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Post by Yossarian on Jun 18, 2010 21:30:42 GMT -5
Wow. France looks absolutely abysmal. Mexico leads 2-0 with just over 5 minutes to go in the 2nd half. They should have fired their coach after Euro 2008, then during the World Cup Qualifiers, then after the qualifiers, and finally before the World Cup started. They didn't and they're paying the price. Domenech completely lost the players 2 years ago. I agree. Domenech is pathetic. He completely lost the team. And what is funniest is that Mexico's first goal was offside, but nobody from France dare complain, because it should have been Ireland playing Mexico instead of France. Henry should hide his head in shame forever for that pathetic OT goal in the qualifier playoff against Ireland where there was both a clear handling offense, as well as an offside. I wonder if Domenech saw that Karma in the alignment of the stars!!! |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 19, 2010 0:57:50 GMT -5
We need good referees like they have in the equally boring sport, baseball. You mean like that guy who called the base runner safe and ruined a perfect game for that most recent pitcher (can't recall the teams or pitcher) and admitted afterward that he blew it. Then that most wise of commissioners, Bud "I'll sell you a top quality used Yugo" Selig refused to overturn the obviously blown call. Nothing wrong with baseball, that's for sure. BTW, please pass the steroids after you spit out that chawin' tabaccer. |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 19, 2010 1:01:35 GMT -5
They should have fired their coach after Euro 2008, then during the World Cup Qualifiers, then after the qualifiers, and finally before the World Cup started. They didn't and they're paying the price. Domenech completely lost the players 2 years ago. I agree. Domenech is pathetic. He completely lost the team. And what is funniest is that Mexico's first goal was offside, but nobody from France dare complain, because it should have been Ireland playing Mexico instead of France. Henry should hide his head in shame forever for that pathetic OT goal in the qualifier playoff against Ireland where there was both a clear handling offense, as well as an offside. I wonder if Domenech saw that Karma in the alignment of the stars!!! I can't recall France ever being a soccer power except for the late 90's for maybe a 10 year period. Not before and certainly not anymore. |
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 19, 2010 3:25:08 GMT -5
I agree. Domenech is pathetic. He completely lost the team. And what is funniest is that Mexico's first goal was offside, but nobody from France dare complain, because it should have been Ireland playing Mexico instead of France. Henry should hide his head in shame forever for that pathetic OT goal in the qualifier playoff against Ireland where there was both a clear handling offense, as well as an offside. I wonder if Domenech saw that Karma in the alignment of the stars!!! I can't recall France ever being a soccer power except for the late 90's for maybe a 10 year period. Not before and certainly not anymore. not sure how you qualify a "soccer power", but France had a great team during the days of Platini, Giresse, Tigana, Fernandez,... they were European Champions in 1984. and were in the semis in both 1982. and 1986. WC. IMO, that shows a continuity of very good-to-excellent results and winning European Championship is arguably harder than winning WC when it comes to football because there are no outsiders like New Zealand, Honduras etc. r. |
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Post by franko on Jun 19, 2010 14:58:43 GMT -5
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 19, 2010 16:17:24 GMT -5
Outstanding!! You got me laughing. Should make a good 45 with Rosanne singing the national anthem on the flip side. 45, I must be getting old. Kids, once upon a time there were records in record stores. You couldn't steal them online, there was no online. There were two sides and you flipped......... never mind. |
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Post by franko on Jun 19, 2010 16:45:20 GMT -5
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 20, 2010 10:53:18 GMT -5
New Zealand with the 1-1 draw with Italy? WOW!!
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Post by roke on Jun 20, 2010 12:33:00 GMT -5
New Zealand with the 1-1 draw with Italy? WOW!! Too old, not enough quality at strikers, no creativity. I expected Italy to not do well at the tournament, but two draws to start (including one against New Zealand...wow) is terrible. |
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 20, 2010 15:05:07 GMT -5
The Italians are notorious for their slow starts at WC tournaments. I wouldn't count them out just yet. Though I agree they didn't look good so far.
r.
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 20, 2010 15:45:19 GMT -5
Brazil just beat Ivory Coast 3:1 and qualified for the next round. I think they are the first team to do so. Their second goal shouldn't have counted because it looked like Luis Fabiano played the ball with his arm, but Kaka shouldn't have been awarded a 2nd yellow card either. the Ivory coast player just ran into him and then faked an injury. the good thing is that Kaka will be able to sit out his red card in a meaningless game for Brazil against Portugal.
r.
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Post by Yossarian on Jun 20, 2010 20:46:14 GMT -5
Brazil just beat Ivory Coast 3:1 and qualified for the next round. I think they are the first team to do so. Their second goal shouldn't have counted because it looked like Luis Fabiano played the ball with his arm, but Kaka shouldn't have been awarded a 2nd yellow card either. the Ivory coast player just ran into him and then faked an injury. the good thing is that Kaka will be able to sit out his red card in a meaningless game for Brazil against Portugal. r. Meaningless maybe as far as Brazil's position goes, but many in the Brazilian and Portuguese communities in Toronto have had this circled on their calendar's since the schedule came out. (The main reason City Hall passed a by-law to allow alcohol service at 10:00am during the WC!!) It is going to be huge!!!! Italy just doesn't have it this year. Cannavaro is too old and slow to play central defence at this level (he played a horrible ball on the NZ goal, and got schooled by a 18 year old substitute in the 80th minute, nearly giving up the lead). Lippi is too stubborn selecting too many players from Juventus who had an absolute horrid season, a couple who don't even start for Juve, or were injured for most of the year. as well as too many holdovers from the 2006 team. He also left behind some more creative younger players, but are consider to be headcases (Cassano and Balotelli), over guys he thought had more character but less talent. In the Italian media, many have already turned the page on this WC, and looking forward to Cesare Prandelli taking over after Lippi, as he much more inclined to play younger players, and favours free-flowing football; especially between the mids and forwards. His Fiorentina team should have beaten Bayern in the CL playdowns (the team that lost in the final) except for an offside goal that was allowed to stand for Bayern. As an Azzurri fan, I'm not holding out much hope, and instead looking forward to the next 4 year cycle and the rebuild. They are notorious slow starters, but in the past, despite the slow starts, the team always had some horses, that could carry the team later on. I just don't see it on this roster. De Rossi and Buffon are the only top-class, experienced players, currently at the peak of their careers, and now Buffon is injured. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 21, 2010 11:45:56 GMT -5
Brazil just beat Ivory Coast 3:1 and qualified for the next round. I think they are the first team to do so. Their second goal shouldn't have counted because it looked like Luis Fabiano played the ball with his arm, but Kaka shouldn't have been awarded a 2nd yellow card either. the Ivory coast player just ran into him and then faked an injury. the good thing is that Kaka will be able to sit out his red card in a meaningless game for Brazil against Portugal. r. Meaningless maybe as far as Brazil's position goes, but many in the Brazilian and Portuguese communities in Toronto have had this circled on their calendar's since the schedule came out. (The main reason City Hall passed a by-law to allow alcohol service at 10:00am during the WC!!) It is going to be huge!!!! Isn't the primary language of Brazil Portugese? ;D I'd love to see this game. Depends when it's on, though. I just read that Portugal defeated N Korea 7-0. That's a good tune up game I think, but I'm really hoping it's a good game between they and Brazil. Cheers. |
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Post by jkr on Jun 21, 2010 15:13:06 GMT -5
Meaningless maybe as far as Brazil's position goes, but many in the Brazilian and Portuguese communities in Toronto have had this circled on their calendar's since the schedule came out. (The main reason City Hall passed a by-law to allow alcohol service at 10:00am during the WC!!) It is going to be huge!!!! Isn't the primary language of Brazil Portugese? ;D Cheers. Yes |
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Post by jkr on Jun 21, 2010 15:16:00 GMT -5
Some marketing genius with the Florida Marlins decided that vuvuzelas at a baseball game would be a good idea. I saw it on the news last night. The players & umps ended up wearing ear plugs & teh cmmunication gap was deemed responsible for the Marlins batting out of order at one point. www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=194466&t=0 |
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 21, 2010 19:08:27 GMT -5
I've seen several vehicles flying flags of both Portugal and Brazil. Covering their bases.  |
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Post by Skilly on Jun 21, 2010 20:37:56 GMT -5
Some marketing genius with the Florida Marlins decided that vuvuzelas at a baseball game would be a good idea. I saw it on the news last night. The players & umps ended up wearing ear plugs & teh cmmunication gap was deemed responsible for the Marlins batting out of order at one point. www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=194466&t=0They'll end up in hockey rinks too ....  |
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 22, 2010 14:11:11 GMT -5
well, the French are going home after the loss to South Africa and deservedly so. I guess bad karma caught up with them after the way they had qualified for the WC. I do feel bad for their fans because of all the stuff that has been happening within their team.
r.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 22, 2010 20:19:53 GMT -5
well, the French are going home after the loss to South Africa and deservedly so. I guess bad karma caught up with them after the way they had qualified for the WC. I do feel bad for their fans because of all the stuff that has been happening within their team. r. The french team was very fast in retreat like their armies were retreating from Moscow and Germany. Blame the coach, blame the players, blame eachother, just don't go out and work for the ball. |
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Post by Skilly on Jun 23, 2010 10:45:58 GMT -5
well, the French are going home after the loss to South Africa and deservedly so. I guess bad karma caught up with them after the way they had qualified for the WC. I do feel bad for their fans because of all the stuff that has been happening within their team. r. Pretty classless of the French coach to not shake hands though .... |
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Post by CrocRob on Jun 23, 2010 10:57:23 GMT -5
Group C is just awful. Not without theatrics (thanks, Landon Donovan), but there isn't one team I would classify as "good" in the four of them. England and the US are going through, but I expect both to be soundly eliminated in the round of 16 against any of Ghana, Serbia or Germany.
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 23, 2010 11:44:22 GMT -5
well, the French are going home after the loss to South Africa and deservedly so. I guess bad karma caught up with them after the way they had qualified for the WC. I do feel bad for their fans because of all the stuff that has been happening within their team. r. Pretty classless of the French coach to not shake hands though .... Supposedly, Parreira had been critical of the way France had qualified for the WC which I guess Domenech remembered. but it's still very classless as you say. r. |
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 23, 2010 11:51:09 GMT -5
Group C is just awful. Not without theatrics (thanks, Landon Donovan), but there isn't one team I would classify as "good" in the four of them. England and the US are going through, but I expect both to be soundly eliminated in the round of 16 against any of Ghana, Serbia or Germany. actually, I think England is very good, much better than what they are showing at this WC. I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly started playing like they did during the qualifications. Serbia may advance, but I'm not impressed with their showing. they are slow, but they also move the ball too slow which is why they had a lot of trouble with Ghana and Germany even though Germany had Klose sent off before half-time. I expected more of them. r. |
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Post by Rimmer on Jun 23, 2010 15:42:18 GMT -5
Germany beat Ghana and Australia beat Serbia which means Germany vs. England in the next round. Dis, you should enjoy that one  r. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 23, 2010 18:16:22 GMT -5
Germany beat Ghana and Australia beat Serbia which means Germany vs. England in the next round. Dis, you should enjoy that one r. Well, if I were sitting at the 'English table' like I was a few years ago I'd be going for England. However, I like Germany in this one. I'm just hoping I get a chance to see this one. Cheers. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 23, 2010 20:08:23 GMT -5
How does the USA match up against Ghana?
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Post by roke on Jun 23, 2010 20:15:56 GMT -5
How does the USA match up against Ghana? If Muntari continues to clash with the Ghana coach, I would say pretty good. The US play a game that doesn't lend itself to being counterattacked, so if they can take their chances they should win. Muntari's the real wildcard in the picture though. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 23, 2010 21:01:41 GMT -5
How does the USA match up against Ghana? If Muntari continues to clash with the Ghana coach, I would say pretty good. The US play a game that doesn't lend itself to being counterattacked, so if they can take their chances they should win. Muntari's the real wildcard in the picture though. Kind of happy for the USA to be honest. The American women pulled it off a few years ago didn't they? Cheers. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 23, 2010 21:29:28 GMT -5
If Muntari continues to clash with the Ghana coach, I would say pretty good. The US play a game that doesn't lend itself to being counterattacked, so if they can take their chances they should win. Muntari's the real wildcard in the picture though. Kind of happy for the USA to be honest. The American women pulled it off a few years ago didn't they? Cheers. It's very good for the US soccer team. They are made up of athletes that weren't good enough in High School to make the football, baseball, basketball, hockey, volleyball or ultimate frisbee teams. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 24, 2010 9:27:18 GMT -5
Watching Italy-Slovakia right now. I know it's a staple of soccer...(and I know it can be physically brutal on the pitch)...but the way players fall and writhe on the ground after minimal contact, then get up and play on is laughable. Slovakia just scored. Bad pass into the middle, deep in the zone by an Italian defender. Marc-Andre Bergeroni? (sorry Val....) EDIT: Theatrics aside....a Slovakian player just received a nasty 3" long gash to his knee....he got bandaged up...and came right back on the field. EDIT: Skirtl (sp?) makes a goal line save...(part of the ball was definitely over the line)...then Vittek gets the 2-0 goal. 16 minutes left. Huge upset in the making. EDIT: Italy scores with about 7:30 minutes left before injury time. Big finish coming up. EDIT: Italy scores...but it's offside. Still 2-1. EDIT: Slovakia 3-1...a wonderful throw-in behind the defenders and the Slovak beats all the Italians to the ball for a chip in over the goalie. Perhaps poorly anticipated by the Italians who were thinking all offense. 4:00 of injury time. EDIT: 3-2...great shot to the top corner. 2:00 left. Can't imagine what both teams' fans are going through right now. 30 seconds left. Slovakia pulling a player subsitution...and another fake injury. Ref isn't buying it in terms of eating up time. And Italy just misses a great chance to the left. 4:00 has become 6:00 plus. Game over. Italian coach heads right off the field. Italy's fans must be devastated....but the commentator almost had to eat big-time crow. After the 3-1 goal, he said, "And that will surely do it." "Italy...from World Cup heroes to World Cup zeroes." |
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