World Cup Thread

[Blackleaf]

England now blaming the pitches

That's what the French did after their 0-0 draw with Switzerland.

If the supposedly "efficient" Germans did as good a job at looking after their pitches as the English do, then it'll be okay.

In the English Premiership, the pitches are always immaculate, like carpets. Go to Continental Europe and they are usually a mess.

 

[canadianitalian]

Funny you call us filthy cheats and you say that it was a dive but you never mention the wrongful red card given. Even on the replay it showed Materazzi made contact with teammate Gianluca Zambrotta, even if the intended target was Australia's Marco Bresciano no red card should have been given! So if you wanna whine about the "supposed " dives then I quess you should just call it evening the calls up so stop whining!



GO ITALIA!!!

 

[Daz_Hockey]

I agree with that Canadianitalian, truth be told, I see all these new countries, US, Aus, Ghana to an extent, all seem to think they are better than they are, some how on a level pegging with the teams of europe and south america "oh but fifa rankings" fifa rankings nothing, someone has bought them off, tell most Americans their standing in the table and they would get a got Ab work out from laughing so hard.

Fact is, they missed chance after chance, you cant do that in the world cup, certainly not against the likes of italy, maybe against Fiji or Honduras

 

[Toro]

Re: RE: World Cup Thread

U played in the World Cup Toro???

:lol: :lol:

I wish.

I went as a spectator.

 

[fuflans]

Funny you call us filthy cheats and you say that it was a dive but you never mention the wrongful red card given. Even on the replay it showed Materazzi made contact with teammate Gianluca Zambrotta, even if the intended target was Australia's Marco Bresciano no red card should have been given! So if you wanna whine about the "supposed " dives then I quess you should just call it evening the calls up so stop whining!

I must have missed the part where the red card (undeserved I agree) caused Italy to lose the game. Seems like the 'evening' of the calls as you put it was a bad deal for the Australians. In the end the red card didn't even matter to the Italians (we'd be having a different conversation had Australia won). The dive sure did for the Australians.

Two bad calls in my opinion. It's too bad that one of them was instigated by a dive. And you wonder why people call Italian footballers 'filthy cheats'?

I see all these new countries, US, Aus, Ghana to an extent, all seem to think they are better than they are.

No doubt they thought that they were better than they really are and you are right to criticize them for it. Then again, you think that England has a good chance of winning it all. Isn't that a bit hypocritical? :wink:

Fact is, they missed chance after chance, you cant do that in the world cup, certainly not against the likes of italy, maybe against Fiji or Honduras

Yeah no kidding. I don't even want to know how many times I yelled, 'shoot the ball' at the television. It seemed like Australia was hoping to make it to extra time instead of ending it early. Hiddink didn't even use all of his subs.

 

[glossprincess]

I dont think you understand the situation in Australia......we do not think we are that good a team! Thats why we were ecstatic to even qualify for the World Cup after 32 years of sitting back as a spectating country!

But we went into the competition with our heads held high, not daring to hope for any wins but just wishing that we wouldnt embarass ourselves. But we played well in our first game and hopes grew. I'm not syaing we're great, I'm just saying that I think we surprised the world as well as ourselves and in this particular game, we deserved to win. If Italy had beaten us 20-0, I'd be happy cos I'd know that they were the better team and fully deserved their place in the quarters. But thats not the case, they cheated and I will forever be resentful for that asshole Grosso!

And hey, CanadianItalian.......just a suggestion, why dont you introduce yourself and make a name for yourself around here before you start criticising the way people talk. Thats just plain rude!

 

[Toro]

I'm with Glossy!

Latest odds, from William Hill

Brazil 9:4
Argentina 7:2
Germany 9:2
England 11:2
Italy 13:2
France 11:1
Portugal 16:1
Ukraine 50.1

 

[canadianitalian]

Funny you call us filthy cheats and you say that it was a dive but you never mention the wrongful red card given. Even on the replay it showed Materazzi made contact with teammate Gianluca Zambrotta, even if the intended target was Australia's Marco Bresciano no red card should have been given! So if you wanna whine about the "supposed " dives then I quess you should just call it evening the calls up so stop whining!

I must have missed the part where the red card (undeserved I agree) caused Italy to lose the game. Seems like the 'evening' of the calls as you put it was a bad deal for the Australians. In the end the red card didn't even matter to the Italians (we'd be having a different conversation had Australia won). The dive sure did for the Australians.

Two bad calls in my opinion. It's too bad that one of them was instigated by a dive. And you wonder why people call Italian footballers 'filthy cheats'?

I see all these new countries, US, Aus, Ghana to an extent, all seem to think they are better than they are.

No doubt they thought that they were better than they really are and you are right to criticize them for it. Then again, you think that England has a good chance of winning it all. Isn't that a bit hypocritical? :wink:

Fact is, they missed chance after chance, you cant do that in the world cup, certainly not against the likes of italy, maybe against Fiji or Honduras

Yeah no kidding. I don't even want to know how many times I yelled, 'shoot the ball' at the television. It seemed like Australia was hoping to make it to extra time instead of ending it early. Hiddink didn't even use all of his subs.

I guess you did miss the part of the Aussies having a 40 minute advantage because of a bad call. The Aussies only real attacks came after the call. It’s a tough way to lose sure, especially when you’ve been up a man for most of the half. But the whining of "Filthy cheats" to this I will say two things: 1) The Aussies should’ve scored when they had their chances, and perhaps more pertinently to the supposed "bad call", 2) Why, Lucas Neill did you go to ground and put the referee in a position to make that call on him? Of course a decision like that will always be controversial, regarless of what the referee decides, but by taking the course of action he did, it was HIM who cost the Socceroos a spot in the quarterfinals and not the referee or "filthy Italians". The replay of Lucas Neill’s foul on Grosso in the penalty box by no means was it reckless or dangerous, but it was certainly a foul nonetheless as his body took Grosso out of the play. The referees call, after all, was correct in this instance and that penalty decision falls squarely on the shoulders your Aussie player Neill's.

It’s a tough way to bow out of the World Cup, but on this day, the Italians proved to be the better team. We managed to stay in the game despite losing a man and came out on top in the end.

Until next time…

 

[glossprincess]

Clearly you dont understand the rules of football cos that was NOT a foul, nowhere near it!

And did you not read the comment I made to you before?

 

[canadianitalian]

Re: RE: World Cup Thread

I dont think you understand the situation in Australia......we do not think we are that good a team! Thats why we were ecstatic to even qualify for the World Cup after 32 years of sitting back as a spectating country!

But we went into the competition with our heads held high, not daring to hope for any wins but just wishing that we wouldnt embarass ourselves. But we played well in our first game and hopes grew. I'm not syaing we're great, I'm just saying that I think we surprised the world as well as ourselves and in this particular game, we deserved to win. If Italy had beaten us 20-0, I'd be happy cos I'd know that they were the better team and fully deserved their place in the quarters. But thats not the case, they cheated and I will forever be resentful for that asshole Grosso!

And hey, CanadianItalian.......just a suggestion, why dont you introduce yourself and make a name for yourself around here before you start criticising the way people talk. Thats just plain rude!

Hey Glossy, its rude to call people names in the first place and if you can't stand critizism then what is this board for. You are right in saying that you should be proud of how the Aussies played, because they played very well. I will say to you before you call anyone a cheater take a close look at the replay and see if there was no body contact after all this is not rugby!!! If you want to blame someone better look closely at Lucas Neill. For someone to come out and use "cheated", "filthy Italians" and "asshole" and not really look at the game in its entirely to see how many times the Aussies came in with spikes high just strengths my viewpoint if you can't stand options then don't put it out on the board. I need not make a name for myself, this is a board to talk about what everyone thinks and in doing so, you have your opinion but better look in the mirror when you before youcall someone rude since it is not I that is insulting anyone!

 

[canadianitalian]

Re: RE: World Cup Thread

Clearly you dont understand the rules of football cos that was NOT a foul, nowhere near it!

And did you not read the comment I made to you before?

You are absolutely correct being of Italian hertiage, having a soccer ball with me since age of 3 and playing over 20 years of competitive soccer doesn't allow me the "luxury" of knowing the rules. I know that you speak emotionally and it is great that your passion is with your country's team truly I love that, just have some class. There are ways to express ones self without vulgarity or demeaning talk. And anytime that there is body contact with an offensive player that close to getting by the defender in basically the "hot zone" you open yourself up to the exact call that the ref did!

 

[fuflans]

I guess you did miss the part of the Aussies having a 40 minute advantage because of a bad call.

I agreed with you there. I also agreed that Australia didn't take advantage of their...advantage. I also agree that Neil set himself up for the penalty kick. It was a silly thing to do. Too much agreeing going on here.

All that I was saying is that the ref made two bad calls in the game(imo of course, yours is obviously different). The red card disadvantaged Italy for the rest of the game, but it wasn't caused by a bit of theatrics from an Australian. It was just a bad call. Australia dropped the ball by not fully taking advantage of the situation and in the end it didn't matter to the Italians.

I personally think that the second bad call was caused by the Italian player taking advantage of the situation that Neil put himself in. Call it 'cheating' or 'playing smart' or whatever you would like. This bad call cost Australia the game.

But whatever, the game's over and in the past. The better team probably won in the end but it's still a crappy way for the Australians to go out.

 

[canadianitalian]

But whatever, the game's over and in the past. The better team probably won in the end but it's still a crappy way for the Australians to go out.[/quote]

I agree it is a crappy ending for a Aussie team that played with their heart and soul. I would have much rather seen them play it out and let the team that wanted it more win. I do look forward to watching them in the next one as I think that this World Cup and the way that they played will strengthen them and they are going to be a fantastic team to watch fly up the rankings. And to also say that they showed a tremendous amount of class at the end of the game, my hat is off to them for their play and their grace.

 

[glossprincess]

Ok, I understand your point now and I apologise for saying all that stuff in the plural sense, I never meant any offense to Italians. Italy is one of the best countriues I've ever been to and Italians are lovely people. But I refuse to apologise for syaing that stuff about Grosso cos in my OPINION its true!

I know you've only made 5 posts and you're very new to the forum but once you get more acquainted here, you'll realise that this forum is all about expressing different opinions, whether they be wrong or right. And thats exactly what I did. Accept it and move on.

 

[Daz_Hockey]

No doubt they thought that they were better than they really are and you are right to criticize them for it. Then again, you think that England has a good chance of winning it all. Isn't that a bit hypocritical? :wink:

I'm sorry to bring it up again, I understand why your so passionate about the game, what a great game it is, 1. the Azzuri have never been the same since Zola retired :lol: 2. I back England cus A. I'm English and B. It's about time the creators of this fine sport who, spread it thru out the world (wasnt Inter founded by english sailors) and since we've had to put up with a french bunch of idiots (namely FIFA) telling us how to play a game we invented for a good 70 years, I think it's about time the world gave back somthing to the founders!!!

it's just insulting hearing the germans singing "football's coming home!!!" arghhh and every new country using a silly class-related nickname for the game (i.e. aSSOC-er iation football), although I must admit it is a very long shot.


On a personal note from the town of Southampton, I REALLY, REALLY wish Charles Miller from a school not too far from southampton's football ground HADNT introduced football to the Brazillians!!! doh!!!!

 

[glossprincess]

I'm with you Daz! Its England all the way for me!!! Now that I dont have my own country to support, that is I really do think it could be England's year! I just hope Italy doesnt win!!!! And I reeeeeally dont want Brazil to win cos even if they pull out the big guns now, I dont think they deserve to win based on the way they've been playing up till now!

 

[Toro]

Hey Glossy

I found a video of Italy practicing before the match against the Aussies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVXpLrbLfs&search=Italy Training Video

 

[Toro]

One more

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6286843877087228862&q=fair+play

 

[glossprincess]

They're classic! Probably completely true too!

 

[Blackleaf]

Argentina, the World Cup favourites, are out.

Germany 1-1 Argentina (after extra time, Germany win 4-2 on penalties)

Germany are in the Semi-Final.

I hate both of these nations, and it's a shame that one of them had to win - but at least one of them lost.

And there are amazing scenes. There is a huge punch-up amongst the Argentinians.

But this could be good news for England. We know that we can't play Argentina now. And if we reach the Final, we could play Germany, and the last time England played Germany in Germany, England won 5-1. And the last time England played Germany in a World Cup Final, England won.

Is this an omen? It would be good to beat the Germans 5-1 in the Final - with a Beckham hat-trick.

And, as Spain and now Argentina (who have played the World Cup's best football) have shown, playing good, classy football doesn't necessarily win you the World Cup. Maybe England playing "boring" defensive football are doing the right thing.