FIFA World Cup 2010

[Race Radio]

Score of Germany Serbia game?

Serbia wins 1-0

 

[The Hitch]

Hey... That is weird. I hadn't thought about it. It's not even the first game tomorrow even. Have no idea why that is. It can't just be money, because if it was about money I imagine that the Netherlands-Japan would be prime-time tomorrow, rather than Cameroon-Denmark

Well much was made of the fact that for the qualifiers knock out stage fifa had no intention of seeding teams. That was until they realised France and Portugal could potentialy face eachother. 1 is a big succesful football mad country, with millions and millions of fans. The other is the team of C Ronaldo, Nikes biggest name.
Once it turned out those countries were involved Fifa decided to all of a sudden seed France and Portugal and make sure that they face football minows - Ireland slovenia bosnia, all but guaranteeing qualification.

As good as the netherlands are, it is not a huge country. If France only had 16 million people they would not have been prime time either. I would have thought Spain would have been prime time too but that would mean moving either the host South Africa (which they cant) or Brazil ( 100 million people arent going to wake up at 6am to watch a group match)

I dont think its all money, but im sure those who would benefit from having the 2 west european superpowers prime time, made sure those creating the schedules got the message

 

[ak-zaaf]

Slovenia at 2-0!

Awesome!

 

[Moondance]

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."

 

[Moondance]

Well much was made of the fact that for the qualifiers knock out stage fifa had no intention of seeding teams. That was until they realised France and Portugal could potentialy face eachother. 1 is a big succesful football mad country, with millions and millions of fans. The other is the team of C Ronaldo, Nikes biggest name.
Once it turned out those countries were involved Fifa decided to all of a sudden seed France and Portugal and make sure that they face football minows - Ireland slovenia bosnia, all but guaranteeing qualification.

As good as the netherlands are, it is not a huge country. If France only had 16 million people they would not have been prime time either. I would have thought Spain would have been prime time too but that would mean moving either the host South Africa (which they cant) or Brazil ( 100 million people arent going to wake up at 6am to watch a group match)

I dont think its all money, but im sure those who would benefit from having the 2 west european superpowers prime time, made sure those creating the schedules got the message

My point was not that the Netherlands is big, or small. But tomorrow Netherlands play Japan at 13:30 while Denmark play Cameroon during 'prime-time' (at least for Central Europe). Certainly Netherlands-Japan is more lucrative, sponsor-wise, than Cameroon-Denmark... No?

 

[Moondance]

America hit back. Game On!!!

BTW, way to go, Slovenian goalie, jumping back from the ball.

 

[The Hitch]

My point was not that the Netherlands is big, or small. But tomorrow Netherlands play Japan at 13:30 while Denmark play Cameroon during 'prime-time' (at least for Central Europe). Certainly Netherlands-Japan is more lucrative, sponsor-wise, than Cameroon-Denmark... No?

Yes thats true.
However this isnt a bunch of chinese world class mathematicians working deep in to the night trying to work out which games will produce the most money and scheduling those games at prime time.

the viewing figures in England or France for a match are usualy about 15- 20 million. The advertising revenue that can be recieved from a match like this is tremendous.
Also the ammount of work hours lost by scheduling the match during the day is also very big and cost millions of pounds as well.
Those with an interest in getting the England game on at prime time will have had an influence on the scheduling.

 

[Moondance]

Is it just me, or is there very little vuvuzela noise this game? You can hear it a bit if you really listen for it, but it's background noise at best

It might just be that the Dutch broadcaster has done some technical this-and-that to filter it out a bit.

 

[The Hitch]

Its only when i see that their target man is the Hull city reserve striker do i realise just how little quality the US team has.

though considering the inaccuracy of my predictions i wouldnt be surprised if altidore scores.

 

[Moondance]

Well, the US were just robbed of the lead there. Oh well

 

[The Hitch]

f**k This is all going good for England. The worst case result is a draw. And thats what the ref has just made sure is likely to happen

 

[Race Radio]

Is this a UCI ref?

 

[Moondance]

Well, if England manage to do their duty and beat the Algerians then England-Slovenia should be a tense game.

 

[icefire]

Is this a UCI ref?

No way. UCI is a pupil of FIFA, not the other way around.

 

[icefire]

Both England and Algeria will try with a different keeper tonight

 

[Anonymous]

Is it just me, or is there very little vuvuzela noise this game? You can hear it a bit if you really listen for it, but it's background noise at best

It might just be that the Dutch broadcaster has done some technical this-and-that to filter it out a bit.

yup,. german and dutch broadcasters started filtering on tuesday or wednesday, bbc yesterday, and the original broadcaster are doing some filtering themselves as well.

You dont hear it from the match feed, but as soon as it goes to touchline reports etc you really hear them

 

[Moondance]

In order to restore confidence at the back England will ditch Robert Green and replace him with....... David James.



INSPIRATION FAIL

 

[icefire]

In order to restore confidence at the back England will ditch Robert Green and replace him with....... David James.



INSPIRATION FAIL

Hart will play next game, and all three keepers will be happy of having played in the FIFA WC. England must be unique in that sense.

 

[Moondance]

Ahhhh.... William and Harry there to support their home country.... Germany

 

[hfer07]

If England f*cks up this game, they should be ashamed--- everything is falling in place for them to make up for that lame draw with USA & pass to the next round

 

[The Hitch]

If England dont win this game at least 4-0 they should be ashamed--- everything is falling in place for them to make up for that lame draw with USA & pass to the next round

there fixed it for you.

 

[theyoungest]

The perfect sleeping pill: England-Algeria. What's up with the level of this World Cup? Pffff, awful.

 

[The Hitch]

The perfect sleeping pill: England-Algeria. What's up with the level of this World Cup? Pffff, awful.

Very well said.

Before this world cup i always told myself that while i like cycling, it was boirng compared to an interesting sport like football.

But honest to god i havent seen a cycle race this year which has been as boring as some of these matches.

 

[icefire]

I hate France but the worst thing about this is the draw england now have.

For england the worst case scenario was that they would have to face France (who barely qualified and the worst of all the seeded teams) in the last 8 and that was by no means guaranteed.
Now to get to the semis they have to beat the following.

algeria
slovenia
ghana/ serbia/ australia
south korea/ greece/ uruguay/ mexico

Meanwhile in other parts of the draw Portugal, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Italy, Chille, Paraguay will all cancel eachother out.

Usually when someone gets an easy draw its because weaker teams have knocked out the big guns. But here england are simply given all the easier teams while the big guns have to fight eachother for the right to meet england in the last 4.

The equivalent of this in a tennis grand slam would be seeding Federer Nadal Roddick, Djokovic, Del Potro in one half of the draw and Murray + the girls under 15 singles in the other.

On closer inspection, just find out where the host team would be if it managed to get to the knockout round. FIFA surely has to change the original plan to get another African team in the 1/4-finals.

 

[Moondance]

England is totally uncreative. No ideas whatsoever.

Algeria are resisting the European 'superpower' like its 1958