Official World Cup Thread

[Soulforged]

Well, it was a draw... not boring but a draw in the end. It was, without doubt, the most expected and concurred match so far. Many stars witnessing the match: Maradona, Platini, Beckenbauer, Rumenige, between others. I liked the spirit of relaxation both in the field and in the tribunes between the fans. That's the only thing that compensated my anxiaty.

[Louis VI the Fat]

What a pity there was nothing at stake in Arg-Hol. It was easily the biggest game in the first round, but didn't amount to anything now. Let's hope they meet each other later in the tournament again.

What's with the defeatism in the English camp? Few of the biggies in the tournament have played to their full potential yet. Brazil, Italy have not made more of an impression than England so far. Only Argentina, Spain and Germany have been impressive. But the Spanish and Germans, like the Czechs, Dutch and Portugese have shown signs of weaknesses too. France is not a serious contender, nor anybode else apart from the teams I already mentioned.

England still has a fair shot at the title.

[scotchedpommes]

What's with the defeatism in the English camp? Few of the biggies in the tournament have played to their full potential yet. Brazil, Italy have not made more of an impression than England so far. Only Argentina, Spain and Germany have been impressive. But the Spanish and Germans, like the Czechs, Dutch and Portugese have shown signs of weaknesses too. France is not a serious contender, nor anybode else apart from the teams I already mentioned.

England still has a fair shot at the title.

A fair shot? Not if improvements aren't made in the defence, and add to that if
anything happens to one of their other forwards they might have serious
problems. Aspects of defence were simply shocking at times against Sweden. I
found it amusing that one of the players I'd picked out as doing particularly well
was Owen Hargreaves, and yet he is the one many of the England fans criticise
and boo.

[Soulforged]

...Owen Hargreaves...

I feel sorry for him. It's always sad to see a great player leave the tournament. Besides if we were to defeat England at some point I'd like it to be at it's maximum potencial. And I'm still waiting for Burdisso in my own team. Let's hope for the best.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Hargreaves is still in the tournament. You might be getting him confused with Michael Owen?

[scotchedpommes]

I feel sorry for him. It's always sad to see a great player leave the tournament. Besides if we were to defeat England at some point I'd like it to be at it's maximum potencial. And I'm still waiting for Burdisso in my own team. Let's hope for the best.

Owen Hargreaves

Michael Owen

[Soulforged]

Owen Hargreaves

Michael Owen

Yep. Sorry, too many Owens then. I thoght that Hargreaves was something like a second name...

[Louis VI the Fat]

Michael Owen Hargreaves?

Well we're all familiar with how Spanish football players are known by a single brief abbreviation. That's because their full name would take up several football shirts - the Spanish insist on having a name that reads like a full family genealogical tree.

That somebody could be called 'John Smith', and 'John Smith' only is puzzling to the Spanish world. 'Michael Owen' can't be a name, it must be an abbreviation.

In real life, Soulforged is probably named something like Juan Pérez Martínez María González y González Alonso Pedro Muy Magnifico Soulforged de Montoya.

[Soulforged]

Michael Owen Hargreaves?

Now I was thinking more like, Michael Hargreaves Owen... but Hardgreaves sounds more like a last name.

Well we're all familiar with how Spanish football players are known by a single brief abbreviation. That's because their full name would take up several football shirts - the Spanish insist on having a name that reads like a full family genealogical tree.

Well that's not true in all cases... I think it's more a case of tradition.

That somebody could be called 'John Smith', and 'John Smith' only is puzzling to the Spanish world. 'Michael Owen' can't be a name, it must be an abbreviation.

LOL - I don't know, maybe with the Spaniards that's true. But I assure you that this is not the case here.

In real life, Soulforged is probably named something like Juan Pérez Martínez María González y González Alonso Pedro Muy Magnifico Soulforged de Montoya.

Muy Magnifico? LOL - You once again show your sense of humour Louis , as always "magnifique". Nah... My name is only one, followed by my last name wich of course designates my italian ascendence. But it's nothing like Juan, Gonzalo, González (pretty rare in Argentina, unless it's a last name), Pedro or Pepe (wich happens to be an abbreviation too).

[Dutch_guy]

Well, it was a draw... not boring but a draw in the end. It was, without doubt, the most expected and concurred match so far. Many stars witnessing the match: Maradona, Platini, Beckenbauer, Rumenige, between others. I liked the spirit of relaxation both in the field and in the tribunes between the fans. That's the only thing that compensated my anxiaty.

Indeed, a decent game with decent football shown by both teams.

As said, it would have been great had there actually been something at stake, well maybe we'll meet you again in the semi's ?

Would most definitely be a great match if both sides start with their best team, unlike yesterday.

[Goalie]

GOOAALL for the U.S. finally a goal that we actually scored. GAH! Now ghana has a pk, come on keller.

[Goalie]

Dang, Ghana scored, 2-1 Ghana, haha the czechs got a guy sent off now and are playing with 10.

[Goalie]

Dang, Ghana scored, 2-1 Ghana, haha the czechs got a guy sent off now and are playing with 10.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

So ghana wins? That's cool, I was kinda rooting for them anyway, they were more fun to watch than the us. Hopefully they'll broadcast the ghana vs brazil game.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Doesn't really matter if USA advances, they'd play Brazil...

[DukeofSerbia]

For one hour Croatia play against Australia. Or maybe I can say Croatia B as 7 Australian players have Croat origin and two players of Croatia are born in Australia.


I did't comment game between Serbia nad Cot d'Ivore. Žigić is defenitely best Serbian striker. But Dudić played volleyball.

[Soulforged]

Indeed, a decent game with decent football shown by both teams.

As said, it would have been great had there actually been something at stake, well maybe we'll meet you again in the semi's ?

Would most definitely be a great match if both sides start with their best team, unlike yesterday.

I've a question though. Many times I heard people refering to your country as Holanda (i.e. "Holland"), but then I hear Países Bajos (i.e. Netherlands). And I see that in your location it says Holland... My question is: How do you refer to yourselves then, as Holland or The Netherlands or Nederlands (as I saw in some flag)?

[Kralizec]

Usually as the Netherlands. Holland is used more in sport, it's how we're known internationally I guess and shouting "Netherlands!" is a whole mouthfull.

[Soulforged]

Usually as the Netherlands. Holland is used more in sport, it's how we're known internationally I guess and shouting "Netherlands!" is a whole mouthfull.

Thanks.

[Louis VI the Fat]

That ref was Pollocks. The single worst refereeing I've ever seen. Bloody unbelievable.

The US we're very unlucky too. No way that was a penalty for Ghana.
Shame, I rather enjoyed team USA. They were spectacular at times, if a bit immature tactically. You don't clear through the centre, never, ever. Would've spared them the penalty.

So far, the refereeing has been mostly disastrous at this tournament.

[scotchedpommes]

The US we're very unlucky too. No way that was a penalty for Ghana.
Shame, I rather enjoyed team USA. They were spectacular at times, if a bit immature tactically. You don't clear through the centre, never, ever. Would've spared them the penalty.

Spectacular, Louis? When? I remember them being quite a bit better at the last
World Cup, but the only thing that was impressive about them this time was
their stamina against Italy.

As for Graham Poll, I remember an English friend of mine telling me after a
particularly bad game that he would surely make terrible mistakes at the World
Cup because he's such a... so-and-so, shall we say. Well, I watch the
Premiership too, and I'm sure I'd said [more out of hope that he would improve
for such a big stage] that he'd be fine. But that was unbelievable. I'm glad the
Australians survived regardless - although with their useless Croat keeper how
they managed it is simply inexplicable.

Or maybe I can say Croatia B as 7 Australian players have Croat origin and two players of Croatia are born in Australia.

Was it not even as many as 4 players on the Croatian team that were Australian
born? I'll almost be surprised if I don't see the likes of Šimunić wearing Australian
colours against Italy.

[Papewaio]

Yes the Aus vs Croatia game was umm interesting.

If you divided it up into the top 3 ethnic group combinations it was somthing like this:

Australia/Croats
Croats
Australian/other.

[Fragony]

I've a question though. Many times I heard people refering to your country as Holanda (i.e. "Holland"), but then I hear Países Bajos (i.e. Netherlands). And I see that in your location it says Holland... My question is: How do you refer to yourselves then, as Holland or The Netherlands or Nederlands (as I saw in some flag)?

Holland is really just the western part of the Netherlands, us calling the country it kinda slipped in somehow.

[Big_John]

ouch, tunisia got absolutely robbed. don't think anything could be worse than the reffing in the croatia/australia game, but this is certainly as bad. feel bad for tunisia, they are playing better with 10 than the ukraine is with 11. assuming this score holds, i'd say the ukraine is the least impressive team going through to the round of 16.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

ouch, tunisia got absolutely robbed. don't think anything could be worse than the reffing in the croatia/australia game, but this is certainly as bad. feel bad for tunisia, they are playing better with 10 than the ukraine is with 11. assuming this score holds, i'd say the ukraine is the least impressive team going through to the round of 16.

Did you see what they did against Saudi Arabia though? It's pretty nice.

[Big_John]

Did you see what they did against Saudi Arabia though? It's pretty nice.

not sure what you mean.. did i see what the ukraine did against saudi arabia? sure, but the saudi's aren't a very good team. the ukraine hasn't shown anything to me in this first round. all they do is argue with each other and play individually. they should have lost this game, only the ref kept them from that. they look like a second-rate team. maybe their form will improve in the next round. they better hope it does.