2010 World Cup Netherlands vs Spain

Beasley had a couple good runs late as well. Wouldn't mind him getting minutes again late in a match if we need a spark. His speed is an asset when the other team is tired.
 
Germany takes the lead on a beautiful goal from Ozil. Great news for the US, since they certainly want Germany to top the group.
 
[quote name='62t']Aussies scored too[/QUOTE]

And again. Should they score a 3rd time without conceding one I believe they would overtake Ghana if that score holds.

That would be fantastic for the US, to put it mildly.
 
[quote name='jughead']I'm just saying, I don't think there are any Germans or Italians or anyone else for that matter that really care about this thread.[/QUOTE]
There's Europeans here, I'm from Ireland. I lived there all my life, until 2005, when I moved to Kentucky, and got married. My wife is from Kentucky.

However, with Ireland not in this World Cup, like most others here, I'm rooting for the USA.
 
Was hoping the Aussies could pull one out with alot of goals, doesnt look like the differentials for today will be enough.
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']Serbia just put up a goal to dash Australia slim hopes.

Barring something crazy, US gets Ghana, England gets Germany.[/QUOTE]

Well, I think Serbia leveling it up would do it.

Ghana is pretty tough, but it would definitely be nice to avenge being ousted by Ghana in 2006.

But at least as far as rankings go, Ghana is probably the best matchup you can get.
 
Australia blew another chance to score a goal.


And the blew another chance to score a goal. At least 3 chances to score the 3rd goal in the last 10 minutes.
 
[quote name='bvharris']
But at least as far as rankings go, Ghana is probably the best matchup you can get.[/QUOTE]

Yep. By no means a cakewalk as there are none in the 2nd round and beyond.

But you can't ask for a better opportunity to reach the semi-finals than getting Ghana and then Uruguay or South Korea. Especially with all the power teams still in the field.
 
Ghana upset me with their performance today. At least the other two teams were playing like their lives depended on it and it was very entertaining. I hope Ghana gets smacked up against the USA who will hopefully lose after so I can see all the posters here cry.
 
Updated American TV schedule for the rest of the tournament:

Thursday, June 24th:
Group F: Italy vs. Slovakia - 9:30am, ESPN
Group F: Paraguay vs. New Zealand - 9:30am, ESPN2
Group E: Cameroon vs. Netherlands - 2pm, ESPN2
Group E: Denmark vs. Japan - 2pm, ESPN

Friday, June 25th:
Group G: Ivory Coast vs. North Korea - 9:30am, ESPN2
Group G: Brazil vs. Portugal - 9:30am, ESPN
Group H: Honduras vs. Switzerland - 2pm, ESPN2
Group H: Chile vs. Spain - 2pm, ESPN

Saturday, June 26th:
Round of 16: Uruguay vs. South Korea - 9:30am, ESPN
Round of 16: USA vs. Ghana - 2pm, ABC

Sunday, June 27th:
Round of 16: Germany vs. England - 9:30am, ESPN
Round of 16: Argentina vs. Mexico - 2pm, ABC

Monday, June 28th:
Round of 16: Group E1 vs. Group F2 - 9:30am, ESPN
Round of 16: Group G1 vs. Group H2 - 2pm, ESPN

Tuesday, June 29th:
Round of 16: Group F1 vs. Group E2 - 9:30am, ESPN
Round of 16: Group H1 vs. Group G2 - 2pm, ESPN

Friday, July 2nd:
Quarterfinal: Winners of E1/F2 vs. Winners of G1/H2 - 9:30am, ESPN
Quarterfinal: Winners of Uruguay/South Korea vs. Winners of USA/Ghana - 2pm, ESPN

Saturday, July 3rd:
Quarterfinal: Winners of Argentina/Mexico vs. Winners of Germany/England - 9:30am, ABC
Quarterfinal: Winners of F1/E2 vs. Winners of H1/G2 - 2pm, ABC

Tuesday, July 6th:
Semifinal: Winners of Uruguay/South Korea/USA/Ghana vs. E1/F2/G1/H2 - 2pm, ESPN

Wednesday, July 7th:
Semifinal: Winners of Argentina/Mexico/Germany/England vs. F1/E2/H1/G2 - 2pm, ESPN

Saturday, July 10th:
3rd-Place Play-Off: Losers of Uruguay/South Korea/USA/Ghana/E1/F2/G1/H2 vs. Losers of Argentina/Mexico/Germany/England/F1/E2/H1/G2 - 2pm, ABC

Sunday, July 11th:
FINAL: Winners of Uruguay/South Korea/USA/Ghana/E1/F2/G1/H2 vs. Winners of Argentina/Mexico/Germany/England/F1/E2/H1/G2 - 2pm, ABC
 
Might want to throw in that those are Eastern time.

I'm very relieved the US has the 2pm game, just because I'm going to a wedding Friday night and did not relish the thought of waking up the next morning to watch a soccer game.
 
[quote name='MisterModest']There's Europeans here, I'm from Ireland. I lived there all my life, until 2005, when I moved to Kentucky, and got married. My wife is from Kentucky.

However, with Ireland not in this World Cup, like most others here, I'm rooting for the USA.[/QUOTE]

I live in KY and sold something on Craig's List to a guy from Ireland.... possible small world.
 
[quote name='Nifty_Shark']I hope Ghana gets smacked up against the USA who will hopefully lose after so I can see all the posters here cry.[/QUOTE]:shock:

Damn, man, that sounded pretty harsh. I'm (obviously) not a part of the people you want to see crying, but I'd think the amount of interest that the World Cup has been generating for American soccer is a good thing for everyone - not just the US. Of course a good percentage of this interest, in general, comes from non-soccer fans who are pro-USA in every phase of their life - but I think there is a genuine increase in soccer interest stemming from the US' performance so far.

I don't wish ill-will towards any teams in the tournament. They've all deserved their seat at the table. (aside from France)
 
[quote name='Tha Xecutioner']:shock:

Damn, man, that sounded pretty harsh. I'm (obviously) not a part of the people you want to see crying, but I'd think the amount of interest that the World Cup has been generating for American soccer is a good thing for everyone - not just the US. Of course a good percentage of this interest, in general, comes from non-soccer fans who are pro-USA in every phase of their life - but I think there is a genuine increase in soccer interest stemming from the US' performance so far.
[/QUOTE]

The question will be whether the interest is sustained after they're eliminated (which, let's face it, is a safe bet). That comes up every World Cup and the vast majority of interest still evaporates after the cup is over.
 
randmid_1276895543_vuvuzela.jpg
 
[quote name='bvharris']The question will be whether the interest is sustained after they're eliminated (which, let's face it, is a safe bet). That comes up every World Cup and the vast majority of interest still evaporates after the cup is over.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but to be fair it's hard to stay interested in the US. MLS soccer is pretty sucky and not on TV much anyway.

Very few of the euro league games are on ESPN etc., so you have to pay for the sports pack to get the soccer channels. And most people just aren't going to get into rooting for pro teams in other countries anyway.
 
[quote name='Nifty_Shark']Ghana upset me with their performance today. At least the other two teams were playing like their lives depended on it and it was very entertaining. I hope Ghana gets smacked up against the USA who will hopefully lose after so I can see all the posters here cry.[/QUOTE]

fuck you guy
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']Yeah, but to be fair it's hard to stay interested in the US. MLS soccer is pretty sucky and not on TV much anyway.

Very few of the euro league games are on ESPN etc., so you have to pay for the sports pack to get the soccer channels. And most people just aren't going to get into rooting for pro teams in other countries anyway.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. It's only for the truly passionate, and those people followed the game before the World Cup anyway.

As you say, it's hard for people to just adopt a club team in a foreign country without a reason (I ended up a Celtic fan after spending significant time in the UK, but not sure I would care if I hadn't).

The key is really for the MLS to become relevant as a league (not just in the US but internationally), and I'm not sure there's a clear path to do that at this point.

I've never bought the argument that soccer is inherently unlikable for Americans (which always cites things like games ending in draws, flopping, etc). I think mostly we like to win, and like to feel like we're watching the best of the best. You only achieve that through a consistently competitive national team and a relevant MLS. I think if you get both those things, soccer could succeed here. I'm still skeptical it will ever happen on the scale that we'd hope though.
 
Agreed. Only thing that helps is that the US is on pace to be majority Hispanic by 2050 if not sooner--and with that the popularity of soccer should rise some.
 
its hard for soccer to catch on here and dmual hit the nail on the head.

the best teams, leagues, championships, players are all in europe. those games rarely, if ever, get televised here. US fans get treated to occasional games of a second rate league with players that arent familiar or popular (save for the familiar names on the mens national team).

so unlike say hockey, which rode a big wave of momentum after the olympics, soccers not going to have that. with the olympics and hockey we have all the stars focused here. the stanley cup finals (the highest rated in years) had gold and silver medal winners playing, familiar names. 10 olympians in all.

i think you might see slightly higher ratings and bigger ticket sales for the short term. by the end of the MLS season it will have died down and soccer fever will go dormant until the gold cup in 2011, die down and come back confederations cup in 2013, and die down again and come back for the next world cup.

now, all that being said...

click here to sign a petition as part of the effort to bring the 2018 or the 2022 world cup back to the states.

http://www.gousabid.com/page/s/sticker?source=postgameemail
 
The one thing that could help soccer is the number of youths playing it. It already surpassed baseball I think.
 
[quote name='62t']The one thing that could help soccer is the number of youths playing it. It already surpassed baseball I think.[/QUOTE]

That's not a new phenomenon. Little kids were playing soccer when I was growing up in the early 90s. It's always been a huge youth sport, which is nor surprising given that it's great for kids to run around and expend a lot of energy and get good exercise.
 
Hey, I have always wanted to watch soccer (european stuff, not MLS) but I never understood what this premiere league stuff was. I'd be willing to watch a few games on my PC using adthe.net, but what is a good way to follow the teams and stuff?
 
[quote name='help1']Hey, I have always wanted to watch soccer (european stuff, not MLS) but I never understood what this premiere league stuff was. I'd be willing to watch a few games on my PC using adthe.net, but what is a good way to follow the teams and stuff?[/QUOTE]

The Premier League is the top flight of English Soccer. In simplest terms, it is the most elite of a series of leagues which make up the entirety of English soccer. Most European countries have similar leagues. If you're interested in following European club soccer a good introduction I always recommend is the UEFA Champions League, which is a yearly tournament which pits all the top club teams on the continent against each other. Watch that and I'm sure you'll see a club or two which catches your eye.
 
Also the Champions League is on ESPN. It's just a matter of knowing the schedule cause the games are usually before 3 PM eastern time. Definitely worth watching so record the games if you don't have a chance to see them live.
 
Champions League is no longer on ESPN. Fox now has the rights to the Champions League. Fox Soccer Channel has a pretty wide selection of soccer to watch, both from MLS and leagues in Europe (Premier League, Serie A).

Also, some English Premier League games are shown Saturday mornings on ESPN2, while La Liga (Spain) has a game shown on Sunday afternoons. Just keep an eye out for it.
 
You guys are missing a huge...HUGE...thing as to why Soccer is never going to be a thought in the US

Let me give you a visual:

Footall: Pee-wee > High school > college > pros
Basketball: Youth > High school/AAU > college > pros
Baseball: Little league > High school > college/minors > minors > pros

Soccer: Youth > High school > pros (maybe in the US)

There is honestly a shitload of youth soccer leagues. As many as any other sport. There's a slew of high schools that support their soccer teams. But...it's the leap from high school to college which is greatly missed in the US!

We love our college sports. We love college football. We adore the tourney in college basketball. And baseball...it's so elaborate that if you don't watch college ball, you probably have a great chance of catching and tracking the player from class A to the pros.

Kids want to be famous in the sport they play, hence why many play it. With soccer...you can get famous, but not here. You gotta go outside the US.

Now, will soccer ever be popular here? NOPE. No strong college connection. Title IX helped ruin a possibility..but it wouldn't have happened if mens programs didn't get cut out. No minor leagues. Nobody will care to bring their family to the fields and watch the minors while enjoying a cold beer because it wouldn't be appealing.

And of course, MLS is so lackluster that it can't even get a decent TV deal. Yea, some cities have good attendence...but nobody knows who the fuck is on the field because there's no college backing AND no minor leagues to follow!

I'm just saying....the key to success in team sports is college. Hence why hockey is always so far down on the ratings poll too and why lacrosse is seemingly a regional sport. If we Americans can't follow you somehow from youth to the pros...we ain't going to care about you!

*Of course, all bets are off when it comes to individual sports, a la nascar, golf, tennis...
 
There is soccer in college though. I don't know how expanded it is but I know my school (MSU) has a team though I've never cared to watch them play.
 
Your case would carry more water if anyone cared about college baseball except for maybe a week or two around the CWS. Additionally, the vast majority of fans don't follow players up through the minors, only once they get to the big leagues.

As for basketball, the majority of 4-year players will never set foot in the NBA. A high percentage of elite players are one-and-done these days (and before that they went straight from high school to the pros). Plus, I've always considered interest in college basketball and interest in the NBA pretty distinct.

Maybe for football your argument holds, but not for the other sports.

I don't think there's as strong a correlation as you seem to think.
 
Ever since Italy lost to Mexico in a friendly I knew they weren't going to win the cup this year. That was the first time I had seen them play since 06 and their squad looked pretty weak.
 
[quote name='Tha Xecutioner']The possibility of France and Italy being knocked out from the tournament in the group stages?

Best. World. Cup. ever.[/QUOTE]

While I can't get behind enthusiasm for my French being knocked out, it would certainly go to show how much changes between World Cups.
 
The Slovakian keeper was on the ground writing in "pain" after being breathed on, and the ref came and stood over him and was essentially like "get the fuck up". Love to see that, way to go ref. :D
 
Wow what a save! The Slovakian defense player was standing on the goal line and stopped a shot by Italy that bounced off of his knee. Total Luck!
 
[quote name='bvharris']While I can't get behind enthusiasm for my French being knocked out, it would certainly go to show how much changes between World Cups.[/QUOTE]
To be fair, the France team that showed up to this World Cup is not the same French team that I'm used to seeing over the years. I do feel bad for my boy Ribery, though.
 
Italy gets a goal but one of their players is laying on the ground with his hand on his face. Looks like a fight is going to break out.
 
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