FIFA World Cup 2010.

[JamesSD]

Brazil is still the team that looks the best to me. They clearly can get lazy when they take a lead, but they've convincingly won the matches they "should" convincingly win. POR-BRA is interesting for both teams, although since Brazil has already qualified to advance I'm not sure how hard they will actually play.

I really hope the Americans can beat Algeria. Getting a win would be nice, and that would guarantee us a chance to advance rather than hoping England loses. Winning Group C is less important as any of the non-Aussie teams in group D could still end up in the 1 and 2 slots.

I'm standing by my prediction a South American team is going to win this World Cup. Italy, Spain, Germany, England and France have all had at least one very bad game. The Netherlands is still a strong contender, but in all likelyhood they'd have to face Brazil in the 2nd knockout game and a couple more tough squads after.

 

[colddiesel]

Baby, you are not paying them and it ain't coming out of your tax pocket, either. Even if it was? SUPPORT THEM! Movie stars are paid more millions, but no one boo's them when they make a shitty movie. The thing is ... support England, good or bad. I have confidence that they will make the top two.

PS: GO PORTUGAL! Unless they lose to Brazil 10 to nil, they've secured a spot in the second round! GO PORTUGAL!

OK Charley we may not agree about booing but we can about Portugal. I've been lucky enough to go to two world cups and it is amazing how Portugal is so often the team other supporters want to win if their own side doesn't make it.

Incidentally I also loved the slightly embarassed grin from Christiano Ronaldo after he scored the 6th goal, he knew he was lucky it bounced off the back of his head onto his foot. But now he has the monkey of the first goal off his back I hope we see some of his magic but it's pretty tough because most teams are putting two markers on him.

 

[Pure]

wow!

portugal has just scored against north korea. [pure, not knowing it's yesterday's footage!]

they are playing beautiful football. best attack i've seen (i'm green here, though)

no korea no slouches either. they definitely can do more than defend.

GO portugal!

PS 1:10 am EDT PORTUGAL UP BY 7. N. Korean defense has crumbled.

==

NOTE: Sorry about the time warp, folks. I hadn't realized it was RE broadcast. (blushes).

 

[Verdad]

…and goodbye to South Africa and France.

Group B next. Goodbye to Nigeria and Greece seems a safe prediction.

 

[R. Richard]

France 1 - South Africa 2, final!

There will be quite a bit of discussion as to what went wrong with France. It won't be pleasant.

 

[R. Richard]

Victory! Comment?

USA Soccer Through!

PRETORIA, June 23 (Reuters) - The United States scored a last-gasp winner to beat Algeria and go through to the last 16 of the World Cup after a pulsating and even match in which both sides created a host of chances.

Landon Donovan got the vital winner in the second minute of injury time just as it seemed the U.S. were about to go out of the tournament. Instead the result meant they finished top of Group C ahead of England on goal difference.

Algeria were eliminated.

 

[CharleyH]

Incidentally I also loved the slightly embarassed grin from Christiano Ronaldo after he scored the 6th goal, he knew he was lucky it bounced off the back of his head onto his foot. But now he has the monkey of the first goal off his back I hope we see some of his magic but it's pretty tough because most teams are putting two markers on him.

I guess this is an example of two different POV's, both valid. When Ronaldo made that drip of a drop by his chinny chin chin, he smiled a gasp of AT LAST because he hadn't been able to put one in for the National team in 18 months.

 

[Weird Harold]

Victory! Comment?

Another officating controversy avoided by that last second goal. If the US had lost and been eliminated, the offsides call against Dempsey would have been the headline.

 

[CharleyH]

Victory! Comment?

USA Soccer Through!

PRETORIA, June 23 (Reuters) - The United States scored a last-gasp winner to beat Algeria and go through to the last 16 of the World Cup after a pulsating and even match in which both sides created a host of chances.

Good for the US and CONGRATS! Each and every year they become a better contender for the World Cup.

 

[oggbashan]

England are through despite having scored only two goals in three matches.

I hope that their form improves...

Og

 

[CharleyH]

England are through despite having scored only two goals in three matches.

I hope that their form improves...

Og

Indeed!

 

[CharleyH]

Brazil is still the team that looks the best to me. They clearly can get lazy when they take a lead, but they've convincingly won the matches they "should" convincingly win. POR-BRA is interesting for both teams, although since Brazil has already qualified to advance I'm not sure how hard they will actually play.

I really hope the Americans can beat Algeria. Getting a win would be nice, and that would guarantee us a chance to advance rather than hoping England loses. Winning Group C is less important as any of the non-Aussie teams in group D could still end up in the 1 and 2 slots.

I'm standing by my prediction a South American team is going to win this World Cup. Italy, Spain, Germany, England and France have all had at least one very bad game. The Netherlands is still a strong contender, but in all likelyhood they'd have to face Brazil in the 2nd knockout game and a couple more tough squads after.

Brazil is good, but I think Portugal is hyped and ready to split the world (once again) between them and Spain.

 

[JamesSD]

Victory! Comment?

Between its match vs England and the US, Algeria proved it was underrated going into the tournament. The US looked fairly limp in the first half. There were plenty of scoring chances on both sides.

The important thing is we got a win, but we didn't exactly dominate a weaker squad.

 

[driphoney]

USA Soccer Through!

England are through

Boy, I'm going to have to update my lexicon for the word 'through'.

 

[oggbashan]

Boy, I'm going to have to update my lexicon for the word 'through'.

I think that England are probably through in at least two senses of the word:

Through because they have reached the next stage, and

Through because their next game will be with their frequent nemesis, Germany, and on England's current form they have no real prospect of remaining in the tournament.

Og

 

[Neast19]

England were unlucky to get only the one goal. They created numerous great chances and were repeatedly denied by some excellent keeping by Handanovic. Admittedly we dropped off a bit at the end but for the first 60 - 70 minutes the score could quite easily have been 3 or 4-0.

Milner on the right balanced out Gerrard on the left much better then Wright-Phillips or Lennon were ever able to. Rooney still look's dodged though, some nice touches here and there but where'd his finishing gone? Eloped with the team's passion during the Algeria game imo.

Germany lost to Serbia (admittedly they only had 10 men for 70 minutes) and only just beat Ghana 1-0. If the England team come out and play like they did for the first 60 minutes it should be a comfortable win.

On a aside Ghana through, first African team .

 

[driphoney]

I think that England are probably through in at least two senses of the word:

Through because they have reached the next stage, and

Through because their next game will be with their frequent nemesis, Germany, and on England's current form they have no real prospect of remaining in the tournament.

Og

Vielleicht.


Of course, I should just check out who has the cuter players, then make my decision on who to cheer on.

 

[jomar]

Holy shit!

In stoppage!

I just saw the USA ALG game on DVR.

Man o man.

 

[Weird Harold]

Algerian Player Rafik Saifi Slaps Female Reporter After Loss

Well FIFA must love this story. Following the heartbreaking defeat to the United States in their final World Cup match, Algerian forward Rafik Saifi reportedly slapped a female reporter during the mixed-zone interview time. Yahoo's Martin Rogers was on the scene:

While walking through the interview zone, [Rafik] Saifi spotted writer Asma Halimi, who works for Algerian newspaper Competition, and struck her with his open hand in front of dozens of witnesses. Halimi responded by striking the player in the mouth. ​

First of all, kudos to Ms Halimi for returning the insult in kind and apparently drawing blood.

Second, all of the news articles Google turns up are apparently American; what, if any, play is this incident getting in Europe and elsewhere? It isn't really getting a lot of air time here, either, but the US media and bloggers at laest seem to have noticed.

 

[jomar]

Too bad for him and the sport. Good for her.

 

[colddiesel]

Pleased to see the USA go through, they need to develop a bit more swagger, they have some serious talent in their squad though their bench is a bit weak. They showed their opponents a bit too much respect, especially England.

England are unimpressive. Gerrard & Lampard are ok but lack the composure in midfield that the absent Paul Scholes could have brought. They seem to lack the technical skill to develop any attack through the middle.

South American teams look good. If either Argentina or Brazil could take over the Uruguay defence they would be unbeatable.

A technical observation . Their have been almost no long distance goals (30metres plus) especially from freekicks because the ball appears to float high. The cup will be won by a team which keeps the ball on the ground and scores from close range.

 

[Verdad]

Vielleicht.


Of course, I should just check out who has the cuter players, then make my decision on who to cheer on.

Start with Italy. They sure could use it. Plus if they squeeze through, we might yet get to perv on Pirlo ( ) and some others in the meantime.

 

[Verdad]

Algerian Player Rafik Saifi Slaps Female Reporter After Loss



First of all, kudos to Ms Halimi for returning the insult in kind and apparently drawing blood.

Second, all of the news articles Google turns up are apparently American; what, if any, play is this incident getting in Europe and elsewhere? It isn't really getting a lot of air time here, either, but the US media and bloggers at laest seem to have noticed.

What a jerk. I hope he gets more than a bloody lip out of it once they process her complaint.

I googled for different languages, and the news of the incident shows up in French, Dutch, and Portuguese so far, and of course on UK domains. I imagine it will be in papers everywhere around today, too.

 

[figazza]

It's showtime for italy now.

 

[Verdad]

3:2 for Slovakia. Epic embarrassment.

Ah well.