2006 FIFA World Cup

[Brent Burns]

If Italy-Czech Republic and Ghana-US tie (that scenario would be highly unlikely), Italy would go and it may be based on goal differential between Czech Republic and Ghana as the second place to go into the knockout round. Right now, CZE has 3 goals for and 2 against; Ghana is even at 2-2. Of course, that all depends on the final scores for both games if those 4 teams tie. I am hoping that US will score as much as they can against Ghana.

[Tim Whitehead]

I'm hesitant to criticize the officials (as a current lax official and fomer youth/H.S. soccer official) and I was cheering loud and hard for Sam's Army... But the red card call on Pablo (sp.) was pretty tough to swallow. It's like they are going straight to the cards on plenty of fouls that guys were just going to play the ball hard.

I don't fault the officials discounting the second US goal for offsides. But the red card on Pablo was too tough to swallow and basically killed any chance we had for the upset.

Sonny, shouldn't that be "The red card on Player A was pretty tough to swallow" and "I don't fault the officials for discounting the second Team B goal. But the red card on Player A was too tough to swallow and basically killed any chance Team B had for the upset"....

[Sonny]

I'm hesitant to criticize the officials (as a current lax official and fomer youth/H.S. soccer official) and I was cheering loud and hard for Sam's Army... But the red card call on Pablo (sp.) was pretty tough to swallow. It's like they are going straight to the cards on plenty of fouls that guys were just going to play the ball hard.

I don't fault the officials discounting the second US goal for offsides. But the red card on Pablo was too tough to swallow and basically killed any chance we had for the upset.

Sonny, shouldn't that be "The red card on Player A was pretty tough to swallow" and "I don't fault the officials for discounting the second Team B goal. But the red card on Player A was too tough to swallow and basically killed any chance Team B had for the upset"....

Nah.... When every MDIA game is broadcast worldwide in HD, maybe we will get to that stage.

[JosueSays]

I am a little conflicted about the influx of Yellow and Red cards... At the same time it's a great sign that FIFA is trying to make it more fair but on the other hand it's been a bit too excessive (US vs Italy being a prime example). In the last world cup, for example, officiating was TERRIBLE and it's a good sign that they want to stray from that (I dont have to mention how badly officiated the Spain vs Korea game was...) I also hear that they may implement a replay feature for goals... Which I think is a good idea if done well..

Anyway, how about England vs Sweden? Promises to be a good game... Personally, i'm going for sweden. I haven't been too impressed with England's sportmanship or skill in this tournament...

[FLAK]

I am a little conflicted about the influx of Yellow and Red cards... At the same time it's a great sign that FIFA is trying to make it more fair but on the other hand it's been a bit too excessive (US vs Italy being a prime example). In the last world cup, for example, officiating was TERRIBLE and it's a good sign that they want to stray from that (I dont have to mention how badly officiated the Spain vs Korea game was...) I also hear that they may implement a replay feature for goals... Which I think is a good idea if done well..

Anyway, how about England vs Sweden? Promises to be a good game... Personally, i'm going for sweden. I haven't been too impressed with England's sportmanship or skill in this tournament...

Rooney's starting so watch out for him, Im sure he's not 100 percent, but Ill be danfangled if he wont just walk out there and manhandle sweden singlehanded

[horn17]

Rooney is good, but everyone makes him out to be the best player in the world, on a average, quickly-aging England squad....

He's good, but definately not deserving of the jocking he's been getting - just one player on a team of superstars. The way everyone talks about him, he should score everytime he touches the pitch (not just here, but with a lot of people - primarily my roomates who think he's the greatest thing since the Lil Black Book).

[Brent Burns]

England and Sweden are tied, 2-2. Actually, the Three Lions was up 2-1 and then at the 90th minute plus injury time, Sweden snucked in and scored. Game over. Nevertheless, ENG and SWE advance anyway.

[FLAK]

Um, he's 20 years old, has won the FIFA young player of the year this year, the FA young player of the year, nominated for UEFA player of the year, I could keep going on but I'd rather not spend the next 15 minutes looking up awards and such.

I dont know what you are basing this on, he hasnt played for 6 weeks and instantly impacted the team against Trinidad and provided plenty of spark just now against Sweden.

All you have to do is watch some of the amazing goals that he has scored (Arsenal fans know exactly what I am talking about).

In Euro 2004 he took England all the way to the quater finals, and had he not been injured in that game, couldve easily taken them all the way.

As for the "average" England side...Ferdinand, Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, J. Cole, Owen, yeah those are all definately average players.

Please note I didnt mention Beckham (take away his crosses and free kicks and he is average).

[Brent Burns]

From what I understand now:

Group A Group B

Germany vs. Sweden

Ecuador vs. England

[horn17]

Flak....thats great, he's good , but way overhyped in thinking that he is the answer for England, and he will "dominate the tournament"....everyone is constantly wondering about him, but there are just as many if not better players on some of the other teams....

Van Nisteroy (SP- in a hurry)
Henry
C. Ronaldo
Drogba
Numerous others not to be mentioned.....

What I am griping about, and probaly should have made it clear, is that if he is such a dominant force that he can lead England to the title by himself? - and that he changes the game so drastically, people are afraid of him?.... i thnk people tend to jump on that band wagon, is he a top ten player, yes, is england one of the oldest teams at the world cup, YES, you have to keep in mind, for many of these guys it is their 3rd and final world cup, and Rooney is not the answer for England, he is not gods gift to soccer , and he is not England's saving grace, if you remember, as I do, they said the same thing regarding Michael Owen in 98.........He's not Ronaldinho....

Awards are great, how many championships has he won????

[jessexy]

i, personally being a soccer referee, have thought the overall officating has been pretty good. you can definitely separate the good referees from the bad.

GOOD:
Rodriguez (MEX)
SImon (Brazil)
Poll (ENG)
Tamagowa (JAP)
Merk (GER)
Elizondo (ARG)

BAD:
Larrionda (URU)
Archundia (MEX)
Ivanov (RUS)
Abd El Fatah (EGY)

found at www.fifaworldcup.com click tournament click referees.

i have been surprised by the amount of referees that have been unwilling to get out of the way and let the players decide the game. the players shoot and score. the players dribble and pass. the players defend and tackle. the players shouldnt be worried about which ticky-tack fouls the referees are giving yellow and red cards for and wondering whenthey will have to sit out the next match because some referee gave them a yellow card in a huff. there is a fair amount of "by the book" refereeing here and not a lot of common sense refereeing.

off of my soapbox now.......

Henry, Ronaldinho, Lampard, Shevchenko, Villa, Drogba, etc, are all better players than Rooney. he is the Great ______ Hope for England. even for his country he is not the best striker because Darren Bent scored the most goals in the EPL by an englishman and he didnt even make the squad. Andrew johnson was next best and he was left out. Jermain Defoe did well and he is an injury replacement. you get my drift.

Erikkson made some questionable decisions for this team on the front line (forwards) and now he is paying with no goals. Crouch is awful, Owen is hurt, Rooney is hurt, and Theo Walcott is only 16 years old and inexperienced. those are bad signs when you have to score goals to win the World Cup. They will lose to Ecuador in the next round cuz Ecuador has goal scorers.

[sohotrightnow]

They will lose to Ecuador in the next round cuz Ecuador has goal scorers.

Where were they against Germany's suspect defense?

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

i, personally being a soccer referee, have thought the overall officating has been pretty good. you can definitely separate the good referees from the bad.

I think you mean to say you can seperate the bad from the worse.

[cjwilhelmi]

The ref in the England game today was pretty good, keeping the card in his pocket and talking to the players instead. Dont know his name though.

[Brent Burns]

So far, two games have completed:

Portugal 2 Mexico 1

Angola 1 Iran 1

With no questions, Portugal and Mexico advances. We will see which of those teams will kick off against either Argentina or the Netherlands.

Full-Time:

Argentina 0 Netherlands 0

Ivory Coast 3 Serbia & Montenegro 2

Anyone see the Argentina-Netherlands game today? What would be your take on that game?

Tomorrow, we will see how our Stars & Stripes will do against Ghana.