Cheers.
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 ...
USA-Mexico is quickly becoming a heated rivalry as well.
8-) Go Togo!
Yeah, I've heard Klinsmann's name linked before. Bob Bradley might be a candidate as well. Myernick might be a logical replacement, but I guess it depends on whether the Federation wants new blood or not.
Your not the problem, it's just that we get inundated so much. Glad we have that common ground :) I agree with you on Surfing too, it's an activity, not a sport.
But at least Surfing has better chicks than NASCAR.
Cheers.
Bob Bradley was a disappointement in NY/NJ.
We need a coach with previous successful World Cup experience.
What a goal by Ahn!!!
2-1 S. Korea
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| South Korean soccer fans carry a huge national flag as they gather to watch a live TV broadcast of the 2006 World Cup Group G soccer match in Germany South Korean soccer fans carry a huge national flag as they gather to watch a live TV broadcast of the 2006 World Cup Group G soccer match in Germany between South Korea and Togo on a giant video screen installed outside the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 13, 2006. Police said an estimated 1.5 million fans will join in mass street parties across the country for the Group G opener Tuesday. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Chen Su-young) |
What a stupid substition by Togo. They have one defender sent off and another injured, so they replace the injured defender with a striker when down to ten men and two defenders.
Do they even HAVE a coach? :-)
Evidently not.
Thanks. Wasn't sure for awhile if they were playing for the Czechs or not. Seemed like they were kicking the ball straight to them. Next game I'm interested in is Thursday night. England vs. Trinidad
South Korea 2-1 Togo
[Lee Chun-Soo 54", Ahn Jung-Hwan 72" ; Mohamed Kader 31"]
HAMBURG, June 13 -- U.S. men's soccer coach Bruce Arena said he would make changes to the team's starting lineup before Saturday's World Cup match against Italy, a game the team almost certainly must win in order to advance in the tournament after yesterday's crushing 3-0 opening loss to the Czech Republic.
During a 28-minute news conference at the team hotel Tuesday, Arena was alternately solemn, defensive, funny, optimistic, contradictory and humbled. He said he did not yet know what the lineup changes would be.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061300424.html
Way to go SK! One of those games where I was kind of rooting for both teams, though.
Excellent announcers on ESPN2 today--at least for this game.
“For the future the US has got to get quality athletes not undersized track stars.We are constantly beaten by European teams that are 2 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier.The same guys that are playing Football and Baseball in this country.Beasley played in reverse all day because he couldn't take the punishment not because he was on the wrong side.”
I think this is looking at it the wrong way. The USA team is not lacking in fitness. What it lacks is flair and creativity, the things provided by Nedved and Rosicky. Admittedly finding a flair player is not something you can do overnight.
The big Czech player Koller is a handful for any team, not just the USA.
True
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