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von Wrangell · Jul 2, 2006, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

I
I do however completely agree that Crouch is a clumsy idiot. He is far to 'lanky' to be a footie player - he virtually trips over his own legs! If thats the best striker we have in the whole of England, then something is terribly wrong...

Who at the moment has the best goals/games ratio in the English set up. And if you think he's clumsy I take it you haven't watched him at all last season or before that.

If he'd the looks of Beckham the English press would give him the respect he deserves. But his talent no one can doubt.

von Wrangell · Jul 2, 2006, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Peter

3) Yes, amazing, stunning player.

5) Lampard blew this series. Christ, he ****ing sucked. SO many goal chances he missed.

He's simply overrated who has been lucky enough to be surrounded by talented players who all play to his skills -> shoot on sight as often as you can. That makes it certain that someone will deflect it in for you one out of 30 times you shoot at goal.

At this level it isn't enough.

voodoo · Jul 2, 2006, 02:42 PM

The English team is overrated.

V

nath · Jul 2, 2006, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by voodoo

The English team is overrated.

V

No chance of Spain ever getting into that position.

lil'babykitten · Jul 2, 2006, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by ambush

Trivia: Caca (the name of a Brazilian player) means poo in French.

And in Arabic.....and Turkish too I think!

voodoo · Jul 2, 2006, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by nath

No chance of Spain ever getting into that position.

We don't expect too much of them, just that they don't make complete asses of themselves.

V

nath · Jul 3, 2006, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by voodoo

We don't expect too much of them

V

That's pretty sensible. Could explain the perpetual underachievement though?

I mean, being English, you can rightly expect jibes about early exits from Argentinian or Brasil fans (or even the French!)

But Spain?

analogika · Jul 3, 2006, 09:53 AM

Everybody sing along now:

"It's going, it's going, football's going home, it's going home, it's going home, it's going, football's going home..."

angelmb · Jul 3, 2006, 10:55 AM

Could explain the perpetual underachievement though?

even the NY Times wonders about it, article before the start of the WC… extract:

SPAIN
In the past half-century, Spain has yet to escape the quarterfinals, and in 1982 the team suffered the madre of all humiliations when, as host of the tournament, they crashed out in the second round. How to explain that a country boasting two of the world's most glamorous clubs — Real Madrid and Barcelona — has never produced a team worthy of its audacious talent?

threestain · Jul 3, 2006, 12:55 PM

oh dear. yet another penalty failure. Why for the love of god? But at least apart from the sending off (which at first glance looked completely accidental, on second look... maybe not quite so innocent, but still I think Ronaldo is finished in this country - time for Fergie to sell him off before a tackle gets the better of him!) it was a very good and close game - well done to England for the hour with 10 men. Not well done for failing to get past Ricardo again!

E's Lil Theorem · Jul 3, 2006, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by angelmb

....How to explain that a country boasting two of the world's most glamorous clubs — Real Madrid and Barcelona — has never produced a team worthy of its audacious talent?
...

Because they import the key/all-star players? Ronaldo and Ronaldhino from Brazil, Beckham from England, for example.

villalobos · Jul 3, 2006, 05:17 PM

Ok here it goes with predictions.

Germany over Italy
France over Portugal

France over Germany.

That's is, i officially jinxed Les Bleus.

mdc · Jul 3, 2006, 09:17 PM

Italy over Germany
France over Portugal

Italy winning it. Here's hoping

Adam Betts · Jul 3, 2006, 10:02 PM

My money's on Germany. Because of fan support and not-so-great refs.

voodoo · Jul 3, 2006, 10:39 PM

Italy wins Germany and Portugal wins France. Portugal then wins Italy.

V

blackstar · Jul 3, 2006, 11:52 PM

i am going for the opposite, with France winning it all against Germany in Berlin!!

analogika · Jul 4, 2006, 03:09 AM

Berlin, Berlin, wir fahren nach Berlin!

Troll · 07:19 AM

ALLEZ LES BLES (for those who've seen the Toyota ad)!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...yota+les+bleus
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...yota+les+bleus

dcmacdaddy · Jul 4, 2006, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by blackstar

i am going for the opposite, with France winning it all against Germany in Berlin!!

Yeah, that's my prediction too. France over Germany by a score of 2-1.

ShortcutToMoncton · Jul 4, 2006, 05:06 PM

Well, Italy's dominated Germany right past normal time, to no effect. I just want Italy out; I just dislike them, for no good reason than their traditional boring soccer.

I'd definitely love to see Zinedane take it all one more time. He deserves it so much.

greg

Peter · Jul 4, 2006, 05:27 PM

!!!!! amazing goal

E's Lil Theorem · Jul 4, 2006, 05:30 PM

Whoa!

Originally Posted by Peter

!!!!! amazing goals

Fixed™!

Jim Paradise · Jul 4, 2006, 05:30 PM

Bah! So much sadness.

Excellent match, though. Congrats, Italy.

Peter · Jul 4, 2006, 05:30 PM

!!!!! amazing goals!

paul w · Jul 4, 2006, 05:34 PM

Oh my god. What an ending.

villalobos · Jul 4, 2006, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by paul w

Oh my god. What an ending.

Indeed. Did not think the Italians would pull that one off. It seems that they are peaking at the right time too.
Not a very exciting game until the overtime.

voodoo · Jul 4, 2006, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by voodoo

Italy wins Germany and Portugal wins France. Portugal then wins Italy.

V

As expected..

V

d4nth3m4n · Jul 4, 2006, 05:41 PM

voodoo, you should start putting money on these.

that was a hell of a game. worth slipping out of work for.

Velocity211 · Jul 4, 2006, 05:49 PM

2 goals in one minute!! WOW, I expected Italy to win anyway.

Sourbook · Jul 4, 2006, 05:49 PM

Italy kicks @ss. On to the finals... Go Portugal

Jawbone54 · Jul 4, 2006, 06:32 PM

Absolutely cannot believe Italy made it to the final. With all of the excitement Germany was building up, I figured they were a lock to win.

Italy's only goal allowed this tournament was an own goal against the U.S.
Unbelievable.

Here's hoping for an Italy/France final, with France pulling out the win. Zidane still lives...

von Wrangell · Jul 4, 2006, 06:49 PM

Some trivia on Italy:

Last team to beat them is Iceland. 2-0.

Which means that if they go on to win this thing (very likely) we Icelanders will always talk about ourselves as the last team to beat the Italians. That's how pathetic our own national team is.

angelmb · Jul 5, 2006, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Italy's only goal allowed this tournament was an own goal against the U.S.
Unbelievable.

Exactly, much like Spain 82 FIFA World Cup… where Italy won the championship.

Jawbone54 · Jul 5, 2006, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

Some trivia on Italy:

Last team to beat them is Iceland. 2-0.

Which means that if they go on to win this thing (very likely) we Icelanders will always talk about ourselves as the last team to beat the Italians. That's how pathetic our own national team is.

We lesser footballing nations will take what we can get

Here in the U.S. we can lay claim to the fact that we held them to a draw with only 9 men on the pitch for most of the second half, own goal or not.

Landos Mustache · Jul 5, 2006, 11:37 AM

The US does not like "football"

"The poll revealed that 56 percent of Americans did not even know that the 2006 World Cup was taking place in Germany"

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...archived=False

Jawbone54 · Jul 5, 2006, 11:46 AM

Yet 11% who were "definitely interested" in the World Cup makes for 30,000,000+ in the U.S. who have taken interest. Some of them might be too busy during the workday (considering that most of the matches have been during working hours) to see the matches live, resulting in a lower rating.

It's true that the national is predominantly fascinated with the "big three" and no more (perhaps hockey), but there is a growing element who love football, mainly in little pockets throught the States.

pman68 · Jul 5, 2006, 11:49 AM

Since France and Italy have already won World Cups, I'm rooting for the Portuguese!!
C'mon Figo!!

ambush · Jul 5, 2006, 12:03 PM

aller les bleus!!!

badidea · Jul 5, 2006, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by pman68

Since France and Italy have already won World Cups, I'm rooting for the Portuguese!!
C'mon Figo!!

seconded!!

voodoo · Jul 5, 2006, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by badidea

seconded!!

Ah the first German post since yesterday. Are you all just waking up after a fantastic drinking binge?!

V

voodoo · Jul 5, 2006, 04:56 PM

%#$""##$$#"#$" french.

V

lil'babykitten · Jul 5, 2006, 05:01 PM

Portugal deserve to be out, they are a bunch of cheats!

Allez Zizou!!

d4nth3m4n · Jul 5, 2006, 05:32 PM

my town's been blowing up for the tournament. tough to get anything done during game time.

screw portugal, i really can't stand C. Ronaldo.

badidea · Jul 5, 2006, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by voodoo

Ah the first German post since yesterday. Are you all just waking up after a fantastic drinking binge?!

V

Nah, not really - I didn't check into MacNN yesterday night after the game (the nights are way to hot and beautiful right now) and today at work I didn't have anything good to say!?!

Well, our team played much better than expected during the whole worldcup and it was a lot of fun to watch them and even the game yesterday was great - Italy was better though!

Too bad that the game France-Portugal was huge boring crap!

I think we should cancel the worldcup now - Italy and France: GO HOME!!!

Landos Mustache · Jul 5, 2006, 05:56 PM

The team I want to win are the ones that make the least ****ing noise and honking on the streets after they win.

In toronto that would be the french or germans.

God help us all if Italy wins.

Mastrap · Jul 5, 2006, 05:59 PM

Thank god for that. I live in Little Portugal and I really don't need another night of idiots racing up and down Dundas with their flags.

Troll · Jul 5, 2006, 07:30 PM

Predictably, Paris is going mental right now. People in the streets, honking their horns, kissing each other. I can't imagine how mad they're going to go if they win on Sunday.

Zidane is a living legend. Pele said he is the best player that has ever been and I think that's probably right if you exclude Pele from the list. That penalty was absolute perfection. Side net, the goalie went the right way and still didn't stand a chance. This is the guy who saved three penalties against England. The Portuguese didn't even seem to want to tackle Zidane when he had the ball - the guy seems to command respect more than any payer I've ever watched live. Even Cristian Ronaldo helped Zizou up after a foul. I don't remember the guy ever saying something bad, ever getting bust with a mistress or doing anything vaguely reprehensible. Such class. I really think we're all lucky to watch a guy like this play and the example he sets for young kids is brilliant (I used to coach football to 6 year old so this is important to me). Lillian Thuram also had an excellent game and deserved the man of the match award.

As for the other side, well I honestly think that FIFA needs to do something about diving starting with making an example of Cristian Ronaldo. He should have been red carded for his dive in the box in the first half. And I saw him dive at least 5 times of which I think he got 2 free kicks. The ref shouldn't be required to deal with that sort of rubbish. A dive should be an automatic yellow. It sets a very bad example for the kids watching and it's just plain cheating. If FIFA wants fair play to be taken seriously, they've got to cut out the type of behaviour that Cristian Ronaldo epitomises. I was neutral for about 10 minutes of the game but once the Portuguese made it clear that they were going to cheat their way through, they lost my sympathy.

villalobos · Jul 5, 2006, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

Predictably, Paris is going mental right now. People in the streets, honking their horns, kissing each other. I can't imagine how mad they're going to go if they win on Sunday.

Zidane is a living legend. Pele said he is the best player that has ever been and I think that's probably right if you exclude Pele from the list. That penalty was absolute perfection. Side net, the goalie went the right way and still didn't stand a chance. This is the guy who saved three penalties against England. The Portuguese didn't even seem to want to tackle Zidane when he had the ball - the guy seems to command respect more than any payer I've ever watched live. Even Cristian Ronaldo helped Zizou up after a foul. I don't remember the guy ever saying something bad, ever getting bust with a mistress or doing anything vaguely reprehensible. Such class. I really think we're all lucky to watch a guy like this play and the example he sets for young kids is brilliant (I used to coach football to 6 year old so this is important to me). Lillian Thuram also had an excellent game and deserved the man of the match award.

As for the other side, well I honestly think that FIFA needs to do something about diving starting with making an example of Cristian Ronaldo. He should have been red carded for his dive in the box in the first half. And I saw him dive at least 5 times of which I think he got 2 free kicks. The ref shouldn't be required to deal with that sort of rubbish. A dive should be an automatic yellow. It sets a very bad example for the kids watching and it's just plain cheating. If FIFA wants fair play to be taken seriously, they've got to cut out the type of behaviour that Cristian Ronaldo epitomises. I was neutral for about 10 minutes of the game but once the Portuguese made it clear that they were going to cheat their way through, they lost my sympathy.

Well said all around. Ronaldo is an embarassment. I am sad to see such talent wasted with such a poor ethic.
Les Bleus will finish their mission to give Zizou another Cup on sunday. It is now just unavoidable.

Velocity211 · Jul 5, 2006, 09:45 PM

Go Italy!

frates · Jul 5, 2006, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

Predictably, Paris is going mental right now. People in the streets, honking their horns, kissing each other. I can't imagine how mad they're going to go if they win on Sunday.

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/0...e-parties-hard

Well, I hope there won't be anyone else on that list on sunday.