yeah, Starge, I didn't saw it, but to defend one self with a man down and against the likes of Larson and Zlatan... hats down, people ! T&T is truly TNT and they deserve their hard earned point.


No, they do not. Crouch is a hard worker and a real trooper, I'll give him that, but he is just awful when it comes to realisation. I mean, come on ? 12 cat juggling games without scoring in Liverpool ?! So many wasted chances ? The poor guy is cursed

Anyway, back to track - Serbia has lost against Holland I will NOT be killing myself, because we didn't disgrace ourselves after all, but I am in no bloody mood for a dialogue(s) right now. Just believe me when I say that neither team, not Serbia, not Holland, will go out of the group if they continue to play like they've played (Serbia - awful in attack, slow transitions; Holland - AWFUL in defence, average in all other aspects of the game, with the exception of Robben).

Netherlands. They can get really sensitive if you only say Holland. Holland is a region in Netherlands. Well actualy it's two regions, South and North, but it was one region long ago.

On the contrary: I am in the mood to discuss that. Why did we perform so pathetic, why the hell is Savo Milošević in the team, and why is Koroman the only one who can make a serius attempt to score a goal. Why is everything going slow and why are our boys falling under presure. They were making a lot of mistakes when a Dutch player aproaches. I'm telling you man, Savo Milošević is bad luck Not that I'm saying it's his fault we lost the match, but everytime i see him in the team I say: ''NOOOOOOOOO''.

Oh, The Netherlands has the chance alright. The fact is they
got 3 points from this one. We needed at least a draw against the Orange. Now it's all completly diffrent: We MUST defeat Côte d'Ivoire, and take at least a draw against Argentina. Needless to say, it's easier say than done.

EDIT: I'm surius what do people think about Brazil - Croatia? Result?

This post has been edited by HyPN0: Jun 11 2006, 07:06 PM

ooookay... Netherlands, then.


Why ?... heh... [sarcastic mode]Weeeel, Mr. Savo absolutely MUST play and get in the way of Kezman (who, BTW, doesen't even NEED Savo to stumble and fall every time he gets into a scoring position); and of course Petko simply MUST test his weaker defensive players, like Nenad Djordjevic, instead of just giving people who would "want" to play with all their 'soul' (whatever this hypothetic 'soul' thing might be...) a place in starting 11... and yes, people like Nikola Zigic MUST be kept in store untill the very end, like a WW2 German Secret Weapon, up untill 10 minutes to end when nothing can really be mended anymore.[/sarcastic mode]

I am disguisted, btw. No need to tell me things I already know, no need to tell me we're the slowest damn team in Europe for years... no need, good buddie. I am not the national selector and I do not chose who is going to get out on the pitch - otherwise, I'd at least try to be gutsy and give some other people, who are younger and braver, a chance. But everyone can be general after the battle.


*HUGE Sigh* HyPNO, a human being really doesen't "need" to do anything. A human being only has to die when it's his/hers time. Everything else is optional...

p.s.: Croatia is Brazil's toast, and you can quote me on that - no insult intended, but Brazil is just that awesome. They're the champs already, we can only sit & watch them play beautifully.

This post has been edited by milanius: Jun 11 2006, 09:38 PM

That's a brilliant piece of sarcasm here And I consider Savo Milošević a bad luck because everytime i bet on the team he was playing, I lost that bet. Osasuna screwed me once for 3,000 dinars!

Well, I wouldn't go so far as disguisted... Let's face it: Our national team always sucked (I'm refering to Serbian team not Former Yugoslavia team). Lets juist remember the previus game with Netherlands Now THAT'S disguisting.

True, you are not the national selector. But mister Petković should know better.

Oh pardon me. I meant we must do that if we wish to continue the competition.

Hmm, I absolutly agree that Brazil wins, but being a toast? I'm not so sure. And why would I be insulted? I told you that I'm half-Croatian, but I don't have any relationships with Croatians. Except I was born there.

Croatia wasn't all that bad in 1998, but we haven't heard that much from them since. I'm curious to see how they will fare. Obviously, I'm also curious to see how well Brazil does in their first three games. They tend to start almost too slow, not taking the first round serious enough and saving their energies for later. I hope this won't be the case now.

On Serbia vs. Netherlands: It reminded me of England vs. Paraguay, in that the stronger team should/could have won higher but somehow CBA to work up the energy. And yes, the Serbian team made a lot of unnecessary mistakes, almost as if they were intimidated.

Portugal vs. Angola: Well the Angolids tried their best I guess. The same can't really be said about Portugal. They should have shown a lot more than that. I have to admit I was a bit surprised by Figo though. I made pretty cruel jokes about him yesterday morning, comparing him to Lothar Mattheus, wondering whether he's bring his rollator. I thought back to the EC and how he barely moved on the field and did a lot more complaining than running, much less playing. Yesterday though he was one of the more active players and prepared the only goal, which came as a big surprise to me. Another player I noticed with the angry kid, Christiano Ronaldo. He had some good actions in that game.

Today, I'm looking forward most to the game USA vs Czechia, because I really want to see how good the Czech are right now. Same goes for the US team, but I don't think we can expect miracles from them yet. Maybe in a decade or two, who knows. Too bad those guys are not as good as the US women's team, which won the WC already

Did everyone see the Mexico-Iran game? Both teams played beautifully im my opinion (and played beautifully in many girl's I know opinions, but for a different reason ) and I think Iran has a future in this season. Mexico pulled off two goals in the last 20 minutes or so, but they were pretty evenly matched. Also, I didn't see anyone milking an "injury" for a card, which really impresses me.

Currently I'm spending more time laughing at the Japanese kamakaze tactic - if we run head first into the Australian goalkeeper, he won't be able to save!

That goal was as irregular as it gets!

Seems the ref didn't see it, and neither did his assistants. I gotta say I am surprised to see how calmly the aussie players seemed to take this. It isn't surprising Hiddink didn't though. Gotta wonder what the 4th official was trying to do when he was staring into that tiny monitor. Is that not permitted? Really strange.

Edit: wow, that went well! Good to see that erroneous goal did not decide the game!

Yeah, the Japanize scoring tactic was quite strange, almost like they were planing to tackle the goalie and run through the net. Good to see the aussies win by the way.

I remember one WC (I think it was the one 8 years ago) when Norway beat Brazil 2-1 quite early in the tournament. I've never seen Norwegians going so crazy, not before nor after that. So obviously Brazil did one of their energy-saving tactics back then...

Agree... The match was pretty good. It could have gone each way, but the problem with the Japanese was that they lost the ball to much on their own side too the Assuies which gave them a lot of these chances along with counter-attacks. The Japanese should have gotten a penalty kick when it was 1 - 1 thought, think that was the score but they didn't. But what was good was that the Assuies kept on pushing even thought they had scored the goals, the japanese defense fell apart and that led to more chances for the Assuies. Hope Australia can come far in this WC.

Italy vs Ghana thought...

The game opened like I didn't suspect, Italy pushed very hard forward and had a lot of chances. They came to a lot of shots and headings near the goal but was unlucky several times. They had great attacks, starting in the middle, before sending long run-balls to the side which the italians caught up with and got it in the field. Pirlo managed to score from about 18 meters when it was around 5 min left of first half, was a greatly placed shot in the buttom corner of the goal past several of the Ghana players who should have gotten faster up to Pirlo and tried to block the shot.

As many suspected, Italy went more passive and defensive in the second half. Ghana got more and more into the match and came closer to scoring goals, but still no great chances. Italy thought, managed to come with many deadly counter-attacks which nearly led to a goal but the Ghana keeper was very good in going out and meeting the attacker, he had a couple of good saves. Ghana was unlucky thought, they were supposed to get a penalty but the ref' decided not too apparently, he Ghana attacker was tripped by two people in the Italian defense right inside the 16'meter but no penalty kick.

Soon after the Italians pushed on and made a counter-attack. Kuffour in the Ghana defense catched the ball and was suppose to play it back to the goal keepere from around 20 - 30 meters, but it was a too slow ball! Iaquinta snapps the ball, simply runs past the Ghana goal keeper and gently places the ball in the net...

Was a deserved victory from Italy, they could have come out with a score of a easy 5 - 1 (adding that Ghana would have gotten the penalty kick and scored)

I was thinking, as Italy had done so many times before that they would open very badly in their first matches. BUT DAMN, I was surprised, when you see the replays - just look at how the Italian attackers and defenders position themselves, they did a awesom job and this is really how I like to see Italy play...

Today it's Brazil vs Croatia, Croatia - along with Norway is a team who have NEVER lost agains Brazil and I'm really looking forward to this match to see how well Brazil will actually do. As Stargel said, most of the opening matches for Brazil tend to be problemastic

Highlights from each match can be seen here, just so u know...
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/highlights.html

This post has been edited by Fuzzy Knight: Jun 13 2006, 09:35 AM

Brazilians, and this is a little known fact, hunt by smell and colour variations. So any team with a complicated colour pattern (such as the croatian chequered top) are pratically undetectable to their predator vision. Mexico also worked this out, which is why they wear those bizarre azteca tops. Unfortunately, Mexico are rubbish at football.

Oh, and there is the fact that Pele could see behind himself - he has a genetic eye abnormality that gives him a 200 degree field of vision, apparently.

On a slightly more personal note, I'm glad that the USA lost - or, rather, were anihiliated. I don't think any country who are only interested if their team is winning deserves to get through to the knockout stages, and as the US proved in 2002, they only get attention if they reach the Quarter Finals.

I love your sense of humour, Foster!

Interesting(?) sidenote: Brazil is the only country who have participated in every WC so far.

Just saw a statistic mentioning that more than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) people will be following the opening match by Brazil today. How many of you are in that statistic?

Congrats to South Korea, btw!

Ok.

France vs Switzerland was imho the weakest game yet. Henry had some good moments in the first half, but completely vanished in the second. Aside from his attempts at the swiss goal, there was really very little to see here. Both teams seem to have an ok (swiss) or good (french) defense, but the offense is seriously lacking. In the case of the french not because of a lack of talent, but probably communication and organization.

Frankly, I can't at all subscribe to what the commentator on german tv said about these two being without question the two teams that will make it into the next round. As they played today, both teams would've lost to the Koreans and maybe even to Togo.

Just watched the match France vs Switzerland, here's a little review I made...

France vs Switzerland


Match started good, France takes the lead and pushes hard against the swiss players. Just after four min. Henry has a good chance, totally unmarked few feet from the swiss goal, his heading misses thought but a huge chance.

Switzerland tries to attack, they have good combinations but at the finishing part - nothing works out.

France gets yet another chance right after they have a corner, but the shot goes just outside the goal.

When 20 min has gone by, France is the best team - they've rolled forth good attacks and their defense have worked great, keeping the swiss players away from opening shots.

Through-out the first half we can see that France sends too little players into the box when they have counter-attacks, would have worked much better with a couple of more players.

Then, out of the shadows comes a freekick for Switzerland from about 30 meters. The shot goes past everyone and in the pole, great oppertunity only a inches away from giving Switzerland a 1 - 0 lead.

At around 37 min. Henry opens a shot on goal, but a swiss defender blocks it with his arm, clearly a penelty shot but ref' thinks otherwise.

Zidane still got it and he sends away great passes for Henry, they work great together and it's nice to see that Zidane still has it. He's been the man who started all the attacks for France which nearly led to goals.
Henry had a couple of very good chances, but this time he shoots like a wuss and it just ain't good enough!

France clearly the best team the first 45 min.

---

Second half starts, France has dropped a lot and it looks like the fire is dying out. Switzerland starts coming more and more into the match.

The match get's really boring - it's not until around 60 min. that Switzerland has a great chance, but Barthez(sp?) the French goal keeper makes a very nice save with his knee.

The French team drops even more, very little chances - we can hear how bored the crowd is. Zidane still got what's needed thought to make some chances for France.

90 min. Saha for France shots the ball right outside the swiss goal - a great chance but only inches away, too bad!

92 min. last chance for Switzerland with a freekick not far from the corner. The ball glides in against the swiss players, but they screw up. Too swiss players go for the ball, it ends up with two swiss players inside the goal and the ball outside - huge chance but clumsy by the swiss players.

Henry has been nearly invisible through the second half.

Match Ends... France 0 - 0 Switzerland...

France still got a chance too win, but they need to do better - without Zidane today they would have certainly lost, at least I think so. They need to put forward more people in the counter-attacks and crosses and better shots on goal from Henry.

This post has been edited by Fuzzy Knight: Jun 13 2006, 07:21 PM

Fuzzy Knight, you should consider applying as a writer of VG's live online followings of important sports events (for non-Norwegians, VG is Norway's largest newspaper). Nice!

More statistics for you who don't read long essays: This was France's 4th WC match without scoring. They were humbled during the last WC four years ago when they had to leave without one single goal.

How many will bet me it will happen again?

Edit:

Btw, just noticed stargelman had changed his nick to stargelinho for the occasion. Wondering who his wannabe is?

This post has been edited by Olav: Jun 13 2006, 08:01 PM

Yes, the match between France, and Switzerland was a thrilling one...but sadly the swiss did not manage to win, as I had hoped....but I'm much more interested in the match between Brasil and Cech Republic...(my buttons on Brasil).

BRA 1 - 0 CRO half-time

Interesting match, hope there will be more goals in the second half... Hopefully the brazilians will have more endurance than the french did

Croatia is playing well now - Think Brazil could need a new goal soon if they want to win...

Well, what did you expect.

As I said a while ago, you shouldn't expect the Brazilians to show what they got in the first round. They don't usually do that - get their 3 points and move on with as small an investment as possible. The next two games won't be any different. You could see that many of the players did not take this game serious - Ronaldo being the prime example here. The fact that Pereira didn't sub more players enforced the picture that this was all intentional.

The Croatians tried a lot harder, but despite numerous nice scenes, they never were a real threat to the Brazilians, and I think that says a lot.