Men's World Cup 2006

[Green Gaia]

2 from every group? I didn't know that..
The U.S. should make it too. But they have Italy in their group as well.
It should be good...
Fun Fun Fun....:woohoo:

The USA drew a tough group, but it's very possible for them to beat the Italians and be the runner-up of the group with the Czechs winning it. But yeah, it's gonna be fun to watch.

I think all of the advancing teams should be pretty straightforward except for groups C and E where it is just about anybodies game. Group C esp. looks VERY VERY tough. If you think Ivory Coast are write offs forget it, they've got several players in the European leagues.

Really? I don't know much about Ivory Coast, to be honest. I'd pick Argentina and the Netherlands to advance easily out of Group C.

 

[ChrisP]

The USA drew a tough group, but it's very possible for them to beat the Italians and be the runner-up of the group with the Czechs winning it. But yeah, it's gonna be fun to watch.

Really? I don't know much about Ivory Coast, to be honest. I'd pick Argentina and the Netherlands to advance easily out of Group C.

This from a tournament happening in Africa at the mo'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=354786&cc=3436

Their most famous international is probably Drogba, a superb striker who edged the Argentinian great and sometimes captain Crespo from his starting spot from the Chelsea lineup last season. Yeah. They're GOOOOOoood.

 

[Green Gaia]

I was visiting a couple soccer forums, and the favorite seemed to be England. :areyoucra

I guess since they were mostly English-speaking forums, and we're most familiar with the English players, that a favoritism would naturally exist... but I'm sorry I don't think England has any more of a chance than the USA and Mexico.

And Germany seems to be a favorite too, but I don't think that having the home-field advantage is going to help them that much. I would actually love to see Germany do well though.

 

[Green Gaia]

This from a tournament happening in Africa at the mo'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=354786&cc=3436

Their most famous international is probably Drogba, a superb striker who edged the Argentinian great and sometimes captain Crespo from his starting spot from the Chelsea lineup last season. Yeah. They're GOOOOOoood.

Thanks! Ok, DrogbaI know from Chelsea and a few other names now that I see them. Didn't realize where they were all from. This will be a great group to watch! (still going with Argentina and Netherlands though )

 

[ChrisP]

It's either going ot be a complete shock that group or the closest group in the history of World cups

I was visiting a couple soccer forums, and the favorite seemed to be England. :areyoucra

England are always the favourite in England. Even when their team is a pile of faux-mohawked, stubble faced posers who couldn't dribble their way out of a paper bag let alone round another team, the English public still expects them to win. Drop Beckham, you've already dropped Campbell :clap

You're on your way Poms now if only you were good at any other sports....

 

[Quiddity]

I can't remember the last time England made it pretty far....
Somebody remind me?

 

[Green Gaia]

I've never been that terribly impressed with David Beckham... but that's just me.

 

[ChrisP]

I can't remember the last time England made it pretty far....
Somebody remind me?

http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWCTmHist.html
England have entered all 14 post-war competitions. They reached the final tournament 11 times. They qualified through play in the preliminary competition on nine occasions ( 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998 and 2002), as host country once (1966) and as reigning champions once (1970). They failed to qualify for the final tournaments on three occasions ( 1974, 1978 and 1994).

They won the tournament once, in 1966, when it was held on their own soil and they played all their matches at their home ground, Wembley Stadium, an advantage extended to no other team in World Cup history. Their 4-2 extra-time victory against West Germany in the only final match they have reached has remained clouded by the controversy over whether their third goal, the first of extra-time, actually crossed the goal line, and, at least in the view prevailing in Latin nations, by the furore surrounding the expulsion of Argentina captain Antonio Rattin in the quarterfinal.

England reached the semifinals on only one other occasion, at the 1990 tournament in Italy, where, following extra-time victories over Belgium and Cameroon, they went down to West Germany on penalty kicks after a 1-1 extra-time draw. They then lost the third-place match to the host nation, 2-1.​

So basically they're not much better than average, they just hate to admit it. More than half their good players in the Premier league are foreign anyway

 

[ChrisP]

I've never been that terribly impressed with David Beckham... but that's just me.

He used to be a superb player, but he never quite recovered from being thrown out of the 98 quarterfinals and being made a captain of England only to miss all those penalties in the last world cup. It was all a little too much for the Legolas of soccer.

Pin point long balls he still has, but his penalty kicks have fallen to average, where once they were unbeatable.

 

[Green Gaia]

I can't remember the last time England made it pretty far....
Somebody remind me?

2002 - they made it to the Quarterfinals before losing to Brazil
1998 - they lost to Argentina in the 2nd round
1994 - didn't qualify
1990 - they were 4th place, after losing the match for 3rd place to Italy

 

[ChrisP]

They cheated to win the lot in 1966 and since then have only reached the semi's once in 1990.

1994 - didn't qualify


1994 - didn't qualify


1994 - didn't qualify :jiggy:.

Stick to Music guys, at least you do that well

 

[Quiddity]

2002 - they made it to the Quarterfinals before losing to Brazil
1998 - they lost to Argentina in the 2nd round
1994 - didn't qualify
1990 - they were 4th place, after losing the match for 3rd place to Italy

Gotcha....

 

[Green Gaia]

Stick to Music guys, at least you do that well

At least the USA only has one way to go - up.

 

[Quiddity]

At least the USA only has one way to go - up.

Doing sooo good...and it's just a baby...Go USA....:woohoo:

 

[ChrisP]

Yeah you have definitely improved. You'll have my respect when you have a cricket team.

 

[Green Gaia]

Yeah you have definitely improved. You'll have my respect when you have a cricket team.

Well that will never happen. Most people here don't know that cricket is anything other than an insect.

 

[ChrisP]

Well that will never happen. Most people here don't know that cricket is anything other than an insect.

California has a nice Indian immigrant population that's looking to change that

 

[Green Gaia]

I just googled it because to be honest, I know what the sport is, but I don't follow it. And there does seem to be some emerging leagues around the country. So that's cool.

 

[Quiddity]

Well that will never happen. Most people here don't know that cricket is anything other than an insect.

Holy Chicken little Maize that is the hardest you have made me laugh...:biglaugh:
I totally thought he was talking about an insect.

 

[Green Gaia]

Holy Chicken little Maize that is the hardest you have made me laugh...:biglaugh:

My day is complete then.