Fifa Fever!!!

Agree Chris, it's phenomenal that Messi came in being so young and was able to assist and score on his first ever! And Tevez is a great player.

Despite the loss for Ivory Coast I heard it was a great match, I'll have to go home tonight and watch it.

Holland/Argentina will be a good game, however, I think we both agree on who we think the winner will be...

Mexico seems to be dominating their game, I'm not watching but from the radio commentary, they have all but officially won.

Tomorrow:

Portugal by 1 (maybe 2/1)
Czechs by 3
Italy by 2 (maybe 3/1)

I never get the scores right...LOL
 
(I can't believe that Mexico did not beat Angola! Man down and everything! This complicates things a bit for them)
 
Argentina were magnificent.. what a show! And what a squad they have.. they're cementing their role as a clear favorite - because Serbia is not a bad team actually, I bet lots of other teams would have had problems beating them. Although they were missing their two center backs as far as I know. And at the score of 3-0 or 4-0 they more or less gave up.
Netherlands - Ivory Coast was a very good game and I feel a bit sorry for Ivory Coast.. they would have deserved a group in which they could have advanced to the final stages. I want Netherlands there as well, though.
I didn't get to see the Mexico - Angola game unfortunately. I didn't do any predictions.. but I surely would've guessed a big win by Argentina :p

Next games:

Portugal 2 - 1 Iran
Czech Republic 2 - 0 Ghana
Italy 2 - 0 USA

Going for the old 2 - 0 prediction style, spicing it up a bit with a goal for Iran ;)
 
My predictions today about the same as yours,

Iran eliminated after a 3-1 defeat against Portugal
Czech Republic are missing their main two strikers, but will still win 1-0 against Ghana.
USA have a point to prove, and the Eye-Ties are suspect to pace down the wings. USA 1-0 Italy.
 
mr_afk said:
Going for the old 2 - 0 prediction style, spicing it up a bit with a goal for Iran ;)

Well, aren't you a saucy guy today! LOL

Who would have thought Gahna would shut out the Czechs! That group is by far the most unpredictable so far. Anyone can take the top two spots mathematically...I hope to see Koller and Baros back soon, the team sorely missed their presence.

The USA game, so much controversy! cards flying everywhere! Unfortunately for the US, imo, this time they will not advance. Tough group to be in.

Tomorrow:

Switzerland 2Togo 1
Spain 2/ Tunisia 0
Saudis 1/Ukraine2
 
Haha, I ****ed up badly with those :D
I want Ghana to advance now by the way. They rock!

I'm afraid I was out of action the last two days- only saw the highlights, how sucky. More unfortunately I'm likely to miss today's games as well, except for the Spain one maybe.
(I was having final exams and now I celebrate victory. can you imagine, final exams along with the world cup? argghh!)

Also I'm lame and will just copy your predictions, Moonbeam. ;)
 
The Ukraine showed what they're all about wiping out the goal difference and Spain have secured their passage to the next round - they look like they could really whallop the Saudi's next week.

Today:
England 1 Sweden 1
Paraguay 2 Trinidad 0
Germany 2 Ecuador 1
Costa Rica 2 Poland 4.
 
Agree, except fot Poland/Costa Rica, Poland just didn't impress me enough to score 4 goals...

4 games today :eek: I have to confess, I've been so tired the last two+ weeks from watching the games (I go home and watch after work), today I may just watch the highlights since these are pretty meaningless games, excpet for England/Sweeden, this is the difference between first and second for them...
 
I'm really loving the games lately, it's getting more and more exciting and it will all peak with the last game! Isn't that an awesome prospect ... it will only get more thrilling.
I really liked England, Sweden and Brazil. I'm happy for Downunder and Ghana.
Ronaldo equalled Muller's all time record.. he's waking up. Today are the last group stage matches.. hence I want to read some quarter final predictions soon! :D
 
FIFA Ranking system to change!!

Fifa Rankings to change!

AP report said:
By JOHN PYE, AP Sports Writer
June 23, 2006

BERLIN (AP) -- ... The early exit of the United States was a disappointment, Blatter said. It also highlighted deficiencies in the FIFA ranking system.

The United States was ranked fifth coming into the World Cup and the Czech Republic was ranked second. Both failed to advance from Group E, which saw Italy and Ghana move on.

The ranking system will be changed after the World Cup so it is based on results over four years instead of eight.

"The FIFA rankings will be modified ... to make a robust statement of what happens over four years," he said. "In a World Cup, things evolve over four weeks. It's not necessarily the best team in the world that becomes the world champion -- it's the best team of the tournament."

Ain't that the truth!
 
Round of 16 Predictions

Ok here it goes:

Germany - if they tighten their defense
Argentina - should win by a couple, very strong offensively
Italy - no contest, sorry Aussies
Switzerland - this one could actually go either way
England - Ecuador will give them a run for their money and may upset (?)
Netherlands - Look good right now were able to ward off the Argentines
Brazil-Brazil will begin to show their stuff from here on
Spain-France need to work on offense if they want to win
 
My tournament prediction:

Germany - Sweden (Winner Germany)
Ecuador - England (Winner England)
Argentina - Mexico (Winner Argentina)
Holland - Portugal (Winner Holland)
Italy - Australia (Winner Australia)
Brazil - Ghana (Winner Brazil)
Spain - France (Winner Spain)
Switzerland - Ukraine (Winner Ukraine)

Leaves us with the following quarter finals:
Germany - Argentina (Winner Argentina)
Australia - Ukraine (Winner Australia)
England - Holland (Winner Holland)
Brazil - Spain (Winner Brazil)

Semis then:
Argentina - Australia (Winner Argentina)
Brazil - Holland (Winner Brazil)

The ultimate final:

Argentina - Brazil (Winner - god knows, ask me then!!)

I think Australia will go far - they look solid and can score goals, Hiddink has reached the last 4 in France98 and in Korea/Japan02, no reason why not in 2006.
 
chrissmith921 said:
Leaves us with the following quarter finals:
Germany - Argentina (Winner Argentina)
Australia - Ukraine (Winner Australia)
England - Holland (Winner Holland)
Brazil - Spain (Winner Brazil)

Semis then:
Argentina - Australia (Winner Argentina)
Brazil - Holland (Winner Brazil)

The ultimate final:

Argentina - Brazil (Winner - god knows, ask me then!!)

Ok we only differ in two I'll do mine one step further using my substitutions(I hope I don't mess it up-using countries that I've outed lol):

Quarter:

Germany - Argentina (Winner Argentina)
Italy - Switzerland (Winner Italy)
England - Holland (Winner Holland)
Brazil - Spain (Winner Brazil)

Semi:

Semis then:
Argentina - Italy (Winner Argentina)
Brazil - Holland (Winner Brazil)

Final:

Brazil - Argentina

I really hope it's Argentina, that was my prediction as the beginning of the tournament, I stand to win (a whole) $200!! :p
 
I hope we see the Brazil-Argentina final that the tournament deserves.

The best two sides going head to head on the biggest stage of all, hopefully too no card happy referee ruling players out etc.
 
its so great to see australia doing well, we were an underated side for so long i hope now people realise where a solid squad
 
You Aussies in fact did very well up to this point! It's gonna be hard against Italy though.

I'm late with my prediction which makes it easier of course.. but nevermind here it is:

Round of 10 (for me):
Holland - Portugal (Holland)
Italy - Australia (Italy)
Brazil - Ghana (Brazil)
Spain - France (Spain)
Switzerland - Ukraine (Ukraine)

Quarters:
Germany - Argentina (Argentina)
Italy - Ukraine (Italy)
England - Holland (Holland)
Brazil - Spain (Brazil)

Semis:
Argentina - Italy (Argentina)
Brazil - Holland (Brazil)

Third place:
Italy - Holland (Holland)

Final:
Argentina - Brazil (Brazil)

---

A few words to the first knock off games:
1. Germany was very strong, Sweden was weak.
2. Mexico played very well. It could have gone either way at some point.. but Argentina got the edge in the end.
3. I hated it. ;) Nice freekick from Beckham and that's about it.
 
I guess none of saw Portugal coming! What a game though, so many cards, fights, insults etc!! It must have been a record on the cards :eek:

I thought it was funny though how Decco and two of the Holland players were sitting on the steps still watching the game together (talking to eachother) LOL...

Australia did better than I expected, I did't think they would make it of the first round but I think unless they pull a major upset, this will as far as they will go...
 
Moonbeam3 said:
I thought it was funny though how Decco and two of the Holland players were sitting on the steps still watching the game together (talking to eachother) LOL...

yep, I love fraternization in football. they both play for barcelona (deco & van bronckhorst) so they know each other pretty well, though.

Moonbeam3 said:
Oh, and I just have to say, Argentina won that game with, possibly, the best goal of the tournament so far :D

It was a real stunner and surely a competitor for the goal of the tournament! There were a few incredible goals... I can't decide which one I like best. Maybe it's actually Maxi's because of its importance...
 
It just reminded me of scolded school children watching everyone else play at recess...long faces and all :p
 
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