2006 Soccer Football World Cup in Germany

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:28 am

The best defense is a good offense.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:32 am

UK Skins Fan wrote: It would certainly be entertaining, but don't necessarily expect great football. I would expect to see both teams kicking each other up in the air at every opportunity.

Then you did not have an opportunity to watch the TWO games among them in the South American qualifiers. Each team destroyed the other in each round. They were GREAT tactical games and TOUGH physical games.

They like not only to -win- against one another. They LOVE to -humiliate- one another.

I say that for all intents and purposes international disputes (in the absence of peaceful resolution means) be decided by soccer matches instead of war. They are violent enough and the people would enjoy them. Something like a modern Roman Colisseum with gladiators hurt but not killed. :idea:

skinsRin · Post by **skinsRin** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:30 pm

I will be pulling for the Netherlands "Hup Oranjie"

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:39 am

The Aussies are quietly waiting to surprise the world

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:35 pm

Amberion wrote:The Aussies are quietly waiting to surprise the world

Brazil is not Uruguay. Japan and Croatia have advanced to the next round in previous tournaments.

The result against the young Uruguay team was good but that is about all I can tell about your team. Defeating the Solomon Islands is not my idea of climbing up dramatically in the world rankings. But they have some great players in the UK and they are motivated. Forgive me for saying that they are considered the underdog but hey, this is a CONCACAF fan writing. Who coud be more of underdogs than our teams here (Asia and Oceania?) :lol:

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:10 pm

The Aussies have some decent players, but hardly great. If they somehow end up playing England though, I wouldn't bet against them (they beat us last time, after all - albeit only in a friendly).

Beating Uruguay shouldn't be underestimated as an achievement, although it certainly isn't the strongest Uruguay team that there has been.

Nevertheless, I predict a very early exit for our friends from Down Under.

skinsRin · Post by **skinsRin** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:15 pm

This year will be different the typical good countries will not dominate this year. I am calling the ORANGE upset right now.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:40 am

skinsRin wrote:This year will be different the typical good countries will not dominate this year. I am calling the ORANGE upset right now.

Hardly an upset. :roll:

They are a VERY powerful team. Not the favourites as in Germany, Brazil etc, but just behind them. One of the top 5 teams in my opiniom.

They defeated the Czechs in Prague for the qualifiers. Few have done that.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:25 pm

The biggest upset is that the Dutch haven't won it before. You'd be silly to put money on them, because of their ability to self destruct, but I wouldn't be upset to see them win it. If they don't start fighting with each other, then they'll be a major force.

skinsRin · Post by **skinsRin** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:47 pm

Redskin in Canada wrote:
skinsRin wrote:This year will be different the typical good countries will not dominate this year. I am calling the ORANGE upset right now.
Hardly an upset.

They are a VERY powerful team. Not the favourites as in Germany, Brazil etc, but just behind them. One of the top 5 teams in my opiniom.

They defeated the Czechs in Prague for the qualifiers. Few have done that.

If Holland wins it this time, it would be an upset the top 6 teams to win it this year are Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, France and Argentina. Holland has never won it and only been in the finals twice and that was a long tim ago 74 and 78. I know they usually have a strong team, one of the better but they are not a favorite, so I would say it would be an upset if they win. We'll see, I'll be pulling for them and hopefully it will be their turn.

Hill66 · Post by **Hill66** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:58 pm

I do believe the Netherlands is ranked number 3 in the world, just to let ya know.
As for previous years, with self destruction..that was due to MASSIVE egos that some of the players have. Although I really liked Kluivert, he had one of the biggest and never produced while in the World sportlight. Van Basten has his team playing in top form heading into this upcoming Tournament, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Orange make some moves.
I'm happy to see that he has brought in some younger talent and got rid of some egos that were holding the team back in recent years.
Some players to watch for are Van Der Sar, van Nistelrooy, and Robben.
They are however in the group of death..if they make it out of their group, then the Dutch will be very tough to beat.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Mon May 01, 2006 7:48 am

Well, with six weeks to go until England's first game, Wayne Rooney has broken a metatarsal in his right foot. The prediction is that he will be out for six weeks, but this is optimistic in the extreme. The reality is that Rooney is out of the World Cup.

For those of you who would consider betting on the outcome of the World Cup (and I'm sure that you wouldn't, of course!), then you might want to scrub out the name of England from your list of potential winners. Without Rooney, it is simply impossible to consider England as potential winners. Add the fact that Michael Owen is still not recovered from having broken his metatarsal last year, and England may enter the tournament without their two most important players. In addition, Ashley Cole, who some rate as the best left back in the world, is still not playing first team football after breaking (yes, you guessed it), his metatarsal.

All in all, this has been a depressing week for English football, especially when you add in the farce surrounding the appointment of the next England manager.

One possible positive note: the injury to Rooney may give Joe Cole a chance to shine in the position that he feels best suited to play. Rooney's loss may just see Cole take his place as a leading light at the tournament this summer. However, that would depend on a certain amount of flexibility in the thinking of England's coach, Sven Goran Eriksson, who has shown little ability in the past to be flexible.

At this point, England fans are sick to the stomach with the thought that Peter Crouch and Darren Bent may start as first choice forwards in June.

It could be worse though - I could be a Scot.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:21 am

UK Skins Fan wrote:It could be worse though - I could be a Scot.

You people put such a good act about it. :lol:

Unfortunately, I agree with your post. Your team is not looking good to win it all. However, they will still have a strong show. A team plays well when their backs are against the wall and yours is certainly putting itself in that position.

I am counting the days to the tournament.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:23 am

Hill66 wrote:I do believe the Netherlands is ranked number 3 in the world, just to let ya know.

Exactly third:

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index.html

And the USA is at its highest position in history! 4th :shock:

welch · Post by **welch** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:03 pm

The Dutch have a spectacular collection of players. If their coach can build a team, then watch out, world!

Incidentally, Spurs are still hanging at number 4 in the Premier League, with four pionts over some nameless team. Two games left for the nameless ones (boo!) and one more for the resurging Spurs.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Wed May 03, 2006 2:43 pm

welch wrote:The Dutch have a spectacular collection of players. If their coach can build a team, then watch out, world!

Incidentally, Spurs are still hanging at number 4 in the Premier League, with four pionts over some nameless team. Two games left for the nameless ones (boo!) and one more for the resurging Spurs.

But will Spurs occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot, only to be denied the chance to play in the competition by their friends from Highbury? If Arsenal beat Barcelona in this year's final, then wouldn't that leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth? #-o

Personally, I'd love to see Spurs in next year's Champions League, because the spine of their side features a number of exciting young English players (unlike the United Nations of Arsenal), and they'd surely benefit from playing in the competition. I hope that Carrick and Lennon both join Defoe, Robinson and a fit Ledley King on the plane to Germany this summer.

welch · Post by **welch** » Wed May 03, 2006 8:58 pm

I'm cheering for Barca and hoping for a pair of league losses by that nameless shameless team.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:04 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:If Arsenal beat Barcelona in this year's final, ...

Dream on. Barca is not Villareal, you are talking about a real tradition here!

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:05 am

Redskin in Canada wrote:
UK Skins Fan wrote:If Arsenal beat Barcelona in this year's final, ...

Dream on. Barca is not Villareal, you are talking about a real tradition here!

What tradition? How many times have Barcelona won the European club title? Look it up, and then tell me how many times Aston Villa have won it, or Nottingham Forest! Barca's tradition is one of underachievement in this competition.

For sure, Barca are the favourites, but so were Milan last year (even more so at half time!).

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:37 am

UK Skins Fan wrote:For sure, Barca are the favourites, but so were Milan last year (even more so at half time!).

Say it isn't so. Say you are -not- an Arsenal fan. We can forgive English loyalty and solidarity with the guys from north London but a fan of the canyon? Yikes!

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Thu May 04, 2006 2:53 pm

Redskin in Canada wrote:
UK Skins Fan wrote:For sure, Barca are the favourites, but so were Milan last year (even more so at half time!).

Say it isn't so. Say you are -not- an Arsenal fan. We can forgive English loyalty and solidarity with the guys from north London but a fan of the canyon? Yikes!

Let me put your mind at rest - I am not an Arsenal fan. But they are an English football club (despite the almost total absence of Englishmen from their line up), and I will therefore be wanting to see them beat Barcelona. Barcelona are a mighty fine team, but they have a long history of disappointment in this competition. They are comfortable favourites, but I'd caution anybody against writing this Arsenal side off, just as people underestimated Liverpool last year. Now, if you want to talk about tradition, take a look at Liverpool's record in the competition!

For the record, I am a fan of Brighton & Hove Albion. A proud fan of course, but a look at the English league tables will also show that a great deal of humility is a required trait amongst fans of the Seagulls. The nearest they came to glory was an FA Cup Final appearance against Manchester United back in 1983. They nearly won the first drawn game, before being soundly thrashed in the replay.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:12 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:Now, if you want to talk about tradition, take a look at Liverpool's record in the competition!

If you -really- want to know about tradition in the FA Cup, you should check Real Madrid, not Liverpool.

Of course, there is tradition and there is tradition. Barcelone plays has had a good record in Primera Liga. :wink:

Nothing wrong with being a fan of the not so famous teams, those are sometimes the real fans (other than Redskins fans, of course).

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:22 pm

RiC last time I looked Real Madrid have not won a single FA cup :wink:

I do believe they have won 10 European cups

And for what it is worth - Go Leeds

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:05 pm

Amberion wrote:I do believe they have won 10 European cups

That's what happens when your fingers go ahead of your mind. You got me there. :oops:

welch · Post by **welch** » Sun May 07, 2006 1:29 pm

Spurs: ouch.