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| 2012 Olympics--Soccer/Football/Futbol | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 29 2009, 07:20 AM (2,818 Views) | |
| karl pilkington | Jul 21 2012, 12:16 PM Post #31 |
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If their last two warm up matches are any indication the Stuart Pearce coached Team Great Britain are not going to be any threat in this Olympic tournament. They looked pretty inept, Jack Butland in goal did fine though, thanks to him Brazil 'only' beat Great Britain 2-0. Here by the way are the rosters for each competing team. |
| "You can only talk rubbish if you're aware of knowledge." | |
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| carioca | Jul 24 2012, 07:21 AM Post #32 |
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Some bad news for Brasil as starting goalie Rafael of Santos injured his elbow in training and will miss the Olympics. Backup Neto, a reserve at Fiorentina becomes the starter and former Cruzeiro keeper, now transferred to AC Milan, Gabriel will now become the #2 goalie. Neto is adequate enough but Rafael will I think be missed, he is a good big match goalie. |
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| Merengue | Jul 24 2012, 08:19 PM Post #33 |
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That is a major loss for Brasil so close to the start of the competition. I have been impressed with Rafael. It remains to be seen if Neto can play at the same level. Spain's first game is versus Japan and I saw the Japan-Mexico friendly played last weekend which Japan won 2-1 on a great volleyed goal by their forward Otsu. A lot of skill on the Japanese team. Like most Asian nations goalscoring is their biggest weakness but this is a skilled Japan team who should not only be enjoyable to watch but should also give Spain a good test in their opener. Japan's right back Hiroki Sakai and central defender Maya Yoshida are both regulars on the full national team. |
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| Rufus T. Firefly | Jul 25 2012, 06:45 PM Post #34 |
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OK I can understand why with only 6 matches played per round the women's tournament would be scheduled for all game splayed on one day. But the men's tournament, with 16 teams and 8 matches per day also will have all their games take place on the same day. That is not good for fanatics like ourselves who want to be able to watch many of these games. Here for example is Thursday's schedule of the opening round games: UAE v Uruguay - GROUP A Great Britain v Senegal - GROUP A Mexico v S Korea - GROUP B Gabon v Switzerland - GROUP B Belarus v New Zealand - GROUP C Brazil v Egypt - GROUP C Spain v Japan - GROUP D Honduras v Morocco - GROUP D Great Britain-Senegal; Mexico-S.Korea; Brazil-Egypt; and Spain-Japan look like the pick of the first day's games. |
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| Merengue | Jul 26 2012, 04:23 PM Post #35 |
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Day 1 is complete in the football tournament with these results: UAE 1-2 Uruguay Great Britain 1-1 Senegal Mexico 0-0 S Korea Gabon 1-1 Switzerland Belarus 1-0 New Zealand Brazil 3-2 Egypt Spain 0-1 Japan Honduras 2-2 Morocco The big shock of the day was Japan's 1-0 win over Spain. Good play by Japan, who as I wrote beforehand, are a quick and skillful team. Some better finishing and they could have even won by more than 1 goal as already down 1-0 to a goal by Otsu, Spain played the last half hour with 10 men after Inigo Martinez was sent off. Just poor overall play by Spain, in fact one of the poorest game sby any Spanish national team in years. We talked beforehand how missing the injured Thiago Alcantara would hurt, and that was really evident in this game. Iker Muniain also missed this match with injury as Spain lacked width and surprisingly much creativity in midfield. Full credit to a solid Japanese team but all I can hope this game was to this team like the Switzerland match was in Spain's 2010 World Cup opener. Brasil were 3-0 in front on Egypt after a half hour and were playing beautifully when they put it on auto pilot and Egypt made it closer at the end. But overall a sign on this first day that there is a lot of parity in this Olympic tournament. Grant Wahl's take on day 1 of the competition. |
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| Onslow | Jul 27 2012, 10:03 AM Post #36 |
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Senegal did not take any prisoners in their match against Great Britain. Some very rough tackles there but they found out the Uzbek ref was pretty lenient in issuing cards so they went at Team GB with the physical approach. GB had the better of play in the 1st half and scored through Bellamy but the team lost direction as the match wore on and Senegal began to press the issue and got their equaliser with 10 minutes remaining. So points shared and both move on to try and not lose to Uruguay and beat the UAE. A pretty good sized crowd at Old Trafford but we are just not accustomed to cheering for a Great Britain team in team sports. There were shouts of GB, but the traditional singing you'd here at an England or even Scotland or Wales match was just not present. I agree with Merengue, these first day results show this could become a very evenly matched tournament and Spain's opening match defeat signals even the favourites will not have it easy. I was a little sceptical, like many here in the UK about this Olympic football tournament, but now that it has started I am interested and will be following it. |
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| Yogi | Jul 27 2012, 01:00 PM Post #37 |
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A pretty good sized crowd at Old Trafford but we are just not accustomed to cheering for a Great Britain team in team sports. There were shouts of GB, but the traditional singing you'd here at an England or even Scotland or Wales match was just not present. Wouldn't "Rule Brittania" which is often sung at England games have been appropriate? Good start for the Asian countries, as Grant Wahl pointed out. Japan upsets Spain, Korea ties Mexico and UAE gave Uruguay a good game of it before losing. Each Asian country played one of the teams lined up as a pre tourney favorite, and each did pretty well. |
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| Penya | Jul 27 2012, 01:49 PM Post #38 |
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I am curious to see how Spain responds in game 2 against Honduras but I do agree with the comments that Thiago Alcantara, who was vital to Spain's sub21 win in last year's European championship in that category, is really missed. His passing has not been replaced. Atletico Madrid's Koke filled in for him last night and was not effective. I'd expect both Iker Muniain and Ander Herrera to start in midfield as they did with the sub21 team in qualifying for the Olympics. Now who fills in for the suspended Íñigo Martínez? Either Albert Botia comes into defense or Javi Martinez drops back from midfield to defense with Oriol Romeu moving into Martinez' defensive midfield role. I think I'd go with Botia and keep Javi Martinez in midfield, I like his organizing skills there. No more room for error for Spain now. |
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| Merlin | Jul 27 2012, 02:57 PM Post #39 |
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OK, I'm going to rant. I can't believe with all the English on this site that no one has unloaded on the Uzbek referee. My turn. If the Olympic tournament wants to have any, and I mean ANY, respectability, they have to send that referee and his crew home...now. No team is going to release their players for this tournament when tackles like that on Bellamy go unpunished. The Senegalese player needs a post match straight red and suspension. The number of bad fouls in that game was absurd, the tackle on Bellamy was the most egregious. I'm sorry, but I'll be rooting for Senegal to go directly home now. These sort of bad tackles are completely inexcusable. |
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Equinus Halitosis and Hoop MLS Cups: 0 Dynamo MLS Cups: 2 | |
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| Merlin | Jul 28 2012, 10:43 AM Post #40 |
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Another day and another test for the credibility of the Olympics. I can understand missing the play, but this one needs an after the fact red card. Abby Wambach was punched from behind, while running behind the play. The defender closed on her and literally punched her in the eye. It was more flagrant than the ZZ head butt in 2006 WC. Credibility. IOC has none. There absolutely must be a red card and suspension issued before Tuesday's matches. |
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Equinus Halitosis and Hoop MLS Cups: 0 Dynamo MLS Cups: 2 | |
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| The Artful Codger | Jul 28 2012, 12:24 PM Post #41 |
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My fellow Red Merlin beat me to these comments. The Uzbek referee was a disgrace, he and his colleagues should be on the next flight home after permitting Senegal to get away with far too much. They did not seem to want to play, they came to kick and unfortunately their approach was rewarded as they eventually took GB out of their game ably assisted by the permissive referee. I know this subject come sup at World Cups too but how does a referee from the footballing backwaters of Uzbekistan come to referee such a high profile match? I guess the same reasons why a Tunisian referee was in charge of the 1986 World Cup match between Argentina and England and he and his blind assistants somehow missed Maradona's Hand of God. It is one thing to be egalitarian, another to have high profile matches officiated by competent referees who are there on merit. Anyway on to the 2nd round of matches and here is where we should get a better read on these teams capabilities as they should have passed their first match jitters. |
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| autogol | Jul 29 2012, 08:47 PM Post #42 |
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Day 2 results: Senegal 2-0 Uruguay Great Britain 3-1 UAE Mexico 2-0 Gabon South Korea 2-1 Switzerland Egypt 1-1 New Zealand Brazil 3-1 Belarus Japan 1-0 Morocco Spain 0-1 Honduras Pre tournament favorite Spain are eliminated after their 2nd straight 1-0 loss. A great effort from Honduras, who were pretty slick in their passing, scored a nice goal on a header by Jerry Bengston, he has all 3 catracho goals in this tourney, some good goalkeeping by Jose Mendoza and let's be honest some good fortune as Spain hit the post at least 3 times, maybe even more. But 2 games played and 0 goals scored is why Spain are going home. Thiago Alcantara may be missed but Spain had chances to score, they just did not do so. But Japan did, scoring on a lobbed shot for their 2nd win, a result which qualifies them for the quarterfinals. Brazil also have qualified ed by an inspired Neymar and Oscar they fell behind early to Belarus but went on to win 3-1 and now may rest a few players in their final group game vs New Zealand who stayed alive after tying 1-1 with Egypt. Giovani Dos Santos started and scored twice, the latter on a late Pk as Mexico beat Gabon and moved ahead of South Korea on goal difference after South Korea beat Switzerland 2-1. UAE gave Great Britain some troubles but a Ryan Giggs header put GB in front, then the UAE tied it but goals from Sturridge and Sinclair won it for the hosts. Another big shock this round as Senegal beat Uruguay 2-0, scoring on two goals off corner kicks. Uruguay missed some chances but were generally ineffective against the rough and tumble Senegalese, who played more than a half down a man. Uruguay have 3 points while Great Britain and Senegal are on 4, meaning Uruguay must defeat Great Britain in its final group match if it is to qualify for the quarterfinals. |
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| Nkono | Jul 29 2012, 09:34 PM Post #43 |
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Senegal are rough around the edges and lack much technique but when they concentrate on playing, they do play with lot of heart. A great win for them over Uruguay. Luis Suarez was busy but Edinson Cavani was mostly anonymous in this game. But credit Senegal for not on holding on down a man but actually increasing their lead while playing with 10. Neymar is looking the part of becoming this tournament's star. He really is a special player. This competition is his World Cup warm up since Brazil do not go through qualifying. He actualy reminds me of a young Cristiano Ronaldo. Iker Muniain and his Spanish colleagues did not exactly go out in a classy way as they jostled the ref. Having said that they easily could have received a few penalties in their loss to Honduras. But their finishing has been atrocious. |
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| Johnbuildr | Jul 30 2012, 08:59 AM Post #44 |
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Nkono, I agree, a few of Spain's players were totally out of line after the match, not to mention at halftime. A couple of their senior players were involved as well. Not impressive, not at all. And, as an observer with no horse in the race, their are sadly mistaken. The game was not taken from them, they lost it without the aid poor officiating, which was not all that poor in any case. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| Johnbuildr | Jul 30 2012, 09:02 AM Post #45 |
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El Tri looked like a whole new team when dos Santos was put on the field. But up until then teh commentators were right to harp on their lopsided left side of the field play. It was as if the field were tilted awkwardly to the left. Strange that there was no apparent coaching effort to change the one sided play. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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6:23 AM Jul 11