Official World Cup Thread

[Louis VI the Fat]

I saw at the news that the Swiss team coach (as in bus) was shot at on it's way to the airport?

[Quid]

I have just seen a report on tv what initially led to the little punch up in front of the cabins between Turkey and Switzerland. The oh-so-holy Mehmet Ozdilek intitally kicked Streller in the legs when the latter was trying to escape to the tunnel. THEN and only then Huggel did the same to the assistent coach. Alpay, meanwhile went for another kick in the tunnel and Huggel charged him also. The assistent coach then charged Huggel and the whole thing escalated.

Funny, apparently those 2 or 3 seconds were never shown on Turkish tv; only the assult on the assistant coach. Furthermore, camaramen who were trying to film the whole incident in order to use it as evidence were hindered in doing so by being shoved around. The shoving is also recorded...and I am not talking Swiss cameramen. It happened as the ARD (German channel) interviewed one of the Swiss players.

The Turkish goalkeeper also led first a verbal assult towards our coach followed by running into our doctor and charging into the tunnel to join the party. It's all recorded.

One Swiss player had to be hospitalised over night and is now wearing a catheder due to a kick in the stomach.

I will expect harsh punishment for the Turkish Football Association as well as bans on some of their players. Also, from what I have seen, Huggel will also need to be banned for the charge on the Assistant Coach.

Although it might be exciting to some to see a good old punch up, this does NOT belong to football or any other sport. It is a disgrace to fairplay and should be dealt with harshly for all parties involved.

The fact that Sepp Blatter is Swiss has very little to do with his reaction. It's about time that FIFA is reacting to such blatant ignorance of fairlplay. I am sick and tired of hearing and seeing fans beating each other up and destroying whole city blocks.

Louis IV the Fat

I have not heard anything of this. Neither from any of the delegation nor in any newsreport. I reckon if it did happen, we would have heard of it by now. Chance are, this is just another prank to heat the situation up further.

Quid

[Strike For The South]

USA ALL THE WAY Heck it even rhymes We are gods choosen we shall domanate. PS Whats The Wrold Cup?

[Tricon]

USA ALL THE WAY Heck it even rhymes We are gods choosen we shall domanate. PS Whats The Wrold Cup?

It's something only our women will ever win, because our men cannot compete with the worlds best(no matter what the FIA standings).

[Louis VI the Fat]

PS Whats The Wrold Cup?

It's the football world cup.

The one where 'world' actually means world and which is about the kind of football that involves kicking an actual ball with your foot.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I have not heard anything of this. Neither from any of the delegation nor in any newsreport. I reckon if it did happen, we would have heard of it by now. Chance are, this is just another prank to heat the situation up further.

It probably is then. I did see some footage of the player bus with what looked suspiciously like two bullet holes. But there is a compelling logic to the statement that if it did happen, the Swiss would've heard of it by now.

Anyway, congratulations. I'm already looking forward to playing the Swiss again like we did in Portugal - we need the points.

[LeftEyeNine]

Actually we just got trapped the way we were told to be exposed during the 4 days-time after the match.

Play on the nerves and keep off the touch.. We should've known that for sure..

[Quid]

Anyway, congratulations. I'm already looking forward to playing the Swiss again like we did in Portugal - we need the points.

I must thank you for letting us have the youngest player ever to score in a European Cup; this time, it won't be so easy...with or without Henry...

Actually we just got trapped the way we were told to be exposed during the 4 days-time after the match.

Play on the nerves and keep off the touch.. We should've known that for sure..

Not sure what you mean, mate. Care to rephrase ?

Quid

[Soulforged]

Ah yes, you refer to the match between the U-19 teams.. That was a memorable match, truly memorable..

No man I was refering to the match in the World Cup, unless my brother, who is a real fanatic, informed me wrong...

Soulforged, let me tell you that Leo Messi has already been one of my favorites. Every 2 or 3 years a new Argentinian player is dubbed as the new Maradona but this kid is the only one that Maradona told watching him was very enjoyable.

LOL- Don't believe anything that Maradona sais friend...He has being saying this of every player with name that I know. First Saviola, then Riquelme (my favourite), then D'Alesandro, then Tevez and now Messi. But yes I agree with you he has something special.

I love Argentinian football a lot, just remembered how we failed on Ortega (I'm a Fenerbahce fan). However, Brazil is my all-time favorite. These guys dance on the ball, one of the reasons I love football is that it is the most aesthetic sports of all. And Brazilian feet definitely prove that..

Yes well some brazilians are born for this (though it goes against my believes). But they're not so go tacticians, they're good dribblers and attackers but they lack on the back.

I like Turkey's team for two reasons. 1- Because it's an arising team (as long as they don't defeat us )2- Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend (I would let you guess who my enemy is )

[Dutch_guy]

Yes well some brazilians are born for this (though it goes against my believes). But they're not so go tacticians, they're good dribblers and attackers but they lack on the back.

Well the worst Brazilian attacker is the goalie, that's how they base their team on - their attackers, and the worst needs to be the goalie.

That;s not at all the case today, but that was said of the Brazilian team- and I found it quite appropriate, knowing their dribbling skills ;)

[LeftEyeNine]

The offical reports about Turkey - Switzerland match is said to be including heavy accusations over Turkey and around 3 or 5 matches of home ban (SP ?) is probable. Exclusion from the next tournament has low chances, they say.

I'm still shocked at how things grew that much wrong. We were just like grizzly bears trapped under a hornet hive.

[English assassin]

No disrespect LEN, because England can't exactly give anyone lessons in football hooliganism, (or rather, we can, sadly), but I can't say any of this is a complete surprise. My impression from English teams playing European football in Turkey is that the clubs are perfectly happy with the sort of bear-pit atmosphere that develops, and if you dine with the devil, sooner or later he is going to get out of control...

In other words this sort of thing was bound to get out of hand eventually, especially if as M says some of the Turkish police are maybe also too wrapped up in the game and not enough in their job.

Not intended as a criticism of Turks generally, as I say England too has a problem, albeit maybe a different one.

[LeftEyeNine]

Well appreciated, EA..

We were told so much happening in Switzerland that the atmosphere in Turkey was impossible to avoid.. Do not inquire whether it is so important or not, if the coach gets sworn at, Magnin fakes striking the bench and, fans whistle off our national anthem. These could happen and they did.

Sorry, we are emotional ones. And you absolutely know how to arise it.

[Tricon]

What really ticks me is that the turkish media did a lot to heat this thing up further. From what I'm reading most turkish papers/TV channels did not show Özdilek tripping the swiss player (who a few seconds later kicked him). That is feeding missinformation. And, since numerous other TV stations are filming the thing, it's really not that smart. (It's like every country seems to need a paper that goes above and beyond the call of feeding BS to the public, be it The Sun,BILD, Enquirer, or as in this case Sabah- but this is maybe a topic for a different thread)

Anyway, over all this mess, the Trinidad/Tobago- Bahrain game seems to be totally forgotten. Again, i could not see the game... was it a legitimate goal the referee did not accept, or was he right?

[Quid]

Well, am glad that this mess is finally being sorted and the accusations can stop. More and more is now being analysed and processed so that something like this won't happen again in the near future.

I, too, find it dispicable when so-called fans whistle during the visitor's national anthem. I, too, was annoyed at the fact that the Swiss did it during the Turkish one. At least, however, the Turkish national anthem could still be heard .

I completely agree with Tricon on this one. It was the media falsely portraying the incidents and trying to create a mob that would be ready to lynch any Swiss in the vicinity of the stadium (probably a gross exaggeration). We all know that many Turks are steered by their emotions and the newspapers and the tv were banking on that. To intimidate was apparently more important to them than fairplay.

With Turkish newspapers today coming out with the truth I can't help but be a little cynical. It just appears that there is a lot of back-peddaling going on at the moment.

I don't think Turkey deserves an outright ban either. I, too, would think that of too harsh. Something has to be done about the media and such 'hate campaigns' against visiting teams, however. Some of our players (at least one) will also need to be banned for attacking one of the Turkish physios. No matter what happened before, such attacks are not acceptable by anyone.

As to the Bahrein - T and T match...I have watched the goal disallowed...I would have given it...the player at no time even touched the goalkeeper. The ref, however, could not have seen it. I seem to remember that George Best had such a goal disallowed once also.

Quid

EDIT: I must also apologise to you, LEN, I just got increasingly frustrated with all the things you said that were simple not true or only partially true. I now know, of course, that you were not fed the same information as the rest of Europe.

[LeftEyeNine]

Quid, grab the beer, mate !

[Divico]

And considering that some of the most successful and respected current and retired palyers on the Swiss national team have names like Kubilay , Hakan and Murat, that was really a stupid incident last Wednesday.

[LeftEyeNine]

'Cause they were Turkish, mate..

[InsaneApache]

an illuminating article in yesterdays times..

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspap...880959,00.html

I’ve just spoken to the heroic officer who bravely attacked Eric Cantona when Galatasaray played Manchester United and he says this incident has made him feel ashamed of his badge.”

[Quid]

Lol ! This just says it all. I rest my case...

Quid

[Fragony]

Ahhhhhh worldcup! I don't think the Dutch team will get very far, but it is a great worldcup for dutch football as a product. Of the 32 participants 4 have a dutch coach

I will be hoping for what I always hope, a finale between Holland and Brazil.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
*another old fart plug*

Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten were youngter players when I used to watch the world cups.
.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Those three you just mentioned are true legends, with Basten scoring one of the best goals ever in a final against the USSR in the euro chapionships of 88 and not forgetting Rik spitting in Voller's perm at Italia '90. Totally disgusting but for some reason extremely funny, for me anyway!

[LeftEyeNine]

I remember Van Basten scoring for Ajax with a full volley.. One of the most memorable moments of soccer history..

Well.. Then he just stood up and jumped like a junior school student to celebrate it.. I think I'd run out of the stadium and take a marathon tour around the city if I'd score such a tremendous goal.. Time has changed

[Fragony]

I remember Van Basten scoring for Ajax with a full volley.. One of the most memorable moments of soccer history..

Well.. Then he just stood up and jumped like a junior school student to celebrate it.. I think I'd run out of the stadium and take a marathon tour around the city if I'd score such a tremendous goal.. Time has changed

Kind of sad Turkey isn't playing, although the reaction on their defeat wasn't very chivalrous. Still a team that deserved to play the WC if you ask me, must be sour to win and lose at the same time.

[Tricon]

Those three you just mentioned are true legends, with Basten scoring one of the best goals ever in a final against the USSR in the euro chapionships of 88 and not forgetting Rik spitting in Voller's perm at Italia '90. Totally disgusting but for some reason extremely funny, for me anyway!

I still remember that, too. Disgusting. After that I could never see him without remebering that scene. I never liked him afterwards.
I just recently learned that I will actually be in Germany during the entire World Cup! Tickets are out of the question, but at least I can party in a country that apreciates soccer.

[InsaneApache]

The draws been made!!!!!!!!

http://www.worldfootballnetwork.co.uk/

[Dutch_guy]

that was great, thanks for sharing !

( on a side note.. I do hope germany draws an unbeatable group )

[Louis VI the Fat]

Good fun, and quite flattering, really, from my perspective. I mean that final draw to complete that group of death for Germany...

Oh, I do so hope to play the Germans and hammer them 4-0 on their own turf..

[asilv]

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