World Cup 2006 Germany [Archive] - Sports Central Message Boards

#99

10-07-2005, 03:20 PM

Any other soccer fanatics out there? Tomorrow is "Super Saturday" where much of the World Cup field will be determined. The final qualifying matchups before any playoff rounds takes place on Wednesday. After the ensuing playoffs, the draw for Germany '06 takes place in December.

www.fifaworldcup.com has all the details.

Already in:
USA
Mexico
Germany
Ukraine
Argentina
Brazil
Japan
Iran
South Korea
Saudi Arabia

Pimpbot

10-07-2005, 04:10 PM

EN-GER-LAND!!!!

No more repeats of the last game against Northern Ireland thanks.

#99

10-07-2005, 08:32 PM

Yeah, I'm pulling for you guys. Have to beat Austria and Poland to win the group. Fortunately, both matches are at home.

Pimpbot

10-10-2005, 12:11 AM

We qualified after beating Austria regardless of the Poland match on wednesday, because Holland beat the Czechs. Beckham become the first England player ever to get sent off twice. I haven't seen much football since I left the UK, but from what I have read, Beckhams game is no where near what it was.

#99

10-11-2005, 08:12 PM

Ross

10-13-2005, 11:55 AM

Yeah, Beckham is seriously lacking on the pitch. He's a shell of what he used to be and, if his name wasn't "David Beckham," he would've been dropped from the starting lineup a few games ago. Shaun Wright-Phillips is ready to take his spot at left midfield. England's play isn't particularly encouraging. They're in some serious trouble next summer if their form does not improve.

I've been saying since about the end of last season that SWP is clearly superior to Beckham. SWP is faster and more skilled with the ball at this point than Beckham. However, you're right that his name is Beckham so he can't be benched.

Here is the list of the 27 that have qualified for WC 2006
• Angola
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Ecuador
• England
• France
• Germany
• Ghana
• Iran
• Italy
• Ivory Coast
• Japan
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Paraguay
• Poland
• Portugal
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia & Montenegro
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Togo
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
• United States

The other five spots will be determined through a Uruguay/Australia playoff, a Trinidad & Tobago/Bahrain playoff and through 3 Euro playoffs consisting of Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland (draw is tomorrow.

Pimpbot

10-14-2005, 12:13 AM

I think Australia get a bum deal. The winner of the Oceanic group always has to playoff against a tough south American team. If Togo, Iran and Costa Rica can qualify, then so should the Oceanic group winner.

#99

11-04-2005, 05:55 PM

I agree, Pimpbot. There's talk that for 2010, Oceania will get an automatic bid. If they have to go through a playoff at all, though, it should be against an Asian side.

Ross

11-05-2005, 08:21 AM

FIFA was going to give Austr....I mean Oceania a spot until South America started b*tching. I actually think both sides were right, however, as a spot should be taken from Asia, North/Central America, or Africa. I mean, look at Togo or T&T's sides and tell me that they wouldn't get their hides tanned by Australia.

#99

11-09-2005, 03:30 PM

It's tough to guage the quality of Australia's team given their competition. Fiji? Samoa? But I think -- and I'm not really basing this on anything substantive -- this will be the year that Australia finally makes it through the playoff. Uruguay will be tough, though. I'd consider the Aussies chances much better had their opponent been either Colombia or Chile.

First leg of the final five playoffs are on Saturday. Mind-boggling that either Trinidad and Tobago or Bahrain will qualify. Bizarre.

KevinBeane

11-09-2005, 06:00 PM

I may be way off here, but I thought Australia was fairly terrible on a global scale. I know T & T has been competitive in their qualifiers, so until I look up their FIFA rankings, I'm going to have to tentatively say that Australia would indeed get their hides tanned by T & T. The reason they make the Oceanic tiebreaker play a South American team is the same reason why the put 16 seeds against the 1 seeds in the first round of the NCAAs.....Oceania hasn't shown themselves to be anywhere near as talented as any other qualifying region.

EDIT: Amazingly, they are neck and neck in the FIFA rankings, with T &T being 53rd and the Aussies being 54th. Togo is 49th.

Pimpbot

11-09-2005, 09:58 PM

The FIFA rankings are a crock. Australia have a number of talented players and are clearly a class above anybody else in the Oceanic group. played 5 won 4 drawn 1, 21 goals for and just 3 against. The FIFA rankings won't help Australia when it is difficult to arrange friendly's with top sides because of your location. No European managers are going to be frilled when the national side organises a trip half way around the world to play Australia as their players have to be back in Europe by the weekend to play for their club. Playing sides like Argentina(which they have had to twice to try and qualify) is unfair when other lesser groups get automatic qualification.

KevinBeane

11-10-2005, 08:35 AM

Playing sides like Argentina(which they have had to twice to try and qualify) is unfair when other lesser groups get automatic qualification.

What group are you saying is "lesser" than Oceania?

Pimpbot

11-11-2005, 02:38 PM

What group are you saying is "lesser" than Oceania?

Maybe not any group as a whole, but there are a number of groups that have one or two good teams and a whole number of lesser lights. Lets face it, no one is challenging Mexico or the US in their group. Or at least they shouldn't be.

Pimpbot

11-16-2005, 08:56 AM

Australia are in.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4435400.stm

#99

11-18-2005, 02:47 PM

Gotta love T&T going through! What?! Madness. Much love for the Soca Warriors. Rounding out the field are Spain, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. The draw takes place on Friday, December 9th. I can't wait!

The eight projected seeds are:
Argentina
Brazil
Italy
Germany
France
England
Spain
Mexico

The next seeding pot should be Africa and the remaining Concacaf teams:
Togo
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Angola
Tunisia
USA
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago

Third is all but one of the remaining European teams:
Netherlands
Czech Republic
Switzerland
Poland
Sweden
Croatia
Serbia Montenegro
Portugal
Ukraine

And the final grouping for seeds should be the one leftover Euro team plus the Asians, Australia, and remaining South Americans:
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Paraguay
Ecuador

pjdonald

11-18-2005, 04:06 PM

#99, where'd you get your info for how the draw will be formatted?

#99

11-23-2005, 05:06 PM

I'm basing those projections off of previous draws that were grouped the same way. I believe FIFA is actually using a complicated formula that takes into account current ranking + recent WC performances to determine the top seeds. I'm on a soccer board that swears by this information. Also, since no more than two teams from Europe can be in the same group and no other region can have more than one team per group, this is the most logical way to divide the teams. For example, Paraguay could not be drawn into Brazil's group, Sweden could not be drawn into a group that already has Germany and Ukraine, etc.

Pimpbot

11-23-2005, 07:08 PM

What a useless waste of time these FIFA rankings are. The new list is out today and the Czech Republic and Spain who needed a playoff to qualify for the world cup move up 1 and 2 places in the top ten, while England who won their group and just beat 4th placed Argentina two weeks ago stay in 9th spot. And seriously, who have the US and Mexican teams beaten to be in the top 10? I have a great deal of respect for the US team and what they did at the last world cup, but come on!

1 1 Brazil 841
2 3 Czech Republic 796
3 2 Netherlands 791
4 4 Argentina 774
5 5 France 772
6 8 Spain 771
7 6 Mexico 768
8 7 United States 766
9 9(t) England 757
10 9(t) Portugal 754
11 11 Turkey 749
12 12 Italy 741
13 14 Denmark 732
14 13 Sweden 731
15 16 Japan 713
16 15 Germany 710
17 18 Greece 708
18 17 Uruguay 706
19 21 Iran 702
20 19 Croatia 701

#99

12-01-2005, 12:57 PM

I've never put any stock in FIFA rankings either. They're merely a conversation piece and have no value beyond that. It should be obvious to anyone that the level of competition in your region plus past credentials determine who are the best in the world. If we all know that to be the case -- and we do -- then surely teams like Italy and Germany would be placed ahead of Spain (perennial underachievers), Czech (haven't been to a WC since they were Czechaslovakia back in 1990), USA and Mexico (no Concacaf team has ever placed better than WC quarters and the rest of the region is miserable).

Pimpbot

12-06-2005, 02:25 PM

England got one of the top seeds and the US get shafted by the looks of things. How on earth can Mexico qualify as a top seed when then finished runner up to the US team.

POT ONE
Germany (hosts)
Brazil (holders)
Argentina
England
France
Italy
Mexico
Spain

POT TWO
Australia
Angola
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Togo
Tunisia
Ecuador
Paraguay

POT THREE
Croatia
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

POT FOUR
Iran
Japan
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago
US
Special pot: Serbia & Montenegro

#99

12-06-2005, 05:53 PM

How on earth can Mexico qualify as a top seed when then finished runner up to the US team.

Because they had a better run over the last three years. It shouldn't be shocking that Mexico got a seed ahead of the US. It's been fairly common knowledge for a while now that Mexico would receive a top 8 seed. Apparently, the calculations had the US only 1 point out.

#99

12-06-2005, 05:58 PM

Additionally, the USA's dismal performance in France '98 weighs down the quarterfinal appearance in '02 significantly. World Cup performances dating back to '94 were taken into account.

Pimpbot

12-06-2005, 09:14 PM

What I find amazing, is that FIFA only announced the criteria for the seeds 4 days before the actual draw.

An England group of Togo, Poland and Iran would be nice come friday. :)

Billy D

12-07-2005, 01:45 AM

Additionally, the USA's dismal performance in France '98 weighs down the quarterfinal appearance in '02 significantly. World Cup performances dating back to '94 were taken into account.
Actually, i read that they changed the formula-- now only use the past 2 Cups, not the past 3. But '98 counts either way...

#99

12-07-2005, 01:30 PM

FIFA is a strange organization. Seems like every four years, they tinker with the seeding system.

If I'm a USA fan (and I am), I'm rooting for the following:
Pot 1 - Spain
Pot 2 - avoid Paraguay, Ecuador, and Ghana (seriously, I think Ghana will be this year's surprise African side)
Pot 3 - Hope for Switzerland or Ukraine

#99

12-09-2005, 12:58 PM

Dudes! It's happening today! In a couple hours!

If you're working, watch it all unfold either here:
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/fd/index.html

Or here:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=351143&cc=5901

da12ken

12-09-2005, 03:26 PM

Yep, the draws are being made right now. Exciting.

Pimpbot

12-09-2005, 04:21 PM

England got a good draw imo. Sweden will be tough as always against England. I don't think we have ever beaten them at a major tournement? and played out a tough draw against them at the last WC. I'm not really shaking in my boots about Paraguay or Trinidad.

The US team will have a tough time against the Czechs and the Italians. Germany got one of the easiest groups as did the French. Group C throws up a great early matchup of Argentina vs the Dutch.

El Jefe

12-09-2005, 04:32 PM

Don't forget Spain's group...which is easy too. I was really hoping the U.S. would slip into F or G. Bah.

The U.S. group is this World Cup's Group of Death.

#99

12-09-2005, 07:56 PM

Oh my gosh, I just wanted to cry when I saw the US fall into that monsterous group. Italy, Czech, and Ghana? F***! We are so ****ed. It would be quite an achievement to get 2nd place in that group. This and group C -- Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia, and Netherlands -- are the groups of death.

First round cake-walks for Germany, France, and Spain. Oh, how I wish the US was placed in one of those groups.

England look in decent shape. Sweden certainly will be difficult and I really think that Paraguay will be a tough opponent. Of course, there is a reprieve with T&T who could very well finish dead last in the tournament.

I'd love to see Italy in the Final. They can definitely get there if they avoid Brazil in the round of 16.

Well, every time a WC field looks one way, there are bound to be a few surprises that change everything completely, like Senegal, USA, and South Korea in '02 or Nigeria in '98. So, based on current form, here's my gut reaction stab in the dark. Of course, the tourney is six months away, so who knows how much these teams will fluctuate.

PREDICTIONS:
(Group winners first)

GROUP A
Germany
Poland

GROUP B:
England
Sweden

GROUP C:
Netherlands
Argentina

GROUP D:
Portugal
Mexico

GROUP E (****!):
Czech Republic
Italy

GROUP F:
Brazil
Croatia

GROUP G:
France
Korea

GROUP H:
Ukraine
Spain

------------------

KNOCKOUT ROUND

Germany Vs. Sweden = Sweden

Netherlands Vs. Mexico = Netherlands

England Vs. Poland = England

Portugal Vs. Argentina = Argentina

Czech Rep. Vs. Croatia = Czech

France Vs. Spain = France

Brazil Vs. Italy = Brazil. Damn it.

Ukraine Vs. Korea = Ukraine

--------------------

QUARTERS

Sweden Vs. Netherlands = Netherlands

Czech Vs. France = Czech

England Vs. Argentina = England. Yo!

Brazil Vs. Ukraine = Brazil

--------------

SEMIS

Netherlands Vs. Czech = Netherlands

England Vs. Brazil = Brazil

----------------

FINAL!

Netherlands Vs. Brazil = Netherlands! Oranje finally get their cup!

Pimpbot

12-09-2005, 08:32 PM

I agree with most of your result predictions, except that I seriously believe that England can take Brazil, as we almost did in 2002. I'm not about to predict an England world cup win, although I think we should be treated as one of the favorites considering the draw. We match up very well against the teams in our group and in the later stages. Poland are solid, but we beat them in the qualifying group and have an awsome track record against a team we seem to get drawn with in either qualifying or tournement play all the time! Argentina a possible quarter final opponent were just beaten by us on a neutral field, so I feel we can go all the way.

HibachiDG

12-09-2005, 10:46 PM

The US beating Italy will be fun and HUGE for American soccer. Right now they've got a starting group that will give a run with a lot of the top teams, but they are nowhere near as close in depth. A win over Italy could help change that. Portugal, meh, but people will take notice with a win over Italy and I think everyone on that team is going to know that.

#99

12-12-2005, 02:00 PM

Definitely agree with both Doug and Pimpbot. The motivation is there for the US. Everyone is counting us out already and that means there is a chance -- albeit a small one -- that we could surprise a power like Italy if they took us lightly. I don't think it'll happen, but a draw with the Italians is a definite possibility.

England should definitely be considered one of the top five teams in Germany next summer. They have all the talent they could ever ask for. The trick for Sven will be managing the midfield to maximum efficiency, which I think will get accomplished in the next six months. No reason the English couldn't win it all, unless, of course, they get in their own way.

#99

04-23-2006, 07:35 PM

Getting closer... :)

IntheNet

04-24-2006, 07:45 AM

Oh my gosh, I just wanted to cry when I saw the US fall into that monsterous group. Italy, Czech, and Ghana? F***! We are so ****ed.

I disagree... USA has come far and Bruce Arena has his choice of some of this nation's best players to represent the front line on the US team... we didn't get to be 4th in the World for nothing.... I count the Coach as truly the 12th man and Arena is one of the best at what he does!

I am prepared for a USA upset at the World Cup; I strongly doubt the USA is going to just roll over simply because we placed in the "group of death"... seems like a time to rise to the occasion!

:o

IntheNet

04-24-2006, 09:33 AM

Oh yeah... I forgot to include this cro-magnon development... IRAN has... ahem... decided to ALLOW women to WATCH soccer...

What a development! :rolleyes:

Iran Allows Women in Soccer Stadiums
Monday, April 24, 2006
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192816,00.html
TEHRAN, Iran — "Iranian women will be allowed to attend soccer matches for first time since the country's 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran's president said in a decree posted on his Web site Monday...."
:eek:

Love to have Brandi Chastain pull off her shirt again in front of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and all the Iranian women soccer fans!!!

KevinBeane

04-24-2006, 03:19 PM

Part of the reason that USA/Italy/Czech Reprublic/Ghana is considered the Group of Death is because USA is tough. As great as a victory over Italy would be, USA can't look past their other two group opponents.

Group C is a closed second for toughest group. Netherlands and Argentina together? Wow.

Another thing to bear in mind (forgive me if it's already been said) is that a part of the World Cup bracketology, if you will, is based on the last two WC appearances. Although 2002 was a great run, 1998 was horrid...0 wins, three losses (including to lowly Iran) and of the 0-0-3 teams, the worst goal differential...in other words, they basically finished dead last in the entire WC. In 2010, that will no longer be a factor and hopefully lead to an easier group, as long as team USA keeps their present momentum going.

#99

04-24-2006, 03:53 PM

Exactly, Kevin. My initial freakout way back in December didn't have as much to do with us being incapable of advancing to round two as it did being exceedingly difficult. There's no "gimme" here, unlike, say, groups A, D, G, H.

I'd actually rate group C as being tougher, but group E is right there. We can't look past any of these opponents and are weakness on the backline could be readily exposed against the strong attacks of these three opponents, much as it was against Poland in '02. We'll need Kasey Keller's absolute best and some decisive finishing to go along with our incredible pace on the wings if we're to overcome the superior midfield units and excellent forwards that we'll have to take on.

MountaineerDave

04-25-2006, 06:32 PM

While I'll root for the US, and get all worked up if they advance out of the group, I don't think they will.

I'm rooting for Brazil and then Spain. I have no idea why, really.

Anyone but England. :)

Pimpbot

04-25-2006, 11:27 PM

.

Anyone but England. :)

I use to like you. :P :lol:

Got my new England shirt last week while on my visit home.

Pimpbot

04-25-2006, 11:31 PM

I disagree... USA has come far and Bruce Arena has his choice of some of this nation's best players to represent the front line on the US team... we didn't get to be 4th in the World for nothing.... I count the Coach as truly the 12th man and Arena is one of the best at what he does!

I am prepared for a USA upset at the World Cup; I strongly doubt the USA is going to just roll over simply because we placed in the "group of death"... seems like a time to rise to the occasion!

:o

If you're using the 4th place in the FIFA rankings as having some standing to where the US will get in the WC, then you are going to be very disappointed. The US were beaten 4-0 by an above average German team not that long ago and I don't see it getting much better for them come june.

MountaineerDave

04-26-2006, 12:38 AM

I use to like you. :P :lol:

Got my new England shirt last week while on my visit home.

Yeah, I had to get one in on our English ex-pats.

Actually, because of the language they speak, it's the English players who are "personalities" in the US, and I just can't stand a lot of them. Beckham is soooo overhyped. I haven't seen much of Rooney, but what I know of him irritates me. I'm not a fan of Lampard, either. I don't have a reason for it... well, Lampard plays for Chelsea, and I found the Blues more compelling to root for before Abramovich bought the club and brought in that ass (good manager, but complete ass) Mourinho. Of course, they weren't so great, so...

I do like Ashley Cole, though. That's something, I guess.
The ever-evolving soap opera that surrounds the English team is also tiresome to an outsider. Of course, we don't care enough here about our national team to know whether or not there are soap operas worth attention here, so maybe it's a good thing.

#99

04-26-2006, 07:48 PM

I found the Blues more compelling to root for before Abramovich bought the club and brought in that ass (good manager, but complete ass) Mourinho.

Dave, if the opportunity ever arose, I'd be the first to buy you a beer.

#99

05-08-2006, 09:26 PM

Heathen

05-11-2006, 01:05 AM

30 days to go.... we don't have Rooney, but with Gerard and Lampard in midfield and the big gangly loaf up front we've still got a good chance.

C'MON ENGLAND!!!!

IntheNet

05-11-2006, 01:25 PM

30 days to go....

Well... don't get your hopes up too high... one of the World Cup attractions has just been officially neutralized! There go my plans!
:D
Prostitution crackdown: German police arrest nearly 100 ahead of World Cup
Posted: Thursday May 11, 2006 9:26AM; Updated: Thursday May 11, 2006 11:45AM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/05/11/bc.eu.spt.soc.wcup.prostitution.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
BERLIN (AP) -- German police in four states arrested nearly 100 people in brothel raids during a crackdown on illegal prostitution ahead of next month's World Cup. Police in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria questioned hundreds of sex workers in the statewide raids, authorities said Thursday.Volker Bouffier, interior minister of Hesse, said the raids Wednesday were launched in an effort to combat concerns expressed by human rights organizations and other groups that thousands of women, mostly from Eastern Europe, could be smuggled into Germany and forced to work as prostitutes during the World Cup. The monthlong event starts June 9

MountaineerDave

05-25-2006, 10:24 AM

Okay, so since we've discussed the FIFA rankings and their... uselessness, I thought this story on soccernet today was kind of interesting:

FIFA takes a page from BCS committee, decides to jigger their calculations (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=368759&cc=5901).

These rankings are clearly broken, and FIFA's doing the right thing to change the calculations.

The US falls to 5, and one should/can expect a fall from the top ten if they don't get out of the WC group phase.

I didn't see the Morrocco game (so I have nothing specific to that thread to contribute), but I can't help but feel doom with regards to the WC in light of that result and of Reyna's injury. Even if he's just fine... he may not be 100% by the time they land in Germany.

(Of course, I'm predisposed to doom in the WC this year. Given how the team's played of very late, it's not hard to see why.)

#99

05-25-2006, 01:13 PM

Finally! A more accurate, yet still relatively pointless ranking system.

Under the old scheme, the United States rose to No. 4 in April's rankings -- its highest ever position. The eye-popping rise occurred a few weeks after the Americans were routed 4-1 by World Cup host Germany.

"Maybe some guys were looking at that ranking a little bit too seriously," American goalkeeper Kasey Keller said after the loss.
...
Under FIFA's present system, five world soccer powers are ranked behind the United States: France (No. 8), Argentina (9), England (10), Italy (13) and Germany (19).
...
Mexico's ranking also raises eyebrows. It probably should be ranked behind the Americans.

In the last 10 games between the two countries, the United States has won seven, including a 2-0 win in the second round of the 2002 World Cup. Mexico has two victories in that period.

Over a 20-game span dating back to 1994, the United States has beaten Mexico nine times, with the Mexicans winning seven. Four were draws.
...
So why are the Americans and Mexicans so high in the present FIFA rankings?

Under the old system, FIFA gave the most weight to games in the World Cup, the continental championships and World Cup qualifiers.

The region in which the United States is grouped, CONCACAF, plays a continental championship every two years. In Europe, it's every four. In addition, CONCACAF plays almost 50 percent more World Cup qualifiers than the average European country.

Oh no, of course the current ranking system works. Who could ever think otherwise?

...

MountaineerDave

05-25-2006, 01:46 PM

I won't mention it in the USA road to Germany thread, so I'll note it here: Australia, who we have all pretty much determined to be at the best, pretty bad, stunned Greece in pre-WC warmups, 1-0.

Greece are (for good or ill) defending European champs. They're not a great squad, but played well during their Euro campaign two years ago. I'm not sure what turnover they've had in the interceding years, but losing to the 'Roos... that's bad stuff. No wonder Greece couldn't build from their Euro championship and compete in the WC.

Meanwhile, Australia's coach is Guus Hiddink. If memory serves, it was Hiddink who took the Koreans to the WC semis four years ago.
I doubt the Socceroos can repeat that kind of performance (they're nowhere near home, and Korea got emotion and some charitable calls on friendly pitches), but they could surprise folks and steal a couple points. Tough group for them to get out of, though, with Croatia, Japan & giants, Brazil.

KevinBeane

05-25-2006, 10:36 PM

Just saw England's "B" team, which despite being reserves was comprised of a number of EPL familiars (didn't think I'd see Peter Crouch's ugly mug for another few months), managed to blow a lead and lose to Belarus 2-1 despite being up a man for more than half of the second half.

So I guess the "A" team can't afford too many more injuries...

The "White Russians" committed a couple of demonstrative, undisciplined fouls that the announcer referred to as "cynical."

Can't we just train a bunch of Brits to come over here and commentate all of our sports? It'd be a big improvement over Joe Buck.

Pimpbot

05-25-2006, 10:48 PM

Did you see the first goal Belarus scored though Kevin? some what of an unfortunate incident with the goal keeper laying on the floor in pain.

I'm not too concerned. Maybe Owen and Campbell were the only possible first teamers who were playing tonight, and that was Owens first serious action for months.

MountaineerDave

05-26-2006, 07:02 AM

The "White Russians" committed a couple of demonstrative, undisciplined fouls that the announcer referred to as "cynical."

Can't we just train a bunch of Brits to come over here and commentate all of our sports? It'd be a big improvement over Joe Buck.

Abso-frickin'-lutely!

And, instead of Derek Rae covering the World Cup, we have to suffer JP Dellacamara... who, while okay, isn't Derek Rae. Or any Brit announcer, either.

Pimpbot

05-26-2006, 09:25 AM

I may have to tune out the commentators and try and get bbc 5 live on the internet feed.

HibachiDG

06-09-2006, 11:12 PM

Germany 4 Costa Rica 2...Germany looked fantastic early on in this one and really controlled possession, which turned into a lot of opportunities in the first 20-25 minutes. Paying off in 2 goals, but Costa Rica hung around with a goal that beat Germany's weird offsides trap that they kept trying to play and they almost got burned, but had enough offense in this game to win it. Pimpbot, you mentioned in the other thread that Ecuador might surprise Germany, and if Ecuador can play defense like they did against Poland, they will have that chance.

Speaking of which, Ecuador 2, Poland 0. Ecuador really came off as playing a solid team game out there and struck at the right times.

#99

06-11-2006, 09:51 PM

Yeah, Poland looked really sorry. That was a lousy effort from them. Lousiest game of the tournament? It's going to take a lot to get worse than England v Paraguay. What a bore.

T&T! Draws with Sweden! Shock the world!

Ivory Coast looked great for about 30 minutes against Argentina. If IC had more polished finishing, they would have pulled the upset easily.

Poor Angola looked so clueless on attack today. If not for Portugal mailing it in during the 2nd half, it would've been about 12-0 instead of 1-0.

Iran decided it would be more fun if they let Mexico win. I guess I agree.

Holland look awesome. What a game for Robben!