World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread

[d_phaneuf]

ya the ball isn't about money, its about FIFA doing something stupid

the NBA introduced a new ball a few years ago and the players complained for 3 months until they switched it back

the ball swerving in the air isn't going to lead to a lot of long shot goals, its going to lead to a bunch more goal kicks as the ball sails 20 yards above the net

its not just different colors or an emblem on the ball, they actually changed the dynamics of it

its not a huge problem, but I think it will effect some teams

[SeoulFire]

Has it started yet?

I'm dying here...dying!

[NBC]

Someone has reported on the BBC website that Theo Walcott has been seen checking in to a flight to the Caribbean with his gf. Unsubstantiated I know, but is it true? If so it should make Spurs fans the world over rejoice. (This is being reported as accurate as of 1:08 BST.)

Sky Sports say Darren Bent is NOT going to South Africa.

Initial indications on Gareth Barry's fitness test are favourable, according to Sky sources.

Michael Carrick in? Apparently so.

Sounds like Adam Johnson misses out as well.

Joe Cole in (Sky).

SWP in the squad as well.

Baines, Dawson, Parker and Huddlestone out (rumour).

King out Dawson in (rumour).

King in (Sky).

Sky Sports is reporting that an official announcement from the FA will be forthcoming at 3pm BST.

As of 2:22 BST, Walcott, Bent, Johnson, Baines are staying home.

My sense is that Huddlestone, Parker and Dawson will be omitted as well. Don't think there will be any more surprises. At one point there were whispers about Defoe not making it. But the Bent omission killed that off.

This has been a very poor method the FA has chosen to employ. It is a real mess. Makes transfer day seem civilized and organized!

Now the announcement will be at 4pm. The FA's handling of this has been diabolical.

[chris_yk]

No Bent and no Johnson, feck England then... enjoy Emile Heskey and I can't wait to see what happens when Rooney gets sent off..

C'mon the Dutch!!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by NBC

Sky Sports is reporting that an official announcement from the FA will be forthcoming at 3pm BST.

As of 2:22 BST, Walcott, Bent, Johnson, Baines are staying home.

My sense is that Huddlestone, Parker and Dawson will be omitted as well. Don't think there will be any more surprises. At one point there were whispers about Defoe not making it. But the Bent omission killed that off.

This has been a very poor method the FA has chosen to employ. It is a real mess. Makes transfer day seem civilized and organized!

Now the announcement will be at 4pm. The FA's handling of this has been diabolical.

This surpises you? It's the English FA.

I can't see England scoring much, especially with that 4-5-1 formation Shearer suggested. Rooney will be marked out of the match by international defenders if he's the lone striker. Unless Lampard or Gerrard and hit 30 yard scorchers, I can't see where goals will come from.

[NBC]

I've always thought that the squad will score goals - lots of goals. The big thing for me is whether or not they will be able to limit the opposition. Not too many clean sheets under Capello.

Including Heskey gives them more options up front as he is a good target man and Rooney plays really well with him - even though most people don't like or rate Big Emile.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by NBC

I've always thought that the squad will score goals - lots of goals. The big thing for me is whether or not they will be able to limit the opposition. Not too many clean sheets under Capello.

Including Heskey gives them more options up front as he is a good target man and Rooney plays really well with him - even though most people don't like or rate Big Emile.

I agree IF they play Heskey in a normal 4-4-2 then they could possibly score goals. If they play that 4-5-1 they're dead.

But I'm still not sold on Rooney yet on the big tournament international stage. He was too young in 2006 and didn't get a chance in 2008. This will be his proving ground.

[NBC]

He did score 4 goals at Euro 2004 before he got stomped on by Jorge Andrade.

[NBC]

IN:

Hart, Green, James

A. Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, King, Carragher, Warnock, G. Johnson

Lampard, Gerrard, Wright-Phillips, Lennon, Milner, Carrick, Barry, J. Cole

Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey

OUT:

Walcott, Bent, Dawson, Huddlestone, Baines, A. Johnson, Parker

[Addick]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I am not complaining about Walcott being a bust or a terrible player, I just don't think at this point he is good enough to start for England. And I would have said the same thing about Lennon early last season.

Okay, that's fair.

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

As an aside, while watching the Marco Materazzi clip seeing how horrible the dive was by Malouda to draw the penalty still drives me fricking insane.

Even though I know Italy still won the game, to think that such a blatant dive could have been the decisive factor in a world cup game drives me insane.

It's kind of hard to take this seriously after remembering that you cheer for Italy...

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But I'm still not sold on Rooney yet on the big tournament international stage. He was too young in 2006 and didn't get a chance in 2008. This will be his proving ground.

Considering that he WAS United this year, I don't think he'll disappoint.

Originally Posted by NBC

IN:

Hart, Green, James

A. Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, King, Carragher, Warnock, G. Johnson

Lampard, Gerrard, Wright-Phillips, Lennon, Milner, Carrick, Barry, J. Cole

Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey

OUT:

Walcott, Bent, Dawson, Huddlestone, Baines, A. Johnson, Parker

Although I would have liked to see Walcott get some more match experience and confidence in the face of media criticism, his omission is understandable. Bent on the other hand, he should have been on the plane. Heskey may have provided something in the past but he was always there because there were no better options. Now that there is an alternative, and one in form as well, it should have been selected.

[Cactus Jack]

Unrelated by does anyone know of any good places to get jerseys? I'm looking for a Chilean national team jersey and saw on the main WORLD CUP 2010 ESPN SOCCERNET page they have them for a total of $100. Does anyone know of good places in Calgary to buy them for less? I know you can find Brazil/Italy/Spain/England/Argentina jerseys at Sportscheck or Jersey City but not the more obscure teams. Thanks

[You Need a Thneed]

The Soccer Shop in Willow Park Village (284-10816 MacLeod Trail SE) has a pretty good selection of jerseys.

Kicks, in the complex with the Safeway at the corner of McLoead and Southland is where I picked up my jersey on Saturday.

I don't think the jerseys will be less money, but you'll be supporting a local business.

Here's the jersey I picked up - sweetest looking of all the World Cup jerseys:

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by chris_yk

No Bent and no Johnson, feck England then... enjoy Emile Heskey and I can't wait to see what happens when Rooney gets sent off..

C'mon the Dutch!!

Bent had his chance to impress and failed to do so. Johnson could've perhaps gone ahead of SWP, but he was really competing with Joe Cole, who is the better option.

[d_phaneuf]

would have preferred Johnson to make it over SWP

Barry fit is nice

they can now use the 4-4-2 with either Heskey or Crouch up front with Rooney

but also be well equipped to go to the 4-5-1 with Gerrard or Cole supporting Rooney up top against the better teams, which turns in to a 4-3-3 or even a 4-2-4 when they have the ball. Man U plays a 4-5-1 and Rooney managed to score quite a few goals this season if I remember correctly

Walcott's omission is the biggest surprise of the day

and Rooney loves the big tournament stage, don't know how someone can't be sold on him after Euro 2006. More worried about Lampard, and to a lesser extent Gerrard, who seem to play 100x better for club than country

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

would have preferred Johnson to make it over SWP

Barry fit is nice

they can now use the 4-4-2 with either Heskey or Crouch up front with Rooney

but also be well equipped to go to the 4-5-1 with Gerrard or Cole supporting Rooney up top against the better teams, which turns in to a 4-3-3 or even a 4-2-4 when they have the ball. Man U plays a 4-5-1 and Rooney managed to score quite a few goals this season if I remember correctly

Walcott's omission is the biggest surprise of the day

and Rooney loves the big tournament stage, don't know how someone can't be sold on him after Euro 2006. More worried about Lampard, and to a lesser extent Gerrard, who seem to play 100x better for club than country

Because when it comes to England hes always either hurt or suspended. If he doesnt get tossed at least once in this tournament I'll be shocked. As goes Rooney, so goes England.

[Poison]

Im jonesing for this thing to start, and especially interested in the England group with my background being from Slovenia.

I have a good feeling we pull through with England into the knockout stages, so if you limey b*st*rds dont mind kicking the crap out of the yanks id much appreciate it, either that or draw, i dont need an upset out of that game.....

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

Because when it comes to England hes always either hurt or suspended. If he doesnt get tossed at least once in this tournament I'll be shocked. As goes Rooney, so goes England.

he is a completely different player now, he doesn't react to the abuse like he used too

he just takes it and moves on, much more mature

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

he is a completely different player now, he doesn't react to the abuse like he used too

he just takes it and moves on, much more mature

Okay, but if he doesnt get tossed or injured in this tournament, I for one will be sincerely surprised.

[NBC]

I think that the most telling reason why Heskey made it is that in Rooney's last 10 games with Heskey up front, Roo has 9 goals; his last 10 games without Heskey, he's got 2.

Sure Bent is in better form right now, but his style of play isn't that compatible with Rooney, whereas Heskey's is. Locke said it best that as Rooney goes, so go England. Personally, I'd play Rooney and Heskey together if you use a 4-2-2. A 4-5-1 formation, Rooney up front with Gerrard in support, Lampard central and Barry holding. Heskey can also play on the left, which has been a real trouble spot for England since the days of Steve McManaman. There are a few guys who have played on the left, Gerrard, Milner, J. Cole, Lennon, Walcott, SWP, no one outside of Cole actually likes it.

For me, I always thought that it was between Bent and Defoe as they both have a similar game - they like the ball over the top and can stretch teams and both can finish. Heskey's inclusion gives them another option that they wouldn't have with Bent. Crouch can't provide the same sort of intangibles that Heskey can, though he is a much more prolific scorer.

As for the Walcott omission, former England captain Terry Butcher said it best when he said that no one out of Walcott, SWP or Lennon really made a strong case for themselves to be picked ahead of the others. Butcher believes they all provide England with a similar style of play, though all three have been under-performing, inconsistent and injury-prone. SWP probably knocked Walcott off the squad by appearing to be more hungry and intense when he got his chances.

If they figure out a decent formation and can get Gerrard and Lampard to sort things out, then they could have a decent tournament, barring any major injuries. Barry, I've just heard, may not be ready until the knockout stages.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by Poison

Im jonesing for this thing to start, and especially interested in the England group with my background being from Slovenia.

Nice. My paternal grandfather was from Slovenija.