World Cup 2006 - No Haters Please

[GotZoom]

Robot-Man saves the day.

Amazing.

I know the game is over but T&T should be holding their heads high. They have been playing fantastic..frustrating England over and over.

All they have done is expose many of England's weaknesses.

 

[manu1959]

Robot-Man saves the day.

Amazing.

I know the game is over but T&T should be holding their heads high. They have been playing fantastic..frustrating England over and over.

All they have done is expose many of England's weaknesses.

t+t played with heart, passion and aggression....they should be proud...they beat paraguay and they have 4 points possible they go through if sweden loses to england an sweden draws with paraguay

 

[GotZoom]

t+t played with heart, passion and aggression....they should be proud...they beat paraguay and they have 4 points possible they go through if sweden loses to england an sweden draws with paraguay

Yup. People will look at the score now (2-0) and think England cruised.

I think T&T will have a very hard time advancing now. With a loss and a tie with one game left, and that against Paraguay, who they can beat....it won't be easy.

This afternoon will be very interesting. Both teams know the absolutely have to win to have a chance to advance.

I think Sweden will come out on top: 3-1.

 

[no1tovote4]

Well, the Brits looked like the coach actually spent some time introducing them to each other before the match, but they were playing T&T...

Smart move for him to replace the not so pretty Neville with Jamie Carraghers over Hargreave...

 

[Dr Grump]

Owen is coming off a long injury lay off so he isn't ready for a full 90 minutes yet. You might find him staying on longer and longer as the tournament continues.

 

[GotZoom]

Not one of the better days of the tournament so far but not bad.

Ecuador - 3 Costa Rica - 0

I'm telling you..Ecuador could be a sleeper/giant killer if some of these teams don't watch out. Stats are pretty even: Shots EC - 14 to 12, Shots on goal EC 7 to 4, Time of Possession EC 51 to 49. However, Ecuador dominated the entire game.

Poland and Costa Rica are out. Their game on the 20th will be ... well, ... pointless. But Germany and Ecuador on the 20th will be a game no one should miss.

Winner takes first and will play runner up in Group B. I still want German to beat Costa Rica and take first; then Sweden to somehow (I don't think it will happen) beat England to set up a Germany-England Match.

England - 2 Trinidad and Tobago - 0

Don't let the scoreline fool you. England struggled; T&T played with grit and inspiration. England completely dominated the entire game: Shots - 23 to 7, Shots on Goal - 8 to 3, Time of Possession - 62 to 38.

T&Ts defense frustrated England. Yes..they finally wore down at the end; both goals scored in the 83rd and 91st minute. Rooney was brought in but seemed very rusty. Owen wasn't 100%.

England needs to start playing their game. Last match against Sweden will be a good one. Winner takes first in their group and plays (probably Ecuador - providing they don't upset Germany) and loser will play Germany (probably see before).

Sweden - 1 Paraguay - 0

Sweden needed this one to even have a chance of taking the group. They are sitting in second now with their final game against England coming up. T&T plays Paraguay. Here is where it gets fun. If Sweden loses, T&T will have to score 4 more goals in their game against Paraguay than Sweden does in their game against England to take second. Both games are scheduled at the same time on the 20th so I can guarantee each of the 4 coaches will have someone keeping them updated on the progress of the other games.

Close game statistics wise: Shots on Goal: Sweden 10 - 3. Shot: Sweden 17 - 16. Time of Possession: Sweden 57 - 43

Another game decided in the last few minutes of time. Ljundberg's goal on 88 minutes as the game-winner.

Last match against England. (See above for all the details and nuances of this game)

Ibrahimovic is going to have to show up for this game. He has been silent in the first two. Hopefully Allback will continue his fine play. If they can put it together..and have their players have one game where they ALL play like the can, Sweden could end up in first.

I know I have said it before...I would love to see this happen. Only to have another Germany - England classic.

More Drool.

 

[GotZoom]

Little late this morning with the predictions but...I think everyone expected Argentina to handle SM.

And they are. 6 minutes in..then two more before half.

Being in the same group with Holland has put pressure on them. Sure..they win all three games, they have first wrapped up. But on the off chance Holland gets upset by either CIV or SM and beats Argentina, Argentina needs a better goal different to finish ahead of them. Before the game today, they were tied in goal difference so a big win today will definitely help them.

Holland - CIV: This will be a great game I think. Holland was a little less than impressive against SM so they need a big game before their match against Argentina on the 21st.

CIV has a lot of pride and grit. They must perform well in at least one game; and beating superpower Holland will be it. Their country put their civil war on hold specifically because they qualified for the World Cup.

Angola - Mexico: Mexico needs a big win in preparation for their match agains Portugal on the 21st. Mexico and Portugal are tied with three points each; Portugal playing Iran tomorrow. The easy assumption is both Mexico and Portugal will win; setting up their head to head - winner taking first and playing the runner up in Group C. Of course, neither team will have an easy go in the next ground as Argentina and Holland will finish 1-2 in that group.

I wouldn't want to play either team.

 

[dilloduck]

Little late this morning with the predictions but...I think everyone expected Argentina to handle SM.

And they are. 6 minutes in..then two more before half.

Being in the same group with Holland has put pressure on them. Sure..they win all three games, they have first wrapped up. But on the off chance Holland gets upset by either CIV or SM and beats Argentina, Argentina needs a better goal different to finish ahead of them. Before the game today, they were tied in goal difference so a big win today will definitely help them.

Holland - CIV: This will be a great game I think. Holland was a little less than impressive against SM so they need a big game before their match against Argentina on the 21st.

CIV has a lot of pride and grit. They must perform well in at least one game; and beating superpower Holland will be it. Their country put their civil war on hold specifically because they qualified for the World Cup.

Angola - Mexico: Mexico needs a big win in preparation for their match agains Portugal on the 21st. Mexico and Portugal are tied with three points each; Portugal playing Iran tomorrow. The easy assumption is both Mexico and Portugal will win; setting up their head to head - winner taking first and playing the runner up in Group C. Of course, neither team will have an easy go in the next ground as Argentina and Holland will finish 1-2 in that group.

I wouldn't want to play either team.

So much for Mexico's big win Mexico 0 Angola 0
They blew it.

 

[GotZoom]

So much for Mexico's big win Mexico 0 Angola 0
They blew it.

Oh yeah. Large time. Not having Borgetti definitely hurt but they had a lot of chances. Some bad bounces, etc.

Portugal beats Iran tomorrow and they are in the driver's seat for first place in the group. It will still come down to the game between them and Mexico on the 21st but there will be more pressure on Mexico to win vice pulling a draw.

Argentina - 6 SM - 0

A fun game to watch; probably more fun for the Argentines. Of course, it was against SM so it wasn't going to be a challenge from the get go but watching the build up for the goals was watching pure, classic soccer. Nearly two dozen passes before the first goal. The back heel for the shot. The passes to set up the others. First World Cup Goal by the 18 year old super star Messi (even though the goalie should have saved it).

The haven't really been pushed (despite the 2-1 win over CIV) so their game against Holland should be a classic. Both in first...Holland behind with a 5 goal difference. Basically means the only way Holland can finish first is with a win. A tie gives first to Argentina. They and Holland will play either Mexico or Portugal in the next round; neither I believe will will be a problem for either one of them.

Holland - 2 CIV - 1

Where Van Nistelroy's goal was classic Ruud, I was more impressed with the rocket Robin van Persie let loose on that free kick. The goalie didn't move until the ball was practically over his head.

Just damn. I played it over several times on the DVR..slow motion, etc.

Just damn.

Next match: Argentina. This is in the drool category. (see above for all the details)

-----

This is going to be a good soccer weekend.

Saturday:

Portugal - Iran

A Portugal win puts them in first. A win for Iran puts them tied for second in the group with Portugal and changes everything. Iran loses? They are out.

Czech Republic - Ghana

CR is tied for first with Italy. They will want a huge win tomorrow; for confidence but more importantly to build up the goal differential. Much like Iran, a win by Ghana puts them tied for second. A loss...bye bye.

Italy - United States

What can be said? Italy is in first..they need a win. A big win. They will know before kick off what the CR did so that will be an added extra bit of motivation. They are better; are playing well, and NO ONE wants to lose to the United States.

There been a little controversy the last couple of days. One U.S. player compared the game to a "war" - Italian press picked it up, etc.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5702164

That isn't the story. The U.S. simply has to win. They lose and they are done. And if that happens, another huge embarrassment for the U.S. soccer program.

Sunday:

Japan - Croatia

Who ever loses is done. Who ever wins will be tied with the loser of the Brazil - Australia game (providing these two don't tie). That is enough pressure.

Brazil - Australia

Both tied for first so the winner will take the lead in the group and will probably finish first to advance to the next round. This will be the biggest game in Australia's soccer history and they will be ready. The pressure is on Brazil; not just to win but to win big. I don't think the Aussies will beat them though. (Coach Parreira...Please...No more than 30 minutes for Ronaldo. Let him have a half hour of glory, then bring in Robinho).

France - South Korea

S. Korea sits atop the group in first place. A win sends them through to the next round. Fast and confident, I know they will play well.

On the other side of midfield stands the French team. Look the word "pressure" up in the dictionary and you will see a picture of the French national soccer team.

1. 1998 World Cup - Champions beating Brazil 3-0 in the final. Tournament in France so they won in front of their home fans.
2. 2002 World Cup - Two losses (Senagal and Denmark) and a Tie (Uraguay). But ZERO goals scored. Did not advance.
3. 2006 World Cup - First game, 0-0 tie with Switzerland.

Five games in two World Cups: not a single win; not a single goal.

They lose this one and the odds of advancing are against them. There hasn't been a quicker, more surprising burn-out of a former world championship team.

Yeah...France: No pressure.

 

[no1tovote4]

You should have seen it, the Wendy's was full of Green Mexico "World Class Soccer" shirts... I could have been in Mexico City for all I knew...

:teeth:

I wish Angola had pulled one off the head of one of Mexico's players...

 

[manu1959]

Czeckoslovakia are looking a bit shite at the moment, getting beat 1-0 by Ghana at half time.

michael essien is running the show this match

just tells you what crap the US is.....

 

[manu1959]

Oh, dear me,crappy Ghana beat great Czechs 2-0, and may I add, convincingly.I do beleieve they are the first African nation to progress to the quarter finals.

they have not yet advanced....did camaroon advance?

 

[manu1959]

usa has only ever one 8 world cup matches....they are toast vs italy

 

[freeandfun1]

8 matches on European soil...

Anyway, nobody has advanced or been eliminated yet. The next three games will be interesting. If the USA has a good showing today, we still have a chance. Put it this way though.... I haven't laid any money on them at the Sportsbook!

 

[manu1959]

what a farce of a match.......referee has destroyed what could have been interesting

 

[manu1959]

8 matches on European soil...

Anyway, nobody has advanced or been eliminated yet. The next three games will be interesting. If the USA has a good showing today, we still have a chance. Put it this way though.... I haven't laid any money on them at the Sportsbook!

i belive it is 8 ever....1 in 1930....zero in france.....1 in 94.....2 or 3 in japan

 

[freeandfun1]

i belive it is 8 ever....1 in 1930....zero in france.....1 in 94.....2 or 3 in japan

US made it to the quarter finals in the 2002 World Cup. Frankly, I am not sure what you are refering to. I thought you were refering to the fact the USA has never won a WC match on European soil. That is a stat that has been repeated often today.

 

[freeandfun1]

The two red cards against the USA were bogus. The referee has no clue what he is doing (or does he? anybody for conspiracies? no, not on USMB!).

 

[freeandfun1]

You've got to give it to the US. They far outplayed Italy today and would have won the game, in my opinion, if not for the officiating.

We've still got an outside chance to move on to the next round.

 

[theHawk]

OK, I actually sat down and watched a full game of the World Cup, USA vs Italy. Now its been a long while since I played soccer, but wholly shit could the officiating be any worse? And Euros wonder why we can't stand professional soccer.