Ugh...i have to go to a wedding at 2:30 on Saturday.  At least it's Methodist or something like that and will only last 25 minutes so we can get back and watch it.

France and Italy, the defending finalists, both fail to get out of group play and look terrible doing it.  Pretty amazing.  When's the last time that both finalists from the previous Cup didn't make it out of group play?

First time it's ever happened.  Both the France and Italy teams weren't as strong as their 2006 teams.  But to get eliminated, in the way they got eliminated, is still a shocker.

 

That Italy/Slovakia game got pretty wild at the end, as Italy went all out to score and Slovakia counter-attacked.  Four goals in the final 20 minutes, two by each team.

I love that Italy failed...i love it even more because they came in last in their group...behind New Zealand.  Oh, that makes me happy.

 

Very cool idea. An Urbanohio Happy Hour/World Cup event.

 

Unfortunitely, I'll be in Charleston, SC...

 

I'll actually be out of town too but I'm all for organizing things, especially in lieu of the epicness that will be happening on Saturday! haha.

Group play is the over and 16 out of the original 32 teams have advanced to the Knockout Rounds.  Including the U.S. (YAY!!!)  The Knockout Rounds mean no more draws.  Win and you advance.  Lose and you go home.  Now that group play is over, some interesting trends have emerged:

 

1) South Amercian teams have triumphed - All five of this region's teams advanced.  Argentina and Brazil cruised, as was expected.  Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay also easily advanced, as was not expected. 

 

2) The rest of the American continent played well too - The United States and Mexico also advanced and looked good.  Unfortunately for Mexico, they will play the strong Argentinian team next.

 

3) Asian teams over-performed - Of the four asian teams to qualify, Japan and South Korea advanced.  Japan in particular has looked good with two wins and a 1-0 loss to a strong Netherlands team.

 

4) African teams under-performed - Of the six african teams to qualify, only Ghana advanced.  Ivory Coast, one of the favorites, had the bad luck to land in this year's "Group of Death" with Brazil and Portugal.  Nigeria and Cameroon also fell to the weight of expection in their home continent.

 

5) Some European favorites rose, while other European favorites struggled or collapsed - Former champs France and Italy collapsed and exited early.  England, Germany, Spain and Slovakia struggled but advanced.  Only the Netherlands and Portugal looked strong in group play.  In all, only 6 of the 13 European teams advanced to the knockout round.  And that number will get reduced by half after the Netherlands/Slovakia, England/Germany and Spain/Portugal opening knockout games.

 

Team USA plays Ghana Saturday at 2:30PM on ABC.  Ghana beat the U.S. to eliminate them from the 2006 World Cup.  So a win to advance to the final 8, beyond being great, would be some nice payback.  GO USA!!!

is anybody meeting up to watch the game????

That was a tough loss for Team USA.  But then they're all tough losses in the knockout stage.  The U.S. showed grit in coming from behind (once again) to send the game into overtime.  But giving up that quick strike to Ghana was just one too many deficits to recover from.  Sure wish they could have kept it going, but a great World Cup run nevertheless for Team USA.

I have played in exactly one organized soccer match in my life and don't watch a whole lot of soccer, so take this analysis with that in mind.  I watched the game today.  ^Grit is good word for this US squad.  Those boys have some heart and it showed throughout the entire run.  However, watching some of the more elite teams in the world cup and watching the match today against this Ghana team, the disadvantage is obvious - their best athletes play soccer and ours don't.  Not saying that Donavan, Dempsey, Howard, etc. are not good athletes, but they seemed slower, smaller and not as strong as Ghana on a whole.  They had them beat in the heart department, but that was about it. 

Yes, tough loss for the USA but from what little I did see, I think we did fairly well with putting up a fight. Maybe in the next cup?

 

Also, does anyone want to meet up on either the 2nd or 3rd of July to catch a game? Even though the USA is out, doesn't mean we can't celebrate the World Cup with a beer (or water). ;) I'll actually be in town for this event if anyone is interested. We can meet up somewhere downtown (Becky's, The Winking Lizard, or Panini's) or somewhere else if anyone has any ideas/plans!

I don't know if i'd say it was a "great" run for the US.  We were expected to get out of our group.  That we won it is basically because England really sucked it up.

 

After the group, it was inevitable that we would lose.  We lead for something like 3 minutes total in this tournament.  You can't advance with that.

 

It may sound like i'm disappointed with the team, but i'm not.  I recognize that US Soccer is still relatively young compared to elsewhere.  The fact that we've only been on this stage since 1990 is a stark reality.  We didn't qualify for 40 years.

 

I think that 1994 established soccer here and now the kids that watched the 1994 World Cup are growing up in a world that is aware of US Soccer.  That's a pretty big step.  Kids are playing more soccer and we have a viable league now.

 

I'm hoping that the MLS does more developmental stuff like the EPL does, and if that happens, we'll get more world class players.

 

I think that by the time the US hosts the 2022 World Cup, i think we'll actually be contenders.

I don't know if i'd say it was a "great" run for the US. We were expected to get out of our group. That we won it is basically because England really sucked it up.

 

After the group, it was inevitable that we would lose. We lead for something like 3 minutes total in this tournament. You can't advance with that.

 

It may sound like i'm disappointed with the team, but i'm not. I recognize that US Soccer is still relatively young compared to elsewhere. The fact that we've only been on this stage since 1990 is a stark reality. We didn't qualify for 40 years.

 

I think that 1994 established soccer here and now the kids that watched the 1994 World Cup are growing up in a world that is aware of US Soccer. That's a pretty big step. Kids are playing more soccer and we have a viable league now.

 

I'm hoping that the MLS does more developmental stuff like the EPL does, and if that happens, we'll get more world class players.

 

I think that by the time the US hosts the 2022 World Cup, i think we'll actually be contenders.

 

The Developmental stuff is starting to come along, all MLS clubs are required to set up a Soccer Academy.  I think roughly 80% have them already with the rest in development. 

 

The point you make about the sport being so young here is one that most people fail to grasp.  In essence professional soccer has only been around in the States for 20 years, developmental programs probably only for the last 10-12.  Only now are we starting to see fruits of that labor. 

 

Watching all this WC action makes me really want to go to a crew game.  Hopefully there are more people like me.

I enjoy the World Cup, but US soccer largely disappears between WC events. Until it can have a more prevalent presence, it will be difficult to make substantial gains in popularity in this country.

^ agree 100%, although the growth of MLS should help some of the casual fans maintain some interest in the game.  Also, hopefully some of the other competitions, Confederations Cup and Gold Cup, can gain viewership.

Watching all this WC action makes me really want to go to a crew game. Hopefully there are more people like me.

 

Me too.  The wife and i are scoping out dates to drive up.  The Crew will be my team until Detroit gets a team. 

Poor Japan....

I am not a huge fan of shoot outs, especially in sports such as soccer when possesion changes so rapidly, I would rathe see it turn into sudden death. But those are the rules and you know if you can't score more goals in the first 120 you are subjected to the shoot out.

 

Paraguay! Paraguay! Paraguay!

The Elite 8 games (i.e. Quarterfinals) start tomorrow.  The South American teams have continued their dominance.  Only Chile has been eliminated from that continent's five teams.  And only because Brazil beat them.  However, enough European teams have advanced to continue the traditional Europe vs. South America World Cup rivalry.  Ghana remains the African continent's only remaining team after beating you-know-who. 

 

Here are Friday's games:

 

Netherlands vs. Brazil (10:00am - ESPN) -- Two of the strongest teams in the tournament face off first.  Brazil, which looks as strong as ever, faces a very workmenlike Dutch team that has the ability to pull off an upset.

 

Uruguay vs. Ghana (2:30pm - ESPN) -- A surprisingly strong Team Uruguay will face a Ghanian team that has the hopes of the host continent behind it.  But Uruguay has looked very good so far.

 

Here are Saturday's games:

 

Argentina vs. Germany (10:00am - ABC) -- Coach Maradona and his boys take on a German team that dismantled England to advance.  Lots of World Cup history between these two teams.  And lots trash talk between these teams in the run-up to this match.  Should be fun.

 

Paraguay vs. Spain (2:30pm - ABC) -- Paraguay, the biggest remaining underdog, faces one of the pre-tournament favorites, Spain.  Paraguay's team has been both plucky and lucky.  But defeating Spain would be a major upset.

So, not really a world cup fan, but caught the last moments of the Netherlands v Brazil match. From what I've been reading up to this point this was a very big upset, and Netherlands had a key defensive player get injured right during warmups.

^I've been reading that it was a big upset as well, but I find that hard to believe.  The Netherlands have a quality team and rolled through their group.  I figured they would give Brazil a good game, but I'd be lying if I thought the Dutch would win.  Not super shocked that they did though.

Brazil is kinda like the NY Yankees of world soccer.  So when they get eliminated in the quarterfinals, it is considered an upset.  But the Netherlands are no weak sisters here.  They've won the World Cup before.  They are ranked 4th in the FIFA rankings (Brazil is ranked 1st).  And the Dutch have looked very good before this game. 

 

Probably the most surprising thing was the way the Netherlands beat Brazil.  Brazil scored early in the first half.  But Brazil could not get a second goal - thanks to multiple saves by the Dutch goalkeeper - and went into halftime up 1-0.  The Netherlands equalized on defensive miscue when a Brazil defender collided with their keeper.  That seemed to rattle Brazil and the Dutch kept up the offensive pressure until they scored their second goal on a beautiful "double-header" from a corner kick.  A Brazilian player blatantly stepped on a Dutch player on the ground in front of the ref and got a red card to complete their meltdown. 

^The guy that got sent off for Brazil was the same guy that headed in the own goal!  You usually can't blame just one player for a defeat, but in this case...

Brazil is kinda like the NY Yankees of world soccer.  So when they get eliminated in the quarterfinals, it is considered an upset.  But the Netherlands are no weak sisters here.  They've won the World Cup before.  They are ranked 4th in the FIFA rankings (Brazil is ranked 1st).  And the Dutch have looked very good before this game.

 

The Netherlands haven't won before, but they've finished second on two occasions.  But you're right, I consider this a very minor upset because the Dutch are ranked in the top five in all of the world soccer polls.

^The guy that got sent off for Brazil was the same guy that headed in the own goal!  You usually can't blame just one player for a defeat, but in this case...

I know what you mean.  They say you win as a team and lose as team, but...

 

EDIT TO MY PREVIOUS POST:  I thought the Dutch had won the World Cup once previously.  It turns out they have reached the championship game twice (1974 and 1978) but lost both those games.  (And Clevelander beat me to the post.  :wink:  Good catch!)

Very dramatic second match of the day between Uruguay and Ghana.  Uruguay advances after a frenetic finish to an overtime game.  

 

An excerpt from the bleacher report:

 

Uruguay vs. Ghana 2010: One of the Greatest Games in World Cup History?

This game simply had everything.  There were plenty of opportunities for either side and both barely missed burying their chances, adding to the tension of the match.  When the goals did come, they were worth the wait.  A perfectly placed long shot from Sulley Muntari was scored just before halftime giving Ghana the edge going into the break.  Diego Forlán answered back curling in a free kick for Uruguay in the 55th minute to even the match at 1-1.

 

Neither team looked capable of going ahead once the game went to extra-time, as tired legs led to both teams spurning chances.  The real excitement came in a frenzied moment just before the end of extra-time (after the 120th minute).  Ghana's players unleashed a flurry of shots within the box, but were twice cleared off the line by Uruguay's defenders.  Luis Suárez gave himself up for Uruguay and was sent off for swatting the ball down to save his team from what would have surely been a losing goal.

 

Up stepped Asamoah Gyan, who carried the weight of his county on his shoulders as he approached the penalty spot.  The Ghanaian striker drilled the shot, but struck the crossbar.  The whistle blew and the penalty shootout got underway.  (Uruguay won the shootout 4-2)

 

MORE: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/414851-have-we-just-witnessed-one-of-the-greatest-games-in-world-cup-history

More surprises on the second day of the quarterfinals.  The World Cup, which before the quarters was being dominated by South American teams, suddenly turned in favor of Europe. 

 

Argentina, one of best looking teams of the tournament, gets dismantled by Germany 4-0.  Germany scores in the 3rd minute and bottles up the Argentine offense until they get their second goal in the 68th minute to clinch their win.     

 

Paraguay, a heavy underdog, gives pre-tournament favorite Spain a real scare in the second game.  Paraguay stymies the Spanish offense for most of the game.  A two minute flurry in the second half saw two penalties in box resulting in three penalty kicks.  The first from Paraguay was saved by Spain goalkeeper.  The second from Spain went in but was disallowed when Spanish players rushed the box before the kick was taken.  The third, a retake from Spain, was saved by the Paraguay goalkeeper.  It looked like Paraguay might force overtime until Spain finally broke thru with a goal in the 83rd minute.

 

Here are the semifinal games:

Netherlands vs. Uruguay (Tuesday 2:30pm - ESPN)

Germany vs. Spain (Wednesday 2:30pm - ESPN)

 

 

That Germany-Spain game should be quite the matchup. 

You can call them The Netherlands.  You can call them the Dutch.  You can call them Holland.  You can call them Total Football.  You can call them Clockwork Orange. 

 

But you can't call them losers.  The Dutch advance 3-2 over a gritty Uruguay team to the World Cup final game.  They'll face the winner of tomorrow's Spain/Germany game.

^ and you can call them happy! i caught them on the iphone partying in times square right after the win:

 

                                                                       

 

 

Spain-Germany just started.....Not sure who to root for.Just hope it's a close game.

i expected germany to win, but spain has been in the drivers seat so far. they almost had a few goals. germany has been very lucky and is hanging in there.

I have been following the blog on SI.com...It's just not the same as watching.

 

Spain 1-0 73:37

Final

 

Match - Date - Time - Venue

64 - July 11 - 2:30pm EST - Johannesburg

 

Netherlands vs Spain 

 

 

Whichever country wins on Sunday will win their first World Cup title. 

 

I can see what the analysts mean by a "tactically superior team" now.  Spain absolutely dictated the way the game was played.  They made Germany look completely different from the high-scoring, attacking team that scored 4 goals in their previous two games.  Spain did the same thing they did in their previous two knockout wins.  They dominated ball possession and they wore down their opponent until they got a second half goal to win 1-0.  Ruthless and efficient.

Spain are paper cutters.  short efficient passes until you make a mistake.  kinda like the rope a dope in boxing.  only problem is it is incredibly boring to watch.  the dutch are at least entertaining.

Orange Crush defeated by the blue clad Red Fury in a black and blue World Cup final 1-0.  Game winning goal by Spain in the 116th minute for their first ever World Cup championship.

Yawn...whatever...I was hoping the Netherlands would win only so that porn star would have to dole out what she does best to her fans. I guess she'll just have to do it for the love of her sport.

Someone sounds bitter about Team Italy's early exit.

^ youre right on both accounts; my bitterness and Italys early demise, althought the two arent at all related...I'm just a bitter a-hole altogether.

I watched a couple of these games and here are my issues:

 

-the ridiculously low scoring and relatively short duration of the games doesn't determine who the better team is, meaning way too much is left to chance

-without the subbing of football, basketball, etc., we don't really see what depth these teams have and players have to reserve energy instead of playing all-out

-what the hell do the coaches do?  There is no way to call the kind of plays we see in football, basketball, etc. or strategically sub players in and out

-yellow cards should mean power plays like in hockey which could help increase scoring

-no halftime show, marching bands, or cheerleaders

 

 

Baseball has different starting and relief pitchers who cycle through each game, changing its color.  Hitters appear in different combos depending on the batting order for an inning, there are different hitting strategies for every out and baserunner combo, stealing bases, balks, infield fly rule, funny jargon, etc.  Football is so complex there's no place to start. 

 

The vevuzula is the perfect analogy for this game -- it drones on one-dimensionally.  It's the same dudes the whole time trying to do the exact same thing, which in and of itself it not all that exciting. Two or three times per game there's a corner kick and then some strategy comes into play.  When they finally score the whole team jumps on each other like a 7 year-old girls soccer team. 

 

^naaw - for example curling and ping pong games, as silly sports as any, dont last long either, but have clear winners and it takes skillz (just look at your own ping pong play vs chinese pros!!). you just have to become a fan of the sport and get into it is all. could be worse, i hate all those 'judged' olympic sports, like whats that one where they twirl the little flag streamer thing around? totally freakin biased and ridiculous. but even those have their fans.

 

but your attitude about the world cup is certainly on a par with southwest ohioans. last week i kept asking around dayton n cinci if anyone was watching the world cup and got blank stares and "isnt that like watching paint dry?" type commentary. ha. soccer may be played by young kids a lot, but i guess it'll never be a rilly big thing in the usa. well still not for awhile anyway.

 

***

 

here are some iphone pics of the final wc game from around the ny meatpacking neighborhood yesterday. there was a big block party and as has been typical here all the bars had it on:

 

 

 

 

 

^ of course being an american, i watched for about 5min at a time and kept it moving -- haha!  :wink:

 

 

 

 

I watched a couple of these games and here are my issues:

 

-the ridiculously low scoring and relatively short duration of the games doesn't determine who the better team is, meaning way too much is left to chance

-without the subbing of football, basketball, etc., we don't really see what depth these teams have and players have to reserve energy instead of playing all-out

-what the hell do the coaches do? There is no way to call the kind of plays we see in football, basketball, etc. or strategically sub players in and out

-yellow cards should mean power plays like in hockey which could help increase scoring

-no halftime show, marching bands, or cheerleaders

 

 

Baseball has different starting and relief pitchers who cycle through each game, changing its color. Hitters appear in different combos depending on the batting order for an inning, there are different hitting strategies for every out and baserunner combo, stealing bases, balks, infield fly rule, funny jargon, etc. Football is so complex there's no place to start.

 

The vevuzula is the perfect analogy for this game -- it drones on one-dimensionally. It's the same dudes the whole time trying to do the exact same thing, which in and of itself it not all that exciting. Two or three times per game there's a corner kick and then some strategy comes into play. When they finally score the whole team jumps on each other like a 7 year-old girls soccer team.

 

 

Go play any sport for 45 min straight and and then do it aging without breaks, then tell me that is not enough time to decide who was the better team.  That is 90min of game time.  No other sport even comes close to that much "game time" (not sure how to classify baseball, but pretty sure that there isn't 90 min of actual game time).

 

I would say that the lack of subbing shows the greater depth of the induvidual and you don't have players that have one skill only.  you have to be more complete to play soccer.  not just able to hit a baseball (DH) without fielding, fire a 3 pointer without any ability to go inside, or play patty cake on the Offensive or Defensive line.  You need to be able to run (up to 7 miles a game for English Premier League), control the ball, play defense, all while knowing that you aren't going to get a break until halftime.  I think it is much more impressive to be a Pro Soccer player than any other sport.  Much more discipline is needed in order to succeed.

 

Coaches take on a much more strategic approach, they are there more for preparation than in game adjustments.  And really that is what every coach does.  If too many in game adjustments are being made then that is the sign of a coach that doesn't know what he is doing.

 

There is nothing wrong with a low scoring game.  I don't understand everyone's obsession with it.  It is a superficial aspect to change.  Because of the lower scoring aspect, every chance and build up to a scoring chance has more impact. 

 

Last time I checked there was still Halftime, no quarters because that's silly anyway.  I think most professional athletes would be able to play for the 30 min of Football or 24 Min of Basketball (not to mention the 45 min Soccer plays).  And if you need Cheerleaders or a Marching Band to enjoy a sporting event then dare I say that you aren't going there for the sport.

Allright guys, that'll have to be the last word.  The 2010 World Cup is over. 

 

Thanks for the photos mrnyc - looked like fun. 

 

The 2014 World Cup is in Brazil - with the final in Rio.  Soccer nirvana!