FIFA World Cup 2010 (including fantasy football!)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Well, it's almost that time. Here's the complete game schedule (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_schedule) courtesy of wikipedia.

Will you be watching? Who will you be supporting?

Does anyone fancy playing some fantasy football? I've set up a league at http://en.mcdonalds.fantasy.fifa.com/ - the invite code is 193547-46221 - you won't be able to pick your team until June 4th when the official squads are announced, but you can join the league before then :)

[Droo]

On top of the England games, I'll be following Spain and the Netherlands with great interest.

[Yog]

I joined your fantasy league!

I'll be supporting Brazil and Argentina, I guess. As usual.

[Crusader]

I will be supporting Germany (although we have lost yet another player) and all the underdogs that will make it to the final games. I hope that South Africa stays in the tournament as long as possible since this gives the atmosphere in the hosting country always a special boost.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I am really looking forward to seeing what South Africa does with the tournament.

Just to confirm: it's free to join the fantasy football game, it would be great to have some others playing. You all probably know just as much, if not more, about football than me so I don't expect to win :lol

[Jedi Master Carr]

I will probably join, although I know very little about soccer. Probably will support the U.S. even though don't know if they will advance far.

[Dasquian Belargic]

The US doesn't have the greatest record when it comes to football.. you guys can feel free to support England once you get knocked out ;)

[Jedi Master Carr]

LOL well I think we are in a decent bracket, beating England will be the problem.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Couple of days left before team selection opens, and then another week or so before the first game kicks off :) Already I can't walk anywhere without being bombarded with images of the English flag.

[Lykaios]

This is the one thing I dislike about not living at home anymore, everyone's so pumped up about the WC down there that like Jen, you can't go anywhere without being bombarded by the flag and chants and soccer images.

I'll be following my native country, Mexico, and I'll be satisfied if we make it to the quarterfinals, but like usual, we manage to make it out of the group stage only to lose in the knockout round >.<

I'll be following England, the Netherlands and Spain very closely, Brazil as always is a favorite but many countries are missing key players, I honestly think this WC is the closest one will ever see in our lifetimes.

Oh, and I joined the league :D

[Dasquian Belargic]

Time to pick your team and choose your starting 11 :D

[Lykaios]

Team has been drafted and ready to go!

In other news, this is why this guy didn't make the WC

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[Dasquian Belargic]

:lol Haha, what an error.

I already had to make a transfer on one of my midfielders because of injuries :uhoh

[Lykaios]

Lots of injuries in this WC!

Drogba might be out for Ivory Coast, Ferdinand is out for England, Pirlo for Italy. I don't remember a WC with so many injuries in the weeks prior, not to mention all the injuries already suffered (Ballack, Becks, etc.).

Though this could make for a closer tourney.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I had Pirlo in my team and Mikel (Nigeria) so that's 2 transfers for me before we've even begun. As a random question, who have you got as your captain and your keeper, Lyk? :)

[Lykaios]

Iker Casillas (Spain) is my keeper. As for C I went with Rafa Marquez, central defender for Mexico.

How about you?

[Dasquian Belargic]

I have the same keeper as you, and I made Wayne Rooney captain ^_^;

[Lykaios]

Rooney is poised to have a great WC, he's coming of a great year with Man Utd and he looks like he's managed to keep his emotions in check, he appears to be more mature.

By the way, is this commercial cool or what?

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Although I found it weird that in a Nike Commercial, they would almost showcase England's Umbro Kit

[Dasquian Belargic]

I love that commercial! It was such a clever idea. There is another one from a couple of years ago where it was all from the point of view (first person) of a footballer, starting off at Sunday league level and working his way up to the World Cup. After a little searching I found it on Youtube :D

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I didn't realise it was directed by Guy Ritchie!

[The Original BuffJedi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zd_khk6zXo&feature=player_embedded

[Dasquian Belargic]

So who will be watching England vs the USA this weekend? :D Anyone want to guess at what the score might be?

[Crusader]

3:0
One goal for each lion on the shirt :)

[The Original BuffJedi]

Ditto Crusader.. ..But I would love to see a 10-0 shut out..yeah, yeah, that's a pipe dream but it would be nice!

[Taataani Meorrrei]

I'm gonna follow South Africa this year and pull for them. Partly because I've got a nation-crush on ZA, but also because I'm distrustful of America getting too into soccer. The sooner we get knocked out the sooner we de-legitimize the sport domestically so we can focus on, ahem, other things ;)

The rest of y'all, woot soccer. Go South Africa!

[Dasquian Belargic]

Some great shots from the Boston's Big Picture of preparations for the world cup: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/preparing_for_the_world_cup.html

[Dasquian Belargic]

20 hrs to finalise your team and make any necessary transfers :ohno

[Droo]

Two minutes until the World Cup kicks off. Excited now!

[Droo]

First goal goes to South Africa. It was a cracking shot, too. Now let's see if they can pull off a poetic victory.

[Yog]

It's 1-1 now! :\

Come on RSA!

[Droo]

If only Mphela had scored. So frustrating! Well, that turned out to be quite a second half, even towards the end when I thought RSA were starting to flag, they turned it up a good notch or two. Although fair play to Mexico, who were fairly solid throughout.

[Yog]

Uruguay vs France is on now!

The noise from the crowd is easily the most annoying I've heard in a while. No ooooh! or aaaah!, but rather like the constant buzzing from a bee swarm.

Some entertaining play though.

[Dasquian Belargic]

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:lol

[Droo]

:zzz ...oh, huh? What was that?

[Yog]

While I am all for respecting culture and tradition, the idiotic culprit behind the annoying bee swarm noise should be banned from the world cup:
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Doctors now warn people from going to the matches because it can result in permanent hearing damage. The vuzela can make noises at up to 127 decibels, which is above the pain threshold and well above the 85 decibels gradually leading to permanent hearing damage.

[Dasquian Belargic]

"A duck on speed or the wailing of a terribly ill child" :lol

It sounds like a giant beehive is constantly raging above the stadium :headache

[Yog]

Nigeria - Argentina now.

I've been looking forward to this one.

Lionel Messi is my captain.


Goooooooaaaaaaal Argentina!

[Dasquian Belargic]

Courtesy of the SA forums:

[Sanis Prent]

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:lol

Damn right! We love our stats, drivelling commentary, and insidious adverts!

[Sanis Prent]

While I am all for respecting culture and tradition, the idiotic culprit behind the annoying bee swarm noise should be banned from the world cup:
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Doctors now warn people from going to the matches because it can result in permanent hearing damage. The vuzela can make noises at up to 127 decibels, which is above the pain threshold and well above the 85 decibels gradually leading to permanent hearing damage.

Haters gonna hate. Vuvuzelas own, and I want like twenty of them.

[Yog]

Haters gonna hate. Vuvuzelas own, and I want like twenty of them.
You can get twenty of them if I may smash them with a sledgehammer.. :)

[Sanis Prent]

Then I gotta get forty. I will just go down the road blowing on one of them to make my neighbors think there is a bee attack.

[Yog]

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5431/drudge.png

:lol!

[Droo]

This Algeria vs. Slovenia match is turning into another boring snorefest, it's worse than France and Uruguay.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

I was hoping it was gonna be good, meh

[Yog]

I just avoided the games today because of the teams who were playing. I had a feeling it was going to be dull.

Germany vs Australia tonight is one to watch though.. :)

The games tomorrow should be entertaining as well. Especially the Netherlands vs Denmark match.

[Dasquian Belargic]

What time is the Germany game?

[Crusader]

7:30 PM GMT I will be in the AIM chat but since I have got guests VOIP won't be possible.

[Droo]

Four goals in one match, all to Germany, and given the way this World Cup was going: Who'da thunk it!?

Yes, we watched the match at the barbecue, pretty much because it pissed down all afternoon and evening. Good bless the British weather!

[Sanis Prent]

Y'all get rain, and we get steam. Fucking weather.

[Vega Van-Derveld]

Paraguay you cheeky buggers :o

[Morgan Evanar]

I really enjoyed the Italy-Paraguay game. The Dutch/Danish game was predictably lopsided.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Holy cow, New Zealand!!

[Yog]

lol, Portugal. I knew they would suck. Ronaldo has not scored on the national team for two years.

[Droo]

To be honest, I was expecting a good game, having sat and listened to all the build up and hype during my break in work. Oh well. Fingers crossed tonight for a good one between Brazil and North Korea.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Brazil vs North Korea on now. Anyone watching?

[Yog]

Ah, highlight of the evening!

[Morgan Evanar]

It's been good :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Hats of to North Korea. So much effort put in there.

[Yog]

That was a great game. Brazil's quality of play showed why they are #1 on the FIFA ranking. North Korea was a big surprise, they were extremely technical and put up a great fight.

Oh yeah, and man of the match, unquestionably Maicon (so happy I got him on the fantasy team).

Edit - I mean north korea, not south. Btw, did you guys hear about the North Koreans hiring Chinese actors to pose as supporters? :lol

[Morgan Evanar]

Yup, no big surprise there.

[Lykaios]

I just saw the replay ON DEMAND of the Brazil game and I don't know that Korea put a great fight, sure they're a much better team than originally thought, but Brazil played "half-speed" in the first half and not even full-speed on the second.

They like to do that though, just like in the confederations cup, when they were down by 2 at halftime in the final game and came back to score 3, rather easily. They like to evaluate their opponents, let them get tired and then step on the gas, just as their opponents are running on empty.

It will be different against Portugal I'm sure.

[Morgan Evanar]

HOLY MOLY.
The Swiss just upset the Spanish!

[Droo]

I really didn't see that one coming. Gutted!

[Droo]

Come on, Bafana Bafana!

[Sanis Prent]

Goooo south Africa

[Morgan Evanar]

Doom has descended upon the oldest continent.

[Crusader]

HOLY MOLY.
The Swiss just upset the Spanish!

Hell I thought that Spain would win this championship like they did two years ago. This world cup got a lot more intresting.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Well, so much for my two Spanish players bringing in the big points :grumble

[Lykaios]

Well, so much for my two Spanish players bringing in the big points :grumble
^ Ditto, I was hoping for great things from Casillas and Torres and "El Niño" did't even start >.<

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

soooooo glad to see spain lose

[Crusader]

I decided to join the Fantasy League today :) I hope that I can still catch up...
too bad that you can't have more than 2 of each nation in your team.
My new goal keeper is from Switzerland.

My first 2 German players are Lahm and Schweinsteiger (Podolski is next :) )

[Dasquian Belargic]

Welcome to the competition Peter :D I tranferred Lahm in for round 3

[Crusader]

The good thing about yesterday's game is that Spanish players are a lot more cheaper today.

[Yog]

Spain's game was a shock to me.

Agentina - South Korea on now! :cool:

Edit: That was one hell of an entertaining game. Awesome! Argentina is definitely a contender.

[Crusader]

Agentina - South Korea on now! :cool:

Edit: That was one hell of an entertaining game. Awesome! Argentina is definitely a contender.

Finally one of the teams that I consider possible winners for this tournament lives up to the hype.

[Crusader]

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[Morgan Evanar]

Mexico - France. Already exciting, suspect ref is too yellow card happy.

[Sanis Prent]

Mexico - France. Already exciting, suspect ref is too yellow card happy.

Is it the same douchebag who hosed Bafana Bafana? Hope he atones by red carding half of France

[Yog]

lol, France

[Dasquian Belargic]

12 points for my Mexican defender, 4 for my French defender. Could've been worse!

England vs Algeria tomorrow night. Voice chat again, eh?

[Droo]

Olé! :D &nbsp;

[Crusader]

12 points for my Mexican defender, 4 for my French defender. Could've been worse!

England vs Algeria tomorrow night. Voice chat again, eh?

AIM definetly not sure about voice chat but I would like to.

[Sanis Prent]

I may or may not. Dad will be at the house

[Lykaios]

OeehOeeehOeeeehOeeehMeeexiiicooo!

Go Chicharito!

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6649983

So glad I stuck with him in my lineup, and Rafa Marquez, my god, what an awesome game he had.

I just finished watching the replay, was off the grid the entire afternoon/evening, cause I had to work late and I didn't want to know the score -_-

I have to figure out a way to watch the next game and seal our pass into the knockout stage.

[Crusader]

Do you know what time it is?

...

It is time for the Jogi Show!

(Jogi = Joachim Löw Germany's coach)

[Yog]

The referee is handing out those cards way too easy, resulting in Klose being sent off the field with a red, and now Serbia is up 1-0.. ughhh.

Edit: hahaha, Podolski dodged a bullet there. He collided with the keeper, and I noticed the referee was itching to reach for his card pocket again, but for mysterious reasons, he changed his mind.

A few seconds after that, huge chance by Germany. Man, Serbia is so lucky. I hate them. The first half is now over.

Edit2: ahahahaha, after a truckload of missed chances for the German team, Serbian defender reaches for the ball like he was a basketball player, and there is a penalty kick. Serbian GK saves the shot from Podolski. :rolleyes

[Dasquian Belargic]

Wowee, Germany :lol

[Crusader]

OMG this was embarassing.

[Yog]

OMG this was embarassing.

haha, no kidding.

Don't feel too bad though. You played against Serbia. Some of my worst football memories involves that team. I'm sure Germany strikes back in the third game.

Next up is:
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[Crusader]

What annoys me the most is the fact that Serbia had too many good chances as well.

[Yog]

What annoys me the most is the fact that Serbia had too many good chances as well.
The early sendoff of Klose affected the game in many ways. If that did not happen, you'd seen a very different game. The days are over where you can play with 10 players and dominate the other team. At this level, it's just too competitive.

E: USA vs Slovenia just started!

[Crusader]

USA vs Slovenia 0:2

[Droo]

Edit2: ahahahaha, after a truckload of missed chances for the German team, Serbian defender reaches for the ball like he was a basketball player, and there is a penalty kick. Serbian GK saves the shot from Podolski. :rolleyes

What an absolute fiasco! Just watched the highlights from that game now. What was that defender even thinking!?

[Droo]

I think half the Americans think they're still on the college westling team. Twice in the last ten minutes I've seen them using an arm bar to take down the opposition. What a disgrace!

[Yog]

USA equalized to 2-2! :crack

[Dragon]

Every time I get excited about this sport, the refs have to remind me that the highest levels of the game are fraught with incompetence and shady politics. They stole the winning goal from the US, no bones about it.

[Droo]

That should've been a third goal. Bad call by the ref to be honest. Slovenia players with their arms wrapped around USA players to prevent them moving in the penalty box, and consequently the goal was disallowed because the ref had already blown his whistle.

[Dragon]

If it was that, it should be a penalty kick to the US. They awarded Slovenia the ball, which means they called a foul on the US. Absolute crap.

[Droo]

No, the ref terminated the play because he believed the US player who scored was offside, which he wasn't by the way.

[Yog]

No, the ref terminated the play because he believed the US player who scored was offside, which he wasn't by the way.
It really irritates me how referees judge offside when in doubt. The rule says, when you can't say for certain if there is an offside or not, it's not to be judged an offside. Especially not in situation like that, where you can hardly even see what is going on.

It's at times like this I wish there was a way to challenge the call by video replay like they do in NFL. They could do this for the major championships at least, like WC, EC and champions league.

[Crusader]

This is certainly not a day of good referee decisions but in the end the referees normally do a great job and they see things that I would never see from their perspective.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The fact that video replay exists is reason enough to use it. Its silly not to, imo, and just leads to anger.

Or rioting.

Yeah, I think I'm going to go riot with all the other football hooligans here. :mad

;)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Well, what a load of shoddy refereeing so far today. I hope England's game doesn't get ruined by a bunch of over-zealous cardings.

As for video replay, normally referees do a good job. Football doesn't get paused every time play needs to restart, so they don't have time to analyse video replays. I kind of prefer it that way, since it irritates the hell out of me that an NHL game of three 20-min periods ends up lasting about 3 hours because of all the interuptions.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Simple solution (with little knowledge to base it on, but here I go anyway!): they could just give the coaches a challenge card/flag. One per half, and if they play it then the call/play preceding would be reviewed.

If you didn't use it in the first half its gone, and you still only have one for the second half.

Ta daa! I solved the world(cup)'s problems. :D

[Droo]

Come on, England!!

[Dasquian Belargic]

Howay Lads!

[Droo]

Where's this world class team I've been hearing about?

[Dasquian Belargic]

I can't believe how much we are supposed to outclass Algeria by, and how little we're doing to prove that.

[Yog]

I can't believe how much we are supposed to outclass Algeria by, and how little we're doing to prove that.

On that note..

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/8176/9535cfba83a086ab33b8b74.jpg

[Droo]

The Sun isn't worth the paper it's printed on. A complete chav rag.

[Sarah Lymia]

Cripes, what the hell is going on in this tournament? And Switzerland beat Spain too?

I'm just going to paste a WTF?! sign over every World Cup update I get.

[Crusader]

Australia!!! Insert Wilhelm Cry! Why did you have to crush my hopes and dreams.

EDIT1: Ok this game ended as a draw... The moment Australia lost a player I thought it was all over and Ghana would win.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Cameroon eliminated from the WC. Too bad, I was rooting for them. :ohno

[Crusader]

yeah it is a shame that so many African teams leave so early...

[Dragon]

Way to go, Kiwis! :D

[Brody Chiltan]

Please win, Bafana Bafana....

[Yog]

Good to see Spain strike back last night.

France is down 0-2 vs South Africa, lol.

[Sanis Prent]

Goooo Bafana Bafana!!!

[Dasquian Belargic]

Yeah, jog on France. Jog on home.

[Droo]

Shame it's not enough to qualify. Mexico and Uruguay go through while France and South Africa go home, sadly for SA, good riddance to France!

[Sanis Prent]

So close guys

[Yog]

Greece - Argentina on now.

Gooooo Argentina. Gooooo Messi!

[Yog]

Nigeria certainly had enough chances to win their game and advance to the knockout stages.

Even a granny would have scored here:
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[Crusader]

Come on England score another goal!

[Dasquian Belargic]

yes yes yes come on you lions! loving the crowd singing the national anthem

[Dragon]

Landon Donovan 90' +1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:crack :crack :crack :crack

[Lilaena De'Ville]

USA wins!!! :dance :rollin

[Dasquian Belargic]

England and US progress

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

[Droo]

^_^; &nbsp;

[Lilaena De'Ville]

England and US progress

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
This made me think "good save, the queen!" which made me laugh because picturing the Queen in goal for England is :lol

[Droo]

And well-played USA on a thoroughly deserved qualification. When, during the half-time of the England game, we had a summary of what had transpired in the USA-Algeria game and I couldn't help but feel for those guys when I saw yet another disallowed goal. Upon watching the full highlights reel from the game it was obvious USA deserved the win.

As for England, this is much more like it, their game was really coming alive and under all that pressure too; it all bodes very well for Sunday. Great to see them enjoying some good football, in fairness, we should've won by about four or five goals but I've got to believe they will come. Somehow Fabio Capello has brought a real performance out of the Three Lions and now that weight has been lifted, let's hope we see more of that great England spirit!

[Dragon]

Group D finishes with Germany winning 1-0 over Ghana and Australia winning 2-1 over Serbia. Germany wins the group with Ghana edging Australia in goal differential. That means we'll see Ghana vs. US on Saturday and Germany vs. England on Sunday.

EDIT: Hey, incidentally, did anyone else watch any of the Wimbledon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut? It was called after four sets last night on account of darkness, and they met again at 2:00 local time this afternoon to play the fifth set. They proceeded to play 118 games without a break point until the match was suspended again at 59-59, to be resumed tomorrow! At nearly ten hours total, it's well past the longest match in tennis history and has shattered just about every record there is.

[Dasquian Belargic]

That match is just ridiculous.

England vs Germany is gonna be intense. Historically, whenever we have drawn against Germany and gone on to penalties, we have always ALWAYS lost. So I hope we beat em outright, without any OT.

[CMJ]

Watched the vast majority of that tennis match. One of the best I've ever seen (not sure I could put it at the top because it's such an early round and the match had surprisingly few chances for either player to sieze control - a ton of easy holds). I wonder how high they will go tomorrow.

[Morgan Evanar]

I'm actually a bit worried about taking on the Black Stars. They have some dangerous guys up front and we've been struggling to convert opportunities, reffs be damned.

[Dragon]

At least we got a lot more opportunities in this last game. I'm encouraged that we won moving forward, but there won't be a team in the round of sixteen that isn't at Team USA's level or above. I'm happy we're in, and I'll be happy with whatever we can take from here on out.

[Crusader]

That match is just ridiculous.

England vs Germany is gonna be intense. Historically, whenever we have drawn against Germany and gone on to penalties, we have always ALWAYS lost. So I hope we beat em outright, without any OT.

If that is how you want this game to end on sunday we won't be friends on sunday. One team is going to leave south africa on monday and I hope it is not mine.

But this is great since it is a Classic. Germany vs England is always a big thing. I still have fond memories of 1996's EC semi final.

[Yog]

I will so be rooting for Germany. Frankly, a far better team, so they deserve it more than UK. I'll also be rooting for USA over Ghana on Saturday.

Argentina and Brazil better win their games, as well as Spain.

And that tennis match sounds ridiculously awesome.

[Droo]

Just read a humorous, and typically English, remark:

This World Cup has turned into WWII; the French surrendered early, the USA arrive at the last minute, and we are left to fight the bloody Germans!

[Captain Untouchable]

What channel is the England/Germany game showing on? The internet says BBC1, but the Virgin scheduling doodad has Murder, She Wrote on instead... :huh

[Crusader]

Just read a humorous, and typically English, remark:

This World Cup has turned into WWII; the French surrendered early, the USA arrive at the last minute, and we are left to fight the bloody Germans!

ROFL I love this trash talk between Germany and England.

I sure do want to see our boys win this game but not because they face England.

Infact I like you, English people for a lot of reasons.

I always consider this trash talk as a way of showing each other the right respect with a tongue-in-cheek kind of humor. We all know this game will be tough and whoever wins certainly deserves to move on.

I loved the headline of the Guardian:


The good news: England are through


The bad news: It's Germany up next

[Dragon]

This World Cup has turned into WWII; the French surrendered early, the USA arrive at the last minute, and we are left to fight the bloody Germans!

Well, if that's the case, it doesn't end until the US beats Japan... ;)

[Crusader]

WW2 officaly ended in 1990 when Germany was reunited :D

[Crusader]

Slovakia vs Italy 1:0 so far... Go Slovakia

[Dragon]

Intriguing possibility from a schadenfreude perspective here in Group F... Italy and New Zealand are even across all tiebreakers, which means that if both games end in a tie, then Paraguay will be in as the group winner, and they'll have to draw lots to decide between Italy and New Zealand. Can you imagine Italy's chances of advancing coming down to a coin flip against the Kiwis they couldn't put away?

Of course, that looks less likely now that Slovakia has gone up 2-0.

EDIT: Disregard the above; that was the case if both games were scoreless ties. Italy now has the advantage in goals scored over New Zealand, so if they tie Slovakia, they're in. Unless New Zealand works a miracle and beats Paraguay in the final minutes.

[Dasquian Belargic]

What channel is the England/Germany game showing on? The internet says BBC1, but the Virgin scheduling doodad has Murder, She Wrote on instead... :huh

Sunday, 2pm, BBC1

[Dragon]

Slovakia 3-1 in the 89th minute! Arrivaderci!

[Crusader]

Italy has left the World Cup. Slovakia defeated Italy 3:2.

[Dasquian Belargic]

France and Italy both gone. Well, well..

[Crusader]

Just read a humorous, and typically English, remark:

This World Cup has turned into WWII; the French surrendered early, the USA arrive at the last minute, and we are left to fight the bloody Germans!

Now you can add:

Italy gives up before it has really started to get tough.

[Morgan Evanar]

France and Italy both gone. Well, well.. World Cup 2010, now with less diving.

[Droo]

Ha! David Villa! What a stonking goal! :D

[Dasquian Belargic]

USA vs Ghana is on 7.30pm tonight.

Who's watching?

[Yog]

USA vs Ghana is on 7.30pm tonight.

Who's watching?
I'll be watching, with drinks in hand, ready to party. :rollin

[Dragon]

U S A! U S A!

[Karl Valten]

I'll be watching, but with no drinks. Still too hung over from last night.

[Byl Laprovik]

I'll watch for a little, but we've got to leave at some point to go to a relative's birthday party so not sure how long I'll have. What time is the game in American time?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

2 pm Eastern

[Byl Laprovik]

Oh so its on now then!

[Yog]

Ghana in the lead. :grumble

[Dasquian Belargic]

Come on USA, bring it back

[Yog]

The first half was a boooooore.

Edit: Second half started off a lot better. Go USA!

Edit2: It's penalty for US, and it's a GOAL! 1-1!! :D

[Yog]

It's now Golden Goal! First goal wins!

Edit: Noooooooo! Ghana scores!

It's apparently not Golden Goal though. It's just extra time, so it is not game over yet. US can still turn this around.

[Dragon]

Well, crap. They shouldn't have told the US at the start of overtime that it's a whole new game. :(

[Yog]

Now US needs to equalize!

[Dragon]

We should get five minutes of stoppage time after this period with all the stalling Ghana's done here...

There were obviously enough US fans in the stands to give a very American chant when the Ghana player decided to take a nap at the edge of the box.

[Yog]

Awwww... no equalizer. Game ends 1-2 :(

Imagine the drama if it went to penalties. That would have been great for football.

My only consolation is it was an African team, because it is after all hosted in Africa and they never done well in the world cup.

[Crusader]

OMG I really hope that I don't expect too much from my team but I want them to win today.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Lets Get Ready To Rumble

[Dashiel Starborn]

come on England, sort it out

[Droo]

That was a second goal! Bastard ref! :verymad

[Dragon]

Gee, this would be a good situation to have an official on the goal line. Too bad that's never been suggested. :mad

[Dashiel Starborn]

Absolutely robbed

oh my god

if we go out based on that...

[Droo]

Gee, this would be a good situation to have an official on the goal line. Too bad that's never been suggested. :mad

Goal line technology was brought up, big arguments made for it but FIFA decided not to go with it. Cheap scumbags.

[Dashiel Starborn]

I am absolutely flabbergasted. The first bounce was so far in.

[Crusader]

I am sorry that the second goal was not given to the English team.

But in the end Germany scored 4 goals...

so nevertheless

"Fucking told you so Jenny!"

[Dasquian Belargic]

There is no telling how that game would have gone if we'd been allowed that goal. I think it would have had a huge impact on morale, in spite of the fact that we had shoddy defense.

What a gutter.

[Lykaios]

Well that was a disappointment, the young German players made the 'veteran' English players look slow and out of shape.

Even the goal was not allowed and should've been, Germany was the best team overall. Aside from the 15 around the 'two' English calls, England never came together as a team, the defense is the perfect example, they played as individuals and forgot about football fundamentals.

Not to mention the English goalkeeper was awful, he could've done a lot more to prevent at least the first two goals.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I thought David James played the best of anyone on the pitch. The defense were the weak point, and so many times the Germany forwards managed to get past all of them, to take on James alone.

[Yog]

I've been busy, so did not have a chance to watch the game live. So yeah, it should have been 4-2 at least? It seems to me though, when you let in 4 goals, there are no excuses, even with a robbed goal. Had it been 2-1 or maybe even 3-1, then you could make the argument of that one goal making all the difference, but not 4-1. Especially not when England has been so god awful in this tournament.

Rooney has been the biggest disappointment in the entire tournament (I regret picking him in the fantasy league). Goalkeepers and defense has generally been a disaster (even if David James played well in this game). The offense barely produce anything, and when they do, they don't score on their opportunities. They struggle vs mediocre opponent such as Algeria, Slovenia and USA.

Germany on the other hand has been one of the better teams, even in the one game they narrowly lost vs Serbia (error red card, missed penalty kick and lots of chances). They were better than England in any of their games! Suppose the English team were going to the quarterfinals, they'd be facing Argentina in the quarterfinals (I think Mexico will be crushed). Then you would likely be humiliated and destroyed, because they've been playing at a league of their own with fantastic attacking football.

Remember, this is coming from someone who would normally root for England. But I can't support a team that does not play well. If it is any consolation, I suspect Germany is going to lose vs Argentina.. :)

[Lykaios]

I'd have to disagree, in the first goal he didn't commit to his goal or the attacker, he hesitated and that cost him valuable seconds. What they teach all young keepers is to cut the angle and attack the striker.

In the 2nd goal, it's a shame to any keeper when they score between his legs, that's another fundamental they teach and the 3rd goal shoulda been deflected.

Agreed, he would've not have been on that spot had the defense not played so horribly but dear he coulda done more. Howard or Buffon would've had no problem stopping those shots.

[Crusader]

Remember, this is coming from someone who would normally root for England. But I can't support a team that does not play well. If it is any consolation, I suspect Germany is going to lose vs Argentina.. :)

Argentina will be hard but doable.

[Yog]

As a side note, I do agree with Droo about goal line technology. Other sports utilize it, and when there is so much money and prestige involved as the World Cup, one really has to wonder why it has not been implemented. I am not talking about forcing it on Division D on Malta, but the big leagues where such an investment would be a drop in the bucket.

There are also many games ruined by bad referee calls. This is why I think video replay should be implemented, at least for big championships such as WC, EC and Champions League. You don't have to break up the game tons of times. There are ways around it, one mentioned by LD earlier. Another way is having a video referee watching the replays as the game goes on, and then let him interfer when an obviously disasterous call was done. Not trivial decisions such as free kicks and corners. I'm talking about anulled goals, red cards and penalty kicks. Those are the ones that usually ruin the game.

[Dragon]

Should we include offsides in this conversation? The refs just gave Argentina a goal over Mexico when the striker was about nine feet offsides. This is getting really ridiculous.

[Yog]

Should we include offsides in this conversation? The refs just gave Argentina a goal over Mexico when the striker was about nine feet offsides. This is getting really ridiculous.

Yeah, offsides I think goes in that category as well, but only if it is offside goal, or goal that was wrongly anulled as offside.

[Lykaios]

Only way Argentina can beat Mexico is with the ref's help. Happened in 06 and it's happening again.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Germany cannot win both Eurovision and the World Cup. We're too close to 2012 for these bad things to happen.

[Droo]

Couldn't disagree more on the goal-keeping criticism. Before even looking at England's keeper, you ought to be stunned and stupified by the disgraceful defending. David James played well considering the amount of chances and shots on goal Germany had.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Yeah, the keeper was doing pretty well, all considered. Germany was paying property taxes to the Queen, that's how much they owned the pitch outside of the English box. Shit like that happens, don't be surprised he can't keep 'em all out. He's one man among a lot of people, and they've all got defensive obligations too.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Germany has 17 shots on goal, 4 went in. England had 19 shots on goal, 2 went in. I don't think David James did such a bad job, considering how little support he had from his defenders. One occasion in the second half I believe when a freekick was taken just outside the German box. The ball rebounds off the wall of the German defense and then seconds later is halfway to David James, with one of the German forwards running full pelt down the wing with two English defenders struggling to keep up. It happened again and again, that German players were charging down the pitch with no English defender in sight to stop them.

[Yog]

I think despite that offside goal (it was a nice attack though!), Argentina won their game vs Mexico most deserving. Say what you want about that decision, but you can't win vs Argentina with only one goal. Not the way they have been playing this championship. And it certainly was not for the lack of trying on Mexico's part, or Argentina shelling up in defense like a turtle. Argentina really pushed it with nice offensive football and were closer to scoring another than Mexico was. They did go somewhat defensive the last 15 minutes though, but who can blame them.

I'll say Mexico's goal was well deserved for the effort, but the 2-0 was beautiful as well, and Tevez shot was just a cannonball and no manner of defense could have changed the outcome there. From that point on, it was really no question who was the better team out there.

[Lykaios]

Well, we'll just have to agree on disagreeing then. Although, like I did say on my previous post, I do concur in that the defense was horrible, looking slow and even out of shape vs the young German strikers, and that it was up to them to not even put the keeper in such precarious situations. The shots on goal stat can be deceiving though, I wouldn't put much weight on it.

Ah, another heartbreaking loss for my team, a goal that shouldn't be but in the end what killed them was the mental mistakes that derived from it, including a badly misplayed goal that led to Argentina's second goal. I'm tired of watching them earning hundreds of thousands of dollars and making excuses instead of winning games, put the ball in the damn net and win, damn it!

[Yog]

^^ I still think Mexico put up a good fight though. Argentina is just notoriously difficult to beat at this point.

Looking at the highlights, it's hard to blame the GK, I think it is just a mixture of poor defense on England's part and excellent attacking play by Germany. The goalie also had a leg parade which was brilliant 30 minutes in. But at the same time, I can see what Lykaios is saying. It's hard to call him best man on the field when letting in 4 goals. I guess he did a decent enough job, but World class keepers like Buffon and Casillas may actually have prevented a couple of those, because they have tiger like reflexes and can foresee the situation in their mind before it happens.

Man of the match should probably be someone in the German offense, like Müller, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Klose or Özil before an Englishman. If you have to pick an English player, choose Lampard.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I would have thought it was obvious that I meant the best man on the pitch for England, not from both teams and certainly not great when compared to better goalkeepers in the tournament :lol

[Yog]

Oh, I see now what you mean. My mistake. :)

[Crusader]

A friend of mine just sent me a picture which explains why the second English goal could not be given:

http://img12.abload.de/img/1277651727237z8yt.jpg

[Dragon]

The World Cup is so huge its gravitational pull bends spacetime! That also explains why Argentina wasn't offside, and how Jozy Altidore committed a handball with his face. :mneh

[Yog]

Here is another example from a game between Duisburg and FSV Frankfurt earlier this year. The ball bounced from the bar and hit the ground about 1 meter away from the line, yet it was awarded a goal.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7051/goaln.jpg

[Crusader]

False given goals are a tradition in World Cups:

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[Taataani Meorrrei]

I am inclined to pull for Germany for the remainder of the world cup, even if it brings about terrible things.

[Dragon]

FIFA admits they made a mistake during Argentina's first goal over Mexico!

Their mistake? Showing it on the big screen! (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5335440/ce/us/fifa-censor-stadium-replays&cc=5901?ver=us)

Showing what happened only made the argument worse. If the players didn't have a second look at it, the ref might have had the benefit of the doubt. How terrible for them that what actually happened was thrown open to the scrutiny of the players and of all the fans in the stadium!

Personally, I think they're taking a terrible risk playing the game live in front of a stadium audience in the first place. They should play in a secure location and broadcast the game on huge screens on a fifteen-second tape delay. That way they can blank out the tape whenever anything potentially controversial happens, and FIFA will never be exposed to criticism again!

This is a whole new level of frustrating for me. I can accept that refs make mistakes on busy pitches, even mistakes they really shouldn't. That's human error or, at worst, incompetence. But FIFA is of the mind that it cannot be wrong, and that saving face is more important than truth or fair play. How is this different from North Korea's decision to censor their games unless their team wins?

I've come to really enjoy this sport during this World Cup, but I'm beginning to hate FIFA with a passion.

[Yog]

Yeah, that is so typical of FIFA. Ironically, they won't hesitate to use video review to punish a player after the game was played. I stopped being upset at the referees. It's not really their fault for lacking the tools and technology to ensure correct decisions are made. It's entirely the responsibility of a conservative FIFA and that stubborn fart Sepp Blatter.

[Droo]

Vamos a enterrar Portugal!

[Crusader]

Today is going to be intresting for my team:
Brazil Vs Netherlands (I need Brazil to win)
Ghana Vs Uruguay (I need Uruguay to win because they were so cheap to buy at the beginning of this game and they made a lot more points than expected)

Tomorrow will be one of these everything or nothing days. If Germany wins...I can keep most of my players for the rest of the tournament, otherwise the replacements will cost me a fortune.

So in other words: Argentina has to lose tomorrow!

[Yog]

I'm rooting for Brazil, but not because of fantasy football, but because I think they are overall the best team in the WC, and wonderful to watch. I'm hoping for a finale between Brazil and Argentina.

I am pretty sure Uruguay will win their game vs Ghana, they have been really good.

Oh yeah, and everyone should watch all the games from this point, because these are the top quality teams and should provide some really entertaining football.

[Crusader]

Found some flaws in your post that needed to be corrected:


I'm rooting for Brazil, but not because of fantasy football, but because I think they are overall the second best team in the WC after Germany of course, and wonderful to watch. I'm hoping for a finale between Brazil and Germany.

[Yog]

Hahaha. Well, I would not mind if Germany goes to the finale either. They have been great.

Edit: 1-0 Brazil, Robinho! :D

[Droo]

You're only kidding yourselves, guys. Holland are going through today. Not only do I love a good underdog story but last night I dreamed they were in the final so it must be, unfortunately I didn't see their opponents but I'm hoping for a Holland vs. Spain final.

So come on, Holland! Murder those Brazillian bar stewards!

[Yog]

Wow, Holland really turned around the game and won. What a drama that second half was!

[Crusader]

Yeah Droo is right. So we have to correct Yogs post yet again.


I'm rooting for Brazil, but not because of fantasy football, but because I think they are overall the eigth best team in the WC but not as good as Holland, and wonderful to watch. I'm hoping for a finale between Holland and Germany.


I will have to sell some useless Brazilian players now...especially this goal keeper.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Congrats to Holland!

[Yog]

eigth best team in the WC but not as good as Holland
8th best team would make them worse than Paraguay and Ghana.. hell no. And even though Spain has recovered, they have been underwhelming compared to some of the other favorites. As for Holland, that is up for debate, because Brazil dominated in the first half, and actually had more chances in second half. If you're looking for an underdog team doing better than expected, that would be Uruguay. I think both Holland, and perhaps a finalist would do wise not to underestimate them.

Our national team coach actually predicted Uruguay vs Germany in the finale before the WC even started, and got laughed at for that. Maybe he will be right.

[Crusader]

eigth best team in the WC but not as good as Holland
8th best team would make them worse than Paraguay and Ghana.. hell no.

I just used the current ranking on the FIFA website for Brazil. The rank will change after this game.

[Crusader]

OMG Ghana shot a last minute GOAL in the first half.

[Yog]

Yeah, I would be shocked if Ghana makes the upset. They have been surprisingly good.

Uruguay equalized after a brilliant freekick by Forlan.

Edit: game goes into extra time. What a drama!

[Yog]

UNBELIEVABLE ending to that!

Ghana pushed like crazy. Then time runs out, and they get one final freekick. The ball is saved on the line, then saved on the line again, then again but this time it saved by hands, and there is a red card and penalty kick. And the penalty kick is missed!

HOLY CRAP!

And now it is penalty kick competition!

[Crusader]

I hear you, man! That's so wrong!

I hope that Ghana wins this one anyway.

[Crusader]

WTF! Uruguay did so not deserve this victory.

[Yog]

Yeah, you gotta feel bad for Ghana after that. :(

[Yog]

This video pretty much says it all:
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xmh6Py4q2Ak&amp;hl=nb_NO&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xmh6Py4q2Ak&amp;hl=nb_NO&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

Nice goal by Forlan though:
http://i45.tinypic.com/slmgz6.jpg

[Droo]

That handball is disgusting. It without doubt cost Ghana the match.

[Yog]

1-0 to Germany at first half. It's a close game though, and Argentina certainly had some chances of their own.

[Crusader]

Now witness the power of this fully armed and operational national team.

4:0 Germany vs Argentina

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[Yog]

That second half was absolutely ridiculous, especially considering Argentina had such great ball possession deep into German territory most of the time. One of the most misleading football results I have ever seen. However, Germany fully deserved that win. They played far more efficient, better defensive discipline, and most important of all, they don't spend time dilly dallying about building up attacks like Argentina did. Instead, they storm straight for the goal and do lethal counterattacks when opponent team is out of balance. That is what modern and future football is all about. That is how you win championships.

I don't think any team can stop them now. Spain does not stand a chance, neither does The Netherlands or Uruguay. Congrats winning the World Cup. :)

[Morgan Evanar]

I'm not going to mark the cup for anyone, it's been one of the most surprising tournaments I've ever seen. However, the Germans showed everyone how it should be done. Disciplined, fast, precise attacks toward the box. You could see the players stay in set lanes and ALWAYS moved as a unified group toward the goal. I understand the Argentines were at a size disadvantage, but that was no excuse to not mark the Germans in their end of the field. They displayed almost no patience on offense, and paid for it.

[Droo]

So much for a close game. Well done, Germany! Brilliant disciplined performance, and now this is a side which will have the rest of the teams worried.

[Crusader]

Spain is not out yet but we will work on that :D

[Yog]

What a sad performance by Spain in the first half vs Paraguay.

Edit: hahahahaah, did you guys see what happened a few minutes ago?

Some Spanish defender plays thug of war with the Paraguay striker, and penalty is awarded. Paraguay misses penalty! Then, the very next minute, A Spanish player is tackled in the opposite box, and ANOTHER penalty is awarded but for Spain. Spain scores! But then the goal is anulled because of the Spanish players running into the box before they should. So the penalty has to be done all over again, third penalty in like a couple minutes. Then Spain MISSES the penalty.

Still 0-0, but what a drama.

Edit2: David Villa 1-0 for Spain!

It hit the bar 3 times before it went in though..

Unless something amazing happens, Spain will win this. Only a few minutes left.

[Yog]

Spain won, even though Paraguay had a huge chance at the end.

Paraguay played well, causing problems both in defense and offense for Spain. Those penalty situations were insane, as was the 1-0 goal.

[Morgan Evanar]

The Spain goal is the only stretch of the game where it looked like they had a real attack.

[Crusader]

HAHA this day gave me 82 points for the 5th round:

the Mannschaft
Lahm (my Captain): 18
Friedrich: 12
Schweinsteiger: 13
Özil: 8
Podolski: 9
Klose: 14

Selection
Heinze: 3
Demichelis: 1

Spain
Sergio: 4
J.Navas: 0 (LOSER)

[Crusader]

So much for a close game. Well done, Germany! Brilliant disciplined performance, and now this is a side which will have the rest of the teams worried.

I still can not believe what happened yesterday. England scored 2 goals against us in the best of 16 round but Argentina made just one or two dangerous shots against the German keeper. Maybe Argentina was just overrated and England got unlucky.

I hope no one is going to underestimate Spain now. My friends and family have already planed to watch the next games all together again. This feeling of shared joy and unity is just amazing here in Germany right now.

If they win the WC I will probably drive to Frankfurt to welcome the national team.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

I'm serious. Winning Eurovision and the World Cup this close to 2012 is an ill omen. Y'all are gonna celebrate with another World War, aren't you? :(

[Morgan Evanar]

I'm serious. Winning Eurovision and the World Cup this close to 2012 is an ill omen. Y'all are gonna celebrate with another World War, aren't you? :(They're pretty tied up in the economic quagmire known as the Euro.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

So in 2011 they launch the global currency, the "Gaia" and go on a world (armed) tour suggesting (forcing) us to use the Gaia (and to speak German)

[Crusader]

So in 2011 they launch the global currency, the "Gaia" and go on a world (armed) tour suggesting (forcing) us to use the Gaia (and to speak German)

Trust me money and words won*t be your problems since such matters only bother members of the master race and not slaves.

Just kidding. Germany does not want to do world wars anymore. The European Union has proofen to be way more effective.

[Rev Solomon]

I know this is old news by now, but I'm a bit confused by the uproar over Uruguay's handball. Yes, it's heartbreaking for Ghana, but how was it cheating, or unsportsmanlike? If the Uruguayan player had not acted, his team would have lost. He did the only thing he could, knowing it was a penalty and that it would cost him the opportunity to play in the next match. Ghana was fairly awarded a penalty kick, which is a better-than-even chance to score anyway. It was up to them to convert, and they failed.

I'd liken it to interfering with a wide receiver who will otherwise catch a touchdown pass, or fouling a player on a breakaway in basketball. You're making a tactical decision: change a sure defeat into an uncertain defeat in exchange for a penalty. It's a negotiation made within the rules and without guile, and it was a profound sacrifice on the part of the Uruguayan player, who knew he wouldn't play in the next round whether they won or lost.

Surely it's more unsportsmanlike to take a dive to trick the refs into giving you a scoring chance, or into taking one of your opponents out of the game. There was no deception involved here, no intent to injure, and the refs made all the right calls. The player made the only play that could have saved his team in that situation.

Anyway, if you want to take this sort of play out of the game, the only thing you can do is give the refs the power to award a goal anyway, sort of like American football refs have the power to award a touchdown when something extremely unfair happens (like a player jumping off the bench to tackle the ball carrier).

[Droo]

Get in there, Holland! Send em home!

1-0 :D

[Crusader]

BAM and it is even

1-1 Uruguay Holland

@Rev Solomon: I completly agree with you on this matter. Tactical fouls are not encouraged but a vital way to stop the enemy.

[Yog]

Beautiful goals on both sides. Forlan once again shows why he is considered one of the best players in this WC.

I also 100% agree with Rev Solomon. I posted that video because I thought it was an exciting situation. 3 saves on the line.

I'm rooting with Uruguay, because they are the underdog here, and I got several players on my fantasy team from Uruguay.

[Crusader]

I decided to use players from the Netherlands as my defense and midfielders and strikers from Uruguay.

[Rev Solomon]

Wow. We obviously didn't have enough controversial goals in this tournament. Netherlands had a player just barely offsides on that goal, and he may even have been the target of a pass. Now, he did not deflect the ball - he lifted his leg just in time to avoid it - but arguably he interfered with the keeper's line of sight to the ball.

I'm honestly not sure I know enough to make a clear judgment there.

EDIT: Holy crap, 3-1 now! It may not anyway!

[Droo]

Well, regardless, there's no denything that one.

3-1!

[Crusader]

3-2
A very entertaining match.

[Yog]

Great game!

[Droo]

My dream of a Holland-Spain final is halfway there! :D

[Crusader]

I would really be a sad panda if that happens.

[Lykaios]

My dream of a Holland-Spain final is halfway there! :D
^ditto

I have Spain winning it all in my bracket vs Holland :D

And I agree with Rev Solomon too on the handball thing in the GHA vs URU match.

[Droo]

I know this is old news by now, but I'm a bit confused by the uproar over Uruguay's handball. Yes, it's heartbreaking for Ghana, but how was it cheating, or unsportsmanlike? If the Uruguayan player had not acted, his team would have lost. He did the only thing he could, knowing it was a penalty and that it would cost him the opportunity to play in the next match. Ghana was fairly awarded a penalty kick, which is a better-than-even chance to score anyway. It was up to them to convert, and they failed.


I cannot disagree more, and while you know my view on this anyway, I have to voice it again here because I'm appalled by the number of people in happy agreement with your assessment.

It is against the rules of the game to commit a handball, everyone knows this, the players more than anyone. Accidental handballs happen all the time and the player is sometimes penalised, depending on its severity, and the opposition is almost always rewarded a free-kick or even a penalty kick should it occur within the penalty box.

However, when a player makes a conscious decision to do something which breaks the rules just to salvage the game for their team, it's a disgrace. And yes, I emphasised the "just" there and with great reason, where I a professional sportsman I would much rather play fairly and lose than cheat to win. What in God's name is the point in taking part in a sport, professional or otherwise, if the game has no integrity? It is a very ugly thing for me to see people in casual acceptance of rule-flouting and reputation-soiling behaviour on the part of players just because that player acted within the best interests of his own team. Is that what we mean by taking one for the team? Such actions steal victories from teams more deserving and if you can celebrate whole-heartedly at such a cheap and hollow victory, then you have no business calling yourself a good sportsman.

[Lykaios]

I don't believe breaking a rule to be cheating necessarily, to me cheating would be to break the rule and try to get away with it, not paying the price of doing so.

I played competitive sports at different levels for 15+ years and while you're encouraged to be a good sportsman, sometimes you're also taught to commit a foul and take the penalty rather than letting the other team score (as long as you don't hurt your opponent).

Even in this WC you've heard announcers say after a breakaway "Why didn't he foul him?"

Suarez broke the rule knowing full well he'd be penalized for it, he didn't try to hide it, he gave his team another chance.

If every player were such a sportsman living by the FIFA Fair Play rules, Tevez should've told the ref his goal should be disallowed vs Mexico for he knew he was offside. The German keeper, should've told the ref Lampard's goal went in, instead he made every effort to clear the ball quickly without giving the refs a chance to see if the ball was in or not. Same thing for Henry when his handball left Ireland out of the WC. That's what Fair Play is about.

The rules are broken and that's part of the game, Suarez's handball was no different than a basketball player fouling an opponent when the game is on the line and making him earn his points in the free throw line and like that there are many examples.

The fact of the matter is that what cost GHA the game was the missed penalty derived from that handball.

Edit: Sorry Crusader...the octopus has spoken! (http://www.sportsuntapped.com/paul-the-octopus-prediction-germany-vs-spain-110250/) :lol