View Full Version : World Cup 2006: Other matches [R]
ilv2
10 Jun 2006, 05:01 PM
Argentina 2-1 Cote d'Ivoire
fantastic match, the ref was sketchy at times, but argentina themselves were imo brilliant. unfortunate for cote d'ivoire, they started off well but just got killed off.
Pierre-Henri
11 Jun 2006, 05:59 AM
Argentina perfectly blends team spirit and individual performance. Their tactics was excellent, and their defence a stonewall (I wouldn't like to be tackled by Heinze or Ayala... ouch ouch ouch). Favourites ?
gaijin
11 Jun 2006, 08:29 AM
Argentina perfectly blends team spirit and individual performance. Their tactics was excellent, and their defence a stonewall (I wouldn't like to be tackled by Heinze or Ayala... ouch ouch ouch). Favourites ?
Only if Riquelme stays fit.
quentinc
11 Jun 2006, 02:01 PM
The Group of Death is starting to look pretty ordinary.
ilv2
11 Jun 2006, 02:08 PM
The Group of Death is starting to look pretty ordinary.
relax it was only the first game.
the dutch weren't playing at top gear, and we know how dangerous cote d'ivoire can be for any team. Too bad serbia & montenegro can't put together a decent attack
sl7vk
12 Jun 2006, 10:54 AM
I felt Argentina did way too much diving and simulation for me to root for them in any capacity. Oh and I failed to mention time wasting. When you're that good, you shouldn't have to resort to that kind of crap. That is why I liked the way the Netherlands played. Much better sportsmanship IMHO.
AfrcnHrbMan
12 Jun 2006, 11:52 AM
Any one catch that Aus-****** game? I'd have to say it was the first game to get me out of my seat, at least from the second half on.
Nanbawan
12 Jun 2006, 01:01 PM
Well, since I was rooting for the Nipponjins...Too bad they weren't able to kill the match earlier, football can be cruel and make you pay for this !
Another great strike in the USA v CZE too by Rosicky. I hope the Yankis won't be spanked too hard in this one. I have to say, until now and till Koller has to quit, this Czech side has been the most convincing so far. We'll see if the likely loss of their giant won't disrupt their game too much.
ilv2
12 Jun 2006, 01:54 PM
Class all over the place for the Czechs - the match was really just comic.
too bad for Koller hopefully he'll recover quickly :(
sl7vk
12 Jun 2006, 02:15 PM
What is frustrating here is how overhyped the team is. I mean, people are really expecting the USA to win the World Cup. It is like the total opposite of the average French fan who expects total disaster for their side. There has to be a happy medium between the two right?
Anyways. It was a drab display, but not really surprising? The Czechs just have so much more quality at the moment. I thought 3-0 was a fair result and the US has a lot to worry about against the Italians on Saturday.
Lensois
12 Jun 2006, 02:24 PM
What is frustrating here is how overhyped the team is. I mean, people are really expecting the USA to win the World Cup.
Overhyped by the media for sure but I don't know a single person who believes the USA was going to win the WC and I work with national staff coaches!
AfrcnHrbMan
12 Jun 2006, 02:26 PM
wow what a horrendous showing from the U.S., the marking was just god awful.
That was the hardest game to watch thus far in this tournement, just when you thought a country couldnt start the cup more flat than england did.
My only solace is that Rosicky can hopefully punish opposition for the gunners the way he did today.
sl7vk
12 Jun 2006, 02:29 PM
Overhyped by the media for sure but I don't know a single person who believes the USA was going to win the WC and I work with national staff coaches!
Go check out the threads in the USA section. Bloody half the people their thought the US was going to take it to the Czechs and the Italians. It's just unrealistic really.
Lensois
12 Jun 2006, 02:32 PM
Go check out the threads in the USA section. Bloody half the people their thought the US was going to take it to the Czechs and the Italians. It's just unrealistic really.
Fair enough, but those people are insane who really don't have a clue as to what they're talking about. The general US football fan had no such delusions.
Pierre-Henri
12 Jun 2006, 02:32 PM
A bit late, but i wanted to praise the high quality showed by Angola vs Portugal. Uncanny, if you consider that most of these men are lower leagues players.
I haven't seen the USA game, but it looked pretty awful.
sl7vk
12 Jun 2006, 02:35 PM
Fair enough, but those people are insane who really don't have a clue as to what they're talking about. The general US football fan had no such delusions.
Agreed, but I wouldn't call you "average" in terms of footballing knowledge. I think that you'll find the average fan does have highly unrealistic expections of USA soccer. With that said, there are cultured fans here that understand the challenges this World Cup presents. But the vast majority think that World Cup progress is empiracle, and if the US made the quarterfinals last time round, the semi's are the next logical step for this WC.
Lensois
12 Jun 2006, 02:39 PM
Agreed, but I wouldn't call you "average" in terms of footballing knowledge. I think that you'll find the average fan does have highly unrealistic expections of USA soccer. With that said, there are cultured fans here that understand the challenges this World Cup presents. But the vast majority think that World Cup progress is empiracle, and if the US made the quarterfinals last time round, the semi's are the next logical step for this WC.
I'll accept the compliment for sure:D but I deal everyday at work with what you would probably call the average fan--perhaps even a bit below average--and I don't know anyone who seriously though the US would challenge. I'm sure everyone is disppointed with the pathetic display today but the hope (far fetched based on today's result) is still just getting to the second round.
Enough with that anyway, the big game is now less than 24 hours away!
sl7vk
12 Jun 2006, 02:57 PM
So true. Ribery starting has me revising my predictions. France 2-1 Suisse.
allezlesbleusno1
12 Jun 2006, 04:35 PM
I'm so anxious for this game to get underway that I don't think I'll be getting any sleep tonight. I guess I'll have sweet dreams of Ribery wreaking havoc all day long on the Swiss defence...well at least hopefully...:D
So true. Ribery starting has me revising my predictions. France 2-1 Suisse.
ilv2
12 Jun 2006, 05:06 PM
Italy 2-0 Ghana.
Wonderful game, both sides attacked well albeit differently, and showed a great deal of promise for the latter stages. Group E should be (based on the first round of matches) the group of death, despite the presence of the US. There's just so much quality between the three other teams. Both Italy and Ghana need to take lessons on finishing from close range though or at least moving it around in the six-yard box.
For US fans if the US team doesn't step it up (A LOT) then they're going out without a single point.