The Soccer Thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

so i know nothing about soccer, and generally I don't like it at all, but that game (match?) was on at the gym today, and I was pretty entertained. Unfortunately, there was no sound/close captioning, so I don't really know what was happening. My basic question, though, is who was considered the better team going in to that?

 

They were relatively even with contrasting styles. Spain is one of the favorites to win the tournament, and play an open, attacking style. Italy is a perennial power(2006 World Cup "winner"), and play very defensive soccer.

[wolf stansson]

so i know nothing about soccer, and generally I don't like it at all, but that game (match?) was on at the gym today, and I was pretty entertained. Unfortunately, there was no sound/close captioning, so I don't really know what was happening. My basic question, though, is who was considered the better team going in to that?

It was a toss up. Spain has looked better thus far in the tournament but has a bad track record against the Italians and in major tournaments in general. They are pretty equal in talent, but Spain is younger with more attacking style while Italy is older and more defensive (although their defense has lost more than a step since '06 and they missed Cannavaro a lot).

 

If you would have asked me who I thought would win I would have said Italy. If you asked who I thought the better team was I'd have said Spain.

[snoodmonger]

so all those brief...i dunno what to call them..."injury pauses" were abnormal for a soccer game? I'm asking because you guys have characterized the Italians as floppers.

[wolf stansson]

so all those brief...i dunno what to call them..."injury pauses" were abnormal for a soccer game? I'm asking because you guys have characterized the Italians as floppers.

Depends on how physical the game is. Injury stoppage happens in all games, but the Italians certainly milk it.

[shnsajax]

so all those brief...i dunno what to call them..."injury pauses" were abnormal for a soccer game? I'm asking because you guys have characterized the Italians as floppers.

Depends on how physical the game is. Injury stoppage happens in all games, but the Italians certainly milk it.

 

Just wait till we play Mexico

[USSoccer]

Good on Spain for knocking the Italian National Diving Team out. Now they can get ready for the Olympic 200m highboard events.

 

I'm kind of pulling for a Russia/Germany final, if only for the off the field symbolism that matchup would create. The crowd would be absolutely electric.

 

Congrats to the quasi USMNT that went and beat the Fun Ship Cruise All-Stars 1-0 in the most boring irritating game I've ever watched. Cricket camera angles don't work for soccer.

[USSoccer]

BTW, I totally called the US coming out in a 4-6-0. Jesus Bob Bradley needs to be fired.

 

My kingdom for Hiddink. Or even Ruud Gullit.

[sethuel1]

I'm really glad i did not watch the US game today.

[bukie]

That US-Barbados game was so ugly the US might as well have held a drawing for 11 lucky fans to make the trip and play the field. "Here you go, just don't lose by 9."

[wolf stansson]

My kingdom for Hiddink. Or even Ruud Gullit.

I would've laughed at Ruud Gullit 6 months ago. After seeing what he has done with the Galaxy development-wise and tactically, I say offer him as much as it takes.

I'm really glad i did not watch the US game today.

Good thing you didn't. Otherwise you would have been like me. I dvr'd the Italy-Spain game and at about the 75 minute mark of the US crap fest, good 'ole JP Dellacamera let me know that it was 0-0 going into extra time. Thanks, JP. So after that I decide, "Oh well, I know it's going into extra time, so I'll just go hit the pool and let the dvr take care of extra time and I'll just come back and watch that."

 

Half and hour later I'm swimming and listening to The Baseball Show on ESPN Radio and they drop the final result on me.

[sweetpeteman]

As an Italian American and somebody who shares the last name with one of the players regularly bemoaned here, all I have to say is:

 

 

Dear Italian Team, GROW A PAIR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Spain is almost as bad.

[Guest]

And Turkey's magical run has continued as they've taken a 1-0 lead on Germany in the 23rd minute. They've deserved the goal as well since they've outplayed Germany in the early going.

 

Schweinsteiger answers three minutes later to tie it up, knocking in a cross from Podolski.

[wolf stansson]

SCHWEINY

[shnsajax]

And Turkey's magical run has continued as they've taken a 1-0 lead on Germany in the 23rd minute. They've deserved the goal as well since they've outplayed Germany in the early going.

 

Schweinsteiger answers three minutes later to tie it up, knocking in a cross from Podolski.

 

Thats just a funny name, sounds like a nickname a guy would give his unit.

[Guest]

Lahm got nailed right on the edge of th penalty area early in the second half and got nothing. I'm not sure how the ref missed that one or what he was thinking. The only question should have been whether it was a penalty kick (probably) or just a free kick. Either way, the ref screwed that one up.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Stupid technical difficulties.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Apparently Klose just scored to put Germany up 2-1!

[splintersag]

Germany takes the lead. Freakin tech difficulties.

[wolf stansson]

KLOSE!

[Butterscup1679666578]

Oh my god, Turkey ties it. This team is crazy.

[splintersag]

Turkey scores!!!!!

[Guest]

Turkey apparently ties it up at 2. Boy, it sure would suck to be watching this thing live.

[Jon]

Wow. How much time left?

[wolf stansson]

All these technical difficulties are making me feel better about not being able to dvr the game today.

[Guest]

Wow. How much time left?

 

Goal came in the 84th. There are three minutes plus injury time left now.