World Cup 2006

[WayAbvPar]

Tourney info here

The US is screwed. Czech scored the most goals out of any Euro side in qualifying, and Italy is always among the elite teams. I was really hoping for Saudi Arabia's spot in Group H- that is pretty weak (as is G). Argentina gets the Group of Death for the 2nd straight WC.

If US can find a way to get at least a draw in their first game, there might be hope.

[Shockeye]

Soccer? Soccer? I trust you can find your own way out. Don't make me call homeland security.

[HaemishM]

Now, now, I'm sure Way is just letting his inner Eurofag out. 

I KID, I KID! When I had no hockey, no football and no baseball, I turned to watching Mexican socceer. Hard times.

[Jobu]

Tourney info here

The US is screwed. Czech scored the most goals out of any Euro side in qualifying, and Italy is always among the elite teams. I was really hoping for Saudi Arabia's spot in Group H- that is pretty weak (as is G). Argentina gets the Group of Death for the 2nd straight WC.

If US can find a way to get at least a draw in their first game, there might be hope.

Italy was one of the elite teams... like 15 years ago. They been in bad form the last two tournaments. Hopefully the US can scrape through them, but yeah. Sucks to be them.

Being an England fan, I'm stoked. Especially since I have Swedish coworkers. That will make the group stages very fun. 

And I feel bad for poor Australia. Squeeking into the finals was a big accomplishment for them, and they get stuck with Brazil and Croatia. Talk about a kick to the balls.

[Surlyboi]

Fuck Autralia, Japan's gonna get rawked.

[Righ]

Group C looks like a lot of fun - it's going to be one of the toughest groups. Argentina and Netherlands are of course the historical favorites, but both Serbia and Ivory Coast are strong teams going into this final. Group E is not going to be a certain outcome either. The USA is developing well, and so, to a lesser extent is Ghana. There could be an upset here.

Another walk in the park, sorry parc for France. Bah.

[Hoax]

What really sucks is if the USA gets out of their group as #2 and Brazil gets out as #1 of theirs that is the US's first elimination opponent.  Going to need to pull some upsets in a fucking hurry.

[Signe]

I love World Cup years.  I'm all a-quiver with excitement. 

Go Scotland!

Oh wait... 

[Ironwood]

We're already planning the coming home party.

 :-D

[Shockeye]

I didn't realize we needed a eurofag sub forum.

[Righ]

Yeah, yeah. Frankly having Scotland fail to qualify for the finals by a fairly narrow margin against solid teams is less embarrasing than having them scape into the finals then get eliminated in a first round that sees them paired with Barzil, again. It's something of a tradition to blame the manager in Scotland, but having Berti Vogts walk out of the job half way through the qualification matches really wasn't clever. That said, Walter Smith turned around the fortunes of a Scottish team that was frankly pretty poor, and hopefully he'll be there for a while.

[Signe]

Americans are lousy sports fans.  They hardly ever kill anyone over sports.

[Shockeye]

Americans are lousy sports fans.  They hardly ever kill anyone over sports.

We're lousy professional sports fans. Our soccer moms and hockey dads love going apeshit and beating up players, refs and other parents.

[Der Helm]

Our soccer moms ...

What exactly is that ? I have seen this term around the internet various times and my hazy memories makes me reluctant to consult google from work ...

Oh, and @topic: We are so going to loose in our group, the German team is no match for Costa Rica (and I wish I was only joking)

[schild]

Soccer moms are moms who pound out babies for the sole purpose of making them play soccer so they can put a bumper sticker on their van, brings snacks and capri suns for after game celebrations (win OR lose), and have an excuse to go hobknob with other likeminded middleclass suburban moms. Odds are they do it just to see from whom they can score some weed.

The above statement is 100% true.

[Ironwood]

I love World Cup years.  I'm all a-quiver with excitement. 

Go Scotland!

Oh wait... 

I have consulted my wife to be informed that Scotland did not even qualify.  Therefore I missed your point and my own joke was pointless.  I will, therefore, echo your own 

[Der Helm]

The above statement is 100% true.

And wikipedia agrees ...

Now I am wondering what the hell I was thinking, but I am used to that.

[Rodent]

Woo, Sweden in group B. Pretty much my dream draw even though Spain lucked out and got the really easy group. I wouldn't count the US out just yet, it's true that it'll take quite alittle miracle for them to beat the Czechs but it's quite possible they can defeat Ghana and Italy with alittle luck on their side.

[HaemishM]

I didn't realize we needed a eurofag sub forum.

If we could actually get decent futball coverage in the states without paying an irreplaceable organ for it, I'd be joining in.

[Luxor]

Yeah, yeah. Frankly having Scotland fail to qualify for the finals by a fairly narrow margin against solid teams is less embarrasing than having them scape into the finals then get eliminated in a first round that sees them paired with Barzil, again. It's something of a tradition to blame the manager in Scotland, but having Berti Vogts walk out of the job half way through the qualification matches really wasn't clever. That said, Walter Smith turned around the fortunes of a Scottish team that was frankly pretty poor, and hopefully he'll be there for a while.

Berti Vogts was pushed, he didn't jump. Actually, most of Scotland wished he would have jumped. From a large height. Onto something solid.

Still, us not being there means I can enjoy the spectacle that much more. Plus it means I won't get caught up in the inevitable Dutch-English-German deathmatch going on. I predict 3 minutes into Englands first game before they start humming the dambusters tune  :-D

[Ironwood]

And probably 4.5 seconds before 1966 is mentioned.

[Jobu]

I didn't realize we needed a eurofag sub forum.

If we could actually get decent futball coverage in the states without paying an irreplaceable organ for it, I'd be joining in.

I get all the soccer I need on FOX Sports World. I think it's included in the same pack as some of the other extras on my cable (Sci Fi, Encore, etc). Granted, it's almost all English soccer, but I don't mind since that's my favorite league. I guess it's easier to replay Premiership stuff because all the commentary is already in English, so you don't need awkward re-dubbed commentary from someone watching a tape of the game.

[Jobu]

And probably 4.5 seconds before 1966 is mentioned.

6 seconds until they find Bobby Charlton in the stands.

Heeey, this could turn into a fun drinking game.

[WayAbvPar]

I bet they don't find George Best.

[Signe]

I bet they don't find George Best.

 

[eldaec]

World cup pfft.

Right now I'm much more interested in the fact that the mighty 'pool are up to second, Crouchinio has finally found the net, and we've gone over 15 hours without conceding a goal as we head into the World Club Championships in Japan. I'll start thinking about the world cup in June.

YNWA.

[Righ]

YNWA.

You'll Never Walk Again? Everton fan?

Muhahaha.