World Cup '10

[BelgradeBobcat]

Holland vs. Brazil...do the Dutch have a chance? It's looking pretty scarey to me.

[longhorn_22]

A lot of people have the Netherlands being a contender.

[chester Spartanpot]

Holland vs. Brazil...do the Dutch have a chance? It's looking pretty scarey to me.

A lot of people have the Netherlands being a contender.

The dutch are very good and it looks like Robben is back to full health. Combine him with Kuyt and Sneijder and you have a great attack. Sure they have a chance against brazil, but the problem with the dutch is their history. They and (until euro '08) Spain were always known as great sides who always underachieved on the big stage. Chester sees a 2-1 brazil result, but he will be cheering the Oranje!!

[cat_stache_fever]

i'm not sure if i'd describe what's happening in a soccer match as "action". i'm no soccer buff, but it seems to me they spend the entire game either working the ball BACK, OR faking injuries. this is a game that can be mastered by 4th graders. what's the fun in "playing for a tie"?

i'm just glad we don't have to pretend to be interested anymore.

here's a cavalier idea: stop the clock when a player is "hurt".

for the record, i would watch a meaningless padres-marlins game before the world cup final. hell, i might even take in an NBA game before futbol.

no kidding... never in american football will a team not try for a touchdown late in the game and down by three because all they need is to kick a field goal to TIE and get into overtime. and then when they get into that overtime, a flip of a coin determines the winner about 75% of the time.

in regards to working the ball back... all teams are trying to do is get organized and set up their offense for an attack. american football, the players huddle to get organized. when they work the ball around, its not much different than calling a running play up the middle... in both sports the offensive team is trying to get closer to the goal with not much risk of a turnover/ counter-attack... if the defense screws up... a scoring chance is possible.

about 4th graders... go to the school yard and watch them play american football and then watch them play soccer. 4th grade american football looks more like the pros than soccer does. 4th graders can huddle, run the ball, tackle and are somewhat organized. most 4th grade soccer games is nothing more than 5 kids just trying to kick a ball at the same time in no particular direction

during the World Cup group stage (the 1st two weeks)... the play is as you mentioned (boring) because the teams need to get points. therefore a tie and 1 point is valuable to get into the the knockout stage (where we are now). Italy won the world cup back in '82 by tying all 3 of their group stage games then opened it up during the knockouts. Some teams even now in the knockout rounds will try to play for a tie to get to Penalty Kicks... this is going to happen with the Paraguay / Spain match. Spain is way better than paraguay and paraguays only real chance of beating spain is to get the match into penalty kicks... so they are going to drop back and play defense and try to hold off spain. Kind of like in football when a team is outmatched... they try all those in-bound running plays to keep the clock moving and keep the other team from getting the ball. or basketball teams that are outmatched holding the ball until the end of the shot-clock to shorten the game in increase their odds of winner.

(if you actually wanted to see "exciting" soccer matches, you really have to watch the club games in europe... its way better than the world cup)

in the american football "situation" you described, you're implying there had already been at least SOME scoring

you're right about the first round games; AWFUL!!! if FIFA is really serious about getting americans on board they should consider adopting the same rules as the "knockout" round for the 1st round. they lost me in the first round. i wouuld imagine i'm not the only one!

better idea: adopt hockey rules , or at least alter the "ra-tarded" offsides rule. it rewards a defender for playing poor defense, as i understand the rule.

[chester Spartanpot]

in the american football "situation" you described, you're implying there had already been at least SOME scoring

you're right about the first round games; AWFUL!!! if FIFA is really serious about getting americans on board they should consider adopting the same rules as the "knockout" round for the 1st round. they lost me in the first round. i wouuld imagine i'm not the only one!

better idea: adopt hockey rules , or at least alter the "ra-tarded" offsides rule. it rewards a defender for playing poor defense, as i understand the rule.

well Germany - England was 4-1 which equals 28-7 in fubol american (and a goal by lampard for england, touchdown, wasn't called so it should have been 28-14). Portugal - North Korea was 7-0 or in fubol american... 49-0. Thats close to the score of MSU - MSU last year

FIFA is worse than the NHL with Bettman. the organization is corrupt from the top down and stuck with their heads in the sand. they really don't care / don't need the US market per say (sp?). And they are going to be damned (real quote) if they "westernized" the game. FIFA is even worse than the IOC.

The group stage of the World Cup, European Championship and all of the World Cup qualifying competitions are set up in this way and thats not going to change. Its just the way it is. Soccer won't catch on in this country mainly (chesters opinion) because the MLS is like watching single-A baseball. The top players (and action, etc...) are playing in England, Italy and Spain. For example... Inter-Milan won the title in Italy's top league (SerieA) and the Champions League in Europe... on their roster are five Brazilian and four Argentinian internationals. The Premiership in England is cluttered with the best Africans and scattered with other Euros and South Americans. A bunch of no-names play in the MLS and therefore nobody cares. Chester couldn't name you 6 players in that league... snoozefest.

U.S players Howard, Donovan, Altidore, Demerit and i think one other play their club soccer in England. The defender with the weird name plays for AC Milan in Italy. so even the best US players are off overseas. Contrast that to MLB, NHL and NBA were all the best players in the world come here to play. NFL tried that World League or whatever in europe and that bombed for the same reasons.

Something that Chester would love, for at least Baseball, to adopt from Soccer is relegation. In all the levels of play in soccer (MLS excluded)... the teams that finish in the last 3 or 4 spots in the league are relegated to the division below them and the top 3 or 4 teams in that lower division are promoted for the next year. It would be like the Royals, Pirates and Nationals from last year would be playing AAA ball this year... and whatever the top 3 teams from AAA ball from last year (lets say Pawtucket, Toledo and Scranton) would get moved up to the Majors this year. therefore all the teams, even the worst, have something to play for until the end.

[cat_stache_fever]

in the american football "situation" you described, you're implying there had already been at least SOME scoring

you're right about the first round games; AWFUL!!! if FIFA is really serious about getting americans on board they should consider adopting the same rules as the "knockout" round for the 1st round. they lost me in the first round. i wouuld imagine i'm not the only one!

better idea: adopt hockey rules , or at least alter the "ra-tarded" offsides rule. it rewards a defender for playing poor defense, as i understand the rule.

well Germany - England was 4-1 which equals 28-7 in fubol american (and a goal by lampard for england, touchdown, wasn't called so it should have been 28-14). Portugal - North Korea was 7-0 or in fubol american... 49-0. Thats close to the score of MSU - MSU last year

FIFA is worse than the NHL with Bettman. the organization is corrupt from the top down and stuck with their heads in the sand. they really don't care / don't need the US market per say (sp?). And they are going to be damned (real quote) if they "westernized" the game. FIFA is even worse than the IOC.

The group stage of the World Cup, European Championship and all of the World Cup qualifying competitions are set up in this way and thats not going to change. Its just the way it is. Soccer won't catch on in this country mainly (chesters opinion) because the MLS is like watching single-A baseball. The top players (and action, etc...) are playing in England, Italy and Spain. For example... Inter-Milan won the title in Italy's top league (SerieA) and the Champions League in Europe... on their roster are five Brazilian and four Argentinian internationals. The Premiership in England is cluttered with the best Africans and scattered with other Euros and South Americans. A bunch of no-names play in the MLS and therefore nobody cares. Chester couldn't name you 6 players in that league... snoozefest.

U.S players Howard, Donovan, Altidore, Demerit and i think one other play their club soccer in England. The defender with the weird name plays for AC Milan in Italy. so even the best US players are off overseas. Contrast that to MLB, NHL and NBA were all the best players in the world come here to play. NFL tried that World League or whatever in europe and that bombed for the same reasons.

Something that Chester would love, for at least Baseball, to adopt from Soccer is relegation. In all the levels of play in soccer (MLS excluded)... the teams that finish in the last 3 or 4 spots in the league are relegated to the division below them and the top 3 or 4 teams in that lower division are promoted for the next year. It would be like the Royals, Pirates and Nationals from last year would be playing AAA ball this year... and whatever the top 3 teams from AAA ball from last year (lets say Pawtucket, Toledo and Scranton) would get moved up to the Majors this year. therefore all the teams, even the worst, have something to play for until the end.

YES!!! you just reminded me of one of the things i actually like about futbol!! it would be fun to see in ALL western sports leagues. unfortunately, for me, my favorite NFL team(a team formally known as the oakland raiders) would be playing AAA this year

wouldn't that be an awesome standard for college football!!! ditch the BCS and start letting teams like UM and BSU play the big boys.

sh-yeah, when monkeys fly outta my butt!!

[BelgradeBobcat]

if FIFA is really serious about getting americans on board they should consider adopting the same rules as the "knockout" round for the 1st round.

I think FIFA would be happy to have more Americans on board...but they don't need Americans...and they sure as heck aren't going to completely change the game just for Americans.

When MLS started in 1996, they implemented a countdown clock that stopped for injuries and when it struck zero the game was over no matter if a team was attacking or not. They also had a hockey style shootout as a tie breaker where the shooter could dribble the ball and shoot on goal. There was never a 0-0 tie. The hope was this would appeal to typical American sports fans. What happened was the modified rules turned off soccer fans and didn't win over many non-soccer fans. After a season or two MLS went to FIFA rules. The league has grown slowly-and steadily since.

Be honest-even if FIFA implemented the rules you want you wouldn't like soccer. On the other hand-the rule changes you want would be EXTREMELY unpopular with the rest of the soccer watching world.

Soccer won me over during the 1994 World Cup as is and I'm as typically American as you can get. I grew up playing baseball and basketball, and I'm a rabid college football fan, but in my adult life I've learned to thoroughly enjoy cycling (the Tour starts Saturday!) and soccer as well.

If you like scoring so much-check out Cricket. Scores in the hundreds and the matches can last several days.

[BelgradeBobcat]

A bunch of no-names play in the MLS and therefore nobody cares. Chester couldn't name you 6 players in that league... snoozefest.

I've followed MLS quite closely since it's inception. It is minor league compared to the big leagues in Europe and South America, but the level of play has improved almost every season and I find it quite entertaining. It's going to be really fun when Portland and Vancouver join the league next season. Seattle draws 36,000 to every home game and Portland and Vancouver are equally nuts about the sport. Those rivalries will add a lot of life to the league.

MLS has also been tremendously valuable to the Men's National Team. Howard, Dempsey, Altidore, Bocanegra, Edu, etc. etc. (most of the team actually) got their pro starts in MLS before moving over to Europe. Without MLS a guy like Dempsey probably would have played four years of college and then got a cubicle job while playing in a rec league somewhere. It's been really fun for me watching young American players start out in MLS and move over to Europe. I think we'll be seeing more and more of that in the coming years.

MLS has also brought in some European and South American players who aren't too far past their prime that have added some spice to the league. I hear a lot of talk of Thierry Henry playing for New York soon-and of course there's Beckham in L.A. along with Angel in New York, Ljungberg in Seattle, and Schelotto in Columbus-just to name a few.

Give MLS a chance Sparty-take in a game in Chicago sometime-you'll have a good time.

[coachouert]

Holland vs. Brazil...do the Dutch have a chance? It's looking pretty scarey to me.

A lot of people have the Netherlands being a contender.

The dutch are very good and it looks like Robben is back to full health. Combine him with Kuyt and Sneijder and you have a great attack. Sure they have a chance against brazil, but the problem with the dutch is their history. They and (until euro '08) Spain were always known as great sides who always underachieved on the big stage. Chester sees a 2-1 brazil result, but he will be cheering the Oranje!!

Close...Netherlands defeat Brazil 2-1.

[chester Spartanpot]

Holland vs. Brazil...do the Dutch have a chance? It's looking pretty scarey to me.

A lot of people have the Netherlands being a contender.

The dutch are very good and it looks like Robben is back to full health. Combine him with Kuyt and Sneijder and you have a great attack. Sure they have a chance against brazil, but the problem with the dutch is their history. They and (until euro '08) Spain were always known as great sides who always underachieved on the big stage. Chester sees a 2-1 brazil result, but he will be cheering the Oranje!!

Close...Netherlands defeat Brazil 2-1.

Chester said they had the chance and he also called on Sneijder (he had both dutch goals). what a great 2nd half. the dutch (kuyt) had a great chance to put them up 3-1 but failed, then kaka came back down to the other end and almost tied it at 2. all after brazil went down to 10 men.
this means that Brazil is stuck on 5 titles, just one ahead of Chesters Italy. (but WC '14 is in brazil, ugh).

[wbtfg]

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.

[BelgradeBobcat]

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time!

Wow-that was awesome. Holland got a bit lucky on the first goal-and should have really put it more away at the end-but me and my Dutch bretheren will take the win! It was apparant that Brazil isn't used to coming from behind (they're something like 34-0-2 when leading at halftime) as they unraveled in the 2nd half.

Holland now has a great chance-but that other bracket...Argentina, Germany, and Spain-it's loaded.

[chester Spartanpot]

Holland now has a great chance-but that other bracket...Argentina, Germany, and Spain-it's loaded.

brazil came unraveled real quick. as soon as cesar missed the sneijder free kick, they went straight downhill. the dutch stayed on top of them and extended their unbeaten streak to 24. don't worry about the other bracket... you will only see one of those teams in the final (yes final, the Oranje will destroy ghana or uruguay in the semis). you can tell van persie is still dragging from all of his injuries, its been an awful couple of years for him.

i couldn't imagine a spain - holland final. will both squads end their underachieving in the same WC??

[chester Spartanpot]

OMG what a finish to ghana uruguay. Chester is at a loss. You have heard of the "hand of god".... you will soon be familiar with the "hand of Suarez". Drama!!!

[BelgradeBobcat]

OMG what a finish to ghana uruguay. Chester is at a loss. You have heard of the "hand of god".... you will soon be familiar with the "hand of Suarez". Drama!!!

That was freakin' amazing. That poor guy who missed the penalty for Ghana-I really feel for him. All he had to do was slot that home and they were through. Uruguay with a mere 3.5 million people has gone farther than their massive neighbor Brazil (and Argentina). I wish the US had a couple of forwards like Uruguay...but a lot of countries wish they had those guys.

Still-I gotta believe the Dutch are going to win comfortably over Uruguay-who are now missing one of their forwards and who are going to be a little gassed after their game with Ghana.

[BelgradeBobcat]

Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win---Gary Lineker

Germany with a 4-0 beat down of Argentina... and it probably wasn't even that close.

Admiring the Germans is a little like admiring Darth Vadar and the Empire, but when you take a team full of incredibly skillful and creative players, get them to play unselfishly as a team, and stay organized in defense-we'll you're going to be darn near unbeatable. Argentina had all the skill anybody could ever want-but not the tactics or teamwork. They didn't stand a chance.

[AlphaGriz1]

Hanson is pitching for the Braves tonight.

Rough couple of outings, but I think he will turn it around against Florida today.

[AlphaGriz1]

Admiring the Germans is a little like admiring Darth Vadar and the Empire,

Why?


They are just like any other country? Did you just feel more comfortable picking on them because they are predominately a white country? Surely you could have found another country a little more like "Darth Vader and the Empire"............Somalia? Iran? Columbia? etc................hmmm


Germany in the 30's-50s was no different than the USA is today. Both countries had leaders like Hitler & Obama leading a very small following of left leaning elitists with money. The rest of the people in either country wanted them both dead so they can be left alone to live their lives without being forced by government to lose their freedom and way of life.

[BelgradeBobcat]

Admiring the Germans is a little like admiring Darth Vadar and the Empire,

Why?


They are just like any other country? Did you just feel more comfortable picking on them because they are predominately a white country? Surely you could have found another country a little more like "Darth Vader and the Empire"............Somalia? Iran? Columbia? etc................hmmm


Germany in the 30's-50s was no different than the USA is today. Both countries had leaders like Hitler & Obama leading a very small following of left leaning elitists with money. The rest of the people in either country wanted them both dead so they can be left alone to live their lives without being forced by government to lose their freedom and way of life.

No. It has to do with their style of play in the eyes of the rest of the world. The Germans have this reputation of being very regimented and mechanical. Also, as the quote I presented says-they seem to always win.

By the way...I don't care that you don't care.

[chester Spartanpot]

Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win---Gary Lineker

Germany with a 4-0 beat down of Argentina... and it probably wasn't even that close.

Admiring the Germans is a little like admiring Darth Vadar and the Empire, but when you take a team full of incredibly skillful and creative players, get them to play unselfishly as a team, and stay organized in defense-we'll you're going to be darn near unbeatable. Argentina had all the skill anybody could ever want-but not the tactics or teamwork. They didn't stand a chance.

not too mention the germans have 8 "kinders" from their euro u-21 championship playing (compared to 1 from england). argentina was playing well and getting some chances until 62' when klose knicked the 2nd.

more penalty drama in paraguay - spain. spain saved a pk that would have put paraguay up 1-0 ~60'... then spain comes down and villa dives in the box and gets the penalty less than a minute later... xavi scored, but his teammates encroached the box so he had to retake and the paraguay keeper saved that one, then knocked down a spanish player that was trying to get the rebound but that wasn't called a penalty. 0-0 still in the 72'. paraguay trying to get this to the PK shootout.

oh: paraguay had a goal called back for offside in the first half... but replay showed they were clearly onside. terrible officiating again.