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Okay, I love soccer, played it when I was younger, and my son plays. I understand soccer, but this whole points thing with the World Cup blows my mind! How is it possible that the US played as badly as they've played and yet still have a chance to move on if they beat Ghana? Can anyone explain how the points work in this round of games? And what the groupings are, and how they're decided?
I think this is why it hasn't caught on in America - we don't like things that make us feel stupid! :p
Win = 3 points
Tie = 1 point
Loss = 0 points
If Italy beats the Czechs, and the US beats Ghana, then the final standings would be
Italy 7 points
US 4 points
Czech 3 points
Ghana 3 points
The top 2 teams from each group moves on
Check this site for the standings of Group E
http://www.google.com/ig?source=wcob
Hope this helps
I know nothing about the world cup either, but my roomate is brazilan and he is crazy about it. I did find you a link to help you out though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup
To add to what devpon said: the goal difference becomes important when points are equal...
And also: The US were great against Italy, imo...
You know..I'm freaking sick of the refs and the yellow cards. It's just out of control. They hand out an average of 5 per game they're saying. That's just insane.
As far as the points goes..yeah what they said.
I believe the reason they are giving out so many yellow cards is to cut out on the sillyness .. like diving coughs *Italy* ... whining about a refs call *Italy* , tackling etc etc etc ...
As for the U.S.A. doing great against Italy .. I beg to differ they just got lucky ... ;)
As for how the point system works The_Texans link does a good job at explaining it ..
Perfect! Concise and easy to understand, thank you!Quote:
Originally posted here by devpon
Win = 3 points
Tie = 1 point
Loss = 0 points
If Italy beats the Czechs, and the US beats Ghana, then the final standings would be
Italy 7 points
US 4 points
Czech 3 points
Ghana 3 points
The top 2 teams from each group moves on
Check this site for the standings of Group E
http://www.google.com/ig?source=wcob
Hope this helps
Texan, I don't know why I didn't think of checking wiki - D'oh! That was a great link, thank you. I had no idea that the qualifying goes on for almost all of the 3 years leading up to every World Cup year.
Neg - when the only goal you score to get to a tie game is scored by the opposing team for you, I don't count it as a really great performance. :p
As I mentioned before, my son plays soccer. When he chose soccer over baseball, my husband was ready to gouge his eyes out - til he learned more about the game, and now he really enjoys it. It made me laugh today, cause we were watching the Korea/France game, and he looked at me and said "You know, watching this, it really doesn't surprise me that most people think American Football is a game for wusses". This is very close to treason to him, so I was amazed he said it. I think he's just about a complete convert now. ;)
Debs,
The reason we say the US done well was that a) for the ball to go in someone had to kick it in the right direction regardless of who it touched last. B) Everyone was sure that the US would get hammer by Italy.
The US played well not to have lost that game and I would say Italy was lucky to get a draw. So you can be rightly proud of the US in that match.
For those of you that look down on the US's play against Italy...
The game of football is won and lost in midfield. The team that controls midfield wins the game. During the first 20 minutes, (up until the silliness with the cards began), the USA controlled the entire game but, most significantly, they were dominating midfield. They were playing with confidence and were being innovative when trying to penetrate Italy's defense. Italy could only pass the ball from the rear to the front, (risking offside calls every time)... If they took the ball into midfield they invariably lost possession. Even after the cards fiasco the USA, (a team that Italy _should_ have walked all over), managed to hold Italy to a tie with only 9 men - which means that even though they were only 1 player down everyone has to run even more than usual.
It was a very good performance despite the best efforts of a referee that was banned from World Cup refereeing in 2002 and should never be allowed to ref a game above kindergarten level again... He was nothing short of atrocious...
I thought the US/Italy game was good, until like TS mentions the stupid cards, the Italians though based upon their league play are notorious defenders, so the US got a lucky strike, but to play with only 9 men and hold Italy off is a good result, and I like that fact as it opened the whole group up so that the last game is "very" important. Unlike some of the other groups where the last game is now meaningless.
The Brazilians look like they are in second gear right now, which is scary when you think about it.The French game was hilarious, they score for like the first time in 8 games and can't even hold off the Koreans who I thought played really well, and their fan support is terrific.
The next round is the best round from here on as they are 1 game knockouts, so if you don't bring your "A" game then it's goodbye...
I think the team to watch is the Argentinians, based upon their last result, but who knows, will be a good test match tomorrow UK/Sweden.....
Yeah Brazil play like they are all stonned!
And fat boy Ronaldo is as much use as a bong in a convent full of nun's.
Im only a bit miffed as I put £40 on em to win!! Don't think Ranaldo will be on the starting line up for Brazil again.
The argie's certainly are playing the best - but the gool ol' UK have got Roooooooooooooney back now, which will do good for the mental side of the game.
I fancy england - argentina in the final.
*ahem* I think you will find that is England / Sweeden my uneducated canadian friend.... cant be getting us muddled up with those wierd people up north or to the West...they do things with animals that are just plain wrong!Quote:
will be a good test match tomorrow UK/Sweden.....
By West you are talking about the Welsh right?..... :DQuote:
cant be getting us muddled up with those wierd people up north or to the West...they do things with animals that are just plain wrong!
Sh*t I almost missed thisso what part of "England" is Rooooooney from Lol... :D oh right North Manchester, what's the sheep like up there....? ;)Quote:
The argie's certainly are playing the best - but the gool ol' UK have got Roooooooooooooney back now
Nokia, at least we don't do them to each other
Lol Dalek..well it just so happens I am in North Manchester right now.....so...erm...will let you know after lunch! :DQuote:
so what part of "England" is Rooooooney from Lol... oh right North Manchester, what's the sheep like up there....?
Although Brazil is playing slow games...... but they still have the chance of winning because luck is favoring them, one can see that from the last game there were almost 2 open shots in which even DIDA was not in screen and Ausies missed them.
For winning you should have luck on your side...... Well Argentina is playing good game and they has a chance to go into the final...... England exactly the same way like Brazil not playing the way people hopeing them to play.
Brazil/Czech, Argentina, Portugal & Tunisia/ Italy These are my predictions for Semi-finals.
Bloody fast runners...........................gets a bit itchy after a while too.........4/10 ..Quote:
Quote:
so what part of "England" is Rooooooney from Lol... oh right North Manchester, what's the sheep like up there....?
Lol Dalek..well it just so happens I am in North Manchester right now.....so...erm...will let you know after lunch!
The world cup is going on?
J/K :D
ROFLMAO....anyone else not from the US and I would be surprised... :eek: ...World Series in a couple of months, figure you may need some heads up on that one.... :cool:Quote:
The cards wouldn't have come out if both of the teams hadn't gone all Emo on the field ...
As for whoever made the comment about Ronaldo being pretty much well useless .. Watch how many defenders surround him once he gets the ball .... Before someone replies with ,"well he pretty much well does nothing with the ball ..." The point being is that when Ronaldo does get a good hold of the ball he can make great plays and can be pretty much well unstoppable .. Not only that if you have 2-3 guys defending him .. What happens when he does make a play ?? Who's covering his other team mates ?? ;) When he passes them the ball ...
As for who will take it I am rooting for Brazil all the way .. ;)
If that does end up being the 2 final teams which I highly doubt it ... maybe Argentina .. I fancy that Argentina will have a field day with England ... :pQuote:
I fancy england - argentina in the final.
Considering (and I could be wrong) the best we have ever done is 3rd place.... actually the world cup IS a big deal. It's only around every few years and it stirs some good competition among cultures. Unless your American, they we just PRAY the team does well. :pQuote:
ROFLMAO....anyone else not from the US and I would be surprised...
Brazil dominates. Every couple of cups it's Brazil. The only good thing out of Brazil is Sepultura. :D The best year is 1966. Because England won the world cup and Mini Coopers "won" the Monte Carlo; 1,2,3. And that race is the real reason people hate the French.
Off topic a wee bit but no more than the mini cooper thing... :D
Were those chickens on France's jerseys yesterday? And if so, what marketing genius came up with that?
France......Chickens.......very apt!Quote:
Were those chickens on France's jerseys yesterday?
The Germans, Italians, Americans, British, Russians....take your pick!:DQuote:
And if so, what marketing genius came up with that
MMM France ... Chickens... Coq au Vin!!!!!
It could be "what's for dinner" if it didn't take 3 days to make. And you don't shortcut good food!
Hey at least you guy's can put a team into the tournament, I think our only showing was 1982, just think how big it could be if it sold in the US....but it's probably like Canada, half the country follows the tournament because most of them are from those countries, half of TO is Italian and the other half is Brazillian...:-)Quote:
Originally posted here by RoadClosed
[B]Considering (and I could be wrong) the best we have ever done is 3rd place.... actually the world cup IS a big deal. It's only around every few years and it stirs some good competition among cultures. Unless your American, they we just PRAY the team does well. :p
I actually saw the game between the US and Italy, it was pretty good. I could only watch it in spanish, so I'm not certain about the calls made--particuarlly where one Italian pretended to be hurt then ran back on the feild very shortly after. I believe he was the reason the US got denied that goal? Once more, entirely unsure--no hable espaniol.
Actually the bird on the french shirts is a rooster. they have been using it for ever.
Road you are absoulutly right you dont take short cuts on good food.
Dalek
It might make a differance in Canada if it sold in the US but it wouldn't make any differance to the competition itself. The world cup is already about the biggest sporting event outside of the summer olympics. It wouldn't even make much differance to the number of viewers.Quote:
just think how big it could be if it sold in the US
No, what I meant by that was with approx 330 Million Americans, they would have no problem fielding a team that could dominate the soccer scene, if tiny Ecuador can field a top notch team then a country as big as the US should do well? they don't follow through from high school same with us, once school is over that's it, no junior leagues to persue a professional career, not enough solid leagues in North America..travel time sucks, if they could have divisions based upon the European models, then they would be able to supply a team of high calibre, same with Canada, but after school and maybe college sport where do they go?Quote:
Originally posted here by MURACU
Actually the bird on the french shirts is a rooster. they have been using it for ever.
Road you are absoulutly right you dont take short cuts on good food.
Dalek
It might make a differance in Canada if it sold in the US but it wouldn't make any differance to the competition itself. The world cup is already about the biggest sporting event outside of the summer olympics. It wouldn't even make much differance to the number of viewers.
True the main thing missing in the US for football is a proffessional structure. Untill they have that it will always be a suprise to see the US doing well in major tournements. I should have said in mens soccer as the ladies soccer team in the US is one of the top 5 in the world.
Yeah their women's team got the jump on the rest of the world, but Germany seem to be hanging onto top spot, I think it's thanks to the generous college/university scholorship programs they have in the states, our women's team doesn't do too badly either.The rest are catching up though, and I think the ones to watch will be the Chinese....now there's a country that if pushed to excel at soccer could do so in a big way, the qualifying in Asia for the World CUp over the last decade has gotten tougher, and the teams are getting better (Japan, Korea even Australia).Quote:
Originally posted here by MURACU
True the main thing missing in the US for football is a proffessional structure. Untill they have that it will always be a suprise to see the US doing well in major tournements. I should have said in mens soccer as the ladies soccer team in the US is one of the top 5 in the world.
The next World Cup in South Africa will be an interesting event.Players thought some of the days in Germany were "hot" Lol...wait until they go out onto the pitch in South Africa.. :D
The goal was denied because of McBride being offside. It was probably the only good call the ref made...Quote:
I believe he was the reason the US got denied that goal? Once more, entirely unsure--no hable espaniol.
And dalek > there's 330 million Americans? :D
lol...okay 295 Million Americans and 35 Million Canadians, too much O'Reilly I guess...ooops I should have added 106 million Mexicans....= 436 million.... :eek: :DQuote:
That's true we never count the mexic.. oh sorry latinos.
Even better for Coq au Vin!!!!!Quote:
Actually the bird on the french shirts is a rooster.
It was formulated to take care of that tired old rooster hanging out on the farm. Classic. I need a rooster, some Burgundy, and a pot. Don't skimp on the wine and don't follow any recipe that doesn't take a couple of days. Otherwise go get a Big Mac or Royal with cheese. :D
There are some semi pro AND pro leagues in the us. But no one watches them, at least not in huge numbers. We are too preoccupied with Hockey, Football (NFL), Baseball, and Basketball. We have a "soccer" team here that is still going and perhaps growing a little. The Colorado Rapids a team in the Major Soccer League.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/index.asp
They just got a new stadium so they must not be doing too bad in fan turnout. But compare that to the imense I refuse to say Invesco Field at MILE HIGH. Where they share the field.
http://www.invescofieldatmilehigh.com/
No matter what they have on their shirts (it's a rooster indeed), I just saw a brilliant French team kick some Spanish butt... Zidane was brilliant, Ribery was pure genius, and if Henri can avoid off-side situations, they'll send the Brazilians home, too (and if they play like they played against Ghana, they'll be humiliated).
Just finished watching that game as well, Brazil will eat France alive, I'm dissapointed in Henry as he play's for the gunner's and the way he dived made me ill, hate seeing teams lose because of stupid calls (Australia). :mad:
Are we talking about the same thing here? France versus Spain? Where Spain got a dubious penalty goal?
negative the penalty was justified even the french commentaters agreed with it and that takes some doing. Having said that it was a good match and france deserved the win this time.
Yep same game, Henry on the replay clearly dived and drew the free kick which set up the second goal, if they hadn't of scored that one I am willing to bet Spain would have prevailed.Quote:
Originally posted here by Negative
Are we talking about the same thing here? France versus Spain? Where Spain got a dubious penalty goal?
Anyhow for Spain I think they had a better tournament and deserved to go through more then the French did.They have some young talent and will be a team to watch in the coming years, France are getting old and tired and it's no longer 98...
Oh and the penalty awarded Spain was the right call..
I shouldn't have called it dubious, because it was indeed justified. I only brought it up because dalek brings up Henry's dive and in one breath mentions teams loosing because of stupid calls when Spain's only goal came from a silly penalty (it was a dumb French mistake in a phase that would never have led to a goal). A lot of the opinions in this thread seem to be based more on the country than on the team... I saw a very decent France, and a great, fair game - I didn't see a great Brazil earlier today...
neg you shouldn't be suprised about that it is fashionable to slam france regardeless.
What's the difference then between stupid and silly?, either way a call made by a referee resulted in a game being decided on a foul, the Australian one I mentioned was clearly a non-call, Italy gets off scott free on that one, the Spanish penalty kick was right, Henry's dive was wrong, what am I missing here?Quote:
I only brought it up because dalek brings up Henry's dive and in one breath mentions teams loosing because of stupid calls when Spain's only goal came from a silly penalty
The game Saturday between Brazil and France will be a rematch of sorts, but I'm putting the odds with Brazil...
And if I am "slamming France" it's because they played a terrible tournament, and are plain lucky to be this far, period. ;)