World Football Thread IX - Weltmeisterschaft Ausgabe

[Unspeakable Horror]

We win, but only 2 - 1

[Locutus]

Meh, second half was only a shadow of the first one, both teams played much less well. Côte d'Ivoire just wasn't strong enough to break through still strong-playing Argintinian defense and the Argentinians weren't interested in attacking anymore. Last 10 minutes, after the goal, were entertaining again. Overall a good match, the best team won.

[Cort Haus]

An excellent game - makes up for the dire England v Paraguay and the snoozy first half of Sweden v T & T (though that one got better).

It reinforced my opinion that Argentina's name is on the cup. They have so much quality and the ability to sell the ref his own granny.

[Dr. Nick]

What a game! Aguante Argentinaaaa!

That should have been 3-1 though, goddamn that first goal they didn't count!!

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by duke o' york
Shaka is a Geordie! Still, despite the fact he left us years ago.

He's a Reading bloke

[Ennet]

Yes, poorly played by Sweden in todays game T&T did very well concidering they are such a small nation and this is the first time they have advanced to the WC finals. Besides, they played the game really well tactical, very defecively and very strong in the middle, tho somewhat weaker on the sides. They basically only had two attackers on our half in the second half of the match but it was enought for some long balls to generate a coupple of chances that with some luck could have led to a goal.
It would have been a real feat hadnt i been swedish ;-)
Oh, and about Allbäck, i think i missed four or five chances (3 shots) but concidering the small amount of time he played and that he really isnt a forward but a middlefielder somewhat lessens it. He was in the right spot and hit the ball in the right direction, on goal, which was better than most of the others in the match. However it was one opportunity which was a real shame that he missed when he was free infront of the goal keeper (who threw himself at Albäck) he should really have been able to put that ball ABOVE the goalie.

[Zoid]

Sweden - T & T was an awesome game, but it lacked something... I mean how the hell can Sweden lose to a bunch of banana farmers playing with 10 men??? There was an almost astronomical difference in corner kicks and shots on goal. We should´ve had at least three goals, dammit

This was our only secure win, if we play this way against Paraguay (who is a far better team then T & T) we´re toast. The brits will eat us for breakfast!

[Ennet]

Originally posted by Zoid
This was our only secure win, if we play this way against Paraguay (who is a far better team then T & T) we´re toast. The brits will eat us for breakfast!

The britts did have some help from the Paraguay defence, should they be so polite as to repeat that we'll only have to worry about our defence.
We'll also hopefully face england when they are already winner of the group and have no pressure on them to win the game.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Zoid
I mean how the hell can Sweden lose to a bunch of banana farmers playing with 10 men???

T & T may have had 10 men, but they're not banana farmers. Granted, club teams like Coventry City, Luton Town and Gillingham are not the most glamourous, but some of their players have played at a high level in the English game (York, Hislop).

[Locutus]

Originally posted by alva
When the ball hits the referee and then goes in goal, the goal will stand, so I'm not so sure that this one wouldn't.

Had to browse up on my regulation knowledge which I could only do after the matches were over but DoY is right. The referee (and the linesmen if they are inside the lines) is part of the play, like the post or the cornerflag. If the ball hits any of those play continues normally. Anything else though -- like a second ball, spectator, anything thrown on the pitch, squirrel, etc (in this case a score board) -- is considered an 'outside agent' and if an outside agent interferes with play the game is stopped, the agent removed (which in this case wasn't possible) and play continues with a dropped ball wherever the ball was when it hit the outside agent, goal or no goal (which is exactly what happened today).

[Solver]

Looking forward to tomorrow. Holland - Serbia should we great, then there's a break for Mexico - Iran, but Portugal - Angola should be good. The Portugese play an attractive game, and should score 4 at the very least. I guess 5-0 though.

[DanS]

Hislop, representing Howard University.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by DanS


To be fair to all the other American commentators, that pair was especially bad.

I'll admit that the pair that did the Argentina game were slightly better. I didnt hear any parrot-like calls of Crespo! Crespo! Crespo! and they did actually interject some reasonable comments/opinions on what was happening instead of providing constant 'play-by-play'.

[SpencerH]

Its hard to tell how good Argentina really is since Ivory Coast played with the classic 'african style' ie brilliant forwards, little midfield, and ****-all defense.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Zoid
Sweden - T & T was an awesome game, but it lacked something... I mean how the hell can Sweden lose to a bunch of banana farmers playing with 10 men??? There was an almost astronomical difference in corner kicks and shots on goal. We should´ve had at least three goals, dammit

This was our only secure win, if we play this way against Paraguay (who is a far better team then T & T) we´re toast. The brits will eat us for breakfast!

I think the Swedes looked pretty good actually for the first game and were unlucky not to win (but then I also think England were unlucky (due to unbelievably biased ref-ing) not to score more). It's probably the best balanced Swedish team I've seen.