WC 2006 Qualifiers - Europe

[n_v]

Wednesday saw a whole slate of qualifiers in Europe for the 2006 WC.
France continues to struggle with a 1-1 draw in Tel Aviv. This team is seriously past their glory years.
Spain drew 0-0 in Belgrade.
Croatia continues to march on with a 3-0 win.
England for the second game in a row had to wait til the second half to start with a 2-0 win. To be honest England was lucky they were not down in the opening minutes of the game. Still deservedly won.
Euro champs Greece are moving in to form with a 2-0 win.
Hungary and Bulgaria tied 1-1.
Portugal tied 1-1 in Slovakia.
Poland just got by N. Ireland 1-0.
The Dutch won 2-0.
The Czechs continue to motor along with a 4-0 win.
Norway struggled witha 0-0 tie against Maldova.
And the Danes lost in Kiev 1-0.

Those are the result from the bigger games. Italy had the day off and spent it at the hair dresser.

 

[The_Ladies_Man]

WC Qualifiers ...

Global News showed clips of the England game and David Beckham's goal. It was just ordinary, but the news-casters made such a big deal out of it by saying it was great. Guess they don't know much about soccer and probably think Beckham is the best player on the planet. On top of that, they start discussing his goal celebration techniques and his pants. How pathetic is that !!

 

[Spode]

Wednesday saw a whole slate of qualifiers in Europe for the 2006 WC.

Spain drew 0-0 in Belgrade.

.
In your opinion is this a bad thing for Belgrade or Spain?

 

[Esco!]

I'm gonna watch Uruguay - Brazil in 30 minutes on coolstreaming.
Right now I'm watching Argentina - Colombia

 

[n_v]

I'm gonna watch Uruguay - Brazil in 30 minutes on coolstreaming.
Right now I'm watching Argentina - Colombia

Cool but this is the WC 2006 EUROPE thread .

 

[n_v]

.
In your opinion is this a bad thing for Belgrade or Spain?

Belgrade didn't play.

 

[Spode]

Belgrade didn't play.

I know just being funny about the belgrade part. Just wondering from you soccer afficianado's if this was a good result or not for SCG

 

[Hard Idle]

I know just being funny about the belgrade part. Just wondering from you soccer afficianado's if this was a good result or not for SCG

What's the difference, might as well not qualify. Why tease everyone with superhuman skills only to go out like a cheap lighter in every finals.
If the SCG soccer team was a tennis player, they'd be Marat Safin.
In hockey, they'd be the New York Rangers.

 

[Spode]

What's the difference, might as well not qualify. Why tease everyone with superhuman skills only to go out like a cheap lighter in every finals.
If the SCG soccer team was a tennis player, they'd be Marat Safin.
In hockey, they'd be the New York Rangers.

I agree they are very frustrating, but culturally I am obliged to root for them.

 

[n_v]

What's the difference, might as well not qualify. Why tease everyone with superhuman skills only to go out like a cheap lighter in every finals.
If the SCG soccer team was a tennis player, they'd be Marat Safin.
In hockey, they'd be the New York Rangers.

But they don't qualify for every finals. Absent from WC 2002, Euro 2004, Euro 96, WC 94 and others. Spain on the other hand fits your analogy. Especailly when you consider their strong domestic league. Spain is the perenial failure on the international football stage.

 

[n_v]

I know just being funny about the belgrade part. Just wondering from you soccer afficianado's if this was a good result or not for SCG

They lead Spain, and the group for that matter by 2 points. Of course it was a good result. Spain did not gain ground.

 

[Esco!]

But they don't qualify for every finals. Absent from WC 2002, Euro 2004, Euro 96, WC 94 and others. Spain on the other hand fits your analogy. Especailly when you consider their strong domestic league. Spain is the perenial failure on the international football stage.

Spain did win the Euro a few decades ago. So they do have that title but in the world cup they underachievers, this is true.

 

[Fingers]

I noticed the Greeks after a slow start have won 4 in a row and are rounding into form once again. Can the catch the Ukrainians? Looks as if it'll come down to it's home against against them in June.

 

[the_big_E]

I'd like to see Ukraine make it, I want to see Shevchenko on the global stage.

It wasnt a bad result for S&M, but a fair result. Fernando Torres missed a sitter, Kezman hit the post, so I guess it evens out...if S&M and Spain tie next time around, S&M will go through...finally!

 

[Spode]

...if S&M and Spain tie next time around, S&M will go through...finally!

Great! Another disappointment and a few weeks of depression to look forward to.

 

[CUTTERBUCK]

England are going to kiss ass in the upcoming World Cup. Oops, I woke up, ok, England will qualify for the final stages.

 

[Hard Idle]

England are going to kiss ass in the upcoming World Cup. Oops, I woke up, ok, England will qualify for the final stages.

I thought the English team looked great at Euro, I thought it was the most exciting English offensive team since the 80's. One could have anticipated the BS from Beckham - who is now officially the Ana Kournikova of Intrnational soccer - but what really did them in was the stupid decision to try sitting on that lead all night against hometown Portugal. In the first round the Portugese defense and goalkeeping looked as shaky as they did in the WC, I thought England could have run the score up if they kept pressing. They gotta axe that dumb Swede.

 

[romeo25]

How is Poland doing?

 

[The_Ladies_Man]

How is Poland doing?

Not bad. They're just a point behind England in Group 6.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=FIFA.WORLDQ.UEFA&cc=5901

 

[n_v]

How is Poland doing?

Right now they are in mourning