World Cup 2010

Based on this game, can anyone tell me why the pound is valued over the dollar and as much as double about a year ago?

The England team, over valued, over-paid, the reputations of a past empire still somehow managing to give them some credence. It was said that this young German team would have been more ready in another 2 years. But we saw a very poised German team today, and their deadly counter attacks exposed an aged England team. Like it's economy, like Mick Jagger who we saw at the game.

Argentina vs Mexico, who to cheer? Well, we have the sentimental factor playing here, chicas can really mess up your rationalizing powers. I had alot of fun in Tijuana back in the 80s and 90s, and Argentina in the last decade, and I am everlasting grateful to their women for their faith in me. I know, money talks, you don't have to remind me. Well, I think I am going to leave it to the gods of soccer!

I am inclined to pull for Mexico. Like a lot of arrogant motor-mouth "Super Powers", they under-estimate their opponents. Mexico is young and full of cum.

[QUOTE=Doggboy]I repeat, who ARE these guys? The ball about a meter into the goal and neither the referee or the linesman can see it! And, England needs all the help they can get. Without Rio Ferdinand their backline is horrible.[/QUOTE]That missed goal call was the 2nd worst thing I saw this morning. England's defense was the single worst thing.

Mexico failed hard. Argentina is peaking at the right time. I'd love to be in BsAs when / if Brazil v. Argentina in the final.

[QUOTE=Big Travel Guy]That missed goal call was the 2nd worst thing I saw this morning. England's defense was the single worst thing.[/QUOTE]Guys you are wrong. See the picture.

The FIFA has reacted to their terrible officiating by ordering the stadiums to stop displaying game replays on their giant screens:

[url]http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/article/2010-06-28/fifa-cracks-down-on-stadium-screen-broadcasts[/url]

[url]http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/28/sports-soc-wcup-stadium-screens_7724834.html?boxes=financechannelAP[/url]

...but they still can't find the fortitude to stop the [u]stupid[/u] [u]fucking[/u] [u]vuvuzelas[/u].

[QUOTE=Jackson]The FIFA has reacted to their terrible officiating by ordering the stadiums to stop displaying game replays on their giant screens:

[url]http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/article/2010-06-28/fifa-cracks-down-on-stadium-screen-broadcasts[/url]

[url]http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/28/sports-soc-wcup-stadium-screens_7724834.html?boxes=financechannelAP[/url]

. But they still can't find the fortitude to stop the [u]stupid[/u] [u]fucking[/u] [u]vuvuzelas[/u].[/QUOTE]I REALLY hate those fucking horns!

My neighbor has one!

My dog wants to kill him too!

TL

Trash talking is heating this match up.

[QUOTE=Damman]Trash talking is heating this match up.[/QUOTE]And to think that Juan Peron was nice enough to issue 8,800 BLANK Argentine Passports to their grandfathers!

The least that they could do is say Thanks by losing the game!

TL

[QUOTE=Damman]Trash talking is heating this match up.[/QUOTE]The germans are nervous.

In addition, there is a video out from their last match showing their coach picking his nose and eating a booger. The germans-pissing all over each other to beat the band and eating boogers. What a crew.

Nice cars though.

Wow, was able to catch up on my sleep finally with the break in action. So we are down to the last 8, and the match-ups could not be more exciting. Brazil should win but need a break-out game from Robinho or Kaka, otherwise Netherlands could win in a penalty shoot-out. I will take Ghana over Uruguay in a toss-up game. Underachieving Argentina should beat an overachieving Germany, but I am still waiting for Messi to be a Pele. Spain seems to be the best bet of the 4 games, they just have too much game for Paraguay.

The gangster mentality Brazilians have been eliminated. Yes! Excellent news for futbol in my opinion. Now let's see if the old guard in Brazil get their way and get Dunga booted. If you play defense first in Brazil and win the WC, you might get retained, but if you play "ugly" futbol and lose to Holland, well, I predict Dunga will be fired, and good riddance.

Felipe Melo is by far Holland's best player. It's too bad they can't keep him.

[QUOTE=Schmoj]Felipe Melo is by far Holland's best player. It's too bad they can't keep him.[/QUOTE]I think they could have him for cheap at the moment.;)

[QUOTE=Doggboy]The gangster mentality Brazilians have been eliminated. Yes! Excellent news for futbol in my opinion. Now let's see if the old guard in Brazil get their way and get Dunga booted. If you play defense first in Brazil and win the WC, you might get retained, but if you play "ugly" futbol and lose to Holland, well, I predict Dunga will be fired, and good riddance.[/QUOTE]Brazil did lose their cool after the game was tied by Holland. Amazingly so, they still had alot of time to come back. Melo is the scapegoat here. Their first half was beautiful football at its highest level, but with only 1 goal, they left the door open for trouble, and it came with that unfortunate own goal. So I don't understand what "ugly futbol" you are talking about. This Brazil team is a a better offensive team than the Brazil that won in 1994 when Dunga was the hatchet man there.

As much as I like Holland, I never thought they were going to score. But credit to Holland for their "snapping at the heels" play. In the end, it was a tale of two contrasting halves.

[QUOTE=Black Shirt] So I don't understand what "ugly futbol" you are talking about. This Brazil team is a a better offensive team than the Brazil that won in 1994 when Dunga was the hatchet man there. [/QUOTE]As coached by Dunga, Brazil plays a power game based on a very stout defense, coupled with lightening fast, lethal counterattacks. And they do it very well, but it doesn't lend itself to playing from behind. Today was the first time they had been behind in the WC. They have incredibly talented players and they play "beautifully" at times. But, their approach under Dunga has been to foul incessantly when the opposition's attack reaches midfield. Kicking, kicking and more kicking. Then they become incensed when they get booked. LOTS of entitlement with this squad.

Don't take my word for it. Chat up some futbol savvy Brazilians. Most of them hate the way Brazil plays now.

[QUOTE=Doggboy]The gangster mentality Brazilians have been eliminated. Yes! Excellent news for futbol in my opinion. Now let's see if the old guard in Brazil get their way and get Dunga booted. If you play defense first in Brazil and win the WC, you might get retained, but if you play "ugly" futbol and lose to Holland, well, I predict Dunga will be fired, and good riddance.[/QUOTE]Dunga already resigned after this WC, no? I saw the headlines on TyC that he resigned, but I think that was already decided.

I think an own goal AND a red card make Melo a little more than just a scapegoat, but I agree with you Black Shirt that they played horribly the second half.

Still, it was an exciting game to watch. I hope Uruguay / Ghana provides the same excitement. Vamos Uruguay!

The raw power of Africa calls for a winner, and Ghana was going to be the answer. Yet, like the continent, reality and history is cruel. The need for just a little sophistication and maturity was absent as Gyan penalty was a risky powerful high shot when a tap-in was all that was needed. Uruguay, great escape artiste, is laughing all the way to the bank.

Bad news, I was 0-2 today. No Veron tomorrow, please! Otherwise, Argentina can mail in the the loss.

No Brazil. Was Mick Jagger in the stadium?

[QUOTE=Black Shirt] No Veron tomorrow, please! Otherwise, Argentina can mail in the the loss.[/QUOTE]I want to see Veron tomorrow as a substitute in the 86th minute when Argentina is up 3-0.

[QUOTE=Big Travel Guy]Not exactly an original thought, or one that's going to collect a long odds, but you heard it here first. It's Brazil.[/QUOTE]Ooops, again.

He is the best.

He takes all the heat, not the team.

Smart.

[QUOTE=Damman]No Brazil. Was Mick Jagger in the stadium?[/QUOTE]It was Tiny Tim that jinxed Brazil, the samba was definitely out of wack. Sadly, I am out of wack, too. Had a dry run last night, you know what I mean!

"Turn out the lights the party's over they say that all good things must end.

Let's call it a night the party's over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again"

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69]He is the best.

He takes all the heat, not the team.

Smart.[/QUOTE]WT,

I have always been a big fan, but I think you got this one wrong. I grew up in an era where Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, and perhaps Bill Walsh would say nothing and just prepare their team to be ready for battle. Their result speak for themselves. Besides did he not get booted from a world cup for failing a drug test years ago?

When I heard Maradona taunting the Germans last night with "They must be nervousshhh" to me that was the last thing you would want to do to an already very talented squad.

I was in BA last September when they were barely qualifying and the word on the street was he was not the chosen one. They gave it a run.

I did not watch the second half, went back to bed. Was it me or did Messi look tight?

I would like to see Paraguay vs Uruguay, but the dutch look very good. Guaranis to win?

Well, Maradona does not get the summons to f--k Christina, I was hoping to see it on you-tube. Personally, I don't know how the Germans lost World War II.

I am absolutely hooked on watching this level of competition. The drama of today and last night was tremendous!

How wonderful to be able to watch 45 minutes of SPORTS vs the Amercian version of sports combined with commercial glade, taco, f***king breakings.

And how much have the screwed up what used to be a great event, the super bowl. I think the half time show was close to an hour! Won't see that here.

This is great sport and sportsmanship. I am enjoying it immensely.

I think they should allow the vuvuzela at wimbleton and golf matches!

Toughen up those sissies, Isner and Mahout excluded

But they played better than Paraguay, and deserved to win. But they didn't play THAT much better. While it would have been easy to see 3:0, it could also, in that comedy of penalty kicks, etc. Have been 1:1 and in overtime right now.

DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES.

Jackpot

10. Misspelling on #10 Jersey: Messy not Messi.

9. Suitcase with $800,000 for the referees got confiscated at airport.

8. German players yelled "Falklands" everytime they got the ball.

7. Barrabravas beat up fans from Ghana by mistake.

6. Referee thought spanish term for "I was fouled" was "my bad"

5. Argentina check for World Cup 1/4 finals entry fee bounced.

4. Marradona told team it was okay to use the "Hand of God" play at every opportunity.

3. Christina could not attend because of botox appointment.

2. Argentinas' defensive strategy for the game was "we need to score 5 goals to win".

1. At dinner the night before the game, taller German players used Argie players' heads for cupholders.

This world cup for most football diehards has been a huge disappointment with most of the so called world superstars underperforming.

I hope it's a Holland v Germany final probably on performances they deserve to contest the final, and I think Germany will win, the only reason being they can't win wars so they have to win at something.

[QUOTE=Black Shirt], I don't know how the Germans lost World War II.[/QUOTE]

In about a month "Real" Football starts.

Exon

[QUOTE=Exon123]In about a month "Real" Football starts.

Exon[/QUOTE]Exon my old mate I'll wager an American team wins next years super bowl.

I was in Las Vegas on March 1 and the Harrahs odds for winning the world cup on teams of interest were:

Spain 3/1

Brazil 5/2

Argentina 5/1

England 3/1

Germany 5/1

Italy 4/1

Netherlands 6/1

France 12/1

Paraguay 35/1

USA 12/1

Mexico 15/1

Ghana 50/1

Uruguay 70/1

Seems the last one would have given you a thrill for your bet.

The wikepedia stats on total views of the 2006 World Cup were 26.29 billion and the finals were seen by 715.1 million. The World Cup, the Olympics, the Euro Cup and probably even the Oscars outrank the Super Bowl in worldwide TV audience.

I enjoy football but frankly this waterdowned version of celebrating on every play turns me off a bit. Great athlete who have become entertainers. Now it's not just the game, but fantasy stats at the bottom of the screen, blah, blah, blah.

Not holding up too well in these modern days.

Police in Colombia have seized a replica World Cup trophy - made from 11 kilos of cocaine.

[url]http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Cocaine-World-Cup-Police-In-Colombia-Seize-A-Replica-Trophy-Made-From-Class-A-Drug-At-Bogota/Article/201007115659037[/url]

At least South America is still in the running in some categories.

In the post mortem of Argentina World Cup fiasco, the omission of Javier Zanetti, captain of Inter Milan and Argentina (often) winner of the Champion's League 2010, is the biggest factor in Argentina's downfall. True, he had played quite a few of the qualifying and exhibition games when Argentina was struggling, but so did Messi. Calm, respected, versatile, enduring, he would have been exactly what they needed.

So what was the reason Maradona omitted him along with Cambiasso (also of Inter Milan) And at the last minute, too. That must have been very sickening. At his age, 37, there will likely be no more chances. There were no public disputes between them as the case of Riquelme.

Anybody privy to that story?

[QUOTE=Master J]I was in Las Vegas on March 1 and the Harrahs odds for winning the world cup on teams of interest were:

Spain 3/1

Brazil 5/2

Argentina 5/1

England 3/1

Germany 5/1

Italy 4/1

Netherlands 6/1

France 12/1[/QUOTE]I hope you have made a mistake with your odds because they stink just the 8 teams above at those odds is a 190% book.

I had my bets on betfair and had Brazil at 5.8, Argentina at 7.6, Holland at 16-1 and 30-1 and Germany at 16-1.

If you do play look at that site much better odds than your las vegas ripoff.

Mongers-

Flexible Horn is right in that those odds given by Harrah's were a complete joke; before the tournament I was able to get 100-1 on Paraguay and 125-1 on Uruguay (sportsbook.com) to win the World Cup. My 125-1 longshot Uruguay squad is still alive and only two VERY tough wins away from paying off. Compare these great value odds with the odds offered for Brasil (5-1) England (4.5-1) Argentina (6.5-1) and Germany (9-1) and you can see why I put my money on Paraguay and Uruguay.

Suerte,

Rock Harders

[QUOTE=Black Shirt]In the post mortem of Argentina World Cup fiasco, the omission of Javier Zanetti, captain of Inter Milan and Argentina (often) winner of the Champion's League 2010, is the biggest factor in Argentina's downfall. True, he had played quite a few of the qualifying and exhibition games when Argentina was struggling, but so did Messi. Calm, respected, versatile, enduring, he would have been exactly what they needed.

So what was the reason Maradona omitted him along with Cambiasso (also of Inter Milan) And at the last minute, too. That must have been very sickening. At his age, 37, there will likely be no more chances. There were no public disputes between them as the case of Riquelme. Anybody privy to that story?[/QUOTE]Right on the money. Maradona never gave an explanation for not picking Zanetti (interesting to note that Pekerman didn't pick him either four years ago) As for Cambiasso, Maradona said, "Cambiasso doesn't seduce me". Astonishing really that Maradona did not pick a player who plays the position of right back (Zanetti's position) He tried to play Gutierrez there, but that's is not his natural position. Then he went to Otamendi, who plays center back for Velez, again, not right back. Gutierrez was woeful and Maradona sat him, and Otamendi was OK against lesser competition, but was horrendous against Germany. Not his fault, Maradona's fault.

As for players picked, and not picked, there was a ton of discussion in Argentina about all of this. Not just about Zanetti and Cambiasso, but also the decision not to take either Pablo Aimar or Ever Banega. Instead Maradona went with Veron, who stars in Argentina, but whose best international days have been long over.

What are the chances Maradona stays on as coach?

(or does he fall on his sword)

I would love to be in BA to talk with some Argies about this.