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Open ThreadTactics

2nd Semifinal, Germany v Spain: Preview/Open Thread

July 7, 2010 — by Suman — 13

Probable starting lineups (via ZonalMarking.net)
We're just 90 minutes away from kickoff in the 2nd semifinal, to decide who will play the Netherlands in the final game on Sunday.  This matchup between European powers is highly anticipated; more so than yesterday's Holland-Uruguay match was, but we can only hope that this one lives up to the expectations and turns out to be as exciting as yesterday's 3-2 victory for Holland. What better way to get a preview of today's match than to revisit the finals of the Euro 2008 tournament, played on June 29, 2008 in Vienna's  Ernst Happel Stadion, when Germany and Spain clashed with nearly as much as stake as today.  Spain prevailed that day 1-0, off a goal by striker Fernando Torres--whose struggles to score in this World Cup have become something of a story line for followers of the Spanish side. On the

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Live Blog

1st Semifinal, Netherlands v Uruguay: Liveblog/Open Thread

July 6, 2010 — by Suman — 23

"Those Dutch fans just don't make the effort." Photograph: Tony Marshall/Empics Sport
After two more long empty days, the semifinals are upon us!  A mere five minutes until the Netherlands kickoff against Uruguay. Both teams advanced in dramatic quarterfinal matches on Friday.  The Dutch came back after conceding an early goal to the heavily favored Brazilians to win 2-1, while Uruguay also came back from a goal down to Ghana, eventually winning on penalty kicks (after their star forward preserved a 1-1 tie in the 120th minute with a controversial handball clearance off the Uruguayan goal line). We'll be doing a bit of liveblogging during the match, but most of the action will be happening in the comments thread.  Join us for the action! Final score: Holland 3-2 Uruguay (Van Bronckhorst 18', Sneijder 70', Robben 73' ; Forlan 41', Pereira 90') ____________________________________ Starting lineups: Uruguay: 1-Fernando Muslera;

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BooksHistoryVideo

Soccer in Sun & Shadow: A Brief History of Uruguayan Football

July 6, 2010 — by Suman — 3

"Soccer in Sun & Shadow" by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano
“Other countries have their history. And Uruguay has its football.” -Ondino Viera, Uruguayan national coach during the 1966 World Cup On the surface, it appears that among the 4 remaining teams, Uruguay is the minnow, the surprise. No one really expected them to be playing today--some even doubted whether they would advance from their group, given that they were placed with two purported soccer powers in Mexico and France, as well as the host South African side. But from another perspective, this is a return to the sun for Uruguayan football, after decades spent in the shadows. Consider that of the remaining semifinalists, Holland and Spain have never won the World Cup (perhaps the two greatest footballing nations never to have won), and while Germany has won 3 times (as West Germany, actually: twice as hosts,

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Commentary

Opinión de un mexicano sobre la “mano” de Suárez

July 6, 2010 — by Suman — 1

Luis Suarez palms the ball clear at the end of extra-time vs Ghana
We just received this opinion piece out of Mexico via email from our friend Marcelo.  Marcelo is a native son of Montevideo, a fan of Penarol and of course a close and longtime follower of the Uruguayan national team (we were talking World Cup history with him over the weekend, and he said the first World Cup he remembers is 1974--when, in a bit of historical resonance, Uruguay fell to the the famous Dutch side in the group stage). Opinión de un mexicano sobre la "mano" de Suárez Alberto Paciano. México Me gustó la mano de Luis Suárez. La verdad es que me encantó. Me quitaría el sombrero si usara uno. Y sin duda el próximo partido de Uruguay lo usaré, solo para quitármelo. Pero me encantó sobre todo porque después de haber

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DispatchesUnited States

USA v Slovenia, June 18-Ellis Park

July 6, 2010 — by Larry

Ellis Park
[Editor's note: The latest installment in Coach Larry's series of dispatches from South Africa takes us back to the dramatic USA v Slovenia game of June 18.] After the easiest trip ever yesterday [June 17], which allowed for a quick 10 minute roulette session (single 0), today our hosts decide to switch it up.  We are dropped in downtown Sandton to catch a shuttle, at any of many numerous stops, which will take us to another shuttle.  We decide to leave early, as we hope to experience more of the atmosphere around this crucial match.  The extra time proves useful, as no police or locals have any knowledge at all about the location of these bus stops.  Within 30 minutes, the two of us now have 8 friends, all looking for "the stop for the shuttle to the shuttle to the park".  A couple

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BooksCommentaryHistoryVideo

Brilliant Orange: A Brief History of Dutch Football

July 6, 2010 — by Suman — 4

Brilliant-orange.jpeg
[Editor's note: this post was written the morning of Friday July 2, prior to Holland's upset of Brazil. We will need to update this post for Friday's victory--the most significant in Dutch history at least since dramatic quarterfinal win over Argentina in 1998 (see video below), and perhaps since winning Euro '88 over the USSR.] Today's first quarterfinal match may just be the most anticipated of the bunch--Brazil vs. Holland.  It's a contest between two great footballing nations, both known over the decades for playing beautiful football--technically precise, individually and tactically creative, seemingly able to maintain possession as long as they want--and for producing some of the greatest players of all time.  From Brazil: Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Romario, Garrincha, and of course Pele. From the Netherlands: Ruud van Nistelroy, Denis Bergkamp, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten, and the greatest and original Dutch master, Johan Cryuff. Where Brazil and

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Live Blog

Spain v Paraguay: Open Thread

July 3, 2010 — by Sean — 41

Here comes the last game of the quarterfinals, and having seen the results be somewhat unpredictable so far, I'm going to go with what my wife tells me. She's picked Holland and Germany already, so let's see what she says..."I don't know." Well I guess we're S.O.L. for this one. Spain are, well, Spain. Amazing talent. Free flowing football. Danger on the field and off the bench. Paraguay are more of a mystery, mostly because they haven't been so drooled over by the press. They have a solid center back pairing in Antonio Alcaraz and Paulo da Silva, and of course there's Santa Cruz up front who'll be looking to finally put a ball in the net. Not convinced? Check out this little statistical nugget : Spain has been widely backed to win the World Cup since it won the European Championships in 2008. But that is exactly why it

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