World Cup starts!!

[Nano]

Boodi, welcome back! I'd like you to post in my "What's in a nickname?" topic. I'm just curious.
(Now we're not going to talk about that "penalty present". Absolutely out of the question.)

[Nano]

Hey guys, it's just me or this Cup is passing through in a blur? With Argentina's timelines (similar to Brazil and some places in the USA) we're seeing the matches from the bed and later I found some bits missing from my memory ("Was it real or was it a dream?")
I have no TV at home, so I hear them on my radio-clock in the darkness. That may help to miss some parts, of course...

[Ricardo_Mata]

Nano, you are right. This "Mundial" is going by too fast and with the hours as they are it is hard to stay awake for all the games. It is even harder to remember the matches.

I guess now we know what Asians have had to endure for the last 16 World Cups!

So far, I have missed just a few matches because I do have things to do besides watching the matches on T.V! I missed Paraguay/South Africa; Costa Rica/China; and Argentina/Nigeria (The best match so far, as I understand!)

So far, I am impressed with the strength of Turkey, Senegal, and Cameroon. I am also impressed with Germany's performance, not because of the number of goals but because they did play as an organized, united team.

I liked Italy's match but I think they are going to have their usual problems: getting overconfident and pulling back early.

I liked what I saw today with Japan and South Korea: fast teams with good ball control. I think South Korea will make it to the second round.

I'm not particularly impressed with Sweden, Spain, nor England. Good teams but nothing extraordinary. Brasil fits this description too; I didn't see the "Jogo Bonito" that we all love.

I am dissapointed with Mexico, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, and Uruguay. None of them showed anything worthy of a World Cup. I see them heading back home after the first round.

Ecuador will be going home too but at least they will leave with the image of an acceptable team that played good, entertaining FUTBOL.

I'm stuill thinking about France; they played well but Senegal had them all figured out. Can the other teams do the same?

Ok, enough analysis. Let's enjoy the most beautiful sport in the world!

[Blaxman]

On 2002-06-03 09:55, Boodikka wrote:
....
About our beloved Brasil, it appears that we have a team of stars, as opposed to a team of teammates. It doesn't look good down the road. The bizarre thing is that the Univision announcers were second-guessing the No-Romario decision! When the team played poorly in qualifiers, some of these same people criticized Romario! What can you do?
I am a fan of little Juninho Paulista (during certain qualifiers he was the only one doing anything). I really am concerned about Ronaldinho...he looked really lost.
.....

Boodikka, I agree with you 100%. You described Juninho and Ronaldo quite well, beside this I hope Denilson could keep playing that way, so fast and so smart.

Pra Frente Brasil-sil-sil!!!!
(Go Ahead Brazil!!!!)

[Blaxman]

On 2002-06-03 22:13, Nano wrote:
....
(Now we're not going to talk about that "penalty present". Absolutely out of the question.)....

Hey, Nano.

Let's talk about "La mano de Dios"?

Shhhh!!! Ok, this will be our secret too!! :lol:

Peace.

[Boodikka]

Oi, Blaxman...la mano de Dios? You mean that little thing that happened with "Maracoca"....oops, I mean Maradona...a while ago? Well, I don't know anything about that!
You guys are right....I can't take these game times anymore! I watched half of the Costa Rica-China match...fell asleep...woke up...watched another match and I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I WATCHED! I wanted to see US-Portugal but I am not going to get up at 4:30 in the a.m. to do it....it's too much!

[Blaxman]

The same happens to me Boodikka, and the worst, there's a whole day to work ahead. I'm feeling me like a zombie.

[Blaxman]

Hey, the USA just beaten Portugal in a spetacular match (3 to 2)!!! I'm really surprised!!!
Congratulations to our american friends!

Peace.

[nonkel808]

Yeah, i was really surprised by the US team too. i guess, they are gettin better every year.

Now i should be supporting for my home country Belgium, but i was so dissapointed by their first match that i'm gonna put all my hopes on some other countries. I dunno if anyone saw the belgian "red devils" play against Japan. I mean, they started out good in the first half, but just couldn't score. And then the second half started. We made a first goal, but then the players probably tought their job was done, so defence played so badly giving the Japanese the chance to break thru defence on a very easy way and scoring 2 times. (and even a third time but that goal was disqualified). Luckily the belgians scored another fantastic goal, ending with a 2-2 score.
But thats not good enough. I mean, we Belgians have been living up to the World Cup a whole year, and then they play this awfull first game against JAPAN! Against JAPAN, i mean, they never ever made one point before in the World Cup.
I'm not saying that japan was playing good, but i guess it has a lot to do with the 50.000 supporters that were in that stadium? The japanes were really playing for there lives, grabbing every chance they could, trying to make some japanes football history!
anyway, well done by them!

Now i'm gonna support for an opther country, but i haven't made my mind up yet. I've got 3 favorites: Brazil, Argentinia or Spain.

Peace, 808


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nonkel808 on 2002-06-05 09:30 ]</font>

[Blaxman]

On 2002-06-05 09:29, nonkel808 wrote:
...
Now i'm gonna support for an opther country, but i haven't made my mind up yet. I've got 3 favorites: Brazil, Argentinia or Spain.

Hey Nonkel, dont give up yet man!!! It was just the first match!

I saw the 2nd half of the game and I think it was a great match, beautyfull goals by the two teams, specially the bycicle kick one.

And you said enough, with 50.000 suportters against you. It's really hard to win.

Easy.



_________________
SENHORES DO GROOVE - BRAZIL

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-06-05 09:41 ]</font>

[Nano]

Hey Blax, touchÈ about Maradona (long live El Gran Diegol) but what is the "bicycle kick"? Maybe what we call "la chilena" (kicking backwards laying on the floor)? Uruguayan Enzo FrancÈscoli did a beautiful one for Argentine club River Plate around 1986.
And nonkel808, don't hesitate. Argentina is the best. Come on, man, come with us... Hasta la victoria siempre!
(On Friday we play against England. Big freak-out in my country about messieurs Beckham and Owen...)

[Ricardo_Mata]

Hi Nano! You are right. La Chilena and the bicycle kick are the same thing.

[Outsider]

On 2002-06-05 07:23, Blaxman wrote:
Hey, the USA just beaten Portugal in a spetacular match (3 to 2)!!! I'm really surprised!!!
Congratulations to our american friends!

Peace.

Alright! The U.S. has already done better in this World Cup than the last one.

[Boodikka]

The US has done better largely because Bruce Arena actually knows something about futbol. as opposed to that imbecile who coached the US in '98. That idiot almost ruined the US program forever.
Boys, is it me or is this some of the worst officiating that you have seen at the international level? I think Ireland got a terrible deal in the first half of the Ireland-Germany match.

[Blaxman]

On 2002-06-05 17:11, Ricardo_Mata wrote:
Hi Nano! You are right. La Chilena and the bicycle kick are the same thing.

Nano and Ricardo, in Brazil we call "bicycle kick" that what others call "overhead kick".

To us "chilena" is made using the heels and ball came from back to the front of the player. I hope you can understand me! I'm not sure if I make myself clear!

Peace.