Saturday, June 26, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Liveblog: Uruguay vs South Korea, Round of 16” plus 9 more

World Cup 2010 Blog: “Liveblog: Uruguay vs South Korea, Round of 16” plus 9 more

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Liveblog: Uruguay vs South Korea, Round of 16

Posted: 26 Jun 2010 04:58 AM PDT

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Welcome to the liveblog of Uruguay vs South Korea. The first knockout game of World Cup 2010. Read up on the match with our Uruguay vs South Korea preview.

If you’ve been enjoying our liveblogs (and we hope you have) then please help promote this post by clicking either the Facebook like or retweet buttons in the top right corner.

Spanish speaking fans of La Celeste might want to try Esteban’s liveblog en Español over at the Uruguay blog. If you don’t fall into that category, then stick with us here on the frontpage.


Goal videos:

Bet on Uruguay vs. South Korea

Don’t just take our word on the match. Check out match comments from carefully selected Twitter accounts:

FAN RESOURCES

 

Uruguay
Uruguay Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Uruguay Jerseys | Uruguay Tickets

 

South Korea Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
South Korea Jerseys | South Korea Tickets


Is Your Team Out? Get Behind One of the Last 16

Posted: 26 Jun 2010 01:16 AM PDT

bandwagonThe knockout rounds are here, and for those of us obsessed with football, this is our Christmas. 16 teams are left, and every time a match ends, one team moves on and one goes home, until we crown a new World Cup champion. But for fans of the 16 teams now eliminated from the chance to hoist that trophy, it can be a depressing time. Hopes were high, sometimes unrealistically high. Maybe tickets were bought for matches that faithful fans just knew their side would make. If you’re one of those sides that finds themselves on the outside of the round of 16 looking in, it’s time to pick your second (or is it third) side, and get behind one of the remaining teams. The alternative is not to watch, or not to root for anyone, and that’s just madness.

Here are the 16 teams and a quick explanation of why you should support them in the next round. We’ve also included links to their blog and social media accounts, to help you follow them.

Argentina : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they score a lot of goals, they have the best player in the world in Leo Messi, and their manager is completely insane, in a very entertaining way.

Brazil : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because a combination of forwards like Robinho and Fabiano and a strong defense anchored by one of the best goalkeepers in football is one that might very well lead to a sixth star on their jersey. Also, hot fans and drums.

Chile : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they play good-looking (dare I say sexy?) attacking football. They will attack Brazil, and that’s commendable. But will it work?

England : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they are the closest neighbor to the country that invented the game, and are certainly responsible for spreading it to mainland Europe. Also, because a country so obsessed with a game ought to win it every 50 years or so. In all seriousness, though, the strength of their domestic league makes them one of the great football supporter nations – you’ll have plenty of company.

Germany : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because unless you were Australian, you loved watching how well Germany moved the ball in their opening match. While other countries whine about the Jabulani ball, zee Germans have been practicing with it. Also, if you aren’t going to support England, supporting Germany is a very good way to make that abundantly clear.

Ghana : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they are the last African side in the first World Cup in Africa. If you need a better reason than that, you haven’t talked to an African football fan lately. The continent is desperate for a knockout win.

Japan : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because their fans like to dress up like Samurai, and their team is called the Blue Samurai, which is undeniably very cool. They also happen to play a tight, organized game and are the best side in the World Cup so far on set pieces.

Mexico : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Fans in sombreros? Check. Also, if you’re a Manchester United fan but not an England one, you’ve got new signing Chicharito to get behind.

Netherlands : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because the Oranje have the potential to be one of the best teams to watch in this tournament. Their attacking options could fill at least two full teams, and even when they don’t fire on all cylinders, they just win. Also, if you have an Orange shirt, you’re in – simple color schemes for the win.

Paraguay : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they are fun to watch, and are one of a few South American sides that are really turning heads at this tournament. Also, the red and white striped Waldo socks are going to be all the rage. You heard it here first.

Portugal : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because when they come up against the best teams, they can hold strong against them, with a defense that hasn’t yet given up a goal. And when they face poorer teams, they absolutely crush them. Who doesn’t want to see that?

Slovakia : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* If you are not a fan of Italy, this is the team that knocked them out. And they did it in one of the most dramatic matches in recent years. If you are a fan of Italy, won’t it look better to be knocked out by a team that does well in the knockouts? Plus, the player who had to come off with a gash to his knee and then refused to let his manager substitute him made one of the great scenes in this World Cup so far.

South Korea : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they are the one Korea you can root for and not feel guilty or at least conflicted about it. Also, the way their fans packed into the streets of Seoul to watch them play in the groups suggests that the support seen during the 2002 World Cup was not a one-time thing.

Spain : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they are probably the most talented team at this World Cup. This is a midfield that Cesc Fabregas can’t start on, and that is insane. They’ve already stumbled, and look to be finding their better form. Also, La Furia Roja is a great, great nickname.

Uruguay : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they have two forwards in Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez who have combined for approximately nine billion goals in the last two years. And despite all that quality going forward, they also didn’t concede a single goal in the groups. That’s quality.

United States : Blog / Facebook / Twitter
* Because they are a great story – plucky, lots of heart, and some karma coming from all the bad calls against them in the group stage. Plus, some of you reading this are Americans who support other countries in football. That’s fine, but now’s the time to get behind the Yanks as well.


The World Cup Round of 16 Draft for Eliminated Players

Posted: 26 Jun 2010 12:00 AM PDT

etooWith the group stage of World Cup 2010 over, we have to say goodbye to 16 of the 32 teams. That’s 368 players whose World Cup adventure is finished just two weeks after it began. Which is a shame, because some of those players deserve to stay and play in South Africa, and some of the surviving 16 teams could use their services.

So taking our cue from Dave Chapelle’s Racial Draft, Chris and myself formed an impromptu World Cup 2010 Draft Committee, and allocated one player from each eliminated team to each of the 16 remaining teams. Here are our picks:


Argentina: Nemanja Vidic (Serbia)
Nothing wrong with Argentina’s defence so far, but pairing the shaven head and scary face of Nemanja Vidic with the shaven head and scary face of Walter Samuel proved irresistible.

Brazil: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Dunga is clearly unwilling to deviate from his double defensive midfielder formation, and so the Brazilian public are left complaining in vain about the lack of beautiful football. Andrea Pirlo solves both problems. He can sit deep in Dunga’s formation, but he can also play some pretty football.

Chile: David Suazo (Honduras)
Chile already has Humberto Suazo, but is still in need of goals. Clearly La Roja need to double their Suazo.

England: Diego Benaglio (Switzerland)
This was arguably the most obvious choice. England needs a goalkeeper that people will respect, and Diego Benaglio has had an outstanding tournament. Now all Fabio Capello needs is a time machine and he can pick Benaglio to play in goal vs USA instead of Rob Green.

Germany: Taye Taiwo (Nigeria)
Germany’s most obvious weakness appears to be left back, where Jogi Loew has so far tried young Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng (who seems to be more of a centre back), but Taiwo is an experienced international left back with a rocket launcher for a left foot.

Ghana: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
Ghana needs goals. Though the Black Stars made the Round of 16, they’ve so far failed to score from open play. Asamoah Gyan penalty kicks will only take you so far. Having Samuel Eto’o playing ahead of that talented Ghanaian midfield will take you much further.

Japan: Jong-Tae Se (North Korea)
Jong was the North Korean striker who blubbed through the national anthem in North Korea’s first game, but he was actually born in Japan to South Korean parents. This will be something of a homecoming.

Mexico: Jeremy Toulalan (France)
French players didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory this World Cup, but Toulalan looked a steady presence anchoring the midfield. Mexico could use some of that. Plus his grey hair might make Cuauhtémoc Blanco feel a little younger.

Netherlands: Dennis Rommedahl (Denmark)
Arjen Robben might be back from injury, but you know that hamstring will snap again the second Robben does anything above a jog. Dennis Rommedahl is the perfect spare.

Paraguay: Alexandros Tzorvas (Greece)
Justo Villar may be Paraguay’s captain. But Greece keeper Tzorvas kept the score down in Group B, and somehow stopped Leo Messi from scoring.

Portugal: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Portugal has needed a powerful centre forward for longer than I can remember. Now they have Didier Drogba. Someone pass them the World Cup.

South Korea: Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa)
Not an obvious fit, but we like to think Tshabalala would be welcomed into this South Korea team with open arms, and that scrunchy sales on Seoul will increase 1,000%.

Slovakia: Robert Koren (Slovenia)
Because casual World Cup viewers think Koren’s been playing for Slovakia all along.

Spain: Nadir Belhadj (Algeria)
Current Spain left back Joan Capdevila is not a bad footballer. He might even be a better footballer than Algeria’s left back But we think Vicente Del Bosque should at least have the option to deploy Nadir Belhadj instead, since Belhadj’s forward excursions are way more exciting than anything Capdevila has to offer.

Uruguay: Tim Cahill (Uruguay)
Seems odd that Uruguay have been playing Diego Forlan behind two strikers. I’d prefer to see Forland further forward, and Cahill in La Celeste’s attacking midfield role.

USA: Ryan Nelsen (New Zealand)
Big American defender Oguchi Onyewu has not looked his best for the USA. So much so that he was dropped for the game against Algeria. But similarly sized New Zealand captain Nelsen impressed every time he played for the All Whites. Also, Nelsen spent four seasons in MLS with DC United, so should be able to fit in the US squad without disrupting team spirit.


For the record, there wasn’t a system of who picked first or anything. It was just a case of matching players with teams. And I’m sure you disagree with us already. So who do you think should have gone where?


Ten Fearless Knockout Round Predictions

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT

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The knockouts are upon us in the strangest World Cup in recent memory – just take a look at the teams participating.

With the knockouts the absurdity will begin which, if the groups are any sort of indication, may mean South Africa will be swallowed into the Earth roundabout the semifinals. Fortunately, we’ve got the whole thing planned out just in case.

Ten (somewhat) fearless predictions:

I. Spain will score a goal.

It sounds awfully cheap, doesn’t it? But Portugal have yet to concede in this World Cup, only one of two teams to do so, and have only shipped two in the last calendar year. That’s a pretty impressive defensive record – which won’t last.

II. Uruguay will make the semifinals.

This might be cheap too, given the competition they have – one of Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana or the US will make the semis. They’ve still looked a properly good football team with a solid defense, no goals conceded, a very sound midfield and an attack which can find goals from nothing, spearheaded by Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. but perhaps most importantly: they’ve showed tactical versatility with quality. They can roll with the opponent.

(Until Brazil rolls them.)

III. No more than one European team will make it through to the semifinals.

It’s been a very poor showing for club football’s biggest continent, and it’s about to get worse: all six European teams play one another in the round of 16, which means only three will make it to the quarterfinals. Two teams standing in their way to the semifinals include Argentina and Brazil, with only the winner of Portugal and Spain facing Paraguay or Japan.

You can guess which team we’re betting on.

IV. England will lose on PKs.

England, meet your worst nightmare (not named Ricardo):


V. Argentina will win a game with ten men.

It might be Mexico, or it might not. Regardless, they will go down to ten men and they will win a game…as Diego Maradona takes off defenders and fires on attackers, not understanding the concept.

The early money’s on Gabriel Heinze. Any takers?

VI. Japan will beat Paraguay; Takeshi Okada will be offered contract renewal.

Paraguay’s looked good, but Japan’s looked better by the game, and that’s dangerous. They’ve even found out how to get the ball into the back of the net with regularity – just win a deadball situation from 35 yards on in. They’re defensively excellent, tactically disciplined and the greatest example of “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” at this World Cup. They’re also better than any team Paraguay has faced thus far.

And it’ll earn Okada his chance to move on if he so chooses, just weeks after he offered his resignation. (Will they get to the semifinals? Well…)

VII. David Villa will win the Golden Boot.

Cheap!

Yes, but it’s true. (With six – that better?)

VIII. A game will be decided on an erroneous offside decision; FIFA will still dismiss video replay.

Any candidates for the game? Netherlands versus Slovakia sounded decent enough until Arjen Robben got a run out; now keeping that to one goal seems impossible. Maybe Argentina versus Mexico? Nah, seems like Messi will create enough – and finally score a goal (bonus!) – in order to fend off nasty one goal victories.

How about Spain versus Portugal? And it’ll be Villa. Which will help him win the scoring prize. (That’s about eight predictions in one. Lap it up.)

IX. Messi will win the Golden Ball, but Argentina won’t win the tournament.

Just like ‘06, the Golden Ball winner will come from a losing team. Unlike ‘06, Messi won’t headbutt a defender on the way off the pitch.

Though it’d be funny to see him nail someone mid-thigh.


X. It will still be just like watchin’ Brazil.

Watching them hoist a trophy, that is. Both Daryl and I picked them to start, and nothing’s changed. They’ve still go all the right pieces – particularly if Felipe Melo picks up a key suspension.

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The Group Stage is Over, So Now the Real World Cup Can Begin…

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 06:49 PM PDT

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Image: FIFA

That headline makes it sound like I hated the group stages. I did’t. I enjoyed the group stages. They were an enjoyable way to whittle the World Cup down from 32 to 16 teams, and there was plenty of fun along the way. But we all know the knockout rounds are better. For all kinds of reasons.

Chief of which is the fact that from here on out every single game matters. Every game will have a winner and a loser. Winner goes forward, loser goes home. No draws.

For the very uninitiated, any game that’s tied after 90 minutes in the knockout rounds of the World Cup goes to extra time. The teams play an extra 30 exhausted minutes, where players on their last legs are equally capable of producing horrible lapses in concentration and breathtaking moments of glory. Both of which will be remembered forever.

If there’s still no winner after 120 minutes, it’s a penalty shootout. The horrible drama of a penalty shootout, which is not only guaranteed to produce a winner, it also guarantees that one player from the losing team will be singled out to take the blame. Harsh. But great viewing. Enjoy.


Soundoff: Did Fernando Torres Dive?

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 05:37 PM PDT

Hopefully we can all agree that Chile’s Marco Estrada did not deserve to be sent off for the above incident. Even though he was. Seems that whatever contact he made with Spain’s Fernando Torres – if any at all – was accidental. So referee Marco Rodriguez got it wrong.

The only question for me: How complicit was Fernando Torres complicit in this unjust sending off? Did Torres just trip over his own feet, or did he dive? The only evidence we have is the YouTube video above, and the .gif below:


I’d say the .gif is the more incriminating for Torres, but that may be due to the fact it has him stuck in some sort of time loop, falling down for ever. The YouTube video suggests to me that Torres ran acorss Estrada’s path accidentally, causing El Nino to innocently trip over his own feet. What do you think?


Preview: USA vs. Ghana, Round of 16

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 04:06 PM PDT

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THE BIG PICTURE
After an incredibly dramatic group stage that saw emotions shift from anger to sadness to joy at remarkable pace, the USA has qualified for the World Cup round of 16 and won Group C. The bad calls, poor finishing and all of the other problems for the Yanks were briefly forgotten when Landon Donovan sank that injury-time winner over Algeria. Now it’s on to the knockouts, to face an opponent that US fans will remember well – Ghana. It was the last match of their 2006 World Cup group when Ghana eliminated the USA on a late penalty from Steven Appiah. The Yanks will be out for revenge, as well as to prove that they can hang with the big boys on the biggest stage.

Ghana has a whole different set of motivations. Despite not scoring a goal from open play in their three group matches, and coming into the tournament without their biggest star Michael Essien, the Black Stars enter this match as the last African team alive in Africa’s World Cup. No pressure, guys. The Bafana Bafana fans and their vuvuzelas have moved on from their team’s elimination and put much of their support behind Ghana, so they will be very much the home side.