EN World World Cup blog

[Balgus]

Us Lose To Ghana 2-1

with a sad showing, and only one point, US is knocked out of world cup.

In brighter News- Australia is using a computer porogram (i wouldnt be surprised if it were the Xbox FIFA 2006) to study their opponents and run practice sessions. They sa it shows and exploit weaknesses better than pouring through old videos.

I know that pro football (American) use Madden every year to run practice runs. This past year, Madden added a new feature where you can design custom plays.

 

[johnsemlak]

Very disappointed by the US result but it was a tough group. I'm looking forward to the Brazil Ghana match--I think the Brazilians may be challenged in that one.

The Croatia-Aus match was the best I've seen in teh WC so far. Result see-sawed four times. Lot's of chances on both sides. Three red cards (or more?--I think the ref literally ran out of them). It was just packed with drama. Aussies are happy with the result obviousy and deservedly so.

 

[Klaus]

And finally Brazil began playing in the Cup! Lots of moving around, lots of opportunities that didn't score only because Japan's goalie performed three or four miracles (specially in the first half). Juninho Pernambucano's rocket in the second half was beautiful, and Ronaldo is now the greates scorer in World Cup history, alongside Gert Muller. He left even Pelé behind. Not bad for a player who's still 25 pounds overweight.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Go you Aussies!!! That would have to be the most bizzare soccer game I have ever seen. We came from behind twice to draw it and make it through to the round of 16.

It really was a strange game though. Our coach, Guus Hiddink, decided to play our number 2 goalkeeper instead of Mark Schwartzer who had barely done anything wrong in the first 2 games. And what a terrible decision that was. Kalac had one of the worst games that I had ever seen and let in a goal that very nearly cost us the game. Luckily Harry Kewell was finally able to find the goal.

We got 1 penalty and were robbed of another 2. Just to make things even weirder, one of the Croation players got shown 3 yellow cards. He got a second yellow a few minutes before the end of the game but the ref didn't show him a red for it and he stayed on the pitch. He finally got sent off when he was shown a third yellow card a few seconds before the end of the match.

We got the result we needed in the end though. Bring on Italy.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Jdvn1]

I said it since the beginning, Group E is the toughest group by far.

Thus, it's no shocker that the two highest ranked teams in that group got knocked out (Czechs #2, USA #5), and Italy and Ghana (#12 and #48?!) move on. Also, Ghana is the only African team to move on to Round 2. And they're the lowest international ranked team to move on to round 2.

Props to Trinidad and Tobago--they didn't score any goals, but they played good matches against good teams, and played one to a draw.

So, four games left, and France is not liking where they are right now. Any predictions?

EDIT: Hm. Well, France needs to win their game and for the Swiss-Korea game to not draw, and they're automatically in. If the Swiss-Korea game does draw, then France has to rely on Goal Differential.

If Spain wins their game (highly expected) and Tunisia wins their game (possible), Tunisia is in, and they're the other African team that has a chance to make it to round 2

There are currently four undefeated teams:
Germany, Portugal, Brazil, and Spain. That speaks very highly for these teams.

 

[STARP_Social_Officer]

OK. This crow I'm eating tastes delicious. We actually made it to Round 2. Well, I guess that proves I don't know anything. I take my defeat in good grace. However, I mantain this is as far as we will go. Our next opponent is Italy. They will murder us.

 

[johnsemlak]

Just to make things even weirder, one of the Croation players got shown 3 yellow cards. He got a second yellow a few minutes before the end of the game but the ref didn't show him a red for it and he stayed on the pitch. He finally got sent off when he was shown a third yellow card a few seconds before the end of the match.
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That was really bizzare, and that ref should be punished for that mistake. If that had had an effect on the match's result that would have been real grounds for protest. I remember seeing that guy on the pitch and saying 'Didn't he get sent off?'

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Japan is the second-best team in that group. I fully expect Brazil to qualify in 1st and Japan in 2nd. Croatia will have a rough time beating Japan to the punch, and Australia is just the sparring of the group.

I'm rooting for Brazil (duh), Japan and all the African countries, specially Angola.

Funny how things work out! Go Aussies!

Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I'll be supporting Australia in that group.

Brazil don't NEED my support (although I will be cheering them on in the knockouts - you can't deny true class).

And to be honest, Aussie need all the support they can get - to me that's the pool of death.

oh, and this is the only opportunity I'm going to get to support Australia in sports without being called a 'tratior' or 'turn-pike' - lets just home the folks back in NZ don't find out...

Wow, a New Zealander supporting Australia in a sporting event. Are you feeling ok?

 

[Perun]

Congratulations, Australia!

We played bad. The media are probably going to draw and quarter our coach, along with the couple of players (Kranjcar, Tomas, Olic). Apparently, we deserved to lose.

But, anyways, we'll just go cheering for Australia now. It's not like they don't have any Croatian players (7)

Regards.