World Cup Thread

[Mike the Brit]

BBC News - A German view on English football

Yeah, no doubt!

Germany has become a lot more relaxed about nationalism and football in the last few years, but there's still (rightly!) a fair bit of anxiety about thousands of people marching down the street chanting "Deutschland! Deutschland!"

And maybe the Germans themselves only get really passionate about beating the Dutch, but, believe me, the Dutch, the Belgians, the Danes, the Norwegians, the Czechs, the Hungarians, the French (and probably a few I've left out) want to beat the Germans above anyone else.

Still, I was back in the U.K. last weekend and had to endure the commentary by Terry Venables and Clive Tyldesley (sp.?) on the England-Algeria game. It started off with such huge nationalistic bias that denied the slightest ability to these weird foreigners from a joke country that it wasn't surprising that, as soon as it became clear that England weren't going to brush them aside 5-0, they switched to calling the coach a plonker.

I'd (to quote) "absolutely love it" if Capello would show Venables what was what.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

(Though I promise you, if the Krauts win on Sunday I am staying home with the duvet over my head!)

I want pictures posted on Monday!!!!!!!
Germany 3 England 0

 

[Ciara's Dad]

And maybe the Germans themselves only get really passionate about beating the Dutch, but, believe me, the Dutch, the Belgians, the Danes, the Norwegians, the Czechs, the Hungarians, the French (and probably a few I've left out) want to beat the Germans above anyone else.

One of the nations you left out was Poland. I work with quite a few of them, and they hate the Germans with a passion.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Dang right, and it only looks to get better! I just hope the officiating gets better...

Hopefully we'll see more serious refs in the later stages. I'd agree, some of it has been a joke.

BBC News - A German view on English football

Taking too much notice of the media. The British media is harsh, they can bite chunks and drive knives deeper than any other. The rag he name drops is more than capable of naive and stupid headlines that hurt alot of people where I'm from.

The English still love to snot you, mind...

As I type one nil Spain, keeper went on a mission and left a wide open goal from Villa to aim at.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

It amazes me Chris Coleman has managed proffesional football and he's seemed to forget his playing days. It's called persistant fouling Chris and he's lucky he never went before, he also meant it (no matter if he's looking away or not, he knows where Torres is) incase you've forgot all the little tricks you used to learn and get on the pitch.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

I'd be surpirsed if Del Bosque doesn't take off either Torres or Villa, and sticks on Pedro to run amok down the right.

I hope Chile go through rather than the Swiss.

 

[Mike the Brit]

One of the nations you left out was Poland. I work with quite a few of them, and they hate the Germans with a passion.

Most definitely -- though it's a toss-up whether they don't hate the Russkies more. That's Polish history for you!

 

[Mike the Brit]

Just ten minutes in to the Uruguay-South Korea game and we've already got a goal.

I switched on to see Korea put a perfect free kick against the post, then just a few minutes later Forlan chases a ball wide on the left with no defender near him, puts it across the face of the goal with five white shirts standing around doing nothing in particular and the lone Uruguayan comes in from the right wing and pops it in, no bother.

What was it, two against five? Six? That would have been joke defending in League One.

(Does anyone else remember how terrible Forlan was when he played in England? Arguably, he's been the second-best player in the tournament.)

It's nice to be a complete neutral!

 

[Mike the Brit]

OK. Uruguay 2:1 South Korea. Good game. (Why are so many games in rainstorms so watchable?)

Game was well refereed by the German who did England-Slovenia. The Uruguayans defended hard and there was a lot of contact, but the referee gave the players a clear line and knew the difference between fair and foul, accidental and deliberate. The bookings were quite correct.

The Koreans came back well but the goal that won it for Uruguay was well worth the prize. But the Koreans can go home with pride. They played hard, came in second but took defeat like men -- without all that disgraceful self-pitying blubbing that the Italians gave us.

 

[Boston Boxer]

Hopefully we'll see more serious refs in the later stages. I'd agree, some of it has been a joke.



Taking too much notice of the media. The British media is harsh, they can bite chunks and drive knives deeper than any other. The rag he name drops is more than capable of naive and stupid headlines that hurt alot of people where I'm from.

The English still love to snot you, mind...

As I type one nil Spain, keeper went on a mission and left a wide open goal from Villa to aim at.

the ref assigned to the Uraguay (sp?) v. S. Korea was pretty good this morning. couple of yellows that where deserved, but for the most part, he let the boys play

 

[Patriot Missile]

The flopping has been terrible. I'm a little tired of guys falling down barely touched waiting on the ground for a call like the just got their leg severed from their body. And then all of a sudden here comes the orange stretcher and bamm!@, they get right up and run to go play their postion like nothing ever happened.

I see where Gasol get's his moves from now.

 

[IcyPatriot]

:stars2: OUCH :stars2:

​

 

[Mike the Brit]

8 minutes in to the USA-Ghana game and it's 1:0 Ghana. The Ghanaians have been *very* impressive so far -- the first African team I've seen this WC who have really played with tempo. They've certainly got the skill, strength and pace and, at present, the U.S. are completely outclassed. Nice goal too. But the U.S. will keep going.

(Eccch ... just seen a reaction shot of Bill Clinton sitting next to ... Mick Jagger.)

 

[IcyPatriot]

8 minutes in to the USA-Ghana game and it's 1:0 Ghana. The Ghanaians have been *very* impressive so far -- the first African team I've seen this WC who have really played with tempo. They've certainly got the skill, strength and pace and, at present, the U.S. are completely outclassed. Nice goal too. But the U.S. will keep going.

(Eccch ... just seen a reaction shot of Bill Clinton sitting next to ... Mick Jagger.)

yes to the 1st part ... they are impressive.

As to Clinton / Jagger ... well they do share the love of something else not called soccer.

 

[Mike the Brit]

USA 1:2 Ghana (after extra time).

Great game. Congratulations to the Ghanaians and commiserations to the U.S. Both sides were dead on their feet at the end -- that's how a great game should be played.

The U.S. pushed and fought all the way and had their chances -- my goodness, they had their chances! But those were two fine goals that the Ghanaians scored.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

I've said previously I like the Ghana side, they just need more ideas and more urgency up top. You also have to remember this is a Ghana without Essien, a fully fit Appiah nor an in form Muntari. Thats a powerfull midfield when they're all together.

Unlucky USA, they battled but it wasn't to be. I have to say Dempsey's acting tonight was terrible and if Altidore could finish you'd have a good forward there. He's rather like a Heskey clone at the moment, plenty of pace, energy and power but has a breeze block for a foot.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I've said previously I like the Ghana side, they just need more ideas and more urgency up top. You also have to remember this is a Ghana without Essien, a fully fit Appiah nor an in form Muntari. Thats a powerfull midfield when they're all together.

Unlucky USA, they battled but it wasn't to be. I have to say Dempsey's acting tonight was terrible and if Altidore could finish you'd have a good forward there. He's rather like a Heskey clone at the moment, plenty of pace, energy and power but has a breeze block for a foot.

USA 1:2 Ghana (after extra time).

Great game. Congratulations to the Ghanaians and commiserations to the U.S. Both sides were dead on their feet at the end -- that's how a great game should be played.

The U.S. pushed and fought all the way and had their chances -- my goodness, they had their chances! But those were two fine goals that the Ghanaians scored.

Good posts there and I agree the Ghana side played a very good game.

I was impressed with their strategy of clogging the midfield and pulling 8 / 9 players back on defense. It was a strategy that might seem conservative to the casual observer. However, our squad's weakest point was our right back and that has had me nervous since game 1.

In that we use Donavan so much to carry the play he is often unavailable to help out defensively on the right side. Ghana gambled that they could get a few counters on that side ... and they were right.

Also ... we attacked so much he had little energy at times to get back and help out. Our defenders are just a tad short in the speed department and Ghana knew it.

We made the top 16 and not the top 8 ... which is right about where we belong right now. Hopefully we have some kids out there to help us get to top 10 in the world level play.

Congratulations to the players and coach Bradley ... they gave their very best.

Now that the
USA is out I say go

​

 

[Nikolai]

The Ghanaians played well, and the better side won today. We should have started Edu.

Now, I'll be pulling for ze Germans (sorry to our English participants). After all, I am a Bundesliga fan!

 

[Mike the Brit]

The Ghanaians played well, and the better side won today. We should have started Edu.

Now, I'll be pulling for ze Germans (sorry to our English participants). After all, I am a Bundesliga fan!

I thought all you Yanks would be cheering for England now!

Well, no worries. Actually, it isn't the folks who don't root for England that get me so much as some of those that do.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I have to say Dempsey's acting tonight was terrible.

As a neutral, I have to say that I thought the same thing. I didn't watch replays of the penalty incident but it looked pretty dodgy to me.

Kevin Prince Boateng was immense while he was on the field. I've no idea what position he was supposed to be playing -- he was just everywhere. And he scored a great goal.