http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/we...-beats-algeria

Hang in until the end

so - who won?

I did.

I'd heard (pre-play) Ghana predicted to do better than Germany. Why would you rather face Germany?

:facepalm:

Germany is 8th in the Soccer Power Index, Ghana is 33rd. US is 13th.

Excuse my error, please.
Why would you rather face Ghana?

hehe. I was suprised to learn from the BBC that England vs Germany history is approx 50:50. Maybe Germany have triumphed more recently, or maybe it just feels that way because defeat to Germany is sooo bitter and victory so sweet.

Not sure if I'd rather England faced Ghana than Germany. Germany is more of a known. Either way, I'm routing for both England and USA, now I don't have to choose.

Ghana is a very difficult team to break down and I genuinely down know if the US can beat them. They have a lot of powerful players with a scrappy attitude so the US will really have to bring their A game and the right tactics but I believe they can do it.

Germany on the other hand are the team that I just don't see any conceivable way for the US to beat. Physically strong and technically excellent they are just as happy to play a quick pass attacking/pressing game or just pummel you with raw speed and athleticism. They play their own style of game which is effficient possession oriented but they are tactically flexible. I don't believe the German team is the "best" team at the tournament but I think they are the team that would be harder than any other for us to beat.

Many people don't realize that for years the US has been a technically weak team that managed to compete due to superior athleticism. Germany is every bit as athletic and they have the technical skills to boot.

groan

hehehee. Most americans wouldn't have gotten that.

well I am an amateur soccer geek, soo...

Freaking hilarious. I love it.

Donovan said this video brought him to tears.

That was awesome, but it does make us a 3rd world country.

No, our government did that. this just makes us a third world country with that is learning to love the beautiful game.

Wow, that shot by Suarez for Uruguay was phenomenal.

Game on!
Random Hunch: Altidore watch him.

gomez or little stewie holden to make a completely unexpected contribution late in the game.

hopefully we start with

Howard

Cherundolo
Demerit
Bocanegra
Bornstein

donovan
Bradley
feilhaber
dempsy

gomez
alitdore



and use the wings for a quick moving game. If we sit back and try to absorb the attacks and wait for the counter Ghana will punish Bocanegra and bornstein. The left side of defense is our weakest spot. If we run at them and run at them some more we should be able to tire them out and put Holden on for Gomez or Altidore, pushing Dempsey into a second forward and Donovan to the left side. At least that is what I would try.

Bob Bradley fucked up his starting lineup. Either this gets really ugly or he has to use 2 of his subs far earlier than you would ever want to.

Ricardo Clark shouldn't even be a pro player, let alone in the national team.

Jozy looks uninspired.

I keep being surprised by our poor defensive play. Does Bradley leave Cherundelo in with the yellow? I doubt we have anyone to replace him. You were right before about a wing game. We are not getting any second chances when crosses go through the box... let's not jam up the middle.

Eugh - sorry, you know I'm not anti-America, but that video represents such an unattractive side of the US.

99% of those clips were from AMERICA. The one from France I have no doubt was filmed in an AMERICAN bar in France. The supporters in South Africa were probably the only overseas support in the whole clip. And yet it claims to be the world's reaction to America's win. Certinaly in this country we went, "Oh Shit!" It's possible Germany did too, although they relish a bash at England and have reasonable confidence going through either way.

I'm rooting for the US against Ghana (not going well as of typing) and every country deserves support. But purlease don't make a video about the world and only include three countries, two of which are on screen for under 5 seconds. (FTE, had the world thing not been mentioned I'd have thought it was a really cute montage, the sort of thing I'd sneak a tear out about if it was about England).

America Fuck yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

touchdown!

painful

oh man. :( so sorry.

pretty much brought me to tears too. probably not the same kind, though. SG nailed that pretty well. ugh.

...and I was glad the US made it through and I'm sorry they're gone. I sorta wanted to root for Ghana because they're underdog-ish, but I live here and I have an American child and I think you should support the team that represents you.

I thought that was kind of a goofy label for that video.

Yeah, it's not a very professional video, it should probably get a pass. Besides, I think any such video would make him cry at that point -that was just the one that got spotlighted/happened to be in the right place at the right time...

Still two hours to go and already I'm in pain

An hour to go and I am sweating like a paedophile in a creche.
But then I'm house-cleaning as the 'rents come home tonight.
And I want to sit down to watch the game with a clear conscience.

England should stick to lawn bowling

Argh.

Don't say another word.
I know.

OMFG. Worst call of the tournament, surely.



1966. Just saying.

Yeah.
But 4-1 makes it much less painful.
Like a blister when you already have a broken leg.

John Cleese - football vs. football

Sneider!!!!

and Felipe Melo is in a world of hurt right now. He'd better not let his face be shown for awhile.

Wait, didn't they stop the tourney when the English speaking teams tanked?

Nope. They only let the english speaking teams in for the warmup rounds. The real World Cup starts when they all go home...unless you consider most of the german players speak better english than the majority of american and english players.

This Uruguay Ghana game is great.

If suarez makes it off the continent I'll be surprised. And disappointed.

Of course it wasn't supposed to be a free kick anyway, so perhaps it was best that it went to penalties.

The commentator on ITV was very biased.
He was moaning about how Uruguay ended the party for Africa.
Uruguay were invited to the party for heaven's sake! And Ghana weren't even the hosts! The most Uruguay did was spill Ghana's red wine on the carpet.

I have never cheered for a German team or athlete in any competition... until now. They are playing some great football. While I still prefer Netherlands or Spain, I think Germany is the team to beat. Klose is only one goal behind (fat) Ronaldo for most goals scored at the world cup.

u r gay or pa r gay?

I find it impossible to cheer central and south american teams. I hate how they play.

Netherlands v Spain in the final would probably be the most entertaining as they are both very attacking but a bit shaky at the back.

Netherlands v Germany could be pretty great too, but I think their styles would allow Germany to run right over the Netherlands. Maybe some historical tie in could be found there, I'm not sure.

Anybody but Uraguay and Paraguay and I'll be happy.

Uraguay should be proud of the way they cheated their way into quarter finals. If this was Rugby there would have been a penalty score allowed AND a red card. How can any game at a world cup level allow blatent and purposeful cheating allow a team to advance. Soccer is broken.

Wrong. I don't like the player, the team, or the result but everything happened within the laws of the game. The player knew if he handled the ball 3 things would happen: 1) Ghana would not score at that moment, 2) He would receive a red card and 1-3 game suspension if his team were to progress, 3) Ghana would receive a penalty kick which almost always results in a goal. He handled the ball, preventing a goal, he received a red card, and Ghana missed their penalty kick sending the game into PK's. Uraguay prevailed.

That is not the way I want my players to approach the game but everything he did was within the laws of the game. Application of laws sometimes results in unjust outcomes. The game is far from broken.

let's go Netherlands!

I thought Argentina were pretty good against Germany; controlled but attacking, with a lot of possession in the German half. Until they got steamrolled.
Germany are looking favourites. Klose is in form at finishing, but Muller has been important for their attack and he is out for the next game. I suspect they'll get through. Despite my part-German ancestry, I would rather someone else won it.

I've been looking for The Fast Show's take-off of the World Cup (which was being held in America at the time). Can't find it sadly. It was a light-hearted poke on the fact that the rest of the world was focussed on the event, while Americans living in the various cities seemed distinctly underwhelmed. And the fact the US pronounces some country names in a distinctly different way to Britain.

The one which stuck in our minds (talking my brother and me here) was Your-ugga-way for Uraguay. So that in fact this world cup has delighted us with the amount of time we've been able to bring it up. Don't worry, we still find lines from Spitting Image funny too (Lancashire, la-la-la-laaaa - a cricket related sketch from the 80's).

Yup, and nothing better than Diego's "Hand of God".
Its all the part of game. Human Game.

What about the Hand of Henri that kept Ireland out this year?

actually, Ireland's lack of quality kept them out. Their inability to do anything with the ball for the other 89 minutes and 58 seconds might have something to do with it. Henry was wrong to do it as was Suarez. He never claimed he didn't use his hand, the ref simply didn't see it.

Well, there's another sporting event final I won't have to care about watching ...

Who won?

Spain 1 Germany 0.

Spain to play Netherlands in the final.

I'm glad we'll have a first time winner.