World Cup 2010

[Hoax]

My fiance is praying for a Japanese draw against the Netherlands, but that's probably unrealistic.  Hopefully Cameroon and Denmark draw- seems likely as both teams have been shit.   

Denmark was hardly shit, with a heroic finish in the first 20 min that game could have gone differently. If Cameroon isn't going to play a much better game I like Denmark to cruise to a 2-0 win.

re: Heskey

I think the Heskey is utter shite meme is mostly scapegoating, he has done more not that its saying much then most people on England have in these first two games. Rooney is clearly the striker letting people down and once again Fat Frank + Gerrard in the midfield isn't working for shit. Really though everyone has been saying and I agree that England don't look like they are having fun, there is no enjoyment or really any positive emotion to their play they look like they are going through the motions and just expecting the wins to come for free.

[Sir T]

Yeah. I was impressed with the Algerians in comparison. The English side had better players but the Algerians were a team and played with confidence.. I think that was the difference. I'm sure the Algerians were pretty happy with the draw too,

[Azazel]

Netherlands v Japan isn't doing much for me so far. I'd like to want to root for the Dutch, what with my European roots and all, but their overly-defensive formation and boring play makes me hope that Japan gets the victory.

Highlight of the game so far, at 32mins in: The referee isn't a giant douchebag.

[Stabs]

Great comment on English TV:

Takeshi Okada [Japan's manager] - has never knowingly smiled

[Triforcer]

Great first half defense by Japan.  They actually had a couple real counterattacking chances- more than the Dutch in the final 15 or 20, despite the Dutch holding the ball two-thirds of the time. 

[Azazel]

Don't like my chances of staying up for 2 more hours to see the next match. Australia may have to lose this one without my direct support.

[rk47]

Bang! 1-0 . Japan seem to slacken in 2nd half. at 70% possession, I doubt Dutch going to lose 2 points on this one.

[Stabs]

Ghana have given the Aussies a headstart. I thought the handicap system for for golf, not football.

I can see this tournament going to whoever has a keeper who doesn't make a mistake.

[Sjofn]

Oh God, poor Australia. I'm rooting for Ghana but ... 

[Stabs]

Ha ha not to be outdone the Aussies just gave the Ghanaians a goal back and volunteered to play them a man down. It's like that Laurel and Hardy sketch where they're trying to go through a door and both insisting "After you." "No, after you."

[rk47]

sigh. Good luck, Aussies. You're all going to need it.

[Paelos]

Aussie should have won that game with such a very wide open chance late in the game totally squandered.

That being said, Ghana also totally misplayed a wide-open header that could have put the game away.

[Stabs]

I can see this tournament going to whoever has a keeper who doesn't make a mistake.

I should make this my sig. Free goal gifted to Cameroon courtesy of the Danish keeper.

[Hoax]

I can see this tournament going to whoever has a keeper who doesn't make a mistake.

I should make this my sig. Free goal gifted to Cameroon courtesy of the Danish keeper.

That wasn't the keeper that was the defender who played a lazy ball not realizing how far up Cameroon was pushing the pressure.

[Paelos]

Keeper is just as guilty as the lazy pass from the defender. There's no reason to play that ball to a man facing backwards surrounded by three green jerseys. It's a high risk, zero reward distribution.

EDIT: LOL the announcers are totally ripping on the defense for both sides. Simply amazing the game is still 1-1. 

[Stabs]

That wasn't the keeper that was the defender who played a lazy ball not realizing how far up Cameroon was pushing the pressure.

Just seen it again, you're quite right.

[Jobu]

That stadium in Durban is beautiful.

[Stabs]

Oh my, New Zealand. 1 up after 5 minutes through an offside goal that was allowed to stand. Italy have come back with a penalty.

Kiwis really punching above their weight. They got their first ever world cup point this week and are taking the game to the world champions. They also tried a campaign of physical intimidation against the Italian defence who are famous for dishing it out. The ref unfortunately saw that off very quickly.

[Paelos]

Rumors are coming in that the French team is completely self-destructing, refusing to train, and their coach has resigned.

[Chimpy]

Man, the kiwis really fought hard for that draw.

And the guy in the kiwi suit in the stands made me laugh ridiculously hard.

[Stabs]

New Zealand 1 - Italy 1.

Wonderful, wonderful result for the Kiwis, ranked 78th in the world, against the current cup holders. They earned it too, not only did they take the lead but Chris Wood of West Brom went very close 10 minutes from time. One of the subs who came on isn't even a professional footballer - he works in a bank. And the goal was scored by Smelz, formerly of AFC Wimbledon and Mansfield Town and Halifax Town. Bet Halifax are wishing they'd kept him!

[Engels]

This is pretty typical for the Italian team. They start out sorta sleepy, and then they find their groove. They will probably do far better in coming matches. Still, this was pretty humiliating :)

[Abagadro]

That goal was not offsides (the only one to touch it was the defender) and the penalty was a typical Italian flop job, but nice result.

[Engels]

I wanted to root for Ivory Coast, since they're the underdogs, but they are such a bunch of false-foul drama queens that I'm now rooting for Brazil. I know every team does it to some extent, but the last 10 minutes of the first half had so many pretend injuries I thought I was watching House.

[Sjofn]

Did the ball bounce off the Brazilian player's arm TWICE on that goal or am I hallucinating?

[rk47]

It did. Not that they need it. Ivory just lack the spark. Too focused on Drogba. Then came that playacting. GEEZ.

[Engels]

Not a very interesting match. Still, Brazil had some amazing plays here and there. They may not win many World Cups, but to my inexpert eyes, they are always the most graceful team.

[rk47]

That was the coolest control I've seen over the match by Dunga's Brazil. I mean, not even once were they in a rush, or panicking. I thought Ivory got a major chunk of possession in the first half, but came that defensive error and after that, coming back is always going to be hard without a creative player.

[Sjofn]

It did. Not that they need it. Ivory just lack the spark. Too focused on Drogba. Then came that playacting. GEEZ.

Yeah, ultimately it didn't matter a bit, but it was still sort of sad it got missed. :P

I turned off the game after the third goal, the second half felt pretty boring even with the scoring.

[rk47]

It did. Not that they need it. Ivory just lack the spark. Too focused on Drogba. Then came that playacting. GEEZ.

Yeah, ultimately it didn't matter a bit, but it was still sort of sad it got missed. :P

I turned off the game after the third goal, the second half felt pretty boring even with the scoring.

U missed the worst part tho. Kaka got RED CARDED.

[Falconeer]

Have you all guys seen the replay that shows the referee approaching Luis Fabiano, mimicking is HANDBALL and smiling condescendly at him in a "I saw you, dude" fashion while the Brasilian forward puts up the "me? what? no, never!" act?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq0LuOW7y3Q (at the end of this crappy video)

I wonder what that shit means. The ref clearly states that he saw the handball (handballs, there were TWO), so why the hell he didn't call it?

[ghost]

The officiating has been horrible in this cup.  Every game that I've watched has had at least a questionable call, and the Kaka red was just ridiculous.  The guy just ran into him and fell down, Italian style.  FIFA really needs to look at their officiating and consider some replay. 

[Falconeer]

I really think the red card on Kaka was a goofy way to compensate for the ridiculous non-call on the handball. A bone thrown at Ivory Coast players to have them believe, in the aftermath of the match, that the ref was not openly against them. And yes, that shit (the guy who fell on the ground pretending to be hit by Kaka) is rightfully called "Italian" since the country is led by an elected guy who basically fosters and sponsors that kind of behaviour, not just in football, and is loved and voted because of that.

[Xeyi]

I usually root for the underdog but it was pretty impossible after the ridiculous sending off.  With Brazil already through the suspension shouldn't affect them much though.

Also, the French team seems to have exploded today.

[rk47]

Come to think of it, yeah, Kaka profited from the suspension. With that, he can get into the next stage with cleared records of yellow card accumulation.

Of course, FIFA can do a video review and take action against that guy who suffered from face spasms after being nudged on the chest.

"AH SHIT MY NIPPLES!!!!! THE SHAMEEE!" And down he goes. I was hysterical. Until the ref gave the red. Jeebus. And yes I saw that smile, the BBC half time commentators summed it up perfectly.

Ref: Did you use the hand to control the ball?
Scorer: Nope.  I chested it
Ref: