2006 WORLD CUP -- Semifinals start -- Germany v. Italy

MLSnet.com ^ | 7-3-06 | MLSnet.com

[soccer_maniac]

The Germans and Italians meet in Dortmund on Tuesday (2:55 p.m. ET, ESPN) to play for the right to go to the World Cup Final on Sunday. The loser will play in the third-place game Saturday against the losing team of the other semifinal to be held Wednesday.

[soccer_maniac]

[soccer_maniac]

World Cup Ping!

[soccer_maniac]

For the first time since 1982, the semifinalists are all European

[Cyclopean Squid]

SPQR vs. the Barbarians, Part 2.

I've got the Teutons in this one, even without that #8 guy. I have absolutely no foundation for that belief, as I know little to nothing about soccer.

[IslandJeff]

Got Odds?

Our own Governor, "Queen Christine" forbids anything resembling Internet gaming, so I'm afraid to go anyplace like Bet365, NetTeller, etc.

We know why, of course - because she can't sell websites "fire insurance", like she did to the tobacco companies.

[goldstategop]

Germany beats Italy to go the World Cup. With Brazil gone, I think we all know the identity of the 2006 World Champion this coming Sunday!

[VanShuyten]

France?

[jjbrouwer]

'With Brazil gone, I think we all know the identity of the 2006 World Champion this coming Sunday!'

Yes, indeed we do. France will make worthy champions.

[mojo114]

Thanks, we are on it for tomorrow.

[dfwgator]

I wouldn't write off Scolari and Portugal just yet.

[Perdogg]

It's a shame they cannot play the finals, or at least one more match, in Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

That's a beautiful stadium with its Teflon coated fiberglass.

I would have loved to have done the lighting design for that stadium.

[jjbrouwer]

Screw those cheating m#$%@$^%$rs.

[burzum]

With Brazil gone, I think we all know the identity of the 2006 World Champion this coming Sunday!

I come to the opposite conclusion. With the upset of Brazil, it demonstrates that anything can happen at this stage.

[Marcaurelio]

...anything can happen at this stage

Indeed.

I hope you folks won't be disappointed if Germany loses to Italy tomorrow. The Italian team is fired up.

And just a reminder that Italy already beat Germany 4-1 in a friendly match last March.

May the best team win and may the ref not muck up the match.

[goldstategop]

Germany losing in front of the home crowd? Unthinkable! But it pays to be prepared for the worst.

[Rummenigge]

Now now...

Rooney spoiled englands dreams - and an average performance of the residual team.

Owen was really missed badly - becks should have been in shape - and Rooney kicked the wrong ball. He deserved red and it's understandable (!!!) that Ronaldo winks for the rest of the day winking is not against the regulations - after all it must be a great relief that englands most dangerous scorer was bonkers enough to kick himself out of the match.

You really want to lap up the shit the sun is printing ?

Come on England !

[Rummenigge]

I just don't know what Klinsman did but EVERYTHING looks like a German victory....

[PallMal]

Germany losing in front of the home crowd? Unthinkable

Not unthinkable, even for a World Cup. In 1990, Italy lost in front of its home crowd to Argentina in the semi-finals of the WC.

[Michael81Dus]

Germany has always won the soccer world championship when it was host (only time: 1974). :-) Whenever Iran participated in the world cup, Germany became world champion. Germany never lost a game in the stadium of Dortmund (so far: 14) Ok, Germany never won against Italy in a world cup, so one series will break tonight.

Folks, I´m leaving this thread now, coz I´m going to Dortmund. I will watch the game at one of the large screen in the inner city of Dortmund, among hundreds of thousands fellow citizens.

DEUTSCHLAND WIRD WELTMEISTER!!!

[cartan]

According to oddschecker, the odds for Germany winning range from 2.1-2.5, the odds for Italy winning from 3-3.56, and for a draw, whatever that's supposed to mean here, from 2.75-3.06.