World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread

[transplant99]

Oh those plucky Swiss!!

[transplant99]

So will they riot in Madrid/Barcelona tonight?

[SeoulFire]

Spain look back to their usual self after the Euro anomaly.

[Locke]

Wow. Just wow. That was the most entertaining game yet because it was a nailbiter to the end.

Reminds me of the game Germany played against the Swiss in the Euro Cup, the Swiss held them 0-0 until Mikael Ballack blasted a free kick in. This team is well organized and knows how to defend!

That was fun to watch, but I guess I say that because I'm not Spanish....

"What makes a man go neutral? Lust for gold? Or are they born with neutrality in their hearts?"

[united]

Great job Switzerland!
Obviously Spain held the majority of the play but none of that matters now.

[nik-]

That swiss goal was so weird. There is no way that the first Swiss player who was streaking in with the ball which caused the goalie to challenge was meant to get that cross. It just sort of hit him in the knees and dropped perfectly at his feet.

Sports are great.

[Byrns]

Ha ha, Spain!

[d_phaneuf]

no team has ever lost their 1st game and won the world cup, only 1 made the final

since the world cup went to 32 teams 33 of the 36 teams who lost their opening match didn't advance

nice to see the spain I am used to

[GirlySports]

Yeah and of the 3 teams who lost their first game that advanced, they were the 2nd seed losing to the first seed so that wasn't really a big deal.

Ghana and Ukraine in 2006 and one other I can't remember.

So Spain is in a heap of trouble.

[SuperMatt18]

Honestly people have not been giving the smaller teams in this tournament enough credit.

The tournament is not like it was 20 years ago, all the teams here have world class players and coaches which makes for a much closer playing field.

Honestly I think Spain had a weakness exposed when Inter beat Barcelona in the Champions League.

Barca and Spain are very similar in team make up (many of the same players) and formation and Inter exposed how to beat the Spanish.

Drop 8 men back, let them pass the ball around in the middle 3rd but protect your box and the final 3rd of the field. When you get the chance pound long balls and counter attack with speed.

Not the "beautiful" football that all the pundits enjoy to watch but you play the style that gives you the best chance to win the game.

[transplant99]

In other WC news...Dutch women arrested for ambushing the NED/Den game with advertising from a brewery other than Anheiser Busch.

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/wor...rldarrest.html

[Locke]

This makes England's draw so much easier to take I think.

I mean, the general concensus is that its acceptable and sometimes even favourable to start slow, but not this slow.

[GirlySports]

Fan fact: Suisse have not given up a goal in the World Cup in 484 minutes dating back to 4 minutes in the 1994 World Cup

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Honestly people have not been giving the smaller teams in this tournament enough credit.

The tournament is not like it was 20 years ago, all the teams here have world class players and coaches which makes for a much closer playing field.

Honestly I think Spain had a weakness exposed when Inter beat Barcelona in the Champions League.

Barca and Spain are very similar in team make up (many of the same players) and formation and Inter exposed how to beat the Spanish.

Drop 8 men back, let them pass the ball around in the middle 3rd but protect your box and the final 3rd of the field. When you get the chance pound long balls and counter attack with speed.

Not the "beautiful" football that all the pundits enjoy to watch but you play the style that gives you the best chance to win the game.

I don't think that it is a matter of not giving smaller teams enough credit - it is merely emphasizing that the stronger teams should win.

I am also not sure I would classify the Swiss as "small". They did not allow a single in WC 2006 holding France 0-0 and beating Togo and S. Korea 2-0 before falling in penalties to Ukraine (0-0, 3-0). Their youth teams have had recent success as well. I really don't think anybody would overlook them as it was always in their sights to qualify for the round of 16 at least.

Compare that to the Norks or Kiwis - both have surpassed all expectations so far. The Norks by scoring a goal - against Brazil no less and the Kiwis for scoring a goal and getting a point. Neither of these teams were given enough credit.

[Cactus Jack]

Group H is wide open now. Everyone assumed Spain would win it and Chile and Switzerland would fight for 2nd. Chile really needs to beat the Swiss on monday to not only have a good chance at winning the group and avoiding Brazil, but also just to move on to the next round.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Group H is wide open now. Everyone assumed Spain would win it and Chile and Switzerland would fight for 2nd. Chile really needs to beat the Swiss on monday to not only have a good chance at winning the group and avoiding Brazil, but also just to move on to the next round.

Chile just needs to draw the last 2 to get in. Spain would only be able to get 4 points. I think Chile might relish a battle with Brazil.

[Pastiche]

Chile looked really good today. Very dangerous off the rush.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Chile just needs to draw the last 2 to get in. Spain would only be able to get 4 points. I think Chile might relish a battle with Brazil.

ya but they are not as solid as the Swiss at the back, they need to beat the Swiss to have a good chance of going through to the next round

and Brazil beat them 3-0 and 4-2 in qualifying, don't think they are relishing that matchup

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

and brazil beat them 3-0 and 4-2 in qualifying, don't think they are relishing that matchup

revenge!

[Pagal4321]

Wait a second....if Spain finishes second in the group, they potentially face Brazil in a Round of 16 matchup for the ages.

And I have a ticket to that game?

GO CHILE!!!!