They needed 12: Official South Africa WC 2010 Thread

[Koen]

Italy O U T and LAST of their group 

they should be ashamed...we have to work much harder for no money compared to them....

they get tons of money and then perform like this?

well done US and SK 

[Rattler]

Ok, now we have seen all of the "league" part of the WC, I have made my mind up on the teams I think will win the WC (in order of cetaainty from my POV):

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Netherlands
4. Spain (if they ever improve and make it past Portugal, up to now only Brazil played their style - and, on half power, to perfection -, the Spanish team is lacking speed and fluidness: Kicking high balls is always a bad sign for this style. and for me Del Bosque has a lot to do with that).

Of cause, some of those favorites are exclusive as I seem to remember Netherlands will get probed by Brazil in Quarters latest which will see one of the two out, but I am just commenting on the style and fluidness of (low ground) soccer I saw so far.

OTOH I seem to intuite a new style of worldclass soccer making history: The (tactically) perfectly organized team.

US is one example, everybody keeps slavishly to his position, they go for the game but only if they do not have to scrifice tactical setup. South Korea, Slowakia, Japan are other teams that do not have the technical uphand but play great results with this stance of perfect tactical setup and slavishly following it. Last, even Brazil seems to have gotten rid of the "Beautiful Play" and come to a perfect strict tactically set up team organization as all European nations have done over the last 10 years (with exception of the Italians, of cause).

I do not mind this at all: While they might lack the "spark" of a creative player (like Xavi or Messi) who could change a match all by themselves, statistically they sure are right to go this way, and it is a big step away from the over defensive style (Cartenachio) the Italians were and the English are playing. "Barca" instead of "Inter", I am delighted to see soccer move this way that is so rewarding. Even Australia and (more so) NZ hopped on that train and were not so far aaway from qualifying for this round.

Generally, we have  to face the fact that South America has pounded the table with authority: The mayority of the 16 teams left are from there, Asia (with apan and SK) have made a great step forward, and even the US finally gets their deserved reward for the hard work they put up in the lst years. Europe, on the other hand, has shown that some of the primary soccer nations have lost track (Gorbatchev: "Who comes too late will be punished by life itself"), after the Eights we will maximum have three teams left in the competition (of the last .

For today, all the best to SK and US, who really have shown the spirit a WC deserves, and I sincerely hope their success will inspire more kids to play soccer there and so to find the creative "spark" whose lack under the corset of tactical limitations will currently not allow them becoming WCs, however sound setup they play.

May the best one win, enjoy the matches!

Rattler

[the_13th_redneck]

Uruguay's win is another win for defensive football.
South Korea's coach Huh Jung-moo likes to get the team to defend when the score line represents something he likes which is STUPID because it never works that way, not if your center backs are some of your weakest players and the wing backs are great at going forward but pretty suspect at defending.  Seriously. WTF.
South Korea nearly equalized many times though... maybe on another day.

[stoffel]

13th, dont forget Uruquay has the worlds finest player, Suarez.
He scored a lot of goals in the Dutch competition.
I saw the game and I liked it for both sides attractive game.

[Rattler]

Attractive indeed, bad luck SK (though I found their mid field had lost quality with Kim Jae-Sung replacing Yeom Ki-Hun). Nice try by n upcoming soccer nation, but it shows organization is not all.

SK at least managed to perforate Uruguays top class defense that had not allowed one goal in the three previous matches and that shows their class, but the failure to mark Suarez cost dearly. SK is definitely on the right way, this one ws one of the better matches of the WC, mybe 2014 they can get even further.

For those wanting to get an overview over things, here the constantly updated schedule and result sheet:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html

Now looking forward to the US/Ghana match, their fighting style and Ghanas top attacking qualities should make this another interesting one, for me Ghana is favorite (though I hope the US goes trhough).

Rattler

[Koen]

Germany-England: 4-1

England could never make a fist, only from min. 30to 45 they played football....for the rest they were nowhere... 

Germany played creative, tick-tack football, good goalkeeper also 

[the_13th_redneck]

Every team has that one player whose presence on the squad is a total mystery.
Yeom Ki-hun is one such player.  He sucks in the K-league so what makes Huh think that he'll do well in the World Cup?  Indeed... makes you go, "Huh?"
The Number 20, Lee Dong-guk should have played a bigger role in the World Cup campaign. He waited 12 years for this chance, missing it through injuries etc.  Against Uruguay, he really did look like he was likely to score had he been on since the start.  Park Chu-young is NOT a goal grabbing striker.  He's more of an attacking midfielder.  He should have played where Yeom and Kim Jae-sung played.
GARRRRRRR....
And USA out as well too.  Though I think both sides did well.

And Germany ripping England a new one.  Wow.  Just wow.
It does make me

[stoffel]

bad game again

But who cares, we are through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quarterfinals friday 

[Koen]

bad game again

But who cares, we are through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quarterfinals friday 

but will it be good enough to face the important teams next?

[the_13th_redneck]

Slovakia had a campaign that was praiseworthy.

[FACman]

Goooooooood Luck to the teams that have moved on. I will sit and nurture my broken spirit, as America once again can't put the WC away.   

[Koen]

Goooooooood Luck to the teams that have moved on. I will sit and nurture my broken spirit, as America once again can't put the WC away.   

still you should be proud, soccer is down the list of sports in the US but the team showed some good soccer and a very good mentality and teamwork! 

[Koen]

and Spain goes through...deserved...

I like the fact that the best teams are awarded with wins and 'next round'! 

[Rattler]

I will sit and nurture my broken spirit, as America once again can't put the WC away.   

No need to hide for the US, as well as SK and Jpn they hve improved drmaticlly over the yers, it just shows that there is still  a long way to go (and they will one dy make it when they keep working that hrd).

and Spain goes through...deserved...

Well, the goal was offside nd hence illegl, but yes: With Portugal the last team plying antique soccer with 10 players behind the ball hs been sent home.

Fine with me and good for soccer nd the future.

Rattler

[the_13th_redneck]

As long as Cristiano Fake Ronaldo goes home red faced, fuming and crying, I'm a happy guy.

[stoffel]

All we have to do now is beat Brazil..... and than Germany in the final
( no hard feelings from 74 Matt )

[Rattler]

All we have to do now is beat Brazil....-snip-

Seriously, you must be dreaming?  

Netherlands is not bad at all, quite to the contrary, but: So far Brazil has showed the best soccer I have seen in the WC: Tacticlly solid, precise, fast and fluid, short first touch passes, and what is more: You always had the feeling they were almost on purpose playing only at half gas and could do *much* more when necessary...  

They do play the style of Spain the way Spain would like to, for me they make it to finals w/o getting seriously contested (but as we all know,  in a tourney all is possible, else we could skip the quarters and semis...).

Good luck anyway, and dont get depressed when you should have to leave...

For Germany, Argentina is probably the end of the trajectory also, but they are young, can leave with their head high fter the England match, and we can expect more in the future... (though Argentina has weaknesses as Mexico showed, the defense is not WC class and vulnerable to the German speciality - searching for standard situtions like corners and free kicks close at the area by aggressive nd fast intrusions - , so not all is lost yet...). OTOH, if Germany has to open in the rear for being down in score there is almost nothing to stop Argentina´s fabulous attack section.

Rattler

[the_13th_redneck]

As long as Cristiano Fake Ronaldo goes home red faced, fuming and crying, I'm a happy guy.

I'm a happy guy.

[Rattler]

As long as Cristiano Fake Ronaldo goes home red faced, fuming and crying, I'm a happy guy.

I'm a happy guy.

I share your feelings

Rattler

[stoffel]

hahahaha, you shpould know me better by now

I like the game, but if they are being thrown out  its ok with me, I will sleep good anyway