Is there already a thread for the World Cup 2010. We had some truly epic threads for futbol, including last two World Cups, on this board. With only about 30 days to go, now is the time to post your predictions, prognostications, comments and, of course the hyperbole this board is know for.

Of course the first monger related scandle has already reared it's head;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/22/zahia-dehar-pictures-phot_n_548613.html

I predict that I won't give a shit about soccer this year or any other year.

USA is going to show the UK how to play the game. After that, it's all gravy.

I was just wondering if any of the CH membership where planning on coming out to ZA for the world cup?

I'll buy you 5 all-nighters in AC is the usa wins the world cup!

I wouldn't count the USA out, they have a good team, but my money is on Brazil.

BTW how much interest is there in the world cup in the USA?

Porker:

Do we have to register somewhere to take advantage of your generous offer, or are we all automatically registered?

If I'm eligible to win the prize, I may actually for the first time in my life give a rat's ass who wins the World Cup.

(Message edited by LAguy on June 03, 2010)

Brazil? They may have their weakest team in decades, and Kaka went down with a calf injury last week.

Interest in the World Cup in the US is at a fever pitch. I expect the TV audience to number in the dozens!

USA is weak at the forward position. Not having Charlie Davis, and Brian Ching. It will be tough for them to score.

I see them finishing second in their group, and then facing Germany in the round of 16. Fly home the next day, and start dreaming about 2014 in Brasil.

IMO, USA has less than 1% chance of winning.

Spain and Argentina on paper but Holland will win the world cup....loaded with scorers from the Premier League and a great goalie.

Well, it's about a week to go before the first game, and as I predicted last month, I still don't give a shit about soccer. However, judging from the putagrams I've been getting in my inbox, all the garotas are dead fucking serious about the games.

I like it when someone goes out on a limb and makes bold predictions.

LAguy, I think I was referring to Don Marco, should've included his name in the post.

I'll buy YOU a couple drinks, though, for sure!

if u.s.a survives the second round they have done a bit more than one could expect, italy always good in world cups,brasil always a top team,england always world champions until the games start.

Final teams italy -brasil

Knowing very little about soccer, I will predict the winner and the exact final score of the championship game.

Spain 2 - France 1.

Cat, thats as good as any other prediction I have heard.

The ZA Soccer Federation promised the South African team R1 mil ($130 000) for each goal they scored. To cover the cost they bought a lotto ticket because they have more chance of winning the Lotto then ZA was of scoring.

If USA wins, hell, I'll buy everyone a round in AC It's not about winning, it's about a respectable showing and playing well as a unit.

I think Spain will win. I'm routing for USA. Once USA is out, my team is England.

I don't know if I've ever felt this much apathy for a "major" sporting event in my life. Wait. I take that back. Is the NHL still playing?

EA

I think this investigative article from The Onion sums it up for most of us:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nations-soccer-fan-becoming-insufferable,17553/

Nation's Soccer Fan Becoming Insufferable

WILMINGTON, DE—As the 2010 World Cup approaches, friends, family, and coworkers of 32-year-old Brad Janovich are growing less tolerant of the exuberant behavior of the United States' lone soccer fan.

"Who's got World Cup fever?" Janovich asked his officemates at Credit Solutions Friday, failing to notice their silent stares as he reported for work clad in the sole Team USA jersey sold this year. "I do! I've got World Cup fever!"

"Check out this World Cup wall chart I just bought," added Janovich, who is the only American citizen currently aware that the World Cup begins June 11.

According to sources only peripherally aware of the World Cup, Janovich's infuriating behavior first became apparent during a Super Bowl viewing party last February when he repeatedly used the phrase "American football" to describe the action on the field. In recent weeks, Janovich has also begun referring to the supposed suspense involved in choosing the players for the U.S. "side," and has struck up several extended but one-sided conversations concerning figures such as "Kaka" and "Ronaldinho," generally mystifying and alienating everyone he has come into contact with.

Yesterday Janovich sent an office-wide e-mail about the controversy surrounding the new World Cup ball, and the message was instantly deleted by all of his coworkers.

"Decorating his cubicle with World Cup stuff is fine, I guess," said coworker Greg Lafferty, who endured several elevator rides in which he politely listened to the lone American soccer fan evaluate international matchups before realizing that Janovich was discussing the outcomes of soccer games and not impending wars. "I myself have a Yankees pennant at my desk. But Brad has all these scarves draped all over everything. They hang into other people's areas, and when they ask him to move them, he responds by explaining what the scarf means. It's driving us nuts."

"Last week he was talking about how 'footy' was really heating up and asked me to come over for the 'friendly' against Turkey," said Janovich's friend Beth Gleason, who has known the only projected U.S. viewer of this year's World Cup broadcast since college. "I love Brad, I really do, but when he talks like that I want to punch him in the goddamn face. Especially because, when I asked him what he was talking about, he just said the same thing again, only slower. I was like, 'Brad, don't talk like that. People don't talk like that.'"

With only a week to go, Janovich's singular, almost unconscionable degree of soccer fanhood has only intensified. Credit Solutions employees reported that a crude "World Cup countdown calendar" appeared on the break room wall Friday, the same day that everyone in Janovich's division arrived to find him wearing Umbro soccer shorts and placing a World Cup bracket on every desk.

In addition, coworkers reported that it is not uncommon for Janovich to spontaneously start humming or singing repeated snatches of songs evidently composed exclusively of the sound "olé" while seated at his desk.

"I had absolutely no idea what 'FIFA South Africa 2010' meant," said Lafferty, who made the mistake of asking Janovich to explain. "When he told me that's where the soccer games were and that the time difference meant he'd be getting up early to watch them, all I could think was that maybe he'd be too tired to talk about them afterward."

Janovich has also extended invitations to everyone he knows to accompany him to the Newgate, a pub in downtown Wilmington that will be showing the World Cup live and is favored by British expatriates.

"It'll be nice to finally be among other fans," Janovich said. "And speaking as a fan, it's really great to see Hotspur and Arsenal and Aston Villa supporters all come together for the Three Lions, though I'm hoping the Yanks can channel the spirit of the 1950 shock horror. But that's not as important as uniting in our love of the Beautiful Game, as any football [sic] fan will tell you."

Newgate regulars agreed that Janovich's enthusiasm was unique.

"That American fan? He's harmless, I guess," bartender and lifelong Tottenham supporter Martin West said. "Though he gets pretty tiresome with all his footy rubbish, and he can really get annoying when we're all just trying to watch in peace. Thank Christ he's the only one."

Really now... if you don't give a rats ass about football (soccer), then why waste time posting in a thread discussing it? Leave it to us enlightened few.

If Spain wins I have to run my fat ass around the track for 2 1/2 miles. At 1/4 mile a MONTH, that's STILL looking PAINFUL!

COME ON, SPAIN, DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO!!!

through my 512 years of life, I bet I've devoted exactly 14 hours thinking about kickball (soccer).

But in the next month, it's looking like 2 hours a day...

GO USA!

The metro from the airport to central Johannesburg (Sandton) starts running tomorrow. It’s a big deal, it’s the first subway in Africa. The interesting thing is that after the airport its first stop is Marlboro, a high crime area so I guess the criminals can now rob tourists on the train and be home in time for dinner. In all fairness it looks like there is great security and it will reduce the trip from the airport to Sandton to 15 minutes compared to 45 minutes by car.

And on a mongering note, the influx of working girls from around the world has not materialized. There has been an influx from Africa but no Brazilians. Hell, the only reason I supported the World Cup to start with was the promise of more East European, Asian and South American working girls, I was mislead I was lied to!

Spain or Italy will win it. It's the Spain teams tourney to lose. USA will advance out of their group but after that would be icing. Brasil has a tough group and is fielding a really young team. I'm thinking they are giving the young guys experience for the World Cup in Rio in 2014. That doesnt mean they will be push overs this World Cup but I do not see them going deep into the tourney.

No way will Italy win it or even make it to the quarterfinals. Look for Holland to win it all and Mexico to make it to the quarterfinals for a rare occasion.

Being German, I grew up with soccer, but eventually lost interest as I spent more time in the US. Now that I have lived in Brazil for awhile I once again picked up that interest. The reality is that soccer is an exciting game with some true athletes. Watching the World Cup - especially in Brazil - is a treat when surrounding by true fanatics and fans. I just posted the Rio specific activities in another thread....

Even if you are not a soccer fan, it is hard not to get caught up in all of the excitement - IF - you will be spending time during the World Cup in any country other then the US.....

As we get closer to the games its getting really amazing here in ZA, even the organizers say they have not seen anything like it .

South Africa has gone football crazy. Yesterday there was a warm up game for Portugal and the stadium was near my home it took me , a drive that usually takes 10 minutes , an hour. They were literally dancing in the streets and blowing their Vuvuzelas and going nuts.

I’m going next week to see Mexico play France, it’s a corporate thing, I will have to support Mexico…I hate the French.

Everybody hates the French -- even the French. Parisians hate the rest of the country and vice versa.

Why I'm rooting for Brazil in the World Cup...and why I'll be in Rio during the World Cup!








Thanks to KJ for pointing out these pics

Mongering and Football (soccer) mix like rum and coke. Of course the French team are embroiled in a scandal involving and underage prostitute and the leading scorer and player for South Africa was released after he bought TWO hoolers back to the teams hotel during practice. But I got my hopes up when I heard that South Africa was expecting 40,000 hookers to arrive; alas, event the best plans.....

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/debunking-world-cup-s-biggest-myth--fbintl_lc-prostitutes061010.html

And now for some predictions.

I think Mexico will break some hearts in South Africa: 2-0, They have too much firepower. In fact, I am tagging them to win their Group over France and Paraguay.

I believe the US will surprise the Brits, who, if all the English papers are to be believed, still have little or no respect for what many English newspapers refer derisively as a "pub team"

about 5 of the starters on the US team, also start for English Premier League teams. Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard are actually considered stars. Dempsey is up for a "goal of the year" in England. Landon Donovan was loaned for 10 weeks to Everton who were sinking in the EPL in the space of 10 weeks, Everton. with Donovan leading them, beat Man U. Chelsea and Aston Villa, tied Arsenal and lost to Liverpool. After he left, Everton lost several more times and missed qualifying to Europe for next year by one point. He took apart Chelsea's Ashley Cole (and broke his leg to boot!!)

Tim Howard is considered by many to be among the top three Goalkeepers in the EPL.

Many thought the US would be in troble in the scoring department, having lost one of the rising stars in Charlie Davies, whose speed and finishing complemented Jozy Altidore's strength in fron of goal. Altidore lead the US in goals in qualifying despite missing 3-5 games through injury. He is fit and halthy now.

The US's secret weapon are the Brits unfamiliarity with the US newest strikers. Edson Buddle, who teamed with Beckham in 2008 to score 15 goals for the MLS's Galaxy and was on a tear scoring 9 goals in 6 games before being called into the US training camp. And we have Herculez Gomez who lead the Mexican League in scoring, the first time an American ever did that. Robbie Findlay was brought in for his speed. He is not as good or powerful as Davies was, but he stretched the defense. Opposing speedy strikers and Buddle, Findley and Altidore all have good speed and the Brits defense against this is it's week underbelly. With Donovan, and Buddles experience working with each other at the LA Galaxy, they will make a dangerous pairing.

The only fly-in-the-ointment in the US's plan is it's defense. Virtually all the defenders are coming off injury and the question is will they be fit and ready. We will know Saturday. The Brits have a problem with Rio Ferdinand out with injury, Ledly King with two gimpy legs is his replacement. His speed and durability are suspect.

It's expected that the UK will start with Wayne Rooney who scored 35 goals last year, but he has a temper and is prone to red cards. They also have a 6'7' striker in Peter Crouch. The US was stung in 2006 by a Czech striker named Jan Koll, who also was 6'7". The US brought in 6'5" Clarence Goodson to reinforce the 6'5" Oguchi Onyewu, the US's big centerback! This team defense should neutralize Crouch's effectiveness!

This gives rise to the adage:

IT WILL TAKE 11 YANKS TO BEAT A TWO METER PETER!!


US 2-1

If the US and Mexico both win their groups and win their game in the round of 16 (the US facing either Ghana,Serbia or Australia, all beatable), the the US and Mexico will meet again in the quarter-finals. This means the US has a pretty good chance(if they beat the UK and win their group) to get to the semi-finals of the WC!!!

Im changing my picks after seeing Bwanas pics. Spain-Brasil final. Spain winning.

Uhh, that 5th pic down Bwana is not Au Natural. You can even see the needle sites, likely an import from R. Augusto Severo.

Greece cooked by South Korea. Ranked higher than US in FIFA rankings. France can't score against Uruguay. If US can find a way to win today, they can go a LONG way???

Are you guys still yabbering about that ridiculous girls' "sport" soccer that some fools try to legitimize by calling it football, futbol, or whatever? Sheesh!!

Not withstanding the above, I got dibs on the third one down from the group of Bwana's pictures.

My son asked if soccer players are required to join the Screen Actors Guild. Does anyone know the answer?

The worst thing about being a soccer fan? Having to tell your parents that you're gay.

EA

I was having an early lunch in San Fran after flying out this morning and I had them turn the TV from soccer to TBS so I can watch part of the Nats-Indians game. Two homos walked in to have lunch too. You know how I knew they were homos? Well, it wasn't really the fact they were holding hands and acting extremely faggy, it was the fact that when they sat down one asked to turn over to the soccer game.

The baseball game stayed on until I left. I'm sure it's on the soccer game now, and those two guys are probably on their way home to lick each other's assholes after eating their vegetarian pizza.

Stereotypes? Perhaps, but two guys holding hands and smooching and ordering vegetarian pizzas and asking to turn off a Stephen Strasburg pitching performance to watch a bunch of Eurotrash run up and down a field is about as gay as can be. Even in California, even in San Fran, it was bad.

yes baseball is very exiting see one guy trow it and another try to hit it a very manly sport indeed.

With regard to Bwana_dik pictures above, yes it’s good to be in South Africa at the moment. Then South Africa scored the first goal of the world Cup, you could literally feel the earth move. Even I was cheering which was weird because I lost my one and only bet, that South Africa wouldn’t score any goals during their short world cup experience.

As for your “dibs” Laguy sorry too late... again;-)

Hmm, since the US population appears to be the only country not interested in Soccer, I guess it is the only country without a completely gay population.... one big happy gay world outside the US, I guess.

On a side note, the US actually did not do all that bad with the 1-1 score against England. I thought they were going to get their ass kicked by England, but it did not work out that way.

There's interest - I think the England game drew over 13 million viewers to ABC, no idea how many Mexicans and such watched on Univision. The opening game drew almost 3 million viewers on ESPN, with a lot more than that on Univision. Of course, that's out of a population of 307 million, so while better than the past, still not that great compared to anywhere else in the world.

From what I'm seeing, there is more and more interest in soccer in the US. However, most of it is still with hispanics and other immigrants. The white, black and asian populations are very slowly increasing interest.

I remember when we had World Cup games in DC back in 1994, it was all very new to most of us. Isawal, remember, we didn't really start having high school soccer teams until the 80s, and really the mid to late 80s at that. Most Americans over the age of 35 or so were never exposed to it much as a kid, except for hispanics. The younger generations have had much more exposure and have played it in PE during school and of course the ubiquitous soccer leagues in the suburbs now. But, for the most part, they drop it by the time they're out of college. MLS still draws shitty ticket sales relative to any other major sport.

I was in Havana this weekend and dropped by the Habanos lounge in the Melia Cohiba for the game. Mostly Brits and a few Swiss. I was the only American. I got the impression Cubans were interested as well...

Cat, to the extent that you should be commenting on the manliness of any sport outside of croquet or lawn darts is a whole different discussion...you are just lucky you were able to brandish your lipstick sized mace/pepper spray so one of those San Francisco fags were not tempted to walk you outside and kick your ass...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVGtB9j7QCg&feature=player_embedded

Sorry to burst your bubble but most tickets sold out side of South Africa (and we are the host nation so the gay-dar think does not apply) was in the USA.

On the other hand considering how empty the clubs are there might be some truth to this.

As Dennis Miller would say, "Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but..."

The fact is the US has other favorite sports; baseball, football, basketball, golf[is it really a sport folks], etc. The rest of the World is slowly embracing these, conversely the US is doing the same with soccer.

you forgot hockey, a real man's sport where men fight one on one when an issue comes up...

.........sheeeesh.........

I rank soccer in the top 2. Right behind American Football.

Sorry to break the stereotype, but planting myself somewhere for 3 hours watching a regular season basketball, hockey, golf, and baseball game ranks somewhere just below sleeping in terms of excitement. Any yes, I enjoy playing all the above quite a bit.

Eric Wynalda sounding off on Cristiano Ronaldo being the world's biggest faggy fraud and saying Portugal living up to their birthright of sucking ASS in the world cup:

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/video/ssworldcup-19013964/ivory-coast-portugal-analysis-20345901

One can only imagine being in the stadium listening to all the revelers, led by none other than our own Isawal.

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on June 16, 2010)

The RSA team threw their game today. The players are so distraught by the fan noise that they decided it's better to lose in Round 1 than have to play a fourth match.

Ok, all you soccerheads want to make your sport more enjoyable? Consider these rule changes:

1) Get rid of the offside rule. Make everybody guard everybody all over the field. That will certainly boost scoring so we don't have to snooze through 90 minutes of 0 - 0 crap.

2) If you get fouled, you have to be the one who takes the penalty kick. Make everyone on the team have some offensive skills. It's like fouling Shaq or Dwight Howard in basketball - they don't get designated shooters, now do they.

3) If you flop and you have to get medical "help" you gotta leave the game for X number of minutes. While there are certainly some violent collisions in soccer, the number of floppers on each team warrant a whole new category of Academy Awards.

I put soccer players in the same athletic class that I put marathon runners - great athletes NOT skilled athletes. In all the other major sports, there is a tremendous amount of skill required to be successful. Not soccer. I get a HUGE kick out of the crappy Mexican play-by-play guys who analyze the 4 shots on goal per game by producing 3D replays and talking about how they should've aimed for low corner instead of upper, etc. In reality, these players are just blasting away at the goal and HOPING they get lucky about 90% of the time.

I'm sure if I could actually stomach watching an entire game, I could think of a couple of other changes to spice it up, but why waste my time?

EA

Soccer athletes not skilled? After you master the basic ball-handling skills, try putting an opposite spin on the ball (so it doesn't fly beyond the goal post) while running full speed between two guys that will do almost anything to stop you. Then tell me that doesn't require any skill.

I know lots of Americans complain nothing much happens in soccer, but just imagine what a european thinks of baseball as a comparison. He sees a bunch of guys standing around in a field chewing tobacco, spitting, and scratching their balls. The batter takes forever between every pitch with "practice swings" (do soccer players make practice kicks during the game?), and shifting his weight a half-dozen times until he's comfy. Then the umpire holds off the pitch for a few seconds for some unknown reason. . .

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy baseball but this idea that soccer is boring because "nothing happens" is simply bogus. It's just you didn't have a soccer upbringing. If you're in your 40s or 50s and never had much exposure to soccer, chances are, you're never going to like this game.

Maybe if people actually understood the off-side rule they could at least appreciate why the games are usually low scoring (because it's really damn hard to score a goal while not being off-side!), and maybe even that people are not just "running around kicking the ball for no reason." It does take some background and upbringing to understand and appreciate this game. Just like it takes some background and upbringing to understand the nuances of baseball and all its peculiar rules that keep that game interesting.

Having said that, the MLS can certainly experiment. Eliminating the off-side rule for a month or two would certainly get a lot of media attention, it might even educate Americans as to why soccer is the way it is because of that peculiar rule.

I think though it might backfire; it'll turn the game more into basketball, with everyone trying to run a "fast break" style game in the hope to score easy goals.

Then once the goals become easier, and thus less meaningful, you take away a lot of the drama in the game. Soccer fans love the game BECAUSE the goals are so damn hard to make!

I do agree that the acting that goes on with every minor hit needs to be addressed. It's gotten ridiculous over the past several years.

I will also say soccer is not very fun watching at home alone. Just like it's a group game, it's definitely better to watch in large groups: at a bar or in the stadium.

I'm convinced if people tried watching a pro-level game at a stadium, they would be impressed how their attention was fixed on the field throughout most of the game and how quickly those 90 minutes seemed to go. Compare that to a 2&1/2 to 3 hour baseball game with constant breaks every half inning or pitcher change.

I will also say soccer is not very fun watching at home alone. Just like it's a group game, it's definitely better to watch in large groups: at a bar or in the stadium.

So it's like NASCAR? No wonder I don't like it!

EA

The constant breaks in baseball are essential for the fan experience. They allow the fan to (1) go get another beer and (2) deposit the previously consumed beer in the urinal, all without missing any action. In soccer, if you leave for a moment to get or deposit your beer, you may miss the only meaningful event of the game. Which leads soccer fans to such charming actions as pissing in their empty cups and pouring them on the fans in the seats below.

Have to agree that soccer players are extremely skilled athletes, but I also agree with EA that there are too many floppers. I've already seen countless replays from the current WC showing guys taking dives who were not even touched. They roll around on the ground and give the impression that they might die. Compare that to baseball. The player who gets drilled by a 93 mph fastball will do everything in his power to pretend that it didn't hurt. Rule #1 is "don't rub the spot where you got hit." Soccer players would do well to man-up a bit and quit acting like a bunch of hairdressers.

As we speak, I'm at a bar in Naco,Sonora. with some friends for the France-Mexico game about to get underway. To add spice, I've decided to wear my "Les Blues" jersey!

With Mexico's win today the party is on.

It will be very difficult for Mexico not to advance in this competition.

I found it interesting that Mexico was the betting favorite in our local books. I'm guessing that was not the case around the World.

Sampson,

Ask them what they think of the last time they advanced back in 2002.

France -105
Mexico +220
Draw +190

BTW, Adios frogs!!!

The town's really called "Naco"? THAT is FUNNY!!!

Bullitt, those lines were not the lines offered here.

It was Mexico even(+100)
France +160
tie +230

(Message edited by sampson on June 18, 2010)

http://www.theonion.com/video/soccer-officially-announces-it-is-gay,17603/

Yesterday I went to my first world cup game Greece vs. Nigeria in Bloemfontein, normally a 3-4 hour drive from Johannesburg it took 6 hours each way on the bus. I was traveling with 2000 Greeks, and no I am not Greek but it was a party on the way down and after Greece won it was a major party on the way back. Although it was at one of the smaller stadiums (only a 40 000 seater) the match was well organized and well run, I was impressed. I didn’t feel unsafe at anytime and had a great time. As I am not much of a sports fan I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the experience although it was frigging freezing, I did take my camera with me and I think I got some good shots once I have thawed out I might post a few.

FYI Greek girls... really cute.

2000 Greeks on one bus? That's a freakin' big bus!!



EA

I wouldn't sit 12 hours on a bus for ANYTHING !! It might ruin my long term potential.

CFK


(Message edited by copperfieldkid on June 18, 2010)

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on June 18, 2010)

The US game today is a prime example why most Americans don't like soccer.

1) The Slovenian guys were flopping all over the place. A US player brushes their face with a hand and they fall down and roll around for 2 minutes as if Mike Tyson circa 1988 landed a haymaker on them. You can argue it's the lack of scoring but for me at least, it's the pussy bullshit that makes the game unbearable.

2) The shitty ref. The ball bounces off of the US players face and maybe hits his hand on the rebound. He gets a yellow card for a handball? Oh, and the 3rd goal that was waived off - zero fucking explanation. It was a shitty call, and the guy didn't even explain what the penalty was. For all we know, the goat herder's family got bombed by an F-16 or something and he just felt like ripping the US off.

So, pussy players and non-accountable 3rd-world refs who are ripe for taking payoffs. A great combination.

The Mali ref is history. FIFA announced that after a review, they will draw and quarter him...er, not allow him to ref anymore games. FIFA does not like high profile mistakes by their refs.

Great, but the US is still out 2 points, Slovenia still keeps a point it shouldn't have and the guy who got the handball yellow is sitting the next game.

Be it the IOC or FIFA, these international sports bodies are simply fucked as long as they publically scream for equality while in reality are just crony political organizations. I honestly think we'll see the US deemphasize these events.

The US manages to get hosed by bad ref calls in almost every WC.
The worst was when the US played Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2002 WC. Greg Berhalter had a pointblank shot into the goal. only to have it blocked by a German defender with HIS ARM who was INSIDE the goal. The linesman couldn't see if it went over the line for sure (it did, the replays show) and the REF mysteriously not only didn't allow a goal, he didn't even award a penalty kick or issue ANY card.

Today in the Australian game against GHANA. The Australian defender had the ball hit his arm while standing in front of the goal mouth,he was red carded and sent off, Ghana had a PK and scored, for almost the identical infraction.

The refereeing in football is woefully substandard outside of Europe. S.A. has some good refs, but even they routinely get things wrong. The MLS in the US is a little better but not much better than Asia. Africa is SOOOOOO bad, they have to have special classes for the African refs, and as we have seen, still doesn't work

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Mainstream American sports fans pay zero attention to soccer because of shit like this. FIFA and especially the European soccer clowns look down on the US teams since "Americans aren't serious about soccer and don't know how to play it". So, it's easy to screw our guys because they know 100 million Americans aren't going to scream murder over it. So, even less Americans give a shit since we'll get screwed over eventually in whatever tourney comes along.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the only team that doesn't flop around the whole game are the US team.

Only about 4 million watched yesterday's game. Admittedly, it was in the morning on a workday, but Univision had better ratings for the Mexico-France game. So there is a lot of truth in that Americans just aren't into soccer. I watched parts of the England and yesterday's games, but I wouldn't even consider watching any of the others. I'll be in Brasil next weekend so I'll do the usual game watching there since there's little choice in sports.

Look at this guy from Ivory Coast. Walks right into a Brazilian player and flops like he's been shot.

http://mundoido.net/video-de-kaka-agredindo-jogador-e-levando-cartao-vermelho

It's ridiculous. This is a SPORT? It just makes the whole goddamn game look gay. No wonder Americans don't take it seriously.

Oh, and the ref's call? Red card for the Brazilian he walked into.

Ludicrous.

Today I finally decided to take a look at a game--Brasil vs. Ivory Coast--and turned on the TV somewhere in the middle. I swear within about 30 seconds I saw two players flop onto the ground and start crybabying like some friggin' two-year-olds trying to get some attention. After a couple of minutes I changed channels without having compromised my status as a committed soccer non-fan.

And who says the French can't take a joke?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/20/jean-louis-valentin-franc_n_618675.html

Actually, the Ivory Coast player covered his face like he was shot but got only a slight elbow from Kaka and it was in his ribs. He was actually stupid to even do this acting job as Kaka will miss the game against Portugal. In essence, the Ivory Coast player is actually helping Portugal go through the next round. It may happen that none of the African teams advance which will be great for avoiding crazy flops, dives and acting jobs for which the Africans are notorious for...

For a country that doesn’t support soccer there seems to be a lot of yanks about. Generally well behaved when compared to their European and South American brethren but they seem to be having a good time anyway.

They are also enjoying the opportunity to patriotic with out the risk to life and limb, there are cars driving around with American flags flying from the windows and troops of American fans walking around Sandton City (the local mall near where I live) with their team flags flying . So far to my knowledge there has not been any anti American incidences. One of the strangest sights was of a group of American and Algerian fans posing for a group photograph, even the French have been reasonable well-mannered…well for frogs.


El_apodo, come on we where not all on one bus...there where atleased two.

CFK, I only have one thing to say about the twelve hours on the bus.

Free beer and great greek food.

I watched the Brazil - Ivory Coast game and the IC players are truly thugs. I think that once they realized they could not win, they just wanted to take out their frustration. They were intentionally cleating Brazilian players and trying to injure them. Then the ref fell for such an obvious acting job and gave Kaká a red card. First the US gets robbed and now this.

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=650072

Isawal,

glad you had a good time, you deserved it!

CFK

Ivory Coast robbed themselves. By getting a red card to Kaka, Brazil will be without their best playmaker and the glue that holds them together against Portugal. Brazil is already through but most teams would rather play the #2 seed than the #1 seed.

Portugal Allez!

(Message edited by blazers on June 21, 2010)

Isawal said:
“For a country that doesn’t support soccer there seems to be a lot of yanks about.”

I read that the prior to the start of the games, the US had purchased more WC game tickets than any other country outside of South Africa. Guess all the real soccer fans actually went there because there are not a lot around here.

H1

.

the real pictture of the stadium egnore the above picture.

the fans.

A great show of sportsmanship, French-style:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/raymond-domenech-refuses_n_621639.html

Only the Mexicans would actively gear up to face Argentina in the World Cup.

Oh, and losing their group means most-likely avoiding the USA...

The French team was sent home economy class! This is how their local soccer federation showed their displeasure. I think that’s a case of cruel and unusual punishment to have to travel cattle class on Air France.

Wow, three teams composed of Africans bomb out of the group stage on the same day - South Africa, Nigeria and France.

Isawal, being serious, the African teams aren't doing well at all, in fact several have really underperformed. I would have figured they - except for Algeria - would have had an almost home-field advantage playing in front of huge African crowds. Did the South African fans generally root for Ghana and Cameroon and the other African teams?

Talking about leaving it late. The US was about 50 seconds from the end of it's World Cup with having the ignominy of going home undefeated, not losing, but not winning either. All the good work in holding England, a WC favorite to a draw, coming back after 2 goals down to draw, was going down the drain. Then, a miraculous goal, and the US is through to the knockout rounds.

The US will play Ghana, whom they lost to at the last WC, but played terrible and lost on a PK. Should the US win, they will play the winner of the Uruguay/S. Korea match. If the US will prevail there, and it is entirely doable, these are not the favorite teams, the US would be through to the semi's !!!! The toughest teams (and the favorites) on that side of the draw are Italy and the Dutch. Should the US lose that game they would still play for third place!!

On the other hand, The English will play Germany, the winner of the Mexico and Argentina game and then most likely Spain in the Semi's. So most likely Germany,Argentina and Spain. That would have been the US's path had they been second in their group.

I know I'm way ahead of myself here, but the US seems to have gotten the "luck of the draw" in this WC.

Cat
Actually there was a hell of a lot of support for the local team, they where just playing so far above their class. South Africa was in the world cup as the host nation not because we qualified. Before their first game there was a parade and over 200 000 supporters turned out.

Johannesburg on Fridays is still like Bangkok with everyone wearing a yellow shirt. Sadly that’s one of the very few similarities between the two cities.

Now Italy gets kicked to the curb. After either Germany or England lose their match, half of the big guns from Europe will be history. And Spain isn't a lock to advance out of their group either.

So what gets the prize, weed smoking or tapas eating?

I guess first things first, I'm rooting (to the extent I can root for a soccer team) for the Dutch.

Sadly tapas and girls with under arm hair won.

Although it the ZA world cup has been praised as the best yet for me it failed in the most important category...NO Brazilian working girls (at lease at any of the clubs I visited).

Where’s the 100 000 working girls from around the world that where supposed to invade ZA? Out side a few girls that would be more Jags’ taste then mine. It was the same old, same old at all the clubs. On the bright side, prices actually came down during the world cup and most of the clubs where quieter then usual.

I love soccer but Americans hate it because of the aweful diving that goes on in the matches. Iniesta and Xavi are two of the best players in the world and there is no reason for the pathetic diving they did in the Final. I do realize that the Catalans love to dive in Barca matches but on the world stage, it just ruins the sport. I know that Latinos think that cheating is ok if you win but Americans dont think like that and this constant acting and diving needs to be stopped before the game gets ruined. Funny how all of the Euro teams except Spain and Portugal dont even know how to dive....guess who the Latin Americans learned how to perfect their diving?

That match was pathetic. Iniesta doesnt get touched and jumps to the ground and then waves his hand in the air begging for a yellow card...guess what happens? The dumb fucking ref buys it and awards a second yellow which makes a red card and ruins the game. Not to mention, the goal scored by Iniesta was off of a long throw by Casillas when the ball should have been in the corner for a corner kick for HOLLAND. The free kick by Holland prior to that deflected off of two Spaniards and the ref didnt catch it and allowed Casillas to catch the Holland players off guard and they were running down the field yelling at the refs because it was supposed to be a corner kick...pathetic. This just tells kids...Cheat to win.

It would of helped if Holland played a cleaner game from start to finish. There were plenty was plenty of contact to call without looking far.

The best team won and outplayed the other. The refs didn't decide this game.

Oh and it's annoying that everyone needs to generalize American feelings towards soccer. Behind American football, soccer is my next fav sport. I think it's more about having quality soccer readily accessible.

I watch the EPL (not widely televised here) and not MLS (for the most part). If I translated that to American Football, If all I had access to was the CFL, I would watch zero football. The NFL is readily accessible though. If more Americans could play in the EPL and it was promoted here, you would see the #s go north in a hurry.

According to FIFA more then 24.3 million Americans watched the world cup final so you where not alone. A new record BTW.

I also should add that Americans out numbered Brits at the world cup, it does seem to be more of a family sport though, which might explain why the working girls did so badly

Blazers is 1000% correct. We finally agree on a sporting event? UH OH!!!

In addition to the other changes I recommended earlier in this thread, the fact that FIFA uses the same referee system at its highest level of competition as it does in the "herd" soccer leagues is just ludicrous.

Let's take baseball as an example, in peewee or instructional leagues they only use one umpire; high school uses two (or three); college usually three (although sometimes two); major league regular season uses four; World Series uses six. Why, they want to get the call right. (Even then, they do make some fairly serious mistakes.)

Soccer uses 3 officials in the World Cup? Gimme a break.

They need to come up with a system to incorporate more officials to help prevent all the flopping.

Having said that, I am proud to report that I did not watch a single game in it's entirety! And, during the final I was in my room at the Central Park banging a hot Filipina! A much better use of my time I think!

Now only four more year until Floppalooza returns.

EA

Soccer is my second favorite spectator sport behind the NFL but this kind of flopping and diving is ruining what is a beautiful game to watch. The refs need to start giving yellow cards for diving. In addition, FIFA needs to start suspending player if they see the tape of the infractions after the game and notice guys flopping to the ground without any contact.

Vlade Divac and Derek Fisher would excel in soccer>

Agreed. I don't mind yellow carding folks taking a dive, but I think it would need to be confirmed by video (I don't have much confidence in those FIFA refs).

DM
You are right. Players as well as fans are demanding a second referee who will watch the TV feed. The number of bad decisions made on the field where ridiculous considering the technology available it should be a no brainer.

They need at least 5 guys on the field, plus a replay official. I would also add some Blue Lines and use hockey rules for passes. That would eliminate the off-sides call. I would even suggest going back in hockey history and prohibiting 2-line passes, which would create more action in the middle of the field. Finally, instead of yellow cards and free kicks and shit, again borrow from hockey and introduce the penalty box. Instead of a yellow card, you get a 10-minute major. You knock someone down, or flop on your own, you get 2-5 minutes in the box. A little 11-on-8 soccer would eliminate the bullshit flopping and acting real fast.

And, from the NFL, soccer really, really needs an acurate clocking system. It's the 21st century - there's a way to stop the stadium clocks when there is an injury timeout or penalty stop. As far as I can tell, every period in soccer - even a short 15-minute overtime - gets around 3 minutes added on. If you're going to the trouble of having a clock, be accurate about it.