World Football Thread XIV - Italy: Hail to the Champions

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui




Sorry, I know you liked him, but this is GOOD news for the US team as they were aggressively going after Klinsmann for the US National Team Coach .

Just for posterity, I mentioned he was going to be the next US coach 3 threads ago....



ACK!

[DanS]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Btw, Rangers fans have to be happy with the States right now. Yes, it was a meaningless friendly, but DC United of the MLS put the BEAT DOWN on Scottish League Champs Celtic to the score of 4-0.

FTR, DC United played mostly reserves (ie, treated it like a friendly).

Though, amusingly, the crowd in DC started chanting "We Want Rangers"

I think all the DC United players take these friendlies very seriously as it gets them European exposure. Most brought their A games -- much better than what they usually bring for a normal MLS match. It was fun to watch. Here are some highlights...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6470962940471874644&hl=en

It was as hot as hell today, like normal. It thunderstormed right before the game, which cooled things down, but made it very humid. I'm sure that had a lot to do with it, since this is only the 3rd exhibition game for Celtic and DC United is mid-season.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Dauphin
World Rankings came out today.

Aren't the US doing well.

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti...l-2006,00.html

I think 16th is pretty reasonable for a sport that ranks below paintball in terms of popularity here (I'm not sure that I'm actually being facetious about that). It's certainly respectable and more accurate than the bogus FIFA rankings that seem to energize the local commentator-parrots.

[siron]

[Spiffor]

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by SpencerH
It's certainly respectable and more accurate than the bogus FIFA rankings that seem to energize the local commentator-parrots.

[Cort Haus]

(@siron's clip)

[MikeH]

Aren't DC United peaking in fitness because they are in the middle of their regular season?

Whereas for Celtic this will be their first pre-season friendly, before any of the players are up to anywhere near full fitness.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Actually it's Celtic's 3rd friendly, IIRC.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The May 2006 rankings that had them 5th.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by SpencerH
The May 2006 rankings that had them 5th.

And this is the current FIFA rankings. So you are using the current "bogus FIFA rankings" as an example of being more accurate than the previous "bogus FIFA rankings"

[SpencerH]

I realize that you're only an attorney but you should still be able to understand the concept that the FIFA list can be less correct/realistic at one point in time than at another

[Cort Haus]

England as fith best side looks a leeetle unrealistic to me. Top eight, maybe.

[reds4ever]

Since Sunday evening the whole World has been debating what Italian
defender Marco Materazzi said to Zinedine Zidane to make the retiring
Frenchman react in the way he did.

The French captain, in his last ever professional game, thrust his
head into Materazzi's chest in Sunday's World Cup Final resulting in a
red card and shame for Zidane.

Today, with the help of Italian lip-reader Arturo Belladini, we can
reveal what drove Zidane to self destruct; Materazzi was seen to hold
Zidane's shirt on the edge of the penalty box in extra-time at which
point

Zidane said "if you want my shirt so bad you can have it"

Materazzi responded "I dont want your shirt you m***** f*****. you're
a f****** old man"

As they jog away Zidane is seen to laugh at this and it is unclear how
he responded due to him having his back to the TV camera Materazzi
then hit a volley of abuse "you should've quit 2 years ago, you're a
f****** has-been"

"m***** f*****! your mum is a f****** muslim terrorist and you are
too! f*** you old man f*** you"

"old man, this arena is not for you anymore m***** f*****"

Zidane carries on jogging away

"you are only good enough for Man Utd now!"

It's at this very point Zidane turned and head-butted him

[siron]

Originally posted by reds4ever "you are only good enough for Man Utd now!"

It's at this very point Zidane turned and head-butted him

I understand now.