[Toilet & Bowels]

Originally Posted by SonicBebs

it was just the whole penalty fiasco. Paraguay's penalty there was about 4 Spanish defenders in the box but he let that go, then Alonso scored and he made them retake it (and on the replay at the time the ball is kicked (which is the important bit) you can see him watching the keeper, and not the palyers in the box), then he missed a blatant penalty on Fabregas which was blatant. I'm sorry but even through the crowd i could see it was a penalty so i'm sure he could. But maybe he didn't have the balls to give another one straight away?

Where was the ref from? I can't remember a world cup that hasn't been marred by incompetant refs.

[demonrail666]

Guatemala

[_slavo_]

Originally Posted by davenotdead

Germany's gonna handle Spain easily. the only problem is Muller isn't playing... but I still think Germany will win confidently.

yes, especially when this Spain s not the Spain we all expected to have on this tournament (in the negative context), and mainly when this Germany is neither the Germany we all expected to have on this tournament (in the positive context).
I really want Spain to win but i'm afraid it ain't happening.

[demonrail666]

Yeah, without Villa Spain seem pretty ordinary. Germany seem more like a club side, with everyone knowing how to play together. They don't have the same individual talent as Spain but a far greater collective strength. It'll be interesting to see how Germany manage without Muller, though.

[_slavo_]

Plus, that Oezil dude is just fantastic.

[demonrail666]

He is. I just think that while a lot of teams have been relying on superstar players (mostly unsuccessfully) Germany seem more like a functioning unit. I get the feeling that a Spain without Villa would be in a far worse position than a Germany without Orzil - as good a player as he undoubtedly is.

[Toilet & Bowels]

Originally Posted by demonrail666

Guatemala

i don't understand why they let in refs from countries whose team has never actually qualified to play in the world cup.

[demonrail666]

that's far too logical for FIFA to possibly consider it.

[Youth_Against_Facism]

With Germany going in as heavy favourites I expect Villa to come out firing slot a few with Torres to close out the game.

[demonrail666]

I'd be surprised if Torres even plays, tbh. They should start with Fabregas.

[Youth_Against_Facism]

He's been average all tourno but I wouldn't give up on him just yet. I would if they lose.

[Bertrand]

I hope Netherlands face Germany in the finals.
Both teams have scored through 5 different players (and there should be more).
That makes them hard to cope with and fun to watch.
France '98 was that kind of a winner, Italy 2006, Spain two years ago (where are they now? Villa, Iniesta once, and noone else? makes their partners weigh in shooting or finding them).
I wished Netherlands win when the competition started and I can't say I'm sticking with it now.
Özil looked exhausted. In the last two games. Didn't stop him from delivering two assists.
Some team, Germany.
I wouldn't have said that openly had Ballack been in.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Toilet & Bowels

i don't understand why they let in refs from countries whose team has never actually qualified to play in the world cup.

an uruguayan, an italian and a french ref fucked up and were sent home for bad performances. all 3 countries have been world champions.

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/wor...efs062910.html

"Also on the list of those axed was Uruguay’s Jorge Larrionda, who committed the most high-profile mistake of the event by denying England’s Frank Lampard a goal against Germany, even though his strike landed more than two feet over the goal line.

Another referee to be sent home was Stephane Lannoy of France, a leading European official who was originally expected to take charge of key matches late in the tournament. But Lannoy’s fate was sealed when he sent off Brazil’s Kaka against the Ivory Coast for an innocuous challenge. So too was that of Italian Roberto Rosetti, who allowed Argentina’s hotly disputed first goal against Mexico in the round of 16."

here more fuckups from all around the world:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...-so-far#page/1

[chicka]

Yes the pre-tourney rankings I saw 1. Brazil 2. Spain 3. Portugal 4. Holland
5. Italy 6. Germany 7. Argentina 8. England.

So Spain & Holland supposed to be here. Germany was a maybe and my boys from Uruguay no how no way. I believe they will beat the Dutch for Luis Surez. I don't know which way to go with Spain/Germany. My head say Germany but my heart says Spain as Ramos and David Villa have been carrying my Fantasy team. ;^)

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

I'd say its Germany, but who knows how it will be the way things have been going..

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

World Cup 2010: Nigerian president lifts ban on team

 

Nigeria failed to win in South Africa, finishing bottom of Group B

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has overturned his decision to ban the national football team for two years after their poor World Cup campaign.
The president lifted the ban after the Nigerian Football Federation promised to disband and rebuild the side.
The news came shortly before a 1700 BST deadline set by football's world governing body Fifa was set to pass.
Fifa had said that it would expel Nigeria from world football if the government was seen to be interfering.
The presidency said in a statement: "The NFF assured the president of their commitment to evolving an enduring football development programme, and grow a new senior national team that will bring glory rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage.
"Based on these assurances, and the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians, including former leaders, President Jonathan has decided to review the earlier two-year ban on the country from all international football competitions."
Last week President Jonathan said that after the team's unsuccessful World Cup campaign they would be banned for two years.
On Sunday, the the NFF's top two officials were sacked in a bid to appease the president.
A source told the BBC that the sackings had not swayed the president's decision, but that the NFF had requested to meet with the president on Monday to hold emergency talks ahead of Fifa's deadline.
President Jonathan had said that the ban was necessary to "enable the country to put its house in order".

I don't necessarily agree with all the pressure that FIFA has put on Africa specifically in regards to political issues.. the US team is at unjust wars across continents and is immensely corrupt domestically and does FIFA put pressure on the US? What about Brazil? Germany? practically EVERY country on the earth and who participate with FIFA have the same kinds of problems, and yet Africa gets singled out time and time again.. THAT is why African countries don't have world class soccer and house world class international matches and why African teams are not well represented in international competition.. is is literally ridiculous and honestly persecution.

[Death & the Maiden]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

I don't necessarily agree with all the pressure that FIFA has put on Africa specifically in regards to political issues.. the US team is at unjust wars across continents and is immensely corrupt domestically and does FIFA put pressure on the US? What about Brazil? Germany? practically EVERY country on the earth and who participate with FIFA have the same kinds of problems, and yet Africa gets singled out time and time again.. THAT is why African countries don't have world class soccer and house world class international matches and why African teams are not well represented in international competition.. is is literally ridiculous and honestly persecution.

FIFA managed to get the Nigerian government to reverse the decision to ban the Nigerian football team for two years, isn't that a good thing?

From the semi finalists, Germany are my favourite and Netherlands my least favourite.

[Keeping It Simple]

It's going to be a Holland vs Germany final.

[demonrail666]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

I don't necessarily agree with all the pressure that FIFA has put on Africa specifically in regards to political issues.. THAT is why African countries don't have world class soccer and house world class international matches and why African teams are not well represented in international competition.. is is literally ridiculous and honestly persecution.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but what pressure has FIFA been putting on African nations? From what i can see, FIFA - for all its numerous faults - has made great efforts to 'internationalise' football, as demonstrated by its controversial decision to select S'th Africa as the host for the WC finals.

[pokkeherrie]

Originally Posted by Keeping It Simple

It's going to be a Holland vs Germany final.

That'd only be fun if Holland win it.
Losing a 3rd World Cup final (against the Germans no less) would be the cruelest thing ever. ever.


I do not dare to look ahead of things though, Uruguay seems difficult enough.
Sure, they might not be a world class team, but together with Holland they're the only team who haven't lost yet and they've only conceded two goals in all games. Could be a very physical game.