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Soccer Thursday: Your Running Commentary

ChicharitoGetty

By AVI CREDITOR

The string of pre-World Cup international friendlies continues Thursday, as Italy-Mexico (1:15 p.m. EST, Telemundo) highlights a three-game slate.

Spain and South Korea kicked off at noon in a matchup of two South Africa-bound teams, and Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovina will meet at 2:30 p.m.

If you are already watching or will be watching any of Thursday's friendlies on television or live Internet feed, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and any play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Germany has some unbelievable young talent. How can people write them off so easily. Özil, Marin, Müller, Kroos, schweini. Seriously any team would love to have them. They’ll be in the hunt. Like Always

    they’ll prob win it

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  2. Mexico looked very good except in front of goal (both). They should top their group if they can stay away from cards. Italy looked old, tired and disinterested. I can’t see them advancing on 0-0, 1-1 and 1-0 scores like 2006.

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  3. I think they can withstand a tie as long as they score. The big matches will be against france. if they lose that the may not advance. Thast’s a big ask though since France always seems to find a way to win, even when they don’t play well.

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  4. C’mon Pete be reasonable.

    Even if we give SA the host bump and expect a disaster from France, the best you can hope for is the following:

    SA 0 v FRA 2
    SA 1 v URU 3
    SA 1 v MEX 1
    FRA 1 v URU 1
    FRA 0 v MEX 1
    URU 1 v MEX 2

    MEX 2w 0d 1l
    URU 1w 1d 1l advances goal differential
    FRA 1w 1d 1l
    SA 0w 1d 2l

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  5. I have always like the team but hate to say so, it’s just that Mexico fans are so obnoxious — almost like the English
    press is about their team is all. You’re good, but not THAT good.

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  6. yes but they have always started slow and they are in a flaccid group. Paraguay might eek by them and take the group, but do you really think Slovakia or New Zealand are going top Italy?

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  7. Exactly. When we play I want to beat Mexico badly but I don’t understand the desire to undercut our region. Sure some of their fans are pricks but guess what so are some of ours. I partied in the Azteca lot before/after our last game there and for the most part they wished us well going forward as did I. It doesn’t just carry over internationally but club level too with our champions league and superliga.

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  8. Yep, because that brazil group isn’t that tough.

    North Korea isn’t going to do anything, its not going to provide any shocks. South Africa on the other hand is the host, the refs usually benefit the hosts. So even if SA can’t win on there own the refs will always be there.

    So in the Brazil grouping, you got 3 teams vying for 2 places. Again, its just my opinion.

    1. Brazil
    2. Portugal
    3. Ivory Coast
    4. North korea (with maybe 1 pt. from a tie with ivory coast)

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  9. And they bounced back pretty well in 2006, didn’t they?

    There aren’t going to win the whole thing, but they’ll win the group. Its only my opinion, Others will of course disagree.

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  10. Lovely hit by Lahm for Germnay to level at 1 all…

    I know the keepers complain about this new ball but that shot he just hit had no spin on it and flew as straight as an arrow… right off the upper L…

    Just about made it 2-1 as I type… 3 balls off the crossbar for Germany today and only 1 went in..

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  11. I think the key to Mexico’s WC is the opener. If they can get three points despite the pressure/emotion I think they move on and possibly win the group. If they struggle with finishing and end up in a 1-1 or 0-0 tie they are done. I would bet on Mexico to move on.

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  12. Yeah France sure found a way to win a game in 2002.

    France will win 1 against South Africa if they are lucky. They are terrible.

    Uruguay and Mexico advance out this group.

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  13. Mexico was very impressive today, as they were against England (though losing by a deceptively lopsided 3-1) and parts of the match against the Netherlands.

    However, they really can’t afford to miss as many clear opportunities as they do–not in the World Cup–and expect to get very far.

    Having said that, I would still expect them to at least make it out of group play–and possibly meet Argentina in the 2nd round, which should be another great game like the last time the two met in the WC.

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  14. Good result for Mexico but its just that, a good result. I didn’t see the match was Italy using their starting 11? or were they testing things out?

    I believe the toughest group in the WC is the Mexican group. France has been terrible lately but those “historic” teams find a way to win matches, same goes for Uruguay plus they never give up “La Garra Charrua”, and South Africa is the host country, so they’ll play with 12 on the field. The mexicans with Gio have a dynamic attack but they look weak in the back.

    My view on how the group ends up…

    1. France
    2. Uruguay
    3. South Africa
    4. Mexico.

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  15. All of these crazy little “mexicanos” think they are going to win the WC now. HA!!! Italy could care less about this friendly. Mexcico will be luck if they win one game in this WC. Plus their coach lucks tacos.

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  16. Mexico is playing very well. Their style of play is fun to watch. Even though I’m a die hard USA fan, I have to root for Mexico at the World Cup. They represent concacaf and a stronger Mexico team makes the US team better.

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  17. Considering the mild success that Costa Rica had against France… I could easily see Mexico win their group… they are better than both Uruguay and South Africa..

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  18. Italy pulls one back…seems like all the powerhouses are stuck scoring on set pieces..England, Italy, Germany… Only the Dutch and Spain seem to be scoring in the run of play these days..

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  19. I’ll respond the exact way our neighbors to the south reply when the US puts together a good match, deserved of a win:

    “Clearly, Team-X (Italy, in this case) didn’t play well and they’re still a better team. Team-X (Italy, in this case) lost the game. [Mexico] didn’t win it.”

    I will give no credit nor praise to them, especially around this time of year.

    Reply

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