World Cup!!!! Time to start the insanity! :)

[GraysonK]

Hi All,
Well, it's almost time.  I can't wait.  I hope we can keep this thread going during the games and (politely) cheer on our favorite teams and discuss.  I'm honestly not sure who I'm rooting for this year, besides the US (but they never make it very far). 
Whoo Hoo!
Here's an Ad I just saw by Nike...I think you'll like it

[Pacu]

i've been busy trying to get all our 3d tvs and new 5LNB directv dishes ready so folks can watch it in 3d at our stores. ESPN is rolling out 3d sports coverage starting with their 3d world cup broadcasting june 11th




cough* Tour de France * cough

[GraysonK]

Tour de WHAT??? Sorry, all my attention is tuned in toward South Africa for the foreseeable future.   

[Pacu]

so who's the team to watch? Besides cycling and swimming i'm at a loss in sports

[GraysonK]

I have no idea.  Italy is defending it's title but from what I've been reading and hearing, they may not be quite as strong as they were.  I'm not sure who the "favorite" is.  I know which teams I typically enjoy watching the most, but they may not exactly be the favorites.  The teams I like to watch are Brazil, England, and Nigeria.  I'm anxious to see what's going to happen. 

[Zed]

ive never been interested in football as loved cycling since a very young lad so tour de France for me been a avid watcher since around 1988, 89 being one of my favorite years,   

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'd sooner eat my own spleen than watch 5 minutes of football

[Zed]

I'd sooner eat my own spleen than watch 5 minutes of football

with a nice Chianti      me to mate 

[nuphoria]

Well I'm looking forward to it.... much needed distraction for me

It would be lovely if England stood a chance but looking at the draw, we don't! Having out captain out doesn't help either. My money is on Brazil I think.

[Nikos]

Football? meh... I just can't understand why so many people obsess so much with watching sports...

[John]

Come on Kidderminster Harriers you can do it 

[Mr. Whippy]

We were never big for Fussball, but in 2006 we were in Switzerland when the World Cup was in full swing.  We were in Interlaken when Switzerland was making its run.  Incredibly fun to go to a restaurant, sit outside and watch the games on a GIANT screen with 10-15,000 Swiss fans.

Forza Svizzera!

Oh and I root for England, Chile and US too.

My daughter cheers for France and Italy--she says one has to support high fashion.

[GraysonK]

Well I'm looking forward to it.... much needed distraction for me

It would be lovely if England stood a chance but looking at the draw, we don't! Having out captain out doesn't help either. My money is on Brazil I think.

I was poking around last night and England's chances aren't that bad.  Better than Italy's actually.  They are definitely gonna win their group.  But I'm with you, I'm looking at Brazil to take it this year. 

[DaveK]

I'd sooner eat my own spleen than watch 5 minutes of football

There's something fundamentally wrong with that mate

Those that know me, know of my involvement with football at just about every level. For years it has dictated my spare time, and I (until recently) played the game, I coach junior football, I was very active running a junior football club for many years and I follow the team I've supported since I was a boy home and away (with my own boy these days, who plays, is interested in coaching etc....).

So it's fair to say that I love the game, but the World Cup is starting to represent all of the things I despise about the modern game. The commerSmurfpillsm, the hype, the scumbag, billionaire players representing their countries (not all obviously, but more and more), the saturation coverage and merchandising.......

Football (like it or not fellow Brits) is / was a major part of our history and culture in the last 100+ years, not just a game. The World Cup on the other hand isn't really football, it's a bunch of over-hyped show ponies poncing around for a month, for the benefit of people who's only contribution to the game is to watch it on the telly every 4 years!

I'll watch it of course, and I'll want England to win it of course, but the very thought of somebody like John Terry lifting the World Cup makes me feel a little sad tbh. In practice, I can't see England getting anywhere near the final as we're simply not good enough, so we may be spared that at least!

[/rant]

[GraysonK]

Hi All!
I agree with Dave that the World Cup, like so many other sports, has become too commercialized.  But over here, soccer (football) just has not caught on the way that it has in other parts of the world, particularly the UK.  What the US does have, the MLS, is really not like the clubs and leagues elsewhere, but I wish it was.  I love soccer.  Playing it, coaching it, participating has been the sources of the greatest joy and (sometimes) heartache of my 32 years on this Earth.  I love the game and would give my right arm (not my legs ) to have the kind of enthusiasm for the game over here.  The MLS is nothing more, IMO, than an attempt to capitalize on a sport that rest of world is very passionate about.  I grew up watching American football because that's what my family loved.  I like basketball, but I can't sit and watch it.  Baseball, only sometimes.  But I love watching soccer.  I would so love it if I had it more often and had a local team I could go support, but I can't.  The WC, Women's World Cup (my personal favorite) and the Olympics is my chance to get more soccer in a month or 2 week period than I get all the rest of the time.  I know it's commercialized and I totally understand that it almost cheapens things to see so much hype surrounding the World Cup, but for me it's like a drink of water after 4 years of having to wait to get my soccer fix again.  Kim is a die hard football fan and is nuts about basketball, but she gets those year round...often most of the year!  I get it once every 4 years.  LOL!  I told her to suck it up and deal with it....this is my NBA, NFL, MLB all rolled into one. 
I couldn't care less about the history of football or basketball or baseball in the US...but I think it is so freaking cool that other countries like the UK have such a rich history that is associated with football.  It's a game I love to play, love to watch, and love to talk about whenever I can.  The athletes are simply amazing. 
Ok, i'm done now. 

[DaveK]

Ok, i'm done now. 

... and you done good

[BIG-TARGET]

Give me an honest sport, like WWE Wrestling, anyday!!

[GraysonK]

Opening day!
South Africa v Mexico: 1-1
Uruguay v France: 0-0

[nuphoria]

It's kind of ironic that our opening game we be against your lot! Should be a fun one anyway.

I totally agree about the overhyped BS that goes on. In it's purest form, it truly is a beautiful game, like chess with a ball

My family have a long tradition of supporting the local team (Spurs) and my mother is still hugely passionate about it. Sadly, no one in this house cares for it... I may be spending my spare time (in between nursing HK back to health) upstairs watching it on my own. She doesn't mind the game so much as the noise in the background which is odd... maybe I can get me some headphones on the case

[GraysonK]

It's kind of ironic that our opening game we be against your lot! Should be a fun one anyway.

I totally agree about the overhyped BS that goes on. In it's purest form, it truly is a beautiful game, like chess with a ball

My family have a long tradition of supporting the local team (Spurs) and my mother is still hugely passionate about it. Sadly, no one in this house cares for it... I may be spending my spare time (in between nursing HK back to health) upstairs watching it on my own. She doesn't mind the game so much as the noise in the background which is odd... maybe I can get me some headphones on the case

I know, it is strange.  And I'll tell ya what, I'm already fed up with the BS that these people are spouting about the England/US matchup.  I've seen commercials that are just stupid.  Just let 'em play! 
And it is a beautiful game "Chess with a ball"  Brilliant!  I love it!
Kim doesn't understand this, but she's leaving me be to lose my mind over it.    I wish I'd have been awake (I was alseep cuz I worked last night) for the RSA v Mexico game...the highlights look like it was really good.  The France and Uruguay game wasn't all that exciting, IMO.  But we'll see what will come. 

[nuphoria]

Yeah, I caught a little bit of that one too and it was exactly dynamic. France don't look to be on top form either. Traditionally the English like to hate them anyway! 

[nuphoria]

Well, it's looking good so far (for us)


I'm glad I walked in the door to catch kick off though!

[nuphoria]

Well, that was a great match really but I've already bitten off a couple of fingernails!

USA played really well I thought, and deserved the draw 

[GraysonK]

Colorful Enunciation!  I didn't get to watch it...was at a wedding.  But I'm gonna check it out here online, if I can find it.  Can't wait to see it! 

[Vladimir]

Victory!
Serbia - Germany 1-0

[nuphoria]

Victory!
Serbia - Germany 1-0
(Image removed from quote.)

   Good stuff!

I really enjoyed the France - Mexico game last night too. It was great to see them running rings around France for that 2-0 spanking

[Vladimir]

I would love to see France going home after 1st round because of the way they defeated Ireland-Thierry Henry hand ball

[GraysonK]

OH MY COLORFUL ENUNCIATION COLORFUL ENUNCIATION COLORFUL ENUNCIATION GOODNESS!  Seriously???  The US should NOT have allowed those goals and that Ref has a serious case of cranio-sacral inversion going on!

[nuphoria]

 

That's one way of putting it Kel!

[Mr. Whippy]

What the...

The Swiss have a middie red carded?! (First time ever in World Cup)

US is set to eliminate England

ZA beats France to eliminate France (but ZA is out too).

Wild.  Just wild.