World Cup 2006:Germany [Archive]

Golgot

06-05-06, 11:23 PM

Oh yes :)

Are you supporting the US tho? Don't fancy their chances... massively... at all ;)

Talking of stories tho, here's a very odd one... (which seems a bit unlikely really)...

Iran accuse Mexico of voodoo tactics (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2006-06-05-lopresti-worldcup_x.htm)
One Iranian official was quoted last month as saying his team wouldn't be fazed: "Real believers cannot be affected by such magic. And as the Iranian team has a deep religious belief, it will resist like an unconquerable castle."

But hey, who knew Serbia and Montenegro were splitting, but still fielding a team. [also in that article]. It's a world of info is the World Cup :)

I'm still confused by the photo in this (http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=64552) article tho.

Good to see you around the place btw Eq ;)

Equilibrium

06-06-06, 03:41 AM

haha, always a pleasure to see my threads graced by your replied golg..

not a us supporter at all..Brazil and Italy and the Czech Republic are my teams...

those are interesting stories...

does anyone remember a soccer animation show called Captain Tsubasa?

Alvin

06-06-06, 05:18 AM

I hate football. That is all.

Piddzilla

06-06-06, 06:05 AM

"Excited" is not a strong word enough... I consider the World Cup to be the most ..eh.. exciting sports event in the world, even better than the Olympics in some ways.

Great thread this one, Eq! :yup:

During the last European and World cups a friend of mine has organized a so called World Cup Pool (?). Don't know the correct English term here... We're like a hundred guys who all pay a small sum of money and then we predict ALL the results in the 1st stage matches, which the last 16 will be, the quarter finalists, the semi finalists, the finalists, the winner, the runner up, the bronze medalists, the bronze runner up, the All Star Team, the top goal scorers and so on and so on... Then you collect points all the way through the Cup and the winner get some money. I have mine in an Excel document but I don't know how to put it up on here. Would love to hear your YAYS and BOOS about it...

In short... Brazil beats Spain in the final. England steals the bronze from Argentina. Sweden goes through to the 2nd stage but falls against Germany. Sensations: Croatia, Ukraine and Spain. Dissapointments: Italy (as usual), France and the African teams. Questions?

Pyro Tramp

06-06-06, 06:24 AM

I'll be happy if England get to the semis! As long as Crouch keeps doing his dances i'm happy....

Piddzilla

06-06-06, 06:57 AM

I think England has the potential to go far if they can avoid any further injuries, if they play like a team and if the key players play on top of their abilities. I predict that they will win the group ahead of Sweden, defeat Poland in the 1/8 final, play their game of the tournament against Holland in the quarter final and be a number to small for Brazil in the semi. Then their team moral will earn them the bronze against a disillusioned Argentina.

:D

Tacitus

06-06-06, 07:45 AM

I've not been excited by a World Cup for 20 years, since Billy Bingham's Green and White Army got trounced by Brazil on Pat Jennings' 41st Birthday. His wife sang at my parents' wedding, by the way, hands like shovels...ermmm...Pat's not Elenor's. :blush:

Definately agree with Pete though, the World Cup is the greatest sporting event of all. ;)

I'll be a floating supporter so whomever plies me with enough drink gets my vote. That'll be Saudi Arabia and Iran out, I guess...

This is the site I'll be tuned into - Link (http://www.worldcup365.com/).

My favourite WC moment was Gerry Armstrong's goal beating hosts Spain in 1982. He turned up at our school a few months later as part of a 'get kids playing football' type tour but had broken his ankle so couldn't have a kickabout. I got his autograph though and touched his Golden Boot. :D

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39511000/jpg/_39511757_goal_203.jpg

chicagofrog

06-06-06, 08:34 AM

Tell us your stories about this fanastic event..

i'll tell you as soon as i'm finished teaching those bloody hooligans some free fight techniques, and not to come back into my town...

adidasss

06-06-06, 09:35 AM

Sensations: Croatia, Ukraine and Spain. Dissapointments: Italy (as usual), France and the African teams. Questions?
i wish i shared your opinion....i think we're not gonna get through the group....
and i think this is definitely the biggest sporting event in the world, not even the olympics are accompanied by such hype....( everywhere apart from north america i would say )

Equilibrium

06-06-06, 05:19 PM

Piddzilla

06-06-06, 05:20 PM

In the link that golg set up it says that this event is counted by the billions which means it definitly is the most watched sport event..

I really want to see this excel document can you please send it...my email is [email protected] (p.s dont care if i just publicly gave away my email).

send it!!!

Sure, I'll send it even though it's in Swedish. I think you'll be able to figure it out anyway...

Golgot

06-06-06, 06:03 PM

Hmph, predictions eh?

Brazil win - most likely.

England make it to quarter finals (and maybe better, never know ;))

Trinidad & Tobago draw with Sweden in group stages :D;)

Altho currently i'm refusing to care, coz i've gotta work on Saturday, and can only watch the game out of the corner of my eye. Bleh.

Piddzilla

06-06-06, 06:14 PM

Ash_Lee

06-06-06, 06:35 PM

Personally, I prefer Wimbledon, but I'll still be cheering on our lads from England from the comfort of my armchair.

Not because Wales didn't qualify or anything http://www.empireonline.com/forum/image/s13.gif

Golgot

06-06-06, 06:48 PM

I'm off... Muaahahahahaha... All of Sweden's games!!! MUUUAAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

May you be cursed with a T&T hat-trick!!

*optional extra voodoo curse - the slap of a thousand paws* (http://www.sayagain.co.uk/b3tapix/images/biffbonk.gif)

Not because Wales didn't qualify or anything

I get a sneaky back-up team in the form of Australia :). (And hell, i'm a touch Swedish too, come to that ;))

Oh, for a Brazilian relative ;)

Ash_Lee

06-06-06, 07:11 PM

I get a sneaky back-up team in the form of Australia :). (And hell, i'm a touch Swedish too, come to that ;))

Oh, for a Brazilian relative ;)
If only :(

Revenant

06-06-06, 09:12 PM

I've got my England flags out in force!

Rooney made the papers today. He kicked a ball.... whoopee. The paper people are desperate if this is the best they can come up with.

I seriously hope Argentina crash and burn during the world cup, cheating little blighters that they are.

Behind England I'm rooting for the outsiders of Japan.

Golgot

06-06-06, 09:22 PM

I've got my England flags out in force!

What, no tattoos?

Revenant

06-06-06, 09:23 PM

What tattoos.
I dont wear no tattoos. :D
The little fella just isn't my style.

Equilibrium

06-07-06, 02:28 AM

i love england and all.....but they'll be more than lucky to make it to the semis...honestly..they've only won this thing once...but they are fun to watch.

Piddzilla

06-07-06, 07:10 AM

I think this is the first time that England can actually back up their WEEEEE R THE CHAMPIONS chant with an actual fricking excellent team. Something tells me Rooney will make an astonishing recovery and play 15-30 mins in the last 1st stage game. Wait... THAT'S AGAINST US!!!! :eek:

I hope Mellberg is sharpening his elbows down in Bremen right this minute....

Revenant

06-07-06, 02:38 PM

Bring on Saturday!

Sinny McGuffins

06-07-06, 07:29 PM

I can't wait. I'm more excited about this World Cup than I was about World Cup '98.

The cinema I work at are showing every England game on the big cinema screen, which is kinda cool. But I'll be watching every game in the pub, most likely. It's always a great atmosphere watching footy in the pub, and now I'm actually old enough to enjoy the World Cup with pints!

Revenant

06-07-06, 07:37 PM

Sinny, welcome to the real world of Football. ;)

Piddzilla

06-08-06, 04:36 AM

Saturday will be great. First England - Paraguay, followed directly by T&T - Sweden. I think I will try and find a nice bar/restaurant with a nice screen, sit my ass down and not leave until very late.

Apparently Rooney will definitely be fit enough to play AT LEAST in the 2nd stage.... England might get their Dream Team after all... ;)

Sinny McGuffins

06-08-06, 10:03 AM

Well if Rooney doesn't play, we've always got RoboCrouch (http://youtube.com/watch?v=uJctQQVxqFg)!

:indifferent:

Tacitus

06-08-06, 03:09 PM

Feel free to happy slap me but if, say, The Crouchatron scores a couple of goals in the group matches and a commentator describes him as being 'on fire' does that mean I'm able to call him The Towering Inferno?

Thought not. :)

Piddzilla

06-08-06, 07:32 PM

Oh that's just swell... Isaksson, our goalie, has got a concussion... What the...

Darth Stujitzu

06-08-06, 08:23 PM

World Cups cost me a fortune, by the time I've bought a Paraguay, T&T and Sweden tops, I have to work hard for the next round of England's opponents!!!!
Come on Paraguay!!!!

Golgot

06-08-06, 08:25 PM

Oh that's just swell... Isaksson, our goalie, has got a concussion... What the...

That's the T&T hat-trick curse starting to take effect :D

Revenant

06-08-06, 08:28 PM

I am going to attempt to watch every single match.
Darth I would support Scotland, do likewise and just give a little support for England. You know you secretly want to. ;D

Darth Stujitzu

06-08-06, 09:09 PM

I am going to attempt to watch every single match.
Darth I would support Scotland, do likewise and just give a little support for England. You know you secretly want to. ;D

I don't believe you!!!!
Besides it's easy for you to say that as Scotland haven't qualified for anything apart from abnormal rates of health diseases. :eek:
I just can't ever support England, similar to me not being able to support any of Celtic or Man United's rivals, it's the LAW!!!!!
Anyway.....come on T&T, hope Jason Scotland scores, about time Scotland scored against England :p

Equilibrium

06-09-06, 01:08 AM

How are you guys watching these games? i mean i have work and school and such....are you recording it??

SpoOkY

06-09-06, 01:24 AM

Woo! I'm so overly excited like the rest of you posters (thus my flag waving avater). It's three days till Australia takes on Japan. I'm hoping for a sneaky win or a draw, Cahill, Kewell and Viduka should put on a decent show for us and if we manage to knock over croatia then it's totally ok for us to get belted by Brazil (which we will, I'm resigned to that).

But everyone is getting into it. At the friendly between European champions Greece and Australia there were 90,000 screaming fans, including me. The atmosphere was awesome too cause outside of Athens Melbourne actually has the largest greek population, how weird is that.....so amazingly there was probably a 40% Greek contingent.

Also there's this place in the city called federation square where people go to watch big events on a massive screen. They're showing all the Aussie games! I was planning on heading in with a few guys I play soccer with and suddenly I realised everyone wanted to go and they even want to paint their faces + bring flags + shirts + just be insanely patriotic.........It's gonna be awesome!

Pity I have a statistics exam 3 days after the first game :(

Equilibrium

06-09-06, 01:52 AM

Piddzilla

06-09-06, 04:32 AM

How are you guys watching these games? i mean i have work and school and such....are you recording it??

Fortunately, I'm off work today so...

Revenant

06-09-06, 08:16 AM

I don't believe you!!!!
Besides it's easy for you to say that as Scotland haven't qualified for anything apart from abnormal rates of health diseases. :eek:
I just can't ever support England, similar to me not being able to support any of Celtic or Man United's rivals, it's the LAW!!!!!
Anyway.....come on T&T, hope Jason Scotland scores, about time Scotland scored against England :p

Its true!!!!!!
I'm actually part Scottish!
And I really wished that they had qualified, so I wouldn't have to put my entire faith in England.
But I guess if its the law, then I don't want you to go and break it. :)

I can watch the matches because I'm not working right now. There is a valid reason I just don't want to say.
Besides I have SKY+, so never need miss a single match.
I too am waving my flag!

Tacitus

06-09-06, 08:46 AM

Looks like Sir Red Face and Svennis are gonna have a playground scrap. Sven seems de-mob happy thesedays so I doubt if he cares who's feathers he ruffles...

Relations between the FA and ManYoo are said to be on the verge of 'total collapse' following Sven-Goran Eriksson's vow that he will decide the date of Wayne Rooney's comeback.

The suggestion that, in defiance of both ManYoo and independent medical opinion, Eriksson may field Rooney against Sweden on June 20 provoked a furious phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson, while Brian Barwick and David Gill were reportedly involved in a heated exchange in which the FA chief executive branded his ManYoo counterpart as "irresponsible".

According to The Daily Telegraph, ManYoo are 'incandescent with rage' at Eriksson's refusal to rule out Rooney of the group ties and believe the FA have 'reneged on an agreement to abide by the findings of an independent medical specialist.'

'Angus Wallace, a professor of orthopaedic surgery at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre and the man accepted by the Football Association as the country's foot expert, told the gathering of six doctors from club and country on Wednesday that, while Rooney's metatarsal had knitted sufficiently for him to increase his training, the right foot required further rehabilitation to avoid secondary injury that should definitely rule him out of the three group matches,' reports The Times.

However, the FA are said to be suspicious of ManYoo's handling of Rooney's rehabilitation and, in particular, their public claims that the striker was unlikely to play this summer.

'Eriksson, it transpires, was informed at an early stage that Rooney would make it,' says The Guardian, 'and there is deep-rooted scepticism within England's camp about the reasons for United releasing a statement 10 days ago stating it was a double fracture close to the joint of his foot, making it "an injury which takes longer to heal". The suggestion is that that claim was highly dubious.'

In a further twist, the relationship between Rooney and Ferguson is said to have deteriorated over the past month after the player refused to give up on his World Cup dream.

'Ferguson, it emerges, wanted the 20-year-old to put club before country and withdraw of his own accord. United's manager expressed his feelings in the strongest possible terms, breaking off from holidaying in the south of France to warn his player of where his priorities should lie,' reports The Guardian. 'The consequences would be dire if he were to be re-injured, and a deeply aggrieved Ferguson said as much.'

In turn, that disclosure will no doubt further enrage Ferguson. Rooney has kept his own counsel throughout the furore over his fitness so the suspicion must be that, with diplomatic relations broken off between the FA and England's biggest club, the FA have began briefing against ManYoo off the record.

chicagofrog

06-09-06, 10:02 AM

for Darth:
http://www.rampantscotland.com/symbols/graphics2/flags1707a.jpg
:)

SpoOkY

06-09-06, 10:51 AM

i love the aussies as a people, but hate their racist ways....not all of them are like that but a good majority...

I would totally disagree, well from my experience in three state-capital cities (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) we are extremely multi-cultural. Our State governer John So has a heavy korean accent but we love him all the more for it.

To say a 'good majority' of Australians are racist is ridiculous! I don't know if you've been here equib but I've been to places where racism is rife and there are gangs of youths attacking others, but these are isolated incidents and it is impossible to say the majority has a racist attitudes what with out massive influx of greek, chinese and indonesian immigrants.

Sure there are trouble areas of concern in terms of racism in the political sphere; such as refugees and indigenous rights, but this in no way reflects on the 'majority' of people but rather the difficulties stem from political interests such as not upsetting the farmers union, and people worried about losing their jobs for cheaper outside labour (fair enough concern to be losing your livelihood). I don't know where you're getting your info from but I hope it's not from a few encounters with some Aussies and so you generalise across our entire nation.....

Golgot

06-09-06, 03:37 PM

Thought i'd let you reply to that one first Spook, seeing as you're local n'all ;)

Eq, there's no doubt that 'rednecks' and racism do dance their murky little dance in Ozland, but they do that most places too. You better have some powerful proof of racism being the majority 'way' over there - otherwise, you've just been a wee bit racist yourself too :p

**cough**change of subject**

What great fricking way to start a World Cup :)

Whoulda thought it eh? A German side that's decided to completely forget how to defend. But scoring some 'light fantastic' goals n'all ;).

Couldn't watch the whole game, but so the rollicking start and end. The rest of the competition's got a fair bit to live up to now ;)

Revenant

06-09-06, 06:02 PM

I wanted Costa Rica to win. :(
But it was an excellent game. :)

nebbit

06-09-06, 07:54 PM

i love the aussies as a people, but hate their racist ways....not all of them are like that but a good majority...

What a load of rubbish :rolleyes:

Piddzilla

06-10-06, 05:42 AM

Germany scored fantastic goals, but I'm not totally impressed with them. Costa Rica looked really slow and inefficient but still managed to score twice. The German defence displayed lots of weaknesses and I think Germany's real test will be towards Poland. Poland, who lost against a smart and rapid Ecuador, will give everything against Germany and it'll be a completely open ended story. I thought that both Poland and Ecuador played well and showed that they can cause trouble for the big nations.

And tonight's the night. It all starts for real today for both England and Sweden. I have located the perfect open air bar/restaurant with at least four big screens. We'll be there at least half an hour before the England game and then stay put, perhaps even over the Argentina - Côte d'Ivoire game. Lovely. Three great games, and the weather is fantastic, the summer has finally reached Sweden.... Man, this is what the World Cup should be like. I'm euforic.

Blister

06-10-06, 07:31 AM

I just can't ever support England, similar to me not being able to support any of Celtic or Man United's rivals, it's the LAW!!!!!

This man speaks the truth! I must say, i didn't think i'd have been as caught up in the world cup this year, but once i got my reduced price beer i was in the mood.

Didn't think Poland played that well last night, but it's not like they had no chances at the goal, since they had about 8 or so corners. But Ecuador had a good defence, so i was pleased with what i watched.

Darth Stujitzu

06-10-06, 07:48 AM

This man speaks the truth! I must say, i didn't think i'd have been as caught up in the world cup this year, but once i got my reduced price beer i was in the mood.

Didn't think Poland played that well last night, but it's not like they had no chances at the goal, since they had about 8 or so corners. But Ecuador had a good defence, so i was pleased with what i watched.

Us pale blue faces stick together!!! :goof: :goof:
C'mon Paraguay!!!!

Good luck to Sweden today, hopefully King Henrik will bag a few goals, especially against the " Dark Side " of Darth Sven and his minions of evil!!!!! ;)

Tacitus

06-10-06, 08:05 AM

Never Mind The Ballacks, Here's Germany

I should write headlines for The Sun. :rolleyes:

Anyway, it was quite fun seeing a disorganised German side for once but concentrated on getting tipsy instead of watching the Poland match. Good old Paulo Wanchope eh? I miss his wobbly-legged, mazy runs at Premiership defenders, teammates screaming for the ball before it either ends up in the top corner of the net or row F of the stands. ;)

Blister

06-10-06, 08:19 AM

Good luck to Sweden today, hopefully King Henrik will bag a few goals, especially against the " Dark Side " of Darth Sven and his minions of evil!!!!! ;)

Heh heh, well...things going the way they are, England will have a few more injured players, ;) Ah, nothing more manly than having a drink and watching the world cup....(and it's actually roasting outside!)

C'mon Sweden!

Revenant

06-10-06, 12:25 PM

The sooner Sven leaves the better!
I have no clue what is going on his head but England play desperate when we play defensive. We should be trying to get those goals and yes it was a bit on the hot sidfe but that's no reason to leave Crouch on his lonesome, what a waste.
Crouch wasn't able to do anything whilst he was way out on his own up front, Sven may as well brought in an extra defender for all the good Crouch was able to do without a proper back-up. Owen was sorely missed.

Hargreaves should never have gone to the World Cup , absolutely useless. Ferdinand was pretty much non-existent from the first half and Ashley Cole didn't exactly do much either.

Joe Cole and Steven Gerrad however were our star players. If all of our team played like them we would be laughing.

Referee...... Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Should be sacked!!!!!!
What a loud of codswallop he was.

Despite all that, Yay England!!!!!!

Equilibrium

06-10-06, 09:08 PM

interesting turnouts so far...

Piddzilla

06-11-06, 05:32 AM

I am disgusted.... What does Källström have to do to convince Lagerbäck that he's a man for the starting 11? Anders Svensson?? Sweden's worst game since Costa Rica in 1990. I felt like dying...

England played ok the first half, then they focused too much on defense. Don't think you Englishmen need to worry too much though... The team look strong, especially the midfield showed its qualities and potential now and then and Crouch, I think he can be a success. And Paraguay looked almost terrified the first 15 minutes, but then they shaped up. Sweden needs to get at leat four points against these two teams... Good luck to us. We suck. So bad.

The Game with capital "G" yesterday was Argentina - Côte d'Ivoire though. This is why I love the World Cup so much. The speed, the brilliance, the intelligence... Côte d'Ivoire are playing like a semi finalist team - at least - and still Argentina manage to control them. The quality of the game was so high! I enjoyed it a lot and it helped me get over Sweden's loss a bit. And that Sorin, he has to be the most offensive defender in the world. He's worse than both Zambrotta and Carlos! I love the way Argentina play... And they don't seem to complain as much as they did in the past.. I've always thought of them kind of like Brazilians with bad manners...

Equilibrium

06-11-06, 03:39 PM

iran sucks, even though mexico beat them...this wasn't a quality game at all...

chicagofrog

06-11-06, 03:47 PM

i couldn't care less about football, but i want the Fritz to lose.

Revenant

06-11-06, 03:49 PM

I switched off of that match.
Zzzzzzzz.

Sinny McGuffins

06-12-06, 11:58 AM

I'm watching Australia vs. Japan. It's in the ninety-third minute...and what a great game it's been!

Piddzilla

06-12-06, 12:28 PM

I'm impressed by Australia. In the first half it looked like they thought they were playing by aussie rules... In the second half they showed great moral and fighting spirit and they deserved the win. Japan looked a little pale towards the end, didn't they. I still believe it will be tough for Australia to advance to the 2nd stage though. Croatia are probably physically stronger and bigger than Japan so even though Australia looked really heavy I doubt it will be enough. And Brazil, well, they're Brazil. Anything can happen though and Australia have at least showed that they have the ability to decide a close game.

But congrats to all you Aussies here, and well done!!! :yup:

Oh, and the second half between Angola and Portugal last night must have been the most boring one so far in this cup. Sad since Portugal have a lot of potential to play fantastic football. And I couldn't believe my eyes! Figo was actually RUNNING occasionally!!!

SpoOkY

06-12-06, 12:55 PM

But congrats to all you Aussies here, and well done!!! :yup:

We love you cahill *and there was dancing in the streets and the whole town new nobody would be getting much sleep tonight*....

From dismay

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fifa/20060612/i/463821051.jpg

To ecstasy

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/afp/20060612/i/941427139.jpg

What a game! I can't sleep I'm too overexcited and I have to get up in 6 hours. Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Tacitus

06-12-06, 01:14 PM

I can't believe John Aloisi, he looks a real handful. It must be a different Aloisi who was crap for Cov City all those years ago. ;)

Another plus point - this is my first world cup with digital telly so I can watch the US/Czech match with 5Live commentary instead of the BBC TV dullards. Big Koller's just scored too. :D

TheUsualSuspect

06-12-06, 02:15 PM

I hope ITALY gets knocked out early.

Revenant

06-12-06, 02:16 PM

So much for me watching all the matches.
Lasted a whole two and half days that promise.

The Gnat

06-12-06, 02:58 PM

Watching all the matches would have been quite a feat, and I would have been impressed. However, right now the U.S. is losing. The line-up hasn't been all that good, Czech have been playing a lot of men of defense. (or keeping the midfielders back more). But the U.S. midfielders need to distribute the ball better for them to go anywhere in the World Cup

Tacitus

06-12-06, 03:34 PM

The States looked a bit lightweight to me, but they were playing an excellent and experienced side. I dunno if Poborsky and Nedved have enough juice in their legs to carry the team further than the Quarters but Rosicky looks a fantastic little player...and a steal for Arsenal. ;)

Golgot

06-12-06, 07:11 PM

but Rosicky looks a fantastic little player...and a steal for Arsenal. ;)

Ay. Damn them ;)

Reckon the Czechs will struggle over time like you say tho, specially now Koller looks to be out of it. Still, some of the Czech moves were golden World Cup stuff.

Loving the fact that all the skills on display recently have dampened some of the England pomp n'all. Gotta be realistic after all ;)

Tacitus

06-12-06, 07:26 PM

Yup, it's a pity for big Koller. He's been an unsung hero of theirs for years - Crouch with strength, pace and heading ability. ;)

I don't think the England performance was terrible and I'd much prefer to be in a side which does what it has to do in the early stages then builds when it needs to. Sven's substitutions are gonna be the clincher I think - you bring off your only proven striker who desperately needs time on the pitch, move the game's best player to a different position and bring on a kid winning his third cap who clearly has an awful lot to learn.

That suggests to me like he doesn't trust Walcott, which begs the obvious question...

Darth Stujitzu

06-12-06, 08:15 PM

So far so good for the World Cup. The Czechs have been the most impressive team for me so far, but obviously my pick for the title Brazil have still to play.
I think Portugal and the Czechs will go far, but I'm still leaning towards either Brasil or Argentina to win it, Sweden were dissapointing, but they're far from out of it, good result for Italy tonight, possible darkhorses?
Hopefully Jan Koller's injury isn't as serious as it appears, it would be a shame if his world cup was over already, and it would greatly influence how the Czechs do.
Anyhoo, roll on the mighty Brasil.

P.S. I scored a Ronaldinho special tonight at 7's, took a free kick from inside our half and it floated in over the keeper, I just wished I could have kept up the pretence of meaning to do it!!!
Just call me McRonaldinho.

Piddzilla

06-12-06, 08:24 PM

I think both Czech Republic and Italy look really strong after what I've seen. It was really too bad that Koller got injured, that will probably give the Czechs some trouble. Great goals though. I didn't see the entire game but USA played actually really well. They seem to be aware of their strenghts and weaknesses and eager to play the ball simple but efficient and with speed. The Czechs were too fast and too good for them though.

I thought that Italy would be dull and nervous as usual but they played fantastic football, at least during the first half against Ghana who were really entertaining as well. I didn't follow the second half that closely but the standard of this tournament is really terrific so far. All the African teams have been postive surprises for me - and they've all lost. It's still that organization problem, I guess.

And tomorrow it's Brazil time... :)

Golgot

06-12-06, 08:26 PM

Sven's substitutions are gonna be the clincher I think - you bring off your only proven striker who desperately needs time on the pitch, move the game's best player to a different position and bring on a kid winning his third cap who clearly has an awful lot to learn.

Ay, it was ugly, and asked too much of the regulars. Seeing Crouch as a lone target-man brought back some horrible memories too. Sven's dabblings made a certain sense, once Hargreaves was on holding duty, but long-ball sure ain't pretty.

I'm just hoping the 'build as the cup goes on' thing you mention eventually kicks in ;)

That suggests to me like he doesn't trust Walcott, which begs the obvious question...

Exactly.

Love the way Rooney's [supposedly] crocked Walcott in training tho :D

Equilibrium

06-12-06, 11:56 PM

Wow!

The Czechs were great. That was a fantastic game. Look, I'm not going to play around the bush, the US sucked bigtime and I don't expect them to last much longer, they'll be eliminated pretty quickly.

The team I'm most looking forward to seeing is Brazil, watching them play is like watching Art, its perfection.

P.S. who said portugual was looking strong? no they arent.....

nebbit

06-13-06, 05:15 AM

http://www.sportscapital.com.au/catalog/images/come%20on%20aussie%20rubber%20mag.jpg

adidasss

06-13-06, 07:15 AM

hey congrats nebbit...did you know half of your team is of croatian descent? after the match our reporters talked to viduka in croatian...:D

anywas, today is the big match for croatia...i hope you're all gonna watch it so i can get some objective feedback on the way we play...( i think we suck personally )
i hope we don't completely embaress ourselves...

nebbit

06-13-06, 07:28 AM

hey congrats nebbit...did you know half of your team is of croatian descent? ...:D...

I do, aren't we the lucky ones :yup:

Tacitus

06-13-06, 08:58 AM

Good old Eamon Dunphy, the best pundit I've ever heard. If RTÉ's reception was as good as the BBC & ITV's I'd be watching the whole thing with them. My letter to The Pope asking him to knock down the gothic cathedral in front of my house, thus freeing up my TV aerial's path to Dublin, has strangely gone unanswered...

Here's some of Eamon's best bits (taken from Football365) -

On the Czechs' victory over the U.S: "They're lucky they haven't got any oil or they'd be invaded tomorrow."

On Harry Kewell's latest non-performance: "He should have been whipped off at half-time for an early bath. And the bath should have been filled with boiling water."

On the secret behind greatness: "Democracy is an enemy of football - poverty and dictatorships are what you need to produce great footballers."

Piddzilla

06-13-06, 03:40 PM

Well, France sucked. I thought they looked quite good during the first half. Zidane's a bit slower, a bit balder, but still really intelligent and brilliant. One of my all time favourite players. Then in the second half he was not successful at all. Henry looked really crappy too, as did most of the french stars. There's obviously something wrong with the team spirit in the squad. And how come Trezeguet didn't even do an substitute appearance?? Unbelievable.

Tacitus

06-13-06, 04:59 PM

The French can't stand their coach, apparently, and can't really be arsed giving 110% for him.

Henry was isolated but the coach doesn't like playing Trezeguet alongside him. Weird...

Piddzilla

06-13-06, 06:19 PM

Brazil didn't impress me but Croatia really did. I think a tie would've been a fair result. On the other hand, it's not the first time that Brazil act a little sleepy in the beginning of the World Cup. They're doing their job and gradually intensify and improve their game as the tournament proceeds. Croatia effectively neutralized Ronaldo and Adriano, and Ronaldinho and Kaká only occasionally showed some real brilliance. But, man, they really move when they turn the game around... I think Croatia can go far in this tournament with a little luck.

Henry, yeah, he was isolated. What was it, 4-5-1?? (With the skill that the French defensive midfielders possess they could even afford to play 4-3-3). But I still think the way he received the balls and his entire attitude was lightyears from the majestic and lightfooted play he delivers in Arsenal. Clearly not a team in harmony.

Tacitus

06-13-06, 06:27 PM

The pundits on the BBC after the match made a good point about Henry - he plays a lot for Arsenal as a lone striker but always can rely on Pires/Ljungberg/Reyes (though I don't rate him)/van Persie to make runs ahead of him, pull defenders away and allow Thierry the room to do some damage. The French side just don't seem to play that way.

Golgot

06-13-06, 07:00 PM

Ay.

France are looking fractious, and stroppy - and still not getting the best out of H.

Brazil are looking sluggish in places, but liable to grow.

Croatia look like they've got a good chance of battling their way to the next stage. Good forward play on show, good organisation, and enough presence in all the right areas.

But i'm still rooting for the Aussie's to sneak it ;)

nebbit

06-13-06, 07:14 PM

But i'm still rooting for the Aussie's to sneak it ;)

Me too :yup:

adidasss

06-13-06, 07:23 PM

hehhe..nice to hear positive feedback from others...i thought we did pretty well, especially when you consider who we were playing against....and we really did deserve to draw...but alas...a bit of luck was needed and we simply didn't have any tonight....still, if we play like this against japan and australia we should go through no problem....( sorry nebs...;))

nebbit

06-13-06, 07:43 PM

if we play like this against japan and australia we should go through no problem....( sorry nebs...;))

No worries, i don't know anything about football :nope: I am for Australia because we haven't got this far for so long :yup:

Golgot

06-13-06, 07:47 PM

All you really need to know is that they use Aussie-rules tactics wherever possible ;). But they've got some guts-n-guile about 'em for all that :)

Sinny McGuffins

06-13-06, 08:34 PM

I like the Austrailian team, Lucas Neil and Bret Emerton especiailly. ;)

Darth Stujitzu

06-13-06, 08:37 PM

At long last, one of football's greatest mystery's has been solved....................
RONALDO ATE ALL THE PIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a waste of space, personally I'd like to see him dropped, Brasil looked more fluid and dangerous after he was substituted.
Croatia were unlucky, possible outsiders to go far, France look a pale shadow of their former selves, can't see them getting it right, could be on the first plane home.
Still think Brasil will get better, more to come from Ronaldinho, remember, you heard it here first.....

Equilibrium

06-14-06, 02:32 AM

ronaldinho is just enjoying germany right now..he knows he doesnt really have to play until later...dont worry he'll come around.

Piddzilla

06-14-06, 04:20 AM

I think he showed his potential on two or three occasions. His problem wasn't the dribbling but to get his passes through the Croatian defense.

adidasss

06-14-06, 04:22 AM

I think he showed his potential on two or three occasions. His problem wasn't the dribbling but to get his passes through the Croatian defense.
i think we showed that you CAN in fact neutralize him...
and Italy is the best so far, they're my first favourites to win it...very impressive...

Tacitus

06-14-06, 11:07 AM

My cousin's just driven (with 2 of his mates) from Scotland to Germany (via Dover, has the eejit not heard of Hull?) to watch some of the matches.

They don't have a hope of getting tickets but a lot of the unused footie stadiums have been turned into campsites, complete with big screens.

Lucky sod. :)

Ukraine are winning the battle of the lovely female supporters for me...

Golgot

06-14-06, 12:26 PM

Ukraine are winning the battle of the lovely female supporters for me...

Can you get your cousin to bring us a few back? ;)

---

How strange. Spain actually turned up to the world cup :eek:

Defence looks a bit shakey, aside from Puyol, but damn that midfield has got some skills - and Torres looks to be in good nick and all.

Referee was ****e tho.

Tacitus

06-14-06, 03:30 PM

Can you get your cousin to bring us a few back? ;)

I dunno how many will fit in the boot of an Astra....but if you want to meet a genuine Ukrainian lady, head off to Huntingdon/Peterborough. There's a huge Ukraine community there, fantastic vodka and Amazonian women. A friend of mine married one actually (a woman, not a bottle of vodka). ;)

Spain did look a bit tasty, didn't they? Shame they'll combust somewhere along the line. They always do...

Piddzilla

06-15-06, 08:37 AM

Damn, I missed the Spain match - had to work. I have always liked Spain but they always fail in the cup, it seems. Maybe this is the year they'll finally make it to the final. Raul was not in it?? How did Shevchenko look??

And tonight it's time again... Sweden have to win against Paraguay and I hear that Lagerbäck is probably starting with Svensson instead of Källström - again. What a ****ing travesty.... But let's stay positive! :D

Pyro Tramp

06-15-06, 09:19 AM

Have yet to get into the World Cup so far, going to Walkabout to watch England v T&T but damned work cuts the game short.

Tacitus

06-15-06, 09:34 AM

Damn, I missed the Spain match - had to work. I have always liked Spain but they always fail in the cup, it seems. Maybe this is the year they'll finally make it to the final. Raul was not in it?? How did Shevchenko look??

Shevchenko did nothing, though he had no support (rather like Henry in the France match) but his partner, who's name I forget, ran around a lot, went looking for the ball and tried to make a nuisance of himself. Shevva looked disinterested actually.

Raul came on as sub when the game was already in bed but the starting strikers, Torres and Villa, looked extremely good. ;)

Darth Stujitzu

06-15-06, 02:25 PM

It's Roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooney time for the Dark Side!!!!
Potential World Cup winners are struggling against the might of those footballing giants T&T.
One dimensional team, who says so?
C'mon T&T, give us a goal Yorkie!!! P.S. it's not for girls. ;)

Darth Stujitzu

06-15-06, 02:27 PM

Yes, I realise my previous post might well come back to haunt me, especially as England are the jamiest team in the world, but some times you just have to lay your Scottishness out there for all to see........

Revenant

06-15-06, 03:40 PM

England!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Golgot

06-15-06, 03:41 PM

Yes, I realise my previous post might well come back to haunt me

Woo! :D

Golgot

06-15-06, 03:47 PM

England!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait a minute.

Darth's Scottish?

Rev's English?

I had no idea ;)

---

Now, we're definitely an over-hyped team, but i was sure we could play a bit as well. Thank god we showed a bit of it again ;). Glad Stevie G finally caught one, and Crouch managed to redeem himself from being a shanking pony ;). Lovely. And the young wingers made a big difference too. I'm hoping to see some more scampering from young Aaron in particular. Possibly against Sweden :D

That's 30 mins of playing quite nice stuff out of 180 mins then :). Bout average ;).

Revenant

06-15-06, 03:58 PM

I absolutely hated the long ball game we were playing. It made T&T's job lots easier and less tiring as every time England booted the ball up the field it neatly landed in front of the oppossition. Vastly improved when the ball was kept low to the ground as our itrikers are better suited to be fed to the feet then the head.

Lampard was freaking me out evry time he got the ball, it was practically guaranteed the ball would float wide if he attempted a shot at goal.

Lennon was a spitfire on his appearance, would have him in midfield then Lampard.
Rooney was not all that but by his presence he did inject some much needed get up and go for the rest of the team. Owen is still being under-utilised. If Sven set the team up better Owen could do more.

Give it to the T&T though for some rather good defending but of course the long ball made it easy for them.

Tacitus

06-15-06, 04:30 PM

I've got a problem with Crouch in that he seems to think he's a much better player than he actually is...

If the team play to his strengths, and el Lamposto sticks to the simple things, ie: don't attempt angled volleys/overhead kicks with team mates in space/chipped pens, then things will function better with him in the team.

Owen's clearly half fit and even though it was just a glorified training run for Rooney, he did two things that had been missing all evening - dragging his markers out wide and playing clever little balls into the box.

Lennon looked fantastic but will Sven have the swingers to start him in a match that matters? If he does I can see Beckham playing 'Quarterback' behind Gerrard and Lampard...

...and I was at Windsor Park the last time that happened. ;)

Downing also impressed me when he came on. For all J Cole's fancy stepovers the final ball was either awful or he tried to win the match himself by shooting from silly positions.

Darth Stujitzu

06-15-06, 05:17 PM

It takes a big man to hold his hands up and admit he's wrong, but enough about Sven.... :laugh:
Glad Gerrard scored, he's been the best midfielder in Britain for years, miles better than old over-hyped golden bollocks!!!
Old RoboCrouch took his goal well, great cross from Mr.Posh, but overall, I've yet to be impressed.
I know England are slow starters, and Owen and Rooney are not fully fit, but their midfield badly lacks creativity and invention and the defense looks dodgy, especially old " Too cool for School " Rio, when will he learn to roll up his sleaves and get on with it.
Anyhoo, Sweden are looking a much better team tonight, but again this statement might come back to haunt me, as there is at least 40 mins left to play.
Well so far all my tips for dark horses are failing badly, i guess I'll just have to stick with Brazil to win......

Golgot

06-15-06, 05:23 PM

I've got a problem with Crouch in that he seems to think he's a much better player than he actually is...

Ay, Crouching-StickInsect needs to remember there are no wire operators to guide his flightier stuff home ;)

Owen is off the pace for sure. He should be used as a sub instead maybe, if Rooney is up to starting.

Midfield's a total conundrum. Moving Becks basically to right back is the ballsiest thing Sven's ever done tho :). Can't see it working as a long term game plan tho. The 'Windsor' solution hasn't impressed, like you've said ;). I can't see any easy way of getting both our natural wingers on without dropping one of the 3 'golden boys' - but at the moment we're asking too much of the Lamps/Stevie duo - and not getting enough width from the full-backs. Bleh. Conundrum.

My guess is that Sven's gonna do something fairly similar in the knock-out stages. Stick with the clunky set-up we've got, hope they come good, and use the wing boys as impact subs for the second half.

Hey ho. Out to Germany or Equador we go ;).

*unless we have a dramatic upturn in form, or a large amount of luck :)*

Darth Stujitzu

06-15-06, 05:30 PM

Yep, England are due some luck........ :skeptical: Damn there's no sarcastic smilies, ok sceptical will do, he's got Mel Gibson's face paint on!!!

Golgot

06-15-06, 05:32 PM

but their midfield badly lacks creativity and invention

True. Lots of endeavour, but it feels like half of their energy goes into fighting against the system they're playing in somehow. A decent team would've turned us inside out in the last two games.

and the defense looks dodgy, especially old " Too cool for School " Rio, when will he learn to roll up his sleaves and get on with it.

Rio's fine on the defencive duties, but his distribution can be awful when he goes long-ball. Terry's top-notch tho. Seems like he could run the whole defence on his own sometimes.

Revenant

06-15-06, 07:09 PM

Terry was a highlight of the team. What a save!
And I stand by my thoughts that Rio is not up to par to be there.

Piddzilla

06-15-06, 08:08 PM

Holy ****!

Thank god for Ljungberg.... But we played well and we sure as hell deserved that win! I'm not at all satisfied with all the long high up in the sky passes though. Nine times out of ten Paraguay were first on those. But both England and Sweden have been playing two games against teams that are defending themselves with 11 players. It's hard to play beautiful football under those conditions and you can't really blame England for trying to lift the ball over that wall of defense instead of trying to break through it along the ground. England definitely deserved the win and I actually think Beckham was occasionally brilliant... I don't know what the hell Crouch was trying to do sometimes though.. Keep it easy, man! I think the game between Sweden and England will be a good test for both of us and hopefully an entertaining game between two teams that play offensive football. One of my friends said that he thought our chances of a win were greater now when England is allready through to the 2nd stage, but I find it hard to believe that they'll give anything away for free - especially not to Sweden. The Sweden - England matches have developed almost into derby like events, haven't they? I'm looking forward to the game in any case.

Gotta get up for work in five hours. Lovely.... :bored:

Golgot

06-15-06, 10:42 PM

The Sweden - England matches have developed almost into derby like events, haven't they? I'm looking forward to the game in any case.

It's gonna be grand man, gonna be grand :)

I'm glad you guys are set to make it through. Paraguay and T&T are both tough teams, but like you say, they do force things into 'close down' mode, rather than allowing for the beautiful game ;).

With Equador playing the way they are tho, i don't think they look any less challenging than Germany, so i reckon Ericksson might have a little play with the line-up, and maybe rest some of our big guns. Should still be fun tho :)

Piddzilla

06-16-06, 09:33 AM

It's gonna be grand man, gonna be grand :)

I'm glad you guys are set to make it through. Paraguay and T&T are both tough teams, but like you say, they do force things into 'close down' mode, rather than allowing for the beautiful game ;).

With Equador playing the way they are tho, i don't think they look any less challenging than Germany, so i reckon Ericksson might have a little play with the line-up, and maybe rest some of our big guns. Should still be fun tho :)

Oh, I think we're not quite through yet. Paraguay are out so the Trinidad & Tobago game is pointless for them while T&T might get through if they win and Sweden lose against England. They will do all they can. So, at least one point on tuesday and I'll be calm.

I've been impressed by what I've seen of Ecuador so far and I think they might be able to shake Germany. Both teams will be tough to face even if the German crowd will be like both a 12th and a 13th player out there. I prefer both of them over teams like Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain or Holland though.

SpoOkY

06-16-06, 12:11 PM

Whew I just witnessed a right wolloping of Serbia & Montenegro. Argentina smashed them 6-0. I would have said Argentine were looking the goods but Ser&Mont just seemed to give up at one point. I tell you what though Lionel Massi from Barcelona came on and literally changed the whole game, well Argentina were already going awesome but he set up Crespo, was super creative and scored a goal himself. Overall I was really impressed and the game was great.

I would love to see Spain take on Argentina, because they're both really inventive and I'd love to see them try to outclass each other :p . My underdog runner is the Czech Republic (as well as Australia of course, but lets be realistic here). Originally I thought France......but yeah they're playing nowhere near their best. I'm getting so sucked into this World Cup it's a little scary :eek:

Revenant

06-16-06, 02:02 PM

I missed the slaughter. Will have to catch the highlights show tonight.

Equilibrium

06-16-06, 08:39 PM

Equilibrium

06-17-06, 01:57 PM

how is the czech republic losing to ghana.......

Equilibrium

06-17-06, 03:02 PM

wow biggest upset of the world cup so far: ghana beats czech republic 2-0 what a fantastic game though the czech goalkeeper is incredible. This game would have been 6-0 if it were any other goal keeper...

what an awesome match

adidasss

06-17-06, 03:17 PM

i wouldn't really call it an upset, the czechs aren't that good without Baroš and Koller....

Equilibrium

06-17-06, 06:09 PM

zaccrino what have you done

Revenge of Mr M

06-17-06, 11:33 PM

I'm happy to say that I predicted an early czech exit. That said, I think they could sneak through because I have a feeling both of the last two games in that group will be draws.
England! Oh my god, we've been rubbish so far. It's a good thing we're in the weakest group or we'd have been dumped out in the first round, bottom of our group, the way we were in my FM06 game (and even there, we had S&M, USA and Cote d'Ivoire...) I've already begun visualising Ecuador beating us in Round 2 with Jamie Carragher (holding in midfield of course) racing back and conceding a penalty. Or alternatively and more likely, Carragher running up and... missing his penalty.
As for my other nation... Ukraine.. ahaha... :( What a disaster.

Blister

06-18-06, 02:04 PM

Brazil V Austrailia

Half time and no goals. At least it's enjoyable to watch, Ronaldo getting a bit more involved but still missed a few chances.

EDIT: Games finished, 2-0 to Brazil, good goals. I liked Fred's one at the end, well played overall.

Equilibrium

06-18-06, 03:35 PM

So sad to see such a great player like ronaldo become lazy

nebbit

06-18-06, 06:28 PM

Piddzilla

06-18-06, 06:30 PM

I can't believe Trezeguet was kept off the field for so long... The French played better than against Switzerland but it's still amazing that a team with so good players can be so ineffective. What is Henry supposed to do when he gets the ball?? There's no one there for him to pass. Everybody's waiting for him to dribble or shoot... He's completely alone in the penalty area..

I wonder if Robinho will start against Japan... Ronaldo is in about the same shape as Sweden's Ibrahimovic right now. Robinho on the other hand is looking like dynamite. Kaka has been Brazil's best player so far.. Ronaldinho is biding is time...

I love the way Ghana played... Attack, attack, attack... and actually a pretty solid defense. They would have scored a few more if that substitute hadn't run offside all the time in his eagerness to score. They really deserved to win.

The Italy - USA game was really something now, wasn't it? It could have gone either way... I think it could have been a really well played and entertaining game if there had been 11 players in both teams on the field. It was still pretty exciting though...

Golgot

06-18-06, 06:48 PM

:(

Not to worry Nebs. A draw against Croatia and it's on to the next round for Oz :). Very doo-able :yup:. And besides, it was a good performance. :)

(Gonna be a fun game eh Adi ;))

I love the way Ghana played... The Italy - USA game was really something now, wasn't it?

Gah, missed both. At least there might actually be an African team making it through. And Italy, and now France, wobbling eh? Iiiinteresting.

Think Brazil might be slowly waking up, but it's looking like the Argies are still the biggest 'must-avoid' team at the mo ;)

Travis Bickle

06-18-06, 06:51 PM

Not to worry Nebs. A draw against Croatia and it's on to the next round for Oz :). Very doo-able :yup:. And besides, it was a good performance. :)

(Gonna be a fun game eh Adi ;))

Gah, missed both. At least there might actually be an African team making it through. And Italy, and now France, wobbling eh? Iiiinteresting.

Think Brazil might be slowly waking up, but it's looking like the Argies are still the biggest 'must-avoid' team at the mo ;)
From what I've seen of Brazil I think we can beat 'em, but Argentina would be a tough game, maybe they've peaked a bit too early though.

I just hope Germany win their group so we don't have to play 'em in the next round.

Golgot

06-18-06, 07:33 PM

From what I've seen of Brazil I think we can beat 'em, but Argentina would be a tough game, maybe they've peaked a bit too early though.

I just hope Germany win their group so we don't have to play 'em in the next round.

Heh, let's see what the Sweden game brings first ;). We need to step up at least 2 gears along the way to even take the fight to Germany or Equador. I'm thinking the Sweden 'derby' is gonna be fun tho - if only coz we get the Rooney machine up and running, an Owen with something to prove, and only one of Lamps or Gerradinyo in the middle. And hopefully little buzzsaw Lennon terrorising one of the wings ;).

Thing is, we'll then revert pretty much to the set-up we've seen so far. Just perhaps minus Crouch from the starting line-up. That set-up ain't leaking goals, but it's hardly bossing the field either at the mo.

Revenant

06-18-06, 07:44 PM

I am under no concern who England will play next.
The only thing I am concerned about is winning, everything else is secondary.
We must go into our next game thinking only of winning!
Bye bye Sweden, bye bye....

Piddzilla

06-19-06, 07:48 AM

Gah, missed both. At least there might actually be an African team making it through. And Italy, and now France, wobbling eh? Iiiinteresting.

Think Brazil might be slowly waking up, but it's looking like the Argies are still the biggest 'must-avoid' team at the mo ;)

I think it's too soon to say if Italy are bad or not. They impressed me in the Ghana match but did pretty poorly against USA, a game that was a bit special, on the other hand. We'll see. France do have some serious problems though.

Argentina is the most impressive team so far, yeah. I think they showed their weakness in the second half against Côte d'Ivoire though - when they stopped attacking. Then they were vulnerable. Brazil's defense looks a bit sloppy too but I think that if all players are on their toes and Robinho gets to start instead of Ronaldo, I think they might cruise their way to the final. It will be really interesting to see Spain tonight again.

Equilibrium

06-20-06, 01:29 AM

Almost a goner for spain...

for some reason i felt the announcers were slightly biased against Tunsia...i just felt like tunsia put up such a great fight but all their efforts were downplayed by the announcers..it kind of ticked me off..

adidasss

06-20-06, 02:41 AM

actually our comentator couldn't stop complimenting tunisia for their play in the first half...said it was the best game they ever played in the world cup...

Piddzilla

06-20-06, 03:21 AM

Missed almost the entire first half of the Spain - Tunisia game but I have to say that I am very impressed by Spain. Some commentator said that they actually played better in the first half then in the second. I think it's a sign of something big if a team can manage to turn a game around like that and make it seem as they were never really in any trouble.

Blister

06-20-06, 04:25 PM

And Owen's sent off in the first minute of the England game due to injury....:rotfl: (it's probably not right to laugh, but i have had a really bad day and this just made my night)

Golgot

06-20-06, 06:07 PM

May your knees buckle under you Blis ;)

---

Ach well, honours even on the day. And may a say, a very Swedish come-back there Pidz :). (Altho why i'm writing this i don't know - you're gonna have your head in a bucket o beer at this moment :D)

Tacitus

06-20-06, 07:57 PM

I dunno what to make of this England team. They might suddenly click when the going gets tough but I've got my doubts - their inability to boss a game must be worrying, and it's all coming from the midfield with little Joey Cole the only spark. Even so, A-A-Ashley (I can't say his name without reverting to a bad impression of Fred (?) from Corry) must be getting mightily pee'd off, running himself ragged on the overlap and never getting a return ball as JC darts inside yet again - you could murder a nervy right back doing that...

Nice goal though. ;)

Rooney looks as if he's coming back slowly but is he fit to lead the line if Sven plays 4-5-1? He's the only one who can do it. I'm glad I'm not an England fan tonight. :)

...and roll on matches back on the BBC: Motson's quite possibly senile but at least you can switch to 5Live's commentary and hear a little bit of sense.

Revenant

06-20-06, 08:42 PM

No big surprises.
A draw.
Lampard hogging the ball and going for manic shots at goal. Not to mention being colour blind.
England doing well by leading! Then blowing it in the last few minutes.
Toward the end of the game the defense gets shoddy and freaks out.
An injury
Rooney being over-expected again.
Long ball game a complete waste of space. Just give the ball away why don't you.

There are positives though.

Joe Cole's footwork and busy busy attitude.
Joe Cole's most fantastic goal! Bend it like Beckham? No. Curve it like Cole!
Gerrard doing a better defending job then the defenders (O.K so not all positive there)
Gerrard scoring!
A change of formation! Yay Sven you can experiment!
The fact we were actually putting something behind our game then the usual flat style. Didn't always work but an improvement.

Golgot

06-20-06, 08:50 PM

I dunno what to make of this England team. They might suddenly click when the going gets tough but I've got my doubts

I'm not too worried that we didn't boss that one all told, coz Sweden are notoriously tough, and very rarely bossed. I do get worried when JC's wayward trickery is our main outlet tho (And yeah, Ash must be starting to hate him ;)).

The injury's are the biggest blow. We're never going to be the force we wanted to be at this comp. We might sketch our way as far as Brazil, but that's likely to be as far as we go. It's just a culmination of a lack of strikers, Carrager not being able to overlap on the right, and all the traditional midfield imbalances that are in plain sight.

And yeah, i've gotta remember to change the commentary next time. Motty seems to have been legally blind for at least five years now ;)

The fact we were actually putting something behind our game then the usual flat style. Didn't always work but an improvement.

Ay, it was a bit more sparky - but the Swedes play a more open game, thankfully. Sven's gonna have to experiment his specs off from now on tho ;)

Piddzilla

06-21-06, 04:48 AM

I think Sweden were crap and England were final quality in the first half. The English midfield was just as good as it looks on, as Svennis says, "on paper". The second half was completely different, at least the first 20-30 mins or so. Second half, a complete turn around. Sweden played their best half hour of the tournament while England looked a bit passive and puzzled, especially by our corner kicks. Then Sweden became passive too and allowed England back in the game and I could feel the 2-1 goal coming. Then we managed to come back and I think the result was pretty fair to both teams in the end.

Germany on saturday for us... It can be done if we play like we did in the second half last night, but it will be tough.

Owen's injury looked real nasty, I'm sorry for the guy. I don't think Svennis has to worry too much though as long as the rest of the squad stays healthy. I believe that if England can find some consistency in their game and keep it up for 90 mins, they will go far in this tournament. I think Rooney looked really good too.

Tacitus

06-21-06, 09:25 AM

The injury's are the biggest blow. We're never going to be the force we wanted to be at this comp. We might sketch our way as far as Brazil, but that's likely to be as far as we go. It's just a culmination of a lack of strikers, Carrager not being able to overlap on the right, and all the traditional midfield imbalances that are in plain sight.

It's starting to look like taking Walcott is less a bold decision and more a downright folly...ahhh hindsight. ;)

And yeah, i've gotta remember to change the commentary next time. Motty seems to have been legally blind for at least five years now ;)

It's not ideal, and the likes of Alan Green can become a bit hard on the ears but at least they have opinions and seem professional enough to try and commentate on the game rather than indulge in lame comedy double acts.

Personally I think that replacing Des with Lineker on MOTD predicated the slow death of football on terrestrial TV. That and Ally McCoist...

Golgot

06-21-06, 10:59 AM

It's starting to look like taking Walcott is less a bold decision and more a downright folly...ahhh hindsight. ;)

"Easy to say with the benefit of hind legs"
~The Mighty Boosh

:D

Heh, yeah, we all knew it was a mighty odd decision. Now it's looking downright stupid. Ach, nevermind, Rooney's shoulders are fairly broad. He might be able to carry us some of the way ;)

Personally I think that replacing Des with Lineker on MOTD predicated the slow death of football on terrestrial TV. That and Ally McCoist...

What if Gaz were to grow a moustache?

I don't think Svennis has to worry too much though as long as the rest of the squad stays healthy. I believe that if England can find some consistency in their game and keep it up for 90 mins, they will go far in this tournament. I think Rooney looked really good too.

Heh, we can't really afford to lose many more players. Both defence and attack are relying on second-tier players now.

And consistency? Ay, that'd be nice ;). Think we might be relying on individual miracles instead. Still, makes for a fun ride :)

Tacitus

06-21-06, 11:38 AM

Heh, yeah, we all knew it was a mighty odd decision. Now it's looking downright stupid. Ach, nevermind, Rooney's shoulders are fairly broad. He might be able to carry us some of the way ;)

His reputation alone is enough to place most defences on the back foot, even if he's not 100% match sharp...but he's not far off.

What if Gaz were to grow a moustache?

Argh noooooo! The Smug One could never replace The Suavester! :D

I met Des once, standing at an ATM near Berkley Square. My mate whispered "That's Des Lynam" to which I replied in the negative. The great man turned round slowly, looked me straight in the eye and raised his brow, a smile flickering across his face...

Heh, we can't really afford to lose many more players. Both defence and attack are relying on second-tier players now.

And consistency? Ay, that'd be nice ;). Think we might be relying on individual miracles instead. Still, makes for a fun ride :)

Much as I dislike The Neviller, he's darn good at what he does. Neither does he get nosebleeds when crossing the half way line. ;)

Tacitus

06-21-06, 02:28 PM

Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson in 'good bloke' shock: Link (http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~kritip/managers%20job.htm).

We've all thought about it, haven't we? :D

nebbit

06-21-06, 07:20 PM

Thanks for all your posts guys, I am learning so much about what is going on in Germany and football :yup:

Golgot

06-21-06, 09:32 PM

Tomorrow's the big day Nebbles :). The Oz vs Croatia tussle is gonna be something to behold i reckon. (Well, either that or a big scrap fest - but it should be dramatic either way ;))

nebbit

06-21-06, 09:35 PM

Tomorrow's the big day Nebbles :). The Oz vs Croatia tussle is gonna be something to behold i reckon. (Well, either that or a big scrap fest - but it should be dramatic either way ;))

Yes it is, people here seem confidant that Australia has a good chance of winning :yup:

Golgot

06-21-06, 09:41 PM

I think it's gonna be fairly even in many ways - but i reckon Oz do have the edge. They need to play for the win tho, and not just settle for the draw. Hiddink'll steer them right tho. He's a top-notch coach.

Revenant

06-21-06, 09:55 PM

Go the Aussies!

nebbit

06-21-06, 09:57 PM

Go the Aussies!

Ditto :D

Tacitus

06-22-06, 08:28 AM

Ever spent hours wondering what your Brazilian football name would be?

Well, both of you come here (http://www.minimalsworld.net/BrazilName/brazilian.shtml)! :D

My name is Leta Santos, pleased to meet you... :D

Edit - an attempt to combine real and MoFo names came up with Tacitildo, which sounds like a marketing opportunity. ;)

Revenant

06-22-06, 08:55 AM

A combi of my mofo name and surname: Revenaldo
A combi of my real first name and mofo name: Kimo
My whole real name: Kildo

Darth Stujitzu

06-22-06, 03:20 PM

Well, as I'm a silky as a Brazilian, I shall adopt my new Brazilianess with pride, ladies and gents, meet the free scoring pale blue midfielder....
Stujitzisco

far better than the real surname option of Cadenheinho!!! ;)

Revenant

06-22-06, 05:38 PM

Congratulations to Ghana!
Looking at group G as it stands I'm hoping Togo play their hearts out!
GO TOGO!!!!!!!

As Revanaldo I claim one of the striker spots!

Blister

06-22-06, 05:53 PM

4 - 1 to Brazil....and Ronaldo scored twice! :shocked:

Japan had a very consistent first half, but i think since Brazil stepped it up they didn't stand a chance.

adidasss

06-22-06, 06:24 PM

congrats australia.....we suck...*is bitter*

Golgot

06-22-06, 06:35 PM

congrats australia.....we suck...*is bitter*

You didn't suck at all - the Ozzies are becoming an iron-fist-in-a-silk-glove outfit in some ways - but you guys stood toe-to-toe with them. Who knows what would've happened if that was a knock-out game.

Something utterly bizarre probably :D

I still can't get over that last 20mins or so. What the hell is wrong with Tomas and his 'superman' handballing 'technique'?? What the hell is going on in Simunic's mind for that matter? Arguing with the ref constantly after he could have been, and then was, sent off twice.

Bloody weird game. And Kewell was basically offside. Great finish tho. **** Aussie keeper. Insane game.

Italy-Australia is gonna be a blast :D

And Ghana-Brazil should be pretty skill too ;)

adidasss

06-22-06, 06:51 PM

You didn't suck at all - the Ozzies are becoming an iron-fist-in-a-silk-glove outfit in some ways - but you guys stood toe-to-toe with them. Who knows what would've happened if that was a knock-out game.

Something utterly bizarre probably :D

I still can't get over that last 20mins or so. What the hell is wrong with Tomas and his 'superman' handballing 'technique'?? What the hell is going on in Simunic's mind for that matter? Arguing with the ref constantly after he could have been, and then was, sent off twice.

Bloody weird game. And Kewell was basically offside. Great finish tho. **** Aussie keeper. Insane game.

Italy-Australia is gonna be a blast :D

And Ghana-Brazil should be pretty skill too ;)
oh man..i was so angry....Tomas, a man who is a footballer for some 20 years is somehow clueless to the fact that you shouldn't really touch the ball with your hand in teh penatly area?? he thought noone would notice?? incredible....
Tudor had a clear shot at the goal...missed...
Kewel WAS offside, but it doesn't matter...australia was a better team....
oh well....onwards and upwards....see you in the qualifiers for the Euro....;)

Piddzilla

06-22-06, 07:21 PM

I watched the Brazil - Japan game (which was pretty entertaining for that matter - Ronaldo's alive!!!) so I missed what was going on in the Croatia - Australia game. I heard people on TV after the game saying that the ref, a final subject, was a catastrophy. What was that all about??

Anyway, congrats to Australia!! They've showed the biggest heart so far in the tournament and deserve to get through. And sorry, Adi. I did think Croatia would go through.

I'm pleased that Ghana made it to the 2nd stage as well...

Golgot

06-22-06, 07:37 PM

The ref (an Englishman ;)) gave Simunic three yellow cards - only finally managing to send him off seconds before the final whistle :D

It was classic. And added to the tension no end :)

His decisions were a bit bizarre all night. But to be fair, he awarded equally odd decisions for and against both sides ;).

It was kind of an un-refereeable game at some points tho.

nebbit

06-22-06, 07:47 PM

We are into the next round :D

Golgot

06-22-06, 08:21 PM

I'd celebrate but i've used up all my smilies

;)

Darth Stujitzu

06-22-06, 10:55 PM

Glad the Brazil team has finally got Ronaldo's pie bonuses sorted out!!!
I know he scored twice tonight, but he's still a fat lazy t**t!!! He looks at least a stone overweight, you would have thought the chance to become the outright top scorer in the WC would have made him train hard to be fully fit and out to prove a point, but having watched him over the last couple of seasons, it seems he's fallen out of love with football, either that or there is nothing else left for him to achieve.
The Ronaldo of 2002 would be running amock at this WC, and would probably have bagged about 5 or 6 goals by now, it's very sad to watch the overweight lazy version that has turned up at this WC.
Would drop him for Adriano if they want to get further, how many easy chances and miscontrols can one man have before getting dropped?

Revenant

06-22-06, 11:23 PM

Congratulations Australia.

Golgot

06-22-06, 11:29 PM

Glad the Brazil team has finally got Ronaldo's pie bonuses sorted out!!!

You are so jealous of Peter Crouch ;)

Equilibrium

06-22-06, 11:42 PM

this is such an awesome thread.

Go Equilibrihno.

Piddzilla

06-23-06, 04:37 AM

I too think Ronaldo looks bored and not inspired at all... He's still good with the ball, obviously, but he never does those rapid raids anylonger. Robinho is clearly Brazil's most lethal weapon on top. I think they rested Adriano to make Ronaldo work himself into shape. It's also interesting to see how Ronaldinho is almost human when not many team mates seem to be interesting to make those Eto'o, Messi and Guily runs. I actually think that Brazil with all the substitutes that were playing last night was more interesting and better than the usual team with Cafu, Carlos et al.

Piddzilla

06-23-06, 05:02 AM

Ever spent hours wondering what your Brazilian football name would be?

Zillardo Pau

or

Petisco

:D

I love them both....

Tacitus

06-23-06, 08:18 AM

I too think Ronaldo looks bored and not inspired at all...

Apparently he's 15 stone (over 95 kg to those outside these fair isles or not educated under New Labour) which is what I weigh. Baring in mind he's 2 inches shorter than me and a professional athlete, I find that shocking. I'm also not in tip-top safe myself. ;)

Puskas was a bit on the rotund side, for example, but he played his career looking like that and we're talking the 50s, before fitness coaches, worldwide pasta acceptance and Jane Fonda videos.

Sinny McGuffins

06-23-06, 10:39 AM

I'm looking for the Saudi Arabia/Spain game, and where do I find it? UKTV Gold 2.

Umm, you might like it. Instead of people talking about football, they get Jason McAteer to play silly penalty shoot-out games in the studio and ask us to ponder over various football trivia during the break. Fun, fun.

Tacitus

06-23-06, 12:05 PM

they get Jason McAteer to play silly penalty shoot-out games in the studio

Ahhhh the man forever known to the footballing world as 'Trigger'. :D

Legend has it that Jason, when filling out a credit card application form, pondered the 'what is your position within your company' question at serious length. Trig eventually confided to a team mate that his confusion erupted because "I'm a central midfielder but the boss is playing me at wing back".

Legend also has it that, upon meeting snooker superstar Jimmy White in a nightclub, our hero decided to put Jim at ease by shouting out one of the serial choker's most enduring catchphrases - One hundred and eighty!!!

He's great. :D

Darth Stujitzu

06-23-06, 01:00 PM

You are so jealous of Peter Crouch ;)

You mean Robo-cheat!!!!
Big hair pulling jessy! ;)

Piddzilla

06-23-06, 06:17 PM

France brought Trezeguet on the starting 11 and suddenly they play very nice football. Henry + Trezeguet is probably the best forward duo in the world, imo. I can not understand why the hell the coach have kept him outside the team. And it wasn't just the fact that they played with two forwards. Guys like Vieira went deep into Togo's penalty area and that Ribery was sharp as well.

Spain - France... what a game...

adidasss

06-24-06, 05:27 PM

so, is Germany really that good or did Sweden just play extremely bad tonight?

Golgot

06-24-06, 06:21 PM

Both ;)

Revenant

06-24-06, 07:33 PM

:( So so bad for Mexico. If only the result was based on performance they would win!
Argentina were about as subtle as King Kong on the Empire State Building with their falls and tumbles. They have Emil Heskey syndrome.

:( Once again our reputation is tarnished by a minority group who incited the German fans. It doesn't really matter that the German fans threw the first missle and continued to further perpetrate the fighting, just the fact alone the England fans found themselves in that position on purpose and refused to back down is enough.
Shame on the lot of them and the German police in that instance for knowingly allowing it to start in the first place!

I just hope this doesn't mar our next game and our participation in future football competitions. We were doing so well before now. :mad:

Piddzilla

06-25-06, 09:38 AM

so, is Germany really that good or did Sweden just play extremely bad tonight?

Both ;)

Germany isn't that good. But Sweden played the worst game I've seen them do in years. It was an embarrassment. The two goals... what in the world was the defense doing??? Amateurs... It's not hard to play well against a team that gives away chances for goals like that. Jesus. And Henrik Larsson... No comments.

There were two good Swedish players on the field: Isaksson, the goalie, and Ljungberg, who's been the best player for us during the tournament. The rest played like scared kids.

I expected Sweden to lose, but with honor somewhat held up high. This just made me sick.... England, imo, is a better team than Germany, so, yes, it was us playing incredibly crappy.

Good luck to England tonight! I'm with you now....

Equilibrium

06-25-06, 02:04 PM

most of you will hate me for this but i was rooting for ecuador....

that was an incredible shot by beckham though...yet england really didnt play all too well...in my opinion ecuador was right on the money..they just werent handed the same opportunities

Golgot

06-25-06, 02:35 PM

Heh, can't hate underdog-support ;)

Did you think Equador deserved more free kicks or something tho? I thought the ref was pretty even-handed overall.

I think the prob for them was that we negated their main threats pretty well. They couldn't use their pace down the wings effectively, and we kept the ball well for the most part, wearing them down. It wasn't a particularly exciting watch tho. (Just nerve-wracking, for a non-neutral ;)). Rooney pulled off some fun 'mission impossible' football tho. And i was glad 'new boy' Carrick pulled the strings well in midfield.

Lampard needs to find his form again tho. All our promising attacks seemed to falter at his touch. We could have actually had some goals from open play. We almost played decent, passing attacking football in the second half. Almost ;)

Golgot

06-25-06, 02:45 PM

There were two good Swedish players on the field: Isaksson, the goalie, and Ljungberg, who's been the best player for us during the tournament. The rest played like scared kids.

It was a really unfortunate collapse. Couldn't figure it out. You just seemed to lose all your poise and organisation. Larsson and Ibra scrapped for the ball a bit, but you could see they weren't really at the races.

And yeah, the goalie was exceptional (having looked a bit flappy against us). And Freddy always seems to fight on no matter what.

Good luck to England tonight! I'm with you now....

Looks like we haven't let you down yet ;). Here's hoping for a more crowd-pleasing performance against Portugal/Holland tho :). We still haven't hit the sort of form that the top teams are achieving.

Equilibrium

06-25-06, 03:28 PM

portugal vs. holland is going to be the best game of round 16 both exceptional teams but very even...

Piddzilla

06-25-06, 03:51 PM

It was a really unfortunate collapse. Couldn't figure it out. You just seemed to lose all your poise and organisation. Larsson and Ibra scrapped for the ball a bit, but you could see they weren't really at the races.

It's as puzzling for us. The goals were give aways from our defense, which usually is pretty reliable unlike the forwards. That gave Germany the confindence they needed and they could play out for the rest of the half. Then, in the second, when Larsson blew our chance to get back into the game you could see that there was not one single Swedish player that believed in a comeback. It was mentally impossible.

And yeah, the goalie was exceptional (having looked a bit flappy against us). And Freddy always seems to fight on no matter what.

Yeah, Isaksson was not very good in the England game. Pity. That may have been the difference between a fat contract with a major club and another struggling season with not so impressive Rennes. Källström got out of there in time before the cup and got his deal with Lyon.

Looks like we haven't let you down yet ;). Here's hoping for a more crowd-pleasing performance against Portugal/Holland tho :). We still haven't hit the sort of form that the top teams are achieving.

Well, you're not alone. What was Argentina, and particularly Riquelme, doing last night?? I don't understand why Svennis didn't keep Crouch on the field though. That may have created some more options and possiblities for the midfielders and Rooney (who looks better and better).

portugal vs. holland is going to be the best game of round 16 both exceptional teams but very even...

I thought Argentina - Mexico was going to be the sparkling football feast number one of this round, but it was actually pretty boring. One very beautiful goal though.

adidasss

06-25-06, 04:05 PM

i didn't think it was boring...i enjoyed seeing mexico, somewhat of an underdog, playing on par with my personal favourites to win the cup....

and that goal was incredible...perhapse the best in the tournament...

Golgot

06-25-06, 04:14 PM

I don't understand why Svennis didn't keep Crouch on the field though. That may have created some more options and possiblities for the midfielders and Rooney (who looks better and better).

I think it was part of the 'flood the midfield/wings' strategy, which seemed to pay off. Crouch doesn't work as a lone striker it seems, and Rooney demands to be included when he's fit ;)

Lord only knows what formation & players Sven will chose next tho ;)

---

I didn't watch much of the Mex/Arg game , but i'm glad the Mexicans put up a fight, and it was a worthy winner at the end. Trying to pace myself y'see. Especially now the Aussies are still involved :). I've got a feeling they're gonna give Italy a bit of a game ;)

Blister

06-25-06, 05:27 PM

most of you will hate me for this but i was rooting for ecuador....

:up:

I was too,.....and was disappointed by the outcome. I think the Quarter finals will be when England gets put out...(well, i can hope can't I? :p)

Equilibrium

06-25-06, 06:15 PM

wow what a tense game between portugal and netherlands...i said it would be the least boring and i think i'm right wow what a game...bad refereeeeeee

Golgot

06-25-06, 06:34 PM

Definitely dramatic. Shame we didn't see more skill and less 'refereeing' tho. And it's a shame for the cup that Portugal are gonna be without so many good players now too. (Helpful for England tho ;))

Suddenly Graham Poll's three-yellows-per-player policy looks almost sensible tho doesn't it ;)

Piddzilla

06-25-06, 06:47 PM

I really don't think the ref was that bad. Most of the cards were justified but perhaps he should have done something to control the game on an earlier stage to avoid the type of situations that we saw. It was more a matter of lacking an authoritarian personality than making the wrong decisions. Not that I didn't enjoy it... :D And the goal Maniche shot was a beauty.

I wonder what the Dutch press will write about van Basten for not throwing van Nistelrooij into the heat in the end of the second half. Something must have happened between the two that made van Basten refuse to use one of the most successful strikers the Netherlands have ever produced.

Portugal - England... Things are getting interesting.

Gol, what I meant with keeping Crouch on the field was not to switch him for Rooney but to use them both at the same time. Rooney is strong and powerful but he did look a bit lonely up there at some times. The good old 4-4-2. I think England should and will have to use the sides a lot more and with Beckham on the team it shouldn't be any problem. Let him have the ball a lot and he'll frequently pump Crouch, Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard with lots of goodies. :D

I still think England has one of the absolute top teams of the tournament - offensively speaking. The defense line looks a bit shaky from time to time.

Golgot

06-25-06, 07:01 PM

I really don't think the ref was that bad.

It did look pretty impossible to control out there at times. There were at least two cards that shouldn't have been tho. (Altho Deco could've gone for his first card to be honest. The second was just ludicrous tho).

Gol, what I meant with keeping Crouch on the field was not to switch him for Rooney but to use them both at the same time. Rooney is strong and powerful but he did look a bit lonely up there at some times. The good old 4-4-2. I think England should and will have to use the sides a lot more and with Beckham on the team it shouldn't be any problem. Let him have the ball a lot and he'll frequently pump Crouch, Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard with lots of goodies. :D

Yeah, i was thinking that Svengali was probably set on using 5 in midfield tho, and then getting the wingbacks bombing on as well - totally occupying Ecuador's wingers and that, and allowing the Lamps/Gerrard duo to push on the way they like to. (Incidently, Stevie G was a star in that match, covering all the ground. As long as Lamps isn't scoring, he really doesn't do as much for the team. I almost wouldn't be surprised if he gets dropped - altho Sven tends to keep the faith with the big names).

I reckon we will see a Crouch-Rooney combo in the next match tho. The question might be whether Carrick will get the call. I'm not sure how effective he'd be against Portugal's style, but again, Lamps hasn't exactly stamped his authority over that bit of the pitch.

I still think England has one of the absolute top teams of the tournament - offensively speaking. The defense line looks a bit shaky from time to time.

The potential's there.

I think the defence is pretty tight in theory (even when Terry made a howler today, Ash-Cole made that insanely good intervention, for example). The main concern i've got at the moment is Robbo in goal - he really isn't making good choices when he comes out. The defenders seem to be losing faith in him, and that's a big prob. He's normally much more composed than this for Spurs.

Revenant

06-25-06, 07:17 PM

I agree about Lampard, my brother hates him!
Lampy does have a dodgy foot when it comes for going for goals in international games. It's like weeeeeee far far away over the cross bar and into Never Never land.
Gerrard was a bit worrisome with his ball fumblings and bad passing and Rio, dear god Rio you play for England not Argentina! I don't want to see any more argy bargy stuff from him. He has not performed well so far and now he is developing an obsession for getting cards. Some nasty unneeded tackles there.

Good on Hargreaves, even after that nasty tackle he was still game to play on. Carrick was near perfect. Beckham, hoorah, he finally got one! Cole, our most accomplished foot worker and Rooney was like a hard man with legs of lightning!

I'm glad Robinson got up again, I was worried for a while, with him off its James on. :eek: I just hope that yellow card doesn't affect him too much or make Sven decide to put on James. I would rather the risk of the yellow then putting faith in James's hands.

The ref overall was O.K but missed out on some pivotal fouls.

Definately room for improvement though and if all the players can put in as much effort as Rooney, Beckham and Lennon did today then there is hope.

Golgot

06-25-06, 08:35 PM

I dunno, Gezza motored around a lot and really kept the pressure on them, and delivered some cutting passes at times. You're right, he did let the ball roll under his feet a few too many times tho.

---
I've just watched the highlights again, and i think the pundits might be right when they say we should stick with this formation. The chances generated in the 2nd half, even if we didn't take them, were more promising than just about any of the other forward play we've generated so far. If the midfield can link up with Rooney effectively, it might just work. And if Lamps can finally find his shooting (and passing) boots, that'd help ;)

Probably depends on the opposition, but we might see it again against Portugal. (Why am i trying to second-guess Sven, why? :D)

---

Incidently, Van Persie was looking more than a little Cruyff-like at times in the other game. He's another one the cup'll miss.

Piddzilla

06-26-06, 04:30 AM

Yeah, it's pretty incredible that Holland's allready out.

adidasss

06-26-06, 08:25 AM

Incidently, Van Persie was looking more than a little Cruyff-like at times in the other game. He's another one the cup'll miss.
there's quite a few of these young, super talented and incredibly fast players....it was amazing how he sent those 3 defense players to the ground...too bad he mised the goal...

i think that's the reason why this world cup is the best so far...so much new talent...too bad someone has to go....

too bad ronaldo got injured, i hope he's still gonna play against england...becuase i really don't want england to go through....:D sorry guys, i really don't think your team is that good...quite bland actually....

Tacitus

06-26-06, 09:13 AM

I think it was a very professional perfornance by England. The only Equadorian chances came from defensive mistakes, Rooney got stronger and better as the game went on, Carrick and Ashley Cole were excellent, Hargreaves solid and looking a much better alternative than Carragher at right back and Lennon scared the pants off the opposition once again even though he was only on for 5 minutes.

Gerrard didn't have the best of games but he's due one, Lampard looks totally out of sorts (top scorer in qualifying, can't even find the banjo to hit the cow's arse with now) and Terry is confirming what I thought during Euro04 - that he's not as good as people think he is. I always think he's more solid alongside Mad Sol, though Sven wouldn't drop Ferdinand at this stage...would he? :)

I'd keep the formation for the Portugal match but drop Lampard for Lennon and move Beckham (let's face it, Sven's not gonna drop him no matter how poor/ill he is, so I'm being realistic) inside with Gerrard. It's an easy system to switch to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-2 if things are getting tough.

£5 million a year? If you insist. :D

Revenant

06-26-06, 02:00 PM

I'm sorry Australia! :(

Purandara88

06-26-06, 02:08 PM

I watched the Portugal beat the Dutch, the first match I've managed to catch in its entirety, and I was reminded yet again why soccer doesn't fly in the US.

The 'most physical' match of the Cup consisted entirely of scrawny nancy-boys flinging themselves to the ground and writhing around like retardates every time someone so much as breathed heavily in their vicinity. It was either a supreme display of the phoniness of the sport on the international level, or a supreme display of the lack of manly courage in the men's soccer.

Here's what I learned yesterday. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, Michelle Akers could beat the ever loving **** out of any three players on either team.

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fi/20030715/i/2107154777.jpg

adidasss

06-26-06, 02:20 PM

^^uuu...tough guy....i bet you're nothing more than a scrawny pimply faced teenager....try playing football once aye? let's see how well you'll do with those "scrawny nancy boys"....

Purandara88

06-26-06, 02:33 PM

*Yawn*

adidasss

06-26-06, 03:05 PM

i take it i'm not too far from the truth?....;)

i too could beat the living daylights out of any of those nancy boys in an e-bitch fight....cos they've gots nout on me!! NOUT!! *flexes e-muscles*

anyways, back to footy....italy vs. australia.....lucky escape for italy...( there was no penalty ).....still, i shall give you a complimentary: AUZZIE AUZZIE AUZZIE!!!

well done, especially considering this was almost a debut attempt...:)

Purandara88

06-26-06, 04:34 PM

Human of sub-Saharan descent, please!

I played real football for 12 years, soccer just isn't a physical game, and the way it is played internationally is a disgrace to the idea of sport as human competition, which is a shame, because it would otherwise be a terrifically interesting sport.

Yoda

06-26-06, 04:41 PM

You must be one of those people who laughs hysterically at their own jokes.

Purandara88

06-26-06, 04:45 PM

Not particularly, I just find needing to fall back on absurd circumlocutions for pop culture phrases to be, well absurd.

Yoda

06-26-06, 05:04 PM

Not half as absurd as someone who sarcastically protests a censorship policy perfectly in line with virtually every standard of civilized discourse.

Lockheed Martin

06-26-06, 05:16 PM

manly courage

Haha, I haven't read that since I was forced to study classics. Who'd have thought I'd encounter it here of all places.

Virtus Omnia Vincit!

Purandara88

06-26-06, 05:18 PM

Blister

06-26-06, 05:19 PM

Italy didn't deserve that Penalty,....it's always the team you want to win that loses. Gah!,

Purandara88

06-26-06, 05:25 PM

Italy didn't deserve that Penalty,....it's always the team you want to win that loses. Gah!,

In a fairly called game, Italy probably would have lost to the US in the round robin phase too. It's unfortunate, but most evenly matched international soccer games seem to be decided by officiating, not by the players on the pitch. Which is another major reason the sport will never be popular in the US. Americans like competition to be transparent and decided by the superiority of the victor, not by the subjective opinions of officials (it's why we don't put the same stock in 'judge' sports like gymnastics that the rest of the world does, either).

Golgot

06-26-06, 05:34 PM

I've been posting on message forums for 8 years, and I have yet to come across a single forum that censors pop culture idiom that everyone knows is satirical. '***** please' is no more 'racist' than 'biyatch' is 'misogynist.' Everyone and his brother knows that both are ironic, humerous plays on hip hop absurdity.

Well, with the possible exception of you.

Yeah, well, i guess you're kind of selective where you hang out. Wasn't it a Death Metal site where you picked up that quaint little 'Sand Religions' phrase? (Ok, so maybe you're not that selective).

The point here is twofold tho:

a) Given the history of that word, and the way it's been reappropriated by those who it was used against in an attempt to redefine it, its context is vital. In other words: if you're not black, you better have a damn good reason for using it.

b) We already know from other posts that you're a racist ****.

Golgot

06-26-06, 05:37 PM

£5 million a year? If you insist. :D

Maybe Borough will give you a job ;)

anyways, back to footy....italy vs. australia.....lucky escape for italy...( there was no penalty ).....still, i shall give you a complimentary: AUZZIE AUZZIE AUZZIE!!!

well done, especially considering this was almost a debut attempt...:)

As some drunk Aussie fans said on the radio - they'll build on this.

Shame they didn't quite motor away like they did against Brazil - but what a cruel way to go out.

Yoda

06-26-06, 05:46 PM

I've been posting on message forums for 8 years, and I have yet to come across a single forum that censors pop culture idiom that everyone knows is satirical. '***** please' is no more 'racist' than 'biyatch' is 'misogynist.' Everyone and his brother knows that both are ironic, humerous plays on hip hop absurdity.

Well, with the possible exception of you.
Well, I've been running forums in one capacity or another for longer than you've been posting on them, and the majority of them don't tolerate racial slurs, even if they're meant to be ironc and have achieved pop culture immortalization. Probably because it's a pretty slippery slope if you do. You're either exaggerating wildly when you say you've never come across such a restriction, or you haven't been to a sufficiently varied group of forums, because it's quite commonplace.

Also, the source has to be considered, and you've used up whatever margin you might have had otherwise.

Purandara88

06-26-06, 05:48 PM

The point here is twofold tho:

a) Given the history of that word, and the way it's been reappropriated by those who it was used against in an attempt to redefine it, its context is vital. In other words: if you're not black, you better have a damn good reason for using it.

Nonsense. I understand that argument with regards to '******' generally, but the ironic '***** please' is common pop cult coinage, especially on the internet, and particularly in the context I used it (one white guy to another white guy).

We already know from other posts that you're a racist ****.

And what other posts would these be? I mean other than fantasies where not being a rap fan is equated to racism...

Purandara88

06-26-06, 05:50 PM

Well, I've been running forums in one capacity or another for longer than you've been posting on them, and the majority of them don't tolerate racial slurs, even if they're meant to be ironc and have achieved pop culture immortalization.

Horse****. The vast majority of internet forum users and administrators wouldn't even see ***** please, especially in that particular context, as a slur at all, any more than they consider 'bitch' or the word Golgot undoubtably dropped to be attacks on women in contexts where neither party to the conversation is a woman. And with good reason.

Also, the source has to be considered, and you've used up whatever margin you might have had otherwise.

Translation: you have opinions we don't like, so we'll jump on you for any reason, real or imagined.

Yoda

06-26-06, 05:56 PM

Translation: you have opinions we don't like, so we'll jump on you for any reason, real or imagined.
You're ignoring the majority of my post, which made up my primary point. I don't need to fallback on your short but checkered history here to justify my decision; it's a standard in-line with a great many forums, small and large. Suggesting otherwise is demonstrably absurd.

Nevertheless, any good forum admin considers a member's record when making these sorts of judgements. In this case, I don't think I'd allow it from any member, but least of all one which has exhibited a thinly veiled bigotry. Pretending that the source of a potentially offensive remark is irrelevant is downright silly.

Blister

06-26-06, 06:00 PM

Ah, it's been a while since i've seen an 'argument' here.....

....damn, just realised I missed a game tonight. Ah well, Brazil tomorrow

Purandara88

06-26-06, 06:00 PM

Does the thought of context never enter your mind? How can '***** please' be a racial slur in the context of a comment aimed from a white guy...to a white guy?

And if you're really so concerned, has it ever occurred to you just to update your autocensor, rather than making some grand masturbatory production out of it? There are already huge holes in it ('gd' is taboo, but 'fag' is not, even though the latter is obviously vastly more offensive to far more people).

Yoda

06-26-06, 06:07 PM

Does the thought of context never enter your mind? How can '***** please' be a racial slur in the context of a comment aimed from a white guy...to a white guy?
As I already said, getting hung up on intent misses the point. Censorship is, unfortunately, a very slippery slope. The lesser of two evils to simply ban such words, rather than haggle over potential exceptions, especially with a word like this, which isn't even remotely necessary for articulation or discussion.

And if you're really so concerned, has it ever occurred to you just to update your autocensor, rather than making some grand masturbatory production out of it? There are already huge holes in it ('gd' is taboo, but 'fag' is not, even though the latter is obviously vastly more offensive to far more people).
There are always holes in such software; ultimately, human judgement has to come into play. I can't just ban "fag" because, as you certainly know, it's also British slang. Global bans are in effect for most of the no-brainers, but that's about as far as it can go.

That said, it doesn't always occur to me to ban a word until someone uses it. And this is one of those instances.

Also, no "production," masturbatory or otherwise, was made. You were sent a private message, and the post in question deleted. It is you who chose to draw attention to the matter with your sarcastic response. And imagine my surprise.

Golgot

06-26-06, 06:10 PM

Nonsense. I understand that argument with regards to '******' generally, but the ironic '***** please' is common pop cult coinage, especially on the internet, and particularly in the context I used it (one white guy to another white guy).

I wouldn't use it like that in real life. Most of the people i've seen on boards who use it like that have been kids who wouldn't know irony if it yanked their pubes out. And your interpretation of why it would be acceptable is highly suspect.

And what other posts would these be? I mean other than fantasies where not being a rap fan is equated to racism...

The ones where you went beyond being highly suspect and nailed your flag to the pole. I can't be bothered to track down the posts, and i know that Yoda deleted some (I'm sure he can furnish you with the proof). I recall you using words that only have pejorative/demeaning connotations.

Further posts, like your endorsement of your friend's "...i've never liked Africans..." 'witticism' only confirm your stance. (It makes no difference that you expanded your point to all humanity afterwards, your endorsement of that bit of bile is confirmation enough).

Anyways. Wrong board for this. I'm sure we can organise a 'Kick Pura' thread to help you in your mission to feel special tho.

Purandara88

06-26-06, 06:18 PM

The ones where you went beyond being highly suspect and nailed your flag to the pole. I can't be bothered to track down the posts, and i know that Yoda deleted some (I'm sure he can furnish you with the proof). I recall you using words that only have pejorative/demeaning connotations.

Here's the entire list:

'frog'

'guido'

Now, given that both are slurs directed at people who share the same racial makeup that I do, you're extrapolating a whole lot to arrive at 'racism.'

Purandara88

06-26-06, 06:20 PM

Also, no "production," masturbatory or otherwise, was made. You were sent a private message, and the post in question deleted. It is you who chose to draw attention to the matter with your sarcastic response. And imagine my surprise.

Horse****, no one would have even known what happened if you hadn't then made an issue of the sarcastic re-post.

adidasss

06-26-06, 06:26 PM

i have to endorse Purandara on this instance i'm affraid...i too use that expression on another forum and it is never taken as anything but a joke, especially when it comes from an east-european white guy....but then again, that forum is filled with immature kids and adults with the mentality of kids....:D

but i've also learned that the rules of communication on this particular forum are much more serious and well...civil....mr. purandara will learn that just like i did...the hard way....

Yoda

06-26-06, 06:27 PM

Horse****, no one would have even known what happened if you hadn't then made an issue of the sarcastic re-post.
You were sarcastically mocking the decision. What do you expect, absolute silence? I hadn't breathed a word of it to anyone, and wasn't planning to. You raised the issue. This isn't even arguable.

Purandara88

06-26-06, 06:38 PM

You were sarcastically mocking the decision. What do you expect, absolute silence? I hadn't breathed a word of it to anyone, and wasn't planning to. You raised the issue. This isn't even arguable.

Sure it is. I wanted to keep intact the spirit of my original post with the limited options available to me. You could have seen it for what it was, an ironic nod in your direction that wasn't begging for a response. Instead, you chose to make it an issue.

Lockheed Martin

06-26-06, 06:50 PM

Yoda

06-26-06, 06:53 PM

Sure it is. I wanted to keep intact the spirit of my original post with the limited options available to me. You could have seen it for what it was, an ironic nod in your direction that wasn't begging for a response. Instead, you chose to make it an issue.
If you really just wanted to re-convey your thoughts, you'd have done so. The sarcastic jab was all you posted. As for whether it was "begging" for a response; that's subjective, but even if it wasn't, you can't feign surprise when you take a shot at someone, subtle or otherwise, and they respond.

Notice, also, that even my first response made absolutely no mention of what had happened. You raised the issue, I didn't take the bait the first time around (instead settling for a somewhat subtle dig back at you), and then you brought it up again, this time spelling out what had happened. So how do you figure that I was trying to make a "masturbatory production" out of the matter, when you're the one who broached the issue, and I made no mention of it until goaded twice?

Purandara88

06-26-06, 06:53 PM

Let's see, overreacting to an obviously non-serious comment is 'humor,' but pointing out the ironic usage of a phrase is 'humorless.'

Yeah, there's some real strong logic behind that...

Purandara88

06-26-06, 06:57 PM

If you really just wanted to re-convey your thoughts, you'd have done so. The sarcastic jab was all you posted.

I'd have loved to repost the rest of my comments, but that was impossible, since someone deleted the entire response when a two word phrase could have been edited out. Unfortunately, I don't keep a running log of all my messageboard posts against the possibility of a software failure or a mod getting the vapors.

Yoda

06-26-06, 06:59 PM

I'd have loved to repost the rest of my comments, but that was impossible, since someone deleted the entire response when a two word phrase could have been edited out. Unfortunately, I don't keep a running log of all my messageboard posts against the possibility of a software failure or a mod getting the vapors.
Sorry for the inconvenience. Genuinely, believe it or not. I can send you a copy of the original post, if you'd like.

That said, it still doesn't change the fact that you were the one actively trying to spark a discussion of what had happened. I didn't take the bait until you'd dangled it in front of me not once, but twice. I'm fine with that; just don't try to pretend I was making a show of the decision.

Purandara88

06-26-06, 07:02 PM

Here's an interesting expression of precisely the same sort of silly, knee-jerk, black and white thinking that has amply been demostrated in this thread.

http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2006/06/21/local/16702176.txt

Purandara88

06-26-06, 07:05 PM

Genuinely, believe it or not. I can send you a copy of the original post, if you'd like.

By all means, send it to me.

I didn't take the bait until you'd dangled it in front of me not once, but twice.

I wasn't baiting anyone, either time. I've never seen anyone object to the phrase in that usage ever before, and it's not like it's an uncommon phrase OTI or IRL.

Equilibrium

06-26-06, 07:18 PM

but i've also learned that the rules of communication on this particular forum are much more serious and well...civil....mr. purandara will learn that just like i did...the hard way....

Yeah thats what I'm thinking. Lets be honest here, I don't necessarily agree with purand's posts or his ill concieved jabs and racists remarks, but he does havea point when he says that certain rules on this form are questionable. Rules will always be questionable but I too have learned that this forum is more limited than most others.

You know I'll give you credit when you're due, Yoda and I think it was correct to delete his posts if they were really racist, but I will not agree with you that phrases like "bitch please" are banned in most other forums. The truth is that most other forums are more lax on pop culture phrases like this and less lax on words such as "fag" or more generally anything related to homosexuality, er...actually make that male homosexuality. I've always felt constrained when writing here sometimes, especially during heated arguements when I had to rethink everything I was saying, and sometimes that bothered me. But through trial and error (SEE SPIDEI2_MAN__) I've learned to curb whatever it is I'm saying and now its pretty easy for me to gauge my language level.

So give purand the same chance you gave me and do not rule out the possibility that his arguement is in fact, intact.

How about those last two games eh? Ukraine advances. Who would have thought.

nebbit

06-26-06, 07:20 PM

I'm sorry Australia! :(

Thanks :(

nebbit

06-26-06, 07:23 PM

So give purand the same chance you gave and please do not rule out the possibility that his arguement is in fact, intact.

It is the same old gripe from him, every time he comes back he has the same old same old, it gets a bit boring :bored:

Golgot

06-26-06, 07:28 PM

Hey, can i suggest that we move this debate...

Here? (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=332791#post332791)

;)

Golgot

06-26-06, 07:31 PM

How about those last two games eh? Ukraine advances. Who would have thought.

Why, you thought Switzerland were dead certs for the final? ;)

Revenant

06-26-06, 09:30 PM

At last some penalties and not for us!
Had to get through 120 minutes+ of kick about to get there. In this instance neither team had the advantage, only the Swiss had poor marksmen for the goal. It reminds me of England. :D So I guess I do feel a little empathy for Switzerland.

Equilibrium

06-27-06, 01:58 AM

Why, you thought Switzerland were dead certs for the final? ;)

Oh come now, you can't honestly think the ukraine had anything going for them except chevschenko (spelling?)...

I agee with revnant that was such a boring game that i wish i tuned in for the last 5 minutes of overtime....

Piddzilla

06-27-06, 05:49 AM

I actually predicted that Ukraine would get through to the quarter finals in this tournament. I think the difference between the teams was not so much the quality in their abilities to attack, more like the will to attack. When Ukraine did go on the offensive they looked like as if they could do some damage - if their goal had been anything else than defending themselves and going for the penalty kicks. It was two even and very similarly playing teams, it could have gone either way.

I didn't see the Italy - Australia game but it's so typical Italy to have this kind of luck.

Blister

06-27-06, 03:26 PM

Brazil 3 - 0 Ghana

Ronaldo scored in the first 5 mins. Making a new world record.

Golgot

06-27-06, 03:45 PM

Poor old Ghana. They played great stuff in midfield. As the commentator said, when Brazil started picking up again in the second half 'They're finally starting to play like Ghana' ;). Keeper was a star at the end too. The Brazil juggernaut cannot be stopped at the moment tho ;)

Equilibrium

06-27-06, 07:17 PM

Humph, I really wish that Ghana didn't have to play brazil just yet.

I think Ghana could have wiped out every other team save Argentina.

Also...SPAIN.....WHAT HAPPENEED TO YOUUUUUU?!?!?!!?

They are such classic underachievers they always play the best games and win the most and with such ease...and then they lose when it counts UGH SPAIN....i hate you france.

Tacitus

06-27-06, 07:30 PM

I thought Spain - France was the best match of the World Cup so far. Shame one of them had to get knocked out early but that French side finally showed their class.

1-0 to the old guys. :up:

Makelele, Zidane and Vieira had the Spanish midfield in their pockets in the second half. Big Paddy must have really enjoyed crunching into little Fabregas so many times after being given the runaround when Juve played L'Arse in the Champion's League.

And Ribery? Class in a glass. Pug-ugly class mind you, the poor little fella looks like a bulldog chewin' a wasp... ;)

SamsoniteDelilah

06-27-06, 07:32 PM

L'Arse? :D
Really??

Golgot

06-27-06, 07:41 PM

L'Arse? :D
Really??

Oh yes. The traditional enemies of my team - Spurs, whose symbol is a cock ;)

---

At last...

A prime pundit (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/fivelive/aod.shtml?fivelive/blair_606) analysing England's first two games.

Revenant

06-27-06, 07:41 PM

Poor Ghana :(
They were my underdogs when they made it through the groups.

Tacitus

06-27-06, 07:47 PM

A prime pundit (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/fivelive/aod.shtml?fivelive/blair_606) analysing England's first two games.

Is that a bandwagon I see before me? Sheesh...

He'd be preferable to Alan 'he'll be disappointed with that' Shearer, Ian 'bitter' Wright or David 'willful mispronunciation of even the simplest of names' Pleat.

Ok, the last one's not too snappy but it's probably less litigious than Ian Wright's nickname for Pleaty. ;)

Golgot

06-27-06, 07:49 PM

And Ribery? Class in a glass. Pug-ugly class mind you, the poor little fella looks like a bulldog chewin' a wasp... ;)

He finally delivered didn't he. He would even have been justified in having a right royal strop at Thierry, for being offside all the time ;)

Poor lil Spaniards tho. Serves 'em right to a degree for playing an off-form Raul, but they just didn't show enough bite or final link-up play. And yeah, Vierra was just bossing 'em ;)

He'd be preferable to Alan 'he'll be disappointed with that' Shearer, Ian 'bitter' Wright or David 'willful mispronunciation of even the simplest of names' Pleat

:D

I always forgive Pleat to an extent - coz he'll forgive any ex-Spurs player within a mile of the ball anything at all ;). He does talk almost as much nonsense as Motty tho.

Tacitus

06-27-06, 08:01 PM

He finally delivered didn't he. He would even have been justified in having a right royal strop at Thierry, for being offside all the time ;)

I dunno when he's gonna learn that, with Zidane in the team, he's just never going to get service in the same way as he does at Arsenal. He's too good a player not to be able to change but this 'waiting for the perfect ball' routine is starting to wear thin.

The French full backs look top class too. ;)

Golgot

06-27-06, 08:09 PM

I dunno when he's gonna learn that, with Zidane in the team, he's just never going to get service in the same way as he does at Arsenal. He's too good a player not to be able to change but this 'waiting for the perfect ball' routine is starting to wear thin.

The French full backs look top class too. ;)

Yeah absolutely, on both counts.

I didn't see the Togo game, but i imagined he pushed out a bit wider alongside Trezeget (did they both play?) - which is at least a bit more familiar to him, and allows him to turn provider as well. He has been looking woefully out of place generally tho.

I reckon the French will provide Brazil with a more interesting problem overall, where the Spaniards probably would've gone 'toe-to-toe' in overall style, and probably lost too. Makalele and Viera will need to be on clatteringly good form tho - and the wing back tussles and games are gonna be a treat on their own ;)

Piddzilla

06-28-06, 05:01 AM

Suddenly France's tactics made sense. The 4-5-1 formation ate Spain's midfield up and I think it's very likely they will play this way against Brazil as well. Still think they should have played with Henry + Trezeguet in all the 3 group games against weaker opponents though. Ribery is something else, yeah, and Vieira is majestic. Zidane is, well, useful and I think that goal meant a lot to him. France is suddenly looking threatening towards the big(ger) elephants. I was hoping that this time it was Spain's turn though. But they're young and all that blah blah blah...

Didn't see the Brazil game though... Chubby seems to get it right this tournament too. France - Brazil will be a good one...

Any predictions regarding the quarter finals??

Equilibrium

06-28-06, 02:35 PM

Quarter finals...

England will unfortunately beat portugal but not without alot of trouble. I suspect this one may come down to penalty kicks, and we all know how dangerous beckham is.

Brazil will outplay France and it will be yet another easy win for Brazil. I don't even expect this game to be interesting. Yes the French beat Spain but come on, one game does not excuse all others, the french still have alot of work to do and so does brazil but they are on another level to begin with.

Argentina will outplay Germany but not necessarily outscore. The german offense is very tight and the defense is even tighter. This game will come down to individual players. So look for sporatic and risky plays. Don't be surprised if Germany makes it out alive.

I think that Italy will probably outplay the Ukraine, however I am rooting for the ukraine. I think they can manage a win here because the Ukraine only played horribly their first few games. Don't count them out either. This could be an upset.

Tacitus

06-28-06, 03:12 PM

I reckon the French will provide Brazil with a more interesting problem overall, where the Spaniards probably would've gone 'toe-to-toe' in overall style, and probably lost too. Makalele and Viera will need to be on clatteringly good form tho - and the wing back tussles and games are gonna be a treat on their own ;)

It's last chance saloon for a lot of those guys and Brazil look there for the taking. It's not exactly been Samba Football up til now - more like Geography teacher at the school disco football. *cough*

I think I'll watch The Wild Bunch in preparation...

Golgot

06-28-06, 05:11 PM

Quarter finals...

England will unfortunately beat portugal but not without alot of trouble. I suspect this one may come down to penalty kicks, and we all know how dangerous beckham is.

What, coz he knocks out crowd members with his penalties? ;)

We ain't just about the occasional decent free kick man. Not while we've got the Roon-monster to hang our hopes on anyway - and several other freakishly good players to boot ;). We haven't played nearly as well as Portugal in open play tho, for sure. But so long as they don't put 10 men behind the ball (which they won't) like three of the other teams we've played, we might just see some classy passing moves this time. From both sides :);)

I think I'll watch The Wild Bunch in preparation...

Heh, still feels more like High Noon for the Frenchmen in many ways. Those Brazilian 'pilgrims' do tend to dance when provoked ;)

*puts down his sawn-off reference gun before causing more pain*