Official World Cup Soccer Thread

[HybridSquirrel]

Draws are fine. Way better than the supid American Football overtime rules (I like that sport, but I'd rather they just have the games end in a tie than the stupid system they have now).

KT

American football takes forever to watch too. At least with soccer you know its going to be 90 minutes plus the stoppage. I like watching football, but I get so pissed off with the all the commercials and time-outs. I lose interest really fast.

 

[KeithTalent]

American football takes forever to watch too. At least with soccer you know its going to be 90 minutes plus the stoppage. I like watching football, but I get so pissed off with the all the commercials and time-outs. I lose interest really fast.

That definitely is a bonus. I actually love Football too, but it can drag in parts due to all the stoppages.

KT

 

[iCyborg]

Some thoughts after the first couple days:

In the past few World Cups there were always complaints about refereeing especially from referees from more football-exotic countries. The refereeing this time has been pretty good, sure there are mistakes and oversights here and there, but mostly the calls are spot-on.

For every WC they design a new ball and there are always complaints about them, because no one is used to them. Why the heck can't they standardize the ball already. There are so many long crosses that are way off the mark, and whenever a ball bounces after a long pass, the player has like 5% chance to catch it...

The average number of goals per game is pretty low, it'd be worse if it wasn't for Germany. I'm not sure what exactly they did, but I'm inclined to blame BP for this.
Let's hope Brazil, Portugal and Spain will correct this...

Oh yeah, FU vuvuzelas...

 

[Glitchny]

Some thoughts after the first couple days:

In the past few World Cups there were always complaints about refereeing especially from referees from more football-exotic countries. The refereeing this time has been pretty good, sure there are mistakes and oversights here and there, but mostly the calls are spot-on.

For every WC they design a new ball and there are always complaints about them, because no one is used to them. Why the heck can't they standardize the ball already. There are so many long crosses that are way off the mark, and whenever a ball bounces after a long pass, the player has like 5% chance to catch it...

The average number of goals per game is pretty low, it'd be worse if it wasn't for Germany. I'm not sure what exactly they did, but I'm inclined to blame BP for this.
Let's hope Brazil, Portugal and Spain will correct this...

Oh yeah, FU vuvuzelas...

IMO complaints about the ball are bogus. The ball has been available since December so it's not like it came as a complete surprise. There has been ample time to practice and get adjusted to the ball (if there is even that much to get adjusted to).

The reffing hasn't been too bad, a little fast with the cards this world cup but other than that not a lot. I really wish there was less diving from some of the teams though (hello Italy and 2/3rds of all the South American teams) it is just sad watching them fall all over the place looking for calls.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Word Cup in SA is a bad idea overall... I know they wanted to be fair and stuff, but cmon... No one likes those damn vuvuzelas, and the stadiums are half empty all time, because no one wants to go all the way to africa to watch a damn game

 

[iCyborg]

IMO complaints about the ball are bogus. The ball has been available since December so it's not like it came as a complete surprise. There has been ample time to practice and get adjusted to the ball (if there is even that much to get adjusted to).

Bogus or not, players *are* having problems with it, a number of commentators noted that, especially when it bounces. And have they used the ball in national leagues or champion's league or something? If not, then they pretty much only had a few friendlies and a couple weeks prior to the WC to adjust to it. I still don't understand why the need for a new ball every time...

 

[sdifox]

Bogus or not, players *are* having problems with it, a number of commentators noted that, especially when it bounces. And have they used the ball in national leagues or champion's league or something? If not, then they pretty much only had a few friendlies and a couple weeks prior to the WC to adjust to it. I still don't understand why the need for a new ball every time...

It is done on purpose. It only happens once every 4 years, so they better be able to sell a new ball every time.

I imagine the original idea is that it is harder for the goalies to keep it out, but it seems to give the strikers more trouble.

 

[Glitchny]

Bogus or not, players *are* having problems with it, a number of commentators noted that, especially when it bounces. And have they used the ball in national leagues or champion's league or something? If not, then they pretty much only had a few friendlies and a couple weeks prior to the WC to adjust to it. I still don't understand why the need for a new ball every time...

While I understand they haven't had tons of games to work with the new ball they have had plenty of time to practice. Every ball they touched in training with the national teams leading up to the cup should have been one of these. And if so they should be ready for it to take strange bounces etc.

Either way by the 2nd or 3rd game these teams play they should be used to it, it isn't that much different that it should be a continual issue.

 

[xSauronx]

Bogus or not, players *are* having problems with it, a number of commentators noted that, especially when it bounces. And have they used the ball in national leagues or champion's league or something? If not, then they pretty much only had a few friendlies and a couple weeks prior to the WC to adjust to it. I still don't understand why the need for a new ball every time...

I dont get it either...pick a regular ball, let someone design a pretty design for the skin to paint it up and call it a day.

 

[bigdog1218]

I agree its really why i hate watching the Italians and Italian football in general. the commentators were saying the same things during the 2008 Euros. they play a shitty style of football and fall over when someone looks at them

It's like handing out prizes to all the losers. Hey Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, so what Italy has 4 stars on their patch, they play shitty football. Keep looking great in the first round they bowing out because your "exciting" football can't keep up with shitty football.

 

[eits]

No wonder Americans cant stand that crap.

Draws? Seriously? What kind of foo-foo shit is that?

I can understand if it is an extremely rare occurance, but look how many have happened already.

it's not a big deal... it's only in the round-robin games of the world cup finals. after the teams with the lowest points get eliminated, they go to the knock-out round, where there's no such thing as a draw. so much more exciting than the round-robin games

the only thing that sucks is that mexico, who was robbed a goal, might get screwed over in their bracket if it comes down to goal difference (part of how to determine which team gets eliminated if two teams have the same point total after their three matches) with another nation and they end up getting undeservedly eliminated.

 

[RapidSnail]

Ugh Italy should have beat Paraguay during the second half.

 

[aditya_reds]

Italy were lucky...

 

[sdifox]

Ugh Italy should have beat Paraguay during the second half.

They should have lost actually.

 

[KMFJD]

Italy were lucky...

"Italians can never win from you, but you can lose to them." Johan Cruyff

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I see no one is watching the NZ game Neither am I, too much study to do, but I have the live update running in the background. Can't handle watching these games anyway, the vuvuzelas really ruin it for me.

0-0 at half time (shocking, I know).

 

[Anubis]

I see no one is watching the NZ game Neither am I, too much study to do, but I have the live update running in the background. Can't handle watching these games anyway, the vuvuzelas really ruin it for me.

0-0 at half time (shocking, I know).

its 1-0 Slovakia now,

listning on ESPN radio as i cant get video to work at work

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I decided to take a break and watch the second half with the volume very low Somewhat of a boring game so far.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Ugh Kiwis are playing like a bunch of limp-dick little bitches. Heaps of possession but they don't have the balls to get the ball upfield.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Slovak lovely human took a dive trying to get a yellow card. Should be instantly disqualified IMO, but that's the nature of this pussy-ass sport.

 

[KMFJD]

Slovak lovely human took a dive trying to get a yellow card. Should be instantly disqualified IMO, but that's the nature of this pussy-ass sport.

Now that's the spirit!

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Holy.... fucking... shit! That was unexpected.

 

[KMFJD]

Holy.... fucking... shit! That was unexpected.

Wow what a shock...1-1 with no time left...awesome

 

[alphatarget1]

LOL Slovakia got sloppy because the game was almost over and got pwned.

 

[bigrash]

Can't wait for the Brazil and Portugal matches today. Too bad I'll be away from my desk most of the day today, so I'll have to check the scores on my phone occasionally