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Originally posted by C Elegans

@all: What's the best match you have seen do far? I thought England-Argentina and Brazil-Turkey were good games. My selection is however limited by the bothersome fact that I can't watch football at work, so I've missed many games this week.

Japan versus Belgium is one of the most enjoyable games I have watched so far in this World Cup.... Also Korea Rep. against Poland was a good game...(IMO)

@Demis: I missed the entire WC 1990, I was drifting around in the world at that time, I think I was in Iceland or the Faroes that summer I've always been a fan of Brazil, I still am, to me as to many people, Brazil represent football at its best, football as an art.

@Karembeu: I saw no more than about 5 minutes from each of the games you mention. My parents said South Korea - Poland was the best game they had seen so far.

The current game, Italy - Croatia is not so exciting. 60 minutes played, result: 1-0, Vieri scored for Italy

EDIT: Forget all I said about the current match, it suddenly got much more exciting and energetic

Croatia-Italy 2-1

Amazingly, the Croatians managed to equalise and then score the winner against the Italians (No mean feat, considering the fact that the Italians are the masters of defence ).However, this time, a goal that should have given the Italians the equaliser in the dying minutes was controversially disallowed by the referee(the player didn't touch the ball IMO after watching the replays, so it should have been counted ).

Brazil-China4-0

*sigh* It certainly took a long while before the Chinese really started playing football.Nevertheless, they were pretty lucky that the Brazilians only managed to score 4 past them(having said that, they were pretty unlucky at the other end of the field ).

I was really disappointed by the refs in the Italy game. The sideline ref should be shot. He took away took legitmate Italy goals.

Originally posted by ThorinOakensfield
I was really disappointed by the refs in the Italy game.

TO me, this applies to most of the games I've seen so far(not just the Italy-Croatia match) .

About Italy - Croatia game, i was waiting for this match to see Italy really play some offensive football (the trio rumor), but they just went for the result they didn't show that they wanted to win the game but only to secure there place in the next round. Unfortunately, for italians, Croatia was not the team we saw at the first match but a totally different team like the one you knew before. The Italians finally paid the price BUT once again the ref "help" in that.

Also after this game a unique event has happened in the WC series. Not a single time before after 2 games, so many of the "big" teams were in danger of not passing to the other round.
But this time Italy, Germany, Argentina, Portygal and France are in real danger.

Anyone hear of Vieri lashing out at the linesman, calling them amatuers. I not suprised by the outbursts, as France got robbed of 3 points because of them. They really have to review their policy of picking a certain amount of officials from each Confederation.

Re the ref in the Italy-Croatia game, I really think the first Italian goal should have been allowed. The second one though looked like it was rightly disallowed.

I don't know, but after watching a few replays of the goals i believe that both a pretty much legit.

I didn't watch it So I can't comment on what happened. And this is after I hyped it up I still can't get over the fact that they lost and they did use the trio up front, didn't they

Mind you the Brazil and China game, watched the first half was impressive. Even if we did boo Rivaldo everytime he got the ball. Had a few friends over

Originally posted by Tamerlane
I still can't get over the fact that they lost and they did use the trio up front, didn't they

They said they would use the trio and play some offensive football but they didn't, Trappattoni just put Vieri at the front and totti behind him and hoped that they would score at some point, oh well he also put inzgaki over at the 89 minute

Originally posted by Demis
I don't know, but after watching a few replays of the goals i believe that both a pretty much legit.

It's possible, it's quite difficult to see. Horrible for Italy, at least one maybe two legit goals disallowed

What did you think about the Brazil - China? I didn't see it, I only saw the goals later in a news summary. The hubby said Brazil played beautiful football, and that the Chinese seemed happy just to change jersey's with the Brazilian team afterwards. Good for Roberto Carlos that he got to score on a free kick after so many years of drought.

That free kick was shocking from the Chinese point of view. Roberto Carlos had a straight kick, the wall was in the wrong place, as was the goal keeper. No doubt expecting him to curl it in. But the fact he was given the option of the straight kick with no wall in his way just outside the penalty box is ridiculous.

Originally posted by C Elegans
What did you think about the Brazil - China? I didn't see it, I only saw the goals later in a news summary. The hubby said Brazil played beautiful football, and that the Chinese seemed happy just to change jersey's with the Brazilian team afterwards. Good for Roberto Carlos that he got to score on a free kick after so many years of drought.

Impressive Brazialian football as one of our comentators said they just play football with a smile at their face. Imagine Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinio at the front and Roberto Carlos and Kanu keep throwing passes all the time from the sides!.
Talk about the R attack
Scorers:

Roberto Carlos
Rivaldo
Ronaldinio
Ronaldo

@Demis: You must mean Cafu, Kanu is Nigerian.

Sigh, it would have been nice to watch the game just for the beauty of the football. The hubby recorded it for me, but something went wrong, so only 16 minutes were recorded

I wonder how well Brazil will stand up against the better teams, seeing how lousy their qualification was.

The Costa Rica-Turkey soon starts, I will cheer for Turkey in that game, seeing how bravely they fought the Brazilians previously.

Originally posted by C Elegans
@Demis: You must mean Cafu, Kanu is Nigerian.

Indeed, Thanks for clearing that up


After the win of Mexico against Equador, Italy sure is in a really bad position now, however each time Italy was in danger at the first leg they managed to reach the final.

Also Nesta after his injury during yesterdays match against Croatia will most likely lose the game against Mexico.

Originally posted by C Elegans
Re the ref in the Italy-Croatia game, I really think the first Italian goal should have been allowed. The second one though looked like it was rightly disallowed.

I am in disagreement, i thought that the goal should have been allowed or a penalty. Poor Graham Poll, his linesman hung him out to dry. Plus if you watch the replay of the Totti freekick, i was pretty sure it hit one of the wall's arms

Ooh. Who saw Russia - Japan?

Japan really look hot. They've got such quick passing and enthusiasm that they could go far... The Death Mask seemed to do Japan well...Their defence was solid, and they always seemed to have several men buzzing over each Russian threat. Plus a quality goal from Inamoto. The Russians looked sluggish...

I missed the Italy game ...but I think it was a fluke. I still recon Italy look good for the whole thing...I would love to see them play Del Piero in the middle right from the start (Was he on against Croatia?). Toti's on top form and their attack just looks so fast and savage that noone could defend against it. They would outgun Brazil IMO, with Vieri being much stronger than Ronaldinho and Totti being more reliable than Rivaldo... Batistuta is not scoring like he should be...I fancy Italy to score more goals than anyone else if they can get up a good performance each match, and that's what counts (@ Ysh 'at the end of the day' ) Plus Canavaro and Doni look to be keeping strong at the back.

psENGLAND!!!!!

Originally posted by frogus
Ooh. Who saw Russia - Japan?

Hehehehehehe...

Originally posted by frogus
They would outgun Brazil IMO, with Vieri being much stronger than Ronaldinho and Totti being more reliable than Rivaldo...

Noooo way, how can you say that after the Azzuri took a shameful defeat by the Croatians. Now, we all know the best attack comes from the ever-with-flair brazilians. Rivaldo was FIFA Player of the Year in 1999, Ronaldo was Player of the Year in both 1996 & 1997. Vieiri and Totti have never been given even third place. Besides, unlike any other country, the brazilian attack can come from anywhere, even from their backs, so who do you mark?
I don't know who'd win in an Italy - Brazil match, but IMO Brazil's attack is a lot stronger...the difference may be that Italy can defend better.

On another note, Well Done Japan!!, that was a well deserved win.