Quote :

"If the USA don’t gain a single point, each player will still pick up $78,447 (£54,102) in agreed bonus money from the US Soccer Federation. This will come from a pot of $1.5m set aside by US Soccer for qualifying for the finals, plus an appearance fee of $4,410 per man per game in South Africa, regardless of whether they actually play. Collectively the squad will receive an extra $180,000 per point won in the group stage, to a maximum of $1.6m for nine points for games against England, Slovenia and Algeria. Qualifying from the group will trigger an extra squad payment of $2.85m. Reaching the quarter-finals will earn $3.4m more. Reaching the semi-finals will be worth another $2.7m."

damn. I had no idea they were getting paid that much

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/06/02/revealed-usa%E2%80%99s-20m-bonus-pot-the-biggest-in-world-cup-history-020603/

6/2/2010 6:43:49 PM

repasting for page 20:

Quote :

"the tww group: http://games.espn.go.com/bpredictor/en-us/group?groupID=5228 password: thewolfweb "

6/2/2010 6:54:10 PM

^^ In my FM games giving the players bigger bonuses for finishing well in competitions is the best way to motivate them so let's hope that happens IRL for the WC.

6/2/2010 8:32:37 PM

Quote :

"North Korea arrived in South Africa with a striker as their nominated third goalkeeper in an attempt to bolster their attacking options, but the plan appears to have backfired."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/03/north-korea-world-cup-goalkeeper-gamble


lol

6/3/2010 11:26:40 AM

^Haha yeah I saw that earlier. I can't help feel sorry for them though, they got put in the same group as Brazil and Portugal.

6/3/2010 11:28:06 AM

^^ "Serious Injury" to come

[Edited on June 3, 2010 at 11:31 AM. Reason : ^]

6/3/2010 11:30:49 AM

just saw on espn, breaking news, Josy Altidore has been hospitalized for a sprained ankle

could be a terrible terrible injury for the US team, as we are already thin up front

6/3/2010 12:39:33 PM

I wouldn't worry about it

6/3/2010 12:43:19 PM

yeah I dont know the actual seriousness of the injury, but the fact that he has been hospitalized seems kind of ominous.

The guy on sportscenter said that he may miss the tune-up game this weekend (I would think that would be a definite since we dont need to push Josy for a meaningless game if he is even remotely hurt) and it could possibly put his roster spot in the world cup into question

6/3/2010 12:46:54 PM

x-rays are negative and he's listed as day-to-day

6/3/2010 1:12:09 PM

^x7 - lol fuck north korea. i'm assuming the poor guy will now come down with an injury so they can replace him. and by injury i mean he will be killed and possibly fed to his teammates.

has there been any mention of how/if games will be broadcast in north korea? or will government tv just show highly edited highlights of the courageous north korea defeating the evil capitalists?

6/3/2010 1:16:48 PM

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5244060/ce/us/2010-world-cup-clint-dempsey-star-overseas-in-united-states?cc=5901&ver=us

Pretty good Dempsey read... and some truth to it. They love him at Fulham...

6/3/2010 1:26:04 PM

Altidore is hurt? Can we stop with all of the minor injuries now?

6/3/2010 1:33:29 PM

people need to chill. he's fine.

plus its not like he's the top USA goal scorer or anything

6/3/2010 2:35:33 PM

6/3/2010 2:37:35 PM

Someone should pull a Gillooly on Bornstein so we can get CD9 up in hurrrr for moral support.

6/3/2010 2:38:08 PM

Mexico is currently beating Italy in a friendly right now in the 2nd half 1-0...some people have been downplaying mexico but they could be dangerous if they play well together. i saw the 2nd half of england vs mexico at a mexican restaurant a few days ago and they look quite dangerous on the attack.

i would love it if italy didnt make it out of the group stages...but seeing how they have the easiest group i doubt thats gonna happen.

6/3/2010 2:45:26 PM

^Mexico played VERY well in the game against England, the only reason they lost is because England got really lucky with the first two goals. I wouldn't underestimate them either.

6/3/2010 3:17:53 PM

Quote :

"plus its not like he's the top USA goal scorer or anything"

you right

6/3/2010 4:06:56 PM

Rio Injured


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250277/ce/us/gareth-barry-training-england?cc=5901&ver=us

6/4/2010 7:51:23 AM

damn Drogs is out


those that picked Ivory Coast for some upsets might want to make adjustments

6/4/2010 9:28:23 AM

Brazil and Portugal to advance unless some sort of Ivory Coast magic happens

6/4/2010 9:36:57 AM

Drogba out with a broken arm? It's soccer, why do you need your arm? Put that junk in a cast and get out there!

6/4/2010 9:39:14 AM

what the fuck hahahah

6/4/2010 9:40:31 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FFfsad7hm8

fucking jap bastards

6/4/2010 9:46:34 AM

heskey is a piece of shit soccer player and i hope they start him over crouch on june 12th.

that is all.

6/4/2010 11:25:37 AM

agreed but not because Heskey is shit


Crouch will win every single head ball against non-leaping Gooch and can't see shit in one eye DeMerit

6/4/2010 11:40:53 AM

lol drogba

6/4/2010 11:49:20 AM

Drogba lives!

Perhaps

Quote :

"World Cup 2010 - Drogba hopeful over injury blow Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba may recover from the elbow injury he sustained in a friendly match in 10 days' time - and be fit to play at the World Cup. Initial reports in France suggested Drogba had been ruled out of the tournament in South Africa after he was forced off the pitch during the first half of a warm-up game against Japan in Sion, Switzerland. L'Equipe claimed on its website that he was immediately taken to hospital for scans, after which he reportedly said he would play no part in the upcoming tournament in South Africa. But the French newspaper has backtracked and it now appears Drogba will be fit to play in the Elephants' first game of the tournament against Portugal on June 15. Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson also said there was still a chance Drogba could play. "We are not sure yet, we think it's still a possibility," he said. Drogba left the Tourbillon stadium with his arm in a cast and a wry smile on his face as he walked to the team bus. The Chelsea striker went down under a heavy challenge from Japan defender Tulio after 15 minutes which left him spread-eagled on the pitch. After rising groggily to his feet, the Chelsea forward hobbled off and was replaced by Seydou Doumbia. His absence disorientated Ivory Coast, who had taken the lead through an own-goal by Tulio three minutes before, but Japan were unable to take advantage and they slumped to a fourth successive defeat, 2-0, after losses to Serbia, South Korea and England. Playing only their second game under Eriksson, the African side added the second with nine minutes to play through defender Toure. The Africans face Brazil, Portugal and North Korea in their World Cup group, while Japan will take on Cameroon, Denmark and the Netherlands."

[Edited on June 4, 2010 at 11:52 AM. Reason : /]

[Edited on June 4, 2010 at 11:52 AM. Reason : ..]

6/4/2010 11:52:08 AM

lol typical drama queen drogba...how can anyone like this guy?

6/4/2010 11:55:11 AM

how is this his fault?


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1169762/index.htm

That may make you like him a little bit more

6/4/2010 11:59:10 AM

I hope Drogba can play. He is a diving, whining douche, but he is still an extremely talented player who would make Ivory Coast games much more interesting. I also think he got caught up in a pretty rash challenge from a lousy player on a lousy team on the eve of the World Cup - nobody wants to see that. Bob Bradley please note: NO reason to play any starters tomorrow.

6/4/2010 12:02:13 PM

Where is France-China being played? Shit looks like a Texas high school stadium...

6/4/2010 12:14:24 PM

Quote :

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FFfsad7hm8 fucking jap bastards"

uh yeah that was a perfectly legit challenge. drogba dived (per usual)

6/4/2010 12:16:41 PM

Just learned something new

I'm watching the France/China friendly and Gallas just scored on a nifty back heel, but was called offside. The keeper was off his line, but there was a defender on the keeper's line which I thought had kept him onside. So, if you are behind the keeper, regardless if there is another defender behind him, you are off, right?

6/4/2010 12:17:54 PM

Quote :

"One-liter bottles of Bock, an Ivorian beer, are known as Drogbas owing to their robust size and strength"

hahaha awesome

6/4/2010 12:23:08 PM

Rio officially out

Huge blow to that English defense

6/4/2010 12:29:36 PM

for someone as big as drogba, he really is a pussy

6/4/2010 12:32:29 PM

^^^^ No, there just has to be 2 opponents (regardless of what position they play) OR the ball in between the the offensive player and the goal.

In that case, Gallas was behind the keeper and there was only 1 defender (the guy on the line) between him and the goal



[Edited on June 4, 2010 at 12:37 PM. Reason : ^]

6/4/2010 12:34:16 PM

^^^jesus, no its not. its not even fuckin close to a huge blow. ask any England fan adn they will tell you that Rio is easily replaceable, and has been suspect in the past anyways in terms of his conditioning.

Dawson is already awaiting his flight.

this is an improvement, in my opinion.

6/4/2010 12:38:17 PM

Quote :

"Since Euro 2004, England have won 67% of games with Rio Ferdinand playing & 68% without."

6/4/2010 12:42:00 PM

i think its a blow cause who captains now? does terry get it back? if not then someone without much national experience as a captain will have that duty...

6/4/2010 12:57:06 PM

it's always a big blow to your team when you lose a starter this close to the start of the world cup. you don't want to be making changes still, and it's especially difficult if you have to replace your captain.

6/4/2010 1:03:07 PM

It's definitely a blow, I just wouldn't call it a "huge" blow

6/4/2010 1:08:52 PM

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250277/ce/us/england-captain-rio-ferdinand-injures-knee-training?cc=5901&ver=us

Quote :

"Steven Gerrard will step up and fill Ferdinand's role as team captain, sources told ESPN."

6/4/2010 1:33:42 PM

i never thought much of ferdinand anyways, but its important who they replace him with

6/4/2010 1:36:22 PM

this world cup is getting a lot of hype, seemingly more hype than '94

6/4/2010 1:47:34 PM

where is everyone watching the us game?

6/4/2010 3:05:26 PM

I just spent one hour picking my fantasy team

6/4/2010 3:45:16 PM

I plan on making the full run this year and watching every single match which means for the next month my evenings will be full of soccer every day after work it appears haha

6/4/2010 5:14:19 PM