2006 World Cup

[CaptTurbo]

Interesting fact: there has been an underdog in the semifinals for the past three World Cups.

2002: South Korea and Turkey
1998: Croatia
1994: Sweden and Bulgaria
1990: All big dogs...Argentina v Italy, W. Germany v England

.

Croatia an underdog?

 

[Stout]

Croatia an underdog?

Um, Croatia was a MAJOR underdog to make it into the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup. You sound surprised. Why?

 

[CaptTurbo]

Um, Croatia was a MAJOR underdog to make it into the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup. You sound surprised. Why?

im surprised because Crotatia is never a HUGE underdog. Pretty stable soccer power. Same this year. Their team got old and had a lot of rotation and aging players but were still expected to make it to 16 which thye did'nt.

You'll find most european soccer fans never take Croatia lightly. Serbia yes, Croatia no.

 

[Zeno]

im surprised because Crotatia is never a HUGE underdog. Pretty stable soccer power. Same this year. Their team got old and had a lot of rotation and aging players but were still expected to make it to 16 which thye did'nt.

You'll find most european soccer fans never take Croatia lightly. Serbia yes, Croatia no.

I think 1998 was Croatia first year in the WC...they surprised a lot of people. 2002 they stunk and this year very few fans or experts picked them to come out of group play. I had them finishing behind Brazil and the Aussies.

How you can call them a stable soccer power is confusing. They've never won anything and have 1 good tournament showing(1998) to show for themselves.

 

[Renz]

I think 1998 was Croatia first year in the WC...they surprised a lot of people. 2002 they stunk and this year very few fans or experts picked them to come out of group play. I had them finishing behind Brazil and the Aussies.

How you can call them a stable soccer power is confusing. They've never won anything and have 1 good tournament showing(1998) to show for themselves.

Croatia were also underwhelming during Euro 2004, going 0-1-2 and failing to get out of the group stages.

 

[Stout]

im surprised because Crotatia is never a HUGE underdog. Pretty stable soccer power. Same this year. Their team got old and had a lot of rotation and aging players but were still expected to make it to 16 which thye did'nt.

You'll find most european soccer fans never take Croatia lightly. Serbia yes, Croatia no.

Croatia stunned the soccer world in the 1998 tournament. You're right in that they have had talented players and nobody purposefully underestimates them, but that's a far cry from them being favored, or even thought of as a possibility, for the semi-finals of a World Cup. This time around, they were considered a dark horse to make the next stages, considering their group. Yes, they're a good side, but not world class. Has your Croatian fan buddy been pumping them up to you again?

 

[Nasser22]

Predictions for tommorow:
Argentina 2 Germany 1 even though I think Germany has a very good chance to win this. They have a very good team and the home field advantage. Maxi's going to kick their asses though!

You must be registered for see images

Italy 1 Ukraine 0 I like Ukraine but Italy is just better. I expect either of these teams to lose to the winner of the first match so this game really doesen't matter, hehe.

I'm rooting for Argentina the rest of the way. They are my 3rd favorite team. I'm hoping for a Brazil-Argentina final. That should be good.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I think 1998 was Croatia first year in the WC...they surprised a lot of people. 2002 they stunk and this year very few fans or experts picked them to come out of group play. I had them finishing behind Brazil and the Aussies.
.

Every expert I saw picked Brazil and Croatia. Most say the aussies have a good shot but no one stepped forward that I read.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Has your Croatian fan buddy been pumping them up to you again?

There is a lot more than 1 and yes probably to omuch.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Predictions for tommorow:
Argentina 2 Germany 1 even though I think Germany has a very good chance to win this. .

They showed a stat on espn. Host countries have a record something like this 7 billion wins, 3 losses and 2 ties in world cup play.

I wonder how that is.

Argentina is much better but I wouldnt even blink if germany won 3-0

 

[Zeno]

Argentina is much better but I wouldnt even blink if germany won 3-0

Much better? I don't think so, either team could win. They match up very evenly, their styles of play differ greatly but at level of ability they are pretty close. Germany has been getting stronger in every match while Argentina didn't look as strong against Mexico or the Netherlands as they did early on.

 

[Zeno]

Every expert I saw picked Brazil and Croatia. Most say the aussies have a good shot but no one stepped forward that I read.

Better coaching and quality results in warm up matches had a lot of people picking the Aussies.

 

[arthurracoon]

ARG-GER in OT. 1-1

How did ARG's golie get hurt

(please dont BIM me)

 

[dogpoo32]

ARG-GER in OT. 1-1

How did ARG's golie get hurt

(please dont BIM me)

He got hit in the hip or rib area with a knee.

 

[Nasser22]

Aww, that game was intense. I wanted Argentina to win. Oh well, what bad luck to have your goalie injured. The back-up was terrible.


arthurracoon, the goalie got a knee to his ribs while going after a save he shouldn't have..

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Wow, Lehmann read all four PK shots, stopping two.

And what was all that business at the end of the game about?

 

[Sunshooter]

Wow, Lehmann read all four PK shots, stopping two.

And what was all that business at the end of the game about?

Ayala and Cambiasso showed no cofidence when shot

 

[slinslin]

Wow, Lehmann read all four PK shots, stopping two.

And what was all that business at the end of the game about?

Heinze and some other Argentinians were taking swings at german players and team personel after the loss.

Ayala is such a loser scumbag. Even in the game Germany should have gotten 2 penalties for his jersey grabbing and arm swinging in the box against Ballack.

 

[Chaplin]

I heard something about one of Germany's assistant coaches said something to an Argentine player, and that's what started it, not vice versa.

 

[Stout]

They showed a stat on espn. Host countries have a record something like this 7 billion wins, 3 losses and 2 ties in world cup play.

I wonder how that is.

Argentina is much better but I wouldnt even blink if germany won 3-0

Hosting a World Cup in no way assures you win it, or gives as big of an edge as you claim. I know, I know, you're exaggerating, but results like 1998 are no given. Spain hosted once and didn't even make the semis. We hosted and didn't make the quarters. It's a big help for the big teams that gives them an edge to win it, yes (and very much so for Germany) but helps lesser skilled teams far less, I think.

 

[slinslin]

No one of argentina's bench players kicked Mertesacker in the leg which caused him to bleed. Bierhoff stepped in to sperate them. Rodriguez ran across the field to punch Schweinsteiger, Heinze was throwing punches as well.

 

[Zeno]

That was a poor display of sportsmanship after the match for sure. I think the only players I saw exchange jerseys were Podolski(sp?) and Tevez.

Italy dominated the Ukraine for much of todays match. I picked Italy to win but I was hoping Ukraine would pull off the upset, they just didn't have anywhere near the talent of the Italians.

Italy Vs. Germany should be interesting--Italy has only surrendered 1 goal--an own goal versus the US. Their defense is dominating...Buffon isn't even called on too often (although he had 1 great save today).

So far 2 for 2 in my quarterfinal picks---I missed one game in the round of 16 (I took Spain over France). Brazil and Portugal tomorrow.

 

[Mulli]

Good to see Totti and Toni hitting their strides, so to speak.

 

[Renz]

They showed a stat on espn. Host countries have a record something like this 7 billion wins, 3 losses and 2 ties in world cup play.

I wonder how that is.

Argentina is much better but I wouldnt even blink if germany won 3-0

6 of the 17 nations who hosted the WC ended up winning it, or 35%.

 

[BigDavis75]

Heinze and some other Argentinians were taking swings at german players and team personel after the loss.

Ayala is such a loser scumbag. Even in the game Germany should have gotten 2 penalties for his jersey grabbing and arm swinging in the box against Ballack.

That was an absolute dive by Ballack and he should have been carded. Also, penalties for jersey grabbing like he did, you have got to be kidding.