World Cup 2010 Discussion Thread (may contain spoilers)

[YoungMan]

I'll try to keep it professional for the Brits on the forum, but I was "surprised" at the lack of skilled play by the English squad. I'm thrilled for the Germans, I thought their play was inspired. The passing was simply top notch. I know they're young, but their still my pic for the finals. With Brazil prob looking at the bracket.

[KFCarter]

The young Germans looked sharp and England looked lead-footed...
Argentina looks dangerous up front and vulnerable in goal...
Uruguay looks solid at the back and Forlan and Suarez aren't done scoring...

but...FIFA and the referees.... just look awful.
Perhaps they should just look the other way
The games might be better without them!

[Lachlan09]

English pundits on TV last night after the game were going on and on about the disallowed goal, saying that had it stood, making the score 2-2, England would have been likely to win. Are they delusional or what ? As someone here said, Germany were younger and faster. The English looked heavy-footed and showed their age.

As far as “that goal’s” concerned, it looks to have been beyond the line by about a foot, so it was indeed a goal, if you were in the line of sight. However (a big however coming up from me !), us old yins might recall the World Cup Final in 1966, when a similarly red-shirted England (Geoff Hurst to be precise in extra time) shot at West Germany’s goal and the ball hit the underside of the cross-bar and bounced down to the goal-line. The goal was given, despite the ball not entirely passing the goal-line as required by the laws of the game. England went on to win the match and the World Cup.

When I arrived at the office today, an English colleague said to me “Well, that was a good result for Scotland last night !”. He used to live in Scotland and well knows how Scots react (and who they support) when England are playing any team !

When I lived in Indonesia at the time of the UEFA Euro 1996 Championships , I remember my brother in Scotland telling me that he and his wife went through to their nice residential caravan at Castle Sween, Loch Sween, Knapdale, Argyll, for their vacation. When they went to the on-site restaurant and pub for a meal, it was the day of the England-Germany match. The place was full of Scottish vacationers waiting for the match to start, all in total party mood. The place was decked out in German flags, German beer was half-price for the day, the Scottish waitresses were wearing blonde wigs with pig-tails and German-style costumes and serving German-style food. Even the Scottish owner and bar-staff were in Lederhosen ! Now that’s what I call commitment to supporting “anyone but England”. Germany won that match and the Castle Sween celebrations lasted into the night ! (any reason for a booze-up !)

[Lachlan09]

Good result for Holland last night !

Goed Gedaan Oranjes !

[ThistleDown]

Breaking news just in.

The England team's flight back from South Africa was refused landing rights at Heathrow because police expressed concern for the players' safety on the ground. The flight has been re-routed to Glasgow where a hero's welcome is anticipated.

[artificer]

Breaking news just in.

The England team's flight back from South Africa was refused landing rights at Heathrow because police expressed concern for the players' safety on the ground. The flight has been re-routed to Glasgow where a hero's welcome is anticipated.

But, just to get one in for the English side, isn't "a heros welcome" in Glasgow still just a headbutt? -just kidding.

I do feel bad for the Brits. They were just plain out-played. It's true that bad calls can be heart breaking and demoralizing - Just ask the Americans, who've lost how many points (either their shots or bad goals allowed to stand) to bad calls? They still just couldn't match up.

Personally, I think Rooney is hiding how badly his leg was injured. He basically wasn't even on the team. If you contrast this with his performace in the UEFA Champions League pre-injury it's like night and day.

I haven't finished watching the Argentina v Mexico game yet, but it appears that 2010's legacy of cr@ptastical calls is continuing here as well.

[CDNSushi]

Actually, I watched a video clip of the Italian team arriving home.... Brutal!!! They got heckled by half the airport.

Anyway, GO ORANJE!!!!

(Don't mind if Argentina does well either). THat would be one for the history books if Maradona makes good on his promise to strip down naked and run around the Obelisk in Buenos Aires.

[CDNSushi]

Nederland Oh Nederland
Jij bent een kampioen
Wij houden van Oranje
Om zijn daden en zijn doen

[Tony]

Nice win by the Dutch yesterday. I'm predicting a German win over the Spaniards, and a repeat of the 1974 final with the same result (lapses into memories of Cruyff and Beckenbauer, Muller, the good old days).

[auld argonian]

All a' this aside...maybe the US and UK teams should consider a US tour to help promote the game in the States.

Sure they'd get a good turnout...


Best

AA