Official World Cup Thread - Page 11

**NintendoNut** · 07-01-2006, 01:41 PM

You should watch the Premiership more SG, then you'll se Lennon play for my boys Tottenham. He is consistently brilliant for us there.

As for the game, there are moments in an England match when you know that they will be knocked out. In 1998, David Beckham was sent off, and the game went to penalties. In 2002, David Seaman got injured and was unable to keep out Ronaldinho's freekick, which won Brazil the game. In 2004, Rooney got injured, the game went to penalties.

This time round? Beckham gets injured AND Rooney gets sent off AND the game goes to penalties. I expected us to go out.

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-01-2006, 04:12 PM

Wow, Brazil lost.

I can't remember a time when they weren't in the final (I looked it up and it was in 1990 - when I was 8)

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-01-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch1982

Donovan needs to go to a real league in Europe. Actually, all of our national team players need to get the hell out of MLS because MLS is a trash league. The difference between our players who are successful overseas and players like Donovan is the overseas ones actually show up. Beasley, as much as he was thrown under the bus after the Czech game by that dumbass Arenas showed why he's one of our top players. He can make plays. I've seen 12 year olds show more aggression than Donovan did.

Playing in the MLS is like playing for the third highest English League (not FA Premier, not the one under that, but the one under that). It simply doesn't have the talent to build up players, and it is a plain and simple developmental league or washup league, depending on the players. Sending our national team members to Italy, Germany, England, Spain, etc would do more for us in 2010 than having Donovan pick up more MLS trophies.

MLS trophies = Beer league trophies.

Even so, MLS is better than USL and I'm glad Toronto is getting an expansion team next year (with the simple name of Toronto FC). Hopefully they will do better than the Toronto Lynx (our USL team).

In a more on topic side comment, the National Soccer Stadium, which is currently being built in Toronto for the team, will be one of the sites in Canada that will host the FIFA World Youth Championship (or U-20 World Cup as it's being called) next year.

EDIT: In case you're wondering, even though I like their being teams in Toronto and all, the main league team that I support is Celtic (mostly because my dad supports them - he's Scotish)

Koga · 07-01-2006, 05:00 PM

I didn't even check what number they had in the Spanish column for singing along, but it's still a ridiculous statistic. Still, I should've expected it from Americans.

Like I said before the match, don't let it go to penalties. England now have officially the worst penalty shootout records, they were tied with Holland before this defeat. I was really supporting England when I watched it and I got close to cheering a couple of times, as England had some big chances. I dislike Portugal more every time I see them play.

If Brazil had faced them I would've definitely rooted for them in the semi-final against Portugal, but France denied them that possibility. The Brazillian team just didn't perform up to standard and France keeps playing better every match: Zidane was brilliant tonight.

So now we have 4 European teams of which I would not support anyone. If I had to go by which team I dislike more I want Italy and Portugal to lose.

Vinny · 07-01-2006, 05:32 PM

Absolutely amazing performance from France. The team that started off with an awful tie against Switzerland and everyone (including me) thought were a bunch of old burnt-out fogeys who weren't going to get anywhere and who qualified for the second round by the skin of their teeth beat the favorites in a brilliant performance. Zidane was amazing, he was working the Brazilian defence like there was nothing to it, he was just so relaxed and made it look so easy. It's great to see him play like his old (or should I say young) self again. Brazil didn't play well at all. I thought Ronaldo in particular was pathetic: he had two GREAT chances at goal in which he could have equalized, put his team back in the game, and earned a great deal of respect, but instead on both occasions he decided to opt for cheap dives. Absolutely disgraceful and a disservice to his teammates and a bad way to go out for the highest World Cup goalscorer ever. Ronaldinho hasn't done ANYTHING in this tournament, and everyone thought it was going to be his World Cup.

Germany has played brilliantly and Klinsmann has proven that his radical changes have truly paid off, and they have beaten the favorite of the tournament.
Italy's defense is BY FAR the best and they could cause Germany problems and they have some very good and well linked up attack in Totti and Toni, so don't rule them out quite yet.
Portugal have Figo, Pauleta, Deco, Ronaldo, Maniche (although I think he's missing the next match), and they also have the great defense of Carvalho, not to mention the wonderful Ricardo.
France have just shown what they can really do, and if they can beat Brazil, they can beat anyone. Great players, great pace, great everything (well, except Barthez who is just embarrassing).

Both favorites have been knocked out before the semi-finals. Anything could happen and anyone could win. Exciting!

Vinny · 07-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Does anyone find something in that England played their very best in the entire tournament when they were down to 10 men and without Rooney, Beckham, and Owen? Hmmm...

What England needed was a proper striker, though. They should have brought Theo Walcott on instead of Crouch. He may be 17 and may never have played a Premiership match, but he can't possibly be worse than Crouch. Crouch is absolutely useless and ridiculously clumsy and couldn't control the ball if it was tied to his leg. He's a terrible footballer and the ONLY thing he has going for him is that he's so tall that he doesn't even need to jump to get the header (and to be honest he's pretty awful in the air too). Lennon did everything he could to save the situation but without a proper striker up ahead he was unable to do so. Ricardo's goalkeeping was amazing, though. None of the English penalties were easy to save at all but he was right on the spot. England had no chance.

Vinny · 07-01-2006, 05:44 PM

And, since I'm coming into this thread very late, to those who said Spain could win... Spain ALWAYS have a good team, and they NEVER go anywhere. They haven't reached the semi-finals since 1950, for God's sake, and they've never even made the final. Quite frankly I don't see that changing any time within the next 50-100 years.

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-01-2006, 06:09 PM

Some trivia about the semi-finals courtesy Wikipedia:

With reference to the May 2006 FIFA Rankings:
- The average rank of the teams that progressed was 11.75 (2 of the 4 teams have a higher rank than the average).
- The average rank of eliminated teams in the second round was 16.25.
- Germany (19) is the lowest ranked team to progress to the semi finals.
- Brazil (1) was the highest ranked team to be eliminated in the quarter finals.
The groups represented in the semi finals are:
- Group A: Germany
- Group D: Portugal
- Group E: Italy
- Group G: France
This tournament was the first one since the 1982 FIFA World Cup where the final four teams to compete for the World Cup are all from Europe. Three of the four teams from that year are also in this semi final: Germany(West Germany), Italy, and France. The other team in the final four that year was Poland, which was eliminated in the first round in this World Cup. Portugal has "replaced" Poland here. (litte note by me: Guess, who won that World Cup )
For the 10th consecutive World Cup Finals, a team that did not win its group (France) is in the semifinals.

Lurch1982 · 07-01-2006, 09:19 PM

^You left out the part of "most cards ever" and fraud refs screw out multiple teams.

I didn't even know there was a Canadian soccer league. I guess that makes it the fat-guy-pickup-game-in-the-park to the MLS' beer league.

Vinny · 07-01-2006, 09:41 PM

At least the refs in this World Cup where actually genuinely screwing up, whereas last time the Koreans blatantly bought them off.

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-01-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch1982

^You left out the part of "most cards ever" and fraud refs screw out multiple teams.

If you want to add that to the Wikipedia article I got that from, feel free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch1982

I didn't even know there was a Canadian soccer league. I guess that makes it the fat-guy-pickup-game-in-the-park to the MLS' beer league.

USL is not a Canadian league. USL is one-below MLS in the hierarchy of American soccer leagues. It's actually split into two leagues - USL First Division (which has the Lynx and was known as A-League until 2004) and USL Second Division (which was known as USL Pro Soccer League until 2005).

ShyGuy727 · 07-01-2006, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koga

I didn't even check what number they had in the Spanish column for singing along, but it's still a ridiculous statistic. Still, I should've expected it from Americans.

What the hell is that supposed to mean. We like stats, what of it? And it's a British site, way to know what the hell you're talking about:

http://www.informationbuilders.co.uk/ontheball/wcuk.htm

Koga · 07-02-2006, 04:34 AM

My apologies, Shyguy. I figured it was an American site, because indeed they love stats so much. I didn't look at the URL.

**Platinum** · 07-02-2006, 09:20 AM

This years world cup is one of the best ones in past years.

Koga · 07-02-2006, 02:39 PM

I like it better than 2002, because Holland wasn't in that one, and the matches were at inconvenient times for Europe. 2006 was great for Europe with both the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, I think it'll take a while before that happens again.

1998 was definitely my favourite World Cup, though.

Vinny · 07-02-2006, 05:21 PM

Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at one of the Italian team's training sessions? Here's your chance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO5wi...italy%20soccer

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-02-2006, 08:33 PM

ha ha ha

Koga · 07-03-2006, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny

Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at one of the Italian team's training sessions? Here's your chance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO5wi...italy%20soccer

In 2004 that was going around the net as a German training. Still funny, though.

**NintendoNut** · 07-04-2006, 09:31 AM

Funny, that was the same advert that The Guardian used to advertise a guide for this World Cup. Cheapskates.

ShyGuy727 · 07-04-2006, 11:35 AM

Quick predictions:

Italy has won the last two meetings and in my opinion has been the best looking team of the second phase, but you can't pick against Ze Germanz in Dortmund. I think the Italians are outcoached as well.

Pick: Germany 2, Italy 0

Many are counting out France because they beat an "underpowered" Brasil team (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) and a Spain team that chokes so regularly that you could set your watch to it. Portugal must play tough defense in the midfield and not allow France to build up from the back. Disrupt and then counterattack. Deca is a better keeper than Barthez, but Les Bleus definetley have the edge in attacking front.

France has gotten better with every match they've played this tournament and I don't think things are going to be any different this time around, but it will be a very close match.

Pick: France 2, Portugal 1 (in extra time)

Bonus prediction: Kobayashi will eat 55 hot dogs

Happy Fourth of July.

07-01-2006, 05:32 PM	#205
Vinny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 16,318.86 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 16,818.86 Donate	Absolutely amazing performance from France. The team that started off with an awful tie against Switzerland and everyone (including me) thought were a bunch of old burnt-out fogeys who weren't going to get anywhere and who qualified for the second round by the skin of their teeth beat the favorites in a brilliant performance. Zidane was amazing, he was working the Brazilian defence like there was nothing to it, he was just so relaxed and made it look so easy. It's great to see him play like his old (or should I say young) self again. Brazil didn't play well at all. I thought Ronaldo in particular was pathetic: he had two GREAT chances at goal in which he could have equalized, put his team back in the game, and earned a great deal of respect, but instead on both occasions he decided to opt for cheap dives. Absolutely disgraceful and a disservice to his teammates and a bad way to go out for the highest World Cup goalscorer ever. Ronaldinho hasn't done ANYTHING in this tournament, and everyone thought it was going to be his World Cup. Germany has played brilliantly and Klinsmann has proven that his radical changes have truly paid off, and they have beaten the favorite of the tournament. Italy's defense is BY FAR the best and they could cause Germany problems and they have some very good and well linked up attack in Totti and Toni, so don't rule them out quite yet. Portugal have Figo, Pauleta, Deco, Ronaldo, Maniche (although I think he's missing the next match), and they also have the great defense of Carvalho, not to mention the wonderful Ricardo. France have just shown what they can really do, and if they can beat Brazil, they can beat anyone. Great players, great pace, great everything (well, except Barthez who is just embarrassing). Both favorites have been knocked out before the semi-finals. Anything could happen and anyone could win. Exciting! Last edited by Vinny; 07-01-2006 at 05:40 PM.

07-01-2006, 06:09 PM	#208
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 9 Thanked 43 Times in 33 Posts Points: 183,960.08 Bank: 76,198.22 Total Points: 260,158.30 Donate	Some trivia about the semi-finals courtesy Wikipedia: With reference to the May 2006 FIFA Rankings: The average rank of the teams that progressed was 11.75 (2 of the 4 teams have a higher rank than the average). The average rank of eliminated teams in the second round was 16.25. Germany (19) is the lowest ranked team to progress to the semi finals. Brazil (1) was the highest ranked team to be eliminated in the quarter finals. The groups represented in the semi finals are: Group A: Germany Group D: Portugal Group E: Italy Group G: France This tournament was the first one since the 1982 FIFA World Cup where the final four teams to compete for the World Cup are all from Europe. Three of the four teams from that year are also in this semi final: Germany(West Germany), Italy, and France. The other team in the final four that year was Poland, which was eliminated in the first round in this World Cup. Portugal has "replaced" Poland here. (litte note by me: Guess, who won that World Cup ) For the 10th consecutive World Cup Finals, a team that did not win its group (France) is in the semifinals.

07-01-2006, 01:41 PM	#201
NintendoNut NinNut Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hold on, I know this..... Gender: Posts: 8,256 Thanks: 65 Thanked 35 Times in 28 Posts Points: 45,787.30 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 45,787.30 Donate	You should watch the Premiership more SG, then you'll se Lennon play for my boys Tottenham. He is consistently brilliant for us there. As for the game, there are moments in an England match when you know that they will be knocked out. In 1998, David Beckham was sent off, and the game went to penalties. In 2002, David Seaman got injured and was unable to keep out Ronaldinho's freekick, which won Brazil the game. In 2004, Rooney got injured, the game went to penalties. This time round? Beckham gets injured AND Rooney gets sent off AND the game goes to penalties. I expected us to go out.

07-01-2006, 04:12 PM	#202
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 9 Thanked 43 Times in 33 Posts Points: 183,960.08 Bank: 76,198.22 Total Points: 260,158.30 Donate	Wow, Brazil lost. I can't remember a time when they weren't in the final (I looked it up and it was in 1990 - when I was 8)

07-01-2006, 05:00 PM	#204
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,698.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,914.19 Donate	I didn't even check what number they had in the Spanish column for singing along, but it's still a ridiculous statistic. Still, I should've expected it from Americans. Like I said before the match, don't let it go to penalties. England now have officially the worst penalty shootout records, they were tied with Holland before this defeat. I was really supporting England when I watched it and I got close to cheering a couple of times, as England had some big chances. I dislike Portugal more every time I see them play. If Brazil had faced them I would've definitely rooted for them in the semi-final against Portugal, but France denied them that possibility. The Brazillian team just didn't perform up to standard and France keeps playing better every match: Zidane was brilliant tonight. So now we have 4 European teams of which I would not support anyone. If I had to go by which team I dislike more I want Italy and Portugal to lose.

07-01-2006, 05:38 PM	#206
Vinny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 16,318.86 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 16,818.86 Donate	Does anyone find something in that England played their very best in the entire tournament when they were down to 10 men and without Rooney, Beckham, and Owen? Hmmm... What England needed was a proper striker, though. They should have brought Theo Walcott on instead of Crouch. He may be 17 and may never have played a Premiership match, but he can't possibly be worse than Crouch. Crouch is absolutely useless and ridiculously clumsy and couldn't control the ball if it was tied to his leg. He's a terrible footballer and the ONLY thing he has going for him is that he's so tall that he doesn't even need to jump to get the header (and to be honest he's pretty awful in the air too). Lennon did everything he could to save the situation but without a proper striker up ahead he was unable to do so. Ricardo's goalkeeping was amazing, though. None of the English penalties were easy to save at all but he was right on the spot. England had no chance.

07-01-2006, 05:44 PM	#207
Vinny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 16,318.86 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 16,818.86 Donate	And, since I'm coming into this thread very late, to those who said Spain could win... Spain ALWAYS have a good team, and they NEVER go anywhere. They haven't reached the semi-finals since 1950, for God's sake, and they've never even made the final. Quite frankly I don't see that changing any time within the next 50-100 years.

07-01-2006, 09:19 PM	#209
Lurch1982 Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Katrinaland, USA Gender: Posts: 9,149 Thanks: 119 Thanked 202 Times in 125 Posts Points: 27,360.21 Bank: 166,050.89 Total Points: 193,411.10 Donate	^You left out the part of "most cards ever" and fraud refs screw out multiple teams. I didn't even know there was a Canadian soccer league. I guess that makes it the fat-guy-pickup-game-in-the-park to the MLS' beer league.

07-01-2006, 09:41 PM	#210
Vinny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 16,318.86 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 16,818.86 Donate	At least the refs in this World Cup where actually genuinely screwing up, whereas last time the Koreans blatantly bought them off.

07-02-2006, 04:34 AM	#213
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,698.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,914.19 Donate	My apologies, Shyguy. I figured it was an American site, because indeed they love stats so much. I didn't look at the URL.

07-02-2006, 09:20 AM	#214
Platinum Arcade Mod Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wv Gender: Posts: 1,369 Thanks: 48 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts Points: 2,364.24 Bank: 23,885.95 Total Points: 26,250.19 Donate	This years world cup is one of the best ones in past years.

07-02-2006, 02:39 PM	#215
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,698.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,914.19 Donate	I like it better than 2002, because Holland wasn't in that one, and the matches were at inconvenient times for Europe. 2006 was great for Europe with both the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, I think it'll take a while before that happens again. 1998 was definitely my favourite World Cup, though.

07-02-2006, 05:21 PM	#216
Vinny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 16,318.86 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 16,818.86 Donate	Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at one of the Italian team's training sessions? Here's your chance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO5wi...italy%20soccer

07-02-2006, 08:33 PM	#217
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 9 Thanked 43 Times in 33 Posts Points: 183,960.08 Bank: 76,198.22 Total Points: 260,158.30 Donate	ha ha ha

07-04-2006, 09:31 AM	#219
NintendoNut NinNut Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hold on, I know this..... Gender: Posts: 8,256 Thanks: 65 Thanked 35 Times in 28 Posts Points: 45,787.30 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 45,787.30 Donate	Funny, that was the same advert that The Guardian used to advertise a guide for this World Cup. Cheapskates.

07-04-2006, 11:35 AM	#220
ShyGuy727 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: O-H! I-O! Gender: Posts: 10,038 Thanks: 35 Thanked 61 Times in 45 Posts Points: 28,775.13 Bank: 13,883.54 Total Points: 42,658.67 Donate	Quick predictions: Italy has won the last two meetings and in my opinion has been the best looking team of the second phase, but you can't pick against Ze Germanz in Dortmund. I think the Italians are outcoached as well. Pick: Germany 2, Italy 0 Many are counting out France because they beat an "underpowered" Brasil team (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) and a Spain team that chokes so regularly that you could set your watch to it. Portugal must play tough defense in the midfield and not allow France to build up from the back. Disrupt and then counterattack. Deca is a better keeper than Barthez, but Les Bleus definetley have the edge in attacking front. France has gotten better with every match they've played this tournament and I don't think things are going to be any different this time around, but it will be a very close match. Pick: France 2, Portugal 1 (in extra time) Bonus prediction: Kobayashi will eat 55 hot dogs Happy Fourth of July.