Author Topic: soccer world cup! (Read 18505 times)

RainerShuttle · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2006, 01:39:50 PM »

Quote from: "kittens25"

The Dutch will make it out of their group, you will see. They have beaten the Serbs and their is no way they lose to the Ivory Coast.

They probably will yes, but they were hardly impressive today, especially in the second half. There's goals to be scored against their defence and although Serbia couldn't manage it, other sides will. Having said that, they are very good going forward. They're the same at every World Cup/Euro Championship - always look great until coming unstuck and crashing out....I can't see that changing this year.

kittens25 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2006, 01:44:58 PM »

Quote from: "RainerShuttle"

Quote from: "kittens25"
The Dutch will make it out of their group, you will see. They have beaten the Serbs and their is no way they lose to the Ivory Coast.

They probably will yes, but they were hardly impressive today, especially in the second half. There's goals to be scored against their defence and although Serbia couldn't manage it, other sides will. Having said that, they are very good going forward. They're the same at every World Cup/Euro Championship - always look great until coming unstuck and crashing out....I can't see that changing this year.

They did not play their best today. I think you will see their defence improve in future matches. They also have some players injured now which will only help them when they return. Niestelroy was great today, forgot that he didnt score 3 goals or anything, he was all over the field.

10is champ · « **Reply #22 on:** June 13, 2006, 03:21:31 AM »

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!! sorry im really pumped...
because australia beat japan 3-1 last night! but next we are playing brazil

Jamesdster · « **Reply #23 on:** June 13, 2006, 02:30:46 PM »

The fatherland (Italy) can play the jv team Saturday against the U.S. and rest the starters.

SerenaSlam06 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 13, 2006, 03:14:34 PM »

oh i hope they televise Italy crushing the U.S, i missed the match against Ghana, did you catch it james?

dmastous · « **Reply #25 on:** June 13, 2006, 03:29:32 PM »

Guess I'll have to root for Ronaldinio and Brazil.
I think the USA will crash and burn. They've already crashed against the Czechs, now it's time to burn against Italy. It's too bad too, because all of USA soccer is riding on this their slender shoulders.
I've watched about 2 hours of WC coverage and now I remember what bugs me about soccer. These guys dive worse than NBA players. They get nudged and fall down holding their knees or calves, writing in apparent pain. It's tiresome.

Jamesdster · « **Reply #26 on:** June 13, 2006, 03:41:51 PM »

SS06

I was at work and missed it also. Bummer.

kittens25 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 18, 2006, 12:49:24 PM »

Brazil looks very beatable. They struggled to beat Croatia, who is a tough team but not a tournament top contender, and then look like they will only beat Australia 1-0, what an embarassment that is! They certainly are no shoo-ins they were made out to be.

SerenaSlam06 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:40:05 PM »

damnit Italy.

gm3106 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 18, 2006, 02:51:40 PM »

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Brazil looks very beatable. They struggled to beat Croatia, who is a tough team but not a tournament top contender, and then look like they will only beat Australia 1-0, what an embarassment that is! They certainly are no shoo-ins they were made out to be.

Agreed. Argentina look far better and it's interesting to note that a team with an average age as old as Brazil's (28) has never won the WC..........

gm3106 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 18, 2006, 02:53:00 PM »

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damnit Italy.

USA did really well but they'll be in for a real tough time against Ghana who they need to beat to have any chance of going through. That is the most interesting group imo, as all 4 teams still have a chance to go through.................

kittens25 · « **Reply #31 on:** June 18, 2006, 02:58:58 PM »

Quote from: "gm3106"

Quote
Brazil looks very beatable. They struggled to beat Croatia, who is a tough team but not a tournament top contender, and then look like they will only beat Australia 1-0, what an embarassment that is! They certainly are no shoo-ins they were made out to be.

Agreed. Argentina look far better and it's interesting to note that a team with an average age as old as Brazil's (28) has never won the WC..........

Yeah Argentina and Spain have impressed me alot so far. The Czechs impressed me alot in their first game and I have always been waiting for them to make a big breakthrough, but then their 2nd game was a huge letdown to say the least.

Brazil could still end up winning of course, but they show some real chinks in the armour, and are far from the strong bet they looked pre-tournament, for me anyway. The age point you made is a good one, I was not aware of that.

RainerShuttle · « **Reply #32 on:** June 18, 2006, 03:44:25 PM »

You don't win the World Cup in the group stages. Critics of Brazil would be foolish to lambast them based on their two matches (and two wins so far). Yes Argentina were impressive but there is such a thing as peaking too early. I'm sure Brazil will raise their game if and when they come up against a better side.

gm3106 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 18, 2006, 04:10:48 PM »

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I'm sure Brazil will raise their game if and when they come up against a better side.

The biggest worry for them is the form of Ronaldo - judging by the standard of his performances so far I'm really not sure if he *can* raise his game. Apparently he visited hospital for some reason this week - what's going on with him?

gm3106 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 18, 2006, 04:11:43 PM »

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Critics of Brazil would be foolish to lambast them based on their two matches (and two wins so far).

Brazil have looked about as good as England so far i.e. not very.............

kittens25 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 18, 2006, 05:11:00 PM »

England has done what they have needed to do so far. They are the best team in their group, and they should win that group. They have been a bit sluggish though, and will need to play better if they are taking any run at winning this thing.
Brazil I agree has looked similar to England, but from them it is even more surprising, Brazil being the hands down favorites coming in and England coming in with question marks with Rooney's health, Owen's form, some other injuries.
I have also been dissapointed in the Netherlands. I hoped they might be the sleeper here but they will be lucky to get past the quarters(or Portugal could even take them if they play them in the round of 16)if they play like they did so far, they were lucky to beat Ivory Coast.

Portugal has looked pretty good, not phenomenal but better then the teams listed above. They are a team I always wait to make the breakthrough at a major event, they did at Euro 2004 in a way, but Greece was the team of freakish destiny there in the final. Spain looked great in their first game, very a very weak opponent though, they are another team people wait to make a breakthrough but often dissapoint. The Czechs looked wonderful in their first game, then horrendous in their second game, they are not even sure to advance at the moment. Italy has looked pretty good, but not great either. France is definitely on the decline big time, that has been in evidence for a few years, and really is on display here. Argentina have looked phenomenal so far, it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up.

RainerShuttle · « **Reply #36 on:** June 18, 2006, 05:16:38 PM »

Quote from: "gm3106"

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Critics of Brazil would be foolish to lambast them based on their two matches (and two wins so far).

Brazil have looked about as good as England so far i.e. not very.............

Again, England, like Brazil, have six points out of six. Ok, we haven't put six past anyone or looked particularly threatening in attack but we haven't needed to. Argentina and Spain are the only sides to have displayed "sexy football" to use Ruud Gullit's phrase, and the opponents they scored their respective hatfuls against were pitiful defensively. Serbia especially just capitulated in the second half of their match against the Argies. If England come up against Germany in the next round and put in another insipid display and ultimately lose, then it'd be time to criticise - not when we're in pole position in our group with a better points total than the likes of Italy and the Czechs, two teams who many people have said have been impressive up to now.

With regards to Ronaldo, yes, he's horribly unfit and being kept in the team solely because he's a "name". I'm pretty sure the coach will not tolerate such performances much longer, especially since Brazil are hardly short of attacking quality on the bench. Anyway, Ronaldo's not the main man of the Brazilian line-up any more, with the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka and, to an extent, Adriano all emerging as more integral cogs in the Brazilian machinery these days.

kittens25 · « **Reply #37 on:** June 18, 2006, 05:20:24 PM »

Ronaldo will probably retire soon. Looking at the strikers they have on the team I am surprised he isnt starting games from the bench. Coach is obviously respecting his "legendary".

John Mcenroe · « **Reply #38 on:** June 19, 2006, 07:37:31 AM »

Japan is not gonna make it how sad...

kittens25 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 20, 2006, 03:07:38 PM »

It looks like all atleast 8 of the 10 "contenders"-Germany, England, Netherlands, Argentina, Portugal, Czechs, Italy, Brazil, France, and Spain will make the second round. The ones in danger are France in their pool G, and one of the Czechs or Italy being knocked out of pool E. Personaly I think the Czechs will beat Italy in a close game, and the U.S will beat Ghana but not by enough, and the Czechs and Italy will move on. As for the France pool I think Switzerland will beat South Korea, and France will beat Toga in their final round robin game to move on as the Group G #2 seed, Switzerland as the #1 seed.

Looking further ahead, I think Germany will have no problem vs Sweden in the the round of 16, and England no trouble with Ecaudor. Those two have had smooth paths so far and it will continue until the quarters, which is where their tournaments will really start. I see Argentina winning their final pool game vs a somewhat sluggish Dutch team. I see Portugal beating Mexico and winning their pool, but keeping it close enough to move on over Angola. I see Argentina having no problem with Mexico in the semis. I see the Dutch-Portugal round of 16 as a really tough call though, I think the Dutch will get an eye opener vs Argentina, even if they only lose by 1 goal they will be sufficiently outplayed, to take their game up another level for the elimination rounds. So Portugal-Netherlands could go either way.

I see the Czechs winning their group by beating Italy in their final game like I said, and I see them advancing comfortably over either Australia or Croatia. Their bad game vs Ghana was just a blip, I see them getting back together and being very dangerous. If Italy comes out of that pool in second, I see Brazil having no problem with them. Italy, like France, seems to be a fast declining superpower. If the Swiss win Group G, as I predict they will, I see them winning over probably Ukraine in the next round. I see Spain definitely beating France as well, France definitely look like a declining superpower, it has been showing signs for a few years, and it certainly is showing here.

Looking further ahead a Spain vs Brazil quarterfinal is very enticing. I could see an upset there. Spain is like Portugal, a country people wait on to make the big breakthrough. Portugal finaly did at the 2004 Euro Cup, before the loss in the final to that events Cinderella, Greece. I could see Spain making their breakthrough here perhaps the way they look so far, and Brazil is vurnerable enough for an upset to happen there.

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Author Topic: soccer world cup! (Read 18505 times)