Messages

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.

This is a clip of a band called "The Sharp" that were popular in Australia for a few years in the early to mid 90's, this was an unplugged tv performance (the last tv appearance before they split up) from 1995.

I thought I'd post it here cause it explains where I got the text under my avatar.

They were much better plugged in, and were still one of the best live acts I've ever seen (not that you'd even get a clue from this clip), and I've seen quite a few gigs in my time including Faith No More, Infectious Grooves, Ministry, Chili Peppers, Violent Femmes, Reverend Horton Heat, The Prodigy, The Living End, Aerosmith (1990 Pump tour) And literally over 100 more (different bands not just gigs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuwTDtndhlY

I've noticed that the drummer is now a writer for the soap 'Neighbours'

That was a great game!  Unbelievable goals in the last minute (or two) of double overtime!  Hooray for Italy!

Well there's no such thing as double overtime (unless you're meaning injury time in extra time), it was the 2nd half of extra time, but yeah, those goals were excellent, It's hard to believe there weren't more goals in the match with the quality of both of them.

I only saw the highlights so I can't really judge the whole match but Italy are riding their luck now.

It's a shame Portugal lost to France with a Penalty. France have just seemed to sneak up from no where, the quiet achivers of the comp (I'm sure it hasn't been as quiet or unexpected in France)

(EDIT: I just saw a replay of that penalty yesterday, that was another terrible decision by the ref, I feel really sorry for Portugal, he should have got a yellow card for diving.)

But France v Italy Final, That's just none of the teams I expected, I've been in a tipping comp and I've got 47 out of a possible 62 so far with 2 games to go and I'm in the equal lead, (but ahead by 1 goal on picking margins) with 2 matches to go it's getting tight

It's hard to know if France will just get the title without anyone noticing or Italy will just fluke another match, I just can't get excited about either team, a bit of a let down cup this time round

The way both these teams made the final you'd think it was the World Cup of Diving, they should just replace the goals with 10 metre platforms

I really couldn't care now, the teams left aren't really that exciting to watch, Germany are the last team left out of my predictions, maybe that's a sign to say they cant win

England Gone in Penalty shots, I reckon golden goal after normal full time (or even after extra time) for as long as it takes should be the only way to possibly decide a game. Penalties just mocks the credibility of any close match.

Portugal did have the better opportunites and looked better on the field but as England were down to 10 men for much of the 2nd half, they really had to just concentrate on defence. I'm glad Rooney was sent off, whether it was deserved or not is irrelevant, he's just a dick head, not a bad player but he needs to do a bit of growing up.

If Brazil make it through later tonight, I think the previous game was irrelevant regardless of result.

Go Brazil


Things I hate about this game is the amount of diving, bad acting, and not using a video ref for some decisions, especially in close games where teams have trouble winning on their own merrit. It's been in the game forever (they even practice dives at training trying to look as convincing as possible) and it's time they started cracking down on it by using video footage.

The obvious way to tell if it's fake is if the guy goes down in agony and gets up fine a few seconds later, some act on a bit longer and then get the ball and forget they were limping. a lot of the time if they quickly got back up they might create an even better opportunity, fucking idiots.

And a nice rule just to change things tactically and promote attacking play would be to have a similar rule to the Backcourt rule in basketball. Which means once you've crossed the halfway line, you can't go back (with the ball) or pass the ball back into the other half.

Sorry to bitch about this sport but it can be a very frustrating game

Sorry but you are wrong about the penalty shoot, he simulated that fall, as I saw it in slow-close up shot, and he deserved yellow card

He may have dived but he was fouled as well, it was one that could have gone either way, for the match it was probably a good decision. Yeah, and to be consistant he should have given Ballack a yellow too.

Germany through over Argentina, Pity it came down to a penalty shoot out, never a good way to end.

Thought Germany deserved to win though, with the way they battled on to come from behind. Argentina dominated the first half in possession but neither side looked like scoring (due to good defence). After Argentina scored the first goal they changed to defensive mode and shut up shop. That was their mistake as a good team will keep trying as the Germans did, and then seemed to dominate from then on.

The only dodgey decision which could have been decisive, was the yellow card on Rodriguez in the 88th minute for taking a dive in the box, which actually was a foul and should have technically been a penalty shot handing Argentina the match (pending a successful shot), but as if that would happen against the host nation. I bet they'll be talking about that in Argentina though.

Well it's over for Ghana, they played well and gave themselves every oportunity, but I still don't think Brazil played that well and still cruised through. The 2nd goal which was clearly offside was a bit annoying but you expect that in this particular cup, could have been the decisive turning point in the match though (I reckon they should have video refs for offside at least, get with the times) 3-0 doesn't really do the game justice, but you can still see a few touches of class from Brazil when they want to turn it on, great team to watch.

It's funny how the benefit of the doubt decisions seem to always go to the expected to win team, someone would think fifa want these particular sides further into the competition

Best referee we had all cup, only made two bad decisions all match.

Unfortunately, they were both absolute utter shockers [the other being the red card], and were the two most important decisions in the match.

Still, Australia's inability to score says alot more about the Italian defence than about our attack. Some of the best zonal defence I've ever seen.

Yes, I agree with all that in all aspects, although Australia's defence was pretty strong too, not as good but withstood everything they threw at them (except the penalty which is never expected to be saved)

Extra time was deserved and then it may have been decided more fairly, but oh well, Brazil, Germany,  Argentina, Spain or England will win, well that is my order of preference anyway unless Ghana pull off an upset tonight

The referee was spanish... You can yell at me if it makes you feel better.

If you like.... you and your ref can go get fucked

We would, if we could only produce those upsidedown exclamation marks.

Here's a couple for you iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

You mean in 4 years time?

That's if it's not another 34 years

Get fucked is all i can say, Italy won in the 93rd minute (5 secs to go injury time) a bad ref call for a penalty in the box, the guy just tripped over. 1-0 with a penalty kick.

Seemed really unfair cause Australia dominated the match, they weren't expected to go that far but Italy will feel very lucky to have made it through, lucky (very lucky) bastards

Australia Italy 0-0 at half time, tight match so far, Aus has had the better of the possession, but haven't used their oportunities as well as the Italians so far. quite a friendly match so far, but if it is still close at the end I'm sure the players attitudes will change. Pity Kewell's out injured, came out to the bench on crutches before the match.

Just hope it doesn't go to extra time cause I'll get 4 hours sleep as it is.

Bizzareness, I just got a cab home, and the driver was from Ghana, Australia and Ghana making the 16, coincidencenessmuthafukingstrange, I'll leave it down to 1337ness, may as well be lochness

I could certainly see the Melbourne bred AFL influence in the Croatian box, some fine tackling and a few fists through for the behind.

Yeah, I thought the exact same thing

I got up early to watch the game thismorning, left for work at half time, heard a score on the radio 2-1 and had no idea how it ended. I had a feeling of the result after I heard some car horns beeping round the place but was not sure if it was frustration or they were Croatian, but then one of my mates phoned and filled me in.

Well, who would have thought the Australians would have made the 2nd round? ranked 42nd or something similar, although are much better than that, they just don't get many games against decent sides to lift their ranking, I'm sure it will continue to go up after this tournament.

I wouldn't like to predict how far they can go, but when you're still in it you have a chance, especially when Australia is such an unknown quantity, teams can underestimate.

That curse that John Safran lifted with that witch doctor in Mozambique sure has come in handy.

It was an interesting match for the 2 countries cause there is some Croatian heritage in the Australian team and vice versa, not sure which guy but he decided to play with Croatia instead of Australia because he thought he would have more chance in the World Cup (or to even get into it), then to get knocked out by his birth country, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

also Surprising is Ghana going through and the Czech Republic being knocked out.

Every other group so far seems to be as predicted

I left my tv on all night to see if i would catch any of the match, I only woke at half time and it was 0-0, I heard the result in the morning and it was not as bad a result as I was expecting, as it would have been a major upset to beat Brazil.

Considering Croatia and Japan drew 0-0 it basically comes down to a decider between Australia and Croatia assuming Japan doesn't beat Brazil by more than 3 goals (if aus croatia  draw)


Bring on Croatia, a draw is likely good enough for Australia to progress to the 2nd round, but  a win for either side will get them through.

I just watched a replay of the Aus vs Brazil match, and it was a great attacking match, it so could have easily gone either way, and the 2nd goal in the 90th minute was a bit lucky. I was glad they made Brazil play hard to the end and it was a very competitive match.

The last 2 mornings, as I've gotten up for work at about 6.30am, I've caught the end of 2 close games, that were both 0-0 after 75 mins.

Germany v Poland & Sweden v Paraguay

And I got to see the only goals of the 2 matches before I left, I guess they are just waiting for me to wake up. I can't really judge who played better the whole of the matches but I did feel a bit sorry for Poland as it happened in injury time, so close.

But that's the thing with this game, you can't just try and hold out for a draw, or 1 goal up and try and shut it down, you need to keep trying to score. I hate watching games (in any sport) where one team just gets a lead and shuts down the game, really boring, bordering on bad sportsmanship, and shit entertainment value. (just talking in general, not about the 2 above games as I can't say that's how they were played)

Doesn't it strike you as odd that these tiny japanese players, pushing no more than 100 pounds in average, can viciously tackle and mangle down your majestic, tall, rugby-playing brutes as if they were made of paper and porcelain? Never have I see so frail a team!

Yeah, that's their secret, act like wussy little guys, to hide the secrets of the ninja power within

AUS just beat Japan 3-1, it was 1 nil to japan until 8 mins to go, Australia had all the possession, played better all game and it paid off in the end.

Japans only goal was because they pushed the keeper out of the way, controversial, but it bit them in the but in the end, woo hoo, showing some good signs but will need to improve to beat Brazil next.

Apart from the fact that we just started a calendar at no real point in time in the existance of earth, it's not really 6/6/06 and apart from the fact that it's not really 666 but 662006, I think I can sleep well (even though it's mid afternoon on 7/6/06 for me) What time zone does satan use anyway (or calendar for that matter) [this is one of the flaws in any dooms day bullshit]

It really happened in the year 6, on the 6/6 and our destruction of our planet started then, and it still goes on and we wont stop till it's all destroyed (although it will live on long after all humans are extinct)

this is his last thread
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=25189.msg315811#msg315811

I guess you read it, that's about as much as I know, some others may have kept in contact. He did leave an email address in that thread