2006 Soccer Football World Cup in Germany

gus · Post by **gus** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:51 pm

Ecuador trashed Costa Rica 3-0 (another blow out of a concacaf team....

if Ecuador ties with Germany in their next game, means Germany and England will meet in the next round (Ecuador would go as No. 1 due to goals differencial). Ecuador has made things very interesting.

Gus

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:15 am

Good thing with Ecuador is they seem to play with a real joy in playing the game

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:07 am

Amberion wrote:Good thing with Ecuador is they seem to play with a real joy in playing the game

I was told by my Brazilian and Argentinian friends that Ecuador was the best third team in South America. I did not belive them. I do now.

By the way, I am speechless. I have no words to describe the SUPERIORITY and SKILL of Argentina. They defeated, toyed around, and plainly trashed a VERY competent Serbia and Montenegro team. They have to be the -REAL- favourites after a performance like today's. In a few words:

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF FOOTBALL IN THIS WORLD CUP UP TO NOW!!! :hail:

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:14 pm

Ivory Coast is without a doubt the best team in Africa right now. I take my hat off to them. They might have qualified to the next round in another group.

Dutch are on to play Argentina. It could have beeen a Final match. It will be one of the best matches to date.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:14 pm

Argentina certainly have laid down their marker, and are the most impressive team so far. Some of today's goals were scored from such beautiful, joyful and carefree football, that I almost find myself liking them (not an easy thing for an Englishman).

I've said it before though, and I'll say it again now: no team has ever been given the World Cup for playing the best football of the group stages. Argentina have made themselves favourites, but the knockout stages will bring a whole new pressure to games - fluent and carefree teams can soon become stifled and lacklustre.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:18 pm

Redskin in Canada wrote:Ivory Coast is without a doubt the best team in Africa right now. I take my hat off to them. They might have qualified to the next round in another group.
Dutch are on to play Argentina. It could have beeen a Final match. It will be one of the best matches to date.

If Ivory Coast had been handed the draw that Togo, Tunisia or maybe Angola received, then I think they'd have made it to the last 16 and even the last 8. They looked like one of the best 8 teams in the tournament to me, and are mighty unlucky.

The Dutch have got off to a good start, but I'm not convinced that they can defend well enough to keep out the Argentinians. Nevetheless, they look like quarter finalists to me.

TincoSkin · Post by **TincoSkin** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:47 pm

oh man the ivory coast got a terrible deal...

they even got some pretty bad calls in that last game today.. .

bah! too bad ... maybe next time

gus · Post by **gus** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:23 pm

Redskin in Canada wrote:Dutch are on to play Argentina. It could have beeen a Final match. It will be one of the best matches to date.

I think there is a good chance these two teams play twice in this world cup, the second one being a rematch of the 1978 final.

Gus

Punu · Post by **Punu** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:28 am

Anyone paying attention to South Korea? I think they are pretty badass and under estimated

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:09 am

Punu wrote:Anyone paying attention to South Korea? I think they are pretty badass and under estimated

Honestly? I'm not paying them any attention at all. But I'd be happy to see them qualify for the next round at the expense of either France or Switzerland.

They are a decent side, and yes - they are certainly underestimated over here in Europe.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:18 am

Let's see how the Czechs perform this afternoon without Jan Koller. Before the tournament, I rated them as real contenders, but this guy is so important to them that I'm not sure if they'll recover from his loss. This was what the team doctor said:

But Czech doctor Jiri Foucek said the recovery period "could be anything between 10 days and six weeks".

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/czech_republic/5073676.stm)
Well, thanks doctor - that really narrows it down!

I'll also be interested to see how the US react to their thumping in the last game. It's difficult to imagine them bouncing back to beat Italy, but a strong perfomance might just get them a draw.

As for Portugal V Iran? Well, I think I might just find something else to do when that one is on. Did anybody get a better draw than Portugal?

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:47 pm

Ghana is up on the Czech's...If they can hold on, we still have a chance if we pull a win vs Italy.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 1:52 pm

What a showing by Ghana.

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:51 pm

The red card against the US was totally bogus.

Added on edit: Those two red cards against the US were totally bogus. :roll:

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 4:29 pm

This entire game has been called against us. I am begining to wonder if this is the same ref from the Skins/Bucs game last season.

I am so sick of the grudge rest of the world has against our team.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:55 pm

Sir_Monk wrote:I am so sick of the grudge rest of the world has against our team.

So, the one stupid ref is now the -rest of the world-??? :shock:

You should be proud instead of the way your team played against one of the top teams in the world -plus- the ref.

UA finally showed up in this tournament. This is the team that played well in qualifiers. It all rides on their performance against Ghana. Not easy, but doable.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:12 am

It was a fantastic effort by the US team, which no doubt received a huge boost from Ghana's result against the Czech Republic earlier in the day. That result really opened up the group again, and makes all things possible.

I was wondering how the Czechs would react to the loss of Koller, and they clearly were not the same team as that which beat the US in their first game. A lot of credit should go to Ghana though, because they played really well, and the result was definitely not a fluke. Their midfield is genuinely world class, and they should get a lot of credit for the way they rebounded from the loss against Italy. I'd love to see them make the next round, but then that wouldn't be very popular round here, would it?!

I was really impressed by the US showing, and not very impressed by the Italians. From what I've read, neither was the Italian coach. The US employed a high energy pressing style of football that we English appreciate. They were hanging on at the end, but I could certainly make an argument that they deserved to get all three points from the game, if only because of the way they approached it.

As for the sendings off? Well, I'm sorry, but you'll have to blame FIFA for the first one. Before every World Cup, these goons come out with a hit list of offences that they want referees to crack down on, and this puts the officials under intolerable pressure. It results in referees making different decisions to the ones they have been making for the last four years, and causes confusion amongst players. However, the US player clearly dived in on the Italian, failed to get anywhere near the ball, and should indeed have been sent off according to FIFA's guidelines for this tournament. In my opinion, it was only a yellow card offence, but it was a stupid challenge to make in that area of the pitch. Steven Gerrard got booked for a similar style of tackle for England against Paraguay, and he actually got the ball!

As for the second red card, it was again stupid play. Pope had already been booked. The commentators over here called it absolutely right from about twenty minutes into the game - the US central defenders were going to have to be very careful for the rest of the game, because they had been defending very aggressively and needed to be clever to avoid picking up bookings and red cards. Pope wasn't clever at all.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:17 am

Sir_Monk wrote:This entire game has been called against us. I am begining to wonder if this is the same ref from the Skins/Bucs game last season.

I am so sick of the grudge rest of the world has against our team.

Perhaps US fans should borrow a chant from fans of Millwall or Leeds over here in England - "No one likes us, but we don't care".

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:50 am

Australia V Brazil in just a few hours

I hate this timeslot as it starts at 1.30am here and finishes around 3.30 too late to stay up and too early to go to bed early and get up to watch it

Guess that is why recorder were inmvented

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:20 am

Amberion wrote:Australia V Brazil in just a few hours

I hate this timeslot as it starts at 1.30am here and finishes around 3.30 too late to stay up and too early to go to bed early and get up to watch it

Guess that is why recorder were inmvented

Hell no you have to watch.

I had an obligation and missed the first USA game and look what happened.

Drop what you are doing and go to Germany now.

*I am not superstitious.

gus · Post by **gus** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:23 pm

I have to congratulate the US team for playing with such heart against Italy. They left everything on the field. With the Ghana W, thinks got really interesting. The Checz may have looked pass Ghana and they got a rude awakening.

Gus

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:30 pm

So, the one stupid ref is now the -rest of the world-??? icon_eek.gif

You should be proud instead of the way your team played against one of the top teams in the world -plus- the ref.

UA finally showed up in this tournament. This is the team that played well in qualifiers. It all rides on their performance against Ghana. Not easy, but doable.

After reflecting on the game for a day, maybe that was a little to much. I watched the tape of the game today, and while tough calls, it does go in stride with the way Fifa has wanted it officiated throughout this World Cup.

After Pope was sent off, I kept thinking back to 2002 and the no call hand ball vs Germany, and how this may be the second World Cup that has been taken out of our hands by questionable calls or non calls. But that's how the ball bounces.

I am very proud of our side and what we did vs. the Italians. I think we still have something left and can very well play into to the second round.

USA USA USA!!

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:34 pm

Australia V Brazil in just a few hours

I hate this timeslot as it starts at 1.30am here and finishes around 3.30 too late to stay up and too early to go to bed early and get up to watch it icon_sad.gif

I know the outcome of this one has been decided, but you gotta stay up to watch these matches. I have some very happy and blurry memories of 2002 as most of our games where played in the middle of the night. But this only comes around every 4 years and you never know when you might get another chance to see your country playing the worlds best!

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:36 pm

icon_eek.gif
Perhaps US fans should borrow a chant from fans of Millwall or Leeds over here in England - "No one likes us, but we don't care".

Good chant

But, even in the slightest, I would not want our team to be associated with Millwall or their fan base more specifically in any way.

[/img]

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:46 pm

Sir_Monk wrote:
icon_eek.gif
Perhaps US fans should borrow a chant from fans of Millwall or Leeds over here in England - "No one likes us, but we don't care".

Good chant

But, even in the slightest, I would not want our team to be associated with Millwall or their fan base more specifically in any way.

[/img]

Well, who would? :wink: