World Cup and European leagues

[Greek Tragedy]

At this time, the Togo/South Korea game is on...and Tommy Smyth is FINALLY announcing a game.  Listening to Macelo Balboa flapping his mouth was getting irritating.  John Harkes didn't do too bad of a job and Eric Wynalda is just plane horrible in studio.  To get great analysis, watch Fox Sports World Report/Ticket to Germany with Bobby McMahan.

[Greek Tragedy]

I wonder if anyone outside the USA ever even acknowledges these idiotic rankings. 

I read an article and it described how FIFA comes up with these rankings.  It talked about lesser teams getting more points for each goal they score, as compared to better teams that score goals; weighted wins and losses, and even ties...among other things.  At the end of the article, it basically said that the FIFA World Rankings make the BSC standings look like elementary math.  I wish I could find that article.

[ScotsFan]

I can understand Oguchi playing scared the first twenty minutes or so, but we need the best players to step up. 

I wouldn't exactly say that Oguchi was playing scared in the first 20 minutes.  Arena had him marking the wrong man.  He should have been marking Koller from the beginning of the match.  When Koller scored his goal, Pope was the man marking Koller.  Pope is a solid defender, but he didn't have the size or strength to stop Koller.  Arena did switch things after it was too late.   

I'll agree that Beasley looked horrible on the right side, maybe switching him to the left will help.  It was obviously a mistake to keep Eddie Johnson on the bench to start the game.  Donovan needs to be in the midfield and not as a withdrawn forward.

I agree with this 100%!  Beasley just didn't look comfortable on the right.  He is a MUCH more effective player on the left side!  Hopefully Arena will not make the same mistake twice!  I was disappointed with Convey's play yesterday as well.  He has shown way better than what he showed yesterday.  If he starts Saturday, I would have him on a short leash.  Demsey would be the guy I would go to.  I just like how he plays.  I also hope that Johnson starts on Saturday.  I would like to see O'Brien get the nod as well, but I just don't know whether his fitness level will allow it.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah the FIFA rankings take into account every international match over the last eight years weighted by how long ago each was.  Then there are advantages to playing on the road as well as playing higher ranked opponents.  It's all a bit crazy.  You can find the explanation of it here.  I forgot all about the regional strength component; that throws another wrench into the whole thing.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I would just like to point out that the Swiss goalie is named Zuberbuhler.

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-06-08-usa-worldcup_x.htm

The complicated computer ranking system, determined by FIFA, the sport's world governing body, is widely derided for many reasons. It takes into account games played during the last eight years, and its confounding system of weighting results makes college football's Bowl Championship Series formula look like second-grade math.

The USA's rating is inflated because it can readily rack up rankings-boosting wins competing in the North/Central American and Caribbean region, which includes hot vacation spots such as Martinique or Jamaica and not-so-hot soccer teams. (Mexico, the region's other dominant team, is No. 4.)

To correct some of the flaws in the present criteria, three days after this World Cup, FIFA will introduce a ranking that will consider games during the last four years and weigh some of the current factors differently.

[Ralph Turner]

Switzerland 0, France 0.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Poor showing all around in that one.  France didn't score at all last cup and were strining to put one in, but missed a ton of easy chances (they were getting all they could manage).  The Swiss on the other hand had fewer opportunities, but equally promising ones and also preposterously failed to score.

I guess one could say good defense, but I'm going with careless offense.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Croatia has to be kicking themselves giving up a goal with two minutes left in the first half.  They played so well with nothing to show for it.

[cawcdad]

The France - Switzerland game looked like two teams unsure of what to do, just flailing around.

All the goals scored in the South Korea - Togo were pretty, but I was not impressed by rest of the play. Group G is looking like the weakest bracket in the tournament.

Croatia sure held their own against Brazil and had several good opportunities to level it. The rest of the games in Group F should be good.

[mybleedinghands]

Brazil didn't impress me much today. Offense was there but didnt finish enough, Ronaldo was even booed when he came out of the match. The defense gave up quite a few good scoring opportunities to croatia, who couldnt finish either.  I thought the game could ahve easily gone both ways.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Croatia sure held their own against Brazil and had several good opportunities to level it. The rest of the games in Group F should be good.

I disagree (though I admit I caught only about 5 minutes of the Australia-Japan match).  I predict that Brazil and Croatia will fairly easily win out from here.

In 2002, Turkey was the only team to advance out of group play after losing their first match.  If I'm right about Croatia, USA better hope that this time there are (at least) two such teams!

On Grant Wahl's (?) blog (SI.com), he insists that for Brazil to have a chance at the finals, they MUST bench Ronaldo.  Most of the responders agreed with him, though some argued that he might cause such dissension if benched as to do more harm than good, while others pointed out that he started slow in 2002, then led the Cup in scoring.  With all their other weapons, I suspect that it doesn't matter one way or the other against Australia and Japan, and maybe he should be given a chance to get up to Cup speed (he has been injured a lot lately), but the offense was noticeably better once Robinho replaced Ronaldo.  Comments?

[Gray Fox]

Ronaldo was even booed when he came out of the match.

Does that mean I shouldn't wear my "Ronaldo" soccer shirt in public?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ronaldo was even booed when he came out of the match.

Does that mean I shouldn't wear my "Ronaldo" soccer shirt in public?

Depends - how are you at getting booed?

Strikers (and goalies) are different - a few moments of brilliance can make everyone forget 85 minutes of sloth.  The question is whether or not Ronaldo can still produce a few moments of brilliance.  I wouldn't bet heavily against him, but he clearly IS fat, slow, and out-of-shape.  But if he still has ANY of his prime left....

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Ronaldo is not fit.  I think more likely he'd be a better second half sub.  I'm not sure how that would affect team morale.  They do have the benefit of playing Australia and Japan in the next two games, so not starting Ronaldo could be explained by inferior opponents.

Brazil and Ronaldo did start objectionably slow in 2002 and their midfield is so solid, along with a good keeper and strong central defense.  It would be hard for them to get hurt by one half-fit striker.  Their biggest concern is that yellow card hanging over Emerson's head.  He's the key to their exceptional counter-attack and most all of their central ball movement.

That goal scoring record is not just important to Ronaldo, but to Brazil as a country and the whole team.  I think he has to get some time in in every match.  I just think he'd be better off coming on in the second half when the defense is a step slower.