The Official World Cup Thread

[sethuel1]

I didn't mind the Poland-Ecuador game. It's amazing how easily a team with little creativity is shut down by a decent defense. Plus, 2 goals and 2 posts is nothing to sneeze at in a game between those two teams.

 

 

Yeah, but the depth of how dull and unimaginative the Polish attack was just can't be understated. It looked like a US team from like 1995 out there.

 

BTW, Seth, what's with the "new" ball? All the announcers are making it seem like it's filled with flubber or something.

 

I'm really, REALLY looking forward to the England/Paraguay game tomorrow, and still on edge about someone wrecking Monday for me.

 

I was really impressed with the fact that Poland waited until the 74th minute to bring in the one guy with offensive creativity.

 

I don't know. I mean, I'm used to the keepers bitching about the new ball before every World Cup, but this complaning seems to be extending. And that Frings goal curved like crazy. It is the first stitchless ball in WC history, maybe that means something.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I wish we'd get replays of some of the games in primetime. I think ESPN Classic is doing it eventually, but it'd be nice to the games most people won't be able to watch.

[USSoccer]

BTW, I'm confused as to how Ecuador's 2nd goal wasn't pulled back for offsides. The first pass sent them both through on, but the 2nd and final pass, the goal scorer was way off. I seem to recall having been called off in that exact situation before. Has that rule changed?

[lowest]

BTW, I'm confused as to how Ecuador's 2nd goal wasn't pulled back for offsides. The first pass sent them both through on, but the 2nd and final pass, the goal scorer was way off. I seem to recall having been called off in that exact situation before. Has that rule changed?

 

the offside rule is only in effect if the person recieving the ball is in front of the passer/ball. the ball can be played sideways or backwards (or forward as long as the recieving player is behind and runs onto it) and it doesn't matter.

[USSoccer]

BTW, I'm confused as to how Ecuador's 2nd goal wasn't pulled back for offsides. The first pass sent them both through on, but the 2nd and final pass, the goal scorer was way off. I seem to recall having been called off in that exact situation before. Has that rule changed?

 

the offside rule is only in effect if the person recieving the ball is in front of the passer/ball. the ball can be played sideways or backwards (or forward as long as the recieving player is behind and runs onto it) and it doesn't matter.

 

 

gotcha. thanks.

[sethuel1]

I wish we'd get replays of some of the games in primetime. I think ESPN Classic is doing it eventually, but it'd be nice to the games most people won't be able to watch.

 

The Germany game is on ESPNU right now

[Jon]

It's also on Univision (30th minute), which is probably better.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I wish we'd get replays of some of the games in primetime. I think ESPN Classic is doing it eventually, but it'd be nice to the games most people won't be able to watch.

 

The Germany game is on ESPNU right now

I don't get ESPNU, WXFT is show it in Spanish too, but no Poland game.

[Marco4]

I don't know. I mean, I'm used to the keepers bitching about the new ball before every World Cup, but this complaning seems to be extending. And that Frings goal curved like crazy. It is the first stitchless ball in WC history, maybe that means something.

 

Have you ever used one of the World Cup balls? During France 98, one of my mates had the official ball, and there was so much give in the material on the surface that it sort of wrapped itself around your foot when you hit it - so that the kicks were truer; an increase in the sweet-spot, I'd say.

 

I've not felt these new balls, but the Frings goal moved in the air a massive amount - we'll see what happens in the rest of the tournament.

[USSoccer]

I wish we'd get replays of some of the games in primetime. I think ESPN Classic is doing it eventually, but it'd be nice to the games most people won't be able to watch.

 

The Germany game is on ESPNU right now

 

I'm actually kind of irked that ESPN Classic didn't replay any of the 2002 games during the week leading up to today.

 

I would have loved to see replays of the US games against Portugal, Mexico and Germany, as well as some of the other games.

[WindyCity]

I managed to make it through the day without any idea what happened in either match, fired up the DVR, and enjoyed my first night of World Cup soccer. Fantastic. :D

 

I know it wasn't the keeper's fault, but how long till Oliver Kahn is back in the net for Germany?

 

Poland looked bad -- they are in huge trouble.

Edited June 10, 2006 by WindyCity

[Transmogrified Tiger]

BTW, I'm confused as to how Ecuador's 2nd goal wasn't pulled back for offsides. The first pass sent them both through on, but the 2nd and final pass, the goal scorer was way off. I seem to recall having been called off in that exact situation before. Has that rule changed?

 

the offside rule is only in effect if the person recieving the ball is in front of the passer/ball. the ball can be played sideways or backwards (or forward as long as the recieving player is behind and runs onto it) and it doesn't matter.

 

 

gotcha. thanks.

 

Yeah, you can't be offside if the ball in possession is past the last defender.

[YearofDaCubs]

Costa Rica didn't look good at all against Germany today. Poland wasn't good either. I can't wait to see the games tomorrow.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Time for the Saturday schedule.

 

@ Frankfurt: England v. Paraguay, 8 AM CST, ABC

 

@ Dortmund: Trinidad & Tobago v. Sweden, 11 AM CST, ABC

 

@ Hamburg: Argentina v. Ivory Coast, 2 PM CST, ESPN2

[CaliforniaRaisin]

@ Frankfurt: England v. Paraguay, 8 AM CST, ABC

 

Ugh, 6 am on a Saturday.

[soccer10k]

@ Frankfurt: England v. Paraguay, 8 AM CST, ABC

 

Ugh, 6 am on a Saturday.

 

My dad is TIVOing it. We're going to get up around 830 and watch it while enjoying a Guinness or two.

 

mmmmm...Guinness

[Outshined_One]

Tivo is a godsend for soccer fans.

[soccer10k]

BTW, I'm confused as to how Ecuador's 2nd goal wasn't pulled back for offsides. The first pass sent them both through on, but the 2nd and final pass, the goal scorer was way off. I seem to recall having been called off in that exact situation before. Has that rule changed?

 

the offside rule is only in effect if the person recieving the ball is in front of the passer/ball. the ball can be played sideways or backwards (or forward as long as the recieving player is behind and runs onto it) and it doesn't matter.

 

 

gotcha. thanks.

 

That was the one thing I hated about refereeing - a majority of the parents not understanding what offsides was. That was so aggravating sometimes.

[Marco4]

Well, Day 2 is about to be under-way.

 

Much excitement, especially about the Argentina - Ivory Coast game later.

[sethuel1]

I enjoy the fact that it's blatantly obvious Marcelo Balboa knows the names of 2 Paraguayans.

[lowest]

BTW, I'm confused as to how Ecuador's 2nd goal wasn't pulled back for offsides. The first pass sent them both through on, but the 2nd and final pass, the goal scorer was way off. I seem to recall having been called off in that exact situation before. Has that rule changed?

 

the offside rule is only in effect if the person recieving the ball is in front of the passer/ball. the ball can be played sideways or backwards (or forward as long as the recieving player is behind and runs onto it) and it doesn't matter.

 

 

gotcha. thanks.

 

That was the one thing I hated about refereeing - a majority of the parents not understanding what offsides was. That was so aggravating sometimes.

 

we had a girl whose dad was absolutely terrible about that, yelling at the ref at any possible moment. she was completely embarrassed, and one game finally stopped, and yelled across the field "BILL! Shut the **** up!" didnt even call him 'dad'. it was great, he stopped talking at all during games.

 

but on a more WC related note... thank God for univision because if i had to listen to dave o'brien and marcello balboa for one more minute i think i'd kill myself.

[Marco4]

Its very strange having that video screen in the centre of the field.

 

Solid first half from England - but not creating as many problems as they promised to do earlier on. The balls into the box have been particularly disappointing, I'd say, considering the target that Peter Crouch presents. He should be doing as much attacking work in the air as on the ground - first half, he hasn't been.

 

Paraguay, meanwhile, started badly, but got better and better. Chances are at a premium for them, but the players you'd expect to be doing things for La Albarroja are doing - Santa Cruz, Valdez, Paredes....

 

Not quite evenly balanced at half-time, but England haven't dominated as much as they could, and maybe should have done.

[sethuel1]

You have to be kidding me. The ABC halftime show is from the horse track in Belmont, NY, and after 2 seconds of analysis they just went to a puff piece about World War II.

[Marco4]

We're getting a report from Trinidad and Tobago's Stoke-on-Trent based midfielder Chris Birchall on the BBC. At least its football related.

[sethuel1]

Marcelo Balboa is the Joe Morgan of soccer commentators.