BS: Football World Cup 2006

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 02:57 PM

Dave, ya folkie... could not disagree with you more. If I was Crouch, I'd pull my own hair out. After suffering as many poor calls as he did, he must be frustrated beyond belief!

Nobody protesting decisions? Have you ever seen so many yellow cards for just that? And, today, a red card for just that.

Anyway, give it up for Ghana... what a game. These lads can do it all. So sharp they are.

PS... I can't wait for Oz to crush the Brazilians tomorrow. At least a three goal deficit.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 03:29 PM

That was the first real surprise now, but in a group with only the USA, Ghana, and the Czechs there is a big chance that the two teams going on will not be both from Latin-America and Westeurope. Czechs and Poles are Easteuropean from a German POV.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:00 PM

If they can keep it up, USA will never have a better chance of beating Italy.

At 1-1 at half time - they are playing well and really have the Italians rattled. It was a shame that they had a player sent off when they had the one man advantage. A yellow card would have been sufficient. De Rossi's offence on the other hand would get him a jail sentence if he did it off the field. That was just a frustrated reaction after conceeding the US goal

Really exciting stuff. I wonder how many players will be left on at the end?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:43 PM

amazing...US still holding on against Italy...10 more minutes for a draw and then who knows?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:54 PM

Not the best game but the most exciting for me so far (USA-Italy). I sat there hoping for the USA but in the end they were glad about the draw. Some offside decisions were questionable but the bookings were o.k. Now the USA only have to beat Ghana clearly...

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 05:52 PM

The USA Italy match may not have been great football, but it had all the makings of a great movie. I was half expecting to see Sylvester Stallone come on as a sub.

I think the USA will have their work cut out beating Ghana.

..............
My son commutes to London on the Stansted Express, which serves the airport, and picks up commuters in Harlow on the way to London. Italians and Germans excitedly talking about football. And a bewildered American family phoning home to say they'd arrived safely - "And there's this thing they call the World Cup. It seems like it's a very big thing over here."

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Folkiedave
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 05:54 PM

Nobody protesting decisions? Have you ever seen so many yellow cards for just that? And, today, a red card for just that.

Tonight there was a really well justified red card (Daniele De Rossi) and what the hell he was doing complaining I will never know. Should not be allowed to play in this World Cup again. Could easily have had McBride´s eye out.

The USA red for Maestroni was also justified I thought - a totally reckless challenge. The red card for Pope was a bit harsh but he had been booked already and both USA centre-backs were stupidly fouling when there was no need. (IMHO) I liked the lad Contran that came on as a sub.

And the Italians around the ref was a rare occurence. You´ll get half a dozen of those each Premiership game.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 06:17 PM

Today was a bit of a silly one for red cards and the fine USA v Italy first half especially was ruined by this in the second half.

Looking forward to USA v Ghana - always assuming they can put out teams of 11 players who have not been suspended.

Australia to beat Brazil tomorrow?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 03:11 AM

I have no problem with yellow cards for dissent. Make the players shut up so the ref can get on with his job. In rugby, you concede ten yards if you don't respond to the ref's decision quickly enough. Carry that over to football and you would see a few more penalties. You can foul accidentally, but you can always keep your trap shut.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Folkiedave
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 03:57 AM

I agree with you totally Alanabit.

Problem is that it is already an offence to show dissent. Obvious ones often get punished with a yellow, slamming the ball down being a good example of the sort of thing I mean. Mouthing at the referee, even when clearly viewable by non-lipreading viewers doesn´t seem to be punished as often! Perhaps it should be!

And the FA is keen that the laws apply equally whereever possible. I challenge anyone to refereee the Sunday morning pub games that I sometimes watch under those circumstances of a "ten yard rule" !!

Some laws are not taken any notice of. A prime example is "entering or leaving the field of play without the referees permission". (Law 12 Cautionable Offences) But no-one éver seems to get booked for staying off the field of play to avoid being offside for example!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 05:56 AM

Liam Brady the former Arsenal and Juventus player informed RTE viewers that the US team were dedicating their game to the boys in Iraq, why the hell don`t the leaves this clap-trap to Bush and co and leave the world to get on with the football.
The way they played against Italy would have qualified them for a stint in Iraq, some of their tackling was reckless, they deserved the two red cards and De Rossi should be banned from Italys remaining games.
I think Ghana will end the US teams interest, they look a very formidable side.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 07:40 AM

Now the dust has settled - a 9 man USA team obtaining a 1 -1 draw with a top European side like Italy is a pretty astonishing result.

Especially as with some more sensible refereeing - the USA could have won and perhaps should have won.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 11:57 AM

Australia and Brazil just about to kick off.

C'mon Aussie c'mon!!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 12:51 PM

If there were points awarded for a first half performance - these would go to the Australian team. I am not sure if Brazil are really in gear yet or are just playing as well as the Australian team are allowing them to.

Anyone wish to predict the final score?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 01:00 PM

Well, the final score for Oz will be nil if they keep waiting for a perfect shot. They seem hesitant to just "go for it". As we say in Canuck hockey, "Put the puck on the net!!!"

Having said that, their ball handling was impressive.

I hope they will be told to let fly in the second half.

C'mon Aussie, c'mon!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 03:04 PM

If anyone's still waiting...

No, I won't give the score in case someone's taped it to watch later, but it can be found Here

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 05:48 PM

The French team just don't seem to want to put the work in. They scored an ealy goal, totally dominated the game but couldn't or didn't see the need to finish the game off. The South Korean team just kept on plugging away to the point of exhustion until they finally equalised. Then France started to play but it was then too late.....

With their 2 points fron two drawn games and even as poorly as they have played and without Zidane - they should get 3 points from their final group game with Togo (if the Togo players agree to play). But will 5 points be enough for them?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 08:26 PM

Czechs and Poles are Easteuropean from a German POV.

But of course Germany is East European from an England POV.   

Once again, it's going to be Brazil or whoever beats Brazil. Or Argentina or whoever beats Argentina. And that is just two ways of saying the same thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 08:39 PM

I was trying to work out German POV. Thought maybe it was like a dacha in Russia, a kibbutz in Israel , a sheesh kebab in Derby on a Saturday night......

point of view...aha!

germany's not east european.
they're like us, north european. we sunburn easily.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 03:24 AM

I am pleased to see that (so far at least) the current German coach has not taught and encouraged his team to indulge in the feature of the game that he was so famous for and perfected. I mean of course the 'Klinsman Roll'.

This is where for the very slightest of contact from an opponent - you thrust your arms in the air, shout as if you have been shot, throw yourself to the ground and then proceed to roll over and over at least 20 times or until you have rolled into your opponent's penalty area or lay writhing in pain at the referee's feet (preferably both).

I do jest. Mr Klinsman - during his time as a Spurs player did show himself to be a fine player.

Looking forward to seeing Spain play their second game today. Tunisia - judging them on their performance in their first game - should not present too much of a problem.

And of course there is a game and a result - of Switzerland v Togo - that French supporters will be anxious about. Especially if Switzerland not only win, as expected but also manage to score a hatful of goals. For who qualifies from this group may yet depend on which of France or Switzerland manage to score the most goals against poor old Togo. The main point being that France's fate is not now in their hands and will have to depend on the results of other matches.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 05:02 AM

It would appear that the TV directors have all been instructed to ensure that almost every goal-kick must be preceeded by the biggest possible close-up shot of the match ball................

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Hrothgar
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 06:11 AM

Well, now we have to knock over Croatia. Officially, a 0-0 draw will get us through, but if we can't beat Croatia, there is not a lot of future forus.

Doing better at rugby, aren't we?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 06:53 AM

we sunburn easily

Some of us do. Quite a lot of us are already pretty dark brown, including many of the best players.

.................
"Diving" can mean either of two things - one is when a player has not been fouled, but pretends they have been and falls to the ground dramatically. This is cheating and should be penalised.

The other is when a player has been fouled by a push or a trip or some similar infraction, but could possibly stay up and try to recover, but opts instead to fall, in the process drawing attemntion to a foul that might otherwise have gone unnoticed and unpunished. This is not cheating and should not be penalised.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 06:53 AM

Well, you're only playing England...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 09:24 AM

In the France-S. Korea game the referee made the worst possible blunder: not seeing a goal when one was scored. I wonder if he has apologised later to the French. But they should have won easily despite that mistake. The French team looks old and tired and Zidane is not even half as good as he was. A pity.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,David G.
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 10:44 AM

Just heard that a Ghana player pulled out an israeli flag after scoring the other night. Anyone know why ?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:12 AM

With Switzerland beating Togo 2 - 0 - I work out that whatever the other result in the group - all France have to do to qualify is to beat Togo by two (or more) clear goals. With Togo now out and only playing for pride - it should not be too difficult for the French team to this - but most of us would have thought they would have easily beaten S. Korea............

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 12:17 PM

...a Ghana player pulled out an Israeli flag after scoring

It appears he plays for a Tel Aviv club, so presumably he thought it'd go down well back there.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Folkiedave
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:12 PM

Talking of diiving, great one by Thierry Henry last night, shame such a good player has to resort to that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 03:21 PM

Rooney to start because of the three yellows? Goodness gracious... it's still only 52 days. I thought a normal recovery period was more like 90 days.

Then again... perhaps I don't know me arse from me elbow... again.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 06:57 PM

"Three yellows on me shirt"...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 08:59 PM

Bra-zil! Bra-zil!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Escamillo
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 01:01 AM

"Andres I am desparately hoping that Argentina have hit peak form too soon - do you think they may have? "

I think that the Serbs were morally defeated too soon. Argentina´s potential seems to be very high especially because of the excellent relationship among manager and players, and an unusual quality of players. Being too confident could be dangerous, so I like the decision of the manager Pekerman, who will reserve Messi and take out Saviola and Crespo for the next encounter with the arch-enemy the Netherlands. There will always be time to send the Panzer division to the front. A guess? Argentina wins 2-1

Un abrazo - Andrés in Buenos Aires

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:41 AM

This looks like being one of the great Argentina sides. Last time they had the individual talent, but they did not really perform. The game against the Netherlands is one I have looked forward to for months. They are not a mature side yet, but when they fire properly, they also have some dazzling talent. I am hoping this one will be a classic.
It has been a better World Cup all round so far. Spain and Argentina are performing and even the Germans are entertaining to watch. Can't complain about that, can we?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Folkiedave
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:47 AM

I watched the game last night in Spain and the Tunisian goal was seen as a national disater! And the sigh of relief when the first of Torres´s goals went in was audible in N. Africa (about 80 miles away).

Surely they cannot play as badly as that again? (Or as well as that and not score?)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 03:26 AM

Bugger - from now until Friday we will only be able to watch two live games a day. I was getting to like the routine of being able to watch three fine internationals in a day. For there have been very few really tedious matches - so far.

If Sweden lose and T&T win - they can still qualify and will have deserved to. However, I do not see any other result for Sweden v England that the draw that is all Sweden need and what England will no doubt willingly settle for. If ever a game had tedious boring draw written all over it from the start - it is this one.

I hope I am wrong and perhaps this will depend on the Germany v Ecuador result, who tops that group and which side of the draw you will be placed. But in all truth (and apart perhaps from home advantage) it does not really matter which team you have to face in the next round - as from now on - you still have to beat whoever it may be. And if England have to beat Germany in order to win the whole thing - it may as well be now.........

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:04 AM

anybody fixing to watch the England game tonight?

Just a reminder that its on....

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Kweku
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:37 AM

joy like a river
joy like a river
in my soul
joy like a river
joy like a river
in my soul

wow! boy oh boy! fabulous! fantastic! what a game!
goooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

hey don't blame me for a joy hung-over, blame the Czechs.we certainly checked the Czechs.

shame on FIFA world rankings.I don't care if we loose our next match.from Cape Three Points to Paga there will be no limit to the joy in our hearts.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Kweku
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 05:11 AM

shame on those Arabs for attacking John Paintsil for pulling out hte Israeli flag after the match. we don't even have an official Israeli officer in this country we fully back the Palestinians against the Israelis so what's their problem. That flag was given to the player by his supporters in Israel who said it would bring him good luck,period!

And those idiotic Libyans had the nerve to attack Ghanaians just because of that action by a footballer. Little wonder Bush does what he does.

That player plays in Israel where Africans are better treated than they are treated in North Africa and the other Arab countries.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 07:29 AM

Once again, it's going to be Brazil or whoever beats Brazil. (McGrath)

Just checking the wisdom of this prediction with the sample of the 14 World Cups between 1950 and 2002:

Six times, Brazil was in the finals, so the sentence is trivially true, just as a similar sentence about Germany would be trivially true in more than 50% of all cases (Germany was in 7 finals in the 13 championships from 1954 on).

How often was it true in the remaining 8 cases? Three out of eight times the winner had beaten Brazil at one time during the competition, the other 5 times the winner had either not beaten Brazil or not played Brazil at all. All in all, there are many more cases in which a team has beaten Brazil and did not win the tournament (for instance, in 1966 two teams have beaten Brazil during the tournament and both did not reach the final) than cases in which a team has beaten Brazil and became champion.

But if one adds the 6 trivial cases in which Brazil has reached the final, the prediction that the winner either is Brazil or a team that has beaten Brazil is correct 9 out of 14 times.

But scanning through the tables of all those post war championships there can be found a 100% true prediction which should make England fear the worst in case they meet Germany soon and win: All 12 teams that have beaten Germany at any time before the final have not become world champion later. Most of them even lost the game immediately after beating Germany.

So I predict that whoever beats Germany before the final will not be champion.

Wolfgang (who is not taking serious any of such prediction games)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Les from Hull
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:28 PM

No problem, Wolfgang, on current form England could never beat Germany!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:39 PM

England may not be able to beat Sweden tonight - but will beat Germany (should they meet them) as long as it is not decided by penalties.

The last time England did manage to beat Sweden was when Sir Alf was in charge........

Come on Trinidad and Tobago.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:58 PM

Go Eng-u-lund! I'm told that is the cry.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 03:58 PM

England fans are currently crying at the knee injury to Michael Owen who had to go off in the first few minutes. Let us hope it is not as serious as it looks.

Joe Cole has scored a from a wonderful volly to ensure that England have equalised first..........

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Firecat
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:57 PM

Final score 2-2 in the Sweden v England match. Owen has twisted his knee...

The Swedes are cheaters!! They kept on trying to hurt our people. Did anyone else notice that all the injured players were English?!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 07:11 PM

If ever a game had tedious boring draw written all over it from the start - it is this one.   Not exactly how it turned out - draws can be as exciting as any match.
.............
Brazil was in the finals, so the sentence is trivially true

Not at all - one of the implications of the sentence is that Brazil will probably be in the finals; the other is that any team good enough to beat Brazil is going to be good enough to beat anyone else.

Actually I wasn't intending that as a general statement about all World Cuops, but as a specific prediction about this World Cup.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 03:28 AM

Michael Owen's World Cup seems to be over. We don't know yet exactly what injury had him stretchered off in the first minute, but it looked like ligaments to me. That means at least six months out. Boy do I hope I am wrong, but I don't think so.
The other worrying aspect was England's lack of leadership and fitness collapse in the second half. Steve Gerrard's arrival was able to do something about the former, but nothing about the latter. He scored an excellent goal, which England did not deserve. Then England gifted Sweden an equaliser, which Sweden certainly had done more than enough to earn.
Peter Crouch was well out of his depth and Rooney was knackered by the time he was pulled off. Rooney had done a very good job, but his legs had gone. Joe Cole had one of his best ever England games, having scored a brilliant opener and then crossing for Gerrard's goal. The England passing and movement fell apart after half time though. God help them if they do that against one of the stronger teams.
They have five days to get prepared and organised for Ecuador. At this stage, I don't think they should look any further. Still, they have avoided Germany, so the football gods are still smiling on them. Germany looked good yesterday afternoon, but Ecuador rested five players. England have it all to do now and with Owen out and Rooney not yet fit, nobody will expect them to progress beyond the quarter finals. Even Sunday afternoon is likely to be a close thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 04:19 AM

Bet you're glad I reminded you to watch, Al.

Ask Sven if he's more frightened for, or frightened of Germany now.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 04:26 AM

Alan I thought you might have commented on Joe Coles faking injury after two innocuous tackles, this resulted in two yellow cards for the Swedish players, then this is par for the course for Joe, as for Firecat, do we laugh or cry.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Kweku
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 06:20 AM

I totally agree with you Alanabit on your assessment of the English team. I watched the game last night and was disappointed with loss of concentration after some minutes and then bouncing back again into the game.

This shows that with the great players there is what we call FOCUS, which i think the English team is lacking and if they should do that in their next match it could cause a whole lot of problems for them.

I really didnot see the role played by Owen in the game, I prefer Peter Crouch to him.