2010 World Cup Thread

[wolf stansson]

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.

Correct. Again, i don't see Tim going anywhere. Keepers who aren't out of contract just don't move a lot. Everton is fine for him anyway. I was just saying he is a better keeper in my opinion than 7 of those teams have as starters.

 

I think he could start for United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern, Sevilla, Milan and Lyon.

[Jon]

Tomorrow's action:

 

Group G

 

North Korea (0 points, -8) vs. Ivory Coast (1 points, -2)

Brazil (6 points, +3) vs. Portugal (4 points, +7)

 

Ivory Coast would have to win BIG to advance. But hey, wouldn't that be fun to watch? The real question, though, is who wins the group.

 

Group H

 

Switzerland (3 points, 0) vs. Honduras (0 points, -3)

Chile (6 points, +2) vs. Spain (3 points, +1)

 

Switzerland may have a legitimate chance of knocking Spain out of the tournament. Spain can also win the group with a victory over Chile and a point differential advantage over Switzerland, though.

[wvcbxl]

I think he could start for United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern, Sevilla, Milan and Lyon.

 

If so, why not for the other three? :?

[wolf stansson]

I think he could start for United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern, Sevilla, Milan and Lyon.

 

If so, why not for the other three? :?

Because of that list, Victor Valdez, Pepe Reina and Julio Caesar are equal or better. And of teams not on that list that obviously should be, Iker Casillas is better. Gianluigi Buffon is harder to call.

[Derwood]

Netherlands with 9 points in group play. Any other teams going to match that? Brazil?

[wvcbxl]

I think he could start for United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern, Sevilla, Milan and Lyon.

 

If so, why not for the other three? :?

Because of that list, Victor Valdez, Pepe Reina and Julio Caesar are equal or better. And of teams not on that list that obviously should be, Iker Casillas is better. Gianluigi Buffon is harder to call.

 

I see your point.

Spain has ridiculous depth. 8-)

[Guest]

A must watch video:

 

Holy [expletive] Davis is in there.

 

And that really makes me wish I had gone to a bar yesterday.

Edited June 24, 2010 by soccer10k

[Guest]

Netherlands with 9 points in group play. Any other teams going to match that? Brazil?

 

Argentina already has and with a better goal differential.

[UMFan83]

Ivory Coast 7 North Korea 1

Brazil 4 Portugal 1

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I posted this in the other soccer thread, but it's prettier to look at updated.

http://estaticos01.marca.com/multimedia/graficos/futbol/2010/mundial/calendariomundialingles.swf

[shnsajax]

A must watch video:

 

Holy [expletive] Davis is in there.

 

And that really makes me wish I had gone to a bar yesterday.

 

That was phenomenal.

[wolf stansson]

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/about-last-night/2010/06/chicago-fire-player-marries-playboy-model-after-dating-seven-weeks.html

 

I'm downloading Ian Darke's call from that link to use as a ringtone.

 

Edit - That doesn't have the call in it unfortunately but it is a podcast with a Darke interview about it. I have Andres Cantor's "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL" call which is also phenomenal. You can get that here: http://onthedlpodcast.com/2010/06/dl-exclusive-ian-darke-explains-his-call-of-american-soccers-greatest-goal/

[Guest]

I've seen a few things online that refer to the Donovan goal as the greatest in U.S. history. Does anyone else disagree with this?

 

It's probably the most dramatic goal but the goals against Mexico (grouping them together) in the 2002 Cup were certainly bigger because it was our biggest rival and in the knockout stage. I'd also probably put the goals against Portugal in the 2002 Cup because it was a big upset and allowed us to reach the knockout stage above it also. I even might put the goals against Spain in the Confed Cup ahead also because of how big of an upset it was, even though the two tournaments aren't even close to being on the same level.

[UMFan83]

Man I didn't realize Italy going out puts Slovakia on our side of the bracket. So far of the 5 other teams in the bracket, the Netherlands is the only team I'd think the USA has no shot against. Too bad the other 2 teams likely to be on this side of the bracket are Brazil and potentially Spain.

[shnsajax]

I've seen a few things online that refer to the Donovan goal as the greatest in U.S. history. Does anyone else disagree with this?

 

It's probably the most dramatic goal but the goals against Mexico (grouping them together) in the 2002 Cup were certainly bigger because it was our biggest rival and in the knockout stage. I'd also probably put the goals against Portugal in the 2002 Cup because it was a big upset and allowed us to reach the knockout stage above it also. I even might put the goals against Spain in the Confed Cup ahead also because of how big of an upset it was, even though the two tournaments aren't even close to being on the same level.

 

In terms of gaining fans yes, but no in history. Paul Caligiuri's shot in '89 could be included as it helped to gain the '94 Cup.

[CubInOK]

Man I didn't realize Italy going out puts Slovakia on our side of the bracket. So far of the 5 other teams in the bracket, the Netherlands is the only team I'd think the USA has no shot against. Too bad the other 2 teams likely to be on this side of the bracket are Brazil and potentially Spain.

Let's hope they have to play each other.

[Guest]

Man I didn't realize Italy going out puts Slovakia on our side of the bracket. So far of the 5 other teams in the bracket, the Netherlands is the only team I'd think the USA has no shot against. Too bad the other 2 teams likely to be on this side of the bracket are Brazil and potentially Spain.

 

Yeah, if we make the semi's, it's likely to be Holland or Brazil (I think Spain's going to win tomorrow and win the group to go on the other side of the bracket).

 

But it's a hell of a lot better than what Germany/England/Argentina/Mexico are facing right now. Whoever makes it out is going to have to beat two of the other three there and then will likely get Brazil/Portugal (assuming both move on, 2nd from this group will be on this side of the bracket) or Spain (if they win Group H) in the semis followed by winner Group G (Brazil/Portugal)/Holland/Spain (if second in Group H).

 

If one of those four wins the Cup, they're certainly going to earn it.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I've seen a few things online that refer to the Donovan goal as the greatest in U.S. history. Does anyone else disagree with this?

 

It's probably the most dramatic goal but the goals against Mexico (grouping them together) in the 2002 Cup were certainly bigger because it was our biggest rival and in the knockout stage. I'd also probably put the goals against Portugal in the 2002 Cup because it was a big upset and allowed us to reach the knockout stage above it also. I even might put the goals against Spain in the Confed Cup ahead also because of how big of an upset it was, even though the two tournaments aren't even close to being on the same level.

 

In terms of gaining fans yes, but no in history. Paul Caligiuri's shot in '89 could be included as it helped to gain the '94 Cup.

 

The '94 World Cup had already been awarded to the United States by the time the U.S. qualified for '90 World Cup. But that goal is still significant because it had been 40 years since the U.S.'s last cup.

[Magnetic Curses]

What was Harkes doing while Darke was making that call? I figured he'd go all Ron Santo or Rowdy Gaines, but he kept quiet.

[Guest]

What was Harkes doing while Darke was making that call? I figured he'd go all Ron Santo or Rowdy Gaines, but he kept quiet.

 

I bet he took his headset off and was running around the booth celebrating.

 

After Darke's initial call, there was about 20 seconds of silence. When they showed the first replay, Harkes tried to describe what happened but was just mumbling and Darke took over again.

[USSoccer]

What was Harkes doing while Darke was making that call? I figured he'd go all Ron Santo or Rowdy Gaines, but he kept quiet.

 

I'm pretty sure he was yelling. During last summer's Spain game, you could hear him laughing and hooting off mic when Clint scored the 2nd goal.

 

He's still a douche though.

[E.J.]

A must watch video:

 

Holy [expletive] Davis is in there.

 

And that really makes me wish I had gone to a bar yesterday.

 

That was phenomenal.

 

I love watching [expletive] like that. It gives me chills every time.

[Magnetic Curses]

A must watch video:

 

Holy [expletive] Davis is in there.

 

And that really makes me wish I had gone to a bar yesterday.

 

That was phenomenal.

 

I love watching [expletive] like that. It gives me chills every time.

 

There is absolutely nothing like the sensation of watching a ball or a puck find the back of the net. Soccer and hockey are so special in this way. So much tension released, so much bottled up jubilation set free on the world. Nothing on earth can make the human heart explode or sink like the simple beautiful act of the goal.

[wvcbxl]

Looking forward to a couple of good match-ups today. Portugal v Brazil and Chile v Spain should be fun to watch.

[Jon]

Tribune[/url]"]ESPN said 1.1 million people watched at least some of the USA's 1-0 win as it was streamed on an ESPN website Wednesday. The match, which was also watched on ESPN and Univision by 8.6 million people, lasted from 10 a.m. to noon EDT, during working hours for most of the United States.

 

The network says it was the biggest online audience for a sporting event, beating the Duke-Butler NCAA championship basketball game on a Monday night from earlier this year.

..........

The television audience size for Wednesday's soccer game was impressive enough. It would have been enough to land the game in last week's prime-time Nielsen Co. top 10 -- highly unusual for a weekday morning.

 

At one point, 1.7 million people were logged on to the general ESPN.com website to check score updates and other news. Some 650,000 people watched the game on mobile devices. Both are figures that haven't been reached before, ESPN said.

 

Viewership for the first three U.S. games at the World Cup is up 68 percent compared to the first three U.S. games in 2006, Nielsen said.