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

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

[romanesq]

Southern Jessie is an English term for soft. As in a northern Englander calling a southern Englander a pansy.

[romanesq]

I have no idea but Marco Van Basten did a great job getting Netherlands back on track. There seemed to be an issue with Van Nistleroy that I can't explain. He did well until he allowed his team to go mental and try to hospitalize Ronaldo.

With Italy everything is drama and politics. Coaches try to survive until the World Cup. Then they must excel or be pissed on for the rest of their natural lives. Most certainly a double edged sword that job.

I felt at the beginning Italy would be there in the semis and that came about. Now I just don't know but Toni getting on track is a huge plus for the team to get on the right track. Now everyoene is feeling good from top to bottom.
Buffon's performance was particularly good as well and that is just going to help Italy's confidence when they take the field.

[romanesq]

It would be no miracle if anyone beat Brazil. They are not dominant in any phase of the game except for finishing which is obviously essential but not conclusive if you are breaking down at an inopportune time.

The infamous Brazilian defensive lapse can happen as soon as tomorrow.

[romanesq]

Brazil has always been subject to a mental mistake in the back. But this is a far worse potential for disaster. Ghana showed something that was not clear from the scoring line. They in fact without their world class midfielder were controlling the game for long stretches where Brazil looked more like Italy awaiting an opportunity to regain control and counterattack.

Brazil is not Italy and this is not their game. When you play someone else's game you usually will pay a price. Expect France to reveal that weakness tomorrow. Whether it will be exploited to the point of Brazil's ouster I'm not convinced, but I know it is possible.

Brazil's roster needs an overhaul and they are prone to be exploited right up the middle.

[Churchillspirit]

I hope that tomorrow, while England play Portugal, that the commentators take some time to extol the virtues of Eusebio - a great player for Portugal who was hacked out of so many games before the referees were instructed to crack down on blatant fouls.

I am trying to contact the ESPN crew to express this thought to them.

[Churchillspirit]

Sad really. Like George Best.

So much talent, but no dignity in later life.

[romanesq]

Good luck. So far John Harkes has been easily the best by just being inoffensive.
His partner has also been a good match.

Balboa is the king of stating the obvious and then stating the stupid.
His discussion about trying to draw fouls makes me want to reach for a gun.
When did the game become about that?

[romanesq]

Ronaldo is now a dangerous poacher and is still a major threat. He only needs to get a chance to make teams pay. But he isn't matched up front well with Adriano aka the ball hog who refused to pass to him for an easy goal and took a shot direct to the keeper the last match against Ghana.

It happened again in the same match. And although loaded there's some real problems. Kaka did not play well last match and now has an injury problem that may have started that match. But he may not be able to play well against France.

France showed some very good quality in midfied. And they have the memory of shutting down Brazil right there. They did it very convincingly in 98. And I mean utterly.

I was in Paris and during halftime was singing Adieu to the Brailian fans near a bridge by the Hotel Deville by Notre Dame.

They started to ask me some questions but I told them I was not French, I was from New York.

If we see a repeat of that, you'll see it all unfold by halftime.

[soccer_maniac]

NEW THREAD HAS BEEN POSTED!

CONTINUE DISCUSSION ON THE NEW THREAD:

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[Lukasz]

Congrats, I knew it, that you will win penalties!

[Churchillspirit]

Thank you so much for the links.

Eusabio is one of my all time favorite players.

BTW - welcome to Free Republic.

[Cacique]

btt

[Cronos]

you were spot on, mate....

[chris_ab]

I've been away for a few days; however, I can't believe that Brazil lost.

It looked totally stages, Ronaldo falling down... & Ronaldinho not being used (He is the 2 time vote BEST Player in the World!!!) that was the worst acting I've seen since my nieces elementary school play.

The other stars didn't come to play... 2 Solid Veterans, then we have KAKA, and the other youthful power players....

Do you two think the World Cup is influenced with bribes and the MOB, MAFIA?

I haven't watched Boxing in some 10 Yrs because of the likes of Don King and Co.

I don't think I can look at the World cup in the same way.

Fraud!

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[chris_ab]

***It looked totally STAGED, Ronaldo falling down...