2010 World Cup Running Thread.

[lorneer]

It's an early candidate, but this has to be the clear winner for most ridiculous result of the World Cup run-up:

Portugal 0-0 Cape Verde Islands

Yep, that's what I thougt, too. Portugal has a quite good team but they're whole game is too much focused on Cristiano Ronaldo. The other players just rely on Ronaldo and don't do that much on the field. At least that was my impression in the world cup qualifying games. Don't think they will get too far in the WC, maybe they won't even make it to the K.O. round, they have a tough group.

 

[Twoback]

If I want to fret about Heath Pearce and Jonathan Bornstein, is this the proper place? Or is it the Soccer thread?
Now I'm fretting about that, too.

 

[Pastor]

Here’s my selection for going to the World Cup:

Goalkeepers (3):
Tim Howard (Everton)
Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton)
Brad Guazan (Aston Villa)

Defenders (7):
Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes)
Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan)
Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
Jay DeMerit (Watford)
Clarence Goodson (IK Start)
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)
Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)

Midfielders (9):
Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Clint Dempsey (Fulham)
Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Maurice Edu (Rangers)
Stuart Holden (Bolton)
Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus)
DeMarcus Beasley (Rangers)
Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca)

Forwards (4):
Jozy Altidore (Hull City)
Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
Herculez Gomez (Puebla)
Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)

I get that teams normally take more defenders but I think Clark and Edu allow for some cover on the backline that would be infinitely better than placing Pearce, Marshall or even Bornstein out there. Heck, I’d consider going with three in the back of DeMerit, Gooch and Bocanegra if you had Clark, Edu and Bradley manning the middle of the field. (Thinking of this, I would be interested to see how such a line-up would work…)

The forwards depth isn’t all that great but you need to go with the guys that are hot. Buddle is hot. Gomez is hot. Altidore is your only rock. So, ride Altidore with Buddle to start. Bring on Gomez for Buddle as a late sub given that all of Gomez’s goals during the season came as a sub.

Ching is the target striker that the US loves to have. He’s a guy to replace Jozy, should he get injured or just stink.

Here’s my line-up:

Altidore -- Dempsey
Donovan -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Holden
Bradley -- Edu
Bocanegra -- Onyewu -- DeMerit -- Spector
Howard​

Though, I may want Buddle to start up front with Dempsey on the wing with Holden coming in late to push Dempsey up top in place of Buddle.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

If Dempsey doesn't spend considerable time up top, I'll lead the charge to fire Bradley.

 

[Pastor]

If Dempsey doesn't spend considerable time up top, I'll lead the charge to fire Bradley.

I'm not so sure. I like Dempsey on the wing. To start, I wouldn't mind Buddle up top to actually add to the attack. Buddle gives that killer finishing instinct. It was his work on Edu's goal that made it possible.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I don't care who starts. I just want to see Dempsey in the box. A withdrawn CF position would be nice. Or even the old 4-3-3.

 

[Pastor]

USA visits White House and they had their photo taken...

Sadly, I don't see any flip flops.

 

[wannabeu]

Bad news for Ghana. Essien will not be playing in the World Cup.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5226227/ce/us/injured-essien-ghana?cc=5901&ver=us

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Given the number of stars going down with injuries, England should encase Rooney in bubble wrap until the tournament begins.

 

[Birdscribe]

Given the number of stars going down with injuries, England should encase Rooney in bubble wrap until the tournament begins.

Remind me again why he's even playing in these friendlies?

BTW, who does Capello take, Bent or Crouch?

 

[wannabeu]

Maybe it's just that I have been paying more attention to this World Cup than previous ones, but I don't remember past World Cups having so many stars missing due to injury or recovering from injury leading up to the WC.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Given the number of stars going down with injuries, England should encase Rooney in bubble wrap until the tournament begins.

Remind me again why he's even playing in these friendlies?

BTW, who does Capello take, Bent or Crouch?

Oh, geez, the Bent v. Crouch debate is one I'm wrestling with too. Both isn't an option?

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Maybe it's just that I have been paying more attention to this World Cup than previous ones, but I don't remember past World Cups having so many stars missing due to injury or recovering from injury leading up to the WC.

The number of matches for top level clubs keeps climbing, so these guys are breaking down. I don't think there were likely any stars in the match, but AC Milan played DC United Wednesday night. Most of the English clubs' top players won't have but a couple of weeks off before they start preseason tours.

 

[Birdscribe]

Given the number of stars going down with injuries, England should encase Rooney in bubble wrap until the tournament begins.

Remind me again why he's even playing in these friendlies?

BTW, who does Capello take, Bent or Crouch?

Oh, geez, the Bent v. Crouch debate is one I'm wrestling with too. Both isn't an option?

If you or I was running things, Inks, it would be an option.

Even though I'm not a big fan of Crouch, he IS a better choice than Emile Heskey. However, Capello has a hard-on for Heskey, despite the fact he is a below-average finisher on his best days.

So it's probably coming down to that. And I'd pick Bent, but nobody asked me.

 

[deskslave]

Given the number of stars going down with injuries, England should encase Rooney in bubble wrap until the tournament begins.

Remind me again why he's even playing in these friendlies?

BTW, who does Capello take, Bent or Crouch?

Oh, geez, the Bent v. Crouch debate is one I'm wrestling with too. Both isn't an option?

If you or I was running things, Inks, it would be an option.

Even though I'm not a big fan of Crouch, he IS a better choice than Emile Heskey. However, Capello has a hard-on for Heskey, despite the fact he is a below-average finisher on his best days.

So it's probably coming down to that. And I'd pick Bent, but nobody asked me.

I cannot understand why Heskey keeps getting picked. He brings nothing to the table that one of the others doesn't bring.

Crouch may be an awkward weirdo, but that height is a useful tool. Bent and Crouch for me, too.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

More than 160,000 tickets remain unsold. Gosh, Sepp, I wonder why no one wants to go to South Africa.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Police say two hotel workers stole money from members of Colombia’s soccer team, which is in South Africa for a friendly against the World Cup host.

 

[UPChip]

I cannot understand why Heskey keeps getting picked. He brings nothing to the table that one of the others doesn't bring.

Crouch may be an awkward weirdo, but that height is a useful tool. Bent and Crouch for me, too.

My favorite terrace song (before he started playing for Villa) was:

"If Heskey plays for England, so can I!" (to the tune of "If You're Happy And You Know It.")

 

[wannabeu]

Maybe it's just that I have been paying more attention to this World Cup than previous ones, but I don't remember past World Cups having so many stars missing due to injury or recovering from injury leading up to the WC.

The number of matches for top level clubs keeps climbing, so these guys are breaking down. I don't think there were likely any stars in the match, but AC Milan played DC United Wednesday night. Most of the English clubs' top players won't have but a couple of weeks off before they start preseason tours.

Great point. There are so many tournaments for these club teams to participate in that it is getting a little out of control.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I picked up the ESPN World Cup preview magazine/book yesterday. It's very nice. Though since it was printed a month or so ago, some of the info is out of date as injuries and rosters are announced.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

More than 160,000 tickets remain unsold. Gosh, Sepp, I wonder why no one wants to go to South Africa.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Police say two hotel workers stole money from members of Colombia’s soccer team, which is in South Africa for a friendly against the World Cup host.

You would think each team would employ security to guard valuables at all times. That or don't leave anything of value at the hotel in the first place.