WORLD CUP 2010 IS HERE ........Snore....
you're not a fan?
If I really hated it I wouldn't have watched.
Its just like the headline. I was excited that it was world cup time. The best players playing for their countries etc.etc. (in theory as high a motivation to play your best as it gets) and after watching two games, I'm already reminded of the reasons that I don't watch soccer more often. Lots of action in the middle of the field with the occasional chance but rarely anything spectacular.
i already knew the France game was going to suck (IMO) but Mexico/S Africa was WAY better of a matchup than i think anyone expected and had a great pace to it.
but rarely anything spectacular
They are kicking a ball with their feet! while running ata dead sprint. Try to kick a ball and have it land within 20 feet of where you want it. Go ahead and give it a shot. Insane.
MUCH HARDER
Are you a MOD?
absolutely
This site has really gone down hill.
that's why it's called FOOTBALL anywhere except in north america.
Fast-kicking, low-scoring, and ties? You bet!
I enjoy excitment, build up, and the tension that goes with a close game. At any moment a beautiful play or goal can change everything. I love the drama that goes with it all. Some people simply cannot appreciate the beautiful game and I'm alright with that.
but too often that beautiful play just never happens. Seems like you have to watch five or ten games to get that one "highlight film moment".
Are rare things not more exciting than the mundane everyday occurence? For instance, if perfect games were more common people would be more ambivalent towards them. Instead it's their rarity that gives them that much more credence over just a simple, wonderfully pitched game.
Not really. Spain killed Poland the other day 6-0. There are always huge blowouts in international play.
Not really a big soccer fan, but love the World Cup, Euro and the Champions league with the best of the best competing. It's still 100x better than any form of baseball. I will never understand someone who says soccer is boring, but loves America's so called past time
which is why i only watch postseason baseball! or red sox-yankees...
and going to a baseball game is actually entertaining, unlike watching on tv
Let me guess you dont like apple pie, either?
Once baseball and apple pie goes, the terrorists have won. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!
"It's still 100x better than any form of baseball."
Shenanigans.
More exciting teams will play.
I like it all, but I can totally understand how a newcomer could be bored watching a game like the one I just saw. They won't all be like that.
UGH. Please take time to learn the game and appreciate the defensive schemes before you clamor for high scoring "excitement."
It is like people who never watch baseball claiming it is boring. There is a hell of a lot that goes into these games if you watch with a decent attitude.
That's just it right there. It's easy to give up on something when you have no idea what you're watching.
Soccer might look like a simple sport where you just kick a ball around and end up with a low score, but there is much much more involved. Just like any other sport, there is strategy and a unique level of intensity.
If you really want to give it a chance I suggest continue watching and perhaps you will find what you are looking for. If not, then hey that's your perogative.
I personally have found both opening games to be very exciting and cannot wait till tomorrow when I can catch the next ones.
DEAR PEOPLE WHO HATE SOCCER
We get it. You're heterosexual. Please shut the fuck up about it.
-Brian
What am I if I actively watch for one month every four years? Hetomosexual?
if it was during college
one month every four years = joe american
he got that wood!
Let the poison out!
traditionally there's not a wealth of scoring in soccer. it's a large pitch and you can't use your hands.
there are not the best teams in the world. Great teams? Yes. But you must remember that these players spend the majority of their time in various leagues around the world playing different styles with different teammates. The quality of play for these opening matches is naturally going to be mediocre under the circumstances of elevation, new teammates, new schemes, and from what I judged to be subpar fields (players slipping all over). I love the world cup and I hope that people remember this when watching the games in the coming weeks.
As much as I love the rhythm and flow of a soccer match, even without goals, I find it frustrating to watch matches like Uruguay-France also, where a team is technically inferior but oh so organized in defense. Much like I find it frustrating to watch some football games between two defensively stout teams and relatively inept offenses.
In both cases, I'd still rather be watching than doing a lot of other things. A relatively bad soccer/football game beats the hell out of a lot of other ways to spend time.
aka...work...or classes. at least its not during the semester like march madness. THAT is a productivity killer for students
people say that a 1-0 pitcher's duel or 0-0 hockey game is exciting but fail to see how a similar soccer score can be just as exciting and majestic
Frankly, if you watched the South Africa/Mexico game and weren't entertained, then you just don't like soccer. That was a great game to watch.
France/Uruguay was rubbish. Crazy Ray is running France into the ground.
If I randomly selected and NFL game to watch and it was Browns/Bills with a final score of 6-3 I might think the same thing about football.
It helps if:
a)at least one of the teams are good
b)you have some emotion, positive or negative, regarding one of the teams
The game is really a lot like hockey. It turns on a dime and can be absolutely gut-wrenching if you've got a stake in the game. Then every once in a while, something absolutely sick/amazing happens.
Well, I enjoyed the action. great diversion from work. Sadly, I lost money. Stupid draws.
Do people bitch like this about hockey or baseball?
Each soccer game is different and the WC level is so technical that todays games happen. Remember this is the group stage!
I threw this into an older thread, but thought I'd ask again. What happens if all six games in a group are ties? I realize this is ridiculously unlikely, but how would they sort that out?
They'd use goal differential, so technically at this moment it would be Mexico and South Africa to advance since they have both scored while France and Uruguay have not.
1. Goals scored
2. Points against just the other tied teams (worthless here)
3. Goal differential against just the other tied teams (worthless again)
4. Goals scored against just the other tied teams (worthless again)
5. Drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup.
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/world-cup-group-play-tie-breaking-rules.html
I had heard about goal differential, but I didn't realize that just "goals scored" was a step in that. Makes sense.
it was more like this? 
Uh, is that Timmay! from South Park?
YES!!!
I gotta agree with the poster on this one. Don't think our dislike for soccer has anything to do with asserting one's manhood or sexuality. That shit is just boring.
I just disagreed with Brian. Don't neg me bro!
Don't neg me bro!
Best possible way to get yourself negged
If you don't like soccer, don't watch it and don't post about it, it's that easy....
but u just dont understand the game if u think this is boring. i think baseball is boring. LOTS of people will disagree with me. i dont understand the intricacies of baseball, i understand that. its probably a fun sport to watch. you obviously dont understand soccer if u thought that the south africa - mexico game was boring. the strike by the south african striker(not even gonna try to spell his name) was absolutely world class. the goalie had no shot. add that shot to the beautiful set up passes and THAT is wat soccer is all about. if u lived basically anywhere other than the US/canada then odds are u would love soccer. for an american comparison to "exciting" watch the Seattle Sounders play at home. their fans are amazing and their team is great.
A tie's only a big deal because of the lack of overtime at this point. If, in a football game, Eastern were to reach the end of regulation tied with Ohio State, I'm pretty sure this would be considered better for one team than for the other.
If you watched the South Africa goal live and then thought, "I don't really get why people love soccer," you probably aren't going to get it. There's nothing wrong with that. I don't love basketball or jai alai or badminton.