World Cup and European leagues

[Greek Tragedy]

Oh yeah, after watching 120 minutes of goalless soccer, I decided to throw in my recently purchased "Fergie's 2000 Goals"!!!!

It starts when Ferguson took over Manchester United midway through the 1986 season.  Admittedly, I didn't start watching United until about '89 thanks to the long gone Sports Channel America that showed English soccer.  Anyway, I still recall some of those "old school" names like Viv Anderson, Gordon Strachen and one of my all-time favorites, Brian Mc Clair.  Still looking forward to Danny Wallace and my favorite player ever to wear the United jersey, Mark Hughes...

After the those 12 hours or so of watching those goals, I still have last year's Season In Review and this year's recently released Double Winners video.  All three videos cost enough not to tell the future wife, but well worth the price! lol

Anyway, I'm up to the first 100 goals or so...figure I have until Wednesday to watch it before the first semi-final.

[Mr. Ypsi]

This game was precisely why I can stand the Italian tactics. 3 times the went down with an "injury" while Spain was counter attacking (much like the US group game in the '06 WC).    Even the ref stopped the game at a couple points. Just brutal stuff.  Thank god Spain won.  Iker is a stud.

Why you CAN'T stand the Italian tactics?

Glad Spain came through.  They deserved it and actually tried to play offense.

Not sure I agree that Spain deserved to win, but they certainly deserved losing less than Italy!  I think a majority of Americans over the age of 12 will never take to futbol, but for those who are reachable (and the future of children), could all tapes of this game be burned?!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Would love to see the 'cardiac kids' win, but Turkey is SO injured and/or disqualified, I just can't go that far - Germany to the finals.

Guus Hiddink is God; Andrei Arshavin is his Son (is that enough blasphemy for the old Soviet Union? ).  My head says Spain is too strong for the upstarts, but I've got a hunch that Russia will go through.

OMG, would they move the final to Stalingrad?!

[WLCALUM83]

Going right with the flow: 

Germany:  (Don't think Turkey's got another shocker in them).

Spain: 

[WLCALUM83]

More World Cup Qualifier Finals: (leg 2)

USA 1, Barbados 0.

Mexico 7, Belize 0. Rout! (Borgetti-2 goals)

[Stinger]

This game was precisely why I can stand the Italian tactics. 3 times the went down with an "injury" while Spain was counter attacking (much like the US group game in the '06 WC).    Even the ref stopped the game at a couple points. Just brutal stuff.  Thank god Spain won.  Iker is a stud.

Why you CAN'T stand the Italian tactics?

Yeah, My bad. Awful typo there.  I though it pure karma that Casillas stopped Di Natale on the Italians last PK. 

[ScotsFan]

I though it pure karma that Casillas stopped Di Natale on the Italians last PK. 

Ha!  That's exactly what I was thinking when his shot was saved!  I thought how's that for karma coming back to bite you in your arse?!  8)

I thank the "football gods" that Spain prevailed.  This was the kind of match that makes a lot of Americans hate "soccer," and who can blame them?  It's a measure of how good this tournament has been that we haven't seen any other matches like this yet.

This also confirmed why so many Americans hate Italian "soccer".    It's no wonder their defense is always so set.  No one can counter on them when play is continuously stopped because their players are faking injuries.  Thank God Spain prevailed in the shootout because I don't think I could stand watching those bush league Italians for another match?!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm rooting for Russia from here on out.  I love the Dutch, but those young Russians were incredible; if Guus isn't the best coach of all time, I don't know who would be.

[Hoosier Titan]

This also confirmed why so many Americans hate Italian "soccer".    It's no wonder their defense is always so set.  No one can counter on them when play is continuously stopped because their players are faking injuries. 

It was particularly galling when the ref repeatedly blew the whistle to stop play in that situation.  As Andy Grey said at the time, that's not his brief.  Yeah, the Italians' karma came back to bite 'em in the butt with the save on di Natale's PK.

I wish Spain-Russia were the final match.  I'll be torn on who to support in that one, and I'm for the winner of that match in the final.

[Greek Tragedy]

More World Cup Qualifier Finals: (leg 2)

USA 1, Barbados 0.

Mexico 7, Belize 0. Rout! (Borgetti-2 goals)

I think we could put together 11 posters and beat Belize...maybe not 7-nil, but we'd hold them to a draw! lol

[cawcdad]

I went 2-2, but was happy about one of the wrong picks. For the Semifinals: Germany has too much for the beaten and battered (and disqualified) Turks. Spain will bet Russia. The Russians can't mount counter attacks if the Spaniards have the ball 90% of the time playing keep away.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Well, football or futbol, still boils down to what have you done for me lately and dance with the gurl you brung.

Germany in the aggregate of skill, size and experience trumps Turkey.  While heart might be a push in this game have to go with Turkey for the "it" factor.  Just believe the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Been picking each and both game in and game out and have to go back to the second game of groups for Germany to have let me down lately.  So, the nod's for Turkey, even if they have to field eight or (assuming Nihat plays on a bum hip) nine men.  My favorite Scot seems to think they'll allow the Turks to replace the injured players but not the carded players, we'll see.  Should this criteria be used would Nihat try to make a go?  For hybrid crtieria there's a pungent square for Nihat's manager to consider, roster the man that gives you playmaking ability or the man that brings you health and hence stamina.

As for the other quarter, don't really have a dog in this fight as Spain and Russia are in a deadheat for what they have done for me lately, which dates back to the last of groups.

Credited our group (or was it Smith postgame?) for having relayed to my Scot, "to beat the Dutch run right at them."  The Scot credited us regardless, as he noted the Russians as relayed running right at them.  This isn't the plan the Supreme Soviets should employ against the Spaniards.  Play set pieces and try to obfuscate the Spanish triangulation keep away.  Still, the weakness of the Dutch, inability to turn hips, is the common strength here and believe will determine this match with slight advantage given Spain. 

signed,
WC 1966

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

More World Cup Qualifier Finals: (leg 2)

USA 1, Barbados 0.

Mexico 7, Belize 0. Rout! (Borgetti-2 goals)

I think we could put together 11 posters and beat Belize...maybe not 7-nil, but we'd hold them to a draw! lol

Belize isn't that bad (although I imagine we could find some talented posters).  We have to remember the US score was 1-0 because they were already up 8-0 on aggregate and sent most of the regulars home and sat the rest on the bench.  Those small countries do quite well for their size and level of funding.

[sac]

FIFA rankings  http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html#confederation=0&rank=170

Belize #172

Barbados #121

I don't think either will be going up.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wow - Austria #92.  I knew they were bad, but didn't realize they were below Trinidad and Guatemala, Bahrain and Oman (among other 'powers')!  Even playing their scrubs (if they did), Germany winning only 1-0 looks bad (though now also irrelevant).