2010 FIFA World Cup Thread

Keith · #1 01-27-2010, 10:47 AM

Can't wait... need thread now...

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

I like the the group draw for the U.S.

Group C
England
USA
Slovenia
Algeria

England's team is always overrated, though this year's squad really might be the best one they've had in awhile. Draw with them though, and the path to the knockout rounds is not so hard. It's their first match, too.

6/12 England v. USA
6/18 Slovenia v. USA
6/23 USA v. Algeria

The USMNT has some injury concerns though. Clint Dempsey injured his knee but won't need surgery. Charlie Davies was seriously injured in a car accident last year, but seems to be ahead of schedule in his recovery. Oguchi Onyewu is also recovering from a torn tendon in his knee.

TheMatrix31 · #2 01-30-2010, 11:49 PM

Can't wait! Obviously I'm a USA fan, but if we're looking at other teams/countries...I've been a Germany fan my whole life. I root for them---HARD.

It's going to pain me to have to root against them if the US make it to the round of 16 and play Germany.

papabear · #3 02-18-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

Can't wait! Obviously I'm a USA fan, but if we're looking at other teams/countries...I've been a Germany fan my whole life. I root for them---HARD.

It's going to pain me to have to root against them if the US make it to the round of 16 and play Germany.

I work for Germans....and nothing would make me happier than us knocking them out of the tournament. I would have a field day. Not that I didn't enjoy going with my German boss to the Pub every day during the last world cup and rooting for the Krauts with my boss...but I would have so much fun holding it over their heads if we knocked them out. We SHOULD be able to advance, but I don't think it's going to be near as easy as most people are acting.

TheMatrix31 · #4 02-19-2010, 11:37 PM

Well definitely---given the choice between rooting for Germany and rooting for the US, I'd take the US every ****************ing time.

Keith · #5 05-27-2010, 11:32 PM

Brian Ching was cut from the roster. Dumb move. This team is young, and a vet presence, even if Ching never sets foot on the field, would have been a huge asset for the squad.

Congrats to Rico and Stuie for making it though. Both are deserving.

Man, just bummed for Chinger.

Need some soccer.

papabear · #6 06-10-2010, 01:40 PM

Not taking Ching was a risky move. That leaves this team without a true "target" player. They seem to try and use Altidore this way sometimes, but if Altidore is hurt or limited that leaves them with Zero experience up front and without anyone capable of playing that type of hold up play. A Striker's job is to finish, but Ching was the only forward candidate who has showed that he has the passing ability and vision to set up his teammates. I understand Bob wants to play tucked in and rely on the counter-attack and needs forwards to stretch the field, but I think before the tournaments over we will see more than one situation where everyone is saying, " This would have been a great spot to bring in Ching".

Anyone going to any of the watch parties Saturday?

Keith · #7 06-12-2010, 12:40 AM

I am watching from my couch. Too intense. Been looking forward to this game for awhile. Getting just a point would be huge.

Don't tread on me!

NickO · #8 06-13-2010, 01:03 AM

I managed to find the nationalistic Brit in the office and rope him into a case of beer bet on the match...USA + 3.5 goals!!! Sucka!

It helped we were at the bar and he was hammered. monday's gonna be fun.

edo783 · #9 06-13-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickO

I managed to find the nationalistic Brit in the office and rope him into a case of beer bet on the match...USA + 3.5 goals!!! Sucka!

It helped we were at the bar and he was hammered. monday's gonna be fun.

GEEEzzz, even dunk, a +3.5 goals call in world cup play is a pretty dumb bet. Hope you called an expensive brand of beer.

Mike · #10 06-14-2010, 10:44 AM

3.5 goals. Heck, lucky if a team scores 2 goals in a game.

OK, I tried to watch the USA/England match, I can't get into soccer. Any game with 5 shots on goal just does not get my excitement meter cranked up. To me, watching soccer is like watching the Capers/Carr offense. Terrible.

Then again, I am sure most of you guys not born in the north cannot watch hockey which I love with the speed and hitting.

Enjoy with Cup. I am now patiently waiting for training camp to start.

Keith · #11 06-14-2010, 09:32 PM

Rico had a rough start to that game. Too bad. He's usually a rock back there. If Michael Bradley is also going to play like a d-mid though like Rico, then might as well try Stuie in the center mid role to go with Bradley. Or Torres. Or shift Donovan inside and move Beasley or Stuie outside. Having both Rico (who I like out there a lot) with Bradley though just seems too defensive, which is kinda odd since reports are that Bradley is effective as an offensive player. Just don't pair Edu with Rico or Bradley.

Regardless, the USMNT has a decent chance to sneak into the top spot with an excellent performance on Friday... a very worthwhile proposition if they can win out with a good scoring differential if it means not drawing Germany in the knockout round. I'll be interested to see how Bradley changes his starting 11 for this one... I think he needs to get a lot of goals... a 1-0 win would work, but I have to believe England could gain a GD advantage with that kind of result.

popanot · #12 06-16-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Then again, I am sure most of you guys not born in the north cannot watch hockey which I love with the speed and hitting.

NHL Hockey... Next best thing to the NFL, IMO.

Mike · #13 06-16-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popanot

NHL Hockey... Next best thing to the NFL, IMO.

I agree. Hockey on a big screen with HD is great. TV does not do hockey the justice it deserves, and no offense to the Aeros, it is not close to NHL hockey.

Watching FIFA is like watching paint dry, without the buzzing. Actually, I give watching the paint dry a slight edge.

Nconroe · #14 06-19-2010, 08:24 AM

The match between USA and Slovenia was fairly exciting as USA got down 0-2 in first half, then tied, and then, but for blown ref call should have won 3-2.

I got to work some and play some soccer overseas so my wife and I enjoy the soccer quite a bit.

Keith · #15 06-27-2010, 12:57 AM

Sad to see another World Cup come and go for the U.S. It was fun while it lasted. The team performed to expectations, and the win over Algeria was a thrilling moment for the sport in this country. Can't complain overall about what went down considering that bigger picture.

I was sad to see Rico have such a rough go in this tournament. He deserves better, though he will need to learn to manage his emotions. Still a hothead when things aren't going his way. I just don't think the pairing with Bradley does him any favors since Bradley is reluctant to go forward on even terms and Rico is certainly a D-mid and not much more.

Nice to see Donovan shed a bit of the "landycakes" label. Each of his goals were crucial. Would have like to have seen Dempsey used more as a forward with either Holden or Feilhaber in the midfield, especially without Davies available. Man, how different might this World Cup have been if Davies had not been in that accident? Findley and Gomez were not ready for this. On a related note, I missed not having Onyewu out there, not for his defense so much since DeMerit had a great run, but in the box offensively for corners and set pieces. Well, maybe for his defense too since I was not much of a Bornstein fan before, during or after this Cup.

And while Altidore has promise, I do think he looked a step slow. Especially against Ghana... Bob Bradley might have done well to have kept Ching on the roster to start him today. Altidore maybe needed a rest and Ching would have done more I think to help with possession, tracking back, etc... all those things a vet does to help good clubs.

Oh well. Four more years now.