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 ...
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.
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.
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.
"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.
Still doesn't approach El Salvador - Honduras!
It's about as fun as watching a highway!
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.
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
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.
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]
Thanks for the ping....still smarting over the bad US loss...
Any sport that has the best chicks can't be all bad!
Sloppy, slow, standing around. dfwgator noted the lack of creativity, another poster commented on first touch of the US team.
1-1 Korea (Lee 53')
I'm coming around to that line of thinking.
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.
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.
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