 AM' timestamp='1275722369' post='418175']
Honestly, My wife and I both worry about security in SA. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out and what our friends and family tell us vs. whats reported. SA can be a dangerous place if you're not in the know.
[/quote]


This is exactly what I am talking about.....and the games haven't even begun yet.

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[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 June 2010 - 09:08 AM' timestamp='1275750524' post='418260']
I wonder they'll choke this year?
[/quote]
Oh England will crash and burn forsure again....sadly I cant stop cheering for them to win it, since good ol Canadian boy Owen Hargreaves was on the roster in 06.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='07 June 2010 - 03:03 PM' timestamp='1275937413' post='418882']
Oh England will crash and burn forsure again....sadly I cant stop cheering for them to win it, since good ol Canadian boy Owen Hargreaves was on the roster in 06.
[/quote]

Hargreaves is a prime example of why I can't root for England even as a Brit. There was no way he'd make this year's World Cup but his lack of caps through the years and first-team place because of Gerard and Lampard is complete b.s.