World Cup 2006 - General Discussion
 

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Germany 2-1 Costa Rica [half time]

Sehr gut !!! I predicted 2-1 for Germany, and I have Klose (2nd scorer) as my McDo captain at the FIFA Fantasy Football. [goodjob] The World Cup is starting very well for me.

Now, Costa Rica isn't solid in defense at all, especially on the right side, but Germany's defense can be beaten as well, and I don't think that Lehmann is a very good goal keeper (he still managed to reach the C1 final this year). I'm not surprised by all those goals ; this is the first match, and the WC ball seems to advantage the forwards. Maybe the first German goal wouldn't have been scored with another ball ?

What's the difference in the WC ball as opposed to other (soccer [:p]) balls

They create a new ball for each WC. This time, I think it's Adidas (TM) that had to create the ball for the competition, and I heard that it is quite light (not heavy), so that it advantages the striker, not the goal keeper. This is supposedly to make the show (and to make money).

It certainly moves in the air a lot having watched Germany's fourth goal.

Germany 4-2 Costa Rica [full time]

Playing in several competitions is kinda st00pid. :D When Germany scored their 3rd goal, I said "Aaaaargh !" for 3 seconds, because it wasn't my 2-1 anymore, but 3-1. Then I realized that Klose had scored, and since he is my captain in that other game (points doubled [cool] )... while still having Germany as the winner.

Anyway, the first and last goals were splendid. [thumbsup] I have mixed feelings about Germany. Their offensive abilities are very good, but their defense isn't perfect. Something can be done somewhere in the tournament, to beat them. [:p]

If the centre of the German defense keeps playing like this, then they're fucked... Those two tall guys are about as mobile as mountains. Any fast offense will kill them.

Hard to say anything decent about this openingmatch. 6 goals was ok. Germany will win the group.

@KR:I dont agree, not convinced that germany will win this group after tonight.

Germany: better than I expected but as noted before, their defense was crap.
Costa Rica: I thought/hoped they would do better. After tonight they're the no1 candidate to end in 4th place in this group
Poland: Ok, bit worse than I expected.
Ecuador: Surprised me. I knew they were much better than 4 years ago, but I didnt expect them to be this good. I think they were in control of the match against Poland for 75% of the game. Last 25% Poland outplayed them but their defense is great. And of course that keepers guardian angel putting 2 shots on the goalpoles helped quite a bit as well.

From what I've seen I think Poland and Ecaudor have the best chances to reach the 2nd round.

ger:9
ecu:6
Pol:3
CoR:0

nuff said. ;)

I am often a pessimist regarding Germany's football, but here I have to agree with KR. We will win the group - if not with 9 points, we will get 7. We may not be as good in the game itself anymore, but we still rule the draw :)

I dont think Germany will win all matches. Next one against Poland will be crucial. Poland will put on the pressure and should they win everything is still possible, including the very likely option of all teams getting 6 points except CR.

Should Germany win from Poland everything is decided early on and Germany and Ecaudor will reach the 2nd round. Germany-Ecuador doesnt matter anymore then expect for a possible 1/8 final opponent, so the outcome will be hard to predict.

So will Poland defeat Germany? I think it's very possible.

i think in the final, the ball will have gold on it or something along them lines...

Paraguay is amazingly weak, it's simply pathetic.

Looks like they've woken up. England might get into trouble if they continue like this. Worth watching after all.

I must say that the England-Paraguay game wasn't all too spectacular...both teams lacked some offensive chances. The announcers said it was the first time a team won a game 1-0 on an own goal in the WC.

Own goal was a bit strong really.

Only using slow motion replays would you know it had even touched the defender, if the defender hadn't touched it, it would still have been a goal.

Not that inspiring, but with Sweden and TnT to play, it should have qualified us.

[meli]

that match was so bad, soon as Owen got taken off we didnt know what to do, the whole second half was England on the defensive.

England sucked. period. If they don't improve they'll end up second in the poule and lose to Germany.

Boooooo. T & T star gets redcarded for Sverige Swalbe dive. vomit. that they need to resolve to those tactics is not good.

you cant help but like T&T, he deserved the red card just meant the game is pretty one sided now.

Shaka Hislop is my new hero, no matter what happens in these last few minutes.

Shaka Hislop used to play for Portsmouth (my home City), he's awesome.

Also 2 players in TnT play for my Birth town Gillingham...

0-0 is the best possible result for England :)

[meli]

Yeah Sweden v T&T 0-0 is a perfect result for England :D

It means despite the lackluster second half game from England we have a very strong position in the group. A win against T&T will guarantee qualification I think.

I thought England looked excellent in the first half of their game - only complaint being they didn't put a few of their many chances in the net, but they were dominating and putting a lot of pressure on for 45 minutes. In the second half the usual problems... they just don't seem to be able to focus for 90mins.

The pundits after the match made a lot out of Eriksons substituion of Owen, England hadn't started the 2nd half well but with only Crouch up front England had no outlet for the ball any more. The manager is also accused of having an 'Italian mentality' of getting a 1-0 lead and then just hanging on negatively, Erikson's comments after the match would seem to support this, he seemed content with their performance :(

A lot of the players said the heat took its toll in the 2nd half and they suffered, I liked Gary Linekars comment in the studio; 'fair enough but they should have been in Mexico...' :)

[cookiem]

thing is though, even if England beat a team 4-0 the press and everyone will still find a reason to complain, should just lay off them to begin with. We're top of the group, we won the first game-who cares what the result is?

argentina 2-ivory coast 1

9 mins to go, allways gotta go for the opposing team against Argentina!

I'm watching Argentina vs Ivory Coast and Argentina looks really bleak. Seems they will not fare well. But you never know.

Well, Argentina won ... somehow. But really, not very impressive, not impressive at all.

best match tacticly so far. Both teams are very good, with Argentina being a bit lame in the 2nd half.

SImilar to how I watch the World Cup...

I cheer for USA and any team playing Brazil

Argentina were pretty good in the first half, slacked off in the second half though. Just glad my team isnt in group C....

England: deserved win
Paraguay: They say they're South-Am. no 3 team, I'd say Ecuador deserves that title now.
Sweden: Underperformed.
TnT: Fucking Brilliant
Argentina and Ivory Coast: best teams I've seen so far. I think Argentina played well, they were in control and made goals when able. Didnt see the 2nd half of the match though, read that Arg was worse then. I still think argentina will win group C. Ivory coast played well too, pity they didnt managed a draw.

And so...it begins.

Holland in the World Cup so I am going to watch in the pub. I will likely get realy realy drunk though I expect these times for home arrival:

Holland loses: Annoyed and fairly drunk, home at 17.30h, lousy sales at work tomorrow.

Holland draws: Spending 4 hours after match talking "anything can happen still" and getting home at 20, rather drunk. No sales tomorrow but no not-sales either. Uncertainty takes hold in Holland.

Holland wins: Home at 22.30h, severely happy but in no shape to do anything but sleep. Easy sales tomorrow though rocky head will decrease tempo by at least 50%.

Well, I wish you all a happy match, and for those supporting Arange in perticular!

Nice link, for the Dutch.
http://www.knvb.nl/multimedia/cursusduits/les1

I hope Holland win, for too long easily one of the best teams in Europe has been dealt crappy hands and Holland desperately need a first game win in this nightmare Group.

I will be cheering Holland all the way in this match.

Allez la fromage!

[meli]

S&M are a fairly solid team though. I dont mind so much who wins but i wouldnt mind both of them qualifying.

Holland 1- S&M-0

think S&M maybe deserved a point after the second half, they played pretty well and Holland looked to go off the boil. ALso what was up with VDS, cramp??

Happy with the three Dutch points but Dutch defense wasn't very solid imo.

Ole, ole, ole, ole....ole...ole! 3-1

pfffff....1-0 though it feels like a draw. good night.

Potugal is rolling.. .almost a goal within 20 seconds and they scored at the 4 minute mark

Angola is a very strong team, still it is a very unclear outcome. More or less even match so far, I'd say.