Tournament Thread : World Cup Football 2006

[Shafin]

Originally Posted by Miraz
Less than 24 hour before the start of the World cup. Please discuss individual games in the tournamnet thread and I will be updating the result of every game with some higlights in this thread.

For results please look at the first post which will be automatically updated. I will post a dynamic points table after the start of the tournament.

I posted a match thread,if we can get a seperate forum,seperate match threads are also on demand,BTW,i didnt notice your post earlier and i'd have contacted you before posting if I noticed this.

[Miraz]

Todays First Match is between Germany and Cosarica. Germany is defnite favourite. Ballack has declared himself fit while his Coach ruled him out of the curtain raiser.


Colours for the game
Germany: white shirt, black shorts, white socks
Costa Rica: red shirt, blue shorts, red socks
The players
Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann had one or two surprises up his sleeve when he announced his squad for the FIFA World Cup. Kevin Kuranyi and Fabian Ernst of Schalke and Werder Bremen's Patrick Owomoyela all failed to make the cut, but uncapped Borussia Dortmund prodigy David Odonkor received a shock call-up. Not to be outdone, Costa Rica boss Alexandre Guimaraes provided a surprise of his own by declining to name Norway-based Roy Miller, a left-back with Bodo Glimt.
How they qualified
Germany qualified automatically for the 2006 FIFA World Cup as the host nation. Costa Rica finished third behind the USA and Mexico in the CONCACAF Zone, sealing a berth at the finals with five victories, a draw and four defeats in ten qualifying fixtures.
Previous meetings
The sides have never previously met at full international level, although they have twice crossed swords at FIFA U-20 World Championships. The Ticos won 2-1 on both occasions (Doha/Qatar 1995 and Lagos/Nigeria 1999).
Tournament history
The 1930 and 1950 finals aside, Germany have competed with distinction at every FIFA World Cup tournament, lifting the Trophy on three occasions (1954, 1974 and 1990). Costa Rica make a third visit to the event after appearances in 1990 and 2002. The Central Americans won plaudits for their unencumbered attacking flair and fine individual skills in both Italy and Korea/Japan.
Key contest
The outcome could well depend on the form of the teams' star strikers, Miroslav Klose and Paulo Wanchope. Few will forget the German centre-forward's explosive display in his team's opening match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, as he contributed a hat-trick to a thumping 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. The Polish-born striker finished top scorer in the Bundesliga last term with 25 goals. However, Wanchope is no mean goal-getter himself, a record of 43 goals in 67 internationals making him the Ticos' all-time leading scorer. At 29, Wanchope has clocked up a decade in the national team, and experienced the European stage at Derby County, West Ham United, Manchester City and Malaga. Coaches
Klinsmann took the Germany helm in the summer of 2004 after their debacle at UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal. The California-based 41-year-old has earned praise for rebuilding the team around a crop of promising youngsters. The Germans have won 15, drawn seven and lost five in 27 matches under Klinsmann. Guimaraes is justifiably regarded as one of the most able coaches in Costa Rican footballing history. The Brazil-born tactician has twice plotted a course through FIFA World Cup qualifying for the diminutive Central American nation. As a player, he contested all four of Costa Rica's matches at their historic first finals appearance in 1990.
Here's the squad


Squad

GER

CRC

1. LEHMANN Jens	1. MESEN Alvaro
2. JANSEN Marcell	2. DRUMMOND Jervis
3. FRIEDRICH Arne	3. MARIN Luis
4. HUTH Robert	4. UMANA Michael
5. KEHL Sebastian	5. MARTINEZ Gilberto
6. NOWOTNY Jens	6. FONSECA Danny
7. SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian	7. BOLANOS Cristian
8. FRINGS Torsten	8. SOLIS Mauricio
9. HANKE Mike	9. WANCHOPE Paulo
10. NEUVILLE Oliver	10. CENTENO Walter
11. KLOSE Miroslav	11. GOMEZ Ronald
12. KAHN Oliver	12. GONZALEZ Leonardo
13. BALLACK Michael	13. BERNARD Kurt
14. ASAMOAH Gerald	14. AZOFEIFA Randall
15. HITZLSPERGER Thomas	15. WALLACE Harold
16. LAHM Philipp	16. HERNANDEZ Carlos
17. MERTESACKER Per	17. BADILLA Gabriel
18. BOROWSKI Tim	18. PORRAS Jose
19. SCHNEIDER Bernd	19. SABORIO Alvaro
20. PODOLSKI Lukas	20. SEQUEIRA Douglas
21. METZELDER Christoph	21. NUNEZ Victor
22. ODONKOR David	22. RODRIGUEZ Michael
23. HILDEBRAND Timo	23. ALFARO Wardy

[Miraz]

Second Match is between Poland and Ecuador. Poland is booki's favourite and expected to win the match. Poland beat Ecuador 3-0 in a friendly just last November and a repeat performance in Gelsenkirchen on 9 June would represent a dream start for Pawel Janas's side in Group A.



Colours for the game
Poland: white shirt, red shorts, white socks
Ecuador: yellow shirt, blue shorts, red socks
The players
"Sixty per cent of our chances of going through to the next round rest on the Poland game," says Edison Mendez, one of nine members of the Ecuador squad also present at Korea/Japan 2002. His age and experience mean that Mendez enjoys a privileged position between the squad's old guard - Agustin Delgado, Ivan Hurtado and the like - and the new generation of players, which includes bright young talents Luis Valencia and Cristian Lara. Poland, meanwhile, have assembled a balanced squad packed with top quality footballers which coach Pawel Janas has moulded into a formidable unit. With the likes of Artur Boruc, Jacek Bak, Jacek Krzynowek and Maciej Zurawski making up the spine of the team, the Poles' direct playing style makes them a difficult proposition for any side.
How they qualified
Ecuador sealed their qualification on 8 October 2005 following a 0-0 draw with Uruguay at home in Quito in the penultimate round of South American qualifying. The Ecuadorians finished third in the table, behind continental superpowers Brazil and Argentina. Poland earned their ticket for this summer's tournament by finishing as one of the European Zone's best second-placed teams. Drawn in Group 6, the Poles gave eventual group winners England a real run for their money, sealing their spot in Germany last September with a victory over Wales.
Past meetings
The two sides have met just once, in a friendly match held on 13 November last year in Barcelona, Spain. Goals from Tomasz Klos, Euzebiusz Smolarek and Sebastian Mila lifted Poland to a resounding 3-0 win.
Tournament history
Germany 2006 will be Ecuador's second appearance on world football's biggest stage and they will be looking to improve on their performance at Korea/Japan 2002, where they failed to advance from the group stage. Poland, for their part, are old hands at this level, this summer's tournament being their second consecutive FIFA World Cup and their seventh in total. The Eastern Europeans were a force to be reckoned with during the 70s and 80s, finishing third at both Germany 1974 and Spain 1982.
Key contest
Delgado versus Boruc. Ecuador's powerful frontman finished the qualifiers as the Tricolor's top scorer with five goals, finding the net in the vital home win against Argentina and hitting a decisive double away to Bolivia in La Paz. However, he will have his work cut out against Boruc in the Polish goal. The Celtic shot-stopper stepped in for the injured Jerzy Dudek during his side's last three qualifying games, making the Polish number one shirt his own with a series of spectacular displays. The coaches
Colombian-born coach Luis Suarez has worked marvels since taking over from compatriot Hernan Gomez at the helm of Ecuador's national team, the latter stepping aside after the Tricolor's disappointing showing at the 2004 Copa America in Peru. As well as successfully bringing in the fresh blood that Ecuador so badly needed, Suarez was able to emulate his predecessor's historic achievement and take Ecuador to their second FIFA World Cup finals. Poland coach Pawel Janas will be looking at Germany 2006 as the perfect place to try and match his own achievements as a player back in 1982, when he helped his country take third place at that year's finals in Spain. Ever since taking the top job in December 2002, Janas has focused on building a side capable of competing at Germany. In his own words: "We have one clear goal: to get through the group phase."


Squad

POL

ECU

1. BORUC Artur	1. VILLAFUERTE Edwin
2. JOP Mariusz	2. GUAGUA Jorge
3. GANCARCZYK Seweryn	3. HURTADO Ivan
4. BASZCZYNSKI Marcin	4. DE LA CRUZ Ulises
5. KOSOWSKI Kamil	5. PERLAZA Jose
6. BAK Jacek	6. URRUTIA Patricio
7. SOBOLEWSKI Radoslaw	7. LARA Christian
8. KRZYNOWEK Jacek	8. MENDEZ Edison
9. ZURAWSKI Maciej	9. BORJA Felix
10. SZYMKOWIAK Miroslav	10. KAVIEDES Ivan
11. RASIAK Grzegorz	11. DELGADO Agustin
12. KUSZCZAK Tomasz	12. MORA Cristian
13. MILA Sebastian	13. AMBROSI Paul
14. ZEWLAKOW Michal	14. CASTILLO Segundo
15. SMOLAREK Ebi	15. AYOVI Marlon
16. RADOMSKI Arkadiusz	16. VALENCIA Luis
17. DUDKA Dariusz	17. ESPINOZA Giovanny
18. LEWANDOWSKI Mariusz	18. REASCO Neicer
19. BOSACKI Bartosz	19. SARITAMA Luis
20. GIZA Piotr	20. TENORIO Edwin
21. JELEN Ireneusz	21. TENORIO Carlos
22. FABIANSKI Lukasz	22. LANZA Damian
23. BROZEK Pawel	23. BENITEZ Cristian

[Miraz]

First Goal in 5 minutes 9 second. Amazing start by Germany

[Miraz]

Germany is in total control of the match.

[Miraz]

Costarica is in a mess. They should regroup and try to gain the midfield control

[Miraz]

Costarica Strikes

[Miraz]

1-1, Amazing opening game

[abdulw11]

Miraz bhai, you might want to edit post #52, the first sentence, it says Germany are playing Ecuador.

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by abdulw11
Miraz bhai, you might want to edit post #52, the first sentence, it says Germany are playing Ecuador.

Thanks!! Done!

[Miraz]

Nice strike by M. Klose.

This ios the most exciting opening game I have seen so far.

[Miraz]

Amazing play by SCHNEIDER Bernd , he is controlling the midfield as a marshall.

[Miraz]

Germany is lookigs as a very composed unit, even without Ballack. They are playing good football which is very unlikely.

[Miraz]

First Half Ends.

Germany dominated the first half. Costarica got one opportunity and capitalized that. They are looking dangerous in counter attck. German defence is a bit stiff.

Good second half in prospect.

At half time

Germany 2 : Costarica 1

[Miraz]

Another goal by Klose. Costarican's dream ofc upset is over.

Germany 3 : Costarica 1

[Miraz]

Costarica Strikes

3-2 now. German defence is not good enough to win WC.

[Miraz]

Frings Strikes.

I have to admit this is the best possible start of the World Cup

Germany 4 : Costarica 2

[Miraz]

Ecuador is leading at Half Time.Tenorio Carlos is the scorer.

[Miraz]

Goal Scorer for Ecuador

[abdulw11]

Ecuador 2:0 Poland

[abdulw11]

Delgado with the second goal for Ecuador. With only eight minutes remaining, plus injury time, Ecuador look certain to take all three points.

[ialbd]

Electrifying Ecuador & Pathetic Poland,

Poland still plays that stupid slow tempo Long ball game, and man the Polish strikers..... I'll save my breath...
________
CANARY ISLANDS RECIPES

[abdulw11]

Poland 0:2 Ecuador

Goals:
C Tenorio (24')
A Delgado (80')

[Miraz]

Another nice match. Ecuador reversed all our predictions.

Ecuador 2: Poland 0 (Full Time)

[Miraz]

Match Stat

Stats

Poland .........................................Ecuador

3	Shots on Goal	6
7	Shots	10
9	Fouls	15
11	Corner Kicks	2
2	Free Kicks	1
3	Offsides	2
0	Own Goals	0
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
56%	Ball Possession	44%