[Eve(G)]

My friend was telling me about these African noise makers that people in the crowd use during games...what are these exactley? They are supposed to produce a buzzing noise.

Vuvuzelas. The English fans have started to play them in the tune of a chant, so they can be heard over the rest of the buzzing.

[Tiff Clark]

You say you should do your best, but then proceed to say that winning by a large margin is bad? Surely you see the contradiction in that? Some teams are better than others and that's just the way it is, not just in football, but in every sport. If doing your best results in thumping the other team, then that's the way it should be.

I said that you should do your best to win. I've been on teams that have gotten beaten 7-0. It makes you fee like absolute crap. Losing 3-0 doesn't feel anywhere near as bad. It would be more sportsmanlike, to my mind, to not try to grind your opponent into the ground once it is clear that you are better than them. I mean, what does it prove?

On a slightly more practical note, winning like that can a bad thing, as it tends to make the winner cocky and degrades their performance in the next match. A good enough coach can compensate for this, but given what has been going on the last few days, I don't have much confidence in the quality of all the coaches at the Cup. :cough:

[Ladymorphine]

As I stated earlier with Hibs being 6-2 up against Motherwell before drawing 6-6, a healthy lead doesn't mean the other team are down and out. Better to make sure the other team is well and truly beaten. Besides, you owe it to your fans to do your absolute best for your club/country.

[Johanna Van Drunick]

As I stated earlier with Hibs being 6-2 up against Motherwell before drawing 6-6, a healthy lead doesn't mean the other team are down and out. Better to make sure the other team is well and truly beaten. Besides, you owe it to your fans to do your absolute best for your club/country.

Hibs must have fallen completely apart as a team to let their opponents come back from a four goal deficit. I mean, how often does that happen?

[xx_Jess_xx]

You say you should do your best, but then proceed to say that winning by a large margin is bad? Surely you see the contradiction in that? Some teams are better than others and that's just the way it is, not just in football, but in every sport. If doing your best results in thumping the other team, then that's the way it should be.

I agree with everyone, but this was the first time I wished Portugal had stopped, because of the fact it was North Korea and the game was being shown live at home, for the first time ever. It's difficult not to be terrified about the future of some of that team or the training staff.

[Dylan Markese]

I agree with everyone, but this was the first time I wished Portugal had stopped, because of the fact it was North Korea and the game was being shown live at home, for the first time ever. It's difficult not to be terrified about the future of some of that team or the training staff.

Hmm, yes, that's a point I hadn't thought about. We don't want a repeat of Colombia-USA '94. That was terrible.

[Frank Firefly]

Hmm, yes, that's a point I hadn't thought about. We don't want a repeat of Colombia-USA '94. That was terrible.

Ah suspect even worse theengs for France, Madame La Guillotine for all of them!

[Stephy Beck]

I agree with everyone, but this was the first time I wished Portugal had stopped, because of the fact it was North Korea and the game was being shown live at home, for the first time ever. It's difficult not to be terrified about the future of some of that team or the training staff.

So long as margin is the first tiebreaker and there is no cap on it, the way that game went was unfortunate but necessary. I would not like to be Portugal's manager Queiroz explaining to A Bola why Ivory Coast advanced and my team did not.

Maybe if there were a 3-goal cap on margin and on goals scored, for the tiebreakers?

[RObert loVes MOmmy]

So long as margin is the first tiebreaker and there is no cap on it, the way that game went was unfortunate but necessary. I would not like to be Portugal's manager Queiroz explaining to A Bola why Ivory Coast advanced and my team did not.

Maybe if there were a 3-goal cap on margin and on goals scored, for the tiebreakers?

Oh yeah I know, I was brought up on goal difference, my family are football mad, both for Olympiakos and Leeds United, but I was just empathising with the Koreans. I cheered for Portugal, and prayed at the same time.

[sam smith]

I'm going to call it now, France, Spain, Italy and England aren't going to make it to the knockout stages, makeing for the most exciting knockout round of any world cup ever.

[Beast Attire]

Mexico and Uruguay to go through from Group A, not entirely sure about Group B. Argentina are pretty much a stick-on to beat Greece, but I can almost see Nigeria sneaking a win off South Korea and pinching second on goal difference.

[Tiffany Holmes]

So, do you guys think South Africa has a chance to qualify for the next round tomorrow?

From the news in the past week, it looks like the France team is in complete disarray! Who knows, South Africa may put a couple of goals past the broken French team and qualify.

It would be really nice if South Africa did qualify and even better qualifying while knocking France out.

[Kat Ives]

Mexico and Uruguay to go through from Group A, not entirely sure about Group B. Argentina are pretty much a stick-on to beat Greece, but I can almost see Nigeria sneaking a win off South Korea and pinching second on goal difference.

Greece! You may not remember, but I remember a bug eyed dancing freak http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIpLYnjcC5s&feature=related last time Argentina spanked us in the World Cup, only to be sent home later for speeding out of his eyeballs (he was amphetamine positive several times over). Currently the coach, if anyone has no idea who I am on about. I am thinking we are due a bit of karma for that one.
And no I don't know if he ate the cameraman's brains that day.

[Nicholas]

And no I don't know if he ate the cameraman's brains that day.

Yes more than likely he did

[Bek Rideout]

Yes more than likely he did

Mind you, it would have been an American, so hardly a nourishing meal.

[yessenia hermosillo]

Got France to win 2-0 but I wont shed any tears if I lose this bet :shrug:

[Spencey!]

I'm going to call it now, France, Spain, Italy and England aren't going to make it to the knockout stages, makeing for the most exciting knockout round of any world cup ever.

Hopefully France and Italy but not England or Spain

[Dean Ashcroft]

I wonder how many of the North Korean football team have mysteriously disappeared since returning home.

I'm not really into sports but I'd like to see England do well. Everything's so depressing right now a nice world cup win would lift the mood of the nation, if only temporarily.

[Jake Easom]

South Africa are 1-0 up. Wootz!

[Carlos Vazquez]

South Africa 1-0 :rofl:

[Trista Jim]

1-0 South Africa might just have a shot at it if the other game doesn't tie!

EDIT: And a red card to France for elbowing a SA player in the face! ouch!

[Hairul Hafis]

France now down to 10 men it gets even funnier

[Eibe Novy]

I said that you should do your best to win. I've been on teams that have gotten beaten 7-0. It makes you fee like absolute crap. Losing 3-0 doesn't feel anywhere near as bad. It would be more sportsmanlike, to my mind, to not try to grind your opponent into the ground once it is clear that you are better than them. I mean, what does it prove?

I've been on the receiving end of a defeat like that before myself. To make things worse, I scored an own goal in it too. The ball was crossed in from the left with a lot of pace, and it came off me at the back post for about the 6th goal I think. That wasn't a good day, but that's sports. My school team seriously svcked, but I enjoyed playing anyway. As Th3undon3on3 said earlier, the players owe it to their club/country to do their best. I don't think teams should just give up once they are up a couple of goals, especially in this case where goal difference could be a deciding factor on who proceeds and who doesn't.

I'm going to call it now, France, Spain, Italy and England aren't going to make it to the knockout stages, makeing for the most exciting knockout round of any world cup ever.

I think France and Italy are on their way out, and probably England too unless they sort themselves out against Slovenia, but Spain will be fine.

Mexico and Uruguay to go through from Group A, not entirely sure about Group B. Argentina are pretty much a stick-on to beat Greece, but I can almost see Nigeria sneaking a win off South Korea and pinching second on goal difference.

I'd like to see Uruguay go through. I think they have been one of the best teams in the tournament so far. Forlan in particular has been playing great.

[James Rhead]

2-0 :rofl: bye bye France

[Cathrine Jack]

2-0 !

Oh my... I wouldn't want to be French right now... But I wounder if Mex-Uruguay will be content with a draw...