World Cup - For Real!

[Dodoubled]

Since the last thread dissolved into some psychobabble about who's honorable on bets and who's not, why don't we pick up the REAL World Cup conversation here? Not that I should be the guy re-upping up the thread or anything, since I have two things working against me:

1.) I'm American, and therefore know nothing about the international soccer scene (but, strangely enough, anything and everything about women's golf), and:

2.) I've never played an ounce of organized soccer in my life.

However, I have covered the sport on the high school level for a local newspaper for four years, so I'm not completely blind to the structure.

Anyhow, the World Cup is rather intriguing to me. I remember how little I cared for it four years ago, but how much fun it soon became when a couple of friends and I started watching the U.S. games at 2, 3 and 4 in the morning. Nothing like showing up at a corner pub -- in Philly, no less -- at 5 a.m. for a U.S.-Germany game, or drinking all night at Nevada Smith's and waiting -- waiting! -- for the U.S.-Mexico game to start at 2 a.m.

The experience was as good as anything I've ever encountered while watching sports (without being there, of course), so needless to say, I'm stoked about noon tomorrow.

I'm not what you'd call a bandwagon jumper. Hell, I'm driving the bandwagon.

That said, it would be nice if some of the REAL fans on here could pick this baby back up where it left off before it detoured.

BTW: Eejit, put me down for $50. J/K!

[eejit101]

Ok, and no i wont do that

So far its been good. The weather has been affecting the northern european players, as they dont play every day in 36 degree heat.

Opening match was amazing, 6 goals, 2 of them beautiful.

Englands first half display rocked, then as usual our manager made some dodgy substitutions and we fell apart, but still won 1-0.

Argentine played well, as did portugal, trinidad and tobago pulled ff a shocker by drawing 0-0 wil sweeeeeden.

USA tomorrow, ill be glued to that as i have about $12million on it now.



Anything got a prediction for a shock win/defeat. I reckon ecuador could do ok....

[johnp158]

That would be great, since they're my adopted team because I spent some time down there last summer in the middle of all the qualifying. They've still got the doubt about being able to win anywhere but Quito, and maybe it was more that Poland looked terrible.

And btw, I'm not taking offense to anything, but the U.S. gets NO respect. I'm not much of a soccer guy either, beyond having played youth soccer for several years, and I shared dodoubled's experience 4 years ago, waking up at 4 am to watch us handle Portugal and gathering at 6 am at Bonnaroo (a big music festival) to watch us almost beat Germany. U.S. soccer is going somewhere. You UK people better watch out

[Dodoubled]

I was able to watch about 2/3 of the T&T match, and the first 20 minutes of the Germany match. I think Sweden just caught the T&T goalie having the match of his life (one of the best performances by a keeper I've seen at any level), and they'll notch a win or two. I wasn't paying much attention to the Germany match, although the first goal birthday-boy (whatshisname) scored was a thing of beauty.

Also happened to catch the only goal in the Holland game, right before I left for church ... Robben timed the offside trap perfectly after getting called for it moments before. Didn't catch any of the Mexico game, though.

And, JohnP, is there anything better than the taste of Guinness at 6 a.m.?

P.S. - Love the U2 commercials "One Game Changes Everything" for ESPN. They're my fav band, but I always cringe when they do commercial stuff (i.e. Vertigo IPod stuff), but they nailed these.

[eejit101]

i respect the USA totally john. They just have a shit defence, will leak a few goals, you also have a tough group, and your attack isnt hot. Add that together, youll finish 3rd in the group.

I think the german scorer was "Schweinsteiger" do-dbld.

problem with T&T is they wont score any goals. And shaka hislop isnt bad, but it getting old.



England will make semis when rooney gets fit, as crouch cant play as out and out striker.

[TajaUk]

The funny thing about the Sweden vs Trinadad game was shaka Hislop the keeper wasn't even going to play but the 1st choice keeper injured himself just before kickoff. Lovely result for England as now if we beat TnT this thursday we qualify

As for the USA team being an up and coming team and to watch out for them in the future? this is what they said when USA held the world cup in 94. It wont even happen unless Soccer becomes a higher priority sport over there. Sure people play it, but it really is not "the only sport that matters" like so many other countries in the world. When i played soccer their for USF most of the local players had fundemental problems with a core understanding of the game. The coaches were simply not good enough. Strange really as the USA has the most people playing the game in the world :P

[PShabi]

That was fun. I'm done watching soccer for 4 years. I'll never forget those 36 minutes.

[redbank09]

what the fuck is going on, i cant watch it at work but i can get score updates. we are down 2-0 that fast!!

[TajaUk]

Well yeah but i think 2-0 is a little flattering to CZE.

Reyna hit post and had fair share of possesion.

[Dodoubled]

Well, at least now we know what Koller moonlights as ...

jk001.jpg

20050929_159_10.jpg

[redbank09]

koller is gone i hear,is this true??