2006 World Cup Chock full o' spoilers thread

[HaemishM]

Therefore I am now pulling for Portugal (who aren't nearly as bad a bunch of divers or thugs as people have been saying suddenly imo) to beat the stuffing out of France and somehow get Italy to a shootout so their keeper can stand on his head and win them the cup.  Plus Portugal has some truly talented individuals and on the odd occasion they actually try to play as a team they are a joy to watch.

You must not have watched the Netherlands game, or the one against France last night. It was getting downright silly for a while there, and luckily the ref didn't buy it too much. I will say though, Ronaldo is a helluva talent. That motherfucker is just lightning fast. But Zidane... I can see why they call him the Maestro. That was just beautiful. How does a guy get that good a PK with only a 3-step drop? If my wife wasn't Italian, I'd be rooting for them.

[El Gallo]

Portugal has very snappy uniforms at least.  Who would think a France-Italy encounter would be such a fashion disaster?

[WayAbvPar]

I really dig the Portugese colors. I just wish the players inhabiting them weren't such total douchebags.

[Tale]

I just watched France's evening news (got a digital channel that shows foreign bulletins 24/7) and they had a funny highlights package of the Portugese dives and the "lol what a movie star" reactions from France's coach. First 20 minutes of the news was all football stories, then the Tour de France, then Amelie Mauresmo at Wimbledon, then some political stories :)

[Jobu]

I was listening to the Guardian podcast yesterday. A pretty good daily show they have on their website covering the games coming up, the previous games, and commentary from all sorts of people. Anyways...

They brought up some interesting facts about the tournament so far. For example, there's only been 20 games where both teams have scored, out of 62 games played. Already there's been 3 games decided on penalties. No one has scored a hat trick. There haven't really been any emerging, breakout new talents on display. 141 goals. While any World Cup is always exciting, the predominant mood seems to be that this one is turning out to fall a little flat.

A lot of the complaints around the excitement of the games centered around the prevailing formation (or variants) of 4-4-2 with 2 defensive holding midfielders... essentialy 4-2-2-1. I've also been reading a fair amount of editorials with various ideas on how to liven things up again, bring up the amount of goals scored, etc. Some of them are a little extreme. Things like reducing the team size to 10 men, or changing the offside rule to work like hockey's icing with a three-line rule. Actually, the three-line rule I think might be worth experimenting with. When I play in indoor leagues, it works pretty well. I can't see how it would effect things too, too terribly on a normal pitch. Who knows... but at the least, it might be worth experimenting with in some exhibition matches or something.

Some of the others though, I thought sounded pretty reasonable. Increasing the size of the pitch for one, which would free up a lot more space, and spread the game out, opening more attacking oppurtunities. The size of Barcelona's pitch at the Camp Nou (107m x 72m) was used as an example of how a huge playing field resulted in some really fun, attacking football. The other one was increasing the size of the goals. The average goalie these days is something like 6'3", using goal dimensions from when they were barely closer 5'9" or so (the numbers are a little hazy). Stretch the corners out another... 4-6 inches, and you've got more chances.

I dunno... it seemed they all had some decent points. And it's something to talk about until Sunday. :)

[Hoax]

I like having two ref's and four linesmen.  The rest of that stuff is for the birds.

[Jobu]

Mmm, yeah. That's probably the best one. But that only solves the problems with bad calls during the games. It won't change the tactics of teams though to go for midfield containment instead of attacking the box. But maybe it's really not the responsibility of FIFA or the IFAB to try to influence tactics by changing the rules around.

[Jobu]

This one's pretty funny. Props if you can read Portugeuse.

Watch in real time as Roberto Carlos decides to retire from international football: http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/0,,AG32062-6093,00.html

[Hoax]

Better use of that link, click Otras Gallarias and click on Portugal x France...

[Strazos]

So what did it say, Carlos fucked up by not paying attention to Henry?

[Threash]

So what did it say, Carlos fucked up by not paying attention to Henry?

Not simply not paying attention but basically just staying in one spot with his hands on his knees while france scored.

[HRose]

I don't know what to think but this is the most SURREAL match I've ever seen.

After the first minute one France player nearly faints, minutes of downtime, then a yellow card, then back to the game only for a penalty that looked really unsure (in the replay it seems there was no contact at all, but it wasn't clear), with Zidane mocking Totti's way of kicking it. Every couple of seconds someone falls down and the game stops and then a goal for Italy scored by Materazzi who risked own goal a minute before and even caused the penalty.

Just crazy.

[Tale]

I don't know what to think but this is the most SURREAL match I've ever seen.

It has evened up now. Looked like France could more easily have been given a penalty for that other challenge in the box, but the ref decided not to give it. Now they have a fair half-hour battle for the Cup.

[Tale]

Unless they want to rely on penalties, France need a more attacking formation in extra time. Twice they have just needed one extra man in Italy's box to score. Italy just needs to keep doing what it's doing and hope it works. If France do go more on the attack, Italy will have more room too.

[Azazel]

I might sound biased, but if you want to watch a Surreal game check out Australia's first round game with Croatia.

This game is interesting, funny I should be behind Italy, but after the way their second round game with Australia ended I'm more of a casual viewer, and don't really care who wins, I'm just watching to see a good game. And Ralli Ratsic's sterling commentary.

ah well. 90mins, 6am. Time to go watch the last 30mins from bed. Night!

[HRose]

With a definite superiority of France for the first part of the second half. Really great defence for Italy.

Now it's all about who has more stamina or lose concentration. Or the penalties at the end.

[Tale]

ah well. 90mins, 6am. Time to go watch the last 30mins from bed. Night!

I have set up a "bed" in my lounge room in front of the TV. Fortunately I don't have to work until 2pm today :)

[HRose]

It has evened up now.

Lol. Are you sure? (Zidane losing his mind)

[Zetleft]

Wow nice headbutt from Zidane heheh 

Too bad that ends his career I guess. 

[Righ]

Disgraceful headbutt from Zidane. What the hell did Materazzi say to prompt that sort of reaction from somebody as level-headed as Zidane usually is? Pressure, emotions and and fatigue I suppose.

[Der Helm]

Wow nice headbutt from Zidane heheh 

Too bad that ends his career I guess. 

Not questioning the red card here, but I am wondering what the italian player said to Zidane right before the headbutt ?

edit: In other words, what Righ said ...

[Tale]

The Guardian says: "Materazzi's crime was to, erm, tweak Zidane's nipple. I kid you not."

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/minbymin/0,,1788448,00.html

[Righ]

Also, I wouldn't call it a "nice headbutt". That would have been forehead to brow. It was a shockingly effete and substandard headbutt.

France looked much better in the midfield and on the attack. Italy were fantastic in defence. The PK for France was doubtful. The denied one probably should have been one however. Shame it comes down to PKs. With Zidane off and Buffon in goal, Italy should have a slight edge here.

[Tale]

Headbutt action:

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/6720/zidane4qf.gif

[Zetleft]

Also, I wouldn't call it a "nice headbutt". That would have been forehead to brow. It was a shockingly effete and substandard headbutt.

Shoulda posted in green then, but on second thought it was nice for a frenchman :p

But yeah totally stupid thing to do when you know you are gonna hurt your team, being their best PK player and everything.

Guess it don't matter when your goaltender sucks.  Divers win.

[Righ]

And so Italy win, and go home world champions, to be demoted to third division players. Congratulations. :)

[eldaec]

I get the impression Zidane realised about quarter of a second too late what he had been goaded into, hence the fucked up non-violent violence, still, the italian's fall was as impressive as ever.

Bit of a shame the way the game ended up with the result that it did, for a final it actually wasn't that bad.

Someone really does need to think of a better way to end these things though.

[MrHat]

That shit was so funny.

[Falconeer]

I hate Italy.
Yes, I hate my country. It happens.

[Zetleft]

Would hate to be Zidane right now, can't imagine how much shit he is gonna hear after that.   If they had pulled out the win anyway without him it would have been bad enough but losing like that in the final game... ouch.

[Falconeer]

And so Italy win, and go home world champions, to be demoted to third division players. Congratulations. :)

None of those players will stay in their actual club. Actually, they will be sold elsewhere and will get better wages being World Champions.
You could say that they will benefit from the demotion of their teams.

[Tale]

Would hate to be Zidane right now, can't imagine how much shit he is gonna hear after that.   If they had pulled out the win anyway without him it would have been bad enough but losing like that in the final game... ouch.

Commentator on Australian TV said at the start of the game that Zidane had signed a multi-million dollar commentary contract with French TV station Canal +. Wonder how that sits now?

[Der Helm]

Someone really does need to think of a better way to end these things though.

?

[Tale]

Full Zidane nipple tweak and headbutt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBV52GPhNjw&feature=Recent&page=6&t=t&f=b

http://youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc&feature=Recent&page=1&t=t&f=b

[Abagadro]

Heh. Love the "Pourquoi? Pourquoi?