World Cup 2010

[British_Pharaoh]

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal (New Group of Death)

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana (Group of Death?)

Group C: ENGLAND, United States, Algeria, Slovenia

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France


Might as well give England a bye to the QF's

[British_Pharaoh]

Togo footballers shot in team bus ambush. Driver has been killed apparently

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8449319.stm

[Cease]

June 11 is creeping like a nun. June 12 US v. ENG match-up I'm actually pumped for already. Watched a You-tube thread of Clint Dempsey highlights and I've got high hopes for him this time around.

If anyone knows of a bar that is advertising "Showing all WC games," or "Watch the US team play here," or I'd even settle for a "We like soccer," please post to this site.

[pup]

Try this one:

[Cease]

Try this one:

Booooooooo. Good one.

[British_Pharaoh]

June 11 is creeping like a nun. June 12 US v. ENG match-up I'm actually pumped for already. Watched a You-tube thread of Clint Dempsey highlights and I've got high hopes for him this time around.

If anyone knows of a bar that is advertising "Showing all WC games," or "Watch the US team play here," or I'd even settle for a "We like soccer," please post to this site.

I'm gonna be in Amsterdam for the England v Algeria game as well as for Holland's game against Japan


I'm looking forward to world cup fever in another country surrounded by Dutch hookers

it's gonna be marvellous

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Go Germany.

[Cease]

BUMP

I'm looking forward to this, hoping the US can get to round of 16. At this point, with the talent on the team and Howard between pipes- I fully expect it.

Big blow, as I was looking forward to watching him: Drogba breaks arm in friendly w/ Japan. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250486/ce/us/didier-drogba-broken-arm?cc=3888&ver=global Group G (edit) just got little easier for Brasil and Portugal.

[peeker643]

For the first time ever I'm looking forward to watching as much of this as I can.

I blame my kids for this added viewing obligation. The more I watch the game and the more I'm around people who know it, love it and understand it (and who played it at a high level) the more I find myself enjoying it.

Probably dvr the game against England since I run a good chance of not hearing anyone talk about it at work.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

We're gonna get beat by England.

[Cease]

We're gonna get beat by England.

For the England side's sake, they better beat us. A US win would be a devastating to the limeys. Money lines to win the whole thing, from betus.com 6/4/10.

501 Spain +400
502 Brazil +450
503 England +650
504 Argentina +600
505 Germany +1200
506 Italy +1400
507 Holland +1000
508 France +2000
509 Portugal +2200
510 Ivory Coast +4000
511 Chile +6000
512 Ghana +8000
513 Serbia +6000
514 Paraguay +8000
515 USA +7000
516 Cameroon +10000
517 Mexico +6000
518 South Africa +15000
519 Australia +12500
520 Denmark +15000
521 Nigeria +10000
522 Uruguay +9000
523 Greece +10000
524 Switzerland +10000
525 Slovenia +15000
526 Slovakia +15000
527 Japan +25000
528 South Korea +25000
529 Honduras +100000
530 Algeria +50000
531 North Korea +100000
532 New Zealand +150000

[swerb]

Encouraging final tune up for the Americans. Can't wait for Saturday ...

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slu ... -australia

[Cease]

And so it begins...

Missing most games, as I can't access ESPN3 at work. DVR will be burned out by July 1. This cup's agreement with ESPN brings us all games- I believe that's a first? Most games on ESPN, ESPN2 has some in prime time when conflicting MLB runs on ESPN. ABC has mostly high-profile Saturday afternooners.

Flannery's downtown open for all games, me thinks. Rusty Barrel in Westlake has the flags out, looking for WC crowd.

[ASPDawgpound12]

Not trying to ruin anything for DVR-ees, but it really looks like FIFA is worried about SA being the first host to not make it thru into the knockout stage... Should be Mexico 1-0


So pumped for tomorrow.. Wonder what non-soccer viewing establishments are gonna look like when the game comes on.. I bet a lot of places are going to be surprised with the turnout

[bookelly]

Uruguay's gonna beat the Frenchies. It's half-time nil -nil and I can feel and upset. At least a tie here.

[Ziner]

I think you mean zero to zero or 0-0. I am kind of disappointed there is this much interest. I blame you bastards for espn going wall to wall the next few weeks with this garbage.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

This what drives me nuts with soccer, freaking ties. The point of playing a game is to have a winner.

And for the love of the holy gods, stop with those fucking horns. My living room sounds like it has a swarm of bees in it.

[British_Pharaoh]

This what drives me nuts with soccer, freaking ties. The point of playing a game is to have a winner.

And for the love of the holy gods, stop with those fucking horns. My living room sounds like it has a swarm of bees in it.

NFL has ties too

*sticks out tongue*


But yeah an underwhelming start to the tournament

USA v England will kick start this mother fucker


5-4 limeys would be a treat

[Ziner]

I finally get the hype. How exhilarating. 2 Games, 2 Ties, 2 Goals. This tourney is going to be sweet!!!

[Cease]

You play three games in group play. 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie. Top two teams (read: points with goal-diff tiebreaker) move on to knock-out rounds (16 teams). Ties mean something and become very regrettable for those who don't advance from group play.

The French and Mexicans are pissed about today's ties and losing out on the full three points. South Africa is pretty happy. I'd guess Uruguay is satisfied.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

USA- 2

England- 2

Figures........

[Ziner]

Haha, I can hear their dumb accents when they sing their silly national anthem...

[Ziner]

If this is supposed to be the biggest sporting event in the world why the hell does it look like they are playing in a MAC schools stadium.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Still more Americans there than English.


SHIT!

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Ok these fucking horns have to go. This is worse than the cowbells at old school Clippers games.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

What a huge fuck up by England's GK.

[Bill the Butcher]

I would not want to be Rob Green right now.

[swerb]

Heckuva performance after the first 8-10 minutes, where we came out real sloppy and lethargic. Great performance from the goalie Howard. We outplayed em over the final 50-55 minutes. Defense tightened up significantly ... in part thanks to Howard, who was losing it on our defenders early for their sloppy play. Rooney was a non factor. Thought Altidore had the game winner at the 64 min mark.

Great game.

[motherscratcher]

Ok these fucking horns have to go. This is worse than the cowbells at old school Clippers games.

No shit. What the hell is all that about anyway?

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Ok these fucking horns have to go. This is worse than the cowbells at old school Clippers games.

No shit. What the hell is all that about anyway?

Some people just like to blow.

[skatingtripods]

Watched the second half and just can't get in to soccer or see the appeal of it. Good for the US to tie anyway as a heavy underdog. I pondered them +450 last night to win, but know nothing about soccer and was advised by a buddy not to.

[Bill the Butcher]

It's a pretty comparable sport to hockey, sooooooooo...

Not defending soccer with all my heart, as this is the first full match I've watched since... ever. But yeah.

[skatingtripods]

It's a pretty comparable sport to hockey, sooooooooo...

Not in the slightest.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

It's a pretty comparable sport to hockey, sooooooooo...

Not in the slightest.

Not true, they both have goals with nets.....

Hockey is played by men.

Soccer is played by metrosexual divas who fkae getting hurt more than Lebron.

[Spin]

I'll take a tie against England. Very nice start.

Lots of cards in this one. These teams just flat out don't like each other. It's a hell of a oops almost used that R word again.

[waborat]

I'll take a tie ... Very nice start.

Biggest waste in sports...

Ties are good for funerals, shoelaces & bedposts

[motherscratcher]

It's a pretty comparable sport to hockey, sooooooooo...

Not in the slightest.

Not true, they both have goals with nets.....

Hockey is played by men.

Soccer is played by metrosexual divas who fkae getting hurt more than Lebron.

I didn't know Paul Pierce was a soccer player.

[British_Pharaoh]

CDT


please go some place and die quietly

[British_Pharaoh]

Good news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 737455.stm

[swerb]

Slovenia breaks through late here with a goal to go up 1-0 on Algeria. Looking like 3 points. Can't see either of these teams beating us or England though.

[motherscratcher]

Good news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 737455.stm

That would be great if they banned those things. I like the idea of them singing much better. Sounds cool when you get a soccer stadium singing.

"We did say that if any land on the pitch in anger we will take action."

Hey CDT, how about a quick trip to SA with one of those horns? How good is your arm?


What they really need to do is set up a small stage off to the side and get GE Smith and his band to play. People would love that.

[British_Pharaoh]

Slovenia breaks through late here with a goal to go up 1-0 on Algeria. Looking like 3 points. Can't see either of these teams beating us or England though.

Awful game

Slovenia are a bit of a tricky encounter

Robert Koren played for my club team for 4 seasons and he is a nifty and skilful player.

But yes I expend 2 wins for the US and England against these 2

[Spin]

I agree, the horns have to go. What's the point in those anyway? I guess the rioters had to do something when they weren't allowed to trample and murder opposing fans anymore...

You play to win or lose, at least that's what recent American beliefs are. But you play by the rules given, and to tie against a team you're overmatched against is a victory.

I think that was their strategy, Swerb, late in the game. We were overmatched but tied, went to a defensive strategy, and came away with as many points as they did. Now if we score more goals than England does against Slovenia and Algeria, we win Group C.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

CDT


please go some place and die quietly

lol.

Nothing more adorable than a soccer fan with hurt feelings.

Hey CDT, how about a quick trip to SA with one of those horns? How good is your arm?

My arm is good, I could throw the horn and the jackass blowing it.

[Ziner]

Florio's rant from Pro Football (not Futbol) Talk. I was entertained.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... ootball-1/

So this World Cup thing started on Friday, and I'm supposed to be excited about it.

I know this because ESPN has been telling me for months that I'm supposed to be excited about it. So, if I'm not, there must be something wrong with me. (Or, as the case may be, there's something else wrong with me.)

On Friday, the front page of ESPN.com asked us all, "Do you have goosebumps?"

Unless the range of emotions that induce horripilation (yes, Tiki taught me that one) now includes boredom, the answer to the question is hell and no.

A friend of mine once decided that he would begin to slather mustard on all of his sandwiches despite his aversion to its taste because, as he explained it, the millions of people who like mustard can't be wrong. And after gagging through two bites of a hamburger, he decided that, indeed, they were all wrong.

With this force-feeding of futbol by the Worldwide Leader in Hype, we're all supposed to conclude that the rest of the world can't be wrong, and that we should embrace a game that, through the first few days, has featured scintillating outcomes like 1-1, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 1-0, and 1-0.

While some may claim that we tolerate hockey games that end with similar 1-0, 0-0, and 1-1 outcomes, the two sports have one dramatic difference. In hockey, the puck routinely finds itself in position to enter the goal; play-by-play man extraordinaire Mike Emrick manages to make his audience keenly aware of every such instance. In soccer, it's a lot of open-field running and kicking and running and kicking that rarely results in anything worth actually witnessing.

Said one NFL source regarding the World Cup, "I hope DeMaurice Smith isn't watching it. He might ask for 70 percent if this is our competition. It's like watching Ultimate Frisbee played with feet."

Maybe that's why they blow those damn horns for every moment of every game. It gives the fans something to do while waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting for something to actually happen on the field of play.

So now we even better understand the NFL's desire to export true football to other countries. Once they realize that we've whipped together a condiment that tastes a hell of a lot better than mustard, our football -- American football -- will rule the world.

Our message then, to those of you who are falling victim to ESPN's effort to link watching the World Cup to fundamental notions of apple pie and Chevrolet, the true patriot would rebel against the breathless Bristol narratives invoking a 60-year-old U.S.-England match of which only a small handful of us had ever even heard and somehow tying it all back to the American Revolution.

Right now, we need to do two things to our mother country, neither of which entails beating the Brits at the sport they inexplicably love. First, we need to compel one of their biggest corporations to PLUG UP THAT DAMN HOLE.

That one bears repeating. PLUG UP THAT DAMN HOLE.

Second, we need to continue to show them how a real sport is played.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

has featured scintillating outcomes like 1-1, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 1-0, and 1-0.

Those scores look like Binary code.

Hockey has hits, soccer not so much. They have guys that get hit and they go down like LeBron.

I like the World Cup, it's something different every 4 years, but soccer just ain't my thing for more than that one month every 4 years. Apparently we have a good and very popular MLS team right here in CLB....

[leadpipe]

I agree, the horns have to go. What's the point in those anyway? I guess the rioters had to do something when they weren't allowed to trample and murder opposing fans anymore...

You play to win or lose, at least that's what recent American beliefs are. But you play by the rules given, and to tie against a team you're overmatched against is a victory.

I think that was their strategy, Swerb, late in the game. We were overmatched but tied, went to a defensive strategy, and came away with as many points as they did. Now if we score more goals than England does against Slovenia and Algeria, we win Group C.

No, a victory is a victory. Ties hurt that sport. Huge games being decided by shootouts hurt that sport - all in regard to acceptance in the States. And, the states is really what I'm concerned with.

[indiansfan21]

I have seen some stupid remarks made about soccer in my 20+ years of being a fan ( along with being a fan of football, baseball, hockey, and many other sports), but that Florio article along with some of the responses I have seen about the sport here and on Florio's site are being beyond rediculous.

I get it if you don't want to like soccer. I mean I don't get the "it's a third world sport that everyone can enjoy because it costs nothing" argument as much as I don't get the "you don't understand it...it's a beautiful game" argument from the other side.

It just seems like a lot of comments by American's, me being one as well, come across as we didn't make it, we have our own sports, so we need to ridicule soccer and those who do actually like the sport , especially during the worlds biggest stages for the sport. It's like people are being threatened by its existence.

How about this, if you don't like the sport, or know nothing about it ignore it the best you can, don't watch the games, and enjoy what you do like to watch. Don't go making ignorant comments to those of us who do. I know its a message board, but I sure as hell though this page was for soccer. Just don't come in here then. There is no need to comment.

[indiansfan21]

has featured scintillating outcomes like 1-1, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 1-0, and 1-0.

Those scores look like Binary code.

Hockey has hits, soccer not so much. They have guys that get hit and they go down like LeBron.

I like the World Cup, it's something different every 4 years, but soccer just ain't my thing for more than that one month every 4 years. Apparently we have a good and very popular MLS team right here in CLB....

I have season tickets to that good and very popular MLS team here in Columbus (The Crew)....if you would like to come to a game to see what its all about just PM me and you can have my tickets for a game.

I think what you see at one of the games will not be what you think about soccer right now, and that's in the MLS, where the level is not nearly as high as Europe. It's more a physical league. But I could be wrong about what you think about soccer. I'm just going off of the comment above.

[Ziner]

I have seen some stupid remarks made about soccer in my 20+ years of being a fan ( along with being a fan of football, baseball, hockey, and many other sports), but that Florio article along with some of the responses I have seen about the sport here and on Florio's site are being beyond rediculous.

I get it if you don't want to like soccer. I mean I don't get the "it's a third world sport that everyone can enjoy because it costs nothing" argument as much as I don't get the "you don't understand it...it's a beautiful game" argument from the other side.

It just seems like a lot of comments by American's, me being one as well, come across as we didn't make it, we have our own sports, so we need to ridicule soccer and those who do actually like the sport , especially during the worlds biggest stages for the sport. It's like people are being threatened by its existence.

How about this, if you don't like the sport, or know nothing about it ignore it the best you can, don't watch the games, and enjoy what you do like to watch. Don't go making ignorant comments to those of us who do. I know its a message board, but I sure as hell though this page was for soccer. Just don't come in here then. There is no need to comment.

Where did anyone on this board make any comments about it being a third world sport that doesnt cost anything? No one feels threatened by Soccer, especially the NFL, I think that is part of the point Florio was trying to make when he brought up the NFLPA. Why are people so sensitive about defending soccer? If someone came in to the NFL or NBA forums I would just laugh at them. Hell I hate baseball right now (for different reasons) and no one has felt as if I am ridiculing them when I say I don't like it.

And to your last comment it is damn near impossible to ignore the World Cup if you are a sports fan. I woke up the last two days and it was all that was on, especially on Saturday. I almost watched the entire match to see if I could get in to it after another four year break. Once again, it was just plain boring. Yeah, yeah, yeah... maybe you could just explain how I don't get it like I always hear from Soccer fans.