Official World Cup Thread

[Ser Clegane]

I really couldn't care who wins the World Cup next summer. All I'm asking for from God is to see the Germans suffer horribly.

It seems someone hasn't fully digested some semifinal losses yet

[English assassin]

It seems someone hasn't fully digested some semifinal losses yet

Well that easily beats forever being just a penalty-shootout away from being a serious contender as in the case of England.

Who the bloody hell invented penalty shoot outs anyway??? I bet it was a German.

If we lose to Germany on penalties again I think I will eat my own head.

[LeftEyeNine]

English Assassin is a Hydra !

And if he's a Hydra, England may see the semi-finals!

[[DnC]]

Lets keep the politics aside boys and lets all just agree that England will win it by beating Brazil 3-0 in the final

What..like France did in 1998 when Brazil's previous match wore them down so much when they played against the Netherlands?

[Dutch_guy]

Who the bloody hell invented penalty shoot outs anyway??? I bet it was a German.

If we lose to Germany on penalties again I think I will eat my own head.

penalties have been out worst fear for ages...so it has to be a german who invented it ~p

Our penalty fear suddenly vanished when we beat Sweden in the EC after playing 0-0 in regular play time.

[Fragony]

Who the bloody hell invented penalty shoot outs anyway??? I bet it was a German.

As penalties are our doom, I agree

//struggles to avoid politics

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Of course if the Dutch and the English have to go to penalties against whoever it is, the chances are we will both go out, as when it comes to penalties we both usually suck at it.

The dream scenario for moi would be to get Germany in the final and then beat them 5-4 on penalties for all those past agonies. Infact anyone would do as long as we win a shoot out

[Monarch]

The Dutch are not too bad on penalties anymore, wasnt is at the last euro they won a penalty shoot out???

[English assassin]

After the Euro 2004 debacle, we (that is my mates in the pub) decided that the solution is for Sven to have some cards printed before the match with "top right" "top left" "bottom right" etc printed on them.

Then, when it comes to a shoot out, he picks his five men and hands them each a card at random. All they have to do is put the ball where the card says. It would remove all the mind games about which way is the keeper going etc which are, presumably, the only reason why incredibly well paid football players are suddenly incapable of putting the ball on target from a distance of 12 yards.

[Fragony]

The Dutch are not too bad on penalties anymore, wasnt is at the last euro they won a penalty shoot out???

Who doesn't believe in miracles isn't a realist.

[InsaneApache]

Looks like Turkey got stuffed after all.

FIFA

Turkey have been ordered by world soccer's governing body Fifa to play their next six home matches at a neutral ground and behind closed doors.

The punishment comes following a fracas after their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland, last June.

I thought they might have thrown the book at Turkey, I never imagined it would be a library.

[Louis VI the Fat]

That is a bit harsh. The way the Turkish team and crowd behaved was ridiculous, but this punishment seems a bit out of proportion.

Turkey won the first match on 16 November, 4-2, but were beaten to a berth at the World Cup, after losing the second leg 2-0 in Bern.

Hey, whatever happened to the much admired flawless reporting from Auntie Beeb?

Turkey won their second match, not their first.

[Dutch_guy]

yes it is, it's too harsh, six games without fans on neutral ground is about as hard as it gets...

And what kind of punishments did the Swiss team get, as they did have some part in the commotion at least...

[InsaneApache]

Hey, whatever happened to the much admired flawless reporting from Auntie Beeb?

Do not get me onto the accuracy of BBC sports reporting..

May I present this as an example?

Quote:
Former Manchester United coach Brian Kidd is eager to get back into football after recovering from prostrate cancer.

[Quid]

And what kind of punishments did the Swiss team get, as they did have some part in the commotion at least...

The hearings showed the following results:

1. The players Alpay, Emre (both Turkey), and Huggel (Switzerland) each are being excluded for the next 6 'point games'. In addition to that, all of the above have been fined CHF 15'000 (plus court costs of up to CHF 10'000 each).

2. The player Serkan (Turkey) and physiotherapist Stephan Meyer (Switzerland) each are banned from 2 'point games' and receive a fine of CHF 5000 and CHF 6500 respectively.

3. The Turkish assistant coach Oezdilek is banned for a year and fined CHF 15'000.

4. The Turkish FA has to play on neutral territory behind closed doors for 6 matches. Additionally, they are being fined CHF 200'000 and have to pay court costs of about CHF 20'000.

All court rulings are on a provisional basis at present with the exception of point 2, which is definite. Both parties have 30 days in which they can either accept the rulings or contest them.

All in all, it might seem harsh but personally I think it was about time FIFA got their fingers out and punished those that were involved in that match. It can't be that teams and their staff (and spectators) behave in such a fashion and get away unpunished.

For some, it might effectively end their National career, for others, it gives them time to reflect on their silliness. Tough!

Quid

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Well deserved and even much watered down let alone harsh.
.

[Dutch_guy]

thanks for the brief summary Quid.

Have any of you been following the Africa Cup by the way?
I saw a bit of Egypt - Senegal on the news today,highlight of the match was when an Egyptian player - Mido- was substitued by the Egyptian coach for a player called Amr Zaki, Mido didn't take it very well and nearly got into a fight with his coach in full view of everyone in the stadium it would have definitely gotten worse if not for a fellow Egyptian player who got between the arguing couple.

Ironically Amr Zaki proceeded to take position in the field and score the winning goal at first ball contact...

here is the link explaining the match and scene I just described :

http://www.eurosport.com/football/eg...to829184.shtml

[Dutch_guy]

Well, it was about time that this thread got resurrected, I mean this is the official thread.

So I presume you're all following the match ? Germany - Costa Rica ?

I guess it's an Okay first game, with Germany leading 2 -1 at the moment.

We might want to post all further soccer / football related stuff in here, although the predictions should be posted in the original threads - we owe that to the respective thread starters.

[Fragony]

German team seems to be in good shape, two nice goals. CRC counter they gave away though, what was the defence thinking standing there in the middle of the field. Costa Rica is no world cup material, very sloppy team.

[Dutch_guy]

Yes I agree.

The Germans seem to be playing fairly well, though their defence isn't in too good a shape - the Costa Rican goals was a costly mistake.

However It'd be interesting to see how the germans fair against somewhat better playing teams. If the word ''team'' is an appropriate one for their current adversaries...

[Fragony]

3-2, like a full stack of teutonic knights charging on peasants, how on earth did costa rica ever qualify, blatantly unworthy of a WC match. Germany doesn't impress me either, two outragious mistakes that costs them dearly. They may be saving up energy for what's comming but this isn't the diciplined german machine we love to hate, like watching a team in a national cup of little importance. I am extremily dissapointed in my dearest rival.

edit:Rediculously beautiful fourth goal, what a whopper. Lots of individual talent there in Germany but as a team they will have to do better....

[Boohugh]

That ball really moves through the air

I can see keepers having nightmares over the thought of people like Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, etc whacking that at them

[Avicenna]

Wooh, 4-2. Exactly double my prediction

[LeftEyeNine]

As it was already obvious, Germany has an inexperienced and erroneous defesive line. It's one of the best Panzer upfront in recent years however these guys are famous for their solid and machine-like teamwork, and this genuineness starts from the defence -where Germany is suffering.

It will obviously be harder for the hosts. Hopeless Costa Rica can bag two goals and..well, they will need extraordinary motivation to meet expectations.

Waiting for the match of one of my surprise teams of the tournament, Ecuador 's game against Poland.

Go Ecuador ! " Si, Se Puede !! "

[LeftEyeNine]

For all World-Cup-o-philiacs in the house, get your readymade match schedule below, in which you can enter the results that will automatically be processed in the relevant group's standings.

World Cup 2006 Calendar

w00t WooT !!

[Fragony]

As it was already obvious, Germany has an inexperienced and erroneous defesive line. It's one of the best Panzer upfront in recent years however these guys are famous for their solid and machine-like teamwork, and this genuineness starts from the defence -where Germany is suffering.

They were surprisingly offensive, seemed like two seperate teams, offense and defence that were not in concert at all. Not sure what to make of this mess match but I doubt germany will get very far like this.

[[DnC]]

Germany played decently with some good moments of nice teamplay. The highlights of the game for me were definitely Lahm's and Frings' goals. Absolute beauties. Their defense however didn't do so well. And it showed when Wanchope scored twice. Although the second was offside.

Costa Rica played horridly for the most part. Very bad defending. - Cover your man, don't look at the ball ffs!! - Also poor offense. Biggest problem was that they didn't use their chance to counter-attack. Far too many times they stopped at midfield and gave the germans time to recover. Also they waited far too long playing the ball and tried to play with the ball too much instead of passing the ball to another player. Rarely would their tricks work.

In the end it was a nice first match to watch due to the large amount of goals, of which two were simply amazing shots.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Wooh, 4-2. Exactly double my prediction

My prediction was 3-1. For a moment it looked like it could come true... Anyway 4 goals was more than I expected from the German offensive. Looks like the team is even more offensively oriented than I thought - I overestimated defense and underestimated offense. Then again, the second Costa Rica goal was actually an offside and the fourth German goal was a bit of luck - a brilliant shot, but still any team is supposed to stop shots from such distances either at the defenders or at the goalkeeper. The player change the last minute was also interesting - that guy runs fast! With him and Ballack in the field in more important games they can get even better than they were today, and Klose was as usual playing very good.

Now time for Ecuador vs Poland!

[cegorach]

That was just pathetic ! Poland can pack and get back so can 300 000 Polish football fans. Fortunatelly soccer teams gave us so much disappointement in the past that it won't be a tragedy rather a source of numerous jokes.

[LeftEyeNine]

Poland 0 - 2 Ecuador

Yes then, Ecuadoran underdogs made it. Absolute power of control on the ball, confident short passes, fatal dribblings and last ditch tackles brought the glorious start.

Men of the match : Giovanny Espinoza & Ulises De La Cruz

Though their captain Ivan Hurtado is a solid defender, Espinoza surely stands out for this match. In front of the unconvincing keeper, Christian Mora, this strong centre-back was agile and brave enough to save his storming team from any shocks. Worth watching out in the upcoming matches if he can keep up with his rocky defence.

De La Cruz is the only (IIRC) Ecuadoran that currently plays in Europe, and that proves out why he is. Ecuador's right wing was a constant threat to Polish defence, most of the attacks coming through that flank, and De La Cruz was like a lightning in shoes. It was around 80 minutes when he dribbled all along half of the whole pitch dodging the exhausted Polish. Definite one to keep a close eye on if you are the coach of the opponent.

Carlos Tenorio is another one to remark as well. He was only recently out of an injury but seemed fit enough to disturb and create a goal. I expect him to be better by the following matches.

Poland is more pathetic than Germany when compared in terms of defence. I couldn't see them doing their job at all. Thanks to Artur Boruc who is good enough to compensate Dudek's absence, Ecuador made only 2 goals. Poland's revival in the last minutes was due to the concentration loss of Ecuador who did not expect their rivals to be so soft. Pawel Brozek, a young gun I've known for the last 2 years, showed his class by taking a good control and bending a shot that ricochetted off the post. Poland can not defend, at least Brozek should be given time so that they can create more goals, he needs self confidence.

There is also a negative sidenote about Ecuador among all other pluses. Though I couldn't determine if it was a tactical move to save energy or not but Poland did not come across with much resistance until they were around Ecuador's penalty box. This may be due to their anchorman's low performance, maybe a tactical move but it will give chances to score to more talented feet -Germany has a couple of them.