Posted on 06/25/2006 11:30:31 PM PDT by soccer_maniac
In two more days, only 8 teams will remain in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
TODAY'S GAMES: Italy-Australia (11:00AM EST) followed by Swiss-Ukraine (3:00 PM EST).
(Excerpt) Read more at fifaworldcup.yahoo.com ...
Italy has a knack for playing up to, or down to, the level of their opponent.
It must get expensive buying off all the referees.
England really benefited by all of those yellow and red cards handed out to Portugal. Losing Deco was a major blow and plenty of the Portuguese side will be playing with a yellow. Still, I feel they will beat England who has a hard time scoring. Portugal has allowed one goal during the tournament and held a good Holland team scoreless.
Eriksson is no match for Scolari...advantage Portugal.
Buy? They just send Tony Soprano over to "talk" to them.
Agreed. They know how to play the big games. Their defense is usually rock solid. They haven't given up a goal except for the own goal to the US.
Despite the fouls and poor officiating, I thought Portugal-Holland has been the game of the tournament so far. The Portuguese showed true grit and amazing fitness. They just kept on attacking even when down in numbers.
It was an entertaining game but Holland were very poor. I was hoping the Dutch would win because England would have easily beaten them.
The current game certainly isn't it. I hope they'll manage to make a goal at least in the penalty shootout...
zzzzzzzzzz.....
Ukraine has been the better team and controlled most of the play and created the better opportunities overall but now it's a fitness test. Shevchenko is not in shape for a full 90 let alone 120.
Italy will be happy with the extra workload whoever they face.
Go Sheva!
The reason why most of us in America can't get excited about the WC is because almost every game at this level is decided by who does a better job of falling down in front of the referee.
Exactly. I'm an American who is not a soccer "fan". I saw the highlight video on the FIFA site and thought it was clearly a dive. For flopping to have that much of an impact on this big a stage, American's won't take to it. Reaks of politics and favoritism to soccer countries. Shame a game had to end on something as completely subjective as that. Might as well be figure skating.....
The Swiss have yet to allow a goal. They are disciplined and workmenlike in their perfomrance. I think they have the edge in fitness in the extra time. I hope it doesn't go to a penalty shootout. Then it just becomes a matter of luck. Might as well toss a coin.
Tough match. It looks like this one will be penalty kicks..
Maybe stick to the any game you know like if a ball to centerfield is caught.
Then you might have some experience to judge.
Looks to me like UKR would be happy to see this go to shots: they don't have a counterattack left in those legs.
That's the only reason they haven't taken Shevchenko off. He isn't likely to miss a penalty kick.
I'm happy for Italia, and you, but being defensive and parochial to Amis just trying to understand the methodology of the game might endear "the beautiful game" to a larger, high-capitalized market.
Instead of just saying "I'm a fan, you're not, so shut up", why not try explaining diving/flopping vs. legitimate fouling in historical and sporting context?
On to PKs we go.
Penalty Kicks. How ya doing, Jeff?
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