General World Cup and in-game discussion

[Adjoint]

I am happy that South American teams did well. Chile, Columbia, Uruguay all won! After all this world cup is in South America.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

CR handling Italy well! I'd love another upset!

 

[D H]

Italy should have sent their football team to the World Cup rather than their Olympic diving team.

 

[Adjoint]

I would love another upset too!

Italy should have sent their football team to the World Cup rather than their Olympic diving team.

 

[Adjoint]

Costa Rica WINS! 1 -0 Wow!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I love upsets. Nice work CR!

 

[DennisN]

Italy should have sent their football team to the World Cup rather than their Olympic diving team.

A fun thing is that I both hoped AND voted for Italy to win, yet I am happy that Costa Rica won. They played very effectively against Italy, and Costa Rica deserved to win IMO. The last half hour I actually hoped Costa Rica would score another goal . My loyalty to Italy is apparently not very strong .

 

[D H]

Oh my. Those Swiss clocks are so very, very clean right now.

Edit:
For those not familiar with American English,
- The Swiss are renowned for their precise clocks and for their cleanliness.
- "Having one's clocks cleaned" is a phrase meaning getting utterly defeated.

 

[Adjoint]

The last half hour I actually hoped Costa Rica would score another goal

Yeah, I also think that Costa Rica should have scored at least one more goal. This worldcup is being very enjoyable.

 

[Intrastellar]

Considering Costa Rica vs Uruguay, I don't think this result is considered an upset.

 

[D H]

The Swiss clocks aren't quite so clean now, but still, quite shiny.

That last French goal should have counted. What was that ref doing? The final score should have been 6-2.

 

[cristo]

I love upsets. Nice work CR!

I don't love this particular upset. Italy were atrocious!

 

[D H]

Hmmm. England was even more atrocious. Italy still has a chance. At least until they play Uruguay.

 

[DennisN]

True happiness :

Costa Rica's forward Bryan Ruiz celebrates after scoring the opener. Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

 

[DennisN]

Honduras - Ecuador 1-1 in half time. Will Honduras fool us all and win...?

 

[Adjoint]

I think Iran has come to the conclusion that the football field is too vast to run around so why not just be in (own) d-box?
Somehow, an enjoyable first half! Let's see if Argentina can break through.

 

[D H]

73% possession and no goals yet. How to break through an overly defensive team is a puzzle.

It looked like Argentina's best chances were on corner kicks.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What a chance for Iran!

 

[micromass]

Iran deserves to win this match now.

 

[micromass]

Really sad for Iran.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Really sad for Iran.

Wow soccer is cruel sometimes!

 

[Borek]

Iran deserved a draw.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Incredible Germany Ghana game! Wow!

 

[D H]

That outcome put a kink in group G.

 

[Borek]

One of the best matches so far (of those I have seen).

 

[D H]

That was a fantastic game. Very clean but very tough, and highly competitive.

 

[DennisN]

Belgium is looking quite good against Russia... when will there be a goal...?

 

[DennisN]

A pretty even game IMO, the next half will be interesting, I think.

 

[DennisN]

Where are all the Americans today? Are they preparing for the Portugal game, or are they nervous? Or both?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Where are all the Americans today? Are they preparing for the Portugal game, or are they nervous? Or both?

Both! I'm heading out in an hour sporting my USA jersey!

 

[DennisN]

Both! I'm heading out in an hour sporting my USA jersey!

:thumbs:

 

[DennisN]

Quite entertaining game, Algeria vs S Korea!

 

[D H]

Too much scoring. To me an ideal game has a final score of 2-1. A score of 4-2 (and maybe more) means both teams were sloppy on defense.

 

[DennisN]

ouch

 

[DennisN]

magnificient save by the US goalkeeper! :thumbs:

 

[DennisN]

oooooooooo soooooo clooooooseeeeee! that should have been a US goal...US are closing in, I think.

 

[DennisN]

WHAT A GOAL!

 

[DennisN]

Simply amazing! :thumbs:

 

[D H]

No!

 

[micromass]

Very sad for the US.

 

[DennisN]

Gosh, that was a very tense match... US deserved to win IMO, Portugal was so lucky to score that last goal (but it wasn't a bad goal).

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I am heartbroken

 

[Matterwave]

I...I'm Crying...T__T That was ridiculous...

 

[DennisN]

US can still qualify. The last matches in this group will be thrilling.

 

[D H]

The last matches in this group will be thrilling.

I beg to differ. The last matches in group G will be very boring. I suspect that the Germany v USA game will make the 1982 Germany v Austria game look thrilling. Germany and US both advance with a tie. Why take chances of an attack that begets a counterattack?

 

[DennisN]

That would be dangerous I think. The games are played at the same time according to wiki. [STRIKE]If Ghana wins by 2-0 against Portugal, US will have to score[/STRIKE] (if I read the table correctly). EDIT: No, I was wrong. (I am tired, haha). You are correct, DH.

 

[D H]

Right now Germany and USA have four points each, Ghana and Portugal one point each. The maximum that Ghana or Portugal can get with a win is four points. The Ghana v Portugal game means nothing if Germany and USA tie because that will give both Germany and USA five points each. Tie breaker rules will make Germany #1, USA #2.

Germany wants the #1 spot, and the easiest way to lose that is with a loss to the US. Germany will be very happy with a tie. It guarantees them the #1 spot. USA wants to advance, and the easiest way not to do that is to lose to Germany. The USA will be happy with a tie. It guarantees them the #2 spot.

 

[Matterwave]

If this were a chess match, the USA and Germany would agree to a draw in like 6 moves.
BUT WE SHOULD HAVE ADVANCED TODAY! >_<

 

[jobyts]

Klinsman need to talk with the current German coach.

 

[cristo]

I beg to differ. The last matches in group G will be very boring. I suspect that the Germany v USA game will make the 1982 Germany v Austria game look thrilling. Germany and US both advance with a tie. Why take chances of an attack that begets a counterattack?

You think Klinsmann will play for a draw against Germany? That seems a pretty risky tactic with a defence that's a little shaky - concede a goal and then you're in trouble. Of course, part of my optimism is as a football fan, since I want to see as many exciting games as possible! That and the fact that Klinsmann said "Now we have to go out and beat Germany, that's what we have to do." Maybe he's trying to avoid 1982-type criticism, though.