Official World Cup Thread

[Dorado]

I love the English announcers, they downplay everything. "This surely wasn't the best performance that England is capable of". But when a team like Spain gets upset by the Swiss, "a huge shocker". Funny.

english announcers are so boring imo

yall should learn spanish just to hear the spanish commentary is so full of passion and its actually exciting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noOHdTQd6H8&feature=related

lol

 

[The Guid]

There's some Italian commentators like that too. I don't really have a problem with Martin Tyler. As long as Tommy Smyth never goes near World Cup commentary again, I will take whoever they put out there.

 

[sheed]

Lmaooo. That's great.

 

[Mooche]

Yeah! I love the Spanish announcers. Makes the game so much fun and energetic. Really does.

 

[mg91]

I'm over these <Censored>ing refs.

They've been nothing short of disgraceful, especially where Australia is concerned. I'm sure those supporting the US will be similiairly infuriated.

This is the World Cup ffs and we are seeing terrible, campaign defining errors being made.

So proud of the Aussies tonight. That result was terribly unfair

 

[The Guid]

IDK man, I can see why you don't like it but, impartially, I don't think it was a horrible call. When you're defending inside the box, your hand should ALWAYS be by your side and not thrown out like his was. Regardless of how "intentional" it looked. His hand clearly impeded a sure goal-scoring opportunity. It's a red card in every other situation too.

 

[sheed]

Excited for the Italy game tomorrow. Especially to see Marchetti and if he will be able to step it up for us.

 

[Mooche]

I am excited to see him play as well. Italy just reloads talent, year in, year out. Marchetti is a very good talent but when you are playing Buffon... it's self explanatory.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

IRENE, South Africa -- FIFA will not address the performance of referee Koman Coulibaly, the embattled official from the Americans' 2-2 draw with Slovenia, before Monday, a spokesman has said.

Coulibaly was given a poor rating in an expedited performance review Saturday, according to a Yahoo! Sports report, which cited an unnamed FIFA source.

FIFA's Nicolas Maingot said the governing body would not discuss Coulibaly before a scheduled session, when the 30 World Cup officials and members of the FIFA Referees Committee will meet with the media.

Coulibaly, of Mali, has been criticized for disallowing what could have been the winning goal for the U.S. off a free kick in Friday's match.

Second-half sub Maurice Edu appeared to put the U.S. ahead in the 86th minute, poking in a close-range shot after Landon Donovan's free kick to him. But the goal was waved off by Coulibaly, though it was not clear on whom the foul was called or what the foul was.

Coulibaly could still appear as a line judge or other supporting role, but is unlikely to be given assignments to referee further matches, according to a Friday report from Yahoo! Sports, which cited unnamed sources.

"If he is found to have made a serious mistake, especially one that affected the outcome, then he would be highly unlikely to play any further part in the tournament," Yahoo! Sports quoted a source Friday as saying. "FIFA is determined to keep refereeing standards high and does not want high-profile mistakes."

For its part, the U.S. is moving on, with no way to appeal the disallowed goal.

"There is no process for appeals for a decision on the field," team spokesman Michael Kammarman said Saturday. "We have not asked for any official comment from FIFA in regards to the call."

Replays show that more Slovenes were holding Americans than vice versa. Aleksandar Radosavljevic held Michael Bradley in a bear hug,

Bradley had his own theory: Coulibaly might have regretted his decision to award the free kick. Valter Birsa had been called for a foul on Steve Cherundolo.

 

[mg91]

IDK man, I can see why you don't like it but, impartially, I don't think it was a horrible call. When you're defending inside the box, your hand should ALWAYS be by your side and not thrown out like his was. Regardless of how "intentional" it looked. His hand clearly impeded a sure goal-scoring opportunity. It's a red card in every other situation too.

His hands were clearly at his side.

Any handball has to be DELIBERATE to be a handball. His hands weren;t thrown out at all! Were you watching the same incident? I don't want to patronize or anything, but his hands were cleary next to his body. What's more, it hasn't his his hand, its hit half his chest half his upper hand. Penalty yes, but the ref could have showed some common sense. The ball took less than one second to move from boot to player. Wtf was he meant to do? There's no way that was a sending off. No <Censored>ing way.

And if the ref was going to be so quick to his <Censored>ing pocket where was the red card when their midfielder planted his studs into the shins of Valeri (or Culina)????? No consistency. Factor in the fact that Cahill was shown a red card for a nothing challenge against Germany and it just get's worst. And how about the penalty we were denied against Germany? The cunt had his arms above his head, but no, not a penalty. But Kewell, hands by his side, no movement at all of the arm/hand towards the ball and he gets sent off. What a joke.

We've always had <Censored> luck with refs at the World Cup. I don't know wtf we've done to deserve this.

 

[RipCity32]

Ugh <Censored> this time difference, 10 is too early for me lol.
But gotta do it.

 

[cruzg24]

Italy already losing to New Zealand 1-0.

 

[cruzg24]

Wow what a great shot, very nice swirf to the right too. Unfortunately it hit the post, looks like Italy is starting to get something.


Penalty kick now actually.

 

[cruzg24]

1-1. Tug on the shirt of De Rossi which leads to a penalty kick, Rossi did over-dramatize it, but the guy was clearly holding his jersey so nothing wrong with that.

 

[The Guid]

The New Zealand goal was offside and De Rossi's penalty wasn't much of one...I'd say that's "tit-for-tat"

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah that's how I see it too Baggs. But the media seems like it's only going to remember the PK...

They are saying how New Zealand is matching us well, I thought we man handled them after that goal by them.

 

[The Guid]

Yeah, that'll probably be it. I don't give a shit what they want to say if they're going to call Cristiano Ronaldo one of the best players in the world while he flops around all day but the Italians are cheaters? Get out of here..

 

[RipCity32]

Agreed, it's whatever to me. It might be cheap, but it's smart.

 

[RipCity32]

New Zealand's defense has played well, but come the <Censored> on.

 

[RipCity32]

Ridiculous, should of won this game. Played real well but couldn't capitalize on any chances.
I'd say we better come out strong in the next game, but it won't happen.