Official World Cup Thread

[Spendios]

Vive la France ! Allez les Bleus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bohdan, Lord of Courland]

This match was a complete disaster. 2-0! The attacks of the Polish team were badly co-ordinated and played out even worse. But it could have easily been 2-1 if it had not been for that blind referee
And yes, we Poles are used to having bad football teams and even worse football coaches since the 1970s

[Shaka_Khan]

I got my predictions right! Wow!

[Gealai]

Germany absolutly dominated the poor and weak guys from Costa Rica, something like 35 shots agains 4, yet it was able to get two goals. Great offensive, great movement, fast play.The
Two chances two goals for Rica. Friedrich slept two times, causing the offsidetrap to fail, although the second goal was irregular IMHO. If Germany wants to go on it must protect it's defense better and exercise it's line movements.

Poland played stunnigly bad. Ecuador seemed like a world class team.

[Ser Clegane]

Wow - the opener was much more entertaining than I would have expected.

Very nice performance in the offense by Germany but I fear if they don't improve the defence very quickly they will get torn apart when they have to play a team that actual has some class

[[DnC]]

I got my predictions right! Wow!

Haha cheater. You posted that 15 minutes before this post

[Quid]

Fair game for Germany. Not more not less. Most important for them is a win in the first game. I don't think, however, that they can play likewise against stronger opposition.

Costa Rica...well, played to the best of their abilities, I suppose. They might still give us another surpise.

Poland...well, typical. Played well in the qualifying rounds and now are nowhere near the form they were. It was already mirrored in the test games, though. Hopefully, they will give Germany a good run for their money next Wednesday, at least.

Ecuador played close to world class. Didn't give Poland a hint of a chance until the last 10 minutes or so. Am well impressed. I didn't think they would do so well.

Quid

[Rodion Romanovich]

While I was disappointed with Poland which I thought could get at least a tie in the game, Ecuador was so impressive that they're now one of my new favorites in the tournament. I suppose that means Germany and Ecuador proceed from group A. Ecuador could perhaps even win to group before Germany. They would have either England, Paraguay or Sweden in the quarter finals, all three are teams which they could defeat I think. And I think they have pretty good chances in the semi-finals too... They probably won't win the World Cup, but they could go far

[Prodigal]

COME ON ENGLAND

[Boohugh]

COME ON ENGLAND

What he said ^^

[LeftEyeNine]

Gah, sorry to disappoint you, British friends, but you'll get a draw today.

Oh and Cissé 's foot is broken in that friendly against China ! What a freakin' luck !

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Just about to sit down and watch england stuff paraguay. 3-0 i reckon, a header from terry, then a lamps then owen to finish it.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Haha funny own goal 4 minutes into England-Paraguay... Poor Paraguay Looking at this match I wonder if perhaps Sweden rather than Paraguay will take the second place in the group. England will take the first - they've shown a very good defensive work so far. I wonder what changes will be made after the half time. My 3-2 predictions doesn't seem likely at this point...

[Equilibrium]

Watching England - Paraguay, the brits don't really convince me and paraguay's getting better atm; the 1 - 0 was really bad luck for them...I guess a draw will be the result in the end.

[naut]

Amazing free-kick. It should have been more though, 1 - 0 is simply not enough. But that was possibly the worst refereeing I have ever seen. Terrible descisions or the lack of decisions. No. 13 for Paraguay should have been sent off multiple times.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Although I'm English and my opinion might be biased....but was that referee wearing a Paraguay shirt underneath his referee's shirt, or do South Americans Stick together?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Paraguay didn't play well its just that are second half performance was beyond belief and then bringing on downing and hargreaves who imo have no talent just summed it up. The 2nd half shambles will undermine the first half performance as we ripped them apart for the first 45 mins. We cannot afford to play like that against someone like sweden.

But we got the three points and the first game is always the hardest, smash TAT and then beat sweden 1-0 and then the 2nd round against either ecuador or Costa Rica and we should be fine

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

I really sympathise with the England players-it was tactical ineptitude and poor substitutions that were responsible for the poor second half performance, and that wasn't their fault.

If they can keep the standard of play they were exhibiting in the first half up, they should do well.

[Boohugh]

Not the most convincing performance from England in the second half. Our inability to kill off a game when we are dominating could cause us problems later on in the tournament.

The refereeing was a complete joke though, so much for FIFA claims it would be better this time round. Some of the decisions were just laughable, such as Gerrard being given a yellow card in the first half even though TV replays clearly show he didn't touch the player or Downing being body-checked as he ran past a Paraguayan player only for play to continue with Paraguay in possession in the second half.

[Soulforged]

Although I'm English and my opinion might be biased....but was that referee wearing a Paraguay shirt underneath his referee's shirt, or do South Americans Stick together?

Oh we stick to our brothers always ... And I specially hate the english football team (kidding) so my opinion might be biased too. There was no actual team dominating the match this time, it has happened many times to England during debutes in the World Cup. Though Paraguay was unlucky i think that they sincerelly didn't diserve to win this match, they played as many desperate teams play, long unprecise shots, little coherence and little game play. On the other hand England played the football that we all want to watch, though only for a few moments. All in all I think this diserved a draw. Anyway, I still think that this two are the ones who will make it to the round of 16.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

That Sweden vs T&T game was great fun. Always nice to see the underdogs do well.

[Red Peasant]

It's the World Cup and most teams will have at least 15 mins of good play, which Paraguay did for part of the second half. England controlled the match and came out with the win. Result. Judging by some of the typical over-reaction in the media, however, we may as well pack our bags and leave now! Tossers.

[Radier]

Sweden T-T : 0-0

Nonononono.....

[Dutch_guy]

That Sweden vs T&T game was great fun. Always nice to see the underdogs do well.

Quite something indeed, especially since T&T were playing with one man less than Sweden, because of a red card in the first minute of the second half !

I most certainly had not suspected T&T to last, let alone keep the Swedes at bay.

[InsaneApache]

Well played Trinidad and Tobago, down to 10 men and still got a draw, they are my 2nd team in the championship. Most of them are, or have played in the English and Scottish leagues. It also leaves the group wide open. Be nice to see T&T and England go through.

Oh! and RP I couldn't agree more with you. Germany, Italy etc, etc... play badly and still win, I can see the headlines in the News of the World tomorrow. Onanists.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

The T&T game was great, I was really hoping they'd do well. Excellent goalkeeping from Shaka Hislop.

[ShadesWolf]

Excellent match by T&T well played boys.

And BTW its not Brits, its Engllsh.

Next up a victory for Ivory Coast would be great

[Dutch_guy]

Argentina - Ivory coast is quite an impressive match, with the former leading with 2 - 0 at half time. You might not say so judging by the score, but ivory coast is playing great, and has had at least one great chance to score a goal.

Also, the second goals was a beauty, a brilliant Riquelme moment - need I say more ?

Hope the second half 'll continue to be as interesting to watch as the first half was.

[Dutch_guy]

Never mind, double post...

[ShadesWolf]

Ok that was the best game Ive seen so far, I've watched 4 out of the 5 matches ( missed the Poland match as we had a power cut)

I felt IV were very unlucky, not that impressed with the defense of Argentina but they luck very quick and dangerous going forward.