sooooo.....uruguay and mexico play for the draw, and they both advance....should be a boring last match day for this group.

6/17/2010 4:16:16 PM

who the hell is this valbuena guy and how come ive never heard of him? either way hes had the ball a few times out wide and just blazes shots over

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:18 PM. Reason : and hes short]

6/17/2010 4:16:39 PM

seriously

Anelka is so fucking horrible for France and yet, he always starts

6/17/2010 4:18:54 PM

Well, that's another embarrassingly poor showing from France. What a shame.

6/17/2010 4:19:37 PM

^they may not score this tournament. they have nothing to play for against south africa. at least south africa has the home crowd.



might as well start henry for his final world cup game

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:21 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 4:20:14 PM

OH WE BACK!

6/17/2010 4:22:06 PM

^Dirty?



Fuck the frenchies

6/17/2010 4:23:58 PM

si

6/17/2010 4:24:54 PM

the ghost of 2002 is upon you...sack domenech now

ribery has been the worst player of the cup so far

6/17/2010 4:25:14 PM

riberys stock has gone down so much over the past 6 months to a year. i dont know why anyone would want him now

6/17/2010 4:26:23 PM

A tie puts Uruguay #1 so Mexico will definitely be playing to win so they can avoid Argentina

6/17/2010 4:26:56 PM

Quote :

"sooooo.....uruguay and mexico play for the draw, and they both advance....should be a boring last match day for this group."

Would you not go for the win if you're Mexico, pretty big difference if you draw Arg or SK/Greece next round

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:32 PM. Reason : ^ quicker on the draw ]

6/17/2010 4:27:02 PM

you knew things were looking bad for him when he started paying for sex.

look, i know you're ugly, and that car accident didn't help you any, but c'mon. you're a professional athlete.


i really don't think mexico risks losing. if they play too offensively, they could lose to uruguay, and lose big. if either SA or France win by a lot, mexico could get the surprise exit of the tourny. i just don't see them taking the risk, even if it is to avoid argentina

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:32 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 4:27:28 PM

Quote :

"This is the first game where I've heard prolonged chanting/singing from the crowd"

i didn't see it, but the announcers were raving about the chanting from the argentina game

6/17/2010 4:30:21 PM

Quote :

"i just don't see them taking the risk, even if it is to avoid argentina"

yeah, but mexico would sure hate to get maxi rodriguez'd again

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:32 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 4:31:41 PM

Quote :

"i really don't think mexico risks losing. if they play too offensively, they could lose to uruguay, and lose big"

I'm not saying they'll play 10 forwards but they're a pretty offensive minded team by default and I don't see them them going to 5 in the back or anything. I think it'll be business as usual for them

6/17/2010 4:32:03 PM

^maybe, i just don't see the likes of rafa marquez creeping up for set pieces or corners this game, which takes away some of their offensive options




as an aside, i'm absolutely loving maradona as argentina's coach. i was really skeptical at first, but it's just hilarious watching him on the sidelines/press conference/ etc. not too mention that he's doing a bang up job getting all of his talent on the field

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:38 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 4:34:23 PM

theyre not ever going to lose big to uruguay...im not sure what you are thinking about

6/17/2010 4:39:42 PM

Quote :

"ribery has been the worst player of the cup so far"

I dunno about worst, but definitely pretty bad. I actually like Ribery, but he looked completely lost, especially in this game. Awful set pieces, wasn't doing a good job putting balls through (not that anyone was giving him good runs, except Malouda on occasion), got straight up jacked by defenders several times... just bad stuff.

6/17/2010 4:43:45 PM

look. i think they're going to settle for the draw. mexico and south africa tied, and uruguay beat south africa easily. if both teams are playing for the win, i put my money on uruguay. uruguay tend to put a lot of shots on goal, and sometimes they score in bunches. i just don't think mexico wants to take that risk, and as a result, i think we see a very conservative game from mexico. and that's not too mention that uruguay avoid argentina with a draw.

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 4:53 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 4:44:57 PM

I imagine they'll probably hug it out for a draw, but what's the upside for winning the group outright, in terms of likely opponent in the quarters?

6/17/2010 4:47:55 PM

winner gets South Korea or Greece, 2nd place gets Argentina

6/17/2010 4:59:44 PM

hey now, don't count Nigeria out yet

6/17/2010 5:08:22 PM

Question. Why do Mexicans go crazy over a sport that they have historically sucked at? I don't have cable, but I do get Univision and am able to watch World Cup action on there (normally I wouldn't but there's really nothing else on for me to watch). They were going nuts.

Also if they are living in this country and pull for Mexico over the USA (should that happen), then they need to get out (South Park redneck).

6/17/2010 5:13:04 PM

I don't know what you mean by saying the Mexican team sucks. They've advanced past the group stage in the past four (five, presumably) World Cups, and made it to the quarters when they hosted. And they're the only other consistent team in CONCACAF, so they win a-plenty.

Also, the people you saw going crazy on TV are soccer fans at the World Cup whose team is winning. wtf do you expect

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 5:17 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 5:15:48 PM

^^historically, they are a very average/above average team (definately not in the top tier, though). they're a team not to be taken lightly. besides, what else are they going to root for? it's not like there is a world cup for wrestling or trimming hedges.

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 5:20 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 5:18:55 PM

by his logic, Spain and the Netherlands have historically sucked

6/17/2010 5:19:00 PM

Why do State fans get excited at football games

6/17/2010 5:21:31 PM

^ lol.

6/17/2010 5:26:58 PM

^Ahahahaha. Sad, but true.

6/17/2010 5:27:49 PM

Quote :

"Question. Why do Mexicans go crazy over a sport that they have historically sucked at?"

i'll preface this by saying that, as discussed before, world rankings are not very good for international soccer, but Mexico is 7th in the world ELO rankings and 17th in the official FIFA rankings out of 208 FIFA registered teams. They might not be brazil or germany, but they certainly don't suck.

Ernie said it best and what he said can be summarized by saying that, while they usually don't have a "great" team, they are a consistently decent team. They're like Boston College under TOB. Consistently an 8-4 team that goes to a bowl game but isn't a real threat to win the entire thing.

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 5:39 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 5:33:05 PM

Okay well they are a consistently decent team that has never even placed 3rd like the US (I know it was a long time ago, but still). They are like Gonzaga basketball. Consistently decent, but not what would be considered elite. Ooh they made the quaterfinals two times (1970, 1986) when they were the host nation, big fucking deal. Hell Belgium has placed 4th before. Being one of the 8 best teams still isn't winning it all, and lets face it that's how Americans think. It doesn't matter how consistently decent you are to us, winning it all is what matters. Maybe that's why most Americans don't really care about the World Cup.

Quote :

"Also, the people you saw going crazy on TV are soccer fans at the World Cup whose team is winning. wtf do you expect"

They were showing people in the streets and elsewhere, not just the fans that went all the way to South Africa.

As for the State football comment, I get excited for tailgating now and not so much the actual prospects of our team. If we win then it's just icing on the cake.

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 5:56 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 5:54:27 PM

aside from their soccer pedigree, they just beat a previous WC winner. Regardless of France's current form, beating one of the only few teams to actually win a World Cup IN a World Cup is a pretty big deal.

your comment is retarded anyways because even if they had previously "sucked," wouldn't winning a game be a pretty big deal and shouldn't they celebrate it more than somebody who expected to win?

6/17/2010 5:58:45 PM

^^not cheering for a team and not getting excited when they win (especially at the WC level) because they are not an "elite team" (ie haven't won it all by your definition) is ridiculous. Especially once you tie in the fact that they are a team representing their own country (in regards to their fans cheering). Basically what you are saying is that anyone who hasn't won a WC before, their country's fans shouldn't get too excited to watch them play.

What you just described lays the groundwork for annoying bandwagon fans: people who flock to cheer for teams just because they are good and not because they have any real tie or allegiance to them. And you're right; maybe that is why most Americans don't really care about the world cup. Perhaps that also explains the millions of UNC, NYY, Dallas Cowboys, Lakers etc. "fans" in this country. I'd rather be a die-hard fan of a decent team traveling halfway across the world to watch my country in person than be a walmart fan of some elite team any day.

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:09 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 5:59:19 PM

Quote :

"Being one of the 8 best teams still isn't winning it all, and lets face it that's how Americans think. It doesn't matter how consistently decent you are to us, winning it all is what matters"

So fans shouldn't be excited for winning a match, or advancing in the world's biggest tournament, or beating a team with the history of France? Only get excited when you win it all, sit on your hands until then or feel the wrath of Brassperger Monkey!!

Quote :

"Maybe that's why most Americans don't really care about the World Cup."

By your logic, almost no American should care about any competition ever. Am I allowed to watch game 7 tonight? What about the US Open I have on now? Tim Clark isn't winning after all...

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:11 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:08:24 PM

Okay let me clarify what I mean. I think it's great for a person to be excited for their team, especially when it's your country, but Univision was making it look like the entire country was having a fiesta (I know it's probably not an entirely accurate picture, but the people were partying in the streets and in reality they haven't won a damn thing yet besides one game).

If the US were to win the World Cup people wouldn't be partying in the streets and going nuts. They might celebrate in the bars a little bit, but nothing crazy. All I'm saying is be happy, but don't act crazy when you haven't done anything yet. If NC State makes it to the NCAA tournament next season and wins in the first round over say a 5th seeded Kansas, I'm not going to be dancing in the streets. I'll be happy for the win, especially since it was over a blue-blood, but I'm not going to be going crazy.

I guess I just don't see how their celebration level correlates to the level of the win.

Remember guys I'm a die hard State fan, I know what mediocrity (hell not even that) feels like, and how great one win can feel like.

6/17/2010 6:19:22 PM

go back to making threads about stadiums and typing 2100 words for each of them

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:20 PM. Reason : how in the world can you not understand what a big fucking deal the World Cup is?]

6/17/2010 6:19:53 PM

Quote :

"Being one of the 8 best teams still isn't winning it all, and lets face it that's how Americans think"

uh....they're not american. (they're not from the US)

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:22 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:21:31 PM

Quote :

"If the US were to win the World Cup people wouldn't be partying in the streets and going nuts."

THEY LIKE SOCCER MORE THAN US WHY IS THIS HARD TO UNDERSTAND

Quote :

"I know it's probably not an entirely accurate picture, but the people were partying in the streets and in reality they haven't won a damn thing yet besides one game"

I mean, it's obvious you have never heard of the World Cup before 4pm today by your posts in this thread, but they've done more than win one game, they've all but locked up a spot in the knockout stage

And goddamn man

They live in Mexico

They're lucky not to have been kidnapped, gutted and stuffed into a tire full of cocaine

Let the guys who are not us and do not think like us be happy about things they enjoy


[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:23 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:21:40 PM

^x3 Because I'm an American.

[/sarcasm]

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:22 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:22:01 PM

Quote :

"What you just described lays the groundwork for annoying bandwagon fans: people who flock to cheer for teams just because they are good and not because they have any real tie or allegiance to them. And you're right; maybe that is why most Americans don't really care about the world cup. Perhaps that also explains the millions of UNC, NYY, Dallas Cowboys, Lakers etc. "fans" in this country. I'd rather be a die-hard fan of a decent team traveling halfway across the world to watch my country in person than be a walmart fan of some elite team any day."

Hey I hate bandwagon fans more than anyone. If State wins a game over UNC I'm not going to be acting like we are awesome. Hell we beat the national champion last year, but that one win still didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Winning one game in Group stage doesn't warrant partying in the streets. If they win a game in the Quarterfinals then they should go nuts.

6/17/2010 6:26:25 PM

Remember when we beat FSU and tore down the goal posts?

Pretty sure we were partying in the streets that night

Or when we beat Duke in 03 or 04

Yeah, that night too

Shut the fuck up

6/17/2010 6:29:15 PM

Quote :

"If State wins a game over UNC I'm not going to be acting like we are awesome. Hell we beat the national champion last year, but that one win still didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Winning one game in Group stage doesn't warrant partying in the streets."

not analogous

at all

6/17/2010 6:30:22 PM

^^^ This win almost guarantees them a spot in the round of 16 now. Remember when we beat UConn in 2005 to make the sweet 16? It was loud as hell on campus when Hodge scored and people were definitely out celebrating that night.

They are +2 on GD with the 2 teams behind them sitting at -3 and -2 meaning they have a +4 and +5 GD lead over those two teams. They only way they don't make it through to the round of 16 now is if they lost by 2-3 goals to Uruguay and there is a winner in the SA vs France game that scores enough goals to win by 2-3 goals (basically any combination of a 4-5pt GD swing)

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:34 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:31:52 PM

Not Brass Monkey

He was alone beating off to pictures of Hinkle Fieldhouse

6/17/2010 6:32:54 PM

Yeah, but that's b/c students love to riot. State alums watching those games in the bars in Charlotte weren't rioting.

I love trolling soccer threads, b/c soccer fans get so defensive. Hell I actually like soccer and watch it regularly (well I used to when I was working and had cable). Actually I should restate that. I like Premier League and UEFA Champions League. I don't care much for the Mexican leagues. They flop too often.

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 6:55 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:36:52 PM

were you intentionally trolling? I thought you were just ignorant

6/17/2010 6:50:22 PM

Yes I was intentionally trolling, and it worked.

6/17/2010 6:51:02 PM

pretty easy to say that now

6/17/2010 6:52:07 PM

I also said

Quote :

"Also if they are living in this country and pull for Mexico over the USA (should that happen), then they need to get out"

which is obviously trying to open up another whole can of worms, where should an immigrant pull for their new country or the shit hole that they came from?

I'm reminded of the movie "The Hammer" where the main character's immigrant friend and his family are all praising Nicaragua, and he says "you guys sure seem to love Nicaragua except for the part where you risked your lives to not live there any more."

[Edited on June 17, 2010 at 7:00 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2010 6:52:44 PM