FIFA: Germany 2006

[Swallow Your Soul]

I think some fans have the wrong attitude when they say that all that matters at this stage are the points. They are denying reality and with it they are not addressing a problem that exists... England have not been playing to their usual high tempo.

The performances are worrying (especially since it proved the first game wasn't a one-off) as it makes you wonder how we'd do against a half decent team, but the fact that we've actually got the points is still pretty good whether we play crap or not. Midfield needs sorting out asap though, and as unpopular as Crouch is, in the last World Cup didn't we have Heskey and Vassell as two of our strikers? Trouble is if the midfield isn't right it makes it that much harder for the strikers...the strikers being the two main ones struggling for fitness after long injuries and a lanky git who everyone hates, plus a kid who's never played in the Prem and doesn't seem likely to get a game at any point in the competition.

I'm still probably being a bit too positive like a lot of the fans you mentioned, but I'm probably sick of complaining after a crap domestic season (Man City fan).

Brazil really need to sort out what they're gonna do with Ronaldo, they weren't exactly great again against Australia today. Australia could have actually won the game if Kewell had been able to score those chances (which he should have done).

[kooshi]

Did anyone watch the Korea vs France match? I know that it's a tie (yay for Korea, haha), but I want to know how it went (terribly, awesome, etc.).

[Carnage]

The performances are worrying (especially since it proved the first game wasn't a one-off) as it makes you wonder how we'd do against a half decent team, but the fact that we've actually got the points is still pretty good whether we play crap or not. Midfield needs sorting out asap though, and as unpopular as Crouch is, in the last World Cup didn't we have Heskey and Vassell as two of our strikers? Trouble is if the midfield isn't right it makes it that much harder for the strikers...the strikers being the two main ones struggling for fitness after long injuries and a lanky git who everyone hates, plus a kid who's never played in the Prem and doesn't seem likely to get a game at any point in the competition.

I'm still probably being a bit too positive like a lot of the fans you mentioned, but I'm probably sick of complaining after a crap domestic season (Man City fan).

Brazil really need to sort out what they're gonna do with Ronaldo, they weren't exactly great again against Australia today. Australia could have actually won the game if Kewell had been able to score those chances (which he should have done).

Australia fucked up on so many great chances to score a goal. On the other Hand, that last score from Brazil at the end was beautiful.

[Splash!]

On the other Hand, that last score from Brazil at the end was beautiful.

You're joking right?! The shot from Robinho was really good but i would hardly call the goal itself beautiful

[msmush]

its a pity about japan vs croatia 0 - 0 . tie. i think that was a dissapointing match on japans behalf...but croatia were pretty good... ah i dont know what im saying.
[btw does anyone know a good site to look up the japanese soccer players?]

Australias effort last night against brazil was pretty good, and its a major pity for those goals that were SO close...agonizing close. That last goal from Brazil was pretty damn good.

Yeah im interested in what happened with the match between korea and france. damn i missed it cuz the broadcasting here is like 4 . 30 am ! gark.
well for those who are watching the next soccerooos match and live in Aussie its 5 am saturday or friday or something.

[Swallow Your Soul]

France were basically winning, and in total control, had a perfectly good goal not given (linesman didn't see it cross the line) and then South Korea stole a late equaliser right near the end. France were devastated...it was great.

And surely Brazil's first goal was better than the second? First one was a nicely placed finish, second was a lucky rebound off the post. .

[msmush]

i see. cheers =]. hey are there any replays of matches? and if so during what time? ....in australia btw.

is it worth watching switzerland and togo is it? tonight?

[masamuneehs]

rooting for the USA during the USA/Italy match in the middle of an Italian sports bar is awesome (even if the game wasn't. Hey, least we didn't lose...) I love going into the 'enemy' camp and rooting for the other side.

Thank god though for the four American girls I was with because otherwise I'm pretty sure I'd have gotten into some sort of altercation

[Psyke]

[btw does anyone know a good site to look up the japanese soccer players?]

You can see their faces here.

[Swallow Your Soul]

Sky Sports is a pretty good site (website of the UK sports channels) - has a bit of background info and whatnot as well as stats.

Japan's player profiles page - http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/s...aspx?clid=1266

[Apraxhren]

There is almost info available from ESPN, http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/squad?id=627&cc=3888. It may be the same info as Sky I don't know.

[kAi]

Brazil v Australia match was disappointing, we should've been able to capitalise on the oppurtunities that were there, but that couldn't finish it.

The second goal wasn't that good at all, lol. It came off the post and a clear goal, it was just tapped in, the first goal was better.

Why didn't Japan win! It would've secured our spot in the next round. Now we just need to draw with Croatia and we're going through, which will happen, can't wait for this.

[msmush]

whens the match with aussie and croatia?. i know dissapointing about japan not winning.
those sites were handy cheers =].

[Munsu]

espn has everything you need to know about schedules and stuff, so just browse over there to figure out when matches are played instead of asking here.

[Swallow Your Soul]

Decent result for England but I was bricking it every time the Swedes got a corner! That needs sorting out as we looked shaky every single time, and even though they only made one real chance from open play (the 2nd goal - which was the sort of defending you might expect from Saudi Arabia) their corners were excellent and they looked like scoring almost every time they got one. In the end it was only a good save onto the bar, a goal-line clearance and a bit of luck on that other shot that hit the bar that saved us.

It's a shame cos we were looking ok in the first half, I was hoping we could make a positive statement and show the quality of our players...unfortunately all we have done is show we couldn't defend against good corners and we lost our bottle when the opposition piled on the pressure. Hopefully that was just a one off as we're not normally so weak at set pieces.

Having slagged England off, Sweden played well in the 2nd half and their first goal was a top header. They put us under pressure and we ended up panicking and they got what they deserved.

From the look of what happened Owen will be lucky to play again in the tournament, although on the good side Rooney played really well until he got knackered (which is understandable given the lay off). Hargreaves had a great game, his control looked awful in the build up games but he played well today. Campbell didn't do bad considering he's not played much football as well, hopefully Rio isn't too badly injured though. Most importantly we've avoided Germany for now.

[msmush]

ecuador vs germany last night. 0 - 3
ok so it was obvious who was going to win but i still wanted ecuador to win, i guess i like the underdog.
good match though. although ecuador has possession of the ball more they just kicked a million chains whereas german just went full out and attempted actual goals. But i guess the german defence was good too. The second goal from germany. im pretty sure it was the second, oh well one of them was sweet. the set up was perfect oh well close enough anyway and the goal was ace =] !

only one more day until Australia vs Croatia!!!
also Japan vs Brazil. gee wonder who will win?

edit: OMGUSHHH wasnt tthaaat A FREAKING AWESOME GAME BETWEEEEEN AUSTRALIA AND CROATIA!!! !!!!!!
DAMN IT FOR ALL THE AUSSSIE GAMES WE HAD SUCH a BAD RUN OF CRAPPPY REFEREEES.

gosh. was he blind? I mean its a fast games yes and you cant expect the ref to catch EVERYTHING but when its like a handball iN THE GOAL square...you'd expect something! and wattthenut?!?! . 3 yelllow cards. to suminic !!! thats outfreakingrageous, also vuduka was like TACKLED to the ground. :| theres a conspiracy going on against us :P.

BUT that was such a sweet goal by HARRRY KEWELL Gotta love him you GOTTA love him . but damn next match against ITALY brett emertons not playing :|.

The match was pretty much aussies the entire time just many things didnt go our way. We deserved that draw against croatia if not the win. Next match they better put swatzer on. that was a terrible miss by kalac! a goalie of such high calibre missed such a standard goal. :| dissapointing. but nevertheless AUSTRALIA are THRU to ROUND 16

Match: Japan vs Brazil.
Figures. :P

[Munsu]

Germany destroyed Sweden, I'm surprised that it only ended 2-0.

Argentina played a lazy game, lazy passing... but they made up for it with the second best goal of the WC by Rodriguez. Mexico played well, but not well enough.

[Carnage]

Fuck, I missed Argentina's last goal, and I heard it was beautiful....

[ChaosK]

Fuck, I missed Argentina's last goal, and I heard it was beautiful....

I saw it, and it was. It was an impossible to block shot, that goalie jumped as high as he could but couldn't reach it.

[Psyke]

You can still catch that awesome goal by Maxi Rodriguez here.