World Cup 2006
I dont think you are right there. On there last warm-up matches Robinho was on the bench and Ronaldo started in. And their trainer said that this would be the lineup they would use at worlds.sniikeri wrote:Why is that? This time they've even got a good goalie (Dida). Talking about goal scoring, Ronaldinho isn't the only one who can do them: there's also Ronaldo, Robinho and Adriano (I think Ronaldo will sit on the bench though).Just call me hagesy wrote:Everyone says brazil just due to ronaldinho. They say this could be the best brazilian team ever, i don't think so.
Oh yeah and Germany is a good bid also.
Rivaldo isn't even on their national team but Kaka and Adriana are other great attackers they got.Uranos wrote:Im not up to date with soccer or anything but will Roberto carlos, ronaldo, rivaldo, all those guys play?
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carl winslow
- Atomsmashasaurus Dex
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Yeah, you're right, I admit it. Robinho might be a bit too unexperienced but he'll probably visit the pitch too at some point.Asmus wrote:I dont think you are right there. On there last warm-up matches Robinho was on the bench and Ronaldo started in. And their trainer said that this would be the lineup they would use at worlds.sniikeri wrote:Why is that? This time they've even got a good goalie (Dida). Talking about goal scoring, Ronaldinho isn't the only one who can do them: there's also Ronaldo, Robinho and Adriano (I think Ronaldo will sit on the bench though).Just call me hagesy wrote:Everyone says brazil just due to ronaldinho. They say this could be the best brazilian team ever, i don't think so.
Ronaldo just seemed to be A BIT chubby in those latest pics of him. 
I'd still like to remind that Holland didn't lose any of its 9 last qualification matches. Although there are also Argentina and Ivory Coast in the "division C", I'm hoping Holland to get through. And Ivory Coast too, because I read an article that the players themselves really believe that their good performances could stop the civil war there.
It'd be a bomb if Argentina couldn't get through. (There's Serbia & Montenegro too but I don't think it'll be worth to mention really.)
I don't think so. The other teams are Italy, Czech Republic and Ghana. Italy is always one of the favorites, defending hard, and the Czech team is great too. So the US is probably going to struggle with Ghana for the 3rd place in the starting "division" although only 2 will get forward in the tournament.carl winslow wrote:does the US have a shot at doing well in this?
Starting tomorrow!!!
Lauri Jaakkola
Is Ivory Coast any good? I know they have Didier Drogba, but are there other good players?sniikeri wrote:[
Although there are also Argentina and Ivory Coast in the "division C", I'm hoping Holland to get through. And Ivory Coast too, because I read an article that the players themselves really believe that their good performances could stop the civil war there.
It'd be a bomb if Argentina couldn't get through. (There's Serbia & Mo!!
Italy playes the worst type of football. Its not even good defending, its spreading the yellow cards. Fouling isn't defending. If the refereeing is good, and Italy play their usual game they won't get far. I'll never forgive them for knocking out Nigeria in the quarters of USA94, at least it was pretty much all Baggio who was a fantastic player, and he was punished for his Quarter final hat-trick which single handedly sunk the super eagles, when he missed his penalty in the finals on the way to losing to Brazil.Italy is always one of the favorites, defending hard,
The African teams are so tough to predict. They have such potential but are also inconsistent. I don't think any of the African World Cup qualifiers faired all that well in the last African Nations Cup, but again they're all so up and down who can tell what sort of teams will show up to Germany? I hope they do well and I hope they play that carefree African attacking football. I'd keep my eyes on Ivory Coast and Ghana particularly.
Only 12 hours to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who wears short shorts?
Dylan Govender.
Dylan Govender.
They have a pretty good team. Most of their players play in the french league but they got 2 players from Arsenal: Abib Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue.. Which both a great players.C-Fan wrote:
Is Ivory Coast any good? I know they have Didier Drogba, but are there other good players?
And to Lauri I agree about Ronaldo being chubby but here is a photo from 98:
And here is a new photo:
Not much difference in chubbyness? I dont think he is fit. But I do also think he is build quite large.
And yeah Im sure Robinho will play eventually he rocks so hard. Only player I like from Real Madrid. Barcelona <3
wow! what a first half
a lot of goals in teh begining, great way to start the world cup
germany has a great offense, i think.
they need to start feeding some passes in from the sides, and stop going to the middle all the time
the german defense, i see as trying to catch the costa ricans offside a lot, which can fuck them up, and already has, with wanchope's goal
costa rica needs to find some kind of flow to their game, and make some good passes, they'll surely be able to find the weak points of the german defense
2nd half should be goood to
a lot of goals in teh begining, great way to start the world cup
germany has a great offense, i think.
they need to start feeding some passes in from the sides, and stop going to the middle all the time
the german defense, i see as trying to catch the costa ricans offside a lot, which can fuck them up, and already has, with wanchope's goal
costa rica needs to find some kind of flow to their game, and make some good passes, they'll surely be able to find the weak points of the german defense
2nd half should be goood to
4-2, six goals in the first game.
Anyone's still claiming that the Germans play boring football?
I think by now it should be obvious why Klinsmann has changed the tactics - the defence isn't very good but attacking goes. Attack seems to be Germany's best defence.
Both Wanchope's goals were almost offside. Still, Germany's defence should have gone to those balls and not just stop playing and wait for the offside whistle (which never came).
Holy crap that Frings' goal was awesome.
Anyone's still claiming that the Germans play boring football?
I think by now it should be obvious why Klinsmann has changed the tactics - the defence isn't very good but attacking goes. Attack seems to be Germany's best defence.
Both Wanchope's goals were almost offside. Still, Germany's defence should have gone to those balls and not just stop playing and wait for the offside whistle (which never came).
Holy crap that Frings' goal was awesome.
Lauri Jaakkola
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brian relly
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Based on that performance I don't think the Germans will trouble any of the real quality sides. Their defence was poor, they are defending really shallow and expecting Lehnman to come charging out to any through balls - when they were forced to defend deep there was a lot of space between defenders. They keep their fourmation a little too religiously and don't cover defend very well. In attack they have a similar problem and are unwilling to break formation, Costa Rica was defending really deep and allowed Germany far too much space so their attacking formation was allowed to be at its most effective. Germany had little movement off the ball, they pretty much rely on lateral ball movement to pull defenders out of position, and the only players making angled runs off the ball were those running to the corners on the overlap. They lack creativity and this will hurt them against defensive units that are better drilled than costa rica, especially if theres a bit of pace in defence allowing them to push up and keep the Germans pinned furher back. I guess Ballack will come back into the side but really, I'm unconvinced he 's suited to the role of offensive playmaker. He's a excelent goal scorer but not a creative football brain on par with the likes of Zidane or Nedved, which is what Germany are sorely missing in comparison with the top sides.
I thought the second goal was offside, but it was certainly close and apparantly the linesman have been instructed to give benifit of the doubt to the offensive side. Better teams will expliot this type of defending ruthlessly. I think the problem is that the defense is not flexible, they are unwilling to man-mark and will be found out against teams that can hold possesion and move the ball accurately. That said their defense in the midfield was very good, they push the oppositions defenders and midfielders towards the line and force them to come forward on Germany's terms (ie down the flanks which are then cut off by weight of numbers) and pick off a lot of passes around the halfway line, however against stronger opposition - I'm thinking of the likes of Lampard and Gerard who Germany may well meet in the next round - it may be a different story.Both Wanchope's goals were almost offside. Still, Germany's defence should have gone to those balls and not just stop playing and wait for the offside whistle (which never came)
Who wears short shorts?
Dylan Govender.
Dylan Govender.
Yeah Germany definitely play exciting football but I have to agree with Dyalan that they won't be one of the top teams - although you have to consider the home advantage - maybe they'll rise against better teams with strong crowd support. I wouldn't write them off but going on their performance last night you'd have to say they don't look like a genuine contender at the moment. Still teams with good attack and poor defence make for the best games 
