The 2010 World Cup Thread / South Africa

[Bay Hill]

Since I was at work today, I have to watch the matches on ESPN Classic.

 

[PixieDust32]

They did... but barely. I didn't appreciate all the near heart attacks today.

Not sure if Uruguay can beat Netherlands in the condition the team will be in. Hopefully, they can get some injured players up and going for the next game, but without Fucile and Suarez...

My guess is they will play a very defensive game against the Netherlands with only Forlan and Cavani up front. Then again, unless Cavani decides to actually PLAY, they may as well have Forlan up there alone.

OMG! I know, my heart stopped a couple times What a game! That penalty kick at the last minute was amazing, that he missed it of course

The goalkeeper from Uruguay is the hero

They had good defense so lets just hope they can beat the Netherlands.


Vamos Uruguay ♥ Argentina ♥

 

[PixieDust32]

Check out these amazing shots from Uruguay vs Ghana Game.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/02/uruguay-ghana-world-cup-h_n_634266.html

 

[LilyWDW]

OMG! I know, my heart stopped a couple times What a game! That penalty kick at the last minute was amazing, that he missed it of course

The goalkeeper from Uruguay is the hero

They had good defense so lets just hope they can beat the Netherlands.


Vamos Uruguay ♥ Argentina ♥

Yea, my facebook status is "Dear Uruguay, I don't appreciate the heart attacks".

I actually couldn't watch the penalty shots. I had to have my boyfriend tell me what happened. It shows a ton of nerve and skill that Muslera was able to stop 2 penalty kicks during the shoot out.

I understand what Suarez did, I do. I used to play the game and I can honestly say I would have most likely done the same thing if I was in his shoes. I wish they could have won another way though. They had opportunities that they were not able to convert on. I just wish it hadn't come down to that. Though, I will say, the "penalty" that lead to that whole mess was BS. There was NO contact that I saw and every thing I have read and heard agrees with that.

I do wonder what they will do without Suarez though. Losing him (and Fucile) for the next match is going to hurt. Especially since Cavani has not been playing his best (notice he was removed quite early in today's match). Cavani MUST step up if he is going to be up with Forlan. He needs to stop taking shots that have no chance and learn to pass the ball when needed. Forlan was letting him have it today and in the games previous because he wouldn't pass when Forlan was open.

Uruguay has a very strong defensive game, but you could tell it weakened when Lugano went out with a knee injury. To defend against Netherlands, I honestly believe they will need Lugano. I really, REALLY hope he is able to play the next game, along with Pereira (one of their best midfielders who missed today's game due to injury).

I will be cheering for them as long as they are in the running though. If they can get past Netherlands, then they will have Suarez and Fucile back for the next match. They way they have been playing, if they have the whole squad good to go, I think they may have a chance. BUT, they will have to beat Netherlands with a weakened squad first.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[PixieDust32]

I agree LilyWDW! They need them bad to beat The Netherlands I think Suarez had no choice. I don't like penalty kicks neither, but oh well.

I watched them all biting my nails and screaming like crazy


Here is Suarez's hands on the ball.

 

[LilyWDW]

Here is Suarez's hands on the ball.

And if you notice, Fucile was trying to do the same thing. Too bad he wasn't the one to hand ball it. He was already going to miss the Netherlands game due to 2 yellows!

 

[PixieDust32]

And if you notice, Fucile was trying to do the same thing. Too bad he wasn't the one to hand ball it. He was already going to miss the Netherlands game due to 2 yellows!

I know! He was going for it too, darn it! I think it was their plan, but the ball moves to darn fast!

 

[Guy Incognito]

didn't see the game, but based on the pics and comments by Suarez, I'd have to say 'Go Netherlands' for the next match..... maybe I'm being too harsh, but if you have to knowingly cheat to win the game (yeah, if Ghana didn't choke on the pk, it wouldn't have mattered) then you don't deserve to win the World Cup.

 

[PixieDust32]

They didn't cheat.
Yes it was a hand, he was punished, the got red card and it was a penalty kick, the rules were followed, the player from Ghana missed the shot so it was no cheating. He missed it, so the game when to penalty kicks, Ghana again missed the shots and Uruguay didn't. I don't see the cheating anywhere.

If it had been a hand and they had not called it then it would had been another story.

 

[Guy Incognito]

They didn't cheat.
Yes it was a hand, he was punished, the got red card and it was a penalty kick, the rules were followed, the player from Ghana missed the shot so it was no cheating. He missed it, so the game when to penalty kicks, Ghana again missed the shots and Uruguay didn't. I don't see the cheating anywhere.

If it had been a hand and they had not called it then it would had been another story.

sorry, but players other than the goalie aren't allowed to use their hands. He said he "had to use his hands because he couldn't get his head there". That's knowingly breaking the rules (i.e. cheating). Sure he got tossed, but without that illegal play, they score and the game is basically over. Like I said, if Ghana didn't choke on the pk (and the subsequent pks in the shootout), none of this would matter.

 

[FireDancer]

sorry, but players other than the goalie aren't allowed to use their hands. He said he "had to use his hands because he couldn't get his head there". That's knowingly breaking the rules (i.e. cheating). Sure he got tossed, but without that illegal play, they score and the game is basically over. Like I said, if Ghana didn't choke on the pk (and the subsequent pks in the shootout), none of this would matter.

True, but every time you foul an offensive player because you can't get to the ball you are doing the exact same thing. I view professional fouling as much worse then a handball on the line that was spotted and punished.

In that situation you stop the ball and make the other team make the PK. It isn't right but neither is kicking Messi or Robben in the shins every time they have the ball because you can't stop them and just about everyone does that.

I couldn't believe how Brazil fell apart when they went down. They are way too good to panic so badly with enough time left to equalize. They didn't hold the ball in the midfield and just gave it back to the Dutch every time they had it. Poor play for such a good side.

 

[Guy Incognito]

True, but every time you foul an offensive player because you can't get to the ball you are doing the exact same thing. I view professional fouling as much worse then a handball on the line that was spotted and punished.

In that situation you stop the ball and make the other team make the PK. It isn't right but neither is kicking Messi or Robben in the shins every time they have the ball because you can't stop them and just about everyone does that.

a valid point.... the only difference I'd put on it (splitting hairs, I know) would be a professional foul at midfield or even outside the box doesn't take away a guaranteed goal.... the potential for it is there, but there's no guarantee that they would have scored had that player not been fouled.... with Suarez/Uruguay, that's a guaranteed goal if he doesn't reach up and bat it away with his hands.


just got back in and turned on the Germany-Argentina match... what the heck happened there? I would have expected a closer game.

 

[LilyWDW]

a valid point.... the only difference I'd put on it (splitting hairs, I know) would be a professional foul at midfield or even outside the box doesn't take away a guaranteed goal.... the potential for it is there, but there's no guarantee that they would have scored had that player not been fouled.... with Suarez/Uruguay, that's a guaranteed goal if he doesn't reach up and bat it away with his hands.


just got back in and turned on the Germany-Argentina match... what the heck happened there? I would have expected a closer game.

Uruguay v. South Africa. The South African goalie fouled Uruguay on a break away play, recieved a red card, was kicked from the rest of the match, and Uruguay recieved a penalty shot. In this example, it was pretty certain that Uruguay would have scored and the goalie resorted to a foul to prevent it.

To me this is the same sort of situation. It was a calculated decision by Suarez to do this, even though the odds were in Ghana's favor to make the penalty goal and it would mean Suarez is not available to play in the next game.

May I ask, have you ever played the sport? Watched it before this World Cup? I'm just curious because one's view point does seem to matter in what a person thinks about this situation. I played, only until high school where I had to quit due to injury. I can seriously say I would have done the same thing Suarez did.

 

[PixieDust32]

True, but every time you foul an offensive player because you can't get to the ball you are doing the exact same thing. I view professional fouling as much worse then a handball on the line that was spotted and punished.

In that situation you stop the ball and make the other team make the PK. It isn't right but neither is kicking Messi or Robben in the shins every time they have the ball because you can't stop them and just about everyone does that.

I couldn't believe how Brazil fell apart when they went down. They are way too good to panic so badly with enough time left to equalize. They didn't hold the ball in the midfield and just gave it back to the Dutch every time they had it. Poor play for such a good side.

such a cheaters when they foul

 

[PixieDust32]

Argentina was a totally different team! 4 goals! Ouch!

Paraguay v Spain match was great. It was anyone's game. So sad to see Paraguay gone. Spain would had to play better if they want to beat Germany.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Uruguay v. South Africa. The South African goalie fouled Uruguay on a break away play, recieved a red card, was kicked from the rest of the match, and Uruguay recieved a penalty shot. In this example, it was pretty certain that Uruguay would have scored and the goalie resorted to a foul to prevent it.

To me this is the same sort of situation. It was a calculated decision by Suarez to do this, even though the odds were in Ghana's favor to make the penalty goal and it would mean Suarez is not available to play in the next game.

May I ask, have you ever played the sport? Watched it before this World Cup? I'm just curious because one's view point does seem to matter in what a person thinks about this situation. I played, only until high school where I had to quit due to injury. I can seriously say I would have done the same thing Suarez did.

yes, I played from the time I was about 4 all the way through college. I guess to me it's a matter of personal ethics. Honestly, I can't truly say how I'd react in his place, since I never played on that kind of stage/level, but I'd like to think that I wouldn't resort to that to win; and if I was on the team and one of my team-mates did that (and we ended up winning everything), I'd feel that it was a tainted win..... I realize not everyone feels that way (apparently the vast majority have no qualms about it at all), but that's just my opinion.

 

[gometros]

Dang it BRazil

No I hope Uruguay beats Ghana ♥

They did, but only by cheating. And don't tell me Suarez was playing by the rules. There's a reason that is one of only four red card-able offenses. I fault FIFa partially for that, because a one-game suspension is not penalty enough. Suarez should have been banned from the remainder of the games. Doesn't matter though, since Netherlands will ensure they don't go much farther.

And before you ask, I feel the same about all the diving and rolling around to stall for time. Ghana did it against the US and managed to eat up the remaining time that the US had to attempt one more comeback.

Vamos España!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

They did, but only by cheating. And don't tell me Suarez was playing by the rules. There's a reason that is one of only four red card-able offenses. I fault FIFa partially for that, because a one-game suspension is not penalty enough. Suarez should have been banned from the remainder of the games. Doesn't matter though, since Netherlands will ensure they don't go much farther.

And before you ask, I feel the same about all the diving and rolling around to stall for time. Ghana did it against the US and managed to eat up the remaining time that the US had to attempt one more comeback.

Vamos España!

I don't consider it cheating. It may be "unsporting" in some opinions, but, as a defender, I've purposely taken someone down from behind in the box when they were 1v1 with the keeper in order to force a penalty, rather than an outright goal. I don't consider it cheating (and, yes our keep made the save). I see this as no different.