Olymipcs (11 Viewers)
- Thread starter Francesco_C
- Start date
Forza Iraq,
They are story of Olympic IMO so far - A country torn by internal conflict, and American intervention, and yet players find source of inspiration to beat Portugal comprehensively (Could have been a lot worse) and then following that up with 2-0 consolidation against Costa Rica. Adimittingly, I do not think either Portugal or Costa Rica are quality oppoisition (Good teams will have field day against Paolo Meira and CBs) but Iraq have produced some outstanding results no doubt. Hawar, No 7, Quse, and Mahmoud have been impressive from Asian Cup, and could certainly find nieche in Europe IMO. Nonetheless, I do not think they will progress far into the tournament and get any medals. There are too many quality teams in this tournament. Argentina like Zlatan said has to be considered as favorites. They players are virtually all full international already, and I argue they could possibly turn out to be the greatest talent ever assembled. Tevez, D'ale, Saviola, Heinze, Rodriguez, Burdisso are just pure class. Everyone is comfortable on the ball, and they are physically strong. Italia, I do think, have enough talent to do well, espeically given the fact that Gilardino is firing goals (If Gila moves to Roma then Moggi should be shot). Pinzi and De Rossi is a find central pairing, and I always loved the former. Very unappreciated player IMO, who plays hard and solidly. Other teams to look out for are two African nations - Ghana and Mali. Ghana was terrific against Italians in the first half, and Appiah may have rediscovered his Brescia form. It would be interesting to see who would win that place alongside Emerson, and I would be shocked if Tach finish the year as a regular. I do not know much about Mali, but African at U-23 or level below are very strong because their physical aspect mature earlier than Europeans or Asians IMO. And given the fact that Nigeria and Cameroon are last winners of last two tournament - I would not rule them out (Argentina at Atalanta also had fantastic team which happen to loose to er Nigeria). South Korea is a genuine dark horse IMO, and having witness them play in 0-0 against us in Seoul before the tournament started, they looked like fine team. Plenty of pace at width, and Cho is probably the finest Asian striker on circulation, and with Yoo at the back they have a real leader and true competitor. Most importantly, this Olympic team is, I believe, basically the same team that Japan faced last summer prior to World Youth Tournament and thus should have outstanding teamwork.
One thing for sure is that, the quality of soccer in Olympic games have certainly risen, and given the fact that a lot nations sent they best budding stars, it may be taste for what to come in the future. Argentina as true artisit, and emergence of football in Asia. Although it has been very depressing week for watching soccer personally, I cant help but admire the fact that now it has become truely global game with standard of play being taken to next level in every part of continent.
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They are story of Olympic IMO so far - A country torn by internal conflict, and American intervention, and yet players find source of inspiration to beat Portugal comprehensively (Could have been a lot worse) and then following that up with 2-0 consolidation against Costa Rica. Adimittingly, I do not think either Portugal or Costa Rica are quality oppoisition (Good teams will have field day against Paolo Meira and CBs) but Iraq have produced some outstanding results no doubt. Hawar, No 7, Quse, and Mahmoud have been impressive from Asian Cup, and could certainly find nieche in Europe IMO. Nonetheless, I do not think they will progress far into the tournament and get any medals. There are too many quality teams in this tournament. Argentina like Zlatan said has to be considered as favorites. They players are virtually all full international already, and I argue they could possibly turn out to be the greatest talent ever assembled. Tevez, D'ale, Saviola, Heinze, Rodriguez, Burdisso are just pure class. Everyone is comfortable on the ball, and they are physically strong. Italia, I do think, have enough talent to do well, espeically given the fact that Gilardino is firing goals (If Gila moves to Roma then Moggi should be shot). Pinzi and De Rossi is a find central pairing, and I always loved the former. Very unappreciated player IMO, who plays hard and solidly. Other teams to look out for are two African nations - Ghana and Mali. Ghana was terrific against Italians in the first half, and Appiah may have rediscovered his Brescia form. It would be interesting to see who would win that place alongside Emerson, and I would be shocked if Tach finish the year as a regular. I do not know much about Mali, but African at U-23 or level below are very strong because their physical aspect mature earlier than Europeans or Asians IMO. And given the fact that Nigeria and Cameroon are last winners of last two tournament - I would not rule them out (Argentina at Atalanta also had fantastic team which happen to loose to er Nigeria). South Korea is a genuine dark horse IMO, and having witness them play in 0-0 against us in Seoul before the tournament started, they looked like fine team. Plenty of pace at width, and Cho is probably the finest Asian striker on circulation, and with Yoo at the back they have a real leader and true competitor. Most importantly, this Olympic team is, I believe, basically the same team that Japan faced last summer prior to World Youth Tournament and thus should have outstanding teamwork.
One thing for sure is that, the quality of soccer in Olympic games have certainly risen, and given the fact that a lot nations sent they best budding stars, it may be taste for what to come in the future. Argentina as true artisit, and emergence of football in Asia. Although it has been very depressing week for watching soccer personally, I cant help but admire the fact that now it has become truely global game with standard of play being taken to next level in every part of continent.
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Iraq are playing some amzing football. I havnt seen this kind of stuff by an international team for ages. Like Jun said they beat Portugal comprehensively. I watched the entire game and I was amazed at the skill level of the players. C.Ronaldo looked like an overated baby in front of some of the Iraqi players. My fav was this little guy Thou(Ive forgot his name, begins with T) he is so bloody skillful and fast, cant tackle this guy. He plays in Germany. Gila and Appiah both scored today. De Rossi scored a beauty overhead.
Forza Iraq? Screw Iraq. It's been a long time since I've been this annoyed by the treatment a country's athletes have been given, so I may as well hold nothing back. Whatever sympathies I've had for the plight of that nation, its people, and its soccer team have gone out the window in light of its fans and their abhorrent, unsportsmanlike behavior at the Olympic games.
On one hand, here in the U.S., they've covered both Iraq games on English-language TV but neither of Italy's games. Why? It's pretty clear to me that not only is the media playing the underdog angle, they also seem to be playing some political angle about the fact that American troops are out there getting blown up in the name of "Iraqi freedom".
What a complete pile of crap. It's pretty clear that most Iraqi's couldn't give a damn about the U.S. and our "charitable" gestures for their development as a new "democracy". And why should they? The U.S. has made no friendly gestures to Iraq without an agenda of either oil or getting back at Iran. And as for the U.S., why should anyone in this country feel any warm fuzzies for a country that resents our presence on their home soil -- let alone the earth? Nobody should be fooling the people of either nation into thinking we're great allies or anything. And I resent being force-fed some obligatory sympathy story.
But my gag-reflex to this media-propogated delusion of international friendliness aside, the Iraqi fans have acted like shameful, drunken frat boys at Iraq's coming out party for the world of international sport. There's no excuses for that kind of behavior -- I don't care where you're from or what you've been through. While we may not be talking Liverpool-Juve at Heysel, I would unconditionally condemn any club or national team associated with fans who behave as they have. (And I certainly have, as with Roma when they lost to Milan at the San Siro last season.) There's no place for that in football, and the team's organizational body must step up to discourage that kind of behavior from their fans.
On one hand, here in the U.S., they've covered both Iraq games on English-language TV but neither of Italy's games. Why? It's pretty clear to me that not only is the media playing the underdog angle, they also seem to be playing some political angle about the fact that American troops are out there getting blown up in the name of "Iraqi freedom".
What a complete pile of crap. It's pretty clear that most Iraqi's couldn't give a damn about the U.S. and our "charitable" gestures for their development as a new "democracy". And why should they? The U.S. has made no friendly gestures to Iraq without an agenda of either oil or getting back at Iran. And as for the U.S., why should anyone in this country feel any warm fuzzies for a country that resents our presence on their home soil -- let alone the earth? Nobody should be fooling the people of either nation into thinking we're great allies or anything. And I resent being force-fed some obligatory sympathy story.
But my gag-reflex to this media-propogated delusion of international friendliness aside, the Iraqi fans have acted like shameful, drunken frat boys at Iraq's coming out party for the world of international sport. There's no excuses for that kind of behavior -- I don't care where you're from or what you've been through. While we may not be talking Liverpool-Juve at Heysel, I would unconditionally condemn any club or national team associated with fans who behave as they have. (And I certainly have, as with Roma when they lost to Milan at the San Siro last season.) There's no place for that in football, and the team's organizational body must step up to discourage that kind of behavior from their fans.
I bet youre waiting for a suicide attack then you can go Look screw Iraq I was right. And please dont come up with BS about America who can teach democracy to another nation when they have a presedent who cant spell America. You sound tired your words are tired go vent your hatred by going to Macdonalds and stuffing your face with a XXXXXXXXXXXXXL buger shake and fries. fool
Well, I wasn't expecting them to be so brain dead as to buy into the whole White House notion of the U.S. presence in Iraq as some sort of mutual love affair where we're all hand-in-hand, marching for Iraqi freedom and democracy. 
I'm not so naive as to believe you can separate the sport from the politics entirely, but to treat Iraq as the U.S. "home team" here is so blatantly manipulative and misrepresentative.
Unfortunately, all that has glossed over the fact that the Iraqi fans have been throwing bottles at opposing players and disrupting the play of the game by charging the field multiple times each match. Just because Uday was your NOC president doesn't mean you get a free ride to act like such undeserving jerks.
I'm not so naive as to believe you can separate the sport from the politics entirely, but to treat Iraq as the U.S. "home team" here is so blatantly manipulative and misrepresentative.Unfortunately, all that has glossed over the fact that the Iraqi fans have been throwing bottles at opposing players and disrupting the play of the game by charging the field multiple times each match. Just because Uday was your NOC president doesn't mean you get a free ride to act like such undeserving jerks.
yea and then you would be clad huh?
dammnn man you are always negative about italy.
did you even see how italy played yesterday???
do you seen the 2worldclass goals from de rossi and gilardinho???
man sinds stupid STUPID S UCKY sweden played a stupid lucky very lucky undeserved draw againts italy.
sinds then you always are talking crap about italy.
italia are with germany brazil and argentina the best 4national teams ther is in history and future.
all the other teams can only dream about such palmares(worldcups,finals,euro,....)
man i dont give a F uck anymore wath you say about ITALIA, i am very proud on my country, the only thing you can be proud is that 2-2 againts denmark
HADI................
CIAO
FORZA ITALIA
dammnn man you are always negative about italy.
did you even see how italy played yesterday???
do you seen the 2worldclass goals from de rossi and gilardinho???
man sinds stupid STUPID S UCKY sweden played a stupid lucky very lucky undeserved draw againts italy.
sinds then you always are talking crap about italy.
italia are with germany brazil and argentina the best 4national teams ther is in history and future.
all the other teams can only dream about such palmares(worldcups,finals,euro,....)
man i dont give a F uck anymore wath you say about ITALIA, i am very proud on my country, the only thing you can be proud is that 2-2 againts denmark
HADI................
CIAO
FORZA ITALIA