# 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:** 63
**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 23, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1241 "2010-06-23T15:57:05Z")
I’m so glad I DVR’d this. I’m going to play the last ten minutes on a loop for the rest of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1242 "2010-06-23T15:58:21Z")
Holy shit. I was watching the text updates on BBC Sport and it was _still_ exciting. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1243 "2010-06-23T16:00:05Z")
Anyone want to hazard a guess for Group D? I think Germany is still the favorite, but Serbia has a real chance to win the group. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1244 "2010-06-23T16:00:22Z")
Well done to both. I’m delighted the US got through. Now let’s see tonight who you’ll be playing. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1245 "2010-06-23T16:01:27Z")
I actually went out for a smoke just at the end of the games and was standing beside a pub. There was a huge roar when the yanks put one in. You still have some friends in the world 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1246 "2010-06-23T16:03:37Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > See? see what a beautiful thing a World Cup is?, forgo your false religions and come worship in the altar of this strange, illogical, infuriating, exasperating, and utterly emotionally devastating game! 😃 Well…OK…NO! Nooooo! \ noooo… ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1247 "2010-06-23T16:06:18Z")
What a dramatic win. I love it. Still: - Pathetic showing by Algeria. They needed goals and lots of them to advance, instead they played the turtle defense/counterattack like they were playing for a tie. Were they just dying to watch Slovenia in the next round? - It is a good thing I don’t play professional soccer. There’s a 100% chance that at some point I would punch a ref in the face after his 800th awful call. - USA had sooooo many chances that they didn’t convert. That will definitely come back to haunt them against better teams. But for now, I will savor the victory! ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1248 "2010-06-23T16:06:39Z")
England through, and most importantly with a performance that suggests we can still have an impact on this tournament. Congratulations USA, sounds like you deserved the win. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1249 "2010-06-23T16:08:05Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Congratulations USA, sounds like you deserved the win. Heck, yes! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1250 "2010-06-23T16:09:26Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > - Pathetic showing by Algeria. They needed goals and lots of them to advance, instead they played the turtle defense/counterattack like they were playing for a tie. Were they just dying to watch Slovenia in the next round? They only needed one goal to advance, assuming England didn’t beat Slovenia. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1251 "2010-06-23T16:09:38Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Well…OK…NO! Nooooo! > > \ > > noooo… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1252 "2010-06-23T16:10:46Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Well…OK…NO! Nooooo! > > \ > > noooo… Now that is REALLY worshiping false idols. That new monstrosity should be called what it really is, Steinbrenner Ego Stadium. You don’t tear down St. Peter’s or the Parthenon, and you don’t tear down the House That Ruth Built. But I digress. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1253 "2010-06-23T16:13:04Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > - USA had sooooo many chances that they didn’t convert. That will definitely come back to haunt them against better teams. That’s an odd conclusion to draw. My view has always been that creating a bunch of great chances will pay off in the long run no matter how unlucky you are. Based on the way that game went, I feel the US chances in the next round against Serbia are good and against Germany aren’t hopeless. ETA: This is my philosophy for all sports, not soccer in particular. As an added bonus, I can rationalize that the US team has “used up” its missed easy shots, so next game all easy chances will go in. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1254 "2010-06-23T16:15:09Z")
Will be very interesting to see how group D finishes. The last minute goal by the USA means that, if the remaining games go to form, England could be facing Germany followed by Argentina, rather than Serbia and Uruguay. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1255 "2010-06-23T16:15:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > They only needed one goal to advance, assuming England didn’t beat Slovenia. Not after England scored, I thought. Perhaps I am getting this wrong, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1256 "2010-06-23T16:18:22Z")
Yeah, but after the 70s renovation it looked more like the House That Soviet-style Concrete Built. It’s totally, completely gone now, and the park for the local kiddies is coming along. …and the lead story on SportsCenter, the ESPN show at noon right after the match, wasn’t the World Cup but that football star Lawrence Taylor has been charged with raping a minor. :smack: Oh yeah, there’s the lo-cal news…hmmm, little girl drowns on school outing; beloved nun killed by car being chased by cops. ☹ But back to the win. Actually, you know who’s happier than anyone else in America right now? TV producers! Two teams that people will actually watch are going forward. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1257 "2010-06-23T16:18:27Z")
Well, the US were the class of the group and deserved to win it. The bad call(s) can now become blessings in disguise. Hopefully, the team is now hardened and ready to go deep in the tourney. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1258 "2010-06-23T16:21:22Z")
Wow, what a goal by Donovan, with great help from Dempsey and Altidore. Agree that the U.S. had only themselves to blame if they didn’t win—even with the offsides call, how many shots on an open net should you be allowed to miss? So many chances… Liked Edu’s work, surprised he was subbed off, given how much possession he seemed to be winning. Nice un-called 1/2 point backhand strike by the Algerian on Dempsey. Altidore at times seemed to be auditioning to be an honorary Italian player. Shame he’s got to do that to get the ref to recognize contact. Didn’t see the contact at the end that caused the ref to wave off the Algerian attack, irritating their side enough to lose their tempers and get the double yellow. Was laughing at the Beasley handball call—Fabiano does everything but dribble the ball like LeBron and the ref laughs it off; Beasley pulls off a pretty good chest trap and it’s a hand ball. Not as rusty as I would’ve guessed, given Beasley’s last playing time was…when? Surprised that Buddle was so tentative. For the next round, torn between guessing that FIFA will sell out to get _some_ African team through to the knockout round, versus the fact that the sellout would be at the expense of Germany. Call it a well-fought draw. 1-1? I couldn’t guess which Serbian or Australian team will show up. Is Cahill still out? Call it a 2-1 Serbian win. Looking forward to the U.S. seeing whoever it will be in the knockout round. Congratulations to England for advancing too. Edit: Oh, and Argentina’s already unbeaten in this tournament so far. Shocked me too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1259 "2010-06-23T16:22:10Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > Not after England scored, I thought. Perhaps I am getting this wrong, though. They needed England to lose or draw either way, so it didn’t really matter. [QUOTE=Jacknifed Juggernaut] Well, the US were the class of the group and deserved to win it. [/QUOTE] Wait, what? The US was comprehensively outplayed by England. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1260 "2010-06-23T16:22:48Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > That’s an odd conclusion to draw. My view has always been that creating a bunch of great chances will pay off in the long run no matter how unlucky you are. The problem is the percentage of chances you convert into goals. If you play a poor team you might have 20 chances and get 1 goal, a poor conversion rate. When you get to playing better teams you might be lucky to get 5 chances in the game so if you aren’t better in front of goal you won’t score. Therefore it is pretty worrying if you make loads of chances but can’t score as your strikers aren’t on form and when you face a tough team they need to be sharp as a pin every time they get sights on goal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=62) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=64)