Stats
 ESP |
UKR  |
| 10 | Shots on Goal | 2 |
| 19 | Shots | 5 |
| 11 | Fouls | 14 |
| 7 | Corner Kicks | 1 |
| 2 | Free Kicks | 0 |
| 0 | Offsides | 8 |
| 0 | Own Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 54% | Ball Possession | 46% |
Posted on 06/14/2006 5:46:34 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...
| ESP |
UKR |
| 10 | Shots on Goal | 2 |
| 19 | Shots | 5 |
| 11 | Fouls | 14 |
| 7 | Corner Kicks | 1 |
| 2 | Free Kicks | 0 |
| 0 | Offsides | 8 |
| 0 | Own Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 54% | Ball Possession | 46% |
Man of the Match: XAVI (ESP #8)
Great thread, I just noticed it. Nice job soccer_maniac
Hmm... Maybe you all are correct. After all we have to recognize that soccer is probably 5th place or even lower as far as the American people is concerned... so I guess we get what we deserve :)
BUT, BUT!... we are not just any country... we are the ** U.S. ***, we are rich $$$, someone somewhere should see the advantage of having a better National Team. Oh well....sigh :)
About 3 seconds earlier
Ukraine was the first nation to qualify for the World Cup (outside of host Germany, who was automatic). They did very well in a tough European qualifying group. Yet, they were humiliated by Spain.
The World Cup is tough even on good teams.
I've got my pint of Newkie Brown all ready! ;)
Great audio feed (English) may be found at:
http://clients.mediaondemand.net/theSun/?Channel=1
I was trying to look up the tiebreaker rules the other day. Someone mentioned that now, pure goal difference is the first tie breaker. In that case, it doesn't bode well for the US.
Missed the spain game. Well, I caught the last 20 minutes doing some cardio at the gym. Seemed like an impressive display. Viva Espana :-)
Yep. That's why if we find a way to win both remaining games, we still would need the Czechs to tie or beat Italy to advance, assuming the Czechs beat Ghana.
What about Christian Vieri?
The univision gals in Germany are looking pretty today
I obviously watched the games against Norway. The Czechs did not impress that much. With some luck, it could have been us in the World Cup instead of the Czechs, though I admit that the better team advanced.
Then, I watched Norway getting mauled early this year by team USA. I have never seen Norway being outplayed in that manner. Not even by Brazil. If team USA can find some of that form before saturday, the Italians could be in for a tight battle.
Vieri is out, injured. NOt on the Italian 23.
I heard yesterday that it was head-to-head. However, that fact came from the US television broadcast, so take that for what it is worth. :)
Oh man, don't get me started....the JET foul with under 1 min to go? Sheesh
They were both dives IMHO.
You can't just get a better national team with money. The players have to be American citizens, so you can't do much recruiting. So the players have to be 'created' at home, and that's not happening.
The USSA announced a few years ago a program to win the World Cup by such-and-such year (I cannot remember the goal)
But they don't pay any attention to college soccer. US colleges are recruiting HUGE numbers of foreign players (in my son's NCAA Div. II region, there's one team with 25 foreign players on a roster of 27, or in the NAIA, look at Lindsey Wilson, where last time I looked, they had one American on the V roster, and I'm told they have many foreigners on the JV roster as well.
When parents look at this with an idea towards their kids playing in college, they see that the scholarships are going to foreigners. It's just one more reason to stick with the 'traditional' American sports.
We also HAVE to find a way to generate pickup games where kids play by themselves without coaching. A lot of important aspects of the game can't be coached, they have to come from within as a result of free play. Pele learned to play in the street in bare feet and with a ball made of rags. And he learned to really love the game.
If, I remember correctly it has been head-to-head in previous world cups, but it might have changed this time around.
The referee has to call something in those situations. Either award the penalty or book the player for diving.
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