I like your analysis; that's exactly how it works with Italy. they'll make a struggle out of every game, be it against Brazil or Tanzania or New Zealand. after two rounds it will look like they may be out but they'll find a way to advance and then they can go anywhere from best to bust.

there's a likely matchup against Spain in the quarterfinals and if Italy gets past that they'll have built enough drama and strenght to become a real threat. anyway, I dare to say that I don't believe in this team at all and don't see them advancing past the quarterfinals, which is widely accepted as a reasonable outcome, which means that Italy might win it all




in the meaning that Brazil plays beutifully? when?? we have great players but many many of them are on vacation right now; it's funny how we brazilians are spoiled brats and complain about our national team when the whole world dreams of having half of our players, and this time even our stubborn head coach is regarded as "excellent". the truth is Brazil has a solid, winning team but this time our game relies on speedy counter-attack, not "jogo bonito".

1-We are in, it doesn`t matter how hard it was. We are in thanks to Martin Palermo`s miracle against Peru. Before Mexico 86, Argentina had the same situation because we were almost out of the World Cup, however we got in and we won the World Cup. As Freddy Mercury used to say "We are the champions, my friend".

2-Actually God won a World Cup, it`s Mexico 86. We won England with 2 historical goals, one skipping 5 english players and the another one with the "hand of God".And we beat Germany in the final match... All the religions have discovered that they have the same God, and God is from Argentina...

I love your enthusiasm Don Pappo

Remember here in England we don't look quite so favourably on your Mr. Maradona,understandably so........

so it's about to start. I say Mexico will win the opening game. let's see.

and you can't deny that Maradona is a great character. Pelé was the greatest player ever but other than his soccer skills there's not much to care about him; now, Maradona is one for the ages! a terrible coach I must say, but if somehow he manages to fix his defense a little bit and Messi goes on a hot streak, Argentina could win this any time.

Don Pappo - there's one thing I don't understand. why the hell "El Pibe" just ignores Cambiasso? he was playing very well until 2 weeks ago and you can use another experienced midfielder. remember that Veron can't play well for 90 minutes.

Yeah, I agree (if an American's opinion counts in such things ). But don't forget Franz Beckenbauer or Johan Cruyff. They, too, were kind of "boring," like Pelé was, but they sure could play. As far as favorites, mine has always been Giorgio Chinaglia, especially since he's been on the lam . Anyone remember the New York Cosmos?

I guess I'm showing my age, huh?

Uruguay 0 France 0

Quite possibly the boringness game i've ever watched, lets hope its gets better than this..

I fell asleep while watching their game!

let's set our hopes in tomorrow's early morning classic, South Korea vs. Greece!

Yeah..I Understand! hehe! You are gonna play with USA today, Good Luck. I think you are gonna win because USA is not regarded as a great soccer team, although it is getting better every World Cup hahaha.

I am not quite sure, but I guess there are better players. However, remember Cambiasso failed the last kick penalty against Germany in 2006. Is it about Bad charm? Maybe...

WE WON! Argentina 1- Nigeria 0... Heinze with his head made the goal at 6 minutes of the first time...

I guess we'll see... I've never really watched before, but have it on now. Even while my Yankees are playing!

give it a try JG, it's just as boring as baseball I always heard that americans don't like soccer due to low scores and slow pace of the game but isn't it just like your national past time?

[as I type] England 1-0 with less than 5 minutes. Gerrard has always been a monster.

and I don't think there's anyone better than Cambiasso in Argentina's midfield. along with Mascherano they would be two pitbulls guarding Maradona's shaky defensive system.

also I wouldn't care about failing the last penalty. great players like Zico and Roberto Baggio have missed key World Cup penalty kicks; it just happens. unless Maradona sees some sort of "bad karma" around him and Zanetti, which is what I believe. if that's the case, then he didn't watch Inter Milan win every championship it played this season.

in my opinion, the 2004 Red Sox proved there's no such thing as bad karma, for those who needed it; put the best players together and play hard and give your best and you're going to win.

I'll take that cheap USA goal

So I guess for us Ugly Americans, a tie is as good as a win, right?

First the Revolutionary War, now this!

Apparently, a tie is as as good as a win.

USA WINS 1-1

"World Cup Shocker"? Indeeeeeed.

Not if the issue at stake is something other than soccer!

I genuinely can't say Pelé is or was the greatest player ever, because I've only seen his 'highlights'. I suspect that's the case for most of the people posting in this thread.

In terms of greatest players I've ever watched - as in watching a full game in which they've played, because then you get to see how they work off the ball as well as on it, in the full context of an actual match - is Zinedine Zidane.

I agree Capo, best player of our generation.

yes Zidane was a monster. I would say he shares the top 3 with Romario and Ronaldo - don't know who's 'the best' - but indeed Zidane was great more consistently and constantly than the other two.

now, if you're not sure Pelé was the best ever, it's because you didn't see enough of him.

I like guys like Cruyff, Maradona and Garrincha much more as 'icons' or 'characters' but Pelé was the best by a fair share. of course it was another era. he was the only one with the shape of a player of today, sometimes playing against semi-amateur opponents, but what did he do? he kicked their asses and won everything and scored over 1000 goals, no one else did it at ant other time.

hey geoff you may get your wish http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/s...;cc=5901?ver=us

How on earth did you select Maradonna as a manager?

A few World Cup points so far. Firstly what is with all the half empty stadiums? Not a good sign. Secondly its time for the horns(vevezulos) to fuck off. They say they blow them to create the atmosphere during the game,so why are they blowing them constantly? Thirdly the ball. It looks like a beach ball and seems to be spoiling the games. We havn't had a goal scored from outside the box yet apart from the US (and i don't want to talk about that LOL).

Lastly. As usual the first games are boring because every team is petrified of losing that first game. The real excitement won't start until the last group games and beyond.

THREE BEST TEAMS SO FAR;
Argentina,Germany and South Korea

THREE WORST TEAMS SO FAR;
Greece,France and Cameroon

THREE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTING TEAMS SO FAR'

England,Italy and Australia

THREE BIGGEST SURPRISE TEAMS SO FAR;

New Zealand,Japan and South Africa

yes that sums it up the World Cup so far.

I don't know enough about the ball to give a meaningful opinion, but if it could speak back, she wouldn't say nice things about the players either!

I like the vuvuzeulas. I thought they were bagpipes at first. I'm gonna get a vuvuzeula ring tone for my cell phone.

I don't know much about soccer but is there a way to provide more scoring opportunities?

Yeah, I said that.

Yeah, there's no arguing with stats, but it's impossible to compare beyond that - and when considering stats themselves, you've got to account for the kinds of teams Pele was playing against. You can't imagine anyone to match his records in today's game - it's far more competitive and a lot faster. So all the 'best player ever' arguments can't really go beyond personal preference.

And mine's Zidane. As for Ronaldo - definitely the most naturally gifted striker I've ever watched. In terms of finishing and creating his own chances and making both of those look effortlessly easy, I can't think of anyone to match him.

Apparently it's the 'roundest' ball ever used. Nobody seems to be getting to grips with it - as Yogi says, long range goals are few and far between. The Dutch and the Germans seem to always get to grips with this kind of stuff first - Holland in particular are never afraid of giving it a good old hoof.

The vuvuzelas need to go simply on the basis that the players themselves often find communicating to one another difficult. Atmosphere's one thing, but in actual fact there's no change in volume from the run-up to a goal and its immediate aftermath. It's impossible to distinguish crowds, chants, etc. If anything, it's replaced atmosphere.

As for Maradona, he's not a good tactician. Argentina will be undone quite easily against a stronger, more balanced team, such as Germany.

I don't know; probably not. The problem - if you were suggesting there is one - hasn't anything to do with lack of goals, it's that the quality of football (because football is more than putting balls in a net) has so far been so utterly shite. Too many games are 'in need of a goal to liven things up'. The play itself has been pretty messy.

Rob Green has trained today and in 3 hours he had 4,000 shots fired at him and did not concede a single goal. Tomorrow, him and Heskey will train with the rest of the squad.

wheres the love for the U.S team?