meazza

I think the next game at 10 EST will be interest. Spain vs Switzerland. I would like to see how well Spain play. I think they will destroy Switzerland to be honest but you never know. Seems all the favourites are coming out flat.

Watching Fox news while waiting for Seinfeld to start. As they were showing anti Arizona protests, one of the people interviewed said, "the poor undocumented immigrants are afraid to come outside because of this law" Isn't that effectively the purpose of the law to get rid undocumented immigrants?

Good to see that you're following I think the US could advance from their group. I think this is England's World Cup. I hope we reach the semi's.

Gee what a surprise that they would bash an Italian coach http://g.ca.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-...p-notebook.html

There are two Ronaldo's. Cristiano Ronaldo who plays for Portugal and is considered one of the best in the world and Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima who retired from Brazil International Football in 2006 I believe and was one of the best in the world.

Give Ronaldo space and you're dead. That shot was sick. I still can't guess who will pass that group. Brazil will for sure but Ivory Coast and Portugal played well. Portugal's coach is an idiot though.

TBH i don't know why gattuso is there. He seriously had a terrible season. He was great in his youth but I think his age has caught up to him. I don't think you'll see him unless De Rossi gets injured (please no )

He is the best defender in the world by far. Always has been. When he challenges play, he does it so perfectly. There is so much confidence that he won't even come close to causing a foul. Better than Cannavaro. By far, Cannavaro, Maldini, Nesta and Zambrotta was the best defensive line ever. Too bad Nesta's injury woes slowed down his career. I say this without bias.

Defense falls strictly on coaching. Cannavaro played for Real Madrid and Juventus and their defense often looked shaky. All of a sudden he's playing for Italy and he looks like he's 25 again? Having quality players helps but it falls # 1 on coaching. You should be happy that Ohneyu (sp?) was groomed by Nesta. A better role model, you will never find.

I noticed there so far has been so many errors. I think the defenses have really gotten better since 2006. You think the fact that a defensive team won in 2006 had anything to do with it

Keeper failed to cover his angle. You would never get that passed a guy like Casillas or Buffon.

Well I'm not a coach but the manager might make certain players go forward more etc. Depends on how much space. They might also change formation during the game. I'm sure there is plenty. I have friends who are coaches and they would probably be able to explain it better than i am. (Can you tell I'm really not busy at work )

Non sports fans will never understand these kind of decisions. We wait all this time to watch these games, spend money on jerseys, caps, nice TV's and everything and have to forego watching a crucial game because someone else feels their "event" is more important. If the bills ever make the playoffs again, i don't think anything could make me miss it

Formations are pretty much the biggest impact of games. For example, 4-4-2 or 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3 etc can really have an impact on how your midfield does. Playing with 4-4-2 for example means you're depending on your two wingers to come in and cross on the other hand. Playing 4-3-1-2 allows to have one creative mdifielder and using the 2 wing backs to run up and down the flanks. That creates a risk of having two defenders tired against counter attacks. Some coaches try to put their weakest defenders on certain players as they know that a certain player will not be able to create (i.e. the coach feels he's overrated) allowing another player to be double teamed. 11 on 11 soccer is quite strategic. On the other hand 5 on 5 soccer is not. The last world cup and biggest soccer tournaments was won by the better coaches. Flashier teams like Argentina, Barcelona, Brazil etc have been unsuccessful once they play against a good coach. There's a reason for that.

Man those Koreans are defending for their lives. I could care less about politics at the moment, I don't want Brazil to win.

He plays for A.C. Milan which is one of the worlds most renowned teams. Not like he plays for Dubai or something ... He just had a terrible year and there were better options. On the other hand, I would have brought Alexandre Pato.

You're right. It's Brazil 5 Italy 4 Germany 3 Come on Lippi!

He does get fouled a lot though, more than the average player. If the ref let's them get away with it, player will try and draw the foul. Soccer is not a contact sport. Portugal played strategically today. A loss would have knocked them out of the tournament. 1 point today, try and tie Brazil and destroy North Korea. Can't say i blame them.

I think that the World Cup is a bad indicator of if the rules are effective or not. I watch this stuff every weekend and sometimes intra week during Champions league and it is quite offensive. It does happen that games finish 0-0 and it does also happen that games finish 4-2. The reason being that these guys play together all year and are more effective of moving the ball. How effective is an NFL offense if it just meets a few times a year and for a summer? Would they be able to move the ball effectively? Once you reach the later stages, teams are very scared to make a mistake so they play cautiously. I understand your rule changes but I think the game should be looked at closer in the league play as the World Cup is not a good sample of the sport.

RIP Classiest guy ever.

Brazil has no flaws. I fear they will have a 7th star on their gold shirt.

I'm still not sold on Portugal passing that group. Ronaldo has often been surrounded by superstars. Right now, he's the only one. As I keep watching this tournament, I'm convinced that a club summer tournament would be much more entertainment. Some of these national teams are just bad.

That won't work. My family will never forgive me for doing that I will simply setup a tv in one of the rooms with the game. I think they will catch on when they hear me yelling at the TV. Similar to how I was yelling when Cannavaro and De Rossi both looked shocked on a free kick. Hope Buffon is back for Sunday.

Of course My nephew's bris is Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. The Italy - New Zealand is 10:00 AM. Have to find a way to escape.

The thing about that is, if you screw up, it's a goal.