World Cup and MLS Open Thread 7/10-7/11

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2010 9:26 AM PDT

The weekend is full of MLS action, and there are those two World Cup matches as well. Our guide today will tell you what interest Sounders fans should have.

Colorado Rapids at Toronto FC - 9AM- This is a game where a draw helps more than anything. Both of these teams are contending for a top two spot in their Conferences, and are almost locks for the playoffs at this time.

Germany v Uruguay - ABC 11AM - URG desperately wants this win as it will cap this tourney run they've had. Look for a bit of redemption from Suarez and Forlan will just be amazing. A win means 2 Million dollars more in the pockets of federation gets third. I expect the Germans will merely want to find a way to get one of their own at the top of the All Time Scorers list, but Klose is carrying an injury and certain to not go 90.

History of 3rd Place Games

More below

San Jose Earthquakes at Philadelphia Union - 3PM Fox Soccer - Two results help the Sounders. A draw helps Seattle as non-championship caliber teams leave points behind, while a win by the 'Quakes might finish off the Union's chances. Brotherly Game will have coverage on the network.

DC United at New York Red Bulls - 4:30 PM - Today you are a Red Bull fan. They are a dominant team in the East, and United is struggling to climb from the cellar. Seattle needs as much help as possible. Follow the game from the United side, or Red Bull.

Los Angeles Galaxy at New England Revolution - 4:30 PM - Watch the Donovan/Buddle/Ricketts show. The Revs could be finished off this weekend, at least for all practical purposes.

Chivas USA at Kansas City Wizards - 5:30 PM - Two bad teams face off. A nil-nil draw is the best result for the Sounders, as neither team would be climbing from their point a game or less pace.

WORLD CUP FINAL - ABC at 11AM

Seriously watch the pregame, watch the whole damn thing. Continue to set the records.

Netherlands attempt to take the trophy after two other close misses. All they have to do is face their former masters - Spain.

Too much good coverage on the network, so I will just say read it all here.

FanPosts only represent the opinions of the poster, not of Sounder at Heart.

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Comments

As much as I like the German team

Uruguay has been my favorite team to follow in the World Cup not named USA, so I’ll be pulling for them and hopefully watch that fantastic duo or Suarez and Forlan do some damage. I’d love to see Klose get to a tie at the top of the all-time scorer’s list (or get 2 and go ahead). Haven’t all but like 2 or 3 of those been with his head?

by Nevtelen on Jul 10, 2010 9:32 AM PDT reply actions

It is an outrage that Suarez is in that game

I’m sorry, but it is. If you made a red card foul of that magnitude you should not be allowed back in after 1 game suspended.

Still game should be more amusing than most. Definitely more than Spain, the lowest goal-scoring World Cup finalist in history. Beautiful snorefest.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 9:48 AM PDT reply actions

Whose leg did he break?

You make it sound like a player died or something.

Suarez blocked a goal-bound shot with his hand. He was sent off and the penalty awarded. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Sure, Uruguay ended up coming out ahead because the Ghanaian missed the penalty and the shootout worked in their favor, so what? There’s nothing out of the ordinary to suggest that it should be a multiple game suspension.

by CarlosT on Jul 10, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

True

If that had happened at minute one rather than minute 90+ no one would call for a multi-game suspension.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

It was a direct red card

In most leagues in Europe, direct red cards always result in multi game suspensions. That’s because the foul was egregious enough to get a direct red.

Breaking a leg or not is irrelevant. It’s the foul that matters. The fact that Christiano Ronaldo could still walk after this doesn’t change that it’s a red card and multi-game suspension. Equally, the fact that Ghana missed the penalty is not relevant. Stopping a sure goal with your hands in any situation should be a multi-game suspension. The only other factor is his unapologetic attitude, which should factor into suspending him.

But it’s clear FIFA was desperate not to have anyone suspended in either final match, just look at the way refs avoided giving any cards in the Semi’s. It’s a very bad precedent to set, and FIFA should reconsider its policies. Rules should not be put below financial concerns.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Classic there Harkes/ABC

Have a graphic up that says traditional 4-4-2 and then talk about how Uruguay will have three forwards.

Which is it?

Damn, you’ve had a month to get this right.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2010 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

Argh, speaking of should be red cards

That should’ve been as red as they come

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 11:35 AM PDT reply actions

Toronto beats Rapids 1-nil on Ibrahim goal

The Reds are the only non-high-altitude team to have a true home field advantage, and this year even more so.

This is a decent result for the Sounders, as they aren’t competing with Toronto for a spot (TFC will be 2 or 3 in the East).

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2010 11:36 AM PDT reply actions

This game is awesome.

CougCenter

by Brian Floyd on Jul 10, 2010 12:01 PM PDT reply actions

This game is terrible

Well sloppy

Also Germany doesn’t really looks like it cares all that much

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Doesn't matter to me

It’s entertaining with plenty of counters.

CougCenter

by Brian Floyd on Jul 10, 2010 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Its like watching an All Star game

little defense

except that the results matter more here.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2010 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

I know a lot of people like high-scoring games like these, but I can’t stand it. Sloppy or non-existent defense doesn’t make good football games, I’d rather see something like the concentrated 1-0 Swiss-Spain game.

Though the Spanish possession game is a bit boring too, especially when they’re as bad at scoring as they are.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Friggin' amateur hour in this game

I guess it’s entertaining but man are they not taking it seriously

Nor should they really. 3rd place game is kind of useless.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

It is not good football, but it is entertaining and I will take that

In the USA college basketball championships, they used to play a 3rd place game. But, eventually they dropped it because the two teams really didn’t care. Losing in the semi’s and not playing for the championship is a huge letdown for these two teams and we are seeing it on the field.

by Coug1990 on Jul 10, 2010 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Yip

They didn’t use to have it for the World Cup. They don’t for the European Cup.

FIFA won’t let it go, it’s free moneyz, but they can’t make people care, including the people on the field.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

They’ve had a third place match at every World Cup, except 1930 (simply didn’t) and 1950, when the four group winners had another group stage.

by Alan Hudson on Jul 10, 2010 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

You hit on the reason right there. It is the money and most things can always be explained by the "Money"

60,000 people paying premium ticket prices, plus the worldwide TV audience is a lot of money in FIFA’s pockets.

by Coug1990 on Jul 10, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions

3-2 it is

Second World Cup in a row where the entire top 3 is European.

Say what you will about the group stages, but when it comes to games that actually matter, UEFA has dominated this tournament. Again.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 1:22 PM PDT reply actions

I won't argue against Europe best being deeper and better than anyone but 2 on S.America

I just think slots to the World Cup should be based on how well regions do in the group stage, because it isn’t as if adding more slots to a region will add more championship caliber nations.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2010 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Aren't slot based on overall performance?

Obviously with the playoffs being more important than the group stage, simply because they are.

I’m not sure the group stage would be improved by sending in a team that’s even worse than Honduras ;)

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions

With the unnecessary game out of the way, it's time for real games!

Can anyone explain to me why Spain is the overwhelming favorite? Favorite I get, they’re the European Champions, and they have the potential to play beautiful football. But other than possession dominance, they haven’t shown that much this World Cup. Worst shots-on-goals-to-total-shots percentage in the cup. Horrible finishers, if they don’t score 4 goals they’ll set a new record for least goals scored in the World Cup.

They can’t finish. I mean, scoring less than some of those Italian teams? Wow.

I’m not about to smugly declare us winners (though my heart of hearts says we will be), but I don’t get all the love poured on them.

by Thomas Beekers on Jul 10, 2010 1:45 PM PDT reply actions

I think La Liga enthusiasm spills over into the national team

Sorta like Premier League and England. Their leagues are powerful so we assume their national teams are too. I’m cheering for Netherlands. I hope they can do it. Spain dismantled Germany though, and ran them dry. That’s my only worry for the Oranje.

by chrisperry1983 on Jul 10, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Fun game to watch

I was wondering how this’d play out without any real prize at the end, I thought it was pretty exciting to see it play out. It’s a shame Klose wasn’t able to come in. I really wanted Forlan to get his sixth and be in the running for Golden Boot. He’s been one of the most exciting people to watch this tournament.

by chrisperry1983 on Jul 10, 2010 2:13 PM PDT reply actions