General World Cup and in-game discussion

[DennisN]

IMO it's not so much Portugal that plays bad, it's Germany that plays very, very well.

 

[Borek]

So far both Iberian Peninsula teams below expectations.

 

[cristo]

Well pepe really effed that game up! US to win tonight and then beat a deflated Portugal? Probably not likely, but wouldn't be surprised by much in this World Cup!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

US in good shape with two good Portugal defenders out and Ronaldo going 90 on a sore knee! Must win tonight!

 

[DennisN]

US to win tonight and then beat a deflated Portugal?

That could very well happen...

 

[D H]

IMO it's not so much Portugal that plays bad, it's Germany that plays very, very well.

I would say that Portugal played very poorly more than Germany played well.

The stupid head bump didn't help. Were it not for that head bump, the German player might well have been shown a yellow card for embellishment. The stupid head bump negated the embellishment.

It's stupid male behavior that begets red cards. I coached (and refereed, and administered) for a while. The dumbest red card of all went to one of my players who in a few short words expressed doubt about the quality of an opposing player's intelligence, the quality of his facial complexion, the opposing player's sexual preferences, and where that opposing player would spend his afterlife. RED CARD!

 

[Borek]

one of my players who in a few short words expressed doubt about the quality of an opposing player's intelligence, the quality of his facial complexion, the opposing player's sexual preferences, and where that opposing player would spend his afterlife.

There is no doubt Pepe was talking during the head bump. I watched closely.

IMHO this match could very well go other way. CR7 was close to scoring early in the game, I am not sure about the penalty (I am not saying referee was wrong, but I am not convinced he was right either). That would mean different start and who knows what would happen then. Definitely after Pepe saw the red card Portugal team lost the steam.

 

[D H]

There is no doubt Pepe was talking during the head bump. I watched closely.

"That hurt?? Let me show you *real* pain, you stupid git!"

The referee was only a few yards away. Even if he didn't hear the conversation, he certainly saw the physical conversation. That was a well deserved card.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Go USA! #IBelieveThatWeWillWin!

 

[Borg]

Go USA! #IBelieveThatWeWillWin!

Wow! Goal already!

 

[cristo]

Wow! Goal already!

Hadn't even turned it on in time!

 

[cristo]

Go USA! #IBelieveThatWeWillWin!

Just heard the US chants -- it's not college basketball, you know ;)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

USA up at half, but Ghana looks better if only they could finish. It will be a very nervous 2nd half I think.

 

[DennisN]

I don't think US and A should play so very defensively as they do now, it feels like Ghana is closing in on a goal, too much defense is not good I think...

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Oh my, that was stressful. Glad to get the 3 points tho!

 

[D H]

My hands hurt from too much clapping. IBelieveThatWeWillWin!

 

[Astronuc]

John Brooks' late goal gives U.S. 2-1 win over Ghana in World Cup opener

NATAL, Brazil – The United States clinched an extraordinary, heart-stopping, last-ditch triumph over Ghana on Monday to give its World Cup campaign a magnificent start.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/john-b...over-ghana-in-world-cup-opener-000753871.html

A news reporter said that the US was vindicated. Apparently Ghana eliminated US during the last two World Cups.

 

[AlephZero]

Google seem to be overdosing on world cup doodles - some of which I didn't "get" at all.

But I like Paul the Octopus with the halo today

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Overdose? You must not be a soccer fan :D never enough :)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Algeria looking for the upset!

 

[micromass]

Algeria looking for the upset!

Nope.

 

[AlephZero]

Overdose? You must not be a soccer fan :D

Is there a soccer competition going on somewhere? I've just spend 5 days (nearly 8 hours a day) following cricket between England and Sri Lanka.

But I guess a game that takes that long, goes right down to the wire, and ends in a draw is too hard for some people to understand

The London Olympics screwed up the international cricket fixtures for a year either side of it. At least the ICC are treating FIFA with the irrelevance it deserves

 

[D H]

Brazil - Mexico (17 June):
micromass: 4 - 1
DH: 3 - 1
DennisN: 3 - 1
trollcast: 3 - 1
Logger: 3 - 1
cristo: 2 - 1
montadhar: 3 - 1

All of us blew that prediction!

That tie for Mexico was a huge upset, and is making me rethink whether Brazil will win the whole enchilada.

 

[DennisN]

All of us blew that prediction!

That tie for Mexico was a huge upset, and is making me rethink whether Brazil will win the whole enchilada.

That is fun! Regretfully I did not see the match. And I need to make predictions for tomorrow too...

 

[micromass]

That tie for Mexico was a huge upset, and is making me rethink whether Brazil will win the whole enchilada.

Yes, I am seriously reconsidering Brazil right now.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I don't think Brazil has what it takes. No way they beat Netherlands or Germany right now.

 

[micromass]

I don't think Brazil has what it takes. No way they beat Netherlands or Germany right now.

I agree. I'll probably change my vote to Netherlands tomorrow depending on how they play.

 

[DennisN]

I don't think Brazil has what it takes. No way they beat Netherlands or Germany right now.

I'm actually inclined to think so too . And I am considering if Argentina has got what it takes. Well, I will be looking closely at Argentina in their next match .

 

[cristo]

I don't think Brazil has what it takes. No way they beat Netherlands or Germany right now.

Don't jump ship too soon -- Brasil will improve into the more important stages of the competition.

 

[DennisN]

LOL
Australia just scored 2-1 against Netherlands. Is this match played in Neverland?

EDIT 5 min afterwards: Now it's 2-2. Not so much Neverland anymore.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Wow Holland wth. Germany now the clear favorite to win it.

 

[DennisN]

Germany now the clear favorite to win it.

Yeah, I'm gravitating towards that too.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Hats off to Aus, they played really hard. Deserved a tie.

 

[Monique]

First time ever we won playing against Australia, that sure is an entertaining match!

 

[D H]

It's certainly not Spain this year. They have one half to score at least two goals or they are out.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Spain needs some hungry youth. This team has won too much. Loving it!

 

[D H]

What happened to the Spanish passing game? The "ole!" has turned into "oh ****!"

 

[DennisN]

Andrés Siesta, Sergio Vamos, bye bye...

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Chile is now one of my favorite teams. Tons of heart and lots of entertainment.

 

[D H]

The Spaniards are not playing as one team. They are playing individually, as 23 overrated individuals.

 

[Borek]

They are the first team out, aren't they?

 

[D H]

They are the first team out, aren't they?

No. Australia beat Spain with regard to not making it past the group play. The teams to advance from groups B is now set in stone. The only question is who's first, who's second.

Group A is wide open. That tie between Mexico and Brazil made that group wide open. Any of the four teams in that group can still take first, anyone can be out. A win in today's final game will be important for both Cameroon and Croatia.

 

[D H]

Really stupid red card by Cameroon.

 

[Borek]

No. Australia beat Spain with regard to not making it past the group play.

Silly me, I saw them playing Holland.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Wow, Uruguay defender gets knocked out with a knee to the head, staggers off and then comes back in. That is plain dumb. Sub that guy out and scan is head.

 

[Borek]

I would love to see the analysis of the second goal Uruguay scored. I am not saying "offside", but I would prefer to be sure.

 

[cristo]

I would love to see the analysis of the second goal Uruguay scored. I am not saying "offside", but I would prefer to be sure.

Not offside since it came off the defender.

But, in general, not much you can do when faced with a ref who doesn't want to enforce rules: there's no way Uruguay should have had 11 men on the field at half time.

 

[Orodruin]

No. Australia beat Spain with regard to not making it past the group play. The teams to advance from groups B is now set in stone. The only question is who's first, who's second.

Technically they went out at the same time as a Spanish win would have meant Australia could make it by beating Spain at the same time as Netherlands beat Chile. Spain, Chile, and Austrailia would then have had the 3 points each and it would have ended up being a goal difference affair.

 

[jobyts]

Uruguay - England was a roughest match so far in the world cup. Almost every minute someone gets knocked down.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Uruguay - England was a roughest match so far in the world cup. Almost every minute someone gets knocked down.

True, there should have been a couple Uruguay yellows.