World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread - Page 130 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

troutman · 06-24-2010, 09:56 AM

"World Cup Zeros in 2010". Harsh.

Bertuzzied · 06-24-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheevers

Man, good on Slovakia for winning but they should be ashamed for all their diving and crying. Made the Italians look like team Canada in comparison.

Blame soccer as a whole for this culture.

Jordan! · 06-24-2010, 09:56 AM

Awesome!

Locke · 06-24-2010, 09:58 AM

Well, you have to win at least one game to get into the knockout round, and Italy couldnt manage it, even in a relatively easy group.

Its one of those things, they should have been able to beat New Zealand at least, but at the moment they didnt 'have to' because they could win against Slovakia, but if you dont beat anyone, how can you expect to advance?

Gotta win some games.

SuperMatt18 · 06-24-2010, 09:59 AM

Italy finish bottom of what is probably the easiest group

, as did France.

Crazy to think how far these teams fell in four years.

transplant99 · 06-24-2010, 09:59 AM

Italy looked like they were playing with a mozza ball instead of a soccer ball for most of the game, but when they decided to show up, they were pretty damn impressive.

Ozy_Flame · 06-24-2010, 09:59 AM

I couldn't be prouder of the Kiwis, wow did they ever impress with a stifling defense (and a bit of luck) . . . There were ONE goal away from qualifying to the Group of 16.

If you're a New Zealander right now, you should be dancing in your boots at the team's performance in this tournament. Tying Italy and Paraguay is a feat in itself.

GirlySports · 06-24-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Well, you have to win at least one game to get into the knockout round, and Italy couldnt manage it, even in a relatively easy group.

Its one of those things, they should have been able to beat New Zealand at least, but at the moment they didnt 'have to' because they could win against Slovakia, but if you dont beat anyone, how can you expect to advance?

Gotta win some games.

Funny thing is that would have advanced with 3 draws!
But yeah, can't give up 5 goals to this sad group.

Cecil Terwilliger · 06-24-2010, 10:02 AM

No Italy, France and one of Ger/Eng in the final 8. That is just crazy. And more teams could end up in unfavorable positions depending on the rest of the outcomes.

ipuckedyourmom · 06-24-2010, 10:02 AM

Bye bye Italy!!! Props to Slovakia, they played really well.

Jimmy Stang · 06-24-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheevers

Man, good on Slovakia for winning but they should be ashamed for all their diving and crying. Made the Italians look like team Canada in comparison.

I agree that the diving and timewasting by Slovakia was a bit much, but I appreciate the irony of seeing Italians on the receiving end of it.

GirlySports · 06-24-2010, 10:04 AM

So let's revisit my question at the beginning of the tournament.

The BIG 5 against the field. Most of you took the field, I took the BIG 5.

Now the BIG 5 is down to 3. Are you guys still taking the field?

Matty81 · 06-24-2010, 10:05 AM

I'm a Canada fan and a neutral in the world cup but my heart has almost stopped about 3 times already in the tourney and the knockout hasn't even started. Wow! What an amazing couple games.

I am looking at the upper bracket now that Slovakia is through. If Netherlands win later today their path to the finals is looking damn good. Basically they'll have to face the winner of Brazil-Portugal at some point and no other teams in the world top 13.

Based on what I've seen in round 1 though, that means about nothing with all the upsets! Looking forward to Japan-Denmark now.

Flame Of Liberty · 06-24-2010, 10:05 AM

I still can't believe it, what a game. Props to Paraguay too for not blowing their game.

Hats off to Kiwis too.

Ciao italy!

Locke · 06-24-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Italy finish bottom of what is probably the easiest group

, as did France.

Crazy to think how far these teams fell in four years.

Or, it goes more to a point that I made years ago, that the stronger teams struggled in 06 and these two weaker teams squeaked through. It was the weakest WC Final of our time.

You dont go from sucking hard in 2002, to winning in 2006, to sucking hard again in 2010. The Win is the outlier there, not the suckage.

troutman · 06-24-2010, 10:11 AM

Vuvuzelas good for something:

Octopus correctly predicts German victory:

troutman · 06-24-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Or, it goes more to a point that I made years ago, that the stronger teams struggled in 06 and these two weaker teams squeaked through. It was the weakest WC Final of our time.

You dont go from sucking hard in 2002, to winning in 2006, to sucking hard again in 2010. The Win is the outlier there, not the suckage.

I don't think this tournament proves very much about who is the best team. ITA was not the best team in the World in 2006, and they are still a top ten team in 2010 despite going out in the first round.

rubecube · 06-24-2010, 10:16 AM

HA! HA! Stupid Italians!

Cecil Terwilliger · 06-24-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Or, it goes more to a point that I made years ago, that the stronger teams struggled in 06 and these two weaker teams squeaked through. It was the weakest WC Final of our time.

You dont go from sucking hard in 2002, to winning in 2006, to sucking hard again in 2010. The Win is the outlier there, not the suckage.

France maybe but not Italy.

They were jobbed in 02, had the worlds best defender and FIFA world player of the year in 06 and didn't concede a goal other than an OG and a penalty in 06. They played evenly with a very good German team and beat them in extra time in the semis. Italy were no slouches in 06. Lippi just brought way too old a team that lacked any creativity or goal scoring. And the defense, specifically Cannavaro, were terrible compared to 06.

Italy and specifically Lippi were living in the past and thought the glory of 06 would occur again in '10. Just like Canada in 02/06 Olympics.

SuperMatt18 · 06-24-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Or, it goes more to a point that I made years ago, that the stronger teams struggled in 06 and these two weaker teams squeaked through. It was the weakest WC Final of our time.

You dont go from sucking hard in 2002, to winning in 2006, to sucking hard again in 2010. The Win is the outlier there, not the suckage.

That 2002 Italy team was actually a good team that just had no luck and bad coaching, 5 good goals called back in three straight games and then the terrible Totti red in the Korea match.

The 2006 Italy team was a good "team" they were impenetrable defensively and were unbeatable leading up to that tourney too.

2010 they sucked had no offensive creativity, and only qualified by feasting on the minnows of their group. I had no belief that this was a good team and knew they would be out sooner then later but still had to cheer till the bitter end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Italy and specifically Lippi were living in the past and thought the glory of 06 would occur again in '10. Just like Canada in 02/06 Olympics.

This is the first thing I though of when I saw the roster for this Italy team with Lippi back as coach, if was just like the 2006 Olympic team where the team was too old, too slow and living on past glory. Hopefully there will be similar results and the Italians regroup for 2014.