World Cup 2006 - 8 days to go! - here's the schedule

[TahitiNut]

http://members.aol.com/tahitinut/WorldCup.htm

I'm hyped. Every four years, I become a near-addict. I usually get frustrated watching soccer on TV - and yearn to attend in person. Attending women's soccer games when I lived in the San Jose area was a kind of nirvana. Attending the '84 Olympics matches, and the opening ceremonies, at Stanford Stadium was awesome.

Here's hoping the cameramen (and coverage) are as good as four years ago - or better.

[SKKY]

1. Here in Spain, the hype is in full swing...

...I'm sooooo nervous, I'm almost sick. I want so much for our guys to do well and make it into the 2nd round. But good lord, we're in an absolutely horrible group.

[TahitiNut]

2. I don't think many Americans know how tough Group E could be.

Italy, the Czech Republic, and Ghana is NOT a pushover group. Then it's (possibly) Japan, Brazil(!), Croatia, or Australia. The teams that advance from that play will really have earned their place. I suspect the US is a tad overranked, the Czech Republic clearly underrated, and I think Ghana might surprise some folks. Italy always deserves respect ... and Brazil always rocks.

Nonetheless, I'm watching not as much for "team USA" as for the beauty of the World Cup competition. I'm looking for that ineffable ballet of real teamwork - that ephemeral of coordination and field coverage that's unmistakable when I see it. If any single player is a "star" it's the goal-keeper ... and rarely does a World Cup ever hinge on the play of an individual player, even the goal-keeper. We don't see many Pele's (and Ghana has one).

[northzax]

5. how can the Czechs possibly be underrated?

they're ranked second in the world, behind Brasil! So yes, I know think the US has a 50-50 chance (given recent injuries to the Czechs, and the benefit of all the time they've been together) to eek out a second place finish in E, which gives us, once again, a second round match with Brasil (ain't that getting old, although I was at the game in 94) Italy have to be the clear favourites in the group, and I think it will come down to goal differential with the Czechs. We'll know on Monday, really, if we don't at least tie the Czechs, it's over, we can't take the Azzuri, we need a 1-1-1 record to get through.

of course, if we actually beat the Czechs, then we have a decent chance of taking the group, a loss to Italy and a win over Ghana could actually win the group. And we really have the most to play for, if you look at the future. this is the Czechs' one great chance to make an impact, but they're a non-entity in 2012, the Azzuri have more to lose than win, and Ghana is just getting together. We have something even more important to look forward to, getting out of the round robin stage would mean that in 2012, the US would be seeded, for the first time. That means no sharing a group with England, Germany, Brasil, Italy, or Argentina. That'd be huge.

and I will quibble with your idea that stars don't win World Cups, a solid team with a brilliant midfielder can take the show, or a striker who gets hot. Teamwork can get you a long way, but at the end of the day, someone has to get the ball to the right place, and someone has to put it in the back of the net.

[T_i_B]

3. Hype is in full swing in England too!

Spain are of course, the perennial underachievers of international football, even more then us English! Which is a shame considering how good the Spainish are in club football.

[Captain Hilts]

4. It's fun to watch on Univision to hear "Gooooooooooooooooooooal!!!" nt

[T_i_B]

6. Kick

It all starts tomorrow!

:kick:

[Telly Savalas]

7. Who's the leader of the side we call the USA?

C-L-A-U

D-I-O

R-E-Y-N-A!!!

Claudio!

Reyna!


(Ok, so he's got one too many letters in his name to fit the Mickey Mouse theme.)

[burythehatchet]

8. This link to the NYT is an awesome interactive view

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/flash/sports/WC2006/flash/en/frameBottom.html

[Telly Savalas]

9. This land is your land

This land is my land
From California
To the New York Island
From the redwood forest
To the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me!

The Czech Republic
Thought they could beat us
'til Pavel Nedved
Curled up like a fetus
He could not handle
the red white and blue
Cause this land was made for you and me!

That Milan Baros
Is a diving wanker
and as nimble
as a big oil tanker
He should give up
And get a job at a Skoda factory
Cause this land was made for you and me!

Our apologies
For that Bush guy
We couldn't stop him
But we did try
But we're not sorry
That our team's kicking Czech ass
Cause this land was made for you and me!

(Sorry. It's the best I can do without beer.)