OT World Cup 2010 South Africa

[patrickl]

The 2nd round.

[DivePac88]

Go New Zealand, Oops We're out, gone, banished. Oh well heck, Go USA then!

[Cribtop]

Team USA has really revived our entire nation's perception worldwide - showing a lot of what is best in the USA (and I'm realistic enough to know that we have sides other than our best).

I'm very proud of them, whether they win again or not (but they better win - I cancelled a free round of country club golf to watch their match vs Ghana tomorrow).

[chesmart]

So Blind Sniper you where in favour of having balottelli an cassano ?

[Sardaukar]

USA has really good chance to go through to semi-finals. But in semis they'd probably get either Holland or Brazil, so I cannot really see them proceed to final. 

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: Offworlder

England vs Germany

Experience vs the need to prove oneself.

In my book they are pretty balanced with the game being decided by the team that can withstand (rather than apply) pressure, be it mental, physical or tactical.

Really I'd say Germany are the team far more likely to win, Rooney has been anonymous apart from ranting at the fans and our defence is ****-poor. Apart from Algeria we haven't been bad, but Germany are better and can grind out results even when they play badly.

The sooner we're out of this tournament the sooner the next generation will get their chance (hopefully).

would Manchester United have beaten Bayern Munich in the Champions League like everyone thought would happen I would bet on the English this time but it turned out different so my bets are on the Germans now too. Defence of Germany isn´t a wall either though. I would rate Lahm world class, Badstuber is a talent (if he even plays), Friedrich played for Berlin last season and they made it to the last place in the league with the worst defence of all and Mertesacker seems to play a poor tournament also.

[Miller]

You have to laugh at the English media, we were no-hopers after the Algeria game and all of a sudden we are potential winners after beating the mighty Slovenia.

Looking at the draw we are going to have to beat Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil to win it. Absolutely no chance.

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Miller

You have to laugh at the English media, we were no-hopers after the Algeria game and all of a sudden we are potential winners after beating the mighty Slovenia.

Looking at the draw we are going to have to beat Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil to win it. Absolutely no chance.

We had no realistic chance of winning before the tournament really, although any team is a potential winner.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: Miller

You have to laugh at the English media, we were no-hopers after the Algeria game and all of a sudden we are potential winners after beating the mighty Slovenia.

Looking at the draw we are going to have to beat Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil to win it. Absolutely no chance.

We had no realistic chance of winning before the tournament really, although any team is a potential winner.

Any team can win the Euro Cup, ok. But not all the teams are potental winners of the WC. Look the winners. No Nigerias or Austrias (I mean, unexpected winners). Why could England win it? Basically there are FOUR reasons: Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and Capello (a very experienced coach).

[Blind Sniper]

2nd Round matches that I will try to watch in TV because I believe that they will be very interesting and no just funny (every match can be funny):
GER - ING
ESP - POR

So Blind Sniper you where in favour of having balottelli an cassano ?

Yes but...they are very difficult to control, they are hot heads.
Balotelli is very good but is a kid (really), Cassano is another Baggio (a "ball artist") but sometimes is unmanageable.
I believe that only Capello is able to control them...that's a pity because it would have been a wonderful attack [:(]

USA has really good chance to go through to semi-finals. But in semis they'd probably get either Holland or Brazil, so I cannot really see them proceed to final.

.

I think so, anyhow it would be good anyway.
Every year they grow up.

Possible final:
personal dream: BRA - ARG (maybe the best WC match)
bet: BRA - GER

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: Miller

You have to laugh at the English media, we were no-hopers after the Algeria game and all of a sudden we are potential winners after beating the mighty Slovenia.

Looking at the draw we are going to have to beat Germany, Argentina, Spain and Brazil to win it. Absolutely no chance.

We had no realistic chance of winning before the tournament really, although any team is a potential winner.

Any team can win the Euro Cup, ok. But not all the teams are potental winners of the WC. Look the winners. No Nigerias or Austrias (I mean, unexpected winners). Why could England win it? Basically there are FOUR reasons: Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and Capello (a very experienced coach).

I'd cross Lampard off that list, he's been little better than average for England of late. A lot tomorrow depends on how Rooney and Gerrard play, unless they're both on form I can't say much hope of beating Der Germans.

Germany v Argentina would be a good game though, Argentina's attack and Maradona's 'management' vs Germany's organised teamwork [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Dixie




We had no realistic chance of winning before the tournament really, although any team is a potential winner.

Any team can win the Euro Cup, ok. But not all the teams are potental winners of the WC. Look the winners. No Nigerias or Austrias (I mean, unexpected winners). Why could England win it? Basically there are FOUR reasons: Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and Capello (a very experienced coach).

I'd cross Lampard off that list, he's been little better than average for England of late. A lot tomorrow depends on how Rooney and Gerrard play, unless they're both on form I can't say much hope of beating Der Germans.

Germany v Argentina would be a good game though, Argentina's attack and Maradona's 'management' vs Germany's organised teamwork [:D]

My "winner" before the WC was Brazil. Then I saw the first match of the Argentinians and changed my mind. But "we have to think twice", I said to myself [:D] Maradona... bigmouth [:D] unpredictable [:D] He tried 23 players or so during the qualifications [:D]

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

My "winner" before the WC was Brazil. Then I saw the first match of the Argentinians and changed my mind. But "we have to think twice", I said to myself [:D] Maradona... bigmouth [:D] unpredictable [:D] He tried 23 players or so during the qualifications [:D]

My heart says Netherlands (and England), but my head says Brazil.

Commiserations to the US, but their defence was pretty poor tonight.

[TulliusDetritus]

Yes, the US didn't play very well tonight. Ghana deserved the victory so well done. Looks like I underestimated them (may posts ago). They are far better than Nigeria and Cameroun.

[Sardaukar]

Really poor finishing from US attackers was their doom..and of course great play by Ghana goalkeeper. And deciding goal was great individual effort. 

[Mynok]

Yep, we had our chances. Ghana deserves a lot of credit because they had a good plan and executed it.

[Cribtop]

We lost fair and square - eventually such porous defense will get you beat, heroics in many games notwithstanding. We never overcame that critical weakness, and in the World Cup only the best survive for long. Ghana reminded me of what my fellow wingers in youth soccer and wide receivers in American football said - speed kills. That said, Uruguay seems to me to match up perfectly against Ghana - they will absorb the quick attacks and counter with quality chances for a victory, IMHO.

I'll shift allegiance to England, then Argentina (assuming England is dispatched quickly which I fear they will be).

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Yep, we had our chances. Ghana deserves a lot of credit because they had a good plan and executed it.

Warspite1

Mixed emotions on the result. As I wrote before on this thread, I loved the USA's never say die fighting spirit, but on the other hand, I think it's good for the tournament that an African country remains in.

For the USA there were some positives to take away; Clint Dempsey being perhaps the biggest and his stock, already high for his performances at Fulham this season, went up considerably during the World Cup.

And then there were 14......

[TulliusDetritus]

I don't know if you have noticed it but we are seeing a strategic shift in this WC. Holland [:(]

On my first message I said Holland should win (a reward). But something has happened. This is NOT Holland anymore. In fact, to be honest I always considered the Dutch tactics a suicide... [:D] 3 defenders [:D] against the best squads out there [;)]

Beautiful football? Indeed! But in the end they are always forced to surrender.

This happened to Brazil after 1982 WC. This was the LAST time we could see the old, legendary Brazil. On 86 WC we could witness a "European" team (and they did not change since that date): more control, discipline, watch your back. Exactly the same thing now with Holland. If this is not temporary then we have lost a squad which produced very beautiful football (just like Brazil after 1982). Time will tell.

P.S.: needless to say, since this Holland is not playing as before, I do NOT want them to win. I mean, I don't care at all [:D] In their defense: they learned the HARD way [:D]

[JohnDillworth]

20 minutes to go and I know how the day will end.
England losses to Germany on Penalty kicks (this is a game steeped in tradition) and that smug little as*****, Maradona, will win and act like a smug little as*****. It's nice out, 91 and sunny, I should go to the beach, I am a fool
Go England!