Official World Cup Spoiler Thread

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:59 pm

The Brits stopped playing once they were 2-1 and thought that they had the game won with 8 minutes left or so. Although I thought the tie was appropiate since the Swedes carried the gameplay most of the 2nd half, you just can't allowed a goal that starts from the arm ball, going all the way to the penalty area without a red shirt touching the ball (well someone missed actually) with a couple of minutes left in regulation.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:31 pm

If Owen's out that doesn't leave Sven with much up front. OTH, with Owen in Sven didn't have much up front.

Oh well, I have a feeling they're still going to beat Ecuador.

Best wishes,

Doug

"Never go for a 50/50 ball unless you are 80/20 sure"

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:16 pm

I don't think football fans in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland want the English team referred to as "Brits".

Why pick Walcott if you don't even play him in group matches when Rooney and Owen have both missed time from their injuries and Crouch has a yellow card? Is he going to bring Walcott for on his first World Cup action in the quarter-final? That's bound to work out great!

No pressure or anything for a teenager who has never even played in the Premier league.

Sven is an idiot.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:52 pm

Feanor wrote:
Why pick Walcott if you don't even play him in group matches when Rooney and Owen have both missed time from their injuries and Crouch has a yellow card? Is he going to bring Walcott for on his first World Cup action in the quarter-final? That's bound to work out great! No pressure or anything for a teenager who has never even played in the Premier league.

Sven is an idiot.

That was my point, too. Today was about as low-impact a match as they're going to have, and he still couldn't find a way onto the pitch, even with Gerrard, Crouch and Lampard carrying yellows, Owen hurt and Rooney not match fit. It's a complete indictment of Sven for naming him to the squad.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:03 pm

Rob:

You and Rob Smyth of The Guardian think alike!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/ ... guise.html

Take care,
PK

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:32 pm

pk500 wrote:Z or anyone:

Did you see "Goal?" If so, how was it?

Take care,
PK

What?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:47 pm

pk500 wrote:Rob:

You and Rob Smyth of The Guardian think alike!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/ ... guise.html

Take care,
PK

Geez, if the man's going to plagiarise me, he should at least change the distinctive verbs. Either that or we're all in a hurry to indict Svenny

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:51 am

Zlax45 wrote:
pk500 wrote:Z or anyone:

Did you see "Goal?" If so, how was it?

Take care,
PK
What?

Movie about a Mexican American who joins Newcastle United. It was released to RoW last year but played for a few weeks in the US earlier this spring.

It's supposedly part I of a trilogy. In the later movies, Francisco goes to Real Madrid and plays in the World Cup (hopefully for the US). Adidas product placement is pretty prominent.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 1:48 am

sfz_T-car wrote:
Zlax45 wrote:
pk500 wrote:Z or anyone:

Did you see "Goal?" If so, how was it?

Take care,
PK
What?
Movie about a Mexican American who joins Newcastle United. It was released to RoW last year but played for a few weeks in the US earlier this spring.

It's supposedly part I of a trilogy. In the later movies, Francisco goes to Real Madrid and plays in the World Cup (hopefully for the US). Adidas product placement is pretty prominent.

That is what I thought...I heard the Independent film that came out about the USA-England game in the 50's is good.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:54 am

Can anyone explain to me why Taylor Twellman is not on the U.S. team? Is he not the leading goal scorer in the MLS? Doesn't the U.S. team need goal scorers?

If this has already been discussed, I apologize.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:09 am

sportdan30 wrote:Can anyone explain to me why Taylor Twellman is not on the U.S. team? Is he not the leading goal scorer in the MLS? Doesn't the U.S. team need goal scorers?

If this has already been discussed, I apologize.

It probably has but TT struggled in one or two matches he played recently for the USA National team thus Arena said I don't think I need him. But the entire USA team has struggled over the last 6 months with scoring goals in matches.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:39 am

4-5-1 formation again for the Yanks.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:21 am

What is up with these early yellow cards? Essien's tackle didn't merit a yellow, as he was going for ball, and it wasn't that late. And Lewis didn't deliberately handle the ball.

Damn, I hope the ref doesn't become the central figure of this match, like he did in the U.S.-Italy match.

P.S.: Why the f*ck does ABC-ESPN insist on showing the Times Square shot? There are about 50 people there watching the game. Contrast that with the thousands on the streets of Mexico City when Mexico played yesterday. The shot of Times Square is embarrassing.

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:29 am

pk500 wrote:What is up with these early yellow cards? Essien's tackle didn't merit a yellow, as he was going for ball, and it wasn't that late. And Lewis didn't deliberately handle the ball.

Damn, I hope the ref doesn't become the central figure of this match, like he did in the U.S.-Italy match.

P.S.: Why the f*ck does ABC-ESPN insist on showing the Times Square shot? There are about 50 people there watching the game. Contrast that with the thousands on the streets of Mexico City when Mexico played yesterday. The shot of Times Square is embarrassing.

Take care,
PK

Not as embarassing as the play through the first 30 minutes. Awful.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:34 am

Sounds like a bone-headed play by Reyna to set up the Ghana goal.

Is the squad playing like they did in the Czech game again?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:45 am

Why bother having five midfielders in a match in which you must SCORE to win, especially when none of those midfielders can provide any service to McBride?

I would love to see Arena sub Johnson for Donovan at half and go to a 4-4-2, but I doubt Bruce has the balls to pull Golden Boy. Donovan is playing like he just doesn't give a f*ck. The kid has no fire, no balls.

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:48 am

Sounds like a very questionable call for a penalty kick.

FECK.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:50 am

Not sure how you can call that penalty...

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:51 am

That was certainly questionable- I have to see the replay again.

Not sure what other options the defender had upon first impressions.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:52 am

Refs killing these games.

There is NO way that should have been a penalty kick.

Italy leads with CZE a man down and the US gets a beautiful goal essentially negated on a bullsh*t call.

2-1 down with half of a match to go, needing the win

-G7

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:52 am

Another BS call by a world cup ref.

This stinks beyond words.

FN BullS&^%

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:53 am

NOt looking good for the USA...Total BS goals by Ghana!!!

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:57 am

The play leading to Ghana's first goal was atrocious. Bush league stuff.

I would've thought that all the officiating disasters in '02 would've chastened FIFA and improved the officiating this year, but this is just the same thing.

The call in the box wasn't a dive, but it was no foul either. So f***in discouraging.

This tournament has shown that diving pays, and FIFA doesn't care. Very disheartening. I've seen almost every game, and for every caution for a dive there are 20 dives that draw calls. As long as that's the case it's an incentive to encourage diving.

OTOH, it's nice to see Beasley show up and so something other than hold up play and knock toe-passes around.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:00 am

Unbelievable! To go from jubilation after Dempsey's goal to anger at the ref after that penalty kick. I can't stop yelling "PIECE OF SH*T" at the TV after that call. How can you call a penalty kick on such a marginal foul at such a HUGE point in the game???@$#@$#@!!!!! I just don't get it. Let the players on the field decide the game.

(Takes deep breath)

OK.....we need 2 goals again to win. Gonna be very tough. Ghana is playing very well and their strikers are very fast and dangerous. Reyna made a HUGE MISTAKE by trying to dribble out of his own end. Not sure how he was injured on that play...maybe he turned his ankle? On a positive note, DEMPSEYS GOAL WAS A F*CKING BEAUTIFUL THING!!! First REAL goal by the US this World Cup and he just SMASHES it into the back of the net!!! GREAT!!!!! pass by Beasly....just PERFECT and Dempsey just FIRES it in. Would have been nice to be going into the half 1-1

We are going to need a minor miracle here to score 2 in the 2nd half and keep Ghana off the board. I hope the ref has an "even up" call for the US in his back pocket. We really should be winning this game 1-0 at this point. Let's see what the boys can do in the 2nd half.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:00 am

Zlax45 wrote:NOt looking good for the USA...Total BS goals by Ghana!!!

I'll give Ghana the first goal as Reyna got caught napping. It's unfortunate that Reyna was injured on the play but it seemed to be an aggressive tackle that got mostly ball.

The PK goal was the result of an inexcusable call. Both players were going up to head the ball in the box and had some incidental contact with both players appearing to hook arms slightly. There was nothing egregious on the play that should have resulted in the penalty, IMHO.

-G7