IGX

Fat Cat wrote:Spain is going home.

Champions of the World and Europe! Why???

Why? Spain got old and Casillas in particular looked like he forgot howtto play. Tough to win when your keeper turns into a pumpkin

England is getting shown the door by Uruguay. Hard to reconcile the English passion for the game with their dreadful performance. Seriously, America has outperformed you. Again. Perhaps we can re-brand them as East Ireland.

Having lived in the UK I can tell you that the cycle of "our national team is shit" -> "hey, maybe they're not quite so shit" -> dramatic drubbing in international competition -> "our national team is shit" is terribly, utterly English.

If their team ever performed up to expectations, the Limeys wouldn't know what to do with themselves

I'm completely taken in by this WC. My boss is English and my senior developer is from Spain. We have the games playing in the office on a big screen. Quite enjoyable - much more so than I would have ever guessed.

I'm now pulling for Italy. And the US to make it at least one round of knock-off

My feeling now is Germany is the likely winner. Unfortunately, that may mean our early exit.

Bud Charniga's gaping asshole wrote:Having lived in the UK I can tell you that the cycle of "our national team is shit" -> "hey, maybe they're not quite so shit" -> dramatic drubbing in international competition -> "our national team is shit" is terribly, utterly English.

If their team ever performed up to expectations, the Limeys wouldn't know what to do with themselves

At least Rooney finally got a WC goal in what will likely be his last appearance. Don't be surprised that their national team is shit: the English Premier League isn't really English.

English footballers account for less than a third of all the minutes played in the Premier League, a State of the Game study for BBC Sport has found.
The figure for home country players - 32.26% - is down from 35.43% in 2007-08 and is significantly lower than all other major European leagues according to football statisticians Opta.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24467371

buckethead wrote:I'm completely taken in by this WC. My boss is English and my senior developer is from Spain. We have the games playing in the office on a big screen. Quite enjoyable - much more so than I would have ever guessed.

I'm now pulling for Italy. And the US to make it at least one round of knock-off

US and Italy, sure. And Mexico as an underdog to support.

lasalle wrote:

buckethead wrote:I'm completely taken in by this WC. My boss is English and my senior developer is from Spain. We have the games playing in the office on a big screen. Quite enjoyable - much more so than I would have ever guessed.

I'm now pulling for Italy. And the US to make it at least one round of knock-off

US and Italy, sure. And Mexico as an underdog to support.

What about the Dutch?

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote: What about the Dutch?

There are only two things I can't stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch.

I will say it again, ze germans will win this, English football at the international level is going to be poor for a long time to come, we have no top quality international players, the FA needs to be shaken up, too much focus on competitive games from to young not enough on skill development, the players lack the touch and control of the peers at simialr ages in europe and south america

As an Englishman living in Italy, you can imagine the World Cup isn't my favorite topic at the moment.

Costa Rica has Italy over a barrel. Is Italy eliminated or just hanging on?

Fat Cat wrote:Costa Rica has Italy over a barrel. Is Italy eliminated or just hanging on?

If Italy win or draw against Uruguay, they'll go through.

Meanwhile France look fantastic against a Swiss team that was supposed to be very good.

Finals = Franco-Prussian war.

Germany v Ghana is getting kind of exciting.

That Iranian keeper played one hell of a game.

baffled wrote:Germany v Ghana is getting kind of exciting.

Great second half, eh? I wanted a German win for the impact on the US, but it was hard not to pull for the Ghana underdog. Makes the US win last week more impressive in retrospect.

lasalle wrote:

baffled wrote:Germany v Ghana is getting kind of exciting.

Great second half, eh? I wanted a German win for the impact on the US, but it was hard not to pull for the Ghana underdog. Makes the US win last week more impressive in retrospect.

I was all about the German side today. One, because of how it would help the US. Two, because fuck Africa.

Iran a bit of a surprise....

baffled wrote:

lasalle wrote:

baffled wrote:Germany v Ghana is getting kind of exciting.

Great second half, eh? I wanted a German win for the impact on the US, but it was hard not to pull for the Ghana underdog. Makes the US win last week more impressive in retrospect.

I was all about the German side today. One, because of how it would help the US. Two, because fuck Africa.

Iran a bit of a surprise....

I watched Argentina - Iran. They came really REALLY close to pulling off a huge upset. Fucking Messi blast in extra time was great though.

I will say that televised soccer does shit right. No commercials means I watch the games much more intensely. I doubt I'll stay on the bandwagon after the World Cup but I'm firmly planted there for now.

WC refs have no love for Slavs, this is clearly.

The Germans are really coming through for team usa.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Bradley can place the Goat mantle squarely on his own shoulders. Giving up the ball midfield instead of dumping it off, setting up the attack and crushing my heart like a grape.

Jesus. Portugal FUCK YOU.