World Cup and European leagues

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Mexico is going to be an easy out for the Argentina-Holland winner.  They couldn't even get points against Portugal when they sat five starters?

[Browneagle64]

I assume wrong in thinking that the mexico-portugal game would favor "el tri". The boys from Mexico were tightly covered by a good portugal defense. It should be a tough match for who ever they get matched up with next.

Funny that Kaka's name was brought up. I love this team who has players with mononames(i.e ronahaldo, ronahaldino, peepee,oops .) But you guys have to understand, all of those players go by 1 name, 1 middle name and 4 four last names. SO kaka is easier.   

Cheer on for the red, white and blue tomorrow. BEst of luck.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

We do get the wrong impression of the Brazilians too in assuming they all go by just one name.  Several of them use their given names, but only the last name appears on the shirt (like any other country).

Nelson Dida and Fereira de Rosa Emerson are two prominent individuals.


Although, no one would ever get me to use just one name if I was born Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Silva; that is one awesome name.  Our US names are so boring.

Besides, Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite naturally becomes Kaka anyway.  It just fits.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IMO Mexico played well enough MOST of the time to win, but gave away the match on sheer brain farts.  Portugal's second goal was a PK when a Mexican player reached his hand up to deflect a corner kick.  Mexico had to play a man down for the last 30+ minutes because Perez, who already had one yellow, took an obvious dive in the box, then started screaming at the ref when he didn't get a PK.  Finally, Mexico missed a PK which would have restored a tie, the kick going at least 15 feet high and wide (surely one of the worst PK attempts in Cup history).

[Greek Tragedy]

It's was karma that the Mexican player missed his penalty kick.  It was a harsh call on the Portugal defender who basically fell on the ball after a flying challenge, IMO. 

I think I'm still bitter than Mexico got one of the eight seeds and the US didn't.  I was hoping for Portugal to tack on one more/and or Angola to win by 2 goals for the Africans to go through.

I was actually reading an interesting article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel awhile back, and as for Mexican decent, people basically start out with two names and then add their husband's last name as well as acquiring another name somehow.  Yeah, pretty vague, but unlike most Americans when they get married, some don't drop their "maiden name".  I have a friend in Uruguay and her full name is Maria Eugenia Noya Olivieri. 

All this name talk reminds me of Pulp Fiction and Bruce Willis' character "Butch" having a conversation with the cab driver, Esmeralda Villalobos. 

"Butch, what does that mean?"

"I'm American, our names don't mean sh!t"

[Browneagle64]

  Old school that was a funny comment that you brought up about American names.

Mr.Ypsi, I have to agree with your view and opinions of the big mistakes that Mexico caused. Much of their planning led to simple brain farts that could have easily been prevented. Look for Raffa Marques to do better in the next round. I hope.

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, I watch the "glamour game" and end up missing 4 of the 5 goals in the Ivory Coast/S&M game!  Glad I wasted two hours of my life sleeping through the Holland/Argentina game.  Had that game been the first or second game, it would've been 10 times better.

On to more important things.  As we all know, the easiest way for the US to advance to for them to win AND Italy to win as well.

HERE are the ADVANCEMENT SCENARIOS, according to Yahoo...all SEVEN of them!  And I thought the WIAC tie-breakers were a little confusing.

[cawcdad]

What a yawner in the Argentina-Holland game. Except for Argentina's push for a 5 minute or so stretch at the mid point of the first half, there was no real sustained threats by either team.

Old school, I was feeling like you, rooting for Angola to win and for Portugal to score more.

[David Collinge]

I think I'm still bitter than Mexico got one of the eight seeds and the US didn't. 

Although I feel your pain (USA did win the qualifying group), I hasten to point out that it wasn't Mexico that prevented the USA from being seeded.  The 8th seed is Italy, described by the BBC as "narrowly beat[ing] the US into eighth."  Mexico is seeded 5th, ahead of their Round of 16 opponent (Argentina), believe it or not.

BBC Sport article on the seeding of the draw

[Mr. Ypsi]

It's was karma that the Mexican player missed his penalty kick.  It was a harsh call on the Portugal defender who basically fell on the ball after a flying challenge, IMO. 

[I could have sworn I just posted this, but it never came up.]

Even though I was rooting for our southern neighbor (which seems to put me in a minority!), I totally agree with you.  The Portuguese player fell, and in trying to break his fall his hand hit the ball.  While the call was technically correct, I would have preferred a no-call.

One of the things I like best about soccer (though it can be abused) is that the ref has virtually unlimited discretion to not call infractions if the wrong team would be penalized or if no advantage was gained by the infraction.  In this case, the PK seemed awfully harsh since Portugal gained no advantage from the handball.

The reason why whistles seem often rather late is that good refs will 'swallow the whistle' if the wrong team would be penalized, and that is not always clear for a few seconds.  Last fall, one idiot took away a breakaway goal from Ypsi HS because the other team had been guilty of a handball (needless to say, the other team was ecstatic to be 'penalized')!

I didn't think is was possible for Argentina to be THAT boring!  So much for 2 hours of my life.

[Ralph Turner]

Mr Ypsi, I agree with you on the liberty that Soccer officials have to "no call" if it impedes that advantage gained.

However the proper evaluation of an injured player can only be done off the field.

Get those guys off the field and play-on.

[Jim Matson]

Mexico would have had a couple more goals on any other day they played.  I don't think it was Portugal's defense as much as it was Mexico's jitters at possibly not making the 2nd Round.

I can't imangine how bad the Angola/Iran match must have been...

[Greek Tragedy]

Contrary to popular belief, Italy has a lot to play for.  If they tie and Ghana wins, Ghana are group winners and Italy gets Brazil. 

Italy will be going for the win unless they see the U.S. up by a comfortable margin.  If Italy and Ghana are tied in their respective games, both will be going for the win simply because Italy can't play for a tie in case Ghana pulls out a late winner.

I'm really looking forward to today's games.  I'm pulling out my television from my bedroom so I can watch both games!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Well, I watch the "glamour game" and end up missing 4 of the 5 goals in the Ivory Coast/S&M game!  Glad I wasted two hours of my life sleeping through the Holland/Argentina game.  Had that game been the first or second game, it would've been 10 times better.

On to more important things.  As we all know, the easiest way for the US to advance to for them to win AND Italy to win as well.

HERE are the ADVANCEMENT SCENARIOS, according to Yahoo...all SEVEN of them!  And I thought the WIAC tie-breakers were a little confusing.

Anything that involved the casting of lots should probably be avoided at all costs.

[mybleedinghands]

USA finally scores a goal by their offense!! Beasley with an assist on a brilliant play!