World Cup

[cavalier]

You're in company, mine are too.

You're right about England's strikers. Our other forward is a 17 year old, he played in a friendly just before the World Cup, but hasn't even played in the English Premier League yet. Don't know much about him, but apparently he's very quick.
We can always push Joe Cole upfront, or play with 5 in the midfield. Still, the selection of just those four, Owen just returning from injury, Rooney still injured, Crouch who doesn't score that many, Walcott who's never played, seems like a bizarre decision to me.

I hope everything goes well for you today.

[wil]

Now I've admitted I don't follow this stuff, but I did catch a clip that the Americans stayed on for a while by a tie....yet they scored no goals! Both goals were scored by the opposing team, one in each net?? Gotta love it.

[cavalier]

Ok, heading into the Quarter Finals, let's have some predictions. Scores are not necessary, but could be interesting to see how horrendously wrong we get it.

Quarters

Germany 3
Argentina 2

Italy 2
Ukraine 0

England 2
Portugal 1

Brazil 3
France 1


Semis

Germany 1
Italy 2

England 1
Brazil 0



Final

England 3
Italy 1


ENGLAND ARE
WORLD CHAMPIONS

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all,

it was a really good match until Rooney lost his temper and cost England the match.

i know the feeling, though we didn't lose it in a PK i was still surprised that we lost to Ghana.

i predict that the final will be between Germany and Brazil with Germany winning at home to take their 4th World Cup.

metta,

~v

[I, Brian]

Agreed with Vaj.

Really thought we'd beat Portugal 2-1 as well, though. The moment they started playing for penalties, I knew we were doomed.

[Vajradhara]

not too mention that Beckham had to leave in the 57th min. it really was a valiant effort playing a man down for almost an hour. still.. matches like that deserve a dramatic finish and this certain was that.

metta,

~v

[Vajradhara]

i'm shocked! it was a good match by the French side but Brazil played really poorly.

wow..

[cavalier]

I was going to come on and have a post match rant on Saturday but a need for beer intervened.
What's to be said? Rooney's a fool, but didn't deserve a red card. Lampard was poor, again. I don't think Beckham played well and actually thought we looked more dangerous with Lennon.
For me though the blame lies with Sven, I've never liked him and think his tactics were poor, he's incapable of making a creative substitution, actually seems scared of making any kind of substitution. Why take Walcott? If you take a player like that you must have some kind of plan for him yet it appears Sven was only ever going to bring him on if we were 3-0 up and cruising. Why a 4-5-1? Apparently to break up Portugal's game, why not let them worry about breaking up our game?

Breath, breath...

Ok, I'm going for Italy, but who knows?

[cavalier]

If you're both right though and Germany win, I'll be happy. Always been a fan of Klinsman and I really admire the way he's coached the side.

[Vajradhara]

Zadines' action was incredible! i've never seen a player with that sort of stature and in such a big match lose their cool like that.

it cost France the Cup this year, in my view, since the player that missed the PK is the one that had to come in for Zadine after he was red carded.

a fairly entertaining match though.

it was a wonderful ride and though i had Italy as one of the top four i didn't expect that it would be them in the end.

Good job, Italy.

thank you all for your contributions to this thread, see you again in four years!!!

South Africa, 2010.

metta,

~v

[cavalier]

V, thanks for starting the thread

After seeing Zidane lash out at someone four years ago, I was kinda waiting for something to happen. Seeing him charge someone with his head though? It was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. It actually reminded me of an old Simpson's episode where Homer does the same thing.

Anyway, very happy Italy won, and even more happy that France lost. Hurrah!

[flowperson]

D'oh ! ...Viva Italia !!!

flow....