RealGM

What's your impression after these 16 games?

I don't know if it's the Jabulani ball, vuvuzelas, high altitude or simply these games being teams' first games, but only 4 teams (Germany, Brazil, South Korea and Netherlands) scored 2 or more goals.

Anyway, until now

Best team: Germany
Best player: Ozil/Muller
Best goal: Maicon against NK

Worst team: Cameroon
Worst player: I guess Green

Could see some really interesting round of 16 matches now...Brazil - Spain is a real possibility, and if England doesn't take care of business in their next two games we could see England - Germany.

It has been a pretty disappointing WC so far.

I don't blame the ball at all. Players had one month of training camp to adjust to the new ball and that should be enough. And it's not like the ball doesn't work or something.
Actually, many teams used the ball in the Bundesliga and I haven't heard players complaining about that (except for some keepers but they don't need to score goals).

it's been a very small sample size for each team but as far as who's been the most impressive team it's Germany hands down.

best goal: Maicon. that was very impressive!

worst team (of those that I saw): Greece.

Foye wrote:It has been a pretty disappointing WC so far.

I don't blame the ball at all. Players had one month of training camp to adjust to the new ball and that should be enough. And it's not like the ball doesn't work or something.
Actually, many teams used the ball in the Bundesliga and I haven't heard players complaining about that (except for some keepers but they don't need to score goals).

It's like watching Colorado Rockies baseball in the mid-90s, when curveballs just went floating merrily through the zone and every fly ball went for miles; there isn't enough resistance even on topspin shots, so you aren't getting those long strikes that just sneak under the crossbar.

Neither scored on them, but the Brazilians and Spaniards seemed to have the right idea...keep the ball low and if you're at any distance, it's still going to end up near the crossbar by the time it reaches the goal.

Every tournament we complain about the ball.

Schadenfreude wrote:

Foye wrote:It has been a pretty disappointing WC so far.

I don't blame the ball at all. Players had one month of training camp to adjust to the new ball and that should be enough. And it's not like the ball doesn't work or something.
Actually, many teams used the ball in the Bundesliga and I haven't heard players complaining about that (except for some keepers but they don't need to score goals).

It's like watching Colorado Rockies baseball in the mid-90s, when curveballs just went floating merrily through the zone and every fly ball went for miles; there isn't enough resistance even on topspin shots, so you aren't getting those long strikes that just sneak under the crossbar.

Neither scored on them, but the Brazilians and Spaniards seemed to have the right idea...keep the ball low and if you're at any distance, it's still going to end up near the crossbar by the time it reaches the goal.

Yes, but don't you think after training 1 month with the ball they should be able to control the direction of the shot more?

Only 25 goals thus far. 4 year ago after 16 games the mark was at 39.

Foye wrote:It has been a pretty disappointing WC so far.

I don't blame the ball at all. Players had one month of training camp to adjust to the new ball and that should be enough. And it's not like the ball doesn't work or something.
Actually, many teams used the ball in the Bundesliga and I haven't heard players complaining about that (except for some keepers but they don't need to score goals).

Players who have Adidas as their outfitter generally prefer to shut up regarding the ball. Those who spoke up were mostly players who aren't under any obligation to hug Adidas' nuts.

The WC has been pretty disappointing so far, but I think things will get more exciting in the knockout stages.

Foye wrote:Yes, but don't you think after training 1 month with the ball they should be able to control the direction of the shot more?

Probably, but I'm sure that instinct kinda kicks in...if you're used to striking the ball a certain way from a certain distance to get a desired result, it's hard to remind yourself not to do what you usually do.

Zabriskie wrote:Only 25 goals thus far. 4 year ago after 16 games the mark was at 39.

that will in all likelihood change soon as some teams have to attack the goal a lot more. I'm looking at France, England, Portugal, Cote D'Ivoire, Serbia etc.

basti wrote:

Zabriskie wrote:Only 25 goals thus far. 4 year ago after 16 games the mark was at 39.

that will in all likelihood change soon as some teams have to attack the goal a lot more. I'm looking at France, England, Portugal, Cote D'Ivoire, Serbia etc.

That's what I'm thinking too. I saw every first round match except for the Chile, Brazil, and Japan games and everyone has been playing very cautious. Switzerland and Uruguay said F it and just packed the 18, Mexico and France just kicked the ball around without making cuts into their opponents' defense, and Portugal/Ivory Coast just couldn't get anywhere near the goal.

When adjustments are made things should change a bit. I also don't expect teams like England to be stifled so easily (we basically focused on shutting down Cole/Rooney and that threw them completely off) while Spain continues to get so unlucky with their shots on goal. There's going to be some desperation now after all the ties, and I'm thinking the France/Mexico game will be a high scoring affair. The loser of that is probably out.

Just wait until the group stages, teams can't play for a 0-0 draw, and that's when the real party starts

Worse team is Greece until proven otherwise.

Vuvuzelas have killed this tournament.

Goals will go up after these first games but players are fueled my songs and chants, there's no denying that.

Anybody else notice how the vuvuzelas stopped after Uruguay went up 2-0?

I'm hoping the vuvuzelas will stop or at least decrease greatly after all the African teams get eliminated (round of 16 at the latest).

Some good matchups have fizzled and turned into boring matches. Hopefully the second round of games teams will put more on the line. Uruguay sure has come out with a sense of urgency.

and1GS wrote:Anybody else notice how the vuvuzelas stopped after Uruguay went up 2-0?

Yeah, that put a smile on my face seeing all those bandwagon fans leave with 10 minutes left.

Forlan now officially proved that it's possible to score goals from distance.

Foye wrote:Forlan now officially proved that it's possible to score goals from distance.

I thought Robert Green already proved that