World Cup 2006

[owbjhx]

But will their poor performances domestically be a good reflection of how their World Cup campaign is going to start?...Performing for country and performing for domestic club may not go in accordance.

This is indeed a tough one. It's one of the reasons which can make international cup tournaments so fun. Domestic league form is useful for comparisons because it makes for good quantitative evidence. But then you get an outlier like Greece becoming European Champions.

But I must say that Ronaldo did appear 'stuffed' the last time I saw him.

As they say, he's twice the player he used to be. I don't blame him; the food in Spain is as world-class as the football.

Well, you do know for a fact that players speeding down the right flanks normally feed crosses to their team mates into the penalty box, for that to happen your dominant foot must be the right-foot andvice-versa with a player on the left wing.

Yep, classical wing play. I imagine the Aussies will try this most of the time - lots of aerial balls from out wide, aimed squarely at the porky forehead of Viduka. Trying to out-Brazil Brazil by threading passes through their defence isn't going to be anyone's Plan A (except for Argentina, perhaps).

Moreover, Spain are supposed to be one of the teams that exploited weaknesses in Brazil’s defence and midfield. Never watched their games though.

I'd tip Spain to reach the semis, at the risk of (once again) being embarrassed.

However, i disagree that Oddo is a world class fullback. He's good, don't get me wrong. But there are certainly others out there who supass him. One of which, should be in this world cup but was over looked. A certain former Argentine captain.

It's just my ageism showing through, Zanetti being almost 33 but still great. It's odd that many of the world's best in this most stamina-sapping of roles are all of a certain age. (Oddo himself is no spring chicken, at 30 or thereabouts.) Maybe the lack of glamour just doesn't turn it on for the Messis and Robinhos.

Besides from the flanks, the real vulnerbility that Brasil have is probably Ze Roberto playing beside Emerson.

I suppose the safer option is Gilberto Silva alongside Emerson, but I'd like to see them go gung-ho and put Juninho there instead.

[Neo26988]

I suppose the safer option is Gilberto Silva alongside Emerson, but I'd like to see them go gung-ho and put Juninho there instead.

The perfect Brasilian Team:


--------------------------------------Rogerio Ceni
Cafu----------------------------------------------------------------R Carlos
--------------Kaka------------------Emerson-------------Ze Roberto
----------------Robinho--------Ronaldinho----------Juninho
----------------------------Fatty----------Adriano


Now that's Gung Ho!!!

[kacheek]

which 2 teams do u all think will make it to the finals???

[fulim1410]

The perfect Brasilian Team:


--------------------------------------Rogerio Ceni
Cafu----------------------------------------------------------------R Carlos
--------------Kaka------------------Emerson-------------Ze Roberto
----------------Robinho--------Ronaldinho----------Juninho
----------------------------Fatty----------Adriano


Now that's Gung Ho!!!

Ha...with this formation i believe any team with good defensive formation is able to withstand the attacking flow...Greece manage to do that in Euro2004

Using Italy as ex, revert to old catenaccio formation with Rhino grinding all those flair player out of position. Then soaked up all those attacking pressure and hit them with a counter or set piece.

Send in Pirlo to do the dirty freekick job and that will teach those Beckham fan and show them who is the master of setpiece. The title "Best crosser in the world" shouldn't be Beckhams alone.

Btw, with Lippi style i don;t think he will use the ultra defensive technique but he is famous for grinding 1-0 during his juventus heydays.

World cup is going down if any team manage to do Greece Job here.

[Black Night Sea]

The perfect Brasilian Team:


--------------------------------------Rogerio Ceni
Cafu----------------------------------------------------------------R Carlos
--------------Kaka------------------Emerson-------------Ze Roberto
----------------Robinho--------Ronaldinho----------Juninho
----------------------------Fatty----------Adriano


Now that's Gung Ho!!!

I’m afraid a defensive midfield position will not bode well for Kaka, he’s a playmaker, he wants to go forward, he’s not the kind who would just sit back and get the ball off the opposition. Conversely, it’s more like the idea of him making sure his markers can’t fight it off him. It’ll be similar to Juventus playing Henry on the wings when in stark contrast he’s actually a bona fide striker.

I can probably understand why you put Robinho there since he could be like a ‘hidden’ striker behind the other 2, after all he has been picked as one when Ronaldo isn’t there in other games. But if he’s put in a fix I’m not so sure if I would bet my money on him providing the quality service needed for someone like Ronaldo. To fulfil that position, you must have creativity in your game.

Moreover, wouldn’t that pattern of play interrupt the free-flowing style in which Brazil were accustomed to over the years? Sorry about the criticisms, but I would like to hear more on its functionality.

I never liked beckham (too 1 dimensional, imo) but he hasn't
underperformed at Real this season. the guy led the la liga in assists again, with the 2nd guy way behind him in the chart.

Thanks for the clarification. There doesn’t appear to be any La Liga football on terrestrial tv over at my place, all we get is boring - I can’t wait to fall asleep - Serie A/B Italian footie.

[Neo26988]

Sorry about the criticisms, but I would like to hear more on its functionality.

Lol, it's okay... The post was made tongue in cheek anyway. Notice how Emerson's the only distinct defensive minded player.

If i had my way, this would be the team i'd put out (Whether the players are selected or not)


------------------------Marcos
Cafu----------Lucio------------Juan--------Dede
-------------Emerson------Gilberto
-------------Kaka----Ronaldinho---Juninho
------------------------Adriano


Only problem is no defensive cover on the flanks. TBH, Brasil don't have any superstar flankers that really stand out for mine. A fact which was highlighted last WC when Cafu and Carlos played in midfield. A lot of them have potential or are quite inconsistent.

Emerson and Gilberto obviously provide the protection to the back four, whereas Juninho is in there because i believe he deserves to be. It's somewhat a mirror of the current formation, minus some players here and there and a bit of a shift.

[Black Night Sea]

Lol, it's okay... The post was made tongue in cheek anyway. Notice how Emerson's the only distinct defensive minded player.

Just going with the flow dude. If I had really ripped into that lousy formation it might’ve been offensive to someone else that thought it was decent, if you know what I mean.

[kacheek]

which 2 teams do u all think will make it to the finals???

i'll guess brazil and germany. what do u all think? dun worry. this question is not for betting purpose...

[Extremer88]

If i had my way, this would be the team i'd put out (Whether the players are selected or not)


------------------------Marcos
Cafu----------Lucio------------Juan--------Dede
-------------Emerson------Gilberto
-------------Kaka----Ronaldinho---Juninho
------------------------Adriano

Actually I think Lucio is the weakest link here... he's actually prone to errors.

[NetDriftr]

the opening ceremony was crap! i expected better spectacles and there were no english/french translation of the speeches...

[IloveBreezyTwilight]

Costa Rica Go!!!!

[yittz]

So analysis of the performance of the 4 teams of Group A?

Yeah opening ceremony was a total bore, can't believe I stayed up to watch it.

[chelsea_fan]

So analysis of the performance of the 4 teams of Group A?

Yeah opening ceremony was a total bore, can't believe I stayed up to watch it.

Then,i should be glad that i missed the ceremony?
Germany was lucky to win the match against Costa Rica. And England's game against Paraguay was one of the worst World Cup match i've seen. No tempo in this game. its even worse than a friendly.

Paraguay was playing like a bunch of amateurs in the 1st half n England,though dominating the 1st half, wasted a lot of chances. Michael Owen was totally useless n i think Sven really needs to reconsider his line-up. Crouch had a bad day with the referee blowing the whistle against him for every slight challenges he made. J Cole was kinda ineffective today. Downing,when he came on for J.Cole, was quick in running at the defenders but mostly ended up losing the ball near the penalty area. And whats the use of that? Gerrard's shots were way off-target but at least he's defending well. Lampard had a couple of good efforts saved...the 2nd half was horrible. Paraguay improved a little. but England just sat back as if a one-goal lead is enough.Are they really that incapable without Rooney?

[NetDriftr]

man i feel sorry for Carlos Gamarra of Paraguay. his head butt backfired and scored the only goal for England! Lets hope the Paraguayan fanatics don't kill him

Group B results:

England 1 - Paraguay 0
Sweden 0 - Trinidad Tobago 0

[yittz]

Maybe they are not as bad as Columbians.

So both heavy weights (G+E) did not do that well? I thought Germans at least had this urgency in their game, compared to England.

What about the Argentines? 2-1 vs Ivory Coast.

[NetDriftr]

Maybe they are not as bad as Columbians.

So both heavy weights (G+E) did not do that well? I thought Germans at least had this urgency in their game, compared to England.

What about the Argentines? 2-1 vs Ivory Coast.

Germany did well against Costa Rica.
England didn't perform that well in my opinion. they were lucky to have that goal. also their excuse is always the hot weather.. they blamed it on the weather 4 years ago, and now their coach is saying the same thing...

[Guo Xiang]

Germany did well against Costa Rica.
England didn't perform that well in my opinion. they were lucky to have that goal. also their excuse is always the hot weather.. they blamed it on the weather 4 years ago, and now their coach is saying the same thing...

I'd bet the other teams more or less had the same weather.

[c13:4567]

arg-ivory coast best match so far!

ingerland-paraguay game was crap.

T&T-sweden was entertaining but low quality.

nevertheless, i'll be rooting for the smallest nation ever to compete in the wc from now on, who says romance in football is dead?

[owbjhx]

arg-ivory coast best match so far!

I'd agree with that. The Ivories could overwhelm most other teams with their power & energy, but they need to be a bit more efficient & precise in attack. The Argies beat them despite the fact that their two most exciting players were missing and the team were pacing themselves; they look dangerous.

ingerland-paraguay game was crap.

That's a typical England performance for you. Score a lucky goal from a Beckham free-kick; show lots of effort, with scant result; display a total inability to retain possession; and then struggle nervously to the finish line. But at least there's the 3 points, and the first half showed promise.

[NetDriftr]

inability to retain possession; and then struggle nervously to the finish line. But at least there's the 3 points, and the first half showed promise.

...and blame a second half lack lustre performance on the hot weather!!! seriously Sven Erikssen needs a better excuse. Everyone suffers from the heat.