World Football Thread XXX - Germany 2006

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by duke o' york
Politely: a young fan of Olympique Lyonnais tells Zidane that he'd rather have his picture taken with Chimbonda because he doesn't care particularly for old people.

Originally posted by alva
In short, that he is a "has been".

OUCH!!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Footie Mad
Yes the FIFA ranking are a joke really, I don't know how but they really need to remodel the way the teams are valued. I mean a team like Serbia, while weak in the tournament, finished ahead of top seeds Spain in qualifying and still were in the lowest seeded group.

well one big problem seems to be that demolishing the rest of the Concacaf field seems to earn you too many points


Serbia at 44 seems appropriate as they have lost what . . . 7-0 combined to two top-10 teams. A top 20 team should generally be more compoetitive than that

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Footie Mad
Won't be any easy games in the last sixteen, but if I were Argentina and Netherlands I would try to win the group and get Mexico who look weaker than Portugal and with no real winning instinct. But it will be teams made up partly of reserves that's for certain, pretty good reserves though.

Van Basten (the Dutch coach) said he is replacing 5 of the six players with a yellow card. First to protect them and secondly because he feels that the substitutes should be able to replace the first choice players in the next round matches without weakening the team and therefore should be given play time.

It doesn't matter, Kuyt will outshine Robben this tournament

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think Argentina will be doing the same, but as we've seen, Argentina's subs are just as good, if not better, than the starters!

[Dauphin]

I'm just hoping for goals in the remaing games tonight.

I bet on Group C to have the most group goals (at 12/1) and Spain to score the most goals in the group stage (at 13/1). Lets see if I can cash in on at least one of them.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I think Argentina will be doing the same, but as we've seen, Argentina's subs are just as good, if not better, than the starters!

and in this situation, both side may as well play to win.

Winning keeps the momentum and likely will avoid all of Portugal, England, Spain and Brazil until the final

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Flubber
Serbia at 44 seems appropriate as they have lost what . . . 7-0 combined to two top-10 teams. A top 20 team should generally be more compoetitive than that

You're gonna base a team's quality on a single game??

Serbia have the strongest defense in the world, they were undefeated in the qualifiers, conceding only 1 goal and outranking Spain who were in the same group. If I'm not very much mistaken they haven't lost any friendlies in a long time either.

The one problem the Serbs have is that once they're down they stay down. It's very hard to get any goals against them but once you score two or three times, their defence crumbles and you can easily score 5-6 goals. We saw that last week against Argentina and 8 years ago against the Netherlands (when we won 6-1), but other than that they're a very solid team.

You could argue whether they should be just inside or just outside the top 10, but they're definitely one of the strongest teams in the world.

Originally posted by Footie Mad
Yes the FIFA ranking are a joke really, I don't know how but they really need to remodel the way the teams are valued. I mean a team like Serbia, while weak in the tournament, finished ahead of top seeds Spain in qualifying and still were in the lowest seeded group.

Fortunately FIFA doesn't use their ranking system for seedings, they seem to be aware of how crappy it is. Of course, the system they do use isn't too good either. Miss one WC or EC (regardless of how tough your qualifying group is) and you pay the price by being seeded very low for the next 10 years. The Netherlands and Serbia both missed WC02 (the Dutch due to subpar performance, Serbia due to having a very tough qualifying group), so unless they compensate by winning a WC or EC they will be seeded below their actual level for the next 6 years.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Flubber
and in this situation, both side may as well play to win.

Winning keeps the momentum and likely will avoid all of Portugal, England, Spain and Brazil until the final

Yeah, but winning puts you in the path of Germany, who is probably more scary than Portugal or England with the home pitch advantage. And they are Germany, they'll get outplayed but find some way to win.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Locutus

Fortunately FIFA doesn't use their ranking system for seedings, they seem to be aware of how crappy it is. Of course, the system they do use isn't too good either. Miss one WC or EC (regardless of how tough your qualifying group is) and you pay the price by being seeded very low for the next 10 years. The Netherlands and Serbia both missed WC02 (the Dutch due to subpar performance, Serbia due to having a very tough qualifying group), so unless they compensate by winning a WC or EC they will be seeded below their actual level for the next 6 years.

You also have the perpetuation problem that seeding brings. If you are seeded you miss out on playing a top rank team and so are more likely to qualify, and more likely make you a seed next time around.

The US would likely have qualified and Mexico not if those seedings were reversed. As it is, next time around Mexico have a leg up against the US for the top seedings.

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Yeah, but winning puts you in the path of Germany, who is probably more scary than Portugal or England with the home pitch advantage. And they are Germany, they'll get outplayed but find some way to win.

At this stage of the tournament it doesn't matter who you have to play against, all games will be hard. And if you want to become the World Champion you'll have to be able to beat them all

[Hueij]

Ah, our Anthem is playing. Talk to you guys in about 50 minutes

[Lawrence of Arabia]

7h00 : Réveil des joueurs.
7h01 : Chimbonda se demande ce qu´il fait là
7h10 : Barthez crache sur Coupet
7h30 : Petit déjeuner
7h32 : Zidane jongle avec le croissant de Gallas
7h35 : Gallas d´un geste vif et élégant assène un coup de genou dans les parties de Zidane pour reprendre le croissant
7h36: Zidane annonce sa retraite
7h38: Zidane revient en équipe de France
8h00 : Les joueurs sortent de l´hôtel.
8h05 : Un jeune supporter Lyonnais explique à Zidane que ce n´est pas lui qu´il a demandé sur la photo mais Chimbonda, parce que les vieux il s´en fout.
8h10 : Domenech téléphone à Pires pour l´insulter
8h15 : Barthez court piquer les gants à Coupet avant l´entraînement.
8h20 : Henry arrive au petit déjeuner, son dernier contrat publicitaire sous le bras
8h40 : Aulas essaye de kidnapper Abidal pour ne pas qu´il joue.
9h10 : Coupet fait une interview simultanément pour France Football, l´équipe, Onze mondial, Télé 7 jour, VSD, Paris Match et X-mag.
9h15 : Barthez crache sur un supporters le prenant pour un arbitre
9h25 : Domenech demande à Zizou qu´est ce qu´il veut faire comme entraînement aujourd´hui.
9h30 : Début de l´entraînement
9h36 : Fin de l´entraînement des gardien, Coupet est blessé par un mystérieux piège à loup laissé là involontairement, Barthez est victime
d´un attentat de Jean-Michel Larqué criant "gloire au nouveau roi lyonnais", "gloire au nouveau roi lyonnais"
9h40 : L´équipe de Zidane encaisse un but par l´équipe de Henry.
9h41 : Pierre Menez déclare, je vous l´avais dit quand Henry joue seul devant il est exceptionnel, c´est Zidane qui ne sait pas lui faire de passe
9h43 : Zidane annonce sa retraite
9h50 : Zidane revient en équipe de France
9h51 : Aulas est rattrapé in extrémiste en train de kidnapper Malouda
10h00 : Coupet sort de l´infirmerie et signe des autographes aux journalistes.
10h10 : Sarkozy vient voir Domenech pour lui demander de retirer Thuram de
l´effectif, un joueur pareil ne mérite pas l´équipe nationale d´un si beau
pays.
10h12 : Thuram asperge Sarkozy au karcher pour rigoler
10h22 : Barthez crache sur un journaliste qui passait avec un maillot de
Coupet.
10h35 : Henry part en avance de l´entraînement pour aller tourner une pub
pour Milka.
10h35 : L´équipe de Zidane reprend le match, remonte le terrain et égalise.

10h36 : Pierre Menez signale que depuis que Henry n´est plus là, l´équipe
de Zidane a 100% de possession de balle
10h46 : L´équipe de Zidane marque encore.
10h47 : Menez signale que depuis que Henry n´est plus là rien ne va.
10h50 : Cissé met un double avec l´(ex) équipe de Henry
10h55 : Fin du match et de l´entraînement
11h00 : Menez signale qu´Henry a encore une fois était décisif marquent le
but qui a lancée son équipe vers la victoire
11h05 : Ribery prend Domenech en otage pour lui faire signer un contrat
certifiant que dorénavant Ribery est obligatoirement pris dans l´équipe
11h07 : Aulas en profite pour faire signer un contrat a Domenech signalant
qu´aucun joueur Lyonnais n´a le droit d´être pris dans l´équipe
11h10 : Les joueurs sortent des vestiaires et regagnent l´hôtel
11h11 : Un fou entre dans la chambre de Zidane sur un cheval en hurlant,
"Soyons patriotes, supportons notre équipe et surtout que le football ne
soit qu´un jeu, et les supporters ne soient qu´amour"
11h12 : La police intervient, Francis Lalanne est le premier nom qui
circule
11h30 : Chimbonda téléphone a sa maman pour lui dire qu´il vient de jouer
un match avec Zidane
11h45 : Conférence de presse, Makelele annonce sa retraite
11h46 : Conférence de presse, Makelele annonce qu´il revient en équipe de
France
12h00 : Déjeuner.
12h01 : Aimer Jacquet vient manger à l´hôtel, c´est meilleur et pas plus
cher qu´à Casino
12h10 : Henry rentre de sa pub, prend un kinder en passant et va jouer à la
playstation.
12h20 : Trezeguet rentre de son cours de français
12h40 : Chimbonda appelle sa maman pour lui dire qu´il mange à coté de
Thuram
13h00 : Domenech demande à Zidane ce qu´ils vont faire de l´après-midi
13h12 : Coupet pose pour les photographes de Guts, People magazine, Télé 2
semaines, allociné, le parisien, jeuxvideo mag, Femina, elle et playboy
13h20 : Barthez crache sur l´objectif.
13h30 : Sieste des joueurs.
13h35 : Henry dit qu´il fera sa sieste plus **** et va tourner une pub pour
Charal
15h00 : Henry rentre de sa pub
15h30 : Réveil des joueurs
15h40 : Séance vidéo.
15h41 : Domenech demande à Zidane ce qu´il faut regarder comme vidéo.
16h00 : Après avoir vu son épisode préféré d´Olive et Tom, Zidane pense que
c´est le dernier match qu´il faudrait regarder.
16h02 : Henry sort tourner une pub pour Justin Bridou
16h30 : Chimbonda appelle sa maman pour dire qu´il regarde un match de foot
avec Vieira.
16h35 : Zidane décide que plutôt que de regarder leur dernier match, il
valait mieux étudier la finale de 98, c´est toujours mauvais de se
rendormir après une sieste.
16h40 : Chimbonda est tout étonné de voir qu´avant la France dépassais le
milieu du terrain, et avec le ballon en plus
16h55 : Premier but de Zidane, qui se blesse au crâne en imitant son geste.

17h00 : Zidane annonce sa retraite
17h01 : Zidane revient en équipe de France
17h03 : Henry rentre de sa pub.
17h15 : Fin de la séance vidéo
17h25 : Barthez use tout son crédit en téléphonant à Football magazine, pour voter au sondage qui est le n°1
17h30 : Henry s´achète une nouvelle Ferrari
17h45 : Henry étrenne sa nouvelle Ferrari pour aller tourner sa pub pour Narta.
18h00 : Domenech demande à Zidane si les joueurs veulent s´entraîner une deuxième fois
18h01 : Les joueurs décident d´aller tous ensemble à la plage
18h01 : Henry qui venait juste de rentrer demande a les accompagner, il a justement une pub pour Always à tourner la bas
18h15 : Chimbonda téléphone à sa maman pour dire qu´il a vu Gallas en maillot de bain
18h25 : Aulas profite que tous les joueurs soient partis se baigner pour ramener Abidal à Lyon

18h30 : Henry a terminé sa pub et fait un foot avec un des fils de Zidane
18h40 : Pierre Menez clame que Henry est le meilleur joueur du monde en le voyant faire un passement de jambe à Enzo
18h45 : Nicolas Sarkozy effectue un contrôle des papiers de Thuram
19h00 : Les joueurs rentrent
19h01 : Chimbonda téléphone à sa maman pour dire qu´il est dans la nouvelle Ferrari de Henry.

19h15 : Domenech demande à Zidane se que les joueurs vont faire le lendemain
19h20 : Thuram annonce sa retraite
19h21 : Zidane annonce que Thuram retourne en équipe de France
19h30 : Henry sort tourner une pub pour Pampers
19h50 : Fin de la journée les joueurs vont se coucher
20h00 : Extinction des feu dans toutes les chambres
20h01 : Chimbonda reçoit un coup de fil de sa maman pour savoir comment s´est passée sa journée
20h30 : Henry rentre
21h00 : Chimbonda se demande se qu´il fait là

7h00 - Players wake up
7h01 - Chimonda wonders what he is doing here
7h10 - Barthez spits at Coupet
7h30 - Breakfast
7h32 - Zidane juggles with Galla's croissant
7h35 - Gallas knees Zidane in the balls with a quick and smooth motion to get his croissant back
7h36 - Zidane announces his retirement
7h38 - Zidane comes out of retirement
8h00 - the players leave the hotel
8h05 - A young fan of Lyon explains to Zidane that its not him who he wants on the photo, but Chimonda, because he doesnt care about has beens
8h10 - Domenech calls Pires to insult hiim
8h15 - Barthez runs to steal Coupet's gloves before practice
8h20 - Henry arrives at breakfast with his latest publicity contract under his arm
8h40 - Aulas tries to kidnap Abidal so he can't play
9h10 - Coupet gives simulatenous interviews to France Football, l´équipe, Onze mondial, Télé 7 jour, VSD, Paris Match and X-mag.
9h15 - Barthez spits on a fan he mistook for a referee.
9h25 - Domenech asks Zidane what he wants to practice today
9h30 - Practice begins
9h36 - Goalkeeper practice ends, Coupet injured by a wolf trap mysteriously left on the field. Jean-Michel Larquez declares "glory to the new king of Lyon"
9h40 - Zidane's team gets scored on by Henry's team
9h41 - Pierre Mendez says "I told you that when Henry plays up front he is exceptionnel, it is Zidane who doenst know how to serve him the ball"
9h43 - Zidane retires
9h50 - Zidane comes out of retirement
9h51 - Aulas caught redhanded trying to kidnap Malouda
10h00 - Coupet leaves the infermery and signs autographs for journalists
10h10 - Sarkozy visits Domenech and tells him not to play Thuram. Such a player should not destroy the look of the team. (racial overtones)
10h22 - Barthez spits on a passing journalist wearing a Coupet jersey
10h35 - Henry leaves early to go film a commercial
10h35 - Zidane's team equalizes.
10h36 - Pierre Mendez informs us that since Henry has left, Zidane's team has possessed the ball 100% of them time.
10h46 - Zidane's team scores again
10h47 - Pierre Mendez tells us that since Henry has left, something needs to be done.
10h50 - Cissé scores a brace for Henry's (ex) team
10h55 - Practice ends
11h00 - Pierre Mendez informs us that Henry scored the goal that got his team on the road to victory.

[...]

13h30 - 15h30 - Siesta
16h35 - Zidane says that instead of watching film of last game, hes going to watch film of the final of 1998 because its not good to fall asleep after a siesta
16h40 - Chimonda cannot believe that team france is dominating the midfield, even when they have the ball.
16h55 - Zidane scores the first goal, he hurts his head while imitating it in the video room

[...]

17h25 - Barthez uses all of his prepay phone credit calling Football magazine to vote in their poll on who is number 1 goalkeeper of france

[...]

18h45 - Thuram papers are checked by Sarkozy

[...]

21h00 - Chimonda wonders what he is doing here

[Imran Siddiqui]

Wow... Serbia is up 2-1 on Ivory Coast!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Wow... Serbia is up 2-1 on Ivory Coast!

Not a shocker

But Serbia lost a man Nadj in the 45th minute

Also a weird stat-- The site I am checking shows Ivory Coast with ball possession almost 70% of the time. I'm at work so cannot see the game. Is Ivory Caost just diddling about while Serbia goes for quick strikes immediately?

[Flubber]

Netherland Argentina 0-0 at the half eh


I see stats showing Netherlands have 1 shot at net . Argentina has only 2 on goal from 5 attempts. I would think they were just diddling about in midfield but Argentina does have 8 corners so there is some action