Already posted, WhoMikeJames. I predict Germany to score at least 2 on Argentina's defense that let Mexico score 1 on them. If Maradona tries to experiment with a different defense, it will be worse.
Shamelessly stolen from another forum .... It is just before the England v Brazil match. Ronaldinho goes into the Brazilian changing room to find all his teammates looking a bit glum. "What's up?" he asks. "Well, we're having trouble getting motivated for this game. We know it's important but it's only England . They're *****e and we can't be bothered." Ronaldinho looks at them and says "Well, I reckon I can beat them by myself-you lads go down the pub." So Ronaldinho goes out to play England by himself and the rest of the Brazilian team go off for a few jars. After a few pints they wonder how the game is going, so they get the landlord to put the teletext on. A big cheer goes up as the screen reads " Brazil 1 - England 0 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes)". He is beating England all by himself! A few pints later and the game is forgotten until someone remembers "It must be full time now, let's see how he got on." They put the teletext on. "Result from the Stadium ' Brazil 1 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes) - England 1 (Lampard 89 minutes)." They can't believe it; he has single-handedly got a draw against England!! They rush back to the Stadium to congratulate Ronaldinho. They find him in the dressing room, still in his gear, sitting with his head in his hands. He refuses to look at them. "I've let you down, I've let you down." "Don't be daft, you got a draw against England , all by yourself. And they only scored at the very, very end!" "No, no, I have, I've let you down ... I got sent off after 12 minutes."
why they dont say that the french ref, missed TWO handballs of the brazilian player, in the same play and then the replay shows him talking to the brazilian saying he saw him using the hand, but didnt wanted to call it, why only they pointed out the Kaka 2nd yellow card?
Paul the ocopus... does he go 5 for 5??? BERLIN — Octopus oracle Paul on Tuesday hesitated but ultimately picked Germany to win -- again -- this time over Argentina in their quarterfinal matchup at the football World Cup. Paul, who rose to global fame after correctly predicting all four of Germany's games in this year's tournament, indicated that Saturday's game will be a tough battle and that it may even end in a penalty shootout. While English-born Paul made a snappy decision to pick Germany over his native country, this time it took the octopus about an hour to approach a water glass containing a mussel marked with a German flag, said Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for Sea Life Aquarium in the western city of Oberhausen. Paul ignored a similar glass with Argentina's flag, but he also did not reach inside the German glass with his tentacles to grab the seafood goodie. "Paul kept staring at the German glass and only when we wanted to take out both glasses, he finally jumped inside the German one and gulped down the mussel," Munzig said. "All of his behavior indicates that Saturday's game will be very tough and it may even go into extra time and penalty shootout -- but in the end Germany will win." Two-year-old Paul has proved to be a reliable oracle in the past -- in addition to predicting Germany's win over England, he foretold the victories over Australia and Ghana and the country's loss to Serbia. During the 2008 European Championship, he predicted 80% of all German games right, Munzig said. Despite being a naturalized German, Munzig said, Paul is not a biased octopus and "he may even have some relatives in Argentina, who emigrated there many generations ago." link Soothsayer octopus tips Germany over Argentina (CNN) -- Germany will beat Argentina in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final, at least if an octopus called Paul is to be believed. And if you're unsure whether to accept the word of an eight-legged sea creature, Paul has form. The octopus, who lives at an aquarium in Germany, has correctly predicted all four results of that country's games in the tournament, according to staff. Before Sunday's game against England Paul needed just eight seconds to make up his mind, but in view of the tougher challenge that Diego Maradona's side will pose Germany, he took over an hour to decide, suggesting it could go to extra-time or even penalties. Staff at Sea Life in Oberhausen, western Germany, help Paul make his prediction by lowering into his tank two boxes of food, one carrying a German flag and the other bearing that of their opponents. The case he opens first is adjudged to be his predicted winner. The octopus correctly predicted Germany would beat Ghana and Australia in their Group D matches, but he disagreed with land-based pundits by tipping Serbia in their match. They went on to win 1-0. And even though Paul was born in England, he went against his roots to predict Germany's emphatic last-16 rout of his own country. Paul will be following the rest of the World Cup closely, a Sea Life spokesman told CNN, and will make more predictions as the tournament reaches its climax. But before you blow your savings on Paul's tips be warned: his success rate for the European Championships in 2008 was only 80 percent.
http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/wo...many-rivalry--fbintl_dw-warofwords070110.html Interesting read...I'm EXCITED!!!
Elano is out for Brazil again, Felipe Melo may or may not play, Julio Baptistsa is doubtful, and Ramires is suspended due to yellow cards. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gloT1kGIifsMTfklGyWhw46L1iVw Brazil running out of midfield options for quarter-final against the Dutch at World Cup By Tales Azzoni (CP) – 3 hours ago PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Brazil coach Dunga may have a hard time selecting his midfield for the quarter-final against the Netherlands at the World Cup on Friday because of injuries and a suspension. Kaka and veteran Gilberto Silva are set to start at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, but a suspension to Ramires and injuries to Elano, Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista leave the coach with few options for the other two midfield positions. Elano is definitely out because of a bruised bone in his right ankle, while Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista are doubtful to make the starting lineup. Felipe Melo practised on Thursday and apparently was not bothered by the left ankle injury sustained against Portugal in Brazil's final group match. The injury kept him out of Brazil's 3-0 win over Chile in the round of 16 on Monday. "Felipe practised normally. He is in condition to play," Dunga said. "But we have to wait until tomorrow (Friday) to see how he feels." Julio Baptista replaced the suspended Kaka in midfield against Portugal and injured his left knee in that match. Julio Baptista missed the victory over Chile but also practised Thursday. Elano is the most serious problem for Brazil, however, and he could even miss the rest of the World Cup because of his injury, according to Brazil doctors. He had been key in the Brazilian midfield and will be the biggest loss for Dunga on Friday. "Elano is important to the way Brazil plays, he contributes a lot to the team," Dunga said Thursday. "The harder the match, the better he plays." The Galatasaray player scored in each of Brazil's first two matches before getting injured in a hard tackle against Ivory Coast. "I wish I could be playing now," Elano said. "I will keep undergoing treatment, and hopefully I will get better to still help the team in this World Cup." Daniel Alves came in for Elano in the previous two matches, and Dunga used Ramires to replace Felipe Melo against Chile. But Ramires received his second yellow card and will not be allowed to face the Netherlands. "It was a shame," Ramires said. "I played well and would have been good to stay on the team. But there is nothing I can do. It just happened." Ramires provided the pass for Robinho's goal in the second half against Chile. World Cup veteran Kleberson and Wolfsburg captain Josue are the only defensive midfielders left if Felipe Melo is not in shape. Josue came in when Felipe Melo was injured just before halftime against Portugal. Kleberson played a few minutes after replacing Kaka against Chile. Brazil was without its three regular staring midfielders against Portugal and struggled to break through its opponent's defensive setup in a 0-0 draw in Durban. When Kaka was struggling to regain his form following a season hit by a series of injuries with Real Madrid, Dunga even tried to use Robinho in the playmaking position with Nilmar in attack. The players have been downplaying the lack of options, however, saying the team will stay competitive regardless of who is starting. "We have a group," defender Juan said. "Our work has always been based on the group." Brazil is trying to win its sixth world title in South Africa. At the 2006 tournament in Germany, the team was eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Come on man, thats old. I believe the first version i heard was back after France 98 and it was about Becks.
Nah, the PTF he formed tried to get Fifa involved earlier in the year into about the shenanigans w/ the federation(which have been ongoing for decades now i reckon) and Fifa washed their hands off it. I doubt the ban will stand, I believe he doesnt want a cent going into the NFF coffers until the house cleaning is done in the NFF and then they'll probably be ready for the next ANC. Main thing it seems is this battle between the PTF and the crooks in the NFF and fortunately for the PTF they have Goodluck(Jonathan) on their side.
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I'm inclined to agree as well. I think Brazil will miss Elano, Robben will be worlds better than he was in the last game, and the combination of him, Sneijder and Van Persie will turn out to be more potent offensively than Kaka/Robinho/Fabiano. Plus they have the X-factor in Elia ... the Dutch actually get better late in games, and that's scary. I'm not convinced on the pick, but my logic is inclined to believe this is an upset special waiting to happen.
