World Cup Build Up / Hype

[DJ FC]

Originally Posted by Ugly Bastard

Rooney is shit.

Ummm What? Arguably the best footballer in the world this year.

[Beebs]

Originally Posted by DJ FC

Ummm What? Arguably the best footballer in the world this year.

He is not shit.

He is not arguably the best in the world this year. It is Messi, and there is no room for argument.

Second? Maybe. Third? Likely. First? Out of the question.

[DJ FC]

Originally Posted by Beebs

He is not shit.

He is not arguably the best in the world this year. It is Messi, and there is no room for argument.

Second? Maybe. Third? Likely. First? Out of the question.

Well I'm making the argument and I've heard a lot of people make it as well, and not all idiots either. Do I think he's the best? No. But you could argue he is. I don't even think he's the best striker in England (Defoe... HES OUR YIDDO)

[Beebs]

Originally Posted by DJ FC

Well I'm making the argument and I've heard a lot of people make it as well, and not all idiots either. Do I think he's the best? No. But you could argue he is. I don't even think he's the best striker in England (Defoe... HES OUR YIDDO)

The only people who have argued it are rent a quote english tv idiots.

The Fiver | People Like Tim Lovejoy, and Icons On Mount Rushmore | Sean Ingle and Paul Doyle | Football | guardian.co.uk

Sums it up nicely.

[Dent]

Originally Posted by Beebs

The only people who have argued it are rent a quote english tv idiots.

World Cup 2010: Wayne Rooney is world's best, says USA's Tim Howard - Telegraph

Not that I think he is, Messi is probably better, although Rooney plays in a more competitive league.

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[Beebs]

Back on point, which is "USA USA USA"
Here is a look at our opponents in the group
Algeria set to ditch their three-man defence | Zonal Marking
(I still think they might play a 3/5 man back line, but could go either way. 3 center backs works well against 2 out and out strikers, poorly against 1 striker with other forwards playing as wingers or with a withdrawn striker.


Slovenia – 4-4-2, hard-working, organised etc | Zonal Marking
Similar to us, slightly less quality. As the article shows though, they have the better order of games with playing England last, which could mean England are already through as winners and won't give a shit, making it harder for us.


Tactical analysis of England’s system | Zonal Marking
Reaction to their warm up games:Two friendlies lead Capello back to square one | Zonal Marking

That lineup is from a friendly, the actual first choice starting lineup will replace Walcott with Lennon, Barry coming in for Milner but playing Carricks role (more defensive), Lampard coming in for Carrick but breaking forward more, Ashley Cole coming in for Bains and being much better, and Heskey coming in for Crouch and scoring less goals but working more.

Against us it will likely be Gerrard and Lampard in the middle of midfield with Joe Cole left, because Barry isn't quite fit. This could be good because Lampard and Gerrard are similar players, although Gerrard is better, who tend to get in each others way or waiting for the other to do something, instead of working as a unit.

[Beebs]

Originally Posted by Dent

World Cup 2010: Wayne Rooney is world's best, says USA's Tim Howard - Telegraph

Not that I think he is, Messi is probably better, although Rooney plays in a more competitive league.

He says "best striker in the world" which might possibly be true because Messi and Ronaldo aren't out and out strikers, at least not all the time and not originally. David Villa, Droba, and Torres might also have something to say about this "best striker" argument, but lets put that to the side.

More competitive how? This is a pointless argument; Barca have knocked out 3 straight English teams in Europe, including destroying Rooney's United in the final last year. Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Kaka, Benzema (although a bust), all left for Spain or chose it over England, Cesc wants to go back.

They are both very good leagues, lets leave it at that, because this argument is tired.

[Beebs]

The Systems That Win World Cups The Equaliser

A history of world cup winning tactics/formations.

[Dent]

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[Beebs]

I don't actually mean "don't argue", I just mean it's "emphatically and obviously wrong".

[DJ FC]

Originally Posted by Beebs

I don't actually mean "don't argue", I just mean it's "emphatically and obviously wrong".

But it's not though. A lot of very knowledgable people argue in favour of it.

[DJ FC]

Ancelotti: Rooney is the best in the world - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

Gerrard: Rooney is the best player in the world 02 March 2010 - 15:44 | Sport.co.uk

Although Wayne himself disagrees: Rooney: Messi world's best player

[Beebs]

Ok, lay out an argument for Rooney being better, or even another person's argument, because all there is in those articles is just a direct statement, or no comparison to Messi. Every worthwhile expert says Messi is the best by miles, his peers give him the most votes, he is just better.

It's not a slight on Rooney, but Messi is the best player since Zidane, may very well be better than Zidane, and may end up in the conversation for best ever.

Important to differentiate greatest and best. Pele's accomplishment's mean he will almost surely be considered the greatest forever, because greatest implies longevity and accomplishments; best implies the best at any given moment in their career.

Right now Messi is as good as anybody outside of maybe Maradona in the mid 80s.

[Beebs]

To the battle hymn of the republic

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[DJ FC]

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[thekremlin]

We're not coming back till its over, over there!

[Fruitacious B]

Official White House release:
"Finally, the President [Barack Obama] and the Prime Minister [David Cameron] agreed to disagree on the desired outcome of the 12 June USA-England World Cup soccer match; the President noted that the historical record of previous World Cup matches between the United States and England favors the United States and the President wagered the best lager against the best beer in America on an American win over England."


Source.

[Beebs]

Shit, Shit, Shit, Findley is playing instead of using Dempsey as a striker.

[Beebs]

Goddamn motherfucking Ricardo Clark, you fuck suck, fuck you.

[Fruitacious B]

Agreed. We're playing like children. This is why the world makes fun of US soccer.


Also, fuck vevuzelas...that sound is horrible. I can barely hear the announcers because I have to keep the volume low.

[Beebs]

We graduated to men quickly.

USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA! USA, USA, USA!

[Dent]

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[Fruitacious B]

Originally Posted by Dent

England played poor, USA played worse.
Neither will get very far with performances like that.

That's the big truth of the whole match.
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God dammit...I can't find a good video of it, but I'm saying the best shot thus far was the South African goal against Mexico. Not because of the emotional hype, but because the shot was flawless...upper '90 and picture perfect.

Edit: This will do.

[Beebs]

Originally Posted by Dent

England played poor, USA played worse.
Neither will get very far with performances like that.

Absolute horsehit, the USA got the better of most of that game, the only time England truely looked better was the first 5 min and when they were really pressing in the second half.

The US played better, at the absolute very worse they played as well. Impartial observers agree with me.

[Dent]

England are expected to win, because USA were underdogs it means that being average is seen as being good, USA had too many hit and hope shots from distance, one of them got lucky, England had more possession, higher pass success rate, more shots on target.
It says a lot when Tim Howard is the highest rated player (even though plenty of shots were fired straight at him)

Most of the negatives to be said on the game will be Englands poor play, not USA's amazing ability.