MWilding's 2006 World Cup Primer

[spherrod]

Ukraine v Tunisia and Saudi Arabia v Spain have just kicked off

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Damn, the US really stunk it up... :|

Apart from a moment of brilliance from Beasley and Dempsey, that was a pathetc display by a team that did not seem like it cared at alll...

they were found wanting, particularly up front. Will Arena keep his job?

Not if I was in charge...

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Damn, the US really stunk it up... :|

Apart from a moment of brilliance from Beasley and Dempsey, that was a pathetc display by a team that did not seem like it cared at alll...

they were found wanting, particularly up front. Will Arena keep his job?

Not if I was in charge...

Would they consider getting a top foreign coach in?

 

[spherrod]

Currently Ukraine 0-0 Tunisia, Saudia Arabia 0-1 Spain

Ukraine are looking good to claim the runners up spot behind Spain, particularly as Tunisia are down to 10 men.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Damn, the US really stunk it up... :|

Apart from a moment of brilliance from Beasley and Dempsey, that was a pathetc display by a team that did not seem like it cared at alll...

they were found wanting, particularly up front. Will Arena keep his job?

Not if I was in charge...

Would they consider getting a top foreign coach in?

I certainly hope so. Perhaps they can lure Gus Hiddink away from Russia...

 

[spherrod]

Penalty to Ukraine - this will seal their place in the 2nd round

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Damn, the US really stunk it up... :|

Apart from a moment of brilliance from Beasley and Dempsey, that was a pathetc display by a team that did not seem like it cared at alll...

they were found wanting, particularly up front. Will Arena keep his job?

Not if I was in charge...

Would they consider getting a top foreign coach in?

I certainly hope so. Perhaps they can lure Gus Hiddink away from Russia...

I think unfortunately his salary is being bankrolled by Mr Abrmaovich so no chance of that. What about Big Phil Scolari - his contract with Portugal ends after the World Cup. I'm sure he'd be interested.

 

[spherrod]

Ukraine 1-0 Tunisia so Ukraine have made it to the 2nd round. Spain beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to cement top spot as expected.

2nd round line up is almost complete!

Germany v Sweden
Argentina v Mexico
England v Ecuador
Portugal v Holland
Italy v Australia
France/Switzerland/S Korea v Ukraine
Brazil v Ghana
Spain v France/Switzerland/S Korea/Ukraine

 

[hypn0tik]

I felt somewhat bad for Japan last night. They seemed to be trying so hard but it simply looked like the Brazilians were toying with them. When Japan scored the first goal, they thought they could pull off a win somehow. Unfortunately, Brazil equalized. Then they went on to score 3 more. By the 75 minute mark, Brazil wasn't even trying to score anymore. They were just playing keep away running the clock down.

 

[PlatinumGold]

anyone else see the CLEAR handball by the swiss player in the goalie box while trying to Defend a corner kick vs Korea.

this game should be 1-1 right now.

 

[chcarnage]

Switzerland 1:0 S. Korea (Ball possession 50:50)

France 0:0 Togo (Ball possession 57:43)

The second half times just started.

 

[chcarnage]

Switzerland 2:0 S. Korea (46:54)

France 2:0 Togo (56:44)

w00t I can hear the cars honking on the street! Winner of the group and the last team that hasn't recieved a goal so far!

Switzerland faces Ukraine, France will play against Spain. South Korea is out after a good but not good enough game. The 2:0 was particularly unlucky because the ref (rightly) didn't agree with the linesman about an offside (that was none).

@PlatinumGold, I haven't seen the first half time but it isn't a hand ball if it is not intentional.

 

[RKS]

After watching the WC so far I truely think it is time the USSF looked outside for a manager/coach.

Some new thinking or creativity is needed for playing style as well as judging player strengths and matching them up to their best positions.

The general US populace already thinks that soccer is wussified and FIFA's instructions to the refs haven't earned soccer any more respect here. The gameflow is non-existent and even for a diehard some games are difficult to watch with the dozens of phantom calls.

 

[Karsten]

Originally posted by: RKS
After watching the WC so far I truely think it is time the USSF looked outside for a manager/coach.

Some new thinking or creativity is needed for playing style as well as judging player strengths and matching them up to their best positions.

The general US populace already thinks that soccer is wussified and FIFA's instructions to the refs haven't earned soccer any more respect here. The gameflow is non-existent and even for a diehard some games are difficult to watch with the dozens of phantom calls.

A new coach is long overdue. With some bad luck for me... but a looot of luck for the US... if Germany loses the Match against Sweden (very unlikly if the play the way they have been) then Klinsman would very likly be available as coach. He already lives in the US in CA. Now that would be a master stroke and a whole lot different then some of the old boring faces.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Karsten

Originally posted by: RKS
After watching the WC so far I truely think it is time the USSF looked outside for a manager/coach.

Some new thinking or creativity is needed for playing style as well as judging player strengths and matching them up to their best positions.

The general US populace already thinks that soccer is wussified and FIFA's instructions to the refs haven't earned soccer any more respect here. The gameflow is non-existent and even for a diehard some games are difficult to watch with the dozens of phantom calls.

A new coach is long overdue. With some bad luck for me... but a looot of luck for the US... if Germany loses the Match against Sweden (very unlikly if the play the way they have been) then Klinsman would very likly be available as coach. He already lives in the US in CA. Now that would be a master stroke and a whole lot different then some of the old boring faces.

Even zee Germans aren't (or were not) too happy with Klinsman but it might have been partly due to his bi-monthly trips to D for pre-WC training (along with the Ballack issue) but ANYONE would be a welcome change to the current staff.

My in-laws are all German and I was born in Ingerland (we went over for dinner and my 6 month-old, 2.5 year-old, and I all had on our St. George's Cross uniform tops).

If England and Germany meet I am hoping for a similar performance to what happened during WC qualifying in Germany.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I need to pick some teams to win the next round. It's for someone who's out of town and I don't follow soccer.

My picks are in bold. Am I way off in any of the picks?

Germany vs. Sweden - SELECT WINNER -- Germany
Argentina vs. Mexico - SELECT WINNER -- Mexico
England vs. Ecuador - SELECT WINNER -- Ecuador
Portugal vs. Holland - SELECT WINNER -- Portugal
Italy vs. Australia - SELECT WINNER -- Italy
Switzerland vs. Ukraine - SELECT WINNER -- Ukraine
Brazil vs. Ghana - SELECT WINNER -- Brazil
Spain vs. France - -- SELECT WINNER - Spain

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I need to pick some teams to win the next round. It's for someone who's out of town and I don't follow soccer.

My picks are in bold. Am I way off in any of the picks?

Germany vs. Sweden - SELECT WINNER -- Germany
Argentina vs. Mexico - SELECT WINNER -- Mexico
England vs. Ecuador - SELECT WINNER -- Ecuador
Portugal vs. Holland - SELECT WINNER -- Portugal
Italy vs. Australia - SELECT WINNER -- Italy
Switzerland vs. Ukraine - SELECT WINNER -- Ukraine
Brazil vs. Ghana - SELECT WINNER -- Brazil
Spain vs. France - -- SELECT WINNER - Spain

Argentina will make Mexico cry like babies.

England will win against Ecuador, as long as there is no Peter Crouch on the field.

Switzerland vs Ukraine is a close one, but I will predict a Switzerland win

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Sounds good to me.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I need to pick some teams to win the next round. It's for someone who's out of town and I don't follow soccer.

My picks are in bold. Am I way off in any of the picks?

Germany vs. Sweden - SELECT WINNER -- Germany
Argentina vs. Mexico - SELECT WINNER -- Mexico
England vs. Ecuador - SELECT WINNER -- Ecuador
Portugal vs. Holland - SELECT WINNER -- Portugal
Italy vs. Australia - SELECT WINNER -- Italy
Switzerland vs. Ukraine - SELECT WINNER -- Ukraine
Brazil vs. Ghana - SELECT WINNER -- Brazil
Spain vs. France - -- SELECT WINNER - Spain

Except for Spain and Germany, I would pick the other way on all of them. Switzerland/Ukraine is a wash, and I think Ghana could pull off the stunner.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: Karsten

Originally posted by: RKS
After watching the WC so far I truely think it is time the USSF looked outside for a manager/coach.

Some new thinking or creativity is needed for playing style as well as judging player strengths and matching them up to their best positions.

The general US populace already thinks that soccer is wussified and FIFA's instructions to the refs haven't earned soccer any more respect here. The gameflow is non-existent and even for a diehard some games are difficult to watch with the dozens of phantom calls.

A new coach is long overdue. With some bad luck for me... but a looot of luck for the US... if Germany loses the Match against Sweden (very unlikly if the play the way they have been) then Klinsman would very likly be available as coach. He already lives in the US in CA. Now that would be a master stroke and a whole lot different then some of the old boring faces.

Even zee Germans aren't (or were not) too happy with Klinsman but it might have been partly due to his bi-monthly trips to D for pre-WC training (along with the Ballack issue) but ANYONE would be a welcome change to the current staff.

My in-laws are all German and I was born in Ingerland (we went over for dinner and my 6 month-old, 2.5 year-old, and I all had on our St. George's Cross uniform tops).

If England and Germany meet I am hoping for a similar performance to what happened during WC qualifying in Germany.

Klinsmännern are shutting critics like Beckenbauer up. Germans love Klinsmann.

 

[GasX]

Well, results have brought that about. They have been very critical of his player selections. Putting Oliver Kahn on the bench has not been a popular decision. I his defense, his team is exciting to watch.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Well, results have brought that about. They have been very critical of his player selections. Putting Oliver Kahn on the bench has not been a popular decision. I his defense, his team is exciting to watch.

Oliver Kahn sucked a$$ before the tournament started and that's why Klinsi is starting with Lehmann (better statistics). Fvcking Bavarians want Bavarians on their team. Bavaria sucks. Germany should win this year so all these critics would shut the fvck up.

 

[chcarnage]

Ah, the German soccer microcosmos Where a tabloid thinks it should have to power to organise the team. I don't think Klinsmann will lose his job, no matter how well the team performs. He's the first coach to resist said tabloid's influence and apparently built up a teamgeist.

Arena on the other hand has the right friends in the US soccer association and maybe can keep his job, too. According to a Swiss moderator at least.

Nobody thinks that the Netherlands can win against Portugal?

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: chcarnage
Ah, the German soccer microcosmos Where a tabloid thinks it should have to power to organise the team. I don't think Klinsmann will lose his job, no matter how well the team performs. He's the first coach to resist said tabloid's influence and apparently built up a teamgeist.

Arena on the other hand has the right friends in the US soccer association and maybe can keep his job, too. According to a Swiss moderator at least.

Nobody thinks that the Netherlands can win against Portugal?

Holland is not going down without a fight.

My predictions:

Germany vs. Sweden - SELECT WINNER -- Germany
Argentina vs. Mexico - SELECT WINNER -- Argentina
England vs. Ecuador - SELECT WINNER -- England
Portugal vs. Holland - SELECT WINNER -- 50/50
Italy vs. Australia - SELECT WINNER -- Italy
Switzerland vs. Ukraine - SELECT WINNER -- Switzerland
Brazil vs. Ghana - SELECT WINNER -- Brazil
Spain vs. France - -- SELECT WINNER - 50/50

Portugal vs. Holland and Spain vs. France are the matches I wouldn't miss

 

[dbk]

WOW....that guy did not deserve to get sent off....Terrible refereeing. Sensational goals by Germany though.