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.
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AND GERMANY SCORES!! 1-0.
DAMN!
Oh crap. I guess it was coming sooner or later. Well done Poland anyway. What a game.
Ack, looks like the Germans scored in injury time.
:(
So close to escaping.
There's still time. Bring the keeper up!!
It's over. Goodbye Poland.
1-0 Final
Not this year Poland.
Let's see...Poland can still advance I believe. They would have to beat the stuffing out of Costa Rica and hope Costa Rica beats Ecuador....
Yahoo's man of the match is Lahm, a defender for Germany. Seems weird, I'd think Boruc would have gotten it based on the 'gamecast'.
Yep Costa Rica needs to beat Ecuador, and then Germany would have to beat Ecuador by a few goals. Not impossible, but they need a lot of help. Everything depends on tomorrow's game between CRC-Ecuador. An Ecuador win or tie, and it's "Do Widzenia Polska!!"
Germany was pounding, not many teams would have held up against that. Dang.
Come on over and comiserate.
Actually I don't think it's that far fetched...IF Costa Rica beats Ecuador, and that's entirely possible, the group would probably be decided on goal difference with Germany on top and Poland, Costa Rica, and Ecuador all on three points. Poland could then almost still control their own destiny by bringing everything and really running up the score on Costa Rica and praying to go through on goal difference.....Right?
Wow, that was close.... phew!
I think it was a fair victory, the German team definitely had more chances throughout the game.
However I also have to congratulate the Polish team: They played a hundred times better than during the first match. Great defense (and a lot of luck ;-) ), and a fantastic goalkeeper.
A valiant effort by Poland, a tie under the circumstances would have been fantastic.
But hey, it wasn't unexpected. I mean, isnt the Pope German now? Doesn't a bear ......
Damn, first the Mavs choked last night, now this. My ticker can't take much more of this.
As a soccer newbie, can I ask a basic question? How are the members of the teams determined? Do these teams represent the "all-stars" of the various countries (like the olympic basketball team) or are they full teams that worked their way here intact (like the world series, etc)?
Poor Poland.
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