Were the Aussies a surprise or what?! I think they shook Brasil up pretty well! I was also psyched to know a couple of the commentators. JP Dellacamera used to work here - he is one of Broadcasting's classiest acts ever!

As for floppers, look at it this way: you're playing 45 minutes straight, no breaks for anything - unless someone goes down. Frankly, I think one or two are almost needed, just to give everyone a second's rest! It's not like they don't make the time up at the end of the game.

I've already warned everyone at work that I will not be available during tomorrow's game.

GO USA!! GO ITALY!!

Italy, today, anyhow!

Yes.... we did give everyone a surprise, didn't we? Except against Croatia we'll hopefully be a lot more lucky in the goal department. Either way though, I think that we've made our presence felt so far this world cup. :D

I agree that JP is an absolutely fantastic commentator, though I prefer Simon Hill, Les Murray and Fozzie who are doing the majority of the Australian commentary this time around.

Today's games are gonna be pretty hot:

Ghana
Italy
USA


I think I'm gonna have to watch all 3 games despite the fact that I have 12 cases to read before 6pm. Go WORLD CUP!!!

Well the US got pretty screwed, espcecially with the penalty kick that got awarded to ghana on pretty much a touch foul.

freakin USA. what a bunch of douchebags

go Germany, Sweden or England

I wasn't in the least bit surprised in the results. I predicted that we'd lose to the Czechs, tie the Italians and beat Ghana. Well, I was two for three. Even if we did advance, we'd have to play Brazil, and no moron in the world would have picked us to beat them.

My other two teams are Holland and England, and both are doing fairly well going into the second round. England has the best midfield in the tournament, but I don't trust Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney up front. I love watching Holland's one touch play, but I don't see them winning it all. Plus, both teams are historically famous for not winning the big ones.

I hate to admit it, but the way the Germans are playing, and because they're hosts, I think they're the favorite right now. I think either Argentina or Italy will take it all.

It's been a great month so far, and I hope it'll carry into the next rounds. We've been going to a bunch of different pubs and bars around Daygo to watch. The Seau's commerical for the world cup is hilarious...

See also Manu Ginobili.

Anyway, I'm late to the party here but I knew the U.S. wasn't Ghana win today. HAHAHAHAHAHAHALOL.

I'm not one to bag Refs, but the last 25 minutes of the Australia Vs. Croatia match was near shambles..... 2-2 draw, Australia progresses.

Read this if you want to get a good laugh from the match.....

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worl...1788392,00.html

hahahahha

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/phildo/balky.jpg

?:confused:

The Ukraine - Tunisia game also showed very pathetic officiating.

Tristan, you're on the "other site" too, aren't you? It's amazing how people from EVERY country are calling the officiating "average" at best!

I have Germany v. Brasil for the final, from two months ago. But then again, I really did think that USA would get to the second round - then. The only good part about that is people are finally seeing that Landon Donovan will no longer be the Golden Boy.

I know the money here is good but I was skeptical of him when he turned down offers to play overseas.

Plus, his two stints in Europe didn't go so smoothly for him. Freddy Adu will mature by 2010, and Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey will develop. I'm shouldn't be the one to say this considering these past few months, but this team needs to grow a pair of balls. They were so scared to take on the defense in each game-Demarcus Bealsey and Golden Boy acted like a dear in headlights when normally they would charge down field. Wonderboy would do that stupid gather-the-ball-with-my-back-to-the-defender-and-hopefully-run-around-them move every time, and every time he'd get stuffed. I expected this from Aquaman, but not Beasley, who plays against some pretty damn good talent in Holland.

Again, I wasn't expecting much, but they came in scared and never recovered from that Koeller goal. But it doesn't matter, I don't watch the World Cup because of the USA primarily.

The scouting was obviously horrendous on the part of the coaching staff as well. Pretty evident.

Wasn't the money better overseas, he just got frustrated with playing time?

In an interview last week, Adu said that he is headed overseas as soon as he is able to do so. Hopefully Donovan will do the same and actually improve in the next 4 years.

My mom and I have never shared a joyous sporting occassion like we did when Italy won today. FORZA AZZURRI!!!!!

And Francesco Totti is HOTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/phildo/fifa.png

Does anyone here think that Australia should have won that game against Itali... Is it just us here in Aus that think the reffs were not fair, specialy giving a faulse penalty 9seconds befor the end of the game..

I hope Brazil do well and take out the CUP but Germany will be a hard team to beat..

Yiannis

If thats the case about Donovan, what a wuss. :p

That was a very dubious penalty, but this is the World Cup and it's going to happen, so a win's a win.

I've never really cared for that "callcheio" (spelling's WAY off) strategy of Italy's which is to go up 1-0 then play defense. I love watching Serie A (and Juventus win Scudettos), and I think Italy has some of the finest players in the world (I have a clip of Totti that shows how well-rounded of a forward he is), but they've never been known to score a lot of goals on a consistent basis.

Either way, I hope they beat the Ukraine and set up a rematch of the 94 final, a week after Brazil and France play a rematch of the 98 final.

The Netherlands got screwed, but they didn't play up to their normal form (as usual) and it's no shame to lose to Portugal. The game against England should be very similar.

Eight years ago, neither Donovan or Arena could do no wrong. This year, they could do no right.

I think the USMNT needs to rethink their talent and lack thereof. Freddie Adu might be the man to work the rest of the team around.



I'm sticking with Germany to take it all, or at least be in the Final. If nothing else, they have an incredible national pride going - but the thought of another Brasil v. Germany Final is just too exciting to pass up!

Why Brazil Whyyyyyyy?
 

I mean really up until now I have pretty much predicted the outcome! BUT oh no Brazil just had to do a u-turn on me. Why man why, I had super high hopes for the big B! They were suppose to be in the finals and win. But oh no that didn't happen today now did it. Sighs maybe they will have there act together for the next world cup in South Africa. Maybe this time I'll go!

Oh well Hoooray Beer! - Red Stripe

LOL

From what I saw, none of the analysts really thought Brazil played that well, or played well with each other.

France completely controlled the first half, and Brazil only decided to put it into another gear after Henry scored that BEAUTY. With all that fire power, the fact that Brazil chose to stay complacent most of the WC finally caught up with them. Still though, when France won in 98, I started wondering if soccer was really for me, and it still irks me that they're this far into the tournament. I hope Germany can win it now, because I can't stand that Italy and Portugal flop and dive with the most minimal contact, and France well....IT'S FRANCE!!!!

Everything I predicted except the USA beating Ghana has come true:
USA loses to Czechs, tie Italy, do not advance to next round
England lose in Quarterfinals
Holland lose in Round of 16
Brazil will not win this World Cup.

I just hope Klose, Ballack, Frings, Klinsman and Lehmann can continue to get it done.

I think Lehmann might not be in his top game when the World Cup goes to South Africa. He'll be in his mid to late 30s.

Allez les Bleus!! Should be an interesting final. :)

Being a nice little Italian girl, I gotta root for Il Azzuri. But Les Bleus will give 'em a run for the money.

Still, I hope France-Italy will be a good final match.

I was refering to their effort in this WC in regards to "getting it done". I just wanted them to get to the final, but now I will be pulling for Italy....

C'mon Azzuri, don't allow France to brag about being good at any sport.

Never go to an Irish pub to watch the Final!!!!!

BRAVO, FORZA AZZURA! :D

http://static.flickr.com/60/185895377_bfaf61eafa_o.gif

Now, if there was only one showing the red card that followed! What was Zidane thinking?!

I know! It was such a horrible way to go out and I was cheering for France :( Of course, that cost them the game, *sigh*

I'm still upset Germany lost. But Italy is one hell of a team and deserved the win.


Oh hey! Look! BobbytheDon posted in the same thread as me! Post stalker! Ah! I post in every single damn thread ever in existence, and if Bobbythedon post in the same thread as me, then he's a jerk and he's post stalking me! Ah!

Not only did it cost France the game, it may have cost Zidane his reputation. He announced that he's retiring and the World Cup Finals would have been his last game ever. Now all that people are going to remember about him is him getting red carded and costing his team the game. Great way to go out.

Zidane may have lost it for France, but who knows what the outcome would have been. Bottom line it was a very classless act. There is always shit talking in sports, but there is never an excuse to do that. He could have killed him.

But anyways...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...dcupchamps.jpg

He's done something like this before, he stomped on the back of a Saudi Arabian defender who was on the ground some years ago.

I don't know what you say to someone that makes them that made, especially someone who's played "the beautiful game" for so many years but whatever. He's responsible for his own actions.

Viva Italia!

The Zidane headbutt was stupid, but it certainly didn't cost them the game. Their inability to make their penalty kicks cost them the game.

Also, considering many think the early foul to Zidane in the box wasn't worthy of a penalty kick, AND the offsides called on Italy's second goal was questionable, I don't think the headbutt really had any bearing on the outcome of the game. The outcome of Zidane's reputation is another story...

I'm harassing you!

-Rudey
--Because you post stalked me by posting in this thread