Germany v Serbia

I lost count after 5

really? I thought the 2002 WC was great, much better than 06. Fast paced, attacking, creative football all around. Don't assume an outsider team isn't going to lift the cup just because they haven't in the past. Just look at Greece in EURO 04. Anything can happen.

Anyway you make an interesting point about the overall quality of a World Cup - are you suggesting that the outcome of the different matches is linked in some way? If so, what is the link? The Jabulani? The Vuvuzelas?




 

Shocks don't entertain me. Sure, they shock me, but they don't entertain me. Tight, quality football does and that's been missing at this tournament. Most matches you can always say: "That team lost because they played like arse."

The only two matches I've actually enjoyed legitimately so far have been Japan - Cameroon and New Zealand - Slovakia and that's because I had an intense interest in certain teams gaining a favourable result. For other teams where I don't really care who wins, it's been boring.

I mean Ivory Coast versus Portugal?

Well the solution is simple then, don't watch.

You don't need to be so aggressive about it. It solves nothing.

Look, it's my *gasp* opinion.

I guess I could turn around and say if you don't want to see it, don't read it.

If things change, I'm more than happy to eat my words. I'm not afraid to admit I was wrong (and I often am). But you don't need to start being a jackass because you don't share my opinion.

Jeez.

I'm sending the FIFA referees office a bill for my bets.  Where did they fiind that incompetent retard ?

Heaving again at the Kings, couldn't move upstairs for this one,

I still kind of think the better teams will prevail, and we'll end up with the quality teams only left in the last 8 -

Either way, I'm going to to stop betting now. I'm not that adventurous!

I would agree that it has been a pretty boring tournament so far - even Wayne Rooney said so quite bluntly at his press conference the other day.

But I don't think it's 'cause and effect' of this particular tournament, it's just a series of coincidences so far. It will get better, I'm sure. 

Yes. Sure betting adds intensity to the game but not even the most knowledgeable football head can use this world cup to make money. Would love to see the profit the TAB gets from the world cup..

As a German (true), I'm naturally pretty disappointed, but I thought there were still plenty of positives on display and for a young team, the experience could well galvanize them. Just one of those days. Should be able to get the better of Ghana.

Very disappointed in Marin, he was brilliant when he came on in a recent friendly against Bosnia.

As for the ref, he must have been watching a replay of Spain-Switzerland before hand. Something made him tetchy.

As a novice I actually like the fact the games are hard fought and low scoring. I find it more exciting no one is a clear cut winner and walkovers are the things that wd make me decide all this lost sleep needs catching up and start skipping games

I guess the beauty of football is that the "best" team doesn't always win.

Sometimes achieved through tactics and craft, sometimes through stealth and trickery, sometimes through luck. And that's just fine.
Turfmoore2010-06-19 02:20:36

Yeah, I guess it comes across as I'm bitter about the results, but that's just the betting man in me. If anything, I'm just more upset that when there is an, ahem, upset, it's because one team played like muppets. When there isn't an upset, it's a France - Uruguay or C�te d'Ivoire v Portugal.

Ah well, I suppose on the positives, the "vibe" of this tournament means that New Zealand could break through!

Good game to watch, with lots of chances and drama. More of it please.

Was a bit surprised that �zil  was subbed, thought he played really well. MoM goes to Krasic, brilliant game for him.

The first round of games was very boring. It seems to be getting a lot better in this 2nd round of games,and more intense!

Managed to watch Germany against Bosnia a few weeks back where Germany were pure class. Joachim Low looks depressed at the best of times. I am sure Germany will bounce back.

pretty enjoyable game i thought, good end to end play in between all the silly cards and arm waving from the ref.

had a bet on klose to score and germany halftime/fulltime. both were turned upside down in the space of 2 mins.

taking off muller and ozil were poor subs for mine, i thought they looked to be the most likely source of a goal

well deserved result for Serbia
hopefully they and Ghana can squeal through

Too much whining, imo, considering the first round of games at a WC are almost always all a little dour with the odd upset thrown in. The 2nd round games have been much better.

Yeah same - football fans are weird in that they often don't seem to like football - or 90% of games at least. I like fast games, tense games, dramatic games, all sorts.

enjoyed every game i've watched so far,

some more than others but even the 0-0 s - and despite my frustration at england's 'performance' i still enjoyed the chance to watch a game with some good monents and a gutsy effort from the algerians

- it's football every day

i can't imagine a better world

back on topic - whilst i can't bring myself to feel sorry for the germans, you do have to wonder what is going on with some of these refs and the card-happy bollocks

Well Cosimo, you are just loose so that is expected from ya.

Perhaps one of the more idiotic refereeing performances that I've ever seen. In the whole game, I've seen 4 yellow-card offences, and only two were actually carded.

First half seemed like foul=yellow card. Second was just the randomest sh*t ever. Hope he never gets close to a FIFA tournament ever again.

Yep. MoM goes towards the ref (Manuel of the Match - "I know Nothing Mr Fawlty").

However the Germans with 10 men (not bombers in the air) still controlled large amounts of the game and had quite a few shots on goal. Podolski was unlucky/wasteful.

Still - am pretty annoyed with this match because the ref was so influential on it in the worst possible way.

(don't get me started on USA-Slovenia and Algeria-3 Numpties on the shirt)