Official World Cup Discussion Thread (No Spoilers)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:49 pm

Yeah but you're paying extra to get ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD on Direct TV.

The deal is Disney and the cable networks have to wrangle the negotiations.

There are rumors some may add it, at least temporarily, like they added Universal HD for the Olympics.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:50 pm

Big set back fro the Germans. Looks like captain M. Ballack won't play on the opening match.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:06 pm

10spro wrote:Big set back fro the Germans. Looks like captain M. Ballack won't play on the opening match.

pffffft, it is only Costa Rica.

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:28 pm

fsquid wrote:
10spro wrote:Big set back fro the Germans. Looks like captain M. Ballack won't play on the opening match.
pffffft, it is only Costa Rica.

I think this is a big deal. w/o ballack, germany has as many world class players as everyone else in its group (poland, costa rica, ecuador). Imagine of Germany lets in an early goal or two, like the japan friendly last week. German fans may turn on their team quickly. They're already pretty insecure.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:06 pm

Hmm...Schweinsteiger, Borowski, Klose, Hitzelsperger....or a load of scrubs who no one has ever heard of (ie the entire squads of the other 3)

Tough choice, particularly given that the best 3 goalies in the group are all in Germany's squad. I take it you missed the comedy performances by Poland's keepers in the friendlies, and as for the the other 2 teams, strictly Championship standard.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:12 pm

fsquid wrote:
10spro wrote:Big set back fro the Germans. Looks like captain M. Ballack won't play on the opening match.
pffffft, it is only Costa Rica.

. Whether it's Costa Rica or Brazil you want your best player and Captain to be there, especially when you have a young and maybe fragile defense.

He's the heart of the team. The Ticos have a 2-1-1 record against European opponents in World Cup play, losing only to the Czechs in the Round of 16 in 1990. They will try to be the second straight underdog winner in the World Cup's opening match after Senegal defeated France to start the 2002 World Cup. And they were a lot of expectations on France that year, yet the 1st BIG candidate to go home.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:26 pm

Does what happened in 1990 really matter?

Are any of the players from back then still on any of these teams?

I see these kinds of historical comparisons all the time, like Argentina owned Brazil in the '60s (not an actual example) or this country has won it this many times, even though the last time they won it was over 30 years ago.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:28 pm

Wco my point is that you can't underestimate any opponent in this WC, especially based on the opening day back four years ago when France was a HUGE candidate to win their group and advance to the finals, yet they went home early.

And when you play without one of your stars like M. Ballack whether it's an opening day or final it does affect a young team like Germany.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:58 pm

I agree that's a good comparison, because Zidane was out and France lost to Nigeria in 2002. And that was a veteran team.

But I was talking about how many commentators compare a team to what that nation's team did even before the players on the current team were even born.

Maybe it's because the WC has such a long history and tradition. But you don't see the NY Giants being compared to the Giants teams in the '50s for instance.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:13 pm

France lost to Senegal in the WC02 opener.

I agree pundits go overboard in historical comparisons to games from the distant past. That's somewhat excuseable in international soccer because countries from different regions can go a long time without playing each other in a meaningful game.

But this isn't limited to soccer. You hear these types of nonsense statistics from betting experts of our kind of football. How significant can it be if the Eagles are 10-6 against the line as a home favorite following a Monday Night game?

As for Germany, they're just lucky they got a cupcake draw. The Ticos aren't very intimidating. Poland is one of the least impressive European teams on paper, although they had a nice run during qualifiers. Equador would be unbeatable if the group games were played in Quito.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:05 am

Here's my personal 10 players that will or should make a difference for their Nations and I look forward to watching them.

Brazil: Kaka, one of the games' finest mid-fielders, very creative and along with Ronaldinho they dictate the tempo of the game.

England: S. Gerrard, Liverpools's man will shine for his team.

Argentina: J.R. Riquelme, the maestro that will conduct his offense, as he goes, so will the team.

Holland: A. Robben, a current exponent of the Dutch "Total Football" concept.

Italy: G. Buffon, perhaps the best keeper in the world.

France: T. Henry, he's always a candidate for the "Golden Shoe" award.

Czech R: P. Nedved, the engine that makes this team run.

Portugal: C. Ronaldo, he's quick and lethal.

Spain: C. Pujol, he's tough on D, the wall for the team.

USA: L. Donovan, the finest American born player should repeat his performance of the last WC.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:31 am

Zlax45 wrote:I have a group for WC predictions on Fox Soccer.

The Code to join is: 6472-764

bump

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:54 am

Soccernet.com (ESPN) also has a game too.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:17 am

davet010 wrote:Hmm...Schweinsteiger, Borowski, Klose, Hitzelsperger....or a load of scrubs who no one has ever heard of (ie the entire squads of the other 3)

Tough choice, particularly given that the best 3 goalies in the group are all in Germany's squad. I take it you missed the comedy performances by Poland's keepers in the friendlies, and as for the the other 2 teams, strictly Championship standard.

and Lucas Podolski who BAyern just bought, so he better be good!!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:47 am

All I can say is, "Let's get it on!"

Very, very excited. Stanley Cup and World Cup. I'm Cup crazy right now!

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:57 am

pk500 wrote:All I can say is, "Let's get it on!"

Very, very excited. Stanley Cup and World Cup. I'm Cup crazy right now!

Take care,
PK

true, but the Stanley Cup will be over on Tuesday, right?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:59 am

fsquid wrote:
pk500 wrote:All I can say is, "Let's get it on!"

Very, very excited. Stanley Cup and World Cup. I'm Cup crazy right now!

Take care,
PK
true, but the Stanley Cup will be over on Tuesday, right?

F*ck yourself with an egg-beater.

Take care,
PK

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:00 am

fsquid wrote:
pk500 wrote:All I can say is, "Let's get it on!"

Very, very excited. Stanley Cup and World Cup. I'm Cup crazy right now!

Take care,
PK
true, but the Stanley Cup will be over on Tuesday, right?

So cruel.

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:54 am

fsquid wrote:
davet010 wrote:Hmm...Schweinsteiger, Borowski, Klose, Hitzelsperger....or a load of scrubs who no one has ever heard of (ie the entire squads of the other 3)

Tough choice, particularly given that the best 3 goalies in the group are all in Germany's squad. I take it you missed the comedy performances by Poland's keepers in the friendlies, and as for the the other 2 teams, strictly Championship standard.
and Lucas Podolski who BAyern just bought, so he better be good!!

good players all, but world class? not likely...

But Germany will still win today. the home teams always get out of group. The France '02 comparison doesn's work b/c the games were in Japan/Korea.

Poland is pretty good even if most of their players are unrecognizable. Plus, Poland, Swiss, Ukraine... teams that close have a big advantage.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:02 am

Less then an hour to all hell breaks loose...I have the Dutch.

FoxSoccer Group for Predictions is: 6472-764

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:54 am

vanburen wrote:
fsquid wrote:
davet010 wrote:Hmm...Schweinsteiger, Borowski, Klose, Hitzelsperger....or a load of scrubs who no one has ever heard of (ie the entire squads of the other 3)

Tough choice, particularly given that the best 3 goalies in the group are all in Germany's squad. I take it you missed the comedy performances by Poland's keepers in the friendlies, and as for the the other 2 teams, strictly Championship standard.
and Lucas Podolski who BAyern just bought, so he better be good!!
good players all, but world class? not likely...

But Germany will still win today. the home teams always get out of group. The France '02 comparison doesn's work b/c the games were in Japan/Korea.

Poland is pretty good even if most of their players are unrecognizable. Plus, Poland, Swiss, Ukraine... teams that close have a big advantage.

Germany made it to the finals with only one world class player in '02 (Kahn). Ballack was still a youngster at Leverkusen back then.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:14 pm

Why does ESPN 2 have the score display so low? Wouldn't it be better to have it at the very top of the screen?

On my TV there's a whole inch at the top of the screen above the score display that is effectively being wasted.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:26 pm

Estimates are that 24 billion people will be watching this WC. That's amazing, they should hold the WC every 2 years instead.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:43 pm

Has anyone been able to get the BBC streams to work?

Or find any other streams? Even just audio?

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:49 pm

wco81 wrote:Has anyone been able to get the BBC streams to work?

Or find any other streams? Even just audio?

I thought that the BBC was for UK only.