World Cup fans?

[Future Walk-On]

It should be a great match. Brazil is very good, but the Netherlands team might be the biggest surprise in the tournament. Netherlands went 3-0 in their pool, and their win over Slovakia in the Round of 16 was impressive. They are the only team other than Argentina to win all their matches so far.

The barrage of excessive yellow cards could have an effect on the game.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soc...erlands-Brazil

The Dutch were ranked second in the World for a long time...and then dropped to 4th...so not really a big surprise.

[tornado]

Despite a few who predicted that the ratings would continue high even though the US was out...
(these people say American viewers are "hooked on soccer")

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/world-cup-tv-ratings-will-stay-strong-2010-06-28?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Things would have been much different had the Americans won last Saturday vs. Ghana...hype and interest would have soared, but instead it is fizzling out despite the continued efforts to hype and promote the games....

.. the ratings for every game since Saturday's US loss have been dropping & are way below 50% of that game...with only Sunday afternoon's drawing a little over 40% of what the US game drew, and none of the other games since are even close...
Netherlands-Slovakia & Paraguay-Japan has very low overnite ratings...
(the US-Ghana game got a 9.9 overnight rating, Argentina-Mexico got 3.9, the next match got 3.3 and every match since has slid further to as low as 1.4)
(to give comparison, cable's "The Deadliest Catch" drew a 3.45!)

Every game since has dropped off even further, although there are still pockets of interest and one "demographic is still way up...
that's the "Out of Home Viewing" - people in bars and restaurants are still asking for the soccer in many places--

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/30/out-of-home-boosts-world-cup-reach-by-15-internet-by-20/55872

.... despite the hype, now that the US is out...fans are quickly turning back to their other shows...even tho overall it's been pretty successful given the time difference of the games..


British TV points out that all their other shows zoomed in ratings as the soccer fans turned off the World Cup..

http://mediatel.co.uk/newsline/2010/07/01/tv-overnights-itv1s-midsomer-murders-banks-the-football-free-peak-hour/

http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2010/06/30/sports/sports_blogs/blogosaurus/0084.txt

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=131093

[SFP]

To counter T's opinion http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/100701

T we know that how you feel about soccer and that is fine but others do have a different outlook and that should be fine. I believe that the sport follows a certain demographic and regional profile and that this country's demographic profile is shifting towards those that like the sport and follow it. You may not see it in the heartland but in large urban areas and on the coasts regardless of the USA continuing you still hear animated conversations regarding the teams which are left. It maybe that I live in an area in which I can leave my place and walk a few blocks and hear 5 different languages being spoken.

[tornado]

SFP -- as I have said, I have watched plenty of soccer and like the game and have several kids who have played even up to the high school level and have even coached soccer and travel soccer over the past 12 years....I just don't like certain aspects of the international game...

That said...as I read your link it says soccer is "ready to capture" our attention...but also seems to concede it has NOT yet...and some of the annoyances mentioned in this thread are the reason why..

[ChewaBrave]

Unfortunately, I am going to miss both games tomorrow - uggg. Time zones are lame. Heres hoping for a Ghana victory!

[Fyrebyrd]

GOOD BYE BRAZIL! After a miserable first half, the Dutch come out and asbolutely dominate the second. Felipe Melo also took a red card for losing his cool and stomping on a Dutch players leg.

[SFP]

Brazil did unwind just enough to allow the Dutch team to win. I also thought the ref was a bit harsher on Brazil then the Dutch. I usually pull for the Dutch team but there was something in their attitude and diving that will have me pulling for the winner of the Ghana/Uruguay game.

I also thought the Brazilian team was better but sometime like in all sports the best team does not win. You have to give the Dutch credit for sticking to their game plan.

[Fyrebyrd]

WOW! This Ghana-Uruguay game is unreal! Ghana gets a free kick in extra time which will clearly be the last kick and an Uruguay defender stops a goal by using his arm. Gets a Red card and sets up a Ghana free kick that if made would end the game. And the Ghanan MISSES it. PK's now!

[Fyrebyrd]

Wow and Uruguay win on PK's

[SFP]

The Ghana/Uruguay game was a classic compared to the Brazil/Netherlands one! I also thought that the ending was justified because that free kick that resulted in the Suarez handball should never have been called. What a phantom call there by the sideline ref???? Ghana had their chance and totally blew it. The best game so far of the WC in my opinion.

I hope Uruguay beat the Dutch. All I saw from the Dutch squad today was a bunch of dives. I have zero respect for that behavior. In the past I have pulled for the Dutch squad because of their style but the game against Brazil just made me sick.

[Future Walk-On]

GOOD BYE BRAZIL! After a miserable first half, the Dutch come out and asbolutely dominate the second. Felipe Melo also took a red card for losing his cool and stomping on a Dutch players leg.

It wasn'tttttttt just a Dutch player!

Arjen Robben is my all time favorite player.

Yes I do put up with the dives and excessive leg grabbing.....

[tornado]

but even more ludicrous results when you consider the players on Uruguay willfully, intentionally, and flagrantly violate the basic rules by using their hands to prevent a goal, then their acts actually end up winning the game for their team. They are essentially national heroes because of cheating at the right time.

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2010/07/world-cup-goal-neuer-football

[Braves4Life]

Germany is proving that (just like college basketball) it isn't always about individual talent but rather teamwork and defense. Argentina's defense and team awareness is just HORRIBLE today!

[Future Walk-On]

This is ridiculous......

This team is rolling.

[ChewaBrave]

A great few games there, stretching from Ghana/Uruguay to Spain/Paraguay. I Although the spanish game didn't have all that many scoring opportunities, the style and defense played by paraguay was impressive. Germany/Spain should be a lot of fun.