The Official World Cup Thread

CaliforniaRaisin · July 4, 2006

Wow, what an ending.

Now go get the German coach, USA.

sweetpeteman · July 4, 2006

Wow. Italy advances with a 2-0 win. What a stunning finish.

FABIO!!!!!!

GUY WITH THE SAME LAST NAME AS ME!

Butterscup1679666578 · July 4, 2006

*explitive* *explitive* *explitive*

UMFan83 · July 4, 2006

That was stunning

Transmogrified Tiger · July 4, 2006

I can't help but wonder how this would've played out if Italy hadn't been gifted the US and Australia matches. Now I have to root for France or Portugal to win it all. This sucks.

da bears · July 4, 2006

Unbelievable. So does this make the U.S. look any better since they were the only ones not to lose to Italy?

USSoccer · July 4, 2006

That was a fantastic 2nd OT. Great shot by Grosso. The Player Formerly Known as Alessandro Del Piero even scored.

Still, ITA lost to the US (I don't care what FIFA says. We won that game. The ref decided we lost) and might not have beaten Australia, and rolled over a weak Ukrainian side. Tonight, they caught Germany on a bad night when Podolski decided he wasn't going to finish any shots or complete any good passes.

I hope Portgual or France demolish Italy.

And I'll echo Raisin. Go get Klinsi, USSF.

Butterscup1679666578 · July 4, 2006

Ugh, I'm never gonna hear the end of this from my girlfriend.

Stupid Italians.

WindyCity · July 4, 2006

FORZA ITALIA!!!!!! :D

May the best cuisine win. Italy v. France for the final.

I'm all for Klinsmann to be the next coach of the USMNT. The style of play of Germany this Cup was highly entertaining (and effective for the most part).

Big Fergie J · July 4, 2006

Incredible match.....what soccer is all about.

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

Transmogrified Tiger · July 4, 2006

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

Awesome.

Andy · July 5, 2006

Incredible match.....what soccer is all about.

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

Fantastic :)

Transmogrified Tiger · July 5, 2006

Germany was my favorite of the teams still remaining, but this is still funny.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/vaccads/notyourss6ly.jpg

wolf stansson · July 5, 2006

I'm all for Klinsmann to be the next coach of the USMNT. The style of play of Germany this Cup was highly entertaining (and effective for the most part).

Hopefully he can teach LD how to be a man and play like Ballack.

sethuel1 · July 5, 2006

Wow. Italy dominated that game and looked stronger as the match went on. I've been very critical of Italy's coach (as you guys may have noticed) but he pulled all the right strings today. Gilardino (an obvious one), Iaquinta and Del Piero were inspired subs, and to not pull Totti when he inserted Del Piero (although I would imagine it was for PK purposes more than anything else) was a fantastic move, as the two of them just sliced up the German defense toward the end.

Mark Priors Calves · July 5, 2006

I want to see France win against Portugal just to see Ronaldo crying, whiny mug all over my tv.

stuy119 · July 5, 2006

Cannavaro almost singlehandedly shut down the German offense. IMO he was easily the MVP of the game.

davecubsfan · July 5, 2006

I don't think Italy can beat France if they advance. France's defense against Brazil was just stifling and I don't see Italy doing much against it. Plus, I think Zidane is the sentimental favorite here. I'd love to see him go out on top since he's retiring.

Balsa · July 5, 2006

What a game. Great job by Italy, they simply out-played Germany (There's something I didn't expect to say).

A great game, and a real nail-biter.

Both keepers were amazing, but it was Germany's defense that finally cracked.

Balsa · July 5, 2006

Incredible match.....what soccer is all about.

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

This is great news, but I would find it hard to beleive if Germany didn't want him back after that run.

Also, did anyone else think that Italy's players might be experiencing a "Field of Dreams"-style game play? Knowing that some might be banned/relegated next year with the scandal and such....? Just a thought...

CaliforniaRaisin · July 5, 2006

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

Yes!!!

soccer10k · July 5, 2006

Italy flat out shut down the German offense. There is no other way to put it. Klose did absolutely nothing today and I'm sure it was because the Italians made it a point to shut him down. Another impressive defensive performance by Italy.

On that note, early in the first half Marcelo Balboa questioned the Italy defense and said they looked shaky. Are you kidding me? Of all the teams that he could have picked to question their defense, Balboa picks Italy. Unbelievable. Fire him now ESPN. Please.

soccer10k · July 5, 2006

I don't think Italy can beat France if they advance. France's defense against Brazil was just stifling and I don't see Italy doing much against it. Plus, I think Zidane is the sentimental favorite here. I'd love to see him go out on top since he's retiring.

Brazil's offense hasn't looked very good the whole tournament so it isn't just France shutting them down. Ghana took it to Brazil as well but got unlucky with the goals. The only goal Italy has given up has been the own goal against the USA and has the best defense in the tournament. Say what you want about the Italians and the flopping but the fact is that they are unbelievable defensively and shut down an explosive German team today.

I'm not saying that Italy would beat France if they played but I definately think they could. It surely wouldn't be a one-sided affair.

soccer10k · July 5, 2006

Incredible match.....what soccer is all about.

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

Eh. Klinsmann isn't a great coach. Better than Arena? Yes. But he did what he was expected to do - get Germany to the World Cup finals. Sure they looked good, but they couldn't take a minute off because they were playing at home. Anything less than being in the final 4 would have been a huge disappointment. It's not exactly shocking to bring a team like Germany to the semifinals especially considering they were playing at home. I'm not saying Klinsmann isn't a good coach, I'm just saying that he isn't necessarily the savior for US soccer.

USSoccer · July 5, 2006

Incredible match.....what soccer is all about.

FWIW----BBC reporting USA has offerred the job to Klinsmann @ $3MM per yr.

Eh. Klinsmann isn't a great coach. Better than Arena? Yes. But he did what he was expected to do - get Germany to the World Cup finals. Sure they looked good, but they couldn't take a minute off because they were playing at home. Anything less than being in the final 4 would have been a huge disappointment. It's not exactly shocking to bring a team like Germany to the semifinals especially considering they were playing at home. I'm not saying Klinsmann isn't a good coach, I'm just saying that he isn't necessarily the savior for US soccer.

Considering how pedestrian a team Germany looked coming in, I'd say Klinsi did a heck of a job getting them that far.

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