2010 World Cup Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Star striker Thierry Henry, a former team captain and a 1998 World Cup champion who played only 52 minutes in two games in South Africa, joined a small motorcade sent by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Henry went to a private meeting with Sarkozy, entering the Elysee Palace by a side door and making no comment.

 

The soccer fiasco is taking an increasing political turn in France, where the leading sports daily L'Equipe had dubbed the debacle "A State Scandal."

 

Sarkozy has vowed to personally investigate the matter. He met with prime minister Francois Fillon and sports minister Roselyne Bachelot on Wednesday to discuss ways to reform French soccer.

 

"The head of state asked the ministers to ensure that those responsible learn the lessons of this disaster quickly," Sarkozy's office said in a statement, implying that several managers from the team and federation could resign. "He also asked the ministers to ensure that no financial reward is given."

 

Henry and some other team members have confirmed they aren't taking any bonuses from the World Cup, including from private sponsors.

[Guest]

SUCK IT ITALY

 

Having Italy get so close was glorious. Down 1-0 and Slovakia clears the ball off the line. Down 2-1 and your player is inches offside. So close yet they just couldn't get the tying goal.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Going into the World Cup, many pundits (myself too) thought New Zealand was one of the weakest sides in tournament. They deserve some credit for playing pretty good. They weren't in the toughest group but anytime you earn three points in the World Cup you aren't a slouch. And best of all, they finished ahead of Italy.

[shnsajax]

SUCK IT ITALY

 

Having Italy get so close was glorious. Down 1-0 and Slovakia clears the ball off the line. Down 2-1 and your player is inches offside. So close yet they just couldn't get the tying goal.

 

This has been a great 24 hours of sports.

 

http://images.corriereobjects.it/Media/Foto/2010/06/24/quaglia_big.jpg

[Banedon]

SUCK IT ITALY

 

Having Italy get so close was glorious. Down 1-0 and Slovakia clears the ball off the line. Down 2-1 and your player is inches offside. So close yet they just couldn't get the tying goal.

 

This has been a great 24 hours of sports.

 

And almost entirely non-"big four" related.

[wolf stansson]

what a weird group of 16 we're looking at.

You gotta love non-European world cups. These teams just suck outside of the continent.

[wvcbxl]

France, Italy, LOL

 

From 2006 finalists to last in their groups in 2010.

 

Lessons learned: never squeeze one last WC campaign out of an ageing team.

It's better to rebuild from scratch.

[wvcbxl]

... I think Howard is soon to be (back) on a top-10 club.

 

Here's the current list (UEFA team ranking):

 

1 FC Barcelona Esp

2 Manchester United Eng

3 Chelsea Eng

4 Arsenal Eng

Liverpool Eng

6 Bayern München Ger

7 Sevilla Esp

8 Internazionale Ita

9 AC Milan Ita

10 Olympique Lyon Fra

 

Where does he go?

I don't think he'll go anywhere until Moyes does. People rarely pay top dollar to acquire keepers who are under contract. He could start for 7 of those team though.

 

Seriously? let's see:

1 FC Barcelona Esp: Victor Valdes is signed for next season, is part of the Spanish WC selection and has played for the Barça organisation since 2000 - not going to happen

2 Manchester United Eng: Edwin Van der Sar; he'll turn 40 in the fall - OK, Howard would be a definite improvement (regardless of age)

3 Chelsea Eng: Petr Cech; doubt this is happening

4 Arsenal Eng: they sure need a good goalkeeper, but Lloris and Pyatov are rumoured to top their list. Flexible as they are, they'd be stupid not to consider Howard

Liverpool Eng: Jose Manuel Reina: part of Spain's WC squad, I highly doubt this

6 Bayern München Ger: Hans-Joerg Butt; part of Germany's WC selection and Bayern's CL final squad - not happening

7 Sevilla Esp: Andres Palop - good point, Howard is far better.

8 Internazionale Ita: Julio Cesar - seriously????

9 AC Milan Ita: Dida - is rumoured to move on, so may be possible

10 Olympique Lyon Fra: Hugo Lloris is rumoured to favour staying, but see Arsenal above. If he moves, Howard should be in the picture

 

I make that four possibles, not seven,

[Jon]

Denmark on life support.

[Guest]

... I think Howard is soon to be (back) on a top-10 club.

 

Here's the current list (UEFA team ranking):

 

1 FC Barcelona Esp

2 Manchester United Eng

3 Chelsea Eng

4 Arsenal Eng

Liverpool Eng

6 Bayern München Ger

7 Sevilla Esp

8 Internazionale Ita

9 AC Milan Ita

10 Olympique Lyon Fra

 

Where does he go?

I don't think he'll go anywhere until Moyes does. People rarely pay top dollar to acquire keepers who are under contract. He could start for 7 of those team though.

 

Seriously? let's see:

1 FC Barcelona Esp: Victor Valdes is signed for next season, is part of the Spanish WC selection and has played for the Barça organisation since 2000 - not going to happen

2 Manchester United Eng: Edwin Van der Sar; he'll turn 40 in the fall - OK, Howard would be a definite improvement (regardless of age)

3 Chelsea Eng: Petr Cech; doubt this is happening

4 Arsenal Eng: they sure need a good goalkeeper, but Lloris and Pyatov are rumoured to top their list. Flexible as they are, they'd be stupid not to consider Howard

Liverpool Eng: Jose Manuel Reina: part of Spain's WC squad, I highly doubt this

6 Bayern München Ger: Hans-Joerg Butt; part of Germany's WC selection and Bayern's CL final squad - not happening

7 Sevilla Esp: Andres Palop - good point, Howard is far better.

8 Internazionale Ita: Julio Cesar - seriously????

9 AC Milan Ita: Dida - is rumoured to move on, so may be possible

10 Olympique Lyon Fra: Hugo Lloris is rumoured to favour staying, but see Arsenal above. If he moves, Howard should be in the picture

 

I make that four possibles, not seven,

 

I read that to say that Howard is talented enough to start for 7 of those teams, not that 7 of them have the need and would get rid of their current keeper if Howard were available.

[Jon]

Japan looking good to advance with a wonderful free kick to put them up 2-0.

[Guest]

Denmark all but done. Going to need three goals now.

[wvcbxl]

The disallowed goal was a call that could have gone either was and remains debatable even after several stop motion viewings of the footage.

Their feet seem to be in the same position relative to the goal line, but the US player's body looks like it's over that foot, while the Algerian player is leaning forward. As the linesman was perfectly positioned, from his point of view the US player's body may have looked closer to the goal line.

 

Even with video review, you can debate this call till the cows come home. :wink:

ESPN did a pretty clear analysis of the play with their axis thingamajig showing that it was onsides. The foot was even with the defender while the body was behind. And considering all 3 parties involved were stationary (both players and the linesman), I don't know how that's missed. At worsts it's even and the benefit of the doubt should go to the US.

 

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.809185

Stop it at 18 seconds whit the line graphics on, then reread my post. If this had been an Algerian goal, you'd be calling blue murder using my argument.

I still say this one can get called either way. Slit second decision by the linesman that doesn't look obviously wrong even with the benefit of technology.

 

Time for me to retract; I just saw a detailed analysis of that call on Belgian TV (they spent a couple of minutes on this using every tech tool available to them) - that was a valid goal, and should have stood.

My bad.

[SpongeWorthy]

Nice free kicks by Japan. Wow.

[Guest]

Wow, those free kicks were just sick.

[shnsajax]

Jozy had a 134 voicemails after yesterdays game. Ratings are supposed to be out later todays, are they able to include how many watched on Espn3 as well?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Jozy had a 134 voicemails after yesterdays game. Ratings are supposed to be out later todays, are they able to include how many watched on Espn3 as well?

Yes, ESPN has been tracking usage including unique visitors.

[Jon]

Jozy had a 134 voicemails after yesterdays game. Ratings are supposed to be out later todays, are they able to include how many watched on Espn3 as well?

Pretty sure the answer is no. I posted this a little earlier, though:

 

Variety[/url]"]Through last week's U.S.-Slovenia match, 3.4 million unique viewers had visited the site, with each spending more than 90 minutes watching the World Cup.

[Jon]

SportsBusinessDaily.com[/url]"]ESPN earned a 4.4 overnight Nielsen rating for yesterday's U.S.-Algeria FIFA World Cup match, marking the second-best World Cup overnight ever on the network, behind only Germany-U.S. in '02

[Vanilla Ice]

TV numbers for this World Cup have been really impressive

[UMFan83]

SportsBusinessDaily.com[/url]"]ESPN earned a 4.4 overnight Nielsen rating for yesterday's U.S.-Algeria FIFA World Cup match, marking the second-best World Cup overnight ever on the network, behind only Germany-U.S. in '02

 

Considering on of those games was at 4 in the morning on a work night and the other was at 9am on a work morning.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/06/500x_120238381-a7d3eaf515092f61bd952cc2d73b4bb3.4c23b238-full.jpg

[Jon]

A must watch video:

[Hairyducked Idiot]

SportsBusinessDaily.com[/url]"]ESPN earned a 4.4 overnight Nielsen rating for yesterday's U.S.-Algeria FIFA World Cup match, marking the second-best World Cup overnight ever on the network, behind only Germany-U.S. in '02

 

Considering on of those games was at 4 in the morning on a work night and the other was at 9am on a work morning.

 

Imagine what the ratings will be if soccer ever catches on in this country.

[Guest]

Third goal for Japan clinches their spot.