The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread

[Aerith's Knight]

Dirk Kuyt.

He owns your soul, why would he need a shirt?


I have to give it to them Uruguayans, they fought until the end. But I have to say, the referee didn't really know what he was doing, did he? First it seems like he's favoring the Dutch, then the Uruguayans, then the Dutch, and in the final minutes, the Uruguayans again. I couldn't get a fix on that guy.

[Psychotic]

Oh Dirk.

I did love that ball he put into the box for Robben's goal. That was tasty.

[champagne supernova]

Yes, Kadeira and Friedrich. They are expected to be able to play, but will they be 100%? Muller is suspended as well. And unless agents are banned from speaking to their players, I am sure that the likes of Ozil and Kadeira will be aware of the interest in them.

[Jings]

I loved the commentators sarcastic comments towards van Bommel and the lack of yellow cards. Thank goodness he finally got booked.

[Croyles]

We had so called 'injury scares' and 'transfer talks' before the argentina and england game as well. I dont think THAT would beat us.

And yes im glad van Bommel finally got a yellow, I hate him and have always hated him (I like the dutch team in general though!)

[charliepanayi]

I imagine Ozil will be able to put any transfer talk behind him for 90 minutes tomorrow.

[Aerith's Knight]

I have Spain in the poule, so that's where my money is, but I'm kinda hoping Germany will win, at least if Holland wins after that.

Otherwise, Spain.

[Rocket Edge]

Congrats to the Dutch.

Question: What would be your England starting eleven after the World Cup flop? Fresh blood and all that...

Mine:

Joe Hart
G Johnson, Dawson, Terry, A Cole
A Johnson, Rodwell, Gerrard, Milner, A Young/Lennon
Rooney

[Croyles]

I have Spain in the poule, so that's where my money is, but I'm kinda hoping Germany will win, at least if Holland wins after that.

Otherwise, Spain.

Well last time (1974) Holland played better and Germany won, so maybe IF Germany gets to the final it will be Germany playing better and Holland winning!

[champagne supernova]

Sky Sports | Football | World Cup 2010 | Germany | Bierhoff plays down spat

Sky Sports | Football | World Cup 2010 | Germany | Neuer dismisses transfer talk

The first one is a little bit juicy. Germany's defence have exceed expectations (I expected Mertesacker to be shown up badly on the weekend), but against organised defences (Serbia - when will they stop hurting me), they are not as effective. Spain have a good defence, a great midfield (better than both Argentina and England) and a world-class frontline (whether it is good as the Argentinean one is debatable).

So I bet that Spain would win before these many reports started to come out of the German camp, so just hoping my money has become safe. I could be proved wrong tomorrow. But at this point in time, I can't see the Germans beating Spain.

[charliepanayi]

I think you're stretching here somewhat at trying to show evidence of discord in the German camp. Spain's defence, that could be a reason for Spain winning tomorrow. Non-existent transfer speculation, I very much doubt it.

[Croyles]

I think it's obvious that above all else you WANT Spain to win. Yes Spain could very well beat Germany tomorrow, but its obvious your looking for all excuses for as to why Spain will win tomorrow (other than their obvious class). Maybe just wait for the game, and stop speculating about so called 'camp trouble', usually reported by Bild Zeitung, which is as bad if not worse than The Sun.

[champagne supernova]

I think you're stretching here somewhat at trying to show evidence of discord in the German camp. Spain's defence, that could be a reason for Spain winning tomorrow. Non-existent transfer speculation, I very much doubt it.

First link is about some spat being denied. I didn't know there was a spat so first hearing of this, but cool.

And as I said, I bet before I read Skysports this morning and found this all out. The Spanish are, player for player, as good or better than the Germans, on form and talent (with the exception of Torres), they have been together as a team longer and 5 of the starting team play with each other in the same team weak in & weak out. The Germans are young, energetic, talented and Low must be one of the best international managers in the world, but their general inexperience should start kicking in around now.

And Low has admitted that Kadeira has been on a special training programme to get fit and that his medical staff has been patching up the team. The Argentina game was also a lot harder than Spain's game against Paraguay, where, although unconvincing in victory, the Spanish weren't exactly working themselves to the bone.

EDIT: And no, I don't particularly want Spain to win. My support has gone behind Holland so I couldn't really care who wins the match tomorrow. I'm just looking at the 2 teams and, unless the Spanish have a very off day, I cannot see the Germans beating them. But, even though I am of German descent, I couldn't really care what happens. I'm just giving a prediction.

[charliepanayi]

Germany's 4-0 win over Argentina (where they had the game won by about 70 minutes) was a lot harder than Spain getting a late 1-0 win over Paraguay? Eh?

[Croyles]

How about we just let the game tomorrow speak for itself supernova. If Spain win you can rub it in my face all you want, I really don't care, since im not a bad loser.