Official World Cup Discussion Thread (No Spoilers)

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:06 pm

In Maxim, Landon Donovan appears with the Jules trophy.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:12 pm

Holland's reserves dominated Mexico in a 2-1 victory yesterday.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:44 pm

Just curious--with the death of maxxed football forums, does anyone know of a good resource for soccer streams and/or highlights?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:20 pm

Host Germans looked sharp against Colombia. 3-0.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:25 pm

Anyone have any good ideas for a World Cup pool for people who really have no knowledge of soccer?

Yes, my office has a gambling problem.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:06 am

Eric Wynalda is a WC analyst for ESPN.

Says US isn't in such bad shape. Czech Republic is "pretty good" but old and Italy is mired in controversy.

Claims US has a lot of depth and Casey Kelleher might be the best goalie in the world right now.

OK, maybe ESPN just wants American fans to be optimistic ahead of all the TV coverage they plan so they'll tune in?

Group E is merely the "Group of near death," not the "Group of death."

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:18 am

I hope you misspelled Keller's name on purpose LOL!!!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:16 pm

wco81 wrote:Eric Wynalda is a WC analyst for ESPN.

Says US isn't in such bad shape. Czech Republic is "pretty good" but old and Italy is mired in controversy.

Claims US has a lot of depth and Casey Kelleher might be the best goalie in the world right now.

OK, maybe ESPN just wants American fans to be optimistic ahead of all the TV coverage they plan so they'll tune in?

Group E is merely the "Group of near death," not the "Group of death."

Cheerleading by Wynalda.

The match-fixing scandal in Italy affects the domestic game. I'm not sure how it will affect the national team. That's a real stretch by Wynalda.

And what about Ghana? Essien can change a game by himself, and Kuffour is a skilled, veteran defender. Ghana is no easy out.

Keller is very good, but he isn't the best goalie in the world. But possibly the best keeper in the world will be between the sticks for the Czechs, Petr Cech. Plus I don't care how old the Czechs are -- a midfield with Smicer, Nedved and Rosicky is still dangerous. And Barros could be very tough depending on which Milan Barros shows up to Germany.

The U.S. easily could finish the group with just one win or zero wins. It also could win all of its games. But anyone who discounts the U.S.' rivals in the group either is dumb or a cheerleader. Wynalda is the latter, trying to raise interest in non-soccer fans in America and help raise ratings for ABC/ESPN.

Take care,
PK

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:22 pm

Sportscenter also had a long segment on racism in the "beautiful game."

It went over all the recent incidents involving Henry, Eto and a couple of others, including players being taunted by fans at home matches.

Went over the efforts to stop the incidents, the education campaigns and so on. Noted how FIFA and UEFA had left it up to the national federations to police.

Supposedly in March, FIFA took serious measures saying racist incidents (not sure how these are defined) involving players, coaches and officials of national teams at this WC would result in a loss of 3 points.

But these measures exempt fans so who knows what kind of teeth they will have. Blatter said on camera that if there were incidents in WC matches, they would "abandon" the stadium. Not sure if that meant kick out the offending fans or if FIFA would just leave.

The real question is, will FIFA push for these anti-racist measure AFTER the WC? Or do they even have the legal weight to control what goes on in Italy or Spain in club matches?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 2:05 pm

What I like about the US team is that 11 players from 2002 are back with the team. If it hopes to advance again, it likely will need Ghana to spring ahead and score an upset over the Italians or Czechs. Despite the domestic scandal and match fixing at home, I still think Italy will finish ahead in the group, having back F. Totti from injury is a big plus and I look for F. Inzaghi to have a great WC. No matter what scandal and how bad they play in the inital rounds the Italians with their great fan support are always in the hunt. Since winning the Cup back in 82 they were eliminated from the WC on penalties the last threee times. Tough luck.

Czechs will face Italy in its final group match and the loser will most likely play Brazil assuming of course that they'll win their group. Thay have a great scorer in Jan Koller and P. Nedved who came out of int'l retirement to help the team qualify in the playoffs.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 2:18 pm

FYI, it looks like Smicer is out. Unfortunately their other major injury concern, Koller, looks to be healthy though.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:07 am

ABC had a special, "Drive to Germany," hosted by Lalas and Wynalda.

They of course centered it on the US team.

Arenas said he's hoping to get 1 point out of the first two games (CR, Italy) and then he's not even looking at Ghana until he sees what they do in their first two games but he's counting on getting 3 in that game.

Lalas and Wynalda said if the US gets at least a draw against CR, they're getting out of the group. Wynalda said we might make it to the semifinals.

Donovan said while they don't have the best individual players, he thinks they have a good team as any other.

They compared CR to Portugal, which was the first game in 2002. Portugal supposedly had their best players in their prime then but overlooked the US and came into the game with arrogance. But nobody should take the US lightly this time around.

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:53 pm

with 4 team groups, 4 points makes it through about 1/2 the time, I've found anecdotally. so if USA does like last WC (1-1-1), they'll be out this time, the odds say.

With that in mind, I think USA needs at least 2 points from Italy and Czech. A loss and a draw probably means the ghana game is meaningless.

I think those 2 games will be completely different though, and I'm glad we're playing Czech first. Czech has a good attacking team and is weak on defense for a Euro power, excluding GK Cech. We can score on Czech if we counter with our fast players. I think we'll see Arena use both convey and beasley and donovan in midfield and Eddie Johnson and Mcbride up front. we can beat them on speed.

Italy is the opposite. Totti will not be his old self. Italy always plays for the 1-0 win. We'll do better against them using Reyna and O'Brien and Mastroeni to control the midfield and work patiently to beat them.

Of course, I'll pull for USA, but I don't think we can beat either on european soil. This will be a huge world cup for the euro teams. I bet at 3 are in the semis with brazil.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:46 pm

vanburen wrote: Italy is the opposite. Totti will not be his old self. Italy always plays for the 1-0 win. We'll do better against them using Reyna and O'Brien and Mastroeni to control the midfield and work patiently to beat them.

Tough to be back when you've been injured for so long. He won't be 100% but great players have that uncanny ability to turn a score with a minute of brilliance that can change a game in an instant. I can see him looking for Insaghi constantly.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:21 am

Any good WC preview Mags or internet sites with good reviews?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:07 pm

Zlax45 wrote:Any good WC preview Mags or internet sites with good reviews?

They tend to focus on snarky comments, but they're funny snarky comments for the most part. And it's well worth it for the video compilations alone.

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/archiv ... chive.html

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/archiv ... chive.html

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/archiv ... chive.html

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/archiv ... chive.html

Also, a very interesting editorial in the Guardian today

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup ... 08,00.html

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:46 pm

Sorry, WC noob with a question.

Who is the worst team here? The one that it would be an upset if they drew or maybe even scored?

Thanks.

devilsjaw · Post by **devilsjaw** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:07 pm

rubba19 wrote:Sorry, WC noob with a question.

Who is the worst team here? The one that it would be an upset if they drew or maybe even scored?

Thanks.

Probably Trinidad/Tobago.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:24 pm

Probably the United States.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:49 pm

Absolutely SICK Ronaldinho video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsO6D1rwrKc

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:50 pm

rubba19 wrote:Sorry, WC noob with a question.

Who is the worst team here? The one that it would be an upset if they drew or maybe even scored?

Thanks.

Angola or Togo, probably. Saudi Arabia isn't that good, either.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:58 pm

Two. And both from the the weakest group in this WC: Tunisia & Saudi Arabia.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:56 pm

pk500 wrote:Absolutely SICK Ronaldinho video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsO6D1rwrKc

Take care,
PK

Apparently David Blane taught him that move.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:30 pm

fanatic wrote:
pk500 wrote:Absolutely SICK Ronaldinho video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsO6D1rwrKc

Take care,
PK
Apparently David Blane taught him that move.

No doubt the repeated shots off the bar are fake, but the general ball and head skills are very real and very insane.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:40 pm

I thought I heard someone say that Baros picked up a knock.