2006 World Cup Chock full o' spoilers thread

[Luxor]

I thought Van Persie had already started moaning about Robben hogging the ball? And thats just after the first match. By the semis they will be facing off with pistols at dawn. Holland wont win this tournament.

[Engels]

But Brazil & Argentina are too far from home..

Uhm, this has never stopped them before. Why now? They're in football stadiums and high priced hotels, not roughing it in the bavarian hinterlands.

[eldaec]

But Brazil & Argentina are too far from home..

Uhm, this has never stopped them before. Why now? They're in football stadiums and high priced hotels, not roughing it in the bavarian hinterlands.

By "never stopped them before" I assume you mean never stopped any team with Pele in it in any year that was 1958. Which the only time that a non-European team has won in Europe.

Obviously the disadvantage is declining as more and more of the best South American players play in Europe, and as the training methods become more and more sophisticated. But doing this whole shebang in your home continent and climate is a big deal (and not least because when Brazil play a top european side the Brazilian fans will be outnumbered by at least 5 to 1). If Brazil or Argentina do win, it'll be the greatest world cup campaign for nearly 50 years is all.

[Luxor]

Well the Czech v Ghana game today was a beauty, 2nd only to the Argentina game

[sigil]

So many defensive breakdowns on the Czechs part, I thought I was watching a replay of the US game.

Cech saaved that from being 5-0, easily.

And now it gets intersting for the Yanks. A draw doesn't kill them. Technically,  neither does a loss, but goal differential will make that an near impossibility.

Ghana looked strong.  The early goal is the key.

[Margalis]

The US scored...sort of. USA! USA! USA!

Way to um...stand around and wait for the own goal. Strategery!

[Numtini]

Well, McHead was going to put that ball in anyway. It was a perfect easy goal for him.

I thought the ref was tossing a lot of calls to Italy even before and the Mastroeni red was absolutely ridiculous. Lousy tackle, but not uncommon and the studs were very clearly down. If Italy hasn't gone ahead by the 70th minute, I'll be surprised if the ref doesn't hand them the game.

With one exception, the US is the team that I'm used to seeing. Donovan has to go though.

[Righ]

The de Rossi sending off was quite fair. That was pure thuggery. The Mastroeni tackle was late, but it was a yellow at worst. Total "evening up" call by the idiot ref. Pathetic.

[HRose]

Italy is playing horribly, USA is better, but Italy's second goal was valid.

And the takle was a sure red. You know, there are rules, if you takle without taking the ball with BOTH feet you are out. It's not an "opinion".

[Ironwood]

From what I've seen, it's more guidelines than rules.

 

[Righ]

Italy is playing horribly, USA is better, but Italy's second goal was valid.

And the takle was a sure red. You know, there are rules, if you takle without taking the ball with BOTH feet you are out. It's not an "opinion".

Er, no. The "second goal" was "scored" by an offside player. Run back the Tivo, its plain as day.

The tackle wasn't even slightly red, and that's not a rule in football.

[Signe]

I didn't think there was even going to be a yellow, but I could understand that.  The red card, however, shocked me!  That ref needs a spanking.

[Righ]

2 reds for the USA. Any doubt about the ref?

[HRose]

Uhm..

I didn't see this last one.

Anyway. The player on the second goal wasn't in offside. Not even in line since there's another USA player closer to the camera ahead of every other Italy player.

The "always red" are the takle on the front with both feet, takle from behind and when you stop the action as a "last man".

Btw, if the ref gave him a yellow card he was still out since he had already one.

[Rasix]

This is horseshit. What the hell is up with this Italian team?  You breathe on them and it's like they've been shot by sniper fire.  The ref is eating it all up too.

20 fouls on the US, 7 on Italy. 

[HRose]

And this last offside wasn't there as well.

[Righ]

The "always red" are the takle on the front with both feet, takle from behind and when you stop the action as a "last man".

No. Dangerous tackles with the studs up are certain red cards.

[HRose]

No. Dangerous tackles with the studs up are certain red cards.

Which is what happened in that situation..

[HRose]

Another offside that wasn't there.

[Rasix]

This isn't a play-by-play thread.

[Righ]

Another offside that wasn't there.

I'm sure you'll agree with the (valid) offside on the second USA "goal". I smell partisanship.

[HRose]

I'm sure you'll agree with the (valid) offside on the second USA "goal". I smell partisanship.

I didn't see it actually, I didn't even understood what caused it.

People here said there was someone disturbing the gatekeeper but I have no clue.

And for God's sake. Even this one at 26' wasn't an offside.

[Righ]

Yes, the goalkeeper's view was obscured by an offside player. No goal. Correct call (by the linesman for the ref). Now the ref gives a bad yellow card call on Italy. He's useless.

[Der Helm]

I have not seen the first US game, but it looks like they are seriously playing and actually trying to win.

But there are way to many italian players on the field now.

Good luck.

[Righ]

Watching the Wikipedia page for Jorge Larrionda (the ref) update is amusing too (check the history page for some of the screamers):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Larrionda

[sigil]

HRose looks so cute when he tries to defend the stinking Azzuri. :)

Now,  let's root for them against the Czechs. I hope we play with that type of heart we saw today against Ghana.

[Abagadro]

From The Guardian's wrap up of the US/Italy match:

it was a talking dwarf and some gentle erotica away from being a David Lynch film.

[HRose]

Actually I'm fairly neutral.

In this case Italy played an awful match and USA did much better than expected, they were extremely aggressive.

On the other side I think that the ref did some big mistakes. Most of the offsides were wrong (this is not even the fault of the ref), the first yellow card on Totti was wrong (he arrived on the ball). Then the expulsions were fair on both sides, imho.

So bad match for Italy, decent enough for the USA, and the ref did many mistakes but I don't think he has favored Italy at all.

And I think at the end it was a 9 vs 9? Did the italian player who got hurt came back?

[Engels]

The spanish paper El Pais is calling the game 'Corage Yanqui', or Yankee Courage. This is very rare, since El Pais is the 'socialist' paper and rarely has anything good to say about the US. They were very impressed with the US stamina and morale during a tough fight.

[Rasix]

Actually I'm fairly neutral.
Then the expulsions were fair on both sides, imho.

So bad match for Italy, decent enough for the USA, and the ref did many mistakes but I don't think he has favored Italy at all.

And I think at the end it was a 9 vs 9? Did the italian player who got hurt came back?

Now, I'm going to ask you a serious question here and I want an honest answer.




Are you fucking retarded?

Edit: As for impressions of the match, the US was lucky to come away with a tie.  Italy had a lot of opportunities toward the end of the match.  And yes, the reffing was horrible (even the Italian commentator they brought in thought it was bad).  At worst it should have been 10 on 10. 

Edit #2: Meant "tie." 

[Tale]

This is horseshit. What the hell is up with this Italian team?  You breathe on them and it's like they've been shot by sniper fire.

I may have posted this before, but under the circumstances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccDyp2aRRCg

[Margalis]

Edit: As for impressions of the match, the US was lucky to come away with a win.  Italy had a lot of opportunities toward the end of the match.  And yes, the reffing was horrible (even the Italian commentator they brought in thought it was bad).  At worst it should have been 10 on 10. 

Seeing as how Italy scored all the goals, yes I would say the US was quite lucky.

[Hoax]

I skipped all this shit but here is my unbiased opinion of this bullshit.

1- The red card to Mastroeni was utter bullshit.  Nobody in their right mind would say otherwise.
2- The US did have some very favorable looking offside's bail them out I counted 2 that looked onsides and one that was 50/50.  But claiming that the one was "Italy's second goal" is stupid.  Keller stopped because the whistle blew.  I think one of the linesmen was trying to make up for the shithead ref.
3- The first card on Pope was questionable, the 2nd was warrented.
4- Italy is still the fucking lamest team in the world cup.  The fact that not one card was given for diving is atrocious, throw in a super dirty play and I had half a mind to head down to North Beach and start tossing bricks...   
5- Beasley's goal should have been called back, it isn't exactly a given but I dont dispute the call.
6- Italy was outplayed until the final ~15min when everyone was so tired that nobody could do anything but defend and hope to last to the final whistle.

It is a real fucking shame that the US only now shows up, it is an even bigger shame we now should root for Italy.  But it doesn't matter, despite the great showing today I have little hope for them to beat a strong Ghana squad without Pope.  I did see a lot of great things from some of their players.

Beasley still sucks if you ask me, that disallowed goal will get him back in the lineup but I dont think he deserves a spot, Johnson is a better player.  People talking shit about Donovan are crazy as fuck, he is by far our best player.  The drama will be high as both games to finish the group happen simultaneously we are setting up two TV's in a friend's living room...

In the end the US lost the game for themselves, the play on that free kick was so stupid it hurts my head.  Also Arena really needs to do a better job teaching his players how fouls work in the world cup.  The free kick came from a bonehead fucking play that was not necessary.  Trying to play the ball through a man will always result in a dive-foul if the other player wants it to.  I saw far too many stupid challenges and tackles that is really my only complaint about the way they played.

At least it finally looks like we belong, here is hoping we can play a strong game against Ghana and let the chips fall where they may.

P.S.  Fuck Italy

P.P.S.  No Italians were harmed in the making of this post (unfortunately)

[Jobu]

The refereeing in the game was atrocious in all regards. Everyone has already summed it up, but really... send that jackass and his linesmen home.

The offside was very valid after I watched the replays, I thought. Not only was McBride kind of obstructing the goalkeeper's view, but he moved his leg up and out of the way of the ball a bit, thereby interfering (by not interfering) with the play. Very unlucky, but it seemed valid. Beasley could have had more chances if he'd have just, you know, sprinted around. He spent too much time holding play for his tired teammates to catch up. I think he could have had several chances to just run circles around the tired Italian defense, but didn't feel like it. A shame, really.

I watched the Argentina game and was stunned by the fluidity of it. This team scares me more than any other. They were unstoppable. Can't wait to see how Holland do against them. I love how both teams have attacking formations. 3-5-2 for Argentina, and 3-4-3 for Holland. Good stuff, makes for great viewing and exciting football. The two of them together could be THE game of the tournament.

[Azazel]

Just watched Japan and Croatia play to a disappointing draw. I didn't think Japan did particularly well, and they had a lot of passes up the field to noone in particular, especially towards the end. The Croats played as a team of individuals, and not especially well either. I can't believe they're the same team that played so hard against Brazil the other night.

Next: Brazil vs Australia.