World Football Thread XXX - Germany 2006

[OzzyKP]

USA! USA! USA!

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by lightblue


We're going to let in 3 goals after having let in 1 goal in the last 12 competitive games? More likely that we go out on penalties, but I think we'll win.

Play during the run-up to the WC and during the group matches tends to be more conservative than the knockout rounds. "Big teams" know that a draw with another "big team" is OK since they expect to beat the "small teams". What they have to avoid is a loss. The WC has always been designed so that as long as you win a few but dont lose you'll make it through to the knockout rounds. In the knockout rounds, in contrast, there is no reason to play conservatively and teams that do so often regret it.

I think that Portugal will strike early and that will open up the game. Holland will then be forced to push forward and are likely to score and be scored upon.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


You brought up FIFA rankings as some sort of barometer? I think you'll find that only some in the US media took those rankings seriously.

And they didn't score against Holland because neither team wanted to. As stated before by someone else, the path to the Final may have been easier for the runners up.

To say the gushing over Argentina is silly because the USA was ranked 5th before the WC and because Serbia's defense was really very poor is completely missing the point. Its like saying the gushing over Brazil is silly because FIFA rankings are silly. I assure you that gushing over Argentina is entirely warrented. I mean Tevez and Messi are on the bench for that team (and not because the coach can't spot talent)!

Add to that that they are a traditional WC power and I don't see how you can complain that people are 'gushing' over Argentina. Hell, it is nothing compared to the gushing over Brazil.

It would be helpful in our discussions if you actually read what I wrote instead of setting up strawmen.

[Barnabas]

"According to a report on the '20minutos' website, French medic and prophet Michel de Notredame (1503-1566), better known as Nostradamus, predicted that Spain will win the Germany 2006 World Cup finals.

The prophecy predicts that: "At the end of the sixth month of 2006, the King of Spain will cross the Pyrenees with his army. The legions of Beelzebub await the battle on the central European planes. Destruction and defeat will fall on the evil-doers. The Holy Grail will be returned to Spain by the triumphant King."

Having beaten Tunisia 3-1 and Ukraine 4-0, Spain are through to the last sixteen. Spain's final group game will be against Saudi Arabia at 4pm, this Friday, 23rd June (Canal Cuatro, La Sexta). Should they win the group, Spain could face France, who were held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea in their second game, having drawn against Switzerland last Tuesday. Switzerland beat Togo 2-0 and currently top the group on goal difference, tied on four points with South Korea, who beat Togo 1-0 in their opening game.
"

[OzzyKP]

See if that tackle was done by the Americans in the last game, we would have been red carded.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
"According to a report on the '20minutos' website, French medic and prophet Michel de Notredame (1503-1566), better known as Nostradamus, predicted that Spain will win the Germany 2006 World Cup finals.

The prophecy predicts that: "At the end of the sixth month of 2006, the King of Spain will cross the Pyrenees with his army. The legions of Beelzebub await the battle on the central European planes. Destruction and defeat will fall on the evil-doers. The Holy Grail will be returned to Spain by the triumphant King."


"

Cool prophecy

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
Should they win the group, Spain could face France, who were held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea in their second game, having drawn against Switzerland last Tuesday. Switzerland beat Togo 2-0 and currently top the group on goal difference, tied on four points with South Korea, who beat Togo 1-0 in their opening game.
"

Spain France is just one scenario--It does occurr if France wins and there is any victor in the SK-Swiss game. But the combination of a France win and a SK-Swiss draw gets interesting:

If France wins by 3 goals its France first and Swiss second

If France wins by exactly two goals- France and Swiss go through but who gets first and second depends on later tiebreaks with with the Swiss leading by one on goals for.

If France wins by one, they are eliminated unless they can score at least 2 more goals in their one goal win than SK does in their draw


So Spain CAN face SK If France loses,draws or wins by one and SK draws or loses

Spain CAN face the Swiss if France fails to win and SK beats the Swiss OR if France wins by enough to beat out the Swiss in a tiebreak if they draw with South Korea

Aren't the permutations fun?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

yeah but the final is in july, thats the 7th month.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

ghana scored?

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
ghana scored?

and Italy

[Tuberski]

What the hell was that?

A GREAT JOB BY BEASLEY........FINALLY!!

ACK!

[SpencerH]

I was just about to write that the USA was out. They were slow and flat. Then Reyna went out and they started moving. BAM they scored. Game on again!

[SpencerH]

Essian dove again BTW no yellow though.

[Tuberski]

Cheap. Very cheap.

ACK!

[OzzyKP]

What the **** was that?