"There'll be dancing in the streets of Quito......"
- 16 Jun 06, 03:10 PM
HAMBURG - Salute magnificent Ecuador! Their fans who drank the buffet car dry by mid-morning on the train up from Berlin were determined to enjoy the World Cup experience and were adamant their players were about to make history. I only hope the bloke who had to be rolled along the platform by his mates once we got to Hamburg had sobered up by kick-off for what most in yellow said was the greatest day of their lives.
I know we're very insular as times but the Five Live Sport team inside the AOL Arena were staggered that around 20,000 had turned up to support their team, many having made a very long and expensive journey. Also credit is due to the Costa Rican fans who travelled in very decent numbers to generate a terrific atmosphere.
Anyone would thought the win over Poland was a fluke were comprehensively proved wrong by a fantastic Ecuador team who showed they don't have to rely on to get results. Players like Delgardo and Kaviedies who bombed in the Premiership revelled on the biggest stage and no-one will score a better goal than the third which confirmed their historic progression to the second round.
Ecuadorian radio commentators were shedding tears of joy long before the final whistle and Hamburg was packed with blissfully hammered fans all night who swayed up and down the cobbled streets starting impromptu mass kickabouts when ever someone produced a ball.
It's clear they are a very tidy side full of confidence. Don't back against them getting a result against Germany to win the group and if they play England, don't take a quarter-final place for granted.
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Wonder who England would rather play, Germany or Ecuador.
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This game defied the pundits who predicted a 2 to 0 victory by Argentina over Serbia & Montenegro.
There was no denying that Argentina had command of the ball and of the game. Argentina was shooting goals 6 minutes, 30 minutes, 41 minutes, 76 minutes, 83 minutes, 87 minutes to reach its 6 goals and to more than classify for Group C.
While this is a game, I feel sorry for Serbia and Montenegro. It would have been great for them to score or at least attempt a classification. This loss to Argentina sounded the death knell for The Serbia & Montenegro Team and what was left of Yugoslavia.
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it's "magnificent", dude. where "E" stands for Ecuador. =)
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Playing against Ecuador at 4pm will be tough for germany. Its goot we got that goal against poland. Ecuador for me is really one if the big surprises. They are taking the altitude with them it seems ...
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The display by the South Americans, so far, has been fantastic. No one gave Ecuador a chance against Poland and to go through the group, possibly as toppers. Brazil, Argentina & Ecuador have done South American proud. There should be more South American teams, may be at the expense of a Central American team - Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago is too much - when teams like Uruguay, Chile and Colombia were denied the chance. There should be 6 S.American teams in the World Cup, taking one from Concacaf region and another from Europe. An Argentina and Brazil final is in the offing, it looks.
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Ecuador played a class football that is typically South American football. They played with the combination of pace and skill that is even very good to look at. Germany will have to face a very good side who are used to playing nice skill base football. I do not want to say that Ecuador will continue their victory but there is no risk at saying that they have theability to make something unexpected.
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COACH
Shots and goals shall be so in evidence
And beautiful passing so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants rolling with the smiles of victory;
All pity choked with custom of penalties taken:
And Moore's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With joy by his side come hot from Wembley,
Shall in these Stuttgart confines with a captains's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this great game shall not end, for all the earth,
With grown men, crying and groaning for burial.
From Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene I, ca 1608.
Sorry Will, I could not resist it :)
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Ecuador play good football. They will not be easy to beat. If they get a goal up they will be hard to get the ball off.
If they win get yourself to the nearest Latin bar in Stuttgart :) Rossaio's album rocks :)
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COACH
Shots and goals shall be so in evidence
And beautiful passing so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants rolling with the smiles of victory;
All pity choked with custom of penalties taken:
And Moore's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With joy by his side come hot from Wembley,
Shall in these Stuttgart confines with a captains's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this great game shall not end, for all the earth,
With grown men, crying and groaning for burial.
From Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene I, ca 1608.
Sorry Will, I could not resist it :)
-----------
Ecuador play good football. They will not be easy to beat. If they get a goal up they will be hard to get the ball off.
If they win get yourself to the nearest Latin bar in Stuttgart :) Rossaio's album rocks :)
Complain about this post
COACH
Shots and goals shall be so in evidence
And beautiful passing so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants rolling with the smiles of victory;
All pity choked with custom of penalties taken:
And Moore's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With joy by his side come hot from Wembley,
Shall in these Stuttgart confines with a captains's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this great game shall not end, for all the earth,
With grown men, crying and groaning for burial.
From Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene I, ca 1608.
Sorry Will, I could not resist it :)
-----------
Ecuador play good football. They will not be easy to beat. If they get a goal up they will be hard to get the ball off.
If they win get yourself to the nearest Latin bar in Stuttgart :) Rossaio's album rocks :)
Complain about this post