World Cup

[FlaccoFlicker]

a 1-1 tie as the final well that was unfulfilling

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='FlaccoFlicker' date='12 June 2010 - 04:24 PM' timestamp='1276374245' post='421243']
a 1-1 tie as the final well that was unfulfilling
[/quote]

They played well toward the end though, and got some good confidence. I think they'll be disappointed with the performance too... definitely helps with the 'England will eat your souls' commentary I've been hearing from some friends.

[Clutch Ravens]

Rob Green will not be playing another game for England any time soon...

Originally from Scotland so that's a nice result to shut the English up for another week. Already hearing "We drew our first game of the 1966 campaign, it's an omen!" rubbish all over the TV, as they continually fail to mention that they lost the trophy only for it to be found a few days later by a dog pishing on it in a bush. That's a trophy they must've had fun lifting.

[Man Crush on Flacco]

I never knew Braylon Edwards played soccer for England

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='Man Crush on Flacco' date='12 June 2010 - 09:01 PM' timestamp='1276390891' post='421276']
I never knew Braylon Edwards played soccer for England
[/quote]

I'm mildly surprised we haven't seen a Clayton-to-Green comparison. Not saying it's warranted, but a little surprised. Poor guy is on the cover of all the papers in the UK.

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='12 June 2010 - 12:32 PM' timestamp='1276367577' post='421211']
I won't be watching, I could never get into soccer. And believe me, I've tried.
[/quote]

Steven Colbert breaks it all down of why Soccer will never be big in America, this is hilarious haha. He starts talking about the World Cup around 7:00 check this out guys!

http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-colbert-report/full-episodes/#clip310509

"Nobody gets into a stadium to watch people jog" hahaha

[Ed_Reed20]

Well taken penalty by Asamoah Gyan.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' date='13 June 2010 - 12:43 AM' timestamp='1276407802' post='421316']
Steven Colbert breaks it all down of why Soccer will never be big in America, this is hilarious haha. He starts talking about the World Cup around 7:00 check this out guys!

http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-colbert-report/full-episodes/#clip310509

"Nobody gets into a stadium to watch people jog" hahaha
[/quote]

Man, I love Colbert, probably my favorite show on CC.

Australia is getting embarrassed by Germany.

[cursona pirate]

YEah germany won!

this battle belongs to GERMANY!!!!!!!

go usa too.

[Pääjärvi]

What a dominant performance from Germany, their team although really young has played the most entertaining football so far. Can't wait for Netherlands,Brazil and Spain to finally get on the pitch.

[FerrariFan87]

Man, Germany looked really good today.

[ravens__]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='13 June 2010 - 11:02 PM' timestamp='1276462968' post='421435']
Man, Germany looked really good today.
[/quote]

I concur. Although, I'm not sure if it was the Germans that were good or the Australians that put a terrible display.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Pääjärvi' date='13 June 2010 - 04:58 PM' timestamp='1276462685' post='421433']
What a dominant performance from Germany, their team although really young has played the most entertaining football so far. [b]Can't wait for Netherlands,Brazil and Spain to finally get on the pitch.[/b]
[/quote]

Agreed. The quality of football has been pretty good so far but Holland, Brazil and Spain have more than enough talent to take it to another level.

Germany dismantling Australia was pretty entertaining though. They used the entire pitch to attack them and the finishing was pretty sweet.

I'm looking forward to Cameroon and Japan tomorrow too.

[Alexir]

Can't believe England's keeper.... embarrassing. As much as England should of won 1-0 that score should of been 3-0. They aren't living up to their potential yet again.

[George70]

[quote name='Alexir' date='13 June 2010 - 07:54 PM' timestamp='1276476877' post='421486']
Can't believe England's keeper.... embarrassing. As much as England should of won 1-0 that score should of been 3-0. They aren't living up to their potential yet again.
[/quote]

I have to believe that the England keeper is most likely looking for a place to hide.

Still, I will settle for the draw. Now, on to the next two matches in the first round.

[BuckWilds]

England is ranked #8 in the world by FIFA and the USA is ranked #14. I know FIFA's formula is a little weird, but this wasn't #1 versus #50.

[Twoo]

I REALLY REALLY hope they ban those horns soon. I have to watch the games on mute because of them.

[Clutch Ravens]

It wasn't so much Germany that beat Australia as it was the rest of the world:

Mesut Ozil, the man who created just about everything for Germany is Turkish.

Lukas Podolski, who ripped Australia apart on numerous occasions is, in fact, Polish.

Miroslav Klose, like Podolski, is Polish.

Their final goal scorer, Cacau, is Brazilian.

Therefore, really; Poland beat Australia 2-0, Brazil beat Australia 1-0 and Germany beat Australia 1-0. Muller was the only player that scored for Germany who is actually German. Even Mario Gomez is as much Spanish as he is German.

France are the same. A number of there players are/were from a number of former French colonies.

Bakary Sagna; Senegalese.

Eric Abidal; More Martiniquan than French.

Patrice Evra; Senegalese.

Abou Diaby; As much Ivorian as he is French.

Sidney Govou; As much Beninese as he is French.

Steve Mandanda; Congolese.

So, realistically, the French team contains 17 Frenchman out of 23.

I wouldn't exactly call the French or German teams French or German considering the number of foreign players they have in their respective squads.

[Ed_Reed20]

Some really good match-ups on paper today.

[Clutch Ravens]

First half of the Holland v Denmark game has been awful. It's been like watching two three year olds fight

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Give it to Clutch Clayton' date='14 June 2010 - 08:17 AM' timestamp='1276517853' post='421602']
First half of the Holland v Denmark game has been awful. It's been like watching two three year olds fight
[/quote]

Has is been that bad? It hasn't been an attack-fest but there have been some solid chances for both teams.

[Twoo]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37684365/ns/sports-world_cup/

Fifa is backing the horns and says it will not ban them. WOW.

120,000 people signed a petition in one week requesting the ban, the players almost unanimously want the horns banned and Fifa does nothing. Incredible.

The horns are a main reason why I'm not really watching the games. For some reason it gives me the worst headaches.

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='Twoo' date='14 June 2010 - 11:18 AM' timestamp='1276528726' post='421651']
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37684365/ns/sports-world_cup/

Fifa is backing the horns and says it will not ban them. WOW.

120,000 people signed a petition in one week requesting the ban, the players almost unanimously want the horns banned and Fifa does nothing. Incredible.

The horns are a main reason why I'm not really watching the games. For some reason it gives me the worst headaches.
[/quote]

The Vuvuzela are like having a bee in each ear.

Players have been unable to hear the whistle, the Referee and one another. Fans can't cheer or sing and will surely be fed up of the irritating people sitting beside them blowing those things all game.

However, if a Vuvuzela is thrown on to the pitch then they'll be banned for the rest of the tournament. Anyone happen to be going to any games...?

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='Twoo' date='14 June 2010 - 11:18 AM' timestamp='1276528726' post='421651']
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37684365/ns/sports-world_cup/

Fifa is backing the horns and says it will not ban them. WOW.

120,000 people signed a petition in one week requesting the ban, the players almost unanimously want the horns banned and Fifa does nothing. Incredible.

The horns are a main reason why I'm not really watching the games. For some reason it gives me the worst headaches.
[/quote]

Did you hear about the strike/protest for the security workers? Supposedly they paid them $25 for 12 hours of work instead of the promised $190... FIFA is racking up the awesome.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='Zhamtao' date='14 June 2010 - 12:18 PM' timestamp='1276532304' post='421661']
Did you hear about the strike/protest for the security workers? Supposedly they paid them $25 for 12 hours of work instead of the promised $190... FIFA is racking up the awesome.
[/quote]

...sounds about right. I'm still waiting for the real trouble to begin. If this whole thing goes off without an incident, I will be so shocked. I'm already hearing of small incidents here and there from my in-laws in-country.

About those horns, what the heck is that about? It sounds like a swarm of bees the entire time.

[MKdave]

Wasn't surprised to see that they weren't banned. They're a talisman of that culture and it'd raise as many eyebrows to ban them as it has keeping them so why go to the extra effort.
And not all the players behold them negatively. Jamie Carragher bought a couple for his kids.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='MKdave' date='14 June 2010 - 01:47 PM' timestamp='1276537667' post='421695']
Wasn't surprised to see that they weren't banned. They're a talisman of that culture and it'd raise as many eyebrows to ban them as it has keeping them so why go to the extra effort.
And not all the players behold them negatively. Jamie Carragher bought a couple for his kids.
[/quote]

Yeah, there was some talk of them being well-traveled in the region and that it's sort of an acceptable home field advantage for the teams that have to deal with them on a regular basis.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' date='14 June 2010 - 12:29 PM' timestamp='1276532985' post='421663']
...sounds about right. I'm still waiting for the real trouble to begin. If this whole thing goes off without an incident, I will be so shocked. I'm already hearing of small incidents here and there from my in-laws in-country.

About those horns, what the heck is that about? It sounds like a swarm of bees the entire time.
[/quote]

Make sure the in-laws stay safe. I know certain venues are considered safer than others, so keep them in the secure regions! It's like soccer in Detroit!

[FerrariFan87]

I'm hoping Drogba plays tomorrow v. Ronaldo... that could be really fun to watch.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='14 June 2010 - 08:46 PM' timestamp='1276562765' post='421800']
I'm hoping Drogba plays tomorrow v. Ronaldo... that could be really fun to watch.
[/quote]

I'm looking foward to the match too.

Even if Drogba plays, he won't be the same with a cast on. Regardless, Cote d'Ivoire has some very talented players not named Drogba and I really hope they beat Portugal and Twinkle Toes.