2006 SOCCER WORLD CUP - Day 6 Thread - SPAIN/UKRAINE/SAUDI ARABIA/GERMANY/POLAND in action

MLSnet.com ^ | 6-14-06 | MLSnet.com

[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.

[soccer_maniac]

I hope the thread title is clear enough. If the subject isn't of interest, please stay away. This is a World Cup discussion thread, not a "which sport is better" discussion thread.

[Perdogg]

fyi.....


PUMA:Italy (three-times world champion), Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland (co-host of European Cup 2008 with Austria), Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Ivory Coast, Ghana,Tunisia, Togo, Angola, Iran

NIKE: Brazil (five-times World Champion), Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, Mexico, USA, Australia, South Korea

ADIDAS:Germany (three-times World Champion), France (1998 World Champion), Argentina (twice World Champion), Japan, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

UMBRO: England (1966 World Champion), Sweden

LOTTO: Ukraine, Serbia-Montenegro

MTHON: Ecuador

JOMA: Costa Rica

[soccer_maniac]

World Cup Ping!

[Gaetano]

If you, like me, are switching to Univision every time Soccer-Know-Nothing Dave O'Brien calls a WC match for ESPN/ABC, then please sign this petition:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/World_Cup_Announcers

send a comment to ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?page=contact/espntv

or add an entry to this official WC Blog

http://usa.worldcupblog.org/group-e/every-soccer-pleasure-negated.html

In the spirit of the great Buckhead, it's time to Dan Rather this dope.

[soccer_maniac]

Spain vs. Ukraine at 8:55 a.m. ET (LIVE on ESPN2)

[kevkrom]

I got into Yahoo! matchcast today... the trick: log in early. :)

[kevkrom]

Looking forward to Germany/Poland later. I've set that one up to TiVo, since a good chunk of the match will occur during my evening commute.

[wolf78]

Interestingly, the founders of ADIDAS and PUMA were brothers: "Adidas" stems from Adolf "ADI" DASsler (born 1900), Puma was initially called "Ruda" (RUdolf DAssler, born 1896), later the name was changed.

[OldFriend]

WWWWWWOOHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO my son will be at the Saudi Arabia game with two Army buddies.

[Jake The Goose]

GOSH - I'm still in a state of semi-shock over the lackluster play of our U.S. team the other day.

Having played in college - I spent a lot of yesterday emailing guys I played with - and guys I played against - everyone was simply mystified over the way we played.

Everyone was ready for a hell-bent-for-leather attitude, and instead we looked lazy, slow, and completely reactive.

Ok - enough rear view mirror - time to cheer and hope for a solid effort against Italy.

YIKES !!!

[Perdogg]

I am surprised underarmour isn't in the world cup yet.

[kevkrom]

we looked lazy, slow, and completely reactive

Which is really odd for a team built for speed...

[eyespysomething]

Thanks. I actually did not get to see but a few minutes of a game yesterday, France v. Switzerland. I hope to be able to catch some of at least 1 game today.

**shaking fist** Darn work!!

[soccer_maniac]

That's great. It should be an awesome experience.

Tell him to take lots of pictures.

[Theoden]

I can't wait for that showdown. That's going to be a good game. I like both teams, but I am rooting for Poland, though they are not likely to in.

[DoctorMichael]

[soccer_maniac]

[3_if_by_Treason]

I just sold an eBay item to someone in Germany and am setting the shipping particulars and closed the email with:

Last but not least, congratulations on your das Fußballspiel win over Costa Rica and good luck today with Polen.

The USA team played like they needed a nap........or is the Tschechische Republik that good?

Danke from Jim in California

[Jameison]

"In the spirit of the great Buckhead, it's time to Dan Rather this dope."

LOL!
ESPN is really pathetic when it comes to soccer.
Can't they find anyone in the whole of America that at least knows anything about soccer, and is in the sports media, than the brain dead Dave O'Brien?

Anyone remember ABC's super terrible broadcast of the 2002 World Cup final between Germany and Brazil, where they brought along some idiotic Mexican, who basically spent all his time trashing anything that wasn't South American soccer, but had little of any substance to say about the actual match that was played??

[kabar]

Let's hope Spain stops being an underachiever. They have the talent to go to the finals.