World Cup 2010

[go birds]

I wonder how many of the soccer haters like nascar.

[jim]

So the French are all gnashing their teeth ... was this a game they were expected/needed to win?

[thrill]

So the French are all gnashing their teeth ... was this a game they were expected/needed to win?

I think they and their fans expected them to win. They should have won. It wasn't a must-win though. If they take care of business against South Africa with a win and get at least a tie against Mexico, they'll go through.


France is gnashing their teeth because they justifiably think their manager is a moron and he screwed this game up. They dominated the game but couldn't get a goal. Thierry Henry absolutely needed to be in the game, probably from the start alongside Nicholas Anelka. Domenech (their manager) instead chose to stick Anelka at forward alone and leave 5 in the midfield. Way too conservative a game plan for Uruguay.

[jim]

So the French are all gnashing their teeth ... was this a game they were expected/needed to win?

I think they and their fans expected them to win. They should have won. It wasn't a must-win though. If they take care of business against South Africa with a win and get at least a tie against Mexico, they'll go through.


France is gnashing their teeth because they justifiably think their manager is a moron and he screwed this game up. They dominated the game but couldn't get a goal. Thierry Henry absolutely needed to be in the game, probably from the start alongside Nicholas Anelka. Domenech (their manager) instead chose to stick Anelka at forward alone and leave 5 in the midfield. Way too conservative a game plan for Uruguay.

I was wondering how much a soccer coach could do, but why would you take that guy out? Isn't he their best player? He was the guy who had the ball go off his hand vs Ireland, no? Any chance that had something to do with it?

[thrill]

why would you take that guy out?

He put him in late. I have no idea why.

Isn't he their best player?

No, that would be left midfielder Franck Ribery (the one that looks like a small Frankenstein), but he is still one of their two best forwards.

He was the guy who had the ball go off his hand vs Ireland, no? Any chance that had something to do with it?

Yeah that was him, but that had nothing to do with it. You know the French, they're too arrogant to feel bad about cheating. He was left off either because Domenech thought the 4-5-1 formation would be the best option (which it clearly wasn't and no one thought it was beforehand) or he has something personal against Henry.

Henry is a national icon and I could easily see Domenech holding it against him if Henry spoke out against him either publicly or privately.

[jim]

why would you take that guy out?

He put him in late. I have no idea why.

Isn't he their best player?

No, that would be left midfielder Franck Ribery (the one that looks like a small Frankenstein), but he is still one of their two best forwards.

He was the guy who had the ball go off his hand vs Ireland, no? Any chance that had something to do with it?

Yeah that was him, but that had nothing to do with it. You know the French, they're too arrogant to feel bad about cheating. He was left off either because Domenech thought the 4-5-1 formation would be the best option (which it clearly wasn't and no one thought it was beforehand) or he has something personal against Henry.

Henry is a national icon and I could easily see Domenech holding it against him if Henry spoke out against him either publicly or privately.

Funny you say that, they did this piece on the news two nights ago where they went to the schools showing how educators are using the WC for educational purposes since the kids can't concentrate with anything non-soccer. One boy said France would lose because, and he was sorry to say this to Henry, but they are cheaters and didn't deserve to be there.

I worked with a Spaniard that was pretty good .. blew his knee out I guess but it sounded like he was close to being a pro. Listening to him talk about soccer in his home reminded me exactly of baseball in the states ... play until dawn until your Mom calls you in for dinner. I gained a new respect for soccer after hearing how they play it, but I have to admit I still don't get it yet.

But, I'm trying. And I sure hope we kick England's ass.

..

Also, who is Evra? He is the captain from France. That Frankenstein guy is better?

[Pujols is a God]

why would you take that guy out?

He put him in late. I have no idea why.

Isn't he their best player?

No, that would be left midfielder Franck Ribery (the one that looks like a small Frankenstein), but he is still one of their two best forwards.

He was the guy who had the ball go off his hand vs Ireland, no? Any chance that had something to do with it?

Yeah that was him, but that had nothing to do with it. You know the French, they're too arrogant to feel bad about cheating. He was left off either because Domenech thought the 4-5-1 formation would be the best option (which it clearly wasn't and no one thought it was beforehand) or he has something personal against Henry.

Henry is a national icon and I could easily see Domenech holding it against him if Henry spoke out against him either publicly or privately.

Domenech is just awful, even if you are going to go with the 4-5-1, how the hell do you not start Malouda who is in great form over Diaby.

[thrill]

Also, who is Evra? He is the captain from France. That Frankenstein guy is better?

Evra is their left back, which means he's on the back line of the defense on the left hand side if you're facing the opponents goal. He's a great left back, but Franck Ribery is one of the 10 best players in the world when he's on his game.

[Fat Strat]

I hate a 4-5-1. Arena used to run that out there with Coby Jones and I think a time or two with Brian McBride (I was a fan of him, but not by himself up there). It just screamed "play for the tie". Hated it. Hated it. Hated it.

Anyway, you won't see that out of Bradley.

[jim]

I hate a 4-5-1. Arena used to run that out there with Coby Jones and I think a time or two with Brian McBride (I was a fan of him, but not by himself up there). It just screamed "play for the tie". Hated it. Hated it. Hated it.

Anyway, you won't see that out of Bradley.

You guys are way ahead of me ... I have no idea what formations there are. But hey, at least I learned form this thread that there are 10 players on a soccer field! So I have that going for me.