181 replies to this topic

[NYCSox]

That may have saved Chile's run. Now the Swiss need a two goal swing.

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Chile should pack it in, hope to keep Spain from scoring another, and bet that the incompetent Swiss can't score two against Honduras.

Edit: What NYCSox said.

Edited by Morgan's Magic Snowplow, 25 June 2010 - 02:39 PM.

[Bosoxen]

And Honduras just missed one.

[dwightinright]

And Honduras just missed one.

Stealing from elsewhere: Honduras has one shot on goal. In the entire WC.

[nvalvo]

Chile should pack it in, hope to keep Spain from scoring another, and bet that the incompetent Swiss can't score two against Honduras.

Edit: What NYCSox said.

They're not really built to do that, though. Spain will pick them apart if they play back in their third. They have to try to play in Spain's territory.

Obviously being down a man complicates matters.

[NYCSox]

It would be really hilarious if Chile and Switzerland scored.

[Ahriman]

Orgasmic jubilation as Cesc enters the game.

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

They're not really built to do that, though. Spain will pick them apart if they play back in their third. They have to try to play in Spain's territory.

Obviously being down a man complicates matters.

Agreed and agreed. They are probably fucked either way and need to hope the Swiss choke. But I think trying to hold on gives them a slightly better chance than playing wide open with ten men against a team like Spain. They were getting ripped apart before the red card playing that way.

Edited by Morgan's Magic Snowplow, 25 June 2010 - 02:48 PM.

[EP Sox Fan]

Just got back from watching the 1st half at lunch. Not to sure what Chile eat for their pre-game meal, but it was probably laced with PCP. The red card was a bad call, but another Chilean player got away with a straight red offense when he kicked Torres on the knee while he was on the ground. Got away with a yellow. A lot of sloppy and reckless challenges in the first half. I'm sure that was in the back of the referee's mind when he gave the second red on the phantom foul on Torres.

Also, if you are from the Iberian peninsula, flopping is in your DNA.

[The Allented Mr Ripley]

I hardly think using accepted terminology is cause for a rant. Do you hate that I call a hockey jersey a sweater? Because I do.

Hendu's the guy who didn't think the Irish had any reason to root for Celtic, I wouldn't worry too much about what he finds acceptable or not about soccer.

[Bosoxen]

Hendu's the guy who didn't think the Irish had any reason to root for Celtic, I wouldn't worry too much about what he finds acceptable or not about soccer.

It's called football, God damn it!

[nvalvo]

I would like David Villa a lot more without that soul patch.

[tims4wins]

Apologies if this has been answered, but if results hold, Spain goes to the opposite side of the bracket as the US, correct?

[URI]

Hendu's the guy who didn't think the Irish had any reason to root for Celtic, I wouldn't worry too much about what he finds acceptable or not about soccer.

We've been lectured about that.

[shawnrbu]

Apologies if this has been answered, but if results hold, Spain goes to the opposite side of the bracket as the US, correct?

Yes.

Great save by the Swiss keeper to keep hope alive.

[nvalvo]

Apologies if this has been answered, but if results hold, Spain goes to the opposite side of the bracket as the US, correct?

That's correct as I understand it. Chile would get Brazil, Spain Portugal.

[ethangl]

Apologies if this has been answered, but if results hold, Spain goes to the opposite side of the bracket as the US, correct?

Yes, I believe so.

[Bosoxen]

This should remove all doubts, if there were any:

http://www.fifa.com/...es/kostage.html

[nvalvo]

With every minute the Swiss don't score, things look better for Chile going through.

[TomRicardo]

The game has gotten way too fast for a single referee. FIFA needs to consider a two-ref system. The red should be given out to a 3rd yellow. There are a lot of things FIFA can do to stop this non-sense.

Coming to ABC this fall: Battle of the Incompetent Refs - FIFA vs NBA! Charge or a block? PK or a flop? Oh the thrills!

Refereeing in the two man system is hideous unwieldy beast. The problem with whistles on the field is there really isn't time to stop, chat, and confer.

Nothing worse than one ref waves advantage while the other blows the whistle. It made for some uneasy halftimes between me and the other ref.

Edited by TomRicardo, 25 June 2010 - 03:09 PM.

[mahky bellhorn]

Too bad Portugal couldn't knock off Brazil, that would have made the US's path to the final beautiful. Not that we should beat Netherlands/Portugal, but it's vastly preferrably to Spain/Brazil.

If Chile or Holland can knock of Brazil, that would be sweet.

[nvalvo]

Too bad Portugal couldn't knock off Brazil, that would have made the US's path to the final beautiful. Not that we should beat Netherlands/Portugal, but it's vastly preferrably to Spain/Brazil.

If Chile or Holland can knock of Brazil, that would be sweet.

I actually think that the Dutch have a credible shot at this more defensive-minded Brazil squad. That should be a really fun matchup.

[johnmd20]

Too bad Portugal couldn't knock off Brazil, that would have made the US's path to the final beautiful. Not that we should beat Netherlands/Portugal, but it's vastly preferrably to Spain/Brazil.

If Chile or Holland can knock of Brazil, that would be sweet.

Honestly, the US aren't guaranteed to beat Ghana, so I think it's premature to be worrying about the semi's and who they might play.

Edit - wrote how instead of who.

Edited by johnmd20, 25 June 2010 - 03:15 PM.

[ifmanis5]

Too bad Portugal couldn't knock off Brazil, that would have made the US's path to the final beautiful. Not that we should beat Netherlands/Portugal, but it's vastly preferrably to Spain/Brazil.

Well, our US team just beat Spain's current team exactly a year ago in the same country for pete's sake. They have a chance against anyone if Tim Howard and Landy Cakes are healthy.

EDIT: In case you forgot...

Edited by ifmanis5, 25 June 2010 - 03:17 PM.

[Bosoxen]

Honduras just fumbled what was probably their last and best shot at a goal.

[nvalvo]

Silva still waiting for a stoppage to sub on...

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

A just result in the end for this group. Switzerland didnt deserve shit, and I'm glad Chile gets to play again.

[nvalvo]

And we're done. Great first half; insufferably boring in the last fifteen minutes or so.

Honduras-Switzerland ends scoreless, so the better two teams go through.

[mahky bellhorn]

Honestly, the US aren't guaranteed to beat Ghana, so I think it's premature to be worrying about the semi's and who they might play.

Edit - wrote how instead of who.

US is a longshot either way, but I'll take any edge they can get.

Winning the group instead of finishing #2 has vastly boosted their odds, and avoiding a prospective semis matchup with Brazil would make their odds look even moreso real.

You're right, it's all a moot point if they don't beat Ghana. And maybe it is premature to start worrying about the semis when odds are they won't even be there. But it would be fucking sweet if they somehow took down the cup, and I like to dream a little bit.

[dwightinright]

Honestly, the US aren't guaranteed to beat Ghana, so I think it's premature to be worrying about the semi's and who they might play.

You know, I think by now EVERYONE knows that there are no givens. It's still fun to talk about.

[SumnerH]

Too bad Portugal couldn't knock off Brazil, that would have made the US's path to the final beautiful. Not that we should beat Netherlands/Portugal, but it's vastly preferrably to Spain/Brazil.

If Chile or Holland can knock of Brazil, that would be sweet.

The Dutch team is right up there with Spain, and scares me more (especially with Robben back in the mix an looking pretty fit). There's also more familiarity between the US and Spain, and the fact that we beat them last year means they aren't going to have a big intimidation factor going into things.

But, yeah, taking Brazil out of the potential mix would've been nice.

[mahky bellhorn]

Absolutely- I mean it's like the US is an 11 seed in the NCAA Tourney that's trying to sneak into the Final 4. If we get there, we'll probably get our asses kicked by either Kansas (Brazil) or Butler (Netherlands). But given the choice, the Butler matchup inspires a bit more hope.