2006 World Cup Chock full o' spoilers thread

[Jobu]

The best summary of the game (and the team in general) I've read:

"Expect the Germany-Ecuador game to end 17-16, as both teams try to throw the game for the right to meet this utter shambles of a side."

[Azazel]

That would be very eastern europe. Central Europe would be the Czech Republic and Poland. And Croatia if you ask them and not someone that can read a map. Speaking of reading maps, you should really try to learn doing that. It's awesome.

Oh i'm sorry, i didn't know you were Ukranian. Bad luck about that.

No, actually, I think he just knows how to read a map.

And since I've got a part-English background, I'd come into that last game rooting for England, but fuck me if I wasn't hoping that Trinidad would pull the upset by the time the match came towards the closing 20mins. England don't deserve that 2-0 scoreline after that game.

As for Brasil and Croatia the other night, again I ended up hoping for the Croats to at least draw. Brasil has skill but just looked lazy except for flashes of brilliance. Like when Ronaldinho was taking on 5 Croat defenders and pretty much beating them off. Agree that Ronaldo has put on about 100kg since the last cup, but hopefully he'll show us what he can do.
Not in the next game, though. :p

Oh, and fuck I wish the Aussies could have gotten Tunisia or the Saudis in their group. But I guess everyone's saying that...

[Righ]

The best summary of the game (and the team in general) I've read:

"Expect the Germany-Ecuador game to end 17-16, as both teams try to throw the game for the right to meet this utter shambles of a side."

Excellent. I had to Google out the source of that one. Nicely played, Scott Murray of The Guardian:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/minbymin/0,,1788265,00.html

[Abagadro]

I love the "I'm a big banana" uniforms the Swedish sport.  At least the Dutch orange is garish enough to be ironically stylish.

[Hoax]

God Sweeden sucks I just watched the last 20min of the first half on lunch, THEY SUCK.  I've never seen an entire team be so anemic when it comes to finishing.  I hate that Aniken Skywalker looking asshole as well.  I'm hoping for a draw or a Sweeden loss then the Soca Warriors can get in with 4pts after beating Paraguay.

[Righ]

There's a fantastic non-goal in the second half. Paraguay goalie runs out, ball chipped over his head to an exposed goal, but the defender beats the striker. Sweden are playing a lot better in the second half, but so are Paraguay.

[Megrim]

That would be very eastern europe. Central Europe would be the Czech Republic and Poland. And Croatia if you ask them and not someone that can read a map. Speaking of reading maps, you should really try to learn doing that. It's awesome.

Oh i'm sorry, i didn't know you were Ukranian. Bad luck about that.

No, actually, I think he just knows how to read a map.

And since I've got a part-English background, I'd come into that last game rooting for England, but fuck me if I wasn't hoping that Trinidad would pull the upset by the time the match came towards the closing 20mins. England don't deserve that 2-0 scoreline after that game.

As for Brasil and Croatia the other night, again I ended up hoping for the Croats to at least draw. Brasil has skill but just looked lazy except for flashes of brilliance. Like when Ronaldinho was taking on 5 Croat defenders and pretty much beating them off. Agree that Ronaldo has put on about 100kg since the last cup, but hopefully he'll show us what he can do.
Not in the next game, though. :p

Oh, and fuck I wish the Aussies could have gotten Tunisia or the Saudis in their group. But I guess everyone's saying that...

Heh, highly dramatic geography lessons aside, he knew exactly what i mean. The point is that there seems to be a lot of hype (or was) surrounding some of those teams, especially the Ukranians (they conceded no goals during qualifiers?), yet when they ome out onto the pitch to play all i can do is laugh. The commentator mentioned 'stage-fright' as a possible reason, since this is their first appearance, so i certainly hope they get their act together.

As far as us having to play Brazil... meh. I think it's probably better to have a hard match straight-up rather than meaner into the next round and THEN have to run into a brick wall. At least this way they will see it coming.

[Tale]

Excellent. I had to Google out the source of that one. Nicely played, Scott Murray of The Guardian:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/minbymin/0,,1788265,00.html

Yeah that was fun. More quotes from it (remember, these are from an England supporter, plus his responses to readers):

Now, are England the worst team in the World Cup? “Only if you don’t consider the US a team, which is a valid stance after that hurting the Czechs put on us,” says Greg Urquhart.

55 min - Crouch, labouring under the misapprehension that he's Matthew Le Tissier, flicks the ball up in the area with his back to goal and tries an overhead kick. The ball just about stays inside the stadium.

“I think it's beyond dispute that Sven is worth every penny of his multi-million pound salary,” suggests Roger Foster. “To turn a team that looks sort of decent on paper into a bunch of totally clueless headless chickens takes a rare sort of talent.”

65 min - England are running this game, of that there's no doubt. According to Tyldesley and Gareth Southgate on ITV, that is. All I see is a few confused men running around aimlessly and with an increased sense of panic, but then again I'm just simple folk.

69 min - Beckham slings in a ball from the right. It finds Crouch six yards out. I'm not even going to bother describing what happened next.

Crouch is penalised for holding Lawrence back and pulls his own shirt above his head, like a four year old who isn't allowed to watch any more TV before bedtime.

[goals happen]

What an amazingly flattering result.

[pants]

I love reading the Guardian minute-by-minute stuff for all types of sports - football, cricket (where they do over-by-over), rugby - they do some really funny stuff - I really recommend it.

[Signe]

Cricket!  I can't even remember the last time I slept through a cricket match.

[Jeff Kelly]

But that sub the Germans brought in (Okinodor?) was just crazy. The bursts of speed he put on were incredible, especially against tired defenders. The only reason Germany won that game was a tired defense.

His Name is David Odonkor. Klinsmann was flamed into next wednesday by the german "experts" because he chose Neiville and Odonkor over other players that had more experience (Odonkor has never played in the national team before). Odonkor is fast he can run the 100 meter in 10.3.

Part of Klinsmanns emotional outbreak after the win came from the fact that those two made the difference and enabled germany to win 1:0. Expect the geramn team to get better as the tournament progresses.

If england continues to play like they did before they will be easy prey to a competent opponent.

[Hoax]

Anyone else think Ivory Coast has a legit chance at pulling the upset tomorrow?  I really want to think they do, Drogba is a beast.

[Tale]

Cricket!  I can't even remember the last time I slept through a cricket match.

The best ever Guardian Online commentary moment was in a cricket match.

It's really simple: India are already through, New Zealand have to win.

Meanwhile, have you ever thought WHAT SORT OF LIFE IS THIS AND WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING BOARDING A TRAIN FOR MOORGATE AT 6.30 IN THE MORNING AND THEN STANDING AROUND FOR AGES WAITING FOR A TUBE WHILE STARING AT A SIGN TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU WAIT FOR FOUR MINUTES YOU CAN BOARD A TRAIN TO UXBRIDGE I'D RATHER WAIT FOUR HOURS FOR A JOURNEY WITH THE GRIM REAPER QUITE FRANKLY AND THEN YOU GET TO WORK AND THEN THERE'S THIS AND I KNOW THE CRICKET'S GOOD AND ALL THAT BUT I'VE GOT OUT OF THE WRONG SIDE OF BED THIS MORNING AND IN ANY CASE IT'S NOT AS IF I'LL WRITE A CRACKING MATCH REPORT AND THEN GET REWARDED BY BEING SENT ON A WONDERFUL ASSIGNMENT AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE I'LL BE VERY SURPRISED IF ANY OF MY BOSSES WILL READ ANY OF THIS LET'S BE HONEST THEY WON'T ALTHOUGH ON THE OTHER HAND THAT'S PROBABLY JUST AS WELL HEY I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH TYPING THINGS LIKE THIS KIqL!UYS^%$DFLI ZSDSAFC SFE4O92 )(^(*^o"$ bBLKU E875O3 96*&^%o*"$ogb LOOK I'M SORRY THIS ISN'T EXACTLY THE SORT OF QUALITY EDITORIAL COPY YOU EXPECT FROM THE GUARDIAN BUT LOOK AT THE FACTS I'M ADRIFT IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE WORST CITIES IN THE WORLD SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SAME COMPUTER SCREEN I FACE DAY AFTER INTERMINABLE DAY HELL I COULD BE WAKING UP IN SAY THE MALDIVES OR SYDNEY OR COPENHAGEN OR A CROFTER'S COTTAGE IN SKYE AND GOING FOR A WALK IN THE CRISP MORNING AIR?

No? Only me then. Good.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/minbymin/0,,1788202,00.html

[Wolf]

Oh i'm sorry, i didn't know you were Ukranian. Bad luck about that.

How did you get to "Oh, I see. He's from Ukraine" out of my post? Not pissy anymore, so I won't troll you - but seriously go look at a map of Europe. Ukraine is like 600,000 km2. Hard to miss.

[Zetor]

The central European teams get talked up too much. They are all seriously bad.

o rly?
Central Europe = Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, (Austria), (Germany), (Liechtenstein - lolz)
Eastern Europe = Albania, Croatia, B&H, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine

Are you calling the Czech bad? 3-0 = czechmate! :P Not to mention, Germany is considered to be part of Central Europe by some.

(I'm Hungarian btw, proudly sucking at football since 1960. We DID pwn it up in the 50s, though! I just have to stick up for the Czech, them being the only team from my region still in the game)


-- Z.

[Signe]

The Ukraine might not be the best at football, but they rock at painting Easter eggs!



They are such girls!   

Anyway, I don't care what anyone (even my husband) says.  England will win the cup and if they don't... someone else will!  So there.

[El Gallo]

Well Poland is out, so I need a new team.  Most of my non-Polish heritage is german, but I dunno about that.  Maybe England, David Beckham is almost as cute as Tom Brady but seems much sluttier.   

[Signe]

Actually, David Beckham is much cuter than Tom Brady, in a more girly way.  Sometimes he even wears a dress.  Anyway, don't you live in DC?  Are you required to be patriotic or something?  Why wouldn't you root for the home team, anyway?  Even Righ is sort of rooting for the US and he's a Scot.  I was born in the US but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the England team.  But, then, I don't live in DC.  Should we call homeland security on you?

[El Gallo]

Anyway, don't you live in DC?  Are you required to be patriotic or something? . . .  Should we call homeland security on you?

I just meant who I was going to root for in the second round, when the US will presumable not. . . oh God the footsteps . . . USA! USA! USA! . . . getting closer . . . USA USA US;dlkgv0k>cxz4ins*-+

[HaemishM]

That was crap. Ugly football. Terry was impressive though, I'll agree there. Hell, at this point I could see a broken team like Germany beating them.

Yeah, it was pretty bad. I'm still trying to figure out why they subbed Rooney for Owen, instead of getting rid of that Crouch fucker. In two games, I've seen him miss all but one of his chances, bitch at a ref and get carded. It took that perfect shot from Beckham for him to remember how to head the ball. The whole crew just looked messy, like the USA until the last few minutes. Lampard appeared to be unable to hit the goal even if it were twice its normal size. That John Terry save was amazing.

The Cornell Glen fucker from T&T was one quick motherfucker, and T&T's defense seemed to be better than Germany's.

Is it just me, or have all the "little" teams like Triny and Ghana and Paraguay just looked like they were all playing for ties? It just seemed like none of them wanted to test the defenses of the supposedly superior teams, even when those defenses were fiddle-farting around like Germany or England?

[HRose]

Argentina is going to win the cup. They just had a crazy match.

[voblat]

I think I can officially state the best team in the tournament on current form are Argentina.

6-0 , it could have been more.

And its the most entertaining football on display too.

As an Englishman, watching that and comparing it to last nights performance from the England team, its simply disheartening how backward we are in terms of tactics and attitude.

On paper the England team is a match for anyone, the reality on a football pitch is we are still playing 1966 football, and everyone else has moved on forty years.

[Tale]

Argentina is going to win the cup. They just had a crazy match.

Yeah you just beat me to the post. Great goals! Argentina 6, Serbia Montenegro 0.

(edit) Netherlands vs Argentina on June 21 is going to be a big one.

[Horik]

If the Dutch win (as they should) I think the 6/21 game will mostly be about not getting anyone hurt for the second round.

[Hoax]

My thoughts on the cup so far:

Top Teams that have played (I haven't seen any of the Brazil game yet):
1. Argentina
2. Czech Republic
3. Portugal
4. Netherlands
5. Italy/Germany

*cough*  I fucking told you guys *endcough*

My new top 10:
1. Argentina
2. Czech Republic
3. Netherlands
4. Brazil
5. Spain
6. Italy
7. Ecuador
8. Germany
9. Portugal
10.England

[WayAbvPar]

The best summary of the game (and the team in general) I've read:

"Expect the Germany-Ecuador game to end 17-16, as both teams try to throw the game for the right to meet this utter shambles of a side."

Excellent. I had to Google out the source of that one. Nicely played, Scott Murray of The Guardian:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/minbymin/0,,1788265,00.html

That was a delight to read. I am happy to see that I am not the only one who thinks Crouch is nearly useless (I kept thinking of Righ calling him a 'long streak of piss', which was wonderfully accurate). Terry is a stud- he saved the game on more than 1 occasion. They looked slightly better than they did the first game...maybe they will figure it out by the knockout round. I would really like to see Rooney and Owen play together.

[Hoax]

As fucking usual African squads get no fucking help from the ref's.  They could have and should have tied that game.  What a pity that the Ivory Coast wasn't in a different group as they surely would have advaned.

[Righ]

I haven't watched Argentina yet - but I wasn't worried about learning the result before I fire up the Tivo... I was guessing something similar would happen. Based on the disasterous but 'good enough to advance' performances of England and Germany, Argentina are through to the semi-final. Probably against Brazil.

Here's how history marks these teams: EVEN. Of 87 meetings, 33 have gone Argentina's way, 33 have gone Brazil's way. The rest were draws. Brazil has the upper hand in the World Cup, and they could just be playing their usual dull group game before unleashing the magic.

The Dutch completely underestimated the strength of the Cote d'Ivoire team and played a game that was lacking their opening match spirit. But who cares about the result of the presumably wonderful Argentina vs. Netherlands game? Like it matters who wins or loses - group D aren't going to put up a real challenge to either of them.

But the Dutch could get to meet the Argentinians again in the final...

[Hokers]

Another thanks for posting the link to the minute by minute log.  Those are great, got me through a dull day at work.

[eldaec]

As ever the media just about everwhere seems to have decided the outcome of the world cup already; however, I'll tell you something - Argentina probably won't win.

History is littered with the corpses of teams that peaked too soon. And if previous world cups in Europe or South America tell us anything the effect of such a massively partisan crowd at the business end of the competition can't be ignored. If Argentina or for that matter Brazil were to win, then I'd rate it as the greatest world cup achievement since 1958 - which was the last and only time a non-european side took the trophy in Europe (however, they had Pele, so you could argue they were cheating)


If I were a betting man I'd look for value in European teams. Germany (9.8), Netherlands (16.0), Italy (12.5) or Spain (12.0) look good, espeicially the dutch.

Most likely final I see as holland vs brazil. Holland to win.



(Odds are uk prices)

[Hoax]

My current final four prediction looks like this:

Argentina
Czech Republic (although I really want to predict a Croatia upset in this slot, but I need to see more)
Germany (after loosing to Ecuador, beating England and beating Holland -the German side should get stronger as the tournament progresses)
Spain

I've got Germany vrs Argentina in the finals.

But all of that falls apart depending on how Spain, Brazil & Italy play judging them all from one game is just too hard esp. with the Brazilian side playing such an obvious going-through-the-motions game and still beating a quality team.

[eldaec]

That would require Holland to beat Argentina outright in their last group match.

Are you sure don't mean Germany to meet Argentina in the QF?

Personally I don't see Germany losing to Ecuador, but I do see them beating Sweden in round 2, looking at my fixture list my Holland v Brazil final is out the window unless Holland do beat Argentina next match. I don't think they are ready to do that yet - I'm guessing a draw is likely.


 rest of my guesses....

Round 2

Germany v Sweden

England v Ecuador

Argentina v Mexico

Portugal v Holland

Italy v Austrailia

Brazil vs Czech Rep

France v Fuck knows

Spain v Switzerland


QF

Germany v Argentina   on penalties

England v Holland

Brazil v Spain

France v Italy

SF

Holland v Brazil

Germany v Italy

3rd place

Brazil v Italy

Final

Holland v Germany

Muahahahaha! That's jinxed half the teams in the tournament right there.

[Righ]

Most likely final I see as holland vs brazil. Holland to win.

http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=7157.msg192259#msg192259

[Engels]

Is Holland really that good this year? Traditionally they are fair to midlin. Certainly never a match for Germany or Brazil.

[eldaec]

Holland have a good *enough* team to be capable of beating anyone, they always do, but this time the usual soap opera associated with the squad is abscent, normally by this point someone has walked out, gone home, and left half the squad fueding with the manager.

Also Germany is as good as home turf for the dutch, and of the good European sides they are the only side without an obvious flaw.

There are (imo) 7 teams capable of winning the competition. But Brazil & Argentina are too far from home, Germany lack a defence, Italy could have half the team arrested at any moment, England won't get started till faced with elimination - and then the manager will make crazy substitutions to stifle any creative play, and Spain, well, Spain is Spain, they'll do fine till the spotlight is on.

Holland are a young side with solid international class front to back, they'll take a while to get going, but if they bring the side together well enough in time for the quarter-finals I see them being a match for anyone.