The Soccer Thread

[USSoccer]

Holland looked like a fricking machine. They dismantled Italy and France without really being tested.

 

So far Spain, Holland and Not Spain look to be the class of the tourney so far.

[Exile on Waveland]

Yes, the sandbagging option, please.

 

Being that they will probably rest a lot of people, and Romania will be going all out its possible. They could go through with a draw and a draw between Italy and France.

 

Portugal will rest players. Croatia will rest players. But will the Netherlands? They should, but don't be so sure. They are the Dutch, remember. Style is exceedingly important to them.

 

Wow, have they looked impressive. Always have been my favorite team outside of the USMNT, and would love to see them take the trophy. We'll see though. Someone will ugly the game up and they'll lose in penalties, I'm sure.

 

Thinking more about it, I think they would like to get Robben and van Persie some more minutes. Honestly the Dutch team is loaded with potential super subs like today. I think Kuyt will get the day off. It's too bad Babel is not available as well :-).

 

Potential Final 4:

Holland

Spain

Portugal

Germany/Croatia

 

The first 3 are an absolute coin flip right now. The last thing I want to see is a shootout for the Dutch, although they are very due. I love watching the Oranje take over the stadium too.

 

I believe Croatia has already clinched Group B. It will be them or the winner of Czech Republic-Turkey in the semifinals and the winner of Portugal and (likely) Germany in the other. The Netherlands should make it that far; it's harder to say with Spain and the Group C runner-up.

[Jon]

Didn't see it, but the Spain/Sweden match looked entertaining. Quite a few blown chances and one controversial no-call.

[Jon]

Greece is gone following a 1-0 defeat to Russia.

[shnsajax]

Didn't see it, but the Spain/Sweden match looked entertaining. Quite a few blown chances and one controversial no-call.

 

I just saw the Villa winner, and it was great. Not great defending by Sweden, but still a great goal.

[TruffleShuffle]

that was a great effort by sweden. they're not as good as spain, but that's about as well as i could've expected them to do against a vastly superior opponent. i hope they can beat russia next game, but the runner up out of group D will play the nederland, which looks to be a brutal assignment.

[Jon]

What a stunning comeback by Turkey.

[Balsa]

What a stunning comeback by Turkey.

I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!

 

But seriously, what an amazing game. I'm so glad I took the time to watch it.

[Jon]

Well that was a quick goal by Dempsey. Nice ball in, but what poor defense by Barbados.

[Jon]

Well Ching is off to a horrible start.

[Jon]

Ching couldn't finish again, but Bradley does. 2-0 USA after the scramble.

[Jon]

Mastroeni is credited with a goal in the 20th minute to put the US up 3-0, but it looked like it went off Ching.

[Jon]

You know it's a mismatch when Eddie Johnson can finish that easily. 6-0 now.

[Jon]

Ching with a goal.

 

This is beyond ridiculous. 7-0 US. They're making Barbados look like a junior high girls team.

 

EDIT: Ching never actually touched that one. It should be an own goal.

 

But Ching doesn't care. 8-0 now. Unbelievable.

[USSoccer]

It's somewhat comforting knowing that the US jus beat holy hell out of the staff of the Mariott Barbados resort.

[Guest]

That US game was hilarious. Every time I turned around they scored again.

[brinoch]

It's somewhat comforting knowing that the US jus beat holy hell out of the staff of the Mariott Barbados resort.

 

It should have been about 12 to -2.

[Guest]

Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (for you Tommy Smyth and Derek Rae) just sent both coaches in the Austria-Germany game to the stands. I, as well as the announcers, have no idea why. Joachim Low is now sitting next to the suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger.

[MPC]

the austrians look decent against the germans. i don't think they'll get the required result but they are at least playing well.

[shnsajax]

Ballack kicked the living snot out of the ball today.

 

Germany v. Portugal in a Quarter Final should be entertaining.

[Guest]

Eric Abidal just took down Luca Toni in the box and Italy not only gets a penalty but Abidal got sent off. No excuses for Italy now.

 

Pirlo converts for 1-0 Italy.

[Jon]

Well, hopefully Spain will depants Italy this weekend.

[shnsajax]

Can't complain with Holland today, 2-0 with most of the starters sitting. Curious to see if Robben or van Persie get the start in the quarterfinals. Either way they have been unbelievable so far this tourney.

[USSoccer]

I feel bad for Wolf. It looked like Ribery broke his leg.

 

EDIT: Only ripped up his ankle and knee.

Edited June 18, 2008 by USSoccer

[wvcbxl]

Can't complain with Holland today, 2-0 with most of the starters sitting. Curious to see if Robben or van Persie get the start in the quarterfinals. Either way they have been unbelievable so far this tourney.

 

Tell me about it.

I'm in a hotel in Breda giving a seminar for a bunch of Dutch colleagues; as soccer madness has struck here, I'll be forced to cut the evening session short because of the soccer games on TV (they want to find out who will play them in the quarter finals). :roll: