2010 World Cup Running Thread.

[Pastor]

USA all the way. And I want England to crash and burn.

Other than that, I wouldn't mind seeing the Argentines hold the trophy. And Maradona do a line off it in front of everyone! Better that then those Jesusfreak Brazilians.

Inky, I have softened my stance on Mexico. If we play then of course I'll be out for blood, but if they take down a few Eurosnobs all is forgiven.

Screw that. I want El Tri to go 0-for South Africa. I fear they'll advance in that weak group, but I'm honestly hoping for South Africa and Uruguay to advance in Group A.

I'm with Inks here. Having seen what kind of havoc their fans wreak here in SoCal, Mexico can't crash, burn and slink home fast enough.

Obviously being an American fanboi, my Donovan jersey is all ready for June 12, but after the Americans exit somewhere in the second round or (Supreme Being willing) quarters, I'm joining Deskslave and the spirit of my grandmother in rooting for England.

In other words, I'm ready for that quarterfinal disappointment to hit me like a 2-by-4 between the eyes. So when that happens, I think it's Spain's cup to lose. It has too much talent from front to back.

I'm with whoever ripped on Argentina for Maradona's lack of a brain; he'll find a way to mess up a team with Messi, Tevez and Milito among others. Meanwhile, the Dutch have inherited Spain's title as the biggest choke artists in Europe, Italy's too old, France has too many holes (starting with Domenech) and Germany isn't deep enough this time out.

That leaves Brazil and Spain as probably the last two standing. There are worse finals to watch.

I'll be pulling for the USA and pick up my Mo Edu kit as soon as I find out what number the Terp will be wearing.

I'm not exactly picking a second team since it's USA all the way!

 

[Webster]

I've always liked the Dutch as my "second team". They looked so good early in Euro 2008 and then went in the toilet.

As far as the Mexican team goes, 0-3 with a -20 goal difference is about the best which I can wish for them.

 

[deskslave]

I've always liked the Dutch as my "second team". They looked so good early in Euro 2008 and then went in the toilet.

As far as the Mexican team goes, 0-3 with a -20 goal difference is about the best which I can wish for them.

That may actually happen to North Korea. El Salvador might just lose its place in the history books.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I've always liked the Dutch as my "second team". They looked so good early in Euro 2008 and then went in the toilet.

As far as the Mexican team goes, 0-3 with a -20 goal difference is about the best which I can wish for them.

That may actually happen to North Korea. El Salvador might just lose its place in the history books.

I'm halfway convinced Kim Jong Il will start a minor skirmish on NK's matchdays just to draw attention away from the team.

 

[Birdscribe]

I've always liked the Dutch as my "second team". They looked so good early in Euro 2008 and then went in the toilet.

As far as the Mexican team goes, 0-3 with a -20 goal difference is about the best which I can wish for them.

That may actually happen to North Korea. El Salvador might just lose its place in the history books.

I hope that scenario happens to the North Koreans and not the Kiwis.

I don't think my All Blacks shirt, Cape Kidnappers hat and genuine fondness for the Kiwis I met on my '08 work trip there has enough karma to matter here.

 

[deskslave]

New Zealand has the advantage of being in a group that has to be considered not nearly as strong as North Korea's. I know Paraguay did well in qualifying, and I know Slovakia won their group, but it's not as though Italy are going to be trembling at the sight of any of them. New Zealand might struggle to get a point, but I doubt they'll give up 20 goals, either, especially seeing as Italy will be perfectly content to win by 2 or 3 -- or even 1, if it suits them.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

So, soccer mavens. In my admittedly limited recollection, Italy always seems to do a bit better in the World Cup than is anticipated. Why is it being written off so cavalierly this time around? I haven't read a thing that gives them a shot at the title.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

I've always liked the Dutch as my "second team". They looked so good early in Euro 2008 and then went in the toilet.

As far as the Mexican team goes, 0-3 with a -20 goal difference is about the best which I can wish for them.

That may actually happen to North Korea. El Salvador might just lose its place in the history books.

I'm halfway convinced Kim Jong Il will start a minor skirmish on NK's matchdays just to draw attention away from the team.

Actually, Lil' Kim plans to play for NK. He will score 47 goals in the group stage before gloriously leading his nation to a World Cup victory by personally converting all five penalty kicks and stopping three in a shootout against the combined sides of Spain, Brazil and the entire U.S. armed forces in the final.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

I spent the last 30 minutes trying to make a post where the first letter of each line spells out a message, but I can't get the formatting down, so let's just leave it at "**** Mexico"

 

[PCLoadLetter]

So, soccer mavens. In my admittedly limited recollection, Italy always seems to do a bit better in the World Cup than is anticipated. Why is it being written off so cavalierly this time around? I haven't read a thing that gives them a shot at the title.

They probably aren't getting as much credit as they deserve.

Chiefly, the issues are (a) they are old, and (b) they look like they'll probably struggle to score, because they just don't have much up front. They're solid, but hard to get excited about.

 

[deskslave]

So, soccer mavens. In my admittedly limited recollection, Italy always seems to do a bit better in the World Cup than is anticipated. Why is it being written off so cavalierly this time around? I haven't read a thing that gives them a shot at the title.

They were pretty awful in Euro 2008 -- routed by Holland, shouldn't have gotten out of the group stage and eliminated in the quarters -- and they haven't really improved since then.

It's a fine line between "experienced" and "washed up," and they're probably on the wrong side of that line. (And if you're thinking, but hey, Inter won the Champions League, well yeah, they did. And the only Italian to appear for them in the final came on with two minutes left.)

They'll also likely run across Spain in the quarters -- as they did in Euro 2008, when Spain won on penalties.

But like Germany, they are one of those handful of sides that you write off at your peril.

 

[Colin Dunlap]

Off topic a little, but does anyone else think Bob Bradley looks like Mark Knopfler (circa 1995-ish)

 

[PCLoadLetter]

So, soccer mavens. In my admittedly limited recollection, Italy always seems to do a bit better in the World Cup than is anticipated. Why is it being written off so cavalierly this time around? I haven't read a thing that gives them a shot at the title.

They were pretty awful in Euro 2008 -- routed by Holland, shouldn't have gotten out of the group stage and eliminated in the quarters -- and they haven't really improved since then.

It's a fine line between "experienced" and "washed up," and they're probably on the wrong side of that line. (And if you're thinking, but hey, Inter won the Champions League, well yeah, they did. And the only Italian to appear for them in the final came on with two minutes left.)

They'll also likely run across Spain in the quarters -- as they did in Euro 2008, when Spain won on penalties.

But like Germany, they are one of those handful of sides that you write off at your peril.

And if I may return to my fanboi Inter rant for a moment...

The players at the heart of the team that just won the Champions League, the Serie A title and the Italian Cup are Argentinian. Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti all played huge roles for the team. Only Samuel and Milito made the Argentine team, and it's pretty clear Milito probably won't be starting -- despite being the best striker in Europe right now. Samuel's largely been out of the team until now, so God knows what he'll be doing in Africa.

If Argentina had a manager who was even moderately competent they would have a fantastic shot at winning this. But they have Maradona, and the team he selected is very lucky to be in a mediocre group.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Nothing really to take from that match except that friendlies suck.

 

[Birdscribe]

So, soccer mavens. In my admittedly limited recollection, Italy always seems to do a bit better in the World Cup than is anticipated. Why is it being written off so cavalierly this time around? I haven't read a thing that gives them a shot at the title.

They probably aren't getting as much credit as they deserve.

Chiefly, the issues are (a) they are old, and (b) they look like they'll probably struggle to score, because they just don't have much up front. They're solid, but hard to get excited about.

Nor do they have much in the midfield behind that lack of talent up front, outside of Pirlo, who is 31. Marcelllo Lippi, the Azzuri's coach, is way too reliant on the old guard.

Besides, only Italy (1934 and '38) and Brazil ('58 and '62) managed to repeat. So there's that little hurdle of history to scale.

 

[Cosmo]

Nothing really to take from that match except that friendlies suck.

I'd be more concerned if there weren't so many key players sitting in the press box eating chicken wings.

 

[da man]

Onyewu has horrendous, as were the rest of the defenders.

 

[Cosmo]

I also admittedly turned it off at halftime because of the Suns game, so I didn't see the debacle that was the second half. Looking forward to Saturday.

 

[kingcreole]

Onyewu has horrendous, as were the rest of the defenders.

Yeah, that first goal was all on Onyewu. How did he not win that ball, given he had inside position and about a 25-pound advantage?

 

[Pastor]

Nothing really to take from that match except that friendlies suck.

I disagree. I think we learned that Heath Pearce needs to be left home!

Onyewu has horrendous, as were the rest of the defenders.

Yeah, that first goal was all on Onyewu. How did he not win that ball, given he had inside position and about a 25-pound advantage?

That was disappointing. However, it was good to see him out there getting some game time. I’m worried about his fitness and whether he can hold up.