World Cup

[§outh§tar]

James, but with a name like Socceroos, you've got to wonder how many men are actually on that team..

[rob k]

Germany v Argentina

Italy v France (If they start playing better than last night)

England v Holland or Portugal (Probably Holland)

Brasil v Spain

I think France have messed up my quarter final prediction. They need a win against Togo and then a low scoring draw from the South Korea Switzerland game to finish top.

It's a lot more likely that they'll finish second in the group and end up meeting Spain in the last 16 who will probably beat them.

Ukraine will finish second in group H and meet South Korea or Switzerland. The winner of this game will meet Italy in the quarter finals.

Man, I love the World Cup!!!

My local football team is having an end of season presentation night tonight and I tradionally do a football quiz. I've done this one on the World Cup... I'll post it in a bit.

[rob k]

Ok, answers in white. I've made up all the questions after researching on the internet. If any look dubious, please say so... there was quite a controversial question last year that nearly ended in bloodshed!

1. Which side did Argentina beat in the 1978 World Cup Final?

Netherlands

2. What year was the first ever Fifa Women’s World Cup held?

1991 in China (USA Won)

3. In which year was a World Cup final decided on penalties for the first time?

1994 (Brazil beat Italy 3-2)

4. Which World Cup saw players wearing numbers on their shirts for the first time?

1954

5. In the 1998 World Cup, which team became the first to lose by a Golden Goal?

Paraguay (Knocked out by Laurent Blanc of France)

6. Which World Cup introduced 3 points for a win during the group stages?

1994 USA

7. Substitutes and Red and Yellow cards were introduced in which World Cup?

1970 Mexico. Although not a single Red card was shown.

8. In which year did Sweden host the World Cup?

1958

9. Which team won the Fifa Fair Play Award in the 2002 World Cup?


Belgium

10. Which player won the Golden Ball award (best player) in the 2002 World Cup?

Oliver Kahn (Germany)

11. Which player received the Golden Boot award (top scorer) in the 1982 World Cup?

Paolo Rossi (Italy – six goals)

12. How many World Cups (included 2006) have there been?

18 – First in 1930; no World Cup in 1942 and 1946 due to World War 2.

13. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, how many stadiums are used?

12

14. How many European teams qualified for the 2006 World Cup?

14 (Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine)

15. Adidas are personalizing every match ball of the 2006 World Cup, but what colour will the ball used in the final be?

Gold

16. Four of the participating national teams in the 2006 World Cup have a Dutch coach. Name all four countries.

The Netherlands – Marco van Basten
South Korea – Dick Advocaat
Trinidad & Tobago – Leo Beenhakker
Australia – Guus Hiddink

Who said Crouch was a retard?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51648625@N00/173151372/

[thedevilsreject]

brazil were much improved yesterday, they had a genuine pace about them, while mr blobby still looked far from his best his goal was very good

[Enterprise-D]

Who said Crouch was a retard?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51648625@N00/173151372/

LOL @ photo top notch

[thedevilsreject]

LOL @ photo top notch

and the fact that at the moment he is the best striker we have at the world cup makes me want to cry

[Hercules Rockefeller]

i don't think the game score is a good measure for the quality of the team...

So, other than scoring goals and winning games, what is a good measure of team quality? Their uniforms? Their hairstyles? Their choice of hotels? Their table manners?

what i refer to as much weaker teams are teams that have no tradition,

So we should automatically award the World Cup to the team with the longest tradition? That would save a lot of time and effort, to be sure. It could be made into a big black-tie award ceremony, a la the Oscars. Of course, the same team would win every year which would become a bit boring.

or that manage to score goals and get in even though they play with no technique

Players’ technique never comes into it? All the goals scored by these poor-quality teams with no tradition are all flukes?

the weaker teams are not necessarily the teams that always lose, but the teams that play ugly football

The scoreboard talks and bullshit walks.

From your comments I conclude that you would like the game turned into a football version of figure skating with points awarded for artistic components like "grace" and "beauty" and "poise" and "tradition". Perhaps you would the matches set to music.

[thedevilsreject]

So, other than scoring goals and winning games, what is a good measure of team quality? Their uniforms? Their hairstyles? Their choice of hotels? Their table manners?



So we should automatically award the World Cup to the team with the longest tradition? That would save a lot of time and effort, to be sure. It could be made into a big black-tie award ceremony, a la the Oscars. Of course, the same team would win every year which would become a bit boring.



Players’ technique never comes into it? All the goals scored by these poor-quality teams with no tradition are all flukes?



The scoreboard talks and bullshit walks.

From your comments I conclude that you would like the game turned into a football version of figure skating with points awarded for artistic components like "grace" and "beauty" and "poise" and "tradition". Perhaps you would the matches set to music.

give her a break she is just clinging on to the thought that brazil hasnt got worse than other countries just for the mere fact brazil play more aesthetically pleasing football

[fadingCaptain]

I, for one, think a red card should equal a point. Aggressive, violent play should be rewarded, not penalized.

[Chatha]

Then there will be too much diving, playing with 10 men is a good as a point

[thedevilsreject]

I, for one, think a red card should equal a point. Aggressive, violent play should be rewarded, not penalized.

automatic top of the table if you break someones leg

[Varda]

So, other than scoring goals and winning games, what is a good measure of team quality? Their uniforms? Their hairstyles? Their choice of hotels? Their table manners?

what the fuck... are you american or something?
TECHNIQUE

So we should automatically award the World Cup to the team with the longest tradition? That would save a lot of time and effort, to be sure. It could be made into a big black-tie award ceremony, a la the Oscars. Of course, the same team would win every year which would become a bit boring.

do you know how many teams have won the cup during the last 50 years?
6... only 6. and guess who they are? Brasil, France, Germany, Argentina, Italy, England (teams with TRADITION).
if you ask me which teams are favourite for the cup in 2006, ill say Brasil, France, Germany, Argentina, Italy, England.
if you ask me which tea
if you ask me which teams are favourite for the cup in 2080 or whatever, ill say Brasil, France, Germany, Argentina, Italy, England.
i'm sorry, it's just the way it is

Players’ technique never comes into it? All the goals scored by these poor-quality teams with no tradition are all flukes?

play against a weaker team, and you are likely to score beautiful goals... not because your quality just magically improved, but because their defense is broken. sometimes really good teams also have a lame defense too... hell, brazil's defense has never been so great (though i'm kind of liking it this year)... so goals can happen. once again playing quality futebol!= scoring goals

The scoreboard talks and bullshit walks.

From your comments I conclude that you would like the game turned into a football version of figure skating with points awarded for artistic components like "grace" and "beauty" and "poise" and "tradition". Perhaps you would the matches set to music.

do you really want to look at the scoreboard? try a larger sample. brasil is the only team to have won 5 world cups... after that comes argentina, germany and italy with 3 each...(i might be wrong)
and you'll see if it's bulshit in about 3 weeks

it doesn't matter how lucky you get in the first rounds... eventually you'll play against one of the big guys and you'll lose... it's ok though, no shame there, nobody expected you to get anywhere anyway

[Varda]

I, for one, think a red card should equal a point. Aggressive, violent play should be rewarded, not penalized.

i vote that for most stupid idea in history of footbal

[Varda]

if you ask me which tea

chinese roasted green

[Varda]

give her a break she is just clinging on to the thought that brazil hasnt got worse than other countries just for the mere fact brazil play more aesthetically pleasing football

right now, we just have to hold to anything we can so we can maintain hopes of beating our nemesis: Argentina

*spitspitspit*

[Varda]

Also i'd just like to say Netherlands is the most injusticed team ever in terms of results
those lovely orange dudes deserve a cup!

[Hercules Rockefeller]

what the fuck... are you american or something?
TECHNIQUE

No, I’m not American.

It’s typically Brazilian to moan and whine about technique and “beautiful play” and how no one else but Brazil has it. The point I’m trying to make is that what counts at the end of the day is the score, not how “beautiful” you think the teams played. "Beautiful" technique doesn't always win. Brazil are at least equal favs to win the cup, but if they lose I’ll bet $$$ that the internet will be flooded by Brazilians moaning about how they were the more beautiful side and how they played the better football.

[Varda]

that is because they are the most beautiful side

to be Brasil is the favourite obviously, but i have admited the favouritism of other teams... Argentina specially... to me any of those big names there have a pretty good chance... well, except England ... Italy and Argentina have also been sucking this year

i dont think at all that this will be easy to win!... i will always praise my country's futebol for it's quality, because it simply is the best... anyone who can't aknowledge that is just bitter
*coughcoughargentinianscoughcough*
but i wouldnt feel at all like my team was put to shame if it lose to any of those.

where are you from, btw?

[TruthSeeker]

Beautiful futebol always translates into lots of scores and great defenses. Think about it. If you have great technique and your futebol is beautiful, you can break the defense of any country! The beauty is not only in the moves- it's also on how they lead to the scores.

[Chaos Inc.]

oi... go the socceroos... James... I'm hearin ya.. Italy, look the fuck out.