WORLD CUP 2006 / GERMANY

[king ubu]

hmm, Ukraine got a red card and Spain a penalty kick. Apparantly for fumbling a Spanish player's arse. Certainly an overreaction of the referee. So that's 3:0 then.

maybe the Ukrainian thought that was worth it?

[couw]

hmm, Ukraine got a red card and Spain a penalty kick. Apparantly for fumbling a Spanish player's arse. Certainly an overreaction of the referee. So that's 3:0 then.

maybe the Ukrainian thought that was worth it?

knowing the Spanish and their stallion mentality, I can understand why they thought it was a deep red offense!

[porcy62]

hmm, Ukraine got a red card and Spain a penalty kick. Apparantly for fumbling a Spanish player's arse. Certainly an overreaction of the referee. So that's 3:0 then.

maybe the Ukrainian thought that was worth it?

knowing the Spanish and their stallion mentality, I can understand why they thought it was a deep red offense!

Stallion mentality in Zapatero's and Almodovar's country? Don't think so, maybe is the rerefee that is homophopic

Edited June 14, 2006 by porcy62

[Jim R]

So far Brasil - Croatia was the best game I've seen, along with Argentina - Cote D'Ivoire. It was breathtaking to see the Croats penetrate the Brasilian midfield in the 2nd half, like a knife goes through butter. A little too late, as they were sleep-walking through the 1st 45 min. Ronaldinho...what more can I say.

I was very impressed with Croatia's play as well. They could have done better with their finishing (obviously), but they showed excellent touch and skill in possession, and teamwork in transitioning from defending to attacking. They also limited Brazil (generally) to long-range shots. Not good enough to manage the upset, but 1-0 is very respectable.

Most impressive performances, imo: Germany, Argentina, Holland, Czech Republic (the weak opposition notwithstanding ). I thought Italy was solid, but they gave an awful lot of the play to Ghana. Brazil... hard to say. Maybe they were a little too content to sit on 1-0, and perhaps left the lethargic Ronaldo on the field too long. I don't doubt that they could have scored more goals, but Croatia put up a good fight in terms of asserting some control of the game.

I don't quite understand what's wrong with the French... maybe I should go back and study Brownie's posts more carefully. They looked like they had enough firepower to win, but too disorganized... especially in the attack. Zidane is still fun to watch, even if the build-up was a bit too slow. I wasn't impressed with France's wing play, and Viera didn't look too sharp either. Under the circumstances, either Zidane or Henry needed to produce a winning goal... perhaps too much to ask without more support and organization. Still, pretty tough to score against a team that is very happy with a 0-0 result.

Oh, and props to the referees for catching that "hand of God" attempt... I didn't notice it until I saw the slow-mo replay.

The Saudis have just equalized vs Tunisia!! (hey, it's almost 2 hours until the next "real" game... I have to try to maintain some enthusiasm here. )

[Robert J]

That was a nice Saudi goal

[marcoliv]

if anyone knows the real answer about the french team please update me

once again Barthez played on his regular level

the germans have just scored a vital goal.

that's the major difference between solid teams and the others. they win their matches even without playing well.

Marcus

[Jim R]

Did Germany deserve to win? Most definitely. But the way I saw it, Poland was monumentally stupid the way they closed out that match. Time and time again they launched the ball downfield to Lehmann, who promptly set Germany back on the attack. Perhaps the Polish midfielders, forwards, and coach thought this made sense, but the Polish defenders (who did a good job of thwarting wave after wave of German attacks in the final 20 minutes) must have been cursing- at least under their breath if not out loud. WHY? If you want a 0-0 draw, and there are only a few minutes remaining, POSSESS the ball as much as you can- in midfield, down the wings, whatever! No matter the sport, no matter the teams who are playing, one thing that makes me squirm- even if I don't particularly care who wins- is stupidity. Poland was stupid. Oh, and maybe Nouville should have been marked in front of the German goal. Poor Boruc- he played very well. Bottom line- Germany deserved 3 points for creating so many good chances (that Klose missed that header in the first half is something I still have trouble believing).

[couw]

The Polish were not able to control the midfield, because the game was too fast for them. Even if they had wanted to possess the ball and sit it out, the Germans would have attacked all over the place, forcing the Polish to make mistakes. Germany showed some great spirit in this game, in spite of some difficult to understand misses. WTF? These Polish born Germans must have had a spook playing against them.

Klose played like a pillow. Podolski anyone? Ballack moved like an old man (cf. Zidane). Schneider sucked as a right forward and yet everyone kept playing on him. The left side was of course only dangerous when little Lahm (man of the match) decided to step forward. Schweinsteiger was somewhere else entirely. Bringing in Odonkor and Neuville was a great move.

[marcoliv]

couw, you should be happy. germany is already on the next round

[brownie]

Klinsmann seemed to have trouble with his players. Oliver Neuville saved his (and Germany's) day!

Can't say I did not enjoy the game even though at various times it looked like a rerun of the Switzerland-France match of yesterday!

[sidewinder]

Did Germany deserve to win? Most definitely. But the way I saw it, Poland was monumentally stupid the way they closed out that match. Time and time again they launched the ball downfield to Lehmann, who promptly set Germany back on the attack. Perhaps the Polish midfielders, forwards, and coach thought this made sense, but the Polish defenders (who did a good job of thwarting wave after wave of German attacks in the final 20 minutes) must have been cursing- at least under their breath if not out loud. WHY? If you want a 0-0 draw, and there are only a few minutes remaining, POSSESS the ball as much as you can- in midfield, down the wings, whatever! No matter the sport, no matter the teams who are playing, one thing that makes me squirm- even if I don't particularly care who wins- is stupidity. Poland was stupid. Oh, and maybe Nouville should have been marked in front of the German goal. Poor Boruc- he played very well. Bottom line- Germany deserved 3 points for creating so many good chances (that Klose missed that header in the first half is something I still have trouble believing).

You summed up my thouhjts on the game perfectly !

[Jim R]

The Polish were not able to control the midfield, because the game was too fast for them. Even if they had wanted to possess the ball and sit it out, the Germans would have attacked all over the place, forcing the Polish to make mistakes.

John, I understand what you mean, but I was talking about only the last few minutes. There were times when Poland could have easily wasted more time rather than carelessly banging the ball down to Lehmann and preparing for the next immediate onslaught. Perhaps they didn't have the courage to face all the whistles that would have rained down on them if they tried to ice the ball near the German corner flags. I don't know, I just think that they asked more of their defenders than was necessary (or prudent). Like I said, though, Germany looked good, and deserved to win.

I thought that Schweinsteiger looked good in the first half, but not so in the second. I agree about the subs. The way he has performed against the U.S., I always say "uh-oh" whenever Nouville is brought in late in a match. He's my kind of player- he's very smart, always knows how to find space (and usually knows what to do when he finds it). His only mistakes today were getting caught slightly offside a couple of times... but he nearly created some real danger on those plays. Lahm is fun to watch!

[Brad]

Are the French just a case of everybody (or the key players) just got old? That happens sometimes. It's a wonder they got through the qualifying rounds and their play hasn't improved. They just seem to have lost of it and even some of Henry's finishes weren't hit as well as they could be.

Ronaldo seems like he's past his prime. He's been to 4 World Cups (counting this one) so maybe it's just a changing of the guard. It's just the natural order of things in sports as well as life.

[kenny weir]

I don't qualify as an expert...

No, no, no - you simply are failing to understand.

During the World Cup, EVERYONE is an expert.

Funnily enough, I find the comments, humour and analysis on this thread superior to that I find on a couple of spelcialist football forums I lurk on.

Soccer tragics are even duller than jazz tragics.

Hand me that anorak!

Edited June 15, 2006 by kenny weir

[kinuta]

Kenny, congratulations on a thoroughly deserved Aussie victory.

Really enjoyed the game (even if my Japanese wife is not talking to me).

My wife is Japanese too but she agreed with me that the Japanese team were poor at best and that Oz well deserved to win.

[brownie]

Are the French just a case of everybody (or the key players) just got old? That happens sometimes. It's a wonder they got through the qualifying rounds and their play hasn't improved. They just seem to have lost of it and even some of Henry's finishes weren't hit as well as they could be.

Brad, the 2006 WC French team is an embarassment.

Coach Raymond Domenech has made a series of bad decisions from the day he was appointed to his job. He continues to rely on players who are past their prime. Recalling Zidane showed he had no vision of a fresh team like one of his predecessors Aimé Jaquet who forego a great player Eric Cantona to give his chance to a young Zidane. That decision was part of France's victory in the 1998 WC.

Domenech insists on using the team senators (Zidane, Henry, Wiltord, Barthez, etc...) instead of giving their chances to the upcoming players. The fact that a brillant forward like Cisse was injured in a preparation match did not help.

Even a talent like Ribery was wasted.

He was picked for the WC team at the very last minute, then kept for short appearances where he showed how valuable he could be, then he was picked for the opening WC match of the French team and could not meet the challenge. Then he was pulled out just when he could have been of real use in the final minutes of the match against Switzerland!

Domenech has shown character only by keeping away some players he has no affinity with who could have made a difference like Guily or Anelka

France may qualify for the second round after all but I do not see them going anywhere beyond that!

A real waste of talents!

[Alexander Hawkins]

I don't qualify as an expert...

No, no, no - you simply are failing to understand.

During the World Cup, EVERYONE is an expert.

Too right!!!

On which note, let me be controversial - or maybe not? Thierry Henry is not a good player at international level. Part of this is that he routinely bottles it on the big stage (something which applies equally to his Arsenal career), and part of it is that - as said by various people above - the team isn't set up sympathetically to his style of play.

[porcy62]

I don't qualify as an expert...

No, no, no - you simply are failing to understand.

During the World Cup, EVERYONE is an expert.

Too right!

I worked for one year as video editor for a national broadcasting about sports, mainly fooball. I can assure you that most of the so called 'expert' are simply people unable to find a different and serious job. A part few former players and coach, most of the journalists (I am not talking about you Brownie ) don't know what they are talking about.

Anyway in Italy we say that during the World Cup we get 56 millions national team coaches, children included.

[scottb]

I think Spain had turned in the performance of the tournament. Not just because of the score but a great display of soccer for a full 90 minutes. Defended well, the keeper got a little bold that one time but overall very tight in back. Looked very cohesive in attack, working very well together as shown in the 4th goal which is my choice for goal of the tourney so far.

The problems they pose for other teams is who to mark? Everyone looked dangerous, there's no Henry, Shevchenko, Koller or Klose to shut down. You have to try to contain everyone which obviously the Ukraine was not up to. Also they have great depth. Raul and Fabregast off the bench and the threat doesn't really drop off.

I'm very excited by the Spainish. I have pulled for them in previous World Cups and been among the disappointed for all that wasted potential but this year if they keep this up they could hold the trophy come July!

[ASNL77]

Another disappointing performance by England but another victory. Rooney seems to have boosted the spirit of his mates as the last 30 minutes of the game were played at a higher tempo with more opportunities to score. Another fantastic goal for Gerrard. He does not seem to be interested in scoring average quality goals. All his goals are crackers!

Edited June 15, 2006 by ASNL77

[sidewinder]

For once, Eriksson made the correct substitutions ( ) with the two wingers and Rooney brought on. England were hopeless in posession for the first part of the 2nd half and looked to be losing it but with half an hour to go they seemed to wake up and get things in control.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

It is just before the England v Brazil match. Ronaldinho goes into the Brazilian changing room to find all his teammates looking a bit glum.

"What's up?" he asks.

"Well, we're having trouble getting motivated for this game. We know it's important but it's only England. They're sh*te and we can't be bothered."

Ronaldinho looks at them and says, "Well, I reckon I can beat them by myself. You lads go down the pub."

So Ronaldinho goes out to play England by himself and the rest of the Brazilian team go off for a few jars.

After a few pints they wonder how the game is going, so they get the landlord to put the teletext on. A big cheer goes up as the screen reads " Brazil 1 - England 0 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes)". He is beating England all by himself!

Anyway, a few pints later and the game is forgotten until someone remembers, "It must be full time now, let's see how he got on." They put the teletext on.

"Result from the Stadium 'Brazil 1 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes) - England 1 (Lampard 89 minutes)."

They can't believe it; he has single-handedly got a draw against England!! They rush back to the Stadium to congratulate Ronaldinho. They find him inthe dressing room, still in his gear, sitting with his head in his hands.

He refuses to look at them. "I've let you down, I've let you down."

"Don't be daft, you got a draw against England, all by yourself. And they only scored at the very, very end!"

"No, no, I have, I've let you down. I got sent off after 12 minutes."

[sidewinder]

That one did the email rounds of my office yesterday, to much hilarity. How true !

[couw]

The Swedish still with lots of problems in their front lines. Playing as much against themselves as against the clearly weaker Paraguayans (is that a word?), they only managed a 1:0 in the final 5 minutes. May they gain some strength from this win and poop those English some up their noses!

[Alexander Hawkins]

I think Spain had turned in the performance of the tournament. Not just because of the score but a great display of soccer for a full 90 minutes. Defended well, the keeper got a little bold that one time but overall very tight in back. Looked very cohesive in attack, working very well together as shown in the 4th goal which is my choice for goal of the tourney so far.

The problems they pose for other teams is who to mark? Everyone looked dangerous, there's no Henry, Shevchenko, Koller or Klose to shut down. You have to try to contain everyone which obviously the Ukraine was not up to. Also they have great depth. Raul and Fabregast off the bench and the threat doesn't really drop off.

I'm very excited by the Spainish. I have pulled for them in previous World Cups and been among the disappointed for all that wasted potential but this year if they keep this up they could hold the trophy come July!

Yeah - I was out, but was VERY impressed with what I saw on the highlights. Interesting point about the marking - not one I've heard made before - but it certainly makes sense.

BTW, great strike from Torres for that 4th goal. Team goal of the tournament so far?