(soccer) World Cup 2006 issues..

[pilotgirl]

Hey peeps!

is anyone going to see any matches next year at all?
i was going to try and get tickets until i saw this:

link (http://www.which.net/campaigns/other/competition/worldcuptickets.html)


from what i can tell it looks like you are paying extra bucks unless you have a plastic friend in the name of mastercard.

sucks really

[ConanTL]

I actually live in Kaiserslautern, were some of the matches will be held. I really hope I can get a hold of some tickets. But it won't be easy. I do have a German account though, which I guess makes me a bit lucky :cool:

[James Bond 007]

That will never be allowed, I wouldnt even worry about it. Do you realy think you would have to have a kraut bank account to buy tickets??? That is bollox!
If you plan on going Pilot you will be able to get tickets.

Anyway Im looking forward to seeing the trophy being held high by someone wearing 3 lions on their chest.

I honestly think its between 4 teams, in the order I think they are:

1. England
2. Holland
3. Italy
4. Germany

The rest are there to make up the numbers and before anyone starts with "What about Argentina or Brazil!?" South American sides dont win football tournaments on european soil, Brazil were the first and only side to do it way back in the early 1950s.

[Henkie]

I don't have any favourites, but I think you shouldn't give up on Brazil so fast, they have a better team than they had 4 years ago and they're the defending champion.

England haven't grown much since 2004 and they weren't a very good team back then, so I don't think they'll win it. Germany has home-advantage and always play well no matter who's in their team, so that makes them a candidate. Holland really is a whole chapter on it's own. They're trying to get themselves in an underdog role, like Greece did, only Holland has much more quality, except in defence, so I fear that wont work out.

So basically I'm going for Brazil or Germany, with a chance for some small team nobody ever noticed (like Scotland, for example)

[ConanTL]

Germany won't win, we don't have any good strikers and you can't win if you don't shoot any goals.

Holland have van Nistelrooy and Makaay, two damn good strikers. However as mentioned before poor defence.

All in all, most of the "traditional" teams aren't doing that well at the moment. So there might be the chance of an unexpected winner, much like Greece was.

[James Bond 007]

Henkie England have come on leaps and bounds (whatever the fuck that means), Lampard, Joe Cole and Rooney have turned into exceptional players, dont forget in 2004 we had loads of key injuries to defenders and do I need to mention Steven Gerrard was injured? We had about 3 or 4 players who would have played, out injured, if we can avoid injuries we will be the team to beat mark my words.
It will be England or Holland I think, they are both two of the best teams in the world and are long overdue a major honour. Italy and Germany I think are also in it but if I had only two to choose from England and Holland.

You look at our defenders: Ferdinand, Campbell, Terry, Carragher, Neville and Cole... I dont think anyother country can boast defenders of the quality of those mentioned, most of them would walk into any side in the world with the exception of maybe Neville.

Look at our midfielders: Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Joe Cole, Butt, Wright-Phillips and Dyer, they are great players and arguably as good as anyones.

Striker: Yeah we are a bit short in that department but Owen, Rooney, Defoe and Glen Johnson arent too shabby are they.

The only worry I have is Sven Goran Eriksson, he never seems to have a plan B, if we had someone like Fergusson, Murinhio (sp) or even Sam Alardyce I think we would piss the world cup, I realy do.


I wouldnt write off Holland's chances neither, you have quality young players and like I said are long overdue something big.

[el hooligan]

I think that England might win. looking at your starting XI, you really dont have any weak spots.

Brazil is Brazil and you can never rule them out of anything. European soil or not. The younger generation they have coming in looks really good(Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldhino, Robihno). It is amazing how they never run out of talent.

I dont think that Germany will be too big a threat, especially if they start that Lehmann in goal. As a supporter of Arsenal, I have to hold my breath with every backpass to that horrible excuse for a goalkeeper.

As for us here in America, well, at least well qualify, but I dont expect to do better than last time around. Weve definitely got some talent in Eddie Johnson and Demarcus Beasley though... Just kidding, we havent got a prayer!

[piggyman18]

USA will never win a World Cup. We'll get close as we did last time, but will never win one. Our forwards don't have the size or strength to go up against the 6'3" German defenders, or the quickness to stay with some South American midfields.

Honestly, I'd say Germany has the most legitimate shot at winning. The defending runner-up with a huge home field advantage will be tough to beat.

[tophizzle]

I'm just gonna say Argentina, because of a man I know by the name of Edgardo Parada.

[Henkie]

The problem with England is two-sided: English tend to overrate their players and Eriksson realises that a bit too well. England has nearly no good backs, only two good midfielder (Lampard and Gerrard) and only one striker I'ld trust on (Rooney). Also, a player like Terry is good, but misses quite a lot, so he needs a specific kind of player next to him (like Carvalho) and I doubt if Ferdinand is that player. Also Beckham and Owen are players I wouldn't want on my team anymore, but Eriksson can't leave them out, because of the public opinion.

Eriksson, being a smart man, has noticed this, so he has been building a very defensive team, but it just doesn't work if you actually want to win a competition like this (he never won a big trophy that had something like a final).

Also, English tend to overrate their competition and players, for example, have you noticed that the only big succeses in the Champions League by English teams lately were with teams coached by foreigners (Mourinho, Wenger) and those teams had hardly any important role for English players (except for Lampard)?

So England is not going to win. I'ld still say Germany or Brazil with a decent chance for some small team.

[el hooligan]

The problem with England is two-sided: English tend to overrate their players and Eriksson realises that a bit too well. England has nearly no good backs, only two good midfielder (Lampard and Gerrard) and only one striker I'ld trust on (Rooney). Also, a player like Terry is good, but misses quite a lot, so he needs a specific kind of player next to him (like Carvalho) and I doubt if Ferdinand is that player. Also Beckham and Owen are players I wouldn't want on my team anymore, but Eriksson can't leave them out, because of the public opinion.

Eriksson, being a smart man, has noticed this, so he has been building a very defensive team, but it just doesn't work if you actually want to win a competition like this (he never won a big trophy that had something like a final).

Also, English tend to overrate their competition and players, for example, have you noticed that the only big succeses in the Champions League by English teams lately were with teams coached by foreigners (Mourinho, Wenger) and those teams had hardly any important role for English players (except for Lampard)?

So England is not going to win. I'ld still say Germany or Brazil with a decent chance for some small team.

I dont think that their is anything wrong with England right now. I honestly believe that had it not been for that ridiculous decision by the referee to dissalow sol campbells goal against portugal, England would have went on to win Euro 2004. I also think that they currently are the most likely european team to win the World Cup next year.

[James Bond 007]

I dont think that their is anything wrong with England right now. I honestly believe that had it not been for that ridiculous decision by the referee to dissalow sol campbells goal against portugal, England would have went on to win Euro 2004. I also think that they currently are the most likely european team to win the World Cup next year.
Agree with everything you have said, England were the highest scorers with 10 goals in Euro 2004, they were the best team and should have won it, would have won it if it wasnt for that cock jockey scum bag Urs Meir..... I realy hope that guy gets testicular cancer.
England are the best European side in my opinion too and are Europe's main chance of winning the World Cup next year.

[Midfielder1]

Germany/Italy always bring it! We don't have the best team in England! Overrated perhaps! Still we have a quality Football team! :)

But never count us out! :bang:

I'll be in Germany!!!!!!!!! Even if I have ta sell my blood!

The hometeam will play pretty well! :bow: Rest assured!

[James Bond 007]

Germany/Italy always bring it! We don't have the best team in England! Overrated perhaps! Still we have a quality Football team! :)

But never count us out! :bang:

I'll be in Germany!!!!!!!!! Even if I have ta sell my blood!

The hometeam will play pretty well! :bow: Rest assured!
Either that wasnt very clear or Im an idiot but I dont know who your team is, Italy or Germany?
If you read my first post in this thread you will see I have included Italy and Germany in the 4 teams who I think are the main contenders for the tournament next year.
I feel the German side isnt a patch on what it was 10 years ago but as you have said they are playin in their own back yard so will have a good advantage and Italy.... Well they are Italy and they will always be in with a shout.

[Midfielder1]

OO7 You were very clear! I was just reaffirming what you said!
I'm a F------ Brit as well! I just like Bloody good FOOTBALL!

I was also just expressing my own view of the top teams in this part of the world! :D

[UltimateFIEND78]

I don't have any predictions. But I do know that my family is flying over there for two weks at the same time as the World Cup, and I'm gonna go see some of the games. I can't fuckin wait. I'm even taking German next year at school so I will know it when I get there. (But I probably would of taken German even if I weren't going)

[Henkie]

I dont think that their is anything wrong with England right now. I honestly believe that had it not been for that ridiculous decision by the referee to dissalow sol campbells goal against portugal, England would have went on to win Euro 2004. I also think that they currently are the most likely european team to win the World Cup next year.

That's what I'm talking about, you got owned by Portugal, very much deserved and the referee was right not to allow Campbell's goal. It was doubtfull, but the decision wasn't technically wrong. But Portugal was the better team over the whole match and I personally think Czechia should've won the tournament. And if England was that good, they should've scored an extra goal, which they didn't, so they weren't that good anyway.

[el hooligan]

That's what I'm talking about, you got owned by Portugal, very much deserved and the referee was right not to allow Campbell's goal. It was doubtfull, but the decision wasn't technically wrong. But Portugal was the better team over the whole match and I personally think Czechia should've won the tournament. And if England was that good, they should've scored an extra goal, which they didn't, so they weren't that good anyway.

First of all, im not English(american). I was just pointing out that england was robbed by that decision. Maybe your right about the fact that they should have scored another goal anyway if they were that good but a bad refereeing desicion could happen to any team. Did Greece win by more than a goal in the whole tournament? It could have happened to them.

[Henkie]

I think they got one or two goals dissallowed over the tournament, but they still won. That's one reason why they were better than England.

[James Bond 007]

Henkie Portugal were the better team against England, they deserved to win the game on that alone but the simple fact is there was nothing wrong with Campbell's goal, if that goal stood (which 99.9% of the time it would) England would have won the tournament, like I said we scored more goals than anyone and played some fantastic football, Greece were incredible in the competition, nobody gave them a chance but they defended like heroes and deserved the cup but I honestly think England would have done them.

[Henkie]

Urs Meier's decision to disallow Englands goal wasn't wrong. Dubious at most, but Urs Meier had the right to do what he did. Also Portugal deserved to win, so England didn't deserve to reach the final. Looking at it like that, Urs did the only right thing by disallowing that goal. And you believe England could've taken Greece, sure you do, but I don't think so. Or to put it differently, I do think England could've beaten them, but so could Portugal and Czechia. Also, I have my doubts wether England would have proven able to beat Holland.

But anyway, England didn't win Euro 2004 and I'm guessing they won't win WC 2006, but time will tell.