These last 2 are Iranian
Posted on 06/13/2006 6:05:50 AM PDT by soccer_maniac
World Cup favorite Brazil will kick off its World Cup campaign on Tuesday as the opening round of the tournament continues in Germany. The defending champions will face Croatia at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN2) in Berlin in the second Group F match, following Australia's come-from-behind victory over Japan Monday.
The match will feature the highly-anticipated debut of FC Barcelona great Ronaldinho as he looks to lead the South Americans to a record sixth championship. But the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year is hardly the only weapon in coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's arsenal. Also at his disposal are Ronaldo, Kaka, Robinho and Roberto Carlos -- just to name a few -- who could leave the Croatian defense in for a busy day.
In the day's first match, first-time qualifiers Togo will be looking to upset 2002 semifinalists South Korea (9 a.m. ET, ESPN2). Though the Asian side does not have home field advantage as they did four years ago, the side is very experienced and boasts much talent, including 10 players returning for their second consecutive finals. The Koreans will be looking to Ahn Jung-Hwan for offense.
Togo enters the match as one of the surprise teams in the field, having secured qualification for the first time in the tiny nation's history. With many players coming from the French, Swiss and English leagues, they are a side capable of raising a few eyebrows.
Also making their 2006 World Cup debuts on Tuesday will be France and Switzerland, the neighboring nations squaring off at 12 noon ET on ESPN2. 'Les Blues' are chock full of world-class talent, including Arsenal's Thierry Henry and former FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane, who led the French to their only World Cup title on home soil eight years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...
Those that don't like/care for soccer should keep quiet.
Go U.S.A.!
Thanks for the "oing". It looks a little gruesome for USA, but there will still be plenty of great games to watch!
If you have a handy WC ping list, I'd like to be on it. Sometimes I get to work and forget people follow footie on FR.
In a way, it would be more enjoyable if the U.S. wasn't playing. There would be no "pressure", as such and we could all just enjoy the rest of the games. Having a dog in the fight makes it harder. Still, I'm pulling for the U.S., and still hold out hope that we can move to the next round. Hey, it's possible. Theoretically. It's too bad we got spanked so bad yesterday. I don't think we played badly, the Czechs just played better, that's all. Let's see...if we win one and tie one, and the Czechs or the Italians lose one or tie one, and Ghana loses another one...dang, I can't think of what will have to happen for us to advance. My husband knows all this stuff. But I know it's still possible.
These last 2 are Iranian
I live for this thread! Ping, bump, bash, pong.
I was behind the goal where the shot was taken for the 94 final.
My claim to fame and sadness.
You won't believe this but as an Italy supporter I left after the 0-0 draw when the penalty kicks ended. Couldn't take the whole Brazil bandwagon thing. I was quite proud of Baresi returning from knee surgery and playing great in his first match back.
In the parking lot area, walking to my car with a friend and some guy is having sex with this girl in a bush. From the side, everyone could see for about 35 yards. Some Brit starts yelling out can he get some.
The girl didn't seem to ashamed when she climbed out of the bushes.
Around that stadium it's more mulch than bush.
Very weird ending to the 94 WC.
Sadly for the US, Italy will not go into the game unprepared. In fact they will mirror the strategy employed by the Czechs.
Be prepared to be frustrated by long aimless runs on the wing followed by centers to no one in the middle.
Italy will be pushing the US wide all day. Even if we regain some respect, we will go down 1 or 2 nil.
I just want to see guys out there trying to attack. Through balls even if unsuccesful look better than balls being sent to each other going nowhere at the halfway line.
Didn't really care who won, but it was too bad the Swiss couldn't score...I was kinda looking forward to all the chuckles over a "French Surrender a Goal!" headline. :)
It's pretty funny. Not only the American police officers, I doubt English soccer hooligans even realize how tough the American black thugs would be. They would not be able to crawl out of Detroit in one piece - indeed it is more likely they will be back home in Britain in body bags if they try to pull that trick.
I agree, very tough to get out of the group unless we beat Italy and Ghana beats the Czechs (probability: extremely low). I just want our guys to score some goals now. They were down 2-0 by the half and you would not have known it as they slowly brought the ball up and backpassed to the goalie. They seemed shell-shocked.
Australia-Japan was a great game, but I think the Croatians will beat the Australians and advance.
Agreed. Perhaps the best game in the first round.
But he's a real little guy. I am not convinced he will be the Babe Ruth of US soccer.
The problem with US soccer is that if you are a world-class athlete (which is what you are seeing at the World Cup among top teams) you are going to be pushed toward the major sports that offer more fame and fortune than soccer. The process will be a long one and I think it leads for the time being through Europe where fortunes can be made.
I think the best American athletes (team sports) are in basketball. Get more inner city kids playing and loving soccer, I think will produce results.
Here's interesting info for your friend who 'doesn't think soccer is a worthy sport'.
Years ago, I raced motocross, so read the mags. Some university was always doing a study of what sports were the most demanding so far as the cardiovascular system was concerned. These studies made the mags because motocross was invariably found to be second. I'm sure you can guess what was universally first. (I'd give a lot for the opportunity to have played soccer instead of racing motocross, as now that I'm coaching, I'd love to have real playing experience to fall back on.)
Football and baseball were usually down around 25th-30th. Basketball was in the top five, as was (real) wrestling.
I guess bozos like this guy prefer sports like (American) football where the U.S. can be champs without playing anyone else, or the World's Series, where the world consists of two nations (out of 192 possible). If I remember correctly, this year about 184 nations competed for spots in the WC Finals. He makes about as much sense as the sportswriter who made the comment during the Tour de France that bicycle racing wasn't a sport because all you do is sit on your butt and move your legs up and down! ;>)
The Croats will be a handful for the Aussies without a doubt.
The boys down under will play with great spirit, that I have no doubt.
Then they mentioned that the coach of Mexico was told by officialdom not to smoke on the sidelines during the games. These guys on the radio then quipped:
"Damn they don't want them to smoke....... heck there's so much pressure they should be allowed to smoke ....... and drink.
LOL!
Considering that soccer players have been shot for own goals at the World Cup, being fired is a rather harmless fate.
;-)
lol
The system was intentionally politically stacked against Europeans and maybe South Americans and in favor of the weaker confederations. Its kind of an affirmative action with the goal of developing the game throughout the world. Going through the names, its easy to spot outliers being placed too high or too low. I am US fan of course, but being placed 5th in the world is beyond ridicules. Its also bad for us because since its so obviously not true we are seen as impostors deserving extra ridicule. And so far we cant back the rating's claim.
Being in the first 32, yes. As high as 20th (I can't dignify 5th, sorry)? May be not yet.
Anyway, political correctness or not, the World Cup usually brings the picture in better order, some unlucky Europeans who did not get to the world cup notwithstanding.
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