World Cup 2010 - South Africa Thread

[Roger Wilco]

What the hell was the red even for?

Then again, I don't care. It's quite funny.

Ellbow-check. And I don't it was totally undeserved. Referees don't often punish players for that but I think it's very dangerous and many players do such things to intimidate their opponents which I think isn't ok.

 

[Shaytan]

If we can do something nice for South-Africa...

 

[Roger Wilco]

lol, funny goal. Is that really France there or Luxemburg?

 

[Shaytan]

It's not nice for Luxembourg.

 

[Danny99]

What a cross! Uruguay up 1-nil!

 

[Shaytan]

Yo ! South-Africa has a chance ! I'm sure we can give a hand !

 

[Angel4576]

Either South Africa need to bang in a few more or hope that Uruguay do, otherwise they're out on GD. Shame if that happens.

Galling for the French as well, if Uruguay do beat Mexico then technically a French win would have put them through.....

 

[Borgminister]

The time to complain about your coach is before the WC, not during...

 

[Roger Wilco]

Hehe, Henry, I'm wondering if he regrets making that hands now.

 

[Danny99]

For the uninitiated, how does the goal differential work? I understand Goals For minus Goals Against equals the total. I mean my question as what does South Africa have to do to get through?

 

[Angel4576]

I think the problem with France is that ideally they'd have gotten rid of their coach after their dismal performance at the European Championships only they couldn't afford to do it. They should have coughed up as clearly the dressing room's already been lost, and let's face it, they were very lucky to scrape through the playoffs.....

I'm sure they'll pick up again under Blanc but it's worrying that things can go so wrong when the players don't want to play for the coach.

 

[Danny99]

I don't know how soccer works, but in major North American leagues (NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB) it seems that coaches are hired and fired by the whims of the star players.

Wouldn't it be great to see a team or nation back up their coach?

 

[Angel4576]

SA need to win 4-0, or Mexico need to lose 0-3, or somewhere inbetwee, ie. SA 3-0 and Mexico 0-2.

 

[Roger Wilco]

For the uninitiated, how does the goal differential work? I understand Goals For minus Goals Against equals the total. I mean my question as what does South Africa have to do to get through?

Temporarily Mexico is at 3:2 right now and South Africa is at 3:4, so SA has to make up two more goals - either by scoring 2 themselves or with some more help from Uruguay; if SA scores another goal and Uruguay too for example it would be Mex 3:3 and SA 4:4 which would be enough, because goals scored is the next tiebreaker after goal difference.

eta: from http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/56/42/69/fifawcsouthafrica2010inhalt_e.pdf

5. The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

 

[Danny99]

Unofficial poll: who are people cheering for to get through, Mexico or South Africa?

 

[Shaytan]

He ben on sera pas fanny !
(sorry)

 

[Angel4576]

RSA.

Always like the hosts to go through, better for the tournament.

 

[tomalak301]

I'd like to see South Africa get through, since they are the host country. I do have some friends/co-workers who like Mexico though so it wouldn't affect me either way, but if the home country could advance, that's a very good thing.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I don't know how soccer works, but in major North American leagues (NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB) it seems that coaches are hired and fired by the whims of the star players.

Wouldn't it be great to see a team or nation back up their coach?

It depends on the team/club.
I can't see for example Rooney being powerful enough to kick out Ferguson at Manchester United, but in other clubs the coach often is the punching bag (Real Madrid comes to mind for example).

 

[Danny99]

Good game between Uruguay and Mexico, well played.