World Football Thread XXX - Germany 2006

[SpencerH]

Pretty clearly SMT did not play the kind of defense through this tournament that teams from former Yugoslavia are known for. That just supports my point that Argentina are not as strong as the 'orgasmic gushing' around here (and from the parrots on TV) suggested.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Locutus


As long as Figo plays we're very confident about it

But he wont. He was a sub in their important games.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ivory Coast

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Pretty clearly SMT did not play the kind of defense through this tournament that teams from former Yugoslavia are known for. That just supports my point that Argentina are not as strong as the 'orgasmic gushing' around here (and from the parrots on TV) suggested.

They were a World Cup contender BEFORE the tourney. So I don't think any 'orgasmic gushing' is unwarrented.

[reds4ever]

Tonight Stuart Peace said Argentina were "nailed on" for the World Cup, they may well win it but "nailed on"?. The competition proper doesn't even start until Saturday.

[atawa]

Argentina is one of 5 teams that could win this together with Germany, Ukarine, Spain and Holland.

That is if Brazil keeps playing as bad as they did in the first matches....witch they wont once Ronaldo is finaly put on the bench where he belongs

[alva]

Originally posted by Hueij

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 also gives them a way out in case things do get wrong.
Say the Dutch lost 4-0 tonight, then all could be blamed on the fact that a B-team was fielded and moral wouldn't take too much of a hit.
It's just good tactics.

[Unspeakable Horror]

Originally posted by 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

It was a good game

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Locutus


They've also played against 3 of the strongest teams in the world .

I agree that TWO of the teams are top flight but the Ivory Coast is one of the strongest teams in the world ???

Argentina, Brazil, Czech, Italy , England, France Germany, Netherlands, Portugal , Spain


Thats an alphabetical top 10 ( I don't feel great about France, Czech and Italy's showing thus far and could substitute in some others that would not include the Ivory Coast )

Which ones of these is the Ivory Coast better than or does your use of the word "strongest" extend beyond a top 10?

Originally posted by Locutus


and have been having all sorts of internal conflicts for weeks.

Part of being a great team is managing those conflicts. saying they would be good except for their internal disvisions is sort of like saying that a team is the greatest except for their lack of scoring ability

Originally posted by Locutus


And they only lost their game against Côte d'Ivoire because of a red card and 2 penalties against them (they were 2-0 up before that). But I haven't seen the game yet so I can't really judge that. Statistics are the worst form of lies.

Probably true . I did not see the game yet. But "great" teams find a way to win. Fluke goals, luck, poor officiating etc can occurr anywhere but when a team goes 0-3, the excuses start to wear thin.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by atawa


That is if Brazil keeps playing as bad as they did in the first matches....witch they wont once Ronaldo is finaly put on the bench where he belongs

I watched some of Brazil's games and they were never bad. Do they suffer from too high expectations perhaps? It seems as if they are not magical everyone starts predicting their demise. What I witnessed were two steady victories against decent teams.

Yes the Brazillian offense sparked a little more when Ronaldo was substituted out but overall the team looks like a contender

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by atawa
Argentina is one of 5 teams that could win this together with Germany, Ukarine, Spain and Holland.

Are you on drugs? If not, you should be....

[atawa]

Originally posted by Flubber


Argentina, Brazil, Czech, Italy , England, France Germany, Netherlands, Portugal , Spain


Thats an alphabetical top 10 ( I don't feel great about France, Czech and Italy's showing thus far and could substiturte in some others that would not include the Ivory Coast )

Both the Ukraine and Ivory Coast are better then France at the moment, Czech I'm not sure about, depends how soon Koller is ready for play again.
Italy sucked against the US, but they should make 1/4 at least.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by reds4ever


Are you on drugs? If not, you should be....

Is it the omission of Brazil, England or Portugal that upsets you the most?

[atawa]

Originally posted by reds4ever


Are you on drugs? If not, you should be....

Did you read the second part of my post?

But seriously, who would you name outside those 5?

[atawa]

Originally posted by Flubber


I watched some of Brazil's games and they were never bad. Do they suffer from too high expectations perhaps? It seems as if they are not magical everyone starts predicting their demise. What I witnessed were two steady victories against decent teams.

Yes the Brazillian offense sparked a little more when Ronaldo was substituted out but overall the team looks like a contender

Thats my point, at this moment Ronaldo due to his lack of speed or anything else for that matters is holdiong the team back. They are playing at around 50% of their ability at the moment I'd say.