ANYTHING WORLD CUP

[OldSkool97]

Games Tuesday

New Zealand vs Slovakia    7:30 a.m. ESPN  Group F
Ivory Coast vs Portugal    10:00 a.m. ESPN  Group G
Brazil vs North Korea          2:30 p.m. ESPN  Group G

*All Times Eastern

[bullets13]

a relatively boring day today.  two weak teams tie 1-1, IC vs. Portugal ends 0-0 in a game with about 2 good scoring chances the whole game, and at this point, at least, N. Korea has held Brazil 0-0 through 50 minutes.  That last fact is pretty impressive considering that Brazil is #1, and N. Korea #105 in the world...

[ForeverADog]

North Korea trying to make it interesting!

[baypat]

[flash=200,200][/flash]

Anything goes wrong will be blamed on the ball or those damned horns!  Though I've seen and heard the horns in the states and at a few HS games.  Watching World Cup on mute. One game was enough with the bees.  Wish they had commentary from a sound proof booth. 

[hj_hawk_60]

[quote name="bullets13000" post="812888" timestamp="1276630457"]
a relatively boring day today.  two weak teams tie 1-1, IC vs. Portugal ends 0-0 in a game with about 2 good scoring chances the whole game, and at this point, at least, N. Korea has held Brazil 0-0 through 50 minutes.  That last fact is pretty impressive considering that Brazil is #1, and N. Korea #105 in the world...
[/quote]

Ronaldo had one very nice shot that glanced off the post..

It seemed like North Korea was playing a very defensive game, had the entire team back on defense several times.. looked like they were mainly just trying to slow down Brazil.. which they managed to do for the majority of the game.. The first goal for Brazil by Maicon seemed to be just very lucky.. looked like he meant it as a cross and it just happened to go straight.. North Korea had a few other chances to score.. I was impressed with North Korea because as you said they are #105 and Brazil is #1

[bullets13]

i think it's funny that so many people hate the vuvuzelas.  after about 2 minutes of watching a game, i don't even hear them anymore, but i can't even imagine what it would be like to try and watch a game at the stadium.

[bullets13]

Drogba played today, and Portugal's coach complained.  He thinks that FIFA is bending the rules a bit by letting him play with a cast because he's so culturally significant in Africa, and i'm kind of inclined to agree with him, although i'm glad Drogba is on the field.

[bullets13]

Slovenia's Andrej Komec has predicted a win over the US on Friday. 

I'm kind of glad to hear this, actually.  US is much better than them, but maybe a little added motivation will help keep the US from overlooking them.

[ForeverADog]

US need a win especially after Slovenia already has a win so it would be huge for us to potentially take the group lead! But we will take additional motivation. I hope their us no let down from the huge England game

[bullets13]

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="813006" timestamp="1276650972"]
US need a win especially after Slovenia already has a win so it would be huge for us to potentially take the group lead! But we will take additional motivation. I hope their us no let down from the huge England game
[/quote]

a tie against slovenia and a win against algeria would probably ensure the US advancing, but a loss and they're pretty much done.

[ForeverADog]

Upset Special! Spain 0 Swiss 1

[OldSkool97]

South Africa didnt look good at all today! Also will have two players out for the next match. One for two yellow cards and the goalkeeper who got the red card. The Brazil and North Korea game was an interseting one to watch.

[bojonomore]

Why is scoring down so much this Cup?  Statistically, is the number of shots on goal down, or what?  And look at Spain.  Plays practically the entire game on the attacking third and loses 1-0.  Of course, in the last 5 WC games they've played, Swiss have let up 0 goals...

[bullets13]

[quote name="A Bear's Bear" post="813264" timestamp="1276742903"]
Why is scoring down so much this Cup?  Statistically, is the number of shots on goal down, or what?  And look at Spain.  Plays practically the entire game on the attacking third and loses 1-0.  Of course, in the last 5 WC games they've played, Swiss have let up 0 goals...
[/quote]

i still think the ball has something to do with it.  25 goals between the 32 teams in the first 16 games is hard to ignore.  maybe they're starting to figure it out, though, as Uruguay went off for 3 goals today in their second game.

[bullets13]

things are looking up in the goal scoring department.  3 goals in the first game of the second set of games, and then 3 goals in the first half so far this morning of Argentina/S. Korea, although two of the goals have come off of brutal defensive mistakes.

[ForeverADog]

Yes I think they just needed a game to get used to things. 12 goals in the last 3 games.

[Bon_Mot]

Stats on goals scored through the first set of games:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/blog?entryID=5292686&name=worldcup2010blog&cc=5901&ver=us

[Guest ECBucFan]

[quote name="ECBucFan" post="812222" timestamp="1276464267"]
Do note we are very, very early yet. I am willing to bet the scoring will heat up in the days to come.
[/quote]

;)

[KFDM COOP]

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/local/World_Cup_match_results.html

[OldSkool97]

[quote name="ECBucFan" post="813365" timestamp="1276795970"]
[quote author=ECBucFan link=topic=70431.msg812222#msg812222 date=1276464267]
Do note we are very, very early yet. I am willing to bet the scoring will heat up in the days to come.
[/quote]

;)
[/quote]

Earlier today i was thinking about the original post that you put (which states what you have above) and i got to give it to you! You Called It! I was thinking that the goals would stay low and that we would see alot of good defensive play.

[sharkfutbol]

First round  nobody can afford the loss so play conservative.  Second round now you have teams desperate to win,  and so they attack more leaving their back end open,  giving up goals, or they go forward and make chances and then get goals off the chances.  Its now about WINNING not just a tie.

[BrenhamFan]

This is ridiculous...  The ref in in the Germany game just gave Klose his second yellow card in only the 36th minute.  It's the 5th yellow card this game.  Two minutes later Serbia goes up 1-0.  It's truely sad to see a game being decided by a ref, instead of the players.  Especially when your losing probably your best player for more than a game and half.  In the 46th minute, Germany just got a rebound off a corner and hit the crossbar with a rocket from about 16 yards out.  Then that shot is followed by a bicycle from about 10 yards away....which would've been in, if not for the defender by the post.  Even the announcers agree how bad calls have been.  Especially, sending Klose off.

[ForeverADog]

Exactly! I didn't think either foul deserved a card!

[BrenhamFan]

I might be a little biased cuz i'm a Germany fan, but this is the worst officiating i've seen yet.  Starting to think it's the same guy they blew the perfect game call.

[sharkfutbol]

That ref was horrible.  Had he been doing the USA game he would have probably sent off Dempsey ten seconds in.