WC 2006 Official Thread

[rudel.dietrich]

17 hours from now things are set to begin here in gorgeous Munich inside Allianz arena.
This is a thread to centralize all the WC talk and talk about what goes on as the matches happen.

So with that said, lets get some disscussion started and hope for an entertaining and safe tournement and may the best team of 32 win.

[Jeremy Weimer]

So are you traveling to all of the different cities to watch the games? Or are you just staying in Munich and watching those games only?

[kenyan_cheena]

Go Australia!!!

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Weimer

So are you traveling to all of the different cities to watch the games? Or are you just staying in Munich and watching those games only?

We have alot of train rides and ALOT of walking ahead of us.

Tomorrow we will be at the opening match Germany vs Costa Rica
Then we will be taking the train to Leipzig tomorrow night and spending the 10th there and taking in the Serbia and Montenegro vs The Netherlands match.
Then the next day we head to Gelsenkirchen to take in the USA vs Czech Republic match with only 27 hours between matchs.
We then are going to take a few days off back in Munich.
We may go to Tunisia vs Saudia Arabia on the 14th if I can score some tickets which should not be difficult to do.
The only match after that that I have tickets too is the 18th in Munich and is Brazil vs Australia
I am not sure if we are going to be able to go to that match or not. Depends on when they need my GF back at here job.
If we have to go home before then then I can get rid of the tickets in about 30 seconds.
If we get to stay longer we are just going to find a local pub and watch the rest of the tournement on tv until we go back home.
Tickets are extremly expensive at this point.

[Jeremy Weimer]

You should've bought them all well in advance. Come on n00b, get with the program.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Weimer

You should've bought them all well in advance. Come on n00b, get with the program.

I have had some of these since last September.
Anything past the group stages has been sold out since the summer of 2005.

If we somehow manage to stay here longer and Germany or America or Serbia advances into the knockout rounds I will see what I can about getting us some tickets.

[Jeremy Weimer]

You're German, just start yelling at some tourists in German and make them think you're angry and going to hurt them if they don't hand over their tickets. They won't realize that you're yelling about how nice it is outside and how wonderful it is to see Americans interested in soccer.

[Dougiestyle]

So which of these groups is more of a Death Group? (I'm using the rankings from eloratings.net, which seem to be far more accurate than FIFA)

Group C:

Argentina (8)
Netherlands (2)
Serbia and Montenegro (26)
Ivory Coast (30)

Group E:

Italy (7)
Czech Republic (5)
United States (18)
Ghana (56)


Group C looks deeper, but Group E has 3 teams in the top 20.

I cannot wait to to watch every single match.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Dougiestyle

So which of these groups is more of a Death Group? (I'm using the rankings from eloratings.net, which seem to be far more accurate than FIFA)

Group C:

Argentina (8)
Netherlands (2)
Serbia and Montenegro (26)
Ivory Coast (30)

Group E:

Italy (7)
Czech Republic (5)
United States (18)
Ghana (56)


Group C looks deeper, but Group E has 3 teams in the top 20.

I cannot wait to to watch every single match.

The Fifa World rankings make the BCS look like the theory of realativity.
They are completly useless and based on a very small sample size.

However, Group C is a better all around group by a hair.
It will be a fight to the death in that groups as the Serbs and Monts have a stonewall defense and the Ivory Coast have a fast and agile attacking game.
Then you have two world powers who both want to make up for past dissapointments.

I really am pulling for the USA more and more as the tournement draws near.
I do not think they will advance out their group but I will be cheering with all my might for them to do so.
Another deep run would further cement the game here and maybe by 2008 it will be in the top 6-7 sports and maybe pick up a TV deal.

Of anyone in the tournement I think they have the most critical first game.
If they can beat the Czechs I think they have a chance to advance.
Against Italy I think they can still lose (if they do not get trampled and have a large goal difference in the event of a tie breaker) and with 6 points make it to the knockout stages.
If they can hold on for a tie then that would give them 7 points.
All this is assuming they do not screw themselves over against Ghana.
However, a tie there and a tie against Italy would give them 5 points which could move them into the knockout rounds with some luck and assuming they crush the Czechs and accumulate a large goal difference.

I think 6 points is the magic number for the US and gives them alot of options to advance.
They have to come out and shock the Czechs and then slap around Ghana and score alot of goals.
Tying Italy would be icing on the cake and give them 7 point and ensure that they move on.

[Jeremy Weimer]

Doesn't the US pretty much need to win their group to even have a chance in the next round? I read in the paper yesterday that the second team to advance from Group E would face the winner of Group F, which at this point it would seem everyone believes will be Brazil.

[boilermaker]

USA! USA! USA!


I'll actively support England as well.


Because I have some French, German, and Dutch blood, I'll be a sympathizer to those teams. But no shouting in celebration.

[Jeremy Weimer]

I'll obviously be rooting for the US, but I'll be paying close attention to France and Germany as well since that's mainly where my ancestors are from. I'll also be cheering for Brazil because I have friends that stand to gain some nice money if they win. So I'll root on their behalf.

[Dougiestyle]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

The Fifa World rankings make the BCS look like the theory of realativity.
They are completly useless and based on a very small sample size.

However, Group C is a better all around group by a hair.
It will be a fight to the death in that groups as the Serbs and Monts have a stonewall defense and the Ivory Coast have a fast and agile attacking game.
Then you have two world powers who both want to make up for past dissapointments.

I really am pulling for the USA more and more as the tournement draws near.
I do not think they will advance out their group but I will be cheering with all my might for them to do so.
Another deep run would further cement the game here and maybe by 2008 it will be in the top 6-7 sports and maybe pick up a TV deal.

Of anyone in the tournement I think they have the most critical first game.
If they can beat the Czechs I think they have a chance to advance.
Against Italy I think they can still lose (if they do not get trampled and have a large goal difference in the event of a tie breaker) and with 6 points make it to the knockout stages.
If they can hold on for a tie then that would give them 7 points.
All this is assuming they do not screw themselves over against Ghana.
However, a tie there and a tie against Italy would give them 5 points which could move them into the knockout rounds with some luck and assuming they crush the Czechs and accumulate a large goal difference.

I think 6 points is the magic number for the US and gives them alot of options to advance.
They have to come out and shock the Czechs and then slap around Ghana and score alot of goals.
Tying Italy would be icing on the cake and give them 7 point and ensure that they move on.

Hence me using the eloratings.net rankings, not the FIFA

I'll be rooting for Sam's Army's team, the US.

I'll also root for Ronaldinho, not Brazil.

Netherlands
France

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Weimer

Doesn't the US pretty much need to win their group to even have a chance in the next round? I read in the paper yesterday that the second team to advance from Group E would face the winner of Group F, which at this point it would seem everyone believes will be Brazil.

One step at a time

If the US plays Brazil in the knockouts and wins it will be in the top three most important football victories of all time.

[bababui]

Does anyone know if Ballack has officially signed with Chelsea?

[Chisanga]

Here we go, Here we go, Here we go
Here we go, Here we go, Here we go!!

Gotta love simple football songs!

[bababui]

Chisanga..will u be up at 4 for the first match?

[Dougiestyle]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

One step at a time

If the US plays Brazil in the knockouts and wins it will be in the top three most important football victories of all time.

It will be the most amazing thing to ever happen to United States soccer, and maybe one of the top 3 sports moments for the US

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

Does anyone know if Ballack has officially signed with Chelsea?

Yes, he has.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

I think 6 points is the magic number for the US and gives them alot of options to advance.
They have to come out and shock the Czechs and then slap around Ghana and score alot of goals.
Tying Italy would be icing on the cake and give them 7 point and ensure that they move on.

Out of that group, 6 points will definitely get you through as there is no way one of them gets no points at all, although Ghana I think will struggle.
For the USA, a win over the Czech Republic should set them up to at least qualify, and possibly win them the group (which I have amazingly predicted them to do).

As for Group of Death, C is slightly more of one than E - just because Ivory Coast are much stronger than Ghana.