2006 World Cup

Germany in trouble with Poland but left with 10 men Poland could not fight back anymore. That was another great come back from a team considered "lost already". Klinsmann´s facial expression and hand waving was great to watch with every lost scoring chance...

The results for today seem rather obvious but we´ll see what Sweden can/cannot do.

 

Sweden bet Paraguay with very little merit... the damn Guaranis simply stood there, watching how the ball got in... But it's getting interesting, because, depending on who's first of group B, there could be a serious clash between Germany and England, and I really doubt the Swedes could beat Ecuador!

And Mexico will decide Angola's and it's own fate to-morrow. If there's a good game too, we could speculate about the clash with the Portuguese. Everyone here's going insane!

As for the Yanks... they sucked against the Czechs, but I still say, in the next decades they're going to win a World Cup and laugh at the rest of the world, even if no one at home watched their matches!

This thing about having so many nationalities is driving me nuts... The damned French haven't scored one goal since 1998, Germany is doing good but I'm still not sure and Mexico is better than ever, though who knows what can happen...

 

I havent looked at which group plays which group in the next round yet, and i havent seen Mexico play yet either, but here are my observations.

England, despite winning their group, is also playing in a group where only 3 real goals have been scored after each team has played twice...not a whole lot of goal scoring and they should have beaten both teams with ease, instead of doing so on a fluke goal vs paraguay, and two late goals against TRI who were unfortuneate not to score before the half. TRI was written off by the fans before the game even started - they're supposedly the worst team in the World Cup and its their first - they 'shouldnt have' stood a chance against England. Only the edition of Rooney and Lennon (i think thats what his name was, the Hotspurs striker) seemed to spark the team and create any oppurtunities. I wouldnt be suprised to see Rooney come on at half time in the next game, just to give him more playing time for preparation of the next round, but who knows how they will play now that they are already into the final 16.

Germany - not very convincing against CRC and very lucky to win against Poland (who has been a flop). If both teams play for the win, i think Ecuador will come out on top vs. Germany. Ecuador also beat BRAZIL and ARGENTINA in qualifying for the World Cup.

The Czechs look like one of the better teams this year, though how much an effect losing Koller (SP?) will have on their offensiveness is yet to be seen. The US looked like little boys playing men when they played the Czechs. The US will be lucky to win a game this year. The Italians...Totti can be deadly on those free kicks but they seem to lack cohesion and a solid defense, and Totti isnt going to score every game.

Brazil didnt look convincing either, but their group shouldnt be problematic to them. Its 2nd place that will be interesting...the Aussies might actually stand a chance. I did see their game against Greece shortlt before the start, and i really dont think that if the Aussies make it into the next round they'll fail horribly.

I also think Ghana has a decent shot. France...well, the way they played isnt how they should play. They need to step up the speed of play to unleash the likes of Thierry Henry, who while magestical, does not play his best game when he takes a pass witha defender on his back and is facing his own goal. And Ribery - what are they thinking? I will be pissed off if he starts the next game over the likes of Trezegaut. The loss of Cessi (sp?) with that broken leg from the friendly really does hurt them.

 

Bet you watched Mexico v Angola Freddie. Can’t see many managers rushing round with their cheque book after tonights' performance though . However, based on sheer guts and determination, and stamina, I thought Angola were the tops . Given they have part-timers and unemployed in their side, and the whole team earns less in a year than Beckham earns in a week, I’d give a special gold to each of them and two to the keeper .

You know, if Portugal beat Mexico and Angola beat Iran………………oy vay . I think in your position Freddie, out of the three I'd stick with Germany .

Musso, you didn’t mention the ‘hot property’ in this tournament – Argentina

No.9

 

Must admit Argentina looks pretty good now. Unbelievable amount of goals!

The Swedes did it again like usually. Källström is a great player if not the fastest in the midfield, he did boost Rennes to win Lyon (!) in the French league something like 3-1 last season, I recall. Zlatan has something wrong with his game, not the normal "happy to play " at all.

 

Hmm, day of interesting football it was!


Ghana dissect a lacklustre Checko, and Italy and USA draw one all – with both goals scored by Italy

What would really have made it interesting was if USA won – then every team would have been on 3 points for each having won one game. As it stands now when Italy play Checko, Italy only needs a draw and everyone else in that group has to have a win

Italy STILL have a terrible shape of play that is not gelling. At least the centre midfield was a joy thanks to the partnership of Pirlo and Gattuso – just like the two produce for AC, there’s a thing . Mamma mia, wonderful Totti and Del ‘Boy’ Piero – well I ain’t seen it yet, and, Inzaghi still sits on the bench . Man-of-the-match Zambrotta without a shadow of a doubt. Note for Lippi (coach), the back four isn’t working – especially your home team boy Cannavaro. But, you brought along 3 Palermo defenders and left behind the great Costacurta and Maldini.

’Yes’a, but’a they are’a old’ Correct, they are old, but they make things work and even an old dog like Costacurta wouldn’t let an American buck run past him like he wasn’t there as your mate Cannavaro did. And, if you want the best out of young defenders, stick uncle Maldini among them – as I always say, power is nothing without control Anyway, for now move Cannavaro out to the right, have Nesta sweep, leave Zambrotta on the left and find one of your Palermo boys to take centre. Oh, and if you really want 3 up front, have Del Boy peel the oranges and put Inzaghi on the right with Gilardino in the middle and Iaquinta on the left. However, better just two up front and have Perotta, Pirlo, Gattuso and Totti fill the centre – seeing as how you didn’t bring Ambrossini

Looking forward to Angola v Iran, and Holland v Argentina.

No.9

 

Hmm...Argentina have looked impressive, but they also havent really played anyone worht a damn. The Holland game will be a great test for both teams. It'll really set the stage for next round.

Brazil havent been too impressive either, and i will hopefully be in Mexico in time for the game against Australia. I think it might just be a blow out, but i could be wrong (was wrong about Ghana/Czechs). The US was lucky to draw today too...at least the Italians are scoring 2 goals a match so far...hehe. Should also be interesting to see who England plays in their final game since they are already through...

 

From what Freddie said, being in Mexico when a match is on should be a real hoot Beni.

About Ghana and Czecho, I think everyone lost their money trying to guess the final score. I also think Ghana are mega powered-up now and itchin’ to get to grips with USA .

No.9

 

Musso

Serbia only conceded 1 goal in 9 matches.

 

Yes, but they had a lot of internal problems, players walking out and fighting with eachother before the game even started. They stopped caring before the game even started. And qualifying, i dont think they played a world class team in order to qualify. The Dutch hadnt given up a goal in 10 games either, until Ivory Coast scored. Did the Serbs play well? Not at all. Look at the amount of fouls they committed. ITs easy to score when a team has given up before the game even starts.

 

Zoot alors, why did you not let us win? Go South Korea! . Don't you just love it when everyone goes on about how wonderful some predetermined demigods are, even while they're playing, and they end up like a bunch of second rate wrist-aches .

Step two, go Switzerland!

No.9

 

Great game by Spain although Tunisia held on to 0-1 for a long time. Raul made the great goal and boy did they celebrate than one! Torres broke through to make it 2-1 and actually he did it so fast/calmly you started wondering where did that come from...and an awful penalty but he managed to score however...

Anyway, today Sweden-England. Very very interesting. How long was it that England last beat Sweden??

 

”Well done my Swiss lads, keep it up.”


And what an England game. Owen nobles himself in the first five minutes. Lampard has his 327th shot at goal – and still only two have actually been on target. And Beckham walks about the pitch for 93 minutes and does absolutely SFA. Correction, he got barged off the ball and delivered a poor excuse for a placed kick. But hey, those commentators sure do talk-up a great game – just don’t mention the clear penalty the Swedes were denied

And, Italy became World Champions in Dortmund yesterday. Yes, from 300 players from 25 countries, Italy won the 2006 Subbuteo Table Football World Cup on Monday. Reports deny Gattuso was one of the players – that is one of the men flicking the table figures and not of course one of the figures on the table

Go Angola

No.9

ps. 50p says Inzaghi starts against Czecho on Thursday

 

Well, you put your money were your mouth is , No.9! Congrats on winning the 2006 Subbuteo Table Football World Cup. I am afraid it is all Italy is going to win, this summer. I am gla dto see they brought the pittbull Gattuso as well. I heard that he was not selected or something, which I thought would have been a serious devluation of the Italian team.

The 2nd round was upsetting for many "big teams". The only ones that performed decently in my opinion were Argentina and Germany. I didn't give two cents for Germany at the start of the tournement but now it seems they are serious contenders. Maybe the Czechs were a bit taken a bck by Jan Koller's injury...Who knows...As for the others....We'll maybe they'll grow into the tournement....

 

May I discreetly bang the drum for Portugal?

Group D, three games, three victories.

P 1 - Angola 0
P 2 - Iran 0
P 2 - Mexico 1

Thanks, Scolari

 

OK Stev, you’re on. Lippi won’t announce his side till just before the game so everyone is speculating. Yes, Gattuso was not in the original selection and neither was Inzaghi. OK so I had to make a phone call over that .

One press report says about the defence line-up; ”Should the latter [Zambrotta] get the nod then Fabio Grosso will start on the left.” WHAT!!! Utterly loony if true! Zambrotta MUST start and play on the left where he will act in a pseudo ‘wing-back’ role and help supply Iaquinta. The problem is the centre-back position as Cannavaro is not cutting it. I would still put him on the right with Nesta sweeping and, if you want, Grosso in the centre. I don’t know all the men Lippi brought, but, you could try Nesta as centre back and put your quickest new lad as sweeper.

They also say Lippi is toying with 4-3-1-2? OK, in that case the ‘3’ in the middle should be Totti (right), Gattuso and Pirlo. The drop-back forward (‘1’) is Gilardino, and the ‘2’ up front are Inzaghi and Iaquinta. Trust me these are the fastest strikers in the squad despite Inzaghis' age This however, does not provide the best service for Inzaghi (who is best backed by Pirlo), but, it preserves the duo of Pirlo and Iaquinta which has been seen to work well in this event. But, Inzaghi MUST play on the right and Iaquinta MUST play on the left.

Against Czecho they’d probably get away with it (sorry Czecho), but thereafter I say go with 4-4-2 with Gattuso and Pirlo sorting the midfield centre Camoranesi is not happy in the roles given him. Rather than keep guessing why not ask him where he wants to play?

Anyway, unless Lippi gets this post before lunchtime it may all be pointless

Italy must at least draw with Czecho to go through. Otherwise, if they lose and Ghana beat the US – sorry lads but very likely unless they’ve been knobbled - Italy go home. Of course, if Czecho draws or loses and Ghana win, Czecho go home. Chance for the US? Sure, beat Ghana by at least 5 clear goals.

Angola disappointed a lot. OK, a tall order, Portugal to beat Mexico by something nil, and Angola to beat Iran by at least 3 clear goals. However, Angola just had a pedestrian kick-about. Did rich rich Iran offer Angola a few bob? Angola would not have made it out of the next round but it would have been so nice to see them play with the heart they demonstrated previously.

Croatia v Australia a real butt kicker. Winner goes through, loser goes home. Oz also go through if it’s a draw.

I’m having another 50p on three red cards during the match. Not as yet betting on Italy to go all the way

No.9

 

outmatched again.........US of A needs another Weissen and quit drinking that Bud puke you morons, you're slower than a slug on hot pavement !! go home ..........

Deutschland über alles

 

Harsh words Erich. I don’t know what they drink so accept what you say . However, IMHO problems exist in respect of attitude and reality. Appreciated Football (Soccer) is not Americas’ national sport, though it gets confusing when almost every time an American TV programme shows youngsters playing sport it’s Soccer, and every time they show teenagers it’s American Football? Is it the case that kicking a round ball is great for kiddies but if you want to be a ‘real man’ you have to put on armour and bash into people?

FIFA made a supreme effort to introduce Football to the US with the World Cup several years ago, and, a comprehensive ‘honeymoon’ programme which extended to domestic media in other countries. Our media were suddenly only allowed to refer to the game as ‘Soccer’ which was as ridiculous as suddenly telling American media they can only refer to Baseball and ‘Rounders’. There was some sort of contra arrangement to introduce American Football here, but let’s be honest, neither really worked.

Re world football, America is disadvantaged in a couple of ways. Its clubs don’t have the money to enter the major players transfer market - as they don’t have the gate revenue, TV money, sponsorship etc - and currently they are not attractive to the top players from a sporting prestige aspect. Secondly there is no ‘quick fix’ which will suddenly breed generations who want to play football more than anything else. George Best (N. Ireland), Giacinto Facchetti (Italy), Diego Maradona (Argentina), Edson Nascimento [Pelé] (Brazil), Ferenc Puskás (Hungary), Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina), George Weah (Liberia), all came from humble and/or impoverished backgrounds, and all had the natural talent to become among the greatest of all time .

One thing that could be done is to spend money on trainers. Not American trainers but Euro or South American ones. Personally I would go for Euro – but avoid the Latins and Holland which I don’t think would suite America for the present. I know this has been done in the past, but, I also understand the imports find they only are allowed to do their job for a short time before the bosses start interfering . In other words, don’t try and re-invent the game to show the world how it should be played. Start realistically modest, listen and learn, and build from strength to strength.

Whatever, the current coach has got to go. He was utterly pillared over here for his comments after the Italy game. His choice if he wanted to adopt a ‘sour grapes’ attitude, but he showed himself up beyond belief by slagging the Italians for ‘diving’ after his men administered two footed studs-up tackles, and slagging the referee for disallowing their goal when they had a man so far off-side you could have ridden a bike between him and the nearest defender. Mores the point, any coach who apparently advocates two footed studs-up tackles belongs to the dark ages.

Re the Ghana game, US were wrongly not awarded a penalty, but that said not as blatantly as the two Australia were not awarded against Croatia . Well done Oz BTW, I’m sure Italy will look forward to meeting you next round .

No.9

ps. Erich, don’t sell that betting stub for Germany yet mate

 

A better performance by Italy, but still not firing on all eight . Lippi at least listened to some advice, playing 4-4-1-1 instead of the 4-3-1-2 threatened. Why 4-4-1-1 instead of 4-4-2? Reason is he was allowing Totti to do anything he wanted with Gilardino as the designated forward – still didn’t work though did it . Cannavaro played better but Prima Donna Totti was just a freelance zero. So so good to see a classic Inzaghi goal once he settled down. You know he’s always been a very nervous person so don’t wind him up. Man-of-the-match Buffon in goal . Though I was watching Zoff for a moment

Sad news as Nesta, (who walked off early on), has an old muscle problem back and will miss at least the next game. And, Zambrotta is nursing a similar complaint .

Don’t panic, here’s what to do. Leave Canavarro and Matrazzi in the centre with Grosso and Barzagli wide – yes rest Zambrotta on the bench next game. Midfield play Barone, Gattuso and Pirlo and rest Perrotta and Cameronesi on the bench. Your THREE up front are Iaquinta, Gilardino and Inzaghi. Correct, that’s 4-3-3 and Totti is on the bench! If you don’t want to give Inzaghi a full game, start with Toni.

This format should be more than enough, should buy needed recovery time for some players yet leave you one heck of a back-hand. If really necessary you have quality flexibility to substitute to 4-4-2, and, if you do go back to 4 in the midfield, leave the three as is and add a midfield sweeper

Games for the 23rd, go Switzerland, go Spain

No.9

 

Hmmm...honestly, i dont agree with that comment about Germany. They really havent faced a team worth a damn yet. The teams they did play really arent anything special, though i would have liked the czechs to go through.

The US should start an Americas Cup or something, so that they can pretend to be good at the sport. They wouldnt be in the world cup if they had to play any good teams to qualify...i mean, Jaimaica and the like....*shakes head*...