The Soccer Thread

[Totentanz]

To be honest, if a team can't manage more than 3-1 against the USA, then 4-0 against Germany isn't an unrealistic result. As for Cahill's send off, I see it as bad karma from the warm up games coming back to haunt him when it really counts. The guy's been playing like a psychopath lately, so maybe this will teach him some manners on the pitch. Cahill is a great player, but he really doesn't seem mentally stable. Australia depends a lot on him, especially with Kewell being injured 24/7, so I really wish he'd calm down a bit.

Don't forget the German league has been using the new ball for a year, and all their squad plays in Germany. The number of shots and passes going high makes me think this change of ball's not so good for everyone else... no excuses, same for everyone.... except Germany.

Just finished watching Denmark's game against the Netherlands, and in spite of a 2-0 loss, I don't think we did too badly. We played a great first half, and in spite of some silly blunders in the second, we weren't horrible in that half either. I still think Denmark has a pretty good chance at advancing from the group stage.

Sadly, this was the first game I've missed - I couldn't rearrange some work commitments. Saw the highlights though, that first goal was unfortunate!

What happened to Cameroon?! (v Japan) It's like they only woke up to the fact they were going to lose in the last 5 mins. I don't understand the mentality displayed by a number of teams so far. The action is lacking a bit in this cup. ...plenty of time for it to improve though.

[RedZero]

I thought Paraguay V Italy would be a blowout. Good to see Paraguay hang in there, makes it more interesting. Japan beating Cameroon was also surprising.

[devilmaycare]

I wasn't surprised about either of those results... I'll be surprised if North Korea get anything against Brazil, but so far we haven't really had a David v Goliath type match.

[Wicked Cricket]

"How 'bout them Cowboys!!!!!!"

sorry, I couldn't help myself... I'll go away and leave the euro footballers to their game, no disrespect intened...

[Totentanz]

"How 'bout them Cowboys!!!!!!"

sorry, I couldn't help myself... I'll go away and leave the euro footballers to their game, no disrespect intened...

Well, at least you recognise we call it football. Although 'euro' is perhaps a bit limiting in scope.


Back On World Cup:

For me, all things considered, North Korea was performance of the tournament so far.

First half was awesome from NK. Second half they faded a bit, it was a shame they didn't get their goal a few mins earlier to see how nervous Brazil would get.

[Sir Kenneth]

Just finished watching Switzerland vs. Spain, and wow, that has got to be the biggest upset of the tournament so far! Spain possessed the ball for most of the match, but Switzerland seemed to do more with it when they actually had it. Spain had some good chances too, but over all they were light years away from being the team who won the Euro 2008.

[Totentanz]

Just finished watching Switzerland vs. Spain, and wow, that has got to be the biggest upset of the tournament so far! Spain possessed the ball for most of the match, but Switzerland seemed to do more with it when they actually had it. Spain had some good chances too, but over all they were light years away from being the team who won the Euro 2008.

I thought that was an excellent performance from Switzerland, they totally played to their strengths and thoroughly deserved the win. All power to 'em, hope they get through the group

[devilmaycare]

Yep. Superb German organization by Hitzfeld, who really must be one of football's most under-rated coaches.

[Sir Kenneth]

I agree with the 2 of 100%. I tuned in hoping to see Spain deliver a dominant performance like they did 2 years ago, but found myself rooting for Switzerland towards the end!

[BunnyPink]

What happened to Ronaldinho? How come he's not playing this year. Is he benched or too old? 2-1 against PRK. How did the North Korans hand in there against soccer royalty. Amazing. I'm happy for them but Brazil prevailed after all. Samba Baby!

[Ady]

I agree with the 2 of 100%. I tuned in hoping to see Spain deliver a dominant performance like they did 2 years ago, but found myself rooting for Switzerland towards the end!

Same here, even though they cost me 3 points in the fantasy league!

[devilmaycare]

What happened to Ronaldinho? How come he's not playing this year. Is he benched or too old? 2-1 against PRK. How did the North Korans hand in there against soccer royalty. Amazing. I'm happy for them but Brazil prevailed after all. Samba Baby!

Ronaldinho wasn't chosen by Dunga, a coach who is a major disciplinarian & likes players who toe his line. Fair enough, but Ronaldinho had his best season in years in 09/10.

ANYTHING can happen in football. The N.Koreans are a well drilled, fantastically organized team... and Brazil were having an off day. They needed a player like Ronaldinho who could produce a little magic...

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

I agree with the 2 of 100%. I tuned in hoping to see Spain deliver a dominant performance like they did 2 years ago, but found myself rooting for Switzerland towards the end!

How far off the pace was Torres? Horrible! He needs some match time in a BIG way!

[RLP4ever]

Damn, I'm still feeling a seriously sick, sinking feeling in the stomach, seeing Spain play pretty poorly---and go down the way they did against Switzerland. The Swiss deserved the win, no denying that. A lot of people in football have recently been brainstorming ways and means to thwart the Spanish (winning) style of playing; Inter Milan managed to pull it off playing astute and ugly, against Barcelona, recently. And the Swiss managed to stay solid, soak up the pressure, right through---and score that scrappy, shock goal to deservedly get this huge upset win-for the first time in 19 attempts, to boot.

This means that Spain have now obviously jeopardised their chances of topping their group. I reckon, chances are high they have to settle for second place-if the Swiss edge past Honduras and Chile, as is actually very likely.

Yep. Superb German organization by Hitzfeld, who really must be one of football's most under-rated coaches.

Right on, dmc! Hitzfeld had definitely devised a thoroughly shrewd game plan toward countering the formidable Spaniards--which his players so effectively executed, right through the game, keeping their shape, holding it expertly tight and steady at the back, and having much momentum going forward.

And, on your second point about the veteran German coach, I completely agree and gotta say that Ottmar Hitzfeld has always been one of my handful of top favourite football coaches, worldwide. He has led two of my all-time favourite German clubs---Bayern and Borussia Dortmund to title glory, and I've always wanted him to coach Germany. Alas, he had turned it down. If Joachim Low wasn't already doing such a great job, I'd have hollered at the gates of the DFB to hire Der General, without delay. The Swiss are extremely fortunate to have landed the services of such an exceptionally gifted, and successful, professional as their coach. This was one night where I wasn't wishing Ottmar any luck at all---but it didn't matter. He got what he wanted, anyway.

[RedZero]

Brazil is going to win the World Cup in South Africa five months from now. They'll be playing against Germany. Spain is highly ranked but their world cup history is underwhelwing.

As I said. History will be on Spain's side and they will disapoint like always. What a shame.

[sn0wb1ind0zzy]

All I know is that if I hear another one of those stupid Vuvuzela's I am going to explode.....

[RLP4ever]

All I know is that if I hear another one of those stupid Vuvuzela's I am going to explode.....

But hey, snow, I didn't know that you're a football/soccer fan, too I thought it's only most of us die-hards that are having to daily suffer the atrocity of the vuvuzelas. At any rate, if you're gonna watch any more of the World Cup action like some of the rest of us will, I can assure you that we both (we all) have to tolerate those horrible trumpets. Btw, do not miss the crunch USA vs Slovenia match--early morning on the 18th, for you.

As I said. History will be on Spain's side and they will disapoint like always. What a shame.

Hey, hey..I think you're jumping the gun there a bit, Red. Come on, you can't be counting out Spain, that easily, just yet. I'm still hoping that they bounce back in contention, get out of their group, and you know what (if they finish runners-up, behind the Swiss), chances are high that Brazil beckons..first thing in the knockout second round. I'd love that to play out in the only way I wish it to, i.e Spain beating Brazil; that would fulfill my twin desires--the elimination of Brazil and the progress of Spain. Ha, now I'm the one that's getting ahead of myself, too soon.

Regarding yesterday's action, it wasn't fun to see South Korea get steamrollered the way they were, by a rampaging Argentina.

Nigeria sort of self-destructed to deservedly lose against a transformed, determined Greek team that took full advantage of playing against 10 men, for a majority of the match--and for once, ditching their awful ultra-defensiveness and choosing to play wioth attacking dare that was enjoyable to watch.

I was extremely glad to see a feckless, lame France team get soundly beaten---and on the verge of elimination. I hope they go home, soon.

Although still somewhat smarting from the thrashing they gave the Aussies a few days ago, I am, as always, rooting for Germany, for the remainder of the tournament. The only team I can grudgingly, possibly accept them losing against, is (who else?), Spain. Anyway, I hope they beat a desperate Serbia convincingly tonight, later beat Ghana---and if my prayers are answered, brace for a dream clash against England in the sudden-death second round.

[devilmaycare]

I gotta be honest. I'm not eevn heaaring the vuvuzelas anymore...

After watching the Germany v Serbia game... It's not just the Spanish team that is under performing... That ref seemed to think that every foul was worthy of a yellow card! What a twat!

Okay... after the USA game... It's obviously "Shit Referee Day" in FIFA land... I fear for England later today...

[RLP4ever]

^ Glad that you brought that up, dmc. The ref's infuriatingly amaterish, trigger-happy performance tonight in the Germany vs Serbia game, left me doubly bitter and disappointed. I've seen similar clownish card-waving antics by similarly stupid referees before, but I always pray it doesn't happen in games I'm particularly keen about. Sure, the game was predictably slightly too physical with tackles and slides and all, coming thick and fast. But the referee's fetish for brandishing the yellow card was inexcusable and killed the game, in its own right. I felt Klose's sending-off, for one, despite his prior booking, was particularly harsh and hard to condone.

Anyway, suprises and shocks don't cease, apparently. I knew Serbia would sort of go for broke in this game. I'm just sad that Germany couldn't snatch a point, in the end, despite an undeniably under-par performance.

Hey, you must be watching the England-Algeria game tonight, mate. Hope it turns to be an exciting cliff-hanger, in spite of the presence of, heaven forbid, yet another moron referee.

[Totentanz]

Slovenia v USA was a good game, I thought Slovenia were unlucky not to win it, even accounting for the disallowed USA goal that shouldn't have been disallowed.

Great first goal from Slovenia, one of the best of the tournament so far.

The Germany result blows that group wide open, it's exactly what the tournament needs. The Germans'll no doubt get through, you can rely on 'em to come strong. France though...

Brazil is going to win the World Cup in South Africa five months from now. They'll be playing against Germany. Spain is highly ranked but their world cup history is underwhelwing.

I hope you're right and Brazil win it ...I drew them in the sweepstake at work (I also got Switzerland).

[devilmaycare]

Well. The ref was great...

ENGLAND THOUGH WERE UTTER SHITE!

[Totentanz]

Well. The ref was great...

ENGLAND THOUGH WERE UTTER SHITE!

That was possibly the worst game of the tournament so far. England were hilarious. I think the slow-mo of Heskey's attempt at a South American-style stepover summed it up perfectly. The very incarnation of shite.

I don't mean to single out Heskey though - they were ALL shite. No pride in battle, no spirit, no ideas. "Hmm... this clearly isn't working... lets do it some more... nope, still not effective... lets continue anyway..."

[devilmaycare]

Capello has to take some of the blame... this guy is meant to be a tactical genius, and what does he do to change things? Take off Lennon for Wright-Phillips! Fucking GENIUS!

He's gotta play Defoe for the whole game... Maybe with Crouch, maybe Rooney. NOT HESKEY!!

[Totentanz]

Capello has to take some of the blame... this guy is meant to be a tactical genius, and what does he do to change things? Take off Lennon for Wright-Phillips! Fucking GENIUS!

He's gotta play Defoe for the whole game... Maybe with Crouch, maybe Rooney. NOT HESKEY!!

Gotta stick up for SWP. In fairness he was the only one to run at people and he won a few free kicks in the process - he was more effective than Lennon (not that it's worth much). When the commentator mentioned Lennon about 30 mins into the game, it was only then it dawned on me he was even playing!

I agree Capello's gotta take blame here, crap squad selection, stupid 'two-hour-before-the-game' team announcements. Jeez, pick a team and let 'em play together, grow together, let 'em know there's confidence in them.

And you're dead on, no more Heskey, please:
"Japan have scored more goals for England in the last year than Emile Heskey has"
- Baddiel or Skinner, not sure which one said it, but it's true!

[RLP4ever]

Yea, last night's England-Algeria game was a debacle (by, and for, England, mainly); for me, it was on a par with the dismal spectacle of the France-Mexico game, though at least that one saw Mexico score twice and with some panache.

As abject and ridiculous as Emile Heskey was, I don't think there's any denying that several of his more famed team-mates were scarcely any better. The WHOLE England team, performed hugely below potential and expectations. It was a collective calamity, and a surreal, sorry spectacle, even for somebody like me who doesn't ever wish England any luck, in any sports. If Algeria had a bit more quality to their own play, and with some luck on the night, should have taken advantage and scored---consigning England to a deserved defeat, rather than the dismal draw, and shared points, in the end.

I wonder what you English fans think about playing Gerrard and Lampard together. I know it's been controversial and much commented upon, in recent times. To me, there does seem to be a bit of a problem with those two, together on the pitch, through the full 90 minutes. And when both are playing so poorly now (especially Lampard), I think that's one area that needs attention. Rooney, for all his pre-match bragging about an England, even playing well below 100%, certain of beating Algeria, looked particularly pathetic, right through. His petulance at the cameramen as he walked off the pitch in a huff was pretty hilarious. What the hell did he expect the England fans to do after what he and his mates showed them? I'm glad that the boos of the English fans could actually be heard above the din of the vuvuzelas. Damn, how I wish Michael Owen (my favourite English player) was here. Owen is great to watch, regardless of an English win or loss. I suspect he'd have made the difference last night, too.

Slovenia v USA was a good game, I thought Slovenia were unlucky not to win it, even accounting for the disallowed USA goal that shouldn't have been disallowed.

Great first goal from Slovenia, one of the best of the tournament so far.

The Germany result blows that group wide open, it's exactly what the tournament needs. The Germans'll no doubt get through, you can rely on 'em to come strong. France though

Yea, spare a thought for England then, tanz. Unlike Algeria, I reckon Slovenia can, and very likely will, score against England. Is that what it will take for the English forwards to suddenly, finally, spring to life?

Slovenia sort of blew it against the USA. Though I'd hate to take anything away from the battling Americans and their comeback. I'm still not fully sure about exactly why the third US goal, with only four minutes remaining, was disallowed. I reckon it was for some foul among the player melee inside the Slovenian box. In any case, I definitely heard the ref blow his whistle BEFORE the goal had been scored. But the game was a true entertainer, no question.

As for the German loss, and it throwing the whole group wide open, you're obviously right. But hey, I don't care what the tournament needs----as long as these sickening shock results happen in all the other groups, save Germany's. Yea, I hope Ghana gets a beating by the wounded Germans, and Australia somehow manage to contain Serbia.

I'll make a confession. As much as I don't mind seeing England lose, I want them to reach the second round----and hopefully lose to Germany, then.

As for France, that clown Domenech is talking about 'miracles' seeing France through. Patrice Evra, the captain, has been more sanguine and mature about admitting how far France has fallen, in footballing terms, AND how he has no belief in silly miracles---of any sort.

[Sir Kenneth]

Still hoping Germany beats Ghana RLP? It would be a hell of a lot simpler now for Australia if Ghana beats Germany

[RLP4ever]

Haha, how things change as we chatter along on this thread, Ken. But hey, after a bruising share of the spoils with Ghana tonight, I still don't see how my Aussies have any chance of progressing much further. Oh ok, I get it... Damn, if Ghana can miraculously beat the Germans, and of course, we still have a chance to beat Serbia, and then it's Ghana and Australia going through. Ken, you owe it to your aussie girlfriend and your South Australian neighbours, colleagues and friends that you pray for Australia, ok.

I hated seeing Kewell get the dreaded red and a sending-off. Wasn't any fairer than Cahill's, in my eyes. I gotta say that the 'red-card' syndrome is threatening to become a full-blown epidemic at this World Cup. If this trend continues, I shudder to think about the prospects awaiting the teams in the knock-out stages, at the mercy of overzealous referees wanting to suck up to the authorities.

[Sir Kenneth]

Don't worry, I'm always barracking for Australia and against Germany. As long as Australia isn't playing Denmark that is I think Australia has a decent chance against Serbia. They played a great game tonight and would have won if they had been a bit more composed in front of goal. They certainly seemed a much better team tonight than they did against Germany, that's for sure.


Only 10 minutes til Denmark Cameroon now!

[Totentanz]

Only 10 minutes til Denmark Cameroon now!

Probably best match of tournament so far!

I really enjoyed that, great effort by both sides, but a well-deserved visctory for Denmark.

[Sir Kenneth]

Our defense was in shambles for most of the first half and we did make some stupid mistakes that nearly cost us the game, but over all it was a good effort I thought. Cameroon really fought hard for it, but they seemed extremely poorly organized and didn't do enough with the chances they got.

Gotta love Nicklas Bendtner. While it's probably true that Nicklas Bendtner is Nicklas Bendtner's favourite player of all time, he does ever so often show us why

[devilmaycare]

I hated seeing Kewell get the dreaded red and a sending-off. Wasn't any fairer than Cahill's, in my eyes.

Oh c'mon RLP... It hit his arm, he was on the line. That would have been a red card anywhere, in any game!

On another note... I see that Anelka has been sent home for talking out of turn... The French farce continues!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...e-worldcup2010

[RedZero]

Brazil yeah baby! Kaka with two yellows wont play the critical Portugal game next week.
It was good to see Drogba score as well.
Paraguay - sweet! Victory.
Latin America keeps steaming forward.
Tomorrow will be a heart breaker for me I like both Spain and Honduras.

[RLP4ever]

Kaka's sending-off was the latest ridiculous red-card decision at this WC. His second yellow--card offense wouldn't merit a yellow probably 7/10 times, in the course of any match, anywhere. Sure, there was a lot of needless needle and schoolboy antics (by both teams) at the fag end of the match, but Kaka was very wronged, in my view.

The match was a largely underwhelming affair; both sides looked lethargic, played a pretty cautious, cagey game, for the most part, and Ivory Coast was particularly disappointing with their overall play----creating too few chances and awful misses when they did get a sniff, errant passes etc etc....I was hoping Brazil would be held 1-1. Alas, Fabiano's fantastic twin strikes dashed my hopes. Good to see Drogba score, though he really should have had two to his name. Brazil are looking steady, strong, and on course, if not spectacular as an Argentina we saw against Korea. But, I'm still relishing the chance to see how Brazil's visibly quite vulnerable defence will cope with offensive play of a much greater quality than either N.Korea or the Ivory Coast has shown them.

Italy got a 50/50 penalty decision, for their sole goal, and must actually feel fortunate to escape with even a draw against a nimble, determined New Zealand. It was a fun match to watch. Italy must now conjure up a way to get out of jail, and into the second round.

I'm really pleased about Paraguay. Hope they go as far as possible.

Tonight, although I'm no real fan of Portugal, but I'd still hope to see them get a win, and enjoy a potentially classic final group clash with Brazil.

Oh c'mon RLP... It hit his arm, he was on the line. That would have been a red card anywhere, in any game!

On another note... I see that Anelka has been sent home for talking out of turn... The French farce continues!

Oh well, on second thoughts, and on further viewing, I guess I'll cop that one regarding Kewell's red card. It still feels slightly harsh, in some sense, I dunno, whatever. But I stand by my rejection of the one against Cahill in the Germany game.

And oh, the French vaudeville at the World Cup is apace, that's right. Have you read some of the actual words Anelka had allegedly hurled at Domenech at half-time?? It's riotously funny. In any case, Anelka was clearly one of the worst offenders (a la Rooney in Eng vs Alg), in an entirely embarrassing performance by the French team that's turned up at this tournament. I've actually been thinking about how so many of these otherwise gifted players (not just those, like Anelka, in the French team-- think of the England squad, for instance) seem to routinely play brilliantly for their clubs----but are incredibly impotent in their national shirts playing for country.

Anyway, I wanna badly see Spain get back on track by convincingly beating Honduras. And Chile vs Switzerland should be interesting to watch, as well.

[nunoni]

Brazil yeah baby! Kaka with two yellows wont play the critical Portugal game next week..

it's only critical if Portugal wins (or draws) today!

[nunoni]

half time and we're winning 1-0, don't know how we're playing, I'm at work

---------- Post added at 01:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 PM ----------

4-0 and counting

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 PM ----------

6-0 and counting. Oh dear. In 1966 we were down 3-0 against North Korea after 25 mins. Then Eusébio scored twice on the first half, another two in the second, rounded by a 5th to end 5-3. But this is becoming one of the worst humiliations in World Cup history.

Sorry, 7-0 and counting.

---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

hmph, no more goals, but it looked like they were going to score another 10 had the game been just a little bit longer.

---------- Post added at 02:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 PM ----------

this puts us through to the knock out stages; bar some unimaginable catastrophe, after all, we now have 9 goals advantage over Ivory Coast.

[devilmaycare]

Kaka's sending-off was the latest ridiculous red-card decision at this WC. His second yellow--card offense wouldn't merit a yellow probably 7/10 times, in the course of any match, anywhere. Sure, there was a lot of needless needle and schoolboy antics (by both teams) at the fag end of the match, but Kaka was very wronged, in my view.

Karma baby!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgfRCa71Kmw

I loved watching Dunga, Brazil's coach - & formerly one of the dirtiest, most cynical players I've had the misfortune to watch - jumping up & down like a little girl every time one of his precious yellow clad ballerinas feigned injury...

Italy got a 50/50 penalty decision, for their sole goal, and must actually feel fortunate to escape with even a draw against a nimble, determined New Zealand. It was a fun match to watch. Italy must now conjure up a way to get out of jail, and into the second round.

I loved this. Even my missus - a true blue, dyed in the wool Aussie - was jumping up & down and kicking every ball clear for the All Whites!

[Sir Kenneth]

And oh, the French vaudeville at the World Cup is apace, that's right. Have you read some of the actual words Anelka had allegedly hurled at Domenech at half-time?? It's riotously funny. In any case, Anelka was clearly one of the worst offenders (a la Rooney in Eng vs Alg), in an entirely embarrassing performance by the French team that's turned up at this tournament. I've actually been thinking about how so many of these otherwise gifted players (not just those, like Anelka, in the French team-- think of the England squad, for instance) seem to routinely play brilliantly for their clubs----but are incredibly impotent in their national shirts playing for country.

It's apparently not enough for France to be a joke ON the pitch. They have to be a joke OFF the pitch too First Anelka gets sent home for hurling abuse at Domenech and now the rest of the squad, lead by Evra, are boycotting training in protest! What a bunch of pathetic spoilt children. Hopefully this is the last we've seen of Evra as captain. He's obviously misunderstood the role and responsibility of the captaincy in a major way.

half time and we're winning 1-0, don't know how we're playing, I'm at work

---------- Post added at 01:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 PM ----------

4-0 and counting

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 PM ----------

6-0 and counting. Oh dear. In 1966 we were down 3-0 against North Korea after 25 mins. Then Eusébio scored twice on the first half, another two in the second, rounded by a 5th to end 5-3. But this is becoming one of the worst humiliations in World Cup history.

Sorry, 7-0 and counting.

---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

hmph, no more goals, but it looked like they were going to score another 10 had the game been just a little bit longer.

---------- Post added at 02:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 PM ----------

this puts us through to the knock out stages; bar some unimaginable catastrophe, after all, we now have 9 goals advantage over Ivory Coast.

Well the people who have criticised this World Cup for being lacking in the goal department finally got them! I'm looking forward to seeing Portugal take on Brazil now. Should be one hell of a game.

[BunnyPink]

But, I'm still relishing the chance to see how Brazil's visibly quite vulnerable defence will cope with offensive play of a much greater quality than either N.Korea or the Ivory Coast has shown them.

Portugal wasn't able to beat CIV like Brasil did. The PRK rout was directly affected by the storm making the keeper ineffective. PRK is not a triking team like Portugal so naturaly Portugal prevailed. I agree Bra V Port Friday will be a fantastic game. I really wanted to see Ronaldinho...sad he was not selected.

I'm also looking forward to Australia upping Serbia. I know they have the horsepower to win.

[Sir Kenneth]

Brazil are looking steady, strong, and on course, if not spectacular as an Argentina we saw against Korea. But, I'm still relishing the chance to see how Brazil's visibly quite vulnerable defence will cope with offensive play of a much greater quality than either N.Korea or the Ivory Coast has shown them.

I don't think Brazil has a vulnerable defense at all to be honest. Maicon and Lucio were largely responsible for completely shutting down Barca's offense in the Champions's League and "Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos" is as good a line of defense as Brazil has had in ages.

[RLP4ever]

I don't think Brazil has a vulnerable defense at all to be honest. Maicon and Lucio were largely responsible for completely shutting down Barca's offense in the Champions's League and "Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos" is as good a line of defense as Brazil has had in ages.

Inter Milan vs the rest in the Champions League isn't really like Brazil at the World Cup. For one, the Champions League is a much more competitive, intense and superior competition than the WC---Jose Mourinho was right on the money when he said as much, recently. A lot more is at stake, and both Lucio and Maicon, like most everybody else, invariably seem to play a lot better and above themselves, than when they play for their national team at internationals around the year. Both guys are very good, attack-oriented defensive players, no doubting that. But frankly, Barca's failure to break through and prevail over Inter (especially in the return tie at the Nou Camp) had as much to do with the entire Inter team playing extreme catenaccio as with Barca's own under-par, somewhat uninspired play. In that sense alone, Lucio and Maicon actually had all their other team-mates to thank for helping out defensively in successfully shutting out Barca's offensive threat.

Now, in both Brazil's games, I couldn't help but notice that despite lacking the ability to pose a genuine, constant threat to the Brazil goal, both the Ivory Coast and N.Korea were at least occasionally able to really harry and hustle, and cause a certain panic in the Brazil defense, apparently beating them in pace and breaking them off position. I mean, Drogba definitely should have scored twice (given how he fluffed the first superb chance to beat Cesar with a header). And if Fabiano's (now by his own cheeky admission) deliberate handball second goal had been disallowed, instead of the referee later smiling about it with the player, then we'd have a different result. Only time will tell if my suspicions about the Brazil defense are vindicated. I have a hunch Lucio and pals ain't seen nothing yet. As for the current line-up in defense being "as good a line of defense as Brazil has had in ages"---that isn't actually saying much, because I think Brazil have had a pretty second-rate defense, for most of the time in recent memory.

Karma baby!

I loved watching Dunga, Brazil's coach - & formerly one of the dirtiest, most cynical players I've had the misfortune to watch - jumping up & down like a little girl every time one of his precious yellow clad ballerinas feigned injury...

Touche, touche, mate! But still, all those wrongs don't make Kaka being wronged, right. . And the Ivory Coast player was a dick to have made a real meal out of the situation. Kaka was no angel in the preceding 10-15 minutes of the game, but I hated to see him yellow-carded for that specific incident ---and get his marching orders. Total farce.

But you're spot-on about the acute irony of seeing Dunga, of all people, himself such a downright dirty dog of a player, in his prime, with Brazil, look and act all butt-hurt and indignant while his prima donnas happily indulged in all that play-acting of being fouled and felled by the IC players. And one Brazil player that has always got on my nerves is that show-boating asshat, a.k.a Robinho. I hope Brazil get knocked out in quarters or semis, and he goes goal-less. Lol

Portugal wasn't able to beat CIV like Brasil did. The PRK rout was directly affected by the storm making the keeper ineffective. PRK is not a triking team like Portugal so naturaly Portugal prevailed. I agree Bra V Port Friday will be a fantastic game. I really wanted to see Ronaldinho...sad he was not selected.

I'm also looking forward to Australia upping Serbia. I know they have the horsepower to win.

Not every game is of the same nature, Bunny. It's funny how you attribute the routing of N.Korea to some 'storm' causing the Korean keeper to go kaput in the game. At least the Korean coach has taken ALL the blame upon himself, absolving the poor players of the same. What's a "triking team"? Do you mean 'striking'? or perhaps 'tricky'? But I wasn't amused to see Korea cave in such a shockingly hapless, clueless manner, and let Portugal blitz them with seven. Brazil will meet their match on Friday. It really should be a true entertainer. Btw, Cristiano Ronaldo is another, like Robinho, that I never could tolerate. I hated to see him get on the score sheet.

*In other news, it's been a revealing read of reports of how John Terry, has apparently totally failed in his thinly-veiled attempt to stage some sort of player rebellion against Fabio Capello. Some of his remarks post-Algeria game have been nothing short of inciteful and subversive in the extreme. I agree Joe Cole is a very good player and oughta play a prominent role in England's crunch game against Slovenia. But it's time John Terry, stopped being a bitter, conniving cunt, and started pulling his own weight and place in the England team.

I'm ruing the fact that Spain didn't put more goals past Honduras. They played excellently, but I see how there's definitely more to be done yet, to make Spain a stronger candidate to go all the way and win the trophy.

So, France will put out a team after all, in the (face-saving?) game against the hosts, tonight. The player revolt, refusal to train and etc etc. has been beyond shameful to witness. But French football has traditionally had this problem of player vanity, false sense of entitlement, questionable standards of professionalism within the team, and recurrent turmoil, controversy, incompetence at various levels of upper management in football in France. This team has behaved like a bunch of under-performing, disgruntled firemen striking for better pay and benefits against their tyrannical, old boss. I hope France lose tonight, and go home in disgrace. And oh, Nicolas Anelka, has chosen to dash off to London, instead.

[nunoni]

bye bye frenchies

bye bie hosts