France is a complete disappointment! They created nothing and Urguay was content with a point. SA played a pretty good game. SA had a 1v1 with the keeper and hit the post with :45 left. By my account SA should of won at least 3-1. I'm never going to get any work done as long as these games are on! My little girl (she 5) has a match tomorrow that ends ony 30 minutes before the start of US/ENG. Sorry sweetie, but dad has to HURRY home!!!!!!
Yep, typical French wimpy performance! Game there for the taking and so they play all negative - pretty boring unfortunately and considering the good 1st game.
i bet that ref's yellow card was smoking because he used it soooo much. I haven't seen the game statistics, but I bet there were 12 yellow cards. One poor fella wsa booked twice and for what? a lousy point.
I have to say that the French were playing...well...French (no offense to any Frenchmen in the haus. I think there is a coaching issue since there is so much talent on that team and nothing to show for it. Their last friendly vs. China was pathetic as well.
The SA game WAS good...Mexico should have put them away but it was a treat to watch for sure! I was rooting for SA to put that goal in at the end!
Just knew it'd be a tight game! Ok, absolute howler of a mistake by our 'keeper but I thought the US played well & worked real hard to stay in the game when in fairness they were fairly lucky to be still in a game. Thought England played quite well - despite all the media being negative over here - the US were always going to be tough to beat - a little like an english 'derby' game, i.e. 2 local sides playing each other when the form book goes out the window!
Can the US keep up the momentum against the likes of Algeria now?
I keep hearing this condescending stuff from Brits here and the Brit commentators about scrappy USA, lucky to be in the game, no matter how it goes they've acquitted themselves well, come a long way, blah, blah. We have superior goalkeeping, and that is not a small part of the game. (And we need it!)
Hope the team is hearing it too.
Cheers!
PS- All the knee grabbing and flopping in the sport has to stop. Looked like 15 torn ACL's out there. Hockey would sort that out fast.
Hi Guys ! Sorry to only see this thread now but WE ARE IN THE WORLD CUP !!!! It is just fantastic . I am a total soccer nut and have been busy waving my flag and enjoying the absolutely electric atmosphere that has embraced my country . I did go to rugby yesterday . WE WON ! but raced home from a very busy Cape Town to watch ENG - USA . David you were spot on . This for me has been the most exciting game so far , other than of course watching our own Bafana Bafana . I am also in the dog box as I am glued to the TV and every one has to make there own dinner , ha ha .
As for SA hosting the games we have done a GREAT job . The entire country is united and everyone is smiling and waving flags . We have flags on our cars , at home on the verandas , painted on our walls and faces . The spirit is HIGH . As for Mandela , he tragically lost his grand daughter in a car accident after the opening ceremony . It is very , very sad and of course he has cancelled his plans to attend the world cup .
I personally support the South American teams , I have a Dutch surname so support Netherlands as well . I am looking forward to tonights game GER-AUS. So on my list I have Brazil , Argentina , Netherlands . My son is a big Arsenal Fan . In South Africa all the kids are on holiday for the duration of the cup . We are the two soccer rebels in the house . So from South Africa I can tell you I am having a wonderful World Cup .......
My honest appraisal of the USA-EN game is the US played well, England played far below their potential, and the result was 'about right'...even though it was actually lucky for the US. The US COULD have won the game, as COULD have England. I would have enjoyed it much more if the English side had played to their ability so the US could really have had something to feel proud of...but, there is more to come. We'll see!
Hi Tina! Must be awesome to be there & soaking up the atmosphere, so cool! I've had enough of those air-hones however, like a hornets nest!! :-)
Hey Chris - would be condescending if it wasn't true! Nothing to do with superior goalkeeping (Howard was very solid but not really tested at all) - england keeper just made a massive & 1 in a 100 type error. The US did a job, were organised & worked hard but looked very frail at the back - on another day you would have been well & truly stuffed and will be if you don't sort out those 2 central defenders. Overall, good point for both teams and a game to 'get done' me thinks.
Think the US teams celebrations after the match kinda sum it up don't you?
@Steve - perhaps England played below their potential because the US played to theirs? It was up to England to breakdown the US in the 2nd half but couldn't - how many corners did the US have to defend?!
Ah well, the last time we got to the semi's (In Italy) we drew our first game - lost the semi to the Germans on penalties if you recall.
Late edit - yikes! The germans looks a tad tasty! OK, Aussies down to 10 men but you still have to do the business - young side too, scary! So, if germans win that group, they'll be playing the 2nd place team in US/England's......................
Look out for Germany , they are up to speed . Remember also everyone is getting used to a new ball , so I think things will start hotting up into their second games . About the vuvuzela.....it is very loud . My dogs go crazy if you blow one . I think a lot of teams have complained and it is banned at some places , it blows 127dB ! Our hats are very cool , made by unemployed people . Anyway enjoy today , we have the Japanese team staying in our town . Great to see all the hype that follows them around .
'About the vuvuzela.....it is very loud . My dogs go crazy if you blow one . I think a lot of teams have complained and it is banned at some places , it blows 127dB !'
Hi Tina - after watching the last 20mins of the Dutch game, I'm now convinced that those horns are actually ruining the atmosphere rather than adding to it - novel to start with but now a pain in the ass, in my opinion of course. Part of my memories from previous WC's has been of the great atmosphere created by the fans - immediately think of the Dutch, all in orange swaying in unison to their own brass band or the England fans in France; remember the game against (when Beckham got sent off)? The entire stadium was rocking to the english band & singing. Today, couldn't hear the Dutch fans, some muted chants from both sets of fans during the US/Eng game - just that buzz! Maybe its just the way the TV mics pick it up.
Is it me, but everytime the cameras pan the fans in stadium, no one seems to be blowing them?!! Perhaps at 127dB you don't need many to create the din.
Anyways - if it is the 'noise of world cup South Africa' then so be it! :-)
David, I read an article about the vuvuzela this moring. Mesi said it was like being deaf, you couldn't talk to the player next to you. The last few matches don't seem as loud as Soccer CIty did that first day. It sounds just like buzzing bugs to me. This WC will be remembered for the vuvu.
Let's talk about playing up to expectation! So far, I haven't seen a match where teams have lived up to expectation or reputation. Maybe Germany is the exception, but playing the Aussies (SocceRoos) isn't that big of a test. Argentina, England, Italy, US and the African countries have all played sub-par at best.
Hi Chuck - lots of talk about the new ball they are using, apparently its moving around loads and unpredictable - making it very tough for goalkeeper (been a few gaffs so far!) and also strikers having problems with it. Apparently the German league have been using the ball all season............ The mass media dismissing this as an excuse but the Pro's at this level can feel the difference plus the altitude is probably adding to the problem - 1st games are also a bit cagey aren't they? You think the US were sub-par? Haven't watched the US games prior to the WC so not sure in the standard, however I think they got the result they wanted, what do you think?
Hi Chris - both freaks I believe but different - much talk by the TV pundits over here comparing the 2 mistakes - Lee Dixon, who was on the pitch for that Ronaldinho goal was insisting that it was an intended cross and no way an attempt to score, even by such a great player. As for the Green one, I think he picked it (visually) up a little late and messed up his 'set position' - Gerrard did say on TV however, that he saw the ball on that shot do some odd things in the air.
But, hey, goalies make mistakes now and again and when they do it usually ends up with a goal - outfield player screws up and nothing happens. My sons a goalkeeper and attends training twice a week with the Bournemouth Youth squad so I'm pro the 'goalkeepers union' on this! :-) Shame though! After the Gerrard goal I thought that US defence were going to get 'cut to bits' - Rooney wasn't on it at all, lots of industry but little reward despite Heskey playing well as the target man.
David, I have to agree with you, Heskey was on fire and Rooney, sadly, was no where to be found. Altought, he came out a played a little in the 2nd half. What I saw with Green was him going to his knees to pick up Dempsey's shot. He looses all mobilityand shortens his reach by going down. I think had he stayed on his feet, even with the mis-handleing of the ball, he could of reached the ball before it crosssed the goal line. We can all second guess him all day(video makes it pretty easy), but until we are but into that kind of pressure, you never know how you will react. That game was THE preimer match of the fist round of games, the world was watching, things happen.
I saw and lot of the qualifing matches and several friendlies leading upto the tournament and I do think the US played sub-par. The team didn't play "bad" but I thought they lacked creativity and played too much straight-line football. I think if the showed a bit more paticience, lengthened the field with passes to space and got better in the central defense, they would be a solid squad. I know they can do it, I have seen them. This next match will pretty much tell the tale if the are to move on or not.
From my perspective, when Bob Bradley started Ricardo Clark next to his son it was clear he was going for a defensive set-up and we would be chasing the ball for much of the game. What we deseparately need is possession and somebody in the middle of the park who can control the ball in traffic and distribute smartly. That's why I was very disappointed when he didn't start Jose Torres (or at least Stuart Holden) in the middle with MB. Torres has shown time and time again that he has the technical ability to hold the ball under pressure and make good decisions but for some reason Bradley won't trust him. I think complaints about his defensive skills are bogus (and btw I thought Clark was invisible for much of the game) and I'm praying that he gets the start against Slovenia and Algeria. I think he can be our new Claudio Reyna or Tab Ramos if given the playing time. We can't do much if we don't have ball and if we resort to hoofing it upfield every time we get possession and hope that somebody latches onto it we will have a very short tournament indeed. Can't wait for Friday!
On a side note, I think the officiating during this tournament has been surprisingly good. I was fearing a slew of unnecessary game-killing yellow and red cards early on but for the most part I think the refs have managed the matches well and have let them flow.
@David, I've always thought Ronaldinho's goal against Seaman wasn't a shot but just a lucky accident when the ball sailed on him.
Yes we are watching it here! my son esp, he is 16 and I am sure will star one day on ESPN sportscasting so all sports are watched here! my boys have played soccer and I have beena soccer mom for 17 years now! but now son said that England did not beat US??? tied, huh? aww, too bad... hey my mother is British so I can legit poke fun at you Brits.!! Not only have we hacked up "y'alls language" but now we can play the game too! and somehow we got Beckham, hmm, and his wife...well okay.
Hey I like the part that new music came out for my IPOD, Waka Waka by Shakira and Sign of a Victory by R Kelley. m
Ok, another big day for US & England with a must-win for both I reckon - predictions?
Going for 1-1 US/Slovenia game and England to beat Algeria 3-1. If that pans-out the last matches in the group will be interesting with US favourites to beat Algeria (by needing more goals than England probably) and England needing to beat Slovenia to win group and avoid Germany in the last 16. England win should then help US quailify.
The way things have been going in the WC I would be surprised if both US & England draw again and we have to beat Slovenia by more goals than you guys beat Algeria! England always make it tough - painful to watch.........!
Well that was dire! England played like the French - its as though all the pressure has sucked the 'mojo' out of these guys. Unfortunately I missed the US game, I hear they played well and showed passion & commitment - should've watched that game instead of the England one! At this rate, this group will come down to drawing lots to determine who goes through.........
@william - story of the WC so far, fantastic result for NZ! Overall, so far in the tournament, the so-called developing football nations (I'd include the US in that but of course they are more 'developed' than NZ) have improved so much, not necessarily from a skill point of view 'cos that was there already perhaps but from a tactical perspective. 'Smaller' soccer nations have learnt how to play against the big teams full of world class/ star players - they know how to organise & frustrate the opposition and turn their 'one of the favourites' tag against them, putting even more pressure on them to force the games (to 'press' ) and get frustrated. In every game, both sides (no matter what the form book says) will have chances to score. Mix that in with the off-field pressure/expectations and we start to see the cracks in their organisations such as with France & to a lesser extent with England where 'player power' looks to be trying to flex its muscles.........
Almost like a "young" Brazil... lots of nice combination and clever play, but just not very precise or quite the same technical level...so if it didn't work just right they lost the ball to a more "classic" style team in France. (Yes, France sucked, but individually, they are still good players on the whole!) Would have been fun to see RSA rack up a few more goals, but twere not to be!
Congrats to the US of A or winning the Group!! Dunno what that means until later of course in this crazy World Cup - which one of you guys wanted Germany?! Tell you what, you have them with pleasure & hopefully we can play Ghana, I think................
Does anyone know what that irritating humming/buzzing noise is during these games? I can't stand to keep the sound on because it sounds like an unrelenting smarm of bees.
Comments
France is a complete disappointment! They created nothing and Urguay was content with a point. SA played a pretty good game. SA had a 1v1 with the keeper and hit the post with :45 left. By my account SA should of won at least 3-1. I'm never going to get any work done as long as these games are on! My little girl (she 5) has a match tomorrow that ends ony 30 minutes before the start of US/ENG. Sorry sweetie, but dad has to HURRY home!!!!!!
I have to say that the French were playing...well...French (no offense to any Frenchmen in the haus. I think there is a coaching issue since there is so much talent on that team and nothing to show for it. Their last friendly vs. China was pathetic as well.
The SA game WAS good...Mexico should have put them away but it was a treat to watch for sure! I was rooting for SA to put that goal in at the end!
Can the US keep up the momentum against the likes of Algeria now?
I keep hearing this condescending stuff from Brits here and the Brit commentators about scrappy USA, lucky to be in the game, no matter how it goes they've acquitted themselves well, come a long way, blah, blah. We have superior goalkeeping, and that is not a small part of the game. (And we need it!)
Hope the team is hearing it too.
Cheers!
PS- All the knee grabbing and flopping in the sport has to stop. Looked like 15 torn ACL's out there. Hockey would sort that out fast.
As for SA hosting the games we have done a GREAT job . The entire country is united and everyone is smiling and waving flags . We have flags on our cars , at home on the verandas , painted on our walls and faces . The spirit is HIGH . As for Mandela , he tragically lost his grand daughter in a car accident after the opening ceremony . It is very , very sad and of course he has cancelled his plans to attend the world cup .
I personally support the South American teams , I have a Dutch surname so support Netherlands as well . I am looking forward to tonights game GER-AUS. So on my list I have Brazil , Argentina , Netherlands . My son is a big Arsenal Fan . In South Africa all the kids are on holiday for the duration of the cup . We are the two soccer rebels in the house . So from South Africa I can tell you I am having a wonderful World Cup .......
Hi Tina! Must be awesome to be there & soaking up the atmosphere, so cool! I've had enough of those air-hones however, like a hornets nest!! :-)
Hey Chris - would be condescending if it wasn't true! Nothing to do with superior goalkeeping (Howard was very solid but not really tested at all) - england keeper just made a massive & 1 in a 100 type error. The US did a job, were organised & worked hard but looked very frail at the back - on another day you would have been well & truly stuffed and will be if you don't sort out those 2 central defenders. Overall, good point for both teams and a game to 'get done' me thinks.
Think the US teams celebrations after the match kinda sum it up don't you?
@Steve - perhaps England played below their potential because the US played to theirs? It was up to England to breakdown the US in the 2nd half but couldn't - how many corners did the US have to defend?!
Ah well, the last time we got to the semi's (In Italy) we drew our first game - lost the semi to the Germans on penalties if you recall.
Late edit - yikes! The germans looks a tad tasty! OK, Aussies down to 10 men but you still have to do the business - young side too, scary! So, if germans win that group, they'll be playing the 2nd place team in US/England's......................
Perhaps, but it wasn't another day, was it?
And it was about goalkeeping. Yours stunk and ours didn't. In know, our goal was a gift. But it wouldn't be sporting to give it back.
Hi Tina - after watching the last 20mins of the Dutch game, I'm now convinced that those horns are actually ruining the atmosphere rather than adding to it - novel to start with but now a pain in the ass, in my opinion of course.
Part of my memories from previous WC's has been of the great atmosphere created by the fans - immediately think of the Dutch, all in orange swaying in unison to their own brass band or the England fans in France; remember the game against (when Beckham got sent off)? The entire stadium was rocking to the english band & singing.
Today, couldn't hear the Dutch fans, some muted chants from both sets of fans during the US/Eng game - just that buzz! Maybe its just the way the TV mics pick it up.
Is it me, but everytime the cameras pan the fans in stadium, no one seems to be blowing them?!! Perhaps at 127dB you don't need many to create the din.
Anyways - if it is the 'noise of world cup South Africa' then so be it! :-)
Let's talk about playing up to expectation! So far, I haven't seen a match where teams have lived up to expectation or reputation. Maybe Germany is the exception, but playing the Aussies (SocceRoos) isn't that big of a test. Argentina, England, Italy, US and the African countries have all played sub-par at best.
The mass media dismissing this as an excuse but the Pro's at this level can feel the difference plus the altitude is probably adding to the problem - 1st games are also a bit cagey aren't they?
You think the US were sub-par? Haven't watched the US games prior to the WC so not sure in the standard, however I think they got the result they wanted, what do you think?
Hey, David, how do you rate Green's gaffe vs. David Seaman's flap against Ronaldinho in 2002?
But, hey, goalies make mistakes now and again and when they do it usually ends up with a goal - outfield player screws up and nothing happens. My sons a goalkeeper and attends training twice a week with the Bournemouth Youth squad so I'm pro the 'goalkeepers union' on this! :-)
Shame though! After the Gerrard goal I thought that US defence were going to get 'cut to bits' - Rooney wasn't on it at all, lots of industry but little reward despite Heskey playing well as the target man.
I saw and lot of the qualifing matches and several friendlies leading upto the tournament and I do think the US played sub-par. The team didn't play "bad" but I thought they lacked creativity and played too much straight-line football. I think if the showed a bit more paticience, lengthened the field with passes to space and got better in the central defense, they would be a solid squad. I know they can do it, I have seen them. This next match will pretty much tell the tale if the are to move on or not.
From my perspective, when Bob Bradley started Ricardo Clark next to his son it was clear he was going for a defensive set-up and we would be chasing the ball for much of the game. What we deseparately need is possession and somebody in the middle of the park who can control the ball in traffic and distribute smartly. That's why I was very disappointed when he didn't start Jose Torres (or at least Stuart Holden) in the middle with MB. Torres has shown time and time again that he has the technical ability to hold the ball under pressure and make good decisions but for some reason Bradley won't trust him. I think complaints about his defensive skills are bogus (and btw I thought Clark was invisible for much of the game) and I'm praying that he gets the start against Slovenia and Algeria. I think he can be our new Claudio Reyna or Tab Ramos if given the playing time. We can't do much if we don't have ball and if we resort to hoofing it upfield every time we get possession and hope that somebody latches onto it we will have a very short tournament indeed. Can't wait for Friday!
On a side note, I think the officiating during this tournament has been surprisingly good. I was fearing a slew of unnecessary game-killing yellow and red cards early on but for the most part I think the refs have managed the matches well and have let them flow.
@David, I've always thought Ronaldinho's goal against Seaman wasn't a shot but just a lucky accident when the ball sailed on him.
Yes we are watching it here! my son esp, he is 16 and I am sure will star one day on ESPN sportscasting so all sports are watched here! my boys have played soccer and I have beena soccer mom for 17 years now!
but now son said that England did not beat US??? tied, huh? aww, too bad... 
hey my mother is British so I can legit poke fun at you Brits.!! Not only have we hacked up "y'alls language" but now we can play the game too! 
and somehow we got Beckham, hmm, and his wife...well okay.
Hey I like the part that new music came out for my IPOD, Waka Waka by Shakira and Sign of a Victory by R Kelley. m
Going for 1-1 US/Slovenia game and England to beat Algeria 3-1. If that pans-out the last matches in the group will be interesting with US favourites to beat Algeria (by needing more goals than England probably) and England needing to beat Slovenia to win group and avoid Germany in the last 16. England win should then help US quailify.
US over Slovenia 1-0
Eng over Algeria 2-0
At this rate, this group will come down to drawing lots to determine who goes through.........
Overall, so far in the tournament, the so-called developing football nations (I'd include the US in that but of course they are more 'developed' than NZ) have improved so much, not necessarily from a skill point of view 'cos that was there already perhaps but from a tactical perspective.
'Smaller' soccer nations have learnt how to play against the big teams full of world class/ star players - they know how to organise & frustrate the opposition and turn their 'one of the favourites' tag against them, putting even more pressure on them to force the games (to 'press' ) and get frustrated. In every game, both sides (no matter what the form book says) will have chances to score.
Mix that in with the off-field pressure/expectations and we start to see the cracks in their organisations such as with France & to a lesser extent with England where 'player power' looks to be trying to flex its muscles.........
Gonna be an interesting week ahead!
GOOD BYE France!!!
Almost like a "young" Brazil... lots of nice combination and clever play, but just not very precise or quite the same technical level...so if it didn't work just right they lost the ball to a more "classic" style team in France. (Yes, France sucked, but individually, they are still good players on the whole!) Would have been fun to see RSA rack up a few more goals, but twere not to be!
Congrats to the US of A or winning the Group!! Dunno what that means until later of course in this crazy World Cup - which one of you guys wanted Germany?! Tell you what, you have them with pleasure & hopefully we can play Ghana, I think................