Off Topic · World Cup 2010! (page 4)

i feel horrible for drogba - he's had such a brilliant year for chelsea, it seemed like he was primed to take the ivory coast out of first round play. i feel even worse for him in the fact that he's 32 the next time the cup comes around he'll be 36 and probably have lost a step or two. this world cup was going to be his real time to shine.

dodger78 wrote:Munichs my place and Bayern my team!!!
But with Manu vs. Bayern... now seriously I think Manu played one great half against them... which was the first half in Manchester ... other than that I think Munich was at least on par with them and that card by Rafael... well I think it was okay... Ive seen worse cards and you players like Ribery and Robben due to their technic and speed of course initiate fouls and cards by their opponents.

Concerning Fulham... they played a great Euroleague season and they deserved to proceed against both German teams!!!! No doubt at all... I really like Davis and Zamorra... good players both!!!
Got to say though that Wolfsburg and Hamburg were both beat during really difficult times where they were simply not playing at their top level... ;-)
They deserved the loses though!!!
Whats your team in the Premier League?!? Manu?!?
By the way I really got to give it up to those great chants in english soccer stadiums its AMAZING!!!

Yeah, I'm a United fan, but a real one, since long before they were any good (1987). There's nothing like being in the stadium for an important game. The atmosphere is truly unbelievable. I remember I one got fix for the Stretford End (where the hardcore fans sit at Old Trafford) and it was so awesomely intense I actually got a nosebleed!! I'm not the biggest fan of Liverpool obviously, but listen to Youll Never Walk Alone before a big European game and you'll understand what sport does do/for people.

Dodger, I hold my hands up. Bayern beat us fair and square. There's always next year. And the memories of Effenberg and Kahn weeping after the Miracle of '99! Sammy Kuffour beating the ground is something I'll remember for a while.

True Germany is missing Ballack, Rolfes, Westermann and Adler (the first keeper)... Ghana is missing their best player in Essien... its been really a troubled preperation so far for some teems.

Group G opened up a bit. Ivory Coast is not close to being as dangerous without their best player. It looks like Brazil and Portugal will make it to the next round.

i saw that about drogba earlier and meant to post it. sucks for cote d'voire and fans like me who wanted to see him play (although i did think his brooding over lampard getting the penalty in the 2nd to last match for chelsea, when frank has taken them all season, so he could get the golden boot (which he got anyway) was a bit prima donnaish, but that does seem rather common amongst strikers.

didn't realize ferdinand is out too. good for the u.s. :)

altidore did something to his ankle, but supposedly he will still play.

firefly - i also did see adam johnson do well for man city this year. i thought he had a good shot to make the squad, but i guess he'll have to wait for next time around.

Update: The Drog not definately out. Sven says he's going for an operation tomorrow and they hope to have him back ASAP. Shocking tackle, especially for a friendly. Guy went in knee high and Drogba was down for the challenge too. Caught him on ribcage and elbow. Should be banned from the tourney for that, whoever it was.

Pres: I think England is losing to u.s. in that first game. I have a really good feeling about that game but I guess thats how fans are. I have a feeling Rooney will be invisible in that game. The only one there that scares me is Gerrard.

firefly wrote:

dodger78 wrote:Munichs my place and Bayern my team!!!
But with Manu vs. Bayern... now seriously I think Manu played one great half against them... which was the first half in Manchester ... other than that I think Munich was at least on par with them and that card by Rafael... well I think it was okay... Ive seen worse cards and you players like Ribery and Robben due to their technic and speed of course initiate fouls and cards by their opponents.

Concerning Fulham... they played a great Euroleague season and they deserved to proceed against both German teams!!!! No doubt at all... I really like Davis and Zamorra... good players both!!!
Got to say though that Wolfsburg and Hamburg were both beat during really difficult times where they were simply not playing at their top level... ;-)
They deserved the loses though!!!
Whats your team in the Premier League?!? Manu?!?
By the way I really got to give it up to those great chants in english soccer stadiums its AMAZING!!!

Yeah, I'm a United fan, but a real one, since long before they were any good (1987). There's nothing like being in the stadium for an important game. The atmosphere is truly unbelievable. I remember I one got fix for the Stretford End (where the hardcore fans sit at Old Trafford) and it was so awesomely intense I actually got a nosebleed!! I'm not the biggest fan of Liverpool obviously, but listen to Youll Never Walk Alone before a big European game and you'll understand what sport does do/for people.

Dodger, I hold my hands up. Bayern beat us fair and square. There's always next year. And the memories of Effenberg and Kahn weeping after the Miracle of '99! Sammy Kuffour beating the ground is something I'll remember for a while.

Yeah believe me those memories are burned into the mind of every Bayern fan in the world... but (and thats the great part of the story) to us the story doesnt end at that night in Barcelona but we kind of see it as the initiator for the CL win 2 years later... man that team had some competitors ... Effenberg, Lizarazu, Elber, Scholl (fan favorit) were all amazing guys...

Actually this years loss against Inter in Munich is kind of see in a similar light, as it seems we have a good young and highly skilled team for the next years with guys like Müller, Kroos and Gomez only getting better. By the way the next two CL finals will be crazy... first its London and the year after it is in Munich so they better give their best to play there!!! ;-)

Good win for USA today. We played like shit and still won. The defense was atrocious and I think we missed out on about 5 goals wide left and right. kll tell you one thing though... Those aussies are dirty. I think dempsey was taken down on dirty tackles like 4 times. Good win though today

yeah, the u.s. defense is looking very sketchy. i am not confident going into the opening match against england who has far more offensive power. however, buddle and gomez really showing why they were picked the to team, but we'll see how that plays out in the actual competition.

more injuries to other teams' stars...

robben hurt his hamstring (now saying not as bad as first feared), which could be a blow to the netherlands' hopes...

and mikel for nigeria out of the competition, which is good news for korea and greece's chances of getting out of their group.

Silverfuel wrote:Pres: I think England is losing to u.s. in that first game. I have a really good feeling about that game but I guess thats how fans are. I have a feeling Rooney will be invisible in that game. The only one there that scares me is Gerrard.

i hope so, but the u.s. defense is not coming in confident, and looks ripe for exploitation.

Watching Englands warmup game against Platinum Stars right now. F**King vuvuzelas are horrible!!! They take all the atmosphere out of the game. Just sounds like a bunch of bees. Month of this and my ears will be bleeding.

England are full of quality, but not really gelling as a team yet. SWP looks aweful.

firefly wrote:Watching Englands warmup game against Platinum Stars right now. F**King vuvuzelas are horrible!!! They take all the atmosphere out of the game. Just sounds like a bunch of bees. Month of this and my ears will be bleeding.

England are full of quality, but not really gelling as a team yet. SWP looks aweful.

is that what those things are called vuvuzelas? i've heard them forever and always wondered the name... terrible.

nyk4ever wrote:

firefly wrote:Watching Englands warmup game against Platinum Stars right now. F**King vuvuzelas are horrible!!! They take all the atmosphere out of the game. Just sounds like a bunch of bees. Month of this and my ears will be bleeding.

England are full of quality, but not really gelling as a team yet. SWP looks aweful.

is that what those things are called vuvuzelas? i've heard them forever and always wondered the name... terrible.

Yeah and it gets on my nerves, big style. Its an african culture thing, and far be it from me to denigrate someone elses culture, but I just cant see the point. Cheering, roaring and singing for your team is one thing, but this is just a constant cacophony. How does the team know when your urging them on, when your pushing them forward when all they hear is the same mindless blare?!?!

Jeez, i doesnt even stop at half-time!! Whats the frickin point!! And its gonna be much much worse in the games involving African nations. Im telling you, this is going to affect viewership numbers. People are going to watch games on silent.

yeah, those horns are horrible...heard them in the confederations cup and in the us-australia match...irritating, but perhaps it is a cultural difference.

South Africa deports Argentine football 'hooligans'
Page last updated at 15:08 GMT, Monday, 7 June 2010 16:08 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version Football fans are gearing up for Africa's first World Cup South Africa has deported 10 suspected football hooligans from Argentina who police say were planning to disrupt the World Cup.

The men, identified as members of the notorious "Barras Bravas" gang, were arrested at Johannesburg airport and found to be on an entry blacklist.

South African police have said the move shows that security preparations ahead of the games are paying off.

The World Cup - the first held on the African continent - begins on Friday.

The men, part of a larger group of about 80 fans, were detained on Sunday after a flight from Angola, and deported on Monday.

At least two of them were gang leaders, and another was out on bail for murder, according to police.

'Loutish'

"Intelligence indicated that these persons would commit acts of public disorder, engage in acts of violence and provoke conflict with certain fans of opponent teams and other groups from Argentina," a statement by police said.

"They are known to have a history of being involved in crime and antagonising local law enforcements," it added.

In Argentina, where hooliganism is common, there have been 241 football-related deaths since 1924, according to Salvemos al Futbol (Let's Save Football), an Argentine non-governmental organisation.

Last week the Argentine authorities gave South Africa a list of 800 known hooligans.

Police in South Africa are not used to dealing with football-related violence, which is rare in domestic games in South Africa.

In the statement, they said that they would not tolerate "loutish and violent" behaviour during the games.

Last month, a group of English hooligans tried to travel to South Africa via Dubai, but were stopped by South African and British police, according to South African Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Up to 3,200 English fans known for disruptive behaviour have had their passports held by authorities to prevent them travelling.

KNICKSdom wrote:Mexico all the way! I'm pumped for the World Cup!

Dang, she's kinda cute with her tight ass lil' stomach. You know shes not wearing any draws either.

Where's everyone watching the US v. England match? Any good spots in NYC? I'm negotiating with the wifey right now to have the day off so I can head into the city and get my drink on while I watch the Yanks put a smack down on the Brits.

good question...

i am trying to figure out a good spot to watch that match as well...

What are the chances I get my ass beat walking around Astoria (Greek stronghold) wearing my Korea gear on Saturday?