T1B

It is that time again. Is there anything better than the World Cup? Instead of a nation it is the whole world watching. I for one, cannot wait.

That being said: Who do you like to come out of the Groups?

Here is how I see it:

Group A: Uruguay, Mexico
Group B: Argentina, Greece
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Serbia, Germany
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland

Round of 16:

Uruguay/Greece: Uruguay
Argentina/Mexico: Argentina
England/Germany: England
Serbia/USA: Serbia
Netherlands/Slovakia: Netherlands
Italy/Denmark: Italy
Brazil/Switzerland: Brazil
Spain/Portugal: Spain

Quarters:
Argentina
England
Netherlands
Brazil

Semis:
Argentina
Netherlands

WInner:
Netherlands

Group A: Mexico, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland

Round of 16
Mexico/Nigeria: Mexico
Argentina/France: France
England/Serbia: England
Germany/United States: Germany
Netherlands/Paraguay: Netherlands
Italy/Cameroon: Cameroon
Brazil/Switzerland: Brazil
Spain/Portugal: Spain

Quarters: Mexico, England, Brazil, Spain

Semis: Spain, Brazil

Winner: Brazil

I like soccer. Enjoy watching it. I always catch the Cup and Olympics. That being said, I don't watch it enough to know who is good/great/etc. aside from the usual suspects. I just hope to see some good games and see the US go far.

Crowd control at the Nigeria/North Korea test game was just bizarre. I hope issuing photocopied tickets isn't going to be the norm.

My money is staying in my pocket. No team stands out that much, but you'd do well on individual matches

Sudden Sam wrote:Disaster is imminent.

South Africa's infrastructure is in shambles. Security will be non-existent. The Nigerian fans' stampede is a small example of what is to come.

You've been bagging on South Africa for years. Why?

Maybe Gary Player banged his wife.


I predict US will get out of its group but will lose to Germany in the 2nd round

Winner will be either Netherlands, Brazil, or Spain.

Mr T wrote:Maybe Gary Player banged his wife.

Gary does have a reputation as a cheater.

I remember those articles, they were really insightful - he's the South African version LTS TRN.

This should be really good, they look really up for it. If there's half the excitement of an Africa's Cup it'll be brilliant.

Thank fucking God ESPN ditched their announcers from '06 and brought in Martin Tyler. Now I don't have to watch Univision.

My picks:

Group A: France, RSA
Group B: Argentina, Greece
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Serbia, Germany
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland

Round of 16:

France v Greece - France
England v Serbia - England
Netherlands v Slovakia - Netherlands
Brazil v Switzerland - Brazil
Argentina v RSA - Argentina
Germany v USA - USA
Italy v Denmark - Italy
Spain v Portugal - Spain

Quarters:
England
Netherlands
Argentina
Spain

Semi:
England
Spain

Winner: Spain

Sudden Sam wrote:Disaster is imminent.

South Africa's infrastructure is in shambles. Security will be non-existent. The Nigerian fans' stampede is a small example of what is to come.

I try to give you the benefit of the doubt year after year, but honestly, I'm pretty sure you are one of, if not, the dumbest motherfucker on the face of the earth. Seriously. Even dumber than Gobbles McTubesteak and a bigger meat swallower than KillainQuinnballs. NIce job.

Sudden Sam wrote:

BSmack wrote:

Sudden Sam wrote:Disaster is imminent.

South Africa's infrastructure is in shambles. Security will be non-existent. The Nigerian fans' stampede is a small example of what is to come.

You've been bagging on South Africa for years. Why?

Occasionally I glance at a newsletter that a South African posts online. The link was sent to me by a close friend of the writer. He details the atrocities that the government is committing. He details the financial disaster that has befallen the country since the end of apartheid. Crime is completely out of control.

Basically the country has completely gone to shit. I'm looking for a link to his site. Will post as soon as I find it.

I'm not defending the previous sytem, but no one can deny the mess that the country has become.

Here's some info on the African teams in the Cup: http://www.africancrisis.co.za/Article.php?ID=77368&

South Africa hosted the 2009 Confederations Cup with not a single incident. Why should the World Cup be much different?

My picks for the ESPN Bracket Predictor...

A1 France vs. B2 Nigeria
C1 United States vs. D2 Australia
E1 Netherlands vs. F2 Paraguay
G1 Portugal vs. H2 Switzerland
B1 Argentina vs. A2 Mexico
D1 Germany vs. C2 England
F1 Italy vs. E2 Japan
H1 Spain vs. G2 Brazil

France vs. United States
Netherlands vs. Portugal
Argentina vs. Germany
Italy vs. Spain

France vs. Portugal
Argentina vs. Spain

Portugal vs. Argentina

Degenerate wrote:Thank fucking God ESPN ditched their announcers from '06 and brought in Martin Tyler. Now I don't have to watch Univision.

What's ESPN doing about those fucking horns? BBC is turning down the sound from the field and turned up the commentating. I watched a French feed of Mexico where they didn't do anything and turned the game off after 10 minutes.

Hopefully a few martyrs will step up and start throwing them at players so FIFA can ban them.

Dr_Phibes wrote:

Degenerate wrote:Thank fucking God ESPN ditched their announcers from '06 and brought in Martin Tyler. Now I don't have to watch Univision.

What's ESPN doing about those fucking horns? BBC is turning down the sound from the field and turned up the commentating. I watched a French feed of Mexico where they didn't do anything and turned the game off after 10 minutes.

Hopefully a few martyrs will step up and start throwing them at players so FIFA can ban them.

I nicknamed them "Kazoo-loos".

Yes, they drive me to insanity.

Dr_Phibes wrote:

Degenerate wrote:Thank fucking God ESPN ditched their announcers from '06 and brought in Martin Tyler. Now I don't have to watch Univision.

What's ESPN doing about those fucking horns? BBC is turning down the sound from the field and turned up the commentating. I watched a French feed of Mexico where they didn't do anything and turned the game off after 10 minutes.

Hopefully a few martyrs will step up and start throwing them at players so FIFA can ban them.

No kidding.

There's got to be a way for someone in the sound truck to auto-tune those things out.

I watched the England-US game and just turned the sound down and played some tunes. Worked for me.

Ze Germans look pretty ferocious. Their Brazilian striker scored right after their two Polish players. All the more important to win group C and avoid playing them.

Shoalzie,

Portugal?

Very interesting pick. Ghana may need another look also.

Spain still, I think, is the favorite.

Sweet goal by Ji of the North Koreans.

Degenerate wrote:Sweet goal by Ji of the North Koreans.

How about Maicon's goal? I'd love to believe he meant it, but did he fuck.

The daft commentators were struggling to eat their words, after 15 mins they started to concede it wasn't going Brazil's way. Plucky North Korea trying to hold on against multi millionaire samba boys. I had high hopes, Brazil struggles with teams using those tactics. Best game so far and that's not saying much, I can see them getting points against Portugal.

RACK Petrus.

Switzerland beats Spain???????????

WOW!!!

Roger_the_Shrubber wrote:Shoalzie,

Portugal?

I made that pick back in April. They have to survive the 'Group of the Death' first...but yeah. I admit that I wasn't that impressed with their effort in their opening match. They have to get a win over North Korea because I don't think you want to have your fate rest on trying to beat Brazil to advance. Brazil could do them a huge favor in beating Ivory Coast...then the Portuguese just need a draw or an Ivory Coast loss to the North Koreans to move on.

After the first matches...the Germans looked excellent. I'd throw the Dutch and Argentina up there as well. It's fairly wide open after that. Spain is too talented and I see them moving on even after their surprising result yesterday with the Swiss.

Best day of the tournament so far...

Argentina gets loose for 4...Higuain with the hat trick and Argentina is headed to the round of 16. The only blemish for the Argentines was a defensive lapse in the closing moments of the first half.

Greece finally scores in the World Cup and comes back after yielding the first goal against Nigeria. The Super Eagles are toast and the Greeks play South Korea to decide who is the second team get out of Group B.

Mexico puts France on the ropes with a 2-0 win. France not only has to beat South Africa at a chance at advancing but they have to make up 5 goals to Uruguay and 4 to Mexico...and that only matters if there isn't a tie. It looks like those two will be playing for top spot in Group A. France can't score and they've got too much ground to make up in goal differential to advance.

Considering the top spot in Group B is probably going to Argentina, I don't think you want to be the second team out of Group A so there's motivation for Mexico or Uruguay to get a win in the final match. Uruguay wins the group with either a tie or a win. The winner of Group A could get either Greece or South Korea...a much more attractive quarterfinal opponent.

Fuck me, this is getting random as you like. England were supposed to be nailed on to avoid Spain, Argentina, Holland, Italy and Germany in the knockout stage. Now we're going to run into a big team early, if we get through.

This is my new bracket. Mental.

I suppose I'm happy Team USA was able to rally from down 2-0 to earn a draw with Slovenia but they shouldn't be losing to teams like that if they're trying to breakthrough to that next level on the world stage. The England-Algeria takes a little more importance than before with the Americans sitting in second place for now...an English win takes the fate out of Team USA's hands.

It just got more interesting...next Wednesday, both matches matter in who gets through. Even Algeria can advance with a win over Team USA. The Americans pretty much hold their fate in their own hands...win and move on. A loss by England could get them through also. They simply can't lose because Algeria would move on. If the Germans win Group D...which doesn't seem to be as much of a formality with their loss today and they won't have Klose for the match with Ghana...there is definite motivation to win Group C and face the second place team from Group D. Team USA can win Group A with a win and a Slovenia loss or draw with England and they can get through on goal differential or goals scored. A draw could get them through as long as England doesn't win or if they draw, they don't surpass them in goals scored.

Blitzkrieg Stop!

^^ See what I did there, Ramones fans? German ambition, thwarted by the Serbs.

England was a disaster, I never seen anything like that before



The squad was turning on each other on the pitch in the second half, it was surreal. I don't care what anyone says, Heskey holds the ball up well and gets everyone involved, it's not his fault he's not getting any help. No fucking character from that team.

The US were a great outfit, work hard, fight for each other, no egos, no nerves. The Algeria game should be good, from what I saw in both games, lots of players with excellent resumes, they move the ball around well, absorb pressure, they're zippy, they just can't shoot.

Strange day overall.

Even with Rooney quitting at about the 70th minute, I was impressed that England still showed resolve and were able to arm tackle and haul down Algerians in the box by their shirts.

WAR ~ whistle swallowing refs

I saw the Slovenians doing that to the yanquee pigs, they had three giant lump sweepers just grabbing and kicking the shit out of anyone who came in the 'red zone'.
Didn't take the US long to learn the art of diving and running up to the ref every-time one of their players got taken down and showing him an imaginary card.

New Zealand? Really?


Oh, Azzurri...

Looks like the Frogs are in need of a hot 16-year-old hooker slump-buster...stat!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/ ... 901?ver=us

Apparently Anelka called him a 'son of a whore' among other things. Can't see what will happen, Anelka won't come back. The French are brilliant, when they get pissed off, they down tools.

When I saw the England fan who got banned for wandering into the players dressing room I almost died laughing. 'I honestly thought it was the toilet, I really had to go'.

Guess he just followed the smell of shit and it led him there.

The Portuguese making it rain on the PRK...7-0!

It won't be any more than an exhibition but Brazil-Portugal could be a fun match...the two highest scoring sides through two matches.

Shoalzie wrote:Looks like the Frogs are in need of a hot 16-year-old hooker slump-buster...stat!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/ ... 901?ver=us

You seem surprised the French are quitters?

Glad the French totally were disgraced because they shouldn't have been there in the first place.

WTF was Greece doing? They were quite content to fiddle around with the ball, like they were totally unaware that they needed to score. That made absolutely no sense at all. Just dreadful.

What an awesome finish...winner of Group C and onto the knockout round!