Soccer thread

[SuperVegito]

Well with the upcoming game tonight, Norway - Holland I was pretty pumped and remembered the old soccer thread on LSF. So I'm reviving the dead! Hello and welcome to Lucky Star Shrine's official SOCCER THREAD! WOO!

Talk about anything soccer related here



Also I didn't know where to put this ( Subforum Sports anyone? )

[kirant]

Hockey >>> Soccer. We actually see over 2 goals a game consistantly. :P

Seriously, I only follow soccer because of the Toronto FC.

[SuperVegito]

And therefore soccer wins harder. I mean waiting for that one goal can be a pain but when it's there you'll be relieved ( unless it's your own goal )

[kirant]

Yeah. My big problem is watching all these games which have draws...well, that and how much of it is positional and luck. Positional in the sense that you have to be in the right spot. It's so difficult to just use brute speed and determination to get something done. Luck in the sense that the Goalie just guesses. Wrong spot and you're toast. Being a goaltender for (at one point) soccer, hockey, and indoor field hockey, I can say that soccer is pure guesswork, whereas you can develop your own style in ice/field hockey.

The major advantage for hockey for me is the back and forth action as two teams skate up and down the ice. Soccer is fairly rare to get games of that type. For a good comparison, just watch this video (The awesome part begins at ~1:58). I have NEVER seen Soccer get this exciting, baring Penalty kicks. But those are equivilent to a Hockey Shootout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4J3y3sIegE&feature=channel_page

[SuperVegito]

Well I dunno, I just find soccer way more exciting. Bigger field and stuff, and trust me there are soccer matches way more exciting ( in my opinion ) than that video you send. You say in soccer it's just guess work but there are far more soccer tricks than there are tricks in ice hockey and soccer isn't only guesswork. Just like ice hockey you'll need agility to get passed players and a nice accuracy to launch the ball ( puck ) in the goal. But that's just me, and I like Ice Hockey too but not as much as soccer. Also... THIS R A SOCCUR THRAED LALALALALALALALALALLALALALAL NU ICE HOCKUY ALLOWED


Holland - Norway ended 2-0 by the way

[kirant]

Bigger field and stuff, and trust me there are soccer matches way more exciting ( in my opinion ) than that video you send.
Video or it never happened.

You say in soccer it's just guess work but there are far more soccer tricks than there are tricks in ice hockey and soccer isn't only guesswork.
I said that goaltending is much more guesswork in soccer than it is in Ice Hockey/Field Hockey.

Anyways, I'm fine discussing hockey here, as our discussion still pertains to the topic at hand (soccer) in a fairly obvious mannter.

[VK-Skelton]

June seems an interesting time to start a soccer thread.
Then again, last year it was the Euro Championship... fun times. That was a good thread.

[SuperVegito]

Yeah, I liked that one... but I didn't update it after Holland - Russia beause I was too pissed Holland lost what could actually be an easy match. Also the new trainer, Bert van Marwijk is doing something different than the others. He isn't gonna let team 2 play. The best eleven will play. This is because with Romania and Holland team B played. We won, but the next match against Russia was lost. And there are other examples like this in the Dutch history. This might be a good year though. Also if Holland loses and they are eliminated, England will have my support. Serious England is doing way better than in 2008.

Also what caught my attention was Brasil - Egypt, even though Egypt didn't win I was amazed that it turned out 4-3. I mean when it was 3-1 and the second half was about 50 minutes, Egypt scored 2 goals in 2 minutes!

[kirant]

Egypt didn't win I was amazed that it turned out 4-3.
That's basically a shooting match, isn't it? I mean, soccer generally ends up with a max of 2 goals for each team IIRC.[hr]
Egypt scored 2 goals in 2 minutes!
Psuedo 2 goals in ~20 seconds for Hockey...right? (Doesn't know Soccer to a great extent, so uses a lot of Hockey analogies) As in, awesome if you're cheering for that team...

Cuuuuu-jooooo Cuuuuu-jooooo

[VK-Skelton]

Yeah, I liked that one... but I didn't update it after Holland - Russia beause I was too pissed Holland lost what could actually be an easy match. Also the new trainer, Bert van Marwijk is doing something different than the others. He isn't gonna let team 2 play. The best eleven will play. This is because with Romania and Holland team B played. We won, but the next match against Russia was lost. And there are other examples like this in the Dutch history. This might be a good year though. Also if Holland loses and they are eliminated, England will have my support. Serious England is doing way better than in 2008.

Also what caught my attention was Brasil - Egypt, even though Egypt didn't win I was amazed that it turned out 4-3. I mean when it was 3-1 and the second half was about 50 minutes, Egypt scored 2 goals in 2 minutes!

Hey, it's still good for a team like Egypt to get that many goals against Brazil.
And hasn't the Netherlands already qualified, anyway?
As for England, we won our last 2 matches, and we're top of our group, without having lost (or drawn) a match. Because we're just that awesome. We're one win away from mathematical qualification, I believe.
I actually really feel good about our chances here... But then, we're England. As the Mitch Benn's song for the 2006 World Cup went;
Oh, we're not going to win the World Cup,
We're not going to win the World Cup,
In our hearts we know it, but even so
We'll spent months and months picking it up

Oh, the pundits will say that we could,
And the papers will say that we should,
So we'll place our bets and try to forget
That we're not really terribly good.

We'll win the groups but then
Get knocked out in the quaters again
Most probably on penalties
And blame it all on Sven
[VK: Spookily enough, that's exactly what happened]

Oh, we're not going to win the World Cup,
We're not going to win the World Cup,
In our hearts we know it, but even so
We'll spent months and months picking it up

Also; holy crap North Korea. World Cup qualification, there's something you don't see everyday. Both Koreas have qualified. Huh.

[kirant]

I actually really feel good about our chances here... But then, we're England. As the Mitch Benn's song for the 2006 World Cup went;

You're gonna choke. Last time I've seen England go anywhere, their entire team choked in Penalty Kicks.

[VK-Skelton]

You're gonna choke. Last time I've seen England go anywhere, their entire team choked in Penalty Kicks.

Make that 'anytime England's gone anywhere, their entire team choked in Penalty Kicks.', and you'd be more or less right. In the 6 tournaments I remember (96 onwards), 4 of them we were kicked out on penalties. The other two we lost to Brazil and, uh, Romania.
Still, the England team were in trouble even before McClaren took over. Even in the latter days of Eriksson, they were just so damn complacent. They knew they were in the team because they were all so great at club level, so the never played up at international level. They pretty much knew who'd be playing where, so they never really tried. The one good thing that McClaren did, although I don't agree with his reasoning, was drop Beckham. Now, Beckham's a good player, but you could see that getting dropped really shook him up, and made him raise his game. You could tell when he was eventually brought back. If only he wasn't playing Mickey Mouse-ball at club level...
Still, that's why I feel good about the team, Capello has really shook things up, he hasn't been afraid to mix up the formation and the players, really pulling around the team. And it seems to have worked so far. Granted, Ukraine and Croatia are hardly going to be as tough as Brazil and Germany, but eh. We still have one of the best records in Europe in qualification so far.
Also we no longer have Paul bloody Robinson in goal.

[kirant]

Even in the latter days of Eriksson
(Laughs)

My favourite hockey team has had problems with a different Eriksson, but that is so hilarious. He's a aged defensemen who really sucks. So many times, he's proven himself as a literal pylon, existing just to get skated around and scored on.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/icebornwarrior/ErikssonMotvationalPoster.jpg

The one good thing that McClaren did, although I don't agree with his reasoning, was drop Beckham
It's always great to get around the hype. You need a person who can turn to players past their prime and just tell them "No. You can't be here anymore".

Also we no longer have Paul bloody Robinson in goal.
Perenial choker?

[SuperVegito]

Too bad we don't have Van der Sar for the goal. Instead we have Stekelenburg. He's pretty good though, but no Van der Sar

[VK-Skelton]

Also we no longer have Paul bloody Robinson in goal.
Perenial choker?

Paul Robinson... Okay, he's a decent keeper. I'll give him that. But no more. He by no means deserves to play football at international level. He's no Shilton, or Seaman, or Banks. Well... he might be like Banks after that motorcycle accident that fucked up his vision and forced him to retire...
We have James at the moment, the same guy who used to get laughed at weekly for his fuck-ups, and is now in his late 30s, but he's still preferable.
We haven't had a decent keeper since Seaman got so old that he started letting in goals direct from corner kicks, without anyone else touching the ball (no, seriously, what the fuck?), and because he was so good in his heyday he'd always play, so no-one had the experience to adequatly replace him... so... we got Paul Robinson...

The Eriksson I was refering to was the former manager of England, Sven Goran Eriksson, the 'Super-Swede' who, when hired back in 2001, would supposedly revitalise English football (like, uh, Capello will. Only he's Italian). We'd win the World Cup under him (Quaters, twice out of two). Became famous for having an affair with a secretary at the Football Association HQ, and became fired after agreeing to manage a club side offered to him by a reporter posing as an arab, while still England manager. Still preferable to the men who preceded and replaced him, Keegan and McClaren.
Well... at least Keegan was a good man who admitted he was up to the job...

Too bad we don't have Van der Sar for the goal. Instead we have Stekelenburg. He's pretty good though, but no Van der Sar

What happened to Van der Sar, did he retire from international football? He's still playing for Man U, so I'd assumed he was still active there. Then again, the guy must be about 40 now...

[Droote]

Holland - Norway ended 2-0 by the way


I don't... wanna talk about it.

[SuperVegito]

Yea he retired I think. But he has alot of games on his name, a name worth remembering IMO

[kirant]

The Eriksson I was refering to was the former manager of England, Sven Goran Eriksson, the 'Super-Swede' who, when hired back in 2001, would supposedly revitalise English football (like, uh, Capello will. Only he's Italian).
I know. I just find it hilarious that both teams have struggled with Erikssons.

[SuperVegito]

I lol wutted at Egypt - Usa O_O 0-3 for US! Not that I think US sucks but Egypt was pretty good against Italy and Brasil...


I found this pretty lulzy too =P I mean of course it isn't fair but this is outragous and therefore funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQqmjMrIIns&feature=rec-HM-fresh+div

[kirant]

O_o

My god. Canada won. Twice. Against a team that sucks (St. Vincent), but they WON something.

[SuperVegito]

wow... just WOW! I mean America won from Spain?! WITH 2-0!!! I basically thought America had no chance!

[VK-Skelton]

You know, part of me thinks that if America actually cared about soccer, they could be world champions, but what's more likely to happen is what happened to football in England, it became so commercial that teams could pay ludicrous sums for the best foreign players, sidelineing the home players and the national team suffers as a result.

[kirant]

I'd disagree.

That same theory is why Canada is such a Hockey powerhouse. The local population loves it (It's basically our secondary religion). Many Canadian teams also draft a LOT of Canadian players. As a result, we have a lot of great players and compete with Russia and Sweden for Gold Medals in Mens.

[VK-Skelton]

Hmm, maybe. England likes football as much as, say, Italy, and it hasn't happened there. But then football is a very international sport.
Hell, most overseas sources cite the Premier League as the best league in the world, but the England team are struggling (we've barely got noone outside the first eleven, and we can barely make that).

[kirant]

What you need is to turn it into your religion basically. Ingrain it into the culture of the country (Kinda hard with a country with as much history as England). Make playing soccer part of what it is to be English. That's how you'd have to improve the English National Team.

Unfortunately, England has too much history, so I don't think you'll have much talent coming down the pipe any time soon.

[VK-Skelton]

Yes, we have history coming out of our ears :P

Of course, in a country where less than 10% of the population regularly go to church, and our last census showed we had a greater number of 'Jedi Knights' (.7%) than we did Sikhs (.6%), Jews (.5%) or Buddhists (.3%), I somehow doubt treating it as seriously as we do religion will help us all that much

[kirant]

And for some reason, you hold onto the Imperial System...

[VK-Skelton]

And for some reason, you hold onto the Imperial System...


I'm sure what is statistically our fourth-largest religion are working to destroy the Imperial system.

[kirant]

I think England should just switch cold turkey. I can't think of a reason to hold onto the system...

On topic though: I predict England slowly drops in influence in soccer slowly in the future...

[VK-Skelton]

I think England should just switch cold turkey. I can't think of a reason to hold onto the system...

On topic though: I predict England slowly drops in influence in soccer slowly in the future...


Pints and miles, generally. Everything besides long distance travel and drinking we use metric for. There was a law to stop people using Imperial, but that was... revoked or whatever you do with laws.

There's talk of legislation from FIFA where a team will have to field a certain number of players from their home nation in a match. Sounds good, but it could kill the Premier League. I'm really not sure what the long term implications would be...
Regardless, even if the national team is destroyed, the Premier League will survive. Rupert Murdoch will make sure of it.

[Niko Jims]

USA beat Spain 2-0. Rwedoinitrite?

[VK-Skelton]

USA beat Spain 2-0. Rwedoinitrite?

Not according to my Spanish friend you aren't
:P

[Niko Jims]

USA beat Spain 2-0. Rwedoinitrite?

Not according to my Spanish friend you aren't
:P


He is just mad that the US which has one of the worst soccer leagues beat the #1 team. I would be too.

[SuperVegito]

USA beat Spain 2-0. Rwedoinitrite?

Not according to my Spanish friend you aren't
:P


He is just mad that the US which has one of the worst soccer leagues beat the #1 team. I would be too.


Well I'm amazed. Seriously congratulations. Even if you might not win the next game, you should be proud just because you won against a country like Spain.

[VK-Skelton]

USA beat Spain 2-0. Rwedoinitrite?

Not according to my Spanish friend you aren't
:P


He is just mad that the US which has one of the worst soccer leagues beat the #1 team. I would be too.


Good job. Ever since they won the Euro Championships, which England didn't even qualify for, he hasn't shut up.
:P

[Niko Jims]

USA beat Spain 2-0. Rwedoinitrite?

Not according to my Spanish friend you aren't
:P


He is just mad that the US which has one of the worst soccer leagues beat the #1 team. I would be too.


Good job. Ever since they won the Euro Championships, which England didn't even qualify for, he hasn't shut up.
:P

lol. How's England's national team doing? I have always wanted to go see a Premier league game but we do not have the money to afford it. We can't even afford a trip to Boston(even though I HATE Boston). :(

[VK-Skelton]

lol. How's England's national team doing? I have always wanted to go see a Premier league game but we do not have the money to afford it. We can't even afford a trip to Boston(even though I HATE Boston). :(


Fairly good, won all our matches in qualifying for the World Cup so far, so things look good, touch wood.
I live in London, so I've seen Fulham a couple of times at home, it's really worth it.

[kirant]

Brazil beat USA
3-2

"Underdogs never lose" philosophy didn't happen here. Not like I care.

[VK-Skelton]

This is Brazil we're talking about. Underdog spirit just doesn't cut it, I'm afraid.

[Niko Jims]

They just threw the game basically. This angers me a lot. This whole day has been bad...

[SuperVegito]

I asked permission, and it was granted, for reviving this thread. So people! Let's get talking about Football/Soccer >=D



First off, the World Championship is around the corner. When the World Cup starts, I'll keep ya updated. And maybe VK too, depending if he's in the mood.

Second of all, injuries around the World Cup. Especially Beckham's injury. He got injured at a game against Chievo, and he might not be ready for the World Cup. VK told me that Capello still wants to take Beckham to the World Cup.

Third off, this is more of a question. We'll keep track of some leagues. Like the English Premier League, and the Dutch Eredivisie. But the question from me to you is, what league do you guys want to see? Primera Division? Bundesliga?

[VK-Skelton]

First off, the World Championship is around the corner. When the World Cup starts, I'll keep ya updated. And maybe VK too, depending if he's in the mood.

Second of all, injuries around the World Cup. Especially Beckham's injury. He got injured at a game against Chievo, and he might not be ready for the World Cup. VK told me that Capello still wants to take Beckham to the World Cup.

IMHO, Beckham's injury is probably the best thing that could have happened to the squad. Now, before you all shoot me down for saying this, Capello is taking Beckham to the World Cup as a 24th man, as he is hugely influential (former captain and star player for several years). BUT, recently all the pace has gone from his game. He has a magnificent touch, and is one of the best set-piece takers this country has ever had, but all that's academical if he can't get to the ball. If he was in the squad, he'd come on in the 70th min and take a couple of kicks, and pretty much nothing else. As it stands, he'll still be around to boost the morale of the team, but we'll be able to bring another player, who perhaps could have more of an impact on the field, such as Aaron Lennon (who is the anti-Beckham, he goes like a rocket but he sprays the ball all over the place).

Although, coaching-wise, Capello is probably our best coach since Bobby Robson, I still don't think our chances are that good, as our team isn't that strong. We have no clear right back, goalkeeper or support striker, and now that Ashley Cole's injured and Wayne Bridge's left the squad (due to bedroom naughtiness between captain John Terry and his gf), we have no left backs with more than one cap. Well, Chris Powell has 3, but the man's 40. And Phil Neville was never a left back.

And Rio Ferdinand is our captain.

[SuperVegito]

As it stands, he'll still be around to boost the morale of the team, but we'll be able to bring another player, who perhaps could have more of an impact on the field, such as Aaron Lennon (who is the anti-Beckham, he goes like a rocket but he sprays the ball all over the place).

Although, coaching-wise, Capello is probably our best coach since Bobby Robson, I still don't think our chances are that good, as our team isn't that strong.

And Rio Ferdinand is our captain.

Well to be honest, I think Capello made a good choice to take Beckham with him. It'll indeed boost morale. But my question is, will Beckham take a seat on the bench or is his injury really that bad? Because if he's on the bench, and good to play, I think Capello might give him the minutes he wants with England. After all, it was this injury that was supposidly make him lose his place at the English' World Cup team. And it freaking sucks for him too because it happened in thelast three minutes of the game between Chievo and AC Milan.

You're story about Aaron Lennon reminds me of what happened to Bak Nielsen XD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlbDkVTZb_4


It's Dutch but it's all about the footage bro. When I saw this, I lol'd so badly.


Also, I won't say that your chances aren't high if I were you. England is doing very well ATM. Also Ferdinand as captain... let's hope he'll shoot towards the goal... and not in the face of a fan.






And the last thing for this post, that video I send had René van der Gijp talking. I bet ya'll are thinking "What a goof!".


YEAH WELL! LOOK AT THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjF2pujRuog

[VK-Skelton]

Haha! No worries, football is a universal language.
Yeah, I'm glad Beckham is going for morale, I just think he's a fringe player on the pitch.

Ironically, I think we have a better chance than the last world cup, even though we don't have as strong a team.

[SuperVegito]

Haha! No worries, football is a universal language.
Yeah, I'm glad Beckham is going for morale, I just think he's a fringe player on the pitch.

Ironically, I think we have a better chance than the last world cup, even though we don't have as strong a team.

Portugal knocked out Holland and then England in 2006... Even though the only Portuguese teams I know are Sporting and Benfica, they really have a strong national team.
C. Ronaldo, Deco, R. Carvalho etc. It's only a wonder they didn't make it to the finals back then.

Anyway I started about Portugal... to talk about poule ... G I believe

[Droote]

Although, coaching-wise, Capello is probably our best coach since Bobby Robson,

You forgot Sven Gjöran Eriksson.

[VK-Skelton]

You forgot Sven Gjöran Eriksson.
...
Eriksson was not as good as either Capello or Robson
Better than most of the rest in between, though

[SuperVegito]

...
Eriksson was not as good as either Capello or Robson
Better than most of the rest in between, though

Bert van Marwijk > Capello


>=D

[Droote]

...
Eriksson was not as good as either Capello or Robson
Better than most of the rest in between, though

I was being highly sarcastic as the whole nation wanted him the fuck out of England in his last season.

[VK-Skelton]

I was being highly sarcastic as the whole nation wanted him the fuck out of England in his last season.
England managers have a tendency to be incredibly stupid.
Look at Glenn Hoddle. Led England to victory in the Tournoi de France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournoi_de_France_%281997%29) against France, Italy and Brazil, and was eventually sacked for saying that disabled people are being punished for the sins of their past lives (after an intervention by the Prime Minister himself).

[SuperVegito]

England managers have a tendency to be incredibly stupid.
Look at Glenn Hoddle. Led England to victory in the Tournoi de France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournoi_de_France_%281997%29) against France, Italy and Brazil, and was eventually sacked for saying that disabled people are being punished for the sins of their past lives (after an intervention by the Prime Minister himself).


Tournoi de France was a 'huge' tournament. Really since Del Piero was topscorer and he scored 3. Talking about Del Piero, how old is that geezer anyway, and still playing for Juventus?! He might be 36 or so, and it's amazing that he plays for sucha big club! I mean Feyenoord has a goalie of 41 but still. It's a goalie, let alone Feyenoord is a club in the Eredivisie. The quality of the Eredivisie isn't that good, although there are good players who come from it. Remember Ronaldo? The Brasilian one, he played for PSV. Ah yes, how I can switch from soccer subject to soccer subject in a couple of seconds is amazing! =P

[VK-Skelton]

Del Piero is 35, IIRC. Great player in his day, presumably still is if he can keep it up after all these years. He says he wants to keep playing untill he's 40.

[SuperVegito]

Del Piero is 35, IIRC. Great player in his day, presumably still is if he can keep it up after all these years. He says he wants to keep playing untill he's 40.

Wow... that's pretty amazing!



Also for the Uefa Cup ( I believe it's changed to Europa Cup ) we have the following schedule for the quarter finals.

Fulham - Wolfsburg
Benfica - Liverpool
Hamburg SV - Standard Luik
Valencia - Atlético Madrid

I think HSV is gonna win. With Petric and Elia, and of course, as sub though, legendary Dutch striker; Ruud van Nistelrooy. Although I think Liverpool and Valencia have big chances too. I'd love to see a final between Liverpool and Valencia mainly for the fact that David Villa plays for Valencia and Torres for Liverpool. Finally we'll get to see who's the better Spanish striker!

[VK-Skelton]

Lies.
Fulham will win.
ONLY WEST LONDON CLUB IN EUROPE

[Droote]

And Liverpool will be in the UEFA cup next year as well.

[VK-Skelton]

And Liverpool will be in the UEFA cup next year as well.
Maybe not. They seem to be doing their best to stop qualification to the UEFA cup happening.
Ways to piss off Liverpool fans #3924: Ask them how it feels to be worse than the 2nd best team in Manchester.

[Droote]

Maybe not. They seem to be doing their best to stop qualification to the UEFA cup happening.
Ways to piss off Liverpool fans #3924: Ask them how it feels to be worse than the 2nd best team in Manchester.

I forgot to add "if they are lucky".

My favourite Liverpool joke is: The difference between a trampoline and a Liverpool supporter? You take off your shoes with the trampoline.

[VK-Skelton]

I forgot to add "if they are lucky".

My favourite Liverpool joke is: The difference between a trampoline and a Liverpool supporter? You take off your shoes with the trampoline.
Select your own punchline!
My favorite Liverpool joke is:
a)The supporters
b) Gillette and Hicks
c) Rafa Benitez
Make your own! Fun for all the family!

[SuperVegito]

Maybe not. They seem to be doing their best to stop qualification to the UEFA cup happening.
Ways to piss off Liverpool fans #3924: Ask them how it feels to be worse than the 2nd best team in Manchester.

It sucks

[VK-Skelton]

It sucks
Liverpool are known for their intense rivalry with Manchester, as cities.
This has transferred to their best clubs, too.
Only now... I think United's a bit out of your league, Liverpool.

btw, Droote, you heard of a Norwegian player called Per Cijan Skjelbred? I signed him from Rosenborg on Football Manager 2010, and he's doing great for my Arsenal team!

[Droote]

Only now... I think United's a bit out of your league, Liverpool.


Always was and still is.


btw, Droote, you heard of a Norwegian player called Per Cijan Skjelbred? I signed him from Rosenborg on Football Manager 2010, and he's doing great for my Arsenal team!

Of course! He is one of the best players in Rosenborg. My male, heterosexual friend has a crush on him because of his football skills. It's good that he does well in FM 10 (as he has done in FM 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 too). But why do you coach Arsenal?

[VK-Skelton]

Of course! He is one of the best players in Rosenborg. My male, heterosexual friend has a crush on him because of his football skills. It's good that he does well in FM 10 (as he has done in FM 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 too). But why do you coach Arsenal?

Haha!
I usually coach Arsenal or Fulham, Fulham because I support them, and Arsenal because I don't hate them and they have tons of £££ to spend on lovely players I can use to win the Premiership (as opposed to teams I do hate but have tons of £££). Sure, it's easy modo, but it's pretty satifying just talking control of a strong club and bulldozing the opposition.
I signed him for Fulham too (pretty cheap, only ~£2mil), but it sounds more impressive when I say he's a good player for Arsenal.

[Droote]

Haha!
I usually coach Arsenal or Fulham, Fulham because I support them, and Arsenal because I don't hate them and they have tons of £££ to spend on lovely players I can use to win the Premiership (as opposed to teams I do hate but have tons of £££). Sure, it's easy modo, but it's pretty satifying just talking control of a strong club and bulldozing the opposition.
I signed him for Fulham too (pretty cheap, only ~£2mil), but it sounds more impressive when I say he's a good player for Arsenal.

I don't like Arsenal, but that's just me. And it sure is easier with much money, but once I tried to be Mallorca, and as they are a team switching between Primera and Segunda Division they do not have much money. I still managed to end up 5th in Primeria Division, and play 1-1 with Barça.

[VK-Skelton]

Ironically, I just beat Fulham 3-2, with Skjelbred scoring the winning goal.
Adding an extra dose of irony, the referee was called Elliot Skelton.

[Droote]

Ironically, I just beat Fulham 3-2, with Skjelbred scoring the winning goal.
Adding an extra dose of irony, the referee was called Elliot Skelton.

Hahaha! Epic!

[cutter26947]

http://www.soccersucks.net/soccer_perversion_4.jpg

[Droote]

I never understood why they have to run in the nude.

[VK-Skelton]

http://www.soccersucks.net/soccer_perversion_4.jpg
The keeper looks familiar...

GAH, this is going to annoy me all night

[Droote]

The keeper looks familiar...

GAH, this is going to annoy me all night

The player in the background is a hint.

[VK-Skelton]

The player in the background is a hint.
Eh, it's Peter Schmeichel.
I don't give a damn if that's true or not, but it'll stop me worrying about something of little importance.

[Droote]

Eh, it's Peter Schmeichel.
I don't give a damn if that's true or not, but it'll stop me worrying about something of little importance.

My favourite Dane, next to Terkel and Søren Kierkegaard.

[VK-Skelton]

My favourite Dane, next to Terkel.
Piss off and die?
I remember that video...

[Droote]

Piss off and die?
I remember that video...

Haha! Have you seen Terkel In Trouble?

[VK-Skelton]

Haha! Have you seen Terkel In Trouble?
Heh, just that music clip. It was all the rage a couple of years back.

[Droote]

Heh, just that music clip. It was all the rage a couple of years back.

Huh. I thought it only got publicity in Scandinavia.

[VK-Skelton]

Huh. I thought it only got publicity in Scandinavia.
I think a couple of people I knew saw it (British people, that is).
BUT YEAH, HOW ABOUT THAT FOOTBALL?

[SuperVegito]

HOLY SHIT! Yesterday I saw the perfect counter! Heracles went from their own penalty area to AZ's and scored!

[VK-Skelton]

The Fiver (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/31/the-fiver-wayne-rooney-arsenal-barcelona) sums up the British press' reaction to last night's game perfectly;
Global leaders including Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, their Chinese counterpart whose name you may not know but to whom you will all soon bow down, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bono, Rupert Murdoch and Hannah Montana have given their unconditional backing to a proposal hastily put forward by the World Health Organisation this morning to distribute free oxygen masks to every idiot on the planet. The unprecedented emergency measure is designed to tackle the widespread shock detected among Earth's prominent cretin community in the wake of last night's debagging of the leaders of the Best League In The Universe by an obscure pub team from some backwater called "Germany".

Thankfully the measure may only be necessary in the short-term as Sky Sports News are believed to be working at this very minute on uncovering or creating evidence proving that the comprehensive defeat of Manchester United by a group calling itself "Bayern Munich" was a premature April Fool's prank; already it has emerged that people apparently in cahoots with the pranksters have concocted a fake Wikipedia entry claiming that "Bayern" have been champions of Europe on four separate occasions and that this little-known Franck Ribéry character is in fact among the best players in the world even though he doesn't play in England. Hahahahaha, check out that famous German sense of humour!

Suggestions that United are in real danger of elimination from Big Cup because this Bayern rabble will turn up at Old Trafford next week with two players even better than most of the ones who participated in last night's caper have been dismissed as a far-fetched extension of the gag by people who are convinced that Arjen Robben ceased to exist the moment he left Chelsea and that Bastian Schweinsteiger is just a German swear word or some kind of continental kitchen appliance.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? WHY ARE THEY DEFEATING OUR TEAMS?

[SuperVegito]

Dude Bayern was doomed to win. They have LOUIS VAN GAAL! No but really, to be honest... give him the tools and he'll create world wonders for ya

[VK-Skelton]

Fulham was also doomed to win
We have Roy Hodgson!
2-1

[SuperVegito]

Fulham was also doomed to win
We have Roy Hodgson!
2-1

YOU KILLED THEM WOLVES!

[nathangonmad]

Its football not soccer ;)

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3800000/Football-not-Soccer-soccer-3870997-800-600.jpg

[SuperVegito]

True, but let's keep this thread universal and not European =P

[Lucky Flame]

Well it SHOULD BE called Football and Football should be called Soccer. :/ Makes sense to me.

[SuperVegito]

Anyway to get to the point of this topic.


It's unbelievable. This is the first time I see Barcelona play this well in the first 15 mins, yet they didn't score a goal. I mean really it should be like 5-0 in the first half already.

[SuperVegito]

Who saw the Lionel Messi show? No but really, he made a hattrick against Arsenal. Unbelievable.


Before I forget

I like this movay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jfkPTVgjig

[Droote]

Messi fucking crushed Arsenal.

[Hiyori's-Boyfriend]

By soccer - you mean Football...

And by American football you mean toned down Rugby?

Why do Americans re-name sports?

[Droote]

By soccer - you mean Football...

And by American football you mean toned down Rugby?

Why do Americans re-name sports?

They like to call things differently from what the things really are. Like how they name their country after a continent.

[SuperVegito]

Messi fucking crushed Arsenal.

And only 22 years old!


But even though, King of the Wing, Arjen Robben. 3-2 For Manchester UTD! But Bayern went on.

[SuperVegito]

Europa league, champions league I don't care. Today we said our goodbyes and thanks to Roy Makaay, one of Europe's best forwarders from this time. Today was his last game for Feyenoord and they won with 6-2. 3 Of them plus an assist are the final results behind his name on this game. Roy Makaay, thank you.

[Droote]

FUUUUUCK YOU LIVERPOOL! You was our last real chance! I mean, couldn't you even manage to get a draw against Chelsea? Nice job Gerrard to give away the ball to Drogba... The bloody scousers can't do anything right.

[SuperVegito]

Blame Gerrard, the one who makes the least mistakes over there.

[VK-Skelton]

We're the only English team left in Europe

FUCK

YEAR

[SuperVegito]

And I truly hope Fulham wins the finals. But even though, they are in the finals so they're gonna get shitload of cash anyway.

[VK-Skelton]

And I truly hope Fulham wins the finals. But even though, they are in the finals so they're gonna get shitload of cash anyway.
£££

[Droote]

Chelsea won. Woopeedoo...

[VK-Skelton]

Chelsea won. Woopeedoo...
Finally got one of my teetotalist (Chelsea-supporting) friends to drink because of that.

And I don't give a damn about the Arsenal result if we win midweek.

Also, posting this here. It's my predicted England squad for the World Cup, I want to see how many I get right.
1 Green
2 Johnson
3 Cole
4 Gerrard
5 Ferdinand
6 Terry
7 Wright-Phillips
8 Lampard
9 Crouch
10 Rooney
11 Barry
12 Upson
13 James
14 Brown
15 King
16 Carrick
17 Milner
18 Young
19 Defoe
20 Heskey
21 Lennon
22 Baines
23 Foster

[SuperVegito]

Only one day away till you're relieve from this HIGH PRESSURE VK!

[VK-Skelton]

Only one day away till you're relieve from this HIGH PRESSURE VK!
It's intense!

You know, for a Chelski song, this is pretty catchy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZYfi_Ex_gM

[Droote]

Heh, it sounded like a children's song.

[VK-Skelton]

Heh, it sounded like a children's song.
It was recorded by the 1972 squad themselves. It got to 5 in the charts.
It was rerecorded for Mrs. Thatcher's election campaign in 1979 (Blue is the colour, Maggie is the name...).

[Droote]

It was recorded by the 1972 squad themselves. It got to 5 in the charts.
It was rerecorded for Mrs. Thatcher's election campaign in 1979 (Blue is the colour, Maggie is the name...).

Huh. The more you know.

[VK-Skelton]

Also, posting this here. It's my predicted England squad for the World Cup, I want to see how many I get right.
1 Green
2 Johnson
3 Cole
4 Gerrard
5 Ferdinand
6 Terry
7 Wright-Phillips
8 Lampard
9 Crouch
10 Rooney
11 Barry
12 Upson
13 James
14 Brown
15 King
16 Carrick
17 Milner
18 Young
19 Defoe
20 Heskey
21 Lennon
22 Baines
23 Foster

Goddammit Carragher! You can't retire from international football and then still get called up to play!

[Droote]

Inter won and I expected such. The game wasn't too exciting, but okay I guess.

[VK-Skelton]

Inter won and I expected such. The game wasn't too exciting, but okay I guess.
More importantly, Blackpool won!
Although, getting into London St. Pancreas train station yesterday evening, all the Blackpool fans going back north from Wembley looked depressed, so I thought they'd lost.

Time for Jose gloating to begin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCAAuoq7oOo
Been years since I've had an excuse to post that

Reference (has anyone not heard this song?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFacWGBJ_cs

[VK-Skelton]

Double post...
31 MAY, LONDON - When he announces the 23-man England squad that will go to South Africa on Tuesday, Fabio Capello might choose an interesting solution to the eternal question of who will partner Wayne Rooney up front. It is thought that the Italian manager is considering recalling veteran striker Nat Lofthouse as the solution to the national team's problems.

Lofthouse, a permanent fixture in the hugely successful Bolton squad of the 1950s, is thought to be the answer to England's goalscoring woes. As the 7th in all time top division goalscorers in England, with a ratio of more than one goal in ever two games, and an even more impressive international record, 30 goals in 33 games, it would be thought that Lofthouse would be a certain for inclusion in the England squad, but in recent years managers have overlooked the forward in favour of younger players, such as Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer. Most heartbreaking was missing out on a place in the winning 1966 team, despite only being 41 years old at the time. However, with the country facing it's worst striker drought since 2002, it is thought that Lofthouse might once more be given the chance to pull on a three lions jersey, despite not playing since suffering a knee injury in December 1960.

Fabio Capello was quick to answer doubts that remained over his fitness. "He has not played in 50 years, and it is only natural that this might have a negative effect on his game," the England coach announced in a press conference earlier today, "but he is a very impressive player, and the number of goals that he has scored, well, they speak for themselves. He is one of several options we are looking at." It is thought Lofthouse has been selected as last-minute cover for Osama bin Laden, who is thought to have impressed Capello in recent years. Although a Saudi Arabian by birth, under FIFA regulations bin Laden would be eligible to play for the England team due to the number of years he lived in London in the 1990s, during which time he became a fanatical supporter of Arsenal FC. However, bin Laden was ruled out last week, due to persistant kidney problems which require him to be attached to a dialysis machine. "It is a huge blow to the side" Capello stated "We asked FIFA for dispensation to allow the dialysis machine on the pitch, but it was rejected."

If he is selected, the 85 year old Nat Lofthouse would be the oldest player to take part in the World Cup

[Droote]

I'm wondering if walkers are allowed on the field.

[SuperVegito]

http://bluecadvertising.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/2010-logo.jpg


THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS AROUND THE CORNER! 2 DAYS LEFT! I CAN'T WAIT! I'll be updating this thread daily, at least I'll try to, just like 2 years ago with the Europe Cup.

Main commentators; Me, VK, Droote


Ahem... I'm going to octa-post the 8 fixtures of the Fifa World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Ban me.



2010 Match Schedule Group A
1. South Africa
2. Mexico
3. Uruguay
4. France

11 June 2010 – Soccer City Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
South Africa – Mexico
Time: 16:00

11 June 2010 – Green Point Stadium
Host city: Cape Town
Team: Uruguay – France
Time: 20:30

16 June 2010 – Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Host city: Tshwane(Pretoria)
Team: South Africa – Uruguay
Time: 20:30

17 June 2010 - Peter Mokaba Stadium
Host City: Polokwana
Team: France – Mexico
Time: 13:30

22 June 2010 – Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Host city: Rustenburg
Team: Mexico – Uruguay
Time: 16:00

22 June 2010 – Free State Stadium
Host city: Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
France – South Africa
Time: 16:00

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group B
1. Argentina
2. Nigeria
3. Korea Republic
4. Greece

12 June 2010 – Ellis Park Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Argentina – Nigeria
Time: 16:30

12 June 2010 – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Host city: Port Elizabeth
Team: Korea Republic – Greece
Time: 13:30

17 June 2010 – Soccer City Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Argentina – Korea Republic
Time: 13:30

17 June 2010 – Free State Stadium
Host city: Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
Team: Greece – Nigeria
Time: 16:00

22 June 2010 – Kings Park Stadium
Host city: Durban
Team: Nigeria – Korea Republic
Time: 20:30

22 June 2010 – Peter Mokaba Stadium
Host city: Polokwane
Team: Greece – Argentina
Time: 20:30

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group C
1. England
2. USA
3. Algeria
4. Slovenia

12 June 2010 – Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Host city: Rustenburg
Team: England – USA
Time: 20:30

13 June 2010 – Peter Mokaba Stadium
Host city: Polokwane
Team: Algeria – Slovenia
Time: 13:30

18 June 2010 – Ellis Park Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Slovenia – USA
Time: 16:00

18 June 2010 – Green Point Stadium
Host city: Cape Town
Team: England – Algeria
Time: 20:30

23 June 2010 – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Host city: Port Elizabeth
Team: Slovenia – England
Time: 16:00

23 June 2010 – Lotus Versfeld Stadium
Host city: Tschwane (Pretoria)
Team: USA – Algeria
Time: 16:00

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group D
1. Germany
2. Australia
3. Serbia
4. Ghana

13 June 2010 – Kings Park Stadium
Host city: Durban
Team: Germany – Australia
Time: 20:30

13 June 2010 – Lotus Versfeld Stadium
Host city: Tschwane (Pretoria)
Team: Serbia – Ghana
Time: 20:30

18 June 2010 – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Host city: Port Elisabeth
Team: Gemany – Serbia
Time: 13:30

19 June 2010 – Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Host city: Rustenburg
Team: Ghana – Australia
Time: 16:00

23 June 2010 – Soccer City Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Ghana – Germany
Time: 20:30

23 June 2010 – Mbombela Stadium
Host city: Nelspruit
Team: Australia – Serbia
Time: 20:30

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group E

1. Netherlands
2. Denmark
3. Japan
4. Cameroon

14 June 2010 – Soccer City Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Netherlands – Denmark
Time: 13:30

14 June 2010 – Free State Stadium
Host city: Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
Team: Japan – Cameroon
Time: 16:00

19 June 2010 – Kings Park Stadium
Host city: Durban
Team: Netherlands – Japan
Time: 16:00

19 June 2010 – Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Host city: Tshwane / Pretoria
Team: Cameroon – Denmark
Time: 20:30

24 June 2010 – Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Host city: Rustenburg
Team: Denmark – Japan
Time: 20:30

24 June 2010 – Green Point Stadium
Host city: Cape Town
Team: Cameroon – Netherlands
Time: 20:30

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group F

1. Italy
2. Paraguay
3. New Zealand
4. Slovakia

14 June 2010 – Green Point Stadium
Host city: Cape Town
Team: Italy – Paraguay
Time: 20:30

15 June 2010 – Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Host city: Rustenburg
Team: New Zealand – Slovakia
Time: 13:30

20 June 2010 – Mbombela Stadium
Host city: Nelspruit
Team: Italy – Zealand
Time: 16:00

20 June 2010 – Free State Stadium
Host city: Bloemfontein
Team: Slovakia – Paraguay
Time: 13:30

24 June 2010 – Ellis Park Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Paraguay – New Zealand
Time: 16:00

24 June 2010 – Peter Mokaba Stadium
Host city: Polokwane
Team: Slovakia – Italy
Time: 16:00

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group G
1. Brazil
2. North Korea
3. Ivory Coast
4. Portugal

15 June 2010 – Ellis Park Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Brazil – North Korea
Time: 20:30

15 June 2010 – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Host city: Port Elizabeth
Team: Ivory Coast – Portugal
Time: 16:00

20 June 2010 – Soccer City Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Brazil – Ivory Coast
Time: 20:30

21 June 2010 – Green Point Stadium
Host city: Cape Town
Team: Portugal – Korea DPR (North)
Time: 13:30

25 June 2010 – Mbombela Stadium
Host city: Nelspruit
Team: North Korea – Ivory Coast
Time: 16:00

25 June 2010 – Kings Park Stadium
Host city: Durban
Team: Portugal – Brazil
Time: 16:00

[SuperVegito]

2010 Match Schedule Group H
1. Spain
2. Switzerland
3. Honduras
4. Chile

16 June 2010 – Kings Park Stadium
Host city: Durban
Team: Spain – Switzerland
Time: 16:00

16 June 2010 – Mbombela Stadium
Host city: Nelspruit
Team: Honduras – Chile
Time: 13:30

21 June 2010 – Ellis Park Stadium
Host city: Johannesburg
Team: Spain – Honduras
Time: 20:30

21 June 2010 – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Host city: Port Elisabeth
Team: Chile – Switzerland
Time: 16:00

25 June 2010 – Free State Stadium
Host city: Bloemfontein (Mangaung)
Team: Switzerland – Honduras
Time: 20:30

25 June 2010 – Lotus Versfeld Stadium
Host city: Tschwane (Pretoria)
Team: Chile – Spain
Time: 20:30

[Droote]

Main commentators; Me, VK, (anyone?)


I think only you, VK and I care about football here.

[SuperVegito]

Then you'll be a commentator too. I wish we still had filleraol. He was awesome. He loved this kind of things.

Droote, before the tournament starts, what are your thoughts upon this great event?

[Droote]

Then you'll be a commentator too. I wish we still had filleraol. He was awesome. He loved this kind of things.

Droote, before the tournament starts, what are your thoughts upon this great event?

Well, first of all I am jealous of my brother since he is going to be there. I think Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany or perhaps France will be winning this tournament. Holland won't give away the trophy too easily either. You know, the usual ones. Sweden and Danmark did splendid last World Cup, but I don't think they will be as successful this year. Norway, of course, did not qualify.
The toughest group is perhaps group B. Argentina and South Korea are good, and Greece did actually win the European championship.

[SuperVegito]

Hmm, to be honest, I agree with you on Germany and Brazil but France and Italy won't do good. First of Italy just isn't the Italy they were when they won the cup 4 years ago. And France barely qualified. Argentina has Maradonna, they'll be the laugh of the tournament ending up with Maradonna killing everyone. With Holland playing in this formation I doubt that we won't make it far. We played three games last week. We won all three of them. But only one of them had Robben for the last half. I don't know if you saw Robben play with Bayern, but holy poop! In the break before he came in it was 1-1. At the end of the 2nd half Holland was leading with 6-1. The grand 4 they are called in Holland; Van Persie, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Robben. Ah well but those are just my hopes. Besides Holland's defence sucks big time so we'll lose hard on that.

Other than that I think Portugal will somehow win the Cup or England. England has some great players to put in, and I think they'll make a great chance! Especially in the fixture they're now in. They could just call their fixture a warming up stage for the real battle in the 8th Finals.



I mean really, this is what the match looked like



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV_pB2U509Q&feature=related

[Droote]

Hmm, to be honest, I agree with you on Germany and Brazil but France and Italy won't do good. First of Italy just isn't the Italy they were when they won the cup 4 years ago. And France barely qualified. Argentina has Maradonna, they'll be the laugh of the tournament ending up with Maradonna killing everyone. With Holland playing in this formation I doubt that we won't make it far. We played three games last week. We won all three of them. But only one of them had Robben for the last half. I don't know if you saw Robben play with Bayern, but holy poop! In the break before he came in it was 1-1. At the end of the 2nd half Holland was leading with 6-1. The grand 4 they are called in Holland; Van Persie, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Robben. Ah well but those are just my hopes. Besides Holland's defence sucks big time so we'll lose hard on that.

Other than that I think Portugal will somehow win the Cup or England. England has some great players to put in, and I think they'll make a great chance! Especially in the fixture they're now in. They could just call their fixture a warming up stage for the real battle in the 8th Finals.

You also have van Bommel and Kuyt (who can be a good 3rd striker). Also, I don't know about Portugal. They work well as one team together, and that will get them far, but winning? We'll see. England of course has a great team.

[VK-Skelton]

Well, first of all I am jealous of my brother since he is going to be there. I think Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany or perhaps France will be winning this tournament.

Argentina, Italy and France ahead of Spain? What drugs are you on? And can I have some so I can cling to the belief that England can win?

Also, I don't believe Sweden has qualified (or else they'd be on my World Cup wallchart (free with every newspaper and magazine for the past month)).

Bought my £30 England jersey today, and also a flag. Could've gotten a Rio Ferdinand shirt for half price! (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/04/rio-ferdinand-england-world-cup)

[SuperVegito]

You also have van Bommel and Kuyt (who can be a good 3rd striker). Also, I don't know about Portugal. They work well as one team together, and that will get them far, but winning? We'll see. England of course has a great team.

Van Bommel surely will be in from the start, because he's good, but mainly because he fucks the daughter of our coach. But to be honest, Kuyt is a good player, but he adds nothing to the team. If you'd put up Kuyt and Van der Vaart you'll have a better defence but if you go all out and put Robben instead of Kuyt and put Elia or Van der Vaart on the wing you'll create alot of speed within the team, which makes the defence of the opponent go back more too. Look at the Hungarian back, he was almost playing on one line with the keeper!

Argentina is going to be really lulzy. They have Tevez, Di Maria, Aguero, Milito, Messi etc. But they all play on their own. Messi will get like 2 or 3 passes a match. So far for a hero.

England is VK's territory. I know a thing or two about England, but he should be able to confirm my view on why England might be Champions.

[Droote]

Argentina, Italy and France ahead of Spain? What drugs are you on? And can I have some so I can cling to the belief that England can win?

Also, I don't believe Sweden has qualified (or else they'd be on my World Cup wallchart (free with every newspaper and magazine for the past month)).

Bought my £30 England jersey today, and also a flag. Could've gotten a Rio Ferdinand shirt for half price! (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/04/rio-ferdinand-england-world-cup)

Ah I forgot about Spain! But I think at least Argentina (if they manage to play together as a team) and Italy can do well. EDIT: You're right about Sweden. They didn't qualify.

[VK-Skelton]

I might have said this before, but I think Capello is probably the best coach we've had for years, so I'm slightly more optimistic going into this tournament than before.
That said, our main problem is that we have no decent players outside our starting 11, and even then there are some gray areas, such as in goal or who partners Rooney up front. Gareth Barry has been injured, so Lampard and Gerrard might start in central midfield, and although they're our best central midfielders, they can't play together in a team (tried and failed in 2006). Our captain Rio Ferdinand (lolwut) has been injured, and although it means he won't captain us at the World Cup, which is a good thing, it also mean's we've lost our best central defender, which is very bad.
If we get lucky we can go far. But we'd need to keep injury free.

Italy are getting on a bit, and Maradona seems to be increasingly bizarre in his management of the Argentinians, so although I wouldn't write either side off altogether, I'd doubt they'd go that far.
inb4 Argentina-Italy final.

[SuperVegito]

inb4 Argentina-Italy final.

Lol'd

The one who scores the winning goal for Argentina can take the Technical Director up his ass. Yes sirs, we are talking about Carlos Bilardo. I bet Tevez is already warming up his cock. That dude looks like a freaking gorilla!

[SuperVegito]

Just one day left 'till we can stop waiting! WORLD CUP! WOOHOO!

[SuperVegito]

Mexico - South Africa.

Well where should I start. The first 10 minutes and the second half were actually quite enjoyable for the first World Cup game. I mean really, the first ten minutes mainly because of the Mexican attacks. They had some good team play and especially Dos Santos was doing good. But even though, you could see that Mexico's backs were way to agressive. I mean I think I saw Salcido on the South African half more than 50% of the time. Due to lack of defence, it could be the reason the first goal was made. But it was good play, the ball went from Khune through midfield and then all the way to Tshabalala who was on the Mexican half. Tshabalala did a great job on scoring the goal though. Top corner of the goal which was a magnificant goal, but if you saw the replay you could actually see that it was somewhat a volley and because of that the ball got height way easier. After that the match was open and I was like "FUCK!". Not because I'm rooting for the Mexicans, but because of that goal the South African people started to use those darn tooters or whatever they are called. It was a horrible sound. The only thing to be enlightend has to be the shot of Marquez that made it into the South African goal, making it 1-1. It wasn't really a special game or anything but I suppose it was better than the average World Cup opening games.

[VK-Skelton]

Those hooters are called vuvuzelas, and in England a lot of people are concerned that their noise will put players off their game, although they probably won't be as loud as they are when South Africa are playing.
Ironically, they say that Mexico's goal might have been a result of them, as the South African keeper couldn't communicate well with his defense.

South Africa had a great 2nd half. They started badly, but got back into it. Because of my family's African connection I'm something of a fan of Bafana Bafana, but I think that people saying that they'll equal the South African rugby team's world cup win when that was held in South Africa in 95 (Invictus) is pretty silly.

Missed the France-Uruguay game, but it sounds like I didn't really miss much. Gonna watch the highlights on BBC2 now.

[SuperVegito]

Meh the France - Uruguay game wasn't that good. I thought that France might get 1 or 2 goals but this was absolutely dramatic. Lodeiro, the Urugaian hero, got a red card within 20 minutes. Absolutely horrible, hoping for a better ones today.

[Droote]

Argentina vs Nigeria

Argentina deserved to win, and so they did, but I feel Nigeria did a relatively good job to bite back. The Nigerian keeper played good. The match was entertaining.

[VK-Skelton]

Meh the France - Uruguay game wasn't that good. I thought that France might get 1 or 2 goals but this was absolutely dramatic. Lodeiro, the Urugaian hero, got a red card within 20 minutes. Absolutely horrible, hoping for a better ones today.
Yeah, the highlights weren't really highlights at all. Nothing happened.
Argentina vs Nigeria

Argentina deserved to win, and so they did, but I feel Nigeria did a relatively good job to bite back. The Nigerian keeper played good. The match was entertaining.
The keeper played amazingly! After the game on the BBC they replayed all the saves he made, and some of them were quite spectacular.

England-USA next! Been wearing my replica shirt all day.
The team has literally just been announced (18:42), Capello's been keeping it quiet.
Green, Johnson, Terry, King, Ashley Cole, Lennon, Lampard, Gerrard, Milner, Heskey, Rooney
Well... huh. Could be worse I guess.

EDIT for awesome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEb0X9NEX0I

[SuperVegito]

What a horrible mistake by the keeper. Green... oh my god. I do believe England brought James and Robinson right? I might shouldn't go all out on him, but it's a mistake. A blooper that you wouldn't even wish to your worst enemy I suppose. But England will dominate this match.

EDIT; Argentina sucked. Like they had alot of chances, but then again saying 'they' is wrong. Messi was the one who created all the chances. I'm still standing hand in hand with my statement; Argentina is going to be the laugh of the tournament.

[Hiyori's-Boyfriend]

This Thread will almost explode with new Replys over the World Cup...

GO ENGLAND!

[SuperVegito]

This Thread will almost explode with new Replys over the World Cup...

GO ENGLAND!


I hope so! I love soccer and I know VK and Droote do too. I hope alot of more people will enjoy this sports, as it's one of the biggest parts of the amusement industry

[SuperVegito]

Oh my. This wasn't expected. But then again I can only say that this, and I'm sorry for this VK please don't hate me =P, was bound to happen. I mean really, Capello put Lampard and Gerrard as they were defending midfielders. You'll benefit from them when they are close to the penalty area of the opponents. Lampard has scored more than 20 goals this season as an attacking midfielder. Gerrard scored like 9, and that with a person as Torres in front of him. Capello should work on this, because I do believe that you were dissapointed too, right VK?

[VK-Skelton]

What a horrible mistake by the keeper. Green... oh my god. I do believe England brought James and Robinson right? I might shouldn't go all out on him, but it's a mistake. A blooper that you wouldn't even wish to your worst enemy I suppose. But England will dominate this match.

That was a truely horrible mistake. 1-1, we could and should have won. Captain Gerrard's goal was good, but Green... GAH. He made a good save in the second half, but even that still hit the post. We dominated, we should've got another goal.
We have James and Joe Hart in reserve, Robinson's international career is pretty much over since his mistakes cost us going to Euro 2008. The problem is that James has a minor injury (which was probably why Green was starting in the first place), and although Hart has had a brilliant season, better than James or Green, he's only played 2 games for England, so he doesn't have that much experience.
Ah well. Have some more Eng-ur-land songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uFWGALVF0Y


Argentina had... well, it wasn't a bad game, but then they weren't playing a great opposition. Would they have played as well against Germany or Italy? I think it'll fall apart once they get proper opposition.

EDIT:
Oh my. This wasn't expected. But then again I can only say that this, and I'm sorry for this VK please don't hate me =P, was bound to happen. I mean really, Capello put Lampard and Gerrard as they were defending midfielders. You'll benefit from them when they are close to the penalty area of the opponents. Lampard has scored more than 20 goals this season as an attacking midfielder. Gerrard scored like 9, and that with a person as Torres in front of him. Capello should work on this, because I do believe that you were dissapointed too, right VK?
Lampard and Gerrard didn't have a terrible game, but yes, playing them together is holding both of them back. One thing that people suggested would happen would be 5 midfielders with Rooney up front alone, Gerrard just behind him, and then Lampard and a holding midfielder (Barry if he's fit, or Carrick), which actually might work, the main problem being we've never tried it before the World Cup.
I'm not a fan of Emile Heskey, but I must say, he had a good game.
Defence is a problem though, we're missing Ferdinand. And King was playing on injury. YAY!

[SuperVegito]

To be honest, I haven't really seen a great game yet. It makes me nervous about the game of Holland because they did well in the practice interlands, but still. So did England and Argentina I guess. Maybe Holland will play bad too. Ah well.

[VK-Skelton]

To be honest, I haven't really seen a great game yet. It makes me nervous about the game of Holland because they did well in the practice interlands, but still. So did England and Argentina I guess. Maybe Holland will play bad too. Ah well.
The best game so far IMO has been the South Africa - Mexico game. South Korea -Greece seemed pretty good, but I missed most of it, need to catch the highlights when they come on.

[SuperVegito]

South Africa - Mexico... I don't know. I didn't find it good or anything, it had some nice attacks, but it lacked the finish touch from Mexico. Dos Santos had a great shot though.

I liked South Korea - Greece the most because Korea was all with all the better team. They didn't have like alot of chances, but that's what makes it better. They made 2 goals in like I don't know, 5 chances? But the better games shall come.

[VK-Skelton]

I liked South Korea - Greece the most because Korea was all with all the better team. They didn't have like alot of chances, but that's what makes it better. They made 2 goals in like I don't know, 5 chances? But the better games shall come.

So I did miss something.
And of course all the highlight programs skipped it and just focused on the Argentina match.

[Hiyori's-Boyfriend]

England 1.
US Of A 1.

Well, I guess it was only fair that England gave America a goal. I mean it will just look more funny when the US Play a Utterly Rubbish team and Epicly Loose.

[kirant]

Well, I guess it was only fair that England gave America a goal. I mean it will just look more funny when the US Play a Utterly Rubbish team and Epicly Loose.

I assume you don't like the US Team.

[SuperVegito]

I assume you don't like the US Team.

Knowing the history of soccer with US and England probably not. In my opinion, US wasn't really that bad at all in comparison to England. To be fair England was having a bad match, and US epicly losing was supposed to happen indeed on a normal day. But even with that 1-0 standing, it probably wouldn't have been a 2-0 and certainly not a 3-0. But I suppose this can only be a good thing. Usually when teams start rough they have a great tournament later. And I think that especially England could grow alot in this tournament and become stronger than they already are. For the US on the other hand, I do believe they'll survive the group stage, but nothing more.


Ghana - Serbia was great! It was fun from both sides, though it only ended in 1-0 for Ghana. I didn't really watch the whole match though but I heard the commentator screaming alot for Serbia, so they probably had alot of chances.


At the end of the week I will post the results of all the groups on here.


EDIT; I predict the Germans to conquer over Australia with a 2-1 win, as they don't have Michel Ballack anymore.

[kirant]

And I think that especially England could grow alot in this tournament and become stronger than they already are.
Not like it matters. We all know they'll choke in the important games XD

[VK-Skelton]

Ghana had a good game, but I don't think Serbia deserved to lose.
Watching the Germany-Australia game now, 2-0 at half time. Klose got the second goal, he only needs a few more and he'll be the all time World Cup top scorer, fair play to the lad.
Australia fan interviewed before the game said they wanted to meet England in the second round (1/2 Group C plays 2/1 Group D), to which I say, bring it on, as this is the only sport we can beat Australia at (against rugby and cricket).

Knowing the history of soccer with US and England probably not. In my opinion, US wasn't really that bad at all in comparison to England. To be fair England was having a bad match, and US epicly losing was supposed to happen indeed on a normal day. But even with that 1-0 standing, it probably wouldn't have been a 2-0 and certainly not a 3-0. But I suppose this can only be a good thing. Usually when teams start rough they have a great tournament later. And I think that especially England could grow alot in this tournament and become stronger than they already are. For the US on the other hand, I do believe they'll survive the group stage, but nothing more.
We're missing Barry, if he gets back next game it'll pick up. Or it should.
Fun fact: Italy drew 1-1 with the USA in their first game in 06.

Not like it matters. We all know they'll choke in the important games XD
Hargreaves isn't playing, get over it XP

[SuperVegito]

Not like it matters. We all know they'll choke in the important games XD

With Gerrard and Rooney being the top in Europe, they can't possible choke on an important game. But then again, all games in this World Cup are important.

We're missing Barry, if he gets back next game it'll pick up. Or it should.

They better be, England is one of my favorites and I'm asskissing =P

Australia fan interviewed before the game said they wanted to meet England in the second round (1/2 Group C plays 2/1 Group D), to which I say, bring it on, as this is the only sport we can beat Australia at (against rugby and cricket).


Australia got a draw against Holland. I hoped for better, but our players weren't that good back then. Not like they are right now. England, when being in a better shape, could easily defeat Australia.

[VK-Skelton]

Barry isn't our best player, but without him we don't play as well as a team. We need him holding midfield so Lampard and Gerrard can work their magic.

[SuperVegito]

Meh the Dutch sucked, and so did the Danish somewhat, to be honest I don't know because I never saw the Danish play.

But for Holland to win with 2-0 when they play bad, I suppose that's pretty good.

[VK-Skelton]

Holland needs Robben. They're a good side, but they didn't have a great game against Denmark.

Also, yaoi!
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1363/japancameroon.jpg

Watching the Italy - Paraguay game now, it's just started. It'll be interesting to see how Italy comes into this, as the holders.

[Droote]

I am watching Italy - Paraguay as well. I think we all know the outcome of this.

[VK-Skelton]

I am watching Italy - Paraguay as well. I think we all know the outcome of this.
Aye, Paraguay win.
1-0!

The only 'big' team who have really impressed so far have been Germany. Argentina, France, England, Holland and Italy haven't had good starts.

[SuperVegito]

Holland needs Robben. They're a good side, but they didn't have a great game against Denmark.

Also, yaoi!
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1363/japancameroon.jpg

Watching the Italy - Paraguay game now, it's just started. It'll be interesting to see how Italy comes into this, as the holders.

It's sad, but it's true. If we want to get far in this tournament we NEED Robben! But he's injured like oh mah lawd.

When I saw that on TV with Honda I knew this was going on /b/. It's on LSF, /b/'s little brother filled with Moralfags =D.

Hah, Italy is behind with 1 goal. It's funny because Italy will dominate this match soon enough. Just wait, they'll take all the punches from Paraguay, but when it comes to it they'll counter. After all they have the best Goalie in the world (My opinion).

[VK-Skelton]

It's sad, but it's true. If we want to get far in this tournament we NEED Robben! But he's injured like oh mah lawd.
I know he's in the squad, but does it look like he'll play soon? Barry's been injured, like I said, but they say he might make England's next match, so does it look good for Robben?

When I saw that on TV with Honda I knew this was going on /b/. It's on LSF, /b/'s little brother filled with Moralfags =D.
Haha, it was 4chan that I got that image from (not /b/ though)!

After all they have the best Goalie in the world (My opinion).
No, England does!

EDIT: Shit, they've taken Buffon off!

[SuperVegito]

I know he's in the squad, but does it look like he'll play soon? Barry's been injured, like I said, but they say he might make England's next match, so does it look good for Robben?


Haha, it was 4chan that I got that image from (not /b/ though)!


No, England does!

EDIT: Shit, they've taken Buffon off!

His injury isn't that serious but they handle him with 'satin gloves'. It's unbelievable that he made it through 6 months with Bayern Munchen. He gets injured easily. But he's a great player... I don't think he'll be playing in the group stage.


Talking abotu English goalie, on a program I saw the English headlines of the day. Well, you're not very nice for a player that makes a mistake.

[Droote]

Paraguay 1-1 Italy
I feel like it was an even match. Italy's goal was a lucky one as the keeper really is to blame. They had a few good chances though, at least in the last fifteen minutes.

[SuperVegito]

Paraguay 1-1 Italy
I feel like it was an even match. Italy's goal was a lucky one as the keeper really is to blame. They had a few good chances though, at least in the last fifteen minutes.

Can't disagree. And yes the keeper was totally wrong, but there were some defenders that should've gotten... I think De Rossi was the one who scored right?

[Droote]

Can't disagree. And yes the keeper was totally wrong, but there were some defenders that should've gotten... I think De Rossi was the one who scored right?

You're right, it was De Rossi. I was really expecting more from Italy, but needing a keeper to do a big mistake to get 1-1 is not good.

[VK-Skelton]

Talking abotu English goalie, on a program I saw the English headlines of the day. Well, you're not very nice for a player that makes a mistake.

Yup, that's about right.
Both Robinson and Carson were dropped as goalkeepers for mistakes in matches.
After Beckham got sent off in the Argentina game in the 1998 World Cup (which sent us out of the competition), when he got back people were hanging effigies of him from lampposts.

Let's hope that Brazil, Spain or maybe Portugal can do better than some of the sides we've seen so far.

[Droote]

Am I the only one letting those vuvuzelas get to my nerves? They're fucking annoying and managers and players are frustrated because they can't communicate with the other players.

[VK-Skelton]

Am I the only one letting those vuvuzelas get to my nerves? They're fucking annoying and managers and players are frustrated because they can't communicate with the other players.
You aren't, England's players aren't the only ones the English press are attacking.
But apparently the South African Football Association said that they weren't going to ban them from matches, which they had been considering.

[Droote]

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/5706/vm2010.jpg

[Swizzle]

I'm just happy that Japan won a game.

[SuperVegito]

Am I the only one letting those vuvuzelas get to my nerves?

Welcome to the club sir. Holland's last game didn't have alot of those things, but jesus christ when I had my TV on and I was downstairs I thought there was a freaking beehive in my room.

I'm just happy that Japan won a game.

You should be, especially against Cameroon! The goal was a lucky strike, but it doesn't matter when you win the game.

[nathangonmad]

Anyone else enjoying the world cup? =/

Oh and also:

http://images.newstatesman.com/new_york_post.jpg

[VK-Skelton]

Welcome to the club sir. Holland's last game didn't have alot of those things, but jesus christ when I had my TV on and I was downstairs I thought there was a freaking beehive in my room.

I remember van Persie got quite worked up about them at one point, yelling at the ref.

[Droote]

We have a football thread where the cup is discussed, as well as that fucking annoying vuvuzela.

The Danish manager actually claimed that the vuvuzelans were one of the biggest reason they lost against Holland.

[kirant]

Am I the only one letting those vuvuzelas get to my nerves? They're fucking annoying and managers and players are frustrated because they can't communicate with the other players.

Home field advantage XD. Better get used to it, other countries.

It's like being the away team (or even the home team in the latter case, as fans exist everywhere) of a Seattle Seahawks (NFL) or Saskachewan Roughriders (CHL) game. Fans make so much noise that verbal communication is impossible for the opposing team.

[VK-Skelton]

Who exactly is getting home advantage? This isn't Anfield, Bafana-Bafana only feature in a small percentage of games.

[kirant]

Who exactly is getting home advantage? This isn't Anfield, Bafana-Bafana only feature in a small percentage of games.

Close enough XD.

Back to the Roughrider example: it doesn't matter where the Grey Cup (CFL) is held. If Saskachewan is in it, it feels like home. In the rare case it's held in Regina, then they just make noise and make both teams feel like the away team.

[Droote]

I fail to see how anyone can take advantages of not being able to communicate with the players.

[kirant]

I fail to see how anyone can take advantages of not being able to communicate with the players.

CFL/NFL - Forces the team to resort to hand signals and can create havoc (Offside/false starts/not starting a play on time) on the snap (Resulting in penalties and lost yards. The Calgary Stampeders once took 100 yards worth of penalties from this...ON THEIR HOME FIELD. Damn Roughrider fans to a good job). Also, with limited time between plays, teams may be forced to call a time out to get everything organized.

[VK-Skelton]

Well, Portugal completely failed to make an impression, but fair play to New Zealand with the stoppage time equaliser.
Just got in, watching the Brazil - Best Korea game, Brazil haven't had the best of starts. Last time North Korea were in a World Cup was 1966, where they defeated the favorites, Italy, 1-0, and got through to the quarter finals. Maybe Brazil will be sent out of the competition the same way Italy were. Or maybe they, you know, won't.

[SuperVegito]

OH MY GOD! MAICON! 1-0!!!

[VK-Skelton]

Should be more.
Not by how they're playing, mind you, but if they hadn't left their brains at home, like France, England, Italy, Argentina and now Portugal seem to have.

[SuperVegito]

Add Holland to that.

Also I said that Brasil wins with 3-0 on my World Cup Poule, I believe that's the correct term?

[VK-Skelton]

I'm not sure what you mean by poule...

2-1, bloody good result for North Korea.

[kirant]

I'm not sure what you mean by poule...

2-1, bloody good result for North Korea.

http://nicedeb.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/kimjongil.jpg
North Korea best team ever!

Seriously though, good for them. If their country wasn't such a wreck, I bet they'd do better on a more consistant basis.

[Droote]

I bet the only reason the North Korean players joined the National team was that they were promised a couple of weeks outside of their country every fourth year.

EDIT: CFL/NFL - Forces the team to resort to hand signals and can create havoc (Offside/false starts/not starting a play on time) on the snap (Resulting in penalties and lost yards. The Calgary Stampeders once took 100 yards worth of penalties from this...ON THEIR HOME FIELD. Damn Roughrider fans to a good job). Also, with limited time between plays, teams may be forced to call a time out to get everything organized.

But on a football field, that wouldn't really count.

[kirant]

But on a football field, that wouldn't really count.
I dunno. There are always advantages you can draw. Something as simple as a sub in can become absolutely terrible if you can't here the bench.

[Droote]

I dunno. There are always advantages you can draw. Something as simple as a sub in can become absolutely terrible if you can't here the bench.

That would count for both teams, making the vuvuzelans a disadvantage for both teams.

[kirant]

That would count for both teams, making the vuvuzelans a disadvantage for both teams.
You'd think it'd be a disadvantage for the Seahawks and Roughriders being unable to hear jack all either. But, no.

Teams that get used to it though will take advantage of the noise. Developing a system of very effective hand signals and a wolf-pack mentality (knowing how everybody is going to act) would provide massive bonus to whatever team can develop them. Of course, this is an international event (with players that don't play together often), so the latter is rather pointless to mention.

[Droote]

You'd think it'd be a disadvantage for the Seahawks and Roughriders being unable to hear jack all either. But, no.

Teams that get used to it though will take advantage of the noise. Developing a system of very effective hand signals and a wolf-pack mentality (knowing how everybody is going to act) would provide massive bonus to whatever team can develop them. Of course, this is an international event (with players that don't play together often), so the latter is rather pointless to mention.

Those hand symbols are already enforced in football. It is when one player or coach wants to contact another player that it all fails. Especially the keeper who needs to communicate with the defenders, especially during free kicks and corners. What's the point of learning new hand gestures when the players don't know these gestures are being shown to them?

[7h3101im4idw0lf]

why hallo thar


All I'm here to say is somehow both korea and japan got through the first round, and brazil lost if i do recall correctly


turn of events

[Droote]

why hallo thar


All I'm here to say is somehow both korea and japan got through the first round, and brazil lost if i do recall correctly


turn of events

You're wrong. North Korea lost to Brazil.

[kirant]

It is when one player or coach wants to contact another player that it all fails. Especially the keeper who needs to communicate with the defenders, especially during free kicks and corners. What's the point of learning new hand gestures when the players don't know these gestures are being shown to them?
I said that it could be taken advantage of...not whether or not it was convinient/practical.

[7h3101im4idw0lf]

You're wrong. North Korea lost to Brazil.

Not that I care, regardless Japan got through the first round, probably the first and last time in history


but wait till you see World, Japan will get the Baseball classics 1st place for the fourth time in a row come the time!!!

[Droote]

Not that I care, regardless Japan got through the first round, probably the first and last time in history


but wait till you see World, Japan will get the Baseball classics 1st place for the fourth time in a row come the time!!!

Well, the knock-out hasn't started yet. It is still in the group play, and Japan has won the one match they played.

[7h3101im4idw0lf]

Well, the knock-out hasn't started yet. It is still in the group play, and Japan has won the one match they played.

and thats a record considering japan like dies every match


Japan isn't very good at soccer :-/


but that's alright cuz we got BASEBALL!!! *gets mit and bat*

[VK-Skelton]

Japan did quite well in the World Cup in 2002 (in which they played in... Japan).
South Korea did even better, getting to the semis, IIRC.

[kirant]

and thats a record considering japan like dies every match


Japan isn't very good at soccer :-/


but that's alright cuz we got BASEBALL!!! *gets mit and bat*

Hey. We're worse. The last time Canada entered any major event (don't count CONCACAF), there were several statisticians putting odds of Canada scoring a goal all tournement.

Turns out they didn't.

[Droote]

Japan did quite well in the World Cup in 2002 (in which they played in... Japan).
South Korea did even better, getting to the semis, IIRC.

South Korea has always been the best Asian football team. When godlikes as Ji Sung Park comes from that country, what do you expect?

[VK-Skelton]

Oh dear Spain.
So what have we learnt now that we've seen all the teams in action? Germany will win it, defeating South Korea in the semi finals, Spain failing to get to the last 16, and Clint Dempsey as the top scorer.
BECAUSE HE'S CLINT MOTHERFUCKING DEMPSEY.

[Droote]

Spain 0 - 1 Switzerland
This is really a shocker. Spain dominated the 90 minutes, ball possessing-wise and chances-wise. Switzerland did a splendid job to defend themselves and I feel they had 9 players inside the penalty field and one striker right outside throughout the whole game. Torres was disappointing. He has been injuried and may not be fully recovered, but his effort was not good enough today. And Fabregas not playing? Why?

[VK-Skelton]

Fabregas was recovering from injury I believe.
I think that the 2 best chances of the game both went to Switzerland, despite Spain having possession in the Swiss half for most of the game.

[kirant]

The Swiss lack high end talent in any sport, but make up for it by a stifling defensive system. They're entire offensive structure is "let's wait until the other team screws up...and make them pay".

[SuperVegito]

This World Cup just doesn't make sense anymore, including the fact that Germany won with 4-0.


Germany usually starts off stinky and rock throughout the the tourney, but even now they won with 4-0. Not good =P

[Droote]

France lost to Mexico with two goals? My, this World Cup is unconventional for sure.

[SuperVegito]

Yes, and in the first half I thought France was way better. Hernandez made a great turn for Mexico and scored the 1-0. The old guy Blanco scored the penalty which wasn't struck that hard.


Argentina won with 4-1 which is great. Absolutely amazing if you saw the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awjwvNDzvA4


EDIT; I love you guys. This thread is turning better and better with the day, so thanks! I'm having a great time!

[Tsukasa's_Lover]

WHAT A HORRIBLE CALL BY THE REF! I'm no soccer expert but i bo beleive that bear hugging from behind is not allowed in the sport and THAT'S what should have been called instead of USA offsides.

YGc6Kld7nzc

[nathangonmad]

WHAT A HORRIBLE CALL BY THE REF! I'm no soccer expert but i bo beleive that bear hugging from behind is not allowed in the sport and THAT'S what should have been called instead of USA offsides.

YGc6Kld7nzc

football* ;)

[Droote]

England 0-0 Algeria
Fuck, England played lousy. So many mistakes and no team play. The first half the English players nearly moved, both in defence and offence. "Oh look, the Algerian players are in our penalty box. Oh well, better just stand here and wait for the ball to come my way". England's mistakes nearly cost them a goal or two, especially the terrible pass from Terry to James. England must now win the match against Slovenia to qualify.
I know you've said this before VK, but it really showed that England just can't work together as a team, even though it consists of one of the very best players in the world. I mean, both Lampard and Gerrard on the field at the same time doesn't work. And Rooney, he nearly didn't show, and when he did, he played terrible.

Algeria wasn't much better, really, though I do feel that they came on England's side of the field more than they should. They did some mistakes as well that were potentially dangerous. Luckily for them, England did not manage to take advantage of those mistakes.

[VK-Skelton]

I know you've said this before VK, but it really showed that England just can't work together as a team, even though it consists of one of the very best players in the world with Emile Heskey. I mean, both Lampard and Gerrard on the field at the same time doesn't work. And Rooney, he nearly didn't show, and when he did, he played terrible.

ftfy.
I'm gonna play a central midfielder on the left wing!
I'm gonna build a team around a guy who hasn't played for 6 weeks!
It's 80 mins in and we're desperate for a goal, I'm gonna move our best forward onto the wing!
Fabio Capello, tactical genius.

Fair play to Barry, he was running the shop despite not playing since his injury, but my god was Gerrard playing like crap. Roaming all over the shop, Cole was the only person running the left wing. Yes, he was out of his preffered position, but for christssake at least try to stick to where you're supposed to be.
Courtesy of Football Manager 2010, England's formation in the game (ignore the numbers and, yes, I know I put Carrick instead of Carragher).
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3985/englandalgeria.png
We can't get a 4-4-2 to work, we need to either change formation (5 in midfield and Rooney up front) or drop Lampard or Gerrard.
Also I laughed when Carragher was booked. He's gonna miss the next game. We're onto our 5th choice center back against Slovenia.

[kirant]

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3985/englandalgeria.png
We can't get a 4-4-2 to work, we need to either change formation (5 in midfield and Rooney up front) or drop Lampard or Gerrard.
Also I laughed when Carragher was booked. He's gonna miss the next game. We're onto our 5th choice center back against Slovenia.

I've always wondered: Does a neutral (Or in this case...mid-field) trap work? In other words, would it work if you plug midfield and try to stall the offensive attack there? Granted, it'd prevent high numbers of your own club from going deep, and it would also prevent effective defense from attacks that go far into your own end, but it'd be a great way to choke up and remove all flow from the game. And maybe that's what England needs.

[VK-Skelton]

I've always wondered: Does a neutral (Or in this case...mid-field) trap work? In other words, would it work if you plug midfield and try to stall the offensive attack there? Granted, it'd prevent high numbers of your own club from going deep, and it would also prevent effective defense from attacks that go far into your own end, but it'd be a great way to choke up and remove all flow from the game. And maybe that's what England needs.

It really depends on who you're playing. If you're up against a team with good wing play, with players who run down the flanks quickly and cross to a target man in front of goal it can be bypassed. But playing several players in midfield helps you keep possession in the middle of the pitch, and that's often key to winning matches, not losing the ball to the opponent's attack. It worked well for Spain, having short passes with 3 in the center of midfield and 2 wingers, they were unbeaten for a very long time, European Champions, untill it all came undone agains Switzerland.
What several people have been saying is that as we have no good forward to partner Wayne Rooney, England should play 5 in midfield, so Gareth Barry can hold the midfield, protect the defense and link the defense to the attack, Lampard and Gerrard can play in more attacking roles, as they do for their club sides, and then 2 wingers. That's sort of what ended up happening here, only it left the left flank wide open, and neither Lampard or Gerrard seemed at all clear on their roles.

I remember someone saying that although 4-4-2 was the traditional formation for England, due to an influx of foreign players and foreign managers into the English Premier League, pretty much none of the players use it at club level, so they're not used to playing it.

I warn you, I am very tired, so that might have made little to no sense.

Well, that was a very long and dry tactical post, so to finish it off, FOOTBALL JOKES!
What's the difference between a train and a bus?
A football team don't have to bus!
What do Portsmouth FC have in common with David Cameron's underwear?
They've both been at the bottom of the Premier!

[SuperVegito]

Hm.. the big countries aren't doing that well. Holland is the second country that won 2 games, and they weren't playing well either. Japan played really well, and Holland didn't really put velocity in their play.

[kirant]

It really depends on who you're playing. If you're up against a team with good wing play, with players who run down the flanks quickly and cross to a target man in front of goal it can be bypassed. But playing several players in midfield helps you keep possession in the middle of the pitch, and that's often key to winning matches, not losing the ball to the opponent's attack. It worked well for Spain, having short passes with 3 in the center of midfield and 2 wingers, they were unbeaten for a very long time, European Champions, untill it all came undone agains Switzerland.
What several people have been saying is that as we have no good forward to partner Wayne Rooney, England should play 5 in midfield, so Gareth Barry can hold the midfield, protect the defense and link the defense to the attack, Lampard and Gerrard can play in more attacking roles, as they do for their club sides, and then 2 wingers. That's sort of what ended up happening here, only it left the left flank wide open, and neither Lampard or Gerrard seemed at all clear on their roles.

I remember someone saying that although 4-4-2 was the traditional formation for England, due to an influx of foreign players and foreign managers into the English Premier League, pretty much none of the players use it at club level, so they're not used to playing it.

It makes percent sense actually. If it's a case of the upper management staff not willing to let go of the traditional formation, then this may be a tournement where they have to learn to adapt. It may take all tournement (and an early exist), or they may learn it in the last round robin game, but they'll have to figure out that the fresh blood can't play the system given. The coaches have to play what the players want...or take more players from the same team who already have known synergy.

[VK-Skelton]

Apparently there's going to be a team meeting between the England manager and the players to try to work out what the hell is going on.
The entire World Cup is going crazy. Half of the major European teams (including favorites Spain) have lost a game already, England have drawn both their games, as have reigning champions Italy, who have drawn with New Zealand, the 2nd lowest ranked team in the tournament. France, the runners up at the last World Cup, are on the verge of being knocked out, and have now gone on strike (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8750302.stm) after striker Nicholas Anelka was sent home due to a rift between him and the manager.

Basically the teams are doing their best to ensure the South Americans win.

[Droote]

Apparently there's going to be a team meeting between the England manager and the players to try to work out what the hell is going on.
The entire World Cup is going crazy. Half of the major European teams (including favorites Spain) have lost a game already, England have drawn both their games, as have reigning champions Italy, who have drawn with New Zealand, the 2nd lowest ranked team in the tournament. France, the runners up at the last World Cup, are on the verge of being knocked out, and have now gone on strike (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8750302.stm) after striker Nicholas Anelka was sent home due to a rift between him and the manager.

Basically the teams are doing their best to ensure the South Americans win.

This World Cup sure is unconventional regarding winners and losers. The French players have now ended the strike however. Some places the standard is set as Portugal is whopping North Korea's ass. Three goals in seven minutes! EDIT: Ha! 7-0 to Portugal

[SuperVegito]

This World Cup sure is unconventional regarding winners and losers. The French players have now ended the strike however. Some places the standard is set as Portugal is whopping North Korea's ass. Three goals in seven minutes! EDIT: Ha! 7-0 to Portugal

Ronaldo gave his man of the match price to Tiago... I didn't think Tiago was that good though.


Lol, France. http://france.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/les-bleus-broke-my-heart-but-its-time-to-move-on.html



My favorite goal of the World Cup has to be from yesterday. David Villa owning 3 people and then hitting them high in the corner. Nice!

[VK-Skelton]

Despite a win against France, South Africa have become the first host to exit at the first round of the World Cup

[kirant]

Am I the only one letting those vuvuzelas get to my nerves? They're fucking annoying and managers and players are frustrated because they can't communicate with the other players.

I have a new response:
http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/A-Message-To-All-Vuvuzela-Haters.gif

[VK-Skelton]

Poor quality, but eh. MORE FOOTBALL SONGS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWZ2qT4N63I

EDIT: Huh, we've got a diamond formation today, with no wingers, Barry as the holding midfielder, Lampard and Milner in the center, and then Gerrard playing behind Rooney and Defoe.
EDIT EDIT: Well, we've either got that or a flat 4 in midfield again, with Milner on the right and Gerrard on the left again. The BBC pre-match coverage is filled with lies and deceit. I don't know what to believe

[nathangonmad]

1 - 0 to england ;)

[VK-Skelton]

And we won. Awesome. 2nd in group, forward to round 2. We don't find out who we're playing until group D plays tonight.
Anyone else see Milner and Joe Cole keeping the ball in one corner for a full 3 mins at the end of the game?

Also, BRIAN BLESSED.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnoz2gp6QrM

[Shanghai Alice]

Heheheheheheh...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

YAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

MIRACLE AT PRETORIA, ANYONE?

Yep yep! USA victory! That was AMAZING!

[kirant]

Heheheheheheh...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

YAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

MIRACLE AT PRETORIA, ANYONE?

Yep yep! USA victory! That was AMAZING!

Against the country superpower Algeria.

Wonder what the newspapers will be proclaiming...since their proclaimed their 1-1 game a Win.

[VK-Skelton]

Nice, England vs. Germany 2nd round, and then, if we win and they defeat Mexico, Argentina in the quarters. That's 2 of England's main 3 rivalries. What a pity Scotland couldn't qualify.
And Ghana have gone through, nice that they'll be some African representation in the 2nd round of the African World Cup.

[Droote]

I have a new response:
http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/A-Message-To-All-Vuvuzela-Haters.gif

Is that first dude wearing a KKK mask?

[VK-Skelton]

Hah! I called it! Italy go out 4th in their group, behind New Zealand, the lowest ranked team at the tournament!
That was the most exciting 15 mins we've seen so far at the World Cup at the end of the game, 4 goals right at the end, but my God, the gamesmanship of the Slovaks almost ruined it. First the keeper held the ball after the first Italian goal to prevent a quick restart, which almost ended up in a brawl, and then in added time they were dropping like flies, feigining injury to wind the clock down, which resulted in the game being prolonged by another 2 mins (excellent call by the ref, I wonder what country he came from to show such clarity of vision?). But all in all very exciting.

First time in history both the finalists from the last World Cup have gone out in the 1st round.

[kirant]

and then in added time they were dropping like flies

Seems to be pretty commonplace.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2njez39.jpg
http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Ahhh-My-Face.gif
http://upload.hrhr.se/soccer_actors.gif

[VK-Skelton]

Seems to be pretty commonplace.
[img]http://i46.tinypic.com/2njez39.jpg[/snop]
[img]http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Ahhh-My-Face.gif[/snop]
[img]http://upload.hrhr.se/soccer_actors.gif[/snop]

Those are isolated incidents, Slovakia had 4 players on the ground clutching their heads in 5 mins, for far less than any of those.

[kirant]

Those are isolated incidents, Slovakia had 4 players on the ground clutching their heads in 5 mins, for far less than any of those.

I know I know. It's just that it's more common than other sports, so it feels like a diving competition when I watch.

[Droote]

Hollywood next.

[nathangonmad]

^ Why cricket is better sport ;P

[VK-Skelton]

They dive all the time in cricket.
Need to stop that ball gettin away!

[Tsukasa's_Lover]

The American soccer coach is fed up with all the flopping.

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/bradley-punish-the-floppers--fbintl_dw-flopping062510.html

[kirant]

Caught snippets of the Spain-Chile game over lunch (Still going). Is it ALWAYS that bad in diving? Because I have caught at least 4-5 cases of acting.

There should be a Yellow Card for Unsportamanlike Conduct - Diving/Acting...and if there is, call it way more often.

[Droote]

Caught snippets of the Spain-Chile game over lunch (Still going). Is it ALWAYS that bad in diving? Because I have caught at least 4-5 cases of acting.

There should be a Yellow Card for Unsportamanlike Conduct - Diving/Acting...and if there is, call it way more often.

It really depends on the players. Some never fall down in pain unless they really are in pain, while others do it to gain sympathy from the referee. It also seems to be a case where some nations are more persistent with acting than other nations.

[kirant]

It really depends on the players. Some never fall down in pain unless they really are in pain, while others do it to gain sympathy from the referee. It also seems to be a case where some nations are more persistent with acting than other nations.

Let me put it this way: If you were to count the number of dumb acting cases in a game, how would the Spain/Chile match compare?

[Droote]

Chile 1-2 Spain
With 2-0 to Spain and a red card for Chile, I thought the game was over, but in the second half I feel Chile really fought hard. They ran a lot more than Spain, but then again, Spain usually plays in a mid-tempo untill they suddenly explode in an attack.
Chile was a bit lucky though. They did much good defence work, but when Torres went out and Fabregas in, there wasn't much between the second and a third goal for the Spaniards.
At '75 the game was over. Both teams were happy with the result and the game turned to a very boring state. Spain was in control, and they did exactly what they should do in that situation, so who can blame them?

Let me put it this way: If you were to count the number of dumb acting cases in a game, how would the Spain/Chile match compare?

I don't know if you saw the second half, but I didn't see a single acting case there. There were a bit more in the first half however, so altogether, I'd say the acting cases was in relatively normal level. The Chileans were a bit rough with the Spaniards, so that may have looked like acting for some.

[VK-Skelton]

Caught snippets of the Spain-Chile game over lunch (Still going). Is it ALWAYS that bad in diving? Because I have caught at least 4-5 cases of acting.

There should be a Yellow Card for Unsportamanlike Conduct - Diving/Acting...and if there is, call it way more often.
There is, simulation (i.e. diving) is against the Rules (capitalised because I'm Keith Hackett (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/11/you-are-ref-diego-maradona)). It's just difficult for the ref to call it sometimes.

You know, it was actually quite nice watching North Korea, because, having never seen the Prima Donnas of the Premier League, they never attempted anything like that, and were on the whole very sporting.
What a pity they played like utter numpties.

[kirant]

There is, simulation (i.e. diving) is against the Rules (capitalised because I'm Keith Hackett (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/11/you-are-ref-diego-maradona)). It's just difficult for the ref to call it sometimes.
Fair enough. Hockey has its actors too (see below spoiler). It's just that I see it a hell of a lot more often in soccer/football, so I start chuckling when I see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa4qPcekA1w

You know, it was actually quite nice watching North Korea, because, having never seen the Prima Donnas of the Premier League, they never attempted anything like that, and were on the whole very sporting.
Their goalie got "hurt" pretty easy though.

:(
Switzerland is out. So goes the only team I cared about.

EDIT - Best quote I've read about this so far:
This World Cup has turned out like World War 2! The French surrendered early, Italy changed their mind and don't want to be in it, USA arrive at the last minute and the English are left to fight the Germans

[Droote]

Hahahaha!

[nathangonmad]

pathetic england.

[VK-Skelton]

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1017/advicecapello2.jpg

[kirant]

Not like it matters. We all know they'll choke in the important games XD

Hm...I guess I was right.

[VK-Skelton]

Hm...I guess I was right.
That implies that we played well in the non-important games.
Or, indeed, (mentally) turned up at the tournament at all.

[kirant]

That implies that we played well in the non-important games.
Or, indeed, (mentally) turned up at the tournament at all.

They just don't know how to step up for the big games.

[VK-Skelton]

They just don't know how to step up for the big games.
They can do it well enough for Chelski/Manchester United/Liverpool/Tottenham

[SuperVegito]

They just don't know how to step up for the big games.

Same could be said to any country except for two. Germany and Brazil.

Though Holland never won a World Cup, they just might have a chance this year. But I think your statement, Kirant, is best to be applied to Holland.


Holland and Brasil both won and will be facing each other in the next round, the Quarterfinals.

The fixtures so far would look like this;


02/07/10 16:00 (4 PM CET); Holland - Brasil
02/07/10 20:30 (8:30 PM CET); Uruguay - Ghana
03/07/10 16:00 (4 PM CET); Argentina - Germany
03/07/10 20:30 (8:30 PM CET); ? - ?

[kirant]

Same could be said to any country except for two. Germany and Brazil.

Though Holland never won a World Cup, they just might have a chance this year. But I think your statement, Kirant, is best to be applied to Holland.
My statement is meant to apply to countires that always look good entering the elimination rounds, but always do worse than they should. Let's put some context to it:

The Saskachewan Roughriders, in an 8 team league (4 entering the playoffs) rarely make it to the playoffs. For many years, they've been known as the inept team. And even if they do make the playoffs, they're generally a game and out. However, that's what the statistics generally say they'd do. So they show up as expected.

The San Jose Sharks on the other hand are a highly decorated regular season team. In a 30 team league (16 making the playoffs), they have almost always made the playoffs and have collected many President's Trophies (Best regular season record). However, in 17 years, they've only made it to the semi-finals a grand total of 2 times (And never passed the semis). The first time, they were eliminated by a major underdog and the second time, they were swept (4-0 in games won) (Both times, they had their President's Trophy in hand).

This ineptitude during the eliminations is what I mean as not showing up for the big games...by comparison, I could say that there are some teams that stumble around in the regular games, do just well enough to get in, and shock everybody as they go deep into the elimination rounds.

[VK-Skelton]

Japan have been eliminated in the first penalty shootout of the tournament, fair play to Paraguay, they're going the furthest they've ever gone.
All of the Quarter Finals now have South American representation, CONMEBOL's best representation at a World Cup outside of the Americas.

[SuperVegito]

Japan have been eliminated in the first penalty shootout of the tournament, fair play to Paraguay, they're going the furthest they've ever gone.

Eliminated indeed, but did you see the quality of the penalty from Honda? Like really, he had so much pressure on his shoulders, especially since the one before him missed and he had to score. He kicks it like it's an ordinary kick. Good sirs, he'll be playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona or Manchester United soon enough.

[kirant]

Japan have been eliminated in the first penalty shootout of the tournament, fair play to Paraguay, they're going the furthest they've ever gone.
Never liked Penalty Kicks. It feels like whoever can keep their nerves calm enough to hit the corners the goale isn't guessing properly wins. Why not just slowly take players off? Like get down to 8 or 7 and have some wide open action.

[VK-Skelton]

All my life I've served a lie. Because you're not there, God, are you? You've never been there! YOU DON'T EXIST! (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/fulham/7862114/Fulham-poised-to-make-move-for-Sven-Goran-Eriksson-to-fill-gap-left-by-Roy-Hodgson.html)

[furball]

look at the bottom of the page (http://www.google.com/search?q=world+cup&rlz=1I7DLUS_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7)

[Droote]

look at the bottom of the page (http://www.google.com/search?q=world+cup&rlz=1I7DLUS_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7)

I don't get it.

[SuperVegito]

I don't get it.

It says GOOAAAAL instead of Google.


Never liked Penalty Kicks. It feels like whoever can keep their nerves calm enough to hit the corners the goale isn't guessing properly wins. Why not just slowly take players off? Like get down to 8 or 7 and have some wide open action.

That's a good idea but it wouldn't work out. After a period of 90 minutes or maybe 120 minutes (I don't know when you're planning to get them to 8 players), players will be exhausted. Letting them play on a field that's going to turn bigger because you'll take away 6 players in total would require them to work harder than they actually did. The coach is permitted to sub only 3 players. 5 Players are screwed, and it doesn't matter which player you take away because it'll affect the team. Creating a bigger field isn't such bad idea, but it's not going to work. And penalty kicks might not be fair, but it actually is. It's a combination of skill and intelligence, which you can both train by practicing and by playing Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training.


All my life I've served a lie. Because you're not there, God, are you? You've never been there! YOU DON'T EXIST! (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/fulham/7862114/Fulham-poised-to-make-move-for-Sven-Goran-Eriksson-to-fill-gap-left-by-Roy-Hodgson.html)

Poor VK. But you got Dempsey so it'll be alright. He'll score them like he did against Juventus. Besides you've got that rich guy, who's name I forgot.

[Droote]

It says GOOAAAAL instead of Google.


I'm obviously blind.