Okayyy... someone had to to this, someone who is in love with the game, enough of a man to admit he's a huge couch-potato and watches even the least significant games... but enough beatin' round the bush ! LET'S PLAY FOOTBALL !
Today is the opening game of WFC2006 and Germany is opening it against Costa Rica. Predictions, anyone ? (Starge, wink wink )

Starge thinks Czech have a good chance. He said it once on the official forum.

Anyway, offcourse, Serbia FTW! Or is it Serbia & Montenegro? No metter, I hope the boys in blue will snach the title. Although, it is a slim chance. If I were to fallow the common sence I would say Brazil or Argentina. But it is a fact that favorites mostly fail. Let's just look at the last European Cup. Greece?

EDIT:
Oh, and Germany wins that one. They're playing in their own country, plus Costa Rica doesn't have the players to beat Germany.

2 - 0 to Germany I think...

Hey, cool! It has begun
A pitty I wont be able to watch that game. I promised myself that this summer I will be following the games more.
I better not make any predictions cause I have know nothing about those two teams anyway...

It´s crystal clear! GERMANY WINS!


The result will be at least.........4-1, Ballach und die Jungs will just wipe the football-field with the Costa-Ricans!

Costa Ricans win. They're hispanic!

Anyways, it's called soccer, people.

Uhh....nope....it´s called football because it´s played with a....BALL..... not a ....LEMON....

And being hispanic.....well is that a reason to win?

LOL! That's the best explanation of why it is called football that I've ever heard
So true!

Well, I wish Portugal would win, as EVERYONE in my community either is Portugese or friends with a ton of Potugese families. When it was Greece and Portugal in the finals, the entire Portugese community got out and drove their cars around town honking, and some people were shooting fireworks out of their cars.

It would be cool to see Germany win, because they're such a powerful team and its always nice to see fans happy. Although they're playing style in 2002 was really unimpressive (He looked at me, so I fell. How is that not a red card?)

Hmm, I also would love to see Brazil to win, as their althleticism and skill in the sport is amazing to see in the finals. And Sweden would be good because of my new, Swedish family members.

Oh, and yeah, Serbia qualified as Serbia and Montenegro.

GO Côte d’Ivoire GO!

Current score is Germany 2 - 1 Costa Rica... I suspected a early goal for Germany, but not that they would let Costa Rica score thought...

Only in USA

Good to know.

Grrr.... now where did I put my gun?

Yup!!! I hope Germany will score some more...they can !

GO GERMANY GO!!!!

cheers to all germany-fans!

hmmm lol I didn't even knew it started today. I was @ the mall with a friend when I saw another friend of mine who was like; wtf why aren't you checking the world football championship?! I forgot about it shame on me

3 - 1

Think Germany can manage a 5 - 1... they will at least score one more goal

3-1 to Germany!!! See I might be right!! YaYYYYYYYY

That Klose-guy is awesome!!

HOLY BLOODY COMPASSION OF GOD!

Did someone see the score from Frings just now!? Oh my god, one of the greatest goals I've ever seen! Crap in my pants...

YEAH! I saw it......and THEY WON! GERMANY WON!! Ohh it´s just so great....


*dances around in sheer joy*

*covers eyes*

JK Minkey

Well I was pretty sure Germany would win, but I didn't think they would let in more than 1 goal, and they let in 2 if I got it right. But the one where they thought it was offside, that's just typical...
In football it doesn't matter if you believe it's offside, you still have to play until the referee does something. Even did that mistake when I once played (play defense of course) where I gave up on the run since it was an offside, but the referee didn't blow the whistle, they didn't scored but nearly...

But damnit, 4 - 2 scoring was sweet... Better than the scoring by Frode J. in RBK here in the Tippeliga, that was also a pretty awesom shot..

Mmm I was sure they´d win as well, I tthought 4-1 and it was 4-2....so ok...Now those offside-rules are pretty hard to grasp....I think so anyway..but ok so soon Sweden will meet Trinidad and Tobago.....my my....I sure do hope they´ll make it!!

I hope Sweden will make it far.. Hopefully Zlatan will be very balanced and good through-out the matches, that along with Henke etc. and a solid defense could bring my neighbours far

Yes....I do have confidence in Zlatan and the boys...Jeez...I think football is fun this year..dunno why..
My daughter left for Stockholm tonight and tomorrow she will fly to Germany! Nooo not to watch football but she will be in my favourite german town..in fact she got the very last hotel-room..due to all the football fans who are swarming the german towns at the moment

Wow, what a game! Six goals in the first game, this bodes very well for the rest of the tournament! I'm just hoping it goes on like this!

May the best team win!

Does anyone know why they put some derranged schizophrenic high on crack with a penchant for sequins in charge of the opening ceremonies of important events?

Giant woman-things and drums, oompah music and all other kinds of wacky weirdness. For a moment I thought I was watching a Bjork music video.

It's always like that. I guess it's a tradition thing. I liked Seeed though

Yaaay! Congratulations Ecuador and Costa Rica . Ecuador did a great game.. What happened to those [censored]? They practically stood still the entire match..

Costa Rica was much poor in gameplay, but still managed to put in two goals in Germany! I'm impressed.. If Germany keeps that way they won't get long...

Anyway, tomorrow is the day, Sweden vs Trinidad-Tobago! And Paraguay vs England.. What a day!

Go Zlatan!


stargelman:

hah, that was an ICBM Nice game, btw, but both defences were awful at times. And that second goal by Costa Rica was an obvious offside.

I can't wait for the matches tomorrow, will be a great day for all football fans!

So you're cheering for Brazil?

Everyone see the Ecuador-Poland game on a little bit ago? Poland could have come back but they got the offside and then their momentum was stopped by a late goal.

Brazil looks great now that Ronaldo got over that cold, and there fan base is obviously huge when 25 000 people show up to watch a practice and go hystarical whenever Ronaldinho and Kaka went near the ball in a game of pig. I can't wait to see them in action June 13th.

Also, I have heard no (none, nada, zero, zip, ect.) news about Iran, and I'm very curious about them. Anyone know if they have a chance at getting to the next round?

Iran have played very good, impressed over them so far - I think they can be the most surprsing team this World Cup, I think they can come through against the decent teams - but I think they will get crushed by the favs..

GERMANY AND SPAIN ARE GONNA OWNNNNNNNNNNNN. GOOO GERMANY BEAT THOSE COSTA RICAN SONS OF A BIT!@#$. HAHAHAHA

WTH is Peter Crouch doing in the English team ?! O_o that guy is Bad Mojo Incarnate ! He can't score a goal to save his life

I didn't see a world champion 2006 today.

Watching the match with Sweden now - They've had very good control so far and the swedish attackers are doing good, Zlatan is not that bad. Had a few great chances but not many, but controlling. Pretty sure if they keep it up they'll win

Yes! Go Sweden Go!! No not a bad match.....and then those english won their match as well!

A good World Champion-day!

Wow. Just wow. That was amazing. I said before the game it was probably not worth watching because Sweden would wipe the floor with T&T. Instead, we saw an incredible game with lots of pressure by the Swedes but also an incredible defense by T&T, including their excellent goalkeeper. Milanius, if you saw it, I bet you were amazed.

What a game. And an incredible performance for a team from a very small country with only 1.6 Mil people that participates for the first time. Truely, this game put T&T on the map of international football! Congratulations!

Well I must admit I don't watch football very often, but I've been following the opening matches, and I love it! Great fun. The match with the most action so far was the last one with Sweden and Trinidad. Since Norway didn't make it to the world cup I cheer for Sweden!

I have no real knowledge of scoring and stuff, so I don't know why Sweden were so disappointed with a 0-0 result, but it was a great match! Lots of action!

And btw to you Americans, football is football, the american version is American football, although you shouldn't be allowed to call it football since you carry the ball in your hands most of the time and wear lots of armor and makeup while playing...

Can't believe Sweden didn't score... They had so much control and so many chances of scoring, but when they didn't their teamspirit just dropped since they just couldn't get in that goal. T&T didn't have so much chances but they held a ferm defense and their goal keeper did well. But I can clearly understand how swedes are disappointed, whilst the fans fro T&T and the players were filled with joy...

Dam! I missed the Sweden game. *"bangs head on key board"* wdwdjid

It Sounded like a great game.
But I did watch the England game. That was rather brutal.
How many fouwl's and free kicks where there? Reminded me of the German Spain match of 2002.

The German open match seemed rather like a friendly game compared to the England game of today.
Hope the Germans dont keep on playing like that or they might get ownd in the next game.

When is Brazilles first match?

Me neither! That match did suck! Why couldn´t they just scored one single darn goal huh? Wretched swedes.....gah!

Guess the four goals he scored in his last two England games didn't impress you, then?

Anyway, seeing as how all people are talking about is Sweden (held to a draw by the mighty Shaka Hislop and a bunch of English 1st division players) I thought I'd throw in my pro-England bias.

Sure, we didn't look good. Sure, we made some bizarre tactical choices towards the end (Gerrard as a striker?) but...at the end of the day... we have 3 points. And that, at this point, is all that matters.

yeah, Starge, I didn't saw it, but to defend one self with a man down and against the likes of Larson and Zlatan... hats down, people ! T&T is truly TNT and they deserve their hard earned point.


No, they do not. Crouch is a hard worker and a real trooper, I'll give him that, but he is just awful when it comes to realisation. I mean, come on ? 12 cat juggling games without scoring in Liverpool ?! So many wasted chances ? The poor guy is cursed

Anyway, back to track - Serbia has lost against Holland I will NOT be killing myself, because we didn't disgrace ourselves after all, but I am in no bloody mood for a dialogue(s) right now. Just believe me when I say that neither team, not Serbia, not Holland, will go out of the group if they continue to play like they've played (Serbia - awful in attack, slow transitions; Holland - AWFUL in defence, average in all other aspects of the game, with the exception of Robben).

Netherlands. They can get really sensitive if you only say Holland. Holland is a region in Netherlands. Well actualy it's two regions, South and North, but it was one region long ago.

On the contrary: I am in the mood to discuss that. Why did we perform so pathetic, why the hell is Savo Milošević in the team, and why is Koroman the only one who can make a serius attempt to score a goal. Why is everything going slow and why are our boys falling under presure. They were making a lot of mistakes when a Dutch player aproaches. I'm telling you man, Savo Milošević is bad luck Not that I'm saying it's his fault we lost the match, but everytime i see him in the team I say: ''NOOOOOOOOO''.

Oh, The Netherlands has the chance alright. The fact is they
got 3 points from this one. We needed at least a draw against the Orange. Now it's all completly diffrent: We MUST defeat Côte d'Ivoire, and take at least a draw against Argentina. Needless to say, it's easier say than done.

EDIT: I'm surius what do people think about Brazil - Croatia? Result?

ooookay... Netherlands, then.


Why ?... heh... [sarcastic mode]Weeeel, Mr. Savo absolutely MUST play and get in the way of Kezman (who, BTW, doesen't even NEED Savo to stumble and fall every time he gets into a scoring position); and of course Petko simply MUST test his weaker defensive players, like Nenad Djordjevic, instead of just giving people who would "want" to play with all their 'soul' (whatever this hypothetic 'soul' thing might be...) a place in starting 11... and yes, people like Nikola Zigic MUST be kept in store untill the very end, like a WW2 German Secret Weapon, up untill 10 minutes to end when nothing can really be mended anymore.[/sarcastic mode]

I am disguisted, btw. No need to tell me things I already know, no need to tell me we're the slowest damn team in Europe for years... no need, good buddie. I am not the national selector and I do not chose who is going to get out on the pitch - otherwise, I'd at least try to be gutsy and give some other people, who are younger and braver, a chance. But everyone can be general after the battle.


*HUGE Sigh* HyPNO, a human being really doesen't "need" to do anything. A human being only has to die when it's his/hers time. Everything else is optional...

p.s.: Croatia is Brazil's toast, and you can quote me on that - no insult intended, but Brazil is just that awesome. They're the champs already, we can only sit & watch them play beautifully.

That's a brilliant piece of sarcasm here And I consider Savo Milošević a bad luck because everytime i bet on the team he was playing, I lost that bet. Osasuna screwed me once for 3,000 dinars!

Well, I wouldn't go so far as disguisted... Let's face it: Our national team always sucked (I'm refering to Serbian team not Former Yugoslavia team). Lets juist remember the previus game with Netherlands Now THAT'S disguisting.

True, you are not the national selector. But mister Petković should know better.

Oh pardon me. I meant we must do that if we wish to continue the competition.

Hmm, I absolutly agree that Brazil wins, but being a toast? I'm not so sure. And why would I be insulted? I told you that I'm half-Croatian, but I don't have any relationships with Croatians. Except I was born there.

Croatia wasn't all that bad in 1998, but we haven't heard that much from them since. I'm curious to see how they will fare. Obviously, I'm also curious to see how well Brazil does in their first three games. They tend to start almost too slow, not taking the first round serious enough and saving their energies for later. I hope this won't be the case now.

On Serbia vs. Netherlands: It reminded me of England vs. Paraguay, in that the stronger team should/could have won higher but somehow CBA to work up the energy. And yes, the Serbian team made a lot of unnecessary mistakes, almost as if they were intimidated.

Portugal vs. Angola: Well the Angolids tried their best I guess. The same can't really be said about Portugal. They should have shown a lot more than that. I have to admit I was a bit surprised by Figo though. I made pretty cruel jokes about him yesterday morning, comparing him to Lothar Mattheus, wondering whether he's bring his rollator. I thought back to the EC and how he barely moved on the field and did a lot more complaining than running, much less playing. Yesterday though he was one of the more active players and prepared the only goal, which came as a big surprise to me. Another player I noticed with the angry kid, Christiano Ronaldo. He had some good actions in that game.

Today, I'm looking forward most to the game USA vs Czechia, because I really want to see how good the Czech are right now. Same goes for the US team, but I don't think we can expect miracles from them yet. Maybe in a decade or two, who knows. Too bad those guys are not as good as the US women's team, which won the WC already

Did everyone see the Mexico-Iran game? Both teams played beautifully im my opinion (and played beautifully in many girl's I know opinions, but for a different reason ) and I think Iran has a future in this season. Mexico pulled off two goals in the last 20 minutes or so, but they were pretty evenly matched. Also, I didn't see anyone milking an "injury" for a card, which really impresses me.

Currently I'm spending more time laughing at the Japanese kamakaze tactic - if we run head first into the Australian goalkeeper, he won't be able to save!

That goal was as irregular as it gets!

Seems the ref didn't see it, and neither did his assistants. I gotta say I am surprised to see how calmly the aussie players seemed to take this. It isn't surprising Hiddink didn't though. Gotta wonder what the 4th official was trying to do when he was staring into that tiny monitor. Is that not permitted? Really strange.

Edit: wow, that went well! Good to see that erroneous goal did not decide the game!

Yeah, the Japanize scoring tactic was quite strange, almost like they were planing to tackle the goalie and run through the net. Good to see the aussies win by the way.

I remember one WC (I think it was the one 8 years ago) when Norway beat Brazil 2-1 quite early in the tournament. I've never seen Norwegians going so crazy, not before nor after that. So obviously Brazil did one of their energy-saving tactics back then...