How could I not root for the home team?! Of course I want the USA to win it all! I highly doubt it will happen but I can only hope, right?
Lol England are easily one of the worst teams in the world cup, judged by recent performances. All of the European teams have been disappointing, in my opinion. And Serbia got robbed!!!! I'm most impressed with New Zealand and Japan so far. Predictions for England v Germany? I think it'll be goodbye England sadly!
I think you Brits have a decent chance, Germany has not looked well organized on defense and sluggish on offense.
But at the same time, we look disorganised in both defense and offense. We have been unlucky with injuries (and John Terry sleeping with his team mates' girlfriends) but the players have not been pulling their weight at all. I'm glad to see Defoe playing though, he's fast, determined and very clever. Players like Stevie G, Rooney, Milner and Lampard just haven't been putting the effort in. It's all very clumsy and very awkward from England and they look like one of the least threatening teams in the last 16.
This World Cup, whilst high on emotion, zeal and off-field histrionics, has been decidedly low on equality. A number of favorites and enigmas have been either unimpressive, failed to live up to expectations, or just flat out failed (I'm lookin' at y'all, Italy and France). The quality of play, especially in the first and 2nd games of each group, has been lackluster in some cases, and compared to prior matinee editions of the quadrennial soccerfest, has been short on goals. As expected, the host nation (South Africa) struggled for goals and even though they put in some spirited performances against Mexico and France, their dearth of quality strikers was their Achilles' Heel and is the main reason they are mere hosts (and spectators). For another thing, I could do without the theatrics by so many of the players. Anyone who watched the Italy-Slovakia game yesterday could have mistaken it for a Broadway Theatre play, with all of the play-acting and histrionics that would have made Antoinette Perry smile in her grave. Another thing I have been peeved about is the complaints about the ubiquitous vuvuzelas. For Pete's sake, there are much worse things to be featured in this World Cup, like the fact that an entire team refused to train before an elimination game. Or, the fact that the referees largely require a "how not to ruin an epic World Cup game with frustratingly ridiculous calls" 101 class. Maybe you could even complain about the seemingly erratic jabulani ball that has caused more goalkeeping errors than a slimy calabash in goal. But please, the vuvuzela, or its variates, have been used for centuries in Africa and Latin America, and has become part of the culture. They are the host nation, and the last time I checked, it is not mandatory to watch the Finals. You don't like it, tune in to the Lifetime Channel. But please, shut the hell up. But back to the field, now. In spite of the less than impressive start of some marquee teams, (*coughs* England) virtually all of the heavyweights are in the 2nd round. Brazil sealed their place with a 3-1 victory over a spirited Cote D'Ivoire team featuring arguably the most complete striker in the world, the chances of Argentina getting eliminated in the first round were as likely as Canada winning the Eurovision song contest, England had to grind out a hard fought victory over a relatively weak Slovenia (and group, to be honest) and Brazil are 45 minutes away from winning their group. I expect Spain to at least finish runners-up in their group, and even that is a disappointment for a team consisting of the best passing midfield quarter in the World Cup. In the end, I think the best of this World Cup is still to come. The relative lack of African presence notwithstanding, all of the team in the knockout stages deserve to be there. I have my ideas for those who will be eliminated but I prefer to let the group stages be completed. Check later to get my picks.
get ready ghana, you're next... [YOUTUBE]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yd8X0YwHgI4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yd8X0YwHgI4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]
I love USA but I hope they lose tomorrow and get elminated. I hope Ghana sends them home packing, I doubt they will tho. Some folks here at work talking shit already, we're number 1, LMAO. We have so many fucken sports in this country and more than three fourth of the US population do not even give a rat's ass about soccer. To other countries especially the third world, soccer is what they eat, drink and breath....these countries do not have the luxury of having so many sports. The dirt poor villagers hope for some kind of miracle every four year in the world cup. US does not deserve to win... fuck it's all England's fault, drawing 1 to 1, what the hell y'al English thinking?
Wow.. Thats certainly a different perspective. And its refreshing. Not saying I want the USA to be knocked out, but I think you are right when you say it would mean more to Ghanians to win the world cup then Americans..In Africa, especially Ghana football is like a religion. Its gonna be a tall order for Ghana to beat the USA though.
