World Cup Thread

[Toro]

Re: RE: World Cup Thread

toro, it was 4-2, so in the end, what does a goal matter, simply put (just like Beckenbaur said) '66? 21 years?, Russian Linesman? 10 million dead?, goal.

it doesnt matter in the end, all I can say is that Bobby's boys deserved the world cup in '66, they deserved it in 70 as well, but never mind, at least England truely appreciate the game we invented (shouldda patented it to be honest, the nation would have made sooo much money).

We named it Association Football as well, and unlike every other English game, its truely a world uniting game.......not just for little girls

thats not xenophobia though

Daz

You are not being xenophobic.

I'm a fan of England.

And I almost always cheer against Germany.

England being a world champion is great, to me.

But if someone is going to say "Germany always cheats to get to the final", well, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Three times champions and four times runners-up is second only to Brazil in terms of success. To say that's because of "cheating" is laughable. (Well, except maybe for 1954, then Blackleaf is probably right.)

 

[Daz_Hockey]

fact is, Germany have never been the most gifted of teams, but they work their asses off, sheer determination and routine usually win over for germany, it's a model a lot of countries can learn from.

Old Blackleaf is just using the old Jurgen Klinnsman stereotype, if any one dives, I'd take a bit of a look at paraguay against England yesterday.

I always find football funny though, its a paradigm, its a uniter, its for the down-trodden, the blacks in south africa, the poor in countries like Brazil, it knocks down barriers like the christmas ww1 game between england and germany.

so, obviously you understand this already, but thats why I, and many people get frustrated with countries like Australia and the US, it's not just a game, and if you dismiss it as a "kid's or girls game", you dont deserve the beautiful game.........I hope thats cleared up why I get annoyed with several of your compatriots Toro, it's not cus you call it "Soccer" but the reasons above.

sermon over

 

[Toro]

You're right Daz.

Germany gets ahead more by graft, hard work and mental strength than skill. They were maybe the 8th or 9th best team in 2002 and still made the final.

Mexico 3 Iran 1

Mexico were the better side, but I don't think either team will scare anyone.

As a sign of class, Iranians gave the Mexican keeper flowers in memory of his father who died Thursday of a heart attack. That's cool.

 

[dekhqonbacha]

Iranian defence was good in first time, and loosened on the second.

Iranian goalkeeper isn't very good.

 

[fuflans]

That was a very classy thing for the Iranians to do before the game.

It seemed like Iran was content with playing for a draw in the second half.

 

[Toro]

Chilavert blasts 'worst-ever' England display

Jose Luis Chilavert has criticised Paraguay's display against an England side he describes as the 'worst in history'.

The former Paraguay goalkeeper believes Anibal Ruiz's men should have salvaged at least a draw as England wilted in the Frankfurt heat on Saturday afternoon.

Carlos Gamarra's third-minute own goal, which came via a trademark David Beckham free-kick, was all that separated the two sides.

But Chilavert, who was renowned for his own scoring ability from set-pieces, insists Paraguay's players lacked the mental strength when it really mattered.

The 40-year-old said: 'They lost against probably the worst English national team in their history.

'The Paraguayan players did not have enough attitude.'

His assessment seems a little harsh. Although they got off to a woeful start, the South Americans were arguably the better side after the break.

Paraguay had a number of half chances to equalise, most notably through busy midfielder Carlos Paredes who shot over the bar after England goalkeeper Paul Robinson fumbled a cross.

Chilavert's outburst also extended to Gamarra and Roberto Acuna, players he described as 'old men'.

Paraguay's star man Roque Santa Cruz was another to come in for criticism. The Bayern Munich striker had battled a knee injury all week but was passed fit to play.

But his sub-standard display led Chilavert to question whether Ruiz had made the right decision.

'He (Santa Cruz) was not in good enough form to play. He never played strong,' said Chilavert.

'We need a stronger footballing rhythm.

'We must put faith in the young players like Edgar Barreto, Dante Lopez or Julio Dos Santos, but they were not used by the coach (Anibal Ruiz).'

Chilavert also spoke his mind about manager Ruiz, claiming: 'Ruiz does not know how to play with a winning team.

'He does not know anything about attack - he is always crestfallen and he carries a losing image.'

Next up for Paraguay is a meeting with Sweden on Thursday, with a win crucial to their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=370751&cc=5901

 

[Blackleaf]

The 40-year-old said: 'They lost against probably the worst English national team in their history.

The Paraguayans WOULD say that, wouldn't they?

England were totally dominant in the first half against a team that should have been more used to the heat than the English and despite the fact that we are missing Wayne Rooney.

The current England side is the best there has been since 1990, when England lost in the World Cup Semi-Final only by a penalty shootout.

And I've heard today that Rooney will probably be playing in the final group game against Sweden, a game we'll be playing having already qualified for the next round.

 

[Daz_Hockey]

to be honest though, you dont wanna peak too soon in this competition so I was reasonably happy with the result, I failed to understand the "tactical" substitution of Owen though, but those Beckham crosses just get better, he really is a world-class player, although I think England have about 6 of them this year.

Angola are putting up a darn good fight against portugal though.

 

[Blackleaf]

Italy goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, says England have the best midfield in Europe and maybe the world.

He wishes that Italy had Gerrard and Lampard.



29 May 2006

EXCLUSIVE: BUFFON: IF WE HAD STEVIE AND LAMPS WE'D RULE THE WORLD

By Martin Lipton

Gerrard (far left) and Lampard (far right) are the world's best midfielders.


ENGLAND have a World Cup winning midfield of Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard, according to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

While England boss Sven Goran Eriksson struggles to get the best out of them, Buffon believes Italy would be world champions if they had the pair in their side. The £32million Juventus keeper said: "I'd say England have the strongest midfield in Europe, maybe in the world.

"They have the best players in that area. Lampard and Gerrard are great players, strong people who can drive the game and win you matches." Buffon, cleared to play in Germany after being implicated in the betting and corruption scandal which has enveloped Italian football, added: "If we could have just one of them, we'd be very lucky.

"If we could have them both we'd win the World Cup. When you look at our team we're very strong at the back, with Nesta and Cannavaro and have strikers to choose from in Cassano, Gilardino, Vieri, Inzaghi and of course Toni, who has done so well for Fiorentina this season.

"But there is a weakness in the midfield. We have a few good players but it is a weakness and one of the points we have to try to address.

"When we look at the England squad and the midfielders they have, we do wish we could have one of them.

"England are good enough to reach the final."

thesun.co.uk
-----------------------------------------

 

[Blackleaf]

Re: RE: World Cup Thread

to be honest though, you dont wanna peak too soon in this competition so I was reasonably happy with the result, I failed to understand the "tactical" substitution of Owen though, but those Beckham crosses just get better, he really is a world-class player, although I think England have about 6 of them this year.

Angola are putting up a darn good fight against portugal though.

At half time during the Angola/Portugal game, a former Dutch international who's a part of the Channel 3 panel discussing the game (but I can't even remember his name) said that England did well in the first game and that the first game is always a difficult game for all teams to play. He said the most important thing was that we got the win and got the 3 points. Now, we only have to be the minnows of Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the next round - and then we unleash Rooney onto our opponents.

England could also face Portugal in the Quarter Final. We played them in the Euro 2004 Quarter Final and should have won, but Sol Campbell's Golden Goal was disallowed by the referee even though it was perfectly legal.

So, this is England's task - beat T and T in the next game. Easy. We then qualify for the next round. We then play Sweden int he last group game with Rooney playing. We then play probably either Germany or Ecuador in the Last 16 - both teams that shouldn't trouble us. If England play Germany it will probably be in Munich - and what happened the last time England play Germany? It finished Germany 1-5 England on 1st September 2001 - in Munich. We then play probably either Portugal or Mexico (I think)in the Quarter Final, and Mexico are a team that hasn't got a goof record against European opposition and has won only 6 World Cup games ever outside of Mexico. Then it's the Semi-Final maybe against Brazil. Win that and we'll be in the Final - probably against Argentina, a team that England has beaten on our last 2 meetings - 3-2 in Switzerland in November 2005 and 1-0 in the 2002 World Cup.

 

[Daz_Hockey]

ah Jimmy-Jimmy the man with a surname that sounds like pleasuring one's self

"Now, we only have to be the minnows of Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the next round" - Blackleaf

never underestimate any team in this tornament my man, they are all here on merit.

But it's Jimmy-Floyd Hasslebank

 

[dekhqonbacha]

what a wonderful game for Portugal.
especially the first time.

 

[Toro]

Portugal 1 Angola 0

It looked like Portugal were going to overrun Angola at the beginning, but the Angolans settled down and played an attacking style.

Portugal will win that group, with Mexico second.

 

[Toro]

Re: RE: World Cup Thread

The Paraguayans WOULD say that, wouldn't they?

Well, Chilavert would say that.

He has said many unusual things in the past.

 

[fuflans]

I'm glad that Scolari yanked Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half. The look on Ronaldo's face when he came off didn't do anything to change my mind about him being a whiny little brat.

Edit: the commentator made a comment about him 'picking up his teddy bear and going home,' or something to that effect

 

[dekhqonbacha]

But his absence at the end was noticiable.

 

[Toro]

So while we're making all these comparisons, let's not forget that England hasn't beaten Sweden since 1968!

 

[Daz_Hockey]

To be honest, if they draw with T & T, they'll qualify for the next round anyway

 

[Andem]

Blackleaf, I wish I was as optimistic as you regarding England.. I've switched my support from Germany to England mainly because I'm so sick of Michael Ballack and I'd love never better than for him to screw up

I'd be happy if England or Germany won the cup, but if it comes down to England vs. Germany, I'm rooting for England... I think they might just do it this year.. We'll see..

 

[fuflans]

Wow. Did anyone see that first Japanese goal (I'm writing this at halftime so there may be more later)? How was it allowed? It's ironic that it was the Japanese who accused the Australians of playing 'rough' before the game.