So yeah, uh, soccer's pretty interesting actually

[Eminor]

No, if you're REALLY good, you can play in the A-team at 16. That said, there's little doubt Mourinho wants to bring him in early so he can start "shaping" him properly before DC United fuck things up.

Ah, that's it. The coach at DC is Peter Nowak. Good player, decent as a new manager. He's doing a solid job breaking Adu in, but I'd like to see him get more time. He needs to be tougher on the ball--he hits the turf a lot.

 

[dorian gray]

I'm a big McBride supporter. That fucker works hard 90+ minutes. Plus, he played all his MLS years at Columbus, which is the closest thing I have to a home team, at 3 hours away.

i saw him play there. awesome player and great stadium. first soccer-specific stadium in the US.

 

[Eminor]

I usually get there once or twice a year. I've seen the national team play there 3 or 4 times too. The best game was for WC 2002 qualififying when they beat Mexico 2-0. It was like 25 degrees that night and the Mexicans were not so fucking happy.

 

[dorian gray]

haha mexicans and cold weather. i went through a phase where mexico was like my favorite national team and stuff. wierd eh?

 

[Eminor]

Ah, but once you start supporting American soccer it's impossible to still like Mexico. Great rivalry.

 

[JayKeeley]

Fuck Mexico.

Although memories of the Mexico World Cup in 1986 still run rampant. Gary Linekar scoring the most goals of the tournament....getting to the semi-finals....and of course, Diego Maradona and his fucken hand of god....leaving them to win the world cup. BAH.

 

[Eminor]

I played soccer when I was a kid, but didn't turn into a spectator until USA '94. The irony--that was my best chance to ever get to actually go to a WC.
Anyway, good to see Maradona is still taking good care of himself. He could take the field anytime...

 

[JayKeeley]

I played soccer when I was a kid, but didn't turn into a spectator until USA '94. The irony--that was my best chance to ever get to actually go to a WC.

Sorry but....WORST WORLD CUP EVAR!

Anyway, good to see Maradona is still taking good care of himself. He could take the field anytime...

Yeah, amazing how he's managed to stay so slim.

 

[Eminor]

I didn't know enough to judge in '94. Seems like the country is too big for a good tournament, too. I'd think part of the fun would be having so much (different fans, games, just people in general) so close together.

 

[JayKeeley]

94 was the worst final ever. I think it even went to penalties. And most importantly, England didn't even qualify.

 

[Henrik Main]

94 was the worst final ever. I think it even went to penalties.

Nah, it was pretty damn good. Tense as hell. The first World Cup I actually remember watching [/nostalgia].

 

[lizard]

I usually get there once or twice a year. I've seen the national team play there 3 or 4 times too. The best game was for WC 2002 qualififying when they beat Mexico 2-0. It was like 25 degrees that night and the Mexicans were not so fucking happy.

I remember that game. I feel guilty that I haven't been to a game in that stadium, because it really is supposed to be a showcase.

 

[Doom]

Sorry but....WORST WORLD CUP EVAR!

Haha, the first thing that springs to mind about that world cup was the opening ceremony when they had Tina Turner (I think) prancing around the pitch singing some song. Then she went up to one end to take a penalty kick. The idea was that the whole goal would split in two when the ball went in the net, but she totally fucking missed the goal and yet the goal posts still broke in half. That whole over-the-top American thing wasn't really suited to the World Cup.

I say this every tournament, but I GENUINELY think England have a very good chance of winning it this year.

 

[Ellestin]

I'm staying with Angola

 

[Henrik Main]

Sorry but....WORST WORLD CUP EVAR!

Hah, no way. The 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea was terrible, whereas the US WC was pretty damn good. The best I've seen is definitely the 1998 World Cup in France, though. I saw every game except Brazil - Denmark (3-2, hailed as the best match of the tournament), because I was on an airplane when the match was played

This time it's different. USA have Brian McBride, well experienced now playing in the Premiership for Fulham. Brad Friedel in goal, playing for Blackburn Rovers.

Friedel is fantastic, but, nevertheless, I don't really think the US will reach the 8th finals. The only BRILLIANT US players are McBride, Friedel and Landon Donovan, whereas Italy and the Czech Rep. have tons of star players in their squads.

Speaking of the USA, their 1994 squad was pretty interesting. Profiles such as Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda, Tony Meola, etc. Lalas got a small cult following here in Norway that summer

 

[JayKeeley]

2002 was terrible? I thought it was great. Argentina and France out in the first round. Underdogs like Turkey doing well. Japan won their group. US beat Portugal and both teams scored an own goal haha. Stadiums were excellent, crowds were LOUD!!

That was the problem with 94 -- it just lacked atmosphere and FIFA should have known that going in. You can't host a tournament in a country full of people that don't give a shit.

Germany is going to hectic. Crowds will be buzzed, loud, and singing.

98 was good, yeah. Not sure if you can get world cups on DVD (highlights) but I highly recommend Spain 1982.

 

[Henrik Main]

2002 was terrible? I thought it was great. Argentina and France out in the first round. Underdogs doing well like Turkey. Japan won their group. Stadiums were excellent, crowds were loud.

It was a decent enough World Cup when it came to the actual quality of the football, but, as most Norwegians and Europeans in general, I hated the fact that the games were played when everyone was at school or at work. I had to videotape a shitload of matches, but had several of them ruined by persons telling me the score of the matches before I came home and could see them. This wouldn't have been a big problem had it not been for the fact that 3/4 of the cup found place before the summer holidays started. Thumbs down!

Germany will indeed be brilliant. Excellent fans, and the best stadiums in the world. I'm planning to see all the matches, just like I did in 2004 (EC in Portugal).

 

[Ellestin]

I highly recommend Spain 1982.

Especially the part where Tony Schumacher roundhouse kicked Battiston, almost killing him

I agree with Henrikmain, 2002 sucked, and I'm not saying that beacuse France got kicked out miserably. Most games were boring as shit save for a handful highlights, it was plain obvious that teams like Spain, Italy, France, England were terribly unprepared for the tournament. I'm not implying teams like South Korea or Turkey didn't deserve to reach the semis, but the fact they didn't really have a hard time doing so speaks volume for the average level.

 

[Henrik Main]

I'm not implying teams like South Korea or Turkey didn't deserve to reach the semis, but the fact they didn't really have a hard time doing so speaks volume for the average level.

I agree. The only reason South Korea made it to the semis was a certain referee called Byron Moreno..

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

6 pages for a soccer thread.

I could start a thread about the clarity of the corn in my poop & it'd go 6 pages