Well it's this time in the quadrennially again. Who will win it and what country will be horrible defeated.
Even tough I am not such a huge football fan the WC is something special.

So join me in this ultimate WC thread.

I rooting for the home team Germany.

My heart says England. My head says Brazil.

My deep seeded soul feeling tries to convince me our hosting side can pull it off, overcome its silly weaknesses in the defense and defensive midfield <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> , continue to score those "fun party goals" like today again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> unleash the full potential that is especially in the younger players of the team, get some stability in performances from that and finally make the seemingly impossible become reality:
Seize sweet revenge on Brazil for the 2002 defeat below value!

First step has just been made. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
[ YEAY! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ]

At least it looks as if it won´t be a boring "wall-like", ball shoving team again like so many times in the past. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" />
Where has just the `72/`74-magic of stylish and high quality football gone!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />


Ragon

Germany.

what are the prices we can win?

Belgium, or wait, right: we didn't make it!

6 % of Russia's population believes Russia will win it (only Brazil scored higher belief, with 10 % believeing they'll win). This despite Russia not being in the cup...

I believe Brazil has the biggest chances, but since I like variation I voted for Holland, since they seem to have a nice team this year.

Nice opening game yesterday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. But with defending like that Germany won't get far...

Übereil

germany and england both have won their matches <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />


Ecuador also won.

And Sweden only got 0-0 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />! Though if we'd had England's luck we'd one by at least two...

Übereil

With the performances seen today (Argentine vs. Ivory Coast still pending, 2:0 half-time lead for the southamerican two-times World Champion under the sparkling eyes of their idol, Diego Maradona <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> ), our opening victory over Costa Rica yesterday gains more and more value...


Ragon

Hup Holland Hup.

I hope for a Holland vs Germany finale <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


I wish Ron mangers was still giving his analysis :'(

0-1 for holland <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/XmasJump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/XmasJump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/XmasJump.gif" alt="" />

btw try this in a command window id there is a match

telnet ascii-wm.net 2006


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

Come on TOGO!!

I like rooting for the underdogs! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

I was dissapointed Ivory Coast didn't win that game, they played so well... :s

Can anyone explain to me the reasons Uruguay lost to Australia in the qualifying match to enter the Cup? I don't know too much about it. (My wife's family is from Uruguay.)

You're asking me ???

I'm not so much a soccer / football fan that I would know ALL of the rules ... I just understand the basic ones, and that's enough for me ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

I bet Australia scored more goals, and that's why they're now in the play offs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />. Sorry, didn't see that game.

Übereil

it is about the same for me with the exception of my heart towards Holland. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/XmasJump.gif" alt="" /> i mean, for a team that has been almost consistently been in the final rounds of this event, they don't even have a cup to show, which is sad. i wish that they will finally win one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

i do not wish for Brazil to play lousy footie as that will only lower the game quality. however i wish for others to improve a lot that they will make Brazil play harder to win.

also just like some of u, i am also an avid supporter of the underdogs. so Plowie, i'm with ya! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

Want ENGLAND to win for obvious reasons, but have been impressed with Holland and Portugal so far even though they both only won 1-0 the same as England, but their ball control and passing were superior.
Of the so called "minnows" Ivory Coast could progress even though the Argies beat them 2-1, they do look a good African side.
Interested to see how the USA fare, considering they are 5th placed team in the World according to FIFA rankings!!!
I have purchased 3 USA players in my Football Manger 2006 game them being Landon Donovan, Nick Besagno and Freddie Adu.

Either you're thinking of Germany, or you're mad <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />. Brazil playing lousy football? No, just no...

Oh, and Holland wasn't even IN the last WC <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />.

Übereil

[color:"orange"] Can anyone explain to me the reasons Uruguay lost to Australia in the qualifying match to enter the Cup? I don't know too much about it. (My wife's family is from Uruguay.)[/color]

Well, as Sepp Herberger, the (in-)famous German National Coach of the '54 team put it - soccer is simple, the round one must go in the square one, and the key to success is shooting at least one more goal than the adversary <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I was hoping that an Australian on these boards would weigh in. I believe the game was an unexpected upset, but I'm not totally sure.

I give you another simple one - for the same reason they turned upside down the result table in today´s match vs. Asian Champion Japan against all odds (incl. the referee on Japan´s lead!):
Guus Hiddink

He is just a sheer Wizard in Football, man, just look at that !
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />


Ragon, the admiring Mage

[color:"orange"]Can anyone explain to me the reasons Uruguay lost to Australia in the qualifying match to enter the Cup? I don't know too much about it. (My wife's family is from Uruguay.)[/color]

There wasn't just one qualifying match, there were two. First, Uruguay bet Australia 1-0 in Montevideo. After the regular time in the Sydney match, it was 1-0 for Australia, so they first played overtime (or extra time, as the British call it), but neither team was able to score, and the winner had to be decided on penalties. In this case, each team gets 5 penalty kicks, and the one scoring more goals wins. The Australians apparently had the better nerves or a little more luck and won 3-2 (so the overall result of the Sydney match was 4-2, but if the winner can't be determined in regular time, the rules about home and away goals don't apply anymore).

ASCII-World Cup

Nobody here? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

lol sucks that England lost to Portugal, god the referee!! Ronaldo!! We should have won -.- Maybe it was fixed again.

Brazil 0 - France 1

Well deserved for france. fatty ronaldo was more walking thn running on the field.

GERMANNNNNNNNNYYYYY!!!

Oh, sorry forgot...

GERMANNNNNNNNNYYYYY!!!1111!!!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

the Argentine side was quite good but they didn't do well enough in front of the goal & somehow allowed the germans to equalise. their loss = germans' gain <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

England vs Portugal; well to have the game decided by penalties is not really fun to watch.

Brazil vs France; couldn't keep my eyes open to watch this one as it's 3am here when the game started. somehow my hope of having Brazil meting their match was more than just fulfilled. feel sad for Shyon but happy for Barta.

viva les Blues! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

'Bout Argentinia vs. Germany : Both sides played imho very well ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> In my opinion, it was *really* difficuult for *both* sides to get a goal ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

currently, we have a discussion going on about the last few scenes on the place, after the ordeal. There was a small riot (?) between a few players, and this is something, that shouldn't be, imho. There are discussions going on about that throughout Germany.

Apart from that, I'm still kind of das that both Ghana and Swiss didn't make it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I liked both, Swiss, because some good friends in a different forum are from there, Ghana, because nobody knew about it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Portugal 0 - France 1

Les Bleus again rise to the ocassion! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bday_jump.gif" alt="" />

hope they will play well in the finals. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />\

congrats, Barta! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Boo France! Yay Italia!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

It's the Eye-Tye's for me.

No need to congratulate me, I was not running behind the balloon.



Hope they will win the final.

Barta

and so ...
[color:"blue"] Vive [/color] [color:"white"] La [/color] [color:"red"]France[/color]

la squadra per la vittoria

blue wil win!!

azuré against les blue.

one world one voice

What if they draw? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Übereil

Uhm, 2times 15 minutes overdraw and if then no one has won, penalty-kicks untill one team misses more than the other team in set's of 5 penalties.

The potatoe is on the side of Barthez, Henry, Thuram, Zidane.
They won 8 years ago, they can do it again.
Vive la France.

Barta, useing that logic Brazil should have entered with their 1970's team. They would all have been like 60 by now... But anyway, I have a feeling France have a bigger chance of penetrateing Italy's defence than the other way around. But Italy will start with three attackers... Will be an even final anyway...

Übereil

Barthez ? Sure ? No typo ? Not Barta instead ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

No typo. Barthez is the french Olli.
He is very good. Because of him, Portugal could not get any point.
And his head looks a little like a potatoe.

Ah, I see. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Alrik you do not know the names of the french players ?
I know some of the names of the german players.
I even remember the name of Franz Beckenbauer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

Barta

Well, my name memory is terrible. THat's a common thing with me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" /> I have often terrible problems remembering names. Except when I *really* memorize them.

*Giggles* you remember mine, Al ?? (sorry couldn't resist) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bday_jump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bday_jump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bday_jump.gif" alt="" />

Why ? Belgium don't win the cup. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I don't feel sorry for the french team because they play very well.
And it was fun to see Zidane giving a good head shot to an italian player who was bothering him.
It's what we call the "french touch". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

Barta

Great, I was away when the game played, so I recorded it and meant to see it tomorrow. First thing my brother sais is "you know Italy won, don't you?". Then he said "Zidane headed another player and got a red card!". Thanks bro, you told me everything I didn't want to know sort of the final result...

Übereil

Allez Les Bleus! the french team to me is still better than the italian.

The french team wasn't that great all over the tournament, not that Italy was much better.

None of the favorite teams did play up to their standards imho. For me this world-cup was all about the African teams, Ghana & Ivory-Coast did splendid and deserved to get further.

LOL the Italians only won cause they beat Australia on a technicality !!

aside from that, it was a darn good match, and kudo's to the French they played really well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

You are all waaay too PC...screw everyone else YAY Italia!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Italy beat Germany therefore Italy deserves to loose.

And they have a head-butter!

Materazzi's Vengeance

Zidane the new Jedi

Zidane saves Materazzi's life

France vs Italy by Nintendo

Mazerati ? Isn't that a sports car ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yeah and they now come in the new "Pop-Art" colors of Black with white hexagonal dots or in White with Black Hexagonal dots <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Bid to force World Cup replay.

That's rediculous. How much red-tape do we need in our lives?

Yeah, thats going to happen...