WORLD CUP: Results Discussion

got this from the official World Cup website about Owen


The England striker was stretchered off after twisting his knee awkwardly just 74 seconds into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side’s 2-2 draw with Sweden in Cologne, and his club, Newcastle United have revealed that he has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

This could well mean a period of at least five months in rehabilitation for a player who only recently returned to action from a broken foot that had sidelined him since 31 December.



That's a tough break.  ACL's are a serious injury. 

Soooooooo, how long until we get to Theo Walcott?  I'd love to see him come in have some success and take the focus off of Rooney's goofy a$$.  But Theo is still pretty young isn't he?  Do you England supporters think Rooney has the fitness to go the whole 90?  Or will Erickson have to hope for an early lead on Sunday so he can save Rooney.

Another question.....they said that Crouch had to be careful because he was playing with a yellow the game before.  So is it if you get a yellow 2 games in a row you are suspended for that third game?  and if you get a red you are suspended for the next game as well right?  So actually USA is going to be without 2 regular starters tomorrow against Ghana.  Do I have that right?

2 yellows in the group stages is a one match ban, as is a red. 1 yellow in the group stages will be wiped out once you're in the knockout stages. Crouch was on a yellow before the sweden game, i dont think he got another in that game. So now he has is slate wiped clean, into the knockouts with no points on his licence. Not that it matters, coz Stevie G will bring back the bacon.

Ingerland

Well it's all over.

I am sorry guys...after the result against Italy I thought it would have been great for you, and for the game, to get through.  However, I am delighted that an African nation has gone though, and Ghana certainly deserved it.

Pats on the back for all the US team for doing their country proud.

 

(I was looking for a 'clapping hands' smilie, but picked this as he looks like Sideshow Bob).


Vicky

Yes, and the sarky Brit hubby says of the USA, "Well that was more than enough to justify their FIFA rankings".

I only caught the last half hour or so; I can't say I was very impressed... but hey.

And yes, I'm with Vicky... good on Ghana for getting through.  Well deserved.

I can see Sarky Brit Hubby's point...

USA ranked 5th...above Argentina...hmmmm.......


 

Vicky

LOL, Vicky!

I can see Sarky Brit Hubby's point...

USA ranked 5th...above Argentina...hmmmm.......


 

Vicky

Teams like USA and Mexico play in the CONCACAF federation, enabling those teams to accumulate ranking points playing weaker nations. If they we're playing UEFA nations on a regular basis, their rankings would be alot lower. Thus, the USA and Mexico have a false ranking. Not their fault as they can only play who's infront of them. I don't know if they can change, but Australia have announced that they will leave the Oceania Federation and play in the Asian one.

Oh well, hopefully this will be Arena's last year.  He waited 60 minutes to put our best goal scorer on the pitch when we needed a win.  I'm not impressed with him at all.  We'll see how well Ghana fairs against Brazil.  That'll show how much the really deserve to be there.  I won't complain to much, but the penalty in stoppage time in the first half was ridiculous.  But the US didn't play like they wanted to win anyway.  One call won't make the differance, but that was a really bad one.

Teams like USA and Mexico play in the CONCACAF federation, enabling those teams to accumulate ranking points playing weaker nations.

Surely then the ranking system is flawed.  Along with the normal win/lose/draw, goals for and against, etc, then there should be a way allowing a weighting based upon the current ranking position of the opposition.  For instance, one would get more weighting points for win against Brazil than a win against Honduras.

Well, fresh off the brilliant Croatia v Australia match, I'm definitely pumped.  Towards the end, it looked like the ref didn't know which end was what, as there was definitely controversy over the yellow/red cards & Svwhatevervic.  Then no one knew if the game was over & the Australians took a shot, then the ref decided he was done?  It was all jumbled in those last seconds.  But the game was brilliant, with BOTH teams playing extremely valiantly.  Australia could've won this easily had they simply had more PRECISION shooting (and their keeper not give up that ABSURD second goal by Croatia - he's not even their regular starting keeper, so you have to wonder why he in such an important game??).  May not have been the best technically, but it certainly was good entertainment!

is it just me, or did Brazil finally get a McDonalds?  Ronaldo is a bit plump this year

I love the crack the ESPN announcers made in the postgame report.  They were talking about the two goals that Ronnie made in the Brazil v Japan game,
1: "I didn't know he had two goals still in him..."
2: "A couple of donuts maybe."

Heeeee. 

yes, the highlite gus here in the UK were cracking on him too.  When he made his run in the first half but couldn't catch up with the cross one guy was like, "sure, maybe 4 years ago you could have reached that one."  Pretty funny.

Anyone else watching the blood bath that is Portugal/Netherlands?

You betcha!  It's the team I'm supporting and my back up team.  Darn it, why did they have to meet now?  Why is the ref such a prat?  I think they are 1 yellow short of meeting the yellow card record.

The ref broke the record.

Terrible really, but at least Baby Face and a couple of others will be out when we meet them!

 


Vicky