I forgot how bloody Annoying those stupid "horns" are!!! Gotta say that I'm watching matches with the TV sound off and music playing from another source.

Yes - It might be the main reason why so many people in the USA avoid watching these matches. That and the low scores.

Lol. Vuvzelas are miles better than the crud that passes for commentators in the USA. I used to watch ESPN's coverage of the CL before we got access to ITV. Gawd, it was torture. ITV isn't great, but its much better than ESPN.

As for low scores: that's thje nature of Cup competitions. I see people are indeed using this as an excuse, which is a feeble excuse. They probably weren't watching it to start with.

South Africa outplayed Mexico and nearly took the lead again in the 90th minute. They picked up that point you were skeptical about, but really should have earned 3.

All in all, I have been enjoying watching the games. I look forward to watching the Netherlands tomorrow and hope that Eljero Elia gets on the field.

GERMANY!!!!! fantastic game!

Affelay has really impressed me. I hope to see more of him. Stekelenburg need to keep a clean sheet and Van Persie must score a brace. I've got a lot riding on that game. :D

Germany were devastating last night. Ballack getting injured worked in their favour. Khedira, Oezil and Muller look like they've been playing together for years. Credit to Louw - also for sticking with Podolski and Klose. That said, Cacau looked the goods too. To be fair though, it looked like the Aussies stopped playing after going 2-0 down.

I've been really impressed with the referees. Brilliant offside call in RSA vs MEX, and handballs, dives and studs-up tackles all well called. I've only seen them get 2 marginal offsides calls wrong sofar. Not bad for 8 games.

errr..not if you're an aussie...

the fact that they were 2-0 down and then got one of their best players sent off, didnt do them any favours.. 4-0 puts a dent in chances of making the next round... ouch

That's kinda weird, seeing as how the USA purchased more tickets for World Cup matches than any other nation. :orly:

I love vuvuzela's. Sure they're loud and take some getting used to, but they're such a big part of South African football. It's just one more thing that makes this World Cup so uniquely African. It would be a terrible shame if they were to get banned...it would spoil the World Cup, at least for me.

As for SA vs Mexico, I thought our team played well and could well have won the game, but the Mexicans could easily be saying the same thing. It was mostly one-way traffic in the first 20 mins with Mexico dominating possession and SA unable to string 3 passes together. The next game is definitely a must-win for Bafana.

Germany looked a class act last night and will definitely be a tough team to beat. Muller impressed with his composure and off-the-ball runs...would love to see him vs Messi at some point in the tournament.

I can't wait for the Nederland game this afternoon, even though I'll have to watch it at work with no beer, answering my phone in between. I'm expecting a good performance from van Persie and Elia. Go Oranje!

I'm intensely interested in foreign perceptions of the world cup, and much of it is centred on crime and other supposed catastrophes of organising by South Africa. Below are two interesting reads, especially the comments on the first article by PAul Hayward of The Guardian:

1. World Cup 2010: Angst on Africa reflects our confusion not hosts' joy | Paul Hayward | Football | guardian.co.uk


2. Peter Davies, for SuperSport:

Dear World Cup visitors,

Now that you are safely in our country you are no doubt happily realising you are not in a war zone. This may be in stark contrast to what you have been bracing yourself for should you have listened to Uli Hoeness or are an avid reader of English tabloids, which as we all know are only good for wrapping fish ‘n chips and advancing the careers of large-chested teens on page three.

As you emerge blinking from your luxury hotel room into our big blue winter skies, you will surely realise you are far more likely to be killed by kindness than by a stray bullet. Remember that most of the media reports you have read, which have informed your views on South Africa, will have been penned by your colleagues. And you know what journos are like, what with their earnest two thousand word opuses on the op-ed pages designed to fix this country’s ills in a heartbeat. Based on exhaustive research over a three-day visit.

Funnily enough, we are well aware of the challenges we face as a nation and you will find that 95% of the population is singing from the same song-sheet in order to ensure we can live up to our own exacting expectations.

We are also here to look after you and show you a good time. Prepare to have your preconceived notions well and truly shattered.

For instance, you will find precious few rhinos loitering on street corners, we don’t know a guy in Cairo named Dave just because we live in Johannesburg, and our stadiums are magnificent, world-class works of art.

Which is obviously news to the Sky TV sports anchor who this week remarked that Soccer City looked ‘ a bit of a mess’. She didn’t realize the gaps in the calabash exterior are to allow in natural light and for illumination at night, and not the result of vandalism or negligence.

The fact that England, the nation which safely delivered Wembley Stadium two years past its due date, is prepared to offer us South Africans advice on stadium-readiness should not be surprising. The steadiest stream of World Cup misinformation has emanated from our mates the Brits over the past couple of years.

If it’s not man-eating snakes lurking in Rooney’s closet at the team’s (allegedly half-built) Royal Bafokeng training base, then it’s machete-wielding gangs roaming the suburbs in search of tattooed, overweight Dagenham dole-queuers to ransack and leave gurgling on the pavement.

In fact what you are entering is the world’s most fascinating country, in my opinion. I’m pretty sure you will find that it functions far more smoothly, is heaps more friendly and offers plenty more diversions than you could possibly have imagined.

In addition to which, the population actually acts like human beings, and not like they are being controlled by sinister forces from above which turns them into bureaucratically-manipulated robots.

Plus we have world’s most beautiful women. The best weather. Eight channels of SuperSport. Food and wine from the gods themselves. Wildlife galore. (Love the Dutch team’s bus slogan: “Don’t fear the Big 5; fear the Orange 11”).

Having said all that, Jo’burg is undoubtedly one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Just ask those Taiwanese tourists who got out of their hire car to take close-up snaps of tawny beasts at the Lion Park a few years back. Actually, ask what’s left of them. And did you know the chances of being felled by cardiac arrest from devouring a mountain of meat at one of our world class restaurants has been statistically proven to be 33.3% higher in Jozi than in any other major urban centre not built upon a significant waterway? It’s true. I swear. I read it in a British tabloid.

Having recently spent two years comfortably cocooned in small town America, I’m only too aware of how little much of the outside world knows about this country. The American channel I used to work for has a massive battalion of employees descending on World Cup country. It has also apparently issued a recommendation to its staff to stay in their hotels when not working.

Given that said corporation is headquartered in a small town which many say is “best viewed through the rear-view mirror”, I find the recommendation, if it’s true, to be utterly astounding. In fact I don’t believe it is true. Contrary to the global stereotype, the best Americans are some of the sharpest people in the world. The fact they have bought most tickets in this World Cup proves the point.

Of course I have only lived in Johannesburg, city of terror and dread, virtually all my life, so don’t have the in-depth knowledge of say, an English broadsheet journalist who has been in the country for the weekend, but nevertheless I will share some of my observations gleaned over the years.

Any foreign tourist or media representative who is worried about his safety in South Africa should have a word with the Lions rugby fans from last year, or the Barmy Army cricket supporters (lilywhite hecklers by day, slurring, lager-fuelled lobsters by night). They managed just fine, just like the hundreds of thousands of fans who have streamed into the country over the past fifteen years for various World Cups, Super 14 matches, TriNations tests and other international events. Negligible crime incidents involving said fans over said period of time.

Trivia question: which country has hosted the most global sporting events over the past decade and a half? You don’t need me to answer that, do you?

In addition. Don’t fret when you see a gaggle of freelance salesmen converge on your car at the traffic lights (or robots as we like to call them) festooned with products. You are not about to be hijacked. Here in Mzansi (nickname for SA) we do a lot of our purchasing at robots. Here you can stock up on flags, coat hangers, batteries, roses for the wife you forgot to kiss goodbye this morning and a whole host of useful merchandise.

Similarly, that guy who runs up as you park the rental car outside the pub intends no malice. He’s your car guard. Give him a buck or two and your vehicle will be safe while you refuel for hours on our cheap, splendid beer. Unless someone breaks into it, of course.

We drive on the left in this country. Exercise caution when crossing the road at a jog-trot with 15 kilograms of camera gear on your back. Exercise common sense full stop. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you want to leave wads of cash in your hotel room like our Colombian friends, don’t be surprised if it grows wings.

Bottomline. Get out there and breathe in great lusty lungfuls of this amazing nation. Tuck into our world-class food and wines. Disprove the adage that white men can’t dance at our throbbing, vibrant night-clubs. Learn to say hello in all eleven official languages. Watch at least one game in a township. You will not be robbed and shot. You will be welcomed like a lost family member and looked after as if you are royalty. Ask those Bulls rugby fans who journeyed to Soweto recently.

With a dollop of the right attitude, this country will change your life.

It’s Africa’s time. Vacate your hotel room. Join the party.

Waka waka eh eh.

Ignorant but honest question, from a person who generally only watches soccer when my 7 year old is playing:

I don't understand what is happening when the ball is being held by the fullbacks, and just kind of kicked around aimlessly from player to player and sometimes back to the goalie. Is the team simply catching their breath, or is there something more subtle happening that I'm missing?

In most cases, this will happen after the team has had to defend deep into their own half, and then regain possession of the ball. The defenders then basically give the forwards time to get upfield and for everyone else to regain their position by passing the ball around at the back. The fact that they get a breather is probably just a bonus.

Glad the boys in orange picked up a win against the Danes. I wasn't super impressed with the first half. Not nearly enough decisive play from the Dutch. They looked like they had run out of ideas pretty early in the game. I couldn't watch the 2nd half (argghh work) but I'll catch the highlights later.

I'll be watching the replay online of the Dutch-Danish match later today, but it really made my morning to watch up to a win by the Oranje! I couldn't catch it live as it was on at a BEASTLY hour here, and I'm about to become a working woman again. I don't have cable television, but ESPN3 is streaming the games that aren't being shown live on ABC, it seems. Hooray!

And the vuvuzelas don't bother me a whit. They make the crowd sound like a beehive. I think it's cool to see how different cultures celebrate soccer/football. As my mother pointed out, they're much less disturbing than air horns.

Healer pointed out the one scenario. The more common one is that they are attempting to lure the defending team out of their own half and/or to break their formation, i.e. probing for an opening.

The other, which only happens at the start of either half, is that they pass the ball around to give everyone a "feel" and build a bit of confidence on the ball.

full points to you for knowing what a fullback is! I certainly don't and will be googling the soccer postions after this post.

From what Healer replied, this sounds a lot like in hockey, when the D gets the puck back and pass around within their zone, to enable the forwards to reposition, go up ice and make the opposing team fall back to defend. It has the added benefit of slowing down the play for a breather.

Actually, being a big football fan, and knowing just enough about hockey to be dangerous, I've used hockey analogies to explain football to a lot of my American friends. The way that players move, the passing game, and the way that goalies control the final 1/3 of the ice is very similar to how soccer players play. Once you can get people into watching not just the ball handler, but how the forwards are moving and attempting to shift the position of the defenders to open up a lane, they really start to see the point of the game, and how even a single shot on goal can be exciting.

Quite a spectacle this World Cup thing. I don't watch much soccer, but like the fellow above spend some weekends watching kids kicking the ball out of bounds a lot.

Some questions please: What is a midfielder's primary responsibility, what makes a good midfielder, who are some of the alltime greats and the one's to watch in this WC? Can the captain play any position, or do they tend to play or or another position? It seems like the 'glamour' position is the strikers, I saw the Germany game where Podoloski (sp?) really laid into it, really hit it in stride was pretty sweet goal.

Its difficult for the layman to pickup nuances, like why it was so easy for Germany to play keepaway with the ball and the Austrailians barely touched the ball. I mean if you are a world class team, how can you not intercept the ball and stop that from happening? Those poor Aussies never even had a chance to mount an attack.

Looking forward to watching these games, been watching some youtube videos of david villa of spain. Any recommendations of some of the better midfielders in this WC to youtube? And what makes this Messi so special?

That's a lot of questions powerclown!

I'll attempt to answer a few:

1. Can the captain play any position, or do they tend to play or or another position?
Yes, a captain can play in any position, and can even be substituted. The captain can also be changed during the game, although this normally only happens if the captain is substituted or sent off. I am not aware of a statistical tendency towards a certain position.

2. why it was so easy for Germany to play keepaway with the ball and the Austrailians barely touched the ball.

Germany are just inherently better than Australia at keeping possession. If you look at their stats, they have a high "passes completed" statistic meaning that they pass accurately. This is due to playing more short balls, and keeping it on the ground. Their high player mobility ensures that players are always open to receive passes. They are big strong boys meaning they are less likely to be pushed off the ball. What also helps is that unlike most teams at the World Cup, German players have been playing with Jabulani since December. Also, Australia went into damage limitation mode (which didn't work) after going 2-0 down and being reduced to 10 men.

3. What is a midfielder's primary responsibility?

To understand this better, you need to understand soccer formations. Its a very visual thing, so I'd suggest that you wiki soccer formations.
But to answer your question briefly, you get two basic types of midfielders: Defensive and Attacking. Each midfielder is expected to do a bit of both, but the emphasis depends on pitch position and role, i.e.
CM (Central Midfielder)
CDM (Central Defensive Midfielder)
CAM (Central Attacking Midfielder)
LDM (Left Defensive Midfielder)
RDM (Right Defensive Midfielder)
LM (Left midfielder)
LW (Left Wing)
RM (Right Midfielder)
RW (Right Wing)

Typically, teams play with 4 midfielders - as you can see from the list above, there are many possible roles, so it is up the coach to decide how to best deploy his players for maximum offensive and defensive impact, based on both strategy and the respective strengths/weaknesses of the players, i.e. Some players' method of defense is based on speed and well times tackles. Another can be good at positional awareness and rarely tackles, but rather "Screens" or intercepts attacks. Similarly, some attacking midfielders are good at taking long range shots, while others are good passers and playmakers.

4. What makes this Messi so special?

Well, everything. The ball sticks to his feet like glue. Look at replays of the Nigeria game and how he just runs ans runs and runs without anyone stopping him. He's fast, agile and a sweet striker of the ball. He's relatively strong on the ball for someone his size. He is a CAM with the finishing skill and anticipation of a striker - the same as what Pele and Maradona were.

5. who are some of the alltime greats and the one's to watch in this WC

Well, Messi (Argentina, CAM) and Ronaldo (Portugal, RW) are the past and present World Player of the Year. Both still have to prove themselves at international level, as their successes have mostly been on club level. So a lot of eyes will be on them.I would also recommend watching the exploits of Snjeider (Holland), Oezil (Germany) and the whole Spanish midfield. I will also be watching certain players from all over the world who I would love to see at the club I support.

i would just like to say that after today's draws (new zealand/slovakia, ivory coast/portugal) that i have become a really fervent north korea fan for the rest of the day.
nothing would please me more than brazil losing.
i don't see it happening.
but i like the idea, don't you?

It is a strange idea, but yes, I like it.

Frankly, no. If that happens, it will be blamed on Jabulani and the vuvuzelas like all other on-pitch failures so far. I can't take it anymore. :shakehead:

Was watching the CBC news this morning which covered this angle. Apparently FIFA distributed the Jabulani to all participating teams at the same time (I think it was last November or December) so that they all had equal chance with it. I think it is made by Adidas, a German company for sure, but they were trying to be fair.


(go Germany!)

Yes Leto, I wasn't intimating unfairness. But in the Bundesliga each club can choose which ball it plays its home games with. Many are sponsored by Adidas, so it was obvious they would play with the Jabulani. Most other leagues didn't do this. Anyway, its no excuse. The ball has been commercially available for months. Players could have bought one and practised in their free time. Its not like they work 40 hrs a week.

Well after watching Bazil and N.Korea play I have to say my prediction of 8-0 and most of the team defecting due to not wanting to be shot when they got home was a little bit out. Well impressed by N.Korea, but still think Bazil are going to win the World Cup, but I have to say it was a cross not a shot that got the 1st goal.

Thanks vaultboy sorry about all the questions.. I like watching the midfielders they remind of point guards in basketball. Thought Spain was going to eventually score but Switzerland withstood the storm. How would a national team like Spain/Netherlands do against a top Premier league team?

Well fuck. Its only half-time and RSA seem to have unlearnt everything that was drilled into them over the last year. Gave Forlan way too much space. Not retaining the ball - just giving it back to Uruguay through long balls to a lone striker. My blood is boiling. Tshabalala playing selfishly - his goal clearly went to his head, Dikgacoi (pr. Dick-gat- shweh) forgetting that he is there to screen and not get carded unnecesarily, Teko being useless as normal, and Pienaar getting himself carded.

I'd take off Pienaar now and bring on Parker, moving Teko to RM.

EDIT: Well, its tickets for SA's hopes to go through now. Not surprised at the penalty. Gave Uruguay far too much possession and defending was far too shit. Tonight we did not play like a team that has gone 13 games undefeated. Despicable.

I hate to agree with you, but to get to the next round is an almost insurmountable task for Bafana. I only say almost because I still have this glimmer of hope, and I'm dreading us going down in the history books as the first host nation to get booted out in the 1st round.

They played as if Uruguay were ranked 1000th in the world. Gave the midfielders way too much space to run and time to make decisions. Teko and Pienaar should've been subbed at half time with Surprise and Parker. The defense was scrambling for most of the game and when they did get the ball, they just gave it back to their opponents with an attempted long ball or hasty clearance.

And as pissed off as I am at the team for playing so kak, I'm even more pissed at the fans who left the stadium early. WTF?! So now we only support teams who win or draw? Disappointing SA, really disappointing.

No worries, reminds me of the shift in technologies in speed skating when some teams took up the clapper skates before others.

Just watching live streaming of the Germany Serbian game at 70 mins, 1- 0 for Serbia. Germany just failed to convert a penalty kick.

Good save by the keeper. This is a good result for us Aussies. We now just need to beat Ghana. I think this is unlikely, as we aren't as good as team as we were 4 years ago, but still holding out hope.

I'm more likely to see good results at my son's under 6s game tomorrow :)

---------- Post added at 12:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 AM ----------

Slovenia 1-0. Great shot - too much space.

how is that a good result for us aussies???

we needed germany to beat ghana and serbia so that we can stay alive.

now we have to beat ghana just to stay alive with germany's loss to serbia. all 3 are on 3 points each except australia

but it looks like you're right about your sons under 6's game. i think its australias chances in the world cup are shot.

Can the goalkeeper be changed!? Right about now might be a good time for USA.

total bullshit call by the ref - USA should have won

Wow, they came back and tied it.
The old urine in the water bottle trick?

USA, USA, USA

Seems like we had a bit of controversy today...to bad I missed it. Over my morning coffee I'm watching a bit of England and Algeria but I haven't heard yet what happened in the US match. Anyone might be kind enough to fill me in...pretty please?

I really wish I had more time to watch these games, it seems like a lot of fun but alas most are on while I'm asleep, so...yeah. I tried DVRing them but after the first day or two I fell so far behind it became rather pointless. Oh well, here's hoping for a Western Hemisphere cup in 2014! C'mon I WANNA watch too! Actually it would be cool if the US got it because it looks like one of the venues would be LP field here in Nashville, it would be so awesome to have to travel all of 20 minutes to see a World Cup match live. Sure its purely selfish and Brazil probably deserves it more....I, well I just don't care. (Kidding)

Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, what happened in the US game today? :)


EDIT: Nevermind, finally saw it. All I can say is that was some serious bullshit, damn.

shameful. diabolical. The performance against America was embarassing, but to be honest Algeria outplayed us for large parts.

They pay Capello 5 million for that? They could hire me and I'd send the players out to play like a bunch of cunts for nothing.

Well, after my initial praises for the refs, they went out to prove me wrong. Needless yellow cards, missed the offside against SA, called a wrong one against the USA. bleh.

On another note, I attended the Germany - Serbia game yesterday. Superb support from the German fans (and the Saffers who adopted them). Great stadium, excellent organisation (including transport), although I felt security was a bit lax. The only downer was that I drove eight hours to watch a ref spoil the game with unnecessary cards, and to see Podolski waste a clutch of chances in front of goal.

You assume Germany is going to go forward. The Aussies are looking very likely casualties now, but Germany are far from safe.

---------- Post added at 09:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 AM ----------

8-0 drubbing :) Oi Pim. My son's under 6 team are ready to go!

looks like the aussies need a striker.. your son got a spare jersey?

He's always up for a game. He told me "I wish I could play soccer all the time, except for breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner". I asked if he'd rather play soccer or watch TV, and he said soccer! He's ready to go at a moments notice :)

doesn't spindles jnr sleep?

those woeful italians... you'd think the new zealanders just won the final of the world cup!

I was at the Korea DPR vs Portugal game. Great first half, but after the second goal, its like Korea decided not to defend anymore. The 7-0 scoreline didn't impress me. I would have preferred more of a contest. It is funny though seeing all the girlies soak their panties every time Ronaldo touches the ball or when he's on the big screen. Women just love fame, even when it comes with a whining douche. Lol.

Nice header by the Chilean player...straight into the ground and it bounced in, wonder if he did that on purpose sweet goal nonetheless. Really crazy what is going on with the French team, was this pre-meditated by the players I wonder.