***OFFICIAL WORLD CUP 2010 THREAD***

[John Adams]

It seems like Altidore does everything except put the ball in the net.

 

You don't watch much soccer.

 

A. He was sick all week.

 

B. He made the pass that set up the winner in the Algeria game.

 

C. He scored 6 goals to lead all players in the qualifiers. Without those 6 goals, the US isn't in the World Cup.

 

Not a great world cup for him but not terrible. For a 20 year old, he'll be back.

[ajzepp]

Mexico getting schooled...another situation where the bad ref call isn't going to make any difference, although they really need to get refs who know how to call a game.

 

What a goal by C. Teves!!!!!

[Pete]

Suck it Mexico. They are bunch of classless punks

[KD in CA]

Suck it Mexico. They are bunch of classless punks

 

 

Glad they are getting their asses kicked.

[Heels20X6]

Well, that was a very satisfying win lol. The no-goal call that went against England was amazingly ridiculous, but didn't really matter.

 

Wrong. Going into the half 2-2 results in a much different strategy that starting the second half down 2-1 pressing for the equalizer. Both of the resulting Germany goals came from over-aggression on account of England pressing to get the tying goal. A 2-2 game sees both teams play much, much differently.

 

England got hosed. Plain and simple. Like Stojan said, this tournament is quickly devolving into "JOKE" territory with the absolute ineptitude of the referees. It's sickening.

 

At it was made all the worse on the first Tevez goal at the beginning of the Argentina-Mexico game. Especially in soccer, the first goal is critical. And the refs f###ed it up again.

 

Screw this tournament, I'm done.

[meazza]

Wrong. Going into the half 2-2 results in a much different strategy that starting the second half down 2-1 pressing for the equalizer. Both of the resulting Germany goals came from over-aggression on account of England pressing to get the tying goal. A 2-2 game sees both teams play much, much differently.

 

England got hosed. Plain and simple. Like Stojan said, this tournament is quickly devolving into "JOKE" territory with the absolute ineptitude of the referees. It's sickening.

 

At it was made all the worse on the first Tevez goal at the beginning of the Argentina-Mexico game. Especially in soccer, the first goal is critical. And the refs f###ed it up again.

 

Screw this tournament, I'm done.

 

I agree 2-2 was a much different game. Karmas a B word though.

[ajzepp]

Wrong. Going into the half 2-2 results in a much different strategy that starting the second half down 2-1 pressing for the equalizer. Both of the resulting Germany goals came from over-aggression on account of England pressing to get the tying goal. A 2-2 game sees both teams play much, much differently.

 

England got hosed. Plain and simple. Like Stojan said, this tournament is quickly devolving into "JOKE" territory with the absolute ineptitude of the referees. It's sickening.

 

At it was made all the worse on the first Tevez goal at the beginning of the Argentina-Mexico game. Especially in soccer, the first goal is critical. And the refs f###ed it up again.

 

Screw this tournament, I'm done.

 

 

If England had actually done something this WC that resembled an ability to match up with one of the big names in the tourney, I'd agree. I just haven't seen it. A 2-2 match would have just resulted in the Germans putting up 5 instead of 4.

 

But as I said earlier, I'm with you guys about the refs...this whole cup has been a disgrace.

[BuffOrange]

The problem is that people expect some big sea change over night when something like that happens. Soccer is becoming more popular here because of demographics, more kids playing it and more success at the national stage. It's not going to unseat hockey or basketball in popularity as a spectator sport anytime soon, but it's clearly increasing its popularity.

 

Just look at the World Cup and the attention and coverage it gets now. I recall it being on tape delay back in 1990. Now, there's wall-to-wall coverage.

 

 

Exactly. And most fans of the sport will acknowledge that it'll never be on level with the MLB, NBA, etc, because it likely never will and it's obvious. But that doesn't mean it won't remain a very viable, healthy, steadily growing presence here with a fan base that is pretty loyal. With the bigger leagues in this country, you tend to have the best players in the world in those leagues. Obviously the same is not true of soccer and the MLS. The greatest players in the world play for clubs in England, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc. So yeah, it'll never be on par with the bigger leagues in the US, but it doesn't need to be.

 

Fair enough. If that's your only point then I won't argue. I just get tired of the recency bias, how the most recent halfway interesting thing is always supposed to be "the moment" soccer became big in the US (remember the women in 2000?) For most people it's just going to be a distraction every 4 years - a fringe sport - like hockey as somebody mentioned, is likely the best case scenerio.

 

The German guy on espn was right on point I thought. The game needs to be cool in the poor inner cities somehow for us to be a superpower.

 

Well, it was fun while it lasted. This last !@#$ up by the refs in the Germany/England game just pushed me over the edge.

 

I'll see ya in 4 years.

 

lol exactly.

[meazza]

If England had actually done something this WC that resembled an ability to match up with one of the big names in the tourney, I'd agree. I just haven't seen it. A 2-2 match would have just resulted in the Germans putting up 5 instead of 4.

 

But as I said earlier, I'm with you guys about the refs...this whole cup has been a disgrace.

 

The 1982 italy team won the world cup after three ties in the group stage. The newspaper called them a disgrace.

 

Had they come back from two down to tie the game, they would have found the legs to win and gained momentum.

[ajzepp]

The 1982 italy team won the world cup after three ties in the group stage. The newspaper called them a disgrace.

 

Had they come back from two down to tie the game, they would have found the legs to win and gained momentum.

 

How can you be sure of that, though? I can only assume that the Germans would have still beat the hell out of England today because they've shown in at least two of their four matches that they are here to put some balls in the net. If England would have been a totally different team had that goal just not been disallowed, then shame on them. The US had that happen to them TWICE and found a way to get fired up and avoid the loss. If England had any balls, they would have done the same.

[meazza]

How can you be sure of that, though? I can only assume that the Germans would have still beat the hell out of England today because they've shown in at least two of their four matches that they are here to put some balls in the net. If England would have been a totally different team had that goal just not been disallowed, then shame on them. The US had that happen to them TWICE and found a way to get fired up and avoid the loss. If England had any balls, they would have done the same.

 

USA was playing Slovenia and algeria. England was playing Germany.

 

I'm not sure that it would have happened but momentum is a big factor. Germany being a young team might have reacted differently having blown a 2-0 lead.

 

You can't doubt germanys goal scoring abilities but these refs are ruining it for me. When calls are close it's one thing, when it's clear as day...

[ajzepp]

USA was playing Slovenia and algeria. England was playing Germany.

 

I'm not sure that it would have happened but momentum is a big factor. Germany being a young team might have reacted differently having blown a 2-0 lead.

 

You can't doubt germanys goal scoring abilities but these refs are ruining it for me. When calls are close it's one thing, when it's clear as day...

 

I know it, I can't believe how bad these refs are...FIFA should be thoroughly embarrassed....this is being witnessed by the WORLD. In a sport where one goal is often the difference in the match, they need to get their shiit together.

[Ramius]

Fair enough. If that's your only point then I won't argue. I just get tired of the recency bias, how the most recent halfway interesting thing is always supposed to be "the moment" soccer became big in the US (remember the women in 2000?) For most people it's just going to be a distraction every 4 years - a fringe sport - like hockey as somebody mentioned, is likely the best case scenerio.

 

The German guy on espn was right on point I thought. The game needs to be cool in the poor inner cities somehow for us to be a superpower.

 

 

 

lol exactly.

 

If Brandi Chastain doesn't take off her shirt when she scored the winner, no one would remember the '99 women's team either.

[UConn James]

Fair enough. If that's your only point then I won't argue. I just get tired of the recency bias, how the most recent halfway interesting thing is always supposed to be "the moment" soccer became big in the US (remember the women in 2000?) For most people it's just going to be a distraction every 4 years - a fringe sport - like hockey as somebody mentioned, is likely the best case scenerio.

 

The German guy on espn was right on point I thought. The game needs to be cool in the poor inner cities somehow for us to be a superpower.

 

I'm pretty sure tennis is bigger in this country than soccer ever will be.

 

Especially when there is NO recourse wrt refs who are paid off by the mob / have personal or international grudges / just plain f--- up. Sports-fixing scandal may be acceptable and play well in the rest of the world, but not here. Until soccer initiates the process of replay --- and what better place to do this than the World Cup where there the technology is there and everything's in place...? I can understand how it might not be feasible in SA, Africa, etc. But how people can live with this product --- specifically the ref problems --- is beyond me.

 

If this Cup doesn't make FIFA do anything in the way of replay, I don't see how anything will. Teams have to start boycotting the tourney, leagues have to form outside of FIFA. Soccer is second only to WWF/WWE in sham factor.

 

Like I wrote upthread, I don't condone physical violence on them, but I can sure understand how it would happen in the heat of the moment.

[ajzepp]

This is the sort of thing that gets me more excited about watching the MLS. Not only do I finally have a team to follow - the Philadelphia Union - but this new little soccer-only stadium they built is awesome! Just a nice 18k seat outdoor stadium by the water...these things are popping up in MLS towns every year now, and it's pretty exciting, I think.

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/content...10/PPL-Park.jpg

http://www.wfmz.com/2010/0224/22662242_300X225.jpg

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/

[Magox]

This is the sort of thing that gets me more excited about watching the MLS. Not only do I finally have a team to follow - the Philadelphia Union - but this new little soccer-only stadium they built is awesome! Just a nice 18k seat outdoor stadium by the water...these things are popping up in MLS towns every year now, and it's pretty exciting, I think.

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/content...10/PPL-Park.jpg

http://www.wfmz.com/2010/0224/22662242_300X225.jpg

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/

This is definitely helping contribute to USAs future success.

[ajzepp]

This is definitely helping contribute to USAs future success.

 

Yep, our young players can get some experience abroad and then come play the MLS season. Was watching the Union v. Sounders game on tv an hour or so ago and this stadium is REALLY nice! I wish I stilll lived in Philly

[meazza]

I'm pretty sure tennis is bigger in this country than soccer ever will be.

 

Especially when there is NO recourse wrt refs who are paid off by the mob / have personal or international grudges / just plain f--- up. Sports-fixing scandal may be acceptable and play well in the rest of the world, but not here. Until soccer initiates the process of replay --- and what better place to do this than the World Cup where there the technology is there and everything's in place...? I can understand how it might not be feasible in SA, Africa, etc. But how people can live with this product --- specifically the ref problems --- is beyond me.

 

If this Cup doesn't make FIFA do anything in the way of replay, I don't see how anything will. Teams have to start boycotting the tourney, leagues have to form outside of FIFA. Soccer is second only to WWF/WWE in sham factor.

 

Like I wrote upthread, I don't condone physical violence on them, but I can sure understand how it would happen in the heat of the moment.

 

I'm used to it. I watch soccer every weekend and it does happen pretty often.

 

But ask yourself this, how often do you watch NFL games and see very questionable game changing calls that aren't overturned.

[Magox]

Is there anyone more deadly on the counter attack than Arjen Robben?

[John Adams]

Is there anyone more deadly on the counter attack than Arjen Robben?

 

My new rooting interest. Wish I was watching the game now. Listening on the radio.

 

Also pulling for Germany.