World Cup 2010 Thread!!!

They make up for lack of TV advertisements by putting the ads right on the players.

People play soccer in the US, but they do so really casually. Since baseball, basketball, and football are so huge in the US, all the best athletes will want to get into those sports rather than soccer. It's kind of a self defeating cycle where soccer isn't big, so it's rarely shown on TV, which means gifted athletes won't target it as their ticket to fame and millions of dollars.

Mcsweeney said:

They make up for lack of TV advertisements by putting the ads right on the players.

People play soccer in the US, but they do so really casually. Since baseball, basketball, and football are so huge in the US, all the best athletes will want to get into those sports rather than soccer. It's kind of a self defeating cycle where soccer isn't big, so it's rarely shown on TV, which means gifted athletes won't target it as their ticket to fame and millions of dollars.

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Unless the TV station broadcasting the game is compensated with the ads, it's still a money-losing business for them to show soccer games.

I think we are having a chicken-egg problem. Which is the effect and which is the cause? Is it that the best athletes going to other sports the effect of the obscurity of soccer in the States, or is it the cause of it? Similarly, is it that soccer is not big so it's not on TV, or is it that soccer is not big because it's not on TV and no one is getting the exposure? One thing is certain: it is, indeed, a vicious cycle that makes soccer less popular here.

Soccer is on TV.. There are many games on cable/satellite Tv.. But on broadcast TV? Not so many for the reasons described above.

I think many Americans think of soccer as a sport that kids play. It's that simple. Until this mind set is over come soccer will be a second tier professional sport in the US.

bd popeye said:

Soccer is on TV.. There are many games on cable/satellite Tv.. But on broadcast TV? Not so many for the reasons described above.

I think many Americans think of soccer as a sport that kids play. It's that simple. Until this mind set is over come soccer will be a second tier professional sport in the US.

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A nearly impossible win against England tomorrow might help change that a little...

vesicles said:

Last night when watching the NBA finals, during the half-time, the commentators said that everyone in the world is so eager to watch the US-UK match this Saturday. I was surprised to hear that. I don't follow soccer that much, but my impression is that the US team is not that good. So is this another of "com'on people, let's all watch ABC" type of commercial thingy? or the US is getting good?

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the united states had a disappointing tournament last time. the most memorable moment was one of their goals scored against i believe ghana...or czech republic.saw that game was pretty good.

england vs US is tmr so lookin forward to that.

Why do so many games end in a tie or a 1-nil score? Why is not the shoot out used in all ties? Ties suck. Look at today's games..real yawners...

SA vs MEX 1-1 and Uruguay and France "battled" to a nil nil tie..yawn..

bd popeye said:

Why do so many games end in a tie or a 1-nil score? Why is not the shoot out used in all ties? Ties suck. Look at today's games..real yawners...

SA vs MEX 1-1 and Uruguay and France "battled" to a nil nil tie..yawn..

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Well, the shoot outs only happen in elimination round. Right now it is the group stage. At this stage, what is important is the number of points and goals accumulated after the end of the group that will determine who will go through to the last 16. Anyway, the France Uruguay game was boring but I have to say the opening match between South Africa and Mexico was quite exciting though it ended with a draw. What is important in the game for me is how they pllay never really about the scoreline.

As to why American stadiums are so much bigger I'm not sure. Perhaps it's because of the structure of the cities there, more centralized. Or it's simply more spread out with soccer as mentioned above. Most cities in soccer-loving countries have swarms of stadiums, as soccer is extremely influential for all age groups, and many clubs have their own fields or stadiums.

About the goals...well I think it's all down to the individual liking. Either you can have hectic games with lots og goals (as in american football, basketball etc), or you have a game with very few, but extremely important goals. In soccer it's hard to score (I guess because of the dynamic nature, the number of players and the size of the field...plus of course the keeper), but when people actually score, one can shout and celebrate for several minutes, as most games are won or lost by a single goal. It makes everything more suspenseful, though perhaps not as action-packed.

It's interesting. I had a family of far-off relatives visit from America last year. The kid played in a soccer team, and the dad was coach. They were extatic when they saw soccer on television (featuring some lousy local showdown). First of all, none of them had seen adults play soccer, secondly they'd never seen professionals (or what could pass as that, concidering the nature of the local teams), and thirdly, they'd never seen soccer on television. They were literally glued to the screen all through the game. Conversely, no american football is shown on norwegian TV. Usually during sport segments they mention what team wins the superbowl, and sometimes the final may be shown in the middle of the night at some obscure channel...

I'm not a fan of soccer but a casual observer. I of course hope the US side wins..a couple of games.

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THeyre not too bad, The biggest disappointment to date has been England. Anyway I dont like their team and the way they play, so I hope I can "put the mockers on them" by putting a few dollars on them to win

"Mockers"20th century Australian slang term meaning jinx or bad luck.

BY the Way the US beat the vaunted English team in 1950 1/0. I can still remember John (Clarkie) Souzaof the American team after watching an old fik of the game 50+ yrs ago




Things I do not understand about soccer.

1) The groupings method of points..WTH??

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Not too sure what you mean here, but by seeding the teams, it prevents them from knocking each other out in the arlier rounds

2) Why are ties allowed? WTH

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Why not, IMO it was accomadating for the Americas desire to have a winner in the game,we saw the penalty shoot out introduced, which is a little unfair to the rest of the team.. I think in the old days the match was replayed, but commercialism and time constraints have made that impracticable.

3) Why is the trophy so small?

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At over 6kg of solid gold I wouldnt mind having it. Too big and you wont bwe able to lift it

4) Why do the players act is if they are dieing after a foul and then magically spring to life once the referee makes a decision?

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Tactics, to try and get a penalty.Some specialist penalty takers are fantastic too watch as they curl the ball around a wall of defenders as well as beating the goalkeeper. (sheer magic/ beautiful/orgasmic / better stop here)

Or they are really hurt and the first aid attendant got some magical cure thats worth its weight in gold

In the days of old the Southern Americans were and still are, beautiful teams to watch... pure ball control and skill while the Europeans were more laborious in their approch, cynically fouled the South Americans. So the fouls have become more rigorously watched out for, but now some players like to milk it for whats its worth. eg Ronaldo ex MU/ now playing for Real Madrid , and rep Portugal.

5) Why are the SA fans making that awful racket??

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Part of the ambience

BY the way Africans teams are as eqally skillful as the S. Americans, is just lack of experience and money, thats holding them back

6) Is there such a thing as a club soccer World Cup?

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Not as such but in Europe, the top four clubs of any countries top division do compete in a couple of trophies, where the privilege of competeing and winning ranks right up there , with the World Cup or the European cup

7) How do they keep the Field/pitch in such magnificent condition?

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Some of ithem are artificial

8) If soccer is so popular why does the National Football League have the highest average attendance of any sports league in the World?? 68,000 per game..

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Are you refering to that game where men run around in crash helmets and women's tights?

Personally I dont think the game has made much traction elsewhere around the world.

2ndly You do have a large concentration of affluent population with a large population, and its a full afternoons entertainment for your money. (Whats it cost to see a game these days?

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Wanna say something on this thread.... I didn't watch the match last night but seeing online live score on my mobile. However, I did predict the result for the matches last night; South Africa at least has a draw while the France never win.

English team? England has among the best teams in world's league club --- Manchester United, Chelsea... but I really never see them winning any champion for their national club. Does anybody know the reason? France? They're getting worse. They recently lose to the Chinese team in a friendly match. That's sound like a joke to us --- the football (soccer) watchers. But if you look at past experience, the France team always play a tie from the beginning and try to win at the end.