Posted on 06/10/2006 5:54:26 AM PDT by soccer_maniac
One of the most fancied teams in Germany, England will open their FIFA World Cup™ campaign against Group B rivals Paraguay today -- LIVE NOW on ABC: England v Paraguay
Now, that is more like the American attitude I have grown to love and respect :-)
Seriously though, I think team USA stands a great chance at making a serious impression in this tournament.
Some video in from last night's hooligan troubles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL7tm_cJXIc&search=world%20cup%20hooligans
:-)
We'll see a lot of bad refereeing decisions in the early group games but the good refs will be in charge once it gets to the knockout rounds.
I’ve done that in past World Cup tourneys, and loved the drama of the Spanish language announcers, but always felt that I was losing information about the teams/players, as my Spanish is very limited. After today’s pathetic ABC announcers, I think I’m going back to the Spanish broadcasts.
By the way, Andres Cantor, the former Spanish language TV announcer, is now doing the radio broadcasts.
Think I’m rooting for T&T in the next game. An upset would make things much easier for England.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/matchreport/0,,1794604,00.html
England fail to convince
England 1 Paraguay 0
Rob Smyth
Saturday June 10, 2006
After all the talk of Sven-Goran Eriksson's brave new world, it was all horribly familiar for England in Frankfurt this afternoon. They beat Paraguay 1-0 in their opening World Cup match, but rarely can victory have been so unfulfilling.
The sapping heat was straight out of the last tournament in Korea/Japan, and so was England's dismal inability to quicken the pulse. They deserved to win, but only because Paraguay were even more incompetent.
The high temperatures made for a soporific, one-paced match which drifted lazily back and forth - or, in the second half, forth and forth towards England's goal - but that cannot excuse the appalling ball-retention of Eriksson's side. Michael Owen looked painfully rusty, exposing the preposterous folly of not picking Jermain Defoe, and apart from the excellent Joe Cole there was a predictable lack of flair. This will not have frightened Trinidad & Tobago, never mind Brazil.
It was all the more frustrating because of England's perfect start. After a build-up that felt like it had being going on for 365 days, they were in front after just 164 seconds.
Predictably, it came from a set piece. From wide on the left, David Beckham's swirling free-kick dipped late and the captain Carlos Gamarra, attempting to head clear, could only skim the ball past Justo Villar and into the bottom corner.
Villar left the field in tears two minutes later through injury, and for a while Paraguay were a shambles, performing with the befuddled timidity expected of a team from South America's second tier playing in Europe. England did not tear into them - the heat did not permit that - but instead picked their moments to strike, and exerted a quiet but decisive control during the first half.
If anything, England were almost too comfortable, but when the lively Nelson Valdez lashed a bouncing ball just wide in first-half injury time, the mood of the match changed.
Paraguay bossed possession after the break and Eriksson - dismally, predictably - shut up shop by introducing Stewart Downing for Owen after 55 minutes, with Joe Cole moving central in a 4-4-1-1. If Paraguay had any sting at all, England would have been in trouble.
They didn't. The closest they came was when Paul Robinson fumbled Carlos Banet's cross and Carlos Paredes acrobatically volleyed the loose ball into orbit.
Lampard forced two decent saves from Aldo Bobadilla from long range, but England were basically hanging on for the last 40 minutes. Just like they always do.
Eriksson talked a good game in picking Theo Walcott and standing up to Sir Alex Ferguson but, when it came to the crunch, he showed that will never change his spots.
After today's performance, few people will think his approach can take England to World Cup glory.
Thank you for the photos. I've heard a lot of complaining about Becks shouldn't be on the squad and that he's only on the squad because of Sven.
As an American, I wish we had that problem. We'll get there.
T&T will not upset Sweden. Dwight Yorke is just too long in the tooth to do much, Stern John isn't in the greatest of form. Ljundberg is going to make swiss cheese of the T&T midfield.
Were those refs from Ecuador? I just thought it was very favorable towards Paraguay. At least if you are going to make bad calls, MAKE THEM BOTH WAYS!
Univision isn't in HD.
ABC is.
But, I agree, the spanish speaking announcers are better, even if I can't understand.
I wouldn't hold your breath on that! If Trinidad can keep the score down to single figures it might help England in terms of goal difference.
Ljungberg sucks.
He pitches for the other team.
He is bald.
He is cross eyed.
He plays for Arsenal.
He is Swedish.
Yup. England cannot play in the heat. Fortunately, their remaining games will be later in the afternoon or at night.
They deserved to win, but only because Paraguay were even more incompetent.
Ouch!
"GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL"
in any language is better than what we had to put up with today.
I was just praying that Gary Lineker would somehow interrupt the US Coverage and do it for all of us. Fat chance of that happening. Sheesh!
I have seen the Swedes get beat by Costa Rica. Don't overestimate the Swedes.
Hmmmm, Gamarra better watch it when he gets back home. Remember what they did to the goalie from Columbia that scored an own goal for the USA years ago? They shot him.
Well, Ljungberg did have "red" hair at some point. As my Danish friend said yesterday, he's the Dennis Rodman of Swedish football only better looking.
It was when he still had hair.
Let's go Tobago!! (To heck with Trinidad.)
Ouch!
Hehe!
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