*** Official World Cup 2010 Thread***

[Street Novelist]

3rd Place Game: Germany/Uruguay

 

Diego Forlan has 4 goals, tied with Germany's Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose, just 1 behind Wesley Sneijder and David Villa. Klose needs 1 more goal to tie Ronaldo's record of 15 in World Cup matches.

 

Forlan is nursing a thigh injury while Klose has had back problems. It is unknown whether either player will be healthy enough to play today.

 

German newspaper Bild is also reporting Lucas Podolski and Philip Lahm have the flu and are doubtful for the match.

[Street Novelist]

Germany Beats Uruguay 3-2

 

no tactics whatsoever...free-for-all...makes for quite exciting futbol. Diego Forlan could have sent the game into extra time when his free kick hit the crossbar in the final minute. Goalkeeper Muslera was terrible all night for Uruguay. If he would have been halfway decent, la Celeste would have won.

 

Klose's back prevented him from playing. Lahm, Podolski and Gomez all had the flu.

 

To give you an idea of how attack-minded both teams were, Uruguay took 16 shots and Germany 18.

[Street Novelist]

ESPN's Highlight Of Germany/Uruguay

 

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

[Street Novelist]

Vicente del Bosque has named his starting lineup and Pedro has taken Torres' spot again. Tough luck Nino...

[zoogs]

thirteen yellow cards today - previous record what, six?

 

shame on Holland...but man, all of these free runs on goal that were defended because the player hesitated a step too long. Congrats Spain!

[Street Novelist]

The Dutch must be very tired after fouling nearly every Spanish player on the field. What the hell were they doing? and don't get me started on all the fouls the Dutch leveled on Spain that didn't even get a booking...

[Street Novelist]

Andres Iniesta Hero In Extra Time; Spains Wins 1-0

 

Goal

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/105833974#pm_cmp=vid_OEV_P_P

 

Full Highlights

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/105834528#pm_cmp=vid_OEV_P_P

 

A late goal by Andres Iniesta gave Spain their first World Cup title in their first ever World Cup final.

 

In the 5th minute, Xavi sent in a free kick which Sergio Ramos headed right at Stekelenburg. Pique had a chance to put in the rebound but was blocked it seemed twice. In the 37th minute, Mathijsen fanned on a wide open shot off a corner kick. In the last minute of stoppage time before the half, Casillas made a great save off a low shot from Robben.

 

In the 62nd minute Robben blew the opportunity of a lifetime when Sneijder sent an amazing through ball up the middle, splitting the Spanish defense. But Casillas blocked it with his right foot while sprawled on the ground. In the 69th minute, Villa mis-kicked a ball right in front of the goal thanks to a great pass from Navas. You have to make those shots if you want to be one of the greatest strikers in the world!

 

In the 77th minute, Ramos headed one over the crossbar off a corner kick from Xavi. In the 81st minute, Iniesta was making a break into the penalty box, but he took too many touches and was tackled by Sneijder. He should have taken the shot while he had the chance!

 

In the 83rd minute Robben was sprinting into the box looking for the goal when he was turned around by Puyol. He probably would have received a free kick if he had gone down, but he decided to go for glory. Who knows? Puyol could have gotten a red! The one time Robben has a chance to go down, he doesn't! How strange!

 

In the first half of extra time, Fabregas blew a huge chance when he took 2 touches and was blocked on the second by the keeper...great pass from Iniesta. In the 96th minute, Mathijsen headed one over the bar off a corner kick. In the 99th minute, Iniesta again had an opportunity to score off a sprint into the penalty box, but he took too many touches! SHOOT THE f'ing BALL!

 

In the 101st minute, Navas' blast from the right side was narrowly blocked by Bronckhorst and the ball careened into the side of the net. Close call! Not only that, Spain was not given a corner kick! In the 104th minute, Fabregas shot one just wide while falling down inside the box.

 

In the 115th minute, Sneijder's free kick glanced off the Spanish wall of defenders and rolled out of play. But the referee awarded Spain with a goal kick! Another missed call!

 

Finally, in the 116th minute, off a poor cross from Torres which was blocked but not cleared, Fabregas fielded the rebound and made a beautiful pass to Iniesta who's shot deflected off of Stekelenburg and into the bottom left corner of the goal.

[Street Novelist]

ESPN's Highlight Of Netherlands/Spain

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd1gny9LBUU

[Street Novelist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mH1t-DVx8s

Pique looks like he might have had a little too much to drink.

[Street Novelist]

Spain's plane lands in Madrid; players greeted to hero's welcome.

[Street Novelist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEhKOJB_-9c

fighter jet fly-over...over 1 million Spaniards showed up to the ticker tape parade

[Street Novelist]

more of the open-bus parade...You can see Torres holding the World Cup; Iniesta, the hero of the Championship game, waving to the crowd; and Vicente del Bosque, actually smiling but still dressed in formal attire.

[Street Novelist]

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

more footage of their plane touching down in Madrid and the reception they receive