FIFA World Cup: South Africa 2010

[shadowgrin]

Mexican can!

[Murat]

Not even surprised that we lost 0-2 against the Mexicans. Stupid retard of a coach and his stupid ass selection of overpaid douchebags. Pathetic...

Losing Senegal and going home. Did French people remembered something?

[Axel The Great]

I think the French are forming a pattern, getting far in the WC in 1998 (and winning), then choking in the first round in '02. Then, getting to the Finals in '06, and now choking again in 2010. Expect to see France in the Finals in 2014.

[kibaxx7]

The 3 games today were incredible...

First, Germany - Serbia... Germany's Klose is sent off and Serbia wins on a penalty after the Germans won 4-0 last match... then Slovenia - USA... Slovenia gets 2-0, USA ties it 2-2 and then USA gets a legitimate goal disallowed in additional time... and now England-Algeria, a scoreless match!

[el badman]

I think the French are forming a pattern, getting far in the WC in 1998 (and winning), then choking in the first round in '02. Then, getting to the Finals in '06, and now choking again in 2010. Expect to see France in the Finals in 2014.

I thought of that too. One can only hope I guess.

First, Germany - Serbia... Germany's Klose is sent off and Serbia wins on a penalty after the Germans won 4-0 last match... then Slovenia - USA... Slovenia gets 2-0, USA ties it 2-2 and then USA gets a legitimate goal disallowed in additional time... and now England-Algeria, a scoreless match!

I don't know what's going on this year, but there are certainly lots of unexpected results so far. I guess it's a nice change, rather than having the usual suspects crush weaker teams.

[Axel The Great]

Yes, hopefully someone other than the 7 former WC winners will win it this year.

[Phil89]

I hope that it will be Spain

[NovU]

[color=#3D5C74][b]The 3 games today were incredible...

Indeed. I start to wonder what more surprises this year's world cup has for us.

[shadowgrin]

I hope that it will be Spain

Spain will choke again. Always have always will.

[Phil89]

Like they did at Euro 2008?

They have the best squad in the Tournament. Dismissing their chances based on previous tournaments is foolish.
This current squad has a much better temperament than previous squads. There is no division between Barcelona and Real Madrid players for instance.
They are all working towards the same goal. They have a winning attitude.
The loss against Switzerland was only their 2nd loss in 49 games over the last 3 years. Out of those 49 they've won 44, drawn 3 and lost 2.
Spain dominated the Switzerland game in terms of possession and shots on goal. They did everything possible but just couldn't buy a goal.
The Swiss goal was just a route 1 long ball from the goalkeeper that the Spain defenders messed up.
It was really obvious that Torres is missing match fitness as he would have put away the couple of chances he had 9 times out of 10 normally.

They will no doubt bounce back against Honduras.

[shadowgrin]

I'm basing it in their history (of choking or being overhyped if you want to see it in another perspective ), since when was the last time Spain finished among the top 4 in the World Cup, even consider the last time they became champions of any tournament and had a successful World Cup also?

Looking at their streak, I'm drawing the line on 2008 since a lot can change in 3 years (2007), and wow, they certainly dominated football powerhouses in friendly matches. In Euro 2008, Germany is the only one worth taking notice as 'proof' of Spain's strength, I ignore the penalty win against Italy (meh).
Those are just the European teams and a few others. Outside of Argentina (friendly), they haven't faced any Americans during their winning run.

I'm still not convinced of their 'awesomeness'.

They are all working towards the same goal. They have a winning attitude.

So do the other teams in the World Cup. Everybody wants to win, that's the goal of all the teams. Same goal and winning attitude right there so what's the difference of Spain from the others?

[Phil89]

The difference is what I already stated. They have been virtually unbeatable for 3 years.
You can't judge the current group of players by what their countrymen achieved (or should I say failed to achieve) before them.
That's like saying Chicago should be winning NBA Championships because they did so in the 90's. This is a totally different team.

Look at England, lots of world class players but they can't find a way of getting them to all work together effectively.
The Spanish on the other hand do play very well together. Their ability to retain possession is second to none.

They put to rest the 'chokers' tag after winning Euro 2008. They beat a team that had been World Cup Semi Finalists just 2 years earlier.

Looking at their streak, I'm drawing the line on 2008 since a lot can change in 3 years (2007), and wow, they certainly dominated football powerhouses in friendly matches. In Euro 2008, Germany is the only one worth taking notice as 'proof' of Spain's strength, I ignore the penalty win against Italy (meh).
Those are just the European teams and a few others.

They beat England twice, France, Germany and Italy. Hardly easy beats. Just because they are 'friendly' matches, doesn't mean the teams aren't trying to win.

Outside of Argentina (friendly), they haven't faced any Americans during their winning run.

They beat Chile 3-0. Chile finished 2nd in the South American Qualifiers behind only Brazil.

South American teams aren't really the strongest in the world. Of the top 10 ranked teams only 2 are South American (Brazil are 1st and Argentina are 7th.). The other 8 are Europeans.

On the way to this World Cup Spain won all 10 of their qualifying games.
They were ranked 1st in the world on two occasions in the last 2 years. Do you get there by not being the best?

Watch them play against Honduras and you will see how good they are. Honduras were lucky to only concede 1 goal against Chile, so Spain should really tear them apart.

[shadowgrin]

They beat England twice, France, Germany and Italy. Hardly easy beats. Just because they are 'friendly' matches, doesn't mean the teams aren't trying to win.

In any sporting competition people always want to win whether it's an actual tournament, a pickup game, one-on-one, or practice even though the results may have no significant bearing. Even if it's a friendly, any side still wants to win but the point is it's still a friendly match. People don't kill each other for a friendly.

They beat Chile 3-0. Chile finished 2nd in the South American Qualifiers behind only Brazil.
South American teams aren't really the strongest in the world. Of the top 10 ranked teams only 2 are South American (Brazil are 1st and Argentina are 7th.). The other 8 are Europeans.

On the way to this World Cup Spain won all 10 of their qualifying games.

I must've overlooked Chile.
They won 10 straight games, against which teams? The winning margins may be impressive but the quality of those 10 opponents doesn't exactly scream of domination by Spain.
Sure, they are the best in Europe but outside of friendlies how many of those 8 European teams did they defeat.
Germany, Italy, and let's include Russia (top 11) too. You still have six teams that are quite capable of defeating Spain, and the three they managed to defeat are also capable.

They were ranked 1st in the world on two occasions in the last 2 years. Do you get there by not being the best?

Rankings mean nothing until you win what you're supposed to win. Just ask the 2008-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Watch them play against Honduras and you will see how good they are. Honduras were lucky to only concede 1 goal against Chile, so Spain should really tear them apart.

My basis for forming how good they are is against a match with Honduras? Ok.

They put to rest the 'chokers' tag after winning Euro 2008.

No they haven't, for me anyway. Quote me after the World Cup.


If this is Euro Cup again I may have to agree with you, but it's not. It's the World Cup, where even a shitty team out of nowhere can throw a monkey wrench in any countries plans.

[J@3]

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

[NovU]

1:1 isn't that bad. But definitely needs more offense...

[Drex]

I must've overlooked Chile.

Don't you dare overlook Chile again, bitch

[Axel The Great]

Spain will choke again. Always have always will.

Like the Dallas Mavericks?

Watch them play against Honduras and you will see how good they are. Honduras were lucky to only concede 1 goal against Chile, so Spain should really tear them apart.

Honduras? Any of the 31 other teams in the WC can tear them apart. Their goal was only to make the WC again, and they got what they wanted. All they want to do now is to just pound away at any team they face in the WC.

[Phil89]

No they haven't, for me anyway. Quote me after the World Cup.

Maybe it will be Spain vs Brazil in the last 16 and we won't have to argue on the interwebz about it.
But I'd much rather see them both top their groups and eventually meet in the Final.

As for last night, I'm gutted for the team. They played so well but had to play against 12.
The Italians and the referee ruined our last World Cup. This time they combined forces and got an Italian referee to do it.

[NovU]

Seems like flopping and officiating is at its worst in soccer. NBA is quite nothing compared to flopping/officiating dictating the flow of the game in the world cup.

[Phil89]

New Zealand leading Italy after 7 minutes!

[Phil89]

Typical.

[The X]

Typical.

I hated Italian divers 4 years ago, I still hate them. 1-1 at half time, so still within the realm of possibility, although Italy look likely to put another 2 or 3 on board the way they are playing.

Although Italy didn't really deserve their goal, it looks like ours was an off-side too, so I guess it evens itself out. In real time it didn't look like an off-side so I can see why the touch judge missed it as he must not have seen Reid's ever so slight touch. Either way the Italians didn't defend the set piece that well.

[J@3]

Although Italy didn't really deserve their goal, it looks like ours was an off-side too, so I guess it evens itself out.

That's kinda how I saw it too. No real difference between 0-0 and 1-1 anyway. I'm sure Italy will pull something out of their ass to win the game though.

[Phil89]

The penalty was soft in my opinion. I've seen players holding shirts in every match of this World Cup so far.
I want New Zealand to beat the divers

[J@3]

Has New Zealand touched the ball in the second half?