FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa

[Glaucus]

Well, it would be a shame for us not to have such a thread, so I took it upon myself to create one. First game of the tournament is now over (CBC is showing every game on the TV and over the net in spectacular quality - boy is my productivity gonna go down these next two weeks). So I watched the tail end of SA vs Mexico. Very exciting and was impressed with South Africa, who were the first to score in the tournament and ended up getting a point for the game (tied 1-1). Uruguay plays France later today and that should be good to watch (unless of course you're Irish, but we won't go there ).

Anyway, I have to wake up at 6am on a Saturday to watch Greece play South Korea. Keeping fingers crossed...

 

[Robert]

I have to say, I've been extremely underwhelmed by the quality of the fitba' in the first two games.

I'm confident it'll improve though - it has to.

I'll have to record the USA v England match (I'll probably cheer on America in that one) tomorrow as I'm double booked - going to see the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
I should get to watch the other two games live though. Hopefully there'll be some decent stuff on display.

 

[Robert]

Good luck today, Mike!

I'm just heading over to my Dad's to watch this afternoon's two games.

 

[Robert]

Much better games today. (admittedly not from a Greek point of view.)

 

[Glaucus]

Much better games today. (admittedly not from a Greek point of view.)

What an embarrassment. Korea played well, as did Argentina and Nigeria. Greece sucked. Terrible. They should just go home now.

 

[Robert]

What about that German performance? Outstanding.

 

[Glaucus]

What about that German performance? Outstanding.

Ya, now I don't feel so bad about Greece losing 2-0. Well, no, I still do... But ya, Germany was very strong. Argentina is still one of the nicer teams I've seen so far, can't wait for their matchup with Greece! That'll be fun! :axe:

What did you think o USA vs England? I think the US is very lucky.

 

[Robert]

Well, the USA definitely benefited from a ridiculous goalkeeping howler. And after years of listening to English commentators slagging Scottish goalkeepers I did indulge in some Shadenfreud - it gets funnier every time I see it.

That said, I didn't think they were that lucky. They had a fair amount of the play and mostly held their own, although I was surprised by England. I watched a lot of England's qualifying games and they looked a much better team than what you saw against the USA.

 

[Glaucus]

Wow, what a tournament. Brazil was amazing, but most impressive was N Korea's defense. Still, Brazil still managed to make seemingly impossible plays to win the game.

But what happened to Spain? I wasn't able to watch the game, but the final score was a bit surprising, perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament so far. Spain is now in dead last spot without a goal, much like Greece. Wow. I still think Spain has a chance, but it'll take divine intervention for Greece to get through. Hmmm... Maybe I need to sacrifice a goat to the gods to win their favor. Hope my neighbors cat will do...

 

[Glaucus]

GREECE WINS!!!! 2-1 over Nigeria!!! We needed that. What a relief. Damn. Now I can do some work. :hammer:

 

[Robert]

Congratulations Mike!

At least you have a dug in the race. :-(

I'm just watching Slovenia v USA at the minute. Landon Donovan just scored an absolute beauty to bring the US back into the game. 2-1 to Slovenia with 40 minutes to go.

As soon as this finishes I'm off out for a game of fitba' myself.
I think I'll struggle as it's warm here today and I haven't played in months. At my age that's a recipe for lots of wheezing.

 

[Robert]

Ah - a Rangers (my team) player, Maurice Edu, has just come on for USA.

Now I kind-of have a dug in the race too.

Go USA! Go USA! Go USA!



-EDIT-
I like those "We are the Yanks" scarves.
Commentator just mentioned that the USA have been the best supported team at the WC so far.

 

[Robert]

USA equalise! 2-2 with 10 minutes left.


-EDIT-

Mo. Edu scores but the ref disallows it! Bassa!


-EDIT-

2-2 it finishes; great comeback from the Sates but they will feel quite aggrieved not to have won 3-2 - terrible decision from the referee. Nothing wrong with Edu's goal.

 

[Glaucus]

Wow. I didn't watch this game as I'm at work (watched Greece yesterday, don't wanna push my luck :mrgreen: ) but I may watch it later when I get home. Quite the comeback and there wasn't even a red card involved in this game (reference to Serbia's win over Germany, and of course Greece over Nigeria). I too am rooting for the USA, if for no other reason then to encourage Americans to take more interest in the sports. Americans are only interested in sports they're good at (which explains why they don't watch hockey :twisted: ) so maybe if they make it to the final 16 the sport will gain some interest in the US. But aside from that, they do have a strong team and do have potential.

Did you watch Germany flub it with Serbia? I only watched the last 40 minutes or so, but Germany just didn't show up. How did they miss that penalty kick? They Germans are the best at penalty kicks. the German coach was livid.

Not surprised about France. Mexico has a great team, but France is just not what it was. The team needs an overhaul or something.

 

[Robert]

I too am rooting for the USA, if for no other reason then to encourage Americans to take more interest in the sports. Americans are only interested in sports they're good at (which explains why they don't watch hockey :twisted: ) so maybe if they make it to the final 16 the sport will gain some interest in the US.

There might be something in that. I've always had a soft spot for the US fitba' team, partly because they're usually the underdog, partly because I like the colours and (more recently) partly because there have been various US national players turning out for my favourite club side.

But aside from that, they do have a strong team and do have potential.

Indeed but nowhere near good enough to win the WC.

Did you watch Germany flub it with Serbia?

Unfortunately I was at work.

Not surprised about France. Mexico has a great team, but France is just not what it was. The team needs an overhaul or something.

Their manager isn't liked by the players, which strikes me as the main problem as they still have a group of excellent individuals.

 

[Robert]

And this level of self satisfied smugness is just one of the reasons why Scottish people generally indulge in Shadenfreude when England fall flat on their collective face at football:

 

[Robert]

This Cameroon v Denmark match is probably the best game I've seen so far.

End to end stuff.

2-1 to Denmark just now.

Twelve minutes to go and if Cameroon don't score, they're out of the World Cup.

 

[Glaucus]

Quite the world cup we have here. The defending world champions are facing early elimination (and an embarrassing performance against New Zealand) while the world cup contenders from 4 years ago pretty much imploded - France will be lucky to score a goal at this rate. In fact, all European teams look shaky this year and I'd be surprised if the WC stays in Europe. I'm thinking Brazil or Argentina will take the cup home this time.

Also heard rumors North Koreans defected (probably won't know how true that is until after the tournament). Also it was reported that North Korea decided to broadcast the Portugal game live (something it apparently doesn't do) and probably reminded themselves why they never broadcast national team games live (they got trounced 7-0). I just hope the players don't get punished for it.

And tomorrow Greece will give Argentina a few lessons on futbol. :roflmao:

 

[Robert]

the world cup contenders from 4 years ago pretty much imploded - France will be lucky to score a goal at this rate.

It's cringeworthy to watch them implode the way they are doing now. Great players. Terrible attitude.

In fact, all European teams look shaky this year and I'd be surprised if the WC stays in Europe. I'm thinking Brazil or Argentina will take the cup home this time.

I'd probably go along with that but it's still to early to say for me.

Also heard rumors North Koreans defected (probably won't know how true that is until after the tournament). Also it was reported that North Korea decided to broadcast the Portugal game live (something it apparently doesn't do) and probably reminded themselves why they never broadcast national team games live (they got trounced 7-0). I just hope the players don't get punished for it.

There's a really interesting article on the NK campaign here:

The small ex-pat community here in Pyongyang are, thankfully, able to catch this year’s games live on satellite television. The Korean proletariat aren’t quite so fortunate, but the event has received more coverage in the Korean media than your humble correspondent had anticipated and, contrary to some expectation in the UK and elsewhere, the brief match report from the DPRK’s loss to Brazil was very honest.

The rest of it is worth a read too. Quite revealing.

And tomorrow Greece will give Argentina a few lessons on futbol. :roflmao:

Hahaha. I'll be rooting for you, mate!

The one chink of light for Greece is that Argentina can afford to take their collective foot off the gas.
That could also go the other way though - they may relax and turn on the style.

 

[Glaucus]

The one chink of light for Greece is that Argentina can afford to take their collective foot off the gas.
That could also go the other way though - they may relax and turn on the style.

Well, I also heard Argentina will give Teves a rest and possibly others, although Maradona insists that Messi will play as it would be a sin to deny the world to watch the world's greatest player. Can't argue with that. Still, Argentina may take it easy on Greece and if Greece can sneak in a tie, we have a real chance of getting through. I'm curious to see who will start for Greece. I'm hoping to see Ninis start as he's young, fast and very talented but the coach seems to favor older experienced players. He put him in late against Nigeria and he played well, I'm hoping hell be a star for the team.