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Pastimes : Soccer World Cup MLS Euro Champions League etc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dexter Woo who wrote (1487)	6/17/2002 9:53:12 PM
From: Dayuhan	Respond to of 5130

Italy isn't through yet, though they are certainly favorites. Favorites hasn't meant much in this tournament so far, though, and the Koreans will be heartened to know that Cannavaro is out and Nesta will be either out or playing hurt. That will hurt the Italian defence badly. Anything is possible. Brasil, England, Germany, and Italy may be traditionally great football nations, but I don't think any of their current teams have much claim to greatness yet, at least not based on what I've seen. Brazil walked all over an inferior group, but looked less than convincing against Belgium. Germany trashed the Saudis, but the draws with Ireland and Cameroon were not terribly impressive and their performance against Paraguay was nothing of great distinction. England have shown solid defence but not much in the scoring department: two of their three goals against Denmark were gifts from the keeper. Italy has a collection of wonderful players, but they have yet to break out and show any wonderful play. Another team that deserves consideration for the talent on their roster, if not for historic performance, is Spain: I watch a lot of Spanish league football, and I have an emotional fondness for the squad, but they have shown little more than flashes of what they can do. I have yet to see a really great performance by any team, Senegal perhaps having come closest. For people like me, who watch a lot of club football, it is frustrating to see players that we know are capable of so much more looking so aimless. Let's hope it gets better. Brasil-England has real potential. This WC has seen the emergence of Rio Ferdinand as a world-class defender; how will he fare pitted against Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Denilson, etc. How will the rather pedestrian English wing-backs manage the sizzling assaults of Cafu and Roberto Carlos moving down the flanks? Can Brazil's defence stand up to Owen, Heskey, Beckham, etc, not that any of them have been in brilliant form. English pluck vs. Brazilian style.... I'll be cheering for Brasil in the midst of a sea of Brits, just because they are more fun to watch, but it could go either way. I would love to see the US beat the Germans, but I've no illusions. I don't expect the Germans to break down like the Portuguese did. Still, all things are possible at this stage. An Italian win today would set up a very interesting match with Spain. I'd love to see Spain and Brasil in the final, and I wouldn't care who wins, as long as it's a game worth watching. My nightmare final would be England and Germany.