FIFA World Cup 2010

[theyoungest]

I'm looking forward to Holland vs Denmark today. The Dutch tend to perform in the group phase. Who's expected to start up front? is Robben still out for the first game?

Yes, Robben is out. Kuyt plays at his position. The forwards will be Van der Vaart-Sneijder-Kuyt and Van Persie is the striker.

 

[uphillstruggle]

Yes, Robben is out. Kuyt plays at his position. The forwards will be Van der Vaart-Sneijder-Kuyt and Van Persie is the striker.

I'd expect Sneijder to be at the sharp end of the midfield three, not a forward. I like Kuyt as a player as when on form he really can up his team mates game - true team player. But he has been shocking this season for Liverpool.

 

[theyoungest]

I'd expect Sneijder to be at the sharp end of the midfield three, not a forward. I like Kuyt as a player as when on form he really can up his team mates game - true team player. But he has been shocking this season for Liverpool.

Yes of course, by "forwards" I mean in this case the attacking part of our midfield. Holland plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Sneijder is the "number 10". Van Bommel and De Jong are the two defensive midfielders.

 

[Moondance]

It sucks I am going to miss the game

I have an exam starting at 13:15 that will likely take three hours or so. On the other hand I'm partially be happy to sit it out and see later that we won a comfortable 2-0 or 3-1 or something. I'm so nervous that we're just going to choke as usual.

 

[theyoungest]

It sucks I am going to miss the game

I have an exam starting at 13:15 that will likely take three hours or so. On the other hand I'm partially be happy to sit it out and see later that we won a comfortable 2-0 or 3-1 or something. I'm so nervous that we're just going to choke as usual.

I actually hope it will be a 1-0 or 2-1, nothing too spectacular, maybe even slightly disappointing. This will mean we haven't peaked too early, which we usually do. I hope Germany are the "Dutch" of this tournament

 

[craig1985]

Isso, how credible are the rumours that Nani was dropped because of a falling out rather then being injured?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Australia looked like they were running in sand at times. Slow to react, no snap. First match nerves? I don't see Aussie soccer much, and none of the WC Qualifying, so I've got nothing to go by.

Özil flashes but also goes dormant for long stretches. A bit mousy but also sneaky fast.

Supposedly, while we were getting our arses whoopped kewell and chipperfield where getting pictures with the crowd. That is simply not just good enough.

On a melbourne radio sports channel, they were syaing that a lot of the time the soccer world cups lose money from holding the event due to costs. I don't see how that is possible.

Anyway, I am annoyed as it is as my AFL team which I watched today drawed to a much lower team but we are suppose to be a higher up team. We kicked 23 behinds and I vented a lot of frustration as the gamewent on and I was near the teams benches.

 

[The Hitch]

If netherlands top their group do they play in the england brazil or spain italy section?

 

[The Hitch]

On a melbourne radio sports channel, they were syaing that a lot of the time the soccer world cups lose money from holding the event due to costs. I don't see how that is possible.

Simple, stadiums cost billions of dollars to build and you need a certain number of them (up to standard) to host the world cup. Also transportation needs to be upgraded and in South Africa a lot of money was spent demolishing shanty towns in the proximity of stadiums so that rich footballers and tourists wouldnt see what poverty looks like on their way to stadiums. All this way outweighs any tourist income (which from the looks of things is not that high in this wc anyway)

 

[uphillstruggle]

spain italy argentina side of the draw.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Simple, stadiums cost billions of dollars to build and you need a certain number of them (up to standard) to host the world cup. Also transportation needs to be upgraded and in South Africa a lot of money was spent demolishing shanty towns in the proximity of stadiums so that rich footballers and tourists wouldnt see what poverty looks like on their way to stadiums. All this way outweighs any tourist income (which from the looks of things is not that high in this wc anyway)

They were saying that Aus would lose money from it when really we have close to enough stadiums with the right capacity to hold matches. We have
- MCG (100) - Etihad Stadium (50) - SCG (50 or 60) - ANZ Stadium (90 to 100) - Gabba (50 to 55) - Subiaco (50) - AAMI Stadoum (40)

I guess your point above will apply with brazil as they are holding the next WC?

Some interesting points which prove how Aus is not overly suitable to have the World Cup.

Some key comparisons of the US and Australian 2018-2022 World Cup bids at a glance:

STADIA

AUSTRALIA – 12 selected. Most will need significant upgrading to meet FIFA criteria, and some need to be built from scratch.

US – 18 hosts selected, to be whittled down to 12. That means bid bosses have leverage to negotiate the best deals, as well as the best possible stadium facilities. All stadia are currently built. None needs significant upgrading.

FINANCIALS

AUSTRALIA – Significant government and taxpayer investment in upgrading and building new stadia.

US – Funded entirely by private investors and a $US50 million fighting fund left over from the 1994 World Cup to grow the game in the United States.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

AUSTRALIA – Complete support from state and federal governments. They are also funding the bid, and investing in stadium upgrades. A key factor as FIFA’s overriding demand with World Cup bidders is government support.

US – Bipartisan support at national level, but no extra taxpayer dollar investment needed.

GAME’S DOMESTIC HEALTH

AUSTRALIA – Socceroos in world’s top 20 and made past two World Cups. A-League relatively young and boasts good standard. But several clubs in ownership quandaries. Marquee players mainly home-grown, including Socceroos Jason Culina, Archie Thompson and Nick Carle.

US – Team in world’s top 15 and qualified for past six World Cups. Nation has previously made semi and quarter-finals. MLS has some club in profitability and others losing money, though attendances are up. Marquee players include David Beckham and ex-Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg.

RIVAL REGIONAL BIDDERS

AUSTRALIA – Among four Asian bidders likely to be vying for the 2022 World Cup. Qatar – home of Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed bin Hammam – Japan and South Korea have also submitted bids.

US – The only bidder from its CONCACAF confederation.

RIVAL SPORTING CODES

AUSTRALIA – Public spat with AFL in the lead-up to the submission of the bid book. AFL, NRL and rugby directly competing in time period of World Cup. Rival codes must be compensated for competition upheaval and banishment from certain stadia, rather than directly financially benefiting.

US – All on side. NFL team and stadium owners see the financial upside of the World Cup to their business. Also the advantage that the NFL does not play over the June-July World Cup period.

 

[The Hitch]

Brazil have more than enough stadiums and i think fifa settled for the ones they had because Brazil was the only country that bid for the 2014 world cup meaning that fifa couldnt complain that the stadiums were below par.
As for Australia the whole point of the world cup is that you need stadiums accross the country. In south africa one city i think is allowed 2 stadiums (jberg) but the others are all in different locations, including very small cities like Rustenburg. Are those stadiums you mentioned situated mainly in Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas or are they scattereed accross the country far away from eachother? And then having built/ upgraded stadiums in less populated areas you need to spend millions making sure the transportation is up to scratch

 

[trompe le monde]

S.B. Poulsen own goal. A bit unfortunate for the Danes.

 

[RedheadDane]

Yepp... easy for the Dutchies to win when we do the scoring for them...

 

[ak-zaaf]

Elia is awesome!

 

[Moondance]

Well, decent result. Have yet to see the game, but I hope we at least played some good football.

 

[Moondance]

Wow... Just saw a clip of the own goal by the Danes.... That was a hopeless header by Poulsen. Unfortunate it hit Agger as well, but still, pretty much anyone should be able to do better than that.

 

[uphillstruggle]

Well, decent result. Have yet to see the game, but I hope we at least played some good football.

Not really. Yet another of the big guns failing to sparkle. Van Persie got man of the match (over here anyway) but I thought he had a lacklustre game.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Well, decent result. Have yet to see the game, but I hope we at least played some good football.

meh very ordinary.

In the first half the dutch were far from their best.
VdV, RvP and snijder had a poor touch at times (especially in the first half) which is so uncharacteristic for them. I dunno if it was nerves but they were pretty dreadful (compared to how they can play) in the first half.

But in the second half, as the game went on the dutch did start to play better. Confidence grew and they were playing sharper. Didn't play great but definitely deserved the win.

Elia was very good when he came on, the whole time I was like "bring elia on" . He's such a gun ANd we needed some flare/pace to change things up a bit.

Overall: far from their best, but a satisfying win none the less.

Hopefully robben can come on as a substitute against japan.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Not really. Yet another of the big guns failing to sparkle. Van Persie got man of the match (over here anyway) but I thought he had a lacklustre game.

agreed.
His touch was awful at times. But then brilliant at other times...
Sniejder had a better second half, as did de jong and van bommel.

 

[theyoungest]

Not really. Yet another of the big guns failing to sparkle. Van Persie got man of the match (over here anyway) but I thought he had a lacklustre game.

I don't agree. The first half was not very good, but when Elia came in we had the depth we lacked, and which we usually have when Robben is on the pitch. The only fair conclusion is that either Elia or Robben really should play.

Van Persie is definitely not the man of the match, though. That's Elia, no doubt. It wasn't necessarily Van Persie's own fault, but he wasn't exactly dangerous.

Actually, this was exactly what I was hoping for. Don't peak too early, grow into the tournament.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I don't agree. The first half was not very good, but when Elia came in we had the depth we lacked, and which we usually have when Robben is on the pitch. The only fair conclusion is that either Elia or Robben really should play.

Van Persie is definitely not the man of the match, though. That's Elia, no doubt. It wasn't necessarily Van Persie's own fault, but he wasn't exactly dangerous.

Actually, this was exactly what I was hoping for. Don't peak too early, grow into the tournament.

yeah me too. I am satisfied.
Hard to give a sub MoM. But his impact was exceptional. I was saying to one of my mates, that with robben out, elia should start to add some flare. But it's a tough line-up to break into.

like i said, as the game went on, the dutch grew in confidence and player a lot better.

 

[Moondance]

meh very ordinary.

In the first half the dutch were far from their best.
VdV, RvP and snijder had a poor touch at times (especially in the first half) which is so uncharacteristic for them. I dunno if it was nerves but they were pretty dreadful (compared to how they can play) in the first half.

But in the second half, as the game went on the dutch did start to play better. Confidence grew and they were playing sharper. Didn't play great but definitely deserved the win.

Elia was very good when he came on, the whole time I was like "bring elia on" . He's such a gun ANd we needed some flare/pace to change things up a bit.

Overall: far from their best, but a satisfying win none the less.

Hopefully robben can come on as a substitute against japan.

Meh... We shouldn't need him to beat the Japanese. If Elia is as good as everyone claimed we should play him instead of van der Vaart, obviously.

 

[ak-zaaf]

I think Van Bommel deserves MoM, since there was no one else and Elia played too short.
Van Persie was horrible. When you claim the striker position and ask for specific teammates you have to show yourself. He was awful and almost got a red card.

 

[sublimit]

Well good luck to the Dutch, and well done - a great first goal..
if England dont win hopefully they can.

England are a shambles at the moment and are likely to lose to Germany in the second round if they get that far, so i'm looking out for an Argentina v Holland rematch sometime.