World Cup Match Thread (Day 8 & Day 9 & Day 10)

[Muskie]

Wednesday's Schedule

12:00 Australia v. Netherlands

3:00 Spain v. Chile

6:00 Cameroon v. Croatia

Thursday's Schedule

12:00 Columbia v. Ivory Coast

3:00 Uruguay v. England

6:00 Japan v. Greece

Friday's Schedule

12:00 Italy v. Costa Rica

3:00 Switzerland v. France

6:00 Honduras v. Ecuador

[xubrew]

The Netherlands are likely to commit all kinds of unspeakable atrocities on Australia today.

[ammtd34]

The Netherlands are likely to commit all kinds of unspeakable atrocities on Australia today.

Not so fast say the socceroos.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Not so fast say the socceroos.

No kidding, talk about taking this game for granted. Cahill though is out for game #3 with a second yellow.

[X-band '01]

This group would really be up for grabs if the Aussies somehow manage a win (and if Spain rebounds against Chile).

[ammtd34]

Holy crap.

[DC Muskie]

What the hell has happened to Spain.

[ammtd34]

What the hell has happened to Spain.

And Iker. I was surprised he started this match anyway. He's had an awful game and a half. Sad to see him go out like this, but I ultimately don't care what happens to Spain. F 'em.

[X-band '01]

That was one helluva escape by Argentina. Iran was on the verge of back-to-back shutouts.

[paulxu]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAL. (#2 for Ghana)

[Porkopolis]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAL. (#2 for Ghana)

This is bad for the USA. Very bad.

[X-band '01]

Now tied 2-2. Group of Death is living up to its billing.

[paulxu]

This is bad for the USA. Very bad.

Shows you what I don't about soccer. I thought it would be good for Germany to lose. Guess not.

[paulxu]

OK. What's that mean for us that they tied.

[xu82]

Shows you what I don't about soccer. I thought it would be good for Germany to lose. Guess not.

Yeah, though I had been told otherwise, common sense would lead you to think that you want the team you beat to be proven to be good, and you like to see the top dog get knocked off. This seems counter-intuitive to me, but I guess I need to spend a few minutes to learn how all this works. (For all the hours I've spent on this already, you'd think I'd have gotten around to learning how it works.)

[X-band '01]

The line of thinking was that a German win would put them at 6 points and guarantee them a spot in the Round of 16 (which would have meant maybe they rest a few guys against the US in the process).

It also keeps Ghana in the hunt for a spot as well; the US is still in relatively good shape in terms of goal differential (+1) compared to Ghana (now -1) and Portugal (-4). If the US manages at least a tie against Portugal, they would have 4 points in the group along with Germany as well.

[Porkopolis]

Shows you what I don't about soccer. I thought it would be good for Germany to lose. Guess not.

A German win would have left Ghana and Portugal both on 0 points and the Americans in better shape goal differential wise, meaning the US would be in the drivers seat for second place.

[LA Muskie]

Would have preferred a German win. But after falling behind I'll take the tie. Beat Portugal and we're in. Tie Portugal and we're probably in so long as Germany doesn't do to us what they did to Portugal.