World Cup (of Soccer)-Germany 2006

[Rguess21]

Top eight seeds (in correct political order?, not who's actually best) announced by FIFA.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=351326&cc=5901

The omission of the world's third-ranked team was the biggest surprise at Tuesday's announcement of the seedings for the 2006 tournament. Mexico and Spain were the only teams never to win the World Cup that were picked for the top eight, which also included host Germany, Brazil, England, France, Argentina and Italy.

The United States just missed being one of the top eight.

FIFA based its seedings on results at the last two World Cups and the world rankings of the past three years.

Based on that rule, Brazil topped the standings with 64 points, ahead of England with 51, Spain with 50 and Germany with 48. The fifth-ranked team was Mexico with 47, followed by France with 46. Argentina and Italy tied in seventh with 44 points.

The United States scored 43 points. The Dutch were well back with 38.

The Netherlands, a two-time World Cup runner-up, failed to make the seedings despite being third in the FIFA rankings behind Brazil and the Czech Republic.

:rolleyes:

[Rguess21]

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5154614

World Cup: U.S., Italy, Czechs in tough group

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) - The World Cup draw was kind to defending champion Brazil and host Germany. It really hurt Argentina.

Five-time champion Brazil also faces Australia and Japan in Group F, while Argentina has games against Serbia and Montenegro and the Ivory Coast. Argentina failed to get past the first round in 2002 and this draw means it could struggle again.

GROUPS
Group A
1 Germany 2 Costa Rica
3 Poland 4 Ecuador
Group B
1 England 2 Paraguay
3 Trinidad-Tob. 4 Sweden
Group C
1 Argentina 2 Ivory Coast
3 Serbia-Mont. 4 Netherlands
Group D
1 Mexico 2 Iran
3 Angola 4 Portugal
Group E
1 Italy 2 Ghana
3 United States 4 Czech Rep.
Group F
1 Brazil 2 Croatia
3 Australia 4 Japan
Group G
1 France 2 Switzerland
3 South Korea 4 Togo
Group H
1 Spain 2 Ukraine
3 Tunisia 4 Saudi Arabia

MATCH SCHEDULE

Mon., Jun. 12
ITA vs. GHA Hanover
USA vs. CZE Gelsenkirchen
Sat., Jun. 17
ITA vs. USA Kaiserslautern
GHA vs. CZE Cologne
Thu., Jun. 22
ITA vs. CZE Hamburg
GHA vs. USA Nuremberg
Round of 16
Winner E vs. Runner-up F in Kaiserslautern on Mon., Jun. 26.
Runner-up E vs. Winner F in Dortmund on Tue., Jun. 27.


Elsewhere, Italy's first game will be against newcomer Ghana before meeting the United States and the Czech Republic in a tough group. The Italians, Czechs and Americans also were in the same group in 1990, with Italy and then-Czechoslovakia reaching the second round.

[jillamanda]

Yeah, and look who we play :( . 31 years since the last time we got there and we draw the world champs, widely considered to be unbeatable, I believe. Oh well.....ya can't win 'em all :shrug:

[Rguess21]

It is a tough group but two advance from each group to the single elimination rounds so what you have to look at is what it takes to place second in your group. In the Aussies (ranked #49) case that would be can you upset Croatia who is currently ranked 20th & Japan (#15). Why not, you already knocked off the devine #18 Uraguay. :laugh: The US (#8) has #2 Czechs & #12 Italy, the toughest group along with groups D & F. The weakest group is G followed by H which could set up two blow outs in the first elimination round. Another bad aspect of our draw is the team placing 2nd in our group has to play 1st place in your group in the first elimination round game.

FIFA rankings

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,All-Nov-2005,00.html

Group A 16-21-23-37
Group B 9-30-51-14
Group C 4-41-47-3
Group D 7-19-62-10
Group E 12-50-8-2
Group F 1-20-49-15
Group G 5-36-29-56
Group H 6-40-28-32

[Spaz59]

This world cup will see whether all the unfancied teams teams that did well in the last world cup was a fluke or not.

Group predictions. Bearing in mind this is in Europe

Group A
1. Germany
2. Poland
Group B
1. Sweden
2. England
Group C
GROUP OF DEATH, serbia are better than 47 ranking indicates.
Group D
1. Portugal
2. Whoever CRAP GROUP
Group E.
Another tough group, we get to see what US made of.
Group F
1. Brazil
2. Croatia
Group G
All 4 teams suck in this group. France failed to win in 5 qualifiers.
Group H
1. Tunisia
2. Ukraine

[Rguess21]

Spaz, so your not a big fan of either France nor Mexico? :laugh: Regarding the US chances of advancing, we have to beat out two high ranked European teams in Europe, whereas if you switched the US & England all we would have to do it beat out Paraguay. I agree with most of your picks and would include France, Mexico, Czech, & Spain, but not Portugal or Tunisia.

[Spaz59]

Spaz, so your not a big fan of either France nor Mexico? :laugh: Regarding the US chances of advancing, we have to beat out two high ranked European teams in Europe, whereas if you switched the US & England all we would have to do it beat out Paraguay. I agree with most of your picks and would include France, Mexico, Czech, & Spain, but not Portugal or Tunisia.

Sweden are good too. :confused:

[Rguess21]

Sweden are good too. :confused:
:laugh: Yes, but since two advance from each group you don't have to beat them to advance, do you. :Poke:

[Spaz59]

:laugh: Yes, but since two advance from each group you don't have to beat them to advance, do you. :Poke:

If you want any easier draw you do. ;)

[Rguess21]

Well hell ya I want an easier draw! :laugh: No, but I assumed the US was one of the unfancied teams you were referring to here.
This world cup will see whether all the unfancied teams teams that did well in the last world cup was a fluke or not.
And if so, I was just making the point that you can't just look at who advances & who doesn't due to the disparity in the strength when comparing one group to another. Actually I 'm happy with our grouping because if we do advance it should shut up some of the nay sayers. The biggest drawback to being in our group is one of the two advancing teams draws Brazil the first knockout game. Oh well.

[Spaz59]

Germany 4 USA 1

Man, you must really be missing McBride and Reyna!:nuts:

BTW, Germany suck.

[Rguess21]

Funny, I knew I'd be hearing from you on this one.:laugh: We were missing Claudio Reyna, Eddie Lewis, Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, Eddie Pope, Oguchi Onyewu, DaMarcus Beasley, & Clint Dempsey. Conrad & Berhalter hadn't played back together and damn did it show.

[Spaz59]

Funny, I knew I'd be hearing from you on this one.:laugh: We were missing Claudio Reyna, Eddie Lewis, Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, Eddie Pope, Oguchi Onyewu, DaMarcus Beasley, & Clint Dempsey. Conrad & Berhalter hadn't played back together and damn did it show.

I spy 2 Fulham players and a Man City player.:laugh:

[Rguess21]

Ching, Conrad make U.S. World Cup roster

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5567204

Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, England), Tim Howard (Manchester United, England), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, England), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, Germany), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Eddie Lewis (Leeds United, England), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Bobby Convey (Reading, England), Clint Dempsey (New England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), John O'Brien (Chivas USA), Ben Olsen (D.C. United), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City, England)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City), Brian McBride (Fulham, England), Josh Wolff (Kansas City)

[Rguess21]

WORLD CUP PREVIEW: 32 teams in 32 days

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5566492?GT1=8192

[Rguess21]

Oh shit. :confused:

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5634624

This was not how Team USA wanted to start off its World Cup campaign.

A full-strength American side turned in a horrid performance Tuesday night in Nashville, Tenn., in the first of three "send-off" games prior to the World Cup, losing 1-0 to a Moroccan side that didn't even make the World Cup finals and is ranked some 31 places below the USA by FIFA.

The loss dropped the USA to 4-2-2 on the year and marked their third game in a row without a win. The last game the USA won was back on March 1 in Germany, when Clint Dempsey netted the winner in a 1-0 decision against Poland.
...
After the Germany game, Keller ripped his squad, calling it a "wakeup."

Tuesday night, he used the same phrase again, suggesting that the side was perhaps overconfident. But the performance suggested something else altogether — that this USA side is overhyped and undercooked. If this is what American fans have to look forward to in three weeks, they won't have to watch the tournament too long at all.

[Rguess21]

U.S. national team prepared for the hate

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370304&root=worldcup&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

HAMBURG, Germany -- In the heart of this city's bustling shopping district, where locals and tourists move at a pace only New Yorkers would appreciate, flocks of uniformed Polizei stand amid metal barricades, blocking the cobblestone road in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel. Inside, a metal detector and x-ray machine greet lobby visitors. Beyond that, suit-wearing secret-service-esque officials demand passports and World Cup credentials.

Welcome to life on the road for the U.S. men's soccer team. Here, Kasey Keller, Landon Donovan and the rest of the American team ride in the only World Cup team bus without a flag on its side. Here, streets are closed and traffic rerouted as 20 police vehicles deliver the team bus to and from practice. And here, everyone from team security members to state department officials keep a wary eye on interview sessions.

Yet, this is nothing. Although preparing for the World Cup in an air-tight safety bubble has been a popular topic for international journalists, Team USA can only yawn.

Try playing with chants of "Osama bin Laden! Osama bin Laden!" raining down, the Americans say. Try getting ready for kickoff with uniformed militia guarding the field holding ready-to-fire machine guns. Try scoring a goal with rocks, batteries and bottles flying toward you. And try falling asleep the night before a match while fans drive by your team hotel, honking horns, setting off cherry bombs and blasting music.

A little extra security for the World Cup in Germany? C'mon. Try being a visiting U.S. soccer player in Central America during World Cup qualifying.

"The players [in Europe] deal with a lot of pressure, but I'm not sure they fear for their lives and well-being," midfielder Landon Donovan said. "And we certainly do."

[Rguess21]

Babes of the World Cup

:thumbs:

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/pgStory?contentId=5676192

[Spaz59]

U.S. national team prepared for the hate

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370304&root=worldcup&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

HAMBURG, Germany -- In the heart of this city's bustling shopping district, where locals and tourists move at a pace only New Yorkers would appreciate, flocks of uniformed Polizei stand amid metal barricades, blocking the cobblestone road in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel. Inside, a metal detector and x-ray machine greet lobby visitors. Beyond that, suit-wearing secret-service-esque officials demand passports and World Cup credentials.

Welcome to life on the road for the U.S. men's soccer team. Here, Kasey Keller, Landon Donovan and the rest of the American team ride in the only World Cup team bus without a flag on its side. Here, streets are closed and traffic rerouted as 20 police vehicles deliver the team bus to and from practice. And here, everyone from team security members to state department officials keep a wary eye on interview sessions.

Yet, this is nothing. Although preparing for the World Cup in an air-tight safety bubble has been a popular topic for international journalists, Team USA can only yawn.

Try playing with chants of "Osama bin Laden! Osama bin Laden!" raining down, the Americans say. Try getting ready for kickoff with uniformed militia guarding the field holding ready-to-fire machine guns. Try scoring a goal with rocks, batteries and bottles flying toward you. And try falling asleep the night before a match while fans drive by your team hotel, honking horns, setting off cherry bombs and blasting music.

A little extra security for the World Cup in Germany? C'mon. Try being a visiting U.S. soccer player in Central America during World Cup qualifying.

"The players [in Europe] deal with a lot of pressure, but I'm not sure they fear for their lives and well-being," midfielder Landon Donovan said. "And we certainly do."

What a bunch of drama queens.

Team US 0 Czech Republic 3

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[jillamanda]

Japan 0 - Oz 3 :)

[Rguess21]

Team US 0 Czech Republic 3

Bad part is the game wasn't even as close as the score would indicate. :( But that was a lot of laughing coming from the only team in the history of the World Cup to win a game without even scoring a goal.:laugh:

And Jilly, it was 1-3 Oz.:beer: When they scored those 3 goals in 8 minutes I decided that cheer Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oy must translate goal goal goal. Good showing. The US still has yet to win a World Cup game on European soil.

[jillamanda]

The US still has yet to win a World Cup game on European soil.

Yeah, but this is probably the first time we've ever beaten the Japs at anything without help from the US.;)

[Spaz59]

I'm currently laughing at Peter Crouch's attempt to immitate a striker.

[DMS]

is he still doing the robot?:scary:

[Spaz59]

is he still doing the robot?:scary:


The Drunken Giraffe.

[RicardoHead]

Okay people, advice needed. Since my current squeeze is an italian chick, do I root for the USA tomorrow or act like I want Italy to win? This is a serious dilemma because she likes soccer, and I like gettin' it with her, but I love my country too.

What Would Jesus Do?

[Rguess21]

What Would Jesus Do?

If he saw our first game, he'd play for Italy.

USA +725
ITALY -250
Draw +310

[Spaz59]

So far so expected.

Germany
Ecuador
Agrentina whipped S+M
Holland
oh and England
Through to the last 16.:cool:

[Rguess21]

Oh well, it's the thought that counts in the beautiful game. :laugh:

http://www.fifa.com/en/index.html

[RicardoHead]

So far so expected.

Germany
Ecuador
Agrentina whipped S+M
Holland
oh and England
Through to the last 16.:cool:Such a boringly predictable game. Whooodah thunk a brit would be proud to put England on par with Equador?

[jillamanda]

Croatia 2 - Socceroos 2

YAAAAAY, we're into the round of sixteen!!!! Mind you, we've got nine Croations in the team....:thumbsup:

[DMS]

ahhh thats Hiddink for ya

[DMS]

world cup fanatics (http://www.funpic.hu/funblog/fanatics/fanatics.html) and stuff

[Rguess21]

Put your Bresslerbucks where your mouth is. Betting now open on the World Cup. Some big odds yielding some big payoffs, er payouts.

http://bressler.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13540

[RicardoHead]

Slideshow of the soccer babes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pezmundial/sets/72157594166044365/show/). (most important part)

Suppose if they ever had a World Cup here in the USA that the morality police would shut down the fun???

[Spaz59]

Slideshow of the soccer babes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pezmundial/sets/72157594166044365/show/). (most important part)

Suppose if they ever had a World Cup here in the USA that the morality police would shut down the fun???

Like in 94?:whip:

[Rguess21]

Ya, soccer's big here.:beerchug:

[Rguess21]

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/6/24/lifeliving/14638990&sec=lifeliving

Weird World Cup

Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi called Fifa a corrupt “slave market” as it allowed only rich nations to host the event and then sold pricey broadcast rights that prevented many poor people from even watching the games on TV. Yes, what would Malaysians do if we didn’t have wealthy corporate sponsors for the live broadcasts?

In Cambodia, Non Nget, the Buddhist patriach of Phnom Penh, allowed the country’s 40,000 monks to watch the World Cup in silence and solemnity. No cheering, screaming and certainly no betting allowed.

In Mogadishu, Somalia, the newly set-up hard line Islamic courts shut down cinema halls and BANNED residents from even watching the matches. Scores protested and two people were killed.

[RicardoHead]

newly set-up hard line Islamic courts shut down cinema halls and BANNED residents from even watching the matches. Scores protested and two people were killed.
Whoaaaaaaaaaaa, didn't see that one coming! :scary:

[Rguess21]

Australia just got f***ed out of the World Cup which isn't all that suprising since they were playing a European team. A penalty kick was awarded to Italy in the 93rd minute when the Italian took a dive. What a beautiful game! :( Fair play my ass.:fbomb: And speaking of refs......

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5730024

Soccer's top official joins criticism of referees

BERLIN (AP) - The record stream of yellow and red cards in the World Cup has soccer's highest official issuing his own caution - to the referees.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized Valentin Ivanov's handling of Portugal's 1-0 second-round win over the Netherlands, when the Russian referee handed out a record-tying 16 yellow cards and an unprecedented four reds.

In a frank assessment to a Portuguese TV station, Blatter said Ivanov was not up to the level of the players.

"I think there could have been a yellow card for the referee," Blatter said.

There were 23 red and 291 yellow cards handed out in the first 52 matches at Germany 2006, surpassing marks in any previous World Cup. And there's still 12 matches remaining.

[Sideout]

Australia just got f***ed out of the World Cup which isn't all that suprising since they were playing a European team. A penalty kick was awarded to Italy in the 93rd minute when the Italian took a dive. What a beautiful game! :( Fair play my ass.:fbomb: And speaking of refs......


C'mon Rguess...they had a man advantage for half the match...how much more help do they need? :Poke:

[RicardoHead]

"When in Rome ...." ... sounds to me like the refs are just being good little germans.

"Zee rrrroooles ist zee rrrroooles, ja? JA! Jawohl! Ja."

[Rguess21]

C'mon Rguess...they had a man advantage for half the match...how much more help do they need? :Poke:

No they didn't. The ref was on the field the entire second half so it was 11 v 11.:laugh: Honestly, to call a pk on the last play of extra time when the guy ran over the Aussie who was lying on the ground & made no effort to trip him. The call should have been a yellow card for the Italian taking a dive with the game going to the 30 minute extra time. I just thought the Portugal/Holland game was ref'd bad till I saw this ref hand the game to italy.:nolike: Really, it is just typical world cup bs.

[Sideout]

:laugh: :laugh:

I do have to agree though - in any sport, in the playoffs, calling a penalty that could decide the outcome is bad form...unless they actually like kill someone...and then maybe....maybe :cool:

[Rguess21]

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, foul, foul, foul

Italy beats Australia on late penalty kick
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5731350


KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AP) - In a World Cup increasingly influenced by referees, a questionable penalty sent Italy into the quarterfinals over surprisingly stout Australia with a 1-0 victory Monday.

The Aussies played even with the favored Italians, carrying a scoreless tie into the third minute of added time.

But with 12 seconds left, Lucas Neill was called for fouling Fabio Grosso - a judgment that first had the Socceroos howling in protest, then shaking their heads in bitter defeat.

Grosso was dribbling a few strides from the goalmouth when Neill slid in front of him. The Italian cut in Neill's direction and tried to leap clear, but tripped over the defender's back.:shrug:


THAT'S A FOUL, YOU CANNOT LET SOMEBODY TRIP OVER YOUR BACK. EVEN IF THEY DO IT ON PURPOSE HOPING TO GET A CALL ON THE LAST PLAY OF REGULATION TIME.:nuts: Now I'm pulling for any team outside of europe to win. Hey Jilly, ain't it great to make the World Cup?

[RicardoHead]

What is the ref's national origin?

[Spaz59]

Sigh. Moaning Aussies.:rolleyes:

You go 90 minutes without scoring and then complain when your arse gets kicked out.

Whether it was a penalty or not is irrelevant. Defeat just or not, is still just defeat.

[jillamanda]

:shrug: I don't know anything about the game, but it looked to me like the Italian guy tripped over the Aussie.

Anyway, great effort by the Aussies to get as far as they did. Well done:thumbsup:

[jillamanda]

:nolike: Really, it is just typical world cup bs.

Sorta like the America's Cup? ;)

[RicardoHead]

I think the only people who care about the America's cup are all down under. Dennis Conner is a dick, anyway, and deserved to lose.

[Rguess21]

What is the ref's national origin?
Spain

[RicardoHead]

Spain
Euro-homo-trash

[Rguess21]

:rolleyes: Whether it was a penalty or not is irrelevant.
That's odd, then exactly why do they have refs in soccer. :confused: :sure: :nolike:

So your happy with the ref's?:laugh: You like to see the outcome of "football" games decided by who has the best actors rather than the best players.:Poke: Even FIFA has started to turn away from backing the refs, but maybe the word hasn't reached England yet.:rolleyes: The game, as it is now, lacks crediblity when the outcomes are this dependant on who fools the official rather than which is the best team. :cry: Awh ta hell with it, let's play some real football, NFL or AFL style.:beer: This isn't a sporting event, it's a clusterf*ck.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5730218
Throwing cautions to the wind

BERLIN (AP) - Another match, another red card, another refereeing controversy.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized Ivanov's handling in a frank assessment to a Portuguese TV station.

"I think there could have been a yellow card for the referee," Blatter said.

Portugal captain Luis Figo was lucky to escape ejection, getting a yellow card for a skirmish with Mark van Bommel when TV replays clearly showed him head-butting the Dutch player in the 58th minute - a red card offense.

FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said Monday that the disciplinary committee would not review the incident because Ivanov had taken action, on the field, on advice from his linesman.

Figo "was sanctioned immediately by the referee," he said. "The referee's report came in last night and is being analyzed by the relevant people. But it is very unlikely anything will happen as he has been sanctioned already on the spot."

Siegler refused to expand on Blatter's stinging criticism of Ivanov's performance, saying - in German - "you might have seen the FIFA president made a comment. There is nothing more to add."

Ivanov set the tone with some early cautions for incidents that would have been overlooked in most league competitions.

And once Portugal scored the only goal in the 23rd-minute winner from Maniche, Ivanov struggled to deal with mounting tension and the loss of sportsmanship on both sides.

"This was a game of emotion, with exceptional drama in the last instant, with a deserved winner," Blatter said. "But it was a great show with intervention by the referee that was not consistent, and had a lack of fair play by some players."

The FIFA referees committee will meet Wednesday to decide which officials stay after the second round. Already they're likely to be without experienced English referee Graham Poll, who issued three yellow cards to the same Croatia player - two yellow cards should immediately be followed by a red. That technical error could have resulted in a first-round match with Australia being replayed.

[Spaz59]

That's odd, then exactly why do they have refs in soccer. :confused: :sure: :nolike:

So your happy with the ref's?:laugh: You like to see the outcome of "football" games decided by who has the best actors rather than the best players.:Poke: Even FIFA has started to turn away from backing the refs, but maybe the word hasn't reached England yet.:rolleyes: The game, as it is now, lacks crediblity when the outcomes are this dependant on who fools the official rather than which is the best team.



I said it doesn't matter once the game has finished. :idiot:

Most of the problems with refereeing come directly from FIFA, it's their guidelines which have directly led to the increased amount of cards.

I suppose it lacks credibility when it's your team losing. The fact remains that Australia won 1 game out of 4 and deserved to go out.

[DMS]

Stop the Russian ref: Valentin Ivanov
Stop the ressian referee... Especially after the World Championship Match:
Portugal VS. Netherlands.. and
France VS Swiss...

Have you ever seen 20 yellow cards in one match (4 people double)
I've never seen it.. It wasn't even a game.. it was a fight.
Please Stop this ref. He never may whistle a match again..
Just because he can't. http://www.valentinivanov.com/



http://ivanov.ytmnd.com/

[Rguess21]

Sigh. Moaning Aussies.:rolleyes:

You go 90 minutes without scoring and then complain when your arse gets kicked out.

Whether it was a penalty or not is irrelevant. Defeat just or not, is still just defeat.
Actually here's what you said, rather than what you meant.:rolleyes: :idiot: :laugh:

And I agree with part of the ref problem being FIFA's directive to call the games tighter, but also their resistance to try other options such as tandem ref crews, microchips in balls, and limited instant replay.

And no, it doesn't just lack credibility when my team loses. I wasn't pulling for the Aussies against Italy. I was really pissed off that I watched an excellent game for 92 minutes & 55 seconds just to have it all nullified by theatrics on the part of an Itailan who apparently felt he had a better chance to buy a call than he did to actually score. And obviously he was right. It doesn't matter what Australia's nor Italy's record was coming into this game, what matters was which was the best IN that game. And that we still don't know, nor will we ever.

Hey if all the soccer fans worldwide feel like this is the beautiful game when it's played this way, why not change the name to reflect what actually matters most. THE CONTRIVED WORLD CUP OF DIVING.:Boobies:

[Rguess21]

It should have been three. The last paragraph was the game I was bitching about.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=372819&cc=5901

FIFA gives two refs 'red cards' for officiating gaffes

BERLIN (AP) -- Senior English and Russian referees were cut from the World Cup roster Wednesday after their controversial handling of previous matches.

Premier League referee Graham Poll, who issued three yellow cards to one player in a match, and Valentin Ivanov, who handed out a record number of cautions and ejections in the Portugal-Netherlands second-round match, were omitted from officials selected for the quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

FIFA's referees commission released a list of 12 teams of officials Wednesday shortly after FIFA president Sepp Blatter made more critical comments about the standard of officiating at the tournament.

"In the same way that our members send their best teams, FIFA owes it to itself, in its own flagship competition, to send out the best referees," Blatter said on FIFA's Web site www.fifa.com. "Hundreds of millions of players and referees around the world are watching what happens in Germany, with the desire to improve themselves and understand how the game is changing.

"Instead, I've noted that instructions aren't being followed consistently from one match to another. There are the tackles from behind I've seen go unpunished and the violent conduct that has escaped sanction, not to mention the serious errors made in applying the rules." German referee Markus Merk, criticized for being too whistle happy in a first-round match between defending champion Brazil and Australia, was one of six European referees retained.

Luis Medina, who awarded a debatable penalty kick to Italy in the last seconds of its 1-0 second-round match against Australia, also made the list and will officiate Brazil's quarterfinal against France.

[RicardoHead]

Soccer is such a limp-wrist sport. No wonder the euros love it so much.

[DMS]

http://www.regiowebtv.net/video/2/913/vandaag_is_rood_de_kleur.html <-- link to all the yelllow/red cards in Holland-Portugal :fbomb:

[RicardoHead]

http://www.regiowebtv.net/video/2/913/vandaag_is_rood_de_kleur.html <-- link to all the yelllow/red cards in Holland-Portugal :fbomb:
Thought I'd share the following skype chat I had with a dutch co-worker. :laugh:

Names are changed to protect the innocent...
2006-06-25
Wally: fucking Portugese
Ricardo Head: did they win? :laugh:
Wally: fuck the fucking portugese fuckers
Wally: and fuck the fucking referee
Ricardo Head: well, at least you didnt get beat by Ghana! :laugh: fucking ghana!
Wally: go to bed now tomorrow in 6 hours meeting with our new fucking CEO
Wally: hope he enjoys football too
Ricardo Head: Oh shit, have fun. he is a barrel of laughs
Wally: ciao
Ricardo Head: later

[Rguess21]

http://www.regiowebtv.net/video/2/913/vandaag_is_rood_de_kleur.html <-- link to all the yelllow/red cards in Holland-Portugal :fbomb:

Thanks DMS, I've been trying to find a link so I could show a friend the no-call on that Holland defender getting cleated in the upper arm & shoulder (about 30 seconds into the video).

[DMS]

yeah wtf was up with that!? btw the song is about red being the color of love...

[Rguess21]

If only the two balls Rooney kicked in counted in the penalty kicks.

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060701/1/8h6y.html

ENGLAND 0-0 a.e.t 1-3 PSO PORTUGAL

[Spaz59]

And so another campaign ends on penaltys.

Ah, well.

Though now our "golden generation" is turning into the "geriatric generation" we'll look back on these mediocre performances with fondness.

We weren't good enough. However Portugal were shite and will not win unless they improve 100%.

I'm torn between France and Germany.

This is the fourth time in 10 years I've seen England go out on penalties.

Yet our media acts surprised.

[RicardoHead]

I suppose it lacks credibility when it's your team losing. The fact remains that Australia won 1 game out of 4 and deserved to go out.
Seems England got what it deserved too. :laugh:





Oh yeah, the officiating lacks credibility when it's your team LOST. How could I forget.

[Spaz59]

Seems England got what it deserved too. :laugh:





Oh yeah, the officiating lacks credibility when it's your team LOST. How could I forget.

England got more than they deserved. Almost any other group and they would have struggled to make the 2nd Round.

Group B was full of shite teams.

[Rguess21]

Spaz, what's your take on this. Did the Italian coach play 4 forwards the 2nd OT to try and win the game in OT, or was he just getting his best shooters on the field for the pk shootout? I thought he was setting up the pk since Italy hadn't ever won one in World Cup competetion. Brillant move if it was the former in my humble opinion. Either way I prefer offensive style soccer over the defensive shell game, and the shell game is why soccer will never be big in the US. Why are most game defensive rather than offensive?

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5758572
Italy goes for attack to avoid pk anguish

Coach Marcello Lippi had four forwards on the field in the final minutes of the Tuesday's 2-0 extra-time win over Germany in the World Cup semifinals.

Playmaker Francesco Totti was joined by substitutes Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero.

"We know our defense is solid, and our goalkeeper is pretty good too, so we decided to attack," Lippi said. "We relied on our skill."

It paid off.

Iaquinta came on for midfielder Mauro Camoranesi to start the first period of extra time and Gilardino hit the post seconds later. A minute later, defender Gianluca Zambrotta sent a searing drive off the crossbar.

Del Piero replaced Simone Perrotta in the 104th minute and his corner kick led to Italy's first goal by Fabio Grosso in the 119th.

Del Piero scored Italy's second goal himself, his 27th in 78 appearances, tying him with Roberto Baggio for fourth place on the Azzurri's all-time list.

[Spaz59]

A lot of games that are viewed as being defensive are not defensive because the teams set out to defend, it's more the case of two well organised teams cancelling each other out. One team attacks, but they know if they lose the ball there will be a swift counter attack by the other team.

This forces teams to be more cautious.

I think Italy were genuinely going for the win as only a fool would try to take Germany on in penalties. It came as no surprise that the only English player to score a penalty plies his trade in Germany.:o

[Rguess21]

One team attacks, but they know if they lose the ball there will be a swift counter attack by the other team.

This forces teams to be more cautious.

That's why the vast majority of World Cup games are defensive. If both sides opened it up and showed some balls like Italy did at the end of the Germany game it would be alot more entertaining.

[Rguess21]

That's what I'm talking about.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13631819/site/newsweek/

Ban the World Cup Flop
We can all keep pretending soccer remains 'the beautiful game.' Or, instead, take some steps to try and make it that again.

June 30, 2006 - I am a flop and, in keeping with the spirit of our times, blame my predicament entirely on the flops of others. Let me explain. For the past couple of decades, I have postured as a true soccer man, or actually as a “football” man to project a continental flair. I have pretended to be so well versed in the game, so comfortable with all its nuances, downright European in my appreciation of its history, its ritual and its realities. At least in my mind, I am Old World. I practically have to put down my boccie ball before I stroll down the cobblestone street to the café to watch the match.

But the 2006 World Cup has drummed home one painful truth: in the end, I am fundamentally New World when it comes to soccer, impatient with the idiocies of the FIFA establishment for foisting a spoiled game upon us in this, the sport’s greatest showcase. Under the guise of tradition, they perpetuate a fraud. Unable to police the game with old methods, disdainful of new technologies, they have assured that the beautiful game is myth; the reality is a succession of dives, flops and other divalike performances that no one man—certainly no referee I’ve seen work this tournament—can sort out with any accuracy.

What you end up with is a succession of ruinous mistakes by referees that produce games that might as well be decided on a whim, which some pretty much are. I could name dozens of blunders, but I’ll stick to just the last few games. Fabio Grosso executes a classic Italian flop in the final seconds that, with official blessing, sends the Azzurri on to the quarters and the gutsy ’Roos home down under. There’s a missed offsides against Adriano on a Brazilian goal that stifled Ghana’s game comeback attempt. And my absolute favorite player, Thierry Henry, fakes taking an elbow to the face, going down as if he had taken a bullet instead: the result is a French free kick, which produces the decisive second goal against Spain.

FIFA obviously recognizes that the modern game has its problems. Before this World Cup the governing body of international soccer instructed officials to get tough on tackles from behind, tugs on the shirt and stalling tactics—all good notions. They hoped to help give the game back its flow and natural grace. In the first few matches the plan was successful before overzealous refs turned good intentions into farce. They called absolutely everything—though somehow they missed a head butt by Portugal’s Luis Figo in the middle of the field—and were right about as often as they were wrong. But the wrongs have too often proved to be the turning points in games.

I am sick of hearing announcers saying of fouls, “he sold it beautifully,” as if feigned victimization is Pele-like talent. I am sick to death of the prevailing attitude that flow is the be-all and end-all when an honest game should be the ultimate concern. There are many innovations that could help protect the integrity of the game—against both human error and, worse, scandalous deceit. Here are just a few notions:

[Rguess21]

And to end the Cup that will be remembered for it's cards here's a 16 second video of the final red card in the beatiful game of fair play.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc

[Rguess21]

Don't know anything about soccer? Don't feel bad because neither does CBS. Guess it's a good thing that network wasn't the one covering it. Here's how they posted the final score instead of ITALY 1-1 FRANCE a.e.t 5-3 PSO.

http://sportsline.com/worldcup/gamecenter/recap/WCS_20060709_ITA@FRA

http://sportsline.com/worldcup/gamecenter/live/WCS_20060709_ITA@FRA

Italy France
6 4 :nuts:

[Rguess21]

Yo mama

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5778880?FSO1&ATT=HMA

Zidane apologizes for headbutt

French soccer star Zinedine Zidane apologized for head-butting an Italian opponent during the World Cup final, saying Wednesday that he was provoked by insults about his mother and sister.

"I apologize to all the children" who watched the match Sunday, Zidane said in his first comments about the act of violence that marked the end of his career.

Zidane did not specify exactly what Italian defender Marco Materazzi said that enraged him, but that it was insulting to his sister and mother.

[Rguess21]

First FIFA revised rankings using a 4 yr base, etc released. USA 16th, Mexico 18th :laugh:

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,All-Jul-2006,00.html

Rank Team Pts:
Jul 06 +/-Rank May 06 +/-Pts:May 06
1 Brazil 1630 0 803
2 Italy 1550 11 822
3 Argentina 1472 6 726
4 France 1462 4 713
5 England 1434 5 693
6 Netherlands 1322 -3 554
7 Spain 1309 -2 553
8 Portugal 1301 -1 551
9 Germany 1229 10 533
10 Czech Republic 1223 -8 451
11 Nigeria 1149 0 413
12 Cameroon 1109 3 387
13 Switzerland 1028 22 380
14 Uruguay 985 8 296
15 Ukraine 961 30 352
16 USA 933 -11 177

[Spaz59]

Look at that crap team in 5th.

Seems they've replaced one overrated bunch of no hopers with another one.:laugh:

[RicardoHead]

Why isn't ghana on the list? They kicked our ass.

[Rguess21]

Spaz-hopefully they'll get this rating where it will be close to reality.:nuts:

RH-Ghana was 48th, they moved up to 25th. And they didn't kick our ass, it was 2-1 on a questionable penalty kick, but they did win. Now the Czechs, they kicked our asses; beat us like a red headed stepchild, a rented mule, slapped us into yesterday, rode us hard & put us up wet, etc.:cry:

The New FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking

Since its introduction in August 1993, the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking has become a regular part of international sports reports and an important indicator for FIFA's member associations to find out where their respective teams stand in world football’s pecking order and how they are progressing.
Nevertheless, the increasingly high profile of the world ranking has also brought a certain amount of criticism that its calculation formula is too complicated. It was therefore decided in 2005 to revise the ranking in order to simplify the way in which it is calculated.
A multinational group comprising FIFA staff and external experts was subsequently formed to find a new procedure for drawing up the world ranking. Extensive tests and assessments were then carried out, which - following a number of presentations - reached their conclusion at the end of 2005.

Transparency and simplicity - the key principles guiding the revision - have been combined with sporting criteria (i.e. the reality of world football) and statistical requirements to establish the new and simplified method of calculation that the FIFA Executive Committee ratified at its meeting in Leipzig, Germany, on 7 December 2005.

The most important change to the calculation of the ranking is that it will no longer take into account the last eight years of results but only four. At the same time, all of the other factors previously taking into account (result, importance of match, strength of opponents, regional strength, number of matches considered) were tested, analysed and, in some cases, totally revised. In fact, two of the factors that were previously used (goals scored and home advantage) will no longer have any impact on the ranking.

The new method will be applied immediately after the FIFA World Cup™, namely, when the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking appears on 12 July 2006.

Next year, the official FIFA website, FIFA.com, will offer an online tool that will make it possible to carry out hypothetical calculations for your team.



COMPARISON OF BASIC CALCULATION CRITERIA
Revised world ranking----Existing world ranking
Matches All international "A" matches----All international "A" matches
Result: Win-Draw-Defeat 3 points -1 points – 0 points----Complex points allocation
Importance of match 1 (friendly match) to 4 (FIFA World Cup™) ----
1 (friendly match) to 2 (FIFA World Cup™)
Strength of opponent Position in world ranking (no. 1 = 2.00, no. 30 = 1.70, no. 118 = 0.82 etc.)
Formula: [200 - Position] / 100 ----Complex calculation based on difference in strength of teams
Regional strength Based on results in last three FIFA World Cups (wins per confederation per match) ----Complex calculation based on all inter-continental matches played in the previous 12 months
Period Last four years, gradual decline in importance of results: 100%- 50% - 30% - 20% ----Last 8 years with linear importance of results
Number of matches considered per year Average points gained from all matches in last 12 months (minimum: 5 matches) ----Complex calculation (average between best 7 matches and all matches)
Number of goals-**---- Points value from the difference between goals for and goals against
Home and away matches -**---- 3-point bonus for away team

[RicardoHead]

Full text of the infamous headbutt (http://materazzisays.customer.ipower.be/?id=11834).

[Rguess21]

Arena out as U.S. coach after eight years

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5784610?FSO1&ATT=HMA

NEW YORK (AP) - Bruce Arena is out as coach of the United States men's soccer team less than three weeks after the Americans' first-round exit from the World Cup.

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said Friday that Arena's contract would not be renewed when it runs out at the end of the year. A search for a replacement will begin immediately, Gulati said, adding that no potential candidates have been contacted.

"Bruce expressed a desire to continue. I'm sure he'll have opportunities. He had a great opportunity before the World Cup, but he didn't want to be distracted," said Gulati, who didn't specify what opportunity Arena had.

"No doubt there will be multiple opportunities in the soccer world in the U.S. and outside if he wants them."

Arena, who coached the U.S. for eight years, leaves as the most successful coach in the history of the national team, having won more than twice as many games (71) as any of his predecessors.

He guided the United States to two CONCACAF Gold Cup titles and two straight appearances in the World Cup. But the latest trip to soccer's biggest tournament was a disappointment, with the United States being eliminated following a 2-1 loss to Ghana in the first round in Germany.

"Eight years is a long period," Gulati said. "I'm not saying we need to change direction, the direction Bruce set is very positive. But having a fresh approach, after eight years, which is a very long time, is the strongest factor."

[Spaz59]

And so another campaign ends on penaltys.

Ah, well.

Though now our "golden generation" is turning into the "geriatric generation" we'll look back on these mediocre performances with fondness.




Looks back fondly to a time when England qualified for major tournaments.