that one wasn’t pretty
england here we come
Just watched USA on Tivo. HOLY SHIIIIIIT. Yelled at the tops of my lungs.
Great results today. USA gets Ghana, and a chance at revenge.
England gets Germany, and what sets up to be an epic match.
The World Cup is where it’s at.
England 5 Germany 1 anyone?
They’ve done it before…
[quote]Bambi wrote:
England 5 Germany 1 anyone?
They’ve done it before…[/quote]
Personally I think Germany has looked much stronger thus far, and if Podolski can get back online the English will be in real trouble. England is one of the most prestigious international teams, and will be very entertaining to watch, but I think I’ll give this one to Ozil and the Germans.
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
I think Donovan’s goal could be one of the biggest in US soccer history. Not only does it advance us to the next round, but it satisfies the record number of American viewers that have tuned in to see if US soccer is really worth supporting.
This was truly a make or break year in the progression and growth of US soccer from the average sporting fans point of view, and the amazing extra time strike has succeeded in showing our country that soccer is truly a beautiful game.
Maybe now that we have a decent squad that has performed quite admirably when all eyes were on them, America will learn to love the game as the rest of the world does. I know it will take years, but this could very well be the spark that we needed.[/quote]
I’m afraid I don’t really tend to buy the idea that this World Cup will be big for soccer in the US. In 2002, the US made it to the quarter final, and was only knocked out 1-0 by Germany in a game in which a German handball kept the ball out of their net. They could make the quarterfinals again (although Ghana does look good), but it’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. And the controversial calls against the US don’t help. (Same with hockey. If Gretzky in LA at the top of his game isn’t going to do it, I’m not holding my breath.)
As for England-Germany, I’d take England on skill, but they’re the most psychologically fragile team in sports, and the Germans are the opposite. Could well be a nailbiter.
[quote]nrt wrote:
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
I think Donovan’s goal could be one of the biggest in US soccer history. Not only does it advance us to the next round, but it satisfies the record number of American viewers that have tuned in to see if US soccer is really worth supporting.
This was truly a make or break year in the progression and growth of US soccer from the average sporting fans point of view, and the amazing extra time strike has succeeded in showing our country that soccer is truly a beautiful game.
Maybe now that we have a decent squad that has performed quite admirably when all eyes were on them, America will learn to love the game as the rest of the world does. I know it will take years, but this could very well be the spark that we needed.[/quote]
I’m afraid I don’t really tend to buy the idea that this World Cup will be big for soccer in the US. In 2002, the US made it to the quarter final, and was only knocked out 1-0 by Germany in a game in which a German handball kept the ball out of their net. They could make the quarterfinals again (although Ghana does look good), but it’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. And the controversial calls against the US don’t help. (Same with hockey. If Gretzky in LA at the top of his game isn’t going to do it, I’m not holding my breath.)
As for England-Germany, I’d take England on skill, but they’re the most psychologically fragile team in sports, and the Germans are the opposite. Could well be a nailbiter.[/quote]
Big nail biter! Fuck me, there’s no way of telling how this game will pan out. I agree about the fragility but I have a sneaky feeling that the pressure will weigh equally on both teams.
And if - IF - we beat Germany, then we’ll carry tons of momentum into the quarters!
[quote]nrt wrote:
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
I think Donovan’s goal could be one of the biggest in US soccer history. Not only does it advance us to the next round, but it satisfies the record number of American viewers that have tuned in to see if US soccer is really worth supporting.
This was truly a make or break year in the progression and growth of US soccer from the average sporting fans point of view, and the amazing extra time strike has succeeded in showing our country that soccer is truly a beautiful game.
Maybe now that we have a decent squad that has performed quite admirably when all eyes were on them, America will learn to love the game as the rest of the world does. I know it will take years, but this could very well be the spark that we needed.[/quote]
I’m afraid I don’t really tend to buy the idea that this World Cup will be big for soccer in the US. In 2002, the US made it to the quarter final, and was only knocked out 1-0 by Germany in a game in which a German handball kept the ball out of their net. They could make the quarterfinals again (although Ghana does look good), but it’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. And the controversial calls against the US don’t help. (Same with hockey. If Gretzky in LA at the top of his game isn’t going to do it, I’m not holding my breath.)[/quote]
Your from Canada, your comments on this topic are of no significance. Take your pessimism elsewhere.
In a nation that has been blessed with the NFL and the MLB, it’s going to take time for other sports to gain support, just as I said, but I think today’s performance will provide a tremendous boost in the right direction, and the amount of media coverage and talk amongst average people that Team USA has received highlights that fact.
Furthermore, hockey has gained tremendous support in this country, and the TV ratings for this years Stanley Cup finals only serve to underscore its growth and popularity amongst the sporting nation.
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
In a nation that has been blessed with the NFL and the MLB, it’s going to take time for other sports to gain support, just as I said, but I think today’s performance will provide a tremendous boost in the right direction, and the amount of media coverage and talk amongst average people that Team USA has received highlights that fact.
Furthermore, hockey has gained tremendous support in this country, and the TV ratings for this years Stanley Cup finals only serve to underscore its growth and popularity amongst the sporting nation.
[/quote]
My only comment on any of that is that “blessing” would not quite be my choice of word WRT the NFL and MLB. But then, we’re drifting off topic here…
[quote]nrt wrote:
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
In a nation that has been blessed with the NFL and the MLB, it’s going to take time for other sports to gain support, just as I said, but I think today’s performance will provide a tremendous boost in the right direction, and the amount of media coverage and talk amongst average people that Team USA has received highlights that fact.
Furthermore, hockey has gained tremendous support in this country, and the TV ratings for this years Stanley Cup finals only serve to underscore its growth and popularity amongst the sporting nation.
[/quote]
My only comment on any of that is that “blessing” would not quite be my choice of word WRT the NFL and MLB. But then, we’re drifting off topic here…[/quote]
That’s why you live in Canada.
Soccer will not grow much after this year.
World Cup is awesome, but other soccer games, just plain suck!.. Sorry.
I can’t say too much about the state of soccer in the US, but I believe that the game would only be big if people saw something inherently beautiful in the nature of the game (not necessarily the stage that it is being played in ie world cup)
And I guess with all the other sports that you already have entrenched over there, it likely won’t happen (again, conjecture)
If you want to see quality football, tune into watch some of the bigger European club teams (Barca, Inter, Man utd, Chel… fuck Chelsea, Arsenal) etc.
Basically, Champions League is what you can feast on.
Jesus the Slovakia and Italy game is awesome, Slovakia just got thier third goal!
france and italy finish in the bottom of their respective groups and are now eliminated…lol
wow what difference 4 years make.
And France should have not even been there.
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
And France should have not even been there.
[/quote]
x2. I wonder how Ireland would have done.
Disgraceful performance by Italy. Those italian car flags are gonna start coming down pretty fuckin quick, and maybe all the annoying guidos are going to shut up already about their fluky win 4 years ago. THANK YOU Slovakia.
I was really rooting for NZ to get a goal in their game and make it through as well, what a story that would’ve been.
The upsets have been great thus far. I will be rooting for Japan in the afternoon session, they need to ride Honda to the next round!
[quote]PaddyM wrote:
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
And France should have not even been there.
[/quote]
x2. I wonder how Ireland would have done.[/quote]
badly, but at least we wouldn’t of cheated out way there.