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Primogeniture
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
Posts: 16027 Threads: 107
  
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 Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Isabelle M wrote: |
What do you guys think?
Oranje vs. Brazil? |
I'm pulling for the Dutch, but gun-to-head, I'd probably say Brazil. Hopefully I'm wrong on that though.
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Primogeniture
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
Posts: 16027 Threads: 107
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Primogeniture wrote: | I actually do think soccer is "taking off" in America. Of course I'm biased by my hope that it will take off, but a few important things that we have now that we didn't have in the 80s or the 90s.
1. Easy access to lots of games. There is an EPL game on ESPN every week now. I think they might air a La Liga game too. For five bucks a month, you can get FSC and half a dozen EPL games a week plus all Champion's League games. Then there is the internet. With the forums and the blogs and sports sites. Even in the middle of nowhere, Americans have constant access to all of the soccer they could want. I'm an Arsenal fan and it's as easy to follow the Gunners as it would be the Dallas Cowboys. Just like I'm too far away from the Cowboys to ever attend games in person I can't swing over to N5 to catch a FA Cup match up, but I can watch both on television with the same ease. If it doesn't come on tv there are streams, gamecasts, and all the sites and blogs etc. It doesn't get pumped into homes during primetime like NFL or NBA, but if you want it, it's there. And I don't think that existed even ten years ago. It would have been impossible twenty years ago to be an Arsenal fan in the Deep South of America.
2. MLS is a decent league. - It's not a great league. Americans do want to watch the best of the best and MLS is not near that. But the league is stable and improving and growing. They have games on regularly on ESPN in HD. I don't remember there ever being any soccer on television when I was growing up. For many Americans there is a hometown team now, and that's big in winning converts.
3. The make-up of America is changing. - Young people are more open to soccer than ever. When I was a kid there was no soccer in my hometown, now they have a kids league and the high school fields a team. Each generation seems a little bit more open to it. Perhaps even bigger, immigration. Especially from football-mad South and Central American countries. The Southwest and the South are gaining large numbers of Latinos who are playing lots of futbol. A few decades from now whites won't be the majority in America anymore and those that are in the increasing demographics are already soccer fans.
It's not going to happen over night, but in time, the US is going to begin to embrace soccer more and more and more. I don't think it will ever be the #1 sport here, but who's to say it won't be a solid #4 (if it's not already). It might even overtake baseball. And fifty years ago no one would have thought that football would have easily surpassed baseball as America's Pastime. Now baseball has fallen behind even basketball and has soccer in it's rearview mirror. Who knows what America's sport landscape will look like in another fifty years. |
Oh hell no. I didn't spend five minutes typing that out for it to disappear into the ether on a page break.
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amberlita
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
Posts: 16939 Threads: 284
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Primogeniture wrote: | | Oh hell no. I didn't spend five minutes typing that out for it to disappear into the ether on a page break. |
 WHO ASKED YOU ANYWAYZ?!!!!
Seriously though, thanks for that. I want it to be a big sport here, so that sort of logic is encouraging. I think my expectations are fairly unrealistic. To the rest of the world, this is the biggest sport there is. My barometer is probably set too high hoping that America will start loving it as much. I'll take whatever we get.
I think if Bill Clinton is successful in his trip to South Africa in convincing FIFA to let us have the 2018 (or more likely, the 2022) games, that would set things off even if the interest level stays as it currently is until then. Imagine if we were getting the World Cup in 4 years with the love affair we had with our team this go around. Would have been the perfect time to capitalize.
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Primogeniture
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
Posts: 16027 Threads: 107
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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I feel mostly the same way, so I worry that my logic is flawed because of my hope bias. And of course it's just a guess anyway. But I've been following the sport for a half decade now and I can see the changes in my area already, which you would think would be one of the last places to adopt anything new. I see Arsenal, Barca, and Chelsea fans all over the place. And most of my friends have at least a passing interest in the USMNT now.
I've got fingers crossed for 2022. I had hoped to go to South Africa this year, but it didn't work out. I hope to get away to Rio and then (presumably) England for the next two. In 12 years we might have a serious fever for the World Cup here, especially if our team retains a similar character to the one it has now. It's really a great team to cheer for. The quality of the football could be better, but they have terrific intangibles. They play hard and never give up and have wonderful team spirit. No prima donnas. Just an easy team to root for.
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Eärendil The Mariner
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Joined: Jul 02, 2005
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 5:16 am Post subject: |
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One of the biggest problems with the US and football is the lack of quality international competition. The World Cup is fine and dandy, but they're years apart. International club competitions like the UEFA cup, or the European Champions League and the Coppa Libertadores in South America, with the winners squaring off in a one-off Intercontinental Cup game for arguably the title of the best team in the world, are extremely popular and exciting. It's a global sport, and while it may be enough for other popular sports in the US to be isolated within their own traditions, football has to "breathe" since it doesn't have a tradition yet, and international games are the biggest outlet so far.
You know, there's something about competing in your local league, advancing all the way to the premier professional league, qualifying for an international competition like the UEFA cup, fighting through several rounds of qualifiers for the theoretical chance of perhaps going against one of the Great Teams...  I still remember vividly the second round of the Intertoto Cup in 2005/2006 (itself an entry competition for the UEFA cup) when my home team squared off against Deportivo de La Coruña, and even managed to win our home game 2-1. 
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Betterdayz
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
Posts: 25467 Threads: 145
Located: Serving the food.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:32 am Post subject: |
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HELL YES HELL YES!!!
Im bringing out the Dutch Eurocup 2000 jersey for sure today win or lose.
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slqrick
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
Posts: 8398 Threads: 89
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:50 am Post subject: |
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Congrats Izzy!! Had a good feeling about the Dutch. 
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chocolatebanana
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 867 Threads: 60
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:54 am Post subject: |
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YAY FOR IZZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATION! Wow. Nice.
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Eärendil The Mariner
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Joined: Jul 02, 2005
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:55 am Post subject: |
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Excellent win, congrats!!
_________________
Wandering the empty road,
In twilight's silver shade,
Following the hidden paths
Alone and unafraid.
Let the sunlight free the heart,
Forever bound to roam,
And let the waking morning find
The weary traveller returning home.
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slqrick
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
Posts: 8398 Threads: 89
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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Wow.
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chocolatebanana
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 867 Threads: 60
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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_________________
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Isabelle M
Joined: Mar 05, 2008
Posts: 1947 Threads: 63
Located: Frowny face
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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WOOHOO!!!
We did it! We really did it!
  @ everyone!
I swear I have never been more nervous before a match than today. By the time of kick-off, the city just stopped. You could hear a coin drop as a nation collectively held its breath...
The first half was NOT good. Nerve-wrecking. That free run by Robinho was unbelievable. Holland played with the handbrake on as if they were too much in awe of their opponent, nothing they tried worked. Brazil should have lead by 2 or 3-0 by half-time. Maybe losing Joris Matthijssen just before kick-off rattled Holland, I dunno.
But the second half, unbelievable. It's as if there were two entirely different teams playing. Brazil completely lost control of the game. The first Dutch goal had a smidgen of luck to it, but the second goal was played perfectly and scored --with his head-- by the shortest guy on the pitch!
I'm so drunk and happy now. I literally have no voice left. Uruguay --barring underestimation-- should be doable. I don't think anyone would bet against Oranje in that match-up.
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Jennigirl
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Yay Izzy!  I was at work and had a NYT live thing going that told me when a goal was scored, and I was so happy when the Netherlands won! 
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Eärendil The Mariner
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Isabelle M wrote: | | Uruguay --barring underestimation-- should be doable. I don't think anyone would bet against Oranje in that match-up. |
Well yeah, not that Suarez single-handedly (pun intended) put himself out of the game.
Somehow I feel Ghana would have been a tougher opponent if they pulled it off and repeated tonight's quality. Alas... 
_________________
Wandering the empty road,
In twilight's silver shade,
Following the hidden paths
Alone and unafraid.
Let the sunlight free the heart,
Forever bound to roam,
And let the waking morning find
The weary traveller returning home.
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Isabelle M
Joined: Mar 05, 2008
Posts: 1947 Threads: 63
Located: Frowny face
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Jennigirl wrote: | | Yay Izzy! I was at work and had a NYT live thing going that told me when a goal was scored, and I was so happy when the Netherlands won! |
| ETM wrote: | Well yeah, not that Suarez single-handedly (pun intended) put himself out of the game.
Somehow I feel Ghana would have been a tougher opponent if they pulled it off and repeated tonight's quality. Alas... Tears |
Ghana would have been beatable. We beat them 4-1 in a friendly before and their defence (compared to our offence) is paper-thin. We've never played Uruguay before...
I'm glad Suarez got red-carded though. He was the top-scorer in last year's competition and his exclusion basically halves Uruguay's offensive threat. What the hell was he thinking anyway? That he was competing in the World Cup Volleyball? From that position he could have just as easily headed it. Stupid doink.
Not that I'm complaining.
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Primogeniture
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
Posts: 16027 Threads: 107
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:19 am Post subject: |
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I think Suarez figured he couldn't get his head to it and decided it was better to take a chance on a handball. And it was that handball that got Uruguay into the semifinals, so if you don't mind a little bit of cheating, he won the match for them. Knock it down and hope either that the ref doesn't see it or that the other team botches the PK. Ghana did so. Still a filthy piece of cheating, but I can see why he did it and he's probably a hero now. He doesn't get to face the Dutch, but if it wasn't for that red card it would be Ghana in that game. The Dutch should handle them though, as long as they don't shit the bed they should be in the finals.
Great bit of games today. In the first it looked like my prediction of Brazilian victory was going to come true, but the Dutch held on and turned it around after the half. Van Persie is woefully out of form though. He was brilliant last fall but after two-thirds of a season out he still hasn't gotten it going again. Selfishly, I hope he irons out the wrinkles during the Cup so that he's ready to go once club football kicks off in August (though he probably won't play until later on since the Dutch are going so far in the tournament). I suppose that's only fair since he got hurt in the first place on international duty. Neither team made themselves easy to root for though with some of the worst theatricality I've seen in quite a while. I've built up quite a bit of endurance for it but that was still deplorable.
Still pulling for the Dutch though. Congrats Izzy.
Uruguay gets the cupcake walk to the semis that we wanted so badly (even if it wasn't easy for them). We knew one of four would get an easy path and the victor is Uruguay. No one sees them continuing though. Still, a semi is quite an accomplishment. Just ask the English.
Looking forward to tomorrow, particularly the early game. There shouldn't be too much to the latter game.
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Fëanor
Joined: Sep 06, 2004
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:36 am Post subject: |
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BIG FUCK YOU TO ARGENTINA AND DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA!!! CHUPALA HIJO DE PUTA!!!
GO GERMANY!!!!
WOOOOOO!!!!
As a latino I should support Argentina, but when they have Maradona as their coach I just can't.
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Eärendil The Mariner
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:49 am Post subject: |
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A proper schooling by Germany, awesome, awesome goals. 
_________________
Wandering the empty road,
In twilight's silver shade,
Following the hidden paths
Alone and unafraid.
Let the sunlight free the heart,
Forever bound to roam,
And let the waking morning find
The weary traveller returning home.
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Au·rens!
Joined: Oct 07, 2006
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:23 am Post subject: |
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I'm on Team Germany now. By gawd, they were awesome.
This guy needs to score though.
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Isabelle M
Joined: Mar 05, 2008
Posts: 1947 Threads: 63
Located: Frowny face
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:07 am Post subject: |
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As impressive as the Germany game was, I still think that it's going to be a Netherlands vs. Spain showdown in the finale. As I expected, Germany's swift offence really rattled Argentina's weakest spot: its defence, with a style of football often described as Dutch-like. As Holland learned the hard way again and again, it's a style of football that will be mercilessly and ruthlessly punished by an opponent like Spain.
Germany blitzkriegs its opponents in the first 15 minutes to get an early lead, and if you can weather those first 15 minutes (like Serbia did and Spain can) they start to struggle.
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Primogeniture
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
Posts: 16027 Threads: 107
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:10 am Post subject: |
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Tip of the hat to Paraguay, they gave more than I thought they would.
Not surprising that Germany advances, but I didn't expect a dismantling. Germany v Spain should be a blast.
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Otis
Joined: Mar 11, 2010
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chocolatebanana
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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NETHERLANDS!!!!
YAY FOR IZZY!
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"If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the "Fuck you" signs in the world. It's impossible."
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Isabelle M
Joined: Mar 05, 2008
Posts: 1947 Threads: 63
Located: Frowny face
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fleaonaleash
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
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Located: box-like houses
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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congratulations Izzy!  this must be the year of the chokers' done good. good match! can't believe the pace all the way to the end
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True
Joined: Nov 06, 2005
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Located: Nebraska, USA
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Yo. Dutch. I think you're going to do it this time. Call it the Izzy factor.
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Jennigirl
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats Izzy! I'm rooting for the Dutch all the way!
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Eärendil The Mariner
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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I wish Germans would face the Dutch in the final. It would be glorious.
_________________
Wandering the empty road,
In twilight's silver shade,
Following the hidden paths
Alone and unafraid.
Let the sunlight free the heart,
Forever bound to roam,
And let the waking morning find
The weary traveller returning home.
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Jennigirl
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
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Located: omm nom nom
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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A classmate of mine is in South Africa filming the World Cup for his IPP (the 200 movies project is my IPP), and his family comes from Germany, so I'm hoping Germany makes it in as well. He's a passionate soccer fan and obviously he's rooting for Germany, so it'd be a wonderful game.
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amberlita
Joined: Jun 17, 2005
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Eärendil The Mariner wrote: | | I wish Germans would face the Dutch in the final. It would be glorious. |
European bias. 
I like the idea of the Dutch and the Spanish just to ensure a country who has never won the World Cup will win it this year.
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