World Cup 2010 thread
06-14-2010, 12:17 AM
#43
cause its a half hour from my school to my house and thats going 130km and the speed limit is 100km.
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06-14-2010, 08:12 AM
#44
Yeah! World Cup! Finally here!
I watched the opening game in a hotel in Mexico where they were nice enough to open the bar that early in the morning. I was in my Houston Dynamo jersey amidst a sea of green, but still enjoyed it thoroughly. The emotion was palpable, and although I'd never wear another national team's colors, I was really pulling for my wife's "selección."
Mexico played pretty well, but they tend to get more impatient the closer they get to the goal. They couldn't seal the deal to save their lives, and they made their substitutions too late, as always. The Mexican team has had a huge rift since before the last World Cup, and they still can't hardly play together. I like Rafa Marquez, but blame him for most of this. If he hadn't scored their only goal so far and was doing such a good job distributing the ball I'd hate him. They're in the group of death anyhow, so unless they really shape up I fear that my wife will hang up her jersey early again this time around.
We cleared customs just in time the following day to grab a pizza on the way home and plop down in front of the USA/England game. I knew Gerrard was dangerous, but the 4' goal was devastating. I've heard some say that Donovan was a no-show, but it seemed to me that he was the one that kept pushing to keep the US side strong, and emotionally in the game. While it was a bad day for England, the US still played very well and that shouldn't be overlooked. If they continue to cohere as a team they can get out of the group and hopefully make it past the first knock out round. I don't see them going far, no matter how nice of a dream it is, due to all the very strong teams this year.
England however will bounce back, and look much better than the squad we saw Saturday. I would guarantee an English win if they were to play the USA again. They have been plagued with every manner of curse, folly, and foolishness during World Cups, and they always just get back to playing soccer...nothing mental despite their harsh press.
In a way a lot of teams are on a more equal field due to injuries or out-of-form stars, but much like F1 this year there are two groups, those that will put 4 goals up on the likes of Australia, and those that will quickly fall. A few of the teams in the middle, like Nigeria, the US and Mexico all have to decide very quickly which side of that play they'll be on.
I actually want to put Brazil in this group as well, but we'll see how they fare against the two tests in their group, Portugal and Ivory Coast, before I say they're a back-burner team, and they can very easily find their strengths and make it deep into the tournament. Their group will facilitate their improvement. Brazil tends to slack off against light opposition, and tough group play will mean they come into the next round strong.
Despite a mediocre performance Argentina is still one of my favs. I hate them for knocking out Mexico last time, but you can't argue with the play. I've seen a lot of Messi in the Spanish league, and more of Tevez in England, and both of them will only get better during the course of the tournament. The rest of Argentina's A-list should be consistent, and the goals will shape up.
So that's a few of the big 5 national teams covered. Germany looked very good, especially without their usual captain, and they should have no problem making the semifinals like last time. Italy won't repeat, but they are consistent and play very good ball. I haven't really checked out the French team much, but am sure they are hungry after last time, and they have some truly great players. A draw against Uruguay isn't a bad thing either. Whatever teams come out of that group will be solid contenders, and surviving this group would bring huge confidence to the French team.
Beware of African teams though. Their rising profile and the World Cup being there are no coincidence. Nigeria looked great besides failing to score. South Africa was a real roadblock for a cocksure Mexican team that apparently thought the host country would just roll over for them. And Ivory Coast is a dangerous squad, while Cameroon has been known to upset. Algeria's usually not too shabby either, but I wasn't real impressed with the little bit I watched in their loss yesterday.
All I know is I'm enjoying it.
I watched the opening game in a hotel in Mexico where they were nice enough to open the bar that early in the morning. I was in my Houston Dynamo jersey amidst a sea of green, but still enjoyed it thoroughly. The emotion was palpable, and although I'd never wear another national team's colors, I was really pulling for my wife's "selección."
Mexico played pretty well, but they tend to get more impatient the closer they get to the goal. They couldn't seal the deal to save their lives, and they made their substitutions too late, as always. The Mexican team has had a huge rift since before the last World Cup, and they still can't hardly play together. I like Rafa Marquez, but blame him for most of this. If he hadn't scored their only goal so far and was doing such a good job distributing the ball I'd hate him. They're in the group of death anyhow, so unless they really shape up I fear that my wife will hang up her jersey early again this time around.
We cleared customs just in time the following day to grab a pizza on the way home and plop down in front of the USA/England game. I knew Gerrard was dangerous, but the 4' goal was devastating. I've heard some say that Donovan was a no-show, but it seemed to me that he was the one that kept pushing to keep the US side strong, and emotionally in the game. While it was a bad day for England, the US still played very well and that shouldn't be overlooked. If they continue to cohere as a team they can get out of the group and hopefully make it past the first knock out round. I don't see them going far, no matter how nice of a dream it is, due to all the very strong teams this year.
England however will bounce back, and look much better than the squad we saw Saturday. I would guarantee an English win if they were to play the USA again. They have been plagued with every manner of curse, folly, and foolishness during World Cups, and they always just get back to playing soccer...nothing mental despite their harsh press.
In a way a lot of teams are on a more equal field due to injuries or out-of-form stars, but much like F1 this year there are two groups, those that will put 4 goals up on the likes of Australia, and those that will quickly fall. A few of the teams in the middle, like Nigeria, the US and Mexico all have to decide very quickly which side of that play they'll be on.
I actually want to put Brazil in this group as well, but we'll see how they fare against the two tests in their group, Portugal and Ivory Coast, before I say they're a back-burner team, and they can very easily find their strengths and make it deep into the tournament. Their group will facilitate their improvement. Brazil tends to slack off against light opposition, and tough group play will mean they come into the next round strong.
Despite a mediocre performance Argentina is still one of my favs. I hate them for knocking out Mexico last time, but you can't argue with the play. I've seen a lot of Messi in the Spanish league, and more of Tevez in England, and both of them will only get better during the course of the tournament. The rest of Argentina's A-list should be consistent, and the goals will shape up.
So that's a few of the big 5 national teams covered. Germany looked very good, especially without their usual captain, and they should have no problem making the semifinals like last time. Italy won't repeat, but they are consistent and play very good ball. I haven't really checked out the French team much, but am sure they are hungry after last time, and they have some truly great players. A draw against Uruguay isn't a bad thing either. Whatever teams come out of that group will be solid contenders, and surviving this group would bring huge confidence to the French team.
Beware of African teams though. Their rising profile and the World Cup being there are no coincidence. Nigeria looked great besides failing to score. South Africa was a real roadblock for a cocksure Mexican team that apparently thought the host country would just roll over for them. And Ivory Coast is a dangerous squad, while Cameroon has been known to upset. Algeria's usually not too shabby either, but I wasn't real impressed with the little bit I watched in their loss yesterday.
All I know is I'm enjoying it.
Last edited by gospeed81; 06-14-2010 at 08:28 AM.
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06-14-2010, 08:31 AM
#45
Elite Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Enschede, NL
Posts: 2,053
Total Cats: 12
Hup Holland hup
Laat de leeuw niet in z'n hempie staan
Hup Holland hup
Trek het beestje geen pantoffels aan
Hup Holland hup
Laat je uit 't veld niet slaan
Want de leeuw op voetbalschoenen
Durft de hele wereld aan
Laat de leeuw niet in z'n hempie staan
Hup Holland hup
Trek het beestje geen pantoffels aan
Hup Holland hup
Laat je uit 't veld niet slaan
Want de leeuw op voetbalschoenen
Durft de hele wereld aan
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06-14-2010, 10:29 AM
#47
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Damn horns.
Damn horns.
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06-14-2010, 12:21 PM
#50
Germany, also was meh... even though the game was in their favor the red card that Cahill gets is BULLSHIT. Im not saying that Australia wouldve been able to come back and tie or win but I think the card, and the goal that almost inmediately followed broke the Autralians. Ghana wil be a better test for the Germans.
Good job Japan, thinks will be interesting in that group.
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06-15-2010, 04:24 PM
#51
Anybody watch Brazil vs. North Korea? I was pleasantly surprised by their game and even scoring against Brazil.
Italy need to step up their game. I was very dissappointed with their first match. Beginning was ok-ish but got worse and worse after conceding the 0-1. Was very relieved they actually scored the equaliser.
Italy need to step up their game. I was very dissappointed with their first match. Beginning was ok-ish but got worse and worse after conceding the 0-1. Was very relieved they actually scored the equaliser.
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06-15-2010, 04:31 PM
#52
Anybody watch Brazil vs. North Korea? I was pleasantly surprised by their game and even scoring against Brazil.
Italy need to step up their game. I was very dissappointed with their first match. Beginning was ok-ish but got worse and worse after conceding the 0-1. Was very relieved they actually scored the equaliser.
Italy need to step up their game. I was very dissappointed with their first match. Beginning was ok-ish but got worse and worse after conceding the 0-1. Was very relieved they actually scored the equaliser.
Italy
hopefully Pirlo gets well soon. Up until the goal from Paraguay, they did not look bad and were attacking, then it was **** from then on. Luck was on their side as Villar fucked up for Paraguay. My country plays tomorrow bitches!!!!!!!!!!! Go Cuba
Last edited by levnubhin; 06-15-2010 at 04:41 PM.
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06-15-2010, 04:45 PM
#53
Kind of like Ecuador last time around, your team is the one wild card I'm looking forward to watching. I also had a buddy from Quito at the time, so we rooted together between 
sessions. Like Ecuador you guys have a good attacking style that should be entertaining, and Honduras can easily survive their group.
The lackluster performer to me has been France, and I really hope Mexico beats the **** out of them. They are usually consistently strong, but I don't see them coming together. I've still yet to see more than highlights though.
I thought Germany always came out swinging?
sessions. Like Ecuador you guys have a good attacking style that should be entertaining, and Honduras can easily survive their group.The lackluster performer to me has been France, and I really hope Mexico beats the **** out of them. They are usually consistently strong, but I don't see them coming together. I've still yet to see more than highlights though.
I thought Germany always came out swinging?
Last edited by gospeed81; 06-15-2010 at 05:07 PM.
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06-15-2010, 06:42 PM
#56
Good one Phil
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06-15-2010, 11:07 PM
#59
Elite Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,642
Total Cats: 36
Ahh, my arm! You bastards! aaaaaaAAAAHHHHHHHhhhhh!
I love watching a good soccer game, but man the flopping just kills me. Same reason I just cont get into the NBA. You just dont get that **** with Hockey.
I love watching a good soccer game, but man the flopping just kills me. Same reason I just cont get into the NBA. You just dont get that **** with Hockey.
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