World Cup 2010 (that's interesting)

JM1 · 2010-07-02T09:16:21.000Z

The Dutch side is a pretty defensive unit, though. They play two DMs in De Jongh and Van Bommel, Kuyt is no winger and they rely on Robben and Sneijder a hell of a lot. They’ve been like this all tournament, it’s only when they gamble and bring on Elia / Affelay that they really go at teams.

The sudden wave of Dutch attacks was more down to Brazil being a man down but still pouring forward to try and get the equaliser.

And Brazil certainly didn’t give up at 1-0 - they were comfortably the better team at that stage.

I’ll leave the suggestion about teams going 1-0 up and switching off, or giving up after going one-nil down. It’s pretty contradictory and there’s plenty of evidence to suggest you’re not really on the money here.

JM1 · 2010-07-02T09:16:59.000Z

MikeP:

Why do people call these fouls “cynical?” Cynical usually means distrustful of people’s motives, which doesn’t really seem to apply to football. Maybe a ref could be cynical. Wouldn’t these fouls better be called aggressive or desperate?

Selfishly or callously calculating

triggercut · 2010-07-02T09:31:41.000Z

My buddy reports that the bars in midtown Manhattan were filled with fans in both yellow and orange–with the orange surprisingly in the majority. He also offers this pithy observation, having seen numerous women decked out in replica kits today: “If they had a world cup of ass, Holland and Brazil would meet in the final every time.”

Rock8man · 2010-07-02T09:55:39.000Z

I’m still shocked. Something always happens in matches like this, and Brazil doesn’t lose. Maybe goalkeeper error, or an own goal by the Netherlands, defender error, sometimes striker brilliance, something. Something always seems to happen for Brazil in matches like this in the World Cup. But it didn’t today.

Ignatius_P_Reilly · 2010-07-02T10:14:25.000Z

Great match. Melo might not ever be able to set foot inside Brazil again.

Brandon_Clements · 2010-07-02T10:17:56.000Z

bandidoquest:

This is totally deserved, I always said that it’s absurd that Dunga made Brazil play like Italy. I only hope that our new manager will be able to make us play a beautiful game like we (almost) always did. This is one of the worst teams we ever had. A shame, really.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Dunga or Melo aren’t allowed back in the country. You base your plan on winning ugly (which you don’t really have to do and against a lot of people’s wishes) ,you better win.

Also:

The Guardian Minute by Minute:

One last word on jogo bullshitto, and it goes to Geoffrey Smith: “So, pre 1982, playing the original beautiful game, they won three out of seven tournaments AND won the world’s hearts. Since 1982, they’ve won two out of seven and betrayed everything they and everyone else loved about them. A good trade, do you think?”

bandidoquest · 2010-07-02T10:59:21.000Z

That’s a great line by The Guardian and totally true. Dunga never understood the fact that everyone talks about the 1982 team even though they weren’t champions and nobody cares about the 1994 team. It’s a shame that this is the kind of spirit we have has on Brazil in the past 20 years or so (I really like the 2002 team, though).

Skipper · 2010-07-02T11:01:38.000Z

I really can’t wait to see if (tosses coin) Uruguay wins this. Actually, after the US loss, I think I’m going to pile on ABG, “anybody but Ghana.”

bandidoquest · 2010-07-02T11:04:29.000Z

I know that it’s going to be veeeery difficult, but I really want Uruguay to win this now, mainly because they have Diego Lugano which is a legend on my club (São Paulo FC).

robsam · 2010-07-02T11:09:29.000Z

I favor Uruguay, the US would have beaten Ghana if they had a forward capable of actually, you know, finishing and Uruguay has two of those in Forlan and Suarez. I’ll be surprised if Ghana wins, maybe the home continent advantage will carry them through but I don’t see it. (Just saw Boateng will be playing, I thought he was out but I still think Uruguay is better.)

Skipper · 2010-07-02T11:36:28.000Z

Argh, missed opportunity.

JD · 2010-07-02T11:36:54.000Z

My money’s on Uruguay, too.

Skipper · 2010-07-02T12:12:09.000Z

Geez, there is some great defense going on this game.

robsam · 2010-07-02T12:12:32.000Z

The first 27 minutes it was all Uruguay, Ghana didn’t look like they belonged on the same field, since then Ghana has been much more dangerous.

robsam · 2010-07-02T12:16:19.000Z

Fucile took a bit of a tumble there. Wow.

bandidoquest · 2010-07-02T12:19:34.000Z

bandidoquest:

I know that it’s going to be veeeery difficult, but I really want Uruguay to win this now, mainly because they have Diego Lugano which is a legend on my club (São Paulo FC).

Aaand he’s injured.

Soren_Hoglund · 2010-07-02T12:19:45.000Z

It was his own damn fault, but seeing a player completely immobile after a fall like that is never fun.

Edit: Ghana takes the lead! This is going to be tough for Uruguay.

JD · 2010-07-02T12:19:47.000Z

Ghanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 1-0

Skipper · 2010-07-02T12:20:27.000Z

robsam:

The first 27 minutes it was all Uruguay, Ghana didn’t look like they belonged on the same field, since then Ghana has been much more dangerous.

You called it. Goal.

robsam · 2010-07-02T12:21:25.000Z

Have to hand it to them, they have dominated since the 28th minute, Uruguay may regret not getting a goal at the beginning when they were making Ghana look like amateurs.