2010 FIFA World Cup

[nickagneta]

Tomorrow is USA wins, are they guaranteed to move on? Just wondering.

Yes they are.

Slovenia has 4 points
UK has 2 points
US has 2 points
Algeria has 1 point

If the US wins it'll have five points and thus will be at least second in the point total no matter the result of the other match. Now depending on the other result they could win the group or come in second however.

TP thanks Faf.

[celticmaestro]

Goodbye France. Now that is karma in its truest form.

I'm sorry to see SA eliminated, they were a feel good factor and the contrast in team spirit/unity between them and the French was phenomenal.

[ACF]

Goodbye France. Now that is karma in its truest form.

Amen, brother.

[j804]

Does anybody got a complete schedule?

couldnt find one on google, it was all different time zones dates etc

[ACF]

Does anybody got a complete schedule?

couldnt find one on google, it was all different time zones dates etc

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html

?

[Who]

I'm not wild about Jermaine Defoe starting instead of Heskey up front. Defoe and Rooney are an explosive combination but they're prone to disappearing acts. The combination is weak physically and Defoe doesn't have a well-rounded enough game to make an impact when quality defenses close him down. A risky combination ... one that even if it succeeds tonight, bodes badly for England for the rest of the tournament. It's set up to fail.

The midfield four is an absolutely horrific selection. Gerrard and Milner on the wings. Milner should be nowhere near that first 11. Not as a wing + not alongside Lampard and Gerrard. Milner is a replacement, center midfielder, for Lamps and Gerrard. Not a complement to them. This blunder could cost England the game.

The midfield will lack a cutting edge. It lacks pace. It lacks anyone who can take a defender on and run at him. It lacks players who can make crosses. It will be a very narrow quartet that will allow Slovenia to shrink the pitch defensively in midfield and put a stranglehold on England's attacks.

It's an absolutely horrific team selection in midfield.

I'm amazed at how badly Fabio Capello is doing in this tournament. I thought he would have been a major strength for the English and that was one of the reasons why I was more optimistic about their chances in this World Cup than in previous years.

[Who]

Look at that ... Glen Johnson wins the ball, dribbles up into the half, none of the central midfielders make themselves available for the pass. Milner goes wide and it was the only pass on, Glen makes the pass, Milner gets pinned down and is forced to go one-on-one which he is too scared to do (rightly so) and nervously tries to get rid of the ball and gives it right back to the other team.

We're going to see a huge number of half-brained + impotent attacks like in that manner with this quarter in midfield.

England are not going to be able to keep possession of the ball + their attacks are going to be rudimentary, one dimensional ... and very much stoppable.

[Who]

Lovely long pass by Johnson to set Rooney free.

G.Johnson + A.Cole need to provide the width to England's attacks tonight.

[Who]

Slovenia are the better team in possession. Better movement.

More players moving into space and making themselves available for the pass.

[Fafnir]

Slovenia are the better team in possession. Better movement.

More players moving into space and making themselves available for the pass.

I wish I could watch or listen to any of the games.

Stupid NE radio won't broadcast the games and I'm stuck at work.

[Redz]

Anyone catch the ESPN 30/30 about the Colombian team in `94?

I haven't been following this tournament very closely but I was amused to tune in yesterday and see Greece/Argentina playing each other.  On a last second invite from my roommate at the time I saw those two play in `94 in Foxboro.  It was quite a scene.  I got to see Maradona's last World Cup goal, and an easy win for Argentina.  

Anyhow, that's about all I've ever had to add to a discussion about the World Cup, so it was cool to see them playing and be able to spout out some history about the matchup before the commentators!

[Who]

Goes wide to Milner again, in the final fifth of the pitch in a one on one situation, all Milner needs to do is make a cross and what does Milner do? He loses the ball, again. Doesn't even threaten their defense.

Not Milner's fault. He is being played in the wrong position and alongside the wrong players. He is a serviceable wide player but a very good central player. He is being punished for his versatility.

This is like watching him from his old days at Leeds or Newcastle (wide areas) ... when he was a hugely disappointing highly touted prospect ... rather than the brilliant form he showed for Villa last year when he played through the middle of the park.

[twinbree]

Slovenia are the better team in possession. Better movement.

More players moving into space and making themselves available for the pass.

I wish I could watch or listen to any of the games.

Stupid NE radio won't broadcast the games and I'm stuck at work.

Can you access ESPN 360 at work? That's my sports haven away from home.

[Who]

The disorganization in midfield + lack of width is forcing Wayne Rooney come very deep and spend more time in wide areas linking the play together.

Not a good sign ... but Wayne is doing an excellent job and making it work.

[Who]

The disorganization in midfield + lack of width is forcing Wayne Rooney come very deep and spend more time in wide areas linking the play together.

Not a good sign ... but Wayne is doing an excellent job and making it work.

Rooney is his own half picking up the ball with seven England players ahead of him now.

That is how poorly England's midfield is doing in getting the ball off of the defenders, turning and facing, and moving the ball forward.