Posted on 06/14/2006 5:46:34 AM PDT by soccer_maniac
The first cycle of group play in the FIFA World Cup comes to a close on Wednesday with all four Group H teams in action, Spain taking on Ukraine at 8:55 a.m. ET (ESPN2) and Saudi Arabia facing Tunisia three hours later (also on ESPN2). Then Cup hosts Germany start the second series of matches in the groups when they face neighbors Poland in Dortmund.
Spain finally get a chance to get the ball rolling in Leipzig, facing a Ukraine team looking for a result in its first-ever World Cup match. But just because the Eastern Europeans are new on the world stage doesn't mean they don't have the talent to make an impact. In fact, they were the first team apart from the hosts to secure passage to the World Cup, topping a difficult Group 2 that also included Denmark, European champions Greece and a Turkey team that finished third in the World Cup four years ago.
Ukraine also boasts one of the most deadly strikers in the world in Andrei Shevchenko, a new arrival to London's Chelsea FC after a stunning career at AC Milan. However, "Sheva," as he is known, has been battling a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be in the starting 11.
Shevchenko isn't the only lethal striker that will be on the field; Spain has several of their own, as well, including Real Madrid legend Raul. Arsenal striker Jose Antonio Reyes is also a danger and could start, especially since Spain coach Luis Aragones often lines his side up in a 4-3-3 formation. Spain is looking to break their World Cup curse in Germany, having never advanced to the final in the competition.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...
Agreed.
Though it seems like the normal rules are thrown out of the window inside the penalty box. It usually takes a pretty clear foul for a penalty to be called.
I think, the Ghana players hurt their cases by overplaying.
Even if there was some limited contact, the ref was turned off by the theatrics...
In the qualifying stages, yes head-to-head is the first tiebreaker. But in the Finals, goal differential is the first tiebreaker.
FIFA referees officiate games as if they are frightened of being blamed for any goal. Therefore they do everything in their power to limit scoring opportunities, which always makes them seem biased against the more attacking side.
Is it D2 and D3 that have no caps on the number of foreign players? It seems these teams are loaded with every nationality except American.
Sounds a lot like the NBA, especially if your name is Shaquille O'Neal.
Tunisia (Green) v Saudi Arabia (White)
Game on!
Dude, you're my hero.
I agree.
I am very conservative when it comes to rule changes in soccer, but I think the time might have come for some sort of video refereeing for decisive situations, like penalties and red cards.
It would be more fair, and would take a lot of pressure of the referees.
Saudi Arabia playing at the moment. The Saudi Sheiks cannot be too happy :-P
It's what's turning a lot of folks off of the NBA, too.
They can try that out in, say, a U-20 competition to see how it works.
One minor change -- not so much a change as an interpretation -- I would like to see is to the offsides rule. Right now, you're flagged for offside unless you are clearly onside (and sometimes even then). I'd like the linesmen to be instructed that you're onside unless clearly offside. That should open up attack a little more.
You might say that-
"The reign of Spain felt greatly by Ukraine..."
Oh thats a ridiculous claim. They did'nt day that when the US was not qualifying? It was one bad game (albeit very bad).
Can thread posters be booked for bad puns?
Offsides has always been my big soccer bug-a-boo...
The inconsistest calls so far really show up on the highly-manicured turf in the venues, which appears to be cross-cut about every 6 yards and stands out well, at least from the TV viewer's perspective.
You may also say Chernobyl's special rain had an effect too.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41765000/jpg/_41765022_ukrainefan416.jpg
I couldn't agree with you more. That would give the really speedy players a slight edge. Talk about opening the game up, that would do it.
Toni is so much better than Vieri, especially with his feet. I used to cringe when ever Vieri tried to handle the ball from midfield. Toni is much more skilled at this.
I've seen 'em walk for less
I don't necessarily disagree, but I'm sure you can see the humor (especially on this site) in not being able to offer passports to good footballers while a stream of unskilled illiterate dolts pours into the country on a daily basis.
The rules (I use the term loosely) most foreign FAs use to establish eligibility for international competitions could be used here if we chose to get down and dirty. Witness Chris Burchill playing for T&T. Many Ireland players have been more or less British. Even Klose for Germany is Polish-born.
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