2010 World Cup Thread

[Exile on Waveland]

Can we PLEASE stop filling this thread with why soccer sucks, why it's not huge in America or anything like this? Post about it in the soccer thread.

 

Seriously. God Americans are insufferable. This thread really doesn't need irrelevant personal opinions as to why soccer isn't popular in America -- especially considering the growth in popularity is palpable (and empirical) for anyone without blinders on.

 

You don't like soccer. Fine, we get it. We just don't care. Now let us enjoy the World Cup.

[Guest]

I'm confused by the reasoning of you guys - if anything, the Slovenia game is one the USA has to play to win. The draw against England gave you a shot at winning the group. Or do you really relish the thought of a second round tie against Germany?

 

Of course the US has to win. The question is will Slovenia hunker down and try to grind out a tie. I don't believe they can afford to do that.

 

I agree. I don't think Slovenia can bank on getting anything more than a draw with England, and will likely lose. If they lose to England, a draw with Slovenia and a win over Algeria sends us on.

 

Also, in the scenario where England, US and Slovenia all tie each other and beat Algeria to finish with five points, Slovenia is in some trouble. The first tiebrekerr is goal differential, which would come down to what your score was against Algeria and they already have the narrowest win you can have.

 

I don't think Slovenia has to beat us as a tie would force us to beat Algeria, but then Slovenia is putting their World Cup fate on either them beating England (very unlikely) or Algeria not losing to us (more possible).

Edited June 16, 2010 by soccer10k

[TruffleShuffle]

:shock:

[Guest]

Wow. Switzerland takes the lead.

[jersey cubs fan]

what a turn of events

[jersey cubs fan]

Can we PLEASE stop filling this thread with why soccer sucks, why it's not huge in America or anything like this? Post about it in the soccer thread.

 

Seriously. God Americans are insufferable. This thread really doesn't need irrelevant personal opinions as to why soccer isn't popular in America -- especially considering the growth in popularity is palpable (and empirical) for anyone without blinders on.

 

You don't like soccer. Fine, we get it. We just don't care. Now let us enjoy the World Cup.

 

Now that's an insufferable answer.

[ConstableRabbit]

Wow.

[TruffleShuffle]

getting way, way ahead of myself now... but if spain loses today, beats honduras and ties chile, they could easily be out. the swiss just need to beat honduras to guarantee themselves more points than spain in that scenario, or tie both honduras and chile. the chileans can advance in that scenario just by tying both teams or picking up a win over the swiss.

 

spain need to be really, really desperate here.

[TruffleShuffle]

the swiss are living charmed lives right now

[apete6]

Spain proving to be very Cub-like once again. That's always fun to see.

[jersey cubs fan]

this is an exciting 1-0 game with actual action.

[TruffleShuffle]

wow that was nicely done by the swiss attacker... this half has been terrific

[Guest]

I can't believe me it took a week to realize I can listen to these games online.

[ConstableRabbit]

I can't believe me it took a week to realize I can listen to these games online.

Where?? Justin.tv and espn3 don't work at my office

[USSoccer]

I can't believe me it took a week to realize I can listen to these games online.

 

 

In my quest to find a way to watch the US game Friday at work, I discovered that I can get ESPN3 here.

 

I've been watching all the games on my pc. It's glorious.

[Guest]

I can't believe me it took a week to realize I can listen to these games online.

Where?? Justin.tv and espn3 don't work at my office

 

Not sure if it'll work for you since it's through ESPN, but on the gamecast for the game there's a radio button that opens ESPN radio in a new window.

 

 

Tommy Smyth just said a shot missed "by a coat of paint". Awesome.

[Guest]

I'm kind of hoping Spain gets a goal here just so we can continue to be the only team to beat Spain in the last 3+ years. Brings a smile to my face every time I read it.

[TruffleShuffle]

well that makes things a lot more interesting

[USSoccer]

HAhahahahahaha Spain.

 

La Marca is going to have a field day with this.

[Guest]

Spain proving to be very Cub-like once again. That's always fun to see.

 

Usually they wait until the knockout stage to lay an egg.

 

This also makes it much more likely we get a Brazil-Spain game in the Round of 16.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm kind of hoping Spain gets a goal here just so we can continue to be the only team to beat Spain in the last 3+ years. Brings a smile to my face every time I read it.

 

Does this result make that previous result a little less impressive? It seemed to me that Spain dominated for 50 minutes, but then things were even at best for them late.

[TruffleShuffle]

nate silver's simulation of world cup odds:

 

 

http://www.538host.com/spi616a.png

 

 

spain is down to being about 50/50 to make it through. spain absolutely have to beat honduras; the swiss i'm sure will play for a draw against chile while i think chile need to try to win. spain is really going to be going after wins in their last two games, and if chile and the swiss draw with spain winning, i could see the table ending like this:

 

spain 6

switzerland 5 or 8 (win/draw vs honduras)

chile 4 (tie swiss, lose to spain)

honduras 1 or 0

 

if chile beat the swiss then we could easily end up with three teams at 6 points and goal differential being the decider.

[shnsajax]

This is it right here. We are not a very gracious country when it comes to losing. The further exposure of the EPL and SPL are helping a lot. Club teams are becoming a household name now, and the Champions League gets solid ratings.

 

I think saying that the teams are "household names" is overstating it. Judging by relatives and co-workers, I'm a pretty sports obsessed person, and I can only probably name a couple of soccer teams. Hell, I could probably name more MLS teams than I could EPL or SPL.

 

Becoming household names. The popularity of those leagues over here has grown tremendously over the past 3 years.

[Banedon]

Becoming household names. The popularity of those leagues over here has grown tremendously over the past 3 years.

 

Becoming household names, and growing tremendously in popularity are two hugely different things. I'm not denying any popularity growth...but I still think you're overstating it.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5564294/your-belated-2010-haters-guide-to-world-cup

 

Deadspin tells you which teams to hate.

 

 

 

hint, all of them.