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World Cup Preview: Groups A and B

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 01:44:45 PM EST
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At Sportsleft, I've posted the first of my group previews. This one discusses Groups A and B. Of note, I predict that the best player in the world will not be playing in the second round - Argentina does not get out of Group B and Messi won't be doing this:

A shame really. But Maradona? What were they thinking?

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    World Cup Preview: Groups A and B | 24 comments (24 topical)

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    Heh, BTD you'll be hearing a lot from me on your (none / 0) (#1)
    by LatinoDC on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 01:58:23 PM EST
    worldcup previews.  Wow, you really think Uruguay is not up there? I have Uruguay advancing first in group A along with Mexico, and France will just fail.  Everything will be clear tomorrow.  While Uruguay's squad is not very loaded,I think team chemistry and Diego Forlan will get them through (There's also the Garra Charrua).  In group B, yes, Argentina has not been linking very well lately, but Diego Milito and G. Higuain caught fire towards the end of the season, and that's how they get to the worldcup.  I would say Ivory Coast is a better team than Nigeria, but you are right, since Ivory Coast will be facing Portugal and Brazil, Nigeria is Africa's hope.  Argentina 1st and Nigeria 2nd for me.

    It'll be fun (none / 0) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:01:12 PM EST
    I want to live blog as many games as I can.

    On Saturday, while yes the Us-England is foremost on my mind, the real drama will be Argentina-Nigeria.

    Parent

    replay of the olympic finals! (none / 0) (#10)
    by CST on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:45:23 PM EST
    Here's to hoping for the 1996 outcome instead of 2008.

    Parent
    All I can say is the usual: (none / 0) (#3)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:01:47 PM EST
    Wow, what a player! That's Maradona, Baggio, Pele, George Best level stuff he's doing out there.

    A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

    Parent

    I'm with ya... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:24:30 PM EST
    on an early exit from France...futbol gods will punish the handball(s) that smited the Irish.

    Parent
    Wow Great Pic (none / 0) (#4)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:03:13 PM EST
    Maybe I will be tempted to follow the games with you at the helm. Not a sports fan but futbol does seem more interesting than most sports.

    I can't believe (none / 0) (#5)
    by CST on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:06:33 PM EST
    they made Maradona the team manager.

    What an aweful choice. Of all the great players who could go on into a coaching career, he'd be somewhere at the bottom of the list.

    Too bad about South Africa.  But they will almost certainly be the first host country not to make it out of the first round.

    The reason why Argentina chose Maradona (none / 0) (#7)
    by LatinoDC on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:20:15 PM EST
    was panic.  There was a point in the South American qualifiers when team moral (and as a consequence, in the case of the Argentinians, country moral) was so low with Alfio Basile (former coach) that they didn't think they would make it to the world cup.  In this situation they turned to their legend, their D10s, to take them out of this situation....so they picked Maradona.  Of course Maradona did not bring wisdom or anything close to it, but it was a moral boost.  It worked, they won a couple games before falling into a new crisis....but no one says no to Maradona in Argentina, so he kept his job.  Once Argentina beat Uruguay in the last round to make it to the worldcup (after a very very very controversial win against Peru in the previous game), there was no way they were going to fire him...and here we are.

    Parent
    Maradona (none / 0) (#6)
    by Dadler on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:09:06 PM EST
    It's like the NY Giants naming Lawrence Taylor head coach.  I agree, I just can't see it working, but that's why they roll the ball out there.

    I feel bad for Messi... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:26:31 PM EST
    he's in a no win situation...if they go deep or win it, all praise goes to Maradona.  If they sh*t the bed, Messi will take the blame.

    Parent
    yep (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Dadler on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 02:56:52 PM EST
    And whenever the World Cup comes around, I always find myself remembering Andres Escobar. RIP.

    Parent
    I was ata Spanish language media co. (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:00:48 PM EST
    at the time and wrote an editorial on the tragedy.

    Parent
    If you would provide a link, we could (none / 0) (#17)
    by oculus on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:55:04 PM EST
    subject your Spanish to Google translator (tm).  

    Parent
    I've actually looked (none / 0) (#19)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 04:01:25 PM EST
    for them, but apparently no online archive.

    I wrote a lot of things that I would like to reread from then. See how they hold up.

    Parent

    Los políticos son políticos (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 04:07:14 PM EST
    y hacen lo que lo hace

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#22)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 04:59:13 PM EST
    Actually I used to rip Giuliani and Newt Gingrich every other day.

    Pretty much like a few years ago.

    Parent

    Today I learned, via The World on (none / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:39:55 PM EST
    Npr:  (1) turf employed in S. Africa venues for World Cup was developed by Belgian company, but Belgium  will not be competing this year.  Interviewer asked, is this a good consolation?  (2) new ball developed for each World Cup and players, espec. goalies, do not like having a new ball for such an important competition.

    Oh, and ESPN radio is broadcasting all the games.  

    All the games will be televised (none / 0) (#14)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:45:26 PM EST
    So ESPN Radio seems a strange choice.

    Also all the games will be available online on ESPN.

    I suppose if you are driving somewhere, but other than that . . .

    Parent

    It is my random act of kindness. Offered (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:48:51 PM EST
    to p/u tutoree, who is a dedicated fan of Mexico.  This way, instead of taking 8:00 a.m  school bus, he can watch the game at home.  He has to be in class at 10:15 a.m. Friday, so, just in case game isn't over, we are covered.  

    Parent
    I'll take my crow... (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:53:34 PM EST
    rare pal...Pads win 4-2, rubber match tonight.

    Parent
    Ha. 1 out of 2 ain't bad. 3 of 4 (none / 0) (#18)
    by oculus on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:55:50 PM EST
    would be even better.  

    Parent
    how about (none / 0) (#23)
    by Jen M on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 06:48:29 PM EST
    stuck in the office with very restricted internet access and certainly no tv. Make sense then?

    Parent
    International player eligibility: (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 04:04:31 PM EST
    link

    It was a good game but, (none / 0) (#24)
    by mexboy on Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 06:23:46 PM EST
    Mexico did not play well. The Goalie looked shaky and made me nervous every time the ball got near him.

    The Mexican players dominated the first half but did not pass the damn*d ball.   It's as if the wanted to be the heroes instead of team players. I hope they learn from this game and get it together.

    World Cup Preview: Groups A and B | 24 comments (24 topical)

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