World Cup Soccer

[seak]

The US played pretty well in the second half and for the game overall much better effort then against the CR

The refing was terrible!!!!!

GO USA, still alive! (and go Italy against the CR)

[Goofy]

...Between the three networks they're airing all 64 games.

A big thank-you to the Disney Corporation for this (yes, Disney own ABC and the ESPN networks).

The US played pretty well in the second half and for the game overall much better effort then against the CR

The refing was terrible!!!!!

Both of these are understatements, as Italy finished the match with only 10 men, and the US with 9. A marvelous effort by the Americans, and a day-night comparison to the match lost to the Czechs.

[Goofy]

Full results on the day:

Portugal 2, Iran nil. Portugal is on to Stage 2, the only guarantee so far from Group D.
Ghana 2, Czech Republic nil.
USA 1, Italy 1.

No guarantees from Group E for the second stage until next Thursday's matches.

[Black Jeebus]

The refing was terrible!!!!!

Amiga, you just made the understatement of the year!

Let's review the three (yes three) red cards awarded yesterday.

1. 28 RED CARD - Italy's Daniele De Rossi sent off for elbowing Brian McBride in the middle of the pitch. McBride requires treatment for a bloodied face before returning.

McBride was literally streaming blood and he just hopped up got himself cleaned up and resumed playing. This is in counterpoint to what everyone of those Italian pansies did anytime an American player came near them. If an Italian thought he could get some time and an American touched them, they imediately began rolling around on the ground. My mother is tougher than the Italian national team...

2. 45 RED CARD - Mastroeni sent off for late sliding challenge on Pirlo.

This was Mastroeni's very first foul! He was literally only seconds behind on his slide tackle! Had he been about three seconds sooner he would have gotten the ball and there wouldn't even have been a foul! Or would there...

3. 47 RED CARD - U.S. defender Eddie Pope sent off after bringing down Gilardino.. It is now 10 Italians against nine Americans.

OMFG! OMFG! Pope didn't even foul this one! HE CLEARLY KICKED THE BALL OUT FROM IN FRONT OF THE ITALIAN PLAYER!!! If I try for a slide tackle, as long as I hit the ball before I hit you, it doesn't matter if I slide into you and knock you down! Pope gets the ball then slides into the Italian player, this means the ref completely blew this one.

In the post game wrap up the announcers said something about FIFA sanctioning this piece of crap Ref. Honestly I hope he is never even allowed to ref the peewee leagues from here on out...

[downunder]

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=2]2. 45 RED CARD - Mastroeni sent off for late sliding challenge on Pirlo.

This was Mastroeni's very first foul! He was literally only seconds behind on his slide tackle! Had he been about three seconds sooner he would have gotten the ball and there wouldn't even have been a foul! Or would there...
.

Studs were up, into the ankle. With the instructions the referees have thats a red card. Even if he got the ball he should have recieved a yellow. Its just dangerous foul play.




Also, Australia 0-0 Brazil at half time! We're playing ****ing amazing.

[Goofy]

18 June results:

Japan nil, Croatia nil
Brazil 2, Australia nil
France 1, South Korea 1

[Goofy]

Today's first result is in:

Switzerland 2, Togo nil.

[Goofy]

In today's second match Ukraine appear to be taking out their frustrations at a 4-nil Game One loss to Spain on Saudi Arabia. Just after the half, the score is:

Ukrains 3, Saudi Arabia nil.

[Goofy]

Ukraine defeat Saudi Arabia, 4-nil.

[Goofy]

For seventy minutes the last match of the day looked to be a MAJOR upset, with Tunisia leading Spain 1-nil. Unfortunately for Tunisia a match goes for 90 minutes, and Spain score three in the final 20 minutes for a 3-1 victory.

Round 2 is now complete, and the standings at this time are:

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/group/index.html

Sides so far guaranteed spots in the knockout rounds:

Group A: Ecuador, Germany
Group B: England
Group C: Argentina, Netherlands
Group D: Portugal
Group E: (none)
Group F: Brazil
Group G: (none)
Group H: Spain

And matches on for tomorrow (20 June):

Ecuador - Germany
Costa Rica - Poland
Paraguay - Trinidad/Tobago
Sweden - England

[Gav]

What a shame the Tunisia couldn't keep it together for the entire game. I thought that the Spanish looked distinctly ropey. They [the Spaniards] only became lively once they scored and then it was a great game.

[Goofy]

What a shame the Tunisia couldn't keep it together for the entire game. I thought that the Spanish looked distinctly ropey. They [the Spaniards] only became lively once they scored and then it was a great game.

I agree that Spain had a dicey performance. From the highlights and analysis it seems that Tunisia went into a defensive shell after their goal; the final shots-taken tally was Spain 24, Tunisia 4. I believe Tunisia could have pulled off the upset had they been able to control the ball on the Spanish end a bit more.

[Goofy]

Sides that are definitely NOT moving on to the knockout rounds:

Group A: Costa Rica, Poland
Group B: Paraguay
Group C: Ivory Coast, Serbia-Montenegro
Group D: Iran
Group E: All still have mathematical chances to advance
Group F: All still have mathematical chances to advance
Group G: Togo
Group H: All still have mathematical chances to advance

[Goofy]

At half-time of today's first matches:

Ecuador appear content to be moving on to Stage 2, while Germany want to finish first in Group A with a flourish; Germany 2, Ecuador nil.

Playing for pride only (since neither can advance) Poland and Costa Rica are staging a good contest; tied 1-1.

[seak]

3 - 0 now for Germany and they are really taking it to Ecuador. Very nice cross to set up the goal. Germany looks very dangerous right now

[Goofy]

The first final of the day is a real pummeling:

Germany 3, Ecuador nil.

Germany take first in Group A, with Ecuador second.

[Goofy]

The second final is in:

Poland 2, Costa Rica 1

[sabreur]

Cole just shot the goal of the tournament against Sweden.

[Goofy]

At the half of the evening games:

England 1, Sweden nil. There is bad news for England, though, as Michael Owen goes down with a knee injury in the early minutes.

Paraguay 1, Trinidad-Tobago nil

[seak]

Sweden scores off of a corner kick to tie the game