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

[Jim-NC]

Too many big egos, and only one ball...

The "smaller teams" play as teams.....

...by the way, the Swedish CEO of BP is in hot water here because he called the folks living near the Gulf spill "small people"....

...always remember, Americans own guns!!!!

The bigger the better, and the more the better. Especially with thousands of rounds of ammo per gun.

[caranorn]

It seemed to me like England's top players (Rooney, Gerard and Lampert) were tired from the start of yesterday's game. Certainly compared to the USA game where they were very active. It was only occasionaly during the second half that they sparked. During much of the game I wanted to scream, take them out Capello, just take them out and let them rest for wednesday. And of course, don't bring in Crouch, don't bring in Crouch (this was the first game I saw him play a ball with his feet and not stumble or fall, he must have gotten better ;-) )...

Oh well, England will just have to qualify against Slovenia with a half asleep team and without Carragher...

[Carnium]

I still do not know why the American third goal was disallowed. Slovenia was very lucky with the ref.

Ref whistled before they scored the goal because the players (from both teams) acted like they are in the middle of a wrestling match.
Lucky with the ref or not is hard to say as the Americans played really rough and it seems that we have lost Pečnik for the rest of the tournament.
Right now the bet is still on the England and USA to advance. But only time will tell

It's difficult to understand why the teams that are supposed to be good are doing so badly. Is it nerves / morale - or are the smaller teams getting better?

Are you still so confident that the football superpower England will have an easy time with us?

[Hobbes]

Ref whistled before they scored the goal because the players (from both teams) acted like they are in the middle of a wrestling match.
Lucky with the ref or not is hard to say as the Americans played really rough and it seems that we have lost Pečnik for the rest of the tournament.
Right now the bet is still on the England and USA to advance. But only time will tell


Are you still so confident that the football superpower England will have an easy time with us?

I have no confidence left my friend! I just hope Joe Cole gets a chance.
I'll be in the pub from 12:30 - so no doubt you will get a drunken email from me at some stage

Cheers, Chris

[Carnium]

I have no confidence left my friend! I just hope Joe Cole gets a chance.
I'll be in the pub from 12:30 - so no doubt you will get a drunken email from me at some stage

Cheers, Chris

Ah come one, I am still pretty sure that you will win.
Have fun

[Le Ricain]

Ref whistled before they scored the goal because the players (from both teams) acted like they are in the middle of a wrestling match.
Lucky with the ref or not is hard to say as the Americans played really rough and it seems that we have lost Pečnik for the rest of the tournament.
Right now the bet is still on the England and USA to advance. But only time will tell

I certainly saw many Slovenian players holding American players. I did not see any American players holding any Slovenian players and I am not sure why the Americans would want to hold any. There was certainly nothing that justified calling a foul or offsides againt the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfTyxeuvQ8k

[Carnium]

I certainly saw many Slovenian players holding American players. I did not see any American players holding any Slovenian players and I am not sure why the Americans would want to hold any. There was certainly nothing that justified calling a foul or offsides againt the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfTyxeuvQ8k

Well the ref actually whistled because of the offside of the American player Bradley. Bad luck for the Yanks in this case...

BTW.. where are the Bravehearts in recent years? They used to have a pretty good national team a few years ago...

[lodilefty]

All Whites 1-1 vs. Italy !!!

...and this even though the newest Italian coach had a major influence on the team: http://www.louganis.com/

[Franciscus]

Portugal 7-0 vs North Korea !!

I must say I am a bit amazed by the size of my national team victory, but it was one of those bizarre moments soccer has sometimes. After the 2nd or 3rd goal the Koreans collapsed mentally, and that was the end of it.

Now:
- In my country we are going for a few days at least to be the best team that ever existed in the universe, and our government will be very pleased: there will be no economic crisis at least until the next game
- And the NK coach must be receiving some harsh calls in his "invisible cellphone"
http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/06/16/north-koreas-kim-jong-ils-super-human-technology-skills/

[caranorn]

- And the NK coach must be receiving some harsh calls in his "invisible cellphone"

I hope Portugal will offer the poor fellow political asylum as I somehow fear the death penalty might be awaiting him back in North Korea...

[Le Ricain]

Well the ref actually whistled because of the offside of the American player Bradley. Bad luck for the Yanks in this case...

BTW.. where are the Bravehearts in recent years? They used to have a pretty good national team a few years ago...

As you can see from the tape, Bradley was not offside. Some good news - the Malian Ref has been removed from the rest of the World Cup.

Ah yes Scotland. From 1974 through 1990 Scotland qualified for five consecutive World Cups. After a short break Scotland returned for the 1998 WC. However, in none of her WC appearances, including her two appearances in the 1950's, has Scotland progressed beyond the first stage. Since 2002 Scotland has lost her way, suffering some heavy defeats. Perhaps in the future Scotland will return, but for now every game is a struggle.

[Generalisimo]

I hope Portugal will offer the poor fellow political asylum as I somehow fear the death penalty might be awaiting him back in North Korea...

While I was watching the match, I thought exactly the same...

[Franciscus]

While I was watching the match, I thought exactly the same...

IMHO what we should be thinking is how we (humans) as a community allow such lunatic and criminal regimens not only to survive but be sanctioned by entities such as FIFA...

but I will shut myself, as we are drifting from football into politics (although again IMHO North Korea is not a political but an ethical and moral issue)...

[Le Ricain]

Did you hear the story of the North Korean player Jong Tae-Se, 'the People's Rooney'? He was born in Japan to South Korean parents and went to Korean sponsored schools. His parents registered him with the South Korean embassy when he was born. So far, so good - he could play for either South Korea or Japan.

Instead he 'chose' to become North Korean??? As South Korea does not recognise dual citizenship he had to go to court to force the change.

[Carnium]

Instead he 'chose' to become North Korean??? As South Korea does not recognise dual citizenship he had to go to court to force the change.

This was reported everywhere here in Slovenia.
I guess it is "fun" to be North Korean if you don't need to actually live there...

[Hobbes]

Well good luck of sorts Carnium - you will be watching this afternoon I assume?

Cheers, Chris

[Carnium]

Well good luck of sorts Carnium - you will be watching this afternoon I assume?

Cheers, Chris

Good luck to you too. I am not too optimistic about the result today...
Lets wait and see

[gchristie]

According to the ESPN Soccer Power Index [SIZE="2"][SIZE="2"][SIZE="1"]should say football, I know[/size][/size][/size]

Odds of Group C teams advancing:

66.5% Slovenia
63% USA
52.9% England
17.6% Algeria

[Generalisimo]

Good luck to you too. I am not too optimistic about the result today...
Lets wait and see

With just a 1-1 or 0-0, you advance to the next round... and with this England... really, anything can happen...

[Generalisimo]

With just a 1-1 or 0-0, you advance to the next round... and with this England... really, anything can happen...

Now I know I shouldn't have said that... sorry.

Too bad, Slovenia didn't deserve to loose this match with England... it is incredible how HORRIBLE England is playing...

[Carnium]

Now I know I shouldn't have said that... sorry.

Too bad, Slovenia didn't deserve to loose this match with England... it is incredible how HORRIBLE England is playing...

Well they did deserve the win today as they were the better side. Our team played too defensive and we are lacking two or three quality players in defence and in the midfield and a true leader like the USA has in the Donovan. In the old generation (Zahovič..) we had them, but they could not get along with the head coach, now we have good team chemistry but lacking a bit in the quality department.
Still...our players represented our tiny country really well and I am proud of them. It was so close... yet so far.
Congratulations to the English and Yanks for the promotion.
We will be back ... one day

btw.. the "chaps" have played quite good today and James is not THAT bad goalie either. The changes in their team were spot on!

[Generalisimo]

Well they did deserve the win today as they were the better side. Our team played too defensive and we are lacking two or three quality players in defence and in the midfield and a true leader like the USA has in the Donovan. In the old generation (Zahovič..) we had them, but they could not get along with the head coach, now we have good team chemistry but lacking a bit in the quality department.
Still...our players represented our tiny country really well and I am proud of them. It was so close... yet so far.
Congratulations to the English and Yanks for the promotion.
We will be back ... one day

btw.. the "chaps" have played quite good today and James is not THAT bad goalie either. The changes in their team were spot on!

I really think England went down the drain when Rooney was removed from the field... they gave the ball to Slovenia ... and really, if the slovenian strickers were "a bit" better, it could have been a disaster.
I really do not understand why Capello gave all the initiative on the second half... trying to score the goal on a miraclous counter-attack...

[Hobbes]

I really think England went down the drain when Rooney was removed from the field... they gave the ball to Slovenia ... and really, if the slovenian strickers were "a bit" better, it could have been a disaster.
I really do not understand why Capello gave all the initiative on the second half... trying to score the goal on a miraclous counter-attack...

I'm too hung over to post

[Ebbingford]

Oh no, not the Germans again................

It will probably go to penalties and they will win again.

[Franciscus]

Italy and France out in group phase...

[Le Ricain]

Oh no, not the Germans again................

It will probably go to penalties and they will win again.

I am afraid the US goal finished England. To get to the final England will probably have to play Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil. To get to the final, you have to play against some good teams, but to play against all of them?

[dooya]

Oh no, not the Germans again................

It will probably go to penalties and they will win again.

It will be an easy win for England if the German team plays like they played against Ghana. If, however, they play like against Serbia it will be an interesting match.

By the way, what did you do to Rooney? For Manu he scores like a gunslinger but at the WC?

[Hobbes]

It will be an easy win for England if the German team plays like they played against Ghana. If, however, they play like against Serbia it will be an interesting match.

By the way, what did you do to Rooney? For Manu he scores like a gunslinger but at the WC?

It should be an interesting game. With a striker it's all about confidence - no doubt Rooney is a great striker but he doesn't have the confidence playing for England at the moment. One goal would change that.
Lampard also struggling a bit - but his goal scoring record for England, although not as good as for Chelsea, is still pretty good for a midfield player.

Germany always seem to do well in the big games though - especially against England.

Cheers, Chris

[soundoff]

I am afraid the US goal finished England. To get to the final England will probably have to play Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil. To get to the final, you have to play against some good teams, but to play against all of them?

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

[Generalisimo]

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

That would be interesting to see... at leat for me...