Neowin's Official World Cup 2006 Thread

[Martyn]

Damn. Korean team failed to make any effective shooting during the first half! o_O I hope our team gets back on track as it did during the second half of the match against Togo.

*curses Henry* :devil:

You were lucky! You should be 2-0 down as the ball crossed the line, but was not given off a header from a corner.

[Romario Brazil]

Seriously.. Brazil-bashing? From...? England Fanboy living in United States? harmm..

I am hearing how amazing England football is since 94 when PL just got some world attention for their organization and $ capitalization. But since 94 England was only a crap promisse.

Brazil still proving how football in unpredictable and how to be the best of the world.. with poor money investment and less structure than Mexico our guys are training with naked foots since childhood with one thing in mind: DECIDE. This is what makes difference. This is the reason why Englands are Loosers and Brazilians are Winners.

Take care, England.

[fascist]

Hey it could be the US brazil has to play. We can only hope :)

[Pharos]

Hey it could be the US brazil has to play. We can only hope :)

Hey, I don't want the US to lose. LOL =X

[Krpano]

ok ill move on.

About the France X Korea.

I dunno, seems like God is against them since 2002.

They manage to do decent games but there is always something to goes wrong.

And definitively the goal not attribuated to them (the one the goalkeeper defended inside the line) make the diference at the end.

Im impressed with the Koreans...they run aloooot.

Im looking forward to see how the Group E will end.

Im doubting the Italians can qualify. Lets hope Koller can play for the Czechs thursday.

edit here.

Maybe we will not see Zidane playing with France anymore. He got his 2 yellow and will not play the next game and if France dont qualify, its over for him.

[Julius Caro]

Germany(same to England) is already qualified by a great chance. Portugal, hmmm...sry to say this (i have portguese nationality too) but Portugal has a very poor gameplay. (except Figo)

Argentina i agree, they are demonstrating great football.

About Brasil, ill tell you what is happening.

Brasil is not making much effort, they have "easy" games....If you could notice, most of them were not even running much, Ronaldinho didnt press and only gave the ball sideways.....and etc.

Dont let the game they presented till now fool you.

They will advance much more than you expect.

BUT one thing i agree, they could try to entertain us a bit more.

Seems they are going for result and not worring about the show.

I don't think brazil is not making much effort!!... first impressions when the groups were chosen was that the group brazil was would be too easy for them. And, frankly, one thing is doing it the "easy way", without entertaining ... but today the australians really made brazil work hard. Those goals were easy yeah, but australia played amazingly well.

I agree that brazil is yet to show their full potential...

[Kcp8c30d]

You were lucky! You should be 2-0 down as the ball crossed the line, but was not given off a header from a corner.

In order for a ball to be counted as a score, the entire ball has to be inside the net. It appears the ball wasn't entire inside the net. That was why the referee didn't declear it a goal.

[leesmithg]

Australia had their chance to beat Brazil, they blew it.

Brazil don't look a good team.

[Romario Brazil]

Poor France.. they are paying that shamefull 98 bought title :shifty:

Australia had their chance to beat Brazil, they blew it.

Oh really? what a biased words.. the England goal against Paraguay was really amazing! :rolleyes:

Brasil is not making much effort, they have "easy" games....If you could notice, most of them were not even running much, Ronaldinho didnt press and only gave the ball sideways.....and etc.

Brazil only fully works with tension and pressure. Simply nobody scared Brazil until now with a goal. Today I talked with my father: Would be great if Brazil lost today.

[PaulCabby]

Seriously.. England-bashing? From...? Brazillian Fanboy living in Brazil? harmm..

France were unlucky today, they actually played good! I'd say the ball was fully over the line from Vieiras header.

[Julius Caro]

Oh really? what a biased words.. the England goal against Paraguay was really amazing! :rolleyes:

I agree england's goal wasnt good, but please, stop acting like brazil goals were out this world today. Stop the fanboyism!

[djesteban]

man.... what is going on with France... this time they won't even qualify to advance, what a ****ty team :(

I'm so disapointed, I was really expecting them to win over korea and switzerland, it's not like they are stuck in a super hard group. Players in the France team are shouting at each others like little babies, it's painful to see. Man, if it continues like this for France, they won't be consider as a top 10 team pretty soon.

Well, for me there is still Spain, I hope they will do better (they already are at the moment anyway)

And apart from France that totally suck, I don't know why people here are super hyped about Germany and England... and Portugal for that matter. I mean, they don't impress me at all. I can't wait to see England vs. Equator... England's real first opponent. I hope the south american team will win this one!

In my opinion, the team that could win this world cup are Brazil, Argentina and mabe Spain...

anyway, only time will tell :)

[leesmithg]

Oh really? what a biased words.. the England goal against Paraguay was really amazing! :rolleyes:

You're biased, Brazil are not the same team as at last world cup.

So hence my stating that it was a chance for the Aussies.

Brazil won't go past phase 2.

I know England are playing poor, they should not play Lampard with Gerrard, Beckham should be right back with lennon on right wing.

You stick with Brazil, but don't think with your thumbs under your backside.

[L3thal Veteran]

In order for a ball to be counted as a score, the entire ball has to be inside the net. It appears the ball wasn't entire inside the net. That was why the referee didn't declear it a goal.

I viewed the replay 11 times from my DVR box and the ball fully crossed the line. You can even tell because the goalie was 2 1/2 steps inside his net when he saved it and the ball still passed his waist :whistle:

Poor France.. they are paying that shamefull 98 bought title

Funny your still reminiscing that game that you got spanked in every aspect of that word :laugh:

Hey it could be the US brazil has to play. We can only hope

Don't bet on that. The U.S. will not get past Ghana and you will see why when they play :p

I don't think brazil is not making much effort!!... first impressions when the groups were chosen was that the group brazil was would be too easy for them. And, frankly, one thing is doing it the "easy way", without entertaining ... but today the australians really made brazil work hard. Those goals were easy yeah, but australia played amazingly well.

I agree that brazil is yet to show their full potential...

I am truly sorry, but I am, in no way, buying that garbage excuse. When you come to the World Cup, the biggest competition of all, every game is hard. Why do you think all these big teams are having trouble winning? Its not because they aren't "showing their potential" its because competition is hard and they are having a harder time winning games.

Brazil won't go past phase 2.

(Y)

[mz_]

Funny how everyone is saying Argentina could be the champion now, just because they won 6-0 a game, even though they played the same as good as on the first match.

The same thing about Brazil... Just because they didn't play 100% against those awful mediocre teams, they won't go past phase 2 now...

And Brazil even playing that "bad" as they did today, can rip apart teams like Australia. Just imagine what can they do if they just make a little effort and show something of their well known potential.

I remember how Brazil was playing like this on the latest Confederations Cup 2005, awfully against small teams... Then on the final match they beated Argentina with an espectacular 4-1. :whistle: It's the "one-on-one" that matters on football, forget about anything else. The Brazil playing against Argentina will never be the same as the Brazil playing against Australia or any of those teams like that.

[fascist]

Don't bet on that. The U.S. will not get past Ghana and you will see why when they play

The US has a chance though. All they have to do is play like they played against Italy. As long as they dont get too many cards they should be alright.

[nexx]

And Brazil even playing that "bad" as they did today, can rip apart teams like Australia.

I would hardly say they ripped apart Australia. Brazil definately capitalised on their opportunities and lifted their game in the final 15 minutes though.

Brazil certainly have potential, but right now that's all they're showing. I expect every team to play harder as they progress.

[Jelly2003]

I was really impressed with Australia's effort against Brazil I did expect that Australia to get flogged and was pleasantly surprised when they gave them a run for their money. Brazil deserved their win, but I think Australia deserved to score, it's pity none of those near misses never eventuated into a goal.

[L3thal Veteran]

The US has a chance though. All they have to do is play like they played against Italy. As long as they dont get too many cards they should be alright.

I know they have a chance, mathematically. However, even if they do win, they will need Italy to be Czech Republic and I don't see that happening, to be honest.

If you guys don't remember, this Ghana team is the same team that were world champions U-17 and U-19 a few years ago (2001 I think). I have a strong feeling they will progress from this group and make some noise in the second stage.

[geek_rohit]

France still isn't sure of their passage to the next round. But atleast they opened their goal account thanks to Henry. As for Brazil, Ronaldo isn't at his best yet. I wonder whether he will win the Golden Boot again this World Cup. I think Robhino should be given a chance to start the game. Italy were unlucky with their draw against USA, the own goal spoiled their day. Portugal win was good, nice strike from Deco, but they missed lots of chances in the first half. They could have easily made it 4-0. Spain plays today. Lets see if they can repeat their 4-0 kind of performance again.

Today's Fixtures

GROUP G

Togo v Switzerland - My prediction 1-1

GROUP H

Saudi Arabia v Ukraine - My prediction 0-2

Spain v Tunisia - My prediction 3-1

[PaulCabby]

rofl @ Gary Lineker.

Raymond Domenech looks like Parker from Thunderbirds!

[Martyn]

Maybe we will not see Zidane playing with France anymore. He got his 2 yellow and will not play the next game and if France dont qualify, its over for him.

I agree. Zidane's game against South Korea could of been the last of his professional career, due to him retiring after the World Cup from international and club football. It is a shame as he is a great tallent, the stuff he did at Juventus and even Real (most notably his goal in the Champions League final - amazing) will probably put him down in the history books as a legend. He is just like a French Ronaldinho, in term's of his technique, vision and skill with a football.

In order for a ball to be counted as a score, the entire ball has to be inside the net. It appears the ball wasn't entire inside the net. That was why the referee didn't declear it a goal.

The ball clearly completely crossed the line. I mean the line is only about 8cm thick, the ball was about 50cm over the line.

[Kcp8c30d]

It looks like the ball never fully crossed the line! The referee has the eyes of an eagle...

I was looking at the picture again, and the ball is clearly in front of Lee Won Jae's right foot, inbetween the goal line and the right foot. If anything, closer to the goal line by about 60/40.

If the fifa regulation ball is 10 inches in diameter, and the ball is inbetween Lee's foot and goaline, there is no way it completely crossed the line in that specific picture.

given that everything happened in real time, it would have been much more controversial to call that shot a goal, than to not call it as well.

[qdave]

Anyone saw swiss game vs toga? what a nice goal by swiss in the second half. Swiss now have a chance to go to 1/8th finals :D

The ball clearly completely crossed the line. I mean the line is only about 8cm thick, the ball was about 50cm over the line.

50cm is half a meter...the ball looked to be only a bit over the line.

[L3thal Veteran]

It looks like the ball never fully crossed the line! The referee has the eyes of an eagle...

I was looking at the picture again, and the ball is clearly in front of Lee Won Jae's right foot, inbetween the goal line and the right foot. If anything, closer to the goal line by about 60/40.

If the fifa regulation ball is 10 inches in diameter, and the ball is inbetween Lee's foot and goaline, there is no way it completely crossed the line in that specific picture.

given that everything happened in real time, it would have been much more controversial to call that shot a goal, than to not call it as well.

First of all, those red lines are useless and prove absolutely nothing because of the angle of the picture. Second, look at the Korean defender on the far post. Both of his feet are on the goal line and look where the ball is compared to his feet :whistle: