[S-Dubb]

Jetsman05, on 15 June 2010 - 04:21 PM, said:

The quality of soccer this tournament has been really poor. I hope in the second round of games, when teams really need to chase all 3 points, it'll get better.

Yea.. a real lack of goal scoring is killing the buzz.

[Smedsthejet]

The second half of Brazil - North Korea was pretty decent. Great move by the Koreans - who didn't look half bad - to get their goal, and Elano's strike was created by a beautiful pass.

[Jetsman05]

Smedsthejet, on 15 June 2010 - 04:29 PM, said:

The second half of Brazil - North Korea was pretty decent. Great move by the Koreans - who didn't look half bad - to get their goal, and Elano's strike was created by a beautiful pass.

It wasn't bad. Koreans definitely looked better then I thought, and Brazil took a bit to get going. Why they didn't bring Neymar and Ganso is beyond me. The world would love to see those two kids on such a stage.

Portugal vs. Ivory Coast, the matchup of the first round of games was stop/start all day long and proved to be a really poor match

[Smedsthejet]

Jetsman05, on 15 June 2010 - 09:32 PM, said:

It wasn't bad. Koreans definitely looked better then I thought, and Brazil took a bit to get going. Why they didn't bring Neymar and Ganso is beyond me. The world would love to see those two kids on such a stage.

Portugal vs. Ivory Coast, the matchup of the first round of games was stop/start all day long and proved to be a really poor match

I was dragged out to the shops for most of that game, which didn't make me particularly happy, but I'm glad I was now. Strange to see Sven keep Drogba on the bench for all but the last 25 minutes. I know his injury made him a risk to put on for too long, but Portugal were there for the taking from what I did see.

[Jetsman05]

Smedsthejet, on 15 June 2010 - 04:35 PM, said:

I was dragged out to the shops for most of that game, which didn't make me particularly happy, but I'm glad I was now. Strange to see Sven keep Drogba on the bench for all but the last 25 minutes. I know his injury made him a risk to put on for too long, but Portugal were there for the taking from what I did see.

Portugal was definitely there for the taking. They did play pretty well at the back though. Offered very little going forward outside of a Ronaldo crack off the post.

Thought Drogba wouldn't be risked at all to be honest, he had once half-chance when he came on that he took poorly.

[HurricaneJet32]

New Zealand/Slovakia game anyone?

Not high scoring but awesome ending. I started watching the game in the morning and ended up sitting there and went in late for work...totally worth it to see that ending. I was just about to give up and turn the TV off and the kiwi's dropped in that goal.

Isn't soccer a funny game? How New Zealand feels like they won that game and Slovakia feels like they lost...only because the all whites had the equivalent of a walk off draw.

[Jetsman05]

HurricaneJet32, on 15 June 2010 - 07:26 PM, said:

New Zealand/Slovakia game anyone?

Not high scoring but awesome ending. I started watching the game in the morning and ended up sitting there and went in late for work...totally worth it to see that ending. I was just about to give up and turn the TV off and the kiwi's dropped in that goal.

Isn't soccer a funny game? How New Zealand feels like they won that game and Slovakia feels like they lost...only because the all whites had the equivalent of a walk off draw.

It was an exciting game, but Slovakia felt like they lost for another reason too, because they were clear favorites and should be taking 3 points from that game. But it was a fun ending.

[socaljetsfan]

My how the tides have changed today with the Switzerland/Spain game.

Although I still see Spain advancing and moving on deep into the tourney.

[socaljetsfan]

http://g.sports.yaho...wiss061610.html

But then again, maybe they have figured out a weakness.

[Jetsman05]

It's easier said then done, but Inler and Fernandes cut off Xavi's time and passing. They played with just Villa up top and he couldn't get his normal service from Xavi. When they put Torres in, and Navas in it gave Xavi more room and more of a threat going forward.

I'd expect in the their next game, if Torres isn't fit enough for 90 we will see Llorrente uptop with Villa, they need two strikers, especially someone like Llorrente or Torres who can play as target men as well, and let Villa run off them.

What an upset though. Well done Swiss

[socaljetsfan]

Ya, agree, I feel they will come back with a flurry of goals on whoever is in front of them.

The game goin right now isn't a bad watch either.

[Jetsman05]

socaljetsfan, on 16 June 2010 - 03:47 PM, said:

Ya, agree, I feel they will come back with a flurry of goals on whoever is in front of them.

The game goin right now isn't a bad watch either.

Chile vs. Spain will be fun if Chile comes out with the attacking play they had today

[socaljetsfan]

Well I didn't get to see the Germany game(comes on way to damn early on my side of the country), but heard that it was a great game to watch and they had some chances, including a penalty kick which was saved, but ended up losing with 10 men.

[Jetsman05]

socaljetsfan, on 18 June 2010 - 09:57 AM, said:

Well I didn't get to see the Germany game(comes on way to damn early on my side of the country), but heard that it was a great game to watch and they had some chances, including a penalty kick which was saved, but ended up losing with 10 men.

Ref was horrible, but Germany had their chances. Still don't know why Podolski was the one chosen to take the penalty.

[TheGreenCoachesClub]

my god do we suck

[socaljetsfan]

Great comeback, sad to see that we can't always play like we did in the second half! and just a horrible call by the referees on that offside/foul

[Tebow15]

socaljetsfan, on 18 June 2010 - 12:03 PM, said:

Great comeback, sad to see that we can't always play like we did in the second half! and just a horrible call by the referees on that offside/foul

yea thats such bs. we played terrible in the first half but we still shoulda won the game. The ref didnt even say what the call was, everyone thought he was calling offsides but he just called a penalty and never explained. if anything the U.S. was fouled, everyone was getting bear hugged.

[socaljetsfan]

Well, since England couldn't break past the Algerian defense the USA is now one win away from advancing!

[Jetsman05]

Haha, been waiting for Smeds to come around.

They must have their heads in their hands over there.

Is Rooney even playing?

[Smedsthejet]

Jetsman05, on 19 June 2010 - 12:48 AM, said:

Haha, been waiting for Smeds to come around.

They must have their heads in their hands over there.

Is Rooney even playing?

We were that bad I was laughing by the end of it. It was all one-speed, there was no sense of urgency - unlike with the US against Slovenia (great comeback by the way and you should have won!), and it was just horrible to watch. To think of the players England have, how much they're paid and how highly they are praised, you would expect they could at least put together a decent performance against Algeria. Heck, Germany created more chances with 10 men against a Serbia defence, who on paper at least are far better than the Algerian backline!

Listening to the radio after the game everyone seemed to be jumping on Capello's back, but in my opinion the buck rests with the players. Rooney in the week said England didn't need to play at their best to beat Algeria, whilst Gerrard said how the match would be Algeria's World Cup final - it smacked of arrogance and showed. And Rooney had the nerve to make a sarcastic remark about the team being boo-ed off the field after the game. I mean, what does he expect? You would think by the performances he has put in so far during this World Cup that he's a forward from a lower level Premier League team, not one of the best in the world.

It's got to the point where I'm starting to hope we get knocked out sooner rather than later. It will be a travesty if we go on and win the competition.