Checkmate...please don't make me remember that world cup. Terrible.

Perhaps I don't understand soccer, but apart from the off-sides call against the US that took away the goal, what was with all the holding going on? Are you seriously allowed to wrap your arms around a guy and hold him??? If it's not allowed...and THAT wasn't also called....then it's a ridiculous sport and I know why Americans don't watch it. Incidental holding I get. The "kiss me you fool!" holds...I don't get.

True, you don't understand football.

But trying to make some kind of answer to your post, it's a sport of contact where, sometimes it is difficult to judge if it's an illegal or legal contact... Not that there shouldn't be a PK.

Just asking: you know it is a ridiculous sport and why the Americans don't watch it... but do you know why the rest of the world loves it?
You need to understand it :)

I fully confess I don't understand the draw. I enjoy watching my kids play, but that about it. but watching the video of that kick I saw Slovenia players with their arms pretty much wrapped right around US players. I apologize - it isn't a ridiculous sport - I think it was just perhaps a ridiculous call. Then again, as a Detroit Tiger's fan I saw one of our pitcher, Armando Galaraga, have a perfect game taken away from him by a blatantly bad call...would have been only the 21st perfect game in the history of baseball - but I'll still watch my Tiger's play ball. It's all cultural, I suppose.

By draw I mean "interest in the game", not equal score outcome, by the way.

@ krellin: Yes, there where at least five penalties by the Slovenian defenders.

However, the ref called an offside, wich happens the instant the players kicks the ball. So, if it had been an offside, he was right to call it, even if there was a penalty commited. If it wasn't offside, then he shouldn't have granted a Penalty either, because the attacker scored (It's called the "advantage law", the US team had the "advantage", because the attacker reached the ball first, so the penalty isn't granted)

It was a bad call, because there was no offside, but there's a reason the penalty wasn't granted.

I agree with Hellalt, the Cahill red was a gross exageration, but Klose made a yellow card foul, two yellow cards, you hit the showers, it's that simple.

Thanks Xapi - I understand now.

Algeria is really hustling right now! We'll see if they can keep it up without exhausting themselves but they're running twice as much as the English and it shows in their posession and attempts.

I'm hoping for the draw, because some stupid ref took some points from the US. A goaless draw would be the best, putting SLO at 4, USA and ENG at 2, and ALG at 1 in group standings. England will Have to beat Slovenia to get to the next round, so they will win, and USA will Have to beat Algeria as well, so they will win too. USA stomps on ALG 4-0, and ENG with a narrow win, and the US will still win the group. :)

I think that they should have instant replay in soccer, much like in football and some parts of basketball. The game is called more fairly, and the refs can go over their decisions.

" England will Have to beat Slovenia to get to the next round, so they will win, and USA will Have to beat Algeria as well, so they will win too. "

In this World Cup, I wouldn't put my money so confidently on that.

slovenia will play very defensive.
if england is not able to break algerian defensive, why should be able to break the slovenian one?

My money is on Slo-Eng 0-0 while USA-Alg 1-1
England goes out, USA continues as second.

ah but the same can be said about the other two teams Xapi. they have to win to go on too.

An excellent result! England have successfully lulled the rest of the world into a false sense of security by pretending to be a bunch of hopeless idiots, and our goalie was looking fairly competent. Glory awaits!!!

+1 for optimism

My money is on ENG-SLO 1-0, and USA-ALG 2-0
USA wins group, ENG advances as second.

Actually, more like, my hope is... =)

I wish fifa would get their ass and their head wired together, and have refs that are like-minded to keep the game more player-oriented, and not referee bias oriented.

@Xaxi - kk, well then I disagree with the Klose yellows. Still, Cahill stands as a case to disprove the other poster.
@Amon - They've been really good in general this WC.

Slovenia will not play defensive. But if England will use high balls a lot they will win. USA will have a difficult game with Algeria. Everything is open, but the biggest surprise for me is English game - they should storm this group.

@Xapi: Klose did not deserve one yellow, let alone two. That was the worst refereeing performance so far. Perhaps this is part of the Spanish-Russian conspiracy revealed by Lord Triesman.

@Yanks: I don't see why the ref blew (before the ball went in BTW) for a US foul, however I thought Altidore dived to win the free kick so I think justice was done. In fact, I wonder whether the fourth official, who has a monitor, might have said something to the ref.

@Kamen
When, in the history of football, have England ever stormed anything? Even our glorious '66 campaign had a slow start and had to be helped along by home support and more than a few fortunate decisions from the refs. An imperious display of dominance is just not our style. Walking blindly into the abyss, however, and trying to jump out at the last minute most definitely is.

In all honesty part of me is quite please we only drew. If we had walked into the Slovenia game knowing that all we probably had to do was draw, then England losing would almost be a certainty. March into the game knowing that we need a win or the chances are we're off home on the next flight and we stand a damned good chance!

most importantly.....
holland wins again!
what a cracker from sneijder! goal of the tournament thus far.
wasn't pretty throughout but it is still worth three points.

@ Octavious
I know :-). But all those 6+ digit names... It is funny game, soccer. Storming usually doesn't work. You should play just good enough. Like Italy :-o.
Here we are saying: you are as big as your heart is.

@Moses: nah, I think Maicon's was better

Someone has been able to score a free kick goal with the dreaded Jabulani ball, at least in a training.

Who?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGTOGG4o_eU&feature=player_embedded

Look what he used to do with a tenis ball :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Uk96_GblA

Cameroon is the first team to get out of the cup

@moses - You sure? It was an OK strike, that the keeper completely mucked up and it slipped in.