Posted on 06/30/2006 11:08:19 PM PDT by soccer_maniac
I agree. I was in Germany during the 1998 WC and started watching it with my kids. I have been hooked on soccer ever since. I ended up becoming a FC Bayern Munchen fan and going to many BL and Champions League matches all over the continent to watch them. My family has some great memories of those trips and the matches. I wish MLS could become a high quality league on par with the ones in Europe.
I thought De Rossi was coming back for Germany-Italy. No loss.
One more thing, Italy has already beaten Germany earlier this year 4-1 in a friendly. It won't be an easy match for either team, I'm sure, but I'm rooting for Italy. Very disappointed in England's loss.
Can you add me to your ping list?
Thanks.
Sorry. What I meant was whether France was expected to actually do a really good game or whether they were expected to be easily outmatched.
I was wondering whether it'd be like U.S.-Italy or U.S.-Germany. In one, we'd have a decent chance. In the other we would have a really small chance.
Going in I thought France would beat Brazil for several reasons. I thought that if Zidane played up to capabilities, Brazil would still had no answer for him, as in '98. And also, playing in Europe gave France a huge advantage.
Oh man, I still have to resist the urge to upchuck every time I think about that game.
But I still wear my 52-20 Sweet Revenge T-Shirt! :)
I figure since every other WC is played outside of Europe, Brazil will win every other WC, but forget it when it's in Europe. Brazil hasn't won since '58 in Europe. But they definately should be favorites in South Africa.
Huh? Beckham had a goal (game winning) and two assists during the world cup. I think its Rooney who is the underachieving villian here. Zero points for Rooney.
Don't really care who wins now but hope to enjoy some good games - without the tension!
It took France 8 years to start playing again. With many same players they were struggling in Europe and Korea-Japan and this year group. Their clicking in again, all of a sudden, produced one of the best displays in this World Cup. My political bias notwithstanding, I can only applaud them.
If Rooney removes that ugly thug out of himself, he can be great, he has all potential. If. IF!
Somebody posted top 20 players of all times. Its tough to chose just 20. But Zidane is in anybody top 10 easily!
wow, WOW
Thanks for the link
Watch this -- you might feel better somewhat :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsO6D1rwrKc
It was always on the cards after the superb way they disposed of Spain in the previous round. I am now hoping they can go all the way and make me some money.
You wrote...
"France has the same problem beating Germany in a World Cup."
"In fact France has a problem beating any Power house soccer nation except Brazil, which kind of odd because most teams in the world have problems beating Brazil."
"Brazil will always remain the best soccer nation on the planet and the record clearly shows it. There is always another time for Brazil and another opportunity to win yet another world cup, so far they have five and they will have their sixth and seventh."
Hmmm. Les Bleus have beaten Brazil three outta the last four. Germany last won in 1990. France last won in 1998. Zidane and company may or may not win another game, but they deserve more respect that you give them.
Also, you think Brazil will ALWAYS be the best soccer nation? Clearly, you do not know what's going on in the good old USA. Watch youth to high school soccer. Given the right coach (and yeah, that's a dig), we will make the semi finals the next two cups and win one of them. Even as the country's fourth sport, we will start to dominate.
Given the right coach (and yeah, that's a dig), we will make the semi finals the next two cups and win one of them. Even as the country's fourth sport, we will start to dominate.
Then I started laughing.
As I said before Brazil is the best soccer nation in the world and the record or records show it, this is not a disputable point.
In regards to the French, they just have it good against Brazil in the World Cups and that is all. France is a good soccer team and they have a good record but to compare them to Brazil record or even Germany is a joke.
Brazil is always the team to beat in any world cup, and Brazil will always be the favorite in any world cup, and Brazil will always have the largest numbers of fans world wide, and everytime Brazil does not make to the final, the world cup loses a lot of it luster. You cannot say this about any other teams except "perhaps" Germany. Even if France wins this world cup, less than 10% chance, they will not compare to Brazil in term of achievement and record, they may not even qualify for the next world cup since Zeidan will not be with them anymore, that is how fragile a team like France is, it is a fluke that they have a great player like Zeidan but this will not be a common occurrence in the French soccer.
Here are the latest betting odds...
Germany 6/4
France 15/8
Italy 7/2
Portugal 13/2
Germany are only rated marginally ahead of France. The bookies don't usually get it wrong.
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