The *Official* 2006 FIFA World Cup Thread

I posted this in the FFC thread a while back, but no harm in doing it again

My predictions:

Group A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Germany 3 - 0 Costa Rica
Poland 2 - 1 Ecuador
Germany 1 - 1 Poland
Costa Rica 0 - 1 Ecuador
Germany 2 - 0 Ecuador
Costa Rica 1 - 2 Poland

Final Table:

1. Germany: 7 points, 6 for, 1 against.
2. Poland: 7 points, 5 for, 3 against.
3. Ecuador: 3 points, 2 for, 4 against.
4. Costa Rica: 0 points, 1 for, 6 against.

Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Sweden

England 2 - 2 Paraguay
Trinidad 1 - 3 Sweden
England 2 - 0 Trinidad
Paraguay 1 - 0 Sweden (Upset)
England 0 - 0 Sweden
Paraguay 2 - 1 Trinidad

Final Table:

1. Paraguay: 7 points, 5 for, 3 against.
2. England: 5 points, 4 for, 2 against.
3. Sweden: 4 points, 3 for, 2 against.
4. Trinidad: 0 points, 2 for, 7 against.

Group C
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia and Montenegro
Holland

Argentina 2 - 1 Ivory Coast
Serbia 2 - 2 Holland
Argentina 1 - 0 Serbia
Ivory Coast 0 - 5 Holland
Argentina 2 - 3 Holland
Ivory Coast 2 - 0 Serbia

Final Table:

1. Holland: 7 points, 10 for, 4 against.
2. Argentina: 6 points, 5 for, 4 against.
3. Ivory Coast: 3 points, 3 for, 7 against.
4. Serbia: 1 point, 2 for, 5 against.

Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Mexico 4 - 1 Iran
Angola 0 - 3 Portugal
Mexico 2 - 1 Angola
Iran 2 - 5 Portugal
Mexico 2 - 3 Portugal
Iran 3 - 3 Angola

Final Table:

1. Portugal: 9 points, 11 for, 4 against.
2. Mexico: 6 points, 8 for, 5 against.
3. Angola: 1 point, 4 for, 8 against.
4. Iran: 1 point, 6 for, 12 against.

Group E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

Italy 2 - 0 Ghana
USA 0 - 4 Czech Rep.
Italy 3 - 1 USA
Ghana 2 - 3 Czech Rep.
Italy 0 - 1 Czech Rep.
Ghana 0 - 0 USA

Final Table:

1. Czech Rep.: 9 points, 8 for, 2 against.
2. Italy: 6 points, 5 for, 2 against.
3. Ghana: 1 point, 2 for, 5 against.
4. USA: 1 point, 1 for, 7 against.

Group F (This is where it gets interesting)
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Brazil 2 - 2 Croatia
Australia 3 - 3 Japan
Brazil 0 - 2 Australia
Croatia 0 - 1 Japan
Brazil 2 - 1 Japan
Croatia 3 - 0 Australia

Final Table:

1. Croatia: 4 points, 5 for, 3 against.
2. Japan: 4 points, 5 for, 5 against.
3. Australia: 4 points, 5 for, 6 against.
4. Brazil: 4 points, 4 for, 5 against.

Group G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo

France 2 - 1 Switz.
Korea 1 - 0 Togo
France 3 - 2 Korea
Switz. 4 - 1 Togo
France 0 - 2 Togo
Switz. 2 - 1 Korea

Final Table:

Switz.: 6 points, 6 for, 4 against.
France: 6 points, 5 for, 5 against.
Korea: 3 points, 4 for, 5 against.
Togo: 3 points, 3 for, 5 against.

Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

Spain 4 - 2 Ukraine
Tunisia 2 - 0 Saudi
Spain 1 - 0 Tunisia
Ukraine 5 - 2 Saudi
Spain 6 - 1 Saudi
Ukraine 2 - 3 Tunisia

Final Table:

Spain: 9 points, 11 for, 3 against.
Tunisia: 3 points, 5 for, 3 against.
Ukraine: 3 points, 9 for, 9 against.
Saudi: 0 points, 3 for, 13 against.

Second Round

1. Germany 0 - 2 England
2. Holland 3 - 1 Mexico
3. Paraguay 1 - 2 Poland
4. Portugal 1 - 1 Argentina (1 - 1 AET, 5-3 Portugal on Penalties)
5. Czech Rep. 3 - 0 Japan
6. Switzerland 2 - 2 Tunisia (Tunisia win on Silver Goal)
7. Croatia 0 - 0 Italy (0 - 0 AET, Croatia fluke 3-0 Penalty win)
8. Spain 2 - 1 France

Quarter Finals

A. England 0 - 1 Holland
B. Czech Rep. 2 - 0 Tunisia
C. Poland 1 - 4 Portugal
D. Croatia 2 - 1 Spain

Semi-Finals

I. Holland 2 - 2 Czech Rep. (Holland gets silver goal)
II. Portugal 2 - 0 Croatia

Playoff

Czech Rep. 2 - 1 Croatia

Final

Holland 3 - 2 Portugal

Holland = Winners

 

actually not quite mate, of the 95,000 of us there at the g, 80% were aussie, and 20% greek. the blue and white in the crowd added to the fantastic atmosphere

 

I thought FIFA had done away with the Silver and Golden Goal nonsense for this World Cup.

 

Have they? I don't read the rules

 

and replaced it with what ev?

 

Proper Extra Time?

 

I believe Holland will win it too.

 

Silver and golden goals were abolished after Euro 2004.

I think it's just extra time -> penalties now.

 

The great thing about England is that most of the players have the potential to grab a goal. Obviously the Owen and Rooney (should he play) will get a larger share, but in the midfield Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, and Cole are all more than capable. In the defense Terry is a clear goal scoring threat, while Ferdinand and Cole could also pitch in.

 

Woah already missed 2 pages worth of discussion

I don't care who wins as long as the matches are entertaining ^^

 

Anybody think this WC will have a more familar semi-final line up? It probably will after the last 2 "surprise" major tournaments. I don't think many smaller sides will go far this time apart from maybe Australia, I fancy them to do well.

 

All of your national teams wont stand a chance against cruel play of Germany .

 

LOL@Germany

I hope we'll get another chance to see a dutch player to whipe his butt with a Gerran shirt, like happened the last time they had such a tournament in Germany.

 

If we're champs in the end, fine .

 

Grab a playstation, buy Fifa soccer and start playing, that way you'll have the best chance of seeing Germany as champs.

 

Fair enough, Germany got to the final in 02 but it wasn't called the world cup of surprises for nothing. They only got there because most of the big sides underperformed.

Germany don't have a chance in hell this time. I don't care if they're on home soil, they're a shadow of the German sides of the past... see Euro 2004 for more information.

 

It seems like Sven will use Lennon as a striker (sub with 20 minutes or so to go)

"If Beckham is fit, if Frank Lampard is fit, if Steven Gerrard is fit and if Joe Cole is fit, they should start," added Eriksson.

"The fact is that all four midfielders are in great form and they are all in excellent condition.

"It's not like before Japan when Beckham was 70%, half-injured.

"They are all 100% fit. They all did the fitness tests and were much better than two years ago and there was a huge difference to four years ago."

Despite the question marks over Beckham's fitness four years ago, Eriksson insisted he was right to play the midfielder in the 2002 World Cup.

"In Japan, Beckham deserved to play even though he was not 100%. We did not have Lennon in Japan.

"I am sure Lennon could play as a second striker in the last 20 minutes. He would come on, take the ball and run."

 

actually not quite mate, of the 95,000 of us there at the g, 80% were aussie, and 20% greek. the blue and white in the crowd added to the fantastic atmosphere

I know I know. It was just a little weak joke aimed at how 'woggish' Victoria is getting.

 

Go NEW ZEALAND!!!!!!!!

*looks at roster*

errr I mean go Brazil.

 

If it was totally up to me

.........Robinson
Brown...Rio...Terry..Cole
........Parker
Gerrard....Lampard....Cole
.............Rooney
.......Owen

full-strength

Due to Rooney's injury and Brown/Parker not being called up,

..........Robinson
Neville...Rio...Terry...Cole
.........Carrick
.....Gerrard.....Lampard
.Lennon.................Cole
............................
.............Owen

No Becks.No Gerrard behind striker because he won't be able to dictate the flow of play like he does at Liverpool. I don't think the hole behind the striker is his best position. It restricts him from exercising some of the more important dimensions in his game.

 

you can always support your ANZAC neighbours mate!

 

*cough*5-1*cough*

 

greece are still a good team

No they're not. They are pretty bad.

Also, you know why I don't want England to win? Because the English keep bringing things like that up, no matter how long ago. If they win the world cup now they'll still be bragging about it 40 years on.

How long ago was that 5-1 win? 5 years?

 

Sven supposedly hints that Crouch isn't part of the non-4-4-2 formation that will be his first choice XI

Is Owen really suited to being a lone striker?

 

The national coach of Trinidad and Tobago:

"They (=England) always have fantastic players. England are one of the favourites for the World Cup because of the talents they have, but they have to show it. England have fantastic players, one of the strongest leagues in the world and a population of 50 million. These guys should be prepared for everything, but they never win. All I see with my eyes wide open is a team that doesn't perform when it comes to the World Cup and the European Championships,"

LOL