OT: World Cup Day 3 Open Thread
Group C is going to be the most interesting group IMO. 4 teams that all have a legit shot to get out. None of the teams are elite, but lots to watch in those matches. I think Ivory Coast will finally get out of their group though.
Group D will be fun as all. Not sure why the England-Italy and Uruguay-Costa Rica match times were not switched. Makes much more sense to get max European and South/Central American TV sets tuned in.
All the Manaus games were moved to later times in hopes it would be cooler.
So Italy and England shouldn't be playing in Manaus. Weird, JMO
Remember you're dealing with an organization that decided giving a World Cup to Qatar was a good idea. Nothing has to make sense.
In the summer no less.
Next one goes to Antartica.
Japan is an interesting team. Keisuke Honda might be the best free kick taker in the whole cup (You could easily argue Ronaldo or Messi, too). He get's ridiculous spin on his free kicks and converts them at a ridiculous rate.
Greece on the other hand, well, they are the (old) Wisconsin Bball team. Horrible, no fun, fouling soccer.
Folran is beast at free kicks too.
Of course, I can't believe I left him out. Plus, he looks just like Captain Sig from Deadliest Catch
Love Forlan. One of 2 soccer jerseys I own.
For whatever reason I want England to lose more badly than I usually do.
Yeah. And fuck that Benedict Arnold guy too. He can suck it.
So sad when Falcao went down last July...
¡Adelante, cafeteros!
Hope today is as great as yesterday. I cant remember a WC being so open in terms of play - it is still early but usually you see teams play so conservative and try to play "Greece" or "Italy pre2010" all game, unless they are named Brazil or Argentina. It's been wide open every game thus far. Keep doing this!
Time for the screaming of the national anthems
Best way to win it, on home ice in OT. Seeing the Cup won gets me every time. Even as a non-Kings fan, it brought a tear to my eye.
Also, that's a damn nice team LA has put together. Kopitar reminds me so much of my favorite human, Hank Zetterberg. Quick is amazing, Williams is a playoff machine, Gaborik is sweet, Doughty is a beast, it goes on and on. And of course Dustin Brown only the 2nd American captain to hoist the Cup.
Fugly goal, but deserved by Colombia
First goal of the day Columbiia 1-0. The ball was cutback through the box well and then the soft shot gets deflected by a Greek player.
That celebration made me a Colombia fan.
Columbia definitely looking more dangerous than Greece, even before the goal they had a few nice developments. Greece's packing in isn't working at all.
Columbia is a clothing line
That was quick!
Colombians are getting after it...
For Azzurri, no Buffon or De Scaglio. Sirigu starts in his place.
I considered changing my prediction (1-1), but I believe that the Italian GK situation will have no impact on the game.
The dropoff from Buffon to Sirigu shouldn't be that bad. He was goalkeeper of the year in France two years in a row.
I'm more concerned with our attack having Balotelli and Rossi. I wanted to see Domenico Berardi on this team if they can't get anything going.
Yesterday someone mentioned that "O-Ay-AAAHHH" (with the WC logo) intro and outro they keep doing and now I notice it every time. It's BEYOND annoying at this point and we're only on day 3.
Good on that Greek dude for saying there was no contact.
Colombia scores in stoppage time, 3-0 over Greece.
¡¡Viva, selección cafetera!!
Navas picked the right direction, got away with creeping off the line but it was almost a perfect penalty from Cavani.
He may or may not have gotten away with coming off the line. It's similar to advantage - if the goalie leaves early but the penalty is scored anyway, the infraction is ignored.
Didn't the nab a keeper for coming off early in the last WC? Or maybe it was '06.
They did in the Women's World Cup in 2011... They got Hope Solo on a PK which she originally saved, but the Costa Rican keeper's movement was much more obvious than Solo's yet he didn't get called.
The theatrics in this match are unbearable.
I think it's time to clean up the house and light the grill and get ready for the final two matches.
Watching these grown men flop around and cry is annoying. Just play the game. It's been in every match, but this one has been out of control this first half.
Hopefully they chill with the rolling around next half.
Brilliant save is right. Awesome recovery.
Wonder if Uruguay are just saving Suarez in this one to make sure he's fitter for the Italy and England matches, where they'll release a front line of Cavani-Suarez-Forlan.
With all of the talk about the US possibly getting the opportunity to host in 2022 because of the Qatar situation, what would everyone think the sites and host cities would be?