The official FIFA WorldCup 2006 thread!

[jorismo]

Newsflash:

-The african side of Togo planned a friendly match last weekend against a local German amateur squad. The team arrived perfectly on time, but they forgot to take their shorts and socks. The German 'Polizei' rushed to the hotel and back (which was a total of 320 km).

-The whole nation of Ecuador holds its breath: star player Carlos Tenorio suffered an injury during last weekend friendly against Macedonia. Ecuador coach Luis Fernandez Suarez sais to be praying for his recover. He will surely miss the first match on 9th June against Poland.

-Switzerland will be playing without Johan Volanthen. He suffered a mussle injury during sundays training. The young player from PSV Eindhoven that was hired to NAC Breda (Ned) is the youngest goal scorer ever on a European Championship. Vonlanthen will be replaced by Hakan Yakin. The Swiss however haven't replaced them officially because they are allowed to switch player untill the 12th of June.

[CHEESE-TACULAR]

iran is supposed to have a crazy stiker, but im rooting for any african country that can prove a threat.

btw i got into an argumet with my freind about game 2 Ecuador V Poland
who do you think will win that?

[jorismo]

btw i got into an argumet with my freind about game 2 Ecuador V Poland
who do you think will win that?

It will be close for sure. I don't know much about the side of Ecuador, but as you can read in the newsflash, their starplayer misses that game for sure. Overall I think either a draw or a win for Poland...

[spi-ti-tout]

iran is supposed to have a crazy stiker, but im rooting for any african country that can prove a threat.

Ali Karimi



Asian player of the year '05

Used to play for Al Ahli here in Dubai but he was called by many German clubs so he wen to Munich. Even Isma'il Matar of the UAE national team is good but there's just no input with the whole team.

He's more of a playmaker but dangerous nonetheless.

[Matra et Alpine]

Was pointed out to me that Walter Smith had something to say backing up Jakc McConnell .......

McConnell sparked a furore in certain quarters on Wednesday, by stating that he will support Trinidad and Tobago and Angola before Scotland's UK neighbours.

Smith said: "If you support Partick Thistle, you're not all of a sudden going to support Rangers, are you? So what's the problem?

"Whatever team you support is a personal decision. Nobody can criticise anybody for that. I don't think anyone who is Scottish can turn around and say that they are supporters of England.

"I'll support Italy. I admire their coach, and in any game they are difficult to beat."



Me ? I'll support Trinidad and Tobago and Angola
( Scottish players )

[spi-ti-tout]

^^ It doesn't make a difference - as the politics are split anyhow - now does it

I think my list of WC supports is a bit too big ensuring I get my money either way

Anyways here Sherif, split some clips for you

had some trouble getting them to size (HINT HINT bigger video sizes please W)

[SlickHolden]

Go Aussie Go!

[targa]

my drinking buddy is gone to for two weeks to europe with the World Cup completing his stay. I don't really follow soccer, but he's super hyped

[ZeTurbo]

GO PORTUGAL!

I think this WC's suprise team will be australia. good coach(guus hiddink is footbal genius), solid system and decisive players up front(viduka is in amazing form), may cause a surprise to theyr rivals.

Groups C and E are the toughest ones. In C Arg, Neth and Serbia are all extremely dangerous teams. with only 2 going onto the 16ths it will be quite interesting. In E Czech republic, Italy and USA have equal chances of progressing, But in this group Ghyana will give a lot of difficulties which can make for a very very hard group.

Meanwhile Germany has a VERY easy group oddly enough...

[ZeTurbo]

I think this world cup will be the best ever. I know how cliche that sounds, but it is true that it is shaping up to be a fantastic tournament.

The BIG ones

Germany is playing at home AND eager to show theyr fans some wins...which they havent really done in tha least year or so...

Italy and Argentina are Cup hungry, both have solid teams and key layers that can decide a game in an instant.

Meanwhile Brazil has quite possily the best brazilian side ever assembled (maybe even rivaling with Pele's and garrincha's). good keeping, good defence, incredible midfield ability and absolutelly stellarstriking force will make brazil almost impossible to beat.

England has a side that has solved many problems since EURO 2004, defence is now ...well ..a real defence. allthough some problems will still pin down the english. mediocre goal keeping and NO wayne Rooney. not to mention you guys a really CUP starving

The dutch have a great team tournament after tournament but they keep on choking on the crutial moments... this year though, mister Van Basten might have solved that. All the Uber-eggo players are gone(seedorf, davids etc..), team unity might be what makes the go that extra phase this year.

France... oh france, they are sure to be playing theyr hearts out this time around to compensate for the utter humiliation of World cup 2002. Not to mentin Zizou will want to say farewell in gld clad ltters.

Spain... I hope spain crashes and burns in the group stage.

The SMALLER ones
To top all this off, there are a numer of smaller teams that can create a surprise and take out the big fish. of the sweden , Ukrain switzerland, croatia, australia, USA and serbia-montenegro stand out.

The Obvious winner.

Of course, You can not really expect any of the teams present there to actually beat Portugal...

[jorismo]

FunFacts
Here are some top 5's of players in various category's!

The youngest players:
1. Theo Walcott (Eng) 16-03-1989
2. Jose Montiel (Por) 19-03-1988
3. Assimiou Toure (Tog) 01-01-1988
4. Lionel Messi (Arg) 24-06-1987
5. Cesc Fabregas (Spa) 04-05-1987

The oldest players:
1. Ali Boumnijel (Tun) 13-04-1966
2. Russel Latapy (Tri) 02-08-1968
3. Claudio Suarez (Mex) 17-12-1968
4. Shaka Hislop (Tri) 22-02-1969
5. Ali Daei (Ira) 21-03-1969

The most expirienced players:
1. Mohammed Al Daeyea (Sau) 181
2. Claudio Suarez 176
3. Sami El Jaber (Sau) 158
4. Ali Daei (Ira) 145
5. Cafu (Bra) 137

The most accurate players:
1. Ali Daei (Ira) 109
2. Stern John (Tri) 64
3. Ronaldo (Bra) 58
4. Sami Al Jaber (Sau) 43
Pauleta (Por) 43
Paolo Wanchope (Cos) 43

The heaviest players (in Kg):
1. Jan Kollor (Cze) 100
Pascal Zuberbuhler (Swi) 100
3. Marcus Hahnemann (USA) 99
4. Fabio Coltori (Swi) 98
5. Nikola Zigic (Ser) 96

The lightest players (in Kg):
1. Gonzalo Pineda (Mex) 54
2. Jose Antionio Castro (Mex) 55
3. DaMarcus Beasly (USA) 57
4. Mohammed Al Shalhoud (Sau) 59
5. Baek Ji-hoon (Kor) 60
Robinho (Bra) 60
Christian Lara (Ecu) 60

The longest player (in cm):
1. Zeljko Kalac (Aus) 202
Jan Kollor (Cze) 202
Nikola Zigic (Ser) 202
4. Dennis Lawrence (Tri) 201
5. Andreas Isaksson (Swe) 199

The shortest players (in cm)
1. Cristian Lara (Ecu) 162
2. Mohamed Al Shalhoub (Sau) 163
Bakary Kone (Ivo) 163
Zinha (Mex) 163
5. Aaron Lennon (Eng) 165
Gonzalo Pineda (Mex) 165

[spi-ti-tout]

ladies and gentlemen, the game just got a bit more interesting...

[jorismo]

ladies and gentlemen, the game just got a bit more interesting...

I saw that one with another title: "Scotland away, always tricky"

[jorismo]

NewsFlash:

- Brazil will be going to Germany without Barca's Edmilson. He suffered a heavy knee injury during wednesdays training. Mineiro from Sao Paule will even up the Brazilian team.

- Serbia & Montenegro's coach Ilja Petkovic made a remarkable player switch. He replaced his injured striker Mirko Vucinic with a defender and his son (!) Dusan Petkovic. Ilja Petkovic made the decision to replace a striker with a defender because he already had 5 strikers in his squad.

[jorismo]

Results:

(All friendly)

Slovenia - Trinidad & Tobago: 3-1
1-0 Milivoje Novakovic (4.)
2-0 Milivoje Novakovic 15.)
2-1 Christopher Birchall (25.)
3-1 Milivoje Novakovic (77.)

France - Denmark 2-0
1-0 Henry (13.)
2-0 Wiltord (P) (76.)

Switzerland - Italy 1-1
0-1 Alberto Gilardino (11.)
1-1 Daniel Gygax (32.)

Iran - Bosnia 5-2
0-1 Zvjezdan Misimovic (4.)
0-2 Sergei Barbarez (17.)
1-2 Mehrzad Madanchi (26.)
2-2 Rahman Rezaei (45.)
3-2 Vahid Hashemian (45.+2)
4-2 Reza Enayati (89.)
5-2 Rasoul Khatibi (90.+1)

Paraguay - Georgia 1-0
1-0 Nelson Valdez (41.)

Saudi-Arabia - Turkey 0-1
0-1 Necati Ates (59.)