World Cup 2006

Obi · Sun 09/07/2006 22:35:04

My predictions were correct, one team did win. While all the others did fail, especially my team Obi United who didn't make it in due to musical differences of a certain kind. I cannot say entirely what happend myself as I'm not entirely sure. The ball was shaped liked a ball and I have to congratulate the ball for this, as I've tried making myself into a ball and have failed many times. People say FootBall has become boring since they disallowed cars to play. I have to agree somewhat to this statement due to a legal binding with my good fried Mr Sunday. Mr Sunday invented FootBall as a way to quickly move coal in coal mines and does not like seeing it played as a sport. He says it's "wrong" and "Football should be kept for the wizards" I'm not entierly sure what he's talking about, but then again he has a well kept beard and a brillian yellow suit, so who can blame him? I know for one that I cannot. What I mean to say is well done I hope to see you next time.

big brother · Sun 09/07/2006 23:37:51

Just got back from Noho, where the people are going apeshit in the streets.

The best soccer team in the world couldn't beat the Americans!

Cause for celebration in my book.

Timosity · Mon 10/07/2006 06:13:55

Appart from all the bad decisions, one thing for certain is all teams in the last 16 (and some outside) are all pretty close, a lot of the games were decided by penalties or by one goal, anyone could have won, but the team with the most luck did in the end, Congrats to Italy. At least Australia can say they were beaten by the eventual winners, and played as good if not better than them.

I won my tipping comp, got 49 out of the 64 games, I won by 1 point, and got the last 2 correct, woo hoo, all I won was bragging rights though.

Nacho · Mon 10/07/2006 07:14:27

Weeeeh! Zizou, 13 years of carreer went to the flush because your stupidity! I am happy to see that you've had the worst possible goodbye! (I hope to never) see you!

Au revoire "le grandeur"! Viva Italia!

Andail · Mon 10/07/2006 09:05:52

I lost all interest in the world cup after Brazil and Argentina lost, and even more interest after Portugal's farewell. France, Italy and Germany play boring football and I couldn't care less which one of them wins and which doesn't. I think this worldcup will be remembered for the acting-problem; players pretending to have been virtually beaten to death every time an opponent is within a 5 feet radius, and the consequental troubles the referees have had making good decisions.

radiowaves · Mon 10/07/2006 12:02:48

Quote from: Farlander on Mon 10/07/2006 07:14:27
Weeeeh! Zizou, 13 years of carreer went to the flush because your stupidity! I am happy to see that you've had the worst possible goodbye! (I hope to never) see you!Ã,Â Au revoire "le grandeur"! Viva Italia!

Zidane got a Golden Ball today, so STFU!
Italians are nothing more than a bunch of sissy actors.

Privateer Puddin' · Mon 10/07/2006 12:07:09

Votes for golden ball are done at half time..

DoorKnobHandle · Mon 10/07/2006 12:09:14

I don't think Germany played boring football. Did you see for example the 3-1 against Portugal? The 2-0 against Sweden? The 3-0 against Ecuador?

With Italy, I kinda have to agree. While they didn't play as boring as they are famous for, they still only managed to win with big, big luck in games against Australia (I think), Germany and the final against France, never where they really better.

What I find seriously stupid, is that they still made Zidane best player of the cup. What in the world? Even if we don't take his attack into account, he didn't even play that good! On the same team, Henry was way better. Lahm did play great for our team and there where lot's of other great players who did more than him.

Las Naranjas · Mon 10/07/2006 12:16:39

Kahn won it in '02 and Ronaldo in '98, so I can only assume the golden ball is awarded to people who fuck up in the final.

Nacho · Mon 10/07/2006 12:51:48

Quote from: radiowaves on Mon 10/07/2006 12:02:48
Quote from: Farlander on Mon 10/07/2006 07:14:27
Weeeeh! Zizou, 13 years of carreer went to the flush because your stupidity! I am happy to see that you've had the worst possible goodbye! (I hope to never) see you!Ã,Â Au revoire "le grandeur"! Viva Italia!
Zidane got a Golden Ball today, so STFU!
Italians are nothing more than a bunch of sissy actors.

Yup... But sissy actors with a world cup. Zidane just arrive to sissy (without the actor) because his last image as a professional football player will be of the one corresponding to the aggressive dumb and CRY BABY man.

F*ck him, and his golden ball (Which he can use to attack players more effectively)

Panda · Mon 10/07/2006 14:33:11

Italians are infamous for their defensive play and many diving stunts, but at this world cup they played some of their most offensive play yet. We can only hope that winning the title will lead them to even more offensive play in the future. Besides, the penalty for France was pure diving and it was only fair for Italy to win in the end. Throughout the entire World Cup, Italy has been the best and most solid team.

Portugal should never have reached the semi-finals (the game against the Netherlands was a disgrace), and I am glad Germany won third spot. Besides, Portugal is more or less a team of divers (except Figo).

Anyway, Zidane is one of the best players ever, despite him headbutting his way out of the match. Zidane's few "outbreak" of anger has never been committed as part of the game, unlike Rooney's insane step-on-the-groin stunt. It pains me to see a great player like Zidane stop with a ridiculous stunt like he did, but it would have been even worse if they had won (thankfully, the didn't win). At least give the man the credit he deserves. BTW, I agree that he shouldn't have been awarded the golden ball. Maybe Cannavaro should have gotten that one?

Helm · Mon 10/07/2006 15:08:26

There was indeed a lot of acting on the fouls in the final at least. I wish it wasn't a valid technique to disrupt offensive play, but then again, football should not become a bloodbath. I especially don't like the foul that occurs when a player blocks an incoming player with his body, it seems to me, put your skills in use and dodge the man. It's one of these things like offsides. You'd think 'this rule is highly artificial and stupid' just as you'd think 'don't reward overacting!' but in the end, without touchy foul rulings and offsides the game degenerates to small area camping and violence. Which would make for more goals and more entertainment, but less skillful playing.

Zidane seems to me to be an amazing football player, regardless of the headbutt. I don't see why one has to discredit his skill on the grounds of what happened. After all, Maradonna, another amazing player, was as a person completely loathesome, a coke fiend and a disappointment to all outside the field. But that doesn't mean he was anything less than masterful inside it (for some years at least).

DoorKnobHandle · Mon 10/07/2006 15:13:52

Panda, did we watch the same game? I am talking about the final. Do you REALLY think Italy was playing better than France? I am sorry, but it seems as if you're heavily on the side of your own country, I guess. That's just ridiculous, Italy had almost no chances in the entire second half and the following thirdy minutes. France played better, had complete control in the middlefield and Italy couldn't stand one chance - it was just pure luck that they didn't score.

I know how soccer can be a complete different experience for people all around the world, and everybody including me favors a team and usually sticks to them and sees them maybe a little better than they were really, but what you do seems to be quite childish to me, really. I don't mean to offend you, and certainly I have never been a great fan of France, but you just have to be honest enough to say that Italy didn't deserve to win atleast this final.

Panda · Mon 10/07/2006 16:02:35

I'm not Italian, and I've never been particularly fond of Italian football. My favourite team this world cup was actually Argentina, but they didn't make it far enough, unfortunately. Argentina or Spain as champions would have been more to my liking, but that doesn't change my view on Italy.

Italy was best in the first half, France was best in the second half and in the extra time. However, they didn't score any goals (except the giveaway penalty), and therefore Italy deserved to win. I am still disappointed that the game had to be decided on penalty shootouts.

I cheered against France for a couple of reasons:
*They have played too defensively throughout the world cup.
*Disappointing forwards. Henry never played a single good match, unlike in the federations cup. Trezeguet barely got any playing time, because France played with only one forward. Had they given him more playing time throughout the tournament, I would have been friendlier towards the French team.
*Goalkeeper. Coupet is way better than Barthez.
*Domenech (the coach) is an arrogant bastard.

You cannot judge the final by itself when deciding the best team in the world cup - you have to judge the team throughout the entire tournament to decide whether or not they are the rightful owners of the title.

DoorKnobHandle · Mon 10/07/2006 16:17:10

Allright, that's your opinion, which I accept. However, I personally don't agree. I think Henry played great (even in the final) and I think that Italy played more defensively than France.

radiowaves · Mon 10/07/2006 17:39:32

Quote from: Farlander on Mon 10/07/2006 12:51:48
Quote from: radiowaves on Mon 10/07/2006 12:02:48
Quote from: Farlander on Mon 10/07/2006 07:14:27
Weeeeh! Zizou, 13 years of carreer went to the flush because your stupidity! I am happy to see that you've had the worst possible goodbye! (I hope to never) see you!Ã,Â Au revoire "le grandeur"! Viva Italia!
Zidane got a Golden Ball today, so STFU!
Italians are nothing more than a bunch of sissy actors.

Yup... But sissy actors with a world cup. Zidane just arrive to sissy (without the actor) because his last image as a professional football player will be of the one corresponding to the aggressive dumb and CRY BABY man.Ã,Â F*ck him, and his golden ball (Which he can use to attack players more effectively)Ã,Â

If Italians like to call each other terrorist, then ok. I thin italians are jelaous.

Kweepa · Mon 10/07/2006 18:51:36

Perhaps Zidane is looking for an acting career like Vinnie Jones.
"Here's my showreel": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am4q6jEJi4A

Anarcho · Mon 10/07/2006 19:02:43

Has he explained why he did it? What did Materazzi say? It makes me which i could read french, so i could check out their newspapers.

Nacho · Mon 10/07/2006 19:04:58

I've seen a guy in LOCAL football to ask to another about his recently dead girlfriend. The guy did not react, scored 2 goals, and won the match. 10 times better than Zidane. No excuses. Shame on him.

Anarcho · Mon 10/07/2006 19:08:40

I thought Henry was playing better in that match than Zidane anyway...