I got footbalitis and crazy hands juggling the remote, VCR and tapes<g>
just some comments while waiting to watch the final games of the first round, GO USA!
Group A
The French Toasts just looked awful out there. Just when everything went right back in 98 everything went wrong in 2002. Not to score a single goal is a Saudi like feat! I am very disapointed at them since they were my pick to go all the way and they sure won me over with the "Brazilian" play and tenacity back in 98. If Zidane was healthy, just Zidane, things would be different. I think they went home when they could not beat/score against Uruguay...I think their coach deserves the guilottine! Every substitution flopped! To put some players in there who clearly did not belong and keep them for the whole game was criminal (dugarry, wiltrod, micou, djorkaeff, etc.)
I am glad to see Senegal advance and they will do some damage. To let Uruguay score three on them in the second half was probably a very good lesson not to let up.
Denmark is Denmark, they always find a way somehow. I hope England sends them home, they are past their bedtime<g>
Uruguay, momentary flashes of brilliance, too little too late. That Recoba dude is a hell of a player. They woke up way too late.
========================
Group B
Oh no, I feel for South Africa, I would just love them to advance since they deserved it. Well, having such an awful goalie, maybe they did not deserve it. I have never seen such a goalie gift so many goals in a WC before in games that matter. They sure came back strong to tie the Spaniards twice but they simply did not have enough to do it a third time.
Spain looks in an awesome form, just deadly lethal in attack! Let's see if they choke again.
Freaking Paraguay gets saved by that Cuavez dude, what a player! He single handedly resurrected them from the dead in the second half against the already long dead Slovenes playing with an extra man! Wow! I can't believe this team is in the second stage! I think they play the Germans if I am not concerned, in that case, go Chilavert!<g>
Slovenes, what a gang of walking stiffs, huge disappointment not to get even a single point, especially the way they lost to Paraguay!
====================
Group C
Oh no, oh no, say it isnt' so, the Ticos go home. Brazil way too much for them, especially with a defense leaking so heavily. They sure looked good enough to advance, too bad, I would love to see them play more before the Turks. They fought hard and they came to play against Brazil, no freaking "Italian" tactics<g>
Brazil, with France and Argentina gone, players rested, well things look good baby. But this team has not been tested, we 'll see. Obviously, a probable contender just because.......it is Brazil.
Turkey probably deseved to advance since they played a pretty good game against Brazil and scored more goals on the Chinese than the Ticos. CR should have crushed them when they played, they missed that opportunity then. That Bashturk guy from Leverkuzen is one of the best players in the WC!
China, Oh Bora, I at least expected a little better showing this time, at least score some goals. lady luck abandoned you this time. Word is out that he may coach Greece, hooray!!!!!!!!!!! I wish they hire him and let him do his job without the regular Greek national team BS politics that goes on regularly, I would love to see Greece make it back to the WC and go for the redemption of the 94 Waterloo/national tragedy.<g>
======================
Group E
Well, Germany and Ireland were the best two teams in the group, no suprises there. I am a little disappointed on Cameroon, I thought they will do better against the Germans, instead they resorted to dirty crap in the end....When you think of it, this team has never done anything after the 90 glorious run with Mila...Saudis, well, we all know what they think, they are likely saying this was a CIA plot again<g>. Clearly, for these guys to get better they must let them out of their palaces and let them play in Europe since obviously beating up on Omans and Bahrains just does not cut it.
I love the gutsy Irish and cant stand the Germans always, so whoever plays against the Germans you 'll bet I am for them<g>
======================
Group F
Well, the English rightly took revenge for the 98 match and deserved to win and advance. They are looking good too. Beckahm exercised his demons and I hope they stick it to the Danes too.
Argentina, well, the way they played against Sweden what do you expect? They had no fire, no passion, they all looked like ghosts out there. They are toast with the Frenchies and can now take four years to answer what went wrong. Maybe they need to cut their hair a bit, they seemed more concerned with how their hair looked than to give everything to advance....Big mystery, they sure had the talent, what a letdown for them and the Frenchies to go out this way.
Sweden, well, look at the Denmark comments. Nothing spectacular, strong to the ball and get the results. I hope somebody spanks them since I can't stand the Northern Europeans.
Nigeria, oh another disapointment. I thought they may go in with Argentina, instead they are both going home. Senegal stands alone to carry the African flag. We keep talking about the African football emergence in the world stage, well, maybe it's not happening<g>
========================
Group G
Mexico looks superb, they should have made a spaghetti meal of the Italians! Wow, what a Golazo Borghetti had! They slowed down a bit in the 2nd half but understandably so, the Italians were not doing much anyway...Oh well, undefeated, they are through and now get to play the runner of the USA Group!!! Well, interesting dillema. do we prefer Mexico (looking in super form, rivalry, well known opponent) or Italy (looked like crap, but it is Italy and could turn it on anytime probably). Hmmm, tough choices, heck let's just make it to the 2nd round and bring on either team, I don' t care!
Italy looked like so awful today it was embarassing, these guys had absolutely no fire in such a critical game down a goal! Unbelievably uncharacteristic of them. Piero bailed them out and sent a msg to his coach that his butt belongs on the field and not on the bench. I am sensing these guys may also be running out of gas like the Frenchies and the Argentinian models<g>
I have not seen the Croatia Ecuador game (only one I am behind). But for them to lose such an important game after showing some great heart and fire against the Italians is a huge disappointment, they should be on the same plane with the Slovenes and be greeted with tomatoes<g>
Ecuador, well first WC, it took them 3 games to shake the nerves I guess. They sure saved face wtih a win in their third game, something to build on I guess |
