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The Official World Cup 2006 Thread

Silencio said:
So, how does everyone feel about England/Ecuador? Will England be able to get through their spate of injuries (Ferdinand and Neville) as well as the predicted hot/humid Stuttgart weather? Will Ecuador get their attack back on track after sitting out Tenorio and Delgado and company against Germany? My rooting loyalties will be painfully divided, but I have to pull for Ecuador so my girlfriend's family will be happy. :)
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I understand Ferdinand is good to go, but Neville is out. I think you have the correct line reckoning that Tenorio and Delgado should make it a different game for Ecuador. Rooney is puffed to be the tiger in England's tank, tomorrow. But I also think Crouch is the gangly, weak link with their attack. Beckham is more than due to show up, and their middle field play can be brilliant. Ecuador will have to have the game of their life for a win. Hope your girlfriend's family have a happy ending. Right now, one of the questions is will England go home before or after Poll?
 
My money (metaphorically ) has been on the Argentine team from the start and I see no reason to back out now. The Argentinians played some really class football without dominating totally, as the Mexicans gave them a great battle (and that Marques can pass as well as Beckham). Regularly they were under pressure too and dished out the usual dirt, but they still won. That sounds good enough to me.

As for England, I dont have any expectations, except they will play their best football of the tournament so far. Not hard!!
 
xsedrinam said:
I understand Ferdinand is good to go, but Neville is out. I think you have the correct line reckoning that Tenorio and Delgado should make it a different game for Ecuador. Rooney is puffed to be the tiger in England's tank, tomorrow. But I also think Crouch is the gangly, weak link with their attack. Beckham is more than due to show up, and their middle field play can be brilliant. Ecuador will have to have the game of their life for a win. Hope your girlfriend's family have a happy ending. Right now, one of the questions is will England go home before or after Poll?
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Crouch is the most prolific striker England have at the moment. He holds the ball up well but must have some half decent service. He isn't a weak link, that was owen who is now out.
 
BakedBeans said:
Crouch is the most prolific striker England have at the moment. He holds the ball up well but must have some half decent service. He isn't a weak link, that was owen who is now out.
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Maybe he played better for Liverpool, is it? All I know of him is what he's shown or hasn't in three World Cup matches, to date. 3 games, 1 Goal, 0 Assists, 9 Shots, 4 Shots on goal and 10 Fouls. That would force "prolific" to mean something entirely different. Who knows, maybe he'll have a field day, today. I haven't been impressed with him at all.
 
BakedBeans said:
See M. Rodriguez' goal?

Wow..... If not, I'll Upload it for you.
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I'm not sure if you are talking to me but yeah, I said earlier that it was better than Cole's which up to till Rodriguez' goal I thought was the best of the tourny. I only mentioned Crouch in relation to himself. I wan't impressed with his goal because it was brilliant per se but just that I was impressed that it was a nice clean header under pressure from a long cross, and I had my doubts about Crouch until then, I really didn't think he could operate under pressure at all.
 
xsedrinam said:
Maybe he played better for Liverpool, is it? All I know of him is what he's shown or hasn't in three World Cup matches, to date. 3 games, 1 Goal, 0 Assists, 9 Shots, 4 Shots on goal and 10 Fouls. That would force "prolific" to mean something entirely different. Who knows, maybe he'll have a field day, today. I haven't been impressed with him at all.
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Well, when you consider he has 6 goals on 6 games for england, then he is the in-form striker.

To be fair, in this world cup he hasn't had great service but has held the ball up really well.
 
BakedBeans said:
Well, when you consider he has 6 goals on 6 games for england, then he is the in-form striker.

To be fair, in this world cup he hasn't had great service but has held the ball up really well.
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It won't be surprising if England try to test the middle, up front with his clear height advantage. I haven't actually charted who feeds him most and from where, but surely Beckham needs to serve it up, better.
 
xsedrinam said:
It won't be surprising if England try to test the middle, up front with his clear height advantage. I haven't actually charted who feeds him most and from where, but surely Beckham needs to serve it up, better.
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Which brings me to my predictions

I think england are going to struggle today, not becuase of the team they are playing, but with the heat - it is going to be over 100 degrees on that pitch.

I'm going for an England win with Crouch scoring the winner.
 
Only prediction I'll make: If Crouch scores at all, I'll not refer to him as the "gangly, weak link" any more. ;) I also think (actually hope) it will take more than one to win today.
 
BakedBeans said:
I think england are going to struggle today, not becuase of the team they are playing, but with the heat - it is going to be over 100 degrees on that pitch.
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I think we'll scrape through, but it's not going to be pretty. The heat will be a factor for sure, hopefully the match won't go into extra-time otherwise we're going to have problems...

2-1 to England.
 
Expecting and hoping an Engalnd win too.
And also expecting a rather boring match, albeit very tense.

1 - 0 to England, with an early Crouch goal, resulting in defensive play. And logical too. Very hot, and (what's even worse IMHO) very humid.
 
I have a horrible feeling about today. Soaring temperatures never feel me with confidence when it comes to English teams :( .

I'm going to make sure I get nice and happy/drunk before the match begins :)
 
FleurDuMal said:
I have a horrible feeling about today. Soaring temperatures never feel me with confidence when it comes to English teams
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England teams in general never fill me with confidence... ;)

I've got a slightly nervous feeling about the game too – hopefully our fears will prove to be misfounded. And MacsRgr8 – I've got Dutch family so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for the oranje tonight, and looking forward to an England/Netherlands quarter-final. :)
 
Jaffa Cake said:
I've got Dutch family so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for the oranje tonight, and looking forward to an England/Netherlands quarter-final. :)
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That'll be my dream-match.

I grew up in England (hence me being a Gunner), and if Holland is my fatherland, then England is definitely my motherland. :)
 
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