FIFA World Cup - Page 3

Loki · 06-09-2006, 01:09 PM

Yeah, the first half I was mildly expecting Germany to lose; that quickly changed. Now the surprising game was Ecuador - Poland. It just finished and omg, the two shots that hit the post near the end made me die a little inside. Imagine if those shots actually went in and the game ended up 2-2 hehe Definetley was a sweet game, can't wait for tommorow to see England in action though.

Akira · 06-09-2006, 01:44 PM

Of course Germany won. Do you understand what a miserable disgrace it would have been if good ole Deutschland had lost? I would have had to cut my head off.....or even worse, start rooting for another team.

I as a devout German fan am obviously rooting for my homeland. I believe the fans will help to carry Germany farther than anyone thought they could make it. Hell, the opening game they presented was first class football and was a perfect example of how exciting a game should be. I of course was disappointed with Germany's ongoing struggle to create a proper defense. However, Germany has one of the strongest offensive formations in the global scene right now, in my opinion. Fast football is the attractive stuff you actually want to see and that's exactly what Germany has been offering since Klinsman took over. My man Poldi will carry the team to their fourth title for sure.

I also have a couple other predictions in good contenders. Brazil is a given but I don't think they'll win it again. They'll lose it somewhere. Either Ronaldinho or Ronaldo (who's been sucking as of late) will get hot headed and fuck up. That will be Brazil's kick in the ass home.....nonetheless, their women can stay.

Holland is also damn strong. They've been churning out very solid games. Their standings were also always pretty good. They'll get far. Hopefully we'll see a repeat of 1974 with Germany and Holland standing in the final again. In fact, '74 was also in Germany so it would be quite convenient.

Japan are one of those teams that everyone is underestimating. They have superior ball control to balance out their disadvantage when claiming balls in the air and their weaker body builds (which are essential in winning ball challenges). Their only real weakness is that they usually don't have enough stamina at the end of the match which makes them somewhat vulnerable. But hell, this team can make any team seem mediocre. I'll only hint towards the Confed Cup match between Japan and Brasil, where Brasil was supposed to beat Japan one handed yet struggled to even keep the game tied.

Ivory Coast also has a very strong team going for them right now. Who know if they may be the first African team to become World champion.

King Fenii · 06-09-2006, 02:25 PM

Germany was alright, but without Ballack, they were sorta unbalanced. My personal man of that match was Wanchope. Come on...he sent Lehmann to shame, with the first AND second goal.

Also, Poland is...nothing. They played so utterly horrible. Not even unfair...they were just bad. The second goal was so mocking. The whole defence was sent in the bushes. Tomorrow's highlight match is certainly Argentina - Cote d'Ivoir. That will be a very cool match.

Also, I always like the World Cup. I think it's so fraternising. I'm amazed how people enjoy the game so much, and how big everthing is done. Ha...glorious World Cup. This would also be a nice time to share the official site. Visit it and see very nice pictures of the matches and fans. There's TONS of stuff there.

Click -> FIFA World Cup 2006 Official Site

Loki · 06-09-2006, 03:45 PM

Yeah, I was terribly surprised at how badly Poland played, though they did get fired up during the last few minutes, it was all for naught after that second goal. They will get a chance to redeem themselves, but the first games are damn important...

Dauragon · 06-10-2006, 07:32 AM

So I watched England vs. Paraguay. I can't say that I'm surprised England won, but what surprised me was how sloppy they got later in the second half. Then again, they never really seemed to have much rhythm after the first 15 minutes or so. I'll give credit to Paraguay, because they certainly had chances to tie it up. Credit to the goalie as well, for making some terrific saves and keeping them in the game.

Lover Boy · 06-10-2006, 10:00 AM

Trinidad wins 0-0 OMGWTF.

Sweden was favored by EVERYONE to win and Trinidad held them even though they were a man down. A-mazing.

This was also Trinidad's first World Cup game ever. Go them.

Loki · 06-10-2006, 10:05 AM

Poor Sweden lol If there was a good chance for them to get easy 3 points, this was it, but Trinidad held up well. I loved how they celebrated the tie like it was a win and the sweds looked pissed off like hell haha

Clodan · 06-10-2006, 10:12 AM

In the game the keeper of Trinidad was very good!!!
Some shoots, that nobody can see has he saved!!! In the 30 min. i was for Trinidad. Don't know why. If they has make a goal...(juhuuu!!!!). I think if trinidad has won the game then nobody can say thats shit for the land because this team was the first time in a worldcup!!!
Let us see what happens betweens argentinia and Elfenbeinküste(don't know how it the word in english^^)
MFG clodan

Lover Boy · 06-10-2006, 10:16 AM

That's because it WAS a win for Trinidad. I mean, they came into the game wondering how bad they were going to lose, and instead they hang INCREDIBLY tough defensely, even though they're not a defensive team. It was their backup goalie that held one the world's greatest teams to not a single goal.

And I can not WAIT to see Argentina's game.

Question: Barcelona's amazing players feed into Spain, right? THAT'S the game I want to watch.

King Fenii · 06-10-2006, 10:34 AM

Trinidad and Tobago ROCKED!!! Did anyone see the reactions of the fans and team? It was as if they had won!

Oh, how I loved it. Sweden was my favorite also for the first half-hour...but T&T showed how much they wanted it, throughout the whole game. They are DEFINITELY my favorite in Group B. I hope they and England proceed...however, it seems rather surreal...

Half hour until Argentina - Cote d'Ivoire...that one is going to be VERY interesting. I'm rooting for the Ivoirians, because I'm just amazed by their teamwork...

rJ floW · 06-10-2006, 10:47 AM

^ I dont care who you are, or what odds you have against you

If you dont win, dont celebrate like you did!

Imagine if anyone as the underdog in any other sport TIED and went NUTS for it...NO class. There's underdogs all the time, but being SOOOO excited that you didn't win, nor didn't lose shows how little expectations of yourself you have....

They showed to the entire world they didn't expect anything of themselves...as a competitor in sports, im ashamed they'd be allowed to play if they dont even think they can win. If they lost by one goal, would it make them feel better than not gettin blown out? probably not, so why go nuts after a tie? And the swedes got one point out of it (i think, i dont know the point system in world cup), they just gotta play and finish off their plays, turn it around next game.

I dont wanna offend anyone, but seriously, if you tied, in any sport that you were an underdog, would you celebrate like you won the championship?

Ton · 06-10-2006, 02:19 PM

That draw pretty much ENSURES England's group goes to them. But if they play the same way the did in the second half agains't Paraguay, they'll throw the match away like it was nothing. I'm sorry but without Rooney to feed the ball too, England's midfield looked lost, Minus Beckham of course still the best crosser in the game.

Now onto the opening game, Germany's first and fourth goals were spectacular, a well deserved win, and all credit to Costa Rica for putting up a fight. But there's a huge criticism to be had. Lehmann fair credit, conceded 2 goals all champions league and is a good goalie, it's the man he's keeping out I must criticise. Oliver Khan IS still one of the World's best goalies, and still in the top five in the world, Lehmann isn't in that class. Agains't Costa Rica, and the other group teams the goals can cover for him, but if it works as it may and they meet England, who by then WILL be playing Rooney i'm sorry he'll get massacared. If Germany have any sense, last group game Lehmann out, Khan in..

Now onto who's winning this. Brasil are the obvious choices, there sheer talent and speed going forward, make them the most awkward team in the world to defend agains't, but if that can be broken through defensively there weak, and have to rely on Dida being on good form, and that could be there Achilles Heel.
Argentina, after watching there game I don't feel there strong enough =/ (second goal was offside, watch the replay Crespo was clearly offside I know the interfering with play rule, but **** it Ivory desevred a draw) They lack goal talent, and there defense was being torn apart by the Ivory Coast, and a better team like Holland will exploit that badly. Riquelme good, not as good as people say by a mile.
Italy and Holland can be done in one paragraph. Great teams, since the 90's underperformer's majorly. Both teams have fantastic defense, and Italy the best goalkeeper in the world. Both teams also have brilliant strikers and great midfield, there too good for group and second stage, but fall at the higher level's for unknown reasons. It could be Holland's year though, Italy can't see it. And a germany v Holland final, little little chance.

Poland wtf? qualifying great, match abyssmal sort it out.

France?. I can't see it at all. I just can't see it happening. Henry can't carry a team, not matter how gifted he may be.

Onto my final team England. Rankings,Paper,Fifa,world there the second strongest. And it should be a them Brazil semi final, which may as well be the final like last year. Rooney's loss was a huge blow, but odds are he's back for Sweden, and that's fantastic news, he's THE best young striker in the world when on form, and can only improve. I just wish he could play with Sheringham, that'd be damn formidable there. But Owen will do, a fantastic player himself, Crouch sorry mate once Rooney's fit no look in. Midfield Beckham, best crosser in the game and arguably the best free kick taker as well, if he's on form The striker's are a huge threat. Lampard and Gerrard, are two of the most combative, agressive and above all skillful midfielder's in the world today, plus they score, and they score hard. As for the other position, it's never been filled well, I feel Carrick some may disagree. Defensively, there a shambles minus Terry and Neville. Terry can easily hold the defense together, and Neville's proved time and again he can hold the world's best, but they can't account for Ferdinand and whomever else, and is a huge sticking point. I'd LOVE England to take it, but i doubt it will happen.

My suprise pick : Ukraine. or Czechoslovakia, mainly as czech conceded no goals. And Ukraine topped a group of, France and Greece.

My everyone expects but wont happen : Germany. Costa rica ripped them defensively, a better team will massacare.

Lover Boy · 06-10-2006, 05:44 PM

What pisses me off is how they've matched the teams up. They put Trinidad and Tobago against England and Sweden against Paraguay.

Now if England has the most points in the group, why wouldn't they pair them against Sweden, who was favored to win that game?

And if Sweden was favored over T&T, that means they're thought to be better than them. Why not match THEM against the group leader to make two fair and GOOD games? Instead they mis-match them in an attempt to ensure the favorites making it past the group.

But really, a T&T win over England isn't TOO unfeasible. It would be HUGE, but it isn't out of their grasp. England played like SHIT today, and only won because of an own goal on a corner kick.

All we would need to see happen is Trinidad and Paraguay win. If they both win, we would have to see another Paraguay vs. England, and their chance to redeem themselves for their crappy game in the first place.

Though honestly, i'm just waiting for Ronaldinho.