~~~~~ 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

[CHENZ A!]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

So...are N. Koreans even allowed to watch the game, or do they play strictly for Kim Jong Il's entertainment?

I wonder if he'll even tell his country if they lost, or just lie to them and tell them that they've won it all already.

I bet they edit the game before making it available to the public so it looks as if they won 1-0.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by CHENZ A!

I bet they edit the game before making it available to the public so it looks as if they won 1-0.
Posted via Mobile Device

Found it. ****ing bat-shit crazy country.... OLD ARTICLE, BUT I WONDER IF IT STILL STANDS?


Kim Jong-il bans World Cup coverage - unless North Korea win
Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, has banned the World Cup from being shown in his country – unless they win.


By Ben Leach
Published: 6:40AM GMT 25 Nov 2009
Kim Jong-il slaps down son Kim Jong-Un
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il Photo: EPA

The Supreme Leader has ordered state-run television not to broadcast live games, and to only screen highlights of North Korea's victories.

The ruling means that 99 per cent of the country's 29 million population will not be able to find out who wins the competition unless the 350-1, outsiders win it.


Games between other nations will be banned from the airwaves, while any highlights of North Korea's matches will be heavily edited to ensure that they look like the better team.

All advertising in the stadiums will also be blurred out – along with opposition fans, The Sun newspaper reported.

Mike Breen, author of highly-respected book Kim Jong-il: North Korea's Dear Leader, said: "Like everything else there, the regime will have complete control over the World Cup.

"North Korea will not pay for the TV rights, which means they will not be able to screen live games on state television. They are more likely to get footage from South Korea and then it will be heavily edited to suit the regime.

"Only the ruling elite with access to other satellite channels will be able to watch games involving other countries.

"The majority of the population will have to make do with very one-sided highlights packages hours, and possibly even days, after the game. Any loss will either be ignored or given the smallest of mentions.

"Once North Korea are knocked out, I would be amazed if there were any mention of the World Cup at all."

It is the first time that North Korea has qualified for the World Cup in 44 years.

The last time they qualified was in England in 1966 when they pulled off one of the biggest shocks by beating Italy 1-0 to reach the quarter finals.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Meh. I really don't believe that.

Reports also say that the citizens don't get to watch any of the games... and their fate will only be publicized if they win.

Edit: Detoxing beat me to it ^^^^

[DaKCMan AP]

Komac: 'We are going to win this match'

JOHANNESBURG -- Andrej Komac probably never has heard of Joe Namath, even though he sure can imitate the Hall of Fame quarterback.

The Slovenia midfielder is so confident about the tiny country's chances against the United States in their World Cup match on Friday that he guaranteed victory.

"We are going to win this match," Komac said after practice Tuesday.

He added there's "a good feeling" on the squad after Slovenia beat Algeria 1-0 to claim its first World Cup victory and the top spot in Group C. Komac came on as a substitute in the final minutes.

The U.S. and England have one point each after their 1-1 draw.

With a population of just over 2 million, Slovenia is the smallest nation in the World Cup -- about the size of Houston. But its national team has upset bigger rivals before. It finished second in its qualifying group ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland, then stunned Russia in a two-match playoff to enter its second World Cup.

Slovenia already is doing better than in 2002, when it lost all three group matches.

Captain Robert Koren secured the victory Sunday against Algeria with a long-range shot in the 79th minute that goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi misjudged and allowed to bounce into the net off his arm.

Komac doesn't expect the U.S. to underestimate his team, given what it's accomplished so far.

"We took three points in the first game. No one looks at us as small anymore," he said. "Now we can only go forward like this, because we are leading the group."

Slovenia produced few scoring chances against Algeria, but fielded a strong defense the North Africans couldn't break down. Komac said Slovenia is not going to change it's strategy when it faces the Americans.

"We are playing our style of football and we'll continue with that, and we can beat the U.S. with that style," he said.

Slovenia will advance to the second round if it beats the United States at Ellis Park.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us

Them's fight'n words!

[ToxSocks]

How do i edit the fonts on CP? All of a sudden, everything is all out of whack. Super big, bolded, different font etc. WTF happened?

[lostcause]

England vs US replay brought to us by the Guardian. I found it amusing.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by CHENZ A!

Would it really be surprising considering all of the other ridiculousness that KJI/North Korea partakes in?
Posted via Mobile Device

No. But having a headcase dictator running your country and your love for your National team are mutually exclusive. I'm sure most NK people are quite excited about their National team.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by lostcause

England vs US replay brought to us by the Guardian. I found it amusing.

Repos..... oh, never mind.

[CHENZ A!]

Originally Posted by Frankie

No. But having a headcase dictator running your country and your love for your National team are mutually exclusive. I'm sure most NK people are quite excited about their National team.

I'm sure this is a dumb question, but are people from NK allowed to just leave on vacation whenever they want to? I mean, if they aren't even allowed to watch on TV I doubt KJI would let them leave to SA to watch in person.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by CHENZ A!

I'm sure this is a dumb question, but are people from NK allowed to just leave on vacation whenever they want to? I mean, if they aren't even allowed to watch on TV I doubt KJI would let them leave to SA to watch in person.
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't know. Maybe not. But their elite are, I'm sure. The folks that the camera shows cheering, could be KJI's family members. that makes more sense than hiring Chinese actors.

[Buck]

I hope we beat Slovenia 3-0.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I don't know. Maybe not. But their elite are, I'm sure. The folks that the camera shows cheering, could be KJI's family members. that makes more sense than hiring Chinese actors.

They most certainly are not allowed to leave the country for an event such as this. Their borders are extremely tight. The top 1% of the population may be able to.

Maybe a lot of that top 1% decided to make the trip... may guess, however, is that they did not.

Hiring Chinese actors to pose as supporters is more than in the realm of possibility. This is a propaganda machine we talking about here.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Buck

I hope we beat Slovenia 3-0.

I hope we beat Slovania, period.

[Silock]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...6,0,3510.story

They were NK fans, but ... not REALLY.

[Reaper16]

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