FIFA World Cup 2010

[icefire]

Ghana to the next round for the second time in a row.

Now the winner of Argentina-Mexico will face the winner of England-Germany. And he winner of Uruguay-South Korea will face the winner of Ghana-USA.

And the neverending match in Wimbledon on hold till tomorrow

 

[The Hitch]

They might have to play 2 matches tomorow. Half the draw is already into the 3rd round and tomorow is the last day for 2nd, yet they are still in the 1st. they should get rid of that stupid no play on middle sunday rule.

 

[craig1985]

Johnnie Mac. I love that guy. He says the stupidest things and speaks his mind without any thought or concern for what he is actually saying. Apparently Operation Puerto's blacklist had a lot of tennis players on the list, so he is kind of correct. Tennis is an endurance sport (the men's game is) but still behind cycling. I'd argue the longer matches are on par with football, but skill and finesse on the court reduces the need for endurance stamina.

From what I've been told people like Nadal and Federer were on the list and the only reason why Henin retired because she was going to be outed. It's all hearsay though, so you take it with a large pinch of salt.

 

[slim charles]

well, i knew it. we've beaten germany, but lost to australia. that's us, yeah. classic chokers.
instead of leading 2:0 at halftime, we conceded 2 goals from first two chances aussies had. it's a shame, but at least we played good, which is more than i expected. it's especially a shame, since the draw opened up, no big teams until semi finals. but, to be honest, if we cannot beat ghana and australia, i can't imagine us beating usa or uruguay. serbia has great young players, so we should qualify for euro 2012.

congrats to australia, they played very good in second half, we can certainly learn from that. and to usa, even though i would prefer slovenia to go through. americans are really good, i hope they will beat ghana.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

totally deserved second goal

looks like the finalists of 2006 are both out haha

 

[Cobblestones]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

totally deserved second goal

looks like the finalists of 2006 are both out haha

I just noticed that both France and Italy are out (as last of their respective groups even). That's pretty unexpected isn't it? Makes the US result seem even better!

 

[Anonymous]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

totally deserved second goal

looks like the finalists of 2006 are both out haha

looks like i missed the best game of the tournament today.. was a nice bike ride though

 

[theyoungest]

I just noticed that both France and Italy are out (as last of their respective groups even). That's pretty unexpected isn't it? Makes the US result seem even better!

Not entirely unexpected, maybe the group phase is a bit early for them to leave the tournament, but I've heard no one talk them up as favourites. France were lucky to even be there, and Italy decided to leave all creativity at home.

The US are tournament players, we all know that. What they lack in quality they make up for with determination and heart.

 

[The Hitch]

At the end of the day Italy didnt even have to win a game to go through. All that was asked of them was to draw 3 against the likes of new zealand, slovakia and paraguay.

Having said that they were unlucky. The New Zealand penalty wasnt a penalty.
Far worse however was the disalowed goal today. Quargialela was clearly onside. You might say that they should beat slovakia anyway. But imagine if Englands similar goal yesterday had been wrongly disalowed just like this one was. Instead of "Great Performance England" it would have been "you deserve to be out" all because of a official. In italies case the referees made the wrong decision and they are at the bottom of the group, rather than playing holland in a brillian last 16 match.

Ironically while Italy were crap, Quargaiela produced possibly the performance of the tournament. He assisted Italies first goal, had a good one wrongly disallowed and then scored a cracker of a goal for italies second.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

looks like i missed the best game of the tournament today.. was a nice bike ride though

It was indeed a very good game to watch.
Thoroughly entertaining.

@ youngest
agreed. I tipped france to not make the 2nd round, and didn't think Italy would make it very far either (though I expected them to get through this group).
And yeah again, the USA were expected to make it through the first phase as far as I'm concerned.

--

Holland should top the group, and thus play Slovakia. I'd rather them then Paraguay.

 

[The Hitch]

What a goal

what a goal

 

[icefire]

Yes! What a goal, but Denmark's keeper might be English

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Magnificent strike by Honda. Absolutely perfect.

 

[icefire]

Impressive second goal by Japan. Mmmmm... where's the emoticon for the hats off?

 

[luckyboy]

At the end of the day Italy didnt even have to win a game to go through. All that was asked of them was to draw 3 against the likes of new zealand, slovakia and paraguay.

Having said that they were unlucky. The New Zealand penalty wasnt a penalty.
Far worse however was the disalowed goal today. Quargialela was clearly onside. You might say that they should beat slovakia anyway. But imagine if Englands similar goal yesterday had been wrongly disalowed just like this one was. Instead of "Great Performance England" it would have been "you deserve to be out" all because of a official. In italies case the referees made the wrong decision and they are at the bottom of the group, rather than playing holland in a brillian last 16 match.

Ironically while Italy were crap, Quargaiela produced possibly the performance of the tournament. He assisted Italies first goal, had a good one wrongly disallowed and then scored a cracker of a goal for italies second.

Agree on the 'offside' against Italy today, and NZ's penalty against them.

Amazing game though.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Bend it like Endo. Another beautiful goal from Japan.

I love how Japan plays. Wonderful team to watch.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

dammit.
I did a multi-bet today...
needed the following to happen:
Paraguay-NZ draw
Slovakia beats italy
netherlands beats Cameroon
denmark beats japan

freakin danes, i (assuming the dutch win also.. and the danes lose.. which they will) would have won $600

epic freekicks though

 

[The Hitch]

sorensen is either choking badly or he has been paid to try to let in goals from as far away as possible, like that columbian was once paid to score 2 own goals in a match.

 

[luckyboy]

Aw vdV you idiot. Didn't I say it should be just Sneijder?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Denmark can suck it. Horrible team. They deserve a 5-0 loss in this game.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Japan just owned Denmark on that possession. Absolutely owned them.
Honda is having quite a game. 3-1 good guys.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

excellent impact by robben. Almost scored a cracker.
Solid games by van bommel, de jong and sniejder.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Happy to see the Dutch win. I was watching the Holland game then switched over to Japan-Denmark, as the Dutch had already qualified.

 

[theyoungest]

I feel bad for Van der Vaart, he's probably the hardest working player in the Dutch squad right now but he's just used wrongly.

As it stands, I'm starting to feel more and more like an Elia-Sneijder-Robben-Huntelaar attack. Huntelaar is just much more of a striker than Van Persie.

 

[luckyboy]

I feel bad for Van der Vaart, he's probably the hardest working player in the Dutch squad right now but he's just used wrongly.

As it stands, I'm starting to feel more and more like an Elia-Sneijder-Robben-Huntelaar attack. Huntelaar is just much more of a striker than Van Persie.

They should've changed the starting 11.

Elia > VdV
Huntelaar > Kuyt

Great stuff

Good thing that Robben's back and had an impact straight away. It's looking good (hopefully).