Soccer World Cup -06

[Limbo]

To be fair, the NFL World Champion seems justified, as the only other real American Football league is NFL Europe, which is like NFL Minor League.  The NFL Europe Champs are not really on the same level as the regular Super Bowl winner.   

Cool: invent a game tat nobody likes/plays and call the winner World Champion.

We have world championship winners of Fierljeppen in Netherlands.

Don't forget the world championships of "frikandellen eten".

[LordHomerCat]

To be fair, the NFL World Champion seems justified, as the only other real American Football league is NFL Europe, which is like NFL Minor League.  The NFL Europe Champs are not really on the same level as the regular Super Bowl winner.  

Cool: invent a game tat nobody likes/plays and call the winner World Champion.

We have world championship winners of Fierljeppen in Netherlands.

NFL Attendance numbers are ridiculous (especially compared to the other pro sports here), NFL fans are probably the most diehard over here of any major sport, and, oh yeah, for a game that nobody likes or plays, it's doing pretty well, you know, with a European version of the league too (you might have heard of it, NFL Europe?).  It isn't played as widely as soccer or basketball, but its also a couple steps above whatever that word you said is.

[jpmeyer]

Looking at Wikipedia, the NFL gets twice as many people per game as the English Premier League and the TV rights for NFL games are worth $3.1 billion per year.  The CFL gets as many people per game as La Liga.  And even NFL Europe gets as many people per game as Ligue 1 and Serie A.

[BigMac]

Looking at Wikipedia, the NFL gets twice as many people per game as the English Premier League and the TV rights for NFL games are worth $3.1 billion per year.  The CFL gets as many people per game as La Liga.  And even NFL Europe gets as many people per game as Ligue 1 and Serie A.

Now to see this in perspective, the US has approximately 350 million people living there, England (premier league) has approximately 60 million inhabitants. Now i do not know the premier league's worth, however as the NFL has double the people watching with almost seven times more people possible to watch it, it becomes big in numbers, but less bit relatively speaking. NFL is watched in the states and possible some other small countries, say 500million people can watch it, while soccer is being watched by more than 3 billion people.

This is to show that Americans only can think big of themselves when talking about their "own" sports.

About other sports that call themselves world champion when winning the American league. Baseball has probably the best players of the world, but to say the States have the best baseball players, i think not. Last time i heard they lost to Cuba, a bunch of amateurs. Oh, and that was during a world championship of nation teams.
As for basketball, after dream team 1 the American team in the Olympic games never was that dominant. More and more stars are from abroad. And although again i have to say that competition probably is the strongest one of the world, i dare not say any longer the States are the most dominant team.
As for hockey (ice hockey for us Europeans). Again a very strong, probably the strongest competition, but again, no where near the dominant team worldwide.

American football is an American sport, so not to difficult to know why you are the strongest. The European teams mostly consist of Americans, so you still are almost the only one playing that game.

So to call yourself world champion when winning your national (sometimes with Canada) league, is somewhat shortsighted if you ask me. It is about time you Americans understand that people come and play with you because of them absurd contracts they can get. Hell, if i could i would come to. But that has everything to do with your American dream being a commercial one. I am in no way opposed to that, even a fan of it. It does however not mean you are the best and the greatest. Not until you actually prove it.

[LordHomerCat]

On your arguments regarding US National teams and International Competitions (nation based, like the World Cup or Olympics):  You're right.  Cuba puts out the best baseball players in the world.  However, you may have noticed one small footnote:  They ALL play in the US in Major League Baseball.  Same for Basketball; you don't see Dirk Nowitski tearing up the local German pro scene, do you?  Money is important, yes.  But the level of play in the American leagues of most sports (obviously not Soccer, as the rest of the world has a rather large head start on MLS) is the top, the ultimate.  The NFL is the FINAL goal for any American Football player.  The NBA is where the good European players dream of playing.  Cuban players DEFECT from their own country so that they can come play here.  Even the best Japanese baseball players often come to play in our league (Ichiro Suzuki, for example).

I will concede that Soccer is more popular worldwide than American Football.  But, American Football is hardly relegated to some cult US following that the rest of the world ignores.  Like Basketball and Baseball, it is played other places, but the highest level is the US Professional Leagues.  So, the Super Bowl Winner is the BEST team in the world.  Similarly, the NBA Champions are the BEST team in the world, and would prove it against the league champions from any other basketball league in the world (note: not national all-star teams, but actual league champs).  Homegrown American players are definitely not the best in the world at everything, and even the few that Americans are generally good at, the rest of the world is catching up (Basketball).  BUT, American leagues ARE the best, simply because the best players worldwide come to play here.

They get paid that much because the leagues are worth that much.  When you have the best players in the world, you can afford to compensate them as such, because the leagues are that popular BECAUSE they are the best.  Major League Soccer has a relatively small following, and I would be astounded to learn that any of the players make money on the level of people like Zidane and Ronaldo and the great players who play elsewhere (a quick Google listed the highest paid MLS player at $900,000; another search listed the annual English Premier League salary at $1.2million).  Do you think players would choose that league over MLS simply because it pays more, instead of choosing it because its just a better league?  And, on a similar note, don't you think the REASON it pays more is BECAUSE it has better players?

[Shock Wave]

... wasn't this thread about the World Cup at one point? 

[Jacob Orlove]

... wasn't this thread about the World Cup at one point? 

Yeah, but it's a whole several days until the next game. You can't expect American attention spans to last that long!

[dandan]

Ever watched a Superbowl? You need to fill in the (huge and frequent) gaps in activity with mindless babble.

Back to the footie, glad to see those diving Portugese go out. It takes a lot to get the English to support Frenchies (as opposed to shooting arrows at them) but those almost Spaniards did it! Ask the Dutchies what they thought of the Portugese.

The Italians looked very good. I'm looking forward to the final.

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the 3rd/4th place final is a complete waste of time? You go out of a cup when you lose. Who wants to play in a losers final?

[Gabethebabe]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the 3rd/4th place final is a complete waste of time? You go out of a cup when you lose. Who wants to play in a losers final?

Well, Trinidad & Tobago, for instance.

[Yare]

Congratulations Italians on a good match.

In other news, WTF:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBV52GPhNjw&feature=Recent&page=6&t=t&f=b

[Shock Wave]

Congratulations Italians on a good match.

In other news, WTF:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBV52GPhNjw&feature=Recent&page=6&t=t&f=b

Way to go Azzurri! I was really disappointed with Zidane. I knew he had a vicious streak, but to make a move like that and throw the game away for your team is really selfish. I was hoping that if France were to be the winners, that it would end with a touch of Zidane magic, but to see him bow out on such a sour note is particularly tragic.

[combo_dude]

Agreed - to be honest, I thought the Italians deserved to win before the final on the basis of the football they'd played; about the worst they played all tournament was the last 60 in the final. What Zidane did was inexcusable, and while I think that Italy would have won anyway judging by the penalties they took, there will now always be a "what if?" hanging over the career of arguably (probably?) this generation's greatest footballer.

Congratulations Italy!

[jpmeyer]

You're still my favorite, Zizou!

[dandan]

What a nutter!!!

[Nazdakka]

Also very glad to see the Portugese go out, and then lose the 3rd/4th playoff to the Germans. Looks like arch-cheat Ronaldo is on his way out of Man U as well, which is a bonus.

What a nutter!!!

Hehe

I was supporting the French up until that incident, then I changed sides. The Italians never played inspiring football (noone in the whole tournament did, really), but they defended excellently and got the job done and you have to applaud that.

[BigMac]

Italy was my favorite in the final. I cheered for France in the semi final against Portugal. I was so glad to see them win over the charlatan Oscar wanting non football playing scrubs from Portugal. God i loath that team and its mate screwing attitude. Ronald better leave England altogether as they will drink his blood after the England game and his attitude toward the very people that almost pay his bills.

Some people say it is a shame that Vigo stops playing in his national team, I am waiting for his sorry butt to stop altogether, what a wanker.

Kudos to Italy, finally throwing of the penalty jinx they had up until now in world cups.

Zidane, what to say... Why, just plain why...

About my predictions. Not to many actually came true. One did, a European country did win.

[LouGodKingofDustBunnys]

Nazdakka

I was supporting the French up until that incident, then I changed sides. The Italians never played inspiring football (none in the whole tournament did, really), but they defended excellently and got the job done and you have to applaud that.

I too supported Zizou and Les Bleus until Zizou went out and did the most inexcusable thing since Maradonna's "Hand of God".
I however couldn't bring myself start rooting for the italians...when it happened you knew it was over.

Well, only 4 more years to wait for the next Cup 

[Ged]

Italy was my favorite in the final. I cheered for France in the semi final against Portugal. I was so glad to see them win over the charlatan Oscar wanting non football playing scrubs from Portugal. God i loath that team and its mate screwing attitude. Ronald better leave England altogether as they will drink his blood after the England game and his attitude toward the very people that almost pay his bills.

Not to defend Portugal in any way, but Rooney's move in that game was for two red cards. It's not Ronaldo's fault, but entirely his, and that has nothing to do with who pays Ronaldo's bills.

[BigMac]

Not to defend Portugal in any way, but Rooney's move in that game was for two red cards. It's not Ronaldo's fault, but entirely his, and that has nothing to do with who pays Ronaldo's bills.

I am not defending Rooney in any way. Earlier in this thread i allready stated that his nutkick was deeply red card. I was refering to the asking for the red card, winking at the bench after Rooney getting the red card as if to say how nicely he did that and to the fact he was badgering the English fans after (very competently) converging the winning penalty.
If Rooney was sent of purely for the nutkicking not a single Englishman would have said anything about Ronaldo. Thye would have fallen all over Rooney like an avalnche. He just gave them a person to kick in a very stupid and immature Portuguese way. So all i said about him was totally deserved, and up untill now he was earning his living in England. He very well has to be leaving now because the English actually will drink his blood when he returns. It is like he pissed over the very people that cheered for him all those years.

He should learn that being a great footballplayer is not just with the ball. He actually has a very important role outside of the pitch as well as inside the pitch. he is a rolemodel for many children and let me tell you, i do not think that that kind of behaviour is cheered upon by any parent eccept the dumb and narrow minded.

[49 Cents]

Did anyone noticed not a single penalty got blocked?

[BlueJay]

The winking could of had meant anything!
Hell, in Portugal we wink as a way of agreeing with something.
I find it funny that with the whole head-butting, bollock stomping going on Ronaldo is the one getting the flack for pool diving?!?

Did anyone noticed not a single penalty got blocked?

Ricardo wasn't playing 

[warble]

to make a move like that and throw the game away for your team is really selfish.

What game were you watching, fool?  Henry, Vieira and Ribery were already out of the game and Buffon at 6'4" and conceded to be the best keeper in the world was going to kick Barthez's 6' ass in penalties anyway.  The game was already lost, he was just venting his frustration.  Lightning would have had to have struck the entire Italian team at that point for them to have lost.  Did you even watch the game?  Zidane is even cooler for venting like that...I've been headbutting people for the last day it's been great!

[Whatever Works]

First off. What Zidane did was wrong. BUT>>> I have never in my life seen a headbut cause a fall THAT bad! Why? Because it was a flop! The guy who fell down should be a actor on broadway (as should most of the italians AND portuguese). The guy looked like he was going to die for 20 seconds... The judge gives out a red... OMG he is magically better!!! They didnt even have to use the magic spray crap on him!

ALSO, I dont believe for a 2nd that any of the judges saw what happened. NOTHING, was called until it was REPLAYED on the big screen INSIDE the stadium. I think they blew the call, and then saw replay and had the 4th referee try to cover his ass by saying he saw it (however, for some reason choked on his whistle for 30 seconds).

I hate penalty kicks. I want the GOLDEN GOAL back... ADDS SOOOO MUCH DRAMA... AND IN A GOOD WAY!

Can anybody honestly say that the better team won yesterday??? France DOMINATED almost the entire game + Extra time. Italians should be feeling EXTREMELY lucky the got probably the best goaltender in the world (with the likes of Lehmen & petr Chek (sp?)).

FIFA FOR THE LOVE OF GOD... NEW PRIORITY... YELLOW CARD ANYTHING... THAT EVEN KINDA LOOKS LIKE A FLOP!!! It destroys a very beautiful game with dishonest bad play.

Favorites for next world cup???
None of the African teams stand out even w/home field...
France = Old
Brazil = Always favorites = always new talant (Ribero etc.)
Germany = LOTS of young talant... no home field... Should at least make Semi's as long as they dont run into powerhouse. EVERYBODY will be back... Ballack still should be healthy at 32 for what will be his last run (hopfully this time un-injured)
USA = LOL... sigh...
England = Wayne Rooney 4 years older and hopfully 4 years wiser = always a chance to get far and break english hearts...
Spain = Always great on paper = always choke
Portugal = Older/Better Ronaldo... No more Figo & Miguel almost done...
Netherlands = Some young talanted players... Alot of old 1's... I dont like them in South African climate though...
Argentina = WATCH OUT... Requelme or not... Messi looks like real deal... They should be very good.

Just my thoughts... Obviously didnt cover all the teams but then again I am american and only vacation in Europe... I know more soccer then I really should be legally aloud to know!

Kyle

[Shock Wave]

to make a move like that and throw the game away for your team is really selfish.

What game were you watching, fool?  Henry, Vieira and Ribery were already out of the game and Buffon at 6'4" and conceded to be the best keeper in the world was going to kick Barthez's 6' ass in penalties anyway.  The game was already lost, he was just venting his frustration.  Lightning would have had to have struck the entire Italian team at that point for them to have lost.  Did you even watch the game?  Zidane is even cooler for venting like that...I've been headbutting people for the last day it's been great!

The game was already lost, eh? I guess we *were* watching different games, because in the game I was watching, neither keeper stopped a penalty kick, so the fact that Buffon is taller is absolutely irrelevant. The game was for the taking, and Zidane is a sure goal scorer from the spot. That seems to be pretty important considering that the French lost by one penalty kick. Zidane is "cool" for venting like that? Are you being facetious, or are you 16 years old?

[49 Cents]

Are you being facetious, or are you 16 years old?

Thanks for that..

Yeah, it was pretty selfish of Zidane to headbut the guy like that. And yeah, the guy went down like he got shot. But this is football, it's all about the acting these days. I can't blame him for his acting, since about everybody does it..

[Alex_Van_R]

I still can't believe Argentina lost...
However, congratulations for Italy

[Robert the Swordsman]

Did they ever comfirm Zidane's reason for the headbutt? I heard that the Italian guy made a comment about him being Muslim or something.

I did not care about soccer until this World Cup. I now consider myself a "soccer fan".

USA in 2010!

[dandan]

First off. What Zidane did was wrong. BUT>>> I have never in my life seen a headbut cause a fall THAT bad! Why? Because it was a flop! The guy who fell down should be a actor on broadway (as should most of the italians AND portuguese). The guy looked like he was going to die for 20 seconds... The judge gives out a red... OMG he is magically better!!! They didnt even have to use the magic spray crap on him!

ALSO, I dont believe for a 2nd that any of the judges saw what happened. NOTHING, was called until it was REPLAYED on the big screen INSIDE the stadium. I think they blew the call, and then saw replay and had the 4th referee try to cover his ass by saying he saw it (however, for some reason choked on his whistle for 30 seconds).

I hate penalty kicks. I want the GOLDEN GOAL back... ADDS SOOOO MUCH DRAMA... AND IN A GOOD WAY!

Favorites for next world cup???
None of the African teams stand out even w/home field...
France = Old
Brazil = Always favorites = always new talant (Ribero etc.)
Germany = LOTS of young talant... no home field... Should at least make Semi's as long as they dont run into powerhouse. EVERYBODY will be back... Ballack still should be healthy at 32 for what will be his last run (hopfully this time un-injured)
USA = LOL... sigh...
England = Wayne Rooney 4 years older and hopfully 4 years wiser = always a chance to get far and break english hearts...
Spain = Always great on paper = always choke
Portugal = Older/Better Ronaldo... No more Figo & Miguel almost done...
Netherlands = Some young talanted players... Alot of old 1's... I dont like them in South African climate though...
Argentina = WATCH OUT... Requelme or not... Messi looks like real deal... They should be very good.

Just my thoughts... Obviously didnt cover all the teams but then again I am american and only vacation in Europe... I know more soccer then I really should be legally aloud to know!

Kyle

Lots of stuff to react to.

It was a savage headbutt. The Italian had little choice but to fall over and was likely winded. Obviously he rolled around on the ground. All countries that border on the Mediterranean have strict laws making this compulsory. (yes, I know Portugal doesn't border on the Med, but I guess they don't!)

There was no replay on the main screen in the stadium. Such replays are not allowed (I guess no ref wants 60000 people to see that they were wrong) According to FIFA the 4th official didn't have access to replays either. It looked like the linesman saw the incident which is logical as he had to look along the line of Italian defenders in order to do his job.
The 'nobody saw it' defence is a nonsense even apart from the fact that clearly someone saw it. Headbutting someone is a red card offence, headbutting someone even if nobody is looking is still a red card offence.

When they tried golden goals just about everyone defended for 30 minutes and MORE games went to penalties. I actually liked the AMERICAN (yes, Yanks!!) solution, a one on one starting about 30 metres from goal. Much less luck than penalties and also more entertaining.

South Africa 2010
When not in Europe a South American team wins the World Cup. Always.
So you have Brazil or Argentina. Argentina look to have a hell of a lot of talent and should be awesome in 4 years time. To be fair, Ronaldo won't be a lot slower than he is now in 2010!

[Mantis]

Zidane's action was because Materazzi called him terrorist or something similar. Whatever it was, it was a racial comment as Zidane is originally Algerian. Zidane will comment on the whole story in a couple of days so we can't be sure what Materazzi said until that. Anyway, the Italian football scene is known for their facism (Lazio Roma in particular) so it's probably the case that Materazzi did in fact made such a comment.

Nevertheless, I still obviously think Zidane's action was a shame for not only himself but for entire France. He represents France in the final of a World Cup and therefore should behave.

Besides, you all remember Ronaldo asking for the red card for Rooney right? I read in the papers he's fired at Manchester United and will have to find a team outside England for that. He too made an action that is just absurd, he walked over 30 meters across the field to ask the referee to give his team mate a red card. Not that Rooney didn't deserve one though, but he should have stayed out of it.

[Gabethebabe]

It is quite obvious that Materazzi said something that fired up Zidane.
But unfortunately that is common practice in the game and happens every day.
A player like Zidane with his experience should not have been challenged by it to do such a dumb thing.

Are you as good as Zidane?