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

[Hobbes]

I do enjoy a little bit of Minnesotan HandEgg myself. I prefer the Turtle racing though

Cheers, Chris

[Franciscus]

Well, it was not 5-0, but Brazil managed to beat NK. It was not easy and it will not be easy to my team, Portugal, to beat them - and we must, after our lackluster nill with Ivory Coast.
Nevertheless, my expectations regarding Portugal are the same as the ones expressed so well recently by José Mourinho: "Not even with Ronaldo at 1000km/h will we go anywhere"...

My favourites ? Brazil. Maybe Spain. Germany and Italy, as always. Even France...do not throw them out yet. Holland has also showed great football, let's see if they can carry through. Argentina ?... only god and Maradona knows

[lodilefty]

I do enjoy a little bit of Minnesotan HandEgg myself. I prefer the Turtle racing though

Cheers, Chris

I'm partial to Lacrosse.

Maybe because I live in the middle of the "Confederation Of 6 Nations" homelands...

On topic: seems to be a lot of conservative play, but Brazil certainly looks like they still can play the Beautiful Game.

[TheDoctorKing]

The home team put in a stirring performance against Mexico in the opening game. I was going around whistling "Nkosi Sikelele Africa" all morning! Had to whistle as I can't pronounce the words...like those white guys in the rugby movie...

Match against Uruguay tomorrow afternoon. Should be a close match and the winner has a good chance to advance. It would be nice to see South Africa go somewhere this world cup.

[caranorn]

I haven't had much time to follow the games. So far I've seen three complete games (including England-USA, poor keeper, and stupid coach for still having Crouch in the team). Yesterday I only saw half of the Brazil game (so I'm still uncertain about the size of their victory (by the ammount of screaming in the streets at best 2-0, probably 1-0 with a near miss)) but I must say I was shocked by how well North Korea played...

[Rafiki]

The only convincing performances so far have been by ze Germans and the Dutch.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Spain might have going for them, and I hold them as slight favourites along with the Germans, with hopes that France and Denmark do well too

[wertheimer]

Germany has my attention at the moment. I have yet to see any other team perform as well up to this point. Brazil seemed to struggle with North Korea. Holland benefited from a Danish own goal in their 2-0 win; their performance was not very memorable to me. However, I do not count them out at this point, as I am a staunch (36 yrs) Bayern Munich fan and I have seen the magic of Arjen Robben. I know he is chomping at the bit to get into the fray.

Pat W

[Generalisimo]

The only convincing performances so far have been by ze Germans and the Dutch.

Brazil is always Brazil... they can win the WC even by playing really bad...

[Generalisimo]

So the World Cup is on and we have no football thread. What do people think? Not so many great games in the first round so far.

I liked Italy-Paraguay for example... the game was open and could have been for anyone... it was not a great played game, but it was interesting to see... sadly for Paraguay, it was a draw.

[gchristie]

I hope Komac has to eat his words.

Tim Howard on Andrej Komac’s prediction of victory for Slovenia.

“I think talk is cheap,” the American goalkeeper said Wednesday. “He’s got to stand toe to toe. And they’ve got to stand toe to toe with us for 90 minutes. And if he’s still standing, then I’ll take my hat off to him."



Anyone seen this? http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/06/world-cup-simulated-odds.html

[Carnium]

I hope Komac has to eat his words.

Tim Howard on Andrej Komac’s prediction of victory for Slovenia.

“I think talk is cheap,” the American goalkeeper said Wednesday. “He’s got to stand toe to toe. And they’ve got to stand toe to toe with us for 90 minutes. And if he’s still standing, then I’ll take my hat off to him."

I do hope the Yanks will take us lightly .. the same as the Russians did and then this happened:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoNz_8G1GO4

As a huge ice hockey fan, I am never too optimistic about our football team(s), but one is sure... they will always fight from the first to the last minute.

[Generalisimo]

Switzerland 1 - Spain 0... the surprise of the WC?

[dooya]

Ha, ze Germans at Strategycon Interactive have a vBulletin hack for a soccer pools game! See and be jealous: http://www.si-games.com/forums/wm.php?do=start

And ze Germans even have great sponsors who offered prizes for excellent game predictors: http://www.si-games.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20287



(To be serious: Be invited to join the fun. )

[TheDoctorKing]

Ah, well, 3-0 Uruguay. How disappointing! Now for USA-Slovenia...

[Rafiki]

Brazil is always Brazil... they can win the WC even by playing really bad...

Your guys aren't looking too bad either, though my gut feeling says that Maradona is as much a liability as an asset. Time will tell, though

As for Spain? I may have to reconsider my pegging them among the favorites.....

[arsan]

Switzerland 1 - Spain 0... the surprise of the WC?

I don't like football much but still...
That was the first football match i've seen since the last Euro Cup final and after the experience i think i will not see be seeing another one in this WC

PD: but please, if Spain miraculously gets to the finals, let me know... i would not want to miss that!

[Rafiki]

If Spain reaches the finals, I'm pretty sure you'll know, provided you are in Spain, and, you know, not in a coma or something

[arsan]

If Spain reaches the finals, I'm pretty sure you'll know, provided you are in Spain, and, you know, not in a coma or something

Wait... you mean there is a world outside this forum??

[Rafiki]

More than you can imagine....

[Mickey3D]

Switzerland 1 - Spain 0... the surprise of the WC?

I'm Swiss but I must admit it was the perfect hold-up (i.e. Switzerland stole the victory) ! Even the swiss goal was possible due to a bit of luck !

It was a little bit like these old westerns where a lone cavalry patrol is besieged by a horde of indians

That's the kind of game that make me unhappy with football/soccer : an outrageously good team can be beaten by eleven guys entrenched in their zone

[Generalisimo]

I'm Swiss but I must admit it was the perfect hold-up (i.e. Switzerland stole the victory) ! Even the swiss goal was possible due to a bit of luck !

It was a little bit like these old westerns where a lone cavalry patrol is besieged by a horde of indians

That's the kind of game that make me unhappy with fotball/soccer : an outrageously good team can be beaten by eleven guys entrenched in their zone

Yes, the whole switzerland goal play was a pinball... that miraclously fell into the foot of Fernandes....
Spain dominated the entire match but it was imposible to get a solid chance with the fantastic swiss defense...
But, I do think that, for example, in the first half the referee stole a penalty from Spain... and it was too permissive with the harsh play that Switzerland proposed..

Anyway, this is football!!! let's see if Spain can get back into the WC!!... I really hope not, because I want to see Chile advance into the next round.

[Mickey3D]

Yes, the whole switzerland goal play was a pinball... that miraclously fell into the foot of Fernandes....

[act in bad faith]That was fine swiss made clockwork[/act in bad faith]

But, I do think that, for example, in the first half the referee stole a penalty from Spain... and it was too permissive with the harsh play that Switzerland proposed..

I didn't see the first half so I can't tell. But yes swiss play was harsh : hey don't forget we are moutaineers used to the rough Alps standard of living

Anyway, this is football!!! let's see if Spain can get back into the WC!!... I really hope not, because I want to see Chile advance into the next round.

I thought Chile and Argentina were not good friends

[Generalisimo]

I thought Chile and Argentina were not good friends

Historically, we are not ... and my only visit to Santiago of Chile was a bit dissapointing ... but, Marcelo Bielsa is the coach ... so I preffer to see Chile on the next round than Spain, Switzerland or Honduras.

[gchristie]

Slovenia 2 - USA 2. On to the next round.

[Carnium]

Slovenia 2 - USA 2. On to the next round.

Nice game and we would lose if the game would last another 10-15 minutes.
Our players were too passive in the second half and the yanks showed a great spirit and dedication.

Serbia beat Germany as the two Poles (Klose and Podolski) played ... lets say just plain bad while the coach used "strange" subs.

[Mickey3D]

Algeria - England : 0 - 0

My God what kind of world championship is it ? Is the world upside down ?

[gchristie]

Going out on a limb...and predicting...

A draw between USA and Algeria

[Hobbes]

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?

Even though the players in the bigger international teams should be as good or almost as good as Chelsea or Barcelona - they don't seem to have the same team spirit or confidence.

[lodilefty]

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?

Even though the players in the bigger international teams should be as good or almost as good as Chelsea or Barcelona - they don't seem to have the same team spirit or confidence.

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!!!!

[Le Ricain]

Nice game and we would lose if the game would last another 10-15 minutes.
Our players were too passive in the second half and the yanks showed a great spirit and dedication.

Serbia beat Germany as the two Poles (Klose and Podolski) played ... lets say just plain bad while the coach used "strange" subs.

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