World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread

[cheevers]

I think any interview process for the Canadian National team coach should have one question. Would you start Pat Onstad? If the answer is yes, they clearly have no idea what they are doing and should never, ever be considered for any job. If the answer is no, sign them up.

[ipuckedyourmom]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

Weird. I thought this thread was about the World Cup and not how crappy Canada's soccer team is.

To reorient discussion. Can anyone recommend any good websites that offer World Cup primers? I'm looking for sites that break down each team's strengths, weaknesses, top players etc.

check espn out

[SebC]

Originally Posted by NBC

A friend of mine's father (Scot) always said that football is a game played by gentlemen for hooligans and rugby is a game played by hooligans for gentlemen.

The way I've heard that quote is "Football is a gentleman's sport played by hooligans. Rugby is a hooligan's sport played by gentlemen."

[valo403]

Just flipped on the US v Czech game to catch the 3rd Czech goal. If that's the desire this team has to defend in a 2-2 game with 15 to play they're going to be in tough. I know it's just a friendly and there were plenty of subs on, but it didn't look like disorganization as much as it did lack of caring.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by valo403

Just flipped on the US v Czech game to catch the 3rd Czech goal. If that's the desire this team has to defend in a 2-2 game with 15 to play they're going to be in tough. I know it's just a friendly and there were plenty of subs on, but it didn't look like disorganization as much as it did lack of caring.

Yep, those guys were fighting for jobs. Makes the coaches job alot easier to drop the ones that didn't care. That was really the B team.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yep, those guys were fighting for jobs. Makes the coaches job alot easier to drop the ones that didn't care. That was really the B team.

Oh yeah I know that was the B team, just couldn't believe the lack of compete that was shown. One guy looked like he was trying, and he tried so hard he took himself out of the play, while the rest of them just sort of jogged about. The senior leadership wasn't on the pitch, but man the attitude just didn't look like something you'd want to see this close to the WC.

[GirlySports]

yeah but unless I'm fighting for a job, I wouldn't want to get hurt just before the World Cup! You recall some serious pre-world cup injuries in the past!

And why show your cards? England were probably watching. Show them nothing!

[GirlySports]

I was looking at World Cup Mascots past a present.
The one this year is pretty cool

[KTown]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yep, those guys were fighting for jobs. Makes the coaches job alot easier to drop the ones that didn't care. That was really the B team.

B Team or not the Czechs are far from there form of 2004 through 2008. They are a small country and are totally in rebuild mode excluding a few players. The Czechs couldn't qualify for the worldcup after being out dualed by slovenia and slovakia in there group. Those two countries are not soccer powerhouses by any means.

[d_phaneuf]

ya nothing for England to learn from the US game tonight, just shows their complete lack of depth

don't really think Bob Bradley is capable of surprising Fabio Capello with anything though, so there is no point hiding any tactics

The only thing the US can hope for is that Jonathan Spector has learned how to play football, because Aaron Lennon made him look silly when Spurs played West Ham this year.

[ipuckedyourmom]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

ya nothing for England to learn from the US game tonight, just shows their complete lack of depth

don't really think Bob Bradley is capable of surprising Fabio Capello with anything though, so there is no point hiding any tactics

The only thing the US can hope for is that Jonathan Spector has learned how to play football, because Aaron Lennon made him look silly when Spurs played West Ham this year.

How about hoping Oguchi Onyewu is 100% come the world cup. That would make a BIG difference.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I was looking at World Cup Mascots past a present.
The one this year is pretty cool

Looks like it has been infected with Variola virus or possibly contaminated with sulfur mustard.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But Canada's not that bad at youth level... They're not the lost cause that the national team is at. What happened to these guys? Canada can beat these teams when they're 20 but not when they're 25? That's senior coaching and systems.

Isn't the current manager of the Senior team, Stephen Hart, the same manager that got results from the youth squads you mentioned? Same coach but different results? I believe this points to something else being the problem, what else is left other than the players?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Addick

Isn't the current manager of the Senior team, Stephen Hart, the same manager that got results from the youth squads you mentioned? Same coach but different results? I believe this points to something else being the problem, what else is left other than the players?

Junior coach is different than senior coach. Junior is less tactical I would say. Like in hockey there are junior coaches and NHL coaches.

For example, in England Stuart Pierce has done a pretty decent job with the U-21s. Would you hire him for the senior team with the same players?

No. Give those players to Capello and he has the experience and tactical strategy to mold these players into something good.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Locke

The notorious Divers of the World Cup. Interesting article.

The diving is a huge reason I have never been able to get into soccer.. I just can't stand it when they throw their hands up in the air like that. Take the fricken' hit and walk away.. hockey is getting worse and worse as well.

[ipuckedyourmom]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

The diving is a huge reason I have never been able to get into soccer.. I just can't stand it when they throw their hands up in the air like that. Take the fricken' hit and walk away.. hockey is getting worse and worse as well.

It has to start with the league and refs wanting to get rid of it. If players were given cards or penalties more often in both of the sports, it would eventually get rid of the majority of diving. However, by rewarding players that do it from a young age on up, it sends the wrong message.

[GirlySports]

There's diving in all sports now. Even in NFL the receiver sees he can't catch the ball and will throw his arms up, fall over or go to the ref with the 'pulling out the flag' motion. Because there an advantage to conning the ref.

The only sport this doesn't exist is baseball because if you get hit with a pitch, even if you die, it's first base only. So not point rolling around on the ground pretending you're going to die.

If for example you got first base for a nick, 2nd base for blood, 3rd base for a really serious beaning.. players would dive.

[GreenLantern]

I am not denying that it exists in any sport, if you read my post that isn't what I was implying.

What bothers me is how often it occurs.

I like soccer, I just get bothered by that aspect of it.

[GirlySports]

I was just rambling as usual

[Locke]

I doubt it exists in Rugby. I imagine there'd be serious consequences for crap like that.