WC 2006 Official Thread

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Chisanga

Do you get coverage of the European Championships, that's only 2 years away and can be quite good

Oh God don't remind me. If we don't win now, it'll be "We can win Euro 2008". And if we do win, it'll be "We will definitely win Euro 2008".

[Chisanga]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

I know it will never happen, but I think going back to 24 teams would make it more competitive in the first round. Can anyone tell me Togo, Saudi Arabia, or Angola, would really be missed?

I think it is good to give emerging teams a chance. Fun to watch the occasional upsets that they get I think it would be a shame if they reduced the numbers of teams in the tournament

[redmarkYankees]

Semi Final appearances by continent/confederation:

2002: EU 2, SA 1, ASIA 1
1998: EU 3, SA 1
1994: EU 3, SA 1
1990: EU 3, SA 1
1986: EU 3, SA 1
1982: EU 4
1978: EU 2, SA 2
1974: EU 3, SA 1
1970: EU 2, SA 2
1966: EU 3, SA 1
1962: EU 2, SA 2
1958: EU 3, SA 1
1954: EU 3, SA 1
1950: EU 2, SA 2
1938: EU 3, SA 1
1934: EU 4
1930: EU 1, SA 2, CONCACAF 1

i.e. Europe hasn't failed to provide at least half the semi finalists since the very first tournament. (Foolishly of course, England didn't enter the tournament back then, when we were actually very good.)

[Chisanga]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Oh God don't remind me. If we don't win now, it'll be "We can win Euro 2008". And if we do win, it'll be "We will definitely win Euro 2008".

LOL! Quoted for Truth

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Chisanga

Do you get coverage of the European Championships, that's only 2 years away and can be quite good

Its all payperview...but why have regional championships when we can bring the world together?

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by redmarkYankees

(Foolishly of course, England didn't enter the tournament back then, when we were actually very good.)

We didn't need no stinking World Cup to tell us we were the best in the world.

I think the '50 WC loss to the USA, and the '53 friendly loss to Hungary at Wembley, finally swept away those feelings amongst the FA toffs.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by redmarkYankees

Semi Final appearances by continent/confederation:

2002: EU 2, SA 1, ASIA 1
1998: EU 3, SA 1
1994: EU 3, SA 1
1990: EU 3, SA 1
1986: EU 3, SA 1
1982: EU 4
1978: EU 2, SA 2
1974: EU 3, SA 1
1970: EU 2, SA 2
1966: EU 3, SA 1
1962: EU 2, SA 2
1958: EU 3, SA 1
1954: EU 3, SA 1
1950: EU 2, SA 2
1938: EU 3, SA 1
1934: EU 4
1930: EU 1, SA 2, CONCACAF 1

i.e. Europe hasn't failed to provide at least half the semi finalists since the very first tournament. (Foolishly of course, England didn't enter the tournament back then, when we were actually very good.)

2002 EU 1 SA 1 Asia 2

Fixed

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Chisanga

Do you get coverage of the European Championships, that's only 2 years away and can be quite good

unfortunately in 2000 I had to watch them on scrambled channels and in 2004 I had to follow online...its not cool...hopefully these ratings will help persuade ESPN to show the games in 2008.

[bababui]

Id rather go to 64 nations

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Chisanga

I think it is good to give emerging teams a chance. Fun to watch the occasional upsets that they get I think it would be a shame if they reduced the numbers of teams in the tournament

Yeah, you're of course absolutely right. I think that was just another +1 post to start an argument. Make me feel wanted I guess.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

No ties allowed. Not even hockey with all its history can keep the tie nowadays. :sad:

Another sport trying to appease Americans by any means nessessary

[bababui]

Originally Posted by theasfl

unfortunately in 2000 I had to watch them on scrambled channels and in 2004 I had to follow online...its not cool...hopefully these ratings will help persuade ESPN to show the games in 2008.

ESPN had em in 1996 but UEFA only cares about upfront cash

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by redmarkYankees

i.e. Europe hasn't failed to provide at least half the semi finalists since the very first tournament. (Foolishly of course, England didn't enter the tournament back then, when we were actually very good.)

I dont blame them when it took a somewhat dangerous 3 week boat ride to get to the tournament...I guess all the flights were cancelled in 1994 as well.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

2002 EU 1 SA 1 Asia 2

Fixed

Well it should be UEFA 2, CONMEBOL 1, AFC 1 actually.

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by redmarkYankees

Semi Final appearances by continent/confederation:

2002: EU 2, SA 1, ASIA 1
1998: EU 3, SA 1
1994: EU 3, SA 1
1990: EU 3, SA 1
1986: EU 3, SA 1
1982: EU 4
1978: EU 2, SA 2
1974: EU 3, SA 1
1970: EU 2, SA 2
1966: EU 3, SA 1
1962: EU 2, SA 2
1958: EU 3, SA 1
1954: EU 3, SA 1
1950: EU 2, SA 2
1938: EU 3, SA 1
1934: EU 4
1930: EU 1, SA 2, CONCACAF 1

and again, when your teams make up half or more than half of the field...that should always be the case based on numbers alone.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

Another sport trying to appease Americans by any means nessessary

Bring on the two- and three-point scoring zones! And the two-shot foul shots!

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Well it should be UEFA 2, CONMEBOL 1, AFC 1 actually.

95% of Turkey is in Asia is what I meant

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Well it should be UEFA 2, CONMEBOL 1, AFC 1 actually.

bababui beat me to it

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by bababui

And Canada is a nation overflowing with passion for soccer

but the reasoning isn't that it's not a Canadian game.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by theasfl

modified the sarcasm

Fixedx :d