WORLD CUP 2010

[bandl]

Podanski, GF?

Is he the Slovakian that just blew what was basically a penalty kick? I've got the game on mute while I'm in my office right now.

[GannonFan]

My kids like that song "The Double the Dutch" (or whatever the title is). They actually think the Netherlands soccer team is the the Double the Dutch team.

Nice goal by Robben, btw - a Dutch/Brazil matchup would be sweet.

"Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith?

[youtube][/youtube]

Yup!

[bandl]

And the Dutch have basically secured their spot in the quarters.

I'll always have a soft spot for Holland since that is the very first place the wife and I vacationed together. But she's rooting for Portugal since that is where we ended up getting engaged. And I've seen league matches (PSV, FC Porto) in both countries. Tough decision for me...

[Rob Iola]

And the Dutch have basically secured their spot in the quarters.

I'll always have a soft spot for Holland since that is the very first place the wife and I vacationed together. But she's rooting for Portugal since that is where we ended up getting engaged. And I've seen league matches (PSV, FC Porto) in both countries. Tough decision for me...

Gotta hand it to the Dutch - for such a small country they really know how to pick a sport (speed skating in winter, soccer in summer) and not only dominate it (well, ok be pretty good at it wrt soccer) but also have wacky cool fans to boot...

[bandl]

And the Dutch have basically secured their spot in the quarters.

I'll always have a soft spot for Holland since that is the very first place the wife and I vacationed together. But she's rooting for Portugal since that is where we ended up getting engaged. And I've seen league matches (PSV, FC Porto) in both countries. Tough decision for me...

Gotta hand it to the Dutch - for such a small country they really know how to pick a sport (speed skating in winter, soccer in summer) and not only dominate it (well, ok be pretty good at it wrt soccer) but also have wacky cool fans to boot...

I'm rooting for both right now, and I imagine that IF they end up facing each other I'll know where my heart lies (just like the first time I saw the O's/Nat's play, I realized I'm an O's fan first always, no matter how painful it is).

Maybe I'm not picking Holland outright at this point because it was their coldest March in 25 years while we were there, while a few years later in Portugal it was 75 degrees and sunny every single day. Cold weather can really taint (hehe, taint) your memories.

[Grizalltheway]

I'm rooting for a Germany-Holland final.

[DukeJack]

This is a long, but really good, explanation of why the Dutch can pump out so many good players in different sports, focusing on one of the biggest clubs in the country, Ajax:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/magaz ... wanted=all

American sports, aside from what MLS is starting, don't have any kind of equivalent to academies. Young players go through the club, working their way up with focus on technique and game comprehension, hopefully to the full team when they're old enough. It's kinda like how China takes away 3 year olds and trains them for gymnastics or diving or whatever crap they do.

[bandl]

I'm rooting for a Germany-Holland final.

An all-european match will piss off GannonFan!

But...both teams have a tough match coming up first (assuming Brazil wins of course).

[GannonFan]

I'm rooting for a Germany-Holland final.

An all-european match will piss off GannonFan!

But...both teams have a tough match coming up first (assuming Brazil wins of course).

Not even worried, won't happen (and I like Germany and the Dutch). An all-South American final is much more likely.

[bandl]

An all-european match will piss off GannonFan!

But...both teams have a tough match coming up first (assuming Brazil wins of course).

Not even worried, won't happen (and I like Germany and the Dutch). An all-South American final is much more likely.

I'm not placing any bets on any of those teams making it. Too close IMO.

[Grizalltheway]

I personally think Löw's tactical smarts and experience vs. Maradona's jumping around and hugging people will be the difference in that matchup, so I don't think a Brazil-Argentina final is going to happen.

[GannonFan]

This is a long, but really good, explanation of why the Dutch can pump out so many good players in different sports, focusing on one of the biggest clubs in the country, Ajax:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/magaz ... wanted=all

American sports, aside from what MLS is starting, don't have any kind of equivalent to academies. Young players go through the club, working their way up with focus on technique and game comprehension, hopefully to the full team when they're old enough. It's kinda like how China takes away 3 year olds and trains them for gymnastics or diving or whatever crap they do.

It's a little different, though. They don't take kids away from their parents and have them train away from home. Actually, until like 15, the Dutch kids still go to thier normal schools. That's vastly different than the Chinese model of taking 3 and 4 year olds away from their parents and having them train 1,000 miles from home.

And actually the article makes a good point - we overplay our kids, in most sports. Up until the Dutch are 12 or so, they'll practice twice a week and play on the weekend. My 6 year old is basically doing that this year in soccer. And if he played football, it would be at least twice the amount of practicing. You can see it in sports like baseball these days. Kids today, as teenagers, will play well over 100 games in a year. I played high school and Babe Ruth baseball as a high school senior and I didn't play 50 games in that year, and that was just 20 years ago. With things like Showcases and other crap, we are overplaying kids these days.

[BlueHen86]

Robben almost nets an identical goal...

BTW, what's with some of the kit numbers? The Dutch jerseys look like peewee league t-shirts with taped on numbers...

My son and I were laughing at that as we watched the game.

At least all the players had the same tape.

[EPJr]

2010 WORLD CUP
KNOCKOUT ROUND of 8

Uruguay vs. Ghana
Netherlands vs. Brazil

Germany vs. Argentina
Paraguay vs. Spain

[GannonFan]

2010 WORLD CUP
KNOCKOUT ROUND of 8

Uruguay vs. Ghana
Netherlands vs. Brazil

Germany vs. Argentina
Paraguay vs. Spain

I see Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain moving on (although I'd love Germany to knock off Argentina and I always have a soft spot for the Dutch). Still see Brazil winning their sixth star as well (typically a safe bet).

[clenz]

This is how predictable this damn thing is for fans.


I know nothing about soccer...absolutely zero....outside of who is "good" according to the ESPN coverage. I joined a pool that a buddy of mine put together for the final 16. I got 7 out of the 8 games correct, the only one I missed with Ghana/US. There are 14 other people in the pool, all of which are huge soccer fanatics. I'm in first place, and have the most possible points left.

[GannonFan]

This is how predictable this damn thing is for fans.


I know nothing about soccer...absolutely zero....outside of who is "good" according to the ESPN coverage. I joined a pool that a buddy of mine put together for the final 16. I got 7 out of the 8 games correct, the only one I missed with Ghana/US. There are 14 other people in the pool, all of which are huge soccer fanatics. I'm in first place, and have the most possible points left.

Geez, your group really sucks then - it wasn't all that difficult to project the FInal 16.

On the other hand, this makes you the equivalent of the girl who knows nothing about NCAA basketball yet always seems to win the March Madness pools.

[YoUDeeMan]

2010 WORLD CUP
KNOCKOUT ROUND of 8

Uruguay vs. Ghana
Netherlands vs. Brazil

Germany vs. Argentina
Paraguay vs. Spain

I was at the '94 game between the Netherlands and Brazil. Great game, fantastic atmosphere, but I was rooting for the Netherlands (lost 3-2). Wow, there were some Brazilian women that were outrageous! All 5 goals were in the second half.

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We had great seats (thanks, MBNA!) because no one else liked soccer.

Should be another good game...and I'll be rooting for the guys on orange again.

I have a few photos of two of the goals from '94...and a couple of the women. Hmmmmm...gotta' find that album.

[BDKJMU]

Yay! Now hopefully I won't have to hear about the WC as much in the sports news.

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[93henfan]

Holy hell, what a goal by the Dutch!

[93henfan]

Holy hell, what a goal by the Dutch!

And a second even prettier one. Two headers off of a corner kick.

Brazil down 2-1 with 23+ mins left.

[93henfan]

Felipe Melo off with a really dumb penalty. Brazil got chippy and paid the price.

[93henfan]

Adeus, Brazil.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Rekening namen en schopt kont!Gaan Nederland!!!

[BlueHen86]

Adeus, Brazil.

Nice come from behind win for the Dutch. This was an exciting game. Both teams have great offenses, in fact both offenses are so good that neither team could sit back and just play defense and protect the lead. Brazil had some good scoring chances late in the game, even though they were down a man.

I want to see a Germany-Netherlands final.