World Cup Day 1

wheres me jumpa

MrJoeSoap wrote:

"Puerto Rico... Costa Rico... Costa Rica"

Classic Giles.

Nothing beats "Yakabooboo"

Surpised how bad defensively Germany are. Cant see anything other than a Germany win but they are up against very poor opposition who have found huge gaps in their defence.

MrJoeSoap

3-2, game very much back on! Paulo Wanchope yet again!

PHB

Does anyone still think Germany can win the world cup?

Ruu_Old

Their defence is very disappointing

mewso

What a screamer from Proffessor Frink

4-2

MrJoeSoap

How will anything live up to this??? 4-2, Frings. Definite goal of the tournament contender!

Lemlin

Ruu wrote:

Their defence is very disappointing

They were saying that all last week alright. Apparently the defence were savaged in the German press after they drew 2-2 with someone in a friendly, think it was Japan.

Sooner or Later

Cracker from Frings.

Very entertaining game.

Great start to the tournament.

wheres me jumpa

Cracker!

Two great goals today. The ball is moving a lot, Lambes shot moved in a way it probably shouldnt have. Inside of the foot should have been curling in all the way but it swereved in and out. Not taking anything away from the goals but it could be a summer of crackers! God bless the keepers!

MrJoeSoap

wheres me jumpa wrote:

God bless the keepers!

Wasn't God himself a keeper? Or was that the Pope?

Pigman II

wheres me jumpa wrote:

Nothing beats "Yakabooboo"

My favourite (besides 'On-Ray') is when Giles talks at length about that former Spurs and Luton superstar Ken Doherty.

wheres me jumpa

MrJoeSoap wrote:

Wasn't God himself a keeper? Or was that the Pope?

God. Pair of hands on him like bunches of bananas!

Lemlin

PHB wrote:

Does anyone still think Germany can win the world cup?

I never like to write off ze Germans. Everyone did four years ago and they went to the final. They're on home soil this year so will be more dangerous than ever.

mike65

Shocking defence! If the Germans get beyond the first knock out stage with that CB pairing it'll be a miracle.

Mike.

Anam

I wouldnt write the germans off just yet.They have some very good players and i think they will improve as the tournament goes on.They were missing Ballack and Huth too.

Lahm played really well i thought.

I think Souness is a great addition to the RTE panel.

MrJoeSoap

Anam wrote:

I think Souness is a great addition to the RTE panel.

Potential for some great clashes!

eirebhoy

Anam wrote:

I wouldnt write the germans off just yet.They have some very good players and i think they will improve as the tournament goes on.They were missing Ballack and Huth too.

Their defence is still crap with Huth in it and has been for over a year. There's not a hope of them winning it. I have to write the Germans off this time. It's the team as a whole defensively, not just their defence.

herbieflowers

They're not going to win it, but they should improve if/as they gain momentum and when Ballack returns - remember they had a "terible" side at the last WC and at Euro 96! They still have some good players but the defence needs to be sorted out - can't help but think it's too late though. If they finish top they'll play Sweden or Paraguay, they should get to the quarters.

mike65

Sweden or Paraguary, shirley shum mishtake?

Mike.

herbieflowers

Isn't it the winners of Group A versus the runners up of Group B?

Lemlin

MrJoeSoap wrote:

Potential for some great clashes!

Don't know about that. From what I saw earlier Dunphy et al seemed to be licking Souness' arse. I wonder if Souness has heard the comments Dunphy made about him earlier in the season.

adox

Jesus the German defence is a shambles.Not the sort of thing you can fix as you go through the tournament.
I`d be surpised if they get past the quarter final stage,although I hope they have a good run as I stuck a few quid on Klose being topscorer in the tournament.

eirebhoy

MJS - any chance you could save the Apres Match pieces and upload them? I thought the Ballack - Ronnie rap off was excellent.

Pigman II

eirebhoy wrote:

I thought the Ballack - Ronnie rap off was excellent.

agreed! 10/10 for that one!

Ruu_Old

How many complaints are going to be made about the new adidas balls?

herbieflowers

It seems at every tournament there's a fuss about the footballs! Usually fizzles out!

DerekD Goldfish

MrJoeSoap wrote:

Potential for some great clashes!

When Bill asked Souness how he would solve the defensive problem I was expecting Dunfy to say sure what we he know he signed Boumsong

Pepe LeFrits

Friedrich at right-back was appalling, I can see why the Germans don't rate him. He needs to be replaced. Mertesacker and Metzelder did OK I think, Metzelder needs games.

Great game btw.

Lemlin

I hope Souness is there and Boumsong has a shocker. It'd be interesting what he'd say when Dunphy/Giles tore into him.

Is Olisadebe starting for Poland? Whatever happened his move to Portsmouth that time? I'm just remembering it now.

Big Ears

Ruu wrote:

How many complaints are going to be made about the new adidas balls?

god they really fly , it's gonna make for some great goals.............and a lot of pissed off keepers .

eirebhoy

Lemlin wrote:

Is Olisadebe starting for Poland? Whatever happened his move to Portsmouth that time? I'm just remembering it now.

He hasn't made the squad in quite a while.

Lemlin

Watched a few minutes of the game there. Didn't look great. Hopefully a cracking opener won't be followed by a boring 0-0.

Pigman II

Don't think I've ever seen that before. Throw > Head > Head > Goal!

Chucky the tree

1-0 ecudoar

Lemlin

Chucky the tree wrote:

1-0 ecudoar

Fair play to them. Were Poland the favourites with the bookies? No one here in work was giving Ecuador a chance.

Rikand

Lemlin wrote:

Fair play to them. Were Poland the favourites with the bookies? No one here in work was giving Ecuador a chance.

I think i was the only one on the boards too in the prediction thingy

COME ON ECUADOR!

Triton

Are there any highlights shows on tonight?

wheres me jumpa

eirebhoy wrote:

He hasn't made the squad in quite a while.

Only one of the greatest strikers ever on Champ Man!


Surprised with the Polish, have two of their players in my fantasy team and thought this was a sure thing.

Pigman II

SPORT: World Cup Match of the Day
On: BBC 1 Northern Ireland
Date: Saturday 10th June 2006 (starting in 4 hours)
Time: 00:50 to 01:35 (45 minutes long)

Adrian Chiles introduces highlights of the opening day of the 2006 World Cup. Hosts Germany got the tournament under way against Costa Rica, while also in Group A Poland faced Ecuador, who have never advanced beyond the group stages. England will no doubt have been paying attention as they'll play one of these four teams if they progress to the second round.
(Widescreen, Subtitles)

cgf

2-0 Ecuador

Lemlin

That second goal was a mile offside.

cgf

Don't think so.

Baggly

i believe, according to dazed and bewildered sources such as k cunningham, that olisidebe had a falling out with the manager. apparently up until their last 3 games before the WC, they played a 4-4-2, and were quite good at it too, but since that falling out, have played 4-5-1, and well, look at the match tonight

Pigman II

Well I'm glad Poland is our adopted nation for WC2006.

For the first ten minutes they had some decent stuff followed by 80mins of insipid gutless crap and then some kitchen-sink antics at the end thrown in for good measure that you in your heart of hearts was never going to pay dividends.

It's like we were actually there ourselves!

Pepe LeFrits

Olé!

Nicely done by Ecuador.

mike65

I thought Poland 2002 was the worst team Europe ever sent to a World Cup but this lot may run them close.

Mike.

eirebhoy

petermonaghan wrote:

i believe, according to dazed and bewildered sources such as k cunningham, that olisidebe had a falling out with the manager. apparently up until their last 3 games before the WC, they played a 4-4-2, and were quite good at it too, but since that falling out, have played 4-5-1, and well, look at the match tonight

They played 2 up front throughout the qualifiers. Unlucky to have a perfectly good goal disallowed tonight. Some excellent individuals but there didn't seem to be any system tonight. I couldn't tell you if they played any central midfielders and I would put most of the blame on the manager for that performance.

Mossy Monk

hit the bar twice unlucky. they need to do well against Germany

cgf

What goal.

Did I miss something or are you talking about when their No. 8 played on after an offside decision and should have got a yellow card for booting the ball away

Pigman II

mike65 wrote:

I thought Poland 2002 was the worst team Europe ever sent to a World Cup but this lot may run them close.

I take it you don't remember Greece in WC94?