World Cup Thread.

Mike the Brit said:

So which were your favourite games?

I agree about the Brazil-Mexico game. The games with the US, Germany, Ghana and Portugal were first-rate. And the more I think about the Van Persie header the more unbelievable it seems. I was also very impressed with Tim Cahill's goals for Australia. Were there some other excellent games that I missed or have forgotten?

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Germany vs Ghana, US vs Portugal, Netherlands vs Australia, Italy vs England, Uruguay vs England and Brasil vs Mexico were all very entertaining games. There were other good games but those were tops for me. Netherlands vs Spain and Chile vs Spain would have been there had the real Spain shown up for the tournament. They just looked cooked from the word go. Europe in general needs to shorten their domestic calendars. 20 team leagues is too much. Preferably I would have 16 team leagues. Will never happen though.

Major ********** said:

Germany vs Ghana, US vs Portugal, Netherlands vs Australia, Italy vs England, Uruguay vs England and Brasil vs Mexico were all very entertaining games. There were other good games but those were tops for me. Netherlands vs Spain and Chile vs Spain would have been there had the real Spain shown up for the tournament. They just looked cooked from the word go. Europe in general needs to shorten their domestic calendars. 20 team leagues is too much. Preferably I would have 16 team leagues. Will never happen though.

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Well, ditto that. We agree completely -- except that, as a (reluctant) England fan I can't say I enjoyed their games. I didn't see any Argentina games and only a wee bit of France. They're teams I'm looking forward to checking out in the next round (if the times fit).

Spain were, of course, the biggest disappointment. Lethargic, without passion or leadership. Was it tiredness? If so, I'd blame the Champions League, not the domestic competition -- Atletico and Real had the biggest game of the season on 24 May. But no one looked more out of it than Del Bosque. It's probably time for him to step down. Will the old Barcelona-Madrid schism re-surface when he's gone?

I've been incredibly impressed with how switched-on Roberto Martinez has been on the TV. His clubs in the UK couldn't speak too highly of him. He'd be my choice for a new coach, if Spain are looking.

Mike the Brit said:

Well, ditto that. We agree completely -- except that, as a (reluctant) England fan I can't say I enjoyed their games. I didn't see any Argentina games and only a wee bit of France. They're teams I'm looking forward to checking out in the next round (if the times fit).

Spain were, of course, the biggest disappointment. Lethargic, without passion or leadership. Was it tiredness? If so, I'd blame the Champions League, not the domestic competition -- Atletico and Real had the biggest game of the season on 24 May. But no one looked more out of it than Del Bosque. It's probably time for him to step down. Will the old Barcelona-Madrid schism re-surface when he's gone?

I've been incredibly impressed with how switched-on Roberto Martinez has been on the TV. His clubs in the UK couldn't speak too highly of him. He'd be my choice for a new coach, if Spain are looking.

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Martinez has been on TV here for every big international tournament since the last WC. He's awesome. As is Taylor Twellmen, and I've really liked listening to RVN and Steve McManaman.

Alexi Lalas i cant stand, but he knows his stuff. I think he's to concerned with being a personality.

AzorianPats said:

Martinez has been on TV here for every big international tournament since the last WC. He's awesome. As is Taylor Twellmen, and I've really liked listening to RVN and Steve McManaman.

Alexi Lalas i cant stand, but he knows his stuff. I think he's to concerned with being a personality.

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Agree about Twellman. Disagree about Lalas. He's fine -- close enough to the U.S. side to be able to put their viewpoint, but not just an uncritical homer. Stevie Mac has that I'm-a-cheeky-Scouser thing down pat, but he doesn't actually say anything that isn't obvious to anyone who is watching. Nor does Old Horseface add value.

The announcers who impressed me were the two Spanish guys who did the Mexico-Croatia game, Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moreno. I didn't know anything about them. Their English was good and they were knowledgeable and interesting -- as well as getting entertainingly worked up when something exciting happened.

Just got back from Brazil. Had a great time. Many travel issues due to the US having to travel the most miles out of any team. If you are a soccer fan I 100% recommend going to a World Cup what an experience. Time to unwind at home and ca't wait for Tuesday!

Patsrock said:

Just got back from Brazil. Had a great time. Many travel issues due to the US having to travel the most miles out of any team. If you are a soccer fan I 100% recommend going to a World Cup what an experience. Time to unwind at home and ca't wait for Tuesday!

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Reports, please!

Colômbia playing very very well even without Falcon Garcia their best player.

Chile-Brazil, Colombia-Uruguay.

Love the South Americans' skills, hate the way they play the game.

Ticky-tack fouling, no continuity, pantomiming, harassing the referee. In the case of Uruguay, real viciousness -- and the worse the foul the more they protested to the referee. If I'd have been refereeing, they'd have ended up with about 8 men. 50% of their fouls were bookable. So glad they're out of the tournament. In fairness, though, they absolutely ran the game in the second half.

But what goals from Colombia! The header back across the goal for the second was as amazing as the skill on the volley for the first.

JMC00 said:

But FIFA is well within their right it happened at their biggest competition. Also let's remember English FA is part of UEFA and UEFA is part of FIFA.

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I had missed this wrinkle. I was leaning the other way. Its both really. FA could choose not to ban, and then FIFA could choose not to allow them into that honeypot cash cow tournament, UEFA. Money always wins in such contests.

Ahhhhh.....Yeah Baby! Nothing like World Shlup Flopper!

TommyBrady12 said:

Belgium aren't that good.

Germany was better today, but US was not fresh. They had one day less rest than the Germans.

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Agree 100%, plus US also playing extremely safe. Knowing they advance is 80% likely, tie or even losing by 1 only.Then less likely each goal behind from there. And they probably knew they were spent 5 minutes into the game. So, I agree with the ugly looking but effective strategy. BB would be proud, and first to yell "Batten down the hatches, boys!"

shmessy said:

From here on, anyone who wants to talk about their dislike of soccer can start their own thread (we can call it Jurassic Park). But from now on, the obnoxious act of entering a thread to ***** and moan about the subject of that thread will be effectively blocked. Best wishes to the members of that generation and let's all wish them a nutritious lunch, a competent nurse and good luck with their hip replacements.

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Well done, thanks for keeping the thread on track Shmessy, couldn't agree more with your comments.

Mexico vs. The Netherlands. These two teams are diving more than a high school swim meet so far but it's something to watch.

TommyBrady12 said:

Belgium aren't that good.

Germany was better today, but US was not fresh. They had one day less rest than the Germans.

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Not really sure how you arrived at this conclusion, Belgium has been one of the best teams in the world over the past few years and are ranked fifth in the world rankings, additionally 12 of their players are currently playing in the English Premiere League and most of their team are playing in the best leagues in the world. Much as I love the US team the only players with any shot at playing for them are Dempsey and Howard and possibly Altidore and Bradley if he was playing his best, which he clearly isn't. The US can beat Belgium if they play an exceptional game but it would be a big upset.


That said one of the biggest issues for the US going forward is the schism between Klinsmann and the MLS, Klinsmann wants his players to get seasoned by playing the best players and against the best teams in the world and the MLS wants them here to improve the overall quality of the MLS. Imo the MLS is still too far away from being a world class league to really prepare their players for the demands of a World Cup, and as much as I want the MLS to succeed the track record is pretty clear, the best US players are better off playing abroad and probably will be for another decade at a minimum.

KontradictioN said:

Mexico vs. The Netherlands. These two teams are diving more than a high school swim meet so far but it's something to watch.

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Never saw myself rooting for Mexico but I dislike the Netherlands team so much i can't help myself. They have been on better behavior in this tournament but overall they are a really dirty team and I cannot stand Robben, who is the ultimate me player. Van Persie however is a great player, and overall they are a really talented team. Mexico has really turned it around after a horrible 2013 that left them dependent upon the US to even get into the tournament.

SB39 said:

I read article after article calling this the biggest game in US Soccer History. (which led me to believe I am the only one in the country aware they made the round of 8 last decade, but I digress).

So the US goes out and plays well but loses the biggest game in US Soccer History.

And right now all the American fans are cheering and celebrating.

BECAUSE FUTBOL!!!

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US fans are celebrating because while Spain, England, Italy and other top programs are on their way home the US made it out of the toughest grouping in the World Cup despite missing their top striker and against overwhelming odds that said they couldn't do it. Just because you can't understand it that does not mean it is not a significant accomplishment. Maybe you should just stick to something really exciting, like baseball...........................

Dos Santos, awesome goal, too nice the dutch are on the ropes.

KontradictioN said:

Mexico vs. The Netherlands. These two teams are diving more than a high school swim meet so far but it's something to watch.

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Don't know if you watched the games yesterday, but this has been a very fair game compared with them. Unfortunately, the game is being played in temperatures that should never have been permitted. You'll never get a fast, flowing match like that. I blame FIFA (as with most things).

Mike the Brit said:

Don't know if you watched the games yesterday, but this has been a very fair game compared with them. Unfortunately, the game is being played in temperatures that should never have been permitted. You'll never get a fast, flowing match like that. I blame FIFA (as with most things).

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I think the only answer to this is to permanently station the World Cup in Maine, where the weather is perfect and the people friendly.

There is going to be a big chunk of stoppage time for Mexico to deal with, we'll see, should be a great finish although the heat is certainly taking its toll.