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Jawbone54 · Jun 14, 2006, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by mdc

I see it like the Oylimpics, also every 4 years.

It must be a challenge and a half to organize something like this on a global scale. I know South Africa has it for 2010 and they probably had to start organizing the day after they won the bid.

Especially since countries have built new stadiums for World Cups before.

Jawbone54 · Jun 14, 2006, 03:58 PM

Poland is drawing Germany at half time...

voodoo · Jun 14, 2006, 07:19 PM

I don't like football much. Entertaining to watch every now and then, but I don't go out of my way. Spain is my team, but I don't expect more from them than to win Grupo H. They will.. but probably not much more.

V

GlobalNomad · Jun 14, 2006, 09:41 PM

Australia vs Japan was fantastic.

Yelling at the TV for 84 or so minutes...
Then coming back and scoreing 3.
Its never over

OB1 · Jun 15, 2006, 04:33 AM

'til it's over.

Well done Australia, of to a flying start, and I thought Japan looked really solid in defense...

Spain! They're looking strong.

Loving the World Cup, watched almost every game so far

brapper · Jun 15, 2006, 09:47 PM

uh, England's making me nervous...I'm not sure what Sven's thinking with Crouch.

greenamp · Jun 16, 2006, 01:27 AM

England played brilliantly the last 10 minutes or so. Even so, they are a fun team to watch.

nath · Jun 16, 2006, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by brapper

uh, England's making me nervous...I'm not sure what Sven's thinking with Crouch.

posted before he scored?

seriously, the introducion of lennon and rooney showed the england most of us want to see more of. hopefully sven will stick with it. i doubt it though!

greenamp · Jun 16, 2006, 01:37 AM

Trinidad and Tobago have a really talented group, and I think their coach is making a mistake having them play so defensively. Seems like they are just playing to tie, when they have the talent to win.

von Wrangell · Jun 16, 2006, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by brapper

uh, England's making me nervous...I'm not sure what Sven's thinking with Crouch.

Not watched him play on a regular basis have you? A pairing of Crouch/Rooney or Crouch/Owen is a lot more useful than Rooney/Owen. Crouch can hold up the ball and head it. He creates for the other forward. Rooney and Owen are too similar to do any damage to the best teams.

Troll · Jun 16, 2006, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

Crouch can hold up the ball and head it.

Yeah but he looks like a lab rat!

von Wrangell · Jun 16, 2006, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Troll

Yeah but he looks like a lab rat!

And that's being kind to him.

Just imagine if Crouch and Rooney play together upfront. That means we'll be watching the lab rat and Shrek playing football!

brapper · Jun 16, 2006, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

Not watched him play on a regular basis have you? A pairing of Crouch/Rooney or Crouch/Owen is a lot more useful than Rooney/Owen. Crouch can hold up the ball and head it. He creates for the other forward. Rooney and Owen are too similar to do any damage to the best teams.

I've watched them plenty in the qualifying rounds. Don't get me wrong, I actually like Crouch. I just think that he's not quite the quality of player that should be playing the full 90 minutes. He misses too many chances.
I think he's better employed as a substitute should Rooney/Owen fail. I agree that Rooney/Owen are similar players, but they're both fast and can stretch the defense in a way that Crouch never will. Should they not be sucessful, then Sven could always change things up by putting Crouch on.

Adam Betts · Jun 16, 2006, 10:49 AM

Good game by Argentina, dominated the game 6-0.

von Wrangell · Jun 16, 2006, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by brapper

I've watched them plenty in the qualifying rounds. Don't get me wrong, I actually like Crouch. I just think that he's not quite the quality of player that should be playing the full 90 minutes. He misses too many chances.
I think he's better employed as a substitute should Rooney/Owen fail. I agree that Rooney/Owen are similar players, but they're both fast and can stretch the defense in a way that Crouch never will. Should they not be sucessful, then Sven could always change things up by putting Crouch on.

I've watched every game except two he's played for Liverpool and I can tell you that he is a pretty good finisher. He had a rough start to the season but after he started scoring for Liverpool he has 1 in 2. That's better than Rooney and similar to when Owen played for Liverpool. The only reason he isn't "liked" by the media and many supporters is that he doesn't look like Beckham or some other primadonna.

His stats with England is up there with the best as well. He's played 9 games, 4 of those coming on as a substitude and in those 9 games he's scored 6. That's 2 in 3. Owen has 1 in 2 for England and Rooney has 1 in 3.

The problem England has is two-fold. Both Rooney and Owen are crocked and not yet matchfit. They have to play them into form during the WC. And that will hurt England.
The other problem is SGE. He'll stick to his favoured 4-4-2 while England would do a lot better with either a 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 (Crouch, Owen and Rooney the three up front).

As for not stretching the defences. Crouch runs second most on the pitch for Liverpool. Only Momo Sissoko (great young player) runs more and he covers more than any player I've ever seen and Rafa Benitez once said that he covers 15km in one match. You simply won't find any players who cover more than that.

von Wrangell · Jun 16, 2006, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Adam Betts

Good game by Argentina, dominated the game 6-0.

One of the best performances I've seen. Great football. Simple 1-2's, one touch and off the ball movement. Great team goals and a really solid performance against the team that only conceeded one goal in the qualifiers in Europe. And Serbia was in the same group as Spain. Which is one of the teams that could possibly win this thing.

Argentine could definately win this thing.

calamar1 · Jun 16, 2006, 09:50 PM

i just got back from germany myself; i caught two games (us-czech republic, england-paraguay), and it was a totally amazing experience. pretty much everyone got along, and it was really cool to see so many people from all over the world having such a good time. pretty much everywhere you went, there were people dressed up and singing.

i've got pictures up here http://flickr.com/photos/rcolonna/ if anyone's interested...

Adam Betts · Jun 16, 2006, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by calamar1

i've got pictures up here http://flickr.com/photos/rcolonna/ if anyone's interested...

Thanks for the pictures. You're so lucky with front row seat

Are you going to watch more games there or you're done?

calamar1 · Jun 17, 2006, 08:17 AM

yeah, the front row seat was a real stroke of luck indeed; i'd actually gotten that via the conditional ticket program (seats that are freed up at the last minute) and was totally shocked to find out where it was... alas, i'm back in the states now, since the day job calls, but as huge an undertaking it was to go, i'll seriously think about it next time, too. i can't recommend it highly enough...

Adam Betts · Jun 17, 2006, 01:50 PM

Wow really good offensive by Ghanda. First goal was a shocker.

greenamp · Jun 17, 2006, 01:51 PM

Damnnn... Ghana wins 2-0 !!

mdc · Jun 17, 2006, 02:05 PM

Is my ABC HD broken or was that game not widescreen?

wallinbl · Jun 17, 2006, 02:33 PM

Congrats to Ghana! I always like seeing the smaller countries win, especially ones that don't have the wealth that other nations have.

Kofi Annan must be thrilled.

Velocity211 · Jun 17, 2006, 02:41 PM

20 Minutes until Italy vs. US. The US is probably gonna get owned my italy.

ShortcutToMoncton · Jun 17, 2006, 02:46 PM

Holy crap!!! Ghana! They looked pretty good in their first match, but this was just domination! Here's to the Czechs having yet another disappointing World Cup....

greg

paul w · Jun 17, 2006, 02:49 PM

Wow, now the US actually has something to play for. Giddyup!

TETENAL · Jun 17, 2006, 03:06 PM

I expect a 6:0 for Italy.

brapper · Jun 17, 2006, 03:30 PM

oh wow. that's 30 seconds of self-destruction for the Italians...

TETENAL · Jun 17, 2006, 03:45 PM

Revanche-foul by the US.

Adam Betts · Jun 17, 2006, 03:50 PM

Red card for US was a bad call, it should have been yellow card easily =/

paul w · Jun 17, 2006, 04:06 PM

This game is turning out to be a farce.

TETENAL · Jun 17, 2006, 04:52 PM

I expected more from the Italians. USA

greenamp · Jun 17, 2006, 05:00 PM

Both red cards on the USA were terrible calls. Turns out that ref was suspended back in FiFA 2002 for "irregularities." Well, his career as a FIFA ref should end today. He ruined the game for both sides. You don't red card a player for a split second late, spikes down tackle. Pathetic. It's the World effin cup man.

UNTeMac · Jun 17, 2006, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by greenamp

Both red cards on the USA were terrible calls. Turns out that ref was suspended back in FiFA 2002 for "irregularities." Well, his career as a FIFA ref should end today. He ruined the game for both sides. You don't red card a player for a split second late, spikes down tackle. Pathetic. It's the World effin cup man.

Agreed. He should be banned from the tournament. That game was an officiating disaster.

Props to the U.S. for defending with 9 players all the way to the end.

moodymonster · Jun 17, 2006, 05:07 PM

USA

TETENAL · 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by greenamp

Both red cards on the USA were terrible calls.

All 3 red cards were absolutely justified. Both Giovanni Trapattoni and Urs Meier agreed.

angelmb · Jun 17, 2006, 05:34 PM

What should be banned is that moron player from Italy, he did a similar thing prior to the WC during a friendly match versus Switzerland, typical stuff coming from an Italian team. They are pathetically unsporting.

greenamp · Jun 17, 2006, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

All 3 red cards were absolutely justified. Both Giovanni Trapattoni and Urs Meier agreed.

You're blind if you think the 2 red cards against the USA were justified.

moodymonster · Jun 17, 2006, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by angelmb

What should be banned is that moron player from Italy, he did a similar thing prior to the WC during a friendly match versus Switzerland, typical stuff coming from an Italian team. They are pathetically unsporting.

yeah, De Rossi was bang out of order and then had the nerve to protest his innocence to the ref - tosser. McBride was straight back in there once the cleaned up the blood and taped his face up, real spirit.

TETENAL · Jun 17, 2006, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by greenamp

You're blind

I have no clue about football, but Urs Meier who is commentating the referee decisions on German TV does. He was one of the world's best referees. He said that if the Italian player would not happened to be jumping the moment he was hit by the US player but standing with the studs in the ground, the foul would have resulted in very serious injuries that would have ment the end for his participation in the world cup. He is Swiss, unbiased, so I trust his judgement.
The other red card was a yellow card, the second for that player in this game.

angelmb · Jun 17, 2006, 06:16 PM

I can understand is kinda shocking that one guy get a red card when he was trying to play the ball and hits really hard an opponent ankle with no intention to damage that guy since it was a fortuitous action… and then you see that other player (?) De Rossi giving a 100% deliberate, hostile and malicious poke towards an opponent face…

I guess the same punishment -red card- doesn't seem that fair to the untrained eye… but FIFA has to get on it and ban that moronic italian from the WC'06. To the hell with him… come on, the guy was even claiming his innocence when such ref was just in front of the action !!

Please ban him NOW.

BTW I was really impressed with Donovan and Cherundolo. I knew Keller was good stuff, he was enrolled in a spanish team some years ago.

greenamp · Jun 17, 2006, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by angelmb

BTW I was really impressed with Donovan and Cherundolo. I knew Keller was good stuff, he was enrolled in a spanish team some years ago.

Agreed, they play a heck of a game. I was a bit surprised Arena didn't use his last sub in the 80th minute. Both teams legs were shot and a fresh pair of USA legs might have made a difference.

lurkalot · Jun 18, 2006, 12:24 AM

I love passionately fought games, where the outcome is uncertain 'till the final whistle, as much as the next guy. In many ways this was an exciting game. But I personally also applaud the decisions by this referee because virtually every attempt at offense was met with a foul on both sides of the field.
Tackling is a skill but the number of fouls and cynicaly late tackles in this game showed a lack of defensive imagination in the execution of good defensive plans. By the beginning of the second half all the fouls were becoming very tiresome to watch for me.

I think the ones who are blinded are those who either didn't see or condone these kinds of actions by the players who were sent off in particular, or the teams at large.
A cynical hit in the face with an elbow by de Rossi , a series of nasty and disruptive fouls by Pope and a hopelessly late, flying attack -with both legs stretched out, studs forward with no hope of hitting anything but ankles by- Mastroeni all deserved the card colors they received. Fortunately Mastroeni's nasty foul only ended the game for himself while it could easily have injured the other player for the game and rest of the tournament.

So, in my opinion all the fouls can be blamed on the players who committed them and thereby disrupted the game, not on the referee who had no choice but to sanction them. Personally I would hope that any unbiased football supporter could see it that way.

greenamp · 01:24 AM

There was no where near as many actual fouls by USA in this game as Italy made it out to be. Those guys are the best actors in the entire world of football. Two stretchers called out and seconds after reaching the sideline the players jump right out and back on the field. That magic spray Italy had must be good stuff.

At any rate it's over and I gotta purge these negative vibes and root for Italy to beat out the Czechs this thursday.

spectre · Jun 18, 2006, 02:20 AM

THe Italy/USA game was horribly played yet full of drama. The Americans did try very hard this time—you've got to give them credit for that—yet their only goal was... well.. not even their goal :/ The Italians were terrible. I wish they would stop diving around and play beautiful football, like they should be capable of.

Ghana was very impressive. The Americans will have their hands full with them.

For what it's worth, I though the first red card for the Americans was justified (maybe a bit tough). The second one was tough though.

Kr0nos · Jun 18, 2006, 02:39 AM

The US played a damn good game against probably the most disappointing Italian team I've seen in a long time. De Rossi needs to be banned for at least a year (not only because of his foul against McBride, but for his general asshattry, like deliberately jumping onto an opponents leg (Switzerland) etc.)

The first red card against the US was harsh, but (somewhat) justified, - the second one was an effing joke. Also, that second half goal for the US should have counted. It was a shot on goal and not a pass, and the attacker wasn't even off-side at that. The refs are supposed to make the calls for the attacking team when in doubt.

Ghana played awesome, but I'll be rooting for the US in the last game. Italy will trounce the Chezcs (wait and see), and it's off to face Brazil in the next round.

Best teams so far, – Germany, Spain and Argentina. I'm hoping for a Germany-Spain final!

angelmb · Jun 18, 2006, 03:04 AM

Originally Posted by greenamp

Those guys are the best actors in the entire world of football.

We europeans know so far that is everyday stuff with any italian team. They are that dirty. In a nutshell, with the Italians, you don't know whether to laugh or cry.

the entire italian team

lurkalot · Jun 18, 2006, 11:32 AM

It may have been a shot on goal and not a pass per se but I -from watching the game live and from the several replays shown during the direct broadcast- recall that there was a player in an offside position who perhaps did not touch the ball but who made an attempt to do so. This in my opinion invalidates your analysis. Had he remained passive I might have agreed but since he -in an offside position- ran at the goal and lifted his foot to shoot or deflect the ball and thereby may have distracted the keeper justified that decision of this referee as well for me.

Based on FIFA Laws of the Game - offside: ... snip... "Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent." Link

Jawbone54 · 12:31 PM

I watched the U.S. game and was hoping beyond hope that they could pull out the win. Then Pope and Mastroeni were sent off on very questionable calls and I knew that the best the U.S. could hope for was a draw. I'm satisfied with the result, but if Ghana plays at the same level on Thursday, the U.S. will be out. I really don't think Ghana can sustain the same level of play though, so it ought to be a good match.

I'm hoping Australia can give Brazil a good match today, just for the sake of a good watch. Any chance to watch Brazil is welcome for someone from a country that never televises any soccer/football games that aren't MLS or U.S. national games (except for the World Cup).

[EDIT] - Kudos to Brian McBride for being one of the few players on the pitch yesterday to show a little toughness. Bloodied McBride is Our Hero - Keller He didn't baby around. He got patched up and made it back out as quickly as possible. I love McBride

Peter · Jun 18, 2006, 04:03 PM

Australia rocked against Brazil. I really hope the Aussies do well!