Official World Cup Soccer Thread

[GasX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxBlpzVSOCQ&feature=player_embedded

 

[KMFJD]

Capello leaving out Theo Walcott, what the heck, the young guy played great whenever I watched him

And van Nistelroy should have been in the Dutch team, some of their strikers like Kuyt aren't really proper strikers, more like offensive midfields.

Zanetti and Cambiasso also didn't make it into the team, but one would expect a couple of stupid moves from Maradona...

Once could make a great team out of players not making the final cut.

Van Nistelroy has barely played top level football in the last two years, he wouldn't play much anyways if he where selected. Kuyt is more versatile and fits the team make up much better

/4-1 Netherlands/Ghana

 

[palswim]

Capello leaving out Theo Walcott, what the heck, the young guy played great whenever I watched him

My favorite Walcott commentary (from an ESPN Gamecast on 2008-01-10, Arsenal v Tottenham):

What a waste by Walcott! He broke clear and could have either shot from 18 years or crossed for an unmarked Van Persie, but he chose to fall over his own feet instead. Clearly, he thought that was the right option. Thousands of Gunners don't share his opinion.

 

[Atheus]

His pace is electrifying, but his finishing and crossing are suspect. Still, I would have like to have seen Adam Johnson instead of Shaun Wright-Philips

Or even Bent - other teams are taking 5 or even 6 strikers.

Walcott though I thought was a definate... he can cover 100m in 10.3 sec ffs...

I mean, even though his final ball is crap, he's young and he might suddenly come good in the middle of the tournament. You can't say the same for people like Heskey who's well into his 30s now and is going to be consistantly extremely average no matter what happens.

 

[dbk]

WC 6/11 and 6/12 and final outdoors on big screen in Dupont Circle for you DMVers
http://www.dupontfestival.org/

 

[chris9641]

Damn ESPN reporting that Altidore suffered an ankle sprain during practice.. xrays negative though

 

[dbk]

Stupid Rossi... US could've used him.. serves him right

 

[palswim]

Stupid Rossi... US could've used him.. serves him right

Haha, when I think about Rossi, it makes me think of Vinny Vedecci (SNL sketch) and his "Little Boy".

 

[Blackjack200]

Damn ESPN reporting that Altidore suffered an ankle sprain during practice.. xrays negative though

Is anyone else just fantastically disappointed with Altidore? I mean, 18 months ago it seemed like he was the future of American soccer. :\

 

[GasX]

Is anyone else just fantastically disappointed with Altidore? I mean, 18 months ago it seemed like he was the future of American soccer. :\

Perhaps, but the US fortunes rise and fall with Dempsey anyway...

 

[bigrash]

Ouch! Drogba breaks right hand and doubtful for World Cup: http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/wo...-right-arm--fbintl,ap-wcup-drogbainjured.html

 

[GasX]

Ouch! Drogba breaks right hand and doubtful for World Cup: http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/wo...-right-arm--fbintl,ap-wcup-drogbainjured.html

Holy Crap - that's HUGE!

Edit - even huger!

Rio Ferdinand is not out too!

 

[GasX]

Wayne Rooney Celebrates a World Cup Goal

 

[bigrash]

Holy Crap - that's HUGE!

Edit - even huger!

Rio Ferdinand is not out too!

Yup huge blow to the IC team and the world cup. Here's the video:

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog...D-Flying-Tanaka-injures-Drogba?urn=sow,245736

 

[Anubis]

god damn, broken elbo, if it was just his wrist/arm they could just cast it and he would be fine

 

[GasX]

god damn, broken elbo, if it was just his wrist/arm they could just cast it and he would be fine

Brazil's goalkeeper is dodgy too now. Players are dropping like flies!

 

[sdifox]

Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I don't remember too many world cups where there is so many injuries. Tanya Harding playing soccer now?

 

[Blackjack200]

Perhaps, but the US fortunes rise and fall with Dempsey anyway...

Great article, thanks for posting. I knew Dempsey was good, but I didn't realize how good as I don't follow the European leagues too closely. Still seems like our chances would have been much better with a healthy Davies and a productive Altidore.

 

[KMFJD]

Holland is destroying Hungary 6-1 right now...

/and Robben is hurt again...

 

[GasX]

England has a long tradition of official and unofficial World Cup anthems. Here's the best of the bunch for this year.

Anyone seen anything for the US team?

 

[lothar]

You guys have no idea how saddened I am with the fact that my country misses the third world cup in the row :/ it is way too competitive for African nations ... they get like 5 spots for all 54 countries in Africa...this year they get 6 because South Africa is hosting... I am not sure this is fare, maybe... just sucks not to be able to cheer on my country. I will be cheering for the US however and they better f**cking make me proud this time... last time was an embarrassment after so much hype. I do believe they have the heart to beat England, Algeria, and that other country (can't remember) ... and that is what I love the most about US team is they play with a lot of heart and pride.

What country is this?

 

[GasX]

Adidas trys to make nerds think soccer is cool...

 

[wheresmybacon]

ESPN is reporting Altidore went full speed in 5 v 2's training yesterday without the ankle being wrapped and he felt fine. As much as I complain about Altidore, he's definitely an asset and we're a different side without him.

I'd link the source but of course everything sports-related is blocked at work.

 

[palswim]

You guys have no idea how saddened I am with the fact that my country misses the third world cup in the row :/

What country is this?

Morocco, I believe.

 

[palswim]

Adidas trys to make nerds think soccer is cool...

I recognized Snoop and Beckham, but should I have recognized any other non-Star-Wars character?