WORLD CUP 2010 (TV Schedules and brackets also)

I'm in the minority here as I do like the Azzurri, having learned to appreciate soccer in Italia, so I am sad to see them play so poorly. It is an amazing thing to experience the passion of the World Cup there firsthand. The whole country shuts down when they play and they will watch the rest of the tournament with an empty feeling. Sort of like me watching the College World Series this year..to the 10th degree.

The whole country is feeling like Horn fans did about 10 years ago during the 63-x beatdowns OU was giving us. So they will be looking for answers. I looked out at La Gazzetta and you do have to appreciate the beauty of the Italian language to express all things, including misery. Headlines:

Sent home in Shame!
Gattuso: We went from being honored knights last time when we won the Cup to shameful horsemen...and rightly so!
World Champions Eliminated in Dishonor!

A quick poll of readers on who is to blame for the catastrophe:
Lippi's team selection - 70%
Mediocrity of Italian Soccer - 28%
Bad luck - 2%

South American soccer is looking real strong right now. The US needs to set up a gaggle of friendlies with South American teams.

Rob
 
SPOILER!


Holland 1, Cameroon 0--36th minute.

Van der Vaart springs Robbie Van Persie with a clever through-ball into the right side of the box; Dirk Kuyt enhances the play with a dummy hop. The Cameroon keeper advances to close the angle, but Van Persie nutmegs him with a well-aimed, right-footed shot.
 
If that Japan score holds up then in each group so far a UEFA team will have been sent home after group stage meaning only a max of 7 in last 16 depending on results tomorrow. This is most assuredly the Non European W/C at least so far.

Conmebol is dominating but Concacaf with 2 through and Asia looking now to get two are looking good as well.
 
I would have expected Japan to go into a shell and open the door for Denmark. Kudos for not being dull and continually pressing.
 
SPOILER!


Holland 1, Cameroon 0--Half.

Pretty even match so far, as both sides have taken a similar number of shots and shared possession. The Dutch have had the better chances, however.
 
SPOILER


Netherlands 1 Cameroon 1

handball off a free kick into area leads to a PK. Eto'o deftly puts it by keeper to tie match.
 
SPOILER!


Holland 1, Cameroon 1--65th minute.

Geremi's free kick from about 23 meters out has no chance as it heads straight for the Dutch wall, but Van der Vaart has a brain fart and raises his arm above his head as he turns away from the shot, which deflects off his arm. The referee correctly awards a penalty, which Samuel Eto'o calmly drives high and to the left, out of the keeper's reach.

EDIT: Corrected description of PK.
 
Funny quote from another web site

did you know Netherlands, Holland and the Dutch are like all the same place.
smokin.gif
 
Immediate impact for Robben. What happened on PK yahoo live says save but then says goal. What up?
 
SPOILER!


Holland 2, Cameroon 1--83rd minute.

Robben doesn't need much time to make his mark on the game. A good 25 meters from goal with a defender marking him closely, Robben curls to his right and then fires a bending shot toward far post that beats the keeper but not the woodwork.

The rebound rolls directly to Van Persie's sub, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who confidently fires the ball into the back of the net despite a challenging angle.
 
SPOILER!


Holland 2, Cameroon 1--Final.

The Dutch go through as Group E champions and with the full nine points to their credit. Cameroon goes home empty handed. I guess Eto'o should have boycotted the tournament as he briefly suggested.
 
ROUND 3 UPDATE"Azzurri, Azzurri, wherefore art thou, Azzurri?"The third round of group play is three-quarters complete. After today, it will be knockouts the rest of the way.Here are the scoring figures:

First round saw 25 goals scored in 16 matches for an average of 1.56 goals per contest.

Second round saw 42 goals scored in 16 matches for an average of 2.63 goals per contest. That's quite a jump.

Third round has seen 28 goals scored in 12 matches for an average of 2.33 goals per contest. Given all the 1-0 results so far this round, that's higher than I expected.

Overall, there have been 95 goals scored in 44 matches for an average of 2.16 goals per contest. The rate is gradually climbing. Too bad those first-round matches were so negative.
 
For anybody watching Portugal-Brazil online this morning, I strongly recommend the Univision feed, the quality of which I would equate to a non-HD television broadcast. Good stuff.

Univision Feed
 
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