World Cup 2010

[Skykid]

Englands chronic goalkeeper problem comes back to haunt us once again, my gran could've saved that weak shot from Dempsey.

at least the goalkeeper of algeria (the next opponent of england) is equaly clumsy: your gran could've saved that shot today as well

Yep, that will make Green feel slightly better (but not much.) Felt a little sorry for him, he had several good saves prior to that, but he should have really covered that shot better.

[neorichieb1971]

This WC has been boring really. Not one player has really stood out yet. I want to see some exciting football.

The slovenia v Algeria match was booooooooorrrrrrring.


Are we not going to see some 4-1 games? or 3-2?

[Super Laydock]

This WC has been boring really. Not one player has really stood out yet. I want to see some exciting football.

Opening matches are mostly "we shouldn't lose already" kinda matches.
Yes most games were utterly boring so far, but I must admit the argentina vs nigeria match was nice to watch, not in the least because of Maradonna on the sideline and some great actions by Messi.
could have been 4-1 or so really.

Btw, Ghana vs Serbia was not too bad to watch, and a deserved win for Ghana.

[Icarus]

Nice one Germany, for pwning with style. Take note, England, this is how you start a World Cup.
Looking forward to Spain's match now.

[CIT]

Wow, great game today! If Germany can maintain the pace, the concentration, and the excellent teamwork then I think they will be able to compete with anyone.

[Jockel]

Wow, great game today! If Germany can maintain the pace, the concentration, and the excellent teamwork then I think they will be able to compete with anyone.

I wasn't even watching the game or the news and could tell Germany scored 4 goals.
You just hear it because the guys around here go batshit insane over every goal. xD

[GaijinPunch]

I want to see some exciting football.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noOHdTQd6H8

[1up]

I thought Germany would be really hurting without Ballack. Guess I was wrong? I cant see anyone in that group stopping Germany as they stroll onto the quarters

Very fun match to watch. Poor Oz

[Skykid]

Germany are ice cold as ever.

Poor old Aussie's, I thought their sending off was a bit much tbh.

[Super Laydock]

Really nervous and poor game by Holland against Denmark.

If not for the Danes' own goal it would have been very difficult.
Van der Vaart should be left out of the team from now on, such a poor performance.
Van Persie could go as well.

Elia & Afelay were great subs, and Huntelaar should get a chance as well.
Let's hope Robben gets fit enough to play soon as he really makes the difference...

Anyway, 3 points are in the basket. We should survive group phase now....

Best team so far (hurts to say): Germany! (and a joy to watch).

And someone please ban those vuvuzela horns.
They are enormously annoying....

[Super Laydock]

Lucky Japan!....

At least it was Honda who scored... (underrated player)...

[Skykid]

Japan vs Cameroon turned out to be one of the more exciting matches so far this WC - that ain't saying much though. Cameroon turned it on toward the end, but they should have been doing that all match.

[GaijinPunch]

Lucky Japan!....

Lucky? I thought they played quite well. For the first half, anyway. Cameroon barely got a shot off until the second half. Or... the beer was stronger than I thought. Anyway, Holland is up next. Will be hard to find a spot to sit in out in public.

[Super Laydock]

Lucky Japan!....

Lucky? I thought they played quite well. For the first half, anyway. Cameroon barely got a shot off until the second half. Or... the beer was stronger than I thought. Anyway, Holland is up next. Will be hard to find a spot to sit in out in public.

Sure they played quite well, but the goal was the result of awful defending.
Cameroon had plenty chances to equalize, and Japan only one to extend their lead.
there's no doubt both teams are the lesser parties in the group.

And Holland played already before this game... so maybe the beer is stronger than thought....

[1up]

Really nervous and poor game by Holland against Denmark.

If not for the Danes' own goal it would have been very difficult.
Van der Vaart should be left out of the team from now on, such a poor performance.
Van Persie could go as well.

Elia & Afelay were great subs, and Huntelaar should get a chance as well.
Let's hope Robben gets fit enough to play soon as he really makes the difference...

Anyway, 3 points are in the basket. We should survive group phase now....

Best team so far (hurts to say): Germany! (and a joy to watch).

And someone please ban those vuvuzela horns.
They are enormously annoying....

we tried to hold our own but that goal in own net ruined everything

[GaijinPunch]

there's no doubt both teams are the lesser parties in the group.

I thought one of the guys from Cameroon ran freakishly fast... like he was some type of lab experiment. The guy w/ the hair "done up".

[core]

NEW-ZEA-LAND
NEW-ZEA-LAND
NEW-ZEA-LAND

[Super Laydock]

New Zealand really should thank the Kiwi Gods for this draw.
But they did better than I expected for sure.

Atm Portugal in trouble against Cote d'ivoire, who are quite good.

[Dragoforce]

Wow, the Koreans are really giving Brazil a hard time. Those guys sure put their hearts into it.

[Skykid]

Wow, the Koreans are really giving Brazil a hard time. Those guys sure put their hearts into it.

One of the best games of the tournament so far. I knew they'd give it everything they had, and I was loving Brazil's fear of being unable to force a goal. Inevitably I knew that Brazil would win, but when the Korean's thundered in that goal in the closing minutes I was feeling they're hope and willing for a second.

Still, losing 2-1 to Brazil in the WC finals ain't bad at all. Shame it wasn't screened live in North Korea though, I think they did the place proud.

[null1024]

Saw the match, the Koreans did put a good match considering who they were going against, and that goal really put them up.
The Brazilians did a little worse than normal, but not too far off their normal standard. Defense was a *little* iffy at times when it came into play, though.

Expected this to be like Germany and Australia, and I was delightfully disappointed, it wasn't a total shutout!
Also, yes. This was a better match than any of the others this WC.

[GaijinPunch]

Shame it wasn't screened live in North Korea though, I think they did the place proud.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 61796.html
I'm more curious if the team is executed in South Africa or if they wait until they get home.

[Dragoforce]

Something that I found very uplifting was the courtosy of the Korean players. They never played rough and they always excused when a situation occurred. Their goalkeeper even applauded Brazils first goal. North Korea might be the worst dictatorship in the world today, but the way the team played really caught my heart.

[CIT]

Holy shit! What happened to Spain there? Beaten by Catenaccio?

[Icarus]

I am disappointed.
Defensive mental lapse leads to a scrambled goal.
No real attacking threat, and players incapable of shooting straight.
Passing seemed lacking in sharpness, accuracy, venom and creativity in the final third of the field.

[GaijinPunch]

I should've gone w/ my Swiss friends to watch this game.

I realize that most of the time when the favorite loses it's b/c they beat themselves, but that's the whole point of the sport: performing when it counts. Same as these fucking games we play all the time. If I played my best I'd get person record-contenders most of the time. We all know how that goes.

[neorichieb1971]

I should've gone w/ my Swiss friends to watch this game.

Do you have friends from every country . I envisage aliens coming down from Space and you saying "Ahh, my friends from Planet X are here"..

The world cup is shaping up to be one of a surprise. I agree that more heart and soul is coming from the underdogs. The favourites all seem like they are on holiday.

[Dragoforce]

The power of tradition.

Spain always fail at the world cup. The european champions always fail at the world cup. Spain is the european champions. You do the math.

[Skykid]

I'm more curious if the team is executed in South Africa or if they wait until they get home.

That's cold man.

[GaijinPunch]

Do you have friends from every country

My arch-nemesis (the guy that does my job at my company's main competitor) is Swiss. We used to work together when we were one company, and still hang out quit a bit though. Locally in Tokyo I could probably find friends and support England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Serbia (are they even in it?) easily. Spain, Mexico, and the Netherlands would take some searching.

That's cold man.

Don't shoot the messenger.