Playa Hatin’

Today in World Cup play, the USA took on a surprising Slovenia team who jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half. After a warriors like effort to battle back, the USA looked to have completed the magic and won the game. But wait… a foul, offsides, handball, foul??? Nobody can figure out why the goal was disallowed and the refs aren’t saying nothing. The referee who made the decsion, Koman Coulibaly really had no explination when asked what he called. Sorry USA soccer fans – you just got shit on again in major international competition.

Or, was this beauty in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea the worst call of all-time to go against the USA. Watch starting at the 2:00 mark and look at all the different angles that clearly show the ball being kept out of the net by German midfielder, Torsten Frings. Not only did the ball get stopped by Frings hand, but the ball looks to have crossed the goal line regardless.

Group D – Game 2

Serbia vs. Ghana

ESPN – 10:00 AM ET

Serbia:

My personal dark horse / sleeper team in this tournament Is Serbia. Now that the country with a major identity crisis has settled on a team name, this talented group of youngsters should be primed and ready to make a push out of the first round. Serbia competed In recent World Cup’s as Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro. The Serb’s are full of talent and should be a fun team to watch. They’re able to play fast or slow down and play possession oriented soccer. The Serb’s constantly are drawn into very tough groups and have had a hard time advancing. Look for these boys to surprise everyone, and win this group.

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Group A – Game 2

Uruguay vs. France

ESPN – 2:30 PM ET

Uruguay:

To many in the CONEMBOL region, Uruguay is one of those sleeper teams that no one wants to play. As one of only five teams to win the World Cup more than once, they definitely have the pedigree to climb back to prominence. Uruguay’s successes as World Cup champions in the first ever World Cup in 1930 and repeat champions in 1970 where they knocked of Brazil seem to not be remembered as Italy, Brazil, Germany and Argentina are. Known as “La Celeste” or simply, “The Blue” they play an exciting brand of soccer. Although, they have only tasted victory once since a fourth place finish in 1970 – That means it’s been 10 World Cup’s (40 years) since they last advanced into the second round of the tournament. Uruguay finished 5^th in the South American region (CONEMBOL) through qualifying. They had to play an extra, two-leg playoff series against CONCACAF’s number four team, Costa Rica.

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