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2006 WORLD CUP -- Day 5 Thread -- Brazilians enter Cup fray
MLSnet.com ^ | 6-13-06 | MLSnet.com

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Germany; Japan; Mexico; News/Current Events; Russia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: beckham; brasil; croatia; fifa; france; germany; soccer; sports; switzerland; worldcup
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To: FostersExport

Half time Togo 1- Korea 0.

If you see the celebration of TOGO goal, that sums up the World Cup. It brings joy, tears and passion to people around the world. Beautiful game.


41 posted on 06/13/2006 6:53:29 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: Theoden

Yeah but you have to admit that watching five guys change tires and fill up a gas tank is pretty exciting and those guys are pretty athletic. I'll bet any one of those tire-changers could last at least three minutes running up and down a soccer field.

Then there's the whole Dale "Angel" Earnhardt thing. Dude was considered a dirty driver by many and his nickname was "The Intimidator" -- yet he dies on the track and becomes St. Dale.

The other point about world football vs. US football is that world football is capitalistic -- the teams that advance the furthest make the most money, both on a club and international level. There are rich teams and poor teams. The weak get relegated and the strong get promoted.

US Football, by contrast, is Communist -- TV revenues are shared, there is a hard salary cap, the weaker you are the better your draft position and the easier your schedule -- it's all right out of the Karl Marx playbook.


42 posted on 06/13/2006 6:53:44 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: Theoden

Never respond to a troll or a flame.

Instead you should always report trolling and flaming. By reporting posts (and posters) you insure the mods see problems a timely manner.


43 posted on 06/13/2006 6:57:41 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: Theoden

"I never thought about applying the Falkland's war to it, that would make a good rivalry."

You basically take one dirty game in 1966 where the England manager said the Argentines were “like animals” (they took exception to this), stir things up with the Falklands war, through on some petrol with Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal and then put the whole fuel dump on with Diego Simeone getting David Beckham sent off in 1998. I also think the Argentines reckon Michael Owen dived to get a penalty when we beat them in 2002.

So what you’re left with is a pretty heated encounter whenever the two sides meet. I love it – it’s a proper international football rivalry.


44 posted on 06/13/2006 6:58:24 AM PDT by FostersExport
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To: FostersExport

Still doesn't approach El Salvador - Honduras!


45 posted on 06/13/2006 7:00:56 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: Aquinasfan
I was a goal keeper all the way up through high school. As a keeper, I actually enjoyed the pressure of penalty kicks. It makes the game much more exciting, and I think it is better than the "golden goal". I don't care much for them.
46 posted on 06/13/2006 7:03:28 AM PDT by Theoden (Liberate te ex inferis)
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To: Vectorian

It's about as fun as watching a highway!


47 posted on 06/13/2006 7:04:45 AM PDT by Theoden (Liberate te ex inferis)
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To: Theoden
"Do you guys think we'll make it out of round 1?"

No, but most pundits had us picked for 3rd in the group before play began.

I can't think that the US camp is in as much dissarray as they were in '98 with some of the Sampson/Harkes/Waldo drama...but harder facts usually surface after the games are done.

And speaking of done, my guess is that Bruce Arena may be tendering his resignation come July; no matter how well we do from here.

48 posted on 06/13/2006 7:04:51 AM PDT by Sam's Army (Back to lurking...)
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To: soccer_maniac

I watched a replay of the US game last night. Understand I like soccer, but I've never really followed it until this year. The US team looked bad to me. Compared to the other games I've seen recently


49 posted on 06/13/2006 7:07:07 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: soccer_maniac
If you see the celebration of TOGO goal, that sums up the World Cup. It brings joy, tears and passion to people around the world. Beautiful game.

Looking forward to seeing it tonight in the highlights. Hopefully they can hold on. That seems like a tall order though. The South Koreans seemed very disciplined to me in the last World Cup.

50 posted on 06/13/2006 7:07:19 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
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To: Theoden
Now if you want to talk about a crappy sport, one that shouldn't ever even be considered being called a sport, that would be NASCAR. The drivers are "athletes"!?!?! It doesn't take much athleticism to steer a car in one giant left turn for 3 hours, in fact, all you really need to do is watch the last 3 laps, watching the whole race is pointless. Most of the drivers stay in basically the same position the whole time. LOL, look what you did, you turned on my NASCAR rant!

SEE? There you go! Common ground!

Now surfing.........there's a sport for yah!

Seriously for a moment - I didn't mean to make fun of soccer...and I'm sorry I intruded on this thread.

[not really but I'm trying my best Clintonian apology ploy]

51 posted on 06/13/2006 7:08:56 AM PDT by Fighting Irish
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To: soccer_maniac

Thanks for the ping....still smarting over the bad US loss...


52 posted on 06/13/2006 7:11:33 AM PDT by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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To: Fighting Irish

Any sport that has the best chicks can't be all bad!


53 posted on 06/13/2006 7:14:23 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: billbears

Sloppy, slow, standing around. dfwgator noted the lack of creativity, another poster commented on first touch of the US team.


54 posted on 06/13/2006 7:15:02 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: stainlessbanner

1-1 Korea (Lee 53')


55 posted on 06/13/2006 7:16:25 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: You Dirty Rats
Any sport that has the best chicks can't be all bad!

I'm coming around to that line of thinking.

56 posted on 06/13/2006 7:16:29 AM PDT by Fighting Irish
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To: Aquinasfan

57 posted on 06/13/2006 7:19:21 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: Aquinasfan

I would say given their group, the US wouldn't necessarily have to advance for them to make a good showing. But at least look competitive, and they have yet to do that. But Italy is another game, we shall see.


58 posted on 06/13/2006 7:19:30 AM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
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To: Sam's Army
And speaking of done, my guess is that Bruce Arena may be tendering his resignation come July; no matter how well we do from here.

I think eight years is enough, we've made progress, but we need a change. My money is on Klinsmann being our coach in 2010.

59 posted on 06/13/2006 7:20:45 AM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
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To: dfwgator
More Togo celebration


60 posted on 06/13/2006 7:23:02 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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