Official FIFA South Africa World Cup Thread

[BoylenOver]

does this match hurt the creditability of the EPL? I think it does. yes, i know, the epl squads have players from around the world, some of the best, but still...some of the epl's biggest names are on the english squad. england's golden generation. and they're getting completely destroyed by a team of mostly bayern munich guys.

Not really. EPL is a physical league, whereas the international game provides more reward for precision and skill.

England has to do some soul-searching, though. Spain and Germany benefit from having many of their players on the same clubs, but England would be better-served to do the opposite: instead of having all their players come from the EPL, where they're liable to get worn down and injured, they should spread out their players among French, Italian, Spanish, etc leagues.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Podolski and Klose were both born in Poland, too.

The Germans don't care where you're from as long as you produce goals for their national team.

Podolski and Klose were nationalized citizens because their heritage (or at least a significant percentage) is German. A significant portion of modern Poland has historically been German (and not just during WWII). Klose is a German name, Miroslav (his first name) is most definitely not. There were quite a few Germans I came across with Polish sounding last names. Nowitzki is also a Polish name.

A huge portion of the French, Dutch and English teams are black, although most of those players were probably born in those countries (Ozil is a third generation German born player). Italy, Spain and Portugal seem to be sticking to the ethnic homogeneity, but that could also be due to the fact that none of those countries have the wealth that countries like France, England and Germany have, so they haven't been a destination for immigrants to the extent France, England and Germany have.

[Pheidippides]

All I know is that I'm glad we won the group and drew Ghana. At least we exited with some pride, though we should have won that game. I think Germany may have destroyed us.

No kidding. Their breaks were incredibly fast and well run. Those last two goals just looked easy.

[SteelBlue]

It appears that the mullet remains a legitimate hair cut in Argentina.

[wuapinmon]

It appears that the mullet remains a legitimate hair cut in Argentina.

It always has been and always will be. If the Argentine squad didn't have sweaty mullets, I wouldn't recognize them, even with the celeste uniforms.

As an observation, even though he didn't score, Messi is just fabulous to watch. His ball control, in the face of 2, 3, 4, or 5 defenders, all on him, is just perfect. I like to use the word electric, because that's what it felt like whenever he had the ball in that game today. He almost scored there at the end too.

Tevez shouldn't have been pulled; the guy was playing out of his head today.

[falafel]

I've had another thought about why soccer hasn't become more popular in the U.S. In almost every other major sport, the U.S. is home to the top leagues. We get all of the top baseball, basketball and hockey players. No one else really plays American football, but if they did the NFL would certainly be the top league for international talent. Even in gold the U.S. tournaments are more prestigious than the rest of the world's (with only the British having an equivalent, and they only have one). Even in Tennis, Americans are used to having world class talent that is home grown.

In short, we're used to watching the very best athletes from each sport compete in our leagues. Not so in soccer. I was watching the MLS game of the week today on ESPN 2. After watching several weeks of the very best players in the world, our top local league looks like garbage. The passing was soft and errant. Crossing, shots on goal, everything was sloppy in comparison. Until the MLS puts out a better product, I won't be surprised that soccer doesn't rise in popularity. And of course, until soccer rises in popularity, there's little chance that the MLS will be able to put out a better product.

[BoylenOver]

As an observation, even though he didn't score, Messi is just fabulous to watch. His ball control, in the face of 2, 3, 4, or 5 defenders, all on him, is just perfect. I like to use the word electric, because that's what it felt like whenever he had the ball in that game today. He almost scored there at the end too.

Tevez shouldn't have been pulled; the guy was playing out of his head today.

Messi is incredible. He's done everything but score through Argentina's first four matches. And it's not uncommon to see a guy with two goals get subbed out. They substituted Higuain when he scored three, and they subbed Muller earlier today after he scored two. I think the idea is they expend more energy scoring than other players.

[wuapinmon]

I've had another thought about why soccer hasn't become more popular in the U.S. In almost every other major sport, the U.S. is home to the top leagues. We get all of the top baseball, basketball and hockey players. No one else really plays American football, but if they did the NFL would certainly be the top league for international talent. Even in gold the U.S. tournaments are more prestigious than the rest of the world's (with only the British having an equivalent, and they only have one). Even in Tennis, Americans are used to having world class talent that is home grown.

In short, we're used to watching the very best athletes from each sport compete in our leagues. Not so in soccer. I was watching the MLS game of the week today on ESPN 2. After watching several weeks of the very best players in the world, our top local league looks like garbage. The passing was soft and errant. Crossing, shots on goal, everything was sloppy in comparison. Until the MLS puts out a better product, I won't be surprised that soccer doesn't rise in popularity. And of course, until soccer rises in popularity, there's little chance that the MLS will be able to put out a better product.

There's probably something to what you're saying, falawful. Whereas most European leagues have rules about how many players on a 'side' have to be from the country where the team is based, they have no concept really of a 'draft' in sports. There are so many little leagues (and big leagues) that players can jump ship and face a whole new group of people and teams and traditions. It's mind-boggling to think about the complexities that would be involved in bringing a global league to pass. Europe sort of has this with the Champions Cup, but it's not the same thing.

Another awesome aspect of most soccer leagues, and something that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE in our sports (though the logistics would be cumbersome) is that in most leagues the worst team in the league gets booted every year, and the champion of the second division gets promoted to the first division. So, in baseball, this year, if things hold the way they are, the Pirates would get booted from the Majors, and the Columbus Clippers would get promoted to the Show. This would be nigh impossible to do in baseball, but in hockey, basketball, and even football, this would make the leagues much more competitive, and allow for more pros and more cities to have pro and semi-pro teams.

[BoylenOver]

Another awesome aspect of most soccer leagues, and something that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE in our sports (though the logistics would be cumbersome) is that in most leagues the worst team in the league gets booted every year, and the champion of the second division gets promoted to the first division. So, in baseball, this year, if things hold the way they are, the Pirates would get booted from the Majors, and the Columbus Clippers would get promoted to the Show. This would be nigh impossible to do in baseball, but in hockey, basketball, and even football, this would make the leagues much more competitive, and allow for more pros and more cities to have pro and semi-pro teams.

You'd have to completely restructure how our leagues are run to use relegation. As you know, minor league teams are stocked with players that belong to a "major league" franchise. So for baseball/hockey/basketball, a promoted franchise would be using players that belong to another franchise.

And for the NFL, they've worked so hard to manage markets and franchise values for the existing 32 teams, they would never allow that kind of saturation for their product.

I agree with you, I'd love to see a relegation system, especially for college football. The three worst teams from a BCS conference are replaced by the three best teams from non-BCS conferences. I just can't see how it would be feasible at the pro level, though.

[il Padrino Ute]

There's probably something to what you're saying, falawful. Whereas most European leagues have rules about how many players on a 'side' have to be from the country where the team is based, they have no concept really of a 'draft' in sports. There are so many little leagues (and big leagues) that players can jump ship and face a whole new group of people and teams and traditions. It's mind-boggling to think about the complexities that would be involved in bringing a global league to pass. Europe sort of has this with the Champions Cup, but it's not the same thing.

Another awesome aspect of most soccer leagues, and something that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE in our sports (though the logistics would be cumbersome) is that in most leagues the worst team in the league gets booted every year, and the champion of the second division gets promoted to the first division. So, in baseball, this year, if things hold the way they are, the Pirates would get booted from the Majors, and the Columbus Clippers would get promoted to the Show. This would be nigh impossible to do in baseball, but in hockey, basketball, and even football, this would make the leagues much more competitive, and allow for more pros and more cities to have pro and semi-pro teams.

I like the idea of the sending teams down and up to the various levels based on the past season performance. In the Italian league, the bottom three teams in Serie A are replaced with the top 3 teams from Serie B. B and C do the same; C and D as well.

I don't know if this would work in the pro sports here because of how things are. If I understand you correctly, it would be almost impossible to do it in baseball because of the farm system. The DBL is the NBA equivalent as are the various minor hockey leagues, though I may be mistaken about that.

Moving teams up and down in levels would work better in college football than it would in pro sports, IMO.

[wuapinmon]

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[USUC]

Those of you that are familiar with this game beyond me (I have gone to several MLS games and watch the World Cup every four years), is the over-acting just part of the game or a cultural thing? To me its like the NBA on steroids. There are flops all over the place. I didn't see this as much with the U.S. and the northern European teams, but maybe I just haven't paying attention.

[falafel]

Those of you that are familiar with this game beyond me (I have gone to several MLS games and watch the World Cup every four years), is the over-acting just part of the game or a cultural thing? To me its like the NBA on steroids. There are flops all over the place. I didn't see this as much with the U.S. and the northern European teams, but maybe I just haven't paying attention.

Its a part of the game, but it seems to be less present in big games/tournaments like the world cup. I've seen very little flopping in the games I've watched (other than the stupid Kaka related incident). I'm sure there's been some though.

The U.S. seems to be totally averse to flopping.

[USUC]

Its a part of the game, but it seems to be less present in big games/tournaments like the world cup. I've seen very little flopping in the games I've watched (other than the stupid Kaka related incident). I'm sure there's been some though.

The U.S. seems to be totally averse to flopping.

I see it with Brazil, Argentina, and Italy when they were still around.

[falafel]

I see it with Brazil, Argentina, and Italy when they were still around.

Must have something to do with teams from the warmer climates.