2010 World Cup US v England Open Thread: The Rumble in Rustenburg
by xbhaskarx on Jun 12, 2010 9:13 AM PDT
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PrintUSA v England - World Cup Group Stage Game 1 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg -11:30am Pacific time on ABC
Links:
Nate Silver's Group C Analysis
U.S. World Cup history 1930-2006
The Secret History of American Soccer
The top-five team performances by the U.S. in World Cup history
Five spectacular performances from U.S. players at the World Cup
US Soccer MNT Blog
USMNT page on ESPN
World Cup Calendar
2010 USMNT away jersey background
US Soccer theme for Chrome
Recent events:
- Monday May 24: The US team had dinner with basketball legend Bill Russell. (link)
- Tuesday May 25: The US lost 2-4 to the Czech Republic.
- Wednesday May 26: The final US World Cup roster was released on ESPN. (video)
- Thursday May 27: The US team visited the White House for a photo with both Presidents Clinton and Obama. (link) (video)
- Saturday May 29: The US won 2-1 over Turkey. (highlights)
- Sunday May 30: The US team flew from Washington D.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa. (video)
- Saturday June 5: The US won 3-1 over Australia. (highlights)
US roster: 
Current Ranking
ELO: 20
SPI: 15
FIFA: 14
Voros McCracken: 23
1781 --> 1815 --> 1950 --> 2010
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For anyone wondering about the US media's interest in this game
A quick anecdote: the dominant sports-talk radio station in Philly (where there’s a really big soccer fanbase) was in a heated discussion an hour ago…about the reconfiguration of college football conferences.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
rick tittle is a big soccer guy
and talked a lot about it on 860
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
So where will you all be watching this fine game?
At home for easy AN access? At a huge place like AT&T or Civic Center Plaza? At the corner bar?
And best of luck to fans, whoever you’re rooting for.
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
at my buddies house
His kid graduated yesterday and we are bbqing. Just put 6 racks of ribs on, and there are 4 tri tips and 30 ears of corn
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by mikev on Jun 12, 2010 10:35 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Sounds awesome.
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
by winchester5 on Jun 12, 2010 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Civic center plaza from my window
but I think I’m going to watch this one at home. I am so excited right now.
At The Grand Tavern
Early morning cocktail food and soccer. Schools out, it’s summer time. Life is good
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
by Berry Jo on Jun 12, 2010 10:44 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
And Clark over Edu for the US - interesting midfield decisions
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I like Edu better than Clark
But Clark has been Bradley’s partner for most of qualifying, his selection isn’t really a surprise.
I think you may have accidentally posted this to the wrong blog. This website is about baseball…
by chri5 on Jun 12, 2010 10:50 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
this blog is so much more than baseball.
You have no idea.
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by mikev on Jun 12, 2010 11:22 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not a soccer fan but I'll watch the game in the background
You can feel free to skip over this, you know?
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Tim Howard is from the town right next to me (south brunswick) in NJ!
I really hope he has a great game, he is a great goalie. I’ve been watching him for a long time and I can’t wait to see him on USA.
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
Good evening everyone.
Lets hope for a really good game.
May the Best Team Win!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 11:00 AM PDT reply actions
I second this. And may the play be good.
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
by Berry Jo on Jun 12, 2010 11:04 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
There is a really perceptable buzz here.
All day the people in the high streets and supermarkets have been visibly rushing around. Lots more smiling and laughing than normal.
England shirts and flag are everywhere. Everyone with Beer and Burgers in their shopping baskets. Smoking areas outside pubs far too full for afternoon (and a bit too drunk :)
Reminds me a little of the Walmart just down from the Coli on the morning of a Raiders game.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey, I’m actually awake. I guess I’ll watch it.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 12, 2010 11:09 AM PDT reply actions
Hey, this is weird.
I normally follow AN on my laptop whilst also watching the game on it.
But can never really jolin in the threads because I just don’t get to watch the game properly.
Now I can, whilst watching the game on the TV. NEW EXPERIENCE!! Woo-Hoo.
Pass the Garlic Fries!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 11:14 AM PDT reply actions
SO is ABC cramming all the commercials in now
because the american audience will be tune out 6 minutes into the game?
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
NSFW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M I dont know how to open in new window sorry
But seriously I hope for a good game.
HILLIS...where are you???
How nice - they're playing 'My Country 'tis of Thee'
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Shouldn't the US sing the 3rd verse of The Star Spangled Banner before this match?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
How many different referee's uniforms are there at the World Cup?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
But it makes sense for them to stand out as much as possible
I guess they could forbid uniforms (sorry, “kits”) like the US’s all-blue version, but if one team is wearing all blue it could get confusing if the ref is in solid black.
Maybe the reason they have so many looks for the refs is that they want to be different from both teams and both of the GKs.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
oh, i totally get it. but it’s weird. like color top baseball uniforms.
don't care if i ever get back.
I agree about the softball-style baseball unis
I’d guess that they make so much money on team jerseys that they don’t want to do anything to limit clubs/national teams’ options. So the refs work around whatever the teams come up with.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I trhink maybe...
the tradional chant of “Who’s the Bastard in the black” finally got to them.
“Who’s the Bastard in the Yellow shirt, Black Shorts with white piping, and black socks with white tops”…… not so easy!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
There was a funny thing in German Bundesliga
One of the black players ( I think Assamoah) was called for a foul he thought he didn’t commit. He said to the referee: Hey Schiri, wir Schwarze müssen zusammen halten! (We Blacks ought to stick together)
Chances that Findley will burn himself out by the 60th minute and get subbed by Gomez?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Awww, Green is wearing green! Does he always do that?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Anyone else watching at AT&T park?
I’m in section 108, it’s really starting to fill up
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 12, 2010 11:32 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Can you hide somewhere
And stay for Giants/A’s?
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 12, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
my cousin and i were just talking about that...
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 12, 2010 12:33 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That took forever.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 12, 2010 11:34 AM PDT reply actions
Well, that was pretty crappy defense but a nice sequence by England
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Onyewu just standing there...
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Seems like Gerrard likes the captaincy :)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 11:35 AM PDT reply actions
He's a bit posessive.
Acts that way with wives too!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
1-0
Insurmountable, but it’s not quite an A’s game.
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Ouch!! That hurt!!
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
by Berry Jo on Jun 12, 2010 11:37 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
If he'd hit him with the studs, he would have been carded
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
We should trade for Enyeama of Nigeria
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Hey, you can’t trade players.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 12, 2010 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Technically, no, but...
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Howard looks pissed.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 12, 2010 11:42 AM PDT reply actions
Did that guy just break his own ankles?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 12, 2010 11:47 AM PDT reply actions
It's the ball!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
OT question in the OT thread
But, I just figured all English ANers would be here. Some years ago, there was someone from England who was former coach of Aeden McQueary-Ennis, a guy from your baseball national team whom I played with in German league. Is that anyone of you guys (I don’t remember the user name anymore)
That threat by England came from the US overplaying Rooney
Understandable, but it does open up other opportunities for them.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
It's astonishing how much the traditional South African horns
sound like the traditional Minnesota Winter Carnival plastic parade horns of my childhood. Now I understand why they always disappeared a day or two after we brought them home, and my mom would act innocent when we asked her if she had seen them.
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
They used to sell them at Cal football games, too
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I already really, really hate Vuvuzuelas - and it's only Day 2
One of the cool things about the World Cup are all the fan chants, different clapping rhythms, the uuuuhs and ooooohs of the crowd… It all gets lost in the constant, monotone and annoying humming that reminds me of the times when we had to twist the aerial every 5 minutes to get a decent signal on our TV.
they’re really going to drown out one of my favorite WC fixtures, manolo el del bombo.
don't care if i ever get back.
Agreed
It sounds like there is a giant wasp hovering over the stadium. Apart from the horns there doesn’t seem to be much atmosphere at a lot of the games – almost like a lot of them are not even watching the games.
They need to be banned.
Simple as that – they’re making games unwatchable.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
i don’t mind the sound per se. but i’ve noticed it’s doing something else to me. there is a certain frequency or tone or something that makes my teeth sort of vibrate and it drives me crazy. it’s the same reason i can’t listen to bob mould. his guitar sound goes straight to my teeth and i have to turn it off. but then it stays in my gums like a memory and it takes a long time to ignore it. and last night while going to sleep (and after watching replays of a couple of games) i had the same feeling.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 13, 2010 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
That's funny
I mean, I realize it must be annoying and I’m not trying to make fun of your suffering – I find it funny as in “strange”. Let’s all hope they do something against it.
oh, it’s not “suffering” suffering. it’s pretty funny. kind of like biting on a vibrator.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 13, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
"Husker Du Hurts My Teeth"
That’s totally a song waiting to be written!
New mind-warping, stomach-churning Pilots songs are now online... follow the link if you dare (don't say you weren't warned!) NSFW!!!
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 13, 2010 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
They're literally ruining the World Cup.
So, so irritating. To the point that I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch the next game in a bar as they’re not willing to mute the tv.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
If there's a lot of people in the bar you can barely hear them!
"Are those new tarps? Or did they paint 'em?" Mark Ellis
ARD (German Television)
actually announced today that they will be filtering the sound form now on :)
U.S. is looking better
But I can’t tell if that is just because England has backed off now that they have the lead.
BTW, FIFA made a great decision years ago
when they forbade GKs’ picking up the ball after a back-pass by a teammate. The game flows much, much better with that rule in place.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
After all those years of watching baseball
Anyone have trouble calling the Americans the Yankees?
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Brazil are obviously the Yankees
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
though if you asked them, they’d say that they’re americans (it’s a big ole continent, you know), and all united-statesians are yanquis.
don't care if i ever get back.
Of course
And I have no idea about whether Brazilians are obnoxious fans like Yankee fans are. But they definitely believe that they ought to win every title, and also that the game in a sense belongs to them. Something’s wrong with the world, to them, if they’re not the champs.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
oh they’re obnoxious alright. in their words, o mais grande do mundo. (the biggest in the world.)
don't care if i ever get back.
The biggest in the world?
What have Brazil ever contributed to human history, besides good football players?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
The samba, caçacha...
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I rest my case.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
The Brazilian wax
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 12, 2010 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
supposedly they were first in flight…
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh wait, Paolo Freire was Brazilian
and they get credit for capoeira, too.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
What I find even more amusing
is the Ordem e Progresso thing. I mean Brazil is many things, but order and progress do not come to mind first
That's a legit card
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Fuck -- Howard is hurt!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Heskey slid into his left forarm with his studs
Not a cheap play, but that could be a broken arm.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I don't actually find the vuvuzelas horrible
but they are boring. And I can’t imagine why you’d buy a ticket and then spend 90 minutes blowing a big, plastic horn no matter what’s happening in the game.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I think if I'd paid thousands to go to SA...
and had those around me at a game, there’d be some people in need of some first aid for Vuvuzela rectal injuries!!!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
The vuvuzela = the aural equivalent of the Wave.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I have much less problem with the wave than with vuvuzela
It doesn’t bother TV viewers and it only happens a couple of times in a game
It's a big pain in the ass when you're a kid and people suddenly stand up when you're trying to see what's happening
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Got to like how they give the ball back after an injury stoppage
Imagine if a team batting decided to just bunt after a line drive hits a pitcher?
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
Makes every Englishmans hair stand on the backs of their necks!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:09 PM PDT reply actions
Holy Shit!!!
Green blew it!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
That was like a hockey goal: "just throw it on goal -- something may happen"
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
England needed that.....
Too complacent after the early goal!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:12 PM PDT reply actions
Maybe on defense, but they've made some good attacks, too (like the one on which Howard got hurt)
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Should wake them up
Other then a couple of nice counters U.S. has looked the better squad since Gerrard’s goal.
Lots of pre tournament talk about...
the brand new designed ball for the WC..
I wonder?
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
It was on the 2nd bounce
it looked to me like he was down on 1 knee, but on the wrong angle so he ended up reaching behind himself and it bounced off his shin into the goal.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
nah, it’s supposed to be a little bit grippy for goalies, and that should have helped him in that situation. he just never had it under control. the complaint about the ball is about the lightness and smoothness, which makes its flight fast and unpredictably floaty—sort of like a baseball knuckleball.
don't care if i ever get back.
Nice pressure by Jozy
I want to call it fore-checking, but I know that’s not the right term.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
seems that Green is the one needing a lesson
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by mikev on Jun 12, 2010 12:20 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I really have no idea what I'm doing here.
But wow, that USA goal was a gift.
You don't form in the wet sand.
You don't form at all.
Okay, so England has already made one sub
Heskey looks like he’s doing alright, so I doubt that Capello will bring in Breslow Crouch immediately.
What are the most likely US subs? Before the match I would have said Torres for Clark, Gomez for Findley, and possibly Goodson for Onyewu.
How about England?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I think Gomez will come in later
After the goal Clark might go a full 90, and while I’m not a huge fan he has done his job well after falling a bit asleep on the first goal. Holden could possibly get a run out in the second half as well.
Holden instead of Torres, if they want to emphasize defense over attacking, I think
I wonder if there’s any chance that if it stays tied for a while Bradley will just go for the 1 point, replace Findley with Torres or Holden, and play a 4-5-1? I have to confess I don’t remember how many times, if ever, Bradley has set this squad up with only one forward. Maybe some of the qualifiers in Central America?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Bradley has done the 4-5-1 on occasion
But Altidore is not very effective as a lone striker. I could see Holden coming on for Findley with Dempsey moving up top which could result in a pseudo 4-5-1 to finish off the match.
I'm really happy to see Ruud Gullit doing studio commentary for ESPN
Before checking wikipedia, I had no idea about his relationship with South Africa:
By 2006, Gullit had a talk show on Dutch TV, where he has interviewed, amongst others, Nelson Mandela. When Gullit was named winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1987, he dedicated the award to the then imprisoned Nelson Mandela. At the time, Gullit was signed to AC Milan and the Italians raised their eyebrows, “Nelson who?”. Gullit tried to explain and they said, ‘Oh, a footballer with political beliefs’. Gullit has since in interviews told that he met Nelson Mandela after he was released and Mandela said, ‘Ruud, I have lots of friends now. When I was on the inside, you were one of the few’.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
TV coverage showing soldiers in Afganistan....
watching the game together.
British guys didn’t look too happy, though the Americans were taking no pity on them :)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:30 PM PDT reply actions
So King is out, huh?
Wonder if he can start the next match.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Lennon and W-P are causing problems
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Gooch, Gooch, Gooch...
Fabulous job by Howard, though!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Good job by Onyewu on that sprint to the ball vs. Rooney, and on that header just now
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I have been very impressed with Onyewu
He looked shaky in the warm ups but he has looked very good today.
That time when he went forward and lost the ball, leading to Heskey's breakaway, was a big mistake
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
That was an excellent save
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
US starting to get a bit careless
They have to stay disciplined in their 4-4-2, if they allow too many open field one-on-one hey will get burned
English pressure is starting to pull them out of position.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Could use fresh legs
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
jadande
England is like the Knicks of World Cup: all this supposed tradition for a team that hasn’t won since Baby Boomers were teens less than a minute ago via web
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 12, 2010 12:56 PM PDT reply actions
Hahahah!
NYC media definitely has this attitude about the Knicks — like Madison Square Garden is a Mecca, and everyone wants to play for the Knicks.
Guys, the Seattle Supersonics had as good a tradition in the last 40 years.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Free Kicks like that show how different this ball is.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 12:57 PM PDT reply actions
It's also the altitude. The ball was flying all over.
But then I’m not surprised – South Africa shouldn’t be hosting a WC anyway.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
That might be another Jabulani situation, there
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Time to switch Heskey for Crouch
Pace will challenge tired TUSA legs, and they have been weak in the air too.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:02 PM PDT reply actions
Elbow across the face...
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
and a card for being the last defender.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Bad tackle from shortage of pace.
Studs to Gerrards Achilles deserved a yellow.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
It deserved a red.
That’s a leg breaker. But then again the referee had been shockingly bad all match so I expected nothing less from him.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I wouldn't go that far
If you give Red’s for challenges like that all matches would end with teams playing 9 on 8.
No they wouldn't.
He lunged in studs up and caught the guy on the ankle. In this day and age that’s a red card.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Don't know I would agree with you OldhamA
But would struggle to actively disagree with you.
There, that’s 10 seconds of your life you won’t get back :)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I've seen players sent off for that time and again.
It’s a leg breaker. It may not have been intentional, but he put himself in a situation he had no control over. He couldn’t have had any arguments if the ref had shown him a straight red.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Many challenges can be dangerous
Heskey could have broken Howard’s arm and Milner could have caused a lot of damages with his challenges, but the possibility of serious injury doesn’t deserve a red. Findley could have hurt someone but it would have been a terrible call if he got a red, he didn’t have malicious intent and he wasn’t that late.
Heskey had every right to go for that ball.
Milner was late on one challenge that he didn’t get booked for – however it wasn’t malicious or dangerous. The one he got booked for wasn’t actually a foul…..but I digress.
As for being dismissed for the possibility of injuring someone; of course you should be. If the challenge is dangerous the outcome shouldn’t matter.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
When he was one on one with Carragher?
No chance – good defending. It’s not ballet, the attacker has to be stronger than that.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Torres or Holden in for Findley now? Gomez instead?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Not much of a shot there by Wright-Phillips
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
As the porn stud said to the actress....
It’s coming!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:04 PM PDT reply actions
England are notorious as being bad starters.
The pre-game was very resectful to the talent of TUSA. Well deserved from this performance.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
It's been an entertaining game so far
Evenly played, never dull.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I've enjoyed it.
Despite my playful smack talk on yesterdays thread, I never doubted TUSA would be a stubborn opponant.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Does Capello need to worry about any of these bookings in particular? Would a 2nd yellow on anyone put him in a really bad spot?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Gerrards def would.
Need the points secured from the next game then another yellow for him to miss third game.
(or are yellows from the groups cleared for the knock-outs?)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I think they used to wipe them out, didn't they?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I hope so.
That wasn’t a 6 yellow card game by any stretch of the imagination.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
After quarters - interesting
Depth is going to be such a huge factor. Injuries, fatigue, cards. It’s not always the team with the best player on the pitch who wins, but the team with the worst player who loses.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Buddle coming in -- aggressive move by Bradley
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I'm not sure I understand bringing Buddle on
He seems like he’s better in a structured situation than as someone on the counter, but England has had about 80% of the possession lately.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Holden coming in for Altidore. Bradley wants the point.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
A point is a good base for TUSA to qualify for the 2nd round.
Looks a good move, especially with Crouch’s fresh legs up front.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Absolutely
They’ll aim for 7, but hope to be able to get through on 5. England will feel the same way. The most unhappy people about a draw would be Algeria and Slovenia. They want this match to put someone in the tank.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
really? that was crap. i think he was going for the corner off the defender instead of trying an actual center. (but maybe we’re not talking about the same play.)
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 12, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Gerrard has been the only one of the England "Big" players to turn up today.
Why do England teams always seem to need their backs against the wall to deliver!!
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:21 PM PDT reply actions
Terry, Johnson, Gerrard, Lennon and Heskey (though he can't fucking finish!) played well.
Everyone else might as well not have turned up.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Overall, it was a very even match, though
Green blew one save, but made a tough one on Altidore — and if it had been just an inch or so to the right on the deflection, it would have gone into the goal.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
They didn't get a good share of posession...
but they organised well and mostly kept their shape.
Well done TUSA.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
USA provided little outside of a threat from set pieces.
A competent England performance comfortably wins this game. Sadly we saw a pathetic one.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
And 1 point is in the books
England was a bit better but while the goal was a gift USA earned the point.
disappointing
We should have won
SIG SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP. INQUIRE WITHIN.
by mikev on Jun 12, 2010 1:26 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Meh
Altodore’s shot could certainly have gone in, but Dempsey’s goal was a bit of a gift, and after that Altidore run the US didn’t do a whole lot to threaten.
Bradley was playing for the point for the last 20 minutes or so.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Cherundolo was really impressive
Wright-Philips really pushed things for 5 or 10 minutes right after he came in, but once Cherundolo got used to the pace he really locked it down. He seems very calm.
Also, that’s a hell of a game by Onyewu, given that he hasn’t played a full 90 in, what 9 months?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
The defense reassured me today
Cherundolo and Bocanegra handled the wings and Onyewu looked healthy. Very good sign.
TUSA looked solid, fit and well organised, without any searing talent.
They kept their heads on the big stage, and stuck to their assignments.
Would be delighted to see them qualify from the group (in 2nd place) and I look forward to watching their next game.
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, Tom Cruise is annoying
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
While US showed a lot of heart
and both teams played fair and not all that immobile, it was not really a great game. Very little creativity, rather disappointing from England.
USA, for most part, played a very neat 4-4-2, waiting deep and using their strikers well to disrupt the early stages of England’s attack. All together, I think a draw is the fair result – everything still possible for both teams – they should/could both advance.
Has South Korea been the most impressive team so far?
I’m looking forward to their match with Argentina.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Green cost a lot of bettors a lot of money
but if England goes through #1 in the Group, then it won’t have been the end of the world.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Don't mention the War!!!!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Like Oakland have "Zero Splash Hits....Four World Titles".....
England “2 World wars and 1 world cup”
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
lol
They actually won by more than a single goal :)
by A'sFanInLondonUK on Jun 12, 2010 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Wasn't Hurst's last goal at the final whistle, against the run of play as the Germans desperately tried to even the score?
That goal depended on the earlier one happening first, didn’t it?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
The linesman was Russian
Apparently he lost a few family members in the war – as soon as it was deferred to him it was always going to be a goal.
Actually he was not Russian, but from Azerbaijan
Funny trivia – the main stadium in Azerbaijan is named after him and his statue is in front of the entrance. It was inaugurated in a ceremony with Geoff Hurst as a celebrity attendee.
Hero.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Yeah, I've heard that many English consider him to be
Although he made one of the most famous wrong calls in the history of football
Wrong?
Clearly over the line.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I can't tell
If you are joking or are just too emotionally involved to be objective. Either way, you are probably aware that even the study preformed by Oxford University proved the goal never existed.
As long as he can still see...
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Firstly, he's crap.
Secondly, he’s been released from his contract. He wasn’t willing to discuss a new contract until after the World Cup, obviously angling for a move away, so Watford told him where to go.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Well obviously he's not crap
I can see you are emotionally damaged by the result but DeMerit showed quite well in the match and teams would do well to take notice.
You NEVER buy players off the back of international tournaments.
That’s how you waste money.
I’ve seen Demerit in the Premier League and he looked out of his depth. He’s not a good player.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
He's played quite well for the Nat's for the last year or so
I guess you can judge him off his performance with an outmatched team a couple of years ago but that seems like a bad idea. England had the quality to win today but they didn’t pull through, I can understand why your unable to provide clear analysis.
My analysis is crystal clear. I've no idea why you keep suggesting otherwise.
Football is a team sport, but it is also about individual performances. A good player will still stand out on a bad team. Demerit however fit right in with a terrible Watford team. End of story.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
we'll take the point
still undefeated against england at the world cup
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 12, 2010 1:53 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I'm absolutely livid. What a pathetic performance.
Green should be sent on the next flight home – seriously. He’s not seeing the field again, and it’s only going to hurt squad morale to have a player moping around the hotel. He’s going to be rightfully crucified in the media tomorrow.
As for the game itself – I literally screamed when I heard the team announced. Gerrard and Lampard should never, ever, play together. Add to that Rooney playing off Heskey (who’s crap btw) and you have three players all wanting to occupy the same part of the field – and a huge gap in midfield. The fact that he didn’t change it at any point has me very, very worried about our chances for the World Cup now. It’s was painfully obvious what the problem was with the England team, but no subs were forthcoming.
Capello made a huge tactical blunder with his team selection, and I feel a huge error in his squad selection – Adam Johnson should have gone to the World Cup. Not sending him limits the team options hugely…..as we found out when Milner was taken off and Wright-Phillips was shoved out wide on the left. It’s not his natural position and whilst he did ok, he’s always looking to cut inside so he’s easy to defend.
A point is not the end of the world, but it feels like a crushing defeat right now.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
England always start slowly though, don't they?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Did I call it yesterday or what?
If you’re looking for uneducated reciprocal smack talk, you’ve found it.
I think it’s going to be a tie, and Dempsey’s going to score for the US
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2010 4:23 PM PDT
New mind-warping, stomach-churning Pilots songs are now online... follow the link if you dare (don't say you weren't warned!) NSFW!!!
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 12, 2010 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Congratulations, you foresaw a goalkeeper not being able to stop what was essentially a pass back.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Robinson is crap too, but he's Rovers' goalkeeper, so I'll defend him to the death.
Green on the other hand…..
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Robinson and Hart.
Robinson’s like Dracula on crosses though.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
A point is a point.
New mind-warping, stomach-churning Pilots songs are now online... follow the link if you dare (don't say you weren't warned!) NSFW!!!
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 12, 2010 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Giants take series 2-1
New mind-warping, stomach-churning Pilots songs are now online... follow the link if you dare (don't say you weren't warned!) NSFW!!!
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 12, 2010 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Writer Warren Ellis has his own unique take on the USA/England game
A couple of them:
- England apologises for fielding a goalkeeper who quite clearly took rather a lot of heroin before the match commenced.
- Rooney confused by round thing flying through air. It am not bird. Maybe still good to eat? Rooney try to kill with head.
- I wish to assure our American friends that, for this performance, the England team will in fact be executed.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I love England
And I love the English. They have given me The Streets. They’ve given me “Spaced”. They’ve given me the HBO/BBC2 series “Rome”. Shit, they’ve given me Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and “Hamlet”.
But alls I’m sayin’ is A POINT IS A POINT.
Excellent draw, gentlemen.
Supremely entertaining match to watch.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
i went to the viewing party @ AT&T
i nvr knew americans cared about football like that
it was a great game for the US and great atmosphere.
OMG that algerian goalie. how bad can it get for that poor suck? there are mistakes, no matter what else you do in life, that you can never live down. and he’s right there.
(but i’m not talking about that infantile flub that cost him the game. i mean the haircut.)
don't care if i ever get back.
Honestly the quality of this World Cup so far has been shocking.
Two disgustingly bad goal keeping errors have decided two games already. Not one game has held my interest so far.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
for games i had no stake in whatsoever, ghana-serbia, us-england, and mexico-sa kept me in my seat the whole time.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 13, 2010 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Ghana gana!
It just sounds better in Spanish.
I am so happy for them – soccer in Africa is so much more than sport, it’s an escape, hope and distraction at once. I met many Ghana supporters in Stuttgart and they were great.
Feel a little sorry for Kuzmanović, he is a nice kid and played a good season in Stuttgart.
i was watching a spanish broadcast (with chilavert as color commentator. he’s not terrible…) and waited for that pun the whole time. they didn’t go there, but thanks for filling in.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 13, 2010 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions
The Paraguay gk who used to take free kicks and penalties?
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Oh wow, a German player just got booked for diving.
Long may it continue.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
And more dodgy keeping. What the fuck is Schwarzer doing there?
You have to clean Klose out if you come for it that far out of goal.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Pretty much a worst-case scenario for them, with Cahill red-carded
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
That was a different German team than the ones of the years before
It was actually fun watching them and they played really well, although Australia was pretty disappointing. It’s a young group built around the core of players that won the European under-21 championship. A group with very mixed roots, somewhat very representative of Germany nowadays.
they were fun to watch. are you rooting for germany, by the way? who’s your team (when croatia can’t be there)?
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 13, 2010 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions
As well
Germany on the base of residence and, as mentioned, the type of team they are fielding. Spain, obviously, too – I am kind of married to them. New Zealand for being underdogs, great sailors and giving the world Flight Of The Conchords. I always like Dutch, too. And there is room for couple more if they play really well or have some good, heartwarming story to them or do something sportsmanlike on the pitch or have really fun fans or something like that.
You forgot England.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
Ah don't worry, we hate Europe too.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
i kind of go game by game, based on the sides. apart from liking argentina no matter what, i have a complicated set or rules for who to root for. they have much to do with who was a colony of whom as well as some other bits of human history (tough for england, germany, and the US), their hair cuts (this bodes badly for eastern europeans), and color they wear (kind of random but powerful, thus saving holland from the colonizer issue), personal reference (my last name saves spain from the empire thing, unless of course they’re playing a south american), and if they come to the cup as underdogs yet don’t play like amateurs (a very narrow zone). yet, as scientific and exact as those rules are, sometimes i just have to watch a game for about 15 minutes to discover who i like. for example, i just realized cameroon is much closer to my heart than japan.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 14, 2010 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree on the last part very much
Sometimes I get surprised during the match, actually cheering for the side I thought I wouldn’t be cheering for.
good ratings so far despite the vuvuzelas
World Cup ratings double among U.S. viewers
For the first five matches of the World Cup, viewership has doubled from four years ago.
ESPN and ABC are averaging 4.9 million viewers per round — up a whopping 108% from the first five games of the 2006 World Cup.
In addition, Saturday’s first-round match of the FIFA World Cup was the most-watched opening match and most-viewed United States match since 1994, when North American teams were also playing in early rounds.
The two-hour U.S. vs. England game on ABC drew 13 million viewers and a 7.3 household rating. Another 3.8 million watched on the Spanish-language Univision network. The overall three-hour telecast (including an hour of pre-match coverage) ranks fifth for U.S. viewers — behind three World Cup finals and a ’94 U.S. vs Brazil match.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
Bad ratings in Somalia
30 people get arrested and face punishment for watching soccer
The arrests were made when heavily armed militants from the Hezbal radical group raided a house where the fans were watching the match between Germany and Australia.
Sheik Yuusuf Abuu Hamza. an official from the city’s Islamist administration confirmed the arrest of world cup fans, accusing them of being guilty against Islam. "They have made a big mistake; they didn’t obey the orders not to watch the un-Islamic event of football so they will face punishment," the militant official said.
The Univision telecast drew 3.8 million viewers, equaling a combined audience of approximately 16.8 million viewers.
To put these numbers in perspective, the match drew more viewers than every game of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final — including Game 6, which hit a 36-year high of 8.3 million viewers.
Though ABC’s coverage trailed the first four games of the NBA Finals (14.1 mil, 15.7 mil, 16.0 mil and 16.4 mil), the combined audience on ABC and Univision topped each game.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
paragooooooool! nice set piece.
and just when i was having huge doubts about their game plan. which i’m seeing as a midfield-to-forwards longish air pass—they’d do better to stagger those two lines a little while attacking to connect the play and draw italian defenders. but that’s not really going to work in the rain with this ball and against italy. so that was a bit of opportune luck, and italy seems affected as they are focusing on arguing more than playing.
half time. paraguay needs to redraw into a 4-3-1-2. italy’s fine—they don’t need to change how they stand. they just need to stop being hotheads (sorry grampa mangini).
don't care if i ever get back.
Either this ball is ridiculous, or there's at least 4 men in goal for their countries that have
no place being in South Africa. This is the fourth game decided by a horrendous goalkeeping error.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
paraguay’s gk’s error wasn’t about the ball though. he came out too late or too short or didn’t stretch out his arm completely and didn’t quite get his hand on the ball. (or did he touch it? i tried to look closely and i saw no contact.)
but the ball is also ridiculous. it’s shameful that they bring out new equipment this close to a major tournament. it’d be like, “hi guys, welcome to the world series. here are some square bats. you got a week to practice with them and then it’s play ball!”
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 14, 2010 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I didn't say it was about the ball. I said it was a goalkeeping error.
Green, Schwarzer (second German goal), the Algerian bloke and now the Paraguayan keeper too.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I think the free kicks that clear the bar by 10 feet are the best evidence that something is weird with the ball
Also, the long passes that no one can catch up with.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I'd like to know how much the altitude is affecting the balls.
It was literally flying in the England/USA match.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I know some of the South Africa venues are very high up
but people play football in Switzerland and Austria, and there must be reasonably high-altitude stadiums in what used to be Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Mexico City is very high up, but the only affect anyone mentions there is fatigue. Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador can all play matches even higher up than the South African venues. Is this what happens in all those other places?
The ball also seems to be running along the ground, too, which I guess could be the pitch.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Or maybe it is the ball:
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
the lightness of the ball could augment the effect of elevation. players may be kicking it too hard for the aerodynamic speed it’s going to carry, so the downward arc never comes. it’s shown to be less predictable in flight. and the ball is tighter, so it seems less forgiving to imprecision, as if players are used to a ball that gives more, flattens more into the toes when being kicked. but with this ball, the first contact sends it flying and maybe that’s not the part of the kick people aim with as much as with the follow through. all of these are adding up to those shots 10 feet over the goal.
and something i cried about during the barcelona-estudiantes game for the clubs WC (which did use this ball), people receiving this ball in air passes are having a hard time deadening it (is that the word?). it bounces away too sharply. this is killing long-range passing.
anyway, if i were a coach in this cup, i’d have all my players shoot from 30 meters for 1 hour a day and i’d draw an attack plan based on ground passing all the way to the goal box. that sounds facetious, but i’d be interested in stats comparing medium-range shots on/off goal against other years’ cups. i bet the odds are down for success there, and that this year the short goal is going to win it.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 14, 2010 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Another alternative
Maybe passes to midfielders or even backs pushing forward onto the ball beyond the area, then have them drive the ball hard on goal along the ground, and tell the forwards to rush ahead for the potential rebound.
So, if you get a wing pushing in an area where he’d usually cross, maybe he stops and turns, and decides to push in (more or less aiming for the penalty spot, though still outside the area) and then drops a pass back for someone to hit 20-25 yards from the goal — but instead of aiming for the top corner, you drill it low and hope the GK has trouble tracking or handling it.
Treat the ball like a hockey puck — toss it towards goal, hope it skids or takes a weird bounce, and then clean up the loose ball if the GK can’t handle it.
AV, you watch Argentina a hell of a lot more than I do. Does this stuff happen when they play at altitude in Peru or Bolivia or Ecuador or Chile? Do they stop making long passes in the air, or stop trying to hit from 25 meters out?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
only ecuador and bolivia have altitude issues because lima, peru is coastal and santiago, chile is on the foothills.
argentina is kind of a ground team anyway, so if there was a change in tactics like you said, i didn’t notice it. but i did notice in the disaster in bolivia that, early in the game, when it would have mattered, there were a few missed goals by argentina where the ball did seem to sail over the goal. but that was with the old ball too.
but also consider that at the time maradona was at his ragingest-bulliest and decreed that elevation was not an issue in any way. (see, before he became coach he went to bolivia and told evo that FIFA had no business trying to curtail bolivia’s venues on any ground or ground altitude. so he ran a lap around the field and said he felt great and there was no difference. bringing the team up with time to get used to the air would have been an admission of not-knowing-WTF-he-was-talking-about.) so his only effort to acclimate the team to la paz was to take them to santa cruz (half the altitude) to spend the night, then fly them to la paz a coupla hours (!) before the game. anyway, yeah, don’t look for changes in tactic either.
and as i type this, ronaldo just hit a shot that didn’t seem to care what ball was being used. it was strong and the arc took it to where it needed to be. well, a few inches to the left of where. i need to go watch.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 15, 2010 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm surprised the goal is still upright after that shot by Ronaldo
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
i like your tactics by the way.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Jun 15, 2010 7:14 AM PDT up reply actions
.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
new weezer song, represent
it’s quite bad, but at least it’s slightly less embarrassing than this
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
Hey, AV, Greece just scored 2 goals using my tactics!
Low shots from outside the area: one was deflected off a defender in the goal, and the other scored when the GK was handcuffed and one of the Greek forwards was there to clean up the rebound.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
ugh, so f'ing pissed...
The U.S. got jobbed by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly. The U.S. made one of the most remarkable second-half comebacks in World Cup history, becoming only the fifth team ever to gain a tie after taking a 2-0 deficit into halftime. But this result should have been the first time a team had ever won 3-2 in the World Cup after going down 2-0 at halftime. Maurice Edu‘s goal was disallowed by Coulibaly, apparently on the grounds that the U.S. was offside on Landon Donovan‘s free kick. That simply wasn’t the case, and one of the greatest moments in U.S. soccer history was negated by the call. You have to wonder why FIFA lets referees from minor soccer countries work in the sport’s most important games. How often does Coulibaly officiate a top-level game in Mali? Still, the amazing U.S. comeback puts the Americans in a position where they could qualify for the second round with a win against Algeria on Wednesday. This was an all-time game marred by an all-time officiating blunder.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
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