*World Cup Game Discussion Thread* (SPOILERS)

[3ric]

Originally Posted by cartman

Yeah the first one was pretty clear, but since the ball wasn't played to him, I think that is why it wasn't called.

Yeah, he was sufficiently removed from the action to be eligible even if straying offside.

[ISiddiqui]

2nd Yellow to Ghana (diving), they've played wonderfully today. It just wasn't enough.

[ISiddiqui]

And you can reasonably say there that the loser outplayed the winner. Brazil just were able to capitalize on their flashes of brilliance.

[FrogMan]

just read this tidbit on the BBC live update page for the France-Spain game on BBC and found it pretty hilarious, in the match build-up notes:

PRE-MATCH BUILD-UP

1944 BST: There might be something in this star sign stuff. In an earlier trans-Pyrennean encounter at Wimbledon today, France's Arnaud Clement (Sagittarius) beat Spaniard Albert Portas (Scorpio).
1941 BST: France coach Raymond Domenech has a few weird whims as well. He's yet to name the same side twice in succession and does not trust players born under the zodiac sign of the Scorpio. There are no Scorpios in either squad.
1938 BST: In an era of mod-cons and fancy helpful tactical equipment, Spain's Luis Aragones is very much from the old-school of coaching. His squad have done no video analysis of rivals in Germany. "It's simply due to the fact that my players end up falling asleep with their mouths open while watching them," he explained.

FM

[FrogMan]

and it keeps on coming, from the same page:

1949 BST: The bad news for France is that Nostradamus has predicted Spanish success at the World Cup... well, maybe, you decide. The Frenchman's prophecy reads: "In the sixth month of 2006 the King of Spain will cross the Pyreness with his troops. The legions of Beelzebub will battle him in central Europe but the evil ones will suffer doom and destruction. The Holy Grail will then come, like the King, to Spain." We may as well all go home then.

kick the darn ball already, these guys are gonna go crazy!!!



FM

[daedalus]

Well, nice to see that Domenech did not have the brain OR balls to stay with the type of line-up (2 strikers) that actually allowed the French to have an offense.

Oh, well. At least I'll enjoy watching Cesc in the next round.

[daedalus]

What. The. Hell?!?!

A WC referee actually taking the time to get the call right (on the French almost-corner that got overturned)?

How does that work?

[daedalus]

Domenech has some serious wood for Malouda that I'm not completely comprehending. Why not Govou?

[daedalus]

Sigh. I hate that sniper lying around on that grassy knoll in Germany. I'm not saying it was a bad call. I just hate that Pablo dropped so hard and so severely.

[kingfc22]

Nice play by Ribery.

[kingfc22]

Torres trying to draw ANOTHER penalty for Spain. Come on dude.

[cartman]

That's one way to beat the offsides trap. Station a guy behind the defenders, and when they think the play will be whistled dead, send a guy streaking past them in the other direction. Nice move there by France.

[Galaxy]

Some good action so far.

[daedalus]

Amazing goal.

Haven't seen THAT particular Paddy for a few years now.

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Torres trying to draw ANOTHER penalty for Spain. Come on dude.

I was JUST about to bring that up. AGREED!

[ISiddiqui]

Entertaining match so far. Started off slow, but got more attacking as it went on. Henry has to learn to stay onside more though. At least he realized he was waaay off on Ribery's goal.

GREAT job by the ref. Instead of ripping out a card, he calms players down by talking to them and making them understand why he is doing what he is doing. A model ref so far in the tourney!

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by daedalus

Sigh. I hate that sniper lying around on that grassy knoll in Germany. I'm not saying it was a bad call. I just hate that Pablo dropped so hard and so severely.

I don't think that was a dive. He didn't roll on the ground for one. I think he dropped that way because of the foul and the way he was positioned (his legs were wide apart to recieve the ball, not exactly the most stable position to stand).

[Icy]

I really hope this is not one of those usual games where Spain plays great but ends lossing as in every imporant competition. France has done nothing so far, just defend and long balls to Henry.

[ISiddiqui]

France has had more good chances than Spain... especially the Ribery cross that should have been a goal (by one of two French players who wiffed on it!)

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I don't think that was a dive. He didn't roll on the ground for one. I think he dropped that way because of the foul and the way he was positioned (his legs were wide apart to recieve the ball, not exactly the most stable position to stand).

As I said in my original post, I did not think it was a dive. What I did not like was Pablo's Vlade Divac-like flop.

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

France has had more good chances than Spain... especially the Ribery cross that should have been a goal (by one of two French players who wiffed on it!)

Actually, it was a Henry cross . . . that Ribery whiffed on. Paddy was the second French player who could not connect.

[Critch]

Great game so far, end to end. Somebody should sit the England squad down in front of this and tell them this is the way they should be playing instead of the boring crap they've been churning out.

Strange story from the Italian camp, a few of the players have gone home after former Juventus player and new Juventus sports director Gianluca Pessotto tried to kill himself this afternoon. Del Piero, Zambrotta and Cannavaro (the Juventus players) have all returned to Italy. Too early to assume the Juventus match fixing scandal is going to go deep?

[daedalus]

So far, I'm impressed by Ribery's skill but not as much by his tendency to hold onto the ball a bit too long. Not so much by Malouda who seems decidedly one dimensional.

[daedalus]

As HORRIBLE as Makelele's offensive skills are, he's equally amazing defensively.

[daedalus]

Before this game, I thought Gallas was a hell of a defender.

After blocking that shot with a rather sensitive area of the body, now I think he's one tough son of a bitch, too. 'Cuz, ummm, I'd be afraid to. ::shudder::

[Katon]

Goal!

[daedalus]

Titi naughty.

And I can't believe Paddy scored.

[kingfc22]

Casillas probably saves that header

[Katon]

If it weren't for Ramos, I think Casillas might've saved that.

[daedalus]

C'mon, Spain!

[kingfc22]

GOAL Zidane!

[cartman]

That France-Brazil game is gonna be awesome.

[ISiddiqui]

It's good to see the old man get a goal in the end of this game.

[daedalus]

RE: Casillas saving the ball without Ramos' intervention . . . Agreed.

For all of Paddy's height, he's not terribly good with heading the ball. Maybe someone who's a 16 Jumping/7 Heading.

[Katon]

France-Brazil and Germany-Argentina could wind up being the best matches of the tournament.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Critch

Great game so far, end to end. Somebody should sit the England squad down in front of this and tell them this is the way they should be playing instead of the boring crap they've been churning out.

And France in a 4-5-1, if I'm not mistaken.

[daedalus]

Wow. Go, Zizou.

Wonder how Madridistas react to that?

For all that I am happy to be able to watch Zizou again, I'm sad to see Spain out. They're a great team. I thought Aragones made a poor choice to put Raul in the hole and having them play with zero width, though.

[ISiddiqui]

Ribery and Zidane played great in this match. Now Henry has to learn to stay onside.

[Celeval]

Originally Posted by Critch

Strange story from the Italian camp, a few of the players have gone home after former Juventus player and new Juventus sports director Gianluca Pessotto tried to kill himself this afternoon. Del Piero, Zambrotta and Cannavaro (the Juventus players) have all returned to Italy. Too early to assume the Juventus match fixing scandal is going to go deep?

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...TALY-VISIT.XML

[FrogMan]

wow, left work at 1-1, come home with a France win. Next Saturday will be a great day to sit down and watch some soccer, England/Portugal followed by France/Brazil...

FM

[ISiddiqui]

No, Saturday will be a great day to watch soccer in SPITE of England/Portugal .

[Icy]

CRAP, always the same, as soon as we face a good team we lose. We lost our best weapon, the mid camp control. We played exactly like France wanted us, long balls towards their defense, tons of men around the ball in the midfield instead of playing wide, etc. They also stopped the plays all the time with faults and using their strengh vs our more skilled guys. I guess that is the difference between a WC champ and a good team like Spain. We go home again as in every important tournament.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Critch

Great game so far, end to end. Somebody should sit the England squad down in front of this and tell them this is the way they should be playing instead of the boring crap they've been churning out.

Strange story from the Italian camp, a few of the players have gone home after former Juventus player and new Juventus sports director Gianluca Pessotto tried to kill himself this afternoon. Del Piero, Zambrotta and Cannavaro (the Juventus players) have all returned to Italy. Too early to assume the Juventus match fixing scandal is going to go deep?

That scandal looks like it's going to get incredibly ugly. Juventus, in particular, look like they are going to face some severe penalties.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

No, Saturday will be a great day to watch soccer in SPITE of England/Portugal .

oh well, I will have fun watching it. You can go mow the lawn if you want to

FM

[Kokoshin]

Originally Posted by Icy

CRAP, always the same, as soon as we face a good team we lose. We lost our best weapon, the mid camp control. We played exactly like France wanted us, long balls towards their defense, tons of men around the ball in the midfield instead of playing wide, etc. They also stopped the plays all the time with faults and using their strengh vs our more skilled guys. I guess that is the difference between a WC champ and a good team like Spain. We go home again as in every important tournament.

Agreed. We'll win any tournament as soon as we believe we're able to win any tournament.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Originally Posted by Kokoshin

Agreed. We'll win any tournament as soon as we believe we're able to win any tournament.

From what we were hearing here in France, you guys were pretty certain you would win this particular tournament...

I think part of Spain's problem is that they always play too well in the group stage, and then believe everything else is going to be just as easy.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Next Saturday will be a great day to sit down and watch some soccer, England/Portugal followed by France/Brazil...

What? You mean I'm the only person who is being dragged to a friggin wedding on saturday and will miss the games? That's not fair!

[Kokoshin]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

From what we were hearing here in France, you guys were pretty certain you would win this particular tournament...

No, I think we got some excitement because we played really good football in 2 of the 3 games of group stage. I believe everybody was so confident because in addition, France didn't make a good WC so far, and the press is still remembering we lost France in Europe Cup 22 years ago, so it was like "it's now or never".

Winning after group stage is real hard, unless you're Italy, of course

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Critch

What? You mean I'm the only person who is being dragged to a friggin wedding on saturday and will miss the games? That's not fair!

no wedding for me and I've planned my Saturday to be free from about 10:30 and up (i.e. will be taking my karate classon Wednesday evening). Even better, it just dawned on me that I'm off from work on Friday too because of Canada Day falling on a Saturday, weeeheee!!!

FM

[ISiddiqui]

Damn, I wish I was off on Friday .