The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread

[The Captain]

Wow. I am blown away by the end of the Ghana - Uruguay game. I was hoping Ghana would lose in the end because they knocked the US out. But, to lose it that way, OH MY.

I'm still shocked that Sneijder was able to head that ball in, considering he is about 6 inches shorter then every defender from Brasil. He has been fantastic so far and is a very real candidate for player of the tournament in my mind. Really shaky second half from Brasil's keeper too.

As for tomorrow, I am very excited for Germany - Argentina. I fully expect a lot of goals and in the end, my head is saying Germany while my heart is saying Argentina just because I want to see more Maradona man-hugs on the sideline.

I think Germany 3-2 Argentina.

I fully expect Spain to win their match as well, something like 2-0 and I'm looking at a Spain - Netherlands final, which is lovely as one of the two will FINALLY win their first Cup.

Take care all.


Also, sidenote, for all you English fans out there, what in blazes is going on with the press and this Gerrard - Terry thing?

[charliepanayi]

Yeah, because teams never beat team A and then lose to team B who are worse than team A. And considering some of the surprises so far, I don't think you should automatically assume that Holland will walk the semi-final (though they will be favourites understandably), or that it'll be a terrible disgrace if they lose. Especially considering Holland's record in semi-finals! Plus there's no Suarez but last I checked Forlan is pretty useful.

Well, I disagree. No matter how they played, Holland hasn't lost a game, ever, in this WC, including the preliminaries. And of the three goals against it, two of them were penalties.

To lose now to Uruguay would be to most Dutch people a terrible disgrace. And you can't say it's not, mostly because you're not dutch and the rest because you're just pissed your country sucked balls in this tournament.

READ THE SIG!

I resent the accusation. My country never gets to any tournaments! And if you think losing to Uruguay in a World Cup semi-final is a disgrace for Dutch people, what happened in 2002 when the Dutch didn't even qualify? Mass suicides in Holland?

[Aerith's Knight]

Yeah, because teams never beat team A and then lose to team B who are worse than team A. And considering some of the surprises so far, I don't think you should automatically assume that Holland will walk the semi-final (though they will be favourites understandably), or that it'll be a terrible disgrace if they lose. Especially considering Holland's record in semi-finals! Plus there's no Suarez but last I checked Forlan is pretty useful.

Well, I disagree. No matter how they played, Holland hasn't lost a game, ever, in this WC, including the preliminaries. And of the three goals against it, two of them were penalties.

To lose now to Uruguay would be to most Dutch people a terrible disgrace. And you can't say it's not, mostly because you're not dutch and the rest because you're just pissed your country sucked balls in this tournament.

READ THE SIG!

I resent the accusation. My country never gets to any tournaments! And if you think losing to Uruguay in a World Cup semi-final is a disgrace for Dutch people, what happened in 2002 when the Dutch didn't even qualify? Mass suicides in Holland?

First of all, unless you are lying or I am blind, you say you live in England, so that's your team for the moment, unless you declare otherwise.

Secondly, in 2002, we had a bad team then, most of us didn't even watch it. If you were going for examples, I would've used the game against Russia in '08. And yeah, people were pissed about that.

And thirdly, it's not the not-even-qualifying that's the disgrace, the disgrace is winning against one of the favorites of the cup and then losing to an increasingly mediocre team.

Although I rather agree with Old Manus, it'd be just like us to lose against Uruguay now.

[charliepanayi]

Thanks for telling me who I support. I live in England, I don't support England (neither do I actively support whoever is playing them) - last I checked it was a free country and I'm free to choose who I support. England is not my team, despite you foisting them on me.

And if you think it's a disgrace to beat a team and then lose to a team that isn't as good, you can't be much into club football or you have some bizarre logic. That's like saying Liverpool were disgraced by beating Man Utd and then not beating Hull City (sorry Psy, I can't use Arsenal as an example, as that requires us to actually beat Man Utd or Chelsea).

[Psychotic]

I swear we put 6 past Hull this season

[Aerith's Knight]

Thanks for telling me who I support. I live in England, I don't support England (neither do I actively support whoever is playing them) - last I checked it was a free country and I'm free to choose who I support. England is not my team, despite you foisting them on me.

You are, but can you blame me for thinking that, seeing as you still haven't actually said who you support. I'm sorry, all this rational thinking must be confusing for you.

And if you think it's a disgrace to beat a team and then lose to a team that isn't as good, you can't be much into club football or you have some bizarre logic. That's like saying Liverpool were disgraced by beating Man Utd and then not beating Hull City (sorry Psy, I can't use Arsenal as an example, as that requires us to actually beat Man Utd or Chelsea).

I never said I was. I haven't even closely followed football for about 8 years now. But that says nothing about rationality. If Liverpool was beat by Hull city, I would be pretty embarrassed if I were them. Then again, that's just rational thinking again, and I am to assume from your stance this entire time, that such thinking is not in the spirit of the sport.

But can we stop this argument now? It's not changing anymore anyway. I say it is something to be ashamed of, then you say it's not, then I say I do think so, then you say I shouldn't, etc. etc.

I'm growing weary of this childish bickering. If you must continue this, I suggest you go to brazil, and see how long you can survive with such an argument there. I suggest you bring a bulletproof vest.

[Rocket Edge]

Although what you are charlie are debating has been unintentionally blown out of proportion, to say that if Holland were to lose against Uruguay you would be ashamed is completely out of line. Your talking about the semi-finals of an international tournament. 4 teams left, and you say you would be ashamed to lose to a team who have earned the right to be there.

[Aerith's Knight]

Although what you are charlie are debating has been unintentionally blown out of proportion, to say that if Holland were to lose against Uruguay you would be ashamed is completely out of line. Your talking about the semi-finals of an international tournament. 4 teams left, and you say you would be ashamed to lose to a team who have earned the right to be there.

First of all, these are my personal feelings, who the hell are you people to tell me how I should feel about my team of my country?

Secondly, you can say a lot, but all they did was scrap by in a bracket that had little to no severe resistance. I may not have watched a lot of football in the past years, but I've watched every scrap of this world cup. They were in a poule with two poor teams, France and SA, so it's no suprise they actually went through. Then, they came into a bracket with SK, USA and Ghana. I mean c'mon, compared to Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, are you really saying that was a bracket that was hard?

Thirdly, they didn't deserve to be there. They got there because Suarez used his "hand of god" to play keeper. I actually wanted Uruguay to go through, but that was just the biggest load of bull.

And lastly:

[Psychotic]

Jesus christ the Germans are a machine.

...at least England only lost 4-1! (4-2 if you want to get technical )

The Quarter Finals: Europe Strikes Back.

[Aerith's Knight]

I hope Spain wins, because either Germany or Spain to the final, they deserve it both. Germany played great, a pleasure to watch.

[Psychotic]

Yeah Germany v Spain should be a corker if the Spanish get through.

I think the Netherlands v Uruguay will be pretty dull, but I'd be surprised if it ended without a red card.

[Aerith's Knight]

Yeah Germany v Spain should be a corker if the Spanish get through.

But should be a great match, maybe even better than the finale.

I think the Netherlands v Uruguay will be pretty dull, but I'd be surprised if it ended without a red card.

I just know they'll make fouls on Robben. The last two teams have made some seriously sick fouls, just to hurt him. The red card from Brazil, if they had found the injured leg, would've put Robben out of the tournament. Despicable.

[Croyles]

OMG!!!!! I am beside myself!!!!

[The Captain]

Miro Klose, one goal from tying the all-time World Cup goal mark. Mayhaps a team like Liverpool should see about signing him this coming season? He's been just wasting away in Germany this season.The man was immense, he holds well, is ruthless in front of goal, comes back to defend. Almost all the big name players have flopped this tournament save for David Villa and it's the overlooked players, the Forlans, the Kloses, who are driving their teams.

I expect Spain to advance but man alive, Germany look really tough to break. They defend well and on the counter-attack, they are lethal. The fact that Mueller got that yellow card and will miss the Semi-final is a real shame and could end up being a deciding factor to whether Germany play in the final or not.

Take care all.

[Croyles]

Klose would not feel comfortable in england, he is a very quiet and shy sort of guy I dont think he would fit well with the burly englishmen. Stay in germany, it makes it better for the national team too (see ballack who became crap).