2006 WORLD CUP - Round of 16 - BRAZIL-GHANA/FRANCE-SPAIN

Forty years since we won the World Cup.

Twenty years since Maradona stole it from us with his hand.

261 posted on 06/27/2006 2:14:25 PM PDT by jjbrouwer (Two World Wars and one World Cup (soon to be two World Cups))

262 posted on 06/27/2006 2:14:42 PM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)

To: dfwgator; jjbrouwer

"No way Argentina beats Germany."

I was just commenting on jjbrouwer's scenario. Regarding Argentina and Germans, as you have seen upstream and other days, any prognostications I make on soccer are useless. Actually, they are valid in a way, come to think of it, just bet contrary;)

263 posted on 06/27/2006 2:18:39 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind. Save your finger - Oct 5, 2001)

That's a hard one to forget. Even Maradona was embarrassed by it, I read somewhere.

264 posted on 06/27/2006 2:21:26 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind. Save your finger - Oct 5, 2001)

If the WC is in Europe, go with the European team, on any other continent, I would go with the South Americans.

265 posted on 06/27/2006 2:21:44 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)

266 posted on 06/27/2006 2:23:39 PM PDT by Eurotwit (WI)

Well, everything is going to form so far:

Big teams get through the group stages;
Argentina are playing good football;
Brazil are rumbling into life;
Spain and Netherlands go out early.

Next expect to see:

The hosts going far;
England going out on penalties;
Italy going out in the semi-finals.

This should leave a Germany Brazil final and that is one the past history guide gives Germany the edge.

267 posted on 06/27/2006 2:24:41 PM PDT by FostersExport

To: Eurotwit; jjbrouwer

Have you seen this? From the news today:
Argentina's new offensive to take control of the Falklands
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=392658&in_page_id=1811&in_a_source=&ito=1490
Cheers.

No, but thanks for that link. The comments from the readers are interesting, to say the least. See one below:

"War should never be treated lightly, but those who have lost their lives, whether in The Falklands, or latterly in Iraq, deserve to be remembered with dignity. The present British government should give serious consideration to any action to be taken before capitulation, but I will not be holding my breath" - Alan, Birmingham, England

268 posted on 06/27/2006 2:30:03 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind. Save your finger - Oct 5, 2001)

He was so embarrassed, he boasted it was the Hand of God that scored it. That fat drug addict has NO shame!

269 posted on 06/27/2006 2:30:20 PM PDT by jjbrouwer (Two World Wars and one World Cup (soon to be two World Cups))

I doubt they'll invade. Half our submarines are probably watching them as we speak.

Plus the US is in more of a mood to help us out than it was the last time round.

270 posted on 06/27/2006 2:33:01 PM PDT by FostersExport

That fat drug addict has NO shame!

What do you expect from a Castro-loving commie?

271 posted on 06/27/2006 2:33:39 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)

I heard about it. It didn't surprise me. Alec is an elitist, imperious, and snotty dunce.

See you soon!

272 posted on 06/27/2006 2:34:51 PM PDT by lainie

To: FostersExport; jjbrouwer

WSJ had an article yesterday on how the major flash point there in Argentina is the correct color blue of their flag.

Pick the wrong blue and you are either Federalist or you are a central government supporter.

"Shade of Difference: Getting Blue Right In Argentina's Flag"

273 posted on 06/27/2006 2:39:03 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind. Save your finger - Oct 5, 2001)

To: FostersExport

If, by some miracle, England get to the final, I'd sooner see it from France doing the hard work and beating Brazil!

Arrrgh! A dreadful vision is forming in my head: England could indeed win the title, if a number of things comes to pass - in exactly this way:

Friday: Germany - Argentina: In by far the greatest match of the tournament the most artistic team (Argentina) meets the hosts who have by far the fittest team. It's an epic battle, THE game of the decade, and remembered for decades to come: 2-2 after 90 minutes, 3-3 after overtime. In the third round of penalty kicks a German striker loses his nerve, Argentina wins.

Italy on the other hand has no problems whatsoever with an outclassed Ukraine, they really got lucky on this one.

Saturday: England meets Portugal - Another lackluster performance by the English. However, the Portugese suffer from a serious disadvantage: Because several players have to sit this one out, their ranks are in disarray. Enough for Rooney to slip one through and score a single goal, the winning goal.

That same evening France meets Brazil - and beats it. Zidane, intent on showing the world one last time his class leads France to an unlikely victory. Brazil, to smug and arrogant never recovers from France's first goal, going down 2-1 to France.

Tuesday, first semifinal: Italy are lucky to meet Argentina, not Germany. Had Germany won the PKs, their superior fitness would have beaten Italy in the end. But after the match against the hosts, Argentina only has another 60 minutes in them. Italy plays defensively, and in the 73rd minute they mount a successful counterattack after the Argentinian players lose their breath during an attack on the Italian goal. 1-0

Wednesday, second semifinal: England against Frace. Both teams know each other well and it shows. Also, the age of the French begins to show. After the exhausting match against Brazil, France simply has nothing left against England.

The final: A truly atrocious match. Both sides play terrible defensive football without imagination and rhythm. Instead of rooting for England and Italy the ranks begin to shout "Germany" and "Argentina", as they long for the quarterfinalists' performance. Another set piece, another glimpse of Beckham's abilities. England wins the same way Germany made the final in 2002: By a combination of sheer luck and disruptive soccer without flow or rhythm.

Henceforth England carries the stigma of being the Darth Vader of soccer and Baddiel and Skinner change their lyrics from "Three lions on the shirt" to "Eagle on the shirt".

What a nightmare! For the sake of soccer, let's hope things go otherwise!

274 posted on 06/27/2006 2:39:25 PM PDT by wolf78

To: FostersExport

"Plus the US is in more of a mood to help us out than it was the last time round."

Don't know about that. Lurk on the lefty sites and listen to MSM and Dems you'll soon be thinking we should be all locking ourselves in our houses, disconnecting our lawn mowers, putting up our chain saws, replacing knives with plastic utensils, picking up guns, and becoming just generally wussified.

275 posted on 06/27/2006 2:41:51 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind. Save your finger - Oct 5, 2001)

I hope it goes exactly the way you describe. Still, it could be worse for all these bad teams - at least we aren't USA!

276 posted on 06/27/2006 2:42:29 PM PDT by jjbrouwer (Two World Wars and one World Cup (soon to be two World Cups))

Heh heh. Great scenario! The beautiful football can wait till Euro 2008, when a fully fit Rooney actually plays alongside another striker (oooh, how about a rapidly improving Theo Walcott) and England blitz the competition!

277 posted on 06/27/2006 2:43:30 PM PDT by FostersExport

To: FostersExport

The fact that we are playing so badly and are already going to finish no worse than joint fifth, suggests that when we do finally play well, we will win the cup. France may give us a good game but the other teams will just fall apart.

278 posted on 06/27/2006 2:46:22 PM PDT by jjbrouwer (Two World Wars and one World Cup (soon to be two World Cups))

Still, it could be worse for all these bad teams - at least we aren't USA!

Yeah, yeah make fun of us now, but when we get Klinsmann for our coach, watch out.

279 posted on 06/27/2006 2:48:00 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)

The unfortunate thing about that is that Klinsmann can't actually PLAY for you...

280 posted on 06/27/2006 2:49:20 PM PDT by jjbrouwer (Two World Wars and one World Cup (soon to be two World Cups))

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