South Africa Soccer world cup thread!

[Feuerfalke]

Do we want footbal to be a competitive sport? If so, then players must decide the outcome, not poor judging by referres, no matter how exciting it might see to someone.

 

You talk about a completely equal and fair soccer, but soccer will never be an exact competitive sport like the Formula1, for example, simply because each game, has different settings and there will never be two matches exactly the same, not even daring to speak about all teams involved.

 

It's unfair, it's drama, it's live. And that's what FIFA wants it to be. And that's what's keeping us discussing about it, about Wembley, about all those little incidences. Here and at your local pub. That's what makes these games so emotional. You can't measure soccer with a stopwatch. And if you did, you'd take something away from it. That far I've got to agree with him.

 

 

Edit: It was Günter Netzer - sorry I couldn't remember his name in the first place.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Feuerfalke

[Pilotasso]

Media is making such a fuss...nothing of this is new. Portugal crashed out of Euro 2000 and world cup 2006 for panalties that did not exist (by the same team). The case in 2000 was surreal. the referee didnt see anything but changed his mind after the oposing team players argued and yelled with him for 5 consecutive minutes. Mistakes? bah thats every day damage. ;)

[Pilotasso]

Holland VS Slovakia is underway. Given the difference between the two I estimate at least a 2 goal difference win for holland.

 

Later, I think Brazil might win with a 3 goal difference agains chile.

[winz]

Bad, too bad :(

But better team won today ;)

[sobek]

This argument certainly has something to it as well. Why was Wembley one of the most discussed soccer games in Europe so far? Why is exactly this game so much of a myth that it helps attracting people to todays games?

 

Point taken, but then the referee bashing needs to stop. I'm really pissed at the media for blowing these mistakes way out of proportion, it's bordering populism, not professional journalism. As you stated, mistakes like these were made in the past, it's nothing new to the sport, neither is the error rate.

Edited June 28, 2010 by sobek

[Lucas_From_Hell]

:D

 

We're only warming up :P

[Pilotasso]

Holland VS Slovakia is underway. Given the difference between the two I estimate at least a 2 goal difference win for holland.

 

Later, I think Brazil might win with a 3 goal difference agains chile.

 

haha perfect prediction safe the slovakian wild card. :)

Edited June 28, 2010 by Pilotasso

[topol-m]

^^^ :notworthy:

 

Great play from Seleção. Argentina vs Brazil will be an interesting match if it happens...

[spinter]

I'm sorry Slovakia ahhahahahahahahaha!!!

Edited June 28, 2010 by spinter

[winz]

For my country, this world cup was a historical sucess and the best appearance in a big football event in my country short history.

For your country, it was once of the worsts appearance, with one of the most goals recieved in one game.

Who do you think got more reasons to laugh? :)

[Pilotasso]

Guys, no country pissing contests here please...

[Grimes]

Gotta love the headlines

 

[Pilotasso]

^^^^^yes its pitifull. How can anyone be robbed with such a loss difference? its ridiculous...

The goal was disallowed unfairly yes, but the team was mediocre letting down its country and fans. Whoever says England would win with that goal should be smoking only tobaco given the gaping difference of perfomance of both teams. The comentators before and during the game were speaking as if england had a devine right to win the tournament.

 

EDIT: another intelligent article. Just take a look how the UK media pays respect for other teams...:rolleyes:

 

 

On another note we shall see what other 2 unproven teams can do tonight. Given the historic rivalry Portugal VS Spain is going to be huge and hot. Whoever exits today will do it with heads low. Lots in stake, you guys have no idea at all. The press will be all over it afterwards. So dont miss it. :)

 

 

Paraguay should win over the venerable Japanese. FYI I consider paraguay to have played better and more consistently than both Portugal or Spain. We shall see what happens today and on the next round. :)

Edited June 29, 2010 by Pilotasso

[MoGas]

ok Spain vs Portugal ......... :) Beer is cold already lets rock.

[Pilotasso]

Well, lets hope it doesnt get as far as Netherlands VS Portugal destruction derby galore in 2006. Portugal is right now its own worst enemy. I pray for no red cards tonight or we are donne.

 

Ill emphasize again. The 2 teams are largely unproven. Spain is not a big as people paint it, and Portugal has recently suffered many changes and looked skidish on qualifying for this WC. Well see. But they do share feelings of heavy rivalry spurred by historic reasons. Explosive mixture.

Edited June 29, 2010 by Pilotasso

[Pilotasso]

Game just started. I already see the Portugal coach tactic of playing defense. thats not going to work. This is unnatural style for Portugal. More attack please.

[Pilotasso]

Half time. My appreciation is that spain does attack very well, fortunately their finalization is confirmed weak like on the other matches. They attacked the most times so far, but Portugal has finally started to impose its rhythm and had its share of opportunities as well. Casillas looks scared. :devil_2:

Edited June 29, 2010 by Pilotasso

[MoGas]

LoL they great looser of the game is Ronaldo, I don't understand why he gets so much money.

[Pilotasso]

What did I say about playing at defense and those red cards hmmm? :)

 

Superb first half but woefull second.

 

Heads low for portugal, not only failed to expose Spains weaknesses but also lost head. And thats how the cookie crumbles.

 

Cheers! :)

[topol-m]

Bad day for Portugal and Japan :(

[Pilotasso]

Just like Portugal sailors found Japan 500 years ago, so will the portuguese team find the japanese at the airport. :D

 

No guts no glory.

[Groove]

Congratulations Spain.

 

I missed Portugal rushing for goal(s) after they got the one from Spain.

[Pilotasso]

Congratulations Spain.

 

I missed Portugal rushing for goal(s) after they got the one from Spain.

 

The team defended, this is not the natural play for Portugal, which leads me to:

 

LoL they great looser of the game is Ronaldo, I don't understand why he gets so much money.

 

Everyone expects Ronaldo to be some sort of Jesus Christ, he is not, hes not even the best, but on the other hand he hadnt much chances of doing something as the team didnt serve him from the back. Portugal Just didnt attack enough times. After those 30 minutes of the first half Queiroz switched back to defense mode with the first substitution. Utterly fatal mistake.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

It's the worst error you can possibly make in football: go against the style of your players.

 

Portugal, as well as Brazil, is famous for an offensive and dynamic style.

 

When you try to put an offensive team in a defensive way, the result is always ridiculously poor. For Brazil, it seems that Dunga is slowly learning it, but for Portugal I'm afraid it's too late :(

 

And about Ronaldo, he's no God. No player can solve a game only by himself. Argentina has the same problem. Everyone (including the coach) thinks the whole thing is about Messi, and that's stupid. In a smaller scale, you also have Netherlands and Robben, Brazil and Kaká, Germany and Podolski, Uruguay and Forlán...

 

You need to watch and avoid that. When out of 23 players you can't win if 1 doens't play well, you'll have problems.

[X-man]

Brazil out! A little bit surprising... Congrats NL! :)