july said:

[Edited 6/18/06 0:54am]

fantasyislander said:

For real!? Everyone can and has an opinion.

I just hope for a good run. I'm proud of them for playing their heart out and just playing in the World Cup.
If they do well fine. If they do not fine. I am still proud of their being there in Germany. Just play.
If they do not advance. I wish nothing but goodwill to the other teams going on to play.
It's an exciting World Cup. I like Brazil's play and Portugal is looking well.

Anyone else disappointed with Brazil? The Aussies deserved at least a draw.

calldapplwondery83 said:

july said:

oh yeah, i think it's great they made it that far too. i want them to advance to the next round, and it'll be interesting to see how far they get.

fantasyislander said:

I went with a small bunch of friendz last night to go see the match between Australia and Brazil in the city's Fed Square! The atmosphere was like nothing i'd ever witnessed it was fantastic though, shame about the loss- but then again i don't think anyone was truly expecting Oz to win up against the Brazillians! Man the way people were cussing I'm so damn short that i couldn't actually follow the first round cause there were so many freakin tall people who wouldnt even look behind them to see if a shortass like me was tiptoeing and jumping like a leprauchaun to see the freakin screen! ANyway the only way i could tell what was going on was whenever the Brazillians took the lead some guy at the back would be screaming constantly 'Aww you fuckin shit cunt! Dickhead! Fuuuuckinnnn' that alone was amusing to me But it was a great night nonetheless, and besidez the cussing, most people just applauded in the end anyway. The Australianz played pretty well up against the Brazillians, so it was still a fantabz effort anyway!

At 1-0 I was thinking the Australians deserved to get one back for the draw. They created enough chances. The game got stretched and the Aussies then faded a little as they tried to push forward and Brazil could've had a couple more than they did. I think Brazil probably deserved it in the end, but I thought Australia gave a good account of themselves and had they finished better could've made for an amazing game. I wanted Australia to score first to really put pressure on Brazil.

calldapplwondery83 said:

I was a bit miffed with the ref. Seemed like he was calling anything a foul during that game.
I'm happy we at least took it to them and didn't let them win it. I think we might have seen the last game that Ronaldo starts. If anything....he'll be coming off the bench.

althom said:

Yep, Brazil looked much more threatening with Robinho on the pitch. To be honest, I think if they'd have played him from the start the team wouldn't have struggled to score in the first half and would've had a more comfortable time in the second half. They seem to have a better balance and dynamic overall with him on the pitch.

Still, great effort by the Aussies, and I agree about the ref. Particularly against Australia in the first half there were some really iffy decisions where there was very little contact. Everytime Lucio tried to slide around Viduka to intercept the pass he was being given free-kicks for basically naturally going to ground in his attempt to do so.

France more or less tits it up again last night

Got give props to S. Korea's fans



Even though their team was playing a load shite, for 90 minutes they keep their quarters bouncing Rezpec' to those lovers of football


Joga bonito!

senik said:

I agree

novamonkey said:

Sweden vs Trindiad & Tobago

Sweden shots on target: 6
Sweden shots off target: 17
Sweden total shots: 23

England vs Trinidad & Tobago

England shots on target: 8
England shots off target: 17
England total shots: 25

http://news.bbc.co.uk/spo..._cup_2006/

And Sweden's was against 10 men!

Sweden

Goodness, Togo are SO frustrating.

Just like the Ivory Coast (but not as good), they are almost putting out a decent performance.

And yet they are not organised enough. Not efficient enough. And so they find themselves 1-0 down at half time. When, if anything, they should be 1-0 up.


[Edited 6/19/06 6:58am]

I'm actually quite sadden to think that we may never see any more real magic from the likes of Zidane or Ronaldo after this tournament

Zizou, what a player the man was. Fucking ultimate

senik said:

both players that have their legendary status secured. Zidane pretty much defined how to play that midfield role tucked in just behind the strikers. Genius.

Omadon said:

So what if England had 2 more shots on target, what does that say?
Sweden had more qualified chances then England, it's a fact.
And England is the most overrated team in the WC, also a fact.
Cant wait till tomorrow when Sweden wins over England again. But of course you will come up with some excuse as usual. Because its always England who plays bad when they lose, its never the other team playing good.

novamonkey said:

Sure, sure.

Sweden actually have a chance of not making the next round, which is fucking hilarious, if you ask me.

Go on Trinidad!

Doctors probe heart attack risk for soccer fans By Alexandra Hudson




COLOGNE (Reuters) - World Cup soccer causes joy and despair and even ends marriages but now doctors are studying whether the thrill of it all can be literally heart stopping.



Previous research during international soccer tournaments has found an increase in the general incidence of heart attacks, particularly on days when tense matches have had fans on the edge of their seats.

In the new FIFA-approved study researchers will receive blood samples from heart attack victims all over Germany watching football at the time of the attack, allowing them to look for traces of stress hormones which can clot the blood.

Doctors will also receive samples from anyone who collapses in a stadium during a World Cup match and whose blood may show higher levels of hormones then those fans watching at home.

"Patients are asked precisely what they were doing at the time of the attack -- whether they were following football on the radio or television, or even watching the pundits after the game," David Leistner of Munich's Ludwig Maximilians University told Reuters.

"So far, on the days when Germany has played we have received a lot more blood samples," he added.

First results are due in October.

A study in 1998 found the number of heart attacks increased by 25 percent on the day and in the two days after England lost to Argentina in a penalty shoot out at the 1998 World Cup.

Researchers in Switzerland also found heart attacks in the country increased by 60 percent during the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea -- even though the Swiss team was not even competing.

The findings prompted calls for emergency heart attack equipment to be installed in stadiums during Euro 2004.

"If it really is the case that higher stress levels can increase the chance of a heart attack then attending soccer games may have to carry a health warning," said Leistner.

Doctors advise those soccer fans who may be at greater risk of heart attack anyway due to obesity, high-cholesterol or diabetes, to refrain from drinking excessively during the World Cup tournament.

Mach said:

interesting.

Reminded me of this sad story from a couple of days ago:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...091064.stm

A comedian renowned for his imitations of footballer Ronaldo and the Brazilian president has died while covering the World Cup for a TV channel.
Claudio Besserman Vianna - known as Bussunda in Brazil's satirical series Casseta and Planeta Urgente - suffered a heart attack in Munich. He was 43.

He fell ill after playing football with friends and could not be revived.

Brazil's football association issued a statement expressing sympathy from all of its national team players and staff.

It added that star striker Ronaldo had a "feeling of sadness for the death of a person he admired".

Mr Vianna had been working at the football tournament for Globo TV and found fame as an impressionist and comedy writer.

Casseta and Planeta Urgente offered topical humour and parodies of newsworthy events and celebrities, including the country's President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Mr Vianna is survived by his wife and a daughter.

A programme director from Globo TV said Mr Vianna had no history of heart problems and usually played football each week.

Omadon said:

I remember they did some sort of study with Premiership managers too. Big Sam Allardyce partook in it. His heart was constantly monitored during live competitive games. What about Gerrard Houllier scare They say that was partly health related, partly due to the stress of football.

Lets go switch to the NBA, Omadon. I don't think our tickers can take this football World Cup malarkey

july said:

maybe this is what the US needs to get into the game?? i just saw a bit on the news about how soccer is gaining popularity in this country.... more programs for youth, more fans watching Major League Soccer etc. i'm actually thinking of signing my daughter up to play...

they interviewed one guy on the street and he said "nah, soccer is for those guys over in europe. not this country. we're baseball here." whatever.

WHAT?

PANDURITO said:

congrats, Pandurrrrrito! great game!

love your sig, too!