Saturday kickaround

gotta get up and run extra early these days to watch these games!

wow lot's of empty seats for Greece S Korea

way too many empty seats - looks like a NYRB game.

Empty seats mean fewer vuvuzelas. Kind of annoying that people were blowing them during the national anthems.

yeah I thought the informal agreement among fans was no horns durong the anthems...the giant Korean flag was great and classy that the Korean fans brought it down for Greece's anthem.

This referee's really screwing the Koreans. Clear PK not called and now this terrible call on Park. New Zealand clearly isn't up to snuff...espcecially after the good performances by the officials yesterday.

now I know why I don't have Greece winning one game.

Steve's match preview. The link above is busted.

Hope springs eternal for the Edu/Buddle/Torres bunch. I don't know why, it just does.

Ironic that the header was taken away from Pontius, as that was the goal he was the most responsible for.

To win this match, Greece will need all the 300 Spartans.

Thanks for the link correction, I-270. South Korea is making this game much more watchable than I thought it would be. They look like a strong candidate to advance and shows again why the FIFA rankings are mostly meaningless (47th vs 13th here).

2-0 S. Korea now!

certainly this 3 points will be good for the S.Koreans, but they will still have very tough matches against ARG and NIG to come so advancement isn't in the bag yet. Both of those teams will beat Greece too.

I still can't believe Steve thinks it will be Findley over Buddle. But we'll find out soon enough. I have given up on hoping for Torres.

It seems to me that Buddle is closer in style to Altidore than Findley is. So Steve might be thinking that Bradley wants different types of players up front. Jozy can hold to ball for Findley to make deep runs. But I could be wrong.

Greece has a shot on goal!

I just think we need to put our best players out there. And Buddle > Findley

"heightened awareness in the otherwise soccer-indifferent United States."

with all due respect to Goff, this is the most tired story line of all. Soccer has never been more popular here. All these games are being shown live on multiple channels in several languages, while interest in MLS and (especially) the top European leagues continues to grow. Yes this game today will draw the attention of casual observers, but that doesn't mean the US is indifferent to soccer. To rugby or cricket or curling, yes, but not soccer anymore.

I can't argue with "otherwise soccer-indifferent." Although, as you rightly point out, interest is growing, we are generally indifferent (or hostile) for 3 years and 11 months until the WC starts. Just as we're indifferent to track and field, gymnastics, downhill skiing, and the other "quadrennial" Olympic sports. sports.

We need more cowbell.

I am editing-indifferent.

Greece with their 2nd shot on goal.

could u imagine cowbells replacing vuvuzelas?

I don't think you can put soccer in the same class as gymnastics when Fox is broadcasting the Champions League final live. Maybe it's still a niche sport, but it's a pretty big niche.

The scene in Mexico City, where El Tri supporters watched the 1-1 draw with South Korea.

When did I miss this? We're already in the round of 16?

Greece was dire. Nigera vs S. Korea answers the only question in this group.

The Greek players are union employees. They retire after 45 minutes for 90 minutes pay.

so, this Argentina is a good team, yes?