Football/Soccer World Cup

[jlcct]

I've never been much of a soccer fan myself but what little I have watched has been pretty interesting. Since it's a world wide tournament and only happens once every four years, from what I gather, this looks like it could be a ton of fun to follow. I don't know a whole lot about who the better teams are or where all the games are held or how the tournament is set up as far as double elimination or single elimination etc. Can anyone ad anything to get me up to speed? Also is there any sort of committee that votes on where the next world cup is held? I think it starts on June 11th and runs until July 11th. I'm getting a little pumped up for it. I guess I should root for the United States but I'd take Ireland to, as long as they have a team.

[jlcct]

Also I wanted to ad that I know there is a website for the world cup and I could go there for all the information but I think it would be good conversation.

[jlcct]

I took a look into the layout of the tournament. Here is what I found.

*As I originally stated the tournament is 1 month long starting June 11th.

*There are six continental zones. Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central American and Caribbean, Oceania and South America.

*There is a qualification process that started in 2007 and ended in 2009. The whole process reduced the field from about 200 teams down to 32.

*The hosts of the World Cup gets automatic placement into the finals.

*There are 8 groups with 4 teams per group.

*There is a round robin style tournament played by each group which ensures that each team plays at least three games.

*From there the top two teams from each group advance to a knockout stage.

*The knockout stage is a 16 team field. It's single elimination until we have a World Cup winner.

*The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil

*There have been 18 World Cups. Brazil has won 5, Italy who won the last World Cup has won 4, Germany has won three, Uruguay and Argentina have both won two and England and France have each won one.

*The United States of America will never win the World Cup. I think I saw that in the bible next to the part about the Atlanta Braves winning the 2010 World Series.

[Andy G.]

I don't know anything about soccer, but I started watching the last World Cup just to see what it was all about, and I couldn't get enough. It's really fun to watch. I also watched the female World Cup. I guess the fact that it's a world wide tournament and everybody is representing their country makes it that interesting. I just know that I enjoyed watching it very much last time.

[Chris_Moderato]

I don't follow soccer closely in off-years, but I try to catch part of the Cup tournament. Last time around, I was in Germany for a week during the tournament and it was the first time I had seen Germans actually hanging their flag outside the window like we do here. They are typically very self-conscious about showing national pride, for obvious reasons.

Anyway, I'm watching and rooting for Deutschland. (not against the US, mind you.)

[luvdembravos]

I'm watching the U.S. - England world cup game now and it's boring.

[JanShan12]

Good job by the US to get the tie. Their goal was weak, but you take what you can get.

[Lauren T.]

I'm highly amused by MattE's status updates on Facebook about the World Cup...

MattE and Leslee Diaz Family Foundation (http://www.facebook.com/pages/MattE-and-Leslee-Diaz-Family-Foundation/343319968141) OK so every 4 years I try to really get into the World Cup. I figure, if the rest of the world loves it so much it must be cool. But 2 games 2 total goals and 2 TIES!!! There's no tying in real sports! feel free to disagree, but if you do you're wrong :)
Friday at 4:25pm (http://www.facebook.com/pages/MattE-and-Leslee-Diaz-Family-Foundation/343319968141?v=wall&story_fbid=100789733306666&ref=mf)MattE and Leslee Diaz Family Foundation (http://www.facebook.com/pages/MattE-and-Leslee-Diaz-Family-Foundation/343319968141) So glad Bill Buckner played goalie for England yesterday. JK Bill was a great player and should have been defensively replaced at that stage of game and his career.
6 hours ago (http://www.facebook.com/pages/MattE-and-Leslee-Diaz-Family-Foundation/343319968141?v=wall&story_fbid=104965239552946&ref=mf) MattE and Leslee Diaz Family Foundation (http://www.facebook.com/pages/MattE-and-Leslee-Diaz-Family-Foundation/343319968141) OK 3rd post in a row dealing with World Cup, see, I'm trying to get into this thing. Assuming that we all pick USA as our #1 choice to root for, lets all pick a secondary country, that will enhance our chances to watch deep into the cup. I pick Spain where my last name comes from. Pick your team and why.
25 minutes ago (http://www.facebook.com/pages/MattE-and-Leslee-Diaz-Family-Foundation/343319968141?v=wall&story_fbid=124570560911320&ref=mf)
I'm not into soccer / futbol, so I'm probably not going to be watching much.

[jlcct]

I like Matt's idea about picking a second team to follow so we can stay involved if the U.S. gets eliminated early. I think we should do that here. If you are interested then just post your pick.
I'll take England since I have ethnic ties.

[Dreamscape]

I'm going with France. Because not only are they bombing, they are even refusing to practice. I do so love the drama.

[Chris_Moderato]

Deutschland uber alles.

[bravos4evr]

I'm pulling for Ghana and if they lose , Slovenia and if they lose Brazil..... Yeah that last one is kinda cheating

[Chris_Moderato]

Well, the USA made it through the first round into the the Round of 16. The Knockout round is always when the World Cup picks up some serious steam.

[luvdembravos]

The Knockout round is always when the World Cup picks up some serious steam.

What does "picking up serious steam" mean in soccer lingo? Wlll more than 3 goals actually be scored in a game?

Seriously, I just don't get this game. Ten minutes into a soccer game, the score is 0-0. Leave for 45 minutes and come back and the score is 0-0. Go to the gas station and return to your television set and yep, you guessed it, the score is 0-0. It's like watching paint dry. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz! ;)

[Chris_Moderato]

I'm a fan of low scoring games, be they soccer or well-pitched baseball games. That's why your description of a soccer match doesn't really strike me as "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz".

Part of the excitement is watching the plays develop, watching the players repeatedly attempt to formulate an attack. The attack in soccer is a precarious thing that can crumble in an instant. Seeing one put together and executed successfully is pretty damn exciting.

Besides, when someone finally does score a goal (which they have to do in the Knockout round), it counts for a lot more than in most other sports.

But whatever. If you don't like soccer, you don't like soccer. I don't like hockey, and I doubt I'll change my mind about that no matter how many times someone tries to explain to me why it's entertaining and worth watching.

[Agent-X-]

I'm a fan of low scoring games, be they soccer or well-pitched baseball games. That's why your description of a soccer match doesn't really strike me as "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz".

Part of the excitement is watching the plays develop, watching the players repeatedly attempt to formulate an attack. The attack in soccer is a precarious thing that can crumble in an instant. Seeing one put together and executed successfully is pretty damn exciting.

Besides, when someone finally does score a goal (which they have to do in the Knockout round), it counts for a lot more than in most other sports.

But whatever. If you don't like soccer, you don't like soccer. I don't like hockey, and I doubt I'll change my mind about that no matter how many times someone tries to explain to me why it's entertaining and worth watching.

Soccer just seems really, really repetitive for a sport that doesn't involve much conclusion. You can have a scoreless tie of a game and you have accomplished nothing. I think soccer is a lot like basketball, except in basketball scoring occurs constantly, therefore something is obviously happening.

In baseball, a low scoring game means a pitcher is doing a whole lot of out recording. Something is happening. You can look back through the game log to see it. Not so in soccer, ha ha ha ha.

For all the rubbish soccer fans talk with regard to American sports, I think they're just not used to the intensity of our sports. Soccer strikes me as being a bit more like golf. It's not bad as long as you go in with the expectation of not getting entertained.

For what it's worth, baseball isn't that intense, either, but I can put it in the background and follow it.

[Hobbes]

Besides, when someone finally does score a goal (which they have to do in the Knockout round), it counts for a lot more than in most other sports.
I always figured it was the rarity of the scoring that caused the players and fans to go so crazy when a goal eventually was scored. It also explains the over-the-top reaction of that noted soccer announcer...

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!

[Chris_Moderato]

I always figured it was the rarity of the scoring that caused the players and fans to go so crazy when a goal eventually was scored. It also explains the over-the-top reaction of that noted soccer announcer...

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!

I guess that's what I was getting at.

For all the rubbish soccer fans talk with regard to American sports, I think they're just not used to the intensity of our sports. Soccer strikes me as being a bit more like golf. It's not bad as long as you go in with the expectation of not getting entertained.

I hear more trash talk slung at soccer by Americans than the other way around, but whatever. It doesn't matter. Soccer is far more intense than golf, far more demanding, and far, far more entertaining. Perhaps it's one of those sports you just have to have played to really appreciate, I don't know.

I do know that I have no interest in continuing to defend the game of soccer.

[bravos4evr]

I guess that's what I was getting at.



I hear more trash talk slung at soccer by Americans than the other way around, but whatever. It doesn't matter. Soccer is far more intense than golf, far more demanding, and far, far more entertaining. Perhaps it's one of those sports you just have to have played to really appreciate, I don't know.

I do know that I have no interest in continuing to defend the game of soccer.



soccer loving pansy..... :D

[Chris_Moderato]

soccer loving pansy..... :D

I'll own that.

[Agent-X-]

I guess that's what I was getting at.



I hear more trash talk slung at soccer by Americans than the other way around, but whatever. It doesn't matter. Soccer is far more intense than golf, far more demanding, and far, far more entertaining. Perhaps it's one of those sports you just have to have played to really appreciate, I don't know.

I do know that I have no interest in continuing to defend the game of soccer.

Good. We've worn you down and beaten you into submission. Soccer is just wrong and unnatural to view. I've played soccer quite a bit. I know soccer. It's not my preferred sport primarily because the energy expended does not seem worth it in the end. Put those guys on roller blades for Pete's sake. Let's get the show on the road, jeez.

I guess soccer has a bit more of a horrific following on the west coast. There are soccer fields everywhere and the parents who abuse their kids with it are the snottiest you can ever imagine. I've been out there at 6 AM to see the spectacle of kids running laps around the park to get warmed up for the senseless running back and forth they will be subjected to until noon.

Soccer is just a dead sport. Give it up world. We know what we're talking about. :cheers:

[Dreamscape]

Soccer's pretty fun to watch on an international scale. The games where the fans are just bat crazy about the results.

I'm not a big soccer fan, but I'll watch it if I have the time to sit down and invest an entire game in. I remember watching the last World Cup in college with some real fans of the game and being swept up in it.

[Chris_Moderato]

Good. We've worn you down and beaten you into submission. Soccer is just wrong and unnatural to view. I've played soccer quite a bit. I know soccer. It's not my preferred sport primarily because the energy expended does not seem worth it in the end. Put those guys on roller blades for Pete's sake. Let's get the show on the road, jeez.

I guess soccer has a bit more of a horrific following on the west coast. There are soccer fields everywhere and the parents who abuse their kids with it are the snottiest you can ever imagine. I've been out there at 6 AM to see the spectacle of kids running laps around the park to get warmed up for the senseless running back and forth they will be subjected to until noon.

Soccer is just a dead sport. Give it up world. We know what we're talking about. :cheers:

Ha ha...fair enough.

[Agent-X-]

I take it my over-the-topness was detected.

I have a couple of friends who would just kill me to death right now if they knew I was dissing soccer.

[bravos4evr]

I think the major thing holding soccer back is the size of the field! Indoor soccer is purty darn entertaining

[luvdembravos]

Soccer is just wrong and unnatural to view. I've played soccer quite a bit. I know soccer. It's not my preferred sport primarily because the energy expended does not seem worth it in the end.

That's right...not only is the game unnatural but it's just plain un-American. When was the last time you saw some fat-ass playing in the World Cup? Never. Every professional soccer player is trim and fit ... and they should be with all that pointless running up and down the field (or pitch or whatever you call it).

Americans are fat. Our kids are fat and need sports where fat people can excel. Bob Wickman, Shaquille O'Neal and Albert Haynesworth would've never had the opportunity to become professional athletes if they had been born outside the U.S.

[Chris_Moderato]

That's right...not only is the game unnatural but it's just plain un-American. When was the last time you saw some fat-ass playing in the World Cup? Never. Every professional soccer player is trim and fit ... and they should be with all that pointless running up and down the field (or pitch or whatever you call it).

Americans are fat. Our kids are fat and need sports where fat people can excel. Bob Wickman, Shaquille O'Neal and Albert Haynesworth would've never had the opportunity to become professional athletes if they had been born outside the U.S.

I...can't argue with that.

The one thing about soccer, and the World Cup, that irritates me, the one thing I hate about watching the games, is the flopping. It's worse than the NBA.

[jlcct]

Yeah the flopping is sickening. I think they should review every game once it's over to decide who "lied" and penalize them accordingly. There is nothing respectable about it. I noticed Pau Gasol acting quite a bit during the NBA playoffs. Not only would he physically lie about each play but then he'd throw a fit if he didn't get the bull**** call. Incredible. Where's the honor in that?
And I think the soccer field should be twice as big in America. We're so fat.

[bravos4evr]

yo mama so fat she broke her leg and gravy poured out :-)

[jlcct]

Yo mama's so fat she jumped up in the air and got stuck. ohhh :(