Tony Posted June 2, 2006 Posted June 2, 2006 It is only 1 week away, and the wait for the tournament has been agonizing. I am not sure if I even want to wait one more week. Anyway, Here it is.. World Cup 2006... it only comes around every 4 years, but it is the greatest tournament in the world. ofcourse I am cheering for the US of A, but I do believe it will be yet again, Brazil to win it all... the USA are in a very interesting group though, Group E with Czech Republic, Italy, and Ghana. this looks to be a very difficult group, but a lot of the Italian players have some clouds over them with being accused of Match Fixing in the Italian League.. they might not be up to par, with the thought of league relegation in their minds. The Czechs are ranked #2 in the world by the FIFA Rankings but they have quite a few inuries... I am thinking the USA can get through the knockout phase. France and the Netherlands could be deadly.. France who had an awful 2002, and NEtherlands who didn't even make it to WC 2002. them and Brazil ofcourse who I have winning it al. Don't forget the Germans have the home field advantage and a good team on top of it. look out for THiery Henry of France and Ronaldhinio of Brazil, I see them both tallying a lot of goals. I will look forward to watching the Aussies play as well, after being denied so many World Cups with their silly "0.5" zone qualification rule. they have finally made it in. I think they will play with a lot of fire too, and always.. the USA, "Yank's dont play football!" Ivory Coast qualified for its 1st ever World Cup., and truce stopping a civol war was a result of it. another team with grey clouds over their heads along with Italy are England. Their coach, Sven Goran Erikson basically badmouthed some of his players in a tabloid mag, and said he was going to quit as Manager after this World Cup.. that will sure build tension for them. Lots of stories, lots of great matches ahead.. I can't wait for it all to begin! the big 5 matches I am looking forward to the most are.. Germany VS Costa Rica- just because it's the opening game. USA Vs Czech Republic- if you take the combined FIFA Rankings for every group matchup, the USA is tied for 5th and the Czechs are 2nd, 6.5 is the best combined ranking of them all.. we will see if the match lives up to that billing. Argentina VS Netherlands- Another game with 2 top 10 teams facing eachother Sweden Vs England- they played eachother in the group phase in 2002, and drew 1-1, rematches after Draws are always nice. Costa Rica Vs Poland- they are only 3 FIFA ranking spots away from eachother.. if that means anything. in the USA, the games will be on TV In English on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. In Spanish on Univision and Telefutura. If you happen to have Setanta Sports (USA version) they will be covering games in German. [url="http://soccertv.com/wc-us.cfm"]http://soccertv.com/wc-us.cfm[/url] in Canada, English coverage is on Rogers SPortsnet, TSN, and the World Cup final is on CTV. For French, go to RDS. [url="http://soccertv.com/wc-can.cfm"]http://soccertv.com/wc-can.cfm[/url] Groups and standings: [url="http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/group/index.html"]http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/group/index.html[/url]
Deeds Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 I'm supporting Italy... looks like we're group rivals Tony.
cappie Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Kewell's back and scoring Australia 8 VV Kloetinge 1 Harry Kewell made a surprising and impressive return to the playing field on Friday for the Socceroos in a practice match against a Dutch amateur club in Kloetinge, western Holland. Kewell scored two goals and created two others in Australia's comfortable victory over VV Kloetinge - a team playing in the top division of the Dutch amateur league. It was the Liverpool star's first match since tearing a groin muscle in the FA Cup final three weeks ago, and he played all but the last five minutes of the match. Kewell wasn't expected to play, but begged coach Guus Hiddink prior to the match to take part for the first 45 minutes. "We weren't going to play him at all," assistant coach Graham Arnold said. "At halftime, he said he felt good and didn't want to come off, so we've got an 85-minute bonus today." Kewell looked sharp and grew in confidence as the match went on, almost ensuring he will play in the Socceroos' final World Cup lead-up match against Liechtenstein on Wednesday in Germany. Hiddink gave most of his second-string players a run against VV Kloetinge in front of an estimated 4000 crowd - virtually the entire population of the town. But as well as Kewell, striker John Aloisi and midfielder Tim Cahill also played - though Cahill provided an anxious moment early in the game when he fell awkwardly on his suspect knee. He recovered to score the Socceroos' opening goal after 17 minutes, with the Aussies leading 3-0 at halftime before piling on five goals in the final 30 minutes as their superior fitness. Cahill was taken off at halftime as a precaution. Striker Josh Kennedy scored a hat-trick with Aloisi adding the other two goals. Australia plays Holland in a much-anticipated friendly match in Rotterdam on Sunday, before the Liechtenstein game and the Socceroos' World Cup opener against Japan in Kaiserslautern on June 12.
Phazzan Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Antonio, perhaps you'd like to join us here... [url="http://www.xtratime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144982"]http://www.xtratime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144982[/url] 38 pages and still going strong.
Proud2BCatholic139 Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 My ex-boyfriend who is in Germany right now scored some tickets for the World Cup.
OLAM Dad Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 I lived in West Germany when they won the cup in the late '80s. I'm not a fan of soccer but I am a fan of German parties after their team has won the WC.
Tony Posted June 3, 2006 Author Posted June 3, 2006 [quote name='cappie' post='995655' date='Jun 2 2006, 07:13 PM'] Kewell's back and scoring Australia 8 VV Kloetinge 1 Harry Kewell made a surprising and impressive return to the playing field on Friday for the Socceroos in a practice match against a Dutch amateur club in Kloetinge, western Holland. Kewell scored two goals and created two others in Australia's comfortable victory over VV Kloetinge - a team playing in the top division of the Dutch amateur league. It was the Liverpool star's first match since tearing a groin muscle in the FA Cup final three weeks ago, and he played all but the last five minutes of the match. Kewell wasn't expected to play, but begged coach Guus Hiddink prior to the match to take part for the first 45 minutes. "We weren't going to play him at all," assistant coach Graham Arnold said. "At halftime, he said he felt good and didn't want to come off, so we've got an 85-minute bonus today." Kewell looked sharp and grew in confidence as the match went on, almost ensuring he will play in the Socceroos' final World Cup lead-up match against Liechtenstein on Wednesday in Germany. Hiddink gave most of his second-string players a run against VV Kloetinge in front of an estimated 4000 crowd - virtually the entire population of the town. But as well as Kewell, striker John Aloisi and midfielder Tim Cahill also played - though Cahill provided an anxious moment early in the game when he fell awkwardly on his suspect knee. He recovered to score the Socceroos' opening goal after 17 minutes, with the Aussies leading 3-0 at halftime before piling on five goals in the final 30 minutes as their superior fitness. Cahill was taken off at halftime as a precaution. Striker Josh Kennedy scored a hat-trick with Aloisi adding the other two goals. Australia plays Holland in a much-anticipated friendly match in Rotterdam on Sunday, before the Liechtenstein game and the Socceroos' World Cup opener against Japan in Kaiserslautern on June 12. [/quote] That FA Cup was a war.. both Liverpool and West Ham went at it HARD for 120 minutes... many players went down with injuries.. and then some of them had to take penalties.
Tony Posted June 3, 2006 Author Posted June 3, 2006 you never know.. if Greece can win Euro 2004 (Whom isn't even competing in the World Cup), Poland can win World Cup 2006
HomeTeamFamily Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 im looking forward to watching this all on tv, here are a couple of thoughts USA will have to work hard to make it out of their group Ivory Coast could have a strong showing, couple euro defenders in toure and eboue, and drogba is nasty up front I dont think fixtures like england and france will be as strong, just a feeling Brazil will probably win again
Ash Wednesday Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 I don't know what the ad campaigns and atmosphere are like elsewhere but here in England it's insane. Talk about obsessed!
cappie Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 Holland 1 Australia 1 MIDFIELDER Tim Cahill made a sensational return to football when he slammed home an equaliser to give 10-man Australia a dramatic draw against the world's No.3-ranked team, Holland. It was a bruising encounter in which Socceroos midfielder Luke Wilkshire was sent off for a foul on Giovanni van Bronckhorst with half an hour remaining. Everton star Cahill reacted fastest of all to strike home the rebound after a second-half penalty by Mark Viduka struck the bar. His goal - coming after Viduka had been awarded the penalty when he was hauled back by Johnny Heitinga in the 53rd minute - cancelled out Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's ninth-minute opener. As this often ill-tempered game was a "friendly" Wilkshire will escape suspension from the World Cup. It might not have been pretty, and Mark Schwarzer might have had to produce a string of quality saves to deny the hosts, but it was a result and a performance of gritty toughness which will give Guus Hiddink and his team plenty of heart as they prepare to face Japan in their World Cup opener in seven days. Australia began nervously and struggled to find any sort of rhythm as the Dutch began purposefully, backed by a raucous, sell-out crowd of 46,000 who turned Feyenoord's De Kuip Stadium into a sea of orange. The Socceroos were hustled and given little time to settle in the early exchanges as Holland, a team with physical power and muscle to match its skill and technique, pressed and shut down space as Australia struggled to retain possession. A full-strength Holland, with van Nistelrooy partnered by Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Arsenal's Robin van Persie up front, got the start they wanted wanted in the ninth minute when van Nistelrooy struck his 27th goal for his country at his 51st appearance. Australia only partially cleared a corner, and when Andre Ooijer's shot was parried by Schwarzer, van Nistelrooy pounced on the rebound. Holland might have been two up inside 26 minutes when Vince Grella looked to have clearly handled in the penalty area, but English referee Mike Dean and his assistants ignored the Dutch appeals for a penalty. Holland continued to look threatening with their combination of movement, pace and power, van Persie linking well with van Bommel to force Schwarzer into a fine save. A minute later the Middlesbrough goalkeeper produced another fine diving stop to deny Wesley Sneijder's well-struck shot from outside the area after a corner was headed clear. In the last 10 minutes of the opening period Australia did look to have settled and had their best patch of the game to that point. Viduka had a gilt-edged opportunity to level the score in the 41st minute after some sparkling work down the left flank by Scott Chipperfield. The Basel wingback skipped past Jan Kromkamp and delivered a beautiful cross which found Viduka unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, but the Australian captain's header lacked the power or direction to evade Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. Holland began the second half at high tempo and van Nistelrooy was denied by a Schwarzer save just after the restart, but the real drama came at the other end when Australia were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute after Viduka - who had been played through by a delicate chip from Wilkshire - was hauled back as he tried to chip van der Sar. The skipper stepped forward to exorcise the demons of his shoot-out miss against Uruguay, and slammed the spot kick against the bar. Cahill - on as a substitute for just three minutes - reacted quickest and slammed the ball into the net.
cappie Posted June 5, 2006 Posted June 5, 2006 Holland trio injured in friendly Holland sustained three injuries during their 1-1 friendly with Australia on Sunday with Wesley Sneijder's ankle knock considered to be most serious. Philip Cocu (thigh) and Giovanni van Bronckhorst (ankle) also picked up injuries in a bad tempered game. Australia's Luke Wilkshire was sent off for his challenge on Van Bronckhorst which left the Dutchman nursing heavy bruising to his foot. "I do not think he wanted to go for the ball," Van Bronckhorst said. "Luckily for me, the injury is not too bad but if it had have been, I would have missed the World Cup and, in a game like this, I don't think it would have been worth it. "We knew Australia were a physical team. It is one of their strengths. But I just felt some of their challenges were too hard. After all, we are only one week away from a World Cup." But while Van Bronckhorst is confident he will shake off his knock in time for the start of the World Cup, there is a doubt surrounding Sneijder's chances. Dutch coach Marco van Basten said: "Sneijder is limping and his ankle is strapped up. "We'll have to wait 24 hours to find out how serious it is. We have to wait and see how it develops." Story from BBC SPORT:
misereremi Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 [quote name='Tony' post='995573' date='Jun 2 2006, 09:17 PM'] Sweden Vs England- they played eachother in the group phase in 2002, and drew 1-1, rematches after Draws are always nice. [/quote] YES. Come on England! (and forza Italia, too) [quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='996485' date='Jun 4 2006, 02:43 PM'] I don't know what the ad campaigns and atmosphere are like elsewhere but here in England it's insane. Talk about obsessed! [/quote] lol I know, it's abosolutely mad here. I've joined the obsession with the St George's flag flapping from my car. (do you see how football is like England's religion- sadly people will drive miles on a Sunday for a match but when it comes to mass, they say "it's long".)
Ash Wednesday Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Misereremi, yes, good point -- I've been reading about the Crouch robot dance. I'd love to see him score a goal so I can see him do it. If England wins, Sven is going to do the Crouchy dance... lol...
cappie Posted June 6, 2006 Posted June 6, 2006 Scottish fans "may sin" by not supporting England in World Cup A Catholic theologian from Scotland told Scottish soccer fans they might be committing a sin if they do not support their historical and soccer archrival England in the World Cup. Catholic News Service reports that Scotland's national team did not qualify for the World Cup, and Fr William McFadden told soccer fans north of the English border that they need to examine their consciences before deciding where their allegiance lies for the games which kicks off this weekend in Germany. Fr McFadden, who also serves as rector of Scotland's national seminary, Scotus College in Glasgow, said the determining factor was motivation. "If a Scot has an automatic negative reaction to supporting England, then they would have to question where that feeling is coming from," he said. "As Christians we are called to have positive relationships with others who may be different from us. If we have an automatic anti-relationship with someone simply because they are English, then that is anti-Christian. "On the other hand, if your motivation comes from the enjoyment of football (soccer) and you choose to support a different team for that reason, then there is no sin in not supporting England. The key question is what is our motivation," he said. Scotus College has two English students in residence, although England's national flag, a St George's flag, has not yet been unfurled on the premises, Fr McFadden said. "As a community we pray together, work together, study together and will watch the World Cup together," he said, noting that there was "nothing wrong with healthy competition." "Our college football team recently played against the English seminary, Ushaw College, Durham, and we beat them soundly in a most enjoyable game," he said. In World Cup Group B competition, England faces Paraguay on 10 June, Trinidad on 15 June and Sweden on 20 June.
misereremi Posted June 7, 2006 Posted June 7, 2006 [quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='998653' date='Jun 6 2006, 09:04 PM'] Misereremi, yes, good point -- I've been reading about the Crouch robot dance. I'd love to see him score a goal so I can see him do it. If England wins, Sven is going to do the Crouchy dance... lol... [/quote] And Cappie, that's hilarious...I hope the Scots will support England, though...
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