World Cup 2006

[m_thomp]

I think it has to do with the lack of aggressiveness that Beckham has shown is why he is getting so much criticism. Though when he does get touches his passes are very accurate and there is probably no one else I would rather corner kick than him. It seems as if he is not getting aggressive enough to get more touches and opportunities for England to score. I would still keep him out there but I could see him not starting or being subbed out for a more aggressive player. I can see England beating Ecuador but I doubt they will beat the Portugal-Holland(assuming Argentina beats holland today) winner in the quarterfinals.

 

Yeah, undoubtedly, Beckham is a great passer and from dead ball situations he's outstanding, but it's wrong to keep relying on them, because then it's like carrying an extra player for the rest of the time, he's become too much of a specialist player now without offering much else to the team. He's never really been able to beat players with skill like say Joe Cole can, and he used to be quite combative and have the athleticism to get up and down the pitch. Now though that seems to have gone from his game, he's not as mobile as he used to be. Apparently, Gerrard had an argument in training with him the other day over Beckham's constant long ball tactic.

 

I would like to see someone quick, dynamic and incisive. I believe we have a player like that in Aaron Lennon, so I think he should be picked. But as Beckham is England captain, Sven's commander on the pitch, and as Sven is quite a spineless person when it comes to making tough decisions.

 

And that's before we mention the marketing/advertising promotional consequences of dropping Beckham.

[bjorn_skurj]

For a 0-0 game, Argentina and the Netherlands was entertaining. The Argentines were clearly the better team, but the Dutch got lucky and had some interesting chances at the end.

We'll see how the U.S. does later today. I haven't given up all hope; their stand against Italy was awe-inspiring and was the first thing that made me proud to be an American since Gerald Ford's WIN buttons.

[m_thomp]

For a 0-0 game, Argentina and the Netherlands was entertaining. The Argentines were clearly the better team, but the Dutch got lucky and had some interesting chances at the end.

We'll see how the U.S. does later today. I haven't given up all hope; their stand against Italy was awe-inspiring and was the first thing that made me proud to be an American since Gerald Ford's WIN buttons.

 

there's a chance the U.S. can still go through, but my money is on Czech Republic and Ghana to qualify. I desperately want the Czech's to beat Italy (particularly after DeRossi's flailing elbow). I'm not too bothered about the U.S. and Ghana, but I think Ghana will sneak that one.

[bobbob1313]

I think Italy beat's the Czech's because if not, they will most likely play Brazil, and they don't want that.

I think the US will be Ghana, because they are simply the better team with more to lose. That generally leads to a victory.

[Albert Tatlock]

Italy 1 CR 0 (Good game - I'm watching)

Ghana 1 USA 0

[tongue-tied lightning]

our (USA) big chance and we're blowing it

[WITHIK]

I think Italy beat's the Czech's because if not, they will most likely play Brazil, and they don't want that.

I think the US will be Ghana, because they are simply the better team with more to lose. That generally leads to a victory.

 

You have no idea Bobo US soccer team is the greatest choke artist out there. Before the World Cup the odds on Ghana winning the WC were 30,000 to 1 and the US team is choking against them, pathetic.

[bobbob1313]

You have no idea Bobo US soccer team is the greatest choke artist out there. Before the World Cup the odds on Ghana winning the WC were 30,000 to 1 and the US team is choking against them, pathetic.

 

Hey, I was half right with that statement. Italy does not want to lose.

[bobbob1313]

Goooooooaaaal.

[WITHIK]

Goooooooaaaal.

 

That lasted long

[plasticeyeball]

That lasted long

 

yea, long enough for me to walk to the next office to let a guy know who's interested that we tied it up. walk back to mine and we're back down.

 

i'm glad i'm not watching at home with my 7 year old son. he start crying and leave the room pissed.

[Albert Tatlock]

That lasted long

Not a penalty - unlucky. Ghana have Essien on 2 yellow cards and he will miss the next game, so if they progress they will have even less chance.

Czechs have a man off, so Italy will probably just close things down for the second half.

[WITHIK]

Like the US can score 2 goals in a WC game let alone 2 more goals in a game which they have already scored. The US team continues to prove their weak game.

[cryptique]

The U.S. got totally jobbed on that penalty kick. That was total bullshit.

 

Yes, I'm a U.S. supporter, so I'm biased ... but oh my GOD that was a bad call. There have been dozens of muggings in the penalty area throughout this tournament that weren't called, and then two guys go for the ball and bump into each other and bang, it's a PK. Fuck me.

 

That said, Bocanegra(?) made a terrible mistake kicking that ball back toward the center of the field. Never should have happened ... but that's exactly the kind of bonehead error I've come to expect from this team.

[darkstar]

The U.S. got totally jobbed on that penalty kick. That was total bullshit.

 

Yes, I'm a U.S. supporter, so I'm biased ... but oh my GOD that was a bad call. There have been dozens of muggings in the penalty area throughout this tournament that weren't called, and then two guys go for the ball and bump into each other and bang, it's a PK. Fuck me.

 

That said, Bocanegra(?) made a terrible mistake kicking that ball back toward the center of the field. Never should have happened ... but that's exactly the kind of bonehead error I've come to expect from this team.

 

 

Yeah I hear you. I'm biased as well. here's the deal FIFA and the rest of the world love the fact that we are not a dominant player in soccer. Any chance they get we will get screwed on calls. They don't want us to do well (and we have drawing with Italy with only 9 guys for the 2nd half). That orginization is as crooked as any politician. The love Brazil, Italy, and Germany so...also consider an African nation hosts next world cup. FIFA would love to have an African nation go far in this years world cup.

 

It's all politics, and from an orginization that allegedly lauds good sportsmanship. What a joke. We're gonna get knocked out today, unfortunately.....I'd be (happily) surprised to score 2 more goals and not have some bonehead FIFA lackey ref loose it for us...of course there is the fact that the US is not exactly an offensive juggernaught...but screw that, easier to blame the ref than our poor play

Edited June 22, 2006 by darkstar

[tongue-tied lightning]

we're done, go England

[WITHIK]

Yeah I hear you. I'm biased as well. here's the deal FIFA and the rest of the world love the fact that we are not a dominant player in soccer. Any chance they get we will get screwed on calls. They don't want us to do well (and we have drawing with Italy with only 9 guys for the 2nd half). That orginization is as crooked as any politician. The love Brazil, Italy, and Germany so...also consider an African nation hosts next world cup. FIFA would love to have an African nation go far in this years world cup.

 

It's all politics, and from an orginization that allegedly lauds good sportsmanship. What a joke. We're gonna get knocked out today, unfortunately.....I'd be (happily) surprised to score 2 more goals and not have some bonehead FIFA lackey ref loose it for us...of course there is the fact that the US is not exactly an offensive juggernaught...but screw that, easier to blame the ref than our poor play

 

There is a lot of politics and corruption in FIFA. The red cards given in the previous game were ridiculus. But the US team is weak and can't score many goals they were outta the World Cup once they let Ghana score that first goal. I was pulling for the US but pulling for the US soccer team is like pulling for the Cubs you know they are going to lose so you start complaining about how much they suck before the game starts.

[darkstar]

There is a lot of politics and corruption in FIFA. The red cards given in the previous game were ridiculus. But the US team is weak and can't score many goals they were outta the World Cup once they let Ghana score that first goal. I was pulling for the US but pulling for the US soccer team is like pulling for the Cubs you know they are going to lose so you start complaining about how much they suck before the game starts.

 

 

Yep, you got that right. Well it's all moot now it's a final. too bad 'cause Italy won, we would have gotten through to the round of 16.

 

What do you think it is? I know we have good athletes and all but we just can't seem to get anything going at the international level. A lot of the guys on the US play in the Euro leauges so they have talent. Are the other nations just better tactical players or what?

[uncle wilco]

GO SWEDEN!

[bobbob1313]

Bruce Arena should have tried to light a fire under their asses. Put some offensive guys in and just let them run. We didn't have time to worry about defense.

[WITHIK]

Bruce Arena should have tried to light a fire under their asses. Put some offensive guys in and just let them run. We didn't have time to worry about defense.

 

Don't really have any great offensive players to put in. Part of the problem.

[cryptique]

I'm not sure I buy into the idea that the penalty kick was part of some anti-U.S. conspiracy within FIFA ... I think it was just a lousy call. For the most part, I thought the ref did pretty well with the rest of the match. If he'd been biased against the U.S. I doubt there would have been four yellow cards for Ghana and only one for the Americans.

 

As for the ref in the match against Italy ... still not buying the conspiracy theories. He just sucked.

 

No, the refs didn't keep the U.S. from advancing ... their mediocre play did.

 

Speaking of FIFA corruption, there's an interesting (but disappointingly brief) piece in the latest New Yorker about Sepp Blatter and the culture of corruption within the organization. Suddenly the Italian scandal sounds pretty tame.

[Welsh Rich]

Who said the Czech republic were going to be the surprise package??

 

Unlucky USA - some more development needed I think - you've looked a little predictable from what I've seen, but carry on this curve and you should do well in the next world cup for sure.

 

Holland are still in it... a tidy display against the argentinians last night too... I predict them in the final and to win yet...

[bobbob1313]

Don't really have any great offensive players to put in. Part of the problem.

 

Did Eddie Johnson see any action in the cup?

[cryptique]

Did Eddie Johnson see any action in the cup?

Today, yes. But from what I saw he wasn't all that effective.