This message is from PunchSmack who is challenging you to play ESPN Soccernet Bracket Predictor on ESPN.com.
First select which two teams will advance out of each the eight groups. The order you select them - 1st or 2nd - determines where they are placed in the 16-team bracket. Then predict the winner of the 15 bracket matches throughout the Finals. All picks lock with the first kickoff on Friday, June 11, 2010. Good luck!
I wanted to pick blue ... but it wouldn't let me ......
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Wow, whatever little chance the Ivory Coast had is over:
No Cup for Drogba? Captain breaks arm
Associated Press
SION, Switzerland -- Didier Drogba told teammate Kolo Toure that he will miss the World Cup after breaking his right arm Friday in a warmup match.
"For him, he said, the World Cup is finished," Toure said.
The 32-year-old Drogba was taken off 15 minutes into Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Japan after a high challenge by Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka. He was then rushed to a hospital.
"We can just see on his face that he was sad, and when he is like that you can't ask more," Toure said. "It is difficult for us because he is such a really important player."
Team spokesman Eric Kacou told The Associated Press that "it is a fracture in his right arm," but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said the team hadn't officially ruled out its captain.
"We are not sure yet," Eriksson said, saying Drogba's participation was "still a possibility."
Toure said Ivory Coast's players were hoping for a surprising recovery, and said the team would know more later Friday.
Tulio said he had no intention of hurting Drogba.
"God and everybody in the stadium saw it was a normal challenge," said the Brazil-born defender, who was shown a yellow card. "I do hope he gets better in time to play in the World Cup."
Drogba scored 29 goals in 32 Premier League matches this season, helping Chelsea win the title.
Friday's friendly was the final warmup for Ivory Coast and Japan before they travel to South Africa. The Ivorians open the World Cup on June 15 against Portugal in Port Elizabeth, while Japan begins a day earlier against Cameroon in Bloemfontein.
Drogba appeared to be holding his right side after Tulio's challenge. After returning from the hospital, the striker entered the team bus without speaking to reporters.
Eriksson said the injury was unlucky, and didn't blame Tulio.
"It wasn't bad or stupid. He didn't want to hurt anyone," the Swedish coach said. "Football is a game of contact."
Quote: why exactly does a soccer player need his right arm?
i mean sure, it helps for balance, but why is it 'needed'
I guess you're right...but I'm sure it wouldn't feel good running with a broken arm....or even to fall on it. He has an obligation to be healed up as fast as possible for the Euro team he's being paid millions to play for too.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
I think Argentina has the best team, but Maradona is such a moron, that he'll find a way to blow it for them. Leaving Argentina out, I think either Brazil or Holland takes home the trophy this year. The Dutch are just incredible when it comes to possession, and this might finally be the year they really break through. You can never count out the Germans in a major tournament, but the team is at a strange phase right now, where they have some incredible young talent, but they're not fully developed and the older talent is now past its prime. Don't look past them though!
As to the US, I except us to lose against England on Saturday, but we SHOULD finish with 6 points and advance to the second round. Hopefully a loss to England doesn't kill the confidence of this team, as that's what's most important to their success.
Most of all, I'd love to see an African team go far this year. It's too bad about Essian - Ghana would be my pick if he weren't injured.
Can't wait for Friday!
Here's one of the official songs of this year's cup showing just how beautiful the World's Game is and how it brings the entire world together:
It would have been nice to see SA win. That stadium went NUTS when they went up 1-0. Oh well, Mexico should be upset they didn't win and SA gets a draw (better than they had expected).
Oh well.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
That really is 2 big points dropped by Mexico, their defense looked horrible. I think a crappy French team may be too much for them if they play that way again...
Quote: That really is 2 big points dropped by Mexico, their defense looked horrible. I think a crappy French team may be too much for them if they play that way again...
even worse was their offense in the 1st half. they had quite a few chances that looked like they would be scoring chances, then they just dumped the ball in the corner which RSA quickly covered and denied an entry pass from there.
As long as Anelka is the single striker and the mid field gets soft in the attacking half France will struggle to make it out of this group I think.
Uruguay seemed content to defend and hope for Forlan to put one in, but they attacked more pre World Cup so that may have been their strategy for this game, will see how they play game 2.
Mexico had shaky defense but from the way all 4 teams looked today that may be fine because nobody looked dangerous on the attack lol
SA...home team. It's always floated that FIFA wants the home team to advance and will do anything to see that it does. But they looked better than I thought they would, the officiating was solid for both games and they have 2 more to play as well.
Edit: Ouch I overlooked cards... Yellow Card 6 Mauricio VICTORINO (59') Yellow Card 14 Nicolas LODEIRO (65') Second yellow card and red card 14 Nicolas LODEIRO (81') Yellow Card 2 Diego LUGANO (90'+3)
South Africa's World Cup organising chief Danny Jordaan may ban vuvuzelas from inside stadiums after complaints from broadcasters and supporters.
The constant sound of the high-pitched horn-like instrument has so far drowned out much of the atmosphere-generating singing usually associated with games.
And Jordaan, when asked if he would get rid of them, told BBC Sport: "If there are grounds to do so, yes.
"We did say that if any land on the pitch in anger we will take action."
France captain Patrice Evra has already blamed the noise generated by the vuvuzelas, which has been likened to the drone of thousands of bees, for his side's poor showing in their opening group game against Uruguay, which finished goalless.
He said: "We can't sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas. People start playing them from 6am.
"We can't hear one another out on the pitch because of them."
Jordaan conceded that while the noise was irritating for some people, they were doing all they could to minimise the impact.
"We've tried to get some order," he continued. "We have asked for no vuvuzelas during national anthems or stadium announcements. It's difficult but we're trying to manage the best we can.
"We've had some broadcasters and individuals [complaining] and it's something we are evaluating on an on-going basis."
Jordaan admitted he was not a huge fan of them himself. "I would prefer singing," he said.
"It's always been a great generator of a wonderful atmosphere in stadiums and I would try to encourage them to sing.
"In the days of the struggle (against apartheid) we were singing, all through our history it's our ability to sing that inspired and drove the emotions."
JOHANNESBURG -- FIFA has a message for all those vuvuzela haters: Buzz off.
Despite criticism from World Cup TV viewers around the globe that the swarm-of-bees sound from the plastic horns is stinging their ears, the organization left no doubt Monday that the uniquely African soundtrack is here to stay.
"I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound," Sepp Blatter, president of soccer's governing body, said in a Twitter post. "I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country."
Hill: Viva la vuvuzela
Hill The vuvuzela is merciless on the ears, but what sounds even worse is all of this complaining and whining about an $8 plastic horn, writes ESPN.com's Jemele Hill. Story
He went on to ask, "Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"
FIFA and Blatter have strongly backed the use of vuvuzelas since they were introduced to the wider football world at the Confederations Cup test event in South Africa exactly a year ago.
With a much broader audience for the World Cup, the vuvuzelas have drawn strong reaction from Boston to Bhutan. "What is the buzzing noise at soccer games?" was one of the week's top-searched questions online, according to Yahoo.
"I am a casual football [soccer] fan, have been anticipating the World Cup since a recent trip to Europe. However, I can't stand that noise that drones on throughout the broadcast, so I will not be watching," American Michael DiSalvo wrote in an e-mail to Associated Press columnist John Leicester.
ESPN has received some complaints, but "not an overwhelming amount," network spokesman Bill Hofheimer said. Al-Jazeera, South Korean broadcaster SBS, TF1 in France and Brazil's BandSports also have heard from viewers unhappy about the racket.
vevezula Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport/US PresswireVisitors from around the world, including this fan of the Netherlands, have adopted the South African practice of blowing the vuvuzela during games.
"In France, there's big, big noise about it. Viewers are completely mad by it," said Philippe Kaufmann, head of production for sport for TF1. "It's very difficult to hear this permanent noise."
Some fans say they've resorted to watching matches with their televisions muted. On Monday, tips on how to filter out the vuvuzelas sound on individual TVs circulated on the web.
TF1 changed its microphones after the opening match between Mexico and host South Africa, replacing them with mics that filter sound. Other broadcasters are altering the sound mix to minimize the crowd noise -- just as they do for other noisy events, including NASCAR races or basketball games.
"This event is no different than any other event -- except the sound is unique to South Africa," said Jed Drake, the executive producer of ESPN's World Cup coverage.
And organizing committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo said television viewers aren't the same as fans in the seats.
"I wouldn't dwell too much on what outsiders think about vuvuzelas. I would dwell ... on what the feelings of the spectators are," he said.
FIFA does have one request for fans: No horns during national anthems. At Monday night's game between Italy and Paraguay in Cape Town, announcers asked the crowd to hold off until the anthems for both sides finished.
Once the game kicks off, though, the noise can be deafening, with some games louder than others. That can take a toll on players.
"In many parts of the game it can bother you a bit because you can't communicate anything to a teammate who's more than 10 meters away from you," said Spain striker David Villa, who first experienced the vuvuzelas at the Confederations Cup.
However, Villa also said the noise "brings a nice ambiance and some emotion."
Besides, the horns are ingrained in South Africa's history, Mkhondo said.
"You find that they emanate from the horn which was used by our forefathers to call meetings," he said. "As our guests, please embrace our culture, please embrace the way we celebrate.
"You either love them or you hate them. We in South Africa love them."
And, to be fair, these colorful little instruments are not universally reviled.
"From a home-viewing perspective, I personally don't mind," said Rekha Shankar, a student at New York University. "We're watching for them to play. If they're not affected, we shouldn't be either."
Mkhondo mentioned that visitors were snapping up vuvzelas and "stuffing them into their suitcase" for the trip home.
England defender Jamie Carragher is one of them.
"My kids have been on the phone," he said, "and they want two."
I cannot stand the constant drone in the background. I love watching soccer matches with the volume cranked as the cheering, singing, chanting is awesome. These stupid things completely take that away. Instead of watching with the surround sound cranked, I'm watching with very little volume.
On another note, I'll be watching the Brazil vs. N. Korea match at 2:30pm in 3D. Just got everything setup last night and I have to say the movie I watched (Monsters vs. Aliens w/ my son) was incredible. It'll be interesting to see how the soccer match looks in 3D. I cannot wait until Discovery launches it's 3D channel.
Hey, with the first 2 teams making it official, I'm in first place. With a chance to be 4/4 (just need Greece to somehow get ahead of South Korea despite the Greeks playing Argentina and SK playing an eliminated Nigeria).
Probably the last time I'll be at the top, so I'm getting the fist pumps in while I can
Wow....I bombed huge on Group A. I had France #1 and Uruguay #2.
Hopefully I'll make up on Group B. I have Argentina #1 and South Korea #2. Which should be the outcome considering Argentina is going to throttle Greece and South Korea is taking on Nigeria. Well, on paper that's what should happen.
GOOOOOOO....South Korea!
Again, France....you stink!
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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