All things sporting [2]

Ze Germans are looking good!

Indeed they are- but some sloppy tackling and mad stuff from Portugal too.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:so its use has been narrow and rare in the long history of football lasting at best for about 20-30 years out of the 500 + years the game has existed for (and been called football).

You do realize that medieval football had a lot more in common with modern American football than modern association football, right? And that association football does not have exclusive rights to the legacy of the earlier game.

Id say it was closer to rugby than handegg myself, the earliest forms, with copious violence as a bonus element.

But it developed into football as we know it, and was being played as football before there were any professional bodies.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:Id say it was closer to rugby than handegg myself, the earliest forms, with copious violence as a bonus element.

But it developed into football as we know it, and was being played as football before there were any professional bodies.

It also developed into rugby simultaneously with the development into association football.  And rugby in turn branched out not only into league and union, but also into American and Canadian football. The first version of the Laws of the Game predate the beginning of American football by a whopping six years, so it's not like soccer is the oldest by very much.  And let's not forget Gaelic and Australian rules, which have somewhat murkier histories but are still very much part of the same family of sports.

Soccer chauvinists are the best (funniest).

Nigeria-Iran- 90 minutes Ill not get back again!   

Worst game of the World Cup so far (my mate reckoned the players were having a private game to see who could make the most misplaced passes in a single match- Nigeria won that).

You know something has gone wrong with Nigeria when Iran looked more dangerous on the break.


Heres hoping the Ghana v USA game is more entertaining than that.

Any UShobbits watching the game?

Well you dont get much better a start to a game than that from the US- goal within 35seconds!!   

Ouch! Unlucky for the US that looks like his hamstrings gone - sore one and if so his world cup is over.

The US arent having much luck on the pain front- boot to the nose!

US need to press that Ghana defence more, it looks shaky as hell when they do.

I'm watching Ghana v USA right now. It was a very exciting start, but the injuries seem to be slowing us down. Fortunately Dempsey is back on the field.

You are badly missing the guy went off with the hamstring, he had a handy turn of speed about him, a couple times his replacement has been one on one with the defender in that wide position and not had the guile or pace to get by his man.

Decent first half- not the two most skilful teams in the world but its making for a very open game of football with a lot of spaces.
Million times better than the Nigeria game was.

New guy coming in for the second half. I don't know any of these guys but the commentators don't sound hugely optimistic.

Bit backs to the wall for the US this half, but they are digging in there!

Yeah, Ghana has really controlled the ball well, though the USA send to be funding their groove a but better now.

Sucker punched! Been coming though. Nice goal though, good back heel to put the ball in the path of the striker.

Thats how you respond! Nice one- they deserve it just for running themselves into the ground and not giving it up.

5 minutes injury time! Can they hold on?!   

Well played US- great nail biting ending to the match.

You know there is hope for the US as a footballing nation yet if they can maintain that attitude- never let their heads go down, chased everything from first till last, and dug in deep for the reserves when legs got tired.

That was one hell of a finish. I haven't had this much fun watching a game (of any sport) in a while. The joy of discovering something new is in full effect as I'm trying to puzzle out all the rules of the game. I didn't expect the US to win since I know we've fared poorly against Ghana in the recent past, so it was a very exciting match.

I haven't had this much fun watching a game (of any sport) in a while.- Eldo

Welcome to the beautiful game!   

If you have any questions about rules do ask.

Didn't get to see the last game yesterday, but well done to the US for getting the win and giving me my 4th winning bet so far!

I did manage 5 minutes of Iran v Nigeria.... then I found something else to do.

Belgium get their first game today.... they have some good players but a lack of depth. Should do well if they can keep their first team fit.

And Brazil vs Mexico... could be an interesting one.

Wish I had bugged out the Nigeria game early Lance- it really was awful- like watching the last World Cup again!
Worth catching the highlights of the US game though if only for their sheer effort.

Looking forward to the Brazil Mexico game