# 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677 "2010-06-10T17:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1 "2010-06-10T17:32:52Z")
A thread to follow The World Cup. Make your pre, during and after match commentaries here. Discuss the strategies, players and results. Use the official WC site to see the schedule, keep with the standings, stats and coming crosses. Blame the ref if you have to! [**2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa**](http://www.fifa.com/index.html) TV schedules here: [**World Cup TV Schedules & Broadcasts**](http://www.livesoccertv.com/world-cup-2010/schedules/) Good luck to your favorite team/s and may the best one win! With that said: **Vamos España! A por ellos!** ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2 "2010-06-10T17:35:13Z")
Opening day: South Africa vs Mexico 10:00 A.M. EST France vs Uruguay 02:30 P.M. EST ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/3 "2010-06-10T18:52:34Z")
You forgot Poland. Wait, no … USA v England at 2:00 EST. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/4 "2010-06-10T18:55:31Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > South Africa vs Mexico 10:00 A.M. EST Whereafter shall the hopes of our nation, I fear, be crushed… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/5 "2010-06-10T19:09:58Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > You forgot Poland. > > Wait, no … USA v England at 2:00 EST. Hi **Jack** (well, not really, it’s not 😉 ) That’d be Saturday the 12th not Opening Day which is tomorrow, Friday the 11th. And the starting time is the same as the France/Uruguay match: 14:30 EST. * * * > [@grimpixie](#): > > Whereafter shall the hopes of our nation, I fear, be crushed… ☹ Fear not. That’s why the play the games. Trust you enjoy the event as a whole and that it brings much success (and bucks) to your nation anyway. Thanks for having us! ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/6 "2010-06-10T19:15:51Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Fear not. That’s why the play the games. Trust you enjoy the event as a whole and that it brings much success (and bucks) to your nation anyway. > > Thanks for having us! Oh we’re enjoying it already!! 🆒 🙂 😛 😃 (Rainbow\* smilie thing going on) It’s just that some people are going over the top and talking about us winning the whole thing, as if you can’t support our team without thinking they are world-beaters. I think we’ll be lucky to get to the second round, or even to win a game, and I fear that there will be an over-reaction in the opposite direction if/when we get knocked out. Grim \*appropriate, given that Desmond Tutu is busy speaking to the concert crowd as I type… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/7 "2010-06-10T19:21:17Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > South Africa vs Mexico 10:00 A.M. EST Or, as I just saw it described on ESPN, “49 million against 11 Mexicans!” I’m so excited! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/8 "2010-06-10T19:24:46Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Hi **Jack** (well, not really, it’s not 😉 ) > > That’d be Saturday the 12th not Opening Day which is tomorrow, Friday the 11th. And the starting time is the same as the France/Uruguay match: 14:30 EST. No shit? Well, I’m just full of valuable information this week. I could’ve sworn Saturday was opening day. But thanks for the heads up … I’ll get my DVR’ing in order tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/9 "2010-06-11T10:48:31Z")
I was surprised to see that ESPN will be covering a lot of the games (or [ESPN360.com](http://ESPN360.com)). After the US coverage of the Olympics, I thought this would also be cruddy at best. But much better than I expected. Here’s the American-centric schedule link I was looking at: [http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/espns-world-cup-2010-tv-schedule.html](http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/espns-world-cup-2010-tv-schedule.html) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/10 "2010-06-11T11:52:16Z")
> [@Shadez](#): > > I was surprised to see that ESPN will be covering a lot of the games (or [ESPN360.com](http://ESPN360.com)). After the US coverage of the Olympics, I thought this would also be cruddy at best. But much better than I expected. > > Here’s the American-centric schedule link I was looking at: > [http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/espns-world-cup-2010-tv-schedule.html](http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/espns-world-cup-2010-tv-schedule.html) All games will be on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, if I’ve got it right. USA v England tomorrow is on ABC. ESPN360 will also show everything. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/11 "2010-06-11T12:01:56Z")
North Korea isn’t showing any of their games on TV in case they lose. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/12 "2010-06-11T12:33:34Z")
Opening Ceremony is on - I’m really enjoying it!! Much more than last night’s concert… Less than two hours to the big game. Grim ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/13 "2010-06-11T13:49:42Z")
Well, here’s hoping for one of the better WCs yet. As the blue link in the OP seems to be too busy to access, this is a copy of the TV schedule posted on it: [**World Cup 2010 TV Schedule**](http://www.firsttouchonline.com/?p=4336) Let the ball roll! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/14 "2010-06-11T13:51:50Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > North Korea isn’t showing any of their games on TV in case they lose. “in case”? I can understand optimism, but at a certain point reality should take over 😉 ---
**Author:** ![miatachris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@miatachris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miatachris)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/15 "2010-06-11T14:13:37Z")
I thought I just saw a yellow guy deliberately touch the ball with his hand. I’m a complete soccer idiot, but I thought that was the one inviolable rule. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/16 "2010-06-11T14:34:06Z")
> [@miatachris](#): > > I thought I just saw a yellow guy deliberately touch the ball with his hand. I’m a complete soccer idiot, but I thought that was the one inviolable rule. Ball to hand/arm or hand/arm to ball. First case no foul, second one, rules violation and yellow card. Subjective interpretation though sometimes it can be rather blatant, thus nothing subjective about it. * * * Shaky start by the Bafana Bafana but 20 minutes in they seem to have shaken it off. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/17 "2010-06-11T14:44:10Z")
Good reflex save by the SA keeper keeps Mexico at bay, then they are saved by the offside rule. but the tide is against them… Nitpick: its just _Bafana Bafana_, meaning “the boys, the boys” - no “the” in front 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![miatachris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@miatachris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miatachris)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/18 "2010-06-11T14:49:36Z")
Did Mexico just get screwed out of a goal by a bad call? Have I been watching a sporting event for more than 40 minutes with NO COMMERCIALS? The little “budweiser” ads up by the fox box are the commercials? I appreciate the responses, I have mucho ignorance to be fought. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/19 "2010-06-11T14:52:34Z")
> [@miatachris](#): > > Did Mexico just get screwed out of a goal by a bad call? > > Have I been watching a sporting event for more than 40 minutes with NO COMMERCIALS? > > The little “budweiser” ads up by the fox box are the commercials? > > I appreciate the responses, I have mucho ignorance to be fought. Yes, Yes, and yes. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/20 "2010-06-11T14:56:43Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > Good reflex save by the SA keeper keeps Mexico at bay, then they are saved by the offside rule. but the tide is against them… > > Nitpick: its just _Bafana Bafana_, meaning “the boys, the boys” - no “the” in front 🙂 Not so sure about that being an offside call looking at the replay – thought he called a charge on the Mexican forward who headed the ball to the scorer. Bit of a homer, but tbe in every WC. Just hope we don’t go Korea/Japan’s way. That’d ruin the spectacle. OTH, Mexico’s keeper is the stuff of nightmares. And thanks for the nitpick – will correct future usage [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=2)