# 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:** 85
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1681 "2010-06-26T21:32:27Z")
To hell with this stupid game, it sucks, I hate it. **Death to Ghana!** Ok, no, not really. That was a good match and while I’m sorry to see the US knocked out I am kinda happy to see an African team advance to the quarter-finals. Well played to Ghana, you guys played clean and you played well. To the USMNT, you fought hard and you never gave up and I think that’s pretty cool. 2014 is just around the corner. And, since this seems like as good an excuse as any, it’s time to get drunk! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1682 "2010-06-26T21:33:33Z")
The US’s strategy is to give away a goal in the first 5 minutes, then wait 45+ minutes, then equalize. It worked to perfection in regulation time. Then they foolish tried it in overtime, forgetting that overtime doesn’t last 45 minutes. After all the talk about what a great keeper Howard is (which I’m sure is basically true), both goals looked like ones that could possibly have been stopped by him. Not easily, but they weren’t unstoppable rockets. Still, nothing to be ashamed of for the US, and now I’m cheering for England and Holland. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1683 "2010-06-26T21:34:06Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Sadly he’s pretty much done now, as I’m guessing soccer isn’t an old man’s game. He’s 28 now, so next World Cup he’d be 32. That’s old for soccer, yes? 32 is quite old but Zidane was 34 in 2006 so Donovan could still be around in 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1684 "2010-06-26T21:47:28Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > At least the US didn’t lose on a cheap goal. Good job to the US team, and good luck to Ghana. Exactly - I wanted Ghana to win, but I didn’t want US to lose, what you gonna do? ---
**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 26, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1685 "2010-06-26T21:48:07Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > 32 is quite old but Zidane was 34 in 2006 so Donovan could still be around in 4 years. Plus, as Stephen Colbert pointed out, he already needs hair plugs. heh. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1686 "2010-06-26T21:53:06Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > I hope Ghana gets crushed in their next game. … and suddenly you’re supporting Uruguay! ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1687 "2010-06-26T22:00:14Z")
And across the nation, 10s of millions of Americans stopped giving any sort of a crap about soccer for the next 4 years. At least now we can get back to following real sports. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1688 "2010-06-26T22:01:29Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > And across the nation, 10s of millions of Americans stopped giving any sort of a crap about soccer for the next 4 years. > > At least now we can get back to following real sports. 😃 Speak for yourself. I’m going to try and follow the English Premier League. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1689 "2010-06-26T22:15:49Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > … and suddenly you’re supporting Uruguay! Heh. “U - R - Gay”. Stupid country. ---
**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 26, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1690 "2010-06-26T22:17:14Z")
hehheh. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1691 "2010-06-26T22:20:47Z")
Sigh. I watched the whole game in an emergency room (everything’s fine) and I’m dejected. Germany is my main team, but I can’t help wishing the US could have made the quarterfinals again. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1692 "2010-06-26T22:24:03Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > And I thought I’d respond because your post is a perfect example of how not-patronizing soccer fans are. Please continue contributing your not-contentless-at-all posts in soccer threads so that I might enjoy them forever more. I await your next screed attempting to rewrite the rules of football with bated breath. It is really quite charming to see someone converting such little knowledge into such strident opinions. To the other US fans, especially **Doors** , well done. Enjoyed watching your games a lot, loads of drama. The agony and the ecstasy, as they say. ---
**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 26, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1693 "2010-06-26T22:26:09Z")
Keep on keeping on with the contentless replies. They never get old! You sure do soccer fans proud. EDIT: Could you point out where in this thread I “attempted to rewrite the rules of football?” Thanks much, Johnny no-content ad-hominem attack. ---
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1694 "2010-06-26T22:29:02Z")
Crap. Ghana looked better than any of the teams in our group, and deserved the win. They played fairly and well, and have knocked us out of the Cup for the second time in a row. My message to Ghana is that you play football very well, and I hope all your goats die. I’m rooting for England now. Maybe the prospect of a match against Germany will intrigue them enough to rouse them from their slumber. I’ll also root for whichever side wins the Ghana-Uruguay match. The winner will get into the last four and be quite a challenge for whomever they meet. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1695 "2010-06-26T22:34:50Z")
So it’s one all in the Greenback v Dee grudge match 😃 Not feeling too hopeful about England playing the Hun 😃 tomorrow, they’re not on form and never beat 'em. If England DO win tomorrow I’ll … be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1696 "2010-06-26T22:40:37Z")
Holy crap: > [@](#): > > The England and Germany players who face each other in Bloemfontein on Sunday will have to tread with some caution after it was announced today that the referee in charge of the last-16 tie is known for his high red-card rate. > > Jorge Larrionda, of Uruguay, has dismissed a player in an incredible **70%** of games he has refereed since making his international debut as an official in 1999. At the last World Cup, the 42-year-old send off three players in the group match between Italy and the USA. > > Read more: [http://germanfootballteam.com/2010/06/england-and-germany-get-red-card-happy-referee/#ixzz0s0A2NcSV](http://germanfootballteam.com/2010/06/england-and-germany-get-red-card-happy-referee/#ixzz0s0A2NcSV) ---
**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 26, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1697 "2010-06-26T22:47:51Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > Not feeling too hopeful about England playing the Hun 😃 tomorrow, they’re not on form and never beat 'em. If England DO win tomorrow I’ll … be surprised. England has never beaten Germany? Ever? How many times have they played? I might have to tune in just to check out the Ref of Death. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1698 "2010-06-26T23:02:18Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > England has never beaten Germany? Ever? How many times have they played? > > I might have to tune in just to check out the Ref of Death. Well, they have, but not when it’s really important … since 1966 or something. [http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE65O4XP20100626](http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE65O4XP20100626) ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1699 "2010-06-26T23:11:09Z")
Actually things are pretty even: > [@](#): > > England’s overall record against Germany is 10 wins for England, 10 wins for Germany (including the two drawn games won on penalties), and three more draws. Of course the really old matches don’t mean anything in relation to tonight’s game. The last 2 times they have played have been in friendlies, one won by England, one by Germany so honours even there. The last time they played each other in a match that counted (2002 World Cup Qualifier) England won 5-1. It is true that we tend to lose to Germany when it counts the most but matches between players who have now retired really have no bearing on modern games. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/1700 "2010-06-26T23:51:48Z")
I don’t count myself among the legions of American soccer fans who despise Bob Bradley with every fiber of their beings, but I can’t let this game slide without a word or two. 1. How can you start Rico Clark in this game? He was terrible against England, has never been good for the US since… ever, and you bring him back in against Ghana? Stupid giveaway leads to the only Ghana goal in regulation, stupid yellow card two minutes later and we have to waste a substitution getting him the Hell out of there half an hour in. Stupid. 2. I know you wanted to partner Jozy with a speedster. I know you wish that had been Davies. But Davies isn’t here, and ROBBIE FINDLEY IS NOT CHARLIE DAVIES. Start Gomez. Start Buddle. Start Dempsey up top and let Feilhaber or Holden get on the field. There were a dozen better choices than starting a forward who doesn’t seem to understand that scoring goals is an important part of his job. Bradley’s probably done. Hopefully they can finally convince Klinsmann to take the job. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=84) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=86)