2010 World Cup Thread

[shnsajax]

On pace for 98 goals. Lowest in a 64-game format (granted, short history, I think that started in 1998) is 147.

 

It will open up some in the 2nd series of games. Right now a lot of teams are content drawing, but there has been plenty of chances to score. A lot of the players don't seem to be very in sync with their teams right now.

[Banedon]

On pace for 98 goals. Lowest in a 64-game format (granted, short history, I think that started in 1998) is 147.

 

It will open up some in the 2nd series of games. Right now a lot of teams are content drawing, but there has been plenty of chances to score. A lot of the players don't seem to be very in sync with their teams right now.

 

A format that encourages playing for a draw is a poor format, imo.

[Magnetic Curses]

POWER PLAYS PEOPLE POWER PLAYS

[biittner77]

Scoring seems down a bit so far. Only three teams out of 26 have managed to score 2 or more goals in their first game, and only one game in the entire tournament so far has had more than 2 goals scored in the game (Germany 4-0 over Australia). Almost half the games have had 1 goal or less scored in the game.

 

Overall 1.54 goals are being scored per game (combined).

 

seriously, they need to send 3 players off for 5 minutes instead of granting free kicks.

 

I'm assuming you mean in the next round when the games can't end in a tie. Penalty shots are a terrible way to end any game.

 

They do that in field hockey- removing 4 per side for OT before going to penalty strokes. I would think that purists would like that better than penalty kicks. You'd have to allow more substitutions if you did that since the size of the field would make it just as much a test of endurance as one of skill.

[Guest]

POWER PLAYS PEOPLE POWER PLAYS

 

Hockey: The gold standard for captivating sports and immense popularity

[Banedon]

POWER PLAYS PEOPLE POWER PLAYS

 

Hockey: The gold standard for captivating sports and immense popularity

 

Oh come on. Of the popular american sports, hockey is the closest thing we have to soccer. And hockey is also more popular within the US. Granted, soccer is more of a global sport, but I feel confident in saying that sulley was speaking for absolutely nobody but himself in this case.

[Guest]

On pace for 98 goals. Lowest in a 64-game format (granted, short history, I think that started in 1998) is 147.

 

The lowest ever goals per game average is 2.21 in the 1990 Cup where 115 goals were scored in 52 games.

 

Year  Gls  Mat  Aver
1930   70   18  3.89
1934   70   17  4.12
1938   84   18  4.67
1950   88   22  4.00
1954  140   26  5.38
1958  126   35  3.60
1962   89   32  2.78
1966   89   32  2.78
1970   95   32  2.97
1974   97   38  2.55
1978  102   38  2.68
1982  146   52  2.81
1986  132   52  2.54
1990  115   52  2.21
1994  141   52  2.71
1996  171   64  2.67
2002  161   64  2.52
2006  147   64  2.30
2010   20   13  1.54

[Guest]

And hockey is also more popular within the US.

 

That is....less than correct.

[Banedon]

And hockey is also more popular within the US.

 

That is....less than correct.

 

By what measure?

 

27 million people watched the gold medal Olympic hockey game. 4.9 million watched USA vs England soccer.

 

Granted, that's a finale vs opening round...

[Magnetic Curses]

POWER PLAYS PEOPLE POWER PLAYS

 

Hockey: The gold standard for captivating sports and immense popularity

 

soccer is only popular internationally because you can make a ball out of a bunch of wadded-up unicef grain bags.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

And hockey is also more popular within the US.

 

That is....less than correct.

 

By what measure?

 

27 million people watched the gold medal Olympic hockey game. 4.9 million watched USA vs England soccer.

 

Granted, that's a finale vs opening round...

 

13 million people watched the USA v. England soccer game inside the U.S.

[Guest]

And hockey is also more popular within the US.

 

That is....less than correct.

 

By what measure?

 

27 million people watched Olympic hockey. 4.9 million watched USA vs England soccer.

 

The best hockey league in the world barely outdraws a soccer league that isn't in the Top 5. That was also a championship game against America's hat, as opposed to a group game against a country across the pond. If the US plays Mexico in the World Cup final, I can assure you the ratings will be incredible.

[Banedon]

And hockey is also more popular within the US.

 

That is....less than correct.

 

By what measure?

 

27 million people watched the gold medal Olympic hockey game. 4.9 million watched USA vs England soccer.

 

Granted, that's a finale vs opening round...

 

13 million people watched the USA v. England soccer game inside the U.S.

 

You're right...I was looking at the average viewership for the first round by mistake.

[Magnetic Curses]

And hockey is also more popular within the US.

 

That is....less than correct.

 

By what measure?

 

27 million people watched Olympic hockey. 4.9 million watched USA vs England soccer.

 

The best hockey league in the world barely outdraws a soccer league that isn't in the Top 5. That was also a championship game against America's hat, as opposed to a group game against a country across the pond. If the US plays Mexico in the World Cup final, I can assure you the ratings will be incredible.

 

only if all the illegals in arizona can steal a tv in time to watch it.

[Magnetic Curses]

but let me tell you, if it's one thing that turns people onto your sport, it's nothing happening for 90+ minutes. that's sure to attract the non-niche crowd. if it keeps up this blistering pace, people are gonna be cartwheeling in the streets of medicine hat by july!

[Guest]

but let me tell you, if it's one thing that turns people onto your sport, it's nothing happening for 90+ minutes. that's sure to attract the non-niche crowd. if it keeps up this blistering pace, people are gonna be cartwheeling in the streets of medicine hat by july!

 

Wherever they are, I'm sure the non-niche crowd will just find out by the SI cover.

[Magnetic Curses]

but let me tell you, if it's one thing that turns people onto your sport, it's nothing happening for 90+ minutes. that's sure to attract the non-niche crowd. if it keeps up this blistering pace, people are gonna be cartwheeling in the streets of medicine hat by july!

 

Wherever they are, I'm sure the non-niche crowd will just find out by the SI cover.

 

what the one that says a beautiful sport with all of the paupers running in the streets with their bag ball?

 

you can play soccer anywhere for nothing and still people in america shun it like the plague unless they're one of those soccer guys that have scarves in their rooms.

[Banedon]

but let me tell you, if it's one thing that turns people onto your sport, it's nothing happening for 90+ minutes. that's sure to attract the non-niche crowd. if it keeps up this blistering pace, people are gonna be cartwheeling in the streets of medicine hat by july!

 

Wherever they are, I'm sure the non-niche crowd will just find out by the SI cover.

 

They only put soccer on the cover in the non-US regions.

[Magnetic Curses]

raise your [expletive] hand if you have a scarf in your room

[jersey cubs fan]

The best hockey league in the world barely outdraws a soccer league that isn't in the Top 5. That was also a championship game against America's hat, as opposed to a group game against a country across the pond. If the US plays Mexico in the World Cup final, I can assure you the ratings will be incredible.

 

Wait, are you the one that was stuck on that asinine notion that MLS game attendance figures and NHL game attendance figures are reasonable comparisons?

 

Also, that country across the pond was probably the absolute best matchup the US could have had in terms of bringing in interest in the states.

[Banedon]

My point really wasn't to start an NHL vs MLS/Soccer argument. Clearly neither are hugely popular in the US, though I'd say both are trending upward. I was trying to bring a little levity to sulley and my complaints about soccer. I'll watch some of the world cup, but I doubt I'll ever consider myself a soccer fan. That said, my intent really wasn't to run it down. I still contend that the NHL is more popular in the US than MLS, but I'm not interested in debating it.

[Guest]

The best hockey league in the world barely outdraws a soccer league that isn't in the Top 5. That was also a championship game against America's hat, as opposed to a group game against a country across the pond. If the US plays Mexico in the World Cup final, I can assure you the ratings will be incredible.

 

Wait, are you the one that was stuck on that asinine notion that MLS game attendance figures and NHL game attendance figures are reasonable comparisons?

 

Also, that country across the pond was probably the absolute best matchup the US could have had in terms of bringing in interest in the states.

 

 

Of course not. Like I said, NHL is the best hockey league in the world and MLS doesn't sniff the Top 5.

 

And Mexico is the absolute best matchup in terms of bringing in TV viewers, which was the original comparison.

[Magnetic Curses]

My point really wasn't to start an NHL vs MLS/Soccer argument. Clearly neither are hugely popular in the US, though I'd say both are trending upward. I was trying to bring a little levity to sulley and my complaints about soccer.

 

come on, that was some of the best work i've ever done.

[TruffleShuffle]

but let me tell you, if it's one thing that turns people onto your sport, it's nothing happening for 90+ minutes. that's sure to attract the non-niche crowd. if it keeps up this blistering pace, people are gonna be cartwheeling in the streets of medicine hat by july!

 

hey, one guy hit the post

[jersey cubs fan]

The best hockey league in the world barely outdraws a soccer league that isn't in the Top 5. That was also a championship game against America's hat, as opposed to a group game against a country across the pond. If the US plays Mexico in the World Cup final, I can assure you the ratings will be incredible.

 

Wait, are you the one that was stuck on that asinine notion that MLS game attendance figures and NHL game attendance figures are reasonable comparisons?

 

Also, that country across the pond was probably the absolute best matchup the US could have had in terms of bringing in interest in the states.

 

 

Of course not. Like I said, NHL is the best hockey league in the world and MLS doesn't sniff the Top 5.

 

And Mexico is the absolute best matchup in terms of bringing in TV viewers, which was the original comparison.

 

Mexican viewers. Passionate soccer fans see the draw of USA/Mexico, but England provides a huge boost to casual fan interest.