World Cup and European leagues

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, Austria cannot be happier with how well they played in their own tournament.  There was even a petition going around in Austria not to allow them to play so as to avoid embarrassing the country.  The fact that they were still alive going into the third group match is a testament to a team performing at their best.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Curses to you, Mother Nature!  Best game of the tourney, and lightning knocked out the feed for many of the best parts!   (If anyone hears of ESPN, or anyone else, rerunning the game, please announce.)

Germany goes through, 3-2.  They went up in the 75th(?) minute, Turkey (of course!) came back in about the 86th minute, then Germany won in in the 90th - and the feed was out for all three goals!

The officiating overall was not bad (at least when the game could be viewed!), but there were two incredibly awful no calls that could have decided the game (at least, they screwed each team equally! ).  In the 50th, a German was body-slammed in the box (definitely worthy of a yellow) - no call.  In the 70th, a Turk was pulled down in the box (easy to miss - his jersey was only pulled back about three feet! ) - no call.  Clearly both should have been PKs.  NO ref (or linesman) should EVER have missed either call.

Still, a marvelous game.  Hats off to both the Germans and the Turks (especially the Turks for playing over 8 missing starters).

[sac]

Craziness.

Its going to be on ESPN Classic at 5pm........no idea if they can clear up the missing parts.

It will be replayed at 1:30am tonight on ESPN2........worth it if they can get the missing footage.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnGuide

[cawcdad]

What an incredible game. The Germans started slow but got a wakeup call with the first Turkish goal. Then the game went end to end. WOW! A fun match to watch.

[Mr. Ypsi]

What team is the biggest surprise of the tourney?

I'll probably vote Russia, IF they avenge their loss to Spain.  Otherwise, gotta be Turkey (especially playing so short-handed).

[Hoosier Titan]

That was an incredible game yet again for Turkey.  Too bad--they really deserved to win.  I agree about the two bad no-calls, but at least it was one each way.  It was otherwise a really cleanly called game, I thought. 

I think it's a tossup between the two teams, Russia and Turkey, for most surprising.  I noticed Arshavin in the UEFA Cup Final and I knew they'd be better when he came back, but I didn't expect so dramatic an improvement. 

My sentiments are completely torn about tomorrow's game.  I'm definitely for the winner tomorrow in the final.

[Greek Tragedy]

Unfortunately, I think Germany will win, regardless of who they play.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Man, I have got Russia pegged!   I picked Swden to beat them, Nederlands to trounce them, then Russia to upset Spain.  Now is not the time for a Vegas visit!

But I've been doing tolerably well on my other picks, so I'll stick my neck out again: Germany has the experience and the 'efficiency', but Spain is on a roll - Spain 2-1.

[Greek Tragedy]

Germany 3-2...but I do want Spain to win.

[WLCALUM83]

Germany.

[sac]

Turkey....somehow they'll find a way.

[Hoosier Titan]

Turkey....somehow they'll find a way.

Good one, Sac!

Prediction:  Ballack will play.  Still, I pick Spain in normal time, 2-1.

[Hoosier Titan]

the BBC reports that Das Bild reports (whew!) that Ballack will play.   

Can you tell I'm trying to avoid working?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wow - a final that actually lived up to expectations!

It's a tribute to Germany's survival instincts (and some luck) that they were still in position to win right to the end.  Spain could easily have scored 3 or 4 goals in the second half.  I can't recall the last time a team so totally dominated offensively and defensively without scoring a goal!  Torres's goal was truly a thing of beauty, but it amazes me that it held up all by itself.

[Hoosier Titan]

It's a shame to see that tournament end.  Lots of good football moments.

I was thinking that my prediction was just about right until about the 60th minute, when I began to realize that Germany just wasn't doing it.  Still, there had to be a lot of nerves on the Spanish side.

Hard to know where to give the MVP--Casillas, Villa, Torres, Puyol, the entire midfield.  I was eventually won over to the Spanish style of play.