World Cup Thread

[Tigermoth]

Re: ROFL

I have just read this entire thread and may i just say that as an England supporter it has been one of the most satisfying reads i've had in a long time... just hearing some of the cocky mofos writing us off and bumping their own team - who prompty got knocked out.

I'm realistic and think we'll do well to beat Brazil on friday but man i've had a few laughs in the last hour !

 

[Stuey01]

OOOOOO KOREA OOOOOOOH KOREA!!!,,i love that fucken team, im a US fan and if we happen to get past Germany (which i think could happen since the Koreans showed us anything can happen) i would much rather face Spain than face a fired up Korean team with homefield advantage

another cocky euro team bites the dust.....i hope u guys are soaking this all in because this WC is a turning point in the future of world football,,,brazil,italy,argentina will still be around but now with N.America, Africa, and Asia getting stronger,,its no longer a cake walk for those traditional powerhouses

(thats what u get when your top clubs' players are from outside your country)

COMMON USA, KOREA BEAT ITALY, WE CAN BEAT GERMANY!!

Europe still makes up 50% of the quarter final draw, and over 50% of the second round. What other continent comes close??
Since when were Brazil not a "traditional powerhouse".

It's hardly a changing of the guard, just an addition of a couple of teams to the world stage.

Stu.

 

[cure]

Europe still makes up 50% of the quarter final draw, and over 50% of the second round. What other continent comes close??
Since when were Brazil not a "traditional powerhouse".

It's hardly a changing of the guard, just an addition of a couple of teams to the world stage.

Stu.

Not even, i just find Japan/Korea to be in it beause they are host but for god's sake, CANADA beat KOREA, TWICE! THE US were lucky to advance and then face a Mexican side who they were familiar with and Senegal play the way they do because all of their players play in Europe.

Europeans still rule the game but the talent is diminishing because of foreign players.

Look at England, they use to develope players like Shearer, Platt, Lineker(sp?), Best, ..etc..and now their talent level has dwindled compared to the past and they even have a starting midfielder that is canadian. That's what happens when your domestic league decides to sign foreigners compared to developing youth at home.

 

[specter]

Look at England, they use to develope players like Shearer, Platt, Lineker(sp?), Best, ..etc..and now their talent level has dwindled compared to the past and they even have a starting midfielder that is canadian. That's what happens when your domestic league decides to sign foreigners compared to developing youth at home.

Not sure I agree with you, as I don't think it's so simple.

The entire English side, if I'm not mistaken, play in the Premier League and those teams' youth systems have recently produced Scholes, Beckham, Owen, the Neville brothers, Butt and Campbell. I think it's a well balanced team in terms of age as players like Hargreaves, Dyer, Brown and Ferdinand have their best years ahead of them. Plus, those Lineker and Platt teams didn't have a great deal of depth. And really, if there's criticism it's that not enough English players venture from home to learn the playing styles in Spain, Italy and Germany. Steve McManaman is the only player I can think of who's ventured outside Britain in recent years.

But then just about the entire French and Dutch national teams play outside their countries and they're doing fine.

My feeling is that the youth developmental program is the key to any country's success more so than foreign participation in a country's top league.

 

[cure]

But then just about the entire French and Dutch national teams play outside their countries and they're doing fine.

LOL, u think? 1 team didn't score 1 goal throughout the first round and was eliminated and the other didn't make the World Cup.

Take for example Juventus. They have a youth system where let's say 30 youths were Italian and learning from a top club. Now that's brought down to 15. Where do the rest go and play? Eventually an entire team will come out that will have no local players. This is truly sad when teams management go to africa and snatch up 13 year old boys to train them for the money (club teams) compared to thinking of the international game instead. In my opinion FIFA and UEFA have truly ruined football over the last 10 years.

Secondly, Lineker is better than any player England have right now. Better than Beckham and Owen will ever be. I believe Gascoigne is even better than those two.

Caps: 80
Goals: 48

WC:
Games/Goals
12/10

Scored 100 goals in less than 200 games with his club side.

I also look at Italy. Their talent was so much better in the past compared to today. They do have better strikers but their defense with the likes of Bergomi, Baresi, Cabrini, Gentile, Maldini. A midfield like Baggio, Giannini, Albertini, Rivera.

 

[cure]

Angry Italian club owner cuts Ahn

[ESPN.com news services]

ROME -- Italian soccer club Perugia has cut ties with South Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan after he scored the overtime goal that knocked Italy out of the World Cup, Perugia's chairman said in media reports Wednesday.

"That gentleman will never set foot in Perugia again," Luciano Gaucci told sports' daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Italy has been furious about Tuesday's 2-1 loss to South Korea, accusing the referee and soccer's ruling body FIFA of fixing the match.

Back home, the Italian media were livid.

"Thieves -- the killer referee hounds the Azzurri out of the World Cup," the Rome-daily Corriere dello Sport said on its front-page.

"Shame! The scandalous Ecuadorean referee -- Italy is out of the World Cup," said the country's top-selling sports daily, Milan's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Ahn, who missed a penalty earlier in the match, was hailed as a national hero when he headed home the golden goal winner in the 116th minute.

But his goal was viewed in a different light at Perugia in central Italy, where he has been viewed as an underachiever during his stay with the club.

"He was a phenomenon only when he played against Italy. I am a nationalist and I regard such behavior not only as an affront to Italian pride but also an offense to a country which two years ago opened its doors to him," Gaucci was quoted as saying.

"I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian soccer."

Ahn joined Perugia on loan from the South Korean team Pusan I.cons in the summer of 2000. He scored five goals in 29 appearances.

A Perugia spokesman said Wednesday the club had virtually decided to release Ahn even before the World Cup tie.


BAHAHAHA....some English team will sign him and he'll continue to underachieve.

 

[specter]

LOL, u think? 1 team didn't score 1 goal throughout the first round and was eliminated and the other didn't make the World Cup.

Take for example Juventus. They have a youth system where let's say 30 youths were Italian and learning from a top club. Now that's brought down to 15. Where do the rest go and play? Eventually an entire team will come out that will have no local players. This is truly sad when teams management go to africa and snatch up 13 year old boys to train them for the money (club teams) compared to thinking of the international game instead. In my opinion FIFA and UEFA have truly ruined football over the last 10 years.

Secondly, Lineker is better than any player England have right now. Better than Beckham and Owen will ever be. I believe Gascoigne is even better than those two.

Caps: 80
Goals: 48

WC:
Games/Goals
12/10

Scored 100 goals in less than 200 games with his club side.

I also look at Italy. Their talent was so much better in the past compared to today. They do have better strikers but their defense with the likes of Bergomi, Baresi, Cabrini, Gentile, Maldini. A midfield like Baggio, Giannini, Albertini, Rivera.

I wasn't questioning Lineker's talent, just the supporting cast. I think the starting 11 is stronger now than it was in Lineker's or Platt's time.

France will have to reload. Holland will be back on the global stage sooner rather than later. I don't read into their recent failures that either team is on some sort of extended downward spiral.

It's an interesting point about Juventus' youth program. But teams like Juventus can afford to do that whereas much of the rest of Serie A cannot. Is that happening throughout the league? If so, that's worrying. Otherwise, the local talent will rise to the top, just not with a wealthy club like Juventus. That could hurt youth development because presumably Juventus' system is stronger than, say, Napoli. But then a 17-yr-old will have more opportunities to break through at Napoli than Juventus so there are pluses and minuses. And then, if that kid becomes a star Juventus will purchase his contract so it'll all come out even in the end.

But I understand your point better. Your argument seems to be that it's already having an impact, though, and I'm not sure I agree. We'll see. In 1999 and 2001, Spain and France had some outstanding U-17 teams and that makes me think the traditional European powers will continue to dominate.

 

[manny78]

I also look at Italy. Their talent was so much better in the past compared to today. They do have better strikers but their defense with the likes of Bergomi, Baresi, Cabrini, Gentile, Maldini. A midfield like Baggio, Giannini, Albertini, Rivera.

Agree with you on this one. I remember how the Italian team of WC 90 was way more exciting than this one. Guys like Vialli, Mancini, Toto Schilacci, Baggio were putting a great play on the field. Now you have what ? Vieri ok he's a very good striker. The typical "9". But the rest cant compare.

 

[danielson]

that korean player should sue. thats bang out of order.....they may not love him. but jeez, what was he supposed to do, miss?

 

[cure]

In 1999 and 2001, Spain and France had some outstanding U-17 teams and that makes me think the traditional European powers will continue to dominate.

Totally agree my friend but i believe u- championships mean nothing. Look at Italy. I believe they won the U-21 or 22 like 5 out of 7 years(somewhere around there) and are nowhere to be seen and Portugal was awesome in the early 90's and those players now play for their National side and they haven't done anything yet. Also look at the teams competing at u- championships. Reminds me of this years WC. Teams like Ghana, China, Czech Rep..do very well..