[jmacdaddio]

There's an excellent book by Franklin Foer that uses soccer as a window in to a country ... it's called How Soccer Explains the World. The US chapter chronicles the rise of youth soccer in America as it gathered steam once ex-hippies started having children and since these parents saw the traditional sports as representative of mainstream society, they steered their kids towards soccer, widely perceived to be a safer sport which promoted team success over individual glory. The sport the rest of the world calls football isn't a commerical success in the USA yet, but it is slowly eroding the traditional ones, mostly at the expense of baseball and ice hockey (nobody cares about ice hockey here).

Whenever someone says soccer is for weenies, I'll show them a photo of Brian McBride bleeding from a gash under his eye courtesy of Italy. Baseball will be hard to give up, but committing several hours to an NFL game is becoming more of a chore. NBA games and NHL games are ridiculous --- I've attended both and every spare moment is filled by blaring music, screaming announcers, and utter stupidity like T-shirt giveaways and contests. That's why I put a soccer match on tv, yell for a couple of hours, and move on with my life.

[robski]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Comp_Lex', 'Y')ou know, I have a horrible "last time" feeling with this, like: "This is the last World Cup ever before TSHTF." I have this with other things as well, like with Olympic Games.

[Schweinshaxe]

Sweden - England, 2 - 2!

I wondered where Sweden was the first half. England was so dominating that I wanted to turn the TV off. I was thinking 6 - 0 to England or something like that.

Then in the second half, Sweden came back and totally owned the game. Sweden should have won this game because England sucked in the second half and Sweden played world class football.

Now we only have to beat Germany and then we'll see...

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schweinshaxe', 'S')weden - England, 2 - 2!

I wondered where Sweden was the first half. England was so dominating that I wanted to turn the TV off. I was thinking 6 - 0 to England or something like that.

Then in the second half, Sweden came back and totally owned the game. Sweden should have won this game because England sucked in the second half and Sweden played world class football.

Now we only have to beat Germany and then we'll see...

[PenultimateManStanding]

Actually, I'm rooting for Korea. They are off to a good start. They are small guys who are tight in cooperation. Teamwork. Beat Brazil, those samba loving schmucks who think they own the world cup!

[robski]

Does anyone else think this world cup is turning into a bit of a farce with all of these horrendous referring decisions? That last minute penalty in the Australia v Italy is the most bullshit thing I've ever seen on television I have to say. I'm seething here, seething.

[Anthrobus]

this had some smell of a bribed decision;

I still hope for some good matches of the german team

Which side are you all on?

[Free]

So where is the slaughtered Schwein?

Poor boy, I bet he gets mocked every day now at his job...hope he didn't drown himself in beer!

I like the German team (and coach) and it's good for the World Cup party if the host is successful, but gee the Germans are getting really arrogant again, as usual...
I think they could be in for a very rude shock when they meet a strong team for the first time since long...

It's hilarious to remember how they all bashed Klinsmann in Germany and now he is Jesus himself...

I am really looking forward to GER-ARG tomorrow, in any case we will be in for a treat, if only because of scandalous referee decisions again, and the ensuing outrage...

Yeah I feel really sorry for Australia, it would have been great if they would have made it - and I don't like the Italian team (squadra femina, such slimy sissys!), what a joke penalty! But don't forget they got a dubious red card in that game and overall were more experienced and in the end probably deserved to win...

I hope we will see Germany-England at some point, that would be a real classic, but I doubt it, I have a feeling we will have an all South American final...

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', '
')I hope we will see Germany-England at some point, that would be a real classic, but I doubt it, I have a feeling we will have an all South American final...

[Free]

Wow that was really close, what a thriller...

I was most surprised how mentally strong the young Germans were when they were 1:0 behind, and then in the penalties...

I feel sorry for the Argentinians, (not the team, but the people), they went through enough hardships and at least deserved some success at the world cup...

I even think they were the stronger team overall, but they blundered it because they were not playing for the offense, too defensive...

[PenultimateManStanding]

It has come to my attention that in the US, televised poker tournaments have higher ratings than the world cup.

[Anthrobus]

wow, what a thrilling game

winnig this way feels really good

i still hope for a game against britain ...

[Novus]

In a huge upset France just beat Brazil.

[mekrob]

USA! USA! USA!

[artiko]

France send Brazil out of the World Cup I can not believe it

[mekrob]

It's not like it hasn't happened before.

[lotrfan55345]

hmm HMM

[smallpoxgirl]

Soccer is unamerican. Shouldn't you all be watching baseball?

Every time you watch soccer, Osama watches with you!

That is all.

[Atlantean_Relic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'S')occer is unamerican. Shouldn't you all be watching baseball?

Every time you watch soccer, Osama watches with you!

That is all.

[Spartan2]

Italy won the World Cup beating France 5-3 on penalties.

Loved it.