4-4! (AKA "The football thread")

[Le Ricain]

True, true.....then again if we were to win! Just imagine it? How could anyone doubt we really are the best in the world. To win against such opposition on the way...now that really would be champion style

Assuming of course (slightly tongue in cheek but only ever so slightly) no further 'hands of God' along the way either for or against

Yes, England will have to defeat Germany (the penalties kings), Argentinia (best form in 1st stage), Spain (pre-WC favourites) and Brazil (5 times champion) just to get to the final.

[Hobbes]

Yes, England will have to defeat Germany (the penalties kings), Argentinia (best form in 1st stage), Spain (pre-WC favourites) and Brazil (5 times champion) just to get to the final.

It's a tough route to the final - but I will be wearing my lucky underpants - so anything is possible.

Cheers, Chris

[Generalisimo]

Yes, England will have to defeat Germany (the penalties kings), Argentinia (best form in 1st stage), Spain (pre-WC favourites) and Brazil (5 times champion) just to get to the final.

Easy?... right?

Anyway, it's a WC, even USA or Japan can be a very tough rival...

[Le Ricain]

Easy?... right?

Anyway, it's a WC, even USA or Japan can be a very tough rival...

True, but I still prefer the USA's route: Ghana, Uruguay, Brazil, Final vs England's: Germany, Argentina, Spain, Final.

[Carnium]

It's a tough route to the final - but I will be wearing my lucky underpants - so anything is possible.

Cheers, Chris

hehe, good luck with that Hobbes

[lodilefty]

True, but I still prefer the USA's route: Ghana, Uruguay, Brazil, Final vs England's: Germany, Argentina, Spain, Final.

Sadly, the critical word is Ghana......

So now, who to support?
I'm apparently a jinx, so I will keep my favorites secret to avoid repercussions.

[keith]

it has to england, i will be down the pub cheering the lads on

come on enland

[Hobbes]

hehe, good luck with that Hobbes

Underpants burnt.

[dooya]

I am sorry for you guys.

Just saw this pic which might sum up how you feel:

[soundoff]

I am sorry for you guys.

No need to be. Its not the first, nor will it be the last time a football match contains a decision that is harsh to one side. Some you win some you lose and no-one died. I'm sure every football supporter at one time or another has had their team on the wrong end of a bad decision....or the good end. Just swings and roundabouts.

On the bright side it could have been worse.....it could have happened in the final.

[Hobbes]

I am sorry for you guys.

Just saw this pic which might sum up how you feel:

That's very magnanimous of you dooya, I thought you might have posted instead a similar picture from '66.

I would post a smiley but I can't bring myself to do this today.
Chris

[keith]

i am a loyal england fan. but the germans were better and deserved to thorugh. ouch that hurts to say

[dooya]

I hope you do not mind another pic:

[beatoangelico]

So now, who to support?

it's much easier to root against now that england's out I just hope brazil goes out too, then anyone left could win and I'd be happy about it

[caranorn]

I am sorry for you guys.

Just saw this pic which might sum up how you feel:

Nice one, it's of course th only explanation. Though I wonder, why didn't anyone realise there was a crooked line there before Lampard's shot ;-) ...

So how about Argentina's offside against Mexico and the apparently blind and deaf referees?

[Carnium]

The ref's are REALLY REALLY BAD in this WC
So many mistakes where the stakes are so high are unacceptable.
It seems that the ref's are kinda helping the best teams who don't really need any help as they are more then capable to perform well by their own. Someone may wonder if FIFA has its own plans how to run this World Cup and earn as much as possible by keeping an eye that there are no "shocks" in relegation round.
We are in the 21th century but FIFA is still in the 19th as it seems
Some questionable decision already:
- red cards given to Klose, Cahill and Kewell were a bit controversial (at least for me)
- many players are using elbows a lot and the ref's are not awarding the cards for it
- USA seems to have scored a regular goal against Slovenia (I hate to admit)
- England scored a great long range goal to tie the game against the Germans as everybody could see it ... except the ref's
- first Argentinian goal against Mexico was a clear offside

[PhilThib]

Remember one thing: Errare Humanum Est

Although I have to admit there are much too many "errors"

[lodilefty]

I remember my coach saying "It's our job to make sure that a bad call doesn't matter. Pllay well enough to win even with a bad call".

So, if FIFA won't "use technology" (I guess the headsets are Amish-built:wacko , how about "goal linesmen" (as in Hockey Goal Judge).

If the cost to do thiis seems prohibitive for "regular season", then borrow a page from Baseball: The Playoff games add two extra Umpires, to patrol the outfield and foul lines. Helps.

But, too many bad calls is distracting from the beauty of the game....

[Generalisimo]

I remember my coach saying "It's our job to make sure that a bad call doesn't matter. Pllay well enough to win even with a bad call".

So, if FIFA won't "use technology" (I guess the headsets are Amish-built:wacko , how about "goal linesmen" (as in Hockey Goal Judge).

If the cost to do thiis seems prohibitive for "regular season", then borrow a page from Baseball: The Playoff games add two extra Umpires, to patrol the outfield and foul lines. Helps.

But, too many bad calls is distracting from the beauty of the game....

Yes, they should really try harder with the extra referees that they have tested on the UEFA cup...

[Franciscus]

Well, as expected, Portugal is out. Congratulations to Spain that was by far the best team. As to my team it showed it's true face: weak players (excepting most of the defence and the keeper), an idiotic coach and "pretty boy" Ronaldo that also showed it's true value...

Now also Portugal's economic crisis is really going to begin...

And as usual we always still have Brasil to root for...

[Generalisimo]

If someone was worried about "Best Korea"'s players... I am sure you don't want to be nigerian...

[SIZE="4"]World Cup 2010: Nigerian president suspends team after poor showing[/size]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/30/nigeria-football-team-worldcup2010

[Generalisimo]

By the way, I found this funny... Yesterday:



Today:

[Franciscus]

Pathetic...

And Ronaldo's spitting to the TV camera for all the world to see, after the game ended, really defines the overpaid clown he really is !
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1290741/WORLD-CUP-2010-Cristiano-Ronaldos-spitting-mad-Portugal-exit.html

I am ashamed that he is our "captain". I really miss Figo...

[Generalisimo]

And Ronaldo's spitting to the TV camera for all the world to see, after the game ended, really defines the overpaid clown he really is !
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1290741/WORLD-CUP-2010-Cristiano-Ronaldos-spitting-mad-Portugal-exit.html

Yes, pathetic...

I am ashamed that he is our "captain". I really miss Figo...

I really can't understand why he is the captain...
I think other players are more important for the team than him... he is just the one that gains more money, nothing more... that's not what a captain is.

[Franciscus]

(...)
And as usual we always still have Brasil to root for...

Well, now we do not even have Brasil...

[beatoangelico]

yeah! brazil's out!

[Cat Lord]

And Argentina's out, with style...

Cat

[Carnium]

Brazil and Argentina are out. What a strange WC this is
Who is brave enough to guess the winner now?

[Hobbes]

Brazil and Argentina are out. What a strange WC this is
Who is brave enough to guess the winner now?

I'm brave enough - Germany. But I hope for Holland.
They deserve a World Cup victory after doing so well for so many years with a fairly small population.

[Cat Lord]

I'm brave enough - Germany. But I hope for Holland.
They deserve a World Cup victory after doing so well for so many years with a fairly small population.

Same here.

Cat