World Cup 2010

[polehawk]

Nah, that would be the best case scenario. It would be great for the sport, at least in America. It could catapult soccer into a major sports attraction in the schools and professional ranks. Beckham might even want to come back and play for us again. Will it happen? No chance. GK Howard may have broken ribs so that's not gonna help the cause. We can only hope, pray and hangabout for it to happen, BH and HB. Thanks for your good wishes and that blessed tie. [-o<

[BobHelm]

PH I think it always was looking like USA & England were going to qualify out of the group. The real cause for concern was who was going to qualify where in order to miss Germany in the next stage. After the German result it looks like 2nd. in the England/USA group will have to play Germany. For many reasons (& not because i think that they are a better footballing side ) I would prefer that England did not have to met them. A German/USA tie would be an interesting affair which could go either way - as long as USA have a fully fit squad that is - & I would certainly be cheering them on !!

[Zidane]

I quite fancy the Netherlands to give Denmark a comprehensive thrashing tonight.Denmark were mediocre 4 years ago and their seems to be little change to their team.
Important for England to win the group and avoid Germany....even then it could be Ghana or Serbia which wont be easy.
individual wont be fit for England against Algeria so maybe give Dawson a game to put a bit of pace in the defence.
Hopefully Barry will be fit so he should start in midfield and surely Joe Cole is worth a place in the starting line up ? I would say at the expense of Heskey and push Gerrard forward to play just behind Rooney.
Maybe replace Green with Hart but certainly not James.
There you are Mr.Capello....team sorted....England can go on to win the World Cup now !!
As well as Germany,South Korea have looked impressive although they played a poor team in Greece.But why cant Park score goals like that regularly for Manchester United ?
But....Bob....I'm afraid I have to take you to task !The Americans are more than happy with the draw against England without you stating they won the Confederations Cup !
I think they were beaten in the Final against Brazil after leading 2-0 but they did beat Spain in the semi-finals,true enough!

[BobHelm]

I think they were beaten in the Final against Brazil after leading 2-0 but they did beat Spain in the semi-finals,true enough!

Thanks for that Zid ..... I must have turned it off & went to bed once they got the two goal lead!!

UK Daily Papers are saying today that individual might take no further part due to injury & are generally pretty critical of Capello. Typical as they were all over how great he was during the qualifying!! One draw & he is the worst manager ever (well maybe an exageration, but not by much).
Don't think there is a cat in hells chance that he will not play Heskey & play Gerrard behind a lone Rooney. It is something he has not tried (even in the two friendlies) & I think he has a bit of a 4 4 2 formation fixed in his mind.

[BangkokButcher]

Well it was a good result for the Dutch tonight :

The Netherlands got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start on Monday with a 2-0 victory over Denmark thanks to an own-goal and a late tap-in from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt.

The star-studded Dutch are among the favourites to win the World Cup in the final at Soccer City on July 11, but Bert van Marwijk's side failed to impress at the same venue here as the pragmatic Danes defended well.

An own goal by Danish defender Simon Poulsen at the start of the second-half and Kuyt's 85th-minute effort was enough to give the Netherlands the three points.

Dutch captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst joined the centurion's club as he won his 100th cap and coach Bert van Marwijk left out Arjen Robben to give the winger more time to recover from a torn thigh.

Despite the Dutch boasting a forward line including Arsenal striker Robin van Persie supported by midfielders Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder, Kuyt and Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart, the Danish defence held firm.

Kuyt had the first shot of the game on ten minutes when he fired his shot at Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen who controlled the ball after an initial fumble.

Just as the Dutch attacked relentlessly, so the Danes soaked up the pressure in front of a 83,465-strong crowd.

Denmark created a chance of their own on 27 minutes when Ajax winger Dennis Rommedahl's pass found Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner at the far post, but he headed wide.

The Dutch kept up the pressure, but the Danes were quick on the counter-attack.

With the second-half barely begun, the Danes got the worst possible start when Poulsen headed away a van Persie cross, but watched in horror as the ball rolled across the line off the shoulder of Daniel Agger on 46 minutes.

The Dutch were rarely tested with Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel bossing the midfield, but neither did the Netherlands pose much of a threat to the Danish defence until the game's last quarter.

Bendtner, who had not been expected to be fit enough to play, made way for Copenhagen's veteran Jesper Gronkjaer, while van der Vaart came off for Eljero Elia, who created the second goal.

The Dutch upped the ante in the last 15 minutes and after Elia hit the post, Kuyt was on hand to tap the ball past Sorensen.

The Dutch next face Japan in Durban on Saturday, the same day Denmark play Cameroon in Tshwane.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... nt-denmark

[Zidane]

Pretty comfortable for the Dutch....that sub Elia looked pretty useful when he came on.
Felt sorry for the Dane,Paulson,with the own goal but he made an excellent clearance near the end to save a certain third goal for the Dutch.
Italy made their usual stuttering start to a World Cup campaign with an unconvincing 1-1 draw against Paraguay.
But a potential good match tonight at 9pm....Ivory Coast v Portugal.

[abeertoofar]

Pretty comfortable for the Dutch....that sub Elia looked pretty useful when he came on.
Felt sorry for the Dane,Paulson,with the own goal but he made an excellent clearance near the end to save a certain third goal for the Dutch.
Italy made their usual stuttering start to a World Cup campaign with an unconvincing 1-1 draw against Paraguay.
But a potential good match tonight at 9pm....Ivory Coast v Portugal.

2 years ago we played the best football in the group.won italy(3-0) france(4-1) and roemenie(2-0) but lost the next against
russia.maybe we didn't play that good yesterday but not always the best team wins so maybe now we come a bit fearther
and that elia is gonna be one of the best players of the tournament. he playes in germany (hsv) he is very good.

[BobHelm]

As the fates have conspired for me to be in the UK (& so all matches shown at a sensible time) during the World Cup I was REALLY looking forward to it. I must say so far it has NOT lived up to expectations...
Italy v Paraguay last night - a quite dreadful game to watch. Italy in their normal negative mode of 'we will score on the break, don't conceed' - did they REALLY win it last time out?? Paraguay looked like they had been watching videos of Italy playing for the last 5 years & looked equally dire & defensively minded. After an hour (& at 1-1) I switched channels to watch some UK TV pap as I had lost interest completely in if anyone won it & was starting to feel a slow losing of the will to live.
With the exception of Ivory Coast v Portugal none of today's games look like they will be 'edge of the seat' stuff either.
I can only hope that, so far, it has been a fear of losing the first game that has caused the lack of inspired football & that the second round matches will be more watchable.

[Galee]

I agree Bob. I feel like I've overdosed on WC football and it's lost it's appeal. Started to watch the Italy game yesterday but was so knackered after carrying my own clubs playing golf, that couldn't be bothered to watch the end of the game and went to bed early.

[Zidane]

A big surprise last night with Switzerland beating the World Cup favourites Spain 1-0.
It was a very entertaining game to watch.Spain completely dominated play but the Swiss took the lead,against the run of play,just after half time.
From then on Spain racked up the pressure even more but just couldnt score.Alonso had a 25 yard shot that hit the bar but the Swiss also hit the post with an excellent individual effort.
You have to say the Swiss defending was superb.....not seen as good since "The Alamo" or "Zulu."
I dont think Spain played that badly.It was just one of those days.I think,for sure,Torres will be in the starting line up for the next two games which Spain must win to qualify.....possibly Fabregas will feature from the start,as well.
In the same group Chile beat Honduras 1-0.

And another sort of shock.....the hosts South Africa were hammered 3-0 by Uruguay with ex Manchester United star,Diego Forlan,scoring a couple.South Africa could well be the first host nation not to qualify from the group stages of the World Cup.
Tonight Mexico v France,Argentina v South Korea and Greece v Nigeria.....I reckon Greece could be the first team to be eliminated.

[jackspratt]

............I reckon Greece could be the first team to be eliminated.

Is it possible that the rest of the European teams at the tournament could loan them a bundle of players, on the understanding that the Greeks will introduce severe austerity measures to keep the team solvent?

[BobHelm]

I think the draw in the first match flattered the South African's considerably. I doubt VERY much if they would have even qualified for the competition without being the host. Uruguay have (statistically) the two best strikers in the competition, but didn't show much of it in the first match against France - although not to lose seemed to be the ploy of both.
That Spain reverted to their usual WC under-achievers mode came as a surprise to me aginst the Swiss. Spain are in a group where they have not lost to any of the other teams - until yesterday . I am not sure if I should be happy (from an England viewpoint) if they get dumped out of the contest or not (from a footballing stand point). As the North Koreans showed against mighty Brazil playing defensive can make it very, very difficult for even skilled opposition.
I guess if your prediction comes true & Greece go out first I will, at least, have no 'footballing' worries when they disappear without trace...
The first round of matches were disappointing I think, but if the South Africa game was anything to go by then it looks like a better competition might be on the cards from now on - well, I live in hope, especially for England on Friday!!

[Zidane]

Well,surprisingly,Greece survived with a 2-1 win over Nigeria after they came from behind with Nigeria reduced to 10 men.Both sides had chances enough to win the match.
I found South Korea very disappointing in their match against Argentina. I thought the 4-1 scoreline to Argentina actually flattered the Koreans....they were that bad !
Surely no tears can be shed for the French after another dismal showing losing 2-0 to Mexico.France now on the brink of elimination and a draw in the final game between Uruguay and Mexico will see them both qualify.
Tonight....Thai time...
6.30pm...Germany v Serbia
9.00pm....Slovenia v USA
1.30am....England v Algeria

The worst match I have seen so far was Slovenia v Algeria so surely England and the USA should get the points to almost ensure qualification to the group stages.
Serbia need at least a point to keep their hopes alive but it will be very difficult against the impressive Germans.

[stattointhailand]

Surely no tears can be shed for the French after another dismal showing losing 2-0 to Mexico.France now on the brink of elimination

Perhaps the French should stick to Rugby ........ at least they can use their hands "legally" in that !!

[BobHelm]

Well I am glad that the second round matches are proving to be a bit more of a footballing treat than the first round.

Greece were down & out until a absolutely stupid deliberate kick for no reason sent then a life line. 1 - 0 down & Nigeria cruising it with Greece looking as likely at getting back in the game as me starting for England tonight.

South Korea proved why many sides opted for a defensive approach when they did not. If you play 'attractive football' against someone with far technically superior players then you are going to get your ass beat...... Argentina duely obliged. The Hand of God should not even be entitled to the name 'Manager', but he has some class players in his side. If they had anyone of even a Premiership class manager in charge of them then they would probably walk away with the Cup....as it is (& with some of the ego's in the side) it depends very much on how they react on the pitch when they find themselves in a difficult situation.

France.....well what can you say without sniggering, which I always think is a very unattractive trait BUT
All is blamed on Dom, but any flaws have been every since he has been in charge - & some of his results have been remarkable with zero praise coming his way.
He gives way to Blanc at the end of the competition. What a remarkable piece of work that plan was by the French FA. He looked like he couldn't wait to get home after the next match. The players on the pitch played like Blanc had phoned them up & told them it was their penultimate game ever for France.
Ribbery was being touted about Spain last year as being a 30 Milliom GBP bargain. When I have seen him playing for Bayern this season he has failed to impress me to any value. In this game he was dire - as were the other 10 French players. There are unlucky results for sides (the Irish against France in the qualifiers springs to mind) & there are results that both sides deserve. Mexico v France was the later.
If Uruguay against Mexico ends in a draw then they both go through. However I am not sure France are even up to beating South Africa even if Mexico stuff Uruguay & give them a life line...

Well all ready for more excitment today, although I hope that will be reserved to applauding English goals in the last game...

Just a final word about the Germans. Impressive indeed in their first game, but as Mr. Beckenbauer thought it was necessary to have a dig at the English side I will respond with a dig at his...
Need 2 Polish & 1 Brazilian forwards to make a 'German' team... come on Franz the team is starting to look like one selected by Adolf - although the Nazis only designs on South America was to retire there!!

[Texpat]

Ughhh, another tie.
Why do I ever bother?
That's three hours of my life that I'll never get back.
I can't say I didn't try, but I'm done with this kickball thing till 2016.

[old-timer]

Englands playing tonight. The well fit bird is on the firm. The current account is well stocked up. Things don't get much better than that.
OT's off to latinos bar tonight to watch the game. It's about 5 thousand miles from udon so I should be safe from the "can be a bit of a handful" Thai wife.

OT...... .

[barbara's bush]

brazil dissapointing, same as spain, argentina to win but look out for uruguay looking good, no team with heskey can win sorry

[pienmash]

Well last night stayed up sausage butty followed by apple pie n icecream settled down to watch the mighty England . my conclusion - towards the end i found myself willing Algeria to score to put the 3 lions out of their misery England were total crap no one stood out or played well against a ordinar Algerian side , and holey ---- i agree with BB Heskey is a plodding donkey who cant get in the Villa side why was in in and why was he on the pitch til the 79 th minute . Rooney looked totaly un interested ? or was it me ??

Start the engines taxiing for take off the boys are coming home and very soon , Argentins will win the WC i said it b4 a ball was kicked , the cup has got the MARADONAS (little fat cheating druggie bastard) name written all over it

[Galee]

I'm glad I didn't have to stay up late to watch that rubbish. England were DIRE. I half hope they get knocked out so that I don't have to watch any more of their rubbish.
Heskey has to go, everyone can see that, except Capello. On last night performance we wouldn't miss Rooney either. He looked completly uninterested.
Thank goodness for the 3 Chelsea players. Without them they would have lost.