OFFICIAL FIFA World Cup 2006 Thread

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by The Goon

Maybe Portugal can meet Italy in the final to see who are the better whiners/divers.

I was thinking the very same thing today. That, for me, would be the worst possible final and not one I would watch tbh.

France vs Germany on the other hand would be very nice..........

[Jagger]

I had to leave before the end of the England match so couldn't comment before.

Owen Hargreaves was simply outstanding. Easily the man of the match. His performance alone deserved a better result. Hopefully this will finally put an end to his uninformed critics. That performace today was one of the best of the entire WC.

Frank Lampard was simply dreadful again. Why on earth he continued to be picked was beyond me? Why wasn't he substituted instead of Joe Cole? He brought absolutely nothing to the team the entire tournament, except numerous missed chances. Why give a hopelessly performing player a PK? I would have bet my mortgage on him missing?

Rooney is an out and out idiot. His temperament was always suspect, and I've never been a fan of Shrek, but this act even shocked me. Sven must also take some of the blame here. Rooney is not a lone striker. Crouch should have been playing from the off as he holds the ball and lays the ball off well. Rooney was obviously going to get frustrated with getting no service. There's simply no excuse for his actions though.

Ronaldo annoys me so much. I cannot stand the play acting from this player. He will be vilified so much in England now he better hope to move to R. Madrid. Manchester United will have a real problem on their hands between him and Rooney if they don't move him. Reading some United forums tells the story. Most of them are utterly disgusted with the play of their player.

Not sure why an Argentine was refereeing an England game in the first place? I cannot see how on earth he could be truly neutral. The ref was probably a young man during the Falklands war so wouldn't you think his attitude towards England might be a little tainted. Not blaming the ref for this result but I thought his choice by FIFA a little odd to say the least.

So glad to see the back of Sven. He was never going to do it for England. His choices were baffling, his tactics non existant, and he shows no passion for the game at all. Trouble is I don't know whether his "yes" man McClaran will be any different. Erikkson made so many errors in selection. Why didn't he take more strikers when he KNEW two of them were injured and one had never even played in the premiership? That for me was simply ludicrous. If England had had a coach of the calibre of Portugal's or Australia's then they may have gone far and played with much more flair.

Surely England have to get shut of some of the old guard now at long last. Lennon showed far more than Beckham in his limited opportunities. Lampard should not play for this team again period. There are far better choices out there.

Anyway, things are as they should be. England have always disappointed in all my years of watching them. Nothing has ever changed. They haven't won anything since the year of my birth. I'll always support them of course but if they ever truly got their act together it would be a major shock.

Go France! Go Germany!

[mrdeeds]

I have yet to see the Rooney blow-up, so I will not comment. Hargreaves looked dominant, I really wish Soccer Canada would have gotten there hooks into him early, he may never have played for England. Still, he plays for a country who does not appreciate him, so I guess it's a wash.

England still had chances to win, but just could not put it away, sad really.

C.Ronaldo should have been booked for simulation more than once IMO. The guys got monster talent, but has to resort to underhanded tactics like that? C'mon. The repeated 'simulation' without sanction continues to be a turn-off to non-soccer fans and fodder for anti-soccer fans alike.

[4X4]

What a blast that was, watching the game in a pub full of frenchies... That was a hell of a game by the french. I can't believe how badly Brazil sucked. They looked like an amatuer team compared to France. France didn't just beat them, they totally dominated them. Well, except for the first 10 minutes or so.

Still hoping for an Italian world cup victory... But France looks pretty tight.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jagger

Not sure why an Argentine was refereeing an England game in the first place? I cannot see how on earth he could be truly neutral. The ref was probably a young man during the Falklands war so wouldn't you think his attitude towards England might be a little tainted. Not blaming the ref for this result but I thought his choice by FIFA a little odd to say the least.

Oh, come on. Argentina and Brazil are arch-enemies in football. England could not have had a better choice for referee if you like conspiracy theories.

[Kybosh]

Lets hope for some clean remaining games with no drama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LacWl...0soccer%20team

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by troutman

Oh, come on. Argentina and Brazil are arch-enemies in football. England could not have had a better choice for referee if you like conspiracy theories.

I'm not saying it was a conspiracy at all, just that it was an odd choice for referee given the history. I'm not even blaming the referee for anything. Rooney's an idiot and England suck at penalty shootouts. Just an observation, that's all.

[Footscray]

Yep if we're ruling out refs from a country with a historical bias against england we would lose 15-20 countries, given that falklands was more recent. My pool choice Brazil is toast now but to echo the sentiment of some other posters what a game by France. Viera and Henry are no where near past it, looks like two great semis coming up.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by Footscray

Yep if we're ruling out refs from a country with a historical bias against england we would lose 15-20 countries, given that falklands was more recent.

LOL! True.....

[Hakan]

How great would a Germany vs. France final be. Now that is an old world rivalry.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by troutman

Are you already sick of the two or three ads that are played OVER AND OVER?

The kids playing soccer with the stars;

The Canadians travelling in Germany that meet the really cool oom-pa-pa band that is in to hip-hop;

Please get a few more sponsors!!!

I can't agree with you more after all this time, I feel like I want to break something everytime I see this.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Hakan

How great would a Germany vs. France final be. Now that is an old world rivalry.

That's what I'm hoping for. I would be watching as a neutral though.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

I can't agree with you more after all this time, I feel like I want to break something everytime I see this.

Don't listen to the real lame song in the background of the kids soccer ad, I'm warning you, don't listen.

[mrdeeds]

Originally Posted by 4X4

What a blast that was, watching the game in a pub full of frenchies... That was a hell of a game by the french. I can't believe how badly Brazil sucked. They looked like an amatuer team compared to France. France didn't just beat them, they totally dominated them. Well, except for the first 10 minutes or so.

So much for Ronaldinho. Guess he should just stick to lap-dancers, being the pneumatic drill that he is.

I really don't like any of the teams left to be honest. The team I hate the least would be Germany.

[sadora]

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060703/1/8izd.html

I'm not sure if many of you saw the little scrum that took place after the Germany vs. Argentina game, I saw both sides of players and coaches arguing and I think I even saw one of the Argentine players punch a German coach.

What started all of this, which wasn't shown of TV, was Torsten Frings punching and Argentine player. Fifa issued a two match suspension, where the second match suspension is subject to a six month probationary period and Frings may be available to play in the Final.

Apparantly there were some pictures that were shown on TV a couple of days ago which sparked Fifa's investigation and current discplinary action. I have been trying to find pictures of this, unsuccesfully, but I will try to post some as soon as I can find any unless someone beats me to it.

[Pagal4321]

FRANCEEEEEEE!

I had to miss that game as I was driving to Radium...but it made my weekend knowing my team actually beat Brazil.....Now I have to downloadt eh game and watch it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by mrdeeds

So much for Ronaldinho. Guess he should just stick to lap-dancers, being the pneumatic drill that he is.

I really don't like any of the teams left to be honest. The team I hate the least would be Germany.

When Ronaldhino lets his hair down, I'd swear I was looking at Donna Summer circa 1979.

[mrdeeds]

Originally Posted by troutman

When Ronaldhino lets his hair down, I'd swear I was looking at Donna Summer circa 1979.

Sorry,I was only 7 back then. I do remember her with the nice afro in The Wiz though

[josef]

Originally Posted by sadora

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060703/1/8izd.html

What started all of this, which wasn't shown of TV, was Torsten Frings punching and Argentine player. Fifa issued a two match suspension, where the second match suspension is subject to a six month probationary period and Frings may be available to play in the Final.

wrong!! an argentinian-substitute started the whole thing (cufre kicked mertesakcer), he even got the red card for it, so it wasn´t frings who started it

[troutman]

FIFA has awarded the World Cup to France. Italy and Portugal have been disqualified for excessive "simulation" and Germany has been disqualified for fielding a team comprised mainly of players born in Poland.