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Well at least we know who the U.S. won't be playing in group play at the 2010 World Cup. The United States is in Pot 2 along with: Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, and New Zealand; so the U.S. will not be drawn against those teams in the 32-team field. England named among top seeds for World Cup
Last edited by Kyle Heise; 12/04/09 08:43 PM.
"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"
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How does Argentina, who barely made it into the World Cup get a top seed?
G'd up from the feet up
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FIFA WORLD RANKINGS
POT 1
South Africa
#1 Spain
#2 Brazil
#3 Netherlands
#4 Italy
#6 Germany
#8 Argentina
#9 England
POT 2
#14 United States
#15 Mexico
#21 Australia
#38 Honduras
#43 Japan
#52 South Korea
#77 New Zealand
#84 North Korea
POT 3
#11 Cameroon
#16 Ivory Coast
#17 Chile
#19 Uruguay
#22 Nigeria
#28 Algeria
#30 Paraguay
#37 Ghana
POT 4
#5 Portugal
#7 France
#12 Greece
#18 Switzerland
#20 Serbia
#26 Denmark
#33 Slovenia
#34 Slovakia
NOTICEABLE ABSENTEES
#10 Croatia
#13 Russia
#23 Czech Republic
#24 Ukraine
#25 Israel
#27 Bulgaria
#29 Egypt
OTHER TOP 50 COUNTRIES ABSENT
#31 Norway
#32 Romania
#35 Ecuador
#36 Ireland
#39 Northern Ireland
#40 Colombia
#41 Turkey
#42 Sweden
#44 Costa Rica
#45 Latvia
#46 Scotland
#47 Mali
#48 Gabon
#49 Burkina Faso
#50 Venezuela
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POT 3 is a very favorable bracket for the US
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By screwing around, and not winning their group, either France or Portugal will wind up in "The Group of Death". Let's hope the US isn't in there with them. 
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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World Cup
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Quote:
POT 3 is a very favorable bracket for the US
It doesn't work that way 'notsofast'. Those teams from Pot 3 will be drawn with and against teams from Pots 1-2-4. So, none of the teams in Pot 3 will be in the same group. Also:
Quote:
Pots 2-4 are based purely on a geopgraphical basis and there is no seeding to them. This is to ensure there will be no more than one team from any one confederation, and no pot with more than two European nations (of which there will be five).
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I actually hope that they draw a couple of good teams. I am a huge US fan, but come on; no Guch, no Davies. I would rather lose to good teams then get into an "easy" group and get knocked out. I just don't see us doing much damage unless Jermaine Jones gets fit (and is playing well) and we can find another good defender or two (the Mexican kid and Demerrit healthy). If we go to a 4-5-1, we won't be able to score. if we play a 4-4-2, we won't be able to defend. Either way, the outlook is not very good.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Spector played well for West Ham last weekend. England US Ivory Coast Portugal Do you think the US could get out of this group?
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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Ouch Hurst, I think you just sunk my battleship >;-0
Joe Siatkowski
Mauldin Soccer
I fear no evil
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What stinks for the US, is that the five weakest teams in the tournament, at least in terms of the world rankings, are in Pot 2. The US has no chance of being grouped with one of these teams, eliminating the opportunity of having at least one "relatively easy" opponent in their group.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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hat-trick
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Soccer America's best and worst case scenarios:
WORST CASE
Brazil
USA
Ghana
France
BEST CASE
South Africa
USA
Uruguay
Slovakia
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What is South Africa's world ranking? I think there is a little too much respect being paid to the home team in 2010.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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hat-trick
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South Africa are ranked 86 in the Nov 20 FIFA/Coca-Cola World ranking.
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FIFA Organising Committee approves Final Draw procedure
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 2 December 2009
The FIFA Organising Committee approved today the procedure for the Final Draw of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, which will be held in Cape Town on Friday 4 December. The seeding was based on the October 2009 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, and Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina and England are therefore the seven squads that join hosts South Africa as seeded teams for the Final Draw.
The committee also approved the composition of the other pots as well as the procedure for the final draw:
• Pot 2 will be composed of teams from Asia (Australia, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic), North, Central America and the Caribbean (Honduras, Mexico, USA) and Oceania (New Zealand)
• Pot 3 will include teams from Africa (Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria) and South America (Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay)
• Pot 4 will have the remaining European teams (Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland)
• hosts South Africa will be automatically positioned as A1; the other seeded teams will be drawn into the other groups B-H, but will always be in position “1” of their group
• groups will be drawn from A to H and the positions in the group will be drawn for Pots 2 to 4
• geographical criteria will also be respected, meaning that no two teams from the same confederation will be drawn in the same group (except European teams, where a maximum of two will be in a group). For example, South Africa cannot play the African teams from Pot 3 and Argentina and Brazil cannot be drawn against the three remaining South American teams.
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Note that the seedings being used for the draw are based on the October World Rankings which are different than the current rankings which are the ones shown in Kyle's post. The seeded teams other than South Africa were ranked 1-7 in the October ranking: 1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Netherlands 4 Italy 5 Germany 6 Argentina 7 England
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South Africa will get one of the three South American teams out of Pot 3. Odds are that the US will get an African team, rather than a South American team, out of Pot 3.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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hat-trick
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Quote:
South Africa will get one of the three South American teams out of Pot 3. Odds are that the US will get an African team, rather than a South American team, out of Pot 3.
Unless the USA is drawn into group A with South Africa. We can only hope.
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If they get drawn into Group A with South Africa, I'll take a South American team! Then it comes down to Pot 4, can we avoid France & Portugal. 
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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hat-trick
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BEST CASE
South Africa
USA
Uruguay
Slovakia
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USA in with England, Slovenia and Algeria. june 12th at 2:30 USA V England.
WhoDaresWins
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A south africa mexico uruguay France
B argentina nigeria south korea greece
C england usa algeria slovenia
D germany australia serbia ghana
E netherlands denmark japan cameroon
F italy paraguay new zealand slovakia
G brazil korea dpr ivory coast potugal
H spain Switzerland honduras chile
Last edited by futbol(soccer); 12/04/09 06:35 PM.
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Brilliant draw for US. Couldn't have gone much better other than to have SA instead of England. Should get through.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Brace
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No giants in the US Draw. We COULD win the group. SHOULD be no worse than 2nd.
The Weather Is Here. Wish You Were Beautiful.
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Brace
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HOORAY!!! Bring on the Brits!
"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"
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RATING THE GROUPS
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Group H - #1 Spain, #17 Chile, #18 Switzerland, #38 Honduras (74, 18.5, 3 in Top 20, 12.0 AVG Top 3)
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Group E - #3 Netherlands, #11 Cameroon, #26 Denmark, #43 Japan (83, 20.75, 2 in Top 20, 13.3 AVG Top 3)
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Group C - #9 England, #14 United States, #28 Algeria, #33 Slovenia (84, 21.0, 2 in Top 20, 17.0 AVG Top 3)
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Group D - #6 Germany, #20 Serbia, #21 Australia, #37 Ghana (84, 21.0, 2 in Top 20, 15.7 AVG Top 3)
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Group B - #8 Argentina, #12 Greece, #22 Nigeria, #52 South Korea (94, 23.5, 2 in Top 20, 14.0 AVG Top 3)
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Group G - #2 Brazil, #5 Portugal, #16 Ivory Coast, #84 North Korea (107, 26.75, 3 in Top 20, 7.7 AVG Top 3) - GROUP OF DEATH
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Group A - #7 France, #15 Mexico, #19 Uruguay, #86 South Africa (127, 31.75, 3 in Top 20, 13.7 AVG Top 3)
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Group F - #4 Italy, #30 Paraguay, #34 Slovakia, #77 New Zealand (145, 36.25, 1 in Top 20, 22.7 AVG Top 3)
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South Africa and Ivory Coast both got the wild card teams from Pot 4 in their groups.
A very happy day in J'burg, but the African continent had the worst luck with this draw. They may not get a team into the second round.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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From the London Times
England hopes of winning the World Cup in South Africa next summer were given a huge boost today when they were given a relatively straightforward draw for the group stage of the competition.
Fabio Capello's side were pitched against United States, Algeria and Slovenia in a draw that saw them avoid potential heavyweights such as Portugal, France and Ivory Coast.
Bookmakers reacted to the draw in Cape Town, which placed Brazil in a formidable group including France and Ivory Coast, by installing England as third favourites to win the event for the first time on foreign soil.
Capello's men begin their tournament against USA on June 12 before facing Algeria 12 days later and Slovenia on June 18 in a potentially tiring itinerary that requires them to cross the length of South Africa. Their first match is in the north west of the country in Rustenburg, the second is on the south coast in Port Elizabeth and the third is in Cape Town to the west.
Should England qualify for the last 16 - they need to finish at least second in Group C - they will play one of the top two sides in Group D, which includes Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana.
The USA, who were among the second seeds, will provide England with probably their toughest opposition. They impressed in qualification and recently beat Spain, the European champions and World Cup favourites, in the Confederations Cup.
Algeria, who scraped through to the tournamen after a play-off against Egypt, are regarded as the weakest of the five African qualifiers. Slovenia, are ranked 33rd in the world and also qualified for the event via a play-off. England them Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley in March.
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It's Brazil, PORTUGAL and Ivory Coast......isn't it?  The Fleet Streeter filed his story to quickly. 
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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World Cup Odds
World Cup Winner
9/2 - Brazil, Spain
11/2 - England
10/1 - Argentina
12/1 - France, Italy
14/1 - Germany, Holland
18/1 - Portugal
22/1 - Ivory Coast
40/1 - Paraguay
45/1 - Chile
50/1 - Mexico, Serbia
60/1 - USA
75/1 - Ghana
80/1 - Denmark, Nigeria, South Africa, Uruguay
100/1 - Australia, Cameroon, Japan
125/1 - Greece, Switzerland
175/1 - Slovenia
200/1 - Slovakia, South Korea
300/1 - Honduras
500/1 - Algeria, North Korea
750/1 - New Zealand
England Group Betting
2/55 - England
10/3 - USA
15/2 - Slovenia
16/1 - Algeria
World Cup Draw Specials
9/2 - The World Cup Final to be won on a penalty shoot out
6/1 - England to be knocked out on penalties
2000/1 - England to beat Germany 4-2 in the 2010 World Cup Final
How many penalty shoot-outs will England play in the World Cup?
1/4 - None
3/1 - Exactly One
16/1 - Two or more
England’s Top World Cup Scorer
13/8 - Rooney
5/1 - Defoe, Lampard
6/1 - Gerrard
10/1 - Crouch
18/1 - Heskey
20/1 - J Cole
22/1 - Bent, Walcott
28/1 - C Cole, Owen
33/1 - Terry
Top Scorer
9/1 - Villa
10/1 - Fabiano
11/1 - Torres
14/1 - Ronaldo
16/1 - Messi, Rooney
20/1 - Aguero, Kaka
22/1 - Drogba, Klose, Van Persie
25/1 - Higuain, Robinho
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Real question for US is what crazy line-up BB will use. If everyone is in form (no Davies or Guch) who plays?
Does BB use a 4-2-3-1 with
Altidore
Donovan Bradley Dempsey
or Torres, berhalter
Clark Jones
or Bradley, Adu
Bornsein Spector
or Mexican kid Boca Demeritt or Hedjuk
Can BB get McBride to come back? We don't have a quality forward after Altidore!!!!
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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One thing I hope BB does is pick a lineup and have them train/play together. We seem to go on FOREVER trying out new players. I know its important to get the best 23 but goodness gracious, we've called up 58 players so far in 2009. The time for finding that hidden gem is over. Let's not spend the precious few months we have left and the very important friendlies letting another 20 players fight it out for the 23rd spot. Stop the lineup shuffling.....get your core group together and fine tune them to the max.
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Quote:
A south africa mexico uruguay France
B argentina nigeria south korea greece
C england usa algeria slovenia
D germany australia serbia ghana
E netherlands denmark japan cameroon
F italy paraguay new zealand slovakia
G brazil korea dpr ivory coast potugal
H spain Switzerland honduras chile
my predictions.
A. France, SA
B. Argentina, Greece
C. England, USA
D. Germany, Australia
E. Holland, Cameroon
F. Italy, Paraguay
G. Brazil, Portugal
H. Spain, Chile
I have not seen a lot of them playing and Im basing my prediction on the ones that I've seen.
Next Round.
France beats Greece
Argentina beats SA
England beats Australia
USA (hoping we wil pull the upset vs Germany)
Holland beats Paraguay
Italy beats Cameroon
Brazil beats Chile
Spain beats Portugal.
Next Round.
Im not sure how it works next but I will leave a few thoughts.
Dark horse I think is gone be Chile, Bielsa is a great coach.
Teams to watch out for.
1.Slovenia: they knocked out Russia, they cant be bad.
2. Ivory Coast: Drogba and Essien...
3. Algeria: Egypt wasnt bad in the Confe-Cup.
After a dissapointing European Cup, Holland is the sleeper.
Never count France or Italy out.
Big dogs are def Spain, Brazil and Germany, Capello may get on their way.
We can only hope for Howard, Donovan and Altidore to have a great tournament, Bradley is playing great soccer in Bundesliga.
I think Honduras comes out with not points, other than Costa Rica, always happens to Central American nations.
Club of the century.
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Essien plays for Ghana, not Ivory Coast. But Ivory Coast do have the likes of Drogba (as you mentioned), Kalou, Toure, and some other quality players. Ivory Coast have to hate their luck though. 2006 they drew the group of Argentina, Holland, and Serbia and this summer they have the privilege of getting Brazil and Portugal. That's unlucky. Hope to see Drogba maintain his current form through the summer though as he is playing exceptionally.
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One month away! 2010 World Cup
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Quote:
A south africa mexico uruguay France
B argentina nigeria south korea greece
C england usa algeria slovenia
D germany australia serbia ghana
E netherlands denmark japan cameroon
F italy paraguay new zealand slovakia
G brazil korea dpr ivory coast portugal
H spain Switzerland honduras chile
A. France and Uruguay
B. Argentina and Nigeria
C. England and Slovenia
D. Germany and Ghana
E. Netherlands and Cameroon
F. Italy and Paraguay
G. Brazil and Ivory Coast
H. Spain and Chile
France Vs Nigeria - France
England vs Ghana - England
Netherlands Vs Paraguay - Paraguay
Brazil Vs Chile - Brazil
Aregntina Vs Uruguay - Argentina
Germany Vs Slovenia - Germany
Italy Vs Cameroon - Italy
Spain Vs Ivory Coast - Spain
France Vs England - England
Paraguay Vs Brazil - Brazil
Argentina Vs Germany - Argentina
Italy Vs Spain - Spain
England Vs Brazil- England
Argentina Vs Spain - Argentina
England Vs Argentina -ENGLAND!!
Player of the tournament - Wayne Rooney (England)
Young player of the tournament - Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Coach/surprise team of the tournament - Gerardo Martino/Paraguay
Top goalscorer - Lionel Messi (Argentina) (6 goals)
Surprise player of the tournament-Adam Johnson (England)
ps. I may have let my heart rule my head in these picks!
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Only one player on the 30-man roster from New Jersey. I remember when guys from Jersey dominated the roster. 
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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They're coming back. There is a lot of players from the Red Bulls Academy on the U15 and U17 National Teams. The absence shows the lack of minority identification, not just in Jersey, but around the country over the past years. All you have to do is look at all the Mexican Americans making it to the Mexican League, which by the way is the Western Hemisphere's best league. And, oh yeah, those players can't make our WC roster? As soon as our NT roster is mostly minority, we'll look like a quality National Team.
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Brace
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"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"
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Wish Davies would have been brought in, just to see if he could get back, but his club team said he wasn't ready yet. Hopefully, this will be great motivation for 4 years.
Also, wish I could ask Rossi how that decision is turning out? Not even on the Italian roster, but would start for team USA. Hope he enjoys his summer on the couch.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Hurst... I think we have two on the roster from NJ. Howard and Bradley. Bradley grew up in NJ before moving to Illinois I think. Not sure how old he was when they moved. Also, Altidore was born in NJ but I think was very young when he moved to Florida. Miss the days of Tab, John, Tony, Peter, and Claudia though.
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Quote:
Wish Davies would have been brought in, just to see if he could get back, but his club team said he wasn't ready yet. Hopefully, this will be great motivation for 4 years.
Also, wish I could ask Rossi how that decision is turning out? Not even on the Italian roster, but would start for team USA. Hope he enjoys his summer on the couch.
Are you kidding? He'll tell you any day that decision was great and I agree with him ten-fold. Actually, he is on the 30-man roster. And, with Bradley's tactics and player selection, there is no guarantee he'd use Rossi and, if he did, look at the average players/tactics that he'd be around. No comparison choosing Italy.
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If I see any Al-Qaeda in South Africa next month, I'll handle them myself! 5/18/10 Al-Qaeda said to be plotting terrorist attack at the World Cup http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7129273.eceLondon Times
When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.
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Quote:
Quote:
A south africa mexico uruguay France
B argentina nigeria south korea greece
C england usa algeria slovenia
D germany australia serbia ghana
E netherlands denmark japan cameroon
F italy paraguay new zealand slovakia
G brazil korea dpr ivory coast portugal
H spain Switzerland honduras chile
A. France and Uruguay
B. Argentina and Nigeria
C. England and Slovenia
D. Germany and Ghana
E. Netherlands and Cameroon
F. Italy and Paraguay
G. Brazil and Ivory Coast
H. Spain and Chile
France Vs Nigeria - France
England vs Ghana - England
Netherlands Vs Paraguay - Paraguay
Brazil Vs Chile - Brazil
Aregntina Vs Uruguay - Argentina
Germany Vs Slovenia - Germany
Italy Vs Cameroon - Italy
Spain Vs Ivory Coast - Spain
France Vs England - England
Paraguay Vs Brazil - Brazil
Argentina Vs Germany - Argentina
Italy Vs Spain - Spain
England Vs Brazil- England
Argentina Vs Spain - Argentina
England Vs Argentina -ENGLAND!!
Player of the tournament - Wayne Rooney (England)
Young player of the tournament - Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Coach/surprise team of the tournament - Gerardo Martino/Paraguay
Top goalscorer - Lionel Messi (Argentina) (6 goals)
Surprise player of the tournament-Adam Johnson (England)
ps. I may have let my heart rule my head in these picks!
gotta love the english mentality but sorry lol. Capello isnt a magician.
Rooney and Messi are ok.
I would rate Germany, Italy, Holland and France over England and Argentina.
Did you know that Maradona left Cambiasso out? haha as much as a love the way Diego dominated back in the days, he is just not a great coach.
Player of the tournament? Here are my predictions.
1. Kaka
2. Casillas
3. Villa
4. Fabiano
5. Puyol/Pique
6. Lucio/Maicon
7. Julio Cesar
or basically anybody from Brazil or Spain.
With all the respect to England, they just seen to choke when it comes to the big stage, Spain is usually the same way and Holland too, Spain was so dominant in the last european cup that makes me believe they would get things done this time.
The USA did beat Spain so we know we can get things done at any given time with a little luck.
Landon Donovans confidence is up in the sky right now.
If anybody is gone get things done for Argentina are Higuain, Samuel or maybe even Milito, haha I dont see Messi doing any different that what he did in South America.
Holland with Sneijder and Robben are going to be tought, Rivery is getting back in shape as well with the help of the Diarras brothers. Watch out for France goalkeeper.
Another interesting players to watch are;
Van Vommel
Mario Gomez
Elano
Lass Diarra
Nilmar (if they take him)
Cristiano Ronaldo lol
I will be the first one to congratulate you if England wins the whole thing but honestly, tv ratings lie sometime ; )
Club of the century.
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Quote:
Player of the tournament? Here are my predictions.
1. Kaka
2. Casillas
3. Villa
4. Fabiano
5. Puyol/Pique
6. Lucio/Maicon
7. Julio Cesar
Glad you picked players from the overrated La Liga and Inter Milan players you hope Jose can bring to Madrid with him, hahahaha. That list is a joke, do you know any other players? And whoever posted their predictions, that is completely insane to think Slovenia would get through over the US, granted either team would lose in the next round but still........ And without Ballack Germany will have a tough time in that group and I think Serbia and Ghana are strong enough to go through over them. And just watch out for those African teams, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana, they have some real talent on their squads and will surprise a lot of people in South Africa. I would love it if one of those four teams won, particularly Cote d'Ivoire, but the chance of that happening is very slim. Therefore I believe Holland will win, and why would anyone ever pick Argentina to be in the final, do you pay attention to international football? Maradona is an awful coach and they got through by the skin of their teeth and Messi has not played well for Argentina in three years....
Perfumes of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely he mutely craved to adore.
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"Glad you picked players from the overrated La Liga and Inter Milan players you hope Jose can bring to Madrid with him, hahahaha."
This statement just shows that you don't have a clue.. These players are from the two top rated teams per FIFA.. Club affiliation doesn't have anything to do with the world cup, national pride
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Quote:
"Glad you picked players from the overrated La Liga and Inter Milan players you hope Jose can bring to Madrid with him, hahahaha."
This statement just shows that you don't have a clue.. These players are from the two top rated teams per FIFA.. Club affiliation doesn't have anything to do with the world cup, national pride
how is epl doing by the way?
i havent watch an epl game in about never hahaha i catch up with epl teams in champions league, long ball was never my taste.
i would watch.
1. la liga
2. serie a
3. bundesliga
4. argentina primera
5. brasileirao
6. mls, yes major league soccer
7. college soccer
8. high school soccer (irmo)
9. nfl
10. college football
before epl haha, wrestling-long ball puts me to sleep, yes i would rather watch high school football or nfl rather than overrated english ping pong league.
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yeah you are completely right, since the epl has a larger average attendance than la liga, and that is just so exciting to see a 30 point gap between 2 and 3 places, REAL EXCITING! This statement about "long ball" makes you the most retarded person who thinks they know something about football wow... watch United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City play... that is really long ball stuff right there. And I guess that is why their is one Englishmen playing in Spain and about fifty Spaniards playing in England, you are right I'm sorry that Spain boasts two teams that wouldn't get relegated in the EPL
Perfumes of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely he mutely craved to adore.
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Quote:
yeah you are completely right, since the epl has a larger average attendance than la liga, and that is just so exciting to see a 30 point gap between 2 and 3 places, REAL EXCITING! This statement about "long ball" makes you the most retarded person who thinks they know something about football wow... watch United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City play... that is really long ball stuff right there. And I guess that is why their is one Englishmen playing in Spain and about fifty Spaniards playing in England, you are right I'm sorry that Spain boasts two teams that wouldn't get relegated in the EPL
what does attendance have to do with quality?
there is more fans at irmo hs games than odp regional games hahaha, heck there is prob more fans at irmo than usc and most college soccer games.
i simply do not like long ball soccer, that simple.
yes english teams have more money (they can bring good players in) and most of them are bankrupted with debts as well but i still like the street football that liga have to offer, much more creative, much more magical.
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that why ronaldo, the best or second best player in the world, says that the quality is better in England and it is more fun and more competitive. And it is not long ball, thats ignorant. The pace in the premier league is so much quicker than any other league. I fall asleep when I try to watch La Liga games on GolTV, I couldnt even watch EL CLASSICO it was so boring. yeah they may score goals of individual brilliance but really from top to bottom England is much better quality and much better to watch and I would say appealing to the eye. The teams are much more competitive in England, thats why their is a big four which was broken this year instead of a big two. Their is always a fight for the title, champions league places, europa league places and relegation, im not saying La Liga doesnt have this but the teams are much more even and that is why I like the Bundesliga more than La Liga too. The top 8 teams in both the EPL and the Bundesliga this season were all quality teams!!! EPL: 1. Chelsea (2 UEFA Cup Winners Cups) 2. Manchester United (3 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 3. Arsenal (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 4. Tottenham Hotspur (2 UEFA Cups, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 5. Manchester City (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 6. Aston Villa (1 UEFA Champions League) 7. Liverpool (5 UEFA Champions Leagues, 3 UEFA Cups) 8. Everton (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) NOTE: Because of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, English teams were banned from European competition for 7 seasons and Liverpool were banned for 11 seasons. Bundesliga: 1. Bayern Munich (4 UEFA Champions League (you can probably add another one today!), 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, 1 UEFA Cup) 2. FC Schalke 04 (1 UEFA Cup) 3. Werder Bremen (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 4. Bayer Leverkusen (1 UEFA Cup, Lost in the Champions League Final in 2002 to the most amazing final goal ever, give your Galacticos that!) 5. Borussia Dortmund (1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 6. VfB Stuttgart 7. Hamburg SV (1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup) 8. VfL Wolfsburg (Reigning Bundesliga Champions, all the way back in 8!) AND here is your debt for you: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=788913&sec=europe&cc=5901&cc=5901
Perfumes of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely he mutely craved to adore.
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Quote:
that why ronaldo, the best or second best player in the world, says that the quality is better in England and it is more fun and more competitive.
And it is not long ball, thats ignorant. The pace in the premier league is so much quicker than any other league. I fall asleep when I try to watch La Liga games on GolTV, I couldnt even watch EL CLASSICO it was so boring. yeah they may score goals of individual brilliance but really from top to bottom England is much better quality and much better to watch and I would say appealing to the eye.
The teams are much more competitive in England, thats why their is a big four which was broken this year instead of a big two. Their is always a fight for the title, champions league places, europa league places and relegation, im not saying La Liga doesnt have this but the teams are much more even and that is why I like the Bundesliga more than La Liga too. The top 8 teams in both the EPL and the Bundesliga this season were all quality teams!!!
EPL:
1. Chelsea (2 UEFA Cup Winners Cups)
2. Manchester United (3 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
3. Arsenal (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
4. Tottenham Hotspur (2 UEFA Cups, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
5. Manchester City (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
6. Aston Villa (1 UEFA Champions League)
7. Liverpool (5 UEFA Champions Leagues, 3 UEFA Cups)
8. Everton (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
NOTE: Because of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, English teams were banned from European competition for 7 seasons and Liverpool were banned for 11 seasons.
Bundesliga:
1. Bayern Munich (4 UEFA Champions League (you can probably add another one today!), 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, 1 UEFA Cup)
2. FC Schalke 04 (1 UEFA Cup)
3. Werder Bremen (1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
4. Bayer Leverkusen (1 UEFA Cup, Lost in the Champions League Final in 2002 to the most amazing final goal ever, give your Galacticos that!)
5. Borussia Dortmund (1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
6. VfB Stuttgart
7. Hamburg SV (1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup)
8. VfL Wolfsburg (Reigning Bundesliga Champions, all the way back in 8!)
AND here is your debt for you: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=788913&sec=europe&cc=5901&cc=5901
at the end of the day unless i see english teams putting the ball on the ground and not kicking it to the other side of the field to the fast forwards and wings, ive rathet watch mls, im serious.
Club of the century.
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Perfumes of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely he mutely craved to adore.
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by the way, madridista want to welcome jose mourinho, you are a true galactico sir, welcome to the greatest futbol club of all times. HALA MADRID!
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Any comments on the USA roster selections???
Can't stand Bornstein, he is a goal allowed waiting to happen.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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2010 USA World Cup Roster
K (3) - Guzan, Hahnemann, Howard
D (7) - Bocanegra, Bornstein, Cherundolo, DeMerit, Goodson, Onyewu, Spector
M (9) - Beasley, Bradley, Clark, Dempsey, Donovan, Edu, Feilhaber, Holden, Torres
F (4) - Altidore, Buddle, Findley, Gomez
Five players with Palmetto State collegiate soccer ties: Clark (Furman University, 2001-02); Dempsey (Furman University, 2001-03); Guzan (University of South Carolina, 2003-04); Holden (Clemson University, 2003-04); Onyewu (Clemson University, 2000-01).
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Brian Ching got cut. Obviously Gomez is in pretty good form. Nice move by Gomez last night, electing to go 1v1 (got nothing out of it), rather than playing the ball to an open Ching who might have finished. 
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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i think onyewu is not 100% and can't go 90' and taking him is a mistake. i wouldn't have pick bornstein either and not sure if beasley will work out. if the usmnt doesn't get it's defense gelling asap it will be 3 and out for our boys. the pressure is really high on bradley to make it out of group play. i'm not sold on bradley as coach of mnt.
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Essien out of tournament!
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2010 World Cup Odds @ Paddy Power http://www.paddypower.com/football/international-football/world-cup-betting?ev_oc_grp_ids=368934:1, Spain 5:1, Brazil 6:1, England 7:1, Argentina 11:1, Holland 14:1, France, Germany, Italy ----------------------------- 25:1, Portugal 33:1, Ivory Coast 66:1, Chile, Paraguay, Serbia 75:1, USA 80:1, Mexico ----------------------------- 100:1, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Uruguay 125:1, Australia, Denmark, South Africa 150:1, Greece ----------------------------- 200:1, Switzerland 225:1, Slovakia 250:1, South Korea 300:1, Slovenia 600:1, Algeria 1,000:1, Honduras 2,000:1, New Zealand, North Korea -----------------------------
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NO ROSSI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should be playing for the Stars and Stripes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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What do you guys think that the USA's starting lineup should be for the England match. My squad is based on the past few games played.
GK- Howard
LB- Bocanegra
CB- Gooch (Even though he is coming back from injury I think we still need him back there)
CB- Demerit / Goodson if Demrit isnt playing well at half
RB- Spector
LM- Beasley
CM- Bradley
CM- Torres (Controlled the midfield very well in the czech and Turkey game)
RM- Dempsey
CF- Donovan
CF- Altidore
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Please no!!!!
Do not put Dovovan up top, he needs to be wide in the midfield so that he can attack wide 1v1. Will probably be 4-5-1 with clark, bradley, and (hopefully) torres (but probably edu). donovan LM, Dempsey RM. Back line is probably correct. If they need a goal, they pull torres/edu for a forward.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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NO ROSSI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should be playing for the Stars and Stripes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rossi made the absolute correct decision. He's represented Italy, has trained with Italy's final 28 for a World Cup and will be in Italy's future setup. Italy or US? Give me a break.
The issue should be Subotic, the Serbian who Thomas Rongen and US Soccer didn't play with the U20s and now is one of the most sought after defenders in the transfer market. Yes, defender, the position we are beyond undermanned at.
4-5-1: Howard, Cherundulo, Goodson, Onweyu, Bocanegra, Feilhaber, Edu, Torres, Donovan, Dempsey and Altidore. Obviously, Bradley will be in....but his possession isn't good enough for a central player. Technical level of Feilhaber and Torres is needed and Edu's experience in Scotland would be good vs. England.
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I hope he enjoys that "absolute correct decision"!!! Yes, he left at a young age, but if you read an interview with him, he is nothing more than an American kid playing ball in Italy. yes, it is his "dream", but I have to think playing in the World Cup is a bigger dream. He would be a part of the US future NOW and for the next 3 world cups. Hate to think about it (because he is incredibly talented) but what if he get seriously injured and can't play in four years??? He may have missed his only chance. God forbid, I don't like him, but I don't wish harm on him (much like C. Ronaldo). U20s don't commit you to a country, has to be full national team (remember US begging F. Adu to not leave for Ghana). This is 2 tournaments in a row. yes Italy beat the US in Confed, but the US made the final. Now, no world cup. he would be a starter. He really needs to move to a Serie A team. yes, not eery player is a Serie a, but 90% are.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Quote:
What do you guys think that the USA's starting lineup should be for the England match. My squad is based on the past few games played.
GK- Howard
LB- Bocanegra
CB- Gooch (Even though he is coming back from injury I think we still need him back there)
CB- Demerit / Goodson if Demrit isnt playing well at half
RB- Spector
LM- Beasley
CM- Bradley
CM- Torres (Controlled the midfield very well in the czech and Turkey game)
RM- Dempsey
CF- Donovan
CF- Altidore
Demerit, Spector, and whatever "loafer" was at outside right midfield in the first half against Turkey, better be a heckuva lot better in South Africa than they were in the first half in Philly on Saturday.
We got torched!
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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Anybody know of any eating/drinking establishments in the Columbia area that plan to cater to soccer fans for the 7 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. games?
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Hurst,
Spector and Demeritt will be OK. That group (with Gooch and Boca) played very well at Confed cup. Just needed some time to gel.
Dempsey should be at RM. That will be a huge upgrade.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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I think the Turks (last week) are better than Slovenia and Algeria.
So that's a positive.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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I hope he enjoys that "absolute correct decision"!!! Yes, he left at a young age, but if you read an interview with him, he is nothing more than an American kid playing ball in Italy. yes, it is his "dream", but I have to think playing in the World Cup is a bigger dream. He would be a part of the US future NOW and for the next 3 world cups. Hate to think about it (because he is incredibly talented) but what if he get seriously injured and can't play in four years??? He may have missed his only chance. God forbid, I don't like him, but I don't wish harm on him (much like C. Ronaldo). U20s don't commit you to a country, has to be full national team (remember US begging F. Adu to not leave for Ghana). This is 2 tournaments in a row. yes Italy beat the US in Confed, but the US made the final. Now, no world cup. he would be a starter. He really needs to move to a Serie A team. yes, not eery player is a Serie a, but 90% are.
I know U20s doesn't commit you to a country but ignorance from an underachieving coach and country will turn your decision. Subotic would be very valuable right now!
Your views on Rossi are too pro-American to take serious. The guy plays in La Liga, now a transfer to Serie A and is in the top 28 of Italy while being capped by them. World Cup in 2010 or not, you're mad if you think playing for the US is a better choice and what the heck makes you think Bradley would start Rossi? Since when have smaller, technical players been a priority for the US?
Rossi is 23 and, with Prandelli about to start after WC with a new, young cycle of Italians, has more high level matches in his future then the entire US Full, U23 and U20 National Team players combined. If he declared as an American player, he wouldn't have the opportunities ahead of him that he has; Americans are just viewed differently. Again, great CAREER choice.
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Bradley won't be here in 1 month, so... The Italians have been ready for a "youth" movement since the '94 world cup in the US. It still hasn't happened. Since when have smaller technical players been a priority for Italy??? Granted they have more technicallly sound players, but they certainly don't look like Argentina, Spain, Netherlands, etc.
The US is starting to move to tehnically better players. Donavan, Torres, Bedoya are good examples.
And you are right, Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley Jr., Edu, all of the goalies, etc. don't get a look oversees. I agree US players are viewed differently, but that is beginning to change. Do you really think that if he declared US, let's say last year before capping for qualifiers or Confed cup, that he would have been cut or not played by his La Liga club??? Come on. Must be why Bedoya, Torres, J. Jones (man I wish he was healthy), etc are coming to US.
Last edited by cid0000; 06/03/10 02:59 PM.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Bradley won't be here in 1 month, so... The Italians have been ready for a "youth" movement since the '94 world cup in the US. It still hasn't happened. Since when have smaller technical players been a priority for Italy??? Granted they have more technicallly sound players, but they certainly don't look like Argentina, Spain, Netherlands, etc.
The US is starting to move to tehnically better players. Donavan, Torres, Bedoya are good examples.
And you are right, Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley Jr., Edu, all of the goalies, etc. don't get a look oversees. I agree US players are viewed differently, but that is beginning to change. Do you really think that if he declared US, let's say last year before capping for qualifiers or Confed cup, that he would have been cut or not played by his La Liga club??? Come on, you're anti-American views show. Must be why Bedoya, Torres, J. Jones (man I wish he was healthy), etc are coming to US.
1) You were talking about his decision up to 2010 WC and Bradley is here.
2) The '94 comment doesn't make sense. The team, of course, has gone through two cycles and did OK in 2006.
3) Injuries aside, Marchisio, DiNatale and Camoranesi are all in line to play for Italy. Potentially, 3 or the 11 just in this Cup. A fourth starter (5'9" Pirlo) isn't bad either. If Feilhaber and Torres both start, then I stand corrected.
4) Donovan is known for athleticism, not technical ability. Torres? let's see how much he plays....should but won't over Bradley, Clark and Edu. Look where Bedoya is.
5) I didn't say Americans don't get looks....just looked at differently. And, look closer at that group. Dempsey and Howard are the only legit arguments and one's a GK.
6) Changing? Total field players PLAYING on top teams in La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, EPL, etc, etc.
7) No, if when he declared it was for US, Villareal would've looked differently due to EU work issues let alone the soccer side. There was old article in Football Italia on Villareal/Rossi that discussed it.
8) They're coming to US because they're not good enough for their countries. Jones was on outside looking in for Germany.
I'm cheering for the United States as much as anybody but you have to be realistic about things.
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1. But he would be on the roster, and most likely playing.
2. How many players under the age of 24 have been on the Italian roster each world cup? I could be wrong, but they always seem to have an "older" group at the cup. Clearly a great team, just a great older team.
3. 2 of these three are bulldog defenders. Not quite spain.
4. not having bedoya is again BB being stupid, and he will be gone in a month. Rossi would be playing on this team.
5. Donovan was player of the month for his club (which beat or tied Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Man City - correct?). All 3 goalies play in the EPL. Edu started the last few games. Bradly has done well. Not alot of top 3 leagues, but not bad. Gomez won golden boot in Mexico, not bad.
7. Really think he wouldn't have gotten a work visa?? Hasn't been a problem for the rest of US players.
8. Jones (when healthy) was a force for Schlake 04. And probably would have been in line for a cup look. Have several friends from Germany and not one was happy when he left.
Again, he would be playing, not watching. He would have been in 3 cups for the US. Hopefully, 2 for Italy. Wish the kid luck. Hope the US brings in a great technical coach after BB.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Can the usmnt even put 2 quality halves together at the wc?
We’ll know soon if papa Bradley can coach or not under pressure.
4-5-1 formation is ridiculous……Dempsey is lazy…..some of our studs/game changers may not even see the pitch (Torres, Gomez, buddle)
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1. But he would be on the roster, and most likely playing.
2. How many players under the age of 24 have been on the Italian roster each world cup? I could be wrong, but they always seem to have an "older" group at the cup. Clearly a great team, just a great older team.
3. 2 of these three are bulldog defenders. Not quite spain.
4. not having bedoya is again BB being stupid, and he will be gone in a month. Rossi would be playing on this team.
5. Donovan was player of the month for his club (which beat or tied Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Man City - correct?). All 3 goalies play in the EPL. Edu started the last few games. Bradly has done well. Not alot of top 3 leagues, but not bad. Gomez won golden boot in Mexico, not bad.
7. Really think he wouldn't have gotten a work visa?? Hasn't been a problem for the rest of US players.
8. Jones (when healthy) was a force for Schlake 04. And probably would have been in line for a cup look. Have several friends from Germany and not one was happy when he left.
Again, he would be playing, not watching. He would have been in 3 cups for the US. Hopefully, 2 for Italy. Wish the kid luck. Hope the US brings in a great technical coach after BB.
I'd love to be totally wrong and we could go on for days with different views. My only issue left is there is NOT one bulldog defender in that group of Marchisio, DiNatale, Camoransi and Pirlo? You must be thinking DeRossi and Gattuso. Thanks for the great dialogue and watch Italy v Mexico at 1 p.m. today on Telemundo.
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Friendly dialogue and agreeing to disagree can sometimes be hard to find on these forums. My mistake with Mar, Di,... I will definately be watching and can't wait for the 11th.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Altidore day-to-day with sprained ankle, Rio Ferdinand day-to-day with knee injury, Drogba possibly out for cup after breaking arm against Japan. Altidore better get better or it will be a long 3 games for the US.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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Buddle sure looked good and earned some playing time in the friendly with Austrailia. Gooch seems to be struggling. Goodson and DeMerit have not looked sharp. I'm worried about our back line.
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Bradley won't be here in 1 month, so... The Italians have been ready for a "youth" movement since the '94 world cup in the US. It still hasn't happened. Since when have smaller technical players been a priority for Italy??? Granted they have more technicallly sound players, but they certainly don't look like Argentina, Spain, Netherlands, etc.
The US is starting to move to tehnically better players. Donavan, Torres, Bedoya are good examples.
And you are right, Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley Jr., Edu, all of the goalies, etc. don't get a look oversees. I agree US players are viewed differently, but that is beginning to change. Do you really think that if he declared US, let's say last year before capping for qualifiers or Confed cup, that he would have been cut or not played by his La Liga club??? Come on. Must be why Bedoya, Torres, J. Jones (man I wish he was healthy), etc are coming to US.
is about time for the US to learn from the Perez experience and stop thinking "big and fast" would make you a world champion.
I can come up with a lot of good skilled short player from italy and I can start with Del Piero or Donadoni.
Big and Fast work for brazil but that is because their skill and creativity with the ball is 100xs better.
In fact I was talking to Dustyn Corea last night, a Salvadoran american kid who has been left out 2 times off the youth national team because he doesnt "fit" into the coach strategy.
Corea just graduated from high school, he is been to italy trying out with juventus and fiorentina already. He is getting ready to sign with a european team but he didnt want to say for what team.
Not only that, but El Salvador is going after Corea as well who is mad because he is been left out of the US again.
Times are changing and hopelly with the years most americans would learn that in soccer skill is very important too and they go along with size and speed as well.
Messi, Romario and Maradona were all about 5 6" or 5 7" but great players.
Big and fast helps but at the end, skill is the most important (brazil).
Last edited by Alma Merengue; 06/07/10 03:26 AM.
Club of the century.
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LET THE GAMES BEGIN ! 
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This is cool, and I know I'm saving it to my favorites. World Cup TV listings Enjoy the festival.
satus quod perago validus - start and finish strong
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Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain's girlfriend -- 
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M#1: South Africa 1-1 Mexico
M#2: France 0-0 Uruguay
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Awesome result for Bafana Bafana!!!
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In the modern format - with 32 teams - scoring has been as follows through the first 16 matches of the Group Stage:
2010 - 25 goals (1.56 goals per match)
2006 - 39 goals (2.44 goals per match)
2002 - 46 goals (2.88 goals per match)
1998 - 37 goals (2.31 goals per match)
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Switzerland 1
Spain Nil
Unbelievable!
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Messi only credited with 2 points in the fantasy game after today against South Korea. That is messed up (no pun intended). The guy had at least 2 assists!
WhoDaresWins
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I have Messi as well and sent an e-mail to ESPN Soccernet. This was the reply from Dale Johnson:
As per the official How to Play game rules:
* The first was an own goal, which there are no assists for.
* The second came off the post, which there are no assists for.
* The third was flicked on by Burdisso.
* The final was an Aguero assist.
The How to Play states: A Key Contribution (assist) is awarded to a player who plays the final successful pass which leads to a goal. Please note that Key Contributions are not awarded to players who are fouled for free-kicks or penalties which lead to goals, for own goals or for goals which result from rebounds off other players or the woodwork.
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Well if you Kats would have picked my BOY GONZALO HIGUAIN you wouldnt have this problem!! Ya'll betta bear witness!! The Coldest Striker in La Liga!!!
NEVER ANYTHING TOO EASY!!! You Betta Listen Up and Bear Witness!!!!!
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higuain for president! haha
watch out for van der vaar too, madrid does an amazing job preparing the studs haha
Club of the century.
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That's still messed up. Messi forced the keeper into a save then his follow up hit the post and went to Higuain's feet. He got the same points as Park Ji-Sung of Korea and their games were totally different.
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This is turning out to be a very interesting WC...
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; [it] is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
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How about this for a crazy, but possible, scenario in Group C:
Slovenia 2-2 England
USA 0-0 Algeria
Slovenia would advance as the group's first place team with 5 points
England & USA would be tied on points (3), goal difference (0), goals scored (3), and head-to-head (1-1). A coin would be flipped to determine who would advance as the group's second place team.
Of course, the USA & England can avoid such a mess and insure their advancement by winning their respective games on Wednesday.
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That'd be crazy. Also, don't be shocked if Slovenia and Algeria advance with a Slovenia tie and Algeria win. NO ONE predicted that. Wow.
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How about good ole New Zealand?!?! Their result was inspiring. Brazil is just whipping poor old Ivory Coast.
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i've been able to watch alot of the games thus far & gotta say, mens soccer is the biggest pusi sport on tv, what an embarrassment, thought the italians were bad, this brazil/ivory coast game is ridiculous. where & how does the flopping end?
makes the nba look like tough guys.
i hope this bs never infiltrates womens soccer.
Last edited by sandman; 06/20/10 08:22 PM.
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You don't see as much flopping and diving and faking as there was allowed in World Cups in past.......I have only seen that one Italian dive...(and the Italians are bigger whiners than the French).....but in NBA you see flopping/faking and whining on just about every trip down the court...... and how could these poor, defenseless women be ejected from the game.....? they were just promoting an adult beverage..... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/16/fifa-world-cup-ambush-marketing
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Portugal 7 N. Korea 0 
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http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/1...ight-unamericanFrom what I've seen, the United States has the most honorable soccer team in the 2010 World Cup. This isn't about talent or skill. It's not about heart or gumption or grit or any of those intangible qualities, either. This is about flopping like fish. And we don't do it. No flopping for Steve Cherundolo. After a hard hit by England's James Milner, he bounces right back. (AP) You're [censored] right I said we, because I'm proud of the U.S. soccer team. I've never been more proud of the U.S. soccer team than I was this past weekend, when the Americans played England to a 1-1 tie -- a result that has nothing to do with this story. I don't care about the score. Well, wait, I care about the score, but not for the sake of this story. For the sake of this story, I care about the honor of our soccer team. I care about our ethics. About our sense of fair play. I care that we don't flop like fish. Almost everyone else does it, some worse than others. I'm talking to you, Nigeria. And to you, Germany. Those guys flop like Sylvester Stallone in Judge Dredd. They flop like a flock of Greg Pauluses. So do players from France and Uruguay and Argentina. When a defender makes a play for the soccer ball at their feet, these guys dive like a stick of dynamite has been thrown their way -- and they writhe in pain like the TNT blew off their knee. But Americans don't flop. It wasn't just one guy, so don't go off on that tangent, people -- but the best example of American honor from Saturday came in the 26th minute. The USA was trailing 1-0 when Steve Cherundolo was challenged by England's James Milner. It was a forceful challenge, and Cherundolo legitimately went flying. A whistle blew. This was a game-changing moment. If Milner drew a red card, he would be ejected and England would have to try to protect its 1-0 lead for the final 64 minutes with just 10 players. But Cherundolo didn't bother faking an injury -- he popped up immediately, and the referee gave Milner a yellow caution card. Links 2010 World Cup coverage Group standings | Matches World Cup photo gallery SI.com: Wahl's World Cup blog SB Nation: Complete soccer coverage And I just about started to hum the only Lee Greenwood song in my iPod. Because I was proud to be an American. The honest way the Americans play the game is one more reason to like this team. But all this dishonest flopping that everyone else is doing? It's one more reason to dislike soccer. And lots of you don't need another reason to dislike soccer. You already don't like the low scores, the way games in stage play can end in a tie, the way soccer fans talk down to you like you're an imbecile if you don't pay homage to the beautiful game. I don't agree with those of you who dislike soccer -- I played it through high school, even had a college scholarship offer that I turned down -- but I hear your reasons and don't discount them. They're legit. Is the game boring to me? Nope. But at the same time, I'm not a soccer snob who demands to know HOW DARE YOU DISLIKE THIS SPORT? Not me. I get it. And if the flopping turns away more of you, well, I'd get that too. Players get hit in one area of the body and grab another, like Nigeria's Chinedu Obasi, who was nudged from behind by an Argentine player and dove to the ground, holding his testicles. A few minutes later, Argentina's Jonas Gutierrez upended Obasi -- legitimately took him out near the ankle -- and Obasi went for an Oscar. He rolled around like a Top Fuel dragster after a horrific crash, over and over, his hand sliding up from his ankle to his knee to his (again) testicles. Maybe I'm being too hard on Obasi. Maybe he just liked the way he feels down ... there. But it looked to me like he was trying to convince the referee that Gutierrez had fouled him so egregiously that only a red card would do. Tim Cahill (4) is the victim of a cheap red card thanks to some skillful acting. (Getty Images) And referees tend to fall for this crap. That's why it's so hard to watch -- and why, of course, it continues to happen. Because referees fall for it. So do television announcers. Just once it would be nice to hear one of ESPN's hushed European analysts lose his patience and scream at a flopper, "Sod off, bloody faker!" But, no. The announcers are as stupid as the officials. A player dives, and the announcers make like the referee and get outraged at the offending tackle. Puh-lease. Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger earned a Best Supporting Actor from the Academy referee Sunday against Australia, but not for his first role. In that one, Schweinsteiger's leg was in the air when Australia's Vincenzo Grella ran into it. Schweinsteiger made like a fire-drill pupil -- he stopped, dropped and rolled. No card for Grella. So Schweinsteiger got up and continued on. Moments later, in Act 2, Aussie Tim Cahill slid into him and clipped him on the ankle. Schweinsteiger dived as if Cahill had thrown one of those sticks of TNT -- and then grabbed his face. Like the shrapnel had taken out an eye. The referee rewarded Schweinsteiger with a standing ovation, which is to say, he gave Cahill a red card. Here it is. See for yourself. It was a hard tackle, but it was not -- as Schweinsteiger himself told Cahill later -- cause for a red card. But the official bought it because, well, I don't really know why the official bought it. Because he's stupid? Works for me. Cahill walked off the field. Schweinsteiger rose and ran back toward the action. Because he was never hurt, see. This is one of those times when you have to respect golfers. Those guys go way over the top when it comes to sportsmanship, disqualifying themselves for accidentally signing an incorrect scorecard. It's crazy, but golfers will do everything to avoid the appearance of cheating. Soccer players are the opposite -- they'll do everything to cheat. When defenders line up to 10 yards from the ball to defend a free kick, the human wall will creep forward, inch by inch, unless the referee stops it. When the ball goes out of bounds, whoever's throwing it in will go to the spot where the ball left the field, then start bounding forward, yard after yard, oftentimes gaining 10 or 15 yards of field position simply by, well, cheating. And when two players collide, as they will do throughout the game, one of them -- and sometimes both of them; Grella flopped after running into Schweinsteiger's knee -- will scream like he's been buried alive. It's nauseating, and I'll go a step farther: It's un-American. Because our guys don't do it. Tell 'em, Lee: God bless the U-S-A.
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i've been able to watch alot of the games thus far & gotta say, mens soccer is the biggest pusi sport on tv, what an embarrassment, thought the italians were bad, this brazil/ivory coast game is ridiculous. where & how does the flopping end?
makes the nba look like tough guys.
i hope this bs never infiltrates womens soccer.
basketball is the most pussified sport in mens history.
Club of the century.
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Possibly the Erin Andrews of World Soccer.......?  Iker Casillas' TV presenter girlfriend, Sara Carbonero, prepares for her pre-match piece to camera. The Spanish goalkeeper is probably more worried about her questions than the Honduras attack
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Uruguay wins Group A......!  'Blue until I die' 
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i'm not a fan of the nba, because they're overpaid babys. they flop for the foul, but they don't act like a grenade went off in their face like mens soccer. wtf, when did this become acceptable? an italian friend told me, ya, we're just used to it, we don't even notice it anymore. spare me the melodrama, i'll take womens soccer. that said, still hooked on the world cup. is anyone getting any work done this month? look for another dip in the economy.
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What a glorious month this has been in TV sports....even though I detest the NBA, I at least watched part of the final and we have a champion........then the US Open...now the College World Series with 1 1/2 state teams.......and the wonderful World Cup with all its spectacle...all its diversity....  all its issues.....all its joys........  and sorrows....  the French  all its beauty in the stands....    and all the competition.......  The Cup  and a dip in the economy......? I think not.......the suds industry is thriving.......... 
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Come on guys....Not another crappy start...........!
19 min: I wouldn't like to see Rafik Halliche attempt to apply some deoderant of a morning. Because he has just tried to spray a pass out to Belhadj and mised by the width of several fat bodies. (Gotta love the Brits commentary)
17 min: That's an awful, Ziani-esque effort from Donovan. Get it together, lads.
15 min: It's poor fare so far, to be fair.
9 min: Another elementary error by an American defender. This time it was Cherundolo who goofed, kicking air as a long ball flew through to Djebbour, who again lacked composure and plopped a ridiculous shot into the sidenetting.
WHAT A MISS! It was appalling defending by DeMerit, who allowed a long diagonal ball to bounce past him and into the path of Djebbour. The striker killed it on his chest and then crashed a rash hasty shot past Howard and onto the crossbar! he had enough time and space to do much better than that but rushed his effort, betraying the confidence of a man who hasn't scored in eons.
4 min: Algeria are taking the early initiatives here, with the US content to try to absorb the pressure and strike on the counter-attack.
2 min: Donovan scampers down the right and delivers a dangerous cross. But Mbouli clasps it cleanly.
1 min: We have kick-off. Belhadj immedaitely goes long for Djebbour, who nods it down to Matmour, who wallops it first time just over the bar. Foxy start from the Fennecs.
Last edited by usasoccer; 06/23/10 02:22 PM.
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40 min: Tame effort from distance by Dempsey. Well held by Mbolhi. "I'm in Texas, and if FIFA want us to care about the World Cup, they should at least supply us with competent refs," moans Thomas Langino. Savour the character-building lesson, Thomas. Injustice is part of life, might as well get used to it. So says Sepp.
38 min: Neither of these teams want to die like Buridan's ass so there's both now hellbent on victory, meaning the game is beocming ever more open and entertaining. Matmour has just rasped one at Howard from distance. The keeper tipped it over for a corner.
Buridan's ass
It refers to a hypothetical situation wherein an ass is placed precisely midway between a stack of hay and a pail of water. Since the paradox assumes the ass will always go to whichever is closer, it will die of both hunger and thirst since it cannot make any rational decision to choose one over the other.
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Half-time: It's low-quality fare but enertaining in an almost slapstick way, though the biggest blunder of the game was by the officials, who disallowed a legitimate American goal. Altidore also wasted a superb chance and Djebbour smashed the ball against the bar when a goal seemed certain. Who knows what the second half will hold?
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Great win for USA way to fight to the end. And Bob finally showing some emotion I think he has taken a page from Diego gooooooooooooo USA.....
we run things, things nuh run we.....
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The USA won their group in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1930 and also got points in their final group game for the first time since that inaugual WC. They will face the second place team from group D in Rustenburg at 2:30 PM EDT on Saturday, 6/26.
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Dang, that's some serious air he's got there...I feel bad for the guy he landed on.
Awesome last ditch effort by the US...but let's not let it get that stressful against Ghana!
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; [it] is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
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i'm not a fan of the nba, because they're overpaid babys. they flop for the foul, but they don't act like a grenade went off in their face like mens soccer. wtf, when did this become acceptable? an italian friend told me, ya, we're just used to it, we don't even notice it anymore.
spare me the melodrama, i'll take womens soccer.
that said, still hooked on the world cup. is anyone getting any work done this month? look for another dip in the economy.
you and people like you need to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vJn5XxWg9U
Club of the century.
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Quote:
i'm not a fan of the nba, because they're overpaid babys. they flop for the foul, but they don't act like a grenade went off in their face like mens soccer. wtf, when did this become acceptable? an italian friend told me, ya, we're just used to it, we don't even notice it anymore.
spare me the melodrama, i'll take womens soccer.
that said, still hooked on the world cup. is anyone getting any work done this month? look for another dip in the economy.
you and people like you need to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vJn5XxWg9U
how does that relate to grown men writhing around on the ground like 5yrs olds trying to get the attention of the refs.
during the italian game yesterday, the ref just walked over & told them to get up & shut up, he wasn't buying it. 
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Here I go again!
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i'm not a fan of the nba, because they're overpaid babys. they flop for the foul, but they don't act like a grenade went off in their face like mens soccer. wtf, when did this become acceptable? an italian friend told me, ya, we're just used to it, we don't even notice it anymore.
spare me the melodrama, i'll take womens soccer.
that said, still hooked on the world cup. is anyone getting any work done this month? look for another dip in the economy.
you and people like you need to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vJn5XxWg9U
how does that relate to grown men writhing around on the ground like 5yrs olds trying to get the attention of the refs.
during the italian game yesterday, the ref just walked over & told them to get up & shut up, he wasn't buying it.
diving is annoying huh? that is your opinion, good for you. now let me tell you what is annoying to me.
1. one million time outs and commercial breaks in 3 hours and 15 minutes of real play.
2. 400lbs fat athletes
3. tought dudes with pads, i wont even waste my time arguing, rugby is a thousand times more superior when it comes to physicallity.
i can on and on, but lastly, i hate diving as well, but i watch the game to enjoy all the good stuff not the bad things on it.
soccer is # 1 to me and that is the way is going to be the rest of my life.
Club of the century.
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World Cup
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GROUP PLAY SCORING STATISTICS
1st Stage - 16 matches
25 goals (1.56 goals per match)
2nd Stage - 16 matches
42 goals (2.63 goals per match)
3rd Stage - 16 matches
34 goals (2.13 goals per match)
Total - 16 matches (6/26/10)
101 goals (2.10 goals per match)
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i dunno why your panties are twisted because the european model of flopping around like a fish was surprising to me. get up & play should be the refs mantra & red cards or penalties should be issued after the games review to the most blatent idiots. i wish its ridiculousness was pointed out more by the commentators. theres one british guy that lays into them pretty good tho. i hope that crap doesn't filter down to the high school ranks.
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i'm not a fan of the nba, because they're overpaid babys. they flop for the foul, but they don't act like a grenade went off in their face like mens soccer. wtf, when did this become acceptable? an italian friend told me, ya, we're just used to it, we don't even notice it anymore.
spare me the melodrama, i'll take womens soccer.
that said, still hooked on the world cup. is anyone getting any work done this month? look for another dip in the economy.
you and people like you need to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vJn5XxWg9U
how does that relate to grown men writhing around on the ground like 5yrs olds trying to get the attention of the refs.
during the italian game yesterday, the ref just walked over & told them to get up & shut up, he wasn't buying it.
diving is annoying huh? that is your opinion, good for you. now let me tell you what is annoying to me.
1. one million time outs and commercial breaks in 3 hours and 15 minutes of real play.
2. 400lbs fat athletes
3. tought dudes with pads, i wont even waste my time arguing, rugby is a thousand times more superior when it comes to physicallity.
i can on and on, but lastly, i hate diving as well, but i watch the game to enjoy all the good stuff not the bad things on it.
soccer is # 1 to me and that is the way is going to be the rest of my life.
We all love soccer or we wouldn't be on this site.
I hate the flopping like anyone else...it does go a little far. I wish more players would have the toughness of Dempsey. The man played with a broken jaw before it was diagnosed by the team physician. He didn't flop when he was hit in the face and drew blood. The guy is TOUGH
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corner kick
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i dunno why your panties are twisted because the european model of flopping around like a fish was surprising to me.
get up & play should be the refs mantra & red cards or penalties should be issued after the games review to the most blatent idiots.
i wish its ridiculousness was pointed out more by the commentators. theres one british guy that lays into them pretty good tho.
i hope that crap doesn't filter down to the high school ranks.
and again you have to know more about soccer to understand where the "diving" comes from.
when i watch a usc (both socar or socal) football game, or a jets game or la lakers, i watch them bc i love sports, bc i know sanchez or kobe are going to make something happen.
we are all tired of people like you always trying to find something bad in the game.
1. first it was boring, yes you still find baseball and golf really exciting.
2. ties: it is the way it is, we are not gone kick a field goal in the last minute to untie the game.
3. physicallity, diving: nba is worse, if we go by puss.ies playing the game, i would never watch nba then.
4. inferior athletes. but yeah somehow a fat baseball mlb or nfl player is a great athlete, haha in soccer if are fat, you are an embarrasing player for your team, all competitive soccer players must be xtremely fit.
again, that is the way our sport is, you either like it or you dont.
let me tell you about diving.
1. it can be protection: when you have skill, you dont want a non-skilled dumb defensive player to hurt you bc you want to play more, bc you are the one that make things happen for your team.
kind like the qb, the qb in football sometime have to step down and stop the play. think of what happened to mccoy last year for texas. being "brave" doesnt always apply, if you are hurt in the championship game bc of some dumb tackle, then you are out, and you have to wait another season to make it there.
a lot of skilled players use diving for protection.
2. the "acting." this is what most of you people dont understand, and is part of the game as well, not saying is a good thing but is just part of the game kind like fat people playing nfl.
when you "act" and roll around on the ground, sometime you can get your opponent a red card, then your team has one more player, so your team has more chances of winning the game. so yeah, diving can be more of "cheating" than being a "pussi" like most of you think.
diving is not worse than baseballs and nfl cheating ways: "steorids."
so basically i dont think diving is going out of the game that easy, the same way steroids are not done with american sports.
now, im done educating people like you, there is not point in doing it.
there is always gone be another excuse wheater is the vuvuzelas or any other crap. stick to nascar, baseball or poker.
Club of the century.
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i'm not sure who you are arguing with about the other sports, (or why) but in regards to your defense of the idiots flopping around on the ground like a fish....holy crap, are you serious? you win with that logic 
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Watching USA-Ghana today...Ghana player goes down on the field and stays there writhing. Trainers come out and consult...finally the squad of yellow-coats trot out with the stretcher, put him on it, carry him off the field, and set the stretcher down just outside the sideline...upon which he immediately stands up and walks off just before the camera cuts away.
Idiots flopping around? Not idiots. Unethical, cheating, and downright embarrassing from the perspective of a culture that believes in "rub some dirt in it, get up, and play harder!" but hardly idiots when the tactic usually gives their team an advantage...games can be decided on a free kick, not to mention a couple of yellow cards can take a physical team right out of their game for fear of ejection, never mind the damage a red card does. Just glad to see some WC officials issuing cards for obvious flopping--only if they're penalized for it will it truly become "idiotic" instead of being a smart way to play the system for people who don't care just HOW they gain the advantage just so long as they win.
I've got good news and bad news...
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corner kick
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Quote:
Watching USA-Ghana today...Ghana player goes down on the field and stays there writhing. Trainers come out and consult...finally the squad of yellow-coats trot out with the stretcher, put him on it, carry him off the field, and set the stretcher down just outside the sideline...upon which he immediately stands up and walks off just before the camera cuts away.
Idiots flopping around? Not idiots. Unethical, cheating, and downright embarrassing from the perspective of a culture that believes in "rub some dirt in it, get up, and play harder!" but hardly idiots when the tactic usually gives their team an advantage...games can be decided on a free kick, not to mention a couple of yellow cards can take a physical team right out of their game for fear of ejection, never mind the damage a red card does. Just glad to see some WC officials issuing cards for obvious flopping--only if they're penalized for it will it truly become "idiotic" instead of being a smart way to play the system for people who don't care just HOW they gain the advantage just so long as they win.
exactly they have never played soccer so they would never understand it.
being an skilled soccer player from latin america, when i was a kid, many coaches would tell me;
"the dumb big guy is gone be marking you, take him one on one all the time, and try to get him mad with your moves, get him a yellow card or a red card, do it in the penalty area as well so you can get a penalty kick, he is big and dumb and he gets mad easily."
and again, i can go on and on how that fits tactically, is part of the culture, part of the sport.
the diving mostly comes from italy and south america, and what they are basically saying is "im smarter than you." and is far far away from a weak act.
diving sometimes would also tell the defender "becarefull, dont do dumb physicall tackles, pay more attention to the ball and not to the player, play clean and stay out of a red card.
now, before you want to fix our sport try to fix:
1. steorids
2. 400lbs embarrasing athletes
3. a million time outs and commercial breaks
fix your stuff first before you want to fix others.
by the way, our boys did their best, but like before, our best wasnt enought.
now lets work on a real coach, and something other than expecting donovan or dempsey to do miracles or hitting long balls to altidore.
where are the skilled-creative american players?
Club of the century.
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Blitzkrieg in Bloemfontein! Germany 4-1 England
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Amen for the truth being told by Jurgen Klinsmann on World Cup wrap-up show after the England/Germany match on the state of U.S. soccer and the future.
Upside down pyramid!!! The U.S. has got to develop soccer amongst the lower classes (poorer, low-income communities) much as the rest of the world does. We have to reach out to the Hispanic community and the inner-city kids to truly progress on the world stage. Pay-for-play hinders this movement and certainly many a case can be made that Academy and ODP absolutely does not recognize ALL of the top talent and is often merely awarded to kids whose parents can put them in the "right environment" to succeed.
Personally, I hope Klinsmann becomes our next coach and I have been a fan of Bradley and most appreciative of what he has done for our national team, but believe he's taken us as far as he can go.
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Just asking here and nothing else Kevin, since you own a pay for play club, what do you believe is the best way to handle this? Thanks
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World Cup
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Just asking here and nothing else Kevin, since you own a pay for play club, what do you believe is the best way to handle this? Thanks
\
Well first I would have to address the fact that I do not own a club, but that I was one of the founders and remain an integral part of the Congaree Rapid Soccer Association.
Unfortunately, I don't have all the answers, because soccer in this country is structured in a very organized manner. All aspects of youth soccer require some form of payment or financial commitment. I really believe until the club structure could be funded on a corporate level or from a professional club standpoint, then we're stuck in the current form forever.
For example, CRSA has maintained our current Select fees of $495 (which includes 2 uniforms) for six straight years. This is a bare bones fee that ultimately is maxed to the nth degree to run a "no frills" club. However, that fee still excludes kids that desire to play due to financial issues. What would be ideal is for corporate or "big parent club" soccer to exist where say a Coca-Cola would give a soccer youth entity, say $200,000 and basically say "go run the soccer program for 200+ kids, but don't charge kids to play." Then it would work. However, without corporate backing, it's a no-go. The other issue is facilities. If a club has their own facilities, then they have an inherent advantage to offer all levels of soccer -- rec, junior academy, select, academy, indoor, camps, weight training, clubhouse, training rooms, etc.
The other scenario is the big parent club situation which would formulate around the local professional club -- i.e. Columbus Crew or even Charleston Battery -- that would have a grassroots recreational to highly competitive Academy level teams organized with full-time paid coaches/staff that would devote their livelihood to the promotion of soccer and could attract all players, regardless of how much money their parents make.
In short, much like the European or South American models
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I have written thousands of pages in different forums analysing american soccer, most people may already be bored with it.
many things have to be changed.
soccer is growing a lot in the usa but is still not as developed as in other countries, a lot of people sees soccer as a "thread" for the big sports, but reality is, it would take more than 50 years for soccer to even touch nfl, college football would prob be wayyyy too big for soccer.
soccer would grow and thats it, lets stop the silly idea of soccer taking over the big sports.
i remember as a kid.
Not only i played everyday at school and at home but i was part of many teams at the same time.
1. club
2. school team
3. neighborhood team
4. indoor soccer team
5. state team
not to mention teams from other neighborhoods inviting me to play for them, beach tournaments, soccer everywhere, that is something an american kid doesnt have, they go to school, practice, then they go home and not more soccer is around them. at least soccer is a little more on tv now.
college soccer have to do major changes. middle school soccer have to be born. can college soccer have a jv team?
in california, in many high schools, they do have a c team for soccer.
all american kids watch is epl, how good does that do for them? english soccer is super overrated. american kids know very little of german, italian, dutch, brazilian, argentina or uruguay soccer which are the most successful nations in the sport.
soccer just have to be open to more people, athletism have to be part of it too, soccer players have to be faster and stronger, and the big problem is that most of those kids go to american football, think of mark sanchez for example, how does a mexican american decides to play football and not soccer?
i think that a quick fix would be to bring a big deal coach, at least you can expect him to win big games, i will love to see the usa playing an attacking style, bob bradley never played to attack untill he was down on the board.
i think thats enought for now, i have to watch overrated messi next to the next nistelroy HIGUAIN HAHA
Last edited by Alma Merengue; 06/27/10 06:06 PM.
Club of the century.
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Quote:
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Just asking here and nothing else Kevin, since you own a pay for play club, what do you believe is the best way to handle this? Thanks
\
Well first I would have to address the fact that I do not own a club, but that I was one of the founders and remain an integral part of the Congaree Rapid Soccer Association.
Unfortunately, I don't have all the answers, because soccer in this country is structured in a very organized manner. All aspects of youth soccer require some form of payment or financial commitment. I really believe until the club structure could be funded on a corporate level or from a professional club standpoint, then we're stuck in the current form forever.
For example, CRSA has maintained our current Select fees of $495 (which includes 2 uniforms) for six straight years. This is a bare bones fee that ultimately is maxed to the nth degree to run a "no frills" club. However, that fee still excludes kids that desire to play due to financial issues. What would be ideal is for corporate or "big parent club" soccer to exist where say a Coca-Cola would give a soccer youth entity, say $200,000 and basically say "go run the soccer program for 200+ kids, but don't charge kids to play." Then it would work. However, without corporate backing, it's a no-go. The other issue is facilities. If a club has their own facilities, then they have an inherent advantage to offer all levels of soccer -- rec, junior academy, select, academy, indoor, camps, weight training, clubhouse, training rooms, etc.
The other scenario is the big parent club situation which would formulate around the local professional club -- i.e. Columbus Crew or even Charleston Battery -- that would have a grassroots recreational to highly competitive Academy level teams organized with full-time paid coaches/staff that would devote their livelihood to the promotion of soccer and could attract all players, regardless of how much money their parents make.
In short, much like the European or South American models
i always thought of it this why, a big city like columbia should have an mls academy here, is this possible?
why dont we have at least a pdl team here?
what about the battery, why dont they have an academy here in columbia?
if kids know they would never have a real shot at playing professional soccer, how are they supposed to prepared and develop?
Club of the century.
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Quote:
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Just asking here and nothing else Kevin, since you own a pay for play club, what do you believe is the best way to handle this? Thanks
\
Well first I would have to address the fact that I do not own a club, but that I was one of the founders and remain an integral part of the Congaree Rapid Soccer Association.
Unfortunately, I don't have all the answers, because soccer in this country is structured in a very organized manner. All aspects of youth soccer require some form of payment or financial commitment. I really believe until the club structure could be funded on a corporate level or from a professional club standpoint, then we're stuck in the current form forever.
For example, CRSA has maintained our current Select fees of $495 (which includes 2 uniforms) for six straight years. This is a bare bones fee that ultimately is maxed to the nth degree to run a "no frills" club. However, that fee still excludes kids that desire to play due to financial issues. What would be ideal is for corporate or "big parent club" soccer to exist where say a Coca-Cola would give a soccer youth entity, say $200,000 and basically say "go run the soccer program for 200+ kids, but don't charge kids to play." Then it would work. However, without corporate backing, it's a no-go. The other issue is facilities. If a club has their own facilities, then they have an inherent advantage to offer all levels of soccer -- rec, junior academy, select, academy, indoor, camps, weight training, clubhouse, training rooms, etc.
The other scenario is the big parent club situation which would formulate around the local professional club -- i.e. Columbus Crew or even Charleston Battery -- that would have a grassroots recreational to highly competitive Academy level teams organized with full-time paid coaches/staff that would devote their livelihood to the promotion of soccer and could attract all players, regardless of how much money their parents make.
In short, much like the European or South American models
Thanks for the honest answer. That would be awesome if corps like Coke or say Bose, etc. (those that have bankrolls) WOULD do something like this. I guess they just don't find it useful for them to do something like this.
I was unaware that you were not an owner of the club. Thanks for the info
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Quote:
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Watching USA-Ghana today...Ghana player goes down on the field and stays there writhing. Trainers come out and consult...finally the squad of yellow-coats trot out with the stretcher, put him on it, carry him off the field, and set the stretcher down just outside the sideline...upon which he immediately stands up and walks off just before the camera cuts away.
Idiots flopping around? Not idiots. Unethical, cheating, and downright embarrassing from the perspective of a culture that believes in "rub some dirt in it, get up, and play harder!" but hardly idiots when the tactic usually gives their team an advantage...games can be decided on a free kick, not to mention a couple of yellow cards can take a physical team right out of their game for fear of ejection, never mind the damage a red card does. Just glad to see some WC officials issuing cards for obvious flopping--only if they're penalized for it will it truly become "idiotic" instead of being a smart way to play the system for people who don't care just HOW they gain the advantage just so long as they win.
exactly they have never played soccer so they would never understand it.
being an skilled soccer player from latin america, when i was a kid, many coaches would tell me;
"the dumb big guy is gone be marking you, take him one on one all the time, and try to get him mad with your moves, get him a yellow card or a red card, do it in the penalty area as well so you can get a penalty kick, he is big and dumb and he gets mad easily."
and again, i can go on and on how that fits tactically, is part of the culture, part of the sport.
the diving mostly comes from italy and south america, and what they are basically saying is "im smarter than you." and is far far away from a weak act.
diving sometimes would also tell the defender "becarefull, dont do dumb physicall tackles, pay more attention to the ball and not to the player, play clean and stay out of a red card.
now, before you want to fix our sport try to fix:
1. steorids
2. 400lbs embarrasing athletes
3. a million time outs and commercial breaks
fix your stuff first before you want to fix others.
by the way, our boys did their best, but like before, our best wasnt enought.
now lets work on a real coach, and something other than expecting donovan or dempsey to do miracles or hitting long balls to altidore.
where are the skilled-creative american players?
i played soccer & no one flopped around like a little bich.
i follow club, high school & college, mens & womens so thus the shock factor of the flop on the world stage. this will trickle down to college & high school unless the refs/rules reign it in.
it really is starting to resemble the wwe in which case it goes from sport to circus clown entertainment.
so pat yourselves on the back & justify the dramatics but it will only retard the enthusiasm & progress in this country. its a glaring obvious flaw at the highest level & i remain baffled at your argument...& your bitter comparison to other sports, makes no sense to me...who even cares about the other sports? well, look what they do is hardly a thought out convincing argument.
play the dam game the way its supposed to be played might be a better philosophy....call me crazy.
duhhhhh, "thats the way its always been done" might be the rest of the worlds way, but its usually our job to invent a better mousetrap.
Last edited by sandman; 06/27/10 08:11 PM.
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Amen for the truth being told by Jurgen Klinsmann on World Cup wrap-up show after the England/Germany match on the state of U.S. soccer and the future.
Upside down pyramid!!! The U.S. has got to develop soccer amongst the lower classes (poorer, low-income communities) much as the rest of the world does. We have to reach out to the Hispanic community and the inner-city kids to truly progress on the world stage. Pay-for-play hinders this movement and certainly many a case can be made that Academy and ODP absolutely does not recognize ALL of the top talent and is often merely awarded to kids whose parents can put them in the "right environment" to succeed.
Personally, I hope Klinsmann becomes our next coach and I have been a fan of Bradley and most appreciative of what he has done for our national team, but believe he's taken us as far as he can go.
i saw that & thought the same thing, theres gotta be a way we can follow the yth hoops model. if we figure this out, there will be more than a few world cup trophies forthcoming.
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Argentina 3:1 Mexico
Bad call on Tevez first goal (offsides), but Argentina was the much better team. Chicharito is going to be special at Manchester United! Argentina/Germany on Saturday is going to be a war!!!
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Diving is stupid. Letting yourself go when you take contact is a completely different story!!!
Has BB been "let go" yet?????? Hurry up and give over US soccer to JK. He has a clue and would do well with the players we have.
"Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win!" Marc-Vivien Foe 1975 - 2003
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There's a mental aspect to every game...being able to find your opponent's mental weaknesses is just as important as finding his physical ones. Your coach was right about using the "dumb big guy's" lack of self control against him and trying to goad him into making mistakes. Of course, that's working on getting your opponent to actually MAKE a mistake--a true aspect of competition--which isn't the same as faking a foul when you haven't actually been touched or rolling around in mock agony when you're not hurt. You're right, it's a way of saying "I'm smarter than you" when they get away with it--lately we've been seeing some officials saying, "No, actually, you're not!" 
I've got good news and bad news...
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throw in
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It is inevitable, in a tournament as large as the World Cup, that some negative situations, some 'unexplained incidents', some missed calls, missed goals occur..... but this is a great opportunity for the players in our state to learn and grow from some of these situations.......for example.... one big lesson to be learned is the importance of teamwork as France so clearly failed at........lack of, or no communication, and egos, and lack of control and disrespect of authority...will bring teams down.....if they are U-9 or U-19...... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37930527/ns/business-careers/And then there is the lesson as this article states that the Premier League actually hurts the England side..... so you must decide what you hope to accomplish as a club.. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/28/world-cup-2010-premier-league-englandOne other lesson for our youth is conditioning and strength.....that 2nd goal displayed Gyan's superior strength as he fought off 2 defenders and still placed a strong left foot into the goal.......our youth players can learn to be in top condition and strong enough to compete against any team before you...... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/27/usa-ghana-world-cup-2010 Both teams see chances to win it come and go before the 90 minutes are up. But it's still 1-1 – extra time beckons. Again it's a wonderful start for Ghana as after only three minutes Gyan gets on to the end of a ball over the top. As he chases it he gets a huge shove in the back from Carlos Bocanegra but rather than go down he displays his immense strength and carries on chasing the ball into the area. And lastly, learn to be aggressive and attentive to the ball at all times.........this ball should never have gotten past Howard.........  It's an unbelievable start for the Black Stars as Kevin-Prince Boateng gets on the end of a knock down and sprints to the edge of the area before rifling home a shot that beats Tim Howard at the near post
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europe limits its basketball teams to only so many americans so to give their lesser home grown players a chance to play & create local interest. does europe/englands premier league do that with the south american players? i guess the moneys in europe, but the most creative players are from south america. as coaches, it might be time to shift away from europe for training answers & look more towards south america
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A follow-up to Kevin's comment on Klinsman's thoughts on US soccer...... to develop the best possible players and then, subsequently, the best possible teams....we need to be more inclusive....and get away from this long-standing notion that US soccer is a social, elitist sport for the 'youth of America'.....and seek out the 'lower class kids' who have raw, unskilled abilities........ http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/05/17/team-usa-and-the-state-of-the-soccer-nation/
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Coach
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Went back and read Kevin's comments and I couldn't agree more with both of you...I think we lose a lot of potential talent in kids (and parents) who have been sold on the idea that if you can't afford to take the "right avenues" in soccer it's pointless to even get started and think you'll ever go anywhere. School teams are a fairly cost-free place to get young people involved in soccer for little investment, but without restarting the ad nauseum "high school vs. club" debate (PLEASE), I think it's reasonable to state that it's hard for players developmentally to compete with school PLUS club players using school training and experience alone.
A comment on Kevin's "pay to play" comment and explanation: Having competed in the same venue and directly against CRSA teams over the last four years, my observation is that CRSA and other clubs with similar philosophy are doing a lot to bring quality soccer development to young people who might not have the opportunity to go to the higher-profile, higher-cost clubs. I've been impressed with both the attitudes and levels of play of the CRSA teams we've come up against, and until some structure of sponsorship comes along to eliminate the need for funds coming from players, the low-cost, good-bang-for-your-buck clubs might not be the perfect answer, but they do a lot for a segment of players who might otherwise not get reached.
I've got good news and bad news...
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Coach, I concur with your thoughts regarding CRSA's outreach and soccer philosophy.....not only are they seeking to bring greater opportunities for organized soccer...but they also bring a sense of community and spirit and acceptance to these kids.......and that kind of philosophy can transform lives and last a lifetime
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Restructuring US soccer needs to be done on both ends of the spectrum. You can open up the lowest levels of youth play to everyone, but you'll still run into problems as they age up into high school and have to pick sports. You'll continue to have athletes look at the realm of possibilities beyond youth play and go, "Well, I can be Lebron James the soccer player...and hope I make it onto a 23 person national team or get selected overseas to play...or I can be Lebron James of the NBA and make billions of dollars, cos darn if I'm not good at that too." Statistically speaking, the more kids you get involved young, the more kids you'll have choosing soccer over American football, baseball, and basketball, but strategically speaking, you're still missing out on the kids who will choose against the sport because they're not likely to make a future of it.
We need to be opening up the game to younger, underfunded kids AND making sure we have good funnels to the upper levels of play (like pro club associated academies) and make sure that when we do get kids who are good enough, we do well with marketing them to overseas clubs where they can get good training and experience and money that they could bring back to the US.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; [it] is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
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Well....its not so much a question of restructuring...I think its an issue of just opening up more opportunities.....which can be done right now by going into communities and reaching out to kids as CRSA does......
This comment posted after the article in question (above) speaks to the manner in which other countries are more open and more receptive and more intent in providing better opportunities to their respective relatively disadvantaged youth -
"......the reality is that eveyone may be equal, but some are more equal than others, which is why higher education, for example, is dominated by the children of highly educated parents and the professions are dominated by the children of professionals. In other words, those from relatively privileged backgrounds are likely to put there efforts into these more assured payoffs. What is clearly evident is that when one compares our players to those from Brazil, Argentina, England, Scotland, Italy, etc., those countries draw much more heavily from their relatively disadvantaged."
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You gotta love the Brits call a match...  Half-time in a cagey encounter. It's been interesting, but remains scoreless. Spain are struggling to create chances and Portugal are defending obdurately. 45+1 min: Iniesta tries to pick out Torres with a pass, but not for the first time, the striker looks off the pace. 45 min: There'll be one minute of added time. 44 min: Coentrao turns provider again, hoisting up a cross from the left. Tiago gallops into the box and leaps into the air, flashing a header across the face of goal and wide. 41 min: With Ramos and Puyol jogging back into position after a sortie into the Spain penalty area, Coentrao plays a through-ball for Almeida to chase. Iker Casillas sprints off his line and out of his penalty area to hack the ball clear ando nly just beats the Portugal striker to the chase. 39 min: Portugal attack down the left flank. Simao sends in a marvellous cross to Almeida and Ronaldo who are queuing up at the far post, with only Carles Puyol to mark them. Almeida leaps highest, but his header is only glancing and the ball skims wide. He really should have scored. 38 min: Spain are playing into Portugal's hands here. The Portuguese are sitting back, happy to defend as Spain repeatedly try to play through them, rather than around them. The only other way is over them, which they haven't tried yet. 35 min: Ramos on the rampage again, up the right wing. He pulls the ball back to Iniesta on the edge of the penalty area, but he's robbed of possession before he can pull the trigger. Moments later, the ball is rolled back to Xabi Alonso a few yards outside the Portugal penalty area, but his shot his blocked by one of three defenders who throw themselves in front of him when he shapes to shoot. 34 min: I forgot to mention earlier, by the way, that Spain are wearing their usual colours tonight, while Portugal's players are kitted out in white shirts, green shorts and white socks. 33 min: In the Portugal right-back position, Iniesta dinks the ball towards Xavi, who tries to divert it into the path of a Torres run. It's blocked by a defender. 31 min: Spain try to play their way through the centre, as is their wont, with Pique passing to Xavi between the lines of midfield and defence, then Xavi helping it on its way for Torres to chase. He puts his boot through the ball a bit too hard, leaving Torres with too much to do. 28 min: Xavi has a shot from about 30 yards. Close, but no cigar. 27 min: Despite the distance, Ronaldo has a go. The ball takes a horrible wobble at the last moment, forcing Iker Casillas to punch clear uncertainly. Luckily for him, it doesn't break kindly for any of the lurking Portuguese. 27 min: Xabi Alonso is late with a challenge on Coentrao, left of centre about 45 yards from the Spain goal. Spain have all eleven players back to defend, as Cristiano ronaldo stands over it. 24 min: Free-kick for Spain about 45 yards from goal, right of centre. Xavi pings the ball into the middle of the penalty area, but it's half-cleared. Assorted Spain players ping the ball to each other around just outside the left hand side of the penalty, waiting for a space to open or a team-mate to dart into the box. Xavi eventually makes his move, but the through-ball is too meaty and rolls wide. 24 min: The camera cuts to Iker Casillas, who exhales in the traditional "Phew, that was close," style-e. 20 min: Portugal go close with the chance of the game after Ronaldo and Coentrao combined marvellously down the left. Ronaldo, who has swapped wings with Simao, took out two defenders and played the ball inside two the left-back, who back-heeled it to Tiago, who had a pop. Casilla palmed that effort up in the air and it looked to be dropping over his head and into the goal, but he managed to fist it clear under pressure from Almeida, who was charging in on top of him. 19 min: From about 40 yards from the Spain goal, out on the right flank, Ronaldo stands over the free-kick, before failing to trouble Iker Casillas despite hitting the target. 15 min: It's all Spain at the moment, tiki-taka-ing the ball around the midfield to little effect. Portugal earn some respite when Sergio Ramos fouls Fabio Coentrao wide on the left flank, moments after Cristiano Ronaldo had threatened to burst with indignation after not getting a free-kick for being kicked by Carles Puyol. 14 min: Sergio Ramos gets forward, sending an inswinger of a cross towards the far post of the Portugal goal. It's too high for Torres and the ball sails out of play. 12 min: Xabi takes a shortish corner to Fernando Torres, standing with his back to goal just inside the Portugal penalty area. He swivels and hits the ball first-time, nearly catching Eduardo and his defence napping. The ball loops over the bar. 9 min: Whether by accident or design, Pepe clips Sergio Ramos's heels as he tries to run the ball out of defence, but the referee waves play on, tacitly suggesting Ramos was diving. The Spain full-back is unimpressed at having his good name traduced in this manner. 8 min: Portugal win two corners in a row, but nothing comes from either of them, bar a free-kick for Spain after Cristiano Ronaldo is penalised for offside during an impromptu bout of head tennis in the Spain penalty area. 6 min: Another good save from Eduardo, who is forced to block at his near post when David Villa cuts inside from the left, with Ricardo Costa backing off him, before unleashing a low, diagonal drive. 5 min: Xavi pings the ball out wide to Torres on the right flank and the striker cuts inside, before going down after a coming-together (so to speak) between he and Fabio Coentrao. Spain's fans appeal for a penalty, but it was something and nothing. 4 min: Corner for Spain, which Xavi takes from the left. Eduardo charges off his line to pluck his inswinger from the air. Good goalkeeping. It's been a lively start. 4 min: David Villa tries his luck and he too is on target. Eduardo makes his second save of the game. 3 min: Portugal are playing a 4-3-2-1, with Raul Meireles , Pepe and Tiago making up the three, Ronaldo and Simao on the right and left respectively, just behind Hugo Almeida. 1 min: They're off, and within a minute Fernando Torres brings a smart save from Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo, with a swerving shot from outside the penalty area. How they'll line up: For Spain, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busdquets will form the shield in front of the back four, with Xaiv on the right wing, Andres Iniesta on the left, with David Villa playing in behind Fernando Torres, who claims he is fully fit tonight for the first time in this tournament. The teams are out and the national anthems are being played: Many of the Portugal team will be a bit too young to remember the famous day in 1139 when their country won independence from Spain, but Bruno Alves has probably told them all about it. They'll be up for this. Pyramid Inverter Jonathan Wilson writes from South Africa: "Actually I thought that Japan v Paraguay game was rubbish," he protests. "When I say goals are over-rated it doesn't necessarily follow that every 0-0 is exquisite. Paraguay had one idea: let Morel cross it; but that was one more than Japan. Because of that they deserved to win, and it wasn't as bad as Ukraine v Swizterland four years ago, but it was dire." I don't know - if it was a woman he was talking about, you'd think he was protesting a bit too much. On BBC, Alan Shearer is going out on a limb: "I just think Spain will edge it," he says. It's been tipping down with rain all day at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, which should make for a nice greasy surface. Craven plea: With tonight marking the end of the last 16, I want to hear what your favourite moments of the tournament have been to date, so I can recycle them and pass them off as my own when James Richardson asks me for my favourite moments of the tournament to date in World Cup Daily tonight. So far I've got France, England crashing out to Germany and that bird taking up the vantage point on the Algeria goal-net to watch their scoreless draw with England. Team news we've culled from the wires: Portugal striker Hugo Almeida and winger Simao Sabrosa are back in the starting lineup for the second round match against Iberian neighbours Spain. With coach Carlos Queiroz having chopped and changed the team three times in the group stage, forward Almeida made one start, scoring in Portugal's 7-0 rout of North Korea. The tall striker's inclusion, ahead of poacher Liedson, means Cristiano Ronaldo, who played in the middle of the attack in the final group game against Brazil, can move back to one of the flanks. The other wing will be occupied by Simao. He replaces Danny, who has been struggling with the thigh injury he picked up late in the 0-0 draw against Brazil. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque sends out the same starting team as in the 2-1 win over Chile. Midfielder Xabi Alonso has recovered from the sprained ankle he picked up in that match to start against the Portuguese. Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 16-Sergio Busquets; 9-Fernando Torres, 7-David Villa. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Marchena, Fabregas, Mata, Arbeloa, Pedro, Llorente, Javi Martinez, Silva, Jesus Navas, Reina. Portugal: 1-Eduardo; 2-Bruno Alves, 21-Ricardo Costa, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 23-Fabio Coentrao, 16-Raul Meireles, 15-Pepe, 19-Tiago, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 11-Simao Sabrosa, 18-Hugo Almeida. Subs: Beto, Ferreira, Rolando, Duda, Mendes, Liedson, Danny, Miguel, Veloso, Ruben Amorim, Deco, Fernandes. Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina) Good evening everybody, particularly those of you who may be a little dazed and confused after waking up from the narcoleptic episode that led to you collapsing face down on your keyboard during Japan 0-0 Paraguay earlier today, the kind of match that would put most right-thinking people to sleep, but send guardian.co.uk/sport tactics correspondent Jonathan Wilson to bed with a smile on his face and what looks like a canoe in his pocket.
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Just as Klinsman suggested at half.......get it to Villa
83 min: Spain get the ball out to Villa on the left wing again. Ricardo Costa is a study in concentration, staring at the Jabulani as his nemesis jinks this way and that. He eventually sticks his foot in and wins the ball, prompting Villa to fall over and appeal for a free. None is forthcoming and Costa waltzes out of defence to safety.
82 min: "I've got an easy way for you to describe the goal: 'offside'," writes Dale K Privet. "Interesting how this time we didn't get the replay showing whether it was definitely onside. Sepp obviously had a word after the fiasco in the Mexico game."
67 min: Say what you like about the long ball game, but doing a minute-by-minute report on a match involving Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool is a lot easier than writing one on a match involving Spain, Barcelona or Arsenal. I've seen that goal about four times now and I still can't figure out a way to describe it properly.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Portugal (Villa 62 ) Spain finally tiki-taka their way through the Portugal defence, with Andres Iniesta, among others, ping-ping-pinging a series of short passes through a thicket of five or six defenders on the edge of the penalty area. Xavi slid the ball out wide to Villa on the left-side of the penalty area. The talismanic striker's first effort was saved by Eduardo, who could only parry the ball into Villa's path. Second time lucky, off the underside of the bar.
61 min: A shocking miss from Fernando Llorente with his first touch. Diving to convert a cross home from five or six yards out, he heads straight at Eduardo when a steer a couple of feet either side of the goalkeeper would almost certainly have resulted in a goal.
59 min: "Portugal was ruled by Spain from 1580 to 1640," writes CONor Dean. "It was called the Iberian Union but it was the sort of 'union' Ireland got roped into
with Great Britain and Portugal had to fight to get its independence back. Which it got - one of the reasons this game is spicier for the Portuguese than Spanish. Which might explain Colin Bolster's girlfriend getting bothered." I reckon the reason's Colin Bolster's girlfriend is getting bothered are more to do with Colin Bolster than Portugal's time under the heel of Spanish oppression.
58 min: Portugal substitution: Almeida off, Danny on. Spain substitution: Fernando Torres off, Fernando Llorente on.
56 min: Portugal go forward, Meireles pings a cross in towards the Spain goal and Casillas punches clear.
55 min: Spain try to go over-the-top, with a bomb from deep dropping in towards Torres in the penalty area. Carvalho heads clear.
54 min: Xavi and Ramos combine down the right wing, but the former's return pass to the latter has too much welly on it and trickles through to Eduardo.
52 min: After breaking down the right with the ball at his feet and Cristiano Ronaldo haring down the centre, Hugo Almeida cuts inside Pique and unleashes a shot. With Carles Puyol aware that Ronaldo is lurking behind him, he sticks out a leg and the ball loops up in the air, over Iker Casillas's head and bounces inches wide of the post. Casillas thought that was heading into his goal - he's not the only one.
50 min: Sergio Ramos crosses from the left, Portugal clear. Iniesta dinks a ball over the top for Torres to chase, but Coentrao hacks clear. Portugal attack on the break and almost score.
49 min: Xavi tries to pick out Iniesta wandering in the narrow strip of no-man's land between the two banks of four defending the the Portugal penalty area. The pass goes astray and Portugal break, only to see their counter-attack fail due to lack of numbers.
48 min: The second half has picked up where the first half left off, at a snail's pace with Spain pressing and probing, trying unsuccessfully to find an opening, with Portugal defending patiently and resolutely, content to attack on the break.
Second half: In the BBC studio, Jurgen Klinsman reckons that Spain need to get the ball out to David Villa on the left flank and isolate Portugal right-back Ricardo Costa. It's a fiendishly cvlever plan that will almost certainly work, but one they've been unable to execute more than once or twice throughout the first half.
Keith Shaw writes: "The biggest problem for Spain is that Xavi has looked tired since March," he writes. "He might not play in the Best League in the World (TM), but Euro 2008, World Club Championship, and Confederations Cup have taken their toll."
Last edited by usasoccer; 06/29/10 08:16 PM.
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I expect this kind of commentating on the forum during next season's HS playoffs.......! And just gotta say 'How Bout Them Gamecocks' ! 
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OK...well its kinda boring on here by myself.....no interest in the 2010 World Cup.....? Its a pretty big soccer tournament......ya know.......happening in South Africa....? Well.... anywho......here is an analysis of final 8-
World Cup Final Eight Power Rankings and Predictions
by T.O. Whenham - 6/30/2010
The final eight has been set for the World Cup. Three-quarters of the field has gone home to pout and lick their wounds, while the remaining eight are harboring more or less realistic dreams of glory. Since we're down to the elite now (with a couple of notable exceptions) this is a good time assess the remaining teams and see how they stack up. Here's an updated power ranking for the final eight teams at the World Cup:
1. Brazil - I felt that the Brazilians were the best team in the tournament before it started, and everything I have seen since has only strengthened that. They have only played one very tough game - against Ivory Coast - and they couldn't have been more dominant. The draw against Portugal can totally be thrown out because it was meaningless and both teams knew it. Chile was an opponent that they should have crushed and they absolutely did. Brazil has ridiculous depth and talent, and they look like they can maximize the edge that that gives them. The path to the finals sets up very well for Brazil, and I expect them to follow that path.
2. Argentina - The Argentinians are one of just two teams that have won every game they have played. They've looked pretty dominant doing it as well. They have all sorts of talent, and they are definitely all playing on the same page right now. I still have concerns about the ability of the bizarre Diego Maradona to keep things together and coach this team well down the stretch, but he's certainly doing what he needs to now. Unlike Brazil, Argentina needs to win two very tough games before to get to the finals. So far, though, they look like they are up to it.
3. Spain - Spain was the pre-tournament favorites, and they are still a very popular choice, but they are making me uneasy. That opening loss to Switzerland showed that they are obviously prone to lapses in concentration, and that could be more and more costly as the tournament advances. Against Portugal in the Round of 16 they had countless opportunities to put the game out of hand, but they just couldn't convert and the game was much closer than it needed to be as a result. On paper they are good enough, but that's been the case in tournaments before this as well. Until they show they can turn potential into results I'm not sure I can believe in them.
4. Germany - Germany is a tough team for me to get my head around. In their opening game against Australia they looked as good as a team can look. But then they came out and lost to Serbia in their next game in a performance that was as flat and uncharacteristic that it was shocking. They did what they had to do against Ghana, and then destroyed England in a manner that was almost cruel. They are one of those teams that is really good unless they really aren't - the kind that makes my head hurt, in other words.
5. Netherlands - The Dutch probably deserve to be higher up this list - they have won every game they have played in this tournament and are riding a 22-game international winning streak. They are finally healthy after some early issues as well. They are primed to compete, and they know how to win games. There's just one problem, though, and it's a doozy - they are facing Brazil. That's not a good matchup for them, and it makes the task of going deep much tougher for them.
6. Uruguay - There is a whole lot to like about this team. Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez could play for, and star for, any team in this tournament. They are clearly the best team from beyond the elite upper tier in this tournament, and are probably under-appreciated. Their problem is a familiar one, though - they are lined up to face Brazil in the semifinals. They know from the qualification process how tough that is going to be, and in the qualifying they didn't give us much of a reason to believe that they can come out on top.
7. Ghana - I hope that people don't think that Ghana's win over the Americans was a fluke. They are a talented, impressive team that deserved to win. The only reason they are as low as they are in this ranking is that they just don't have the depth or talent to measure up with the teams ahead of them. One more win is possible. Two more would be a bit of a miracle - one that would finally have me believing in the African home continent advantage.
8. Paraguay - Paraguay gets credit for one thing - they were given an opportunity and they jumped on it. Italy faltered, so they stepped in an filled the gap by winning Group F. The problem, though, is that they just haven't looked very good. They tied Italy and New Zealand, and needed penalty kicks to get past Japan. They have looked reasonably solid against a flawed and uninspiring group of teams. They aren't facing flawed, uninspired teams anymore, though, so things could get ugly for them.
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Coach
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Second day without WC soccer...going through withdrawal here...got spoiled having something to watch every day for a while there!
I've got good news and bad news...
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Big-time game to start the Quarters........... http://espn.go.com/espn3/
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Why can't the US Mens team get over the hump?
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World Cup
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2010 WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS (92 players)
28 - Germany (Bundesliga)
24 - Spain (La Liga)
11 - Netherlands (Eredivisie)
10 - England (Premier League)
5 - Italy (Serie A)
3 - Chile (Primera Division)
3 - Portugal (FPF)
2 - Uruguay (Primera Division)
1 - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Sweden, Turkey
GERMANY
22 - Germany
1 - England
NETHERLANDS
9 - Netherlands
6 - Germany
5 - England
2 - Italy
1 - Spain
SPAIN
19 - Spain
4 - England
URUGUAY
4 - Spain
3 - Chile, Italy, Portugal
2 - Netherlands, Uruguay
1 - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Sweden, Turkey
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Quote:
2010 WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS (92 players)
28 - Germany (Bundesliga)
24 - Spain (La Liga)
11 - Netherlands (Eredivisie)
10 - England (Premier League)
5 - Italy (Serie A)
3 - Chile (Primera Division)
3 - Portugal (FPF)
2 - Uruguay (Primera Division)
1 - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Sweden, Turkey
GERMANY
22 - Germany
1 - England
NETHERLANDS
9 - Netherlands
6 - Germany
5 - England
2 - Italy
1 - Spain
SPAIN
19 - Spain
4 - England
URUGUAY
4 - Spain
3 - Chile, Italy, Portugal
2 - Netherlands, Uruguay
1 - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Sweden, Turkey
where are my boys? the epl studs haha
where is my friend, the one who said England was gone be the world champion, Messi and Rooney the mvps?
I love making soccerholic friends.
Club of the century.
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what are the citezenship rules for playing on a national team, any?
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Goal Kick
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Im here brother! Shows how much I know huh! Should probably stick with SCHSL championships. Nevermind though, All European final! At least a Latin team will win the Copa America
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world cup
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Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
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Even though the half was not very inspired........it is fun to read the Brit commentary.......
19 min: Alonso strokes a delicious early-2005-at-Liverpool-era pass from the centre circle to the foot of Ramos out on the right wing. Ramos ridiculously tries to find the top-right corner from outside the area. Some respect, man! "So you're saying there's more determination in their fannying around?" asks Stuart Lawson. I didn't mean to, not exactly, but, er, probably did. So sue me! Still, Stuart doesn't seem to mind, thankfully. "That's the kind of insight you just don't get from Alan Shearer." You got that straight, baby. "Admittedly any insight is the kind of insight you just don't get from Alan Shearer, but still."
28 min: Podolski is down after Ramos stood on his instep. That should have been a booking, Ramos was late, late, late. Podolski's in proper pain. Jansen is ordered to warm up on the touchline.
34 min: Germany are beginning to grow into this game. In fact they look much more dangerous. Trochowski breaks down the left, then feeds Ozil, who wins a corner. Not much comes from it. Up the other end, the quiet Villa is in acres down the right, but Busquets can't find him with a crossfield pass.
37 min: "I've frankly grown tired of Spain's anti-football," writes Damien Neva. "I mean, if they'd just let Germany play rather than stifle their counterattacks with all that possession, then we'd have a really beautiful game." You've got that [censored] straight. Spain are playing a lot of their tiki-bullshita, and getting absolutely nowhere with it. Has Cesc Fabregas been embarrassed to talk about his time at Arsenal over dinner, or something? Germany have been far the more incisive side, albeit the bar's set low in a cagy game.
42 min: Boateng, not for the first time, clatters into Ramos down the right, just outside the area. That's a free kick to the Spanish in a dangerous position. Here's a kwik kwiz:
Q1: Do Spain
(a) cross the ball into the box
(b) pass the ball to someone near the box
(c) attempt a complicated series of quick passes, the last of which disappears up a Spanish fundament?
ANSWER: You know the answer.
44 min: Spain win a corner down the right. It's wasted. This hasn't been much of a half of football, this. "Martin Tyler and Efan Ekoku have been discussing how they noticed none of the Spanish players sang the national anthem and are using this as an example of divisions in the camp," reports James Curley. "I think someone should point out the Spanish anthem has no words to sing."
HALF TIME: Germany 0-0 Spain. The half ends on a stroke of controversy. Ozil races toward the area with Ramos in hot pursuit. The Spanish defender clips the German's left heel as he enters the area. It should be a penalty - though not a red card, as Pique was covering. The foul wasn't given, though. A poor decision, that.
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Joined: May 2010
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throw in
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throw in
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About Spain- "Half their players at the Emirates came from La Masia, the club's academy, in what is surely the most outstanding efflorescence of talent from a single source since Alex Ferguson nurtured Manchester United's golden generation. As the whirlwind threatened to detach the stadium from its foundations, the thoughts of Cesc Fábregas, another of La Masia's products, could only be imagined. Uefa's official half-time statistics were astounding. In the opening 45 minutes, plus two minutes of stoppage time, Barça played 279 successful passes to Arsenal's 98. They produced 15 shots, seven of them on target, to the home side's two, both wayward. This was not another example of Arsène Wenger's players allowing themselves to be shoved around. The best passing team in the Premier League were being passed to death by a side clearly determined to reaffirm their credentials as not only the champions of Europe but also the continent's masters of the creative arts. By the end, when Arsenal had completed their extremely praiseworthy comeback, the figures were not very different. Now Barcelona led the completed passes by 533 to 265." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/apr/01/barcelona-champions-league-arsenal-masia-xaviLa Masia...... http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/club_avui/territori_barca/la_Masia/lamasia.html
Last edited by usasoccer; 07/09/10 04:54 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 357
corner kick
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corner kick
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Posts: 357 |
Quote:
Im here brother!
Shows how much I know huh! Should probably stick with SCHSL championships.
Nevermind though, All European final!
At least a Latin team will win the Copa America
i didnt know it was a latin america vs europe thing?
i thought it was a predictions contest...
when did i say a latin american country was gone win the whole thing?
i ranked spain over brazil not for regiolistic purposes but bc Spain is too strong. holland nocked out brazil which is understandable since Madrid did a great job to prepare both, sneijder and robben.
i called it on all of your high ranked boys.
1. epl players
2. england
3. rooney
4. the joke of the century aka messi HAHAHA
im sure you know better than that, you were just a little biased bc of fox soccer channel.
good luck to both, la roja and la naranja.
Vamos Espana, hala madrid! ; )
Club of the century.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 532
goal
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that championship match definately didn't win any converts to the sport. it had to be the worst game of the tourny.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 273
corner kick
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Yeah...that was definitely everything laymen complain about in soccer wrapped up in one game. That shadow kick still boggles my mind.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; [it] is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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corner kick
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i personally dont care about "converting" anybody.
i love soccer bc is part of my culture, is a great game and you stay in great shape.
now, if a dude would watch baseball or golf over soccer, he is free to do what he wants.
i love sports thought, but soccer would always be my number one.
the usa needs to win, that is the only answer for other sport fans to "convert" into soccer fans.
simple, nobody wants to dance with the fat chick. everybody loves winners.
Club of the century.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 80
throw in
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throw in
Joined: May 2010
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 357
corner kick
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corner kick
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Posts: 357 |
Glenn Beck is gone have a heart attack when he is aware of this.
could you imagine if team usa would've made it to the final?
Perspective:
World Cup 2010 final (Spain-Netherlands) 24.3
Game six of 2009 World Series (Yankees-Phillies) 22.3
Game seven of 2010 NBA finals (Celtics-Lakers) 18.7
Bonus: US v Ghana 19.4 million in daytime.
Club of the century.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 374
Corner Kick
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Corner Kick
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Go Diego Go Diego Forlan - adidas Golden Ball Great interview with FIFA
satus quod perago validus - start and finish strong
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 532
goal
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just watched man. united vs glasgow last night & none of the diving/theatrics/yellow cards of the world cup.
it was a well managed game by both clubs & the refs.
i don't follow pro soccer so somebody explain to me the disparity between that match & the world cup phony bs.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 357
corner kick
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corner kick
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Posts: 357 |
dude go too. www.bigsoccer.com/forumeverything you need to know about soccer you can ask or find it there. is the biggest online soccer community in the world.
Club of the century.
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