WORLD CUP 2010

[bandl]

Who woulda thunk that France wouldn't have a single goal after 180 minutes? Love it.

Anyone who watched the 2002 cup?

So you're just going to overlook their 2006 WC?

[bandl]

Serbie up 1-0 on Germany going into the half...did anyone see that blast off the top bar at the end???

And did everyone forget that perhaps Australia isn't a very good team to gauge against?

Germany is without Klose for the remainder of the match....going to make this very interesting!

[Rob Iola]

Serbie up 1-0 on Germany going into the half...did anyone see that blast off the top bar at the end???

And did everyone forget that perhaps Australia isn't a very good team to gauge against?

Germany is without Klose for the remainder of the match....going to make this very interesting!

Klose's also out next match too, right? Ghana beat Serbia, so they're no pushover - and German will likely need a result to advance...

[Hansel]

Torres in for Clark

Sadly Robbie Findley is starting again

[GannonFan]

Easily one of the worst things about soccer is the power of the red card - it's an absolute game changer that no other sport has anything similar too. The guy from Nigeria gets a straight red yesterday and that game changed instantly - same thing happened today with Klose getting two quick and questionable yellows to get the boot early in the game, changing that as well. It's obviously something soccer has lived with for a long time, but it's still one of the worst aspects of the game, giving the referee almost god-like power in determining the outcome in the game (not to mention the knockdown effect of the player also being suspended for the following game). Imagine if Kobe got thrown out for two fouls and then had to miss the next game as well. No reason for the referee to have such a huge impact on the game like that.

With that said, wow, Ghana in the driver's seat assuming they can beat Australia - who would've thunk that coming into the tournament?

[GannonFan]

Torres in for Clark

Sadly Robbie Findley is starting again

Findley's not so bad - in the famous words of Mick in the Rocky movies, "speed, speed, speeeeeeeeed!".

[bandl]

Easily one of the worst things about soccer is the power of the red card - it's an absolute game changer that no other sport has anything similar too. The guy from Nigeria gets a straight red yesterday and that game changed instantly - same thing happened today with Klose getting two quick and questionable yellows to get the boot early in the game, changing that as well. It's obviously something soccer has lived with for a long time, but it's still one of the worst aspects of the game, giving the referee almost god-like power in determining the outcome in the game (not to mention the knockdown effect of the player also being suspended for the following game). Imagine if Kobe got thrown out for two fouls and then had to miss the next game as well. No reason for the referee to have such a huge impact on the game like that.

With that said, wow, Ghana in the driver's seat assuming they can beat Australia - who would've thunk that coming into the tournament?

Agreed totally. The only thing in sports that comes close is a power play in hockey, but even then it's only for a very limited time and doesn't leave your team at a disadvantage for the rest of the game (and the following game).

[bandl]

Torres in for Clark

Sadly Robbie Findley is starting again

Findley's not so bad - in the famous words of Mick in the Rocky movies, "speed, speed, speeeeeeeeed!".

I don't like Findley starting though because his speed is not as effective against a fresh defense. I like him in there in the latter part of the game so he can blow by a tired defender. He doesn't have the technical skills to get past even an OK defense. He's only going to be effective with a solid midfield and outside backs who can provide some crisp passes on the sidelines or on a counter attack up the middle. Let's hope Bradley/Donovan/Dempsey,etc. are a little more accurate on their passing game than they were against England...

[93henfan]

Agreed totally. The only thing in sports that comes close is a power play in hockey, but even then it's only for a very limited time and doesn't leave your team at a disadvantage for the rest of the game (and the following game).

The double-minor blood rule for high sticking is another dumb hockey rule. Hell, how many times have you whacked your head and not bled and then other times get barely nicked in the right spot and bleed like a pig? I'm surprised hockey players don't keep a little razor blade corner in their glove somewhere so they can rake their forehead like a pro wrestler and get four minutes every time they're high sticked.

[93henfan]

With that said, wow, Ghana in the driver's seat

Say that again and notice how it rolls off the tongue.

Ghana is the team to watch in this tournament. The country of my ancestors. Birthplace of the vulvazella.

[Hansel]

Findley's not so bad - in the famous words of Mick in the Rocky movies, "speed, speed, speeeeeeeeed!".

I don't like Findley starting though because his speed is not as effective against a fresh defense. I like him in there in the latter part of the game so he can blow by a tired defender. He doesn't have the technical skills to get past even an OK defense. He's only going to be effective with a solid midfield and outside backs who can provide some crisp passes on the sidelines or on a counter attack up the middle. Let's hope Bradley/Donovan/Dempsey,etc. are a little more accurate on their passing game than they were against England...

If you can't finish speed at this level doesn't mean much for a forward- see Eddie Johnson. Davies is really missed. I would rather see Buddle or Dempsey at forward (he is a world-class finisher, but I really don't like him on the ball in midfield) with Holden at midfield

[93henfan]

Uh. Aren't goalkeepers allowed to use their arms in soccer?

[GannonFan]

Well, US already down 1-0 after being thoroughly outplayed for the first 15 minutes. Super.

[93henfan]

Well, US already down 1-0 after being thoroughly outplayed for the first 15 minutes. Super.

We're just not a soccer country.

[93henfan]

[Hansel]

Well at least Findley is out next game

[93henfan]

Game over.

[UNHWildCats]

pathetic

[GannonFan]

Yup, add Slovenia to the ever growing list of relatively little known soccer lightweights who have thoroughly routed America in World Cup play recently. I don't really fancy us against Algeria either - the one point against the English might be the only point we see this World Cup, which could be ending for the US (realistically) today.

[Grizalltheway]

Anyone who watched the 2002 cup?

So you're just going to overlook their 2006 WC?

Well, they won it in '98, went out without scoring a goal in '02, and almost won it in '06. Seems like they're trying to keep the pattern going.

[Grizalltheway]

Serbie up 1-0 on Germany going into the half...did anyone see that blast off the top bar at the end???

And did everyone forget that perhaps Australia isn't a very good team to gauge against?

Germany is without Klose for the remainder of the match....going to make this very interesting!

They're still a talented and, as always, well organized team. I think they'll bounce back in a big way against 93's darlings.

[93henfan]

I think they'll bounce back in a big way against 93's darlings.

OK, just noticed your avatar change, Mr. Deutscher Fussball Bund.

[93henfan]

Check this shit out. USA comes back strong. Go Yanks.

[Grizalltheway]

I think they'll bounce back in a big way against 93's darlings.

I'm not willing to call you a bigot just yet, but be warned that that's borderline racism.

Oops. Good thing jstate83 isn't around.

[GannonFan]

I'll give the US something, though, they've actually put on watchable soccer as of late - very seldom is a US game a dull one (well, relatively speaking).