Worldwide Soccer Thread I

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
football365.com is reporting that Robben could be out for a month after his ankle injury playing for Holland. The guy seems to be pretty injury prone, doesn't he?

He was still recovering when he played against Romania. Just a case of wanting to come back too soon (I hope)...

I'd like to see Holland win it for once.

Well, normally qualifying is the hardest part for the Netherlands. It's a rarity when we didn't need a play-off, a final match decider, or depended on other teams to screw up to qualify for a major tournament.

Now, for like the second time ever, it looks like we might actually qualify with ease (*knocks on wood*). I don't know how, but Van Basten manages to keep on winning, even with lots of young and (very) inexperienced players and often not terribly impressive football (though things are gradually starting to improve). There's no telling what effect that'll have on the team. It could backfire and shock the team so badly they get their arses kicked on the WC itself (that's what happened the last time we qualified with ease, back in 1990), or it might inspire confidence and result in the impossible: us actually winning the tournament for once. Providing the former doesn't happen, I'd say the Netherlands has a pretty darn good chance.

[Imran Siddiqui]

He was still recovering when he played against Romania. Just a case of wanting to come back too soon (I hope)...

Could be true. He really seemed to want to get back, and now it cost him.

Van Basten manages to keep on winning, even with lots of young and (very) inexperienced players and often not terribly impressive football (though things are gradually starting to improve)

Ok, I agree with that. Holland won 2-0 over Romania, but Romania played better than Holland during most of the game, IMO. They were just unlucky with the finishing.

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Ok, I agree with that. Holland won 2-0 over Romania, but Romania played better than Holland during most of the game, IMO. They were just unlucky with the finishing.

Well, I wouldn't say Romania played much better, both teams played pretty darn poor. But they were more on the offensive than the Dutch. Their defense however had more holes than Swiss cheese, and the Dutch offense only has itself to blame for not taking advantage of that. Our own defense was solid as rock though, and the Romanians only had one or two half-chances all match (though admittedly that also had to do with the unconvincing performance of the Romanians). Offensively though, the Netherlands really only played well in the last 10-15 minutes of each half (which is still more than in all previous qualifying matches). That lucky 1st minute goal saved the day for us, things could've gone very differently had that not gone in...

But we did win what was the 2nd most important game of this qualifying series and we won it with a 2-goal difference. Unless really weird start things happening, Romania is out of the running for a WC place and the Netherlands is well on track for either a 1st place or a best 2nd place (depending on the outcome of the Czech Rep - Netherlands match in October) and thus direct qualification for the WC...

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Put me on the Joe Cole bandwagon as well. He's been doing pretty well lately for Chelsea, even with Robben coming back, he's been playing good enough that Mourinho had to find a spot for him. Always had the promise, now it is starting to be realized.

robben is out for a month still i think. also joe cole has been playing well, but not where he played for england.

[MikeH]

He's been playing right wing for Chelsea.

Frankly, who cares where he plays as long as he plays. At international level the teams are so well disciplined and organised that it's very hard to score if you don't have anyone who can beat a man (or two) with skill - something England haven't had for ages. Now we have two, Cole and Roonaldo. We must have at least one of them playing in every game. We haven't had anyone to do that job since Gazza.

Cole's moved on so far under Mourinho this season, he's practically unrecogniseable as the wayward brilliant but erratic youth of last season.

He's played against much better opposition in the Premiership and Champions League already, potential fulfilled!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Now we have two, Cole and Roonaldo.

Hehe... Roonaldo . If he can ever get that temper under control, there's no limit to what he can accomplish. Just hope he doesn't take a flying kick at a fan as another ManU striker may have done in the past .

[Lawrence of Arabia]

**** . . . switzerland and cyprus are tied at zero at the half

[Az]

he saved you from being eliminated from the oppertunity of at least getting 2nd in the group. he can do it again.

Oh, he's the hero of that game, no doubt.

I just wonder if this is important.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

we're dominating the 2nd half, but no results yet

[Az]

you better be dominating over cyprus!

This group seems to get even more interesting... It seems like Ireland is a strong contender to win this group. Stronger than france.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

http://www.rsr.ch/view.asp?DomID=159&clickedDate=3/30/2005

you can listen live here. (click on en direct, you need real player)

[Lawrence of Arabia]

now i gotta go to class. boo erns.

[Az]

you need real player

[Az]

1:0 France.


Trezeguet is out with a red card.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

YES!!!! ALEXANDRE FREI scores in the 88th MINUTE!!!!! damn we were lucky to escape that one.