2006 WORLD CUP - Quarterfinals - GERMANY-ARGENTINA/UKRAINE-ITALY

FIFAworldcup.com ^ | 6-30-06 | FIFAworldcup.com

[soccer_maniac]

The Elite Eight!! The quarterfinal round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany gets underway Friday with a pair of highly-anticipated matches. The hosts kick things off against Argentina in Berlin (10:55 a.m. ET; ESPN). Italy will face Ukraine in the day's second game (2:55 p.m.; ESPN2).

Two of the quarterfinals are rematches of championship games: Brazil-France (1998) and Germany-Argentina (1986 and 1990).

[Aquinasfan]

You sound English. Whatever happened to Gasgoine? (I have no idea how his name is spelled.) I enjoyed his play more than any other midfielder I can remember.

[stainlessbanner]

Yeah - they have a funny sense of humor, too. Nice change from the boring EPSN announcers. The UK team is saying the game needs to be cracked open with a goal.

They were talking about player haircuts a minute ago, joking that the match is a little slow today. You have to listen for the little digs they toss in there.

[dfwgator]

They need to get the Monday Night Football crew in there to do soccer. Could you imagine Cosell doing a soccer game?

[Aquinasfan]

He's a fool and an idiot and, at times, a cheat, but Maradona was the best. Ever.

Really. I wish I was paying more attention at the time.

[dfwgator]

The only significant thing so far is Podolski's yellow card.

[Aquinasfan]

The UK team is saying the game needs to be cracked open with a goal.

Yeah, at this level you can't afford to fall behind. I'd hate to see a game like this end in penalty kicks.

[jjbrouwer]

Gazza got fat and stupid. Well, he was quite stupid to begin with. He tried managing a low league team but was fired. He seems to have gone round the bend, if his incoherent recent interviews are anything to go by.

He was a great player though in the 1990 World Cup and the 1996 European Championships.

[Eurotwit]

Dissapointing half.

Particularly by Germany.

A goal would probably change things up.

Bring on Messi!

Cheers.

[kabar]

Thanks. A scoring machine and a winner.

[jjbrouwer]

I reckon Messi will come on early in the second half and really shake things up. It's been a little pedestrian but if anyone is going to create something, it's more likely to be Argentina.

[stainlessbanner]

Cosell would spice up the commentary, that's for sure!

I wonder where the commentators from the old ASL are?

[jjbrouwer]

Who is that girl in the number ten shirt? She seems to be in every other picture. Gorgeous!

[chris_ab]

"time eating at McDonald's or watching dull American sports on television."

"Football, to give the sport its correct name, is the most popular sport in the world. That's a lot of wussies!"

That's fine by me, and America is the only Super Power.

: )

No actually, I'm not invested in this battle, I'll make my exit. lol

[Eurotwit]

A Chelsea fan should have aquired an appreciaton for Messi :-)

I have to admit that the first time I saw him was the game on Stamford Bridge. He was mesmerizing. And, btw: Del Horno's dismissal was well deserved :-)

On another Chelsea note:

I just saw a stat a few days ago, that Chelsea was the club with the most World Cup goals so far.

Cheers.

[Churchillspirit]

Good first half.

I'm cheering for Argentina in this one.

[stainlessbanner]

Halftime show: Girls for the WC 2006

[stainlessbanner]

More Halftime Show: Top 10 Goals of World Cup 2002

[jjbrouwer]

Many thanks! She's in that collage too! I like the Brazil babe in the short shorts as well.

[Churchillspirit]

Great!!

Thanks for some wonderful memories of one of the best players ever to play the game.

[Allegra]

I'm cheering for Argentina in this one.

So am I.

SInce the USA bit it last week, I've taken Argentina as my team to root for.