OT World Cup 2010 South Africa

[TulliusDetritus]

Warspite 1, right, we will not agree [:)] I think you are way too apocalyptic. The English players hardly make it to the top 3 or 4 Premier Leagues teams? Well, there are still plenty of other teams in that division. Talent will always prevail and therefore they should make it to the PL or foreign top teams, if they deserve it, that is, or if we apply the 6+5 rule. You cannot stop talent, so I can't see the problem [:)]

Denmark vs Cameroun has been the most entertaining match so far. Full of defensive mistakes [:D]

[Terminus]

On both sides, fortunately... Goals were good, though. All three of 'em...

[warspite1]

GO KIWIS!! [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: aprezto

Of course I can hardly get my hopes up, but since we are there, and I am as patriotic as the next bloke, I have to add a plug for the Kiwis against Slovakia tonight. In our previous effort (at the world cup) the 'being there' was the victory. This team is a little better than that - or maybe a bit more professional. However, I can't help feeling that the best we can hope for is to score a goal and not get "Australia'd"

Warspite1

Well we need one real shock result from the first round of matches - lets hope the All Whites provide it. Unfortunately Slovakia are one half of a useful footballing nation; four major finals as Czechoslovakia - two World Cup finals and two European Championship finals (Champions in 1976).

This side beat Russia in the play-offs and are a useful team, but fingers crossed - 1-0 to the All Whites, Plymouth's Rory Fallon scores with 10 minutes to go and New Zealand hold on for a famous victory.........

Warspite1

Okay - not quite as planned but a great result for the All Whites nonetheless. Now a point against Italy and a win against Paraguay and the last 16 here we come.....simples [:)]

Warspite1

Oh yes - one to go New Zealand....Come on you All Whites, you can do it [&o]

[V22 Osprey]

Italy and New Zealand draws 1:1

[Terminus]

Good for the Kiwis. Always nice to see the underdogs do well...

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Good for the Kiwis. Always nice to see the underdogs do well...

They could've won it with a good late shot.

[aprezto]

I'll just quantify this by saying my idea of football is when you pick up the ball, so already you could be justified in saying I (and kiwis for that matter) are confused, but what in a world of all that is good is with the pandering to the acting that goes with Italian football???

I swear the Kiwis backed off because they thought that the wind from a near miss might throw the Italians to the ground clutching their wounded hairdos.

Their penalty shot was ridiculous.

That aside, this is the greatest day in New Zealand football. There was so much talk about how we weren't supposed to be there, our qualification was too easy, and that Italy had struck it lucky with one of the easiest draws to the second round of all the football super-powers.

There is a warm and fuzzy feeling in this ardent rugby supporter's soul for the fight those second-string part-timers managed to muster against a team and establishment that is completely professional (including acting lessons).

After looking at the display shown by Paraguay against Slovakia I am still realist enough to hedge my bets for qualification for the second round, but drawing with Italy certainly changes the feelings from: 'ha ha that's a good one' to 'well maybe if the moon is aligned with Jupiter and Mars, and the Paraguayan team feast on dodgy kebabs the night before', then maybe, just maybe...

It certainly helps to be written off before the game even starts. Maybe that might be the undoing of the dream?

[Terminus]

There goes the DPRK... Not with a whimper, but with SEVEN bangs...[X(]

[BigBadWolf]

I'd hate to be in their shoes when they return home and face the beloved leader. I'm sensing uranium mine in their near future...

[Canoerebel]

We had a long drive home to Georgia from Fort Walton Beach yesterday.  We listened to the radio broadcast of the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals baseball game.  The Braves came back to score the winning runs in the 8th inning.  It was a relaxing and pleasing game (from the perspective of a Braves fan).  The "down time" sprinkled throughout a baseball broadcast allowed us to talk about the game or other stuff, munch on pretzels, look at maps, and enjoy the countryside.  And there wasn't a single annoying vuvuzela to annoy the audience.
 
Viva le baseball!

[Chickenboy]

[&o]

[Blind Sniper]

Their penalty shot was ridiculous.

I would say that Kiwis goal was irregular. The penalty wasn't so clean although...

They could've won it with a good late shot.

Yes, but it would have been a wrong result, their defence was literally all team!

Anyhow hat off to All Whites (especially Paston) and very poor performance for the Italian team...
Just one goal and only thanks to penalty...very bad attack.

[Flying Tiger]

USA had an AMAZING game against Slovenia.. historical comeback. We should have won 3-2 but the referee cannot be referred to without explicit language.

the ref was from Nigeria right? I'd like to monitor his bank account details closely over the next few months - a big payout on its way one suspects....

[Flying Tiger]

I'd hate to be in their shoes when they return home and face the beloved leader. I'm sensing uranium mine in their near future...

i'm guessing the 'inspirational speech' from their beloved leader had something to do with the slightly-below-average performance - but i'm not sure the players would be wise to remind him of that!

if you can remember the right combination of kims and yungs you can check to see if ANY of these guys are in the PRK team next outing - safe bet the answer is "NOT!"

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

USA had an AMAZING game against Slovenia.. historical comeback. We should have won 3-2 but the referee cannot be referred to without explicit language.

the ref was from Nigeria right? I'd like to monitor his bank account details closely over the next few months - a big payout on its way one suspects....

Yes, the referee will receive $ 10.000.000. But first he will have to send $ 1.000 via Western Union... Honest [8D]

ORIGINAL: BigBadWolf

I'd hate to be in their shoes when they return home and face the beloved leader. I'm sensing uranium mine in their near future...

Well, one of the players will be spared. He was born in Japan and lives there. In theory he had a South Korean nationality but his mom convinced him that he should become a North Korean (the kid received a North Korean education in Japan: a special school). Weird anecdote but true [:D]

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

USA had an AMAZING game against Slovenia.. historical comeback. We should have won 3-2 but the referee cannot be referred to without explicit language.

the ref was from Nigeria right? I'd like to monitor his bank account details closely over the next few months - a big payout on its way one suspects....

He was from Mali.

The Swiss got screwed royally.

[Rob Brennan UK]

RSA 2 France 0 .. almost 1/2 time. France has really imploded, but i'm happy to see the host nation do so well.

Most of the time i'm of the opinion a ball should be carried and not kicked [;)] but its the world cup after all.

[Blind Sniper]

Most of the time i'm of the opinion a ball should be carried and not kicked but its the world cup after all.

Ditto!

[V22 Osprey]

USA beats Algeria 1:0