Soccer World Cup 2010

[kahless]

[...]
If Argentina wins this afternoon, I think they can expose the weaknesses in Germany's defense.

Everything is possible!

[DJ Doena]

I think the time has come to put that whole Wembley issue at rest. 

[kahless]

I think the time has come to put that whole Wembley issue at rest.  

BTW: today I read in the newspaper that the German team gets 50.000€ each for achieving the quarter final and 250.000€ for the worldcup title!

I definitely have the wrong job!  

[Jimmy]

Many countries do the same at the Olympics if an athlete win a medals and I've no problem with this. It's just a performances bonus as the one I received in the past at one of my old job... of course it wasn't thousands of dollars bonuses, but I didn't have millions of fans watching me

[kahless]

[...]I received in the past at one of my old job... of course it wasn't thousands of dollars bonuses, but I didn't have millions of fans watching me

I get bonuses in my job as well - but the amount is not comparable with a soccer player or so! It's enough to keep my dvd collection on a sensible level!  

[Antares]

I think the time has come to put that whole Wembley issue at rest. 

Being a relative newcomer to the World Cup (I started watching in 2002), what is this issue?

[kahless]

I think the time has come to put that whole Wembley issue at rest. 

Being a relative newcomer to the World Cup (I started watching in 2002), what is this issue?

It's about a questionable goal at the WC in 1966:

[DJ Doena]

I think the time has come to put that whole Wembley issue at rest. 

Being a relative newcomer to the World Cup (I started watching in 2002), what is this issue?

In 1966 the finale was England vs. West Germany. The match took place in the Wembley Stadium, London. And England scored a goal that wasn't one, leading to their (only) win of the World Cup.

In Germany that goal is still known as the "Wembley-Tor" (tor = goal).

We've never forgotten!

[Antares]

Karma...ain't it a bitch? 

[kahless]

Karma...ain't it a bitch? 

Sure! 

[Antares]

I'm glad Germany won, in my short time as a World Cup fan, I've found that England tends to forget to play the ball, and spends most of their time trying to play the referees. Stop whining and attack the ball and you just might win.
















[spoiler]Unless your playing in England and the refs screw up   [/spoiler]

[Najemikon]

I know I said before how cynical I am about the game, but honestly, the passion in this country is astonishing and it would be interesting to see it basically erupt if England could have got through.

A friend of a friend said the other day that as part of some cultural exchange thing, he is chaperoning a Nigerian couple around the area. They are devout Muslims and she has to keep her face covered and can't go in a bar as that's seen as something a prostitute would do. Now they live in what we would consider frugal, if not poverty, conditions. So imagine that this guy takes them out the airport and straight into a local pub while the last England game was on.

She was terrified of going in, but loved it! They couldn't believe the atmosphere. And of course, it was predominantly white, slightly drunk, very loud patrons, so it must have been an experience!

I know nothing about the game, but from what I understand, the English premiership has a reputation as being possibly the best in the world. Man United are supported universally, which is incredible. Yet when our players play as England, they are shite! 

[DJ Doena]

I know nothing about the game, but from what I understand, the English premiership has a reputation as being possibly the best in the world. Man United are supported universally, which is incredible. Yet when our players play as England, they are shite! 

The question is how many actual English men are still in the Premier League?

[Najemikon]

That is a bug bear of mine. Football is seen as such a local game, with passionate support for tiny little clubs of local players. As soon as they go up a notch though, they buy players from anywhere and I think that makes a mockery of the whole game. From what I hear though, there is a wealth of talent.

Still, a lot go abroad continuing the silliness. In fact, it's amusing that when Beckham went over to the USA they said they needed someone like him because US players were so new to the game. Yet they got first blood against England!

[Antares]

OK, here's my picks for the knockout stage...

Uruguay
Ghana
Germany
Argentina
Netherlands
Brazil
Japan
Portugal

4 for 4 so far.