Soccer World Cup -06

[BigMac]

Group H
Spain humiliated the Ukraine which surprised me somewhat. The Ukrainians still have a good chance though as Tunisia and Saudi Arabia are not the biggest names and best teams. IT was enjoyable to watch the 2-2 of those teams though, especially the second half. Spain has become an outsider after their accomplishment.

Group A
As expected the Germans are through after two games. They had a real German win scoring in the last minutes of the game. If Ecuador gets a point from their next game (which they are playing now and are 1-0 in front) the Poles and the Costa Ricans can pack their bags and go home after playing one more game about who gets second and third in the group. Germany and Ecuador get to decide who gets first place in the group.

More to come...

[Cross]

USA just held italy to a tie with 1 down. With Ghana beating czech then the US definitely has a break to move on.

USA! USA!

[UR]

I was hoping the US would win... they kind of deserved it they way the Italians played. But I guess the tie isn't a bad result against a country like Italy.

[Bram]

I was hoping the US would win... they kind of deserved it they way the Italians played. But I guess the tie isn't a bad result against a country like Italy.

My god, that was probably the most horrible 'soccer' match I ever saw. Do you people even know the game is meant to be played with eleven people? Granted, the italians were playing both mean and crappy, bu c'mon...neither team deserved to win.

I got the distinct impression the US sent in one of their American Football teams by accident.

[Shock Wave]

I was hoping the US would win... they kind of deserved it they way the Italians played. But I guess the tie isn't a bad result against a country like Italy.

My god, that was probably the most horrible 'soccer' match I ever saw. Do you people even know the game is meant to be played with eleven people? Granted, the italians were playing both mean and crappy, bu c'mon...neither team deserved to win.

I got the distinct impression the US sent in one of their American Football teams by accident.

It was a horrible game. All bookings and expulsions were well deserved.

[UR]

Ohw, don't get me wrong. I was bored out of my mind with that match... but the Americans deserved the win more than the Italians (I hate draws... I like seeing a winner).

[Whatever Works]

I live in the USA... And frankly... The USA doesnt deserve to win in the world cup... When the population runs into the streets with tears in there eyes following a victory (like most countries in the world cup)... Then and only then should we win...

I would much rather see a small nation like ghana who have there entire nations hopes and dreams riding on the world cup advance over the USA. That momentary bliss is something needed for a country that doesnt have alot of possitives to cellebrate regularly.

Germany looks ok... Argentina looks GREAT... Brazil looked bored lol... Italy should look embarissed... Same with the Czech republic...

[dandan]

Regardless of the stuff that went on before, the US should be proud of the 9 players that battled against Italy (one of the pre-tournament favourites) and looked more interested in trying to win the game!

I was also impressed by the level of support for Korea - lots of very vocal supporters looking happy even though their team was losing yesterday (and they eventually celebrated a draw a the ref failed to spot the ball going over the line for a second French goal).

[M.Solymossy]

Meh... Give me american football over soccer any day of the week, personally.   Then again, I played football for eight years.

[dandan]

Yes, we all love watching 60 mins action over 4 hours, 60+ players, crash helmets and Joan Collins shoulder-pads.

I quite like American football highlights but as a sport it is a touch daft, especially for people from countries that play rugby (of worse - Aussie rules [oxymoron]).

And stop calling it soccer. Judge for yourself which sport deserves to be named after foot and ball.

In the 'shock' of the tournament, England drew with Sweden, a result which put both teams through.

[M.Solymossy]

I am used to it because I am american.  If I were in other cultures, I would indeed call it Football.  And I LOVE rugby, but you need direct TV in my area to watch Rugby (which my folks just got like 2 months ago) and my Highschool didn't offer it.  I woulda played hockey, but the highschool league had too many rules about hitting people. 

[49 Cents]

[MarkPharaoh]

Whoever doesn't vote for the Netherlands will be shot in the face by me.  That is all.

EDIT:

It was a horrible game. All bookings and expulsions were well deserved.

You think so?  I haven't talked to many people with the same views.  But that's why soccer is awesome and why the refs always gets it 'wrong', the rules are very flexible.

[Shock Wave]

Whoever doesn't vote for the Netherlands will be shot in the face by me.  That is all.

EDIT:

It was a horrible game. All bookings and expulsions were well deserved.

You think so?  I haven't talked to many people with the same views.  But that's why soccer is awesome and why the refs always gets it 'wrong', the rules are very flexible.

Yeah, well it's the same for every sport. Everybody has their own opinion about what the right call is. Obviously, the De Rossi foul was the most flagrant and was clearly an automatic expulsion, but I think the American bookings, while lesser fouls, were still flagrant enough to be bookable offences. Just because the fouls weren't elbows to the face, that doesn't mean they did not warrant cautioning.

[Gabethebabe]

I think the official count is 157 deaths by boredom during the match Argentina-Netherlands.

It´s a pity that I´m Dutch, otherwise I would have switched channel and seen 5 goals.

[Bram]

At least I watched it on The Biggest Screen In Helmond (tm) at my local pub. 'Soccer' matches are always boring to me, so this one didn't paricularly stand out. Access to beer and friends makes it more bearable.

[Moxlotus]

How about them Czechs huh?

[Nazdakka]

Hard luck to the Dutch for losing one what have been one of the worst games in World Cup history... 4 players sent off, 16 yellow cards, lots and lots and lots of diving.

[Limbo]

Hard luck to the Dutch for losing one what have been one of the worst games in World Cup history... 4 players sent off, 16 yellow cards, lots and lots and lots of diving.

I second that. 5 yellow and 1 red in 5 minutes (73-78 minute) is just plain ridiculous...

Bummer that the Dutchies didn't hit goal once or twice, cuzz god knows they were friggin close

[droper]

The more surprising is why Ruud Van Nystelrooy did not play any single minute in that game.

Let See if tomorrow Ghana surprises the world against Brazil 

[Bram]

The more surprising is why Ruud Van Nystelrooy did not play any single minute in that game.

It's basically because he pretty much sucked up to this point.

We had some decent plays, and created a couple of good opportunities that we didn't follow through on. We weren't horrible, but let's face it - we're just not good enough anymore.

And yes, there were some horrible theatrics on both sides (but, and I'm sure you'll agree, especially the Portugese).

[BlueJay]

And yes, there were some horrible theatrics on both sides (but, and I'm sure you'll agree, especially the Portugese).

Name any by the Portuguese and then compare them to Hollands. Hollands had the worst lack of fair play i've seen in a long time.
But i'm sure you'll have to agree, unfortunately the star of the match was the referee.
Go Portugal!

[dandan]

I think the Dutch are fortunate that they are out. Van Bommel looked to be dying after every touch by a Portugese player (indeed quite often close proximity was sufficient). He even managed to out dive Van Persie and Robben. Surely it is better to spare these fine players such suffering as it is fairly likely someone would touch then in other matches. The Portugese were almost as bad. Figo managed to get away with a head butt although it was so soft that the Dutchie didn't notice for a while and carried on arguing before he realised that St.Peter was calling him. I'm not sure why only 6 minutes of extra time were allowed when clearly 10-15 mins of ER style action had taken place.
To be fair, the Dutchie who seemed to be called MikeTyson was a bit hardier.

I will say that I totally agree with the Dutchies not returning the ball when the Portugese went down 'injured'.

[Bram]

Bah. At least that head-butt, insignificant though it may have been, actually occurred. Figo's dive was completely unprovoked and fake. It was a calculated attempt to take Boulahrouz out of the game, knowing full well the reputation of the referee. The move was smart, but low.

To be fair, the Dutchie who seemed to be called MikeTyson was a bit hardier.

LOL. Mathijsen = MikeTyson....yeah, I guess I can see that.

While I wouldn't have cried 'mise' if we had won this, I agree that there's no way we should (or could) have become champion. Not with this team, anyway.

[BigMac]

I think Dutch coach Van Basten said it best. We were better, they were more cunning. I agree that the Dutch were not that good, i agree that some of the falls were ridiculous and totally uncalled for.

But the Portuguese were plain ridiculous. The fact that Deco was still on the pitch to get a second yellow after that ridiculous charge after not getting the ball returned. The fact that Vigo only gets yellow for a headbut (intention is enough for red) and then getting a Dutch a second yellow by diving because he was losing the ball. No the Portuguese are a sure asset to the quarterfinals. By the way, i am sure a couple of them will be in next years Oscar nominations at least because i have never seen such a bunch of wooses after falling over their own legs. My nephew of 7 cries less. (and god knows i slap the kid a lot, i just love a life punching bag(kidding))

I think neither team should be in the quarter final after yesterday. However the worst player of the field has to have been the referee. If that guy never blows another whistle on a field, he still would be guilty of the fact of being born. Wat a cucumber sucking blower was that. He never had any grip on the game and was laughed at several times by the Portuguese for falling for their theater. He was so susceptible to the actions of that ridiculous Portuguese coach if that one cried death the ref would have died on the spot.

One last thing, if i had been on that pitch, there would at least be one more red card, i would have deathkicked Vigo for sure. If you have that guy for a friend, you will never need an enemy again. Backstabbing arse as he is. I would have made sure that that conniving slug would never be able to walk on a pitch ever again, whatever the consequences. The fact that he can live with himself, even be proud with himself, well lets just say pact and devil.

[Gabethebabe]

Bouhlarhouz (or whatever you spell it) the butcher should have been sent of immediately. His red card came one hour too late. He and van Bommel are quite a nasty couple.

OMG we have a terrible midfield. The balls went from defense straight to the flanks. We lack a leader with ideas on the midfield. At the moment the midfielders we have are just too light.

The worst player on the field was clearly the ref. The second yellow card for Deco was just plain ridiculous.
You don´t send somebody off the field for just holding the ball for four seconds. Probably Deco should have been sent off immediately for his tackle, but I have to admit that I didn´t see the replay to see if it was really that bad.

Let´s see if Portugal survive the English. Now THEY have a midfield. And Portugal is missing key players, so i guess England will win, although they´re not playing very convincingly either.

Oh well. We´ll see again in two years. We deserve to be out. There was no moment in the Worldcup that I was thinking: damn we´re good. This could lead to something beatiful. We squeezed out two wins in the group of death more based on luck than anything else.

Before the start I predicted No. 1-2-3-4 to be Brazil-Italy-Germany-England. It is still possible.

[TheAlpha]

Holland just played terrible, van Bommel should have scored right in the first minute instead of missing such and chance (we lack somebody like Deco or Requilme, I'm sure they don't miss chances like that). Also, Kuyt should have scored the one-on-one chance with the keeper, Cocu missed a chance that was like... 3 meter away from the goal, instead of scoring he hits the crossbar . Holland just lacks the skill to play on a topclass level. We also lack 'smart' players like Figo.

Also, all the Dutch complaining about the referee is just BS. The Portuguese squad got more cards and play with less persons overall (11 vs. 10 and 10 vs. 9). We should start admitting it's right that we're out.

Anyway, let's hope Guus Hiddink goes on the stunting-tour to save the day for us Dutchies!

[dandan]

England are in trouble. Owen was the best diver they had but he fell over with nobody near him and now won't play for 5 months. Figo can't match that sort of diving.

Can't FIFA beg that bald Italian ref to come back? He was good!

[Shock Wave]

It's not surprising that Dutch fans are complaining because they are naturally biased, but from a neutral perspective, the game was absolutely horrible, worse than Italy vs. USA. The theatrics were horrible from both sides, so horrible that neither side was able to out do the other on that account. The ref did make some questionable calls, but can you really blame him for screwing up a few in a game where both sides are acting like idiots? How are you supposed to to discern between a foul and a dive with accuracy when every other play is resulting in a foul or a dive? I feel bad that he had to ref that pitiful excuse for soccer.

My thoughts:

- the dutch can't say the ref had a hand in the outcome, seeing as how they only had about 5,000 chances to score
- Van der Sar was pretty amazing in goal
- Deco's foul was an immediate red card, and wasting time *is* a bookable offence, so he deserved to go either way
- the foul on Figo definitely seemed bookable from the angle I saw it at, regardless of whether it was exaggerated or not
- Figo should've been gone for the head butt, regardless of whether it was exaggerated or not
- the guy who pushed over the Portuguese player during that scramble should've been tossed too
- Van Parisie looked very dangerous, he was the most threatening Dutch player
- Where was Robben? Was he even on the field? =\

Overall, the game was very anti-climax.

[Bram]

Bouhlarhouz (or whatever you spell it) the butcher should have been sent of immediately.

Agreed. That was fucking horrible.

The worst player on the field was clearly the ref.

Agreed again.

Oh well. We´ll see again in two years. We deserve to be out. There was no moment in the Worldcup that I was thinking: damn we´re good. This could lead to something beatiful. We squeezed out two wins in the group of death more based on luck than anything else.

Even though you're talking about the Portugese team, the exact same goed for the Dutch team.

Also, all the Dutch complaining about the referee is just BS. The Portuguese squad got more cards and play with less persons overall (11 vs. 10 and 10 vs. 9).

That's nonsense. Just because we got some favorable calls, that doesn't mean they were good ones, nor does it justify the bad calls again us. That referee was an idiot.

We should start admitting it's right that we're out.

I'm not arguing with that.

It's not surprising that Dutch fans are complaining because they are naturally biased, but from a neutral perspective, the game was absolutely horrible, worse than Italy vs. USA.

Oh, that's absolutely true. This was pure carnage and had nothing to do with 'soccer'. But that doesn't mean we can't complain. About the idiot ref, for example. And about screwing up said 5,000 beautiful set-ups (complaining doesn't mean just about the ref, yo. We're bitching on or team, too).

Van Parisie looked very dangerous, he was the most threatening Dutch player

We should keep him around, and have the other guys deported to Nova Scotia. Van Basten included.