Oh, I was responding to the thread before you. Sometimes I don't quote... sorry.

But, another injury for Juventus? Do they have a midfield anymore?

Yeah..mostly comprised of kurt's dream team. Poulsen and Sissoko. They'll be the greatest but of creativity seen in Italy, since Michaelangelo and Da Vinci.

No, they have Camoranesi and Nedved as well I think. So they're not all bad, but in some serious depth issues.

Sissoko is great though... he shoots so many balls way off into the stands lol...

But seriously... having older defenders is one thing... having your attacking players older is another... Nedved is like 36 years old... Del Piero is 33...

We at least have huge amounts of depth in our midfield. Lots of the key plays for Juve on the other hand rely on Nedved... and to a degree Camoranesi...

So it's halftime for the first group of games today.

Italy and Cameroon are scoreless. Viviano saved a penalty. Cameroon are playing rather rough and have had one guy sent off; it could have been two as one of their guys elbowed Acquafresca in the face and split his lip, but no call was made. They're also going after Rossi and Giovinco.

Japan-Netherlands are also scoreless.

South Korea lead Honduras 1-0

The US went down to 10 in the 4th minute for an elbow to the face that the ref DID see. Nigeria lead the US 1-0.

I think the ref was too hard on that Cameroon player. he could've shown yellow. maybe he wanted to make up for that wrong penalty decision...

Italy-Cameroon...

This match is torture!

At least it's over. FT 0-0.

Italy go through as top of their group.

Was it a boring match or just rough?

It was pathetic. Reminded other fixed games from the past

Oh....fixed... Right...very mafioso...cool!

You know which game? The Mexico-Italy game on the WC 2002 in J&K. Remember that one?

Btw. Iganzio Abate was I'd say, the best on field.

Yep, or the Germany vs Austria from 1982. There are many examples...

That one was really ridiculous how Italy (or Mexico) players constantly passed the ball to each other and no player from the opponent side even bothered to interrupt. they just stayed and watched each other until the final whistle.

Football shouldn't be like this though...

32' China 0-1 Brazil [Diego]
32' Argentina 1-0 Serbia [Lavezzi]

^^ Lavezzi is having a good tournament.

Anyone know a stream for the Brazil match?

Apparently he's scored from the spot...

Ah. But he did score it. I'm at work now, not watching the game.

Mook, I'm not sure it'll work for you but nbcolympics.com supposedly has live streaming of the Olympic football games. Might only be for people in the US, though.

Couldn't get it to work, think it might just be for people in the US.

Thanks anyway Ten.

Pato subbed at the half. Sobis in.
Pato did OK. Missed a 1 on 1 with the Chinese keeper but I guess the relax-mode in on @ Brazil.

Ronaldinho doesn't run, he's resting in the field. He and many other brazillian players.
It's usual in a 2-weeks-tournament.

-

On Argentina... Di Maria (Benfica's winger) is having a superb perfomance in this Olympics. He was the one who got the penalty.

^^ he's still with Benfica then, Porty? They've moved a lot of people out and I wasn't sure if he was one of them.

Someone tell me which game to follow

Iv got both teh Argi and Brazil games on ... flipping from one to the next .. Argi seems like a very interesting match

It is.

Yup. He's still in the club but he might have problems with Reyes and Balboa in the team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benfica#Squad...008.2F09_Season
http://www.zerozero.pt/equipa.php?id=4

Thiago Neves FK. 2-0.

EDIT: 3-0 Neves again. Long shot. Good goal.

I know about that. The Referee was just stupid in this match. We should have had a few penalty kick calls taken towards us. Cameroon cheated as usual. Cameroon is gonna face Brazil in the next round I hear. So... I hope they get whipped.

Onto another group, I'm kinda surprised to see the US out of this competition anyways.. didn't they win the first match?

I had the same problem

Yeah, they won 1 and drew one and lost the last one.

But Nigeria won 2 and Netherlands won 1 and drew 2. So they progress as they got more points. Tough luck for the US.

It really was a down to the last minute thing... I thought they would at least draw, but I saw they were knocked down a man... well that's the way how it goes sometimes.

As Fergie said after the ManU's dramatic/lucky '99 CL win, "Football is hell". Anyhow, from what I read, Nigeria and the Dutch were playing better than the US, so I guess it's kind of proper that they got through. Can't say much since I've not watched any of the games.

"Football, bloody hell!"

3 games 1 goal. to be honest I expected 2 goals in group stages from the Duck, but he hasn't disappointed considering his age/experience and the fact that he played only 45 minutes today. he might have scored in the 2nd half...

Anyway, Pato DOES have this habit of scoring every two games. so hopefully next game he will score.

He also generally scores more frequently in the second half...

Yeah... stupid Dunga

Would you like the fish doll to push him into R7's piranha tank, zd?

Pato had two 1 on 1 chances to score today though Brazil played pretty relaxed

He still has to work on it, but these games are the chance for him to develop his skills more. He's more developed than most kids his age... scoring 9 goals in a half of a season.

Tennie, did you see any of the USAs games? If so, how was Guzan in goal, any good?

I watch part of the game this morning (was not awake enough to be too coherent, however)- and I remember watching him play club ball. For an MLS keeper, he has always been very good. Not sure he's at, say, the Tim Howard level just yet but he's got potential.

Okay, thanks alot. Hopefully he can learn much from Brad Friedel!

Thiago Neves is a beastly talent. I think we may have missed out on him when we chose Dinho..and to make matters worse Inter is rumoured to be pipping Palermo's bid for him..

China

http://www.4shared.com/file/58895030/d7458...zil_gool_2.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/58895862/4a2f4...zil_gool_3.html

Vietnam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWidFsRh5u0

Inter's mercato is over.

Oh, how I wish for that

Or maybe send him arm-wrestling with Pola when the Polar bear in a really bad mood? Either way would be good punishment.

I'd be really really surprised if Italy didn't make it to the final...

Italy have a easy pass through to the final. Even Belgium isn't that hard to beat..

At this point, I'd be surprised if none of the Brazilians are injured in the game v. Cameroon. It's turning into a VERY physical game.

But the first team to have someone sent off is..Belgium! Last man foul on Acquafresca in the area.

Rossi converted the penalty and Italy lead 1-0.

EDIT: Bah. Italy's lead lasted 5 minutes. Dembele equalized for Belgium.

Are you watching this?