Day 3 WC

Today's games is what I have come to expect from opening games. Teams get very little time to prepare for a match and only get to play with each other a few months every year so the first game is kind of a tune-up to see where they stand. Games are very tight and no team wants to lose the first one and better to start off with a point than a loss, and winning one of these games is a huge advantage in advancing past the first round.
I did not get to see much of the Greece-South Korea game but from what I saw it was a totally one sided affair. South Korea is known as a country not loaded with talent but with an amazing work ethic that causes problems and forces teams to play controlled because they will pounce at any loose ball or poor touch. Greece seemed to have no answer and lack the class to break down the Korean defence. Well played by Korea I expect they will have a much better showing than their brothers to the North.
Although I did sleep in late I made sure I was up in time to watch the Argentina-Nigeria tilt. The Argentinians domintated the match but there was a noticable problem. Lionel Messi is the worlds greatest player and he has all the tools to be the best. Fast, powerful, quick hard shot, uncanny dribbling, always seems to know where other are and can sometimes create that moment of magic that keeps everyone on their toes when he is running at defenders. He showcased all of these talents today but could not find the back of the net. Playing for Barcelona on La Liga he seems to be unstoppable but when wearing his countries colors he can not seem to access those same skills. Argentina is a very talented squad but all of their forwards are all selfish and used to being their teams best striker and so not used to assisting teamates and sacrificing for the good of team and country. It will be interesting to see if this team can mesh before its too late and they have to go back home disappointed yet again.
Now to the BIG game. USA-England. What a game, both teams played well but the class of England never was shown. They are more talented than the Yanks at almost every position and yet the work rate and sheer determination of the USA team proved that even the big guys take a beating if they do not capitalize on the chances they have. The goal that Clint Dempsey scored was obviously very lucky and the US team can not continue to count of goal keeping troubles to advance. Jozy Altidore came the closest to scoring late in the game but his shot glanced of Robert Greens arms and off the post but it was a good chance showing that the US will be a player at this Cup. I wouldn't think that England would have over looked the Americans but maybe they need time to adjust too but 1 point in the opening game is never a bad thing.

Pac 16

The new creating of Conferences that is going on is amazing to me. The face taht the Big 12 is no longer there is crazy. Somehow these teams ca not come to some type of agreement is too much to even think about. The only thi that is going to be a plus out of this is the idea that there will be a USC vs Oklahoma game in Norman once every 4 years. If this is something that you can not get excited about you must live in a state that doesn't matter. Too anyone, not just Oklahoma.

6 AM game

It is sad the South Koreans are playing Greece so early in the USA because it should be a good game but its so early. This should be a boring game since the Greek are known for defending and the Koreans do not posses the talent of other nations in attacking that this game will not be seen by most, and will surely be the third straight boring game of the tournament. If the World Cup hosts were smart they would start off with exciting teams and stars to help kickoff the tournament. But alas this is what we are stuck with.

France vs Uruguay

Geez this game was boring. To think that such stars as Nasri and Benzema were left off the squud is tough to imagine and then to think that the Coach kept Moluda on the bench for some petty reason is even worse. This is a once every 4 year event and to keep someone off the team or on the bench shows what an ego the French coach must have. They were not creative in their attacks or inventive in any way. This French team has a lot of talent and to be abused in this way should not be stood for. The thing that hurts them the most is that they are French and no one really cares because we all hate them so much.

First day

Watched both games today.

South Africa surprised everyone and tied Mexico in the first game. The Brazilian coach managed to make the most of his weak squad andscored the first goal which was an amazing shot by Siphiwe Tshabalala on a counter attack and was the first goal by an African on the continent. This may not seem like a big deal but it is amazing because of the way it was scored(upper 90) and to over come all the obstacles that this country has gone through over the years to be scored like this truly shows that the country of South Africa and the continent that it comes from is ready to prove itself on the world stage and is a compliment to all they have overcome in the last 18 years of being recognized by the governing body over soccer(FIFA).

The World Cup

Thoughts on the first day...

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event the World has ever known. It is the start of something that will effect not only the Untited States but every country throughout the World. It will effect the United States in a way we have every known as a Country. The result of how the USA does can change the way we will view the sport of Football(as it is known everywhere but here) but lead us to the point where the United States can relate to other Countries through the beautiful game and can prove that it is not just another after thought in to the way we conceive other nations. Americans believe that we are better than everyone else because we do not let our best athletes play. The way America views the Game of Soccer is that it is just an after thought and can be played by anyone is not correct. The talent that it takes to play the beautiful game and be played at a high level is something to be an afterthought of the great country that we have. This is a competitive sport that the best athletes of any given country always try to be the best at is over looked by some Americans and needs to be addressed.
To overlook this spectacle that is given to us once every 4 is is egregious. Some Americans just view it as a sport that is second or third best and think that if the US just took some time and got involved would change the way that people from our country would dominate if given the chance is not correct.
The talent in the World Cup is from athletes that have devoted their whole lives to being able to play in this once in a 4 year tournament (that excludes most countries) and allows their best athletes to play at an athletic level that is unknown to most. This has been developed from the streets and poorer neighborhoods to become this release to those who thought they we going no where to shine and become giants on the International scene and prove that they are indeed worthy of becoming champion of the world and showcase the talents they have acquired over the course of their lifetimes.
The World Cup is the best place for the athletes if a given country to show that the are the best of a sport that is played throughout the world and is considered the greatest show on earth. Americans do not get this and think that what we have is the best but no matter how many Championships or Rings Tom Brady or Kobe Bryant have they will always fail in comparison to the rest, the greatness of a Pele or a Maradona on the worlds stage makes them the greatest athletes the world has seen because they have shown they can provide us with talent on the worlds greatest stage.
To be the greatest in the USA is to be great at a sport that we made up. Football and Basketball are sports that the World does not play. The World does not care and I will be here to let you know about what goes on not only in this World Cup but in all facets of the game of Football, be it the World Cup or English Premier League or the Seria A and La Liga, there are sports out there that matter to the World not just Americans. It is hard to believe I know but the World is bigger than the United States of America.
Feel free to discuss any of these thoughts and opinons here and I will surely be willing to debate them as needed.