Road to WC2006 (8 Viewers)

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Erkka

Senior Member
Mar 31, 2004
3,863
++ [ originally posted by pecker ] ++
we outclassed Italy in numbers of fans
:LOL: :rofl:

Like that's something to cheer on. :rolleyes:

++ [ originally posted by Jeeks ] ++

They have the talent and the potential to do good against big teams but they lack something very important....football culture
That's just the description of Finnish football, definitely not Swedish.
 

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Chxta

Chxta

Onye kwe, Chi ya ekwe
Nov 1, 2004
12,088
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #103
    Nigeria have dropped captain Jay-Jay Okocha and striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni from Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali, the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) said on Wednesday.

    The NFA quoted coach Christian Chukwu as saying that both Okocha of Bolton Wanderers and Aiyegbeni, set to join Middlesbrough from Portsmouth next month, had failed to turn up at Nigeria's camp in London by Tuesday's deadline.

    "Okocha refused to show up (and) Aiyegbeni refused to answer his phone and never reported, so both are definitely out of the match," Chukwu was quoted as saying.

    RC Lens forward John Utaka, who is recovering from a groin injury, is doubtful for the African zone Group Four game, the NFA added.

    Only 17 players had arrived in camp and Chukwu directed the NFA to invite midfielder Paul Obiefule of Danish club Viborg FC, forward Kevin Amunike of Sweden's Landskrona FC and Parma's Uche Udechukwu to strengthen the squad, expected to depart for Kigali later on Wednesday night.

    The Nigerians, with 13 points, lead the group by two points from Angola. Third-placed Zimbabwe have eight points, Gabon and Algeria six each and Rwanda four. Only the group winners qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.
     

    king Ale

    Senior Member
    Oct 28, 2004
    21,689
    Iran 1-0 North korea
    Bahrain 0-1 Japan
    it means that we will go to the WC as the first team(after Germany ofcourse)if we get a draw against Bahrain in Iran..cheers:D
     

    Juve_The_Best

    Senior Member
    Nov 18, 2004
    1,871
    ++ [ originally posted by king Ale ] ++
    Iran 1-0 North korea
    Bahrain 0-1 Japan
    it means that we will go to the WC as the first team(after Germany ofcourse)if we get a draw against Bahrain in Iran..cheers:D
    Also saudi arabia ..as long as they have a guaranteed victory against Uzbekistan on the same day.
     

    swag

    L'autista
    Administrator
    Sep 23, 2003
    83,483
    Big match today in Group 3 about to start: Portugal-Slovakia at the Stadio de Luz in Lisboa (Trap's home stadium this past season for Benfica). Figo is "suddenly" back in international play. Sepp Blather is posing for pictures. Collina is ref'ing. Hoping for a good match...
     

    swag

    L'autista
    Administrator
    Sep 23, 2003
    83,483
    I was watching it on RTPi.

    It was an entertaining game, though much less so if you were a Slovakia fan -- particularly in the second half.

    The game opened with a lot of end-to-end action. Portugal fielded only Jorge Andrade among their usual back line, and they got caught in danger a few times with some smart counterattacking by Slovakia. Slovakia was intercepting a lot of passes, but on the other end they were surrendering a lot of free kicks... and I could sense that was going to be their downfall. Portugal kept driving down the pitch, and Slovakia's defense had an answer ... up until giving up corner kicks (I think the match ended 13-0 in corner kicks in favor of Portugal).

    Slovakia's goalie, Contofalsky, was brilliant at times, and a little lucky at other times. Definitely their best player of the match. And the two goals they gave up (it ended 2-0) were entirely not his fault.

    On the other hand, Deco, Petit, and Ricardo all had solid games. But in particular Cristiano Ronaldo was outrageous. He was almost sublime in this match -- with fantastic crosses, on-target passes, back-heel assists, dribbling around three defenders, a killer free kick goal. Between himself and Deco in particular, the biggest contrast of the match was the creativity in Portugal's offensive midfield and the complete lack of it in Slovakia.

    While the match was 2-0 at the half, and ended with the same score, the second half was a complete clinic by Portugal. It was as if Scolari decided that their best defense was a good offense, and Portugal must have dominated about 70% of the ball possession in the second half while making creative chances every few minutes that had Contofalsky out of breath.

    Quaresma came on for Ronaldo late in the match, so it was good to see him playing over 21 internationals now -- given his abilities. Between the youthful energy and creativity of both Quaresma and Ronaldo, they're going to make one of the most entertaining pairs of offensive wingers in international football for years to come.
     

    Bjerknes

    "Top Economist"
    Mar 16, 2004
    111,610
    ++ [ originally posted by pecker ] ++


    We got one problem though, HOCKEY. KILL THE HOCKEY GOTTAMIT. Okay, I enjoy watching it but god its a gay sport.
    Yeah it's really gay. Only homosexuals have the balls to withstand bone-crunching bodychecks and stick slashes across the face. :rolleyes:
     

    Respaul

    Senior Member
    Jul 14, 2002
    4,734
    ++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++


    Yeah it's really gay. Only homosexuals have the balls to withstand bone-crunching bodychecks and stick slashes across the face. :rolleyes:
    Indeed... All whilst only wearing enough padding to allow a nuclear explosion an inch infront of you togo unnoticed...
     

    Bjerknes

    "Top Economist"
    Mar 16, 2004
    111,610
    ++ [ originally posted by Shadowfax ] ++


    Indeed... All whilst only wearing enough padding to allow a nuclear explosion an inch infront of you togo unnoticed...
    Yeah that's exactly right. You should try it some time, it's fun.

    Seriously though some people who talk shit about the sport really have no clue what they're getting into. I would love to see one of these detractors put the gear on, go out there on the ice and skate around with the puck. Even with pads and all you still feel the impact of all hits, feel the sharp sting of a stick that slashes across your back, feel the bruise a puck left on your arm after it hit you flying at 90mph. I'm sure you'd love it cuz I did.

    It makes football look like puss y shit to be honest.
     

    swag

    L'autista
    Administrator
    Sep 23, 2003
    83,483
    Wow. What's up with Ecuador? They are a team possessed lately. My older brother and nephew were in Quito during their qualifier win over Paraguay on Easter Sunday, and the place apparently went nuts after they answered a 2-0 deficit by winning 5-2.
     

    swag

    L'autista
    Administrator
    Sep 23, 2003
    83,483
    ++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
    It makes football look like puss y shit to be honest.
    Hockey is North America's rugby. And it's not that the refs allow a bit of fighting to happen in the pros, either. You can play in a somewhat civil fashion as a kid until you turn about 10. After that, kids start gaining weight, speed, and hence near frictionless momentum in increasingly painful leaps and bounds -- and you have to be conditioned to endure a lot of pain and suffering to continue playing the sport.

    I've always thought there's a great marketing opportunity for a dental plan, like a Prudential or Delta Dental, to become an official sponsor of the NHL. If they can take care of pro hockey players, you look pretty easy as a patient. :D
     
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    Chxta

    Chxta

    Onye kwe, Chi ya ekwe
    Nov 1, 2004
    12,088
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #116
    Nigeria were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw away to Rwanda in Group Four of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers on Sunday.

    Italy-based striker Obafemi Martins scrambled a late equaliser to save Nigeria from a shock defeat as he beat the offside trap to slot home the goal with just 11 minutes left remaining.

    Rwanda looked on course for an upset when Jimmy Gatete put them ahead eight minutes into the second half, finishing superbly at the end of a mazy run through the Nigerian defence.

    Gatete had nearly opened the scoring just two minutes earlier when he sneaked in behind defender Obinna Nwaneri but lost control of the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

    Nigeria, playing without captain Jay-Jay Okocha and striker Yakubu Ayegbeni who failed to turn up for the match, looked lethargic and were hampered by the difficult pitch conditions.

    Captain Nwankwo Kanu was taken off just after the hourmark and Martins rarely received any service.

    Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo had an effort cleared off the line by Rwanda in the 72nd minute before Inter Milan's Martins grabbed the equaliser.

    Nigeria now share top spot on 14 points with Angola, who beat Algeria 2-1 in Luanda on Sunday.

    The home side opened the scoring in the 48th minute through Amado Flavio.

    Fabrice Akwa doubled the lead of the home side as he headed home from a corner ten minutes later.

    The visitors rallied and pulled one back when Nasreddine Kraouche slipped one past goalkeeper Joao Pereira.

    Meanwhile, Zimbabwe kept alive their hopes of a second Nations Cup appearance as they beat Gabon 1-0 in Group Four of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in Harare on Sunday.

    The only goal of the game came through a Peter Ndlovu penalty in the 62nd minute after Shingirai Kawondera was fouled in the area.

    The penalty was hotly disputed by Gabon's Brazilian coach Jairzinho who said the foul was outside the box.

    The crowd also had a warm welcome for Benjamin Mwaruwari who scored for Auxerre as they won the French Cup on Saturday.

    Zimbabwe now have 11 points from seven matches while Gabon remain on six points.
     

    Juve_The_Best

    Senior Member
    Nov 18, 2004
    1,871
    i am really surprised Chxta how did they draw with Rwanda the weakest team in the group . 1 point away still good . well done martins !

    you are on the top guys now equal with angola (11 points) and you eagels can beat them on Sat 18th june at home :)

    don't care about Zimbabwe Algeria will get the job done against them ?
     

    king Ale

    Senior Member
    Oct 28, 2004
    21,689
    ++ [ originally posted by Sadomin ] ++
    Iran and Japan are the first two teams to qualify to the WC 2006. Congratulations.
    Iran 1-0 Bahrain (we got revenge :D )
    N.Korea 0-2 Japan
    Kuwait 0-4 S.Korea :eek:
    SA 1-0 Uzbekistan( 80th minute)
    -------------------------------------------
    Iran,Japan,South Korea and Saudi Arabia were qualified.
     
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