gazza ladra

I was actually relieved when he finally just fucked off south to play in Los Angeles. It's kind of a hard when you can't stand your club's best player (San Jose, in this case) Now, if only he'd piss off to Mexico to play for El Tri then I can really hate without reservation.

Donovan to Man City would be written off as a marketing expense. I read somewhere that his MLS contract is up fairly soon... he could go to Everton on a free during the break or next summer. Probably BS anyway.

Andy "Number 9™" Carroll

Exiled, One genuine mistake? Sorry but De Jong has to be sent off for that foul. Straight red card every time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/12/paul-psychic-octopus-wins-world-cup Is an octopus a Mollusc? I thought they were part of the cephalopod crew? I thought the same. Apparently they're both. Yeah. Mollusca is the Phylum, cephalopoda the class.

Exactly. When exactly was it that Holland become Uruguay and Uruguay Holland? Kicking shins the entire game. Disgraceful.

Spain 2008 was the best.

No; you're right. They haven't actually made it yet. But they are trying and that's different.

They might start by hiring national team managers from their own countries and giving them more than a month or two to get the side organized prior to the finals.

Maybe because they're not going to Spain ....mostly England and Holland and they haven't actually made it yet. Strikers to England: Vela, Hernandez, dos Santos, Barrera. Defenders to Holland: Moreno, Salcido, Rodriguez.

Mexico will be first. They've been hampered in the past by their insularity. Until fairly recently the national squad was drawn from a group of players that had played exclusively in Mexico. Now younger players are pursuing careers in Europe and that is going to be important for them. They've always been pretty predictable; we (the US) have been able to beat them pretty consistently over the past 20 years now (away from Azteca) because we know the Mexican game and know better than to let them "play". In the future I don't think they're going to be so predictable. I think they've progressed into the second round in each of the past five World Cups (94-2010). They progressed in 86 as well; who knows how they would've done in 90 but were disqualified from Italy. They keep getting knocked out by the likes of Argentina or Germany. Or losing on penalties. Or losing on penalties to Germany. That's pretty consistent and impressive.

1954? Germany - Hungary? Am I wrong? Think Hungary were runners-up in either 34 or 38. Starting to wonder if theres only actually 5 haha 38; Czechoslovakia was 34; Czechoslovaks, Hungarians, and Dutch are all two time losers.

Turks, Poles, and Ghanaians?

RE: Germany Scoring the first goal helped.

Netherlands v. Spain; I'd like to see someone new win the Cup. Lagers are piss.

Whatever we do, Barton will start.

Absolutely. I'm not Thai, but I'd like to see Thailand win the World Cup.

Yes. yes. yes.

Palermo. I just love Sicily.

Salcido; good call.

Not if you're from New York there isn't.

Lions fan too. My whole fucking sporting life sucks. On top of that, I live in Detroit. Great stuff. At least you support your local teams. Not the fucking Yankees and Cowboys.

@ summerof69 & Keefaz, Yes and yes. At least we can now put together a few passes and attempt to take the game to the opposition. It was painful, really, really painful watching the US play in 90, 94, and 98. Truly awful. Getting there slowly.