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World Cup 2006 Blog

From our reporters in Germany

Germany or Argentina?

paul_fletcher.gif A PARK IN HAMBURG - Svan is in the garage hopefully being fixed and I am sat on a patch of grass in some park near the stadium wondering who I want to win in the match between Germany and Argentina.

We have tickets for Italy's match with Ukraine in Hamburg later this evening, but lets be honest that is not really the game that has the host nation gripped.

When it comes to England's principal footballing rivals Germany and Argentina are just about top of the list.

The two teams meet in Berlin this afternoon and Germany, as you might well expect, is at fever pitch with nervous expectation.

leipzigfansfestday17_203.jpg Prior to travelling to Germany I was rather hopeful that Jurgen Klinsmann's team would fall flat on its face but there is no doubt that they have played some of the best football during the tournament to date.

Furthermore, I have grown to like the German people, who have been extremely friendly and in my experience without the sort of prejudice that many English people have against them.

When it comes to football, though, there are memories that are painful to erase.

Will I ever be able to forget the sight of Andi Moeller strutting around the pitch at Wembley after knocking us out of Euro 96? Then there was Italy in 1990 and the last ever fixture at the old Wembley.

Argentina? Similar script of pain and defeat - dodgy Diego's in 1986 and the penalty defeat in France 98 followed by the mocking celebrations of the Argentine players as they boarded their coach afterwards.

The Argentine men do seem to spend a long time preening themselves in the mirrors in the campsite washrooms but those we have met here have been pretty friendly, one group letting us tap-in to their electricity supply.

And their team has been a joy to watch their truly the beautiful game at its finest.

From a purist's point of view I probably want Argentina to win, for the sake of the tournament probably the Germans.

But I'm not really sure I'll be wild with the thrills of victory in either case - and, forgive me here, I have to confess that a small part of me still thinks that the sight of tearful German men crying into their beer does still hold some appeal.

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  • 1.
  • At 11:39 AM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • TV wrote:

typical bad english-blog....
we'll see if the English team will fall flat on its face....

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  • 2.
  • At 11:50 AM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Andreas wrote:

Brazilian renowned journalist Juca Kfouri says that FIFA is very affraid of seeing Brazil lifting their sixth trophy

He says that FIFAÒ‘s president Joseph Blatter fears that this would give even more power to the president of Brazilian confederation Ricardo Teixeira who wants to bid for BlatterÒ‘s place in 2007 FIFAÒ‘s elections

In a conversation in "off" with a journalist, Blatter said he feels he was betrayed by Teixeira and started to mention that there are other options for 2014 WC, a Cup that was pretty much assured for Brazil.

Both barely talk to each other in the World Cup GroupÒ‘s drawing.

He also says that FIFA is affraid of Brazil winning a sixth title in Germany would make them favorites to win a seventh title in South Africa 2010 (Brazil is the only country to win Cups outside of their continent) and then a HUGE favorite to win a eighth title in Brazil 2014 which would ruin FIFA biggest product. .the World Cup, who could becomea predictable and boring competition like Formula 1 after Schumacher dominated for some years.. and that FIFA DOESNT want a southamerican team winning the cup in Europe, because it would diminish the interest of european people (FIFAÒ‘s main market) in the competition...

He says that both Brazil and Argentina now should pay attention to bad calls.. because until now, FIFA had no interest in former champions to went down (seeing how the 2002 WC was lame), but now is a different scenario and for FIFA, a France vs Germany or Germany vs England final is so much interesting (economically, politically and for the good of World Cup) then an Argentina vs Brazil final.

And after refereeÒ‘s scandals in Germany 2004, Brazil 2005 and Italy 2006, we shouldnt be so cetic about corruption in football.. he confirms he has his reasons and confidencials informations to believe in this.

-----------------

Meet the Referee

The official to ref the next match has been designated by FIFA. His name? Lubos Michel!

Lubos Michel, from Slovania has refereed Pekerman’s team twice before, and that was against Brazil in the finals of the confederations cup, which ended 4-1, and guess who else?

Yep, also against an Argentina vs Germany friendly. You say what’s the score?

It ended 2-2, the game being played almost a year ago (June 21st), in German grounds (Nuremburg).

The last game he ref’d was Brazil vs Ghana..

So unfortuantely, none of the scores favoured us, let’s hope this time it’s different.

This fool was responsible for some pointless cards for the Ghanaian players.

He’s given about 7-8 cards per game in this world cup…
And he seems to favor teams:
Like Sweden vs Paraguay he favored Sweden (a European team)
In Portugal vs Mexico he favored Portugal (a European team)
In the Brazil game… of course he favored Brazil over Ghana (Brazil who wouldn’t favor them)

So in our case he’s clearly going to favor the home team over us
This is not looking good for us, I hope our players will watch out and not commit stupid fouls because they will be called for them, maybe with a card too or a Penalty kick against us.
Micheѕ was a referee at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The most tempestuous clash he took charge of was the game between Portugal and Mexico; the game ending 2 - 1 to the Portuguese. He issued 8 yellow cards, sent a player off for diving, gave two penalties, and rejected a claim for one in the second half. This in front of a crowd of 52,000.

Another controversial match he took was the Brazil-Ghana match, where he allowed a goal that was clearly offside, and played on when a Brazilan was delibrately handballed. He sent off the Ghana coach as well after the coach had took the offside argument too far. He had been labelled biased by the Ghanian coach…
I don’t know how he gets the chance to be in the quater final…
Germany will play with 14 player
11players+3rferee.
THE STAGE HAS BEEN SET…IT’S A DONE DEAL..ARGENTINA WILL GO HOME
THE HOST COUNTRY WILL GO TO THE FINAL…

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  • 3.
  • At 11:50 AM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Simon wrote:

It's called a rivalry TV. I'm also getting annoyed at Sven and England's refusal to acknowledge Euro 2004. Portugal beat us - so let's get revenge! It's not just another football match. And if we win, nor would the semi be against Brazil or a potential final be against Argentina or Germany.

The English team probably will fall flat on its face. And we shall suffer again. But one day it will not, and on that day I will find as many people as possible like you and let them know of my infinite pleasure.

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  • 4.
  • At 11:54 AM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Simon wrote:

Oh and Andreas, you're whinging and the match hasn't even started yet! Give the poor ref a chance will you.

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  • 5.
  • At 12:07 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Duncan J wrote:

I really think the posters on these boards need to chill out a bit. We're watching an exciting, thrilling sport. It's not going to have geo-political ramifications, it's not going to increase the cost of petrol. It's not going to make your childrens teeth fall out.

It's just football, and frankly Im just incredibly grateful to the German nation for putting on such a terrific show, and im proud of how far England have been able to progress so far! Best of luck to them! ...And best of luck to all the teams that have made it to the last 8.

I'll be rooting for Germany today, as they are the host nation, and I have a few German mates, and I'll be rooting for England tomorrow... and with any luck, Germany and England will meet in the final, and it will be a gloriuos, amazing bit of sports drama... and if they dont get through.. never mind. Im sure it will be a great final anyway!

...And as for the German people, you've been terrific! And I cant wait till the world cup is over, and I can come out to your beautiful country on holiday. Danke Deutschland!!

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  • 6.
  • At 12:13 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Jonathan Robertson wrote:

For all those who might say that Argentina’s peaked too early, you might want to reconsider. Let’s look back at their marches to THREE consecutive tournament Finals in recent years, comparing results and players used.
2004 COPA AMERICA:
6-1 vs. Ecuador
0-1 vs. Mexico
4-2 vs. Uruguay
1-0 vs. Peru (hosts)
3-0 vs. Colombia (holders)
2-2 vs. Brazil (lost on PKs)
Players involved and in 2006 WC (9): Abbondanzieri, Ayala, Coloccini, Heinze, Sorin, Mascherano, L. Gonzalez, Tevez, Saviola
2004 OLYMPICS:
6-0 vs. Serbia & Montenegro
2-0 vs. Tunisia
1-0 vs. Australia
4-0 vs. Costa Rica
3-0 vs. Italy (DAMN!)
1-0 vs. Paraguay
Players involved and in 2006 WC (7): Coloccini, Ayala, Heinze, L. Gonzalez, Mascherano, Tevez, M. Rodriguez
2005 CONFEDERATIONS CUP:
2-1 vs. Tunisia
4-2 vs. Australia
2-2 vs. Germany
1-1 vs. Mexico (PKs)
1-4 vs. Brazil
Players involved and in 2006 WC (7): Coloccini, Heinze, Sorin, Cambiasso, Riquelme, Aimar, Saviola
They’ve compiled a record of 12 wins, 3 draws and two losses to win one of these three tournaments. They knocked in 16, 17 and 10 goals respectively, giving up 6, 0 and 10 goals in the same order. Granted, Brazil made them miserable with a B team in 2004 and had no trouble winning last summer, but their only other loss was to Mexico, whom they’ve recently sent home with a magical strike. I, for one, don’t see how they could be feeling a lack of confidence after a goal as special as Rodriguez’s. Having several players who can produce such moments of brilliance is bound to keep their spirits very high. And as far as being battle-tested, they always used at last a half-dozen guys who are in Germany right now, so the experience factor must favor the South Americans. Then, of course, there’s also the number of trophies won by Pekerman, vs. rookie Klinsmann. Hell, the only big stars I can name for the current hosts are Lehmann and the two big 2002 WC names remaining: Ballack and Klose.
In sum, I know Germany’s been flying high and they’ll give everything with the home-crowd behind them, but I hope Argentina wins and I think they will b/c they’ve been playing excellent football and I don’t think they’re anywhere near finished with the work in progress…

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  • 7.
  • At 12:20 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Andreas wrote:

After minute 80, in case of a tie I would pay high attention to play very carefully. In many games, this is when the referees have done the controversial or biased actions. This allows no time for reaction (and this scares me).

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  • 8.
  • At 12:27 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Robert J D wrote:

Yeah I hope the referee is not killing the game by giving out too many yellow cards. I also hope he doesnt blow his whistle every minute. That would kill the game too.

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  • 9.
  • At 12:40 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Randeep wrote:

Well, these two teams have easily played the best in the whole tournament so far, but at the end of the day I think that it will be 2-1 to Argentina.

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  • 10.
  • At 12:42 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Schweini 7 wrote:

Polish Guy -

Both Miro and Poldi are [i]Volksdeutsche[/i].

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  • 11.
  • At 01:32 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Markus wrote:

Hello, Lukas, hello Miroslav!

I think it's really great that you have the time to write into this blog only hours before the match! Who would have thought! I just hope you overcome your rather backward ideas about the composition of blood until then. Because gloomy-disgruntled footballers don't score goals, and goals is what we want to see.

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  • 12.
  • At 01:41 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • OmegaSupreme wrote:

It's a pity one of our enemies has to go out. All foes should be vanquished on the road to the trophy. But that's the way the draw panned out so be it.

Should we deserve to progress and do so I don't care much who we get. I would perhaps choose Germany since defeating them on their home soil would be extra special. If it pleases god and that happens then we should salt the earth too, like Scipio.

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  • 13.
  • At 01:59 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Markus wrote:

Oh, Polish Guy, give me a break. Lukas Podolski even speaks German with a Cologne accent and Miroslav Klose has lived in Germany since his early childhood. It's not as if Germany has bought some players from Poland. The current scenario is called multiculturalism and the fact that many of your former countrymen have moved to Germany makes them essentially German. Or do you want to scratch the whole Dutch, French and even a good part of the English national team for not having entirely "English roots"? This is ridiculuous. Simply be a good loser and keep your mouth shut.

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  • 14.
  • At 02:03 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Sascha wrote:

Argentina is still the favorite nevertheless - but don't write off Germany.

Polish Guy
What's the matter? Gerald Asamoah is born in Ghana, Neuville is born in Switzerland. It doesn't matter. This is 2006, we've done with this "your blood has to be clean of anything else" bullshit.

The other thing is: They've grown up in Germany and German football made them what they are today. Grow your own talents.

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  • 15.
  • At 02:04 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Ballack wrote:

Re Polish Guy

Haha, Klose is a typical German name not Polish.

Did you also complain about Zidane and 90% of the French team, because they are from Africa, or abóut blacks in the teams of England and NL ?

Despite your primitive jealousy Germany will win today and in the finals.

Good luck to England from Germany !

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  • 16.
  • At 02:12 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Stu wrote:

Would I like to see Germany beat Argentina? yes. Yes because it would bring us a step closer to a world cup final that will have us on our knees.

England v Germany, Sunday 9th July. Be there or be square. It's a brazen thing for me to say but bloody hell can you imagine it?!

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  • 17.
  • At 02:25 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Baz wrote:

Good to see the conspiracy theorists are keeping it up! :D

Personally, I'll be rooting for Germany today - as several people have said, just imagine an England/Germany final! (And yes, I'm an English fan and so am hoping they'll get that far) That or Brazil/Argentina would be a truly massive event.

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  • 18.
  • At 02:33 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Gerardo wrote:

I hope Argentina wins today, althuogh experience has shown me that hosts alway have a bit of hlp (remembe south Korea beating Spain?)
So if Germany wins i will accept it as long as they win in a trully way. i hope the referre doesn decide the game and the players do, ondeed.
Vamos Argentina!!!!

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  • 19.
  • At 02:58 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • brux wrote:

Polish Guy: In your country, is a cat born in a dog kennel a dog?

I would accept that after centuries of German rule over what is now Poland, blood may have become mixed, but culturally these guys' families have always been German.

The highlight of this deliberate misunderstanding of culture vs geography is still the Turkish claim to have produced the famous mathematician Thales of Milet. Too bad for the Turks that they guy was born almost 2000 years before Turks conquered his home town.

Having said that, the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is not immune to the same mistake: Some time ago they declared Kafka the greatest citizen of the Czech Republic, although the country didn't even exist when he was born.

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  • 20.
  • At 03:04 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Hans Jankowitsch wrote:

Hello,
I'm German and, i would love to see the Semis with England, France, Germany & Italy, but, despite my love for english humor, music, movies and literatur, the finals with France and Germany. Sorry, next tournament - next preference.

Ciao Hans

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  • 21.
  • At 03:38 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • wicked wrote:

so you wanna see people cry huh... geesh you brits, i dunno what it is about you, you must have been hurt a lot at some point in football history... what's up with all the hate? i haven't heared that much vitriol spewed by any other football nation. just chill a little, you're getting a bit serious there with all your bitterness.

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  • 22.
  • At 04:52 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Juanne wrote:

my bet is on Argentina today.i would love to see an all south american finals as unlikely as it may be. it would be good to show how dominant the latin countries are in this sport.
the media has been very critical of brazil but they are just playing like normal, i think that they are just confident and they know that they don't have to put on an elaborate show.
my prediction Argentina will win 2-1 today.
but hey i am agirl what do i know!

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  • 23.
  • At 08:55 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Sascha wrote:

"my bet is on Argentina today"

Never write off the Germans.

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  • 24.
  • At 09:40 PM on 30 Jun 2006,
  • Yuri wrote:

Now, after the game is over, I have to smile about # 6. Jonathan Robertson's in-depth analysis and statistics.

All these numbers and logic just to get it wrong. That's football and that's why I regard all football "experts" as fraudsters. If I want to read something predictable I read a German train time table, not some football statistics.

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  • 25.
  • At 12:17 AM on 01 Jul 2006,
  • Jochen wrote:

GERMANY! GERMANY!! GERMANY!!! OLEEE OLLEEEEE OLLLEEEEEEE OLEEEEEEEEE!!!!

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  • 26.
  • At 03:16 AM on 01 Jul 2006,
  • Rolf Habich wrote:

Re polish guy:

Listen, I have got a whole bunch of relatives, all called Klose, and they come from Oppeln, the German province of Schlesien, English 'Silesia', Polish 'Slask', which since 1945 has been Opole , i.e. Polish, thanks to Stalin et al. It is the land of my dad's family. It used to be German.

Now I am not a "Revanchist". Let things be as they are. Peace!

But claiming Klose as being Polish is just a bit too impertinent. You guys ought to show just a little bit more modesty.

Be grateful we (the German government took pains to be the fastest in promoting that) let you into the EU so quickly. And just think a little bit more often before you start to babble.

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  • 27.
  • At 12:37 AM on 04 Jul 2006,
  • Andrew wrote:

Being 19 years of age and a soccer player my self i have to say im disgusted by how these "pro" soccer players handle them selves on the field. Its digusting to see someone get brushed up against and fall to the ground crying in pain to draw attention from the ref. And the refs are stupid enough to buy it. Fifa should look at something to stop this b/c it ruins the look of soccer. all my friends laugh at what babies soccer players are b/c all they do is cry. Its a disgrace to the game, i dont know who started it all but its terrible. if you want to see a great acting show turn on the sports channel for soccer high lights. Thank you Fifa for ruining a great game!

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  • 28.
  • At 01:49 PM on 06 Jul 2006,
  • richyface wrote:

you stupid person, thats rubbish. learn to speak proper english aswell

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