World Cup and European leagues

[Hoosier Titan]

Well, most things in soccer don't work.  If the ball changed "hands" (so to speak) in basketball as often as it does in soccer turnover stats would look a lot different.  There's always some luck involved.  Given their size advantage, the Brazilians should have been able to clear the pass or block the shot cleanly, but both were superb efforts and a bit lucky too.  The Brazilian Melo made his own bad luck.

Hard work and intelligence define Dirk Kuyt.  He's often overlooked amongst the quality Liverpool players, quite wrongly IMO.

I'm hoping for a good match this morning between Germany and Argentina and a strong performance by Spain against Switzerland.  And lest the Spaniards get too cocky, I will say one word:  Switzerland!

[Mr. Ypsi]

WOW!!  Germany destroyed Argentina, 4-0.  I just can't see anyone beating Germany at this point.  (The only hope for Spain,assuming they beat Paraguay, may be that the officials got involved again - giving a VERY dubious yellow to Mueller, which will keep him out of the semi.)

[Gray Fox]

The announcers did a lot of talking, but assumed we know all the background info.  For example, why was the Frederick guy's goal so special beyond the fact that it was his first?  They also assumed we all know the politics of each country's team.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The announcers did a lot of talking, but assumed we know all the background info.  For example, why was the Frederick guy's goal so special beyond the fact that it was his first?  They also assumed we all know the politics of each country's team.

They lost me on some of the political stuff, also.  As to Friedrich, if I heard them correctly, he is a defender in something like his 73rd international match, but it was his first goal.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm hoping for a good match this morning between Germany and Argentina and a strong performance by Spain against Switzerland.  And lest the Spaniards get too cocky, I will say one word:  Switzerland!

I think Switzerland would be very happy if they were actually playing today. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Paraguay has certainly shown in the first half why opponents have scored only one goal in four-and-a-half games!  Their defense is virtually impenetrable.

They have also shown why David Villa alone has scored more goals than Paraguay's entire team!

Paraguay has worked so frantically on defense, I'd think they HAVE to wear down a bit later in the second half.

[pg04]

Three PKs in a row... Interesting.  And they showed that the Paraguay PK should have been taken again as there were 3 spaniards in the box. 

[dlippiel]

Three PKs in a row... Interesting.  And they showed that the Paraguay PK should have been taken again as there were 3 spaniards in the box. 

Just another amazing game.dlip can't get over this, how exciting!!! Spain on top 1-0.

[Ralph Turner]

Paraguay has certainly shown in the first half why opponents have scored only one goal in four-and-a-half games!  Their defense is virtually impenetrable.

They have also shown why David Villa alone has scored more goals than Paraguay's entire team!

Paraguay has worked so frantically on defense, I'd think they HAVE to wear down a bit later in the second half.

Bouncing it off both posts!?!

That is quite a goal!

With 5 minutes left it looks like David Villa goes against the German Goliath!

[dlippiel]

WOW!!  Germany destroyed Argentina, 4-0.  I just can't see anyone beating Germany at this point.  (The only hope for Spain,assuming they beat Paraguay, may be that the officials got involved again - giving a VERY dubious yellow to Mueller, which will keep him out of the semi.)

Maybe next time Mardona will keep his mouth shut regarding his opponents so-called "luck" referring to his reference that the Germans had been lucky and getting all the calls throughout the tourney thus far. Germany homogenized Argentina today and clearly belonged...much more so than Argentina and their infamous coach if you ask dlip.

*Spanish netminder just made an incredible save!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Paraguay has certainly shown in the first half why opponents have scored only one goal in four-and-a-half games!  Their defense is virtually impenetrable.

They have also shown why David Villa alone has scored more goals than Paraguay's entire team!

Paraguay has worked so frantically on defense, I'd think they HAVE to wear down a bit later in the second half.

Bouncing it off both posts!?!

That is quite a goal!

With 5 minutes left it looks like David Villa goes against the German Goliath!

Yeah, I'd like to see Kobe bounce one off both backboards!  (And they're much bigger than the posts, though a bit farther apart as well. )

Paraguay got a break on the PKs.  The foul on Villa should have been a red card, not yellow, as he was one-on-one with the keeper when shoved down from behind (and with Villa in that situation you can just about count the goal before he even kicks).  Then on the rebound of the PK Paraguay's keeper blocked, the keeper grabbed the leg of a guy about to kick in the rebound - another red card offense that the refs completely missed.

I think Spain finally scored at least partly because of what I predicted at halftime - tired Paraguayan defenders.

[Hoosier Titan]

Paraguay got a break on the PKs.  The foul on Villa should have been a red card, not yellow, as he was one-on-one with the keeper when shoved down from behind (and with Villa in that situation you can just about count the goal before he even kicks).  Then on the rebound of the PK Paraguay's keeper blocked, the keeper grabbed the leg of a guy about to kick in the rebound - another red card offense that the refs completely missed.

I think Spain finally scored at least partly because of what I predicted at halftime - tired Paraguayan defenders.

Absolutely right.  Even the PK they got was a little soft in comparison with the really obvious one that was called when Villa went down (and that should indeed have been a red), and then the upending of Fabregas by the keeper on the play after the save.  Paraguay defended bravely, but the outcome was as it deserved to be. 

I do have some sympathy for the ref in that situation--make that "those situations"!  Rarely do they come quite that fast and furious.

Iker Casillas proved his world-class status amongst goalkeepers in the last few minutes. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Paraguay got a break on the PKs.  The foul on Villa should have been a red card, not yellow, as he was one-on-one with the keeper when shoved down from behind (and with Villa in that situation you can just about count the goal before he even kicks).  Then on the rebound of the PK Paraguay's keeper blocked, the keeper grabbed the leg of a guy about to kick in the rebound - another red card offense that the refs completely missed.

I think Spain finally scored at least partly because of what I predicted at halftime - tired Paraguayan defenders.

Absolutely right.  Even the PK they got was a little soft in comparison with the really obvious one that was called when Villa went down (and that should indeed have been a red), and then the upending of Fabregas by the keeper on the play after the save.  Paraguay defended bravely, but the outcome was as it deserved to be. 

I do have some sympathy for the ref in that situation--make that "those situations"!  Rarely do they come quite that fast and furious.

Iker Casillas proved his world-class status amongst goalkeepers in the last few minutes. 

As do I, but that is why there are also the ARs.  I could understand the ref being blocked from the play, but that is a key part of the AR's job.  (Whether or not the ref is one of those all too frequent types who will not take his 'linesman's' word for it, I have no idea.  But I saw no flag from the AR in any event.)

And fully agree on Casillas - he was magnificent.

[Hoosier Titan]

I don't know whether anyone here was thinking that the US would be better at soccer if only the best athletes played it (or continued playing it after childhood), but here's a good piece on why that's not the problem.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story/_/id/5352349/ce/us/lebron-not-save-us-soccer?cc=5901&ver=us

It's certainly true that the best US players either play now or have played abroad, primarily in England, but also in Germany (Bradley).  There's just a world of difference in the game between the MLS and the best European leagues.  To be blunt, I always doubted whether Landon Donovan could make it in the EPL, and I was absolutely delighted to be shown I was wrong in those doubts.  I understand that Everton are desperate to have him back and I imagine some other sides would be as well.

Anyone else in withdrawal this morning?

[dlippiel]

I don't know whether anyone here was thinking that the US would be better at soccer if only the best athletes played it (or continued playing it after childhood), but here's a good piece on why that's not the problem.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story/_/id/5352349/ce/us/lebron-not-save-us-soccer?cc=5901&ver=us

It's certainly true that the best US players either play now or have played abroad, primarily in England, but also in Germany (Bradley).  There's just a world of difference in the game between the MLS and the best European leagues.  To be blunt, I always doubted whether Landon Donovan could make it in the EPL, and I was absolutely delighted to be shown I was wrong in those doubts.  I understand that Everton are desperate to have him back and I imagine some other sides would be as well.

Anyone else in withdrawal this morning?

Funny, dlip knows the semi's aren't until Tuesday but for some reason or another he kept flipping back and forth between ESPN and ABC just hoping magically a game would appear!