World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread

[ipuckedyourmom]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Should have would have could have what? Inefficient is inefficient.

8 goals in 7 games. 4 1-0 snorefests.
Most boring team to win a world cup by a mile, the previous worst total was 12 I think.

I have to disagree. Every team they played against with the exception of Chile and the first little but of the Paraguay game packed it in and kept everybody behind the ball.

Once Spain scored the one goal each game, they just passed the ball around and kept the ball away with their great possession game. Well deserved champs in my opinion! If teams played them wide open, they would have gotten destroyed.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by ipuckedyourmom

I have to disagree. Every team they played against with the exception of Chile and the first little but of the Paraguay game packed it in and kept everybody behind the ball.

Once Spain scored the one goal each game, they just passed the ball around and kept the ball away with their great possession game. Well deserved champs in my opinion! If teams played them wide open, they would have gotten destroyed.

I'm not so sure about getting destroyed but I would have liked to see that.
Good teams in the past could still score against teams that packed it in and kept everybody behind the ball. Spain could never get that early goal to open the game up.

Putting 10 men behind the ball isn't a new concept.

Spain too often look for the perfect pass. Like their goal against Portugal with the little backheel. But those plays are so rare at this level and sometimes they had to speed it up a bit more.

Watching 20 passes waiting for the perfect play that fails 99% of the time is pretty dull.

You look at Holland today. They didn't have many chances but passes were either long down the wing or penetrating through the defense. Spain too often try to walk the ball into the net with the tap-tap-tap style.

I also like balls going out wide and crosses into the box. Does Spain ever cross the ball high into the box other than set plays? I just find it dull.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by ipuckedyourmom

I have to disagree. Every team they played against with the exception of Chile and the first little but of the Paraguay game packed it in and kept everybody behind the ball.

Once Spain scored the one goal each game, they just passed the ball around and kept the ball away with their great possession game. Well deserved champs in my opinion! If teams played them wide open, they would have gotten destroyed.

That's true. If the Dutch had attempted to play their so called "Total" football style of old against this Spanish team it would not have been pretty.

The Spaniards played every match against deep laying opposition packing 10 men behind the ball at every opportunity. That's tough to break down regardless of the world class players that you have. That Spain did manage to without sacrificing their passing system is of great testament to them.

I like you Girly but I disagree with on this point.

Spain were worthy winners imo.

[Bertuzzied]

Yawnn. is it over yet? hehe

Now onto real football. 5pm on TSN!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Jagger

I like you Girly but I disagree with on this point.

LOL It's ok to disagree!

---

But really 10 men behind the ball shouldn't be an argument.
I've watched Brazil play against 10 men behind the ball for decades and they can at least score some goals and play at a pace faster than a turtle.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Yawnn. is it over yet? hehe

Now onto real football. 5pm on TSN!

but it's the eskimos *snore*

I sure have not lacked any sleep recently.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by Jagger

That's true. If the Dutch had attempted to play their so called "Total" football style of old against this Spanish team it would not have been pretty.

The Spaniards played every match against deep laying opposition packing 10 men behind the ball at every opportunity. That's tough to break down regardless of the world class players that you have. That Spain did manage to without sacrificing their passing system is of great testament to them.

I like you Girly but I disagree with on this point.

Spain were worthy winners imo.

Bingo, bango, bongo...agree with all of this.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

but it's the eskimos *snore*

I sure have not lacked any sleep recently.

At least the only acting you will see in that match is Kamau Peterson thinking he is a pro receiver.

[nemanja2306]

There is one thing I can't understand. People who say footaball is boring. It may not be the most exciting sport, but it beats baseball anyday of the week. (Though, baseball is fun to play as is soccer).

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

LOL It's ok to disagree!

---

But really 10 men behind the ball shouldn't be an argument.
I've watched Brazil play against 10 men behind the ball for decades and they can at least score some goals and play at a pace faster than a turtle.

And I will disagree!

After saying that I will agree that Spain should have scored more, there's no doubt about that. They do play an extremely patient passing style of game. They could actually triangle pass a team to sleep.. With that said it is their style for better or worse. It's also extremely effective as their results bear out.

Germany were by far the most brilliant counter attacking team in the tournament, devastatingly so. They were exciting to watch. They really didn't have much of a sniff against a complete team like Spain though, slow buildup or not.

Deserved winners, like I said.

[endeavor]

Most boring sport in the world is cricket!

On topic: It was a good final, although obviously very physical. The only Dutch players not to receive any bookings were Sneijder (loved that guy) and the goalie! Holland stayed with them right through the end but Spain was ultimately the superior team. Overall though, the tournament was pretty entertaining with all the top teams getting knocked out early. My favorite players throughout the whole tournament were Forlan from Uruguay and Muller from Germany.

See you all in 2014!

[Crazy Flamer]

I must admit I'm not a huge soccer fan but watched the World Cup and found it rather entertaining.

The thing that really gets me is all the diving. Some of the dives these guys take have me embarrassed for them.

Man, Luongo would make a great soccer player...

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

There is one thing I can't understand. People who say footaball is boring. It may not be the most exciting sport, but it beats baseball anyday of the week. (Though, baseball is fun to play as is soccer).

Actually I think it's a really exciting sport and I'm not alone either. However, it's more than simply a sport and hence the global appeal. It's truly a way of life for millions of people. In Liverpool for example people live and breath with the exploits of their football team. On a matchday their is a buzz about the city like no other and I suspect that is the same in many cities around the world when *their* team is playing. That's the thing, people feel that it's their team. They take ownership completely. It is them.

When the national team plays it becomes even more ownership. It's national pride at stake on a massive scale. This is hard to explain to people who have not been brought up around the game. I've said it before that some people can "get" it over here but many others simply do not understand the appeal whatsoever. That's ok too. You don't hear me harping on the fact that I completely don't get the appeal of baseball, basketball, even NFL football etc. and you won't. You will always get the anti-football brigade with their drive-by negativity about the game. When a game is as big as football is, the people who don't get it really want to let the rest of us know it. To each their own.

I love the sport, always have always will.

edit: Wow, bit of a rant there. That wasn't intended but there you go, there's that passion for the game I was talking about!

[Hack&Lube]

At least the action is continuous and not punctuated by breaks every play like Football and Baseball - the real snorefests.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

As for diving? Spain play the best football...by far. For diving, look up Italy.

Seriously? I didn't watch any game in full and I saw 3 of the most pathetic dives ever. The Chili game with the red-card was pathetic, and the "elbow" was even more pathetic.

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by browna

c)First attempted pass was clearly offside...and should've been called as the intent of the pass was to go to the guy who was offside. Of course the second pass was fine thanks to the stumbling defender, but technically the play should've been dead after the original offside.

No, that is not how soccer offsides work, they do not get called for the "intention" of passing to an offside call

Offsides are called only when the player touches the ball when in the offside position, preventing the opposition from touching the ball, or if it hits the post, goaltender, or something else then comes back to him

An attempted pass that did NOT go the player in the offside position is NOT offside

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by V

How fitting that the WC is won on a blown call. What a load of horse$hit.

what was the blown call? the goal was legit

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by flamesfan6

what was the blown call? the goal was legit

the goal was legit, but the blown call was the goal kick that led the Spaniards upfield was supposed to be a dutch corner...

[Top_Prospect]

Today was the first game I watched more than 10 seconds of this WC. I was reminded why I can't watch soccer anymore. Pathetic and embarrassing displays of sportsmanship. Diving left and right. I'd rather watch a movie to see some great acting.

I played soccer over 10 years and stopped in University. I still don't mind saying that people who stereotype the sport with terms like "soft", "Divers", etc are right.

These guys are like a bunch of girls rolling around in "pain", yet are fine within 10 seconds. First thing they all do is look for the ref when they get knocked down.

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

the goal was legit, but the blown call was the goal kick that led the Spaniards upfield was supposed to be a dutch corner...

not the first time that has happened, and won't be the last. Unfortunate for Netherlands, but the same thing could of ended up happening anyways. Not the biggest blown call compared to a lot of things I've seen in this world cup, and I've also seen wrong decisions earlier in the tournament with corners/goal kicks