OFFICIAL FIFA World Cup 2006 Thread

[mrdeeds]

Originally Posted by Neeper

This tournament is so damned exciting!

Except for continued 'simulation' (gotta love that word) and some questionable refereeing (ie penalty kick awarded for Italian player falling over an Aussie) I think it has been good. Gotta say though, I am not a fan of a shootout to determine tournament victories in any sport.

Spain's out for me, so I'm going with Hargreaves and the England team.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by fotze

To my barely soccer educated eyes, Hargreaves looks like the best player out there whereas Lampard has now been renamed Billy Useless by me. Of couse right after I post he gets a good shot away.

You're right Hargreaves is the best England player out there by far. Whereas Figo is the best player out there imo.

Fat Frank should be dropped. He's being utterly useless. Wonder what he's got on Sven?

[Footscray]

Oh wow - the jughead gets a red card and England down to 10 men.

[octothorp]

I didn't see the red card, can someone explain to me what happened? For England being down a man, the play of the game has looked surprisingly balanced.

[Footscray]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I didn't see the red card, can someone explain to me what happened? For England being down a man, the play of the game has looked surprisingly balanced.

Rooney knocked somebody over and stepped on him, almost definately accidental but then Ronaldo tried to say something to the ref and Rooney shoved him while adding some typical Rooney words of wisdom involving the F bomb. Red card ensued.

[Jagger]

Methinks Man U are going to have fun now with Rooney and Ronaldo. that will be an interesting situation to say the least.

[atb]

Man how can Lampard and Gerrard both miss penalties?

After playing that entire time with 10 men you would have thought England could have taken it in the penalties.

[octothorp]

Too bad for England, but Portugal is just more skilled when it comes to individual players.

[Footscray]

Ouch, what a hard way to lose for England. Amazing PKs for both goalies.

[cheung31]

unbelievable, they played the extra time with more heart than the entire regulation period. all in an attempt to force PKs, and to lose like this.

CANNOT believe Lampard, the opportunities he's had throughout the tourney, and to still not be able to find net in penalties. Gerrard too, can't believe he couldn't score.

At least Hargreaves was a bright spot. Made that game saving stop on Ronaldo's run doing the splits, and was just all over the pitch.

[atb]

Originally Posted by cheung31

At least Hargreaves was a bright spot. Made that game saving stop on Ronaldo's run doing the splits, and was just all over the pitch.

Yeah, I never was impressed with Hargreaves until the last two games, especially today. He was by far the best English player on the pitch.

[KevanGuy]

Unfriggin believable. Just...unreal. I dont even know what to say. Rooney that god damn hot head, young or not, HAS to be smarter then that. What a STUPID risk to take. And Lampard, for gods sake, disgusting. And how does Cole get subbed again? Argg....I dont know...I just cant believe it.

[Cheese]

Forca Portugal!!!!

[VANFLAMESFAN]

PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's truly a shame that someone has to lose in a game like that, a game that was so tight, a gam that was bloody tense. Unreal drama in that game and Ricardo is my new hero and this is coming from a guy that absolutely hates the guy.

FORCA PORTUGAL!!!!

[octothorp]

Brazil looks so mediocre today... not a single shot on goal through 85 minutes. Fantastic job by France's defense.

[troutman]

After just spending two weeks in France, all I Can say is Vive Les Bleus!

[sadora]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Brazil looks so mediocre today... not a single shot on goal through 85 minutes. Fantastic job by France's defense.

Well, as a Brasil fan it pains to say this but they were more than mediocre today, they were pretty awful to be quite honest. Their game picked up after Thiery's goal and after the first substitution which IMO came about 45 minutes too late. Cafu, Kaka, and Junihno should have been substituted a lot earlier and Robinho should have started this game. Not that it would have made much of a difference but who knows. I think this is the last time that Parreira coaches a Brasilian national side and I'm sure that the Brasilian media and Football Association will be sorry for ever critizing Luiz Felipe Scolari.

I'm glad that Portugal beat England so hopefully there will be a first time World Cup Winner this year...Forca Portugal!!!

[Winsor_Pilates]

Too bad for England, but it's a predictable same old story. They had a good squad this year, but lack a game breaking world class star who can take control of a game. Without that guy, they will never win.

Rooney is an idiot. At first I was shocked by the call, but after seeing many replays I'm pretty sure the card was for his kick to the balls of the portugese player on the ground and not for his shove on the little baby. When watching the right replay you can clearly see that he intentionally kicks his foot backwards right into the guys baby maker and fully deserved a red for that.

I agree with many here that Hargreaves was the best Englishmen on the pitch, and that says a lot about the rest of them too.

Glad Sven's era is over. He's a terrible manager who plays a stupid, boring system that clearly does not work. Hopefully England will get some chemistry with a new manager and play a better all around game.

Methinks Man U are going to have fun now with Rooney and Ronaldo. that will be an interesting situation to say the least.

There's a good chance that Ronaldo won't be going back to Man U anyway. Rumour is he's bound for Madrid.

Glad to see the French win. Zidane had an amazing game. What a treat it is to watch that guy when he's on his stride. Henry came through as well, just like he does for Arsenal. I think the big players were the difference in that one. Brazil's leaders just didn't show up.
I'll be cheering for the French from this point on, can't stand the thought of Italy or Portugal winning.

Vive la France!!

[Hakan]

Rooney is like the Bertuzzi of soccer. What a goon. Oh well, goodbye, you stunk.

Not really anyone great to cheer for here on in. I guess I'll be rooting for Portugal.

[The Goon]

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