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*
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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*
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
OMG!! That is some really awesome trick and the greatest thing is that he can apply it in sticky situations so efficiently!!! :kaoclove:Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
It's official, Argentina only non-rubbish team left at this World Cup! :D
Hey now, the dutch still haven't played against easy teams yet. Let's wait until saturday before we say that.
For Psy here is the parody
YouTube - BBC SPORT North Korean's victory over BRAZIL .. !! GLORIOUS LEADER etc
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?
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. :(
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?
That was an incredibly biased second half.
I would be pissed if I were you guys. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
USE FIRE!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
No.Quote:
Originally Posted by JingsAmericans 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
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.
Who said anyone wants Americans to care about the sport? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
Two horrible decision in 2 games. Mind you, in the Germany game there were several unnecessary yellow cards for both sides.
What in the hell. Reincarnation!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket Edgelol, seen that alright, it had me laughing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
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
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).
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.
An incredibly weak performance of the English this half.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
lol heskey
English players are LAZY!
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.
lol England
We beat these guys 3-0. Us, ya know the team who cant score? Yea. 3-0.
England, you SUCK!
:mad:
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.
I'm telling you now. Rooney is hiding an injury...not hiding it very well but he is far from fit.
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.
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.this heals some of my pain. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
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
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.
Wouldn't even fancy us to get past the Aussies at this point.
Also,
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...vuvuzidane.gif
I'd almost link the birthday telegram thingie again. :p
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.
With all these teams sucking, I think this might be the biggest chance the Netherlands has had to win this cup in decades.
I don't know. The USA have been rivalling England for boring and dire football, apart from a late rush today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jings
Thread not authentic enough (mock if old).
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticI don't know. The USA have been rivalling England for boring and dire football, apart from a late rush today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jings
Thank you! Now people can stop acting as if they are.Quote:
Originally Posted by I'm my own MILF
I. Am. So. Pissed. But this also means we have a very, very, good chance of qualifying now.
Netherlands 2 Japan 0
Ghana 2 Australia 1
Denmark 1 Cameroon 0
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).
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Englanditis has hit the Dutch too by the looks of it.
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.
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?
Except we still win.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
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
Capello? lmao.
Shearer: (Read it.)
Quote:
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by seiferalmasy2
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.
'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.
'You think a manager is defined by his success abroad or at club level'
LOL what? Yes ofc.
That was a really frustrating game to watch for me just now.
Australia's chances of progression are pretty much shot now. =(
It was the Kewell sending off that changed things, the worst thing for Australia is they should have cleared the ball before it happened.
Let me make that clearer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
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'.
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.
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.
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 want a Vuvuzela..:luca:
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!
OK let's make a few points here:Quote:
Originally Posted by seiferalmasy2
- 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.
No!Quote:
Originally Posted by black orb
Great game just then.
I will blame the last 3 coaches just as I did BEFORE they were appointed. Sven, Mclaren and Capello are not good ENGLAND managers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
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.
The FA should clearly have consulted you before appointing any England manager.
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.
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.
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.
Now you are torkin' :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by 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. "
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.
Slovakia 1 Paraguay 1
Italy 2 New Zealand 0
Brazil 1 Ivory Coast 1
Slovakia 0 Paraguay 0
Italy 2 New Zealand 0
Brazil 2 Ivory Coast 1
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mo-Nercy
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
Ease up mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
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.
This game couldnt be more Italian.
It's asking its children if they think they are the "rockafellas"?Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
love it. all the negative minded teams are doin :bou::bou::bou::bou:.
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.
italy were doing their fair share of diving and simulation too.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
'spec' to the kiwis.
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.
Ireland and Ivory Coast have virtually the same flags, it's probably only appropriate both are on the receiving end of dual handball goals!
That was disgraceful simulation by the Ivory Coast to get Kaka off.
That was hilariously bad refereeing.
There's gonna be riots.
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).Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
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.
The only continents so far that have done well are South America and Oceania!
Asia and Concacaf haven't done badly either.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete for President
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
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.
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.
Portugal 2 North Korea 1
Chile 1 Switzerland 0
Spain 3 Honduras 0
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
Cue all the press suddenly declaring Portugal to be fantastic after all. Brazil v Portugal better be good now!
IMPERIALIST LIES
ALL EMPIRES ARE IN COLLUSION
SPREADING FALSE NEWS OF IMPOSSIBILITY DPRK LOSS
So much fail. xD
Dear certain World Cup refs (like the one at the moment) - stop. giving. out. cards. all. the. damn. time.
I'm made up for the boys, that was a good result against a tough Portugese side, but of course, they were no match for the might of the best Korea. 5-0, another 3 points in the bag, next round here we come!Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Also made up for The Gonz scoring just now. :)
You think the best korea will now bomb SA for this betrayal? xD
Apparently the amount of cards this tournament is nearly half as much as last tournament (what I heard). Strange, since it seemed like there were more.
Wow at Portugal. I saw like 30 minutes of the game where Portugal scored once but NKorea didn't look too shabby and even had a few chances at goal. What the hell happened afterwards?
EDIT: Oh and btw, who is it that overtook me on the EoFF fantasy league?
This would be on the cards if their crappy ICBMs could reach further south than Seoul before the blu-tack holding them together disintegratesQuote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight
The Mighty Korea does not need to bomb South Africa; Dear Leader can disintegrate it with a mere sneeze.
Okay, just came back from watching the Portugal - Korea game. What a vibe. Seriously, television cannot pick up half of the game. Even though I got really wet, what a match. Ronaldo seemed to stop sulking in the 2nd half and actually start playing. Maybe he can keep it up.
I'll say Spain is going to win the next game. Hurt pride + awesome team = backlash for Honduras.
Spain are both breathtaking and infuriating to watch. Yes it's lovely watching them stroke 10 passes around the penalty area, BUT JUST smurfING TAKE A SHOT ALREADY!
PS: :lol: @ fabregas's beard.
well that was john terry slapped backin in his place. not one player supported him. hahaha. drop him keep gerrard as captain and get on with plaqying football managed by the managewr not a mouthy cockney punching above his weight.
And so it's time for the final group games from Tuesday-Friday. Tomorrow:
Mexico 1 Uruguay 0 (despite the fact they could play out a draw to get them both through, I suspect Mexico might want to win to avoid Argentina)
France 1 South Africa 0 (even a shambolic France should struggle past SA, though it won't be enough)
Argentina 4 Greece 0 (this won't be pretty)
Nigeria 2 South Korea 2
Spain are Arsenal. That basically sums it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Spain don't have enough loathsome players to be Arsenal!
Too right Spain are Arsenal. Presumably France or England are Liverpool then ;)
Arsenal can't be Spain, seeing as Spain can actually win a European Championship. :greenie:
In stark contrast to England certainly.
Taking things to national level, are we? Very well!:goofy:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikipedia
Ah so there are teams who England can do better than!
Cyprus population - 800,000
England population - 50 million+
And I suspect Cyprus would have put in a better shift than England did on Friday.
If England do go further in this World Cup all I ask is they at least play decent for once, this is something like seven mediocre performances in a row now from 2006-2010.
You destroyed us in the Euro 2008 qualifiers :(Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Yeah I remember that, I thought it was a joke when I heard the 5-2 scoreline for the game in Cyprus. But we've never been too bad at home in recent years (drew to Germany, almost drew to Italy), it's away where we get thrashed usually. Still, shows the improvement Ireland made between 2008 and 2010. A direct reversal of Scotland really :DQuote:
Originally Posted by CuchulainnYou destroyed us in the Euro 2008 qualifiers :(Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
List of countries by population - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaQuote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
With an obvious exception, I don't see too many powerhouses of international football near the top of that list.
Holland is 61, with 16.6 million people. And think about the number of great players and sides they've produced. And Portugal only has 10 million people, but look what they did to an average team. I think England has issues.
Funny, I can see all of them bar Holland in the top 30 or so (Portugal is hardly a footballing powerhouse, 1966 aside they've only been much good in the last decade or so).Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticList of countries by population - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaQuote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
With an obvious exception, I don't see too many powerhouses of international football near the top of that list.
Nevertheless well done, you've proven the inferiority of Cypriot football to English! Cyprus would of course lose to England, though they'd probably have the lead for about 20 minutes first knowing England's defence sometimes.
I've just stepped into EoTW!
Honestly if you can't find a dozen decent players out of nearly a million people :monster: I mean yes if we are comparing the Vatican to France or something, but there comes a point where "But they have more people to choose from" is just nonsensical.
I'm glad you later removed Australia from this generalisation. We're not a fantastic team, but ffs when you aren't even playing to potential, it becomes a bit embarrassing. If we don't make it through the group stages, football is going to take another dive in popularity and all the kids will go play :bou::bou::bou::bou: sports :nonono:Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Well Australia aren't Oceanian, technically, you're Asian. But I figured someone out there might not realise that is the case.
Also, severely enjoying this French game.
Haven't seen the French capitulate like this since 1940. Exciting stuff.
i'm so happy
Well thats probably it for South Africa unfortunately. Oh well :(
France clearly want to go the whole hog when it comes to making complete prats of themselves in this tournament. Stupid red card decision though.
So it's looking like Mexico v Argentina (just like in 2006) and Uruguay v South Korea/Nigeria. The winner of that latter game could meet England in a QF if England win their group. If England finish second and make the QFs they'd meet the winner of Mexico v Argentina I think.
South American teams are looking very very decent. Ignoring the big two, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay have all had very decent World Cups so far. I can't see the trophy going anywhere but to that continent from what I've seen so far.
Agreed!Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Greece's main function seems to be to make any team managed by Jose Mourinho look like the 1970 Brazil side.
I've thought of one good side-effect if England turn it round and do well in this World Cup - it will make John Terry look like even more of a prat. Always a good thing.
Argentina are great to watch as are Spain (who I hope win it) Greece are absolute poison >_<
OMG Greece you play 1000x more annyoing football than Italy.
I was considering not even watching any other games Greece was involved in if they got through. They were just...... I mean...... I can't..... :frust:
That's because Italy (sometimes) know the art of being defensive and good at the same time. Greece clearly operate from the Bolton/Stoke handbook of football.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
England 2 Slovenia 1 (I'll take England to squeeze through)
USA 0 Algeria 0
Ghana 1 Germany 1 (for some reason I see Germany going out)
Serbia 2 Australia 0
thank god Greece are out. Woeful.
Youve given a draw prediction for every Germany game. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayiThat's because Italy (sometimes) know the art of being defensive and good at the same time. Greece clearly operate from the Bolton/Stoke handbook of football.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
England 2 Slovenia 1 (I'll take England to squeeze through)
USA 0 Algeria 0
Ghana 1 Germany 1 (for some reason I see Germany going out)
Serbia 2 Australia 0
Yes!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulainn
Come on England! Get your :bou::bou::bou::bou: together!
Goal!
Very shaky start from England, but after the goal they're playing more like the players we know they can be. THEY ARE BEGINNING TO BELIEVE.
Sigh. Yet another wrongly disallowed goal for the US. This is robbery.
It'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
Everyone should feel for us. We, without any legitimate dispute, should have won this group, and we may not advance out of this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightIt'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
Let's not get that far ahead. The USA team isn't that great. But they should win this game, I think, I hope at least. It'll give me sooo much point in the poule if they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoEveryone should feel for us. We, without any legitimate dispute, should have won this group, and we may not advance out of this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightIt'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
We should have won this group. We beat Slovenia, and it got taken away from us. Though there's still time left, we *did* score against Algeria. If international referees weren't so incredibly incompetent, we would have won this group. I don't see how you can dispute that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightLet's not get that far ahead. The USA team isn't that great. But they should win this game, I think, I hope at least. It'll give me sooo much point in the poule if they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoEveryone should feel for us. We, without any legitimate dispute, should have won this group, and we may not advance out of this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightIt'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
EDIT: And now Dempsey gets a mean punch to the face, yet it goes uncalled. Should be a penalty kick and ten men for Algeria.
If that is your logic, then all the OTHER games would have been different too, and you STILL would have been out. You still act like USA are the only team that had bad decisions made for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoWe should have won this group. We beat Slovenia, and it got taken away from us. Though there's still time left, we *did* score against Algeria. If international referees weren't so incredibly incompetent, we would have won this group. I don't see how you can dispute that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightLet's not get that far ahead. The USA team isn't that great. But they should win this game, I think, I hope at least. It'll give me sooo much point in the poule if they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoEveryone should feel for us. We, without any legitimate dispute, should have won this group, and we may not advance out of this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightIt'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
The offside this game was ARGUABLE, he was SLIGHTLY in front. The question is was it enough. The rule of thumb for referees this world cup is if in doubt, give it to the defender.
I was rooting for the US to go through, but you're seriously giving me second thoughts.
And Ireland would be there instead of France...
The referee's decisions are part of the game. If you can't take that, then stick to your rugby ripoff.
If one team was really that much better than the other, even a referee's bias wouldn't change much.
This isn't just bad decisions. This isn't even sending players off. This is goals legitimately and physically scored taken away, the epitome of screwing a team. This screwing has cost the US 5 points and advancement. There are judgment calls to be made, which can be iffy and go against a team, and DO go against every team. This goes far beyond judgment calls. The US did the work they needed to do, and it got robbed from them.Quote:
Originally Posted by CroylesIf that is your logic, then all the OTHER games would have been different, and you STILL would have been out. You still act like USA are the only team that had bad decisions made for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoWe should have won this group. We beat Slovenia, and it got taken away from us. Though there's still time left, we *did* score against Algeria. If international referees weren't so incredibly incompetent, we would have won this group. I don't see how you can dispute that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightLet's not get that far ahead. The USA team isn't that great. But they should win this game, I think, I hope at least. It'll give me sooo much point in the poule if they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoEveryone should feel for us. We, without any legitimate dispute, should have won this group, and we may not advance out of this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightIt'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
I was rooting for the US to go through, but you're seriously giving me second thoughts.
EDIT: You have it backwards. Dempsey was, at most, even, and when in doubt it's supposed to go the attacking team, unless the commentators for this game made that up.
Have you watched any of the other games?Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoThis isn't just bad decisions. This isn't even sending players off. This is goals legitimately and physically scored taken away, the epitome of screwing a team. This screwing has cost the US 5 points and advancement. There are judgment calls to be made, which can be iffy and go against a team, and DO go against every team. This goes far beyond judgment calls. The US did the work they needed to do, and it got robbed from them.Quote:
Originally Posted by CroylesIf that is your logic, then all the OTHER games would have been different, and you STILL would have been out. You still act like USA are the only team that had bad decisions made for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoWe should have won this group. We beat Slovenia, and it got taken away from us. Though there's still time left, we *did* score against Algeria. If international referees weren't so incredibly incompetent, we would have won this group. I don't see how you can dispute that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightLet's not get that far ahead. The USA team isn't that great. But they should win this game, I think, I hope at least. It'll give me sooo much point in the poule if they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoEveryone should feel for us. We, without any legitimate dispute, should have won this group, and we may not advance out of this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's KnightIt'll be robbery when they lose. Now it's just annoying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
And I kind of feel for the guys. So many good chances, perfect chances and they miss..
I was rooting for the US to go through, but you're seriously giving me second thoughts.
EDIT: You have it backwards. Dempsey was, at most, even, and when in doubt it's supposed to go the attacking team, unless the commentators for this game made that up.
Also, the US had so many chances in this game and couldnt score, in a way it was all in their own hands.
That pass, that 88 min pass.
That is why you don't belong in this sport.
Theres your goal, now stop moaning
YAY England didn't completely disgrace themselves this time
My two teams made the poule and one game predicted. 24 points, BOOYAH!
ENGLAND 1 BONGO BONGOLAND 0
TAKE THAT, JOHNNY FOREIGNER
TRUE LIONS TIME TO BRING FOOTBALL HOME 1966
etc. etc. etc.
Frank Lampard is still :bou::bou::bou::bou: though :monster:
Oh my God I almost had a nervous breakdown
USA!
I feel a bit sorry for Slovenia now though :(
But that goal has changed England's fate a bit, they're now one game away from a possible QF with Argentina, and if Germany win tonight they'll probably be playing them on Saturday!
Why the hell did the fantasy football automatically change my captain????
*shudders*
Oh smurfing god that was amazing. Two minutes of stoppage. STOPPAGE!
Glad the Yanks went through instead of Slovenia, even if it meant them topping the group. The Slovenians acted like such whiny babies after losing the Wembley game, so smurf 'em I say.
Looking forward to England's imminent elimination on penalties, anyway! It's just not right to go out any other way.
What a finish!!!
I still can't believe it. After so many chances, we finally broke through. Knowing our luck, now WE'LL draw Germany in the knockout round. I'll tell you what though, bring them on!
Donovan has really emerged as a world class player.
England should have had at least 3 goals, but they made it through too. Still don't really like them playing a 4-4-2 though.
Take care all.
I get emotionally invested in sports. Sue me. The best team my country's ever produced just nearly got screwed out of advancing in the biggest sporting event in the world. Excuse me for being pissed.
I guess we have to root for Germany, now, to win that group so we draw Serbia or Ghana.
Oh hey come on now KB, you've missed the crucial point of this sport: None of the bull:bou::bou::bou::bou: and terrible decisions matter after you snatch a goal at the end and win! You're through, we're through, everyone's happy. Apart from Slovenia. :smug:
Also, didn't you have a team that came 3rd or 4th once?
Yeah USA came 3rd/4th in one World Cup - in 1930!
That was 1930 in the first World Cup, so I'm not sure it really counts. Although, it is interesting to note that soccer was the US's biggest spectator sport in the 1920s, but all the teams were run by corporations and factories and the like, so when the market crashed in 1929 the league went under and baseball become America's game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Really, any association football before the 1990s with the exception of 1950 doesn't really register. And yeah, our 2014 team will be better than this one, but still.
Which is the last time we won our group too!
The USA actually could have a very good path to the quarterfinals now... if Germany doesn't fluff the line and become runner up.
Take care all.
I can't see Germany being runners-up, the most likely outcomes are either they win the group (by beating Ghana and assuming Serbia don't thrash Australia) or they go out (if they don't beat Ghana they have to rely on Australia getting a draw or win off Serbia, which is possible but not sure it will happen).
Hey I can understand that, and who knows I might be the same before the end of the world cup, but everyone always needs someone to pull them out of that victim mentality. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirobaito
Same, I see Germany either being on top or failing to qualify.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Come on GERMANY!
The rest of the world was too busy either recuperating from WWI, or preparing for the second.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Wars and Facists are also bad for sports I guess. :p
For some reason the FIFA website has automatically made Robinho my captain, even though I had it on Lahm, and I didnt substitute him or anything!
The really cool kids didn't even enter that World Cup. :monster:
Not really, the 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. That's about three years before they invaded, mind you.
They did have some good Strudel, you gotta give them that one.
Hey Psy, are the Best Korea team still alive? Kim won't be happy.
Horrible Olympics that was.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight
Im hoping for a Germany v Holland final. One that isnt ugly. We don't want spit flying into peoples hair.
for the record, Dear Leader would beat the :bou::bou::bou::bou: out of Andrea Merkel in a fist fight :colbert:Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
I don't think he would bother to get away from his 1500 sex slaves to even pick up a knife.
smurf the english commentators. I hate them!
They might as well just come out and say that they hope the German's get hammered.
Same as it ever was really, 2006 apart the English commentators and pundits are usually loath to ever give Germany credit for anything in a major tournament (but then that's the traditional rivalry for you!).
Just know they're disparaging Germany and hoping they lose because they don't want to have to play them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
Very open game so far, Gyan looks dangerous for Ghana.
One of them's Welsh! And tbh they've actually been pretty fair to the Germans. Said it would be unfair to send Lahm off for his handball just because it would ruin the spectacle.Quote:
Originally Posted by KirobaitoJust know they're disparaging Germany and hoping they lose because they don't want to have to play them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croyles
Been entertaining football so far, although I've noticed both Ghana and Germany like to dive and play up any physical contact, and if either of them end up playing (and subsequently beating, as seems likely) England, you can bet they will be absolutely villified in the English press for it.
Yeah but if England go out the English press are going to find a scapegoat anyway, whether it's Capello, one of their own players, the officials or an evil cheating foreigner(s).
Probably all four.
But of course, half the fun of England in tournaments is finding out who the new Beckham/Sven/Random Swiss referee/Ronaldo will be.
England can beat Germany no problem. I remember watching that friendly against them in 2008 where a 2-1 victory sold the English performance far too short. They were all over the Germans.
Using a friendly (from two years ago) as the main basis for saying that Team X can beat Team Y doesn't make much sense to me. The teams may have changed since then, it's a tournament game and not a friendly etc. And they might not even play Germany.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Germany v England here we go! :D
Go Australia. I'd like a re-match with the Ghanans.
True Story. Did you know that story about Hitler refusing to shake his hand after he won & being mad was completely fabricated by the Allies during the war?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight
I wonder which of these events will happen the most:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jings
English press mentioning 1966, or that tool Franz Beckenbauer saying words to the effect of "England are :bou::bou::bou::bou:"? :lol:
Equal amounts, with maybe english press mentioning 66 slightly more often.Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticI wonder which of these events will happen the most:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jings
English press mentioning 1966, or that tool Franz Beckenbauer saying words to the effect of "England are :bou::bou::bou::bou:"? :lol:
Beckenbauer is definitely a tool btw, and in Germany we all know that.
Good game. Ghana played well and had their fair share of chances too.
Germany played very well forwards both halves. First half they were quite shaky defensively though.
Even though it was only 1-0, Germany were passing the ball very comfortably second half, showing that they can defend as well, which is what I was worrying about with this very young squad.
Commentators seemed to get words in their ears about not piling too much :bou::bou::bou::bou: on Germany, which they improved second half despite mentioning the first and second world war lol.
Looking forward to Germany v England!!!
You better get used to that, as sadly I think you're going have a whole week of English people saying offensive :bou::bou::bou::bou: about the World Wars. I apologise on behalf of my country. I also apologise in advance for Emile Heskey scoring 5 goals against you. :tongue:
Landon Donovan, you may have given the World Cup both England v Germany and England v Argentina - well done to you ;)
If Capello beats Germany and Argentina he'll probably be made King, Prime Minister and Archbishop of Canterbury all at once.
One of USA/Ghana/Uruguay/South Korea will make the semis, I think we've found this year's oddball semi-finalist contenders!
Lol no problem. Remember that I have been living in England for more than 10 years. I apologise for that idiot Beckenbauer, and I apologise in advance for Özil, Podolski, Lahm, Klose and Khedira scoring and then beating you at penalties! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Gotta say.. I wasn't impressed by Germany. After the Ozil goal, they sort of just sat around and their defense looked very suspect at points. England have a real chance in that match.
Ghana could be very dangerous to the USA. Seeing as they may be the only African team left, they'll have the home field advantage, though the USA has really shown how much fire they have, so I still think they'll get through.
I was glued to the epic tennis match for a while, so I couldn't really tell you much about the Australia -Serbia match.
Take care all.
I think Germany passed the ball around very well in the midfield, but they were very cautious after their goal and still a little shaky at the back, but overall pretty comfortable I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
I think it will be a close match.
i can't see past a germany win. England always seem to bottle it.
They could always bottle it in the quarter-finals, that's their usual glass ceiling.