~~~~~ The OFFICIAL World Cup 2010 Thread ~~~~~

[SPATCH]

The World Cup Schedule (Group Play)

US v England: Saturday, June 12 at 1:30 pm CST on ABC
US v Slovenia: Friday, June 18 at 9:00 am CST on ESPN
US v Algeria: Wednesday, June 23 at 9:00 am CST on ESPN


Group C rankings

England - FIFA Ranking: 8 SPI: 3
Slovenia - FIFA Ranking: 25 SPI: 35
Algeria - FIFA Ranking: 30 SPI: 64
United States - FIFA Ranking: 14 SPI: 15

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Buck

That's not hat he's saying. He's saying imagine if Jordan, Kobe, and Barry Sanders chose soccer instead of their sports.

Jim Brown and Edson Arantes have/had nearly identical physiques.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Anytime Rooney is scoreless and pissed...it's all good.

This.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by H5N1

I wonder sometimes how good the USA would be if we put our best athletes into soccer like the rest of the world does. with our population base and the talent of some of our athletes, we'd be dominant.

While I'm sure they would be better, soccer isn't that dependent on being a A++ athlete. While soccer players are good athletes, there is alot of acquired skill needed. Why aren't all the African teams straight up dominant?

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

He means to include our best athletes, including the guys in the NBA, NFL, MLB, track stars, cycling, etc., having them dedicated to soccer instead. Like if soccer was THE sport to compete in, instead of one of many, and one of the lowest compensated.

Originally Posted by Buck

That's not hat he's saying. He's saying imagine if Jordan, Kobe, and Barry Sanders chose soccer instead of their sports.

Thanks. I stand corrected.

[Buck]

So we want a draw between the other 2 teams, right?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

While I'm sure they would be better, soccer isn't that dependent on being a A++ athlete. While soccer players are good athletes, there is alot of acquired skill needed. Why aren't all the African teams straight up dominant?

Our population is way bigger than any country in Africa.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Anytime Rooney is scoreless and pissed...it's all good.

For my viewing pleasure, I roundly invite him to return to regularly scheduled programming against the rest of the field, though.

That near miss far post was nearly what was tying my stomach in knots all last week.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Buck

Our population is way bigger than any country in Africa.

Is Nigeria good at soccer? 6th biggest country in the world. Lots of athletic people I'm sure.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Is Nigeria good at soccer? 6th biggest country in the world. Lots of athletic people I'm sure.

Give me a break. The amount of money we har to invest in Sports is hundreds of times bigger.

[SPATCH]

...can everyone stop bitching about random bullshit? Thanks

Just got back from the pub. Incredible atmosphere.

First of all, great result. We desperately needed to escape with a point and we did. Job well done. Here are my thoughts:

1. The biggest thing to me was that we looked like we had every right in the world to be on the same field as England. We were not overmatched, IMO.

2. Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore routinely looked dangerous. That was very encouraging for the remainder of the tournament.

3. Bradley was SOLID in the midfield. He held the ball well, dispossessed the ball well, and was quickly springing counterattacks with his passing.

4. Gooch went into beast mode in the second half.

5. TIMMAAAAY was world class!!!!!!

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by the_spatula

...can everyone stop bitching about random bullshit? Thanks

Just got back from the pub. Incredible atmosphere.

First of all, great result. We desperately needed to escape with a point and we did. Job well done. Here are my thoughts:

1. The biggest thing to me was that we looked like we had every right in the world to be on the same field as England. We were not overmatched, IMO.

2. Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore routinely looked dangerous. That was very encouraging for the remainder of the tournament.

3. Bradley was SOLID in the midfield. He held the ball well, dispossessed the ball well, and was quickly springing counterattacks with his passing.

4. Gooch went into beast mode in the second half.

5. TIMMAAAAY was world class!!!!!!

Yeah, the three drawbacks I saw were;

Clark losing his man on the first score was some amateurish bullshit.

Altidore doesn't always make the most of his speed, by making contact with his defender rather than moving to space.

Too many promising plays killed by failing to keep the wide play in bounds.

[Buck]

I thought Bradley missed a few passes that would have led to scoring chances.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Buck

So we want a draw between the other 2 teams, right?

Yes. next best would be an Algerian win because they are the weakest team.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

It's tradition, part of the 'gut wrenching' part of the game is that you don't know precisely when it's over. The ref starts with 45 minutes per half, and stops the clock on non-play related stoppages [NOT when the goalie holds the ball, they player futzes around delaying the throw-in or free kick, . . . but injury stoppages and substitutions]. Used to be they didn't even reveal how much stoppage timje had acrued. So you get this knawing feeling when the clock goes past 90 and one team is down, trying to see if either your team [ahead] is going to hold on, or your team [behind] is going to sneak in a last minute goal.

The Referee does not stop the clock ever. Time continues to run and he makes a mental note of "wasted" time and adds a reasonable adjustment to the end of regulation.

[vailpass]

Yeah! A 1-1 tie! This is the sort of excitement that will make soccer ignite in America!!!