The World Cup Thread

beckenbauer sticking the knife in now, telling us england have gone backwards under capello, and to be fair! he's not far wrong in his assumption..

 

Certainly the latest goal anyone could score - 3 minutes into extra time at the end of the game! Certainly a shocker - first goal for NZ in the WC in some 24 years, and their first points ever in the WC. (not that that means they'll make it out of the group stage, but certainly something to cheer about). Now, the countdown to probably the first 'good' match since the US/England game.

 

I was unable to see the game today. The few times I was at my desk, the feeds I normally watch were not up. I did manage to catch the last 5 mins of the game on a German channel, so i can't analyze the game right now. It doesn't look like Drogba started, though he should have shot on goal at the end there instead of trying to pass it. From what few minutes I did see, Ivory Coast certainly had the better chances. Oh yeah, Ronaldo-who?

 

go Deutschland !!!!

oh sorry they don't play today. still trying to figure how some of these teams even made it to the cup

 

Ronaldo up to his old tricks again. Ridiculous dive completely fooled the ref and got Zokora a booking after about 5 minutes :|

 

32 teams have to make it to the WC...so its pretty easy to get some crap countries once you start counting down.

England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Portugal....thats pretty much all of Europe right there. The Balkans don't really count. So thats 7 teams.

USA, Mexico - pretty much the only North American countries/teams.

Brazil, Argentina - the best South Americans, through in Paraguay and one or two Central American countries.

So thats maybe 15 of 32 countries needed. So now we have to start picking countries from elsewhere...like Asia and Africa.

Ok, so Ivory Coast is probably the best African country. Pretty damn good. Throw in two more pretty decent African countries, lets be generous, and that gets us up to about 20 Countries.

Still need a dozen or so other countries. Who to choose who to choose...

 

Lichstenstein ?

 

Not only are those damned plastic horns too irritating for most American viewers (myself included) to tolerate, the game itself sometimes just gets to slow.

I know there are subtle moves, and strategies involved here, but still. Unfortunately this is the opinion of far too many Americans.

 

That is probably a rather big generlization of Americans though - many Americans are European transplants, or Hispanic - both cultures feature Soccer rather prominently. I find Baseball to be the most boring sport ever invented. American Football is too slow - half the game is commercials, afterall. Soccer is 45 minutes of constant action. If not for the horns, you'd be able to hear the fans singing.

 

I won't dispute you over baseball Mussolini, I enjoyed playing it in my youth forty-five and more years ago, but never did enjoy watching it on TV unless it was the series. And even that faded into nothing after the baseball strike. Haven't been a fan since.

As to NFL style football, I do also agree that there are too many "commercial" timeouts on the tube and at the game, but the collegiate games are my favorites anyway. But, that all said when I have to put any game on "mute" so I can watch it, I just don't.

As to comparing those two sports, pro or amateur my favortie comedian of all time did a super job.

See:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om_yq4L3M_I

 

North Korea scoring a goal on Brazil was pretty shocking. Overall I would say a pretty slow start by many "powerhouse" countries.

 

I tried watching some of the game with the N. Koreans and Brazil today. Boooooooring. For the life of me I cannot see what is so exciting about kickball and why so many people go apesh1t over it. I mean the refs throw "yellow cards" for stepping on someones shadow. And where is the 45 minutes of action? I sat at the bar, ate lunch, read the paper, drank 4 or 5 beers, went outside and smoked a cigar, came back in, went to the restroom, sat down, drank another beer and the score was still doughnut to doughnut. Oh yeah!

 

Snooze fest.......I can't support a "sport" which requires grown men to run around in satin shorts and motivates the fans to sing.

 

We only sing because somebody thought that stabbing and cracking skulls with two by fours wasn't good form.

BTW whats up with the padding of players in US football. Staring into the arse of the player in front of you during starts of the game. Seems very homoerotic to me...

Try rugby loose your teeth, break your bones and drink crates of beer.

 

The Brazil vs North Korea match was probably the most exciting match so far, bar the Germany game. Lowest ranked team in the tournement play the highest ranked team in the tournament and put on defensive masterclass. The underdogs scored a cracker of a goal too, and considering Brazil's opener was lucky in the extreme, the final result could have been very different.

Worryingly, it doesn't look like Brazil have a plan B. Though I doubt they'll come up against a team so defensive again so it probably won't matter.

 

I wouldn't call the Germany vs. Australia game 'exciting'. It was a blowout, against a 10-man team for a good portion of the second half. It'd be like a college team playing a nursing home.

I thought the NZ game was more entertaining - can't beat tying the game in the 93rd minute! I did not get to see much of the Brazil game, but I did see the North Korean Goal. I love how he immediately ran to his couch and said "Do I get a slice of bread with dinner tonight?". You also have to love the NK Actors that were there in support. What a horrible country...

Today should have some interesting games...last few times finally getting their starts. Honduras vs Chile should be a good, dirty, south american game. Switzerland will play defensively against Spain but I expect Spain to come away on top.

The interesting thing about the Group of Death is that i think it will come down to a tie-breaker, so that goal NK scored against Brazil could be very important.

 

I can not argue that logic.

I agree. I think it is a case of latent homoeroticism v. flamboyant homoeroticism.

A true gentleman's game where it is perfectly legal to slug an opponent in the head as long as he is looking at you.

 

The Irish have some weird game where they beat each other with clubs, no padding required. They use said clubs to hit a ball and apparently its pretty popular there. I saw a clip where a bunch of guys jumped up for the ball waving their clubs...skulls get cracked of course, and it seems like a pretty violent game.

Anyways, back on topic, Chile should wrap up the win here (1 - 0) as Honduras hasn't had many chances on goal. I'm more interested in the next game (Spain, woot woot) and finally found a relatively steady stream. If only the HD one was so stable...

 

That would be Hurling.........all teams are sposored by Guinness. Recently helmets have been adopted as optional equipment.

 

Spain!! Interesting 1st half.. will they score!