FIFA World Cup 2010 - Spain Wins - Paul The Octopus Retires

[TerryTate]

Wow. You knows you some fútbol .

Oh the glory days...

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Yeah, I hope they lay a licking to those prima donnas. Ivory has so much speed and talent. That group will make the first round really interesting.

I hate Didier Drogba though. Portugal has been known to choke. I would rather Portugal than Ivory Coast. Especially if Drogba misses a penalty that would have put them through. Oh that would be wonderful...
Brazil gets 7 points
Portugal gets 7 points
Ivory Coast gets 3 points
North Korea gets 0 points.
Brazil wins group on goal difference.

 

[TerryTate]

Drogba, Kalou, Romaric, Toure, and Keita > Ronaldo, Nani, Simao, and Almeida.

Just my opinion.

I hope North Korea gets laughed out of the cup. Hopefully they won't get a goal.

 

[TDHeysus]

I'm not a soccer fan, but i watch some of the world cup. There is just something about the whole event thats special. It'll be even better if the usa wins :smilewink

freaking LOVE the world cup... LOVE IT...

USA baby... if they can get any kind of points out ofthat first match they have a GREAT GREAT chance of getting to the knockout round for the first time since 94

I'm not a huge soccer fan by any stretch of the imagination. But every 4 years I get soccer-fever! The world cup is a super exciting event, even if you dont like soccer. Its exciting like the ncaa tourney is, and like how NHL playoffs are. even if your not a fan of those sports - the tourney, nhl playoffs, and world cup are cant miss sporting events. If you dont get a chance to catch some cup games, your gonna miss out on something special.


what other event would have me watching Ghana play a team like Paraguay, and have me on the edge of my seat??

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Ivory Coast is winning the whole damn thing.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Drogba, Kalou, Romaric, Toure, and Keita > Ronaldo, Nani, Simao, and Almeida.

Just my opinion.

I hope North Korea gets laughed out of the cup. Hopefully they won't get a goal.

I would take Ronaldo and Nani over Drogba and Kalou. Those two are special, especially when Ronaldo isn't diving.

I agree with the North Korea thing though.

Ivory Coast is winning the whole damn thing.

HAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHHH.. Splat.















That was me throwing up.


And it hitting the ground.

 

[CuerVo0220]

I heard ESPN is going to start a 3D broadcast channel starting with the FIFA World Cup! I don't like soccer but maybe soccer in 3D would capture more of my attention!

 

[mgriff]

Altidore, Dempsey gave US 2-1 win over Turkey - ESPN Soccernet

U.S. beat Turkey in their last friendly match before sendoff.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Gettin ready to stock up on some Cracker Jacks (surprise inside!) in prep for the cup.

First memory of the tournament is Diego Maradona's (Argentina) masterful ownership of the tourney.

Ugly memory is when England's midfielder's knee slammed 90 degrees sideways on the ground and he dragged himself off. Yuck.

Fun memory is when I was in El Paso, Texas during "The Cup" and went out to buy some Cracker Jacks (surprise inside!) at about 3 in the morn in anticipation of the mid morning showing of U.S. vs. Mexico.

The store was actually full and alive and sparkling with mostly beautiful Mexican or Hispanic women preparing for the game and talking about the game and buying snacks. I mean, these ladies were well dressed and BEAUTIFUL. The fever at 2 or 3 in the friggen morn at a big store with sober beautiful excited women prepping to watch a match was unreal.

This is a true "world" championship. I believe we won that game, but I was kinda hoping Mexico... never mind...

 

[NDinL.A.]

Altidore, Dempsey gave US 2-1 win over Turkey - ESPN Soccernet

U.S. beat Turkey in their last friendly match before sendoff.

USA played such a shitty first half, I thought we were going to lose every WC game 5-0. My brother (who lives in Miami) and I were texting each throughout the half and it was definitely doom and gloom. Defense looked ultra pathetic (we should have been down 3 or 4 goals, easily), and the attack was anemic with Altidore and Dempsey up top.

Then in the 2nd half, we brought on Gooch and he settled down the defense. But most importantly, Jose Torres came in for Clark and dominated the midfield. He was fantastic. And they dropped Dempsey and split he and Donovan and they both started to play a ton better. And finally, they brought in Findley up top, who I was extremely critical of, and he played outstandingly. On the first goal, he chipped beautifully to Donovan, who rounded the keeper and passed unselfishly to Altidore for a tap-in goal. On the 2nd goal, Donovan passed to Dempsey who basically bullied his way to the goal and slotted it past the keeper.

It was a tale of 2 halves, and has me much more excited about our chances in the WC than what they were at half-time.

Incidentally, after the US won, the 2nd team I was rooting for was ND Lacrosse, and they upset Cornell to make it to the finals (although I'm sick and fell asleep from the 2nd quarter on). Now I need my Lakers to win to complete the trifecta. Sick or not, I break out the alcohol for the Lakers (very nervous for game 6)...

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Gettin ready to stock up on some Cracker Jacks (surprise inside!) in prep for the cup.

First memory of the tournament is Diego Maradona's (Argentina) masterful ownership of the tourney.

Ugly memory is when England's midfielder's knee slammed 90 degrees sideways on the ground and he dragged himself off. Yuck.

Fun memory is when I was in El Paso, Texas during "The Cup" and went out to buy some Cracker Jacks (surprise inside!) at about 3 in the morn in anticipation of the mid morning showing of U.S. vs. Mexico.

The store was actually full and alive and sparkling with mostly beautiful Mexican or Hispanic women preparing for the game and talking about the game and buying snacks. I mean, these ladies were well dressed and BEAUTIFUL. The fever at 2 or 3 in the friggen morn at a big store with sober beautiful excited women prepping to watch a match was unreal.

This is a true "world" championship. I believe we won that game, but I was kinda hoping Mexico... never mind...

My best world cup memory. 2002, I was in France with a school group, I was 17 and I went all around this little town looking for TV's to watch the U.S. vs. Germany game. Found some and then got a pretty big crown of locals to watch with me, it was great until one of the owners turned off the TV.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

From what I've hear Didier Drogba has suffered a broken arm in his last friendly and will likely be out for the entire World Cup.

2010 World Cup: Didier Drogba has broken arm - ESPN Soccernet

 

[ACamp1900]

This is a true "world" championship. I believe we won that game, but I was kinda hoping Mexico... never mind...

you were def. in El Paso... my in laws live there and the Mexican American population is so respectful and the Americans there are so respectful in return... great community... wonderful togetherness... When I frist experienced it, it was very strange to be honest... I grew up in the high desert of Cali where most Whites and African Americans could not walk through the Mexican American nieghborhoods without being threatened or jumped (including myself many times and most of my friends who happened to be black... it was bad) The Mexican community of my homeotwn tried really hard to segragate themselves... and it never got worse than during the World Cup... it was so tense growing up that even today I refuse to root for anything from Mexico, throw in the fact that their team in soccer is so damn dirty and forget it... it's not racial thing or anything... my wife and daughter are part Mexican American... but believe me there has been and almost always will be a heated rivalry between our countries' teams to me... I would NEVER ever root for Mexico... period.


God Bless America.

 

[TerryTate]

From what I've hear Didier Drogba has suffered a broken arm in his last friendly and will likely be out for the entire World Cup.

2010 World Cup: Didier Drogba has broken arm - ESPN Soccernet

Anger sharks are swimming...

 

[Steve]

From what I've hear Didier Drogba has suffered a broken arm in his last friendly and will likely be out for the entire World Cup.

2010 World Cup: Didier Drogba has broken arm - ESPN Soccernet

He's one of my favorite players. Sucks.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

He's one of my favorite players. Sucks.

Ugh, Hate Drogba, not that I wish him harm or anything though. I don't want him to have any excuses to why his team didn't get out of the group stage. I think he dives too much and runs his mouth too much. What he did in the champions league is inexcusable.

 

[TerryTate]

Ugh, Hate Drogba, not that I wish him harm or anything though. I don't want him to have any excuses to why his team didn't get out of the group stage. I think he dives too much and runs his mouth too much. What he did in the champions league is inexcusable.

If you think Drogba dives a lot, I suggest you watch Italy and Portugal play this World Cup. It's a f'ing soap opera out there.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

I never said he was the only one, I know Portugal does it the most, and a lot of South American teams do too (cough cough Argentina, Brazil, cough). I just lost a ton of respect for that man when he looked into the camera and said "It's a f*ckin shame!" and then go off and not leave the ref alone.

 

[Steve]

The Kick-Off Concert is gonna be on espn3.com at 2 pm ET today.

 

[ACamp1900]

Soccer is such a great sport that has one huge, big, black mark... and that of course is dives... they really should crack down hard on that garbage... a player's reaction fo a foul should have zero effect on how the foul is called and ONLY have effect on the refs decision to pull a card on the player that flopped... ONLY... if they actually enforced that it would go away... but acting out the foul... like basketball and even football now... is such a big factor... it's BS.

 

[johnnykillz]

I cannot agree more ACamp... Instant replay would be great for these little whiney babies.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

They would only use replay for goals. I doubt they would use it to call other fouls for in game fouls near the ball. However, in the cases of fights or extracurricular activities off the ball, I could see them using it for that. Kind of like an extra set of eyes.

 

[ACamp1900]

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worst dive ever.... and I'm a Celtic fan... kill the huns!

DUDE WAS CARTED OFF!!!!!

 

[Steve]

You kidding me ACamp? That wasn't a dive. That fan probably just packs a mean left.


...

 

[Steve]

I was a huge K'naan fan before this, but his performance at the concert was awesome.

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Pulling for Bafana Bafana tomorrow.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

I'm so excited that the World Cup is finally here I'll be glued to my tv all day after my class today.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I was a huge K'naan fan before this, but his performance at the concert was awesome.

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Pulling for Bafana Bafana tomorrow.

Why does a member of Black Eyed Peas show up everywhere? I caught a part of the concert yesterday. Left the TV during the Alicia Keys performance.

Countdown to some futball.

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[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

Who is everyone's picks to win it the cup?

I have to say it is finally Spain's year to win it.

 

[NDty9]

FORZA AZZURRI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.............

Sooo excited for this Cup ! Although i have to say Italy's roster is a bit weak (thanks to Lippi) Should be a great tournament, and i hope the popularity of soccer in American continues to grow! The Beautiful Game!!!

And yes Rockets fan, I think Spain has a GREAT shot this year, along with Aregentina and Brasil.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

My heat says England or the Netherlands, but my head says Brazil (unfortunately). Spain will choke and the Netherlands probably will too. If Argentina and Portugal play up to their potential, I would watch out.