The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I don't mind the vuvuzela's...I mind having to watch the games on a spanish online stream because they aren't broadcast (they are showing infomercials and some show called "say goodbye to bad hair").

But, I did learn that the spanish word for Germany is "Ale-Mania".

[LeftEyeNine]

I'm with gaelic cowboy there. Last night since it was a match between two teams that had nothing to do with the continent of Africa, vuvuzelas were the rarest you could hear playing and I remember myself trying to accompany as the brass band played, IIRC, "España Cañi" at some point.

You could be listening to the crowd in the previous World Cup tournaments when you felt like it or the match turned awfully boring just like how ALG - SLO did today, however thanks to those meaningless neverending vuvuzela cries, watching a match in this tournament is no different than putting your head into a bee hive.

[Joooray]

I predict twill be the last world cup in Africa for a long time after this lark.

I don't think you should predict something like that, just because of the way people celebrate in SA. If the atmosphere is good, the people are safe and are having fun, why shouldn't there be another world cup on that continent. And it won't be a lark, only because of the vuvuzelas. I personally don't mind them much, I prefer the normal stadium atmosphere, but at least there is something happening. Also, in my opinion if that's the way they do it SA, let them do it, the World Cup is mainstreamed enough even without them banning vuvuzelas.

[gaelic cowboy]

watching a match in this tournament is no different than putting your head into a bee hive.

The best thing about actually attending a world cup is the chanting the songs etc I would say the few hardy fans who made the trip are seriously annoyed.

Another thing just think on this when Brazil take the field soon the famous samba will be drowned under the vuvu's

[gaelic cowboy]

I don't think you should predict something like that, just because of the way people celebrate in SA. If the atmosphere is good, the people are safe and are having fun, why shouldn't there be another world cup on that continent. And it won't be a lark, only because of the vuvuzelas. I personally don't mind them much, I prefer the normal stadium atmosphere, but at least there is something happening. Also, in my opinion if that's the way they do it SA, let them do it, the World Cup is mainstreamed enough even without them banning vuvuzelas.

Fifa are nothing if not money grabbers, they are determined to have another USA world cup and maybe China and the tv companies are getting complaints everyday on the sound at matches. TV rules and by tv I mean European tv trust me Fifa wont allow it again

[Hosakawa Tito]

Some of the commercials are hysterical. Is this like the commercial contest the NFL Super Bowl has morphed into?

[Ser Clegane]

Predictions for Monday:

Netherlands - Denmark 2:0
Japan - Cameroon 1:1
Italy - Paraguay 0:0

[Ronin]

I don't mind the vuvuzela's...I mind having to watch the games on a spanish online stream because they aren't broadcast (they are showing infomercials and some show called "say goodbye to bad hair").

But, I did learn that the spanish word for Germany is "Ale-Mania".

I have link to a site with English comentary...check your PM box.

[johnhughthom]

Condolences to the UK fans.

UK/USA game

[drone]

Egads, Teutonic efficiency. Whoever finishes 2nd in the English/US group is in for it.

Slovenia-Algeria. Boring for the most part. Algeria had flashes of individual flair, but neither side looked interested in the offensive third. Slovenia are in a good spot though, US and England will need to win their next games. The best thing about Algeria was the hair. Magnifique!

Serbia-Ghana was a much more interesting match. Both sides were moving well, making runs, entertaining. Ruined by two mental blunders by the Serbs. What was Kuzmanovic thinking?

[Sarmatian]

Egads, Teutonic efficiency. Whoever finishes 2nd in the English/US group is in for it.

Slovenia-Algeria. Boring for the most part. Algeria had flashes of individual flair, but neither side looked interested in the offensive third. Slovenia are in a good spot though, US and England will need to win their next games. The best thing about Algeria was the hair. Magnifique!

Serbia-Ghana was a much more interesting match. Both sides were moving well, making runs, entertaining. Ruined by two mental blunders by the Serbs. What was Kuzmanovic thinking?

Algeria Slovenia was extremely boring, I agree but I didn't find Serbia-Ghana much more interesting. No imagination, no creativity, no ideas. Antic messed up tactically in my opinion. Lukovic is a left back, not centre back. He was to blame for 2 out of 3 goals we conceded against Cameroon. Why he decided to play him again in a position he played only once (and was poor) is beyond my comprehension. He was again quite poor and to top it all, two fouls for which he received yellow cards weren't really needed.

Kuzmanovic idiocy (there are no other words for it - probably robbed us all chances of qualifying for the second round) is beyond words. Not raising your arms above your head is something he should have been thought at junior level, especially when there is absolutelly no danger. Idiot.

Germany trounced Ostraliyah, as expected...

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Germany vs Australia was the best game so far! Go Germany!

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Wow, Germany v Australia was easily the best game so far. Very exciting to watch on offense.

[Marshal Murat]

I honestly didn't really like the German - Australian game. Germany was the brilliant machine that I expected, Australia was disconnected and impotent. I think that Australia's players definitely weren't all there in the game, the Germans far more aggressive than the Australians. I felt that the Germany - Australia game could've been what the US - England game wasn't. This seemingly shows that Germans are simply more refined Englishmen.

[Moros]

I honestly didn't really like the German - Australian game. Germany was the brilliant machine that I expected, Australia was disconnected and impotent. I think that Australia's players definitely weren't all there in the game, the Germans far more aggressive than the Australians. I felt that the Germany - Australia game could've been what the US - England game wasn't. This seemingly shows that Germans are simply more refined Englishmen.

You don't actually believe the US to be as weak as Australia do you? Personally I don't think the US will get far in the finals, but almost certainly they'll get to start the second round. They are a pretty strong team. England, well they have great players, but for some reason they're not running smoothly for a long time. The English team needs some oil, urgently or I'll prodict a rather failed WC.

Can't wait to see Brazil, Holland and Spain in action we'll see some more goals again when they get their chance for pwnage.

Netherlands - Denmark 4:1
Japan - Cameroon 2:1
Italy - Paraguay 1:0

[Louis VI the Fat]

Germany arrived as well prepared to this tournament as ever. Either the Germans are geniuses, or the rest of the world are a bunch of imbeciles. Is it really all that hard to just gather your best twenty players and have them play a straightforward, disciplined game of football?
All of the German injuries - Ballack! - don't even matter. German players excell in performing basic skills to perfection: passing over thirthy meters, receiving a ball and controlling it effortlesly so you can have your eyes on the pitch instead of the ball, etc. This way, it doesn't matter if you have international superstars or not. All you need are twenty players who can perform basic football to perfection, with discipline and a will to win. Unless Brazil or Spain can deliver their best, Germany will be a major contender yet again.

England (not the UK) and the US shall have to win their group to avoid the Germans!
Second in the group gets beaten by Germany next round, the winner meets a weak opponent and can cruise to the Quarterfinals.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

Serbia is in major trouble already. They will lose to Germany in the second game. Then the tournament is already over. Serbia has done itself a major disservice today - I think it could be all over already.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

Algeria's goalkeeping howler rehabilitates Green to a large extent: this ball is a to control for a keeper if it is shot low with a bounce. Second game in two days that's been decided in this manner.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

Wow, Germany v Australia was easily the best game so far. Very exciting to watch on offense.

Most of the big teams have yet to play. Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal. Keep an eye out for Holland - Denmark tomorrow for some exhilarating football by two offensive teams.

Of the other three most gifted teams, Argentina so far looked good, England dissapointed, and France put up the greatest football show since Brazil in 1970.

~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~

Netherlands 2 - 0 Denmark
Japan 0 - 1 Cameroon
Italy 1 - 0 Paraguay

[Hosakawa Tito]

Wow, Germany v Australia was easily the best game so far. Very exciting to watch on offense.

Germany was dominating, especially on offense. They could have scored twice as many goals. Australia seemed to lose heart after Cahill was red carded and couldn't really finish the few chances they had. First game I've watched in a while.

[Marshal Murat]

You don't actually believe the US to be as weak as Australia do you?

Not necessarily as weak as Australia, but there from my point of view similarities between the two teams, the Americans only seemed to be more aggressive in attack than the Ozzies. Not that there was much doubt about the outcome of the Germany/Australia game, but the US team can learn some valuable lessons from the failures of the Australian defense in how to keep the English-style attacks at bay.

As for the upcoming matches.

2 - 1
1 - 1
1 - 0

[Rhyfelwyr]

Was a joy to watch Germany play, finally a bit of class and some flowing football. As for tomorrow:

3 - 1
1 - 2
2 - 0

[Craterus]

The best thing about actually attending a world cup is the chanting the songs etc I would say the few hardy fans who made the trip are seriously annoyed.

Another thing just think on this when Brazil take the field soon the famous samba will be drowned under the vuvu's

The vuvuzelas are the chants for Africans. They've probably been complaining about having to listen to the droning sound of "IN-GER-LAND" for years. It's something a bit different. If it bothers you so much, mute the TV. The commentary is hardly insightful or interesting so you're not missing much.

Some predictions:

Netherlands 2 - 0 Denmark
Japan 0 - 1 Cameroon
Italy 2 - 1 Paraguay

Robinho top scorer.
England to not go out on penalties and go out at the quarter finals.
Don't think there will be a Dutch collapse, I think they'll go out to Brazil but play well throughout the tournament.
Ronaldo to score 2.
Maradona's biggest mistake/downfall will be continuing to play Gutierrez at right-back.

[johnhughthom]

Louis: +1 = 8
Little Grizzly: 2
Psycho: +2 = 2
Sarmatian: +1 = 2
Insane Apache: +1 = 8
Secura: 2
Ser Clegane: +1 = 4
Romanic: +2 = 3
Joooray: +1 = 2
Rhyfelwyr: 0
Sasaki: 0

[pevergreen]

Let me just note here for eternity that I laugh at all the silly Australians that thought we were soccer gods.



The media will just make this a minor setback though.

[naut]

Seems I was too conservative with Germany. But, I'm glad I got the right results this time round. Funny, everyone here is devastated, as if they didn't realise that Germany are about 10 times better than Australia.


Netherlands 3 - 1 Denmark
Japan 0 - 0 Cameroon
Italy 1 - 0 Paraguay

[Romanic]

2 - 0
0 - 1
2 - 0

[Crazed Rabbit]

They need to ban that horrid instrument of torture, the vuvuzela.

It can't be compared to chanting or singing or anything but continuously blowing an airhorn because it's the same, constant drone.

There's no increase in volume when a goal is scored, no brief pause for a lucky save. Just the constant, unchanging drone that just makes it hard to enjoy the game.

Get rid of the wretched, meaningless, noise.

(Also, I predict The Netherlands, Japan, and Italy for winners)

CR

[LeftEyeNine]

Yo, johnhughthom, here are my predictions that mostly screwed up for the matches of Sunday. Please update.

ALG 2-0 SLO
SER 2-2 GHA
GER 3-1 AUS

And about today's fixture:

NED 2-2 DEN
JAP 0-0 CAM
ITA 1-3 PAR (yayz0rz)

[Joooray]

They need to ban that horrid instrument of torture, the vuvuzela.

It can't be compared to chanting or singing or anything but continuously blowing an airhorn because it's the same, constant drone.

Well, according to what they said on the radio here this morning, the South Africans normally use it differently, actually playing rhythms and such. It's the others that just blow it constantly throughout the match. So it seems the 'instrument' is not actually to blame, but the stupid foreigners that can't work 'em.
I also heard that some TV station are already looking for a way to filter the sound.

Edit:
Ah, yes, my predictions are:
3 - 1
1 - 2
1 - 2

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Somehow I effortlessly tune out the vuvezela.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Algeria's goalkeeping howler rehabilitates Green to a large extent: this ball is a to control for a keeper if it is shot low with a bounce. Second game in two days that's been decided in this manner.

And don't forget Kingston: the ball simply bounced off his grip.

[InsaneApache]

Louis: +1 = 8
Little Grizzly: 2
Psycho: +2 = 2
Sarmatian: +1 = 2
Insane Apache: +1 = 8
Secura: 2
Ser Clegane: +1 = 4
Romanic: +2 = 3
Joooray: +1 = 2
Rhyfelwyr: 0
Sasaki: 0

Thankyou for keeping tally johnhughthom

Nah then....

Netherlands 2 - 0 Denmark
Japan 0 - 1 Cameroon
Italy 1 - 0 Paraguay