Running, all-purpose World Cup thread

Hidden Camera Footage of the Italian Soccer Team's Practice

 

C'mon, that looked like 50 people trying to cross the street. The pictures from Mexico City were far better.

The referee was atrocious, Pablo was a clear yellow, but since it was already 11 v 10, he evened them up (along the lines of a hockey zebra). Pope, he got ball first, that should be end of discussion.

 

From the LA Times article...
[quote author= link=topic=27839.msg713958#msg713958 date=1150613731]
Italy stole the lead in the 22nd minute, when Cristian Zaccardo dinked in a free kick at which Gilardino was left unmarked to stoop and score with a header.
[/quote]

It was Pirlo on the freekick. Zaccardo had nothing to do with anything until 5 minutes later.

 

My thoughts:

Each of the red cards were legit. Mastro should know that a two-footed tackle into the plant leg was going to get him sent off. A Serb did the same thing against Argentina and got the red, so it's something the refs are going to call. That being said, he's got to have the discipline to not make that tackle. Pope's tackle came from behind, and the referee was positioned in front...I would have taken the card out if I was in his spot.

Totti was invisible for Azzurri, but only because the Italian coach knew he would get a yellow card if he played a full 90 (got to save him for Czech).

I'm pissed about not using EJ as a late sub, but something tells me Bruce was probably broiled about the war comments and was going to keep EJ chained to the bench. That leaves Josh Wolfe, and no fucking way was he going to play in this game.

I thought Donovan, Reyna, Dempsey, Convey, Keller and Onyewu all played well. For the donkey that said Onyewu was having a horrible tournament, he only shut down 6-5 Lucca Toni, who torched Serie A this year. Played physical and smart...

 

That was great stuff!

 

What a choke job by the Japanese guy.

 

I would just like to promote Univision viewership again. Their pre-game show has a host and a stage full of women dancing in tight or practically non-existent clothes.

 

About World Cup interest: Saturday was an NBA off-day and Tiger was not playing. So on a national scale, not a whole lot else to compete.

But I think people are going to pull for the good ol' USA no matter what sport.

Overall interest in the World Cup? I think some strides have been made in this area. The presence of sides like England and Australia, whom we would have a natural affinity for, also helps. But it's higher when the USA is involved.

 

The last 20 minutes have been some of the best TV I've watched in a while. This Brazil-Australia match has been top notch. Great action.

 

Agreed. I was hoping the Roos could find a way to pull off the tie, but I knew that was too much to ask.

Here's a question: Is Brazil just playing "down" to the level of its competition this time around? We all know they've got another gear that we assume they can shift to whenever they want ... or at least, I think that ... but they haven't done it yet. Are they out of sync? Are they not as dominant as we think? Is the bull's-eye on their backs too big?

They just don't look like the GREATEST TEAM EVER that I was led to believe they were. Alas, it's only group play. And with a 2-0 result over the Aussies, they're through.

 

Any chance they could possibly lose to Japan and end up second in their group?

No, I didn't think so.

 

How great is it that there is a guy on Brazil who goes by the one name Fred?