Boltman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Yeah, we're like England and football. Well you both claim to have invented your respective sports, although I know the Mayans were playing ball games on a "pitch" eons ago, and I'm positive English schoolgirls have been forced into "enjoying" a game of rounders almost since lesbian gymnastics mistresses were invented, so I dunno Edit - Oh yeah! just remembered! The players from the losing Mayan teams were often ritually slaughtered. Tell me that doesn't sound just like an early, rudimentary form of Association Football? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason the Yank Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 lesbian gymnastics mistresses Go on...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdpatriots12 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Well you both claim to have invented your respective sports, although I know the Mayans were playing ball games on a "pitch" eons ago, and I'm positive English schoolgirls have been forced into "enjoying" a game of rounders almost since lesbian gymnastics mistresses were invented, so I dunno Edit - Oh yeah! just remembered! The players from the losing Mayan teams were often ritually slaughtered. Tell me that doesn't sound just like an early, rudimentary form of Association Football? I thought the question of which team was ritually sacrificed was actually still open. As in, the teams were competing for the right to be sacrificed. That being said, I think the next film installment of Harry Potter could be improved by introducing just such a consequence to the obligatory quidditch sequence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NICK_GIFF Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Uruguay or the US for the semi for sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nattai Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Am so glad that Uruguay got through and have the perfect chance to get further. As an Australian have had ample opportunity to see how consistently strong their squad has been over the years, glad they now have the opportunity, with seemingly the right manager in place, to prove themselves in the World Cup. They have been held back in the past through an overly negative approach. That looks sorted now it seems. Diego Lugano looks 5 times the player when i last saw him, has cut out the crap and looks as solid as anyone I have seen in the tournament. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 If you only we didn't play like a pile of turd against Algeria we'd be in control of the group and facing these teams instead of Germany ... Argentina. Big games, tight games but who would you rather face? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GillsMan Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 If you only we didn't play like a pile of turd against Algeria we'd be in control of the group and facing these teams instead of Germany ... Argentina. Big games, tight games but who would you rather face? Germany tbh. This England team are arrogant and don't seem to raise their game against smaller nations, but do tend to perform well against bigger nations. See results against Andorra away vs Croatia home and away for examples. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Argentina then? Diego at the helm, that would be epic if we got there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nattai Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Ha! There was a joke on the local football show here yesterday that while England won the Battle of Britain against Germany, they would have lost it had they been fighting against 6 Algerians in a Biplane. Its very odd but also undeniable that England tend to flatter to decieve unless its absolutely necessary. Odd too that they tend to lift and play better with 10 men rather than 11. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
djvandyke Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Ghana is just an average team, with bad coach, players are undisciplined Is this based on anything other tha racial stereotyping because Ghana have been one of the most disciplined sides in the cup? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurkingwithintent Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 England had their best chance for a long time to get to the semi finals...and we blew it. Why am I not surprised? I think Uruguay will just edge past USA in the quarters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham_aka_stam Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Yeah, because an EASY draw means an easy job doesn't it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 No but it's better than facing potentially Argentina after Germany, I know which route I would have preferred to take Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcoleman1 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Anyone but the USA to get through. I think our game against Germany will be hard but we can do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanessasue Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I really don't know who is going to win the world cup, i think Spain are favourites but i think they may loose to a team like italy. I would love to say England will win but they never perform on the biggest of stages. I'm going to say Argentina, thye have Messi and i knwo alot of people don't believe 1 player can win a cup but thats not true, what about 1986 and the year that Maradona won the world cup virtually on his own. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red_Hector Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 To be fair, we ignore the World Baseball Classic as well. We also complain about it when it tires out our players for "real" baseball.That being said: US soccer team > UK basketball team Yeah but basketball is not a real sport though. It's just entertainment for the ADD generation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllStar4 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Although Ghana and potentially South Korea/Uruguay won't be easy it's about as good of a road to the semifinals that we could have hoped for. There's nothing wrong with the system used, it's just that favored teams like England and France weren't good enough to win their groups. If they were they'd have been on that side of the bracket. And I actually like the World Baseball Classic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micado Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 USA or Uruguay, hoping for the latter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlo116 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Is this based on anything other tha racial stereotyping because Ghana have been one of the most disciplined sides in the cup? yes because i can see how muntari having a go at the manager makes them one of the most disciplined sides in the cup. Not to mention their seemingly lack of control to look for openings in defences rather than just belt it at goal and waste possession. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanNUFC Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Ghana didn't win their group. yeh, wondered wtf he was on about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham_aka_stam Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 No but it's better than facing potentially Argentina after Germany, I know which route I would have preferred to take Oh I agree, but we've blown nothing yet. Which is the bit I was arguing against really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 We'll have this chat on Sunday evening then Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnabon09 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Anyone but South Korea has a good chance to make the semis. Sad because I am rooting for them but their defense has just been horrible. Uruguay are favorites and the US and Ghana are tied Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdpatriots12 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Yeah but basketball is not a real sport though. It's just entertainment for the ADD generation. Unless that's a swipe at the poor refereeing - ironic given this World Cup - that's a pretty nonsense opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boltman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Don't need to rationalise it, Basketball is quite simply.....crap. Please don't try to argue and change my mind, as I'm far too prejudiced against the "sport" to even engage in the debate. I'd literally rather sit and stare at a blank wall than watch the NBA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samb_95 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 South Korea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 @ Boltman: The NBA is not the definition of basketball. Watch FIBA basketball and you'll actually see defensive strategies, team play and rules enforced instead of one-on-ones stupid defensive 3 second violantion calls and guys taking 4 steps before dunking the ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boltman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Bleh....... glorified netball, and netball's a game for girls anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdpatriots12 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 you'll actually see defensive strategies, team play Someone didn't watch the NBA playoffs. and rules enforced instead of one-on-ones stupid defensive 3 second violantion calls and guys taking 4 steps before dunking the ball. Don't think defensive 3 seconds is a bad rule. Zone defense isn't terribly exciting because all it does is demand the other team hit open jump shots. We have it in college ball, though. But you're pretty much right about the other stuff. Although Kobe Bryant did get called for traveling in the Finals and everyone was truly shocked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockney Hammer Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Anyone but the USA to get through. I think our game against Germany will be hard but we can do it. Won't have to worry about that the USA won't be going through Ghana will win 2-0. Will be very surprised if the USA beat Ghana. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Someone didn't watch the NBA playoffs. Someone doesn't watch FIBA basketball. fwiw I've been watching the NBA playoffs every year since 1993. Don't think defensive 3 seconds is a bad rule. Zone defense isn't terribly exciting because all it does is demand the other team hit open jump shots. We have it in college ball, though. But you're pretty much right about the other stuff. Although Kobe Bryant did get called for traveling in the Finals and everyone was truly shocked. That's exactly the problem I have with the NBA, it's more about excitment than strategy. The Magic played a bit of zone defense (still a fake one as you can't put your big men in the pain to prevent penetrations) in the conference finals and the celtics didn't know how to deal with it. I don't care if it brings scores back down to 65-61 and if the top scorer finishes with 15pts and 7 boards. It's basketball I want to watch, not the Harlem Globe Trotters or And 1 mixed tape. Zone defense is very varied in Europe and has many components to it. I'm not an expert on college basketball but I know I enjoyed Ivy league games more than the big Duke vs North Carolina games as they seemed more based on strategy than individual exploits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdpatriots12 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Someone doesn't watch FIBA basketball. I dont, but I wasn't disputing your evaluation of it. That's exactly the problem I have with the NBA, it's more about excitment than strategy. The Magic played a bit of zone defense (still a fake one as you can't put your big men in the pain to prevent penetrations) in the conference finals and the celtics didn't know how to deal with it. I don't care if it brings scores back down to 65-61 and if the top scorer finishes with 15pts and 7 boards. It's basketball I want to watch, not the Harlem Globe Trotters or And 1 mixed tape. To each his own then. I absolutely prefer the man-to-man defense/rotations the Celtics employ to any zone I've ever seen. As far as the whole And 1 thing goes, don't really see how it applied to this year's playoffs with the exception of the Cleveland LeBrons, who played 1 v 5 on offense. Celtics had a different high scorer every night - each with his own distinctive style, the closest one to And 1 being a pass-first point guard. The most infamous use of the zone in the playoffs this season was the Suns breaking out the 2-3 Zone against the Lakers because they couldn't stop them man-to-man. It worked briefly as it forced LA out of their comfort zone, but once they started hitting the shots the zone gave them, the series was over. Regarding the 3 second violations, though, you can stand pretty close to the paint - or even in it as long as you're guarding someone - and Dwight Howard definitely effected the Celtics ability to drive the lane and got plenty of blocks. Same with Kendrick Perkins or Andrew Bynum. It just means you have to be aware of when to help. But all that being said, I do watch basketball primarily for excitement. If I want strategy I'll watch American football. Zone defense is very varied in Europe and has many components to it. I'm not an expert on college basketball but I know I enjoyed Ivy league games more than the big Duke vs North Carolina games as they seemed more based on strategy than individual exploits. Cornell did pretty well in the NCAA tournament playing zone defense and chucking up 3 pointers. They also had a couple big guys to get rebounds. But again, my favorite team in college ball is Purdue, and they play man defense exclusively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I dont, but I wasn't disputing your evaluation of it. Fair enough. To each his own then. I absolutely prefer the man-to-man defense/rotations the Celtics employ to any zone I've ever seen. To me it's not about prefering one defense to another, it's about which is more efficient and in my experience I've found zone defenses without limitations (defensive 3 second violantions) to be more efficient. As far as the whole And 1 thing goes, don't really see how it applied to this year's playoffs with the exception of the Cleveland LeBrons, who played 1 v 5 on offense. Celtics had a different high scorer every night - each with his own distinctive style, the closest one to And 1 being a pass-first point guard. The most infamous use of the zone in the playoffs this season was the Suns breaking out the 2-3 Zone against the Lakers because they couldn't stop them man-to-man. It worked briefly as it forced LA out of their comfort zone, but once they started hitting the shots the zone gave them, the series was over. Regarding the 3 second violations, though, you can stand pretty close to the paint - or even in it as long as you're guarding someone - and Dwight Howard definitely effected the Celtics ability to drive the lane and got plenty of blocks. Same with Kendrick Perkins or Andrew Bynum. It just means you have to be aware of when to help. I brought And 1 up because they're more about show/entertainment than they are about basketball but yeah I know the NBA isn't exactly an And 1 mixed tape else I'd have stopped watching it a long time ago. About the Suns and their zone being broken by outside shooting yeah the Lakers achieved that but most NBA teams don't have enough good reliable shooters to make a zone explode and switch back to man-to-man so it'd work more often than not. Regarding the defensive 3 second violation it defeats the whole purpose of a zone defense. Sure, you can still be right by the paint and inside of it if your opponent is within arm-distance but the idea behind a zone D is to pack the paint, have 2/3 guys stand in there at all times and just move towards the ball when it's in front of them. Preventing anyone from getting inside and getting an easy shot. For example, Tony Parker was just an average PG in France before getting to the NBA for instance, why? Because the speed of his first step wasn't anywhere near as valuable and didn't allow him to skip past his defender and run in the paint for a close finger-roll over the opposing team's center coming to help too late. PS: I know that he improved a lot and he'd obviously be much more successful if he played in Europe now but you get the idea. But all that being said, I do watch basketball primarily for excitement. If I want strategy I'll watch American football. I watch both but my interest for American Football overtook my interest for basketball a few years ago, mainly because of the strategic aspect of the game. Cornell did pretty well in the NCAA tournament playing zone defense and chucking up 3 pointers. They also had a couple big guys to get rebounds. But again, my favorite team in college ball is Purdue, and they play man defense exclusively. Yeah Cornell beat the University I went to (Temple) so I know all about their 3 point shooting We're obviously way off-topic here so apologies to the others reading this thread but I'm enjoying this discussion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason the Yank Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I've said it before, but I hate all the emphasis on isolation plays in the NBA. Maybe that's changed, because it turned me off the NBA about 10 years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Ok then, so, Ghana win the group, Germany end up second, it's one these teams making it to the semis, now!Uruguay South Korea Ghana USA So what gives? Uruguay have the strongest team, so unless something strange happens they should make it. Already proven to be good in defense, and have a very impressive forward line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Uruguay is also the only team who couldn't beat or even score on France Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlyons Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I don't like route to the final being known.For me Uefa have it right after the group stages where Winners are in one pot and runners up in the other. Much more exciting imo That only works if everybody plays their matches on the same day. If a Group A club got drawn against a Group H club, the Group A club would have three extra days of rest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericcantona7 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Football aside (maybe), are the Brits better than the Americans in any sport (team sport or not) both countries care about (that is, no volleyball, basketball, baseball, cricket or rugby) so what you're saying is, are the Brits better than the US in any sport the US is any good at? well probably not, because if the US are good at a sport then they're generally the best because of the resources they have. Are they better than us in any sport we are any good at? not really, we're ok at swimming and athletics I suppose, but their set up is far far superior to ours, probably at least to an extent that our football set up is better than theirs, in fact their football set up is probably quite decent due to the sheer numbers and the colleges that play it, it's probably just the professionals that are behind. We kick their arse in snooker, they kick ours in pool, we in darts, them in basketball, us in cycling, them in athletics, us in rowing, them in swimming, us in cricket, them in baseball, us in rugby, them in gridiron, us in hockey (maybe), them in ice hockey, us in soccer, them in women's soccer We do pretty well on the global stage given what we focus on really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericcantona7 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Uruguay is also the only team who couldn't beat or even score on France score against. you've been in America too long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 so what you're saying is, are the Brits better than the US in any sport the US is any good at? In other words yes, that's what I asked. well probably not, because if the US are good at a sport then they're generally the best because of the resources they have. Are they better than us in any sport we are any good at? not really, we're ok at swimming and athletics I suppose, but their set up is far far superior to ours, probably at least to an extent that our football set up is better than theirs, in fact their football set up is probably quite decent due to the sheer numbers and the colleges that play it, it's probably just the professionals that are behind. We kick their arse in snooker, they kick ours in pool, we in darts, them in basketball, us in cycling, them in athletics, us in rowing, them in swimming, us in cricket, them in baseball, us in rugby, them in gridiron, us in hockey (maybe), them in ice hockey, us in soccer, them in women's soccer Interesting post. Not exactly a sport, but you guys are very good at auto racing/motor sports, but it's hard to compare to the Americans since they usually don't participate in F1. We do pretty well on the global stage given what we focus on really. Yes, the UK is great generally, and are improving due to hosting the 2012 Olympics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 score against.you've been in America too long. Is it an American vs British English mistake or is using "score on" a gramatical error? Thanks for bringing it up btw Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason the Yank Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Depending on how tomorrow goes, the other half of that bracket could include Holland, Brazil/Portgual and Spain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cool dude Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 All good teams imho, bar Ghana Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikos Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Germany tbh. This England team are arrogant and don't seem to raise their game against smaller nations, but do tend to perform well against bigger nations. See results against Andorra away vs Croatia home and away for examples. When was the last time England went out in a major tournament to someone they were supposed to beat? When was the last time England progressed in a major tournament against someone they were not supposed to beat? I'm fine with beating teams we're supposed to beat on penalties after dreary 0-0s as opposed to glorious failure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlo116 Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Won't have to worry about that the USA won't be going through Ghana will win 2-0. Will be very surprised if the USA beat Ghana. Why would you be surprised? Not that i'm a fan of USA but their performances have been much better than Ghana's. We're still yet to see Ghana score a goal from open play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceching You Out Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Why would you be surprised? Not that i'm a fan of USA but their performances have been much better than Ghana's. We're still yet to see Ghana score a goal from open play. Two penalties for the Black Stars -- one for an imaginary handball, the second for looking at the ref the wrong way. Seriously though, someone would be surprised at the US winning? Given the respective performances, the "home" field advantage of Ghana, and the FIFA world rankings difference you have to feel this game is pretty evenly balanced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Yeah the odds are very comparable from what I've seen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Unless England considerably raise their game, Germany will eat them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Two penalties for the Black Stars -- one for an imaginary handball, the second for looking at the ref the wrong way.Seriously though, someone would be surprised at the US winning? Given the respective performances, the "home" field advantage of Ghana, and the FIFA world rankings difference you have to feel this game is pretty evenly balanced. The US is actually playing like England should. With passion, speed and heart. What they lack in skill they make up by playing out of their skin. I'd actually say the US are slight favourites over Ghana - but I hope Ghana will beat them. It's not the best African team, but it's the only one left and I'd like them to do well on 'home' turf. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meitheisman Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Screw that 'home' teams crap, come on USA! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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