The World Cup in South Africa

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

Quote

120 minutes long and only 3 goals scored. Only slightly more excitement than golf. Just not my thing.

.

I hope you watched the England Germany game. Only (6) 5 goals scored, but if you still think it was boring, perhaps basket ball where 200 goals per game is the norm is your best bet.

Germany played with no 'superstars', but they were clinical and inventive. Good win.

Sorry, no I didn't. Why should I? I didn't care who won, I have never heard of any of the team members, and 5 goals in 120 minutes is still not much action. Let's face it, except for the immediate vicinity of the ball, there isn't mush going on.
I actually detest what is called "pro basketball". The rules concerning ball handling(traveling, double dribble, etc) and charging are so loosely enforced one wonders why they are still on the books.
My sport of choice is short track auto racing. With a normal feature race being 40 laps or less on a 1/2 mile dirt track, qualifying (heat) races usually 8-10 laps, and speeds approaching 140 mph, the participants cannot lay back and wait for something to happen. It is all out, balls-to-the-wall, take no prisoners competition from the drop of the green flag.
Soccer? No thanks, I'll watch the highlights on ESPN.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[Erroll 49]

Fair enough.

To each his own - I don't enjoy any kind of motor racing.


I am still very proud of the show we are putting on. No one gave us a chance, and we are delivering.

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

....
Germany played with no 'superstars', but they were clinical and inventive. Good win.

There is one *superstar*, quite new and very young: Lukas Podolski (called Prince Poldi here) - and: He's playing in my local 1st league team (1. FC Koeln).

And to be fair, yep: 6 goals !

That was not only a good win, it was perfect team play with the youngest team we ever had.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

Fair enough.

To each his own - I don't enjoy any kind of motor racing.


I am still very proud of the show we are putting on. No one gave us a chance, and we are delivering.

I congratulate Ghana on their win. I hope they can win the whole deal. Then we Americans can say we were eliminated by the best.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[Erroll 49]

Quote

That was not only a good win, it was perfect team play with the youngest team we ever had.

I think that is what made this win so good. Klose has been around a bit and he showed his experience, but the youngters stole the show.

Good stuff.

Hopefully now FIFA will incorporate technology - at least on the goal line.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Sorry, no I didn't. Why should I? I didn't care who won, I have never heard of any of the team members, and 5 goals in 120 minutes is still not much action.

It's not different than a 21-10 NFL game.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Yep, Ghana has a fraction of the US population, but I think you would find there are far more people in Ghana who care for and follow soccer than in the US. That's total numbers, not just percentage.
The sport will probably never be as popular here as in the rest of the world. We have football, baseball, basketball, golf, ten gazillion types of motorsports, etc. all competing for viewers.

The soccer loving Latino population alone in the US outnumbers all of Ghana. But yes, our best athletes gravitate to football, basketball, and baseball, which pay better.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

Quote

Sorry, no I didn't. Why should I? I didn't care who won, I have never heard of any of the team members, and 5 goals in 120 minutes is still not much action.

It's not different than a 21-10 NFL game.

Which is why I don't watch but maybe 1 or 2 games a year.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[kelpdiver 2]

hmm....perhaps I can recommend cricket to you?

That seems in line with your preferred pace.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

hmm....perhaps I can recommend cricket to you?

That seems in line with your preferred pace.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I will stick to sprint cars and flat track motorcycles.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[Southern_Man 0]

Quote

Even though this was a fine game by any standards, I think you echo the sentiments of most Americans in respect to this sport. And your sentiments are precisely the reason why USA doesn't deserve a world cup let alone a presence in the tournament.

I don't understand the correlation between popularity and whether a team "deserves" a spot in the tournament. Not many in the USA follow swimming or track and field very closely and yet we are world powers in those sports because we earn it on the field of play.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[FreeflyChile 0]

I think the US was still riding the high of just getting out of the group stage in such dramatic fashion and looked at Ghana saying "good, they're not Germany". Then they came out flat and lost.

Today, my household is in turmoil.

I am Chilean, my fiancee is Brazilian....so we'll see what happens (I am hoping but not expecting Chile to win).

[Erroll 49]

Quote

Today, my household is in turmoil.

I am Chilean, my fiancee is Brazilian....so we'll see what happens (I am hoping but not expecting Chile to win).

[Scratch 0]

Off to the Portugal vs Spain match this evening. There is a massive Portuguese community in Cape Town. It's gonna be NUTS!!!

[Southern_Man 0]

I'm taking off 1/2 a day to watch the Portugal-Spain match at a restaurant w/ my daughter. She is really into world cup. Nothing like being there but I'm excited too. Hope it is a great game.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[Scratch 0]

My money is on Spain but wife is part of the massive community so I am keeping very quiet

[Andy9o8 0]

This is why the World Cup hasn't really taken off in the US yet: it's dangerous.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/screw-40251-beats-stepdaughter.html

[masterblaster72 0]

110' in the Paraguay - Japan match and still 0-0.

Ganbare Nippon!

Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

110' in the Paraguay - Japan match and still 0-0.

Ganbare Nippon!

And it ended like that: 0:0 - Nippon did not hang in there - BUT then ....

Paraguay 5 : 3 Japan after penalty shootout!!

Incredible

edited for correction

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I hate when a game is decided on penalty shots.
Sucks in hockey and it sucks in soccer (or should I say football).

pero ...

Estoy animando a España!!! jaja

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I hate when a game is decided on penalty shots.
Sucks in hockey and it sucks in soccer (or should I say football).

Prefer timed power play opportunities? Something like the OT for college football - take 2 guys away from the defense and give the offense 3 minutes?

Unfortunately, teams may just come up with some really good ball killing strategies.

[Erroll 49]

Quote

I hate when a game is decided on penalty shots.

Agreed. Too much like a lottery. I have no clever solution though. Perhaps reduce the number of players and play 'Golden Goal'?


Four South American teams in the last eight!

[FreeflyChile 0]

Though I am sad Chile lost, I am now rooting for the semi-finals to turn into Copa America South Africa 2010... go South America collectively (and Brazil especially)...

[Erroll 49]

Quote

Though I am sad Chile lost, I am now rooting for the semi-finals to turn into Copa America South Africa 2010... go South America collectively (and Brazil especially)...

Today's the day! The Brazil - Netherlands game should be a humdinger.


Spare a thought for Ghana too.

[Scratch 0]

Hopp Holland

and Hopp Small Orange Mini Dresses