FIFA World Cup 2010, Serbia VS Germany, my nails ain't gonna survive that Options

[milanius]

WOOOHOOO FOOTBALL, BEER AND PEANUTS!

I mean, commence the intelligent, meaningful discussion about that funky fresh thing we Europeans call "Football" and Americans pronounce as "Soccer".

I just watched Argentina VS Nigeria. Lots of misses, even more hits on target by gauchos, but Nigerian goalie was cool and calm. Sadly, what decided the game was a early goal by unlikely candidate - Gabriel Heinze, the defender, from a corner kick. Other (wasted) chances by Argentinians were mostly courtesy of Messi, who DID NOT play on his level today.

[milanius]

Bloody hell... I survived that game with Germany, but... bloody hell.

[Olen]

I didn't see that coming I'll admit.

Still I'm busy celebrating England's second draw (against Algeria), it's bizarre how many people here either own or bought something with Algeria written on it. If they go out in the group stages the media might even start covering news again and not just football...

This post has been edited by Olen: Jun 18 2010, 09:34 PM

[Burnt Sierra]

That was horrible. How any misplaced passes??!! Pass to the players in the WHITE shirts FFS! And what the hell does Rooney expect - "Nice to see your own fans booing you." You've just played bloody dreadfully, and they've paid a fortune to travel halfway around the world to support you - I think they've earned the bloody right. Arrogant little tosspot.

[milanius]

So far, I have to say that this has been The Most bizarre WC ever (from the ones I saw, at least). The damned vuvuzelas, the odd, light ball with insane trajectory, the surprise results... only teams I see as strong favorites right now are Argentina, Brazil and (despite the loss from us) Germany. As for England, well... odds are grim.

Even the game with Germany, now that I look at it - extremely insane. We won by a stroke of luck, after ref's hard criteria drove Close off the field. Even so, I knew that pressure from 9 men would happen and it was that same blind luck that saved us dozen times, along with a missed penalty. On our side, woodwork stopped us from breathing more calm until end of the game.

This post has been edited by milanius: Jun 20 2010, 03:07 PM

[Destri Melarg]

Okay, I’m about to rant here. My apologies in advance if I touch upon topics that have been spoken of ad nauseum, but this is a tirade that can no longer be kept inside:

First, I admit that I am an American. I am ashamed to say that I was brought up believing that football is a sport that you need your hands to play. When I was younger ‘soccer’ as a sport was relegated to the back of the sports page just behind the results of the Westminster Dog Show (and if you judge simply by our facility with the sport back then it is easy to see why). I saw my first World Cup in ’94 and I was simply amazed at the level of sheer artistry displayed on the pitch. I have been a fan of the beautiful game ever since. Having said that, there are a few things about this World Cup that I believe warrant further comment.

- The vuvuzelas: Are they silly? Perhaps. Are they annoying? Absolutely. But FIFA knew what they were getting into when they awarded the World Cup to South Africa. I have heard the arguments that, since they didn’t even manufacture the ridiculous things until the early part of the 21st century, that they don’t strictly count as a cultural icon. My response to that is that I wasn’t aware of any statute of limitations to such things. Everyone complaining about them needs to just get over it. They are a cultural icon because South Africa says that they are a cultural icon. Look on the bright side, at least they don't have a 'rally monkey'!

- And the Academy Award goes to: Any @#&*% player that falls on the pitch and rolls around like he was just the latest victim of the mysterious sniper in the stands! For crying out loud! I understand the argument that they do it because they don’t trust the referees to see everything without a little help, but COME ON!!! Fouls you should sell . . . I’m all for that, but incidental contact? Suck it up! If I see another player collapse and roll on the pitch holding his nose because he took an inadvertent elbow to the chest I am going to throw my TV out of a window! I think they should have a film critic sitting in the press booth who judges each 'performance' when seen using replay. If he/she judges the performance as lacking, it should result in an automatic yellow card for the bad-acting offender

- Note to FIFA: Some of your referees are morons! It’s okay, studies show that at least eighty percent of the people in any profession are morons. You are not unique. Your employees find themselves in a pressure packed situation in which, quite literally, the weight of the world is upon them. They are bound to make mistakes from time to time. Bad calls happen in any sport. Players and coaches know it, fans know it. Pretending that your referees are completely infallible and that over a billion people suffer from a form of collective glaucoma does not ingratiate you to the world!

To my fellow Americans still upset about the tie with Slovenia I can only offer up this: Maybe if we showed up for the first half of the game we wouldn’t have been in a position to be jobbed by the referee!

- To my esteemed British colleagues: At least you’re not the French! That sound you hear over the vuvuzelas is the laughter coming from pubs all over Ireland! How many teams in this draw can boast that their fitness coach throws like an eleven-year-old girl?! And, incidently, ‘Calamity James’ is the greatest nickname EVER!

Okay that’s it; I’m done for now, thank you milanius for making this thread and giving me a place to vent. I have to go, the second half of Spain v Honduras is about to start.

This post has been edited by Destri Melarg: Jun 21 2010, 09:54 PM

[Olen]

Half the refereeing problem is that FIFA refuse for some wierd reason to use any technology or to make the referees able to do their job. Both rugby and cricket (the only other team sports I know anyhting about) use video referees if the ref wasn't watching or can't decide. Yes it can slow things down a bit but it's easy enough to think of ways to limit its use (like the claiming team having to request its use and only having a limited number of wrong calls before they can't use it).

They now mic the referee so why can't I listen to what he says like I can in rugby? There's not reason not to broadcast it. And as for players giving the ref lip, there's a very simply solution to that again transferable directly from rugby - a card. A few more bookings for diving and introducing the prospect of bans for dives which were missed at the time but caught on camera, along with a healthy dose of man-up cream would sort the rest.

In short though the constant bending of the rules and complaining ruins the sport and leaves a spectator event about as interesting as darts.

Oh and Destri, you'll find that about 15% of the British population are fed up of the ever-present predictions of a glorious victory for England before the event (and excuses after) and have become ardant Solvenia supporters since thursday.

This post has been edited by Olen: Jun 21 2010, 11:41 PM

[Destri Melarg]

I guess that matches the 15% of the US population that are fed up with the belief that an event has to take place in the United States in order to be great. Having said that, I just can’t bring myself to root for Algeria.

[Burnt Sierra]

Oh.

My.

God.

Well, Starge will be happy, but that was one of the worst England performances I have ever seen.

Awful, truly awful.

[Black Hand]

Roy and Moss at a game.

You fellas enjoying watching men in shorts running around chasing a ball?

[minque]

Apparently they do! hehe, But I must admit that I also watched Germany vs England....and I'm very happy Germany won! (No offense Burnt...but still I'm half german so...)

[Bolzmania]

Payback from 1966 haha!

[Burnt Sierra]

Payback from 1966 haha!

Yeah, rub it in

I wasn't even born then, surely I'll see a good English performance once in my life - it's been 36 years, it can't be that much longer coming...

[stargelman]

Like... uh... huh?

4:1 against England?
4:0 against Argentina???

What's going on?

Edit: Should I worry about the next two games? Maybe, but right now I don't. I really really don't.

[Alexander]

Edit: Should I worry about the next two games? Maybe, but right now I don't. I really really don't.

Well, if your team plays against Spain as it has against Argentine (first match of the tournament I saw in it's entirety en so far still the only one) I'm guessing we'll have another Holland versus Germany match in the finals.

I wonder if Holland will finally be able to beat Germany. Judging from our game so far, I'd venture to guess no. But then I was also very sceptical if we would be able to get past Uruguay, so what do I know eh :-)

[milanius]

Like... uh... huh?

4:1 against England?
4:0 against Argentina???

What's going on?

Edit: Should I worry about the next two games? Maybe, but right now I don't. I really really don't.

that's what I wanna know, I wake up from 41 Celsius fever and diarrhea and find out Panzers swept their way trough to semis... best of luck tonight, you'll need it - Spain is the new Italy

[Burnt Sierra]

Damn, Spain are GOOD! They just don't give the ball away...

Well, bad luck Germany - although I thought you played well - but it's a Spain vs Holland final. Which will be interesting, as neither side has ever won the World Cup before. And like most Englishmen I know, I'll be cheering on Holland. Best 'o luck!

[Bolzmania]

I was really dissappointed... Well, it's not the end of the world. Let's hope Holland wins this thing!