World Cup predictions

Palermo has some CV alright. Destined for greatness.

There's been a lot of very good (but not entertaining) stifling play from many of the lesser teams so far. Switzerland, Honduras, Japan, Greece and others have played to stifle quality teams, to a fair degree of success, but I'm not sure any of these will qualify or at best get into the last 8. I think Argentina deserve credit for getting their due tonight. The teams that have qualified so far (Arg, SK, Mex, Uru, Holl..anyone else?) are all teams that give it a go. Could be a really interesting second half of the tournament. If England get through I reckon they'll struggle to contain the attacking intent of some of the other qualifiers. I doubt they're as well drilled in stifling opponents as those I've mentioned above.

Is there any good site where I can catch up on previous games?

(as in the games that were not shown yesterday - UrU V Mex, Korea V Nig)

FIFA.com has all the goals on their site.

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Originally Posted by superfrank

FIFA.com has all the goals on their site.

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Yeah but they have only highlights, I wouldnt mind seeing the whole game...............

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Yeah but they have only highlights, I wouldnt mind seeing the whole game...............

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RTE had them live on the web, they might have them on the RTE player maybe.

No surprise. England get through. Surprise that the USA win the group. Germany vs England last 16? England win on penalties (for a change).

Can't complain with the England win, they were the better team by a mile. They were totally untested at the back, bar a few isolated scares. Slovenia's set pieces were truly shocking. I've no idea how good the German side is, so tonight will be interesting to see if they're up to it. I'd like to think they'll win convincingly but I think that England were lucky to avoid a winner of a stronger group.

I'm glad the USA prevailed. They've got some good players, and if Arsenal are looking to replace Fabregas with an overrated French tw@t when they could buy Landon Donovan they'd be stupid. He's been outstanding for me.

Germany vs England? Yes please.

Germany will probably be better with Klose back, but they would miss Schweinsteiger if injured. My guess is that with Oz 2-0 up at the time they took him off as a precaution.

Lahm is a truly brilliant full back in my opinion.

Eng v Ger: I think both teams will make chances, it's just a question of who takes them.

The winner of England and Germany likely to play the Argies in the quarter as well. Much tougher route to the final for England now as opposed to if they had won the group.

If anyone can beat the Argies, then they could well go all the way.

I would have liked to see the USA match, they will have a presumably easier route, they could get to the semi's.

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Originally Posted by elroy

The winner of England and Germany likely to play the Argies in the quarter as well. Much tougher route to the final for England now as opposed to if they had won the group.

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As soon as the afterglow of blessed relief wears off...I would imagine they'll be reflecting on that fact themselves.

I wish I could have watched the USA-Algeria game. It looked a belter.

England were miles better than they were against Algeria but Germany won't be having sleepless nights about it.

Uruguay seem to have a clear run to the semis - you'd expect them to beat South Korea, and they've been playing at a much higher level so far than either America or Ghana. Brazil look to be favourites at the moment based on their side of the draw, but all depends on avoiding Spain in the last 16.

Ya Uruguay could be a good bet for a semi place alright, have looked very good so far.

Germany England and USA Ghana will be tough to call. Ghana qualified without scoring a goal from open play or even from any other method than a peno. If Schweinsteiger is out for Germany, you would prob just fancy England to pull through.

The thought did cross my mind when Oz were 2-0 on Serbia whether the Germans might consider conceding a "soft goal" and thus come second in the group and face the USA rather than England. It's not everyday a win is probably worse than a draw ;)

Any update on Schweinsteiger injury?

I watched the second half of the Italy vs Slovakia game in the UL bar today, and had one person comment to me that "Slovenia are only playing for penalties" and another that it was "karma after that headbutt on Zidane."

Italy...sad stuff really, very severe decline. New Zealand go unbeaten! Albeit on the way to their exit. Fair play to 'em, I'd have had them down for at least one hammering.

And in the case of the jabulani ball, the defense calls Yasuhito Endo to the stand. Well played.

Surprised by how impressive Japan were - they won't trouble the big guns, but extremely well organised at the back and Endo and Honda would slot into any major European side, so they could very well take Paraguay in the last 16. The jury's still out on Holland, won through handily enough, but will have to really up their game if they're going to pose any threat to Brazil (probably) in the last eight.