The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup

[mountainboii]

Goal. Finally.

[gerry]

come on Paraguay

[mountainboii]

Poor Cardozo     

[Hereiam]

I'm gona miss her 

[gerry]

Poor Cardozo     

poor lad in a bad shape but on a bright side its not the sam maguire

[gerry]

rte  sketch very good at the end

[Main Street]

Poor Cardozo     

Poignant that Cardoza was the story at the end. Paraguay put in some ballsy shift. Has to be the knife-edge game of the tournament so far.
   

[Tony Baloney]

I'm gona miss her 

Apparently thon blade lost her phone in all the excitement this evening and needs something to replace it

[Main Street]

Too much to observe there to notice a mere phone.
Lucky guy who is the one who has to console her tonight.

[ludermor]

I'm gona miss her 

Apparently thon blade lost her phone in all the excitement this evening and needs something to replace it

http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2010/06/larissa-riquelme-cute-paraguay-fan.html
http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2010/06/larissa-riquelme-cute-paraguay-fan.html

[thewobbler]

I find it strange that everyone comments on how young this German side is, yet 6 of yesterday's starting team played against Argentina in the last World Cup too. That means the majority of their team has been playing together for around 5 years, which surely must make them one of the most experienced and settled line-ups at the World Cup.

Still, they are a joy to watch. Ozil and Muller are obviously precocious talents, and Lahm is a truly world class player, but it's Schweinsteiger who makes them tick, and on this evidence could develop into one of the best midfield pivots in the history of the game. His elegance, awareness and intelligence is a joy to behold, and it's difficult to believe that any English winger (or any English player) could enjoy such a transition.

But Spain should be the ultimate challenge for them. Germany's patience and understanding will be tested to the limit by a team capable of wearing anyone down by sheer fact that they strangle the ball.  I can't help fancying Spain for this one.

[paco]

I find it strange that everyone comments on how young this German side is, yet 6 of yesterday's starting team played against Argentina in the last World Cup too. That means the majority of their team has been playing together for around 5 years, which surely must make them one of the most experienced and settled line-ups at the World Cup.

Still, they are a joy to watch. Ozil and Muller are obviously precocious talents, and Lahm is a truly world class player, but it's Schweinsteiger who makes them tick, and on this evidence could develop into one of the best midfield pivots in the history of the game. His elegance, awareness and intelligence is a joy to behold, and it's difficult to believe that any English winger (or any English player) could enjoy such a transition.

But Spain should be the ultimate challenge for them. Germany's patience and understanding will be tested to the limit by a team capable of wearing anyone down by sheer fact that they strangle the ball.  I can't help fancying Spain for this one.

Think you're exaggerating about Schweinsteiger a little bit, he's been very good but the standard of this World Cup hasn't been high compared to previous years. You're right about Spain, they'll be the ultimate test. Think they'll be there abouts at the next world cup, they might not be the youngest side but the youngsters coming through are all shaping up to be very good.

[thewobbler]

but the standard of this World Cup hasn't been high compared to previous years

I don't know about this. Every World Cup throws up its fair share of turgid rubbish, and if you were asked to name 10 truly memorable World Cup games in terms of quality from your lifetime, you would probably struggle.

The passage of time will make you more cynical about current football and more misty-eyed for the games of the past. That's how it works.

[paco]

but the standard of this World Cup hasn't been high compared to previous years

I don't know about this. Every World Cup throws up its fair share of turgid rubbish, and if you were asked to name 10 truly memorable World Cup games in terms of quality from your lifetime, you would probably struggle.

The passage of time will make you more cynical about current football and more misty-eyed for the games of the past. That's how it works.

You don't need quality teams to have a quality match, you can have great matches between shit teams. I'm talking about the standard of football and the tactics too I suppose, which have made for a poor standard of football. Look at the likes of Ivory Coast, Portugal, Italy and France. Granted these teams aren't as strong as they were in previous years, but for one reason or another they all failed, imo the World Cup is always more interesting when the "bigger" nations make it through. You like the odd surprise but in terms of unpredictability this World Cup has been something else, for me that's not always a good thing.

[thewobbler]

Ivory Coast have never played a knockout game in a World Cup, while Portugal's record in championship football makes England look like Brazil. So personally I'd consider neither as a big team or a big disappointment.

Honestly, the standard of football isn't that bad. Spain, Germany and Holland are probably the 3 best balanced sides in the World Cup, with the right mix of defensive steel, sheer athleticism, and pure class. It has stood them in good stead. Uruguay, even though they know their limits compared to the top sides, have enough flair to make it interesting.

By my figures, positive football has made its way through to the last four.


One thing you should bear in mind as well iis that when FIFA host the WC in a country where football isn't that strong, it automatically makes the seeding system weaker.