"...I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good soccer."
 

"I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’ And when good soccer happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it."
—E.G.

Anyone else following the World Cup? My assessment has been it's been a bizarre tournament. Bad goal keeping and defending all around. Lots of dump and chase and just blunt shots on goal praying for deflections--it feels like I'm watching hockey.

There's no doubt that modern soccer players are superior athletes, but I think they are inferior footballers; the heresy of the run is ruining the sport. Mexico and Colombia have been surprising bright spots, but I think the new technocracy of track stars who can kick will win out.

Mexico and Portugal are my teams (im not mexican nor portugese).
Want mexico win for Javier "chicharito" Hernandez for what he did on 2010 and after he signed to play on Manchester Untd. He won a champion in that team. Also i want Portugal win the cup because Cristiano Ronaldo, he desrve it for what he did on real madrid, winning 3 cups 3 years straight and end the ducking debate about who os better between him and Messi. /rant

There is no deserve in soccer. The beauty of the game is the team and what they can create. I think Messi is the better player, but Ronaldo has a coach and team that can utilize his talents better.

I'm just sad as how it's turned into a game of track stars. I don't think we'll ever see a tournament as beautiful as this again:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flkr_3N5W7M[/ame]