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Archives

Archive for June, 2006

Quarterfinal Predictions

( World Cup Insights )

During the 8 matches in the round of 16, there really was only one surprise. Spain had been playing so well, really dominating their three group stage matches, while France had stumbled through their group, barely qualifying. I just didn’t see any problem in this match for Spain, and they pretty much dominated the match [...]

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Round of 16 Predictions

( World Cup Insights )

Game 1 - Germany vs. Sweden - With Germany playing at home, and playing well, we should see Germany advance past Sweden fairly easily. I have not been impressed with Sweden at all, they are dangerous up top, but their defense is suspect, and should give up several goals to the German strikers. Prediction: 3 [...]

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Group G and H decided

( World Cup Insights )

Group G and H were both extremely weak, with France in group G with no one else in the top 30 and Spain in group H with no one in the top 20. These two groups are a perfect example why FIFA’s ranking system is horribly flawed. My guess is there are 5 or 6 [...]

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Group E and F decided

( World Cup Results )

In what turned out to be the Group of Death after all, nothing at all had been decided going into the final day in Group E, and all four teams still had a valid chance of advancing, win and you were in, for the most part. Group F already had Brazil advancing, with two other [...]

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Don’t Tread on Me, unless you are Ghana

( World Cup Insights )

Going into World Cup 2006, the US team was regarded as it’s best ever, a vast improvement that advancd to the quarter finals of World Cup 2002, and most likely the semi-finals had it not been for Torsten Fring’s hand. Once seeding had been announced, and the US was not seeded, but Mexico was, it [...]

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Group C and D decided

( World Cup Insights )

Going into the matches today, Group C had already been decided (group of death, my foot), while Portugal had already advanced out of group D, and both Mexico and Angola had a chance to be the second team out of the group.
Group C
Both Argentina and Netherlands had already qualified for the second round with 2 [...]

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Group A and B decided

( World Cup Insights )

Even though pretty much everything had been decided before the matches today, now that everyone in both group A and B have played all three matches, all is now decided.
Group A
Both Germany and Ecuador had qualified for the second round after just two matches, but going into their clash, each had 6 points, and Ecuador [...]

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Revisiting the Group of Death 2006

( World Cup Insights )

Prior to the start of the World Cup 2006, most people believed there were two groups of death, Group C with Argentina, Netherlands, Cote D’Ivoire and Serbia and Montenegro and then Group E with Italy, Czech Republic, United States and Ghana. We have now seen each team in the tournament play 2 games each, and [...]

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Mexico - 0 - Angola 0

( World Cup Results )

Mexico had a chance to punch a ticket to the second round with a win over overmatched Angola. Mexico outshot, outplayed and outran Angola from start to finish. You could see as the match went along, Angola gained confidence that they had a chance to win the match. Mexico had by far the best chances, [...]

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Netherlands 2 - Cote D’Ivoire 1

( World Cup Results )

In what was expected to be one of the best matches so far in the 2006 World Cup, was just that, a great Match. Cote D’Ivoire needed a win to keep alive in the tournament, and played like a desparate team. The match was played at a high rate, very competetive and very exciting. The [...]

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