FIFA World Cup 2010 - Predictions/Discussions/Updates

[_____V_____]

1 - 0 AUSTRALIA!

Tim Cahill scores in the 69th minute!

[_____V_____]

2 - 0 Australia!

Holman comes off the bench as a substitute and scores within 7 minutes of coming in!

[_____V_____]

FULL TIME - Match #39 (GROUP D) -

GHANA - 0


GERMANY - 1
(Ozil 60')

FULL TIME - Match #40 (GROUP D) -

SERBIA - 1
(Pantelic 84')


AUSTRALIA - 2
(Cahill 69')
(Holman 73')

Australia win their last match and draw level with Ghana on points, but that huge Goal Difference caused by the loss to Germany in their first match means they stand eliminated, alongwith Serbia.

Germany win their match against Ghana, and both teams advance into the Round of 16. But the German win doesn't mean Germany was the superior side. It was Ghana who impressed for the whole duration of the match, and it was a classic tale of umpteen chances missed by them. The scoreline should have been 4 - 2 or even 5 - 2 in favor of Ghana, but somehow they squandered some very routine chances at scoring the elusive goal every time they got the opportunity.
Germany were slightly outclassed. They will realise it and come back stronger for their R 16 elimination match.

Round 16 lineup for them - GERMANY versus ENGLAND, and GHANA versus USA.

Good night, folks.

[Disease]

I knew Australia were gone after that Germany match, it was all hope and luck from there on in. We really couldn't afford to lose to Germany by more than 2 goals and we also really needed to win 2 of our matches. We played it to close and didn't desrve to go through after the pathetic performance in round 1.

On the other hand, Australia played a good game against Germany, it was just not so satisfying knowing Germany had scored against Ghana.

[ferretchucker]

HAHA! America are better than England at the moment. Hopefully that'll lower the team's morale and people will stop talking about this silly game as though we might win.

[roshiq]

If both matches in Group F today end in draws with the same score, a coin toss will decide whether Italy or New Zealand advances.

After 270 minutes of nail biting endeavor against the world's best footballers, the World Cup fate of the Azzurri & All Whites could simply come down to a soccer lottery. As we know after two rounds of group F, Italy and New Zealand are locked together in second place after two draws and an identical number of goals for and against.
If that remains the situation after the 3rd group game for both team, FIFA will decide which side progress to the quarterfinals by picking a name out of a hat, so the All Whites or world champions Italy could be eliminated on the basis of a random draw.
Under Fifa rules, if two teams are equal on points at the end of the group stage, and have scored the same amount of goals, it comes down to goal difference. But Italy and New Zealand have scored the same amount of goals...just two in two games, so their goal difference is identical.

Although being a fan of Italian football IMO FIFA should let NZL go through as they took the lead while they were playing against Italy in 2nd group match. The world champions has been utterly disappointing in the field so far as in both earlier group matches they failed to goal first against their opponent and prevent the defeat by scoring later in the game.

It'll be sad for the All Whites if they get out from the tournament under such a funny lottery system. As a first timer in the World Cup they have been much impressive than Italy so far.

[_____V_____]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Group F -

Italy SHOULD fancy their chances against lowly Slovakia. The problem is, with the poor football they have shown so far, you would still doubt them to take the win in their last match. Do I have to mention it is a must-win situation for the Azurri?
Paraguay look good. They should win over New Zealand.
But what if the result goes the other way in this match? If NZL win, it could be bye-bye Italy.

Into the 40th minute of both Group F matches, and guess what?

SLOVAKIA LEADS 1 - 0 OVER DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ITALY!!!


The other match between Paraguay and New Zealand is goalless so far.


Italy look very pale and very out of sorts. As I type this, another Slovakia attack results in the header going over the goal. The Slovakians look very impressive.

Heading out to a dinner meeting. Will post the updates once I am back.

[_____V_____]

FULL TIME - Match #41 (GROUP F) -

SLOVAKIA - 3
(Vittek 25', 73')
(Kopunek 89')


ITALY - 2
(Di Natale 81')
(Quagliarella 90'+2')

FULL TIME - Match #42 (GROUP F) -

PARAGUAY - 0


NEW ZEALAND - 0

Yes it's official folks - THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS OF 2006 ARE OUT OF THE WORLD CUP IN THE FIRST ROUND ITSELF!!

Honestly, they deserved to be out. In all 3 matches, the Azurri looked a very pale shadow of the team which won the 2006 WC. They were unimpressive and lacking motivation in this match too, from the first 40 minutes which I had seen them.

The Slovakians were very impressive. They deserve their win totally.

In the other match, Paraguay and New Zealand fought out a draw. Which meant Paraguay topped this group with Slovakia coming second, while New Zealand finished over Italy.

A very strange coincidence, this. Both Defending Champions and the Finalist teams of 2006 are out in the First Round itself in this edition. Goes to show that rankings don't mean anything - the team which plays superior football on its day, takes the win.

Bye bye to both Les Bleus and the Azurri.

[Zero]

JAPAN!!!!! wow - who would have thought Denmark gets crushed by Japan!?!

[Angra]

Shut up Shut up Shut up
Don't wanna hear it
Get out Get out Get out
Get out of my way
Step up Step up Step up
You'll never stop me
Nothing you say today
Is gonna bring me down



You asshole... :(


Can say for sure that Denmark wont be missed in this World Cup by anybody else than danish people, coz geez..


On another note, CONGRATS to the US for winning their group in front of England. That's awsome. :cool: