WC 2006

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a football fan. No, it's not called soccer, you American @%^@#!!!

And World Cup 2006 in Germany has just passed the 10 day mark... What's transpired thus far:

1) England is out of sorts. Sure, it has qualified to the second round, beaten Paraguay & Trinidad & Tobago, but really, did you watch them play? (no, I don't really expect all of you to have watched...) It's like they didn't know how to play with each other. They don't exploit the flanks. They don't take up each othe's runs. They don't see players in empty spaces...When they did, Crouch scored from Beckham's cross, and Gerrard found space to blast a long-ranger... But Rooney's back, and bar a repeat performance in Euro 2004 (more specifically the injury against Portugal), England should go far. It had....Better.....Go....All.....The....WAY!!!!

2) If England was out of sorts, at least they've got 6 points..1998 Champs France looks like the Netherlands of old. Gifted with all the world class players you could ask for, in the likes of Henry, Zidane, Gallas, et all, it's currently the oldest (average age) team in the Finals. Not to mention it has drawn 2 matches thus far, with the Swiss and the (south) Koreans. Looks like their in for a repeat performance of WC 2002. The team seems to have lots of issues amongst players; Between captain and experience players, between keepers, and the sheer lack of coherence when attacking. Defensively their fine, but going forward.....I could almost say I can do better....Almost... (almost can still be anywhere between 1% and 99.999% difference...It's all about point of views...)

3) Czech Republic whooped USA 3-0, only to then go down to Ghana 2-0..Obviously an off day for the Czech...But their last opponents, the Azzuri....Who incidentally couldn't finish of the USA with a 1-1 draw, but did beat Ghana 2-0.... This group is wide open...And I hope the Italians fly back after the first round....

4) Ronaldo of Brazil (not the kid from Man U) looks more and more like a schoolboy footballer...Random moments of skill, but insignificant when you review the overall Brazilian performance.. Wonder if he'll be the fall of Brazil???it would be so easy if he gets injured, then the coach could actually pick Robinho to start...But Ronaldo's taknig good care of himself these days...avoiding tackles, run less, sprint less....So he should come out of the WC in tip top condition...what ever that is...Real Madrid would do well to let him lead the B team, haha!

5) Argentina on the other hand is off with flying colours..A 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, and then a 6-0 trashing of Sebia & Montenegro showed that they've got what it takes to claim the trophy this year...But since it's a WC i Europe, chances are it's going to be a EU nation that wins it...Sorry Argentina...

6) Germany has also qualified to the second round, but currently in Group A it's Ecuador that's stealing the headlines. A 2-0 win over Poland, and then a 3-0 win over Costa Rica put's them at top spot in Group A, and that wil be decided by the final match between Germany & Ecuador...But I like Ballack, so I'll still root for Germany to nick it. Besides, that makes it easier for England to avoid Germany in the second round....

7) Other notable mentions include Netherlands, who have also qualified by beating S&M 1-0 and Ivory Coast 2-1. Top of the group clash with Argentina next up.. Portugal also through to second round and Spain did a 4-0 over Ukraine and looks prime to go through tops.


What's bad about WC 2006...


1) Business worldwide other than FIFA would be less productive for a month.
2) Health of most football fans deteriorate over the tournament. Heart attacks and depression will be higher, especially when popular countries get knockout; England, France, Brazil, Argentina....
3) People who don't gamble will wager on somethnig during WC. I don't understand why, but that's the simple truth...Hell, even I have had a wager...Luckily I won...But until when??

And another 20 days to go...Have you the fever???