World Cup - Germany 2006 - we're off !

[Link]

I concur with most of your statement, Mario. We are experiencing a World Cup where individual players make the difference. That's why Elfenbeinküste (I just love the German name for Cote d'Ivoire) is considered dangerous -- they have a couple of good players (Drogba, Eboué, Touré) who can make the difference.

With all the reruns of past World Cups I can't help but conclude that in the seventies and eighties there was not much aggressive defense. A lot of open spaces for stars (Pele, Maldini, Cruyff) to wander around. These days, defense starts as soon as the opponent gets possession of the ball, which makes combination football essential for a victory.

And I won't even get started about the Greek style of play that smaller (and inevitably weaker) countries tend to use. Although it secures them from losing in big numbers, it doesn't do much good for the game.

[Nightwing]

Brazil looked like they were all individuals out there. They are so popular and such big stars individually it may be going to their head. they didn't play well as a team I thought. They are better than they showed but if they don't get some team spirit they are going to be hurting later on.

[Sever]

Originally posted by Link: ...and of course everyone's favorite human horse...

[img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] He does have somewhat equine features. After hearing so much about this guy over the last few weeks i've been looking forward to watch him play. What confidence! No other player i've seen seems as.. as disinterested in opposing players. Three, sometimes four guys take turns on the tackle and Ronaldinho still makes an effective disposal. And apparently Brazil are still warming up?

Re the Schwarzer goal/no penalty thang: My understanding of the goaly's status in his box is that he is god. Within that square, he has the right to any patch of grass he stands on and attacking players are forced to concede way. Is that not how it works?

Yay for the Socceroos anyhow! I'm a bit late, but i've had some more computer issues. I know it doesn't count for much this early in competition, but who'd have thought Australia would end up on top of its group after the first round?

[johnny]

Yesterday's highlights...

[johnny]

Typical German victory, but well deserved nonetheless.

I don't get some coaches, Poland would only benefit from a win, but in the second half the coach clearly decided to go for the 0-0 draw, which is as good as suicide, especially when Ecuador beats Costa Rica tomorrow, and what does he do ? He replaces an attacker for an extra defender. Why don't you just shoot yourself in the head instead ? It's much quicker and less painful.

[wellard]

World cup humour ....

Is it true that when Australia went 2-1 up and the japanese fans went quite, that the Australians began to taunt them by singing... "You only sing when your whaling" [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img]

[Memnoch]

Spain were pretty bloody good - my dad called to gloat, the bastard. That said, Ukraine were totally shyte, they were in a shambles at the back. They also don't know how to defend set pieces, and the red card and penalty was a joke. Spain are my second team but I reckon the Spanish striker took a dive in the PB for that and should have been yellow carded.

Still, they looked pretty good on that left hand side, and the buildup and passing was crisp as the Ukrainians wilted in the heat. Is it that bad in Germany at the moment? 30C doesn't seem too hot, I remember them playing in hotter temperatures than that in the US back in 94.

Most entertaining match for me was Tunisia-Saudi Arabia - two evenly matched teams going all out to attack. Some great goals scored there - Jairi's side volley when he was horizontal with the ground, Al-Jabar's clinical finish, the great header to tie the match from Jazairi (?). France should have been watching that game.

[JrKASperov]

Ouch, Yorke just got hit in the nutsack.

[shamrock_uk]

That's got to hurt!

That was a thoroughly embarrassing game...we should be annihilating these teams, but just don't

Hell of a save by Terry, good to see the hapless Crouch get a goal (law of averages, eh? ) and the last one was decent.

[johnny]

What's embarrassing about a 2-0 win ? My experience is that it's really tough to break apart teams that dig themselves in around their own penaltybox. The longer it takes for the attacking side to score a goal, the more the defensive side's confidence grows. Only an early goal can break such a game wide open. Let's face it, T&T didn't come out to play football today, they only had one mission...prevent the English from scoring. And they almost got away with it too. We run into opponents with such an approach all the time, and afterwards, when you won 1-0 or 2-0, there's nothing to get all riled up about, just think of the 3 points you earned, and move on to the next game.