Parreira should be fired for NOT changing tactics to beat the French properly and for his poor squad selections. He only selected 3 strikers in his 23 man squad (Mphela, Parker and Nomvethe) and stuck with his 4-4-1-1 formation throughout the tournament, which does NOT bring you goals when you need them. A lack of tactical imagination is a good reason to show a coach the door. A change after a tournament that has brought qualification failure would be seen as a positive move, most of the time - it would show that SAFA are *trying* to move forward and do better next time.
That's the only way Parreira coached teams ever play. Very tough defense waiting for individual talent to prevail so strikers can score. We won a world cup playing like that in 94 with Romario. But in teams with a shallow talent pool (SAF) that's what normally happens. Although he has 5 WCs as head coach this was the first match he ever won when not coaching Brasil.
I have been meaning to post this question for a while. I have already admitted I only watch the world cup and have been enjoying it thoroughly, with the exception of those fucking horns. Players like Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo literally leave me in awe. I would compare it to the first time I saw Michael Vick play when VA tech was in the championship, I'm just amazed how good they are. Are these two the studs and cream of the crop in normal FIFA play or are they just your regular stars? I had heard of Renaldo (honestly because of him banging a US celebrity I think) I never heard of Messi, and these guys are just ridiculous athletes. If LA Galaxy spent 250 million of one of these guys U.S soccer might have had more success, rather than a guy who was a little past his prime and known for restarts. Anyway other than U.S and some of the favorite teams I have been trying to catch Portugal and Argentina as well just to watch these two.
I would really like to see USA and England both win today. But if it comes down to one or the other its USA all the way.
Perfect... already getting a bad call. He was on, it was close, but the benefit goes to the attacker. Both teams have had misses too, the cross bar and the wide open miss by Altidore. It's defintiely been a nailbiter, I can't wait for the 2nd half.
I'm at work right now, and we have Qwest (non-ESPN3 affiliate), but.... GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
America moves on 1-0. Is that perhaps the most thrilling goal of the world cup so far? I would say either Americas goal, or the New Zealand goal in stoppage time, to tie Slovakia, are tops so far. Last minute goals! Incredible! Speaking of New Zealand, I like their heart and they have played above expectations I think, it would be cool to see them move on! What do you think their chances are against Paraguay?
It has to be this one. Sure that one made for a bigger upset, but the goal today had so much more riding on it. If he doesn't score there, the US goes home. Now we're through to the next round. Holy shit.
OH MY GOD that was INSANE beyond measure...I was in a freaking computer lab and the damn place erupted like a bar after that goal.
They are the biggest stars of football right now. I don´t think Barça would sell Messi even for 250 mil nor would he want to leave a team like Barcelona. They are the 2 players that every kid on the street kicking the ball wants to be. Messi if he wins the world cup would be considered to be on the level of Maradona. Germany v England in the round of 16!
FUCK YES!!! I was in between briefs in the squadron ready room watching the game with a bunch of Marine Captains, Navy Lieutenants and a Lt Commander in addition to a bunch of Marine Lt's and Navy Ens's. The room died when the goalie stopped Donavon's kick after he got punched, but erupted after the goal. I'm sure the next building over could hear us cheering. Best goal of the games so far.
It would have been a disgrace if USA hadn´t gone through because of some horrible refereeing decisions they had. The goal against Algeria wasn´t offside in my opinion and then they had that 3:2 goal taken away from them in the last game after coming back from 2:0 down.
New Zealand struggled against Chile and Mexico and it is thought that the Latin American teams are a bit too quick and play with too much flair for the Kiwis to keep up with. And any element of surprise that they had against Slovakia and Italy have gone, I think the Paraguayans will have done their homework. But then again, the All Whites have been scoring goals against the big teams (by NZ standards) that they have played - Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Australia so it could happen. A MP has prepared a bill that would make it a national holiday if we win.
USA will play Ghana and the winner of that will play the winner of Korea v Uruguay so one of those 4 will make it at least to the semis. England will play Germany and then the winner of Mexico v Argentina. What a huge difference between finishing second instead of first in their EASY group.