The OFFICIAL TG FIFA World Cup 06 Predictions/discussion/hype thread

[DudeMan]

Originally Posted by Turbo

What a horrible US team, how in the world is this team ranked 5th in the world. We scored one goal, ONE GOAL! How can you expect to advance on that. In my mind we went 0-3-0 the only reason we tied was because Italy scored for us. Well I have to wait 4 more years to be disappointed again. Oh well. Go England!

you were ranked 5th because of how far you got in south korea 2002 i said before the rankings are BS, because you can facereally easy teams and be ranked then go out or really hard teams early and screw up your ranking.

its all BS. anyone can win the world cup.... you just have to have the right combination on the day.

[munchkin]

The Australia vs Croatia game had the most incredibly abhorrent reffing. No penalty given for a Croatian player grabbing Viduka around the chest, and no free kicks given for the most blatant shirt-grabbing. Most amazingly of all, he gave 2 yellow cards to Simunic, forgot to pull out the red, so Simunic stayed on. Half a minute later, the game ends and the ref hands out ANOTHER yellow card, not to mention the disallowed goal and the incident with the two balls on the field.

It was definitely an intense game, but Australia was dominant, maintaining 60% of possession. It's good to be through to the second stage

[Chappie]

Originally Posted by munchkin

The Australia vs Croatia game had the most incredibly abhorrent reffing. No penalty given for a Croatian player grabbing Viduka around the chest, and no free kicks given for the most blatant shirt-grabbing. Most amazingly of all, he gave 2 yellow cards to Simunic, forgot to pull out the red, so Simunic stayed on. Half a minute later, the game ends and the ref hands out ANOTHER yellow card, not to mention the disallowed goal and the incident with the two balls on the field.

It was definitely an intense game, but Australia was dominant, maintaining 60% of possession. It's good to be through to the second stage

I'd have to agree with you....and I'm shocked that it was Graham Poll. He usually does a find job in the middle. Really, the officiating the last week has been shockingly bad.

The yellow cards are way out of hand....let them play for God's sake. If it's a foul, blow it. But please let them play in the next round. If it's a rash challenge from behind, or a foul that takes away a CLEAR scoring chance then by all means give the guy a yellow....but things right now are way out of control.

Chappie

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

^^^^The reffing is just so bad. They really need to get better refs. During the US game the ref gave a yellow card for a handball and that free kick was dumb.

Is it just me or is the reffing this world cup worse then last years. I am starting to think they need a ref that just watches the game and uses replays to help the on the field ref make decisions.

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

Matches are all set. France and Switzerland advance.

Saturday 24
Germany vs Sweden 1100 EST (1700 local)
Argentina vs Mexico 1500 EST (2100 local)

Sunday 25
England vs Ecuador 1100 EST (1700 local)
Porcugal vs Holland 1500 EST (2100 local)

Monday 26
Italy vs Australia 1100 EST (1700 local)
Switerland vs Ukraine 1500 EST (2100 local)

Good games up ahead.
Tuesday 27
Brazil vs Ghana 1100 EST (1700 local)
Spain vs France 1500 EST (2100 local)

[Santa]

Originally Posted by RGM-79N_GM_CUstom

Matches are all set. France and Switzerland advance.

Saturday 24
Germany vs Sweden 1100 EST (1700 local)
Argentina vs Mexico 1500 EST (2100 local)

Sunday 25
England vs Ecuador 1100 EST (1700 local)
Porcugal vs Holland 1500 EST (2100 local)

Monday 26
Italy vs Australia 1100 EST (1700 local)
Switerland vs Ukraine 1500 EST (2100 local)

Good games up ahead.
Tuesday 27
Brazil vs Ghana 1100 EST (1700 local)
Spain vs France 1500 EST (2100 local)

Oh my god im in soccer heaven. Every one of those games, except maybe the england vs ecuador game, are gonna be great.

[Chappie]

Originally Posted by Santa

Oh my god im in soccer heaven. Every one of those games, except maybe the england vs ecuador game, are gonna be great.

I've got news for you bro....Ecuador might give England a big scare. England have problems in the back. No Neville at right back, Carragher playing out of position, possibly no Rio Ferdinand at centreback...although I still love Sol Campbell, he's lost a step.

I really hope I'm wrong because I'm a big England fan...but I'm worried.

The possible Spain-Brasil Quarter-final is very attractive. I'm like you Santa...in heaven.

Chappie

[Santa]

I think england will get by ecuador (Germany beat the living crap outta them) but then be elimated as soon as they come up against either the netherlands or portugal in the quarterfinals. Now that the US is out of it, im a Portugal fan. I like to watch both Luis Figo and Christiano Ronaldo and with that Brazilian coach on their side i think they'll get far. Shame they have to play the netherlands first, though.

[Chappie]

So I was looking at the brackets this morning with my coffee....when I suddenly had a great idea!!! Why don't we post our picks for the round of 16. LOL

So here goes nothing....

German v Sweden.....Germany 2-0
Argentina v Mexico.....Argentina 3-0

England v Ecuador....England 2-1..Stevie G.!!! with the winner
Portugal v Holland...Portugal 3-2 bit of an upset..but like Santa mentioned, great coach.

Italy v Australia....Azzuri 2-0
Swiss v Ukraine...might be the snoozer of the round...Ukraine 1-0

Brasil v Ghana Brasil 3-1
Spain v France Spain 3-1..and my favorite player is out of the tourney...Henry..


I'm sure I'll probably be wrong on most of my picks...but I thought it would be fun to see what everyong else thought!!

cya and enjoy the matches!!!

Chappie

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

So far it is 2-0 Germany. No idea if they will get in anymore or if the Sweds will get in.

[DudeMan]

my god argentina didnt look as hot asthey have in the last month against the mexicans... they won, but unconvincingly IMO 21 went to extra time though...


as an english man i am worried, i think the equador game might be tougher than everyone thinks... i think old rio will be fit, which is a bonus because john terry is playing bad (from the performance against sweden)

i dont know i predict an england win but its gonna be hard.

i predict the last 8will be

Germany
Argentina
England
Holland
Italy
Swiss
Brazil
Spain

[Wulfyn]

Sweden just didn't turn up did they? Horrible game with yet another ridiculous red card decision. Personally I wasn't convinced that either yellow card was actually a foul.

The Mexico - Argentina game was great. I love the mexican style of play and had a fancy they could overturn argentina (who I honestly feel have flattered to deceive against pedestrian opposition). I still think the argentinian equaliser was a foul, and Heinze should definitely hav been sent off. But as they say you need the rub with you sometimes.


i'm looking forward ot the new proposed shape of the england side as it puts the emphasis right back to our strengths of fast paced midfield play. Hopefully it will be a lot more fluid in this game where the ball is doing all the work. I fear tho for the heat, we never play well.

Also hoping the Netherlands overturns Portugal. Sven is already 2-0 down to Scolari and I don't fancy the swede preventing a hat-trick of losses to big phil. But then if the form book is right England will score early to then be pegged back, have a goal disaalowed, both sides hitting the post to then lose on penalties. Seriously the script is already being written for another England hard luck story.

England and Holland to progress today I feel.

[DrunkenSoul]

Todays games should be good.

Rodriguez's goal yesterday in extra time was sick.

[RGM-79N_GM_CUstom]

LOL this game is hilarious. God what on Earth is going on?

[Santa]

Portugal vs Netherlands showcased the worst refereeing ive ever seen in professional match. The first red card was defenseable, but the rest were hardly defenesable. The worst red card was the one against Deco, where Deco was brought down by a Netherlands player yet Deco was thrown out. I was bewildered. The ref lost complete control of the game around the 65th minute when a fight broke out just after the unsportsman like move a dutch player did. Deco was running down the field but gave the ball up because his teamate was brought down. The unwritten law would be that the Dutch player kicks the ball right back to the Portugese and play resumes. Instead the Dutch player keeps the ball and dribbles down the field, only to be taken down by Deco who was obviously a lil pissed. I cant blame Deco for that though. A few months ago i was in a similar situation. A player on the other team didnt give us the ball back after our player got injured. I sprinted forward 20 yards and took the jackass out. It was worth the yellow card...