FIREPLUGS REPRESENT!!

That corner was as expertly touched by Shaqiri as any free kick on goal. The touch, the timing, the spin, the placement, the pace.
[Reply]

Great start for the Swiss. Motivation for the Brazilians.

Spain
Argentina
Germany
Brazil

all favorites, all dug themselves a hole in the first round.
[Reply]

I am not surprised at the result. The Swiss Pikemen were the best soldiers in Medieval Europe. Don't miss with the Swiss.
[Reply]

Yeah, there isn’t really an elite team that stands out.

Hell, Mexico has looked the best so far.
[Reply]

With the exception of the goalkeep brainfart, Spain played fine.

Brazil is going to do a little sweating of the officials with footage of Neymar's harassment in the Swiss game. Should open things up.
[Reply]

I do agree they went a little overboard with the harassment on Neymar. It was pretty obvious that was Switz's plan to begin with, to rattle him a little and perhaps get him frustrated, it worked. However, For the most part I did not see the ref not give neymar the calls that the anaylsts were complaining about after the game. The tugging of the shirts all that stuff, neymar was always rewarded the penalty's, it was the shoulder to shoulder stuff that I witnessed him not receiving which is exactly how it should be. Shoulder to shoulder is perfectly legal.

That being said, this world cup to me is seeing a lot of more "let them play" type things than anything. It wasn't just Neymar that wasnt getting all the calls, there was the brazilian forward that was dragged to the ground in the box and no call was made, but there was a few cases where brazil players fouled the switz players and no calls were made either. It is also good to note, that switz is a much more physical team compared to brazil.

The argument anaylsts were having afterwards was you need to protect the star players, and I do agree with that to a degree, however we cannot have all the star players playing so light on their feet always looking to grab a call.

One play I was annoyed with was when neymar had 2 defenders on him, he nutmegged the defender, and tried to legit "run" through the defender and instead fell to the ground, and was given the penalty which I feel like is complete BS.

To put it in short, there were some calls that needed to be made, but there were also some calls that had no right being called so in a way it all balances out in the end.
[Reply]

there is no sweetening of the officials. Once the officials are chosen for the next game they will all study important moments from this game as well as the past few for each team.
[Reply]

S W E A T, not sweeten.

As in verbal pressure in hopes of altering behavior.
[Reply]

KOREA vs. SWEDEN ON NOW!
[Reply]

I'll be rooting for an England tie or loss later today.
[Reply]

Why? Tunisia fan?
[Reply]

They're our rivals and we rarely beat them.

I always root against Mexico, England and Brazil (not a rival but speaks for itself).
[Reply]

What a save by KOREA! Very physical game! I don't think I have ever seen a game with so much contact. Guys are getting laid out all over the pitch.
[Reply]

Landon Donovan managed to wrench a check out of both his retirement and the failure of USMNT to qualify


[Reply]

Chuckling lightly at that mess on the SK goalie's head.

Customer: You know that thing where Conan O'Brien is an Asian lesbian biker?
Barber: Say no more, fam.
[Reply]