World Cup Thread

[robby]

dont worry, we will make your wishes come true As for the Italian play, Imust say I was a bit disapointed. I was expecting a lot from a team which has players like Totti, Del Piero (why did Trap take him out ?), Vieri........

it's a shame to play defensive like that. i like trap as a person but
as a coach i'm very, very angry about him! those games showed
that no one will win a game 1-0. didn't he learn anything from
the games before? no, he didn't. the only good thing is that
corea is in a big party tonigth. now i hope they will gonna win
the cup.

 

[cure]

I'm still shocked. Offside for Tommasi????...BULLSHITTTTTTTTTT!

Manny, what makes me laugh is that they take Del Piero off to bring on a defensive midfielder when Del Piero was playing a superb possession game and was playing wonderfully defensively.

Bahhh...FIFA is really getting what they seeked out to get...a host nation in the finals.

 

[The Varnsen]

Those testas di casso deserve to go home because of their defensive and unspectacular attitude... but i must admit the refferee did give a good help to the korean´s game... they could tackle how and when they wanted, and the italians, if they did something beyond the law were immediately punished with cards!!!

 

[cure]

The best quote...this was left of a sports site where fans can commentate on results.

"So Italy lost. As an Italian fan, with dejected spirit and unsatisfied emotion, I slowly made my way home from the bar that had suddenly taken on a funeral home-like mood. Walking home, hiding my azzurri jersey with my coat as I walked by some Koreans, I tried to dart across the street as the light turned red. Then, all of a sudden out of nowhere, I heard a whistle and a guy jumped out of the bushes waving a flag! Of course…I was OFFSIDE!"

Bahahhhhaaahh that was brilliant..

 

[macDbol]

OOOOOO KOREA OOOOOOOH KOREA!!!,,i love that fucken team, im a US fan and if we happen to get past Germany (which i think could happen since the Koreans showed us anything can happen) i would much rather face Spain than face a fired up Korean team with homefield advantage

another cocky euro team bites the dust.....i hope u guys are soaking this all in because this WC is a turning point in the future of world football,,,brazil,italy,argentina will still be around but now with N.America, Africa, and Asia getting stronger,,its no longer a cake walk for those traditional powerhouses

(thats what u get when your top clubs' players are from outside your country)

COMMON USA, KOREA BEAT ITALY, WE CAN BEAT GERMANY!!

 

[manny78]

Korean had a good game, but wait a minute they aren't the next best thing. The Italians digged they own grave. Taking out Del Piero was probably the worse move I've seen in this World Cup along with Camacho's idea to take out both Raul and Morientes against Ireland. Difference is: Spain is still alive. I was just amazed when I saw the change.... The Italians defenders were on another planet. A place where the drinks must be good cause in many ocasions they seemed lost. I remember one headshot in OT where 4 koreans players were in the box. As for the referees ? Same Ol' song. FIFA should and I hope "will" one day understand that video replays are essential unless they want this sport to turn into something ridiculous......

 

[Mdguy]

RK/Italy was probably the best game of the World Cup so far. Korea won solely on tenacity and stamina. Italy definitely had the better players, but in a winner take all game, anything can happen....
Playing on a puny 1-0 lead in soccer is like playing prevent defense in football with a lead of less than a touchdown-it is stupid!!!!!! Why change something that has been succesful the entire game? I can see it with a 2-0 lead, but not with only a one goal difference.
That was definitely a horrible call with the red card in overtime, but it seems Italy always has the most disappointing losses in World Cup.
Can't wait for Friday-both games look to be excellent matchups

 

[danielson]

hmmm....italy really should have won that one. koreans played well but italians slipped up on defence when push came to shove

lets not get carried away though. mainland europe has been a little cocky perhaps, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. shock results can also be the result of players running around in a v.different climate to europe....this world cup changes nothing other than the fact they should be quietly confident as opposed to overtly/arrogantly so

 

[cure]

hmmm....italy really should have won that one. koreans played well but italians slipped up on defence when push came to shove

lets not get carried away though. mainland europe has been a little cocky perhaps, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. shock results can also be the result of players running around in a v.different climate to europe....this world cup changes nothing other than the fact they should be quietly confident as opposed to overtly/arrogantly so

Ok this is what i blame for the ever changing equality in football.

a) Top leagues in the world signing more than 3 foreign players. A team like Juventus should not have Trezeguet, Montero, Nedved, Salas, Davids, Thuram. We let foreigners play in our leagues and now we get burnt in the end.
b) Coaches from strong countries going to coach other nations. Example: French coaching Japan/Senegal, Dutch coaching Korea, German coaching Canada, Italian coaching Paraguay. These coaches learn certain tactics of one nation and then pass it on to lesser nations. This pretty much takes all strategy and tactics away from the game. Let them learn on their own.

How did countries like Germany, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England... learn to play? By creating their own leagues, making them competetive and defining their own identity to playing soccer. These "new" soccer nations just copy other countries style of play. Anyone else have any views on this?
c)

 

[macDbol]

euro teams buying up foreign talent is the main factor i think for the rest of the world

i dont know other countries scenarios but here in america the MLS (even though it isnt huge) has transforemd the US national team, the level of play isnt near the top leagues of europe, but it is an excellent "farm system" for american talent

also many MLS teams have bought foreign players after WC 98 like Hernandez from Mexcio and Azzizi from Iran,,,and guess what? those players did jack shit!!! which leads me to belive that they couldnt handle mls defenses, they quit doing that and now are focusing on developing their own american talent,,and rightfully so