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.

[vollmond]

Bruce Arena was successful as a coach at the University of Virginia (I believe), and parlayed that into a great run as the coach of DC United during their early glory years. After the US World Cup collapse in 1998, he was the most accomplished professional US coach around so he got the job. They did good in 2002, but it might be time for a change.

[Jameison]

"The upset of the tournament is coming this saturday the USA will beat Italy"

I don't see it.
Watched the Ghana-Italy match.
Italy looked really hard to beat, and Ghana was no slouch.

[SmoothTalker]

Looks like they might not be this year. They look very good.

[kevkrom]

See... that's why it would be an upset... ;)

[SamAdams_Lite]

switching to Univision every time Soccer-Know-Nothing Dave O'Brien calls a WC match for ESPN/ABC

Is that (GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL) guy, Castor? still doing their games?

[OldFriend]

They had so much trouble getting tickets, they were happy to get what they could.

Wonder how he's feeling being back in Germany. He was stationed there for four years during X42.

One buddy meeting him from Afghan and the other from Iraq. Both civilians now.

He went to the WC in France last time. Got to see six or eight games....including the American game. Bought tickets off one of McBride's family members who had extra tickets.

Okay, okay, TMI

[relictele]

Interesting kit list.

The Puma/Adidas split, of course, is the legacy of the feuding Dassler brothers.

I'm an Adidas man but have to admit that the kits for Brazil and especially Holland's all-orange are quite stunning. Not to pile on the US team but their navy kit looked a bit silly and youth-league with the white v-neck - almost looked cheap.

The US logo has to go as well - why they & MLS stick to portraying the ball as the 1970s hexagon/pentagon patchwork model is beyond me - are they afraid people will forget what sport is being played?

I can't tell if this alternate logo is the creation of Nike creation or just a talented fan but I think it's perfect - reflects history, attitude and is the closest thing to heraldry our non-monarchy has.

[Tolik]

If it was anything more pathetic than US play with Czechs, it was Dave O'Brien commenting on it. I was sorry for Balboa...

[Gaetano]

Andreas Cantor is his name. I do not think he is on Univision.

[Remole]

As another FReeper commented to you, it is unlikely in the extreme that USA defeats Italy. I've followed int'l soccer closely for 25 years, and I've watched all or most of every WC match this year, and I must say that the USA squad played the worst of any of the other squads. There is not one player on the USA team that can start for the Italian team. Italy usually avoids running up the score, so I expect a 2-0 result.

[stillonaroll]

Is that (GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL) guy, Castor? still doing their games?

He does a World Cup game each day for Spanish language radio.

[Betis70]

This is a one-sided match so far (36 minutes in). Ukraine are getting totally dominated in the midfield and have nothing in their attacking third. Spain's defenders are better than I recall.

Anyone who knows Spanish football knows what my username refers to (well the Betis part), so yes, I am rooting for Spain. :D

[Remole]

I agree with you 100%--it is a point I made to another person on this thread before I read your post. On a related note, I was really very impressed with Luca Toni--I had never seen him play before (Fiorentina never shows up on ESPN!!), and he's a marvel: tall, agile, accurate with shots on goal. If Italy goes to the final, he could end up the superstar of the whole tournament.

[kabar]

The winner of Group H (should be Espana) plays the runner-up in Group G, which could be South Korea, France, or Switzerland.

[soccer_maniac]

[Betis70]

Wow what a run by David Villa, I figured the Ukraine defender would be able to knock him off the ball easily.

[Gaetano]

Luca Toni has the whole package. He scored 31 goals in Serie A this year. I have been tracking him for about
7 years. His recent burst of goal scoring ability and muscle-tone is a bit Bonds-esque.


Luca TONI


n°30 | Fiorentina, Attaccante
Altezza: 1.93 m. Peso: 78.00kg. Nazionalità: Italia
Data di nascita: 26/05/1977 a Pavullo nel Frignano (Modena)
Carriera

STAGIONE SQUADRA TORNEO PRESENZE RETI
1994/1995 Modena C1 7 2
1995/1996 Modena C1 25 5
1996/1997 Empoli B 3 1
1997/1998 Fiorenzuola C1 26 2
1998/1999 Lodigiani C1 31 15
1999/2000 Treviso B 35 15
2000/2001 Vicenza A 31 9
2001/2002 Brescia A 28 13
2002/2003 Brescia A 16 2
2003/2004 Palermo B 43 30
2004/2005 Palermo A 35 20
2005/2006 Fiorentina A 38 31

[kevkrom]

Spain dominating at half-time. Not only are they up 2:0, they lead pretty much ever statistical category:

• Shots: ESP 10, UKR 2
• Shots on Goal: ESP 4, UKR 1
• Fouls Committed: ESP 5, UKR 6
• Cautions: ESP 0, UKR 1
• Corners: ESP 5, UKR 0
• Offsides: ESP 0, UKR 6
• Possession: ESP 54, UKR 46

[6323cd]

[dfwgator]

I think the best the US can reasonably hope for is to be the best team in North and Central America. At least we have pulled even with Mexico, if not slightly ahead. At least that puts us in position to be perennial WC participant.