The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread

[Cuchulainn]

Wearing colors presents your pride for your country. Those mothersmurfing vuvuzelas annoy the :bou::bou::bou::bou: out of me and should be incinerated. But they represent an African pride. The most important sporting event in the world is being played in their home country. It's amazing for them and the vuvuzela represents that pride and elation that comes when a nation hosts something so important.

I don't at all find a symbol of pride selfish. Annoying, hell yeah, but not selfish.

Besides, the vuvuzela is so common to their football matches that not having one is the weird thing to do. And we need adjust to the vuvuzela, the vuvuzela shouldn't adjust to us.

EDIT: It's like if I went to France and said everyone should stop wearing shoulder bags. I'm the visitor, if I can't adjust, then I need to leave.

You don't quite seem to get it. It's not like that, at all. If it was at games SOUTH AFRICA are playing in, if that's their thing, work away. in 2002 Korea had a full drum band. They have one at every league side. THEY ONLY PLAYED THE DRUMS DURING GAMES WHERE KOREA WAS PLAYING.

The vuvubollox should be fucking banned. They're ruining the atmosphere and killing any emotion you could have felt during a game.

[Croyles]

Ok is anyone seriously suggesting that the vuvuzela is the pride of south africa? Most african countries have amazing music in their culture, this is NOT part of this. If we wanted to see the real south africa during the world cup they should show their real talent, not blowing a stupid horn in b minor for 90 ear splitting minutes!

Also, last world cups theme song was better! :p
YouTube - Zeit,dass sich was dreht(high quality)-Herbert Grönemeyer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd4oF4dZg9Q)
Amazing lyrics (the english version is average)

[Laddy]

It's a horn. It's typical of South African soccer games. It's expeted in a Sotuh African game. The organizers knew about the vuvuzelas, they're stupid, annyoing, and retarded, but I honestly think it's not that big of an issue, at least as a viewer.

Now if it's affecting gameplay, fine. But frankly, I think it's almost as bull:bou::bou::bou::bou: as the "ball curves" excuse. Stadiums are loud. With or without vuvuzelas.

EDIT: No, the vuvuzela is not the pride of South Africa, but if by "playing" it shows the elations of hosting the World Cup, I wouldn't at all call it selfish.

[Croyles]

The ball stuff I find stupid too, but this affects everyone. A few people have already gotten yellow cards for continuing play when they were offside because they couldnt hear the ref.
A horn in south africa is usually played in some kind of rythm or tune.
I admit, usually I can zone the noise out, but I dont see why I should need to lol.

Plus it was the mexicans that brought it over like 2 decades ago, it shouldnt really be a cultural thing.

[Laddy]

And Spaghetti is Chinese.

[Croyles]

And Spaghetti is Chinese.

Oh come on thats just taking the logic I used and multiplying it by 100x.

Whatever, I just hope for some good games and then I wont need to make a fuss about the vuvuzelas. :)

[Cuchulainn]

Ok is anyone seriously suggesting that the vuvuzela is the pride of south africa? Most african countries have amazing music in their culture, this is NOT part of this. If we wanted to see the real south africa during the world cup they should show their real talent, not blowing a stupid horn in b minor for 90 ear splitting minutes!

Also, last world cups theme song was better! :p
YouTube - Zeit,dass sich was dreht(high quality)-Herbert Grönemeyer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd4oF4dZg9Q)
Amazing lyrics (the english version is average)

World Cup Intros are a win. This was BBCs for 2006

YouTube - BBC - World Cup Titles 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txPi-qFWQwM&feature=related)

[Madame Adequate]

VUVUZELAS

VUVUZELAS EVERYWHERE

ps: this sort of thing is exactly why we tried to civilize the continent.

[seiferalmasy2]

ps: this sort of thing is exactly why we tried to civilize the continent.

and why we failed....:D

[charliepanayi]

I think if there was more goals so far we wouldn't be arguing about the bloody vuvuzelas, it's just whilst the tournament hasn't caught light so far people need something to argue about. But I think it's still early days, the last World Cup started with lots of goals and they dried up in the knockout stages so hopefully we'll see the opposite here.

Predictions for today:

New Zealand 0 Slovakia 2
Ivory Coast 2 Portugal 1
Brazil 3 North Korea 0

[champagne supernova]

As my friend said, how is the vuvuzela any worse than the usual bunch of chavs drunkenly chanting out of tune. And generally, when I watch football, I watch football. I don't watch football to hear people sing or chant or beat drums or play brass bands.

And as someone said, it's like going into France and telling them to stop being sulky. And it turns out that South Africans bought the majority of the tickets, so we can do whatever we want there. Not withstanding the fact that the majority of foreign supporters are also blowing them and a million of them have already been sold in England.

Even the head of the English Fan Club said he didn't have a problem with them and many of the English fans were merrily blowing them while they were chanting during the England - USA game.

I love how the foreign media has been trying to drag South Africa down for the entire World Cup. Firstly, these articles appeared stating that we will never have the stadiums ready in time and that contingency plans have been made to send it to Australia. Then, when it appeared that the stadiums were going to be finished in advance, they turned on infrastructure and security. Now they've moved on to the vuvuzela.

Maybe just try let it go and then it'll drift happily into the realm of background noise, allowing you to watch the game. Which is why I assume you watch football.

Anyway, enough of that rant and back to football. The opening games tend to be nervous and dull because no team wants to lose and it is also the first time they step out onto the World Cup field. Things tend to improve in the 2nd round of group matches.

[Croyles]

I agree im mostly arguing about this since the games have been kind of boring, but still.

YouTube - Football Chants - Part 1 - International (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTe5lZr6WDg)

The commentators on BBC right now agree.

EDIT: Damn you Slovakia!

[Rocket Edge]

Predictions for today (It's half time already In the Slovak game so with that in mind):

New Zealand 0 - 1 Slovakia
Ivory Coast 1 - 2 Portugal
Brazil 4 - 0 North Korea

[Old Manus]

I predicted 1-0 Paraguay so I'm not too scorned by the final result :cool:

The vuvuzelas are retarded. I don't care if some bleeding hearts claim erroneously that they are 'the lifeblood of south african football' or other such rubbish, the noise just ruins the game for everybody but the people blowing them.

[Old Manus]

in b4 BoB

[champagne supernova]

For those complaining about vuvuzelas, make a custom sound setting where you drop 300Hz channel on the equaliser. And then stop complaining. Thank you.

Now for those who care about football, Portugal are playing at last. A World Cup is not a World Cup until Ronaldo kicks the ball. Expect Portugal to take it 2-1. But hopefully an exciting game.

[Loony BoB]

:D

Poooooooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiint! And their goal was offside, too, although it would have been harsh to call it.

Regarding the horns, I wasn't bothered by them when watching. But then, growing up in NZ, maybe I'm used to hearing them whenever we play South Africa in the rugby or the cricket.

[Aerith's Knight]

Ugh, 93' minute goal screwed up my poule. ._.

[Old Manus]

10 minutes in

Ronaldo dive

Yep, the world cup has started for real!

[seiferalmasy2]

As my friend said, how is the vuvuzela any worse than the usual bunch of chavs drunkenly chanting out of tune.

You don't see the difference between a 90 minute horn at 1 tone; much louder than anything else- and what you mentioned (even when what you mentioned is a minority and a massive generalisation)?

Stop making the most ridiculous defences of this horn. It makes you look daft.

I like to hear the spanish supporters, the greeks, the japanese, the mexicans, the brazillians and the english. A full array of supporters. Not 1 toned horn which drowns all the diversity out.

The fact this horn is being requested a ban should tell you how absurd your view of this subject actually is and how ridiculous your defence. More holes than the Titanic.

This is the WORLD cup not AFIRCAN cup. I want to hear the atmosphere of ALL countries not 1 horn. Beggars belief that there are those trying to compare 1 toned noise to a band... jesus, do we let you vote??

YouTube - ESPN commentators hate the Vuvuzela's at the Confederations Cup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-rKemC0QI0)

That might help

[champagne supernova]

I like to hear the spanish supporters, the greeks, the japanese, the mexicans, the brazillians and the english. A full array of supporters. Not 1 toned horn which drowns all the diversity out.

The fact this horn is being requested a ban should tell you how absurd your view of this subject actually is and how ridiculous your defence. More holes than the Titanic.

This is the WORLD cup not AFIRCAN cup. I want to hear the atmosphere of ALL countries not 1 horn. Beggars belief that there are those trying to compare 1 toned noise to a band... jesus, do we let you vote??

You see, I personally watch the World Cup to watch football, not to hear people sing. I go to concerts for that. And I don't personally like the noise the vuvuzela makes. But I am not going to complain and try stuff my opinion down people who have paid money to go watch these games. I paid roughly $150-$200 per ticket and I don't see how people sitting at home miles away have any right to dictate what instrument I choose to blow while I am there.

More to the point, the foreign tourists are equally bad. I saw many of the famed English singing support running around blowing their vuvuzelas, so don't quite see how this is an African thing. So are the Dutch, the Danes, the Germans, the French, basically everybody!

And I've heard from my brother that they are being blown around England as well. Football Association themselves said they can't be banned, so don't see why they need to be banned from the World Cup.

And as much as it is the World Cup, it is South Africa that has built or renovated these stadiums, put into place the necessary infrastructure and have been immensely accommodating to all the fans travelling into the country. So, I think some instrument that is part & parcel of our game should be allowed in the stadiums that we paid for. If the World would like to come and help foot the bill, then we'll reconsider.

If it is that much of a problem in your life, there are many solutions, from dropping the 300Hz from your TV, to a song you can download and play through your hi-fi during the game, to the BBC's red button stripping down the noise from the game so you only have commentary. So, there is a solution to everyone's complaints.

[Laddy]

Precisely. I hate the fucking thing as much as Nickelback, Styx, and Fall Out Boy combined, but to whine incessantly about it even though it's typical of the damn country it's plyed in makes you looks like well...

an American.

[Old Manus]

You see, I personally watch the World Cup to watch football, not to hear the sound of a thousand idling dustbin lorries:monster:

In other news, I hoped for a crushing victory for Ivory Coast over Portudive, but Jesus, that was boring. We're stuck in the middle of a World Cup that is suprisingly devoid of goals :|

[champagne supernova]

Precisely. I hate the smurfing thing as much as Nickelback, Styx, and Fall Out Boy combined, but to whine incessantly about it even though it's typical of the damn country it's plyed in makes you looks like well...

an American.

Precisely! As I said, I don't like them, but the continuous whinging about them is equally annoying. And unlike the vuvuzela, there isn't a way to fix the noise coming out of the television.

They are also really cool in a stadium. It really does build spirit amongst fans and makes it real fun. But on TV, yeah, they sound like a droning insect.

[Laddy]

Precisely!

[Aerith's Knight]

Why do we hate those stupid horns? Maybe because the cable network hasn't figured out of a simple gap filter works and I get a smurfing headache while watching sports, for christ's sake.

How on earth can YOU even stand it if someone is blowing that 120 decibel horn next to your ear? It's a wonder you're not deaf yet.

I should not have to get a headache from hearing sports, that's just beyond ridiculous. Maybe you guys build up an immunity or have all gone deaf, but that doesn't mean we have.

And if you want to cheer on your club, fine, then I'd just avoid games with South Afrika and such, but no, tourist supporters are stupid and they started imitating.

[Laddy]

Look, we all hate the stupid horns too. God damn it do we hate those motherfucking piece of :bou::bou::bou::bou: goddamn asshorns. But banning them is silly.

[Loony BoB]

Are you at the matches, AK? Or do you just turn up your TV really loud?

[Aerith's Knight]

Are you at the matches, AK? Or do you just turn up your TV really loud?

Like I said, unlike British TV (which I've watched a few times), Dutch TV hasn't figured out how to do a simple bandgap filter, and the horns are as loud as the commentators. Droning sounds, like this and music in clubs as well, gives me a headache. Now I take the ones in the bar by simply getting drunk, but I shouldn't have to do that while watching sports.

Again, this wouldn't be a problem if the TV network had smart people working there, such as they apparently do have in Britain.

[champagne supernova]

The talk is that vuvuzelas are to be filtered out of World Cup broadcasts after a number of complaints were made about the constant buzzing sound of the plastic horns used by fans in South Africa. To think, World Cup crowds making noise...have they no shame? What is the point of awarding the World Cup to a country like South Africa if any points of cultural difference are to be filtered out to accommodate the pedestrian viewing expectations of western armchair dwellers?

And I think the tourists must find something good about them if they're busy blowing them.

Back to the football, Portugal looked very narrow and lacking a spark in midfield. Hopefully they thump North Korea and go through on goal difference.

But the World Cup's best kept secret will be let out in a couple hours when the world will see what the North Korea kit actually looks like! And whether they are any good. Should be exciting. I reckon Brazil is going to end up drawing this. Or thump them 4-0. But nothing in between ;)

[Aerith's Knight]

The last game was just pathetically boring. I have 4 - 0 for Brazil tonight, let's hope they make it happen.

[Loony BoB]

AK, I would complain about the broadcasts rather than the vuvuzelas themselves if that is the case. Perhaps you could watch a streaming feed from another country if it would help. BBC is free to air over here so I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of feeds online you could gain access to fairly easily.

I agree with the following points I found in Wikipedia:
1. He [BBC sports commentator Farayi Mungazi] also said there was no point in taking the world cup to Africa and then "trying to give it a European feel".
2. President of FIFA Sepp Blatter commented, "I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound. I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"[

Not often I agree with Mr. Blatter, mind you.

EDIT: supernova - Portugal were basically boring, but you want them to go through? :p Or do you mean that you hope they find their spark?

[champagne supernova]

Can't believe a Saffa and a Kiwi are in agreement, hey Bob. It must come from years of beating the northern hemisphere teams in rugby hehe.

I've got tickets to runner-up of Group G and winner of Group H. And the winner of Group H will be Spain, so I hope I just get a Spain - Portugal game hahaha. But I hope Portugal find their spark too, so I can watch an epic Spain - Portugal match. I remember watching one in Euro '04 between the two which was quite cool.

[Cuchulainn]

It's now officially the worst world cup I've ever seen. This is my 7th (6th, I remember bit of 86 but not much). 2006 was epic.


NEVER HAVE THE WORLD CUP IN AFRICA AGAIN.

[Madame Adequate]

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy178/Automilf/vuvuzela.jpg

[Jings]

I'm finding the half empty stadiums more annoying than the bloody horns.

[Croyles]

Next round will be better.


I'm finding the half empty stadiums more annoying than the bloody horns.

I find it strange that they are so empty.
But hey, i dont want to do nothing but complain, im hoping the WC will get better,

[seiferalmasy2]

Obviously some people had sense not to fork out for a horn fiesta....:p Can't say I would have gone if I had the cash, knowing what is in store.

As for filtering the noise, it can't be done without also filtering out the crowd. The horns occupy a frequency range that also includes voice. It can be toned down but it can't eradicate it and it certainly cannot make the usual atmosphere return to anywhere near normal.

So...that is a no go.

[Psychotic]

Slovakia should all ritually kill themselves for shaming their ancestors. Mind you, now New Zealand are officially better than Australia :tongue:
In other news, I hoped for a crushing victory for Ivory Coast over Portudive, but Jesus, that was boring. We're stuck in the middle of a World Cup that is suprisingly devoid of goals :|Naturally it's the fault that evil ball. The Jabbawhama or whatever the smurf it's called. Kind of hilarious it's had the opposite effect of what everyone thought.
The last game was just pathetically boring. I have 4 - 0 for Brazil tonight, let's hope they make it happen.I will pretend I did not read that. :colbert:

[champagne supernova]

Next round will be better.


I'm finding the half empty stadiums more annoying than the bloody horns.

I find it strange that they are so empty.
But hey, i dont want to do nothing but complain, im hoping the WC will get better,

They're in random places. Polokwane is close to the northern border and Nelspruit is by the Kruger Park. Not exactly bustling city centres. Rustenburg isn't too far out of Johannesburg, so that's why it tends to be full. And a lot of the really low-key games are being played there too, so people aren't really making an effort to go watch them there.

But the major cities (Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg) are all sold out. Bloemfontein and PE are almost full.

EDIT: The games are dull for numerous reasons, but as Podolski and others have proved, if you hit that ball properly, it flies.

EDIT 2: Apparently North Korea asked China to recruit 2 000 fans to go out to South Africa and support North Korea. Brilliant.

[Cuchulainn]

Half empty stadiums at World Cups or Euros is not new though. I remember Euro 96, Bulgaria V Romania. Literally no one there.

[Psychotic]

EDIT 2: Apparently North Korea asked China to recruit 2 000 fans to go out to South Africa and support North Korea. Brilliant.They didn't have to be asked, they did it willingly when they discovered the glory of Dear Leader.

[Croyles]

Half empty stadiums at World Cups or Euros is not new though. I remember Euro 96, Bulgaria V Romania. Literally no one there.

Thats true.

[Psychotic]

Just read an article about the vuvuzela - they are at 130 decibels, which is higher than the human pain threshold. Tradition is one thing, but when you're actively causing harm to everyone else in the stadium then I think a line has to be drawn.

[champagne supernova]

Korea playing 5 defenders is above the human pain threshold ;)

Nah, I doubt they're that high. Someone in the past decade would have filed an interdict if they were dangerous to one's health.

I'm going for the Brazil 4 - 0 Korea scoreline now.

[Psychotic]

Well you need a lot of defenders to stop Imperialist filth from trying to invade the motherland.

Anyway, Brazil are a very decent and efficient side. That is why I will predict it to be 4-0 to North Korea - Brazil will give them an unusually strong challenge.

[charliepanayi]

It rather says a lot that a New Zealand equaliser in the last minute cheered me up somewhat.

Come on North Korea, surely you can liven up this World Cup! OK, maybe not.

[Croyles]

Well its not a walk over for Brasil at the moment.

[Old Manus]

Looks like my wager on a 1-0 victory for Brazil is not as farfetched as the bookies thought :excited:

[Cuchulainn]

worst
ever
world
cup

[champagne supernova]

Looks like another team has forgotten how to attack! What is wrong with everyone this World Cup? Although I did say Dunga might regret not bringing Ronaldinho. A game like this calls for someone of his prodigious ability.

[charliepanayi]

Hey, a 0-0 in this game is a 0-0 I actually want to happen! Not that it's going to happen of course.

And Italia 90 is still the worst until this one is over ;)

[Jings]

Why is Kaka even playing? Get him off. This really is painful.

[Cuchulainn]

Looks like another team has forgotten how to attack! What is wrong with everyone this World Cup? Although I did say Dunga might regret not bringing Ronaldinho. A game like this calls for someone of his prodigious ability.

the vuvus are to blame...and the ball...and the altitude...I forget what other excuses teams have used someone help me out.

[Pete for President]

C'ote d'Ivore played surpisingly well. I'm a fan now. :choc:

[charliepanayi]

Ivory Coast and Portugal were both awful, at least you expect NZ v Slovakia to be poor and North Korea were always going to be defensive tonight (plus they are defensive generally), but Portugal and Ivory Coast have an abundance of talent and seemed happy to play for a bore draw even though a win would go a long way to helping them avoid Spain in Round 2.

[Del Murder]

I can't believe North Korea was even allowed to have a team, yet they are keeping up with Brazil.

[champagne supernova]

Guessing the North Korean goalkeeper will be "re-educated" on his return home.

[Aerith's Knight]

What a goal, best one this WC.

[Cuchulainn]

What a goal, best one this WC.

It was a cross thst fluked in. There is absolutely no way that was deliberate.

[Aerith's Knight]

What a goal, best one this WC.

It was a cross thst fluked in. There is absolutely no way that was deliberate.

Unless you actually are a first division soccer player, there's no way you could know that.

[Cuchulainn]

What a goal, best one this WC.

It was a cross thst fluked in. There is absolutely no way that was deliberate.

Unless you actually are a first division soccer player, there's no way you could know that.

It's football not fucking soccer. And if you watch football week in week out you know what's a shot & what's a cross. First sign was the player not looking at the fucking goal and attempting a cross.

[charliepanayi]

Best goal of this World Cup so far was probably the first one anyway. And who cares if they call it soccer. Well obviously you do, but frankly they can call it whatever they want.

[champagne supernova]

Still rate Tshabalala or Podolski's above that one! It did look like a bit of a fluke. And a goalkeeper shouldn't be beaten in that situation anyway.

But it looked fantashtic.

[Aerith's Knight]

What a goal, best one this WC.

It was a cross thst fluked in. There is absolutely no way that was deliberate.

Unless you actually are a first division soccer player, there's no way you could know that.

It's football not smurfing soccer. And if you watch football week in week out you know what's a shot & what's a cross. First sign was the player not looking at the smurfing goal and attempting a cross.

It's the same smurfing thing, stop bitching. And unless you've watched many many matches where this Brazilian player played in, which I'm guessing you don't, or, if you do, that's very sad, then you don't know what this player is capable of.

[Cuchulainn]

He never looked at thje goal, he looked into the box beforehand, he mis hit it with his toe. Do the math kid.

Anyway, Robinho's pass for that goal was a beauty.

[champagne supernova]

Well, most of us know Maicon for quite a while. And he just did win the treble with Inter, so he isn't exactly an unknown. That being said, only the player himself knows if that was intentional or a fluke!

That second goal was great though. What a pass. What a finish. Beautiful.

Somewhat less beautiful is Dunga's dress sense. I'd say that Low most likely wins best dressed, but Dunga is in a class of his own in the worst dressed section.

[Cuchulainn]

Well, most of us know Maicon for quite a while. And he just did win the treble with Inter, so he isn't exactly an unknown. That being said, only the player himself knows if that was intentional or a fluke!

Players never admit a fluke.

[charliepanayi]

Let's agree to diasgree on this one and all agree that Ronaldinho meant his goal against England in 2002.

[Cuchulainn]

Let's agree to diasgree on this one and all agree that Ronaldinho meant his goal against England in 2002.

furry muff.

[Laddy]

I refuse to comment on this game as I fear in doing so will result in my demise.

[Old Manus]

NORTH KOREA WIN 1-2

[champagne supernova]

Well that second half was more like it. Hopefully this World Cup bursts into life when teams realise that they actually need to win games if they're planning on progressing to the next game.

Predictions tomorrow.

Spain 2 - 0 Switzerland

Chile 3 - 0 Honduras

South Africa 1 - 0 Uruguay (fingers crossed)

EDIT: Apart from the Portugal game, today has been quite cool. New Zealand grabbing a point in the dying seconds was awesome and Korea scoring and pushing Brazil now was also cool.

[Aerith's Knight]

Wow, unexpected goal. Well done, now at least one player doesn't have to sit through the mandatory 5 minutes within the Nuclear reactor core.

It's a team spirit building effort.

[charliepanayi]

North Korea did pretty well, they might give Portugal and Ivory Coast a game.

Chile 1 Honduras 0
Spain 3 Switzerland 0
South Africa 1 Uruguay 1

[Madame Adequate]

The team will be punished. Dear Leader emphasized that they exercise the utmost restraint and benevolence, but they were unable to stop themselves from scoring that last-minute goal just to prove that they could. So now Brazil knows North Korea was simply toying with them, and this was not the friendly handshake Dear Leader wished to extend.

[Crop]

The team will be punished. Dear Leader emphasized that they exercise the utmost restraint and benevolence, but they were unable to stop themselves from scoring that last-minute goal just to prove that they could. So now Brazil knows North Korea was simply toying with them, and this was not the friendly handshake Dear Leader wished to extend.

Are you mocking the great Democratic People's Republic of Korea? I've been a supporter of The Dear Leader and the great Republic for many months now and find your evil Western mockery offensive.

[Rocket Edge]

I thought Maicons goal was deliberate because of how his body was positioned and how he hit the ball. It was some goal, up there with the best so far!

Predictions for tomorrow:

Chile 2 Honduras 0
Spain 3 Switzerland 0
South Africa 1 Uruguay 1

[Cuchulainn]

I thought Maicons goal was deliberate because of how his body was positioned and how he hit the ball. It was some goal, up there with the best so far!

I think if you watch the whole thing you will realise it was a fluke. He bombed down, looked behind him slightly into the box, looked down & banged it. When he banged it he twisted his body to shoot diagonally behind. It was a glorious fluke.

[Madame Adequate]

The team will be punished. Dear Leader emphasized that they exercise the utmost restraint and benevolence, but they were unable to stop themselves from scoring that last-minute goal just to prove that they could. So now Brazil knows North Korea was simply toying with them, and this was not the friendly handshake Dear Leader wished to extend.

Are you mocking the great Democratic People's Republic of Korea? I've been a supporter of The Dear Leader and the great Republic for many months now and find your evil Western mockery offensive.

You are clearly a traitor for accusing one as loyal as I of mocking the great and benificent Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Tell me, how does it feel to be a lackey for the imperialists?

[Rocket Edge]

I thought Maicons goal was deliberate because of how his body was positioned and how he hit the ball. It was some goal, up there with the best so far!

I think if you watch the whole thing you will realise it was a fluke. He bombed down, looked behind him slightly into the box, looked down & banged it. When he banged it he twisted his body to shoot diagonally behind. It was a glorious fluke.
Isn't it very possible he meant to fool the keeper? Plus, he was a few yards away from the keeper and he blasted it, which also tells me it wasn't a cross but a shot. Finally, the way he hit it off the outside of his boot looks to me to be intended in order to swerve it away from the keeper. Great goal technically. Of course there's no way of really knowing but that's what I think.

[Jings]

Whether it was a fluke or not, I don't think it was but either way, it was an excellent goal. North Korea's was good too, I was very pleased for them.

[Rocket Edge]

True, North Korea's was top notch. I didn't think it was a bad game either to be honest. Second half was decent. I hope Spain put on a show tomorrow.

[Cuchulainn]

I thought Maicons goal was deliberate because of how his body was positioned and how he hit the ball. It was some goal, up there with the best so far!

I think if you watch the whole thing you will realise it was a fluke. He bombed down, looked behind him slightly into the box, looked down & banged it. When he banged it he twisted his body to shoot diagonally behind. It was a glorious fluke.
Isn't it very possible he meant to fool the keeper? Plus, he was a few yards away from the keeper and he blasted it, which also tells me it wasn't a cross but a shot. Finally, the way he hit it off the outside of his boot looks to me to be intended in order to swerve it away from the keeper. Great goal technically. Of course there's no way of really knowing but that's what I think.

Well you're wrong. But I am willing to accept you have no way of knowing that you're wrong.

[Croyles]

I really think it was supposed to be a cross, but it doesn't really matter anyway. Brasil forced DPR and a little luck was all that was left to be needed.

[Raistlin]

I just watched the goal through several times, and the people stating unequivocally that it wasn't a shot attempt (I'm looking at you, Cuch) are amusing. Your adamant stance prompted me to go watch the goal for myself.

I'm not absolutely sure whether it was a real shot attempt or a cross. I do think it was a real shot on goal, though, for a few reasons. One, if it was a cross attempt, he missed his mark on the ball by a mile, because he was hitting it way too low on the ball to hit it that hard (making an assist virtually impossible). It might have been a viable cross lower down, but a chest-high bullet? Sure, it's possible he miss hit it, but then the only possibility is that he's enormously lucky the ball went right between the keeper and the goal. Also, if you look at the back angle from this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oza0hXTzIY), the ball had a little backspin, more consistent with a smash laces-hit than a missed toe-hit.

Cuch, your main piece of "evidence" is that he appeared to look up and straight, not towards the goal. Yeah, obviously he'd look up right where he did, regardless of what he was ultimately going to do: to see if someone was open, to see where the keeper was, etc. He also would have seen that there was a sea of red in front of him, with no one open -- and the keeper was standing several feet in front of the goal (expecting cross, I'm sure). I don't think he meant to fool the keeper, just that he meant to look up and see the field. He was not looking opposite the goal, so there's absolutely no way you can say he did not see the goal and keeper. If anything, the fact that he looked up (meaning he saw the goal, keeper, and the swarm of red in front of his teammates) is more support that he tried a shot.

It seems like it requires less explanation that it was a good shot. I just have to assume he saw an opening (which he would've seen when he looked up) To say it was a missed cross, you have to assume that all of the following happened: 1) he was making an awful cross attempt in the first place; 2) he miss hit the ball but still smashed it; 3) he miss hit the ball in a perfect location with a very small window. All of that is certainly possible, but it seems simpler that he just saw an opening and took it, and I don't see any evidence that contradicts that, so I have to go with Occam's Razor on this one.

[seiferalmasy2]

It was a shot and a very good one.

[Psychotic]

FUCK BRAZIL

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE

THEY DID NOT DESERVE TO WIN

GRRRR I AM TYPING IN CAPS LOCK THAT IS HOW ENRAGED I AM

DEAR LEADER WILL STRIKE THEM ALL DOWN WITH HIS LIGHTNING VISION

north korea will probably beat portugal and ivory coast on that form though :shobon:

[Cuchulainn]

I just watched the goal through several times, and the people stating unequivocally that it wasn't a shot attempt (I'm looking at you, Cuch) are amusing. Your adamant stance prompted me to go watch the goal for myself.

I'm not absolutely sure whether it was a real shot attempt or a cross. I do think it was a real shot on goal, though, for a few reasons. One, if it was a cross attempt, he missed his mark on the ball by a mile, because he was hitting it way too low on the ball to hit it that hard (making an assist virtually impossible). It might have been a viable cross lower down, but a chest-high bullet? Sure, it's possible he miss hit it, but then the only possibility is that he's enormously lucky the ball went right between the keeper and the goal. Also, if you look at the back angle from this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oza0hXTzIY), the ball had a little backspin, more consistent with a smash laces-hit than a missed toe-hit.

Cuch, your main piece of "evidence" is that he appeared to look up and straight, not towards the goal. Yeah, obviously he'd look up right where he did, regardless of what he was ultimately going to do: to see if someone was open, to see where the keeper was, etc. He also would have seen that there was a sea of red in front of him, with no one open -- and the keeper was standing several feet in front of the goal (expecting cross, I'm sure). I don't think he meant to fool the keeper, just that he meant to look up and see the field. He was not looking opposite the goal, so there's absolutely no way you can say he did not see the goal and keeper. If anything, the fact that he looked up (meaning he saw the goal, keeper, and the swarm of red in front of his teammates) is more support that he tried a shot.

It seems like it requires less explanation that it was a good shot. I just have to assume he saw an opening (which he would've seen when he looked up) To say it was a missed cross, you have to assume that all of the following happened: 1) he was making an awful cross attempt in the first place; 2) he miss hit the ball but still smashed it; 3) he miss hit the ball in a perfect location with a very small window. All of that is certainly possible, but it seems simpler that he just saw an opening and took it, and I don't see any evidence that contradicts that, so I have to go with Occam's Razor on this one.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.


Well you're wrong. But I am willing to accept you have no way of knowing that you're wrong.

[Aerith's Knight]

http://www.bpwrap.com/wp-content/duty_calls.png

[Cuchulainn]

http://www.bpwrap.com/wp-content/duty_calls.png

lololo Excellent

[Rocket Edge]

Well you're wrong. But I am willing to accept you have no way of knowing that you're wrong.
This made me giggle at how stupid that sounds.

I'm looking foward to see Chile play. The guy Sanchez up front looks to be promising. As for Spain well, lets just say I switched my captain from Luis Fabiano to David Villa so they better do something for me. Worst gameweek in fantasy football ever!

[Cuchulainn]

Well you're wrong. But I am willing to accept you have no way of knowing that you're wrong.
This made me giggle at how stupid that sounds.

Was deliberately so my good man! This is too trivial for a tiff. Lets get oiled up & wrestle!

[champagne supernova]

Worst gameweek in fantasy football ever!

Well, at least it's been bad for everyone! But think that today the World Cup will finally spring to life. Hopefully at least. Although I'd rather it be dull if we manage to beat Uruguay. Getting through to the knockout stages will be amazing.

[charliepanayi]

Here's a good omen for those of us desperate for them at this point. 23 goals after 14 games is a record low for the World Cup, but the previous low after 14 games was Mexico 86 (28 goals apparently), and that turned out great. So yeah, it can happen again....right? :(

Chile are meant to be an attacking side, so that'll be a 0-0 draw. Really hope South Africa do well tonight, the hosts doing well can only benefit the tournament. That and after their rubbish game I want Uruguay and France out. Go SA and Mexico!

[Rocket Edge]

Well you're wrong. But I am willing to accept you have no way of knowing that you're wrong.
This made me giggle at how stupid that sounds.

Was deliberately so my good man! This is too trivial for a tiff. Lets get oiled up & wrestle!
Cuchulainn, I respect that. I even have a one-piece for such an occasion. :smug:

With all that is good and holy will you do something Spain! :(

[champagne supernova]

Maybe this will be the underdog World Cup. Or maybe it's just the first round and everyone's overly hyped. Time will tell.

[Crop]

The team will be punished. Dear Leader emphasized that they exercise the utmost restraint and benevolence, but they were unable to stop themselves from scoring that last-minute goal just to prove that they could. So now Brazil knows North Korea was simply toying with them, and this was not the friendly handshake Dear Leader wished to extend.

Are you mocking the great Democratic People's Republic of Korea? I've been a supporter of The Dear Leader and the great Republic for many months now and find your evil Western mockery offensive.

You are clearly a traitor for accusing one as loyal as I of mocking the great and benificent Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Tell me, how does it feel to be a lackey for the imperialists?

I am not blinded by your pathetic attempts to fool the great People's Republic. You have made the foolish American mistake of daring to call the great country 'North Korea'. I laugh at your Western ignorance!

[Madame Adequate]

And now you are in prison, starving to death. :)

[champagne supernova]

And now you are in prison, starving to death. :)

There are no prison's in the Great Leader's nation. We only re-educate those who have strayed from his benign will.

[Crop]

I need to roll a 6 to get out.

Anyway, to actually post on topic - this is the first World Cup I've really watched, since I only got into football a couple of years ago. It hasn't been too good so far, but even I think to call it the worst ever is a bit much. It's not even half way through yet, teams will probably start pushing forward more to get the points they need to go through. I'm thinking teams like France and England might, since if England come second in the group they'll certainly be facing Germany :( and I'm guessing that group will be between England and USA on goals.

[Rocket Edge]

Holy :bou::bou::bou::bou:.

[Aerith's Knight]

Best. Match. yet.

[Cuchulainn]

Excellent.

[Aerith's Knight]

Spain has it's work cut out for them, if they even want to get through the poule. Chili has been playing well and Honduras has a solid defense.

[Old Manus]

So are Germany and Argentina the only big teams who have actually performed so far?

EDIT: let it be said that on my first Football Manager 2010 game, Switzerland beat Brazil in the World Cup final :grover:

[Jings]

Chile game was outstanding.

[Loony BoB]

Dammit. I have money riding on Spain getting any of 1st, 2nd or 3rd. This isn't a great start at all. They better win their other two matches. >=[

[Croyles]

Spain... Im dissapointed, but well done to the swiss for such good defence!

[Old Manus]

Forlan goal of the tournament, I'm calling it now.

[charliepanayi]

Pretty nice strike from Forlan there.

[Cuchulainn]

Forlan goal of the tournament, I'm calling it now.

It was deflected so I doubt it.

[Aerith's Knight]

That was just a kick in the face to the Africans. :p

[Psychotic]

Oh Spain, when will you learn? :lol:

Also, glad South Africa lost because of their devil horns. Serves 'em right. :colbert: Still hoping they beat France in their final game, though.

[Cuchulainn]

Oh Spain, when will you learn? :lol:

Also, glad South Africa lost because of their devil horns. Serves 'em right. :colbert: Still hoping they beat France in their final game, though.

Did you see the Korans DPR parody on BBC?

[Psychotic]

I did not! When was that?

[Cuchulainn]

I did not! When was that?

Right at the end. It was hilarious

[Raistlin]

Well you're wrong. But I am willing to accept you have no way of knowing that you're wrong.

Your use of evidence and logic is amazing. Were you on the debate team? :p

[Psychotic]

so help me god Raistling you are not turning this into another EoEO :bou::bou::bou::bou:fest.

Well, I'll tell you what. You can continue with this line of thought, but only if you include a different photo of Dion Dublin in every post you make.

EDIT: Also, wow, Donal is bottom of Fantasy Football. Never thought I'd see the day. Not that I'm doing much better, mind you.

[The Captain]

Very interesting round of games today.

I wouldn't sleep on Chile, they looked very good and could give (S)pain or apparently the Swiss, a run for the group.

Also, if (S)pain places second, they'd most likely get Brasil in the first knockout round! I kind of want that to happen.

Looks like we'll witness a bit of history in this World Cup, even if people are down on it right now. South Africa, unless they have a HUGE change of fortune, will be the first home side to not make it out of the group stage.

As for me, I expect the second and third games in the groups to really open up, like they did with South Africa-Uruguay. Germany aside, so teams were very timid in their opening fixtures and that will have to change as wins and not draws will be important, as will, obviously, goals.

Take care all.

[Cuchulainn]

Your use of evidence and logic is amazing. Were you on the debate team? :p

Backhanded compliaments are still compliaments. I love you.





Well, I'll tell you what. You can continue with this line of thought, but only if you include a different photo of Dion Dublin in every post you make.

Due to recent developments I firmly believe Robbie Earle deserves the pictures.

http://whydelilah.adaptive.co.uk/files/images/earle.jpg

[Croyles]

The Spain match was the first real upsetter of the tournament.

[Rocket Edge]

Pffft, Jason Euell conquers all.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39676000/jpg/_39676721_euell_gi300x300.jpg


EDIT: Also, wow, Donal is bottom of Fantasy Football. Never thought I'd see the day. Not that I'm doing much better, mind you.
:whimper:

[Croyles]

BTW, who is who on the fantasy league?

[charliepanayi]

Today's games:

Argentina 2 South Korea 1
Nigeria 2 Greece 0
France 1 Mexico 1

[champagne supernova]

The word I want to use will be censored. Which means it will lose its effect.

Most irritating sight was supporters leaving the stadium early. But whatever, we have one game left, we just need to try win and hope everything else works out for us.

Also, did Cavani get a touch on the ball on its way to Suazo. If it did, then he was offside and the penalty should not have stood. If we get knocked out of this tournament based on goal difference, I will be very irritated.

Today:
Argentina 3 - 0 South Korea
Nigeria 1 - 0 Greece
Mexico 0 - 0 France

[Rocket Edge]

Argentina 3 - 1 South Korea (bit late on this)
Nigeria 1 - 0 Greece
Mexico 0 - 1 France

[Old Manus]

Suddenly, goals! Best World Cup ever!

I love how this is the only thread I can bring myself to post in anymore, what with the entirety of GC threads consisting of endless navel-gazing about how 'hot' various members are

[Aerith's Knight]

Great match. Three goals by the same person. Boy, he'll get a raise.

[Psychotic]

I love how this is the only thread I can bring myself to post in anymore, what with the entirety of GC threads consisting of endless navel-gazing about how 'hot' various members arewas thinking of purging the whole lot of them. I've become old and bitter, just like you.

That Nigerian who got himself sent off is a fucking moron.

[charliepanayi]

Yeah what a wally he was, still at least it actually got Greece playing some football.

Greece v Argentina is going to make Arsenal v Barcelona look like an evenly matched contest :D

[champagne supernova]

Suddenly, goals! Best World Cup ever!


As Cristiano says: goals, they come like ketchup.

[Aerith's Knight]

Suddenly, goals! Best World Cup ever!


As Cristiano says: goals, they come like ketchup.

Like Cruijf said: The ball is round, it can go in all directions.

[Croyles]

The round thing needs to go in the square thing.

[Aerith's Knight]

Ha! I actually had Greece winning this one. Although only by 1 - 0, but meh, I'll take the points I can take.

[Psychotic]

As Cristiano says: goals, they come like ketchup.

Like Cruijf said: The ball is round, it can go in all directions.
As Maradona said: Platini? Well of course he's acting like a twat. He's French.

seriously Maradona just instantly redeemed himself for Hand of God with that one comment. :love:

[Old Manus]

I agree with him having the balls to say what everybody is thinking about the French (and Prat-ini), but teling Pelé to go back to the museum was cringeworthy. Like that fateful 1986 game, something terrible, shortly followed by something magnificent (in reverse).

[Psychotic]

I just read that Maradona has apologised to Platini.

fuck Maradona and fuck everything that he stands for. I believed in you, Diego. I believed.

[Rocket Edge]

I just read that Maradona has apologised to Platini.

smurf Maradona and smurf everything that he stands for. I believed in you, Diego. I believed.
lol, seen that alright, it had me laughing.

The World Cup has opened up, it makes me happy. :)

Anyone else see this? The Ivory Coast goalkeeper. 2PAC IS ALIVEEEE!!!!
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2111/2pacivory2.jpg

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3434/tupacivory.jpg

[Cuchulainn]

i hope not..the man was a prick.

[Croyles]

France will go down.

[Rocket Edge]

Javier Hernandez, you beauty.

EDIT: 2 - 0 haha quick show me Platini's face..

[champagne supernova]

Just thought you guys might want to see what this World Cup means for South Africa. An event was created a few hours earlier today on Facebook. Here is the link.

Login | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125567484145893#wall_posts)

Who says football is just a game?

[charliepanayi]

Javier Hernandez, you beauty.

EDIT: 2 - 0 haha quick show me Platini's face..

His face is probably one of relief, now Domenech is out the door even faster.

The lesson is - sack rubbish managers who propose to their girlfriends after their team is knocked out of a major tournament (and who the team evidently despise) sooner rather than later.

[Psychotic]

Firstly: Stadium announcer was a beast, have him do every match ever. Mexican fans were fantastic, outsinging the vuvuzelas and I loved their get ups with sombreros, Aztec headgear and lucha libre masks. Referee was :bou::bou::bou::bou: though.

I am made up that it was Blanco who scored. I was enthralled by his fantastic trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SB-L8jpbs) as a kid in the 98 World Cup.

Anyway, hahahahahaha smurf you France, you played like :bou::bou::bou::bou: and I am glad you are practically out. It is just a shame that the cheating pricks made it there instead of Ireland. The Irish would never have played like that. They'd have fought hard and actually wanted to be there.

[Old Manus]

I am made up that it was Blanco who scored. I was enthralled by his fantastic trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SB-L8jpbs) as a kid in the 98 World Cup. Oh my God, that was him? :love::love::love::love:

Also lol France. That was an absolutely shocking performance. The players are to blame just as much as Domenech. Apart from Malouda (and to a lesser extent, Ribery), none of them looked like they gave a toss whether they won or lost, as if they they were all in a sulk after the abuse hurled at them by the French press for being a :bou::bou::bou::bou: team. If I was Irish I would probably be more annoyed than pleased that they lost.

[Croyles]

The Irish would have done so much better. Its a shame that France, the team which had my second favourite player in the world (Zidane) could have such an attitude, but they deserved to go out and im happy that Mexico beat them.

[charliepanayi]

The Irish would probably have done better in this World Cup (they can hardly have done worse at this rate) - and with the lack of anyone scoring they would have fitted right in!

David James has apparently been picked to start tonight - I think England should win this game anyway though, Algeria aren't the same team who pipped Egypt to qualification last year.

Germany 1 Serbia 1
USA 0 Slovenia 0
England 3 Algeria 0

[Rocket Edge]

I am made up that it was Blanco who scored. I was enthralled by his fantastic trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SB-L8jpbs) as a kid in the 98 World Cup. Oh my God, that was him? :love::love::love::love:

Also lol France. That was an absolutely shocking performance. The players are to blame just as much as Domenech. Apart from Malouda (and to a lesser extent, Ribery), none of them looked like they gave a toss whether they won or lost, as if they they were all in a sulk after the abuse hurled at them by the French press for being a :bou::bou::bou::bou: team. If I was Irish I would probably be more annoyed than pleased that they lost.
This is me. While everyone around me is delighted they lost I can't help but wonder what if? Of course there is Uruguay & Mexico in the group but the Irish really would have went for it 110%. I seen Domenechs face when the Mexican penalty was awarded and he didn't even seem to care. The World Cup doesn't need that kind of team so au revoir. Mexicans fully deserved their victory too.

Zidane was the most talented player I've ever seen. The game was in slow motion when he had the ball, it was all so effortless.

[Old Manus]

According to Radio 5 (I listen to it for Robbie Savage's dulcet tones), David James will be starting for England tonight. He should have been in the goal in the first place imo.

[charliepanayi]

Calamity James should have been picked to start with? Are you kidding? He's no Dino Zoff that's all I'll say. *is setting himself up for a fall come the end of this World Cup maybe*

[Rocket Edge]

David James is by far England's best goalkeeper. Bob Green wouldn't lace his boots.

Great ad I seen for England. This is probably being shown through your channels.

YouTube - FUNNY Commercial - England - South Africa World Cup 2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai5Xr_bugdw)

[Christmas]

I am made up that it was Blanco who scored. I was enthralled by his fantastic trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SB-L8jpbs) as a kid in the 98 World Cup.



OMG!! That is some really awesome trick and the greatest thing is that he can apply it in sticky situations so efficiently!!! :kaoclove:

[charliepanayi]

It's official, Argentina only non-rubbish team left at this World Cup! :D

[Aerith's Knight]

Hey now, the dutch still haven't played against easy teams yet. Let's wait until saturday before we say that.

[Cuchulainn]

For Psy here is the parody


YouTube - BBC SPORT North Korean's victory over BRAZIL .. !! GLORIOUS LEADER etc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xMzM30Rupo)

[Kirobaito]

Did this ref really just give Robbie Findlay a yellow card for daring to hit the ball with his face in a soccer match? Really?

[Croyles]

Wow. That was a real mentality problem of Germany there. Played maybe a little better than Serbia even with 10 men down until that missed penalty and then everything went down the crapper. Now we have to worry about the next game. Germany seemed to feel victimised in the game which was a very unhealthy attitude.

Klose getting sent off was a strange sight. A bit unfair, but its not what lost them the game.

Im really dissapointed. :(

[Kirobaito]

This is the best international soccer can get from an official? The US should have just won this game and the ref takes it from them on an invisible.... something. Literally completely invented a call. Three Americans were being held in the box, and the ref completely invents a way to disallow the victory goal. Smurf soccer.

If you want Americans to care about your sport, rest of the world, how about your refs not literally, indisputably blow the game?

[Aerith's Knight]

That was an incredibly biased second half.

I would be pissed if I were you guys. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

USE FIRE!

[Jings]

If you want Americans to care about your sport, rest of the world, how about your refs not literally, indisputably blow the game?

Americans aren't the only team to suffer dodgy calls. Just ask Germany, who suffered at the hands of their referee earlier today. It was a horrendous decision by the ref to chop off Edu's goal but it happened. Get over it.

[Kirobaito]

If you want Americans to care about your sport, rest of the world, how about your refs not literally, indisputably blow the game?

Americans aren't the only team to suffer dodgy calls. Just ask Germany, who suffered at the hands of their referee earlier today. It was a horrendous decision by the ref to chop off Edu's goal but it happened. Get over it.
No.

[charliepanayi]

Yeah, I'm sure American sports NEVER have bad decisions made.

Great game between USA and Slovenia, though it was an awful decision for that disallowed goal.

[Kirobaito]

Yeah, I'm sure American sports NEVER have bad decisions made.

Great game between USA and Slovenia, though it was an awful decision for that disallowed goal.
Of course they do. But American sports aren't three plays away from being scoreless. When only a half a dozen plays matter over the course of the game, blowing one means so much more, and with zero accountability for that official, and no method of reprieve, it's significantly worse. Basketball, football, baseball, and hockey all have replay to at least help to mitigate official screwups. Instead, that official is allowed to disallow a goal without even giving a reason why.

[Jings]

It was a pitiful decision, the world sympathises with you. And I agree there should be serious changes to how games are officialled. Now stop dwelling and look ahead to the Algeria game.

[Croyles]

If you want Americans to care about your sport, rest of the world, how about your refs not literally, indisputably blow the game?

Who said anyone wants Americans to care about the sport? :p

Two horrible decision in 2 games. Mind you, in the Germany game there were several unnecessary yellow cards for both sides.

[Shiny]

I just read that Maradona has apologised to Platini.

smurf Maradona and smurf everything that he stands for. I believed in you, Diego. I believed.
lol, seen that alright, it had me laughing.

The World Cup has opened up, it makes me happy. :)

Anyone else see this? The Ivory Coast goalkeeper. 2PAC IS ALIVEEEE!!!!
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2111/2pacivory2.jpg

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3434/tupacivory.jpg
What in the hell. Reincarnation!

[Del Murder]

I wish I could see video of that blown call. Us West Coasters were asleep during this game, and the FIFA officially highlights don't show it at all (naturally :roll2).

[Cuchulainn]

would you moaning bastard yanks stop acting like you're the only people who have been victims of a poor referee decision. Try being Irish.

THEMS THE BREAKS

Oh, and if you want to like the sport great, but if you think for one second that we care if you dont like it you are very much mistaken.

We'll stick to trhe sports everyone in the world likes, you stick to the sports no one else but you likes.

[Aerith's Knight]

An incredibly weak performance of the English this half.

[Del Murder]

would you moaning bastard yanks stop acting like you're the only people who have been victims of a poor referee decision. Try being Irish.

THEMS THE BREAKS

Oh, and if you want to like the sport great, but if you think for one second that we care if you dont like it you are very much mistaken.

We'll stick to trhe sports everyone in the world likes, you stick to the sports no one else but you likes.
I'm not moaning, I just want to see video of it since I missed it. So relax. And most of the posters here are American so yes you will see a lot more discussion of what happens to the American team than you might want. Thems are your breaks.

[Cuchulainn]

lol heskey

[Aerith's Knight]

English players are LAZY!

[Madame Adequate]

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she told me of her South Africran friend who had two things to say:

1) She wishes everyone would shut up about whether SA can do it, because they did the Rugby World Cup in 1995 or whatever it was.

2) Vuvuzelas are not a tradition, the woman is younger than I am and remembers a time without them, they aren't even 15 years old.

[Cuchulainn]

lol England

We beat these guys 3-0. Us, ya know the team who cant score? Yea. 3-0.

[Aerith's Knight]

England, you SUCK!

:mad:

[Old Manus]

Oh my Christ. I haven't seen England perform that badly in a long time. Barry was the only player who looked even half decent, and even then he made far too many cockups. Rooney 1/10, worst player on the pitch. Glen Johnson 2/10, second worst player on the pitch, looked completely lost at right back, I could swear he just wants to play as a winger instead.

They don't deserve to top the group after that display.

[Cuchulainn]

I'm telling you now. Rooney is hiding an injury...not hiding it very well but he is far from fit.

[Old Manus]

I cringed every time the camera cut to Beckham sitting in his suit on the bench. I felt so sorry for the guy, you could tell that all he wanted to to was get out there himself and motivate the team.

[Psychotic]

Ahhhh England you never fail to find new ways to underachieve. I mean okay, we all knew they'd never win the smurfing thing, but Algeria? Seriously?

Drop Lampard. Fat sack of :bou::bou::bou::bou: hasn't done anything in an England shirt ever. Make this his last England game. Move Gerrard to the middle. If he plays the way he did there against the USA, keep him there, if he plays like he did tonight, take him off at half time and take the armband off him. Rooney has been an utter bag of balls this World Cup. I don't care if he has scored 50 goals for United this season or if the Sun insists he is a TRUE LION who will RECAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF 66 and lead England to victory over JOHNNY FOREIGNER, he's been dire. Drop him, play Crouch and Defoe up front. The Whale is a beast but he's not a goalscorer - save him for games against better teams instead of the lesser sides where we need goals, not desperate hoofed balls up to him.
For Psy here is the parody


YouTube - BBC SPORT North Korean's victory over BRAZIL .. !! GLORIOUS LEADER etc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xMzM30Rupo)this heals some of my pain. :)

[Suikojowy]

Haha that Democratic People's Republic of North Korea video was hilarious, highlight of the day. I'll cry laughing if they do beat Portugal 5-0 but to be honest I would have done that anyway

[charliepanayi]

So will this wind up being another 1986/1990 for England, or will it be Euro 92 all over again? I still see them sneaking out of the group by beating Slovenia but they'll have to up their game in Round 2 big time if they do - Germany, Serbia and even Ghana will be a lot tougher opposition than Algeria.

[Psychotic]

Wouldn't even fancy us to get past the Aussies at this point.

Also,

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e373/photobucketamazingness/vuvuzidane.gif

[Aerith's Knight]

I'd almost link the birthday telegram thingie again. :p

[Jings]

So the question is no longer 'can England win the world cup?' but 'can England even qualify from their group?'

I can see England getting another draw, and the USA beating Algeria. And from a footballing perspective, that would be no bad thing.

[Aerith's Knight]

With all these teams sucking, I think this might be the biggest chance the Netherlands has had to win this cup in decades.

[Psychotic]

I can see England getting another draw, and the USA beating Algeria. And from a footballing perspective, that would be no bad thing.I don't know. The USA have been rivalling England for boring and dire football, apart from a late rush today.

[JKTrix]

Thread not authentic enough (http://www.vuvuzela-time.co.uk/forums.eyesonff.com/lounge/131989-official-2010-fifa-world-cup-thread.html) (mock if old).

[Jings]

I can see England getting another draw, and the USA beating Algeria. And from a footballing perspective, that would be no bad thing.I don't know. The USA have been rivalling England for boring and dire football, apart from a late rush today.

At least the yanks showed a bit of passion today, like they actually wanted to play for their country. England are rivalling France in the 'can't be arsed to be here' stakes.

[Croyles]

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she told me of her South Africran friend who had two things to say:

1) She wishes everyone would shut up about whether SA can do it, because they did the Rugby World Cup in 1995 or whatever it was.

2) Vuvuzelas are not a tradition, the woman is younger than I am and remembers a time without them, they aren't even 15 years old.

Thank you! Now people can stop acting as if they are.

[Laddy]

I. Am. So. Pissed. But this also means we have a very, very, good chance of qualifying now.

[charliepanayi]

Netherlands 2 Japan 0
Ghana 2 Australia 1
Denmark 1 Cameroon 0

[Cuchulainn]

I WAS impressed with the US support & the team, I have to say. I love it when there's that much passion for this game. It's a game that invites more passion than any other due to the low chance of goal, each one is like an eyegasm when your own side scores.

Yestwerday I just got annoyed at Kiro's 'if you want us to like this sport' comment.

If only the England players showed the asame passion as theitr fans (one opf the few I heard chant over those god awful plastic trumpets). I will NEVEr agree with booing though & England fans are the WORST for that.

They Boo the coach, they boo players, they boo the tea lady & they boo Bees (lol boobies).

[charliepanayi]

Passion isn't the problem with the England team, basic footballing ability is.

[Cuchulainn]

Passion isn't the problem with the England team, basic footballing ability is.

Disagree. They have players with unbelievably ability. It's playing as a team that's the problem...and tactics.


Englanditis has hit the Dutch too by the looks of it.

[seiferalmasy2]

England have a very good team when it comes to the talent but unfortunately they are not playing as a TEAM. They have no confidence and they are not playing with any passion.

Capello is mostly to blame for that since he doesn't exactly instill passion in me either... Need a better manager like Shearer and a team that act like lions not these pussy cats.

[charliepanayi]

Shearer a better manager than Capello? Do you talk rubbish on every topic seifer? This England team underperforms whether the manager is Hoddle, Keegan, Eriksson, McLaren and possibly now Capello. Maybe it's not the manager, maybe it's the players?

[Aerith's Knight]

Englanditis has hit the Dutch too by the looks of it.

Except we still win.

[seiferalmasy2]

Shearer a better manager than Capello? Do you talk rubbish on every topic seifer? This England team underperforms whether the manager is Hoddle, Keegan, Eriksson, McLaren and possibly now Capello. Maybe it's not the manager, maybe it's the players?


I said someone who could ignite passion and make the team work as a team and yes that man is much better than capello. I could do better than capello. I think the record so far in this tourney isn't exactly great is it.

So yes Shearer would do a better job. A manager isn't god you know, he can only work with the team, and any blind idiot can choose this team.

The problem with england is the passion and the confidence something this guy cannot instill. That isn't rubbish it is purely common sense.

Sven, Mclaren and capello all useless managers at getting Passion out of a team. 2 of them foreigners which isn't any good either.

Give me Shearer and when we are back here we will see how much different the team is, then you would soon shut up. The problem is your lack of understanding at what makes a team, you read too many tabloids and watch too much hollywood. You think a manager is defined by his success abroad or at club level and you think you can just plonk capello at England and expect him to get the best out of the team.

Well, think again, because this is the real world, BRO.

BBC Sport - Football - BBC pundits on England (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8749236.stm)

Capello? lmao.

Shearer: (Read it.)


Alan Shearer
Former England striker on Match of the Day

It was really, really poor. We were all expecting a big improvement from the USA game.

We thought of excuses for that game. We said they went in not wanting to get beaten in the first game of the tournament, trying to settle in. But there were no real excuses at all.

We can't sit here and defend them. They were devoid of ideas, they kept on playing the long ball up to the front two which quite clearly is not working. There's no goals there, something has to change.

We should have been doing to Algeria what they were doing to us. They looked more comfortable on the ball then we did with players like Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney and Ashley Cole. You can't tell me that they're not better players than Algeria. But Algeria were better than England.

We criticised the French and their coach Raymond Domenech - the lack of passion and commitment. That wasn't there from the England players.

It has to be fear. They played well in the qualifiers but it's one thing qualifying, now it's on the big stage and the players have to deliver.

Rooney hit out at the supporters for booing at the end but they are entitled to express their opinions. They stuck with the England players for the majority of the game and they've travelled thousands of miles to get here. Three quarters of that stadium was full of England supporters. Wayne can't say that.

He's frustrated. His performances haven't been up to scratch. He doesn't look fit to me. Whether he's got the hump with someone or whether he's carrying an injury, something doesn't seem right.

[Mo-Nercy]

The problem with england is the passion and the confidence something this guy cannot instill. That isn't rubbish it is purely common sense.
You know, if I represented my country in a World Cup-like setting, I don't think I'd need anyone telling me to be passionate.

Besides, passion is an intangible thing. It's a term that gets thrown around a lot in sports media, but it's pretty silly to treat it as the sole reason as to why England aren't playing well.

[charliepanayi]

'You think a manager is defined by his success abroad or at club level'

Er...yeah I do actually.

England haven't won anything in over 40 years, and haven't even made a European Championship final (something the likes of Belgium, Denmark and Greece have managed). There's a problem somewhere, and it's far more deep-rooted than a lack of 'passion'. Expecting a complete novice like Shearer to come in and improve things is ludicrous.

[Cuchulainn]

'You think a manager is defined by his success abroad or at club level'

LOL what? Yes ofc.

[Mo-Nercy]

That was a really frustrating game to watch for me just now.

Australia's chances of progression are pretty much shot now. =(

[charliepanayi]

It was the Kewell sending off that changed things, the worst thing for Australia is they should have cleared the ball before it happened.

[seiferalmasy2]

'You think a manager is defined by his success abroad or at club level'

LOL what? Yes ofc.

Let me make that clearer.

You think that an international manager, which has to then manage England, is defined by his record abroad or at club level.

No. It doesn't work that way. You can't just plonk any old manager into the job of ENGLAND MANAGER. Every country has their own set way of playing the game and of what they are comfortable with.

Sven and Capello are both

a. Good managers ar club level
b. Foreigners

They do not place passion or confidence into the side and they do not organise the team around what WORKS FOR ENGLISH PLAYERS. Being foreign they also don't speak english well enough to communicate properly. Capello comes across as someone who just isn't clued up enough to get the squad in the dressing room and kick start them into action. I am sure for his own country hew could do infinitely better.

If you know anything about football you will know 2 things:

a. Club managing and International managing are not the same
b. Different countries' playing styles are not the same.

So, again, if you place Capello or Sven in the England team you are asking for disappointment. I said this before Sven and before Capello.

The only foreign manager with the ability and the brains and the attitude to make England succeed is Jose Mourinho. Other than that, we need an English manager, someone like Shearer. We have tried it your way and it ain't workin'.

[Cuchulainn]

I'm telling you now, if you appoint Shearer you have your worst international record.

No experience. Maybe as a coach, comeone to grab people by the balls. But he's tactically naive.

[seiferalmasy2]

and I am telling you that he wouldn't be as bad as Capello, nor would Stuart Pearce. It isn't possible to be this bad. let's give it a try eh, plus it won't cost us millions a year.

[Cuchulainn]

you need to stop blaming every coach that comes in. Work it out. How mayne coaches have failed? Maybe it's not the coach but the individuals.

[black orb]

>>> I want a Vuvuzela..:luca:

[Jings]

You're saying England suck because they are managed by johnny foreigner? Wow. Steve McClaren?

And Sven was from Sweden!! They speak English better than most English people!

[charliepanayi]

Let me make that clearer.

You think that an international manager, which has to then manage England, is defined by his record abroad or at club level.

No. It doesn't work that way. You can't just plonk any old manager into the job of ENGLAND MANAGER. Every country has their own set way of playing the game and of what they are comfortable with.

Sven and Capello are both

a. Good managers ar club level
b. Foreigners

They do not place passion or confidence into the side and they do not organise the team around what WORKS FOR ENGLISH PLAYERS. Being foreign they also don't speak english well enough to communicate properly. Capello comes across as someone who just isn't clued up enough to get the squad in the dressing room and kick start them into action. I am sure for his own country hew could do infinitely better.

If you know anything about football you will know 2 things:

a. Club managing and International managing are not the same
b. Different countries' playing styles are not the same.

So, again, if you place Capello or Sven in the England team you are asking for disappointment. I said this before Sven and before Capello.

The only foreign manager with the ability and the brains and the attitude to make England succeed is Jose Mourinho. Other than that, we need an English manager, someone like Shearer. We have tried it your way and it ain't workin'.

OK let's make a few points here:

- Eriksson spoke perfect English, better English than Keegan probably
- Capello did very well in qualification, England stuffed Croatia twice, so it's not like he's been completely inept with England
- Eriksson got to three quarter-finals, a better record than many England managers have achieved. Especially considering England have only got the past the QF stage at a major tournament four times (and two of those were with Alf Ramsey)
- Nearly all the English managers are pretty rubbish at the moment. Redknapp? Allardyce? Shearer?! (who isn't even a manager). The idea of these guys leading England to a World Cup is a laughable.
- We haven't tried it 'my' way. We've only ever tried it your way because that's what the media here always demand. And it hasn't ever worked.

This Denmark v Cameroon game has the advantage of both teams needing to win. It's an odd one though, periods of tedium punctuated by periods of mad action, with some relly bad defensive mistakes (especially for the Cameroon goal). But the mistakes have helped make the game interesting, and Cameroon look a lot better compared to the team that lost to Japan.

[Cuchulainn]

>>> I want a Vuvuzela..:luca:

No!


Great game just then.

[seiferalmasy2]

you need to stop blaming every coach that comes in. Work it out. How mayne coaches have failed? Maybe it's not the coach but the individuals.

I will blame the last 3 coaches just as I did BEFORE they were appointed. Sven, Mclaren and Capello are not good ENGLAND managers.

I have told you who I would be happy to see and if that didn't work I would not blame the manager as I would have no reason to. I have been consistent from the start.

When Capello was doing ok in Qualification everyone was happy, I wasn't because I knew he was not right man for the job.

Work it out. Despite this, and no thanks to him, I still believe England will beat Slovenia.

[charliepanayi]

The FA should clearly have consulted you before appointing any England manager.

[champagne supernova]

Alan Shearer as England manager?!?!?! Although judging by yesterday's performance, England can't get much worse :p

But something has gone seriously awry in the England camp lately. A player like Wayne Rooney who has been in form for club and nation does not suddenly regress into a bit-part player in a week or two. And the team as a whole looks completely different to the team that was playing in the qualifiers.

But it seems to happen every major tournament. I think England were weakened because they didn't have Hargreaves (who seemingly always plays well for England), but there just seems to be this mental collapse by English players come tournament time. It is really bizarre.

[The Captain]

As an American, I was proud of the way my team fought back but was very dismayed by our first half. Shoddy defending and conceding opening goals will not be easily overcome.

I thought Donovan's goal was brilliant, one of the best of the Cup so far.

As for the ref's terrible call, what pisses me off, and what pisses a lot of Americans off is this: That FIFA just stonewalls and gives "No comment" as its response. In fact, FIFA prefers controversy because it keeps people talking after the match is over. Yes, certainly bad calls happen all the time in sports. What needs to happen though is a degree of accountability. either the ref must say, "I made a mistake" or FIFA must come out and say so. A bit of closure is what is lacking. Saying the ref had a "poor" game isn't enough.

To wit, a few weeks ago, an ump in a Major League Baseball game absolutely BLEW a call when a pitcher had a perfect game (No baserunner allowed the entire game) with 2 outs in the ninth inning. The ump called a player safe when he was clearly out, thus ruining the perfect game, of which there have only been 20 in the last 110+ years of baseball. After the game, the ump came out and said flat out that he'd blown the call and he APOLOGIZED to the player, who accepted the apology. It became so much easier to get over the blown call and everyone was able to move on, as it became a great story in its own right. The difference here is accountability.

I'm not comparing the two sports at all, since the ump came out and owned up to his mistake to the press and to the player on his own, not because Major League Baseball told him to. I for one, loathe the way MLB is run and think they are almost as bad as FIFA in how decisions get made or not made, how controversy is glossed over or never addressed and how usually reactions to problems are so slow in forming they might as well not happen at all.

I think for many Americans, we are more shocked by how the ref and FIFA took the "cone of silence" approach to this obvious bad call when just a few weeks ago we saw an ump own up to his mistake. Should FIFA and the ref do this, we'd be much more willing to just move on, still angry though we may be.

All that being said, I think the US will use it as motivation to beat Algeria and advance, though there is the likely possibility we may end up playing Germany, which, well, we'll deal with that if it happens.

As for the English, I addressed my thoughts in another thread, regarding what they must do from here forward.

This Cup is certainly getting more interesting day by day.


Take care all.

[charliepanayi]

The fact is, different sports have different problems - MLB has accountability, but it also has steroid abuse which had a blind eye turned to it for ages (a bit like the way FIFA turns a blind eye to certain issues now). In the end comparing sports is usually a pointless exercise.

[seiferalmasy2]

The FA should clearly have consulted you before appointing any England manager.

Now you are torkin' :cool:

[The Captain]

"The fact is, different sports have different problems - MLB has accountability, but it also has steroid abuse which had a blind eye turned to it for ages (a bit like the way FIFA turns a blind eye to certain issues now). In the end comparing sports is usually a pointless exercise. "

Which is why, I didn't compare the sports but compared two individuals and how one owning up to their mistake made it less of an issue whereas the other does not and makes the issue grow larger.

The ref could have just said, " I made a bad call", but instead is letting FIFA handle it.

Take care all.

[charliepanayi]

Slovakia 1 Paraguay 1
Italy 2 New Zealand 0
Brazil 1 Ivory Coast 1

[seiferalmasy2]

Slovakia 0 Paraguay 0
Italy 2 New Zealand 0
Brazil 2 Ivory Coast 1

[Jiro]

It was the Kewell sending off that changed things, the worst thing for Australia is they should have cleared the ball before it happened.

You're very right, that was shoddy defending. But two questionable red cards in as many matches concerns me. I'm not just bitching because I can either; I understand the laws. At least with Kewell's card there is the possibility of merit in the call.


Australia's chances of progression are pretty much shot now. =(

If Germany thrashes Ghana and we beat Serbia, we should progress. Ghana didn't look like a quality team when we played well, so Germany, being a superior unit, should run rings around them. Let's just hope the remainder of the World Cup has quality refereeing.

Switzerland's shock win over Spain has make me second guess putting Spain as my favourites to take the cup. I guess I'll need to catch up with the other groups to find my new team :p

[Rocket Edge]

Shearer a better manager than Capello? Do you talk rubbish on every topic seifer? This England team underperforms whether the manager is Hoddle, Keegan, Eriksson, McLaren and possibly now Capello. Maybe it's not the manager, maybe it's the players?
Ease up mate.

First of all, the USA were completely robbed the other day. It was such a shame. I hate to see any team come back like the way they did and to be denied by such a foolish decision.

England as many of you said were poor. The game in general was very boring. The more I see them the more I think a team of players who can play with each other would do much better. Think about it, if Stoke were playing Algeria would they play so bad? I honestly think they wouldn't. Now think about Aston Villa playing them. Their star player is apparently Nadir Belhaij (probably spelt wrong). Championship player. Ability-wise England are a step above Villa, and they looked completely lost on the pitch. There is no harm in chancing out players in different positions to maximize your best players potential. Carlton Cole, Jack Rodwell, and many other examples come into mind. Gerrard and Rooney have not been at even half their club levels standard in the games I've seen them play for England. I know International level is a different ball game with trying to gel in a different team but the excuse can only go so far. England have had warm-ups & a World Cup match against a decent USA team and then they produce that performance. Even a person who knows little about soccer can see the fundamentals of a creative midfield is lacking. England can't keep the ball, and when they do they look completely out of ideas with their play when they do have it. I partly blame the lack of movement but still. I really think if England had a Xavi in midfield, we would be looking at a comfortable scoreline. This is why I mentioned earlier in this thread that a Fletcher or Scholes would fit in so well in midfield. Call me mad but I really think they miss Beckham so much in that aspect. I think Capello really needs to grow a pair and make a decision on his midfield because it obviously isn't working. I know people blame Rooney for underachieving but to be fair his service over the past few games has been poor at best. Anyways I'm probably rambling because I'm savagely hungover but those are my views.

[Croyles]

This game couldnt be more Italian.

[Madame Adequate]

This game couldnt be more Italian.

It's asking its children if they think they are the "rockafellas"?

[Cuchulainn]

love it. all the negative minded teams are doin :bou::bou::bou::bou:.

[seiferalmasy2]

I don't like cheating in football, holding faces when there was no contact and time wasting with fake injuries. Needs to be sorted out. I am looking at you, New Zealand.

[Cuchulainn]

italy were doing their fair share of diving and simulation too.

[Old Manus]

That, and the New Zealand players didn't all rush around the referee and scream and shout and writhe all over the place after that very soft penalty decision.

[Pete for President]

I was surprised by how good Ivorycoast was last time they played. Even though I still think Brasil will win, I kinda cheer for Ivorycoast. Should be an interesting match. :choc:

[charliepanayi]

Great result for New Zealand, neither goal should have happened really (offside and soft penalty decision respectively) but what the hell. To the referee's credit he did have little time for any 'I'm injured, honest!' moments. I still love Italy though, international football's panto villains par excellence.

So now that's France, England, Germany and Italy all in varying degrees of danger. Looks like Europe and Africa are on the back foot at the moment, maybe Ivory Coast can halt the trend.

[Cuchulainn]

Panto villains have historically been Germany. I love them though. Italians just annoy me. Their women look good though.

Wish Irteland was there...after that French circus we should be.

[Croyles]

The New Zealand goal wasn't offside has the header came off the Italian player, whereas Italy's penalty was worthy of an Academy Award.

[charliepanayi]

The New Zealand goal wasn't offside has the header came off the Italian player, whereas Italy's penalty was worthy of an Academy Award.

It looked like it came off a NZ player to me.

[Psychotic]

'spec' to the kiwis.

[Cuchulainn]

Another poor refereeing decision has cost Ivory Coast.


EDIT: My goodness every African team is balls..and there's SIX of them in this. Fuck that PC garbage have the best 4 and bring two more European or South American teams in.

[charliepanayi]

Ireland and Ivory Coast have virtually the same flags, it's probably only appropriate both are on the receiving end of dual handball goals!

[Cuchulainn]

That was disgraceful simulation by the Ivory Coast to get Kaka off.

[Aerith's Knight]

That was hilariously bad refereeing.

There's gonna be riots.

[charliepanayi]

Another poor refereeing decision has cost Ivory Coast.


EDIT: My goodness every African team is balls..and there's SIX of them in this. smurf that PC garbage have the best 4 and bring two more European or South American teams in.

There's usually five, there's only six here as one are hosts. Removing one African team really isn't going to make any difference. Europe gets 13 places as it is, it sure as hell doesn't need another (especially as half of them have been pretty crap so far).

Hilariously chaotic ending to the game, we've found our new Rivaldo! And just like Rivaldo it seems a pretty daft time to employ simulation, the game was pretty much lost.

[Psychotic]

The only continents so far that have done well are South America and Oceania!

[charliepanayi]

Asia and Concacaf haven't done badly either.

[Psychotic]

Asia - Australia. Nuff sed. :p Still, Japan and South Korea haven't been terrible. Neither have the north Americans but they haven't done anything of note either, really.

[Pete for President]

I was surprised by how good Ivorycoast was last time they played. Even though I still think Brazil will win, I kinda cheer for Ivorycoast. Should be an interesting match. :choc:

Forget what I said. I've lost all respect for the team I thought would be the underdog. Deserved win for Brazil, despite the semi-hands goal.

[Old Manus]

Flashes of the 1970 team during some of the offensive Brazil plays this evening. If they play like that every game, you have to back them to win the tournament.

[seiferalmasy2]

That was disgraceful simulation by the Ivory Coast to get Kaka off.

This kind of thing needs sorting as I said. What needs to happen is a player doing it to be given a suspension for 5 games if there is clear video evidence. The evidence should be presented to FIFA after the game.

I dont see why rulings cant be made after a game of this nature.


Don't want suspending for 5 games? Don't pretend to have been hit in the face.

[champagne supernova]

Well, Brazil have already qualified, so Dunga probably would have rested Kaka anyway. Not really a train smash for Brazil.

Keen for next week for the final round of group games. It should get exciting.

[charliepanayi]

Portugal 2 North Korea 1
Chile 1 Switzerland 0
Spain 3 Honduras 0

[Old Manus]

I dreamt that England beat Slovenia 4-1 last night, with Rooney scoring 3.

brb remortgaging the house and going to William Hill

EDIT: CGI TRICKERY FROM CAPITALIST PIG

BEST KOREA WIN 5-0

[charliepanayi]

Cue all the press suddenly declaring Portugal to be fantastic after all. Brazil v Portugal better be good now!