World Cup Matches of the Day; [R] 6/25/06

[AreliusIV]

My predictions:
England 2 : 0 Ecuador
Portugal 1 : 0 Netherlands

[AreliusIV]

Can a mod put this thread under the "2006 World Cup" section?

[Scholesy]

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

My predictions:
England 2 : 0 Ecuador
Portugal 1 : 0 Netherlands

Well look at you! Not bad that, you had the Portugal game and nearly the England game ... now if we can just finish a few of those shots ...

[TheRogueOne]

Originally Posted by Scholesy

Well look at you! Not bad that, you had the Portugal game and nearly the England game ... now if we can just finish a few of those shots ...

Hey Scholesy, why didn't Sven put Crouch in?

[noxum]

Originally Posted by TheRogueOne

Hey Scholesy, why didn't Sven put Crouch in?

My opinion is that he was tired of hearing all the critics saying the only attack England had was play wide to Becks and serve tall to Crouch. This way he can say Crouch is merely an option rather than a necessity.

[BetterThanChivas]

I am sorry, but that second yellow that was given to Deco was just ridicuolous. The ref makes the call, Deco picks up the ball, and the Netherlands guy throws him to the ground, AFTER DECO HAD LET GO OF THE BALL!! How is that a yellow for Deco, especially a second. That Netherlands guy didn't even get a warning.

That ref won't ref at all for the rest of the tourney.

[StarsOnSunday]

Originally Posted by BetterThanChivas

I am sorry, but that second yellow that was given to Deco was just ridicuolous. The ref makes the call, Deco picks up the ball, and the Netherlands guy throws him to the ground, AFTER DECO HAD LET GO OF THE BALL!! How is that a yellow for Deco, especially a second. That Netherlands guy didn't even get a warning.

That ref won't ref at all for the rest of the tourney.

FIFA has asked the refs to crack down on time wasting, not necessarily on physical assult. (Sarcasm)

[Scholesy]

I think Noxum has a point, Sven has been getting slated in the home press over his lack of options. I also think that Sven was trying to prove he can play in a different formation, he has a strong Italian club management background which is traditionally a straight 4-4-2 and he has been heavily questioned on whether he could coach a 4-5-1-, or as he called it ... a 4-1-4-1.

There was rumour that Crouch was knackered too, I don't know how true that is but it was a strong rumour and considering his playing time so far not an unlikely possibility that he was simply tired out.

Personally I favour Svens prideful streak as the reason.

[rabble-rabble]

Originally Posted by BetterThanChivas

I am sorry, but that second yellow that was given to Deco was just ridicuolous. The ref makes the call, Deco picks up the ball, and the Netherlands guy throws him to the ground, AFTER DECO HAD LET GO OF THE BALL!! How is that a yellow for Deco, especially a second. That Netherlands guy didn't even get a warning.

That ref won't ref at all for the rest of the tourney.

Deco's getting the second yellow for time-wasting wasn't that inconsistent a call given the referee was being forced to throw cards around like they were playing "52 card pickup" but the Dutch player should certainly have also been booked for throwing him to the ground in retaliation.

Certainly was a wild one. Guess the 2 teams have had to play each other too many times lately (2004 Euro semi and WC qualifiers in recent years) and there is a lot of bad blood between them.

[AreliusIV]

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

My predictions:
England 2 : 0 Ecuador
Portugal 1 : 0 Netherlands

Final results:
England 1 : 0 Ecuador
Portugal 1 : 0 Netherlands