Official Football Thread

LooseCannon said:
It'll be like Tobruk, but with more grass.
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Now you made me look that up. I knew Tobruk was a battle during the North Africa campaign, but I didn't know that the Australians played a large part in it.

One learns every day.
 
Wow, the Germans are really grinding the Ozzies... 2-0 now, both goals were superb.

From everything seen in these three days, they are definitely the best team so far.
 
Germany is strong but in both cases the goalie wasn't that excellent.

Remarkable facts: both goalscorers had some crappy season, and the Australian goalkeeper had a strong season.

Eddies Wingman said:
And although the Serbian red card was dumber than Green's blooper, it was topped by the handball that gave Ghana a penalty and the win.
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Oops, I meant the handball instead of the red card. Sorry, my mistake.

cornfedhick said:
No, I don't have anything against him or the Dutch -- it's just a hilarious line (note the irony and film, Foro -- don't take offense) and I can never think of the Netherlands without remembering that quote.  I expect to think it a lot because I think the Dutch may go deep in this tournament.  As for Gullit, he accurately predicted a 1-1 draw in the U.S.-England match.  
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Alright, there was no offense, just curious.   :)
Will Gullit be there every match (incl. tomorrow)?

Eddies Wingman said:
Now you made me look that up. I knew Tobruk was a battle during the North Africa campaign, but I didn't know that the Australians played a large part in it.

One learns every day.
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I can recommend you this film.
 
Forostar said:
Oops, I meant the handball instead of the red card. Sorry, my mistake.
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Well, the red card was stupid enough. The holding that led to his second yellow was very unnecessary.

And I must say the Germans have really taken their chances well. Poor Aussies, they have really been a number too small in this first half.



And here comes the first big refereeing mistake of this World Cup. That was never a red card. Not by a mile.
 
Forostar said:
Will Gullit be there every match (incl. tomorrow)?
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Gullit is working for the Disney networks (ESPN & ABC), who have also hired Jurgen Klinsmann, Efan Ekoku, Steve McManaman and Alexi Lalas to provide commentary.  Lalas and McManaman are the primary guys among the former players -- I think Gullit and Klinsmann will show up occasionally but not every match.  Martin Tyler is doing the play-by-play for the big games (including all U.S. matches, presumably), and he's very good. 

I just wish Gullit would grow back the long hair and 'stache. 
 
One thing that intrigues/annoys me about the Germans is why the need for the manager and his assistant to wear matching clothes. If it's a team suit or a track-suit it would be understandable, but seriously, co-ordinating causal wear? It was exactly the same when Low was assistant to Klinsman four years ago.

Ridiculously harsh red card for Australia, although it was nice to see those two shameful dives by the German players punished with yellows.
 
The only game that went unexpectedly was the Serbia v Ghana game.  There is no way Serbs will mount back after this.  They'll have to beat the Aussies, who'll have to beat the Ghanese (??), Ghaninians (??), Ghandians (??).  Anyway, Germany is going through, emerging as #1 in this group.  No doubt.
 
Genghis Khan said:
Germany is going through, emerging as #1 in this group.  No doubt.
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I still think the USA can beat them in the next round. I have my doubts about England now. They played a lot worse than I'd imagined.
 
I thought England played alright but with one critical mistake, whereas the USA played very relaxed but got lucky.
 
Forostar said:
I have my doubts about England now. They played a lot worse than I'd imagined.
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Of all the better World Cup campaigns that England has been in, they have all started with a draw. They start slowly and I have no reason to doubt that they will win their next two and top the group.



@no5: England are rebuilding their rugby team at the moment but still have some way to go - so no surprises they lost to the Aussies. But France should already be there and should not loose to South Africa. ;)
 
Well, winning the next two wouldn't guarantee that England win the group. Both Slovenia and Algeria seemed so toothless that I think the US will beat them both as well, and then what matters is who will hammer them the most  :D

By the way, 1-0 to Holland against Denmark now, the second half opens with a Danish own goal!
 
Well done Holland, they seemed to be in full control. And for much of the game, Denmark's play was even more primitive than the Danish like to accuse Norwegian football of being. I'm glad Holland won.
 
We did play quite defensive, but we played a great first half. But Holland was better overall, no dobut.

The football "war" between Norway and Denmark never ends ;) but i wouldn't call Denmark's play primitive. We did play defensive, but we did have some chances in the first half. Holland was not that dangerous in the first half, but the goal did of course give Holland a perfect chance to play their game :)
 
XoRRoX said:
The football "war" between Norway and Denmark never ends ;) but i wouldn't call Denmark's play primitive. We did play defensive, but we did have some chances in the first half. Holland was not that dangerous in the first half, but the goal did of course give Holland a perfect chance to play their game :)
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Well, I like to think it is mostly a media-created thing. I enjoyed watching the Danish team in the 90s. And what you said about today's game sounds like what I would say after both our games in the qualifiers. Maybe it's just what follows from playing against Holland. If you don't want to play defensive, you're forced to do so.

LooseCannon said:
I bet Foro is getting so drunk right now  :bigsmile:
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I would not bet against that  :D
 
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