~~~~~ 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

[Param]

Originally Posted by LetsSignRussell

is everyone else like me and watch soccer this time of the year but not think twice about it till the next FIFA world cup?

no

[Param]

Originally Posted by penguinz

The difference is now Slovenia is in the drivers seat in the group. They can just pack the backfield in order to prevent scoring opportunities and try to capitalize on a quick counter attack as the US is pressing players up to score.

Yes

They can sit on the ball and play for ties the rest of the way.

[Param]

Originally Posted by Stinger

Got to love British Tabloids

Love the Headline .......... Although some of you may be too young to remember the original.

Well, that was a total ****up.....

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by LetsSignRussell

is everyone else like me and watch soccer this time of the year but not think twice about it till the next FIFA world cup?

I'm glad you're boosting soccer even if it is every 4 years right now. Give it a chance in the in between Cups as well though, almost all the players you're getting to watch now play at a high club level somewhere. I suggest La Liga or the EPL, it's good times.

But no, I'm riveted to the sport all the time and I now a few other posters on here are the same way.

[Param]

Originally Posted by LetsSignRussell

USA WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP

no

[Spicy McHaggis]

I have this feeling GD could become very important in our group.

[Param]

Originally Posted by penguinz

You always want the easiest path. Germany in rd 2 is not the easiest path.

Agree.

[Param]

Originally Posted by Spicy McHaggis

I have this feeling GD could become very important in our group.

True, it's possible it could come to that.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by Param

no

You can quote

Originally Posted by Param

Yes

They can sit on the ball and play for ties the rest of the way.

more than once

Originally Posted by Param

Well, that was a total ****up.....

in a post.

[Param]

Originally Posted by the_spatula

You can quote



more than once



in a post.

no

no

and no

[Silock]

Originally Posted by penguinz

The difference is now Slovenia is in the drivers seat in the group. They can just pack the backfield in order to prevent scoring opportunities and try to capitalize on a quick counter attack as the US is pressing players up to score.

This is not what you want to see with our D. Especially if Howard is unable to play.

Good for us, though, is that we know EXACTLY how to play against that, because it's the only thing the CONCACAF minnows do against us. Canada and Mexico are the only CONCACAF teams that play us straight up.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by LetsSignRussell

is everyone else like me and watch soccer this time of the year but not think twice about it till the next FIFA world cup?

If you like the World Cup, you should try watching the British Premier League or Spanish La Liga (or even German Bundesliga).

National team football is a lower quality of play than your typical professional team.

[Buck]

I bought the FIFA World Cup 2010 video game. Beat England 2-0 in the first game.

EA Sports: England 0 - 1 United States

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Silock

If you like the World Cup, you should try watching the British Premier League or Spanish La Liga (or even German Bundesliga).

National team football is a lower quality of play than your typical professional team.

Is it like basketball where the national team is a better collection of players that are not always in sync with each other?

[Silock]

Originally Posted by Miles

Is it like basketball where the national team is a better collection of players that are not always in sync with each other?

Kinda, but with a pro team, you can fill in your weaknesses by buying good players. That's just not possible on the national level. If you have a shitty defense, well, you'll just have to deal with it until you can develop some good defenders. Basketball is also a lot easier to fill in because you only have 11 guys on the entire roster, whereas you need at least twice that on the national soccer level.

Of course, like you say, the pro teams are more in sync because they have more practice time with each other. But national teams just aren't chock-full of superstars (for the most part, but there have been exceptions). There's usually 3-4 guys that play for the best teams in the elite leagues, and everyone else is either on an average team or plays in an average league.