Soccer still sucks

SilentTom · #1 (**permalink**) 06-27-2006

Anyone been watching it? And who are you guys going for?

(I'm cheering for Argentina as my dad used to live there and I have cheered for them in the last two or three...)

There've been some quite exciting matches so far and it only looks to get better with an almost dream quarterfinal (seven soccer powerhouses and Ukraine)

SlickRick1382 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-27-2006

I've watched practically every game there was with the exception of the Swiss & Ukraine game and a few 1st round games since there were so many.

Personally I'm going for Portugal since that's where I'm from and my family.

We face England next. Will be a good but tough game.

cashpath · #3 (**permalink**) 06-27-2006

I'm rooting for Monaco

SilentTom · #4 (**permalink**) 06-27-2006

lol Cash...Yeah Slick that'll be a good game though it'll hurt your guys to be missing at least the two red carded guys and possibly Christiano Ronaldo with the injury.

I've only generally seen the later games as I work midnights and sleep through the early ones. Which ones have been your favourites so far?

holyjabroni73 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-2006

I only watched a couple games because im always at work it seems when theyve been on.

I did get to see Argetinas 6-0 drubbing though. And they say soccer players cant score hahahah.

I love the atmosphere of the world cup and the fans. NBA could learn something about making their fans this interested in the sport, because the NBA is boring as heck to watch

titansrule · #6 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

I have watched I think literally every game. I support England obviously. Without Deco and Costhina for Portugal, and now Rooney is coming back to fitness this game is gonna be close as hell.

Hey Rick, good job you didnt watch Switzerland Vs Ukraine. That was the most boring game there has been...By a mile.

My favourites...Hmm..Argentina Vs Ivory Coast was great. I liked Czech Republic Vs Ghana, since some of my real good friends are from there I was supporting them. Holland Portugal had some good moments, despite **** reffing. Spain France was decent last night. Spain coasted too much tho, they are the better team but didnt come out with the victory.

What about favourite goals?

Ive liked Lahms opener, Frings in the same game where it swerved from the middle to top corner (I dont care how crazy a ball is, that is hard to do) Joe Cole's dip against Sweden, Beckham's against Ecaudor. Deco's against Iran was pretty sweet. And the 24 pass Argy goal was sexy, so was their winner against Mexico, but the guy has admitted it was fluke.

SilentTom · #7 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

Yeah, the fan atmosphere at the World Cup is amazing...you've got people chanting throughout the game...whole sides of stadiums in their team colour (seas of orange, yellow, blue...)...and people going crazy when their team plays and they're watching on TV at home. I was still in high school for the last World Cup but one of the rooms was playing the games and it was crazy in there. (Huge diversity of Italians, Portugese, and Central Americans...Italy/Korea game last time was crazy in there)

But I think my favourite game so far (like I said have only seen about half) was Australia/Croatia. Though I liked Argentina/Mexico, Argentina/Ivory Coast and Ghana/USA
--------------- Madden 2007 Next Gen football ---------
Oh yeah and I felt the refereeing in the Portugal/Netherlands game was just fine. Most of the calls were deserving (a couple were questionable), but there was also at least one of the early ones that probably could have deserved a red (maybe had that happened the players would have stepped back into line). The first thing I picture from that game is when the Netherlands guy didn't give the ball back to Portugal after the injury and the guy made him pay with a vicious tackle (that isn't the one I thought deserved the red though).

holyjabroni73 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

One play in that game that i didnt understand and I dont know alot about soccer, but the guy trying to kick the ball and kicked the opponent in the shoulder, shouldnt that at least have gotten him a yellow for a high kick?

SlickRick1382 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

I think your talking about the one where it was declared offsides so there was no penalty.

Silent Tom I can't say I agree with you. The reffing was HORRENDOUS in the Portugal vs NEtherlands game. The holland player who caught C. Ronaldo should of gotten a red card because it was a deliberate foul and this would of kept both teams in check.

Stupid **** was for example Deco got a 2nd yellow card for picking up the ball and trying to give it back (it was a yellow card for timewasting) but the guy who grabbed Deco and threw him to the ground to take the ball didn't get a card.

**** like that pisses me off. Also the 1st yellow card Deco got should of been reversed by FIFA. Portugal was in the middle of an attack and had good numbers when they kciekd the ball out of bounds because of an injured player and like someone said above, rather than return the ball (part of the Fair Play Agreement that every team signs) Holland tried to dash down the field and score. Portugal was just standing there and caught off guard by the blatant disrespect they showed and would of suffered a goal most likely had Deco not intentionally fouled to stop the game temporarily and let Portugal recoup. Personally I think he shouldn't of gotten any card despite the obvious tackle from behind because of the cheap and dirty play of Holland players.

I lost complete and total respect for them as a nation and refuse to go to Amsterdam now (out next vacation). FIFA makes all teams sign the Fair Play Agreement but then does nothing when a team doesn't abide by them. WTF kinda of **** is that?

Titans.... C. Ronaldo will play. Players play through injuries and its obvious how important this game is. There is no way he misses it. Just like a Jordan, Wade, etc won't miss the game if they can play.

Losing Deco is the hardest. Personally Costinha can sit out the rest of the tourney. He's not that great and is overrated. I rather have Ricardo Carvalho back there and Miguel has been the best defender in the whole tournament. Losing Deco though hurts because the offense flows through him. Figo is too old to play his position and only Simao can try to fill his shoes.

Should be a great game though.

SilentTom · #10 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

The tackle on C. Ronaldo is the card I was talking about and I agree it should've been a red and would have kept the game in line. I think you have some good points...I was actually wondering when it happened why that other guy (the timewasting incident) didn't get a yellow card, but I chalked it up to a retaliation to another foul/incident...kind of like what Deco did on the injury play.

TheBillster · #11 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

The world cup in Germany is turning out as the biggest sports show on planet earth history. Iam in Frankfurt every day and it is amazing to see these guys from all over the world celebrating their teams in the german cities.

Sad that Germany will knocked out of the competition on Fryday by Argentina. They are simply too good, even when they didnt showed it against the team of Speedy Gonzalez...
Yeah, Argentina will win the Worldchampionchip.

SlickRick1382 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006

I don't think so. I think Germany has a shot to dethrown them if not they still have to beat Italy a good defensive team in order to get to the Finals where they will face one of the best times like Brazil, France or maybe even a sleeper like England or Portugal.

SilentTom · #13 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006

I see the semi-finals being Argentina vs Italy and Brazil vs Portugal/England...I will say England since that is the final four I had picked for various pools before the whole thing began. Brazil and Argentina are very talented and I think will outplay Germany and France...I think Switzerland's defensive style would have given Italy troubles, but Ukraine will be simply overmatched. England/Portugal is really really close, and its really a toss up.