World Cup 2010

[Finnster]

Just finished watching the Slovenia v USA game. Brilliant 2nd half after a disasterous start. USA should have had the win, the the 3rd goal was disallowed for no appearent reason. Terrible to see games decided on account of the officiating.

USA needs a big win over Algeria to advance, and the Eng/Slv game not ending in a draw.

So far a great Cup, with a few upsets already Ger looked brilliant in its first game, but then lost to Serbia. France goes down in flames to Mex, and one cannot forget the bobble heard around the world in the USA v England game.

[nitrostarter]

Originally Posted by Finnster

Just finished watching the Slovenia v USA game. Brilliant 2nd half after a disasterous start. USA should have had the win, the the 3rd goal was disallowed for no appearent reason. Terrible to see games decided on account of the officiating.

+1 here! What the hell was the call on?


Me and the bossman watched the game via Spanish television streamed live on the net...

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by Finnster

Just finished watching the Slovenia v USA game. Brilliant 2nd half after a disasterous start.

How you tell the difference between disastrous and brilliant? I've tried my darndest to understand this sport (and hockey, its N.A. cousin). Just can't get excited over a sport in which the objective (outscore the other team) hardly ever occurs. Kinda like getting married for the sex.....
Yes, I also have a difficult time with baseball - but at least in it, there are player stats to ponder while the pitcher is throwing a no hitter. Hockey at least has a fight every now and then.

Sorry.....I'll let you guys have your fun!

[nitrostarter]

I'm not a Soccor fan either, but the bossman is. So I'll gladly watch some sports at work and get paid for it...

[Finnster]

Originally Posted by nitrostarter

+1 here! What the hell was the call on?


Me and the bossman watched the game via Spanish television streamed live on the net...

So far the ref hasn't said what he called it on...

Watching WC on Telemundo is the best. I know a tiny bit of Spanish, and only catch every 20th word or so, but the girls they always have dancing around in next to nothing on the pregame and halftime shows are the best. Double awesome is when two Americas teams are playing ea other, and they have girls from ea country on dancing and trying to out hot each other.

I remem there was a match between Mex and Arg in the later rounds, and they had a studio filled with crazy hot Argentinian women and Mexican chicks grinding away. All I'll say here is I saw things that would've got English stations massive fines by the FCC.

[Finnster]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

How you tell the difference between disastrous and brilliant? I've tried my darndest to understand this sport (and hockey, its N.A. cousin). Just can't get excited over a sport in which the objective (outscore the other team) hardly ever occurs. Kinda like getting married for the sex.....
Yes, I also have a difficult time with baseball - but at least in it, there are player stats to ponder while the pitcher is throwing a no hitter. Hockey at least has a fight every now and then.

Sorry.....I'll let you guys have your fun!

The biggest thing you have to understand is the strategy of the plays they are trying to put together and be able to see the flow of the game in the passing and opportunties. If you can't see it, its hard to follow. I don't really get all the hockey strat and formations, so it looks a bit like Icecapades with Fights.

Since soccer is not really shown on TV here, the only way you'll get it is if you really go out of your way to follow it or have played it as a kid. I did the latter. Mostly played keeper and midfielder, and more so keep upthrough HS teams and intermurals in college.

The WC is great as its the biggest tournment on the planet featuring the best collection of athletes in the world. Its only every 4 years, like the olympics, but better as everyone is playing the same game. (As opposed to many OC events where a small # of countries tend to dominate a particular event, say scandanavians and X-country skiing, and the real rivalries are just in a couple sports and the overall medal count.)

Watching what these guys can do is amazing. Able to kick a ball 40 yds right on target, with back and/or counter spin so it curves, wobbles or drops midflight is amazing. Executing a manuver to dodge a defender, sending in a cross in that threads the defense and ends up on the flying head or foot of a teammate and rockets to the back of the net is beautiful sight. Watching the offense put together a pattern of passes that shreds a seemingly impenetrible defense is awesome. GER's 4-0 match vs AUS was a clinic on this. It was like a flying chessmatch. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

On the flipside, watching a striker break free for what looks like an easy goal, only for the keeper to charge, run down the striker and block the ball away.
As a keeper when I played, these were some of my best sports memories. A few times a kid would break free for an open shot, but I was very quick and ran down a few as they rushed to get a shot off. A few times it ended with me diving/sliding into their legs w/ the ball, and me taking the ball away as I slid through them knocking them to the ground.

Nothing better than watching their faces go from exhilaration as they are about to score, to panic as they see me charge them and they try to calm the ball for a shot, to utter devastation as they are picking thier faces up from the dirt to watch me punt the ball away for a counter attack, all in the span of seconds.

Non-stop action, ebb and flow, attack and counter. Upsets and comebacks. If you get it you love it. :)

[JThiessen]

I do have to admit - the female fans that gather at our local pub to watch the Seattle Sounders are suprisingly hot....

[Finnster]

Hot chicks make everything better ^_^

HAha, case in point of above, fantastic scoreless tie between Algeria and ENG (both in the USA's group.) Best possible outcome for US, other than a loss by ENG.

USA just needs to beat ALG, and/or SLV tie ENG and USA advances out of group play to the sudden death round.

Absolutely disastrous showing so far by ENG. They are in a real danger of not making it out of group play. This coming from a team saying they were taking the cup this year. Terrible play, terrible decisions and terrible coaching from a guy being paid $18M. They are going to be eviscerated in the UK papers. Only France has been worse.

Looking forward to the Brasil v Ivory Coast game on Sunday, tho lots of good games all weekend.

[rabosi]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

................................ Just can't get excited over a sport in which the objective (outscore the other team) hardly ever occurs. Kinda like getting married for the sex.....
......................................

Yes but when you finally get some it's like.........GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!