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Poland, Germany, Costa Rica, Ecuador (pg. 7)
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| zoric |
| The hosts usually open up the tournament. |
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| loconet |
| Historically the champions open the tournament as the examples above. The hosts opening the tournament this time could be because champions don't automatically qualify anymore? hmmm |
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| Ricky Tan |
| quote: | Originally posted by loconet
Historically the champions open the tournament as the examples above. The hosts opening the tournament this time could be because champions don't automatically qualify anymore? hmmm |
That was the change. Ok, makes sense kinda, but they could easily schedule the champions to open since they don't even do the grouping till after everyone has qualified.
So they could make an exception for the host only if Brazil did no qualify. But it makes sense if they want uniformity. Thank you. |
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| Eddie N MIAMI |
| Michael Ballack wont play 2morrow vs Costa Rica |
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| zoric |
| Bad luck for the germans ;) |
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| The_G0dfather |
| and may he have a e season at chelsea too |
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eddie N MIAMI
Michael Ballack wont play 2morrow vs Costa Rica |
e :( |
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| malek |
Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann acknowledged Ballack's absence due to a calf injury was a blow to the home nation, who are hoping to win their fourth World Cup.
"Of course we would have liked to have him in the team," Klinsmann. "He's our captain and our leader."
But he also said the injury, sustained in a friendly match against Colombia last week, was on the mend.
"We'll leave him on the sidelines for this game and have him fit for the next one. It's annoying but not the end of the world," he told a news conference.
Ballack himself hit out at suggestions he should hav |
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| Rockabye |
| quote: | Originally posted by zoric
The hosts usually open up the tournament. |
You are totally wrong. All of the last world cups were opened by the defending champions!!!
I think this time the host opens the tournament because the defending champions weren't automatically qualified... |
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| zoric |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rockabye
You are totally wrong. All of the last world cups were opened by the defending champions!!!
I think this time the host opens the tournament because the defending champions weren't automatically qualified... |
Thanks for the heads up  |
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| paranoik0 |
Less than 18 hours until the opening match of the world cup.
Which is a fairly tough one to predict IMO. Germany and Costa Rica are very unpredictable teams. After a couple tournaments where the opening match favourites struggle (98: Brazil barely beating Scotland, 02: Senegal beating France, also that Euro 2004 match..), the hosts will be willing to break the tendency. But there are a couple factors against them; the lack of experience of their squad might make the pressure take the best of them, and there's no Ballack! I have the odd feeling Costa Rica could be less affected by the pressure, but they don't have anywhere near the german's quality.
Also hard to predict whether it'll be crap or a great game. I can't remember an opening match with a lot of goals, they're always very tense. On the other hand, both teams are very offensive.
Later on the evening there's Poland-Ecuador. Doesn't look the most exciting match on paper, but assuming Germany and Costa Rica will perform as expected, it could be the key match of the group, with both contenders for 2nd place facing each other.
Predictions:
Germany 3-2 Costa Rica
Poland 1-1 Ecuador |
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