World Cup Open Thread - Day 9
Today we have some impressive matchups:
Slovakia v Paraguay - 7:30am
Italy v New Zealand - 10:00am
Brazil v Ivory Coast - 2:30pm
Slovakia and Paraguay are already under way and Paraguay is already up 1-0.
Personally I'm excited to see my Azzurri play and hopefully see them win to solidify a spot on top of the group.
Brazil v Ivory Coast is enough said as this Group of Death match will be compelling to see.
That Brazil v Ivory Coast is gonna be the one to watch. Hopefully Drogba can go the full 90'.
What part of Italy are you originally from?
My mom's side is Sicilian so from Sicily. Never been to Sicily but I have some distant relatives there. My dad's side is German so my rooting interests have been split up into 1, 1A & 1B
1: USA
1A: Italy
1B: Germany
Italian and German...Only my Dad's side is from Naples.
Aside from the US what are some other teams we are rooting for? I like Argentina's style of play and Diego Maradona is always entertaining. Messi is amazing. I'm also rooting for Mexico cause they've had a rough past few years with all of the drug violence and could use a little boost. Plus it's nice to see a team outside of Europe and South America do well since those two continents have won all the WC's
New Zealand as the plucky underdog, Holland and Germany among contenders.
I am rooting for Brazil and Slovakia. I have always been a Brazil fan. I also like Slovakia since I am 50% Slovak.
For the same reasons we all are.
USA for obvious reasons, Argentina because of Messi, North Korea for their impressive display against Brazil and you have to have one minnow (plus then I can root against Ronaldo, the crybaby), France cuz I studied there but ugh let's not talk about it haha.
The Dutch and the Spanish (family heritage) and Mexico
Usually when the U.S. is no longer playing I pull for the Germans and the French. Though it looks like this year the French will be going home very early.
I root for the USA and whoever's playing the French.
I also like the African teams for sentimental reasons, and then the South American (but not Brazil) and certain European teams. It all depends on the matchup, and my rooting interest is usually based on nothing more than "hey, their uniforms look cool."
Italy and Germany for heritage reasons.
Otherwise it's tough to single out teams because I can find a rooting interest in almost anyone besides the French and English.
I guess this tournament I have been rooting for all African teams to win their games and anyone who's been an underdog in their game, unless they were playing the US, Italy, or Germany.
EDIT: As I type this New Zealand goes up on Italy :(
I guess it wouldn't be such a bad thing if Ivory Coast atleast got to the knockout stages.
I wouldn't mind that at all. Ivory Coast without Drogba making it to the Round of Sixteen would be very impressive.
Drogba is starting today.
Oh then nevermind. I still want them to do well and move on.
The Kiwis strike first haha
WOW!!! Way offside, unfortunately. Still incredible moment for the Kiwis. Cannavaro showed his 290-old-skills there, and why he'll be showing them in Dubai next season.
Not offside, because it hit that defender. And Italy misses from inside the box.
I know it's still really early, but is this the biggest upset of the tournament so far if NZL can hold on?
It's really close and hard to tell but I think you're right, off the defender. I thought for sure it was Winston Reid it hit at first.
LULZ goaltender doesn't even move and it goes off the post.
Holy cow.
God damn it...
PENALTY KICK WOOO!!!
...for Italy.
I can't understand one in every 5 words this color guy says.
...the brogue.
...dooown rather easily, but he did grab his shirt."
Lesson: don't grab an Italian's shirt. It will cause him to fall down.
Lesson: Have a ref that can actually see 20/20 and can see someone holding another's shirt.
ie USA vs Slovenia
Yes, I'm one of those guys that only watches soccer every 4 years, but man, the variability in reffing is just gigantic in this sport.
Is it any different than hockey or basketball? Or different umpires strike zones?
The US call was a blown call by a referee off his game for 90 minutes - don't think it really should be used in a consistency argument. That dude was a outlier on the "terrible" end of the spectrum.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
Sapevo che poteva fare!!
Penalty to Italy, 1-1 after some shirt grabbing and a dive to earn a penalty. That's how it looked to me. Not sure it was deserved.
Nothing like having a ridiculous celebration after scoring a damn PK.
...are a lot of Azzuri supporters on the board this morning, but I have to say I'm rooting for the underdogs not the least of which because Ryan Nelson used to be a stalwart in the back for DC United, my MLS team.
...you can actually hear the crowd above the din of the vuvuzelas.
...I see why. They're doing the wave.
There's been two games thus far (that I've notice) that the crowd has gotten noticeably louder than the damn horns. Our game against Slovenia (Jo-burg was PACKED with US fans, such an awesome sight) and Mexico's last game.
If anything it reminds me of what we're missing because of the vuvuzelas. Damn you FIFA for picking a terrible nation to host (at least fill the stadiums if you're going to ruin the audible atmosphere...)
I'll admit, as an Italy supporter, they have perfected the art of diving, not something I'm too proud of.
However, as an Italian, it doesn't surprise me that they do.
Did you guys hear the story they mentioned? France's Football Federation head has resigned saying "The players don't want to train. It's a shame." There was some altercation between the trainer and Patrice Evra at the start of training which led to it being cancelled apparently. And it was even an open training session. Sheesh!
They've surrendered!
Hard to believe a team with that much talent can't seem to figure out how to make it work. And considering the way they were screwed in the last WC you'd think they'd have a point to prove.
I forgot to mention the reason training was canceled was because the players refused to practice after the argument between Evra and the trainer! I can only imagine what the reaction to all this is in France.
Btw ESPN said the argument was between Domenech and the trainer but they're wrong. Go here for the story:
http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2010/20100620_162201_entrainement-…
(Google translate if you need)
... the Italians doing what they do best (diving to earn bogus penalties) and the French doing what they do best (absolute dysfunction).