World Cup Only Weeks Away!

Off Topic
121

I know I may catch some flak for this but…even though the most popular sport in the world and I truly respect the conditioning and athleticism of soccer players it’s so bloody boring. Virtually, it’s really slow hockey without fights.

The huge downfall of soccer, a game determined by a fucking shootout if there is a tie score. If that happens then the 90 minutes of play was nothing more than foreplay to see a game determined by a part of the game and not the whole game.

But, i’m sure it will be a hoot for all the fans out there.

Cheers.

122

[quote]1-packlondoner wrote:
supermick wrote:
Not too sure.

I know rene higuita (sp) the columbian mentalist and all round bad boy did one in a friendly against England. To be honest, judging by his size he, chilivert doesnt look the type to scorpio kick anything.
Must have been some latino mad man though.
[/quote]

Right you are Mick - mind playing tricks on me… From thefa.com

Only 20,038 were present at Wembley to witness a spectacle later voted one of the 100 greatest sporting moments of all time.

After 22 minutes of a friendly international back in September 1995, Jamie Redknapp floated an aimless cross in to the Colombian penalty area.

As the ball drifted towards goal, Colombian 'keeper Rene Higuita could have caught the ball, but instead elected to clear it with an astonishing kick.

The goalkeeper: “I call it my scorpion kick and I try to do it whenever possible,” explains Higuita. “My philosophy is to enjoy myself and to entertain.”

The gaffer: “I have only one word to describe it, extraordinary,” says England coach Terry Venables.

“I?ve never seen anything like it. They tell me he does it all the time in his own country, that?s probably why his last three managers have had heart attacks.”

The legend: “If he?d done that playing for England it would have been his last cap,” says England?s World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks.

“Bobby Moore would have had a quiet word and Jack Charlton would have punched him on the nose. It was incredible, but what?s wrong with a simple catch?”

The cub scout leader: The rash of copycat Scorpions included a Scout leader in Preston who ended up in hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

“I thought I could pull it off,” recalls Graham Alston. “The save worked, it was just the landing which went wrong.”

123

[quote]UtahLama wrote:
As one of only 467 soccer fans in the U.S. I have a couple of comments.

  1. Every year the U.S. gets no love and with the exception of ‘98’ they have overachieved.[/quote]

The US gets no love b/c Americans don’t care about “soccer”. Why? It’s not an “American” sport.

Basically, Americans are very insular - if it’s not “American” then it’s basically considered an inferior sport - even though they don’t come right out and say it - the spirit behind the derision is definitely there.

For example, I heard one radio host down here where I live (Miami) downplay Lance Armstrong’s achievement by saying “he just rode a bike” - when trying to make the point that Lance Armstrong should not have won any of the 2 or 3 “Sportsman of the Year” awards he won during his 7-title run. the host was basically saying that the award should have gone to the best basketball or American football player of that year because in essence they were real athletes and Armstrong just rides a bike. What a fucking moron.

Anyway, that pretty much sums up the attitude many (if not most Americans) have toward non-American sports.

Sad, but true. I don’t think youth soccer leagues are going to change that much as most kids who play youth soccer have no clue what goes on in World Soccer.

[quote]
3. Once again the U.S. is stuck in the Group of Death while Mexico, who we placed over in CONCAF qualies gets a easier road.[/quote]

God, I fucking hate Mexican soccer. Possibly the most overrated team, with the most obnoxious fans. Here in America all the spanish language channels are dominated with coverage of the Mexican squad this, mexican squad that - and other than Rafa Marquez - THEY SUCK - everyone they have sent to Europe (with the exception of Hugo Sanchez in the 80’s and Rafa Marquez now with FC Barca) has been a complete and total bust.

They keep hyping these two chodes Blanco and Borghetti - who both suck - I remember Blanco was signed in a high profile signing by Villareal (La Liga) and couldn’t even crack the starting 11. Joker went back to Mexico with his tail between his legs.

I truly hope they go out in the first round to shut this bullshit up. It’s really annoying. They got more attention in the US than the USA team does. Fucking bullshit.

124

[quote]BSims wrote:
I know I may catch some flak for this but…even though the most popular sport in the world and I truly respect the conditioning and athleticism of soccer players it’s so bloody boring. Virtually, it’s really slow hockey without fights.

The huge downfall of soccer, a game determined by a fucking shootout if there is a tie score. If that happens then the 90 minutes of play was nothing more than foreplay to see a game determined by a part of the game and not the whole game.

But, i’m sure it will be a hoot for all the fans out there.

Cheers.[/quote]

Ahh… A non-believer in our midst.

The artistry in football and what makes its fans so passionate is that it is, unlike many US sports for example, extremely hard to score.

Subsequently so much pressure and expectation mounting as a games progresses means that every move, every tackle, every run, every feint and every kick takes on importance that might not be immediately apparent. A game that finishes 41-40 like basketball cannot by definition be as nail-bitingly exciting from the first minute till the last.

I think there is also the point that sometimes its good for a game to be tied. Sometimes neither team deserved the win over the other. As for penalty shoot-outs - first-off they tend to come after 30minutes of extra time and secondly they are probably the single most intense period in any sport, ever.

A footballer against a goalkeeper plus about 30,000 fans. The mental battle and the psychology behind it is immense. Apparently more men have heart attacks during world cup penalty shoot-outs than at any other time. I’ve watched every England shoot-out in my lifetime with my head in my hands peering through my fingers because I almost daren’t look - for the record we seem to be shite at penalties!

But if you don’t get it you don’t get it…

As for it being hockey without the fights - At least with football we let the players do what they’re good at and the fans get to do the fighting :wink:

Force yourself to watch the world cup and I promise you’ll come away a convert. There is nothing like it on earth.

Except a really nice pair of tits, obviously.

125

[quote]1-packlondoner wrote:
OARSMAN wrote:
I of course am waiting for Spain to get jobbed yet again in the Quarterfinals and crash out of the tournament in their usual disappointing fashion.

(jobbed: 1994: Luis Enrique gets his nose broken by Tassotti in front of the ref in the penalty area - non-call. They were so deflated by that “jobbing” Baggio comes in and scores a sad ass goal about a minute later to clinch the win).

(jobbed: 2002: The ref overturns about 2-3 clear Spanish goals in favor of the host South Koreans. Complete bullshit. And after that ballsy victory in the 2nd round against Keane and the Irish squad - all of Spain thought they finally had the balls to make a run deep into the tourney).

Anyway, venting aside… I think Brasil is probably going to take it - and I’m calling a rematch of the 2002 final. Brasil v. Germany. (The host countries usually have a way of rising to the occassion)

I like England to go deep, but I think their hopes will lie with Rooney- as he goes so will the squad. Too many form questions to say they are a legitimate final match lock. We have to see how they look those first couple of matches to know for sure.

Argentina: I see them as a rebuilding team - I think they will be a force in 2010.

Holland: always strong - but I think they’ll bow out in the quarters

Any dark horse teams? - Czech Republic? USA? (even though they play like shite in Europe) Any of the African squads?

Hiya,

We think we ALL have hard luck stories here… As for dark horse teams I would expect the Ivory Coast to do well.

I reckon Spain (with Cesc and Reyes) are going to have a very good WC. Hopefully not as good as England’s though - like I said before, I don’t think we’ll have ANY injury worries by the first match. I think it was all a trick. [/quote]

BTW cesc and reyes, neither of them get in the Spanish first 11

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More importantly than the World Cup, Henry is staying at Arsenal :slight_smile:

127

[quote]alstan90 wrote:

BTW cesc and reyes, neither of them get in the Spanish first 11[/quote]

agreed. However, I’m not so sure on Reyes - Aragones may give him a shot in the first 11. I’d also put reyes in my starting 11

Spanish boss Aragones is an idiot for not capping Morientes. I just hope Spain will not regret that decision.

my Spanish starting 11:

Goal: Casillas

Backs:
Wings: Puyol, Salgado
Center: Marchena, Pablo

Midfield:
Center: Xavi
Xabi Alonso,Luis Garcia, Reyes

Forwards:
Morientes, Torres

  • Morientes is brilliant in the air with the header and would be huge on the corners - plus although he is getting on in years, he still has the pace to be an effective striker. Oh yeah, he tends to rise to the occasion and has solid performances in the big matches. An intangible that Spain so desperately needs.

Raul is on because he is “Capitan Espana” and you can’t leave him off - or else the Spanish press eat you alive - although I think he’s over. Plus, he hasn’t done squat since the last time Madrid made a push deep into the Champions League and has a tendency to disappear in World Cup matches. He’s there on reputation alone.

Personally, I don’t think he merits selection, but that’s just me.

128

[quote]Freaky Styley wrote:
More importantly than the World Cup, Henry is staying at Arsenal :slight_smile:
[/quote]

can you imagine if FC Barcelona would have landed him?

A Henry - Ronaldinho attack? Holy shit !!

Maybe there would have been problems there - too much talent (ego) not enough balls to go around…

kind of like the implosion of the “Galacticos” in Madrid?

129

This thread is shit without footage.

Latin mentalist: -

Best goal ever??

Best world cup song ever. Forgot how good this one is: -

Englands hope?

Possible England Obsticle: -

Enjoy!

130

[quote]supermick wrote:
This thread is shit without footage.

Latin mentalist: -

Best goal ever??

Best world cup song ever. Forgot how good this one is: -

Englands hope?

Possible England Obsticle: -

Enjoy![/quote]

You sir, are a God for digging those out. Might I suggest Mr Football Hater casts a quick glance at those vids…

131

[quote]Freaky Styley wrote:
More importantly than the World Cup, Henry is staying at Arsenal :slight_smile:

[/quote]

Very true… Thank Gawd for that. Could have ended up a really pants season.

132

[quote]1-packlondoner wrote:

The artistry in football and what makes its fans so passionate is that it is, unlike many US sports for example, extremely hard to score.

Subsequently so much pressure and expectation mounting as a games progresses means that every move, every tackle, every run, every feint and every kick takes on importance that might not be immediately apparent. A game that finishes 41-40 like basketball cannot by definition be as nail-bitingly exciting from the first minute till the last.

I think there is also the point that sometimes its good for a game to be tied. Sometimes neither team deserved the win over the other. As for penalty shoot-outs - first-off they tend to come after 30minutes of extra time and secondly they are probably the single most intense period in any sport, ever.

A footballer against a goalkeeper plus about 30,000 fans. The mental battle and the psychology behind it is immense. Apparently more men have heart attacks during world cup penalty shoot-outs than at any other time. I’ve watched every England shoot-out in my lifetime with my head in my hands peering through my fingers because I almost daren’t look - for the record we seem to be shite at penalties!

But if you don’t get it you don’t get it…

As for it being hockey without the fights - At least with football we let the players do what they’re good at and the fans get to do the fighting :wink:

Force yourself to watch the world cup and I promise you’ll come away a convert. There is nothing like it on earth.

Except a really nice pair of tits, obviously.

[/quote]

I’ll force myself to watch a game or two. I like your speel on the artistry to the game. As for the scoring though, still not in agreeance. At that level, there is winner and a loser, nothing else. Tennis matches go on for up to 5 hours, baseball has been played out to 18 innings, basketball to triple overtime, etc. You don’t see the NFL resort to matching field goals after a couple of overtimes, the NBA to freethrows or 3 pointers or the the MLB to a homerun contest. In a sport where the amount of times you score determines the victory or loss then it is black and white, no gray, i.e. tie.

In reference to your idea of both teams not deserving to win. Not quite sure what you mean there. Who decides that? I’ve seen NFL teams get out tackled, outrushed, have less passing yards, and have less than 200 yards total offense versus the other team of +400 and still win. They played like shit and still won because they got lucky with a fumble recovery close to the goal line and the other teams receivers was unable to catch the ball and it deflected into the hands of the corner back.

Truth of the matter, IMO, at a professional level there is nothing gained by a game ending in a tie.

I agree with you on the point of hockey vs soccer…but again with the tie thing…it’s well known many teams in the NHL if in overtime will loaf it because they know they are guaranteed a point because at the end of regulation if there is a tie then both teams get a point with the winner receiving two. What bullshit.

I will watch though. Just one question, what team should i want if i want to see a good game???

133

[quote]BSims wrote:

I will watch though. Just one question, what team should i want if i want to see a good game???
[/quote]

Hey man, I’m a soccer fan and I agree with your beefs toward the game.

My take is this: when there is nothing to play for - for example, a random regular season game between two mid-table teams who are not jockeying for a spot in a European tournament or avoiding relegation to a lower division - yeah, the games will probably be boring as hell.

Also, in the world Cup, the pool matches for the most part - unless two superpowers are duking it out - (and even then they’ll probably settle for a tie) - will also be boring as hell.

However, once you enter the knockout phase - that’s where the madness truly begins.

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Oarsman:

So what you are telling me is soccer players in general only put their best effort forward when the game is considered BIG?

wooo, i could go off on that one if that is true.

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[quote]BSims wrote:
Oarsman:

So what you are telling me is soccer players in general only put their best effort forward when the game is considered BIG?

wooo, i could go off on that one if that is true.[/quote]

So, it’d be like pretty much every other sport in the world?

136

[quote]BSims wrote:

I’ll force myself to watch a game or two. I like your speel on the artistry to the game.

As for the scoring though, still not in agreeance. At that level, there is winner and a loser, nothing else. Tennis matches go on for up to 5 hours, baseball has been played out to 18 innings, basketball to triple overtime, etc. You don’t see the NFL resort to matching field goals after a couple of overtimes, the NBA to freethrows or 3 pointers or the the MLB to a homerun contest. In a sport where the amount of times you score determines the victory or loss then it is black and white, no gray, i.e. tie.

In reference to your idea of both teams not deserving to win. Not quite sure what you mean there. Who decides that? I’ve seen NFL teams get out tackled, outrushed, have less passing yards, and have less than 200 yards total offense versus the other team of +400 and still win. They played like shit and still won because they got lucky with a fumble recovery close to the goal line and the other teams receivers was unable to catch the ball and it deflected into the hands of the corner back.

Truth of the matter, IMO, at a professional level there is nothing gained by a game ending in a tie.

[/quote]

All depends on whether it’s about the sport itself or about the winning. The winning is very important, but not more important than the sport. I think of it when two gladiators fight so well that neither is put to the sword at the end.

However, in this day of big money and fierce competition that might be a very british and archaic attitude and probably why we sometimes are acaught out and accused of tactical naivety by teams that employ ‘gamesmanship’ (euphemism for cheating) as a valid tactic in their efforts to win. That said I have many times personally witnessed proud football fans booing their own player or team when they feel they are acting unsportingly - not all the time mind - but enough to restore a little faith in mankind and the actual concept of a ‘sport’.

A good premiership team will play up to 60 matches over the course of a 9 month season in all weather conditions. As you know the amount of ground these guys cover in a match is absurd, so the idea of making them play on every match past 90mins if’s its all even simply wouldn’t work as they would be permamantly short of adequate recovery time.

Good man! For pure entertainment value Brazil are like no-one else. France, England, Spain, Argentina and Holland should all be playing very exciting football and the african teams always seem to do something incredible at least once per tournament.

As for specific fixtures, apart from Englands’s I don’t know the details. Will pick some seemingly choice fixtures when I’ve had a proper look, or I’m sure others can make some recommendations.

Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho (of France/Arsenal and Brazil/Barcelona respectively) are for most people’s money the two best and most entertaining players in the world and any match featuring either (or both as happened last week - DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT :-(… ) of those clubs and countries are usually guarantees of top class football.

137

[quote]OARSMAN wrote:
BSims wrote:

I will watch though. Just one question, what team should i want if i want to see a good game???

Hey man, I’m a soccer fan and I agree with your beefs toward the game.

My take is this: when there is nothing to play for - for example, a random regular season game between two mid-table teams who are not jockeying for a spot in a European tournament or avoiding relegation to a lower division - yeah, the games will probably be boring as hell.

Also, in the world Cup, the pool matches for the most part - unless two superpowers are duking it out - (and even then they’ll probably settle for a tie) - will also be boring as hell.

However, once you enter the knockout phase - that’s where the madness truly begins.

[/quote]

From what I recall from the the groups, there’s gonna be some monster group matches and some great rivalries renewed.

138

[quote]BSims wrote:
Oarsman:

So what you are telling me is soccer players in general only put their best effort forward when the game is considered BIG?

wooo, i could go off on that one if that is true.[/quote]

I’m gonna disagree with that one big time but then I’m a supporter of a big team and so I guess in some senses I am spoiled with the quality of football I see week in week out.

I personally believe that most players try their best every match but only class players can raise their games to that next level for the big matches.

That said, I did go and endure Millwall playing (if that’s the right word) out a freezing 0-0 FA Cup draw against Tranmere once and wish I’d just stayed in and had a wank. My friends up the park are better than that - and that’s with a spliff in one hand and a beer in the other!

139

More reasons to watch the World Cup.

http://www.1ronaldinho.com/ronaldinho.video.htm

http://www.1ronaldinho.com/barcelona.htm

http://www.1ronaldinho.com/PSG.htm

http://www.1ronaldinho.com/nike.htm

http://www.1ronaldinho.com/gremio.htm

Oh, and this former best player in the world is having his swansong… So Long Zizi.

http://www.1zidane.com/zidane.video.htm

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I’m just happy that ESPN is actually going to show all the games over here in the US this go around.