Official World Cup Soccer Thread

[a123456]

Wow, I didn't know commentators were allowed to say stuff like that. "Is that some kind of policy for the Dutch? To stay down injured when they go down to see if they can draw a booking?" Or something similar to that.

 

[Anubis]

what did they say?

 

[bigrash]

3-2. Uruguay trying hard to tie it in injury time.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

woooooottttt

 

[silverpig]

Wow, about time he blew the game over.

 

[Udgnim]

ref took his sweet time to end the game

 

[Xcobra]

i hope they lose in the finals...i hate Van Bommel

 

[a123456]

It was from the van Bommel "injury" from minute 89 to 91 that took the extra minute to push stoppage time from 3 to 4 minutes. I was laughing at his yellow card at the 93rd minute. Looks like that offside Dutch goal turned out to be big. The offside guy went for the ball and was really close, similar to the previous offside call in the last match. But it was deflected by a defender so that might make it not offsides. *shrug*

Congrats to the Dutch. They played better today. Clutch header by Robben turned out to be the game winner.

Edit: Looking at the replay, the offside guy looked like he might just be getting out of the way, which would mean he wasn't going for the ball.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Another amazing game... This world cup started out horrible but now these are some of the best games Ive seen, and Holland delivered again, they had a few blatant occasions at the end and could have killed the game with 1-4 easily

Cant wait for Holland - Germany final

 

[HumblePie]

Just got back from the bar again from my lunch break and here is my commentary.

From the get go, I knew Robben was going to flop some, I knew the Uruguay team was going to go for the late contact fouls, and no one disappointed. However, Robben didn't flop as much as the last game at least.

Watching that game though, the Dutch are in real trouble in the finals. Their first goal was a beautiful, if not a perfect, lucky shot. Even top class strikers in that same positions would not nail a shot that perfectly in the opposite uprights 99 times out of 100. It was a great goal and I'm not taking anything from the shot, but it was a lucky shot. It had no setup, and the play getting up the field was atrocious.

Uruguay in my opinion had the better play on the field the entire first half and most of the second half. Unfortunately, the tendency of the South American team playstyles of rough and dirty plays was costing them in free kicks. While I was rooting for and favoring the Dutch, I felt the Uruguay team played the better game for the most part with the Dutch getting extremely lucky.

On a side note, the Dutch goalie in my opinion was top notch! He saved the Dutch bacon with some incredible saves. By contrast I thought every time I saw the Uruguay keeper that he was mediocre at best. Too young, too inexperienced, and not very aggressive back in the box. He seemed very flat footed responding to shots and rarely came off the line in all the games I watched.

The Dutch were also horrible in their game play. There was very little running to open lanes, no support for the person with the ball to do drop back passes, and every single time they did a cross or a corner there was not a single person at the backdoor. I figure the lack of having anyone at the back post cost them at least 2 easy goals that I saw. It culminated in my experience of watching a very terribly played first half by the Dutch.

The second half didn't start out much better. However, the second lucky shot from Sneijder that tipped them up 2 to 1 seemed to deflate the Uruguay team. That second goal was even more of a lucky shot as they had another horrible approach on goal. The Dutch striker seemed to be more obsessed with dribbling the ball than with making plays. Robben had so many balls stolen from him as he would try to dribble through 2 or three defenders instead of passing that I lost count. However, a lucky tap at the end after losing the ball from Kuyt (I think it was him) to Sneijder and then a lucky shot right after put the Dutch up.

Not sure exactly why Uruguay fell apart after that, but they did. Hacking, walking around, and not making plays were what the Uruguay team became around the 70 minute mark. It was sad to watch in contrast to their first half of play. However, because Uruguay started to slide downhill in how well they were playing, the Dutch actually started to pick up their game play. The Dutch actually made several GOOD plays in a row for once. One of which culminated in their third goal with the beautiful header by Robben. Which is about the only thing that guy's head is good for in my opinion. Still, it was a great play.

Uruguay in the last 5 minutes tried to rally back, but it was too little to late. Sure they got that last parting goal, but who cares when you have already lost?

To reiterate, my take was the game was pretty much a crapfest of luck shots, hacking, and boring play speckled here and there was some really awesome highlights that made the game tolerable to watch on a whole. I don't think either team would stand up very well to the winner of Germany/Spain. Not with the game play I saw today. Then again, the Dutch for most of their games have been squeaking by with some random lucky, but awesome, shots thus far in the WC. Perhaps luck will continue to favor them until the end. I doubt it though.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Just got back from the bar again from my lunch break and here is my commentary.
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Thanks for that. Unfortunately, my meeting ran long and I missed the entire 2nd half. Sounds like NED is going to have a rough go with whoever wins Germany v Spain (Go Deutschland!).

Of what I saw in the 1st half, I also thought Uruguay had better possession and control of the ball overall. The Dutch, however, were better able to capitalize on the plays they did make.

 

[Gooberlx2]

i bought a replica from dicks too...it was too squishy felt like a kick ball. tried to trap the ball under my foot and ended up rolling my foot off the ball and spraining my ankle pretty badly.

unless your buying it for a collectors item I wouldn't buy it at all.

The "replica" ball I bought was just a typical Adidas ball. It was on sale from $25. The only "replica" thing about it was the WC pattern. It think it was the "Glider".

I dunno, I kicked it around yesterday and it seemed okay. Not the best ball I've ever used, but not squishy or weird either. I have used the Brine Championship ball before though...that is a great ball.

 

[HumblePie]

The "replica" ball I bought was just a typical Adidas ball. It was on sale from $25. The only "replica" thing about it was the WC pattern. It think it was the "Glider".

I dunno, I kicked it around yesterday and it seemed fine. Not the best ball I've ever used, but not squishy or weird either. I have used the Brine Championship ball before though...that is a great ball.

I have a couple official balls. Not that I paid for them, but I play/coach and get them occasionally. There is a definite difference from more traditional balls. It is hard to describe. It almost feels like kicking one of those really old, super bouncing, hard as hell red kick balls, but with more pop off the ball than even those old balls. On of that, there almost feels like the air pressure bounces back around inside. This I think is what makes the ball randomly stop spinning and either knuckle or restart spinning in a different direction. However, the ball seems to go a lot farther if you strike it good. As a keeper myself, and from my standpoint, I hate the damn things. They are slippery as hell, hard as rocks, and knuckle way to often to get a good read on them.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I have a couple official balls. Not that I paid for them, but I play/coach and get them occasionally. There is a definite difference from more traditional balls. It is hard to describe. It almost feels like kicking one of those really old, super bouncing, hard as hell red kick balls, but with more pop off the ball than even those old balls. On of that, there almost feels like the air pressure bounces back around inside. This I think is what makes the ball randomly stop spinning and either knuckle or restart spinning in a different direction. However, the ball seems to go a lot farther if you strike it good. As a keeper myself, and from my standpoint, I hate the damn things. They are slippery as hell, hard as rocks, and knuckle way to often to get a good read on them.

As a keeper you hate them, would you hate them as a striker? If I was trying to spin the ball a particular way, I'd be annoyed if it didn't cooperate.

 

[HumblePie]

As a keeper you hate them, would you hate them as a striker? If I was trying to spin the ball a particular way, I'd be annoyed if it didn't cooperate.

Yes and no. You can over compensate by putting even more spin on the ball if you are going for spin. That and once the ball starts bending, it typically keeps bending even if it is lessened somewhat by the knuckling affect. However, it is easier as a striker to use the knuckle effect than the keeper. Just strike it solidly straight with your instep as a knuckle ball shot to begin with and the keeper has a very hard time adjusting to the pattern. At best, the keeper makes the save but gives up a rebound. This is why I've seen tons of sloppy looking hand saves by the keepers in the WC so far and tons of rebounds and goals from rebounds.

Which makes it deplorable now for any striker not to follow up a shot for the rebound. I was watching this happen as well in the game today and the Dutch were terrible at crashing the goal for the rebound. They could have had a few more goals had they done so.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Hmm, with exceptions for refining certain consistent characteristics ("perfect" roundness, cushion, bounce, weight, material quality), I'm not a big fan of "enhancements" that alter how the ball flies. Oh well, I guess that's why I don't buy balls that cost $150.

edit: I seem to remember some soccer cleats that had weird grooves on the toes to add spin to the kick. I didn't like those either for the same principle....and that I thought they looked stupid. In the end though, I s'pose it's up to the player to adjust to the equipment.

 

[Zargon]

yeah. IMO its all been downhill since 94/98

I had a 94 WC Questra, almost identical I *think* to the 98 ball

they were amazing, nice sweet spot, soft to the touch, but still powerful when hit.

Just got back from the bar again from my lunch break and here is my commentary.

I agree with alot of points

the dutch keeper was getting alot of flak on that forlain goal, but I think his view was blocked by 2 defenders so he couldnt see it spining back to 'near post'.

hence his initial wrong step that cost him the save.....

NED had flashes of great play, but didnt support all the well, but some of that i feel was Uruguay packing the box as they have been, and fouling hard as usual with africa/south american clubs.

Yes and no. You can over compensate by putting even more spin on the ball if you are going for spin. That and once the ball starts bending, it typically keeps bending even if it is lessened somewhat by the knuckling affect. However, it is easier as a striker to use the knuckle effect than the keeper. Just strike it solidly straight with your instep as a knuckle ball shot to begin with and the keeper has a very hard time adjusting to the pattern. At best, the keeper makes the save but gives up a rebound. This is why I've seen tons of sloppy looking hand saves by the keepers in the WC so far and tons of rebounds and goals from rebounds.

Which makes it deplorable now for any striker not to follow up a shot for the rebound. I was watching this happen as well in the game today and the Dutch were terrible at crashing the goal for the rebound. They could have had a few more goals had they done so.

yeah LOTS of teams not crashing the goal

that and the far post/cleanup guys ending up at the 'far' corner of the 6 yard box and being overshot

its fundimentals man!!!

I have also played with an 06 WC ball, and hated it, as a goalie and a striker, and a sweeper.

bouncier when dry, slicker when wet, feels like a birck when you catch it/head it, harder to feel on the foot, harder to stike well, doesnt want to spin as much, but when it does HOLY COW it really goes

I think thats why all but about 3 players showed an inability to do well on free kicks.

 

[KMFJD]

I'd really like to see a Ned-ESP final, Schneijder has had a bigger chip on his shoulder ever since he was thrown out of Real Madrid along with a couple of other Dutch players when they went on their spending spree.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Wow, I didn't know commentators were allowed to say stuff like that. "Is that some kind of policy for the Dutch? To stay down injured when they go down to see if they can draw a booking?" Or something similar to that.

I'm sure it is frowned upon but I couldn't agree more with his comments. It was brutal for me to watch. The one aspect of this game I totally despise is the flopping/crying/my leg has been severed from my body (until you hold up that yellow card) crap.

He got it right. The Dutch are a bunch of flopping cry babies. I hope the Germans (who I expect to win tomorrow) totally demolish them. I hope the fouls are real and the score is still 5-0.

 

[sdifox]

Now that the octopus picked Spain to win, will zee Germans ginx themselves?

 

[bigrash]

Spain vs. Germany tomorrow. Man I hope I can take a break from work and watch some of it.

 

[silverpig]

Spain vs. Germany tomorrow. Man I hope I can take a break from work and watch some of it.

I'll be watching the second half at the cafe near work for sure.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

what time is the game tomorrow? 2pm eastern? Should be in DC by then...and i'm staying across the street from an espn zone

 

[dfuze]

what time is the game tomorrow? 2pm eastern? Should be in DC by then...and i'm staying across the street from an espn zone

A 2:30 kickoff again? Good, I should be home from work for the 2nd half then!

 

[Zargon]

yeah 230pm EST kickoff as they always have been!