World Cup starting!

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 22 Jun 2006, 14:16

yes - i have been wondering where Argentina is...

wonder why anyone would say best in 50 years though? it is just not true.

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 23 Jun 2006, 06:18

Well, I have to say, I thought the US side looked quite good in their opening games, even though the results didn't give that impression. But sometimes you'll find that a better side will go out. There are always shocks, and sometimes you can find your team in a 'group of death' which means nothing more than it is a loaded group (i.e. all pretty much seeded teams) and someone has to go home after three games. You are in good company: Brasil, Italy, Scotland, Mexico and more have all gone home without losing a game in the opening group stages, let alone being seeded. One year Scotland had to beat Holland by 3 clear goals to go through, and at one point were 3-1 ahead. The game finished a 3-2 Scotland win, but it was the best football we've seen from them in years. That same World Cup, Holland went on to reach the final that year losing out to Argentina in the end. But it was fairly indicative of Scotland's game at that time. Unfortunately, we've not been much good in recent years.

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 23 Jun 2006, 09:19

US did quite well being down a man vs Italy. Italy has most always been one of the top teams...

They lost to Ghana, not really a suprise to me since they had two starters out for red cards in the Italy game. One of them we very undeserved, the other questionable.

Can't believe Mexico lost either...

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 24 Jun 2006, 11:30

only the British....

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/s ... index.html

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 30 Jun 2006, 09:25

Damn. Argentina scored. 1-0 now.

Come on Deutschland!

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 30 Jun 2006, 10:07

tied...

overtime.

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 30 Jun 2006, 10:19

Overtime sind gefahrlich!

Alles Sieg fur Deutschland.

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 10:24

Seven minutes of 2nd half overtime left, Argentina beginning to look just a shade stronger towards the end. I fancy Argentina for the penalty shoot-out.

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 10:31

Oooooooooooooooooo!! :lol: Penalty shoot-out . . . . . . . c'mon ah'm takin' bets!! Argentina have it sewn up.

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 30 Jun 2006, 10:44

obviously not... ;)

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 10:56

Wow! Class act from Jens Lehmann. Admittedly, he has been criticised prior to World Cup for his somewhat on-off performance. Not to mention his inability to keep his nose out of matters on the pitch when it isn't warranted. But he hada to come good sometime, and he chose the right direction on three occasions, and saved two of them, one from behind him. Quality job.
And finally, Argentina have gone out in a disgraceful fashion. Obviously one of the German team has said something, and the Argie boy has flattened him. Fair kop IMHO, don't jeer or jibe the opposition, it's unsporting! :lol: And frankly he got quickly bitchslapped for it. Argentina made themselves look bad, but it was most likely unsporting verbal behaviour.
The game? Well, there was plenty of diving wasn't there? None more obvious than from the German captain himself. But no yellow or red cards?
Well, they best go on to finish the job, because I feel that perhaps they stole that game.
And anyway, if I HADN'T stated who I thought would have won, then Argentina would probably have pulled it off. So, I decided to be brave and stick my neck out . . . . . no bets taken though! :lol:

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 30 Jun 2006, 11:03

wow, just wow! Amazing ending.

Kodiak, do you know for a fact that it was a German player that said something derrogatory which caused the Argentinian team to lose their cool?

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 11:35

Oh come on, Panz! No, I don't, I wasn't on the pitch, you of course know that. But if you watch the footage, you can see a verbal confrontation begin, and from what I saw, the Argentinian seemed to react to to something. So that would undoubtedly be something done or said, we haqve t5o surmise that at least. Unlikely that it would have been someone wearing a dark blue shirt, eh?!
Plkease don't be picking holes over comments. I've played the game all my life at a recreational level, and there is plenty of banter and argy-bargy goes on. My personal hate is all the hands up fending-off and shirt pulling, closely followed by play-acting & diving. Anyway, it's on the footage to see that the German team (especially the team captain & O'Donkor) were quite happy to puff their chests out and be confrontational when they weren't happy about reffing decisions or tackles, tackles which the German team seemed more than happy to hand out themselves. I'll tell you what, show me a game, and I would take bets on the 'Latin' cultured team to be the one to resort to those sort of tactics - normally! But Germany were at it quite regularly today, and were lucky on several 'fouls' where in at least one there should have been an Argy penalty, but instead the Argentinian player was booked. :shock:
Not to mention for the sake of a giggle now, their manager (Germany) is renowned for diving. He used to play for Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur) a few years back. We used to refer to diving as 'doing a Klinsmann'.
I don't have any loyalties here Panz, I dislike both teams for the same bloody reason.

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 11:45

Actually the reports surfacing on most channels at the moment appear to place the blame on the shoulders of one of the German officials who apeared on the field after the final whistle. (Not the referee or sideline/4th officials) I'm guessing it was a game administration official. :oops: That could be a shade embarrassing for the hosts, especially if it turns out to a 'racist' style taunt. Given the tournament's battlecry - No, to racism!

:roll:

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 30 Jun 2006, 12:05

KODIAK wrote:We used to refer to diving as 'doing a Klinsmann'.
I don't have any loyalties here Panz, I dislike both teams for the same bloody reason.

And the latest rumors in the media is that Klinsmann may be the next USA soccer team coach. Diving or no diving, if he can make the US team win games then that's all I care about!

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 12:49

Klinsmann leaving Germany coach position? Undoubtedly it'll be a post World Cup thing, somewhat comfortably convenient, especially if germany fail to win as host nation (which I personally think counts for nothing, except more pressure on the team). I certainly hope the US team don't lose their sense of pride in fair play by resorting to that sort of thing, there is already too much of it. That's not to say, I don't advocate taking advantage of being fouled, just don't make a meal of it.

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 30 Jun 2006, 13:10

i have played on and off, i really despise the play acting and have never gone in for it myself. i know some teams do use it as an additional 'tool' (actually, they are tools for doing it). it is rife in pro leagues, and even semi-pro or regional leagues have it. i don't get it myself. my opinion is that if someone is going to act like i hurt them when i tackled them, i really should hurt them...

PanzerMeyer · Post by **PanzerMeyer** » 30 Jun 2006, 13:16

Now I understand why rugby players make fun of soccer players. At least rugby players hurt each other for real and there is no prentending or pussy-footing about it. :lol:

Hammer · Post by **Hammer** » 30 Jun 2006, 13:18

don't et it wrong... soccer is not wimpie...it is just some play acting that goes into it as well, unfortunately.

KODIAK · Post by **KODIAK** » 30 Jun 2006, 14:00

Actually, I admire the way rugby is refereed. The fourth official and large screen replay for the game officials to take a second look. But there is definitely a greater respect from the players towards the game in general, but specifically towards the referee. How many times can you say that you've seen someone actually give the ref grief about a decision he's made? makes you wonder why the whole concept isn't adopted by soccer associations worldwide.
Probably the best thing about it is, how much of a clown are you going to look by protesting your innocence only to have the rest of the nation get a second opinion by replay? I reckon it would be a fantastic weapon against diving. Astonishingly, it always seems to be the more talented they are, the greater need they have to do it. It has to be about saving face and protecting thier ego. You know, like they are too good for someone like that to take the ball off them - so let's take a dive and claim he fouled. One player I can honestly say is not within that category is Ronaldinho.

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