2006 Football World Cup!

[oDDity]

Yes, but I wouldn't put England down as one of the best teams. THey haven't won a thing for 40 years, or even got to the final, and that includes the European cup. THere is no reason to suspect they might win it this time. THeya re always a very over-hyped team and never produce anything.

I don't know if they are being hyped up by German commentaors as well, but it seems they are if you think they are a good team.

[Macsen]

I look forward to England getting knocked out by Ecuador in the round of 16.

 

England always seem surprised when they don't win, as if it's some god given right. They'd do well not to hype themselves up and save on the blushes.

[sparhawk]

I don't know if they are hyped up or not, because I never followed football. I can count the number of times I have watched a match on the fingers of one hand even if three fingers were cut off.

[oDDity]

I look forward to England getting knocked out by Ecuador in the round of 16.

 

England always seem surprised when they don't win, as if it's some god given right. They'd do well not to hype themselves up and save on the blushes.

 

THey are hyping themselves up though, commentatorss are talking about them as second favourites after Brasil. That's a nonsense. THere are at least 6 teams that are equally as good as England and have as much chance of winning. Even when the Germans havent' got a very good team they still seem to make it though to the final, I think it's all down to belief and confidence, and that's something that England can't have, because they've won nothing for a long, long time.

Then again, the same was true about the cricket team until they beat the Aussies last summer, so things do turn around eventually.

I have nothing against Enlgland, I would like to see them win, just like I'd want to see any UK side win, but I never understand this expectation that they should win.

[Vadrosaul]

It's not as random as you think. There are skills, grooming, funding, training, like oDDity mentioned, that can somewhat group teams together, in what I would say groups of 6.

 

England is not in the top group. You would have been better served to go with a Brazil, Germany, Mexico.

[BlackThief]

to go with a Brazil, Germany, Mexico.

 

you didn't see the match brazil vs croatia, did you? It's really a shame that the Croats didn't win the game, they were more than twice as good as those fat football millionaires, who think they don't have to run anymore, just because a single Brazilian player has got more money than the whole Croatian team.

 

looking forward to the match tomorrow though - I'm curious, if they were able to improve german defense - if that issue is fixed, they'll definitely have a great chance to win the tournament!

[oDDity]

Yes, Croatia deserved at least a draw there, and the Czechs look good as well, as do the Italians, Dutch. Argentines. There are a lot good teams that could win, and remember that Greece won the last Euro championship, so anything is possible.

France were terrible, Brasil looks ordinary, Germany may have scored four goals but didn't look good either, against some tough opposition they will lose.

[Unstoppable]

My favorite teams are Costa Rica, USA, England, and Italy. If one of them places at least 3rd I will be sastisfied.

[Maximius]

I don't know if they are hyped up or not, because I never followed football. I can count the number of times I have watched a match on the fingers of one hand even if three fingers were cut off.

 

 

I hear what you are screaming. My mothers family is a football (U.S. style) cult, one of my uncles almost coached the Miami dolphins and both of my male cousins were trophied highschool/college f-ballers. They watch every game, and when there are no games they watch old tapes of games. Weekend after weekend I would go to visit and be invited to watch the "game" with the boys, although they knew damn well I hated the sport. They had to ask because they simply could not understand how someone could not want to watch that crap and secondly, they didnt do much else.

 

Im not as anti-sports as I was as a kid but I still find the majority of professional level sports to be mindnumbing shit. Sure, there are a few exciting moments, a well executed move or great team work, I can appreciate that. But the levels of excitement and commitment I see in people to their teams and sports is downright scary, talk about wasting energy on some crap that has little or no impact on ones own life. In some parts of this country its nearly a religion.

[sparhawk]

Actually I'm quite surprised that I currently watch the matches. Even though it's only the ones from Germany. I doubt that after the WM I will maintain an interest, but maybe it is just that it's hard to escape it if it's in your own country. But I must say, that I don't see much from it. When I live my regular live, going to work and so, of course there is talk about it, but apart from some cars wearing flags and the constant commercials, there is not much that would indicate that this is happening on the streets. I expected more enthusiasm.

[BlackThief]

well then you're living in the wrong area - the atmosphere is really great here. I was at the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart during the match against Costa Rica and it was really awesome - almost 40000 fans. the whole city was one WM party. tonight people hooted (?) for more than half an hour on the streets - you can see a flag on almost every house here.

[sparhawk]

Yeah. Flags are on some houses and some cars have flags. And that's about it. Apart from that you wouldn't even know that something is happening, if you had not heard about the WM before.

[Macsen]

Since Wales aren't around I just support the only other country full of Welsh people, Argentina. I will support Germany if they face England however, the number of England flags waved about by lardy yobs/tourists here has gone beyond a joke.

[Macsen]

talk about wasting energy on some crap that has little or no impact on ones own life.

The world cup has a lot of impact on how a country is viewed in the world, and how a country views itself.

 

If France hadn't won the 1998 World Cup with a team full of black people it is likely Le Pen would have won the election, and Europe would be a very different place.

 

Hosting, or doing well, can have a great impact on how other countries see you, and can solve all sorts of problems at home. Even winning a minor sporting event like the 2005 Rugby Grand Slam has done Wales a lot of good, made people jolly, increased national pride, and so on... So really it does have quite a lot of impact on your life.

[Vadrosaul]

Since Wales aren't around I just support the only other country full of Welsh people, Argentina. I will support Germany if they face England however, the number of England flags waved about by lardy yobs/tourists here has gone beyond a joke.

Hmm, supporting them after a 6-0 victory, well played

[Unstoppable]

Ok Costa Rica is out of it but next match we are gonna fight for the win with pride and honor. The Polish will feel our wrath. We are sick and tired of losing in the first round and I can't wait to see what happens.

 

Er um USA and Italy are in the first grp so one's gonna give since USA lost the first match. I like em both so any winning on Saturday will do.

 

Besides that I rly like England. I don't see why there's so much England hate. I never seen anyone who can corner better than Beckham except maybe Roberto Carlos.

 

If anything i'm pissed at Brazil for scoring 5-2 against us when they were already qualified at the 98 world cup I believe. Bastards. It's paybacktime watch!

 

So yea may the best team win.

Edited June 17, 2006 by Unstoppable

[Macsen]

Hmm, supporting them after a 6-0 victory, well played

1.) Supported them in football for ages, in rugby far longer (except when Wales are playing them)

2.) 6-0 not difficult against S&M, who aren't even a country any more

[oDDity]

It wasnt just the scoreline, it was the way they played. All of the 'big' teams have only been playing 'small' teams so far, and none have played like that, so it's not just they were playing poor opposition. Also, Holland didn't take S&M apart like that.

England have played like crap so far, they have zero chance of winning on this form, Germany ar elooking better though, it's always good for the home tem to get to at least the semi-final.

I dont' think there's much England hate outside of Scotland and Wales. We kicked England's ass last year, so if they win we can claim to be better than the world cup holders)

[Fingernail]

Actually England has some really great players this time, it just doesn't seem like a great team at the moment.

 

Perhaps they'll pick up a bit, and changes will be made, but they don't seem to be gelling very well yet.

 

But we do have some outstanding talent.

[sparhawk]

Hosting, or doing well, can have a great impact on how other countries see you, and can solve all sorts of problems at home.

 

Well, I guess at least a few hundred americans will now know what Germany is and what Europe. And WHERE it is of course.

 

As for increasing national pride. It never worked for me.

[Macsen]

Add Italy to the list of rubbish 'big' teams, then. Only Spain and Argentina left now.

 

As for increasing national pride. It never worked for me.

That's because you're not German!

 

I dont' think there's much England hate outside of Scotland and Wales.

That's because we're the only countries left that are part of the old empire. We are the first, and the last, english colonies.

 

With any luck Scotland will have escaped by this time next year and Wales soon after.

[Unstoppable]

Did anyone see the Italy vs USA game. Holy crap that was a Rugby Match. There was THREE red cards in that one. USA was running with only 9 men. It was a war. It came out 1-1 too. I'm also very proud of how Ghana played. They are the definite sleeper hit of the World Cup!

 

Czechs and Ghana have incredible golies as well as Mexico.

[demagogue]

I was so going into that game expecting the US to get wasted by Italy, given all the negativity by the press, etc ... so I'm happy they came out with at least a tie.

Edited June 18, 2006 by demagogue

[oDDity]

THe USA looked surprisngly good in that game, they could have won even with 9 men had their second goal not been disallowed. I@d like to see them get through the group now, I guess it can only do the tournaament and football good if it becomes as big a sport in the US as it is everywhere else.

[Macsen]

Not likely, they got to the semi-finals last time remember, but football has yet to 'break' the USA.