Running, all-purpose World Cup thread

I'll have to root for France just for Zidane. I enjoy watching him play. Hopefully, he'll stick with his plans to retire after the WC. And, hopefully, he'll retire as a champion.

 

Yeah, because the Olympics don't give out medals for third either. :


In terms of a France v Italy, I am pulling for Henry to score several goals, doesn't seem likely, so that I can move up in my pool.

 

Zizou is one of my favorite athletes ever, his passing skills ares unreal, and I am glad that he is getting the recognition here for what a genius he is.  But they don't need to blow him every time that he touches the ball.

 

Yesterday, for a tiebreaker after extra time, somebody suggested putting the ball on the ground 35 yards out and giving the shooter 10 seconds to do something with it.

That's how they broke ties in the postseason in the league where I played youth soccer. They put the ball on the midfield stripe (we were only seven and eight years old, so the field was quite a bit shorter) and each shooter dribbled on goal. Once the goalie touched the ball, it was dead, like a penalty shot in hockey. Until 1994 (a distance of more than 10 years), when Italy and Brazil went to spot kicks for the whole thing, I never realized soccer it the highest level would just go to penalty kicks to break ties. I like the idea of a hockey-style shootout rather than spot kicks. Perhaps we could petition FIFA to look into this? :

I am a fan of the sport, really, just didn't follow it closely enough to know such things.

 

MLS used those style free kicks for a little while. No more though.

 

At this point, where does Zinedine Zindane rank among the all-time greats? If France wins, is Zidane mentioned in the same breath as Beckenbauer and Maradona?

 

You would have to think so. This would be two World Cups and the MVP of the team for each.

Additionally, you have his performance in EuroCup2004 against England.

 

His performance was limited because he was more of a point guard. And if you think that Ronaldinho isn't the best player in the world, you don't know soccer...period.

 

I can't believe this! Ronaldinho is no doubt the best player in the world. Hell, Pele said he was the best ever. If you judge Ronaldinho from what you've seen in the World Cup, then you're ignorant. The things that he does with Barca are amazing. He's won 2 straight World Player of the Year awards and has recently won a championship with his team.

 

If he is the best player in the world, and I'm not saying he isn't, he certianly hasn't shown it in this Cup.
Sure, dude's allowed an off game, but he left his sack in his Barca shorts throughout this dance.

 

I agree, but before all of you start saying something crazy like Ronaldinho not even being the best midfielder in the world, you need to look up the facts. In overseas, he is seen as the best player in our generation.