only because I think Uruguay will possess ball more than England. Hopefully I'm wrong

I only shit on it because you had young, fast guys up front and I would have liked to have seen them pressure the ball on Italy's half of field in first half to make Italy, specifically Pirlo, expend a little more energy. I don't see sitting back working on Uruguay or Costa Rica, either.

except they played that way in first half, too.

sorry, I just hate seeing England sit back and let Italy just walk the ball up past half line.

England being completely out-managed in this game. I can conceivable see England going 0-3 in this group.

England are younger and faster, especially up front, and, yet, to make a hockey analogy, they should be forechecking much more. Pirlo is a fossil and they are just letting him handle ball like it's on training ground. Pressure the ball up front and make this guy expend energy.

a bit excessive, wasn't it? apparently he must have thought he had a concealed weapon and wasn't taking any chances.

yes. do you know your Netherlands history and it's place in the world?

parents scolding the children, I guess

exactly

quite ironic since the Netherlands is the motherland of South African whites, no?

uh, yeah, the Dutch player was going to slide on by and Costa stuck his left leg back well behind him after the turn and really initiated whatever contact there was. Not a classic dive but in practical terms, still a dive. so, calm yourself on down.

yes, but if it's missed in game...

I see what you did there

add Ramos and Pique in there. One so/so center back, and the other who's basically been a midfielder playing on backline his whole career.

Netherlands introducing Spain to the woodshed

hey, why aren't FIFA allowing the oranje to wear their orange?

I don't know if people realize how difficult that is to do...spectacular

well, considering that ESPN's little animated intro that shows no favelas, at all, I'd say they're right on schedule...

yeah, that's not a penalty. that's a dive