come on, open the bet!
All in on the Mannschaft, we are invincible ;)

wow, what a game this should be.

argentina 2:1 germany

All on Argentina. Just open the damn fixture!!!

SCHLAND ftw !!11

sorry with this lineup argentina will win for sure
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8556/argen...ina1xa.jpg

easy win for schland!

This is going to be an awesome game, I can't decide who I think will win.

Indeed! I guess this could be quite close. But looking at the top 4 from the scorer list I'll put my money on Germany! :>

1. Miroslav Klose (Germany) 4 goals
2. Hernan Crespo (Argentina) 3 goals
3. Lukas Podolski (Germany) 3 goals
4. Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina) 3 goals

the duel statistics are also impressive:

1. Per Mertesacker (Germany) 81,3%
2. Ricardo Osorio (Mexico) 74,4%
3. Rio Ferdinand (England) 71,4%
4. Yuji Nakazawa (Japan) 70,7%
5. Christoph Metzelder (Germany) 70,4%
6. Oguchi Onyewu (USA) 69,8%
7. Dare Nibombe (Togo) 69,4%
8. Philipp Lahm (Germany) 68,9%
9. Juan (Brazil) 68,5%
10. Patrick Viera (France) 68,1%

so we got a weak defense, huh? :)

These statistics make absolutely no point.

you just cant interpret them ...

Do they say who made successful tackles as 'duel' makes no sense in the context of football to me.

"duel" means winning a 1on1 situation, you know like in esports ;)
that includes tackles, duels in the air and good positioning

Ok, wierd terminology for football still :)

I couldn't say, because our reporters talk about "Duelle" (German for duel, duh) all the time, so I guess BlindGuardian just guessed a translation.
Out of curiosity, what would you call it?

I guess the best translation would be challenges or confrontations (Although that wouldn't include interceptions etc and just tackles/headers)

Interceptions, passes and beating other players (going round them with the ball etc) would be considered on there own mostly.

thanks :)

so basically there isn't a direct translation, I was wondering cause I coudn't think of one either.

the statistic counts 1on1 situations of players

yes, but what exactly is counted as 1on1?

actually everything that fits into the german word "zweikampf". when two guys, one with the ball the other one without the ball (;D), meet on the field, the one guys clearing the situation wins this 1on1 situation. either by tackling etc for the defender, or by dribbling around the defender for the attacker

and what about a flying ball, and whoever heads it away first.
What about intercepting a pass without anyone directly next to you.

That was what I was discussing with ini ;)

are you sure it includes good positioning ? And if so, to what extent ? ie when an attacker slips in the back of two defenders to call for the ball and receives it, is that considered as a lost duel for each of this defenders ?

honestly I don't know and if you read my other replies, it kinda shows there.

But if you are gonna call the statistic "duel" I do believe an interception should be included, because that way of winning the ball is a lot safer than a tackling.

In the situation you described, most of the times there should be one player who is responsible for the attacker. If not they could just not count the scene.


But as I sad, I'm making assumptions here as well.

Well this is not FM2006 :p

if you let Costa Rica score twice, u do

we let them score once, the other goal was clearly offside, so i don't think it is an indication for a weak defense, else imbrahimovic & co would've scored at least once. or do you believe, that the costa rican strikers are better than the swedish ones?

this time yeah

Your defence is so easy to pass behind, like Ghana's one but almost every team has weaknesses.
Fortunately for you, you managed against weaker teams to win the midfield battle but atm Germany plays the closer to their full potential and plays a nice game with a not so impressive roster.
At home with a little luck you still can do something.

not since they stopped going for offsides and Ballack got a more defensive position.

I agree the defense is still the weakest link, but "easy to pass behind" just doesn't fit, because then the other teams should have had better attacks as well. Sweden had better chances in all their other games. Ok, they played with 10 for a long time but 35 minutes are not that short.

not so impressive roster

thats not even partly true

And not so impressive roster is an euphemism.

Ibrhimovic & co played 10v11 during 60 min of your game, and Ecuador played a B-team vs you. In short, the only games where the german defense was really tested were the Costa Rica and Poland games. I don't think Germany should be too comfident with their defense untill they've played a decent opponent at their best.

Then again I've bet on Germany cause they play home firstly, and secondly, seeing how they improve game after game, with Klose and Podolski in great shape, and the likes of Frings, Borowski, Ballack and Schweinsteiger at midfield, the offensive support of Lahm, etc.. combined with Argentina's obvious dificulties to play vs. physically challenging teams such as the Netherlands and Mexico, I think Argentina will play their good old role of failing favorites once again, unless the german defense screws up big time. And even if they do, Lehmann is not easily beaten. :P

just before the game vs. sweden i thought: okay, we'll win here and the lose to argentina, because they're probably the best team in the cup. but afterwards i am sure, that'll be damn close with a better end for germany. maxi rodriquez can't always pull shots like the one vs. mexico off ;)

with a name Maxi Rodriguez anything is possible

this match could be the final of the wc.

SHOULD!

glhf both , i hope for a fair game and alot of goals :D

I hate to say this but I can see Germany winning this maybe 2:1 with Argentina scoring first and Germany coming back in the 2nd half to win....

I'll cut my wrists open if Germany wins this.

GO GER GO! :>

pix plz ^^

get ur knife ready

swedish whine :>

It's not about Germany beating us. It's about Argentina having the best (or second best) team in this world cup and I'd like to see Argentina - Brazil in the final. :)

Sweden wasn't beat, but humiliated by Germany. The match could have finished with a score of 6-0, if Germany had used 20 percent of their chances. I seriously have not seen a team get that outplayed in such a big match for a long time.

I agree. Sweden was humiliated.

emo!

oh crap.

what? You can still type with you wrist cut?

This should be an exciting match.
We'll see if Germany's powerplay can work against a real team.
This game could look like Argentina - Ivory Coast (2-1 for Argentina).

half my money on Germany ...
Blitzkrieg style football ftw ;)

Too bad they dont play beautiful football like Argentina does :(. Playing like a robot is so boring to watch.

we play highly dynamic and aggressive football
Our team wants to win !

Dont know where you heard that "robot" shit ...

Because there is no imagination in it. The german team so far has scored quite a few goals because they have stuck to well performed tactics. Not because they play beautiful football, because they dont.

and since when did the Argentinians give up their way of destroying the other teams game?

wake up, germany are playing aggresively like crazy! its beatiful to watch. they have scored alot of goals. they shoot long distance shots all the time.

thanks.

Just because you shoot alot that doesnt mean its beautiful football.

m8, I think you might have been watching wc2002 replays.

robot? lol i think u mean the english team!

Argentina would win easily on neutral soil. However, as the game is in Germany, it will be a close game.

from wikipedia
"The 1950 [WC] deciding match between Brazil and Uruguay was hosted at the Maracanã stadium. Brazil only needed a draw to win, but lost the match 2-1 after being 1-0 up; this match has since been known as the "Maracanaço" (or in Spanish, "Maracanazo")."

With the right team all soils are neutral...

Well, I just said that while playing at home any team definitely has an advantage over their opponents, but it surely does not mean that the home team is sure to win.

Any team can achieve an away win with good play and good spirit.

that only means Uruguay was way stronger at that time. :o

Exactly, when it was about skill, not money/power.

omg, everyone falls for the hype :)

I do think Germany has a chance to beat Argentina, but I'm really really surprised to see these odds. ARG is still the clear favourite to win this one and it's quite amusing to see even the most critical commentators hyping our players and lift them to "world class" level...

(ok, I just want people to bet on ARG to make more ESR$, muahahawhaw)

:p

Argentina are definately not CLEAR favourites. They did not play well last game at all. I'd say the odds are quite even, or perhaps slightly tipped over for germany because of enormous crowd support.

I don't think they did play poorly, just Mexico got their tactics (almost) perfect.

and what about Argentina vs the Netherlands ? And that Ivory Coast game where Ivory Coast could have easily equalized ? I don't think Argentina are outclassing the other teams that much.
They play a beautiful game and are a blessing to football but they clearly are limited by their physical power, it showed before and not only vs. Mexico.

I wasn't saying Argentina are way above the rest :)

Mexico
Netherlands
Ivory Coast

Are all very, very good sides and the Ivory Coast got quite unlucky in the groups really.

Germany has really, really good players atacking, and almost all of them can shoot from half distance, but i trust our defence will be at their top level on friday :P.
There is the obvious fact germany is playing local, and in berlin, that is 70 thousand germans against 10 thous argentines, so that's gonna suck for our players, but i trust germany's shitty defence will make the difference. If pekerman would just put messi or tevez replacing saviola from the beguining it would be sooo easy.

agreed.
I was really impressed by tevez and everyone knows how great messi can play. I hope they stay out :p

Our defenders keep improving from match to match, metzelder, friedrich and mertesacker all had some great games and this WC they all seem to reach their top form at the same time again. Lahm is playing exceptionally well this WC anyways.

So a great match seems to be coming on Friday, looking forward!

tevez owns

Thats why I have my 5k on the Ger.Crespo sucks and Saviola was not very impressive so far.Tevez is the shit and Messi is on par with Ronaldihno.Pekerman should be shot if you guys lose and Tevez/Messi don't play at least a full halftime.

I think the best thing is to start with Crespo and Saviola and then use Tevez and Messi as super-subs later on.

Perhaps Tevez could start instead of Saviola -- but Messi is, regardless of his skill (cus yes, i do think he's one of the top10 best players in the world), not ready to play such an important game form start.

mmm.. how can you be top10 of teh whole wild world, but not good enough for such a mach ? :p

"top 10 talent" would work

Since he's been troubled with injuries and doesnt have the experience when it comes to BIG games. Still, he's definately on my top10 list of best football players. When he grows older and gets the experience from big games, he'll prolly end up at top2.

I think germany will take it, they are like an unstoppable machine atm it seems. But I'll be rooting for Argentina!

\o.

ok, the odds are turning now. Feels much more comfortable beeing the underdog :)

arg 2 - 0 ger

ger 5 - 2 arg !!!!!!!

and then you woke up...

its not hockey game

.........ENG('66)............................................FRN('98)
BRA('62).... BRA('70)..........................BRA('94).....BRA('02)
.......................GER('74)................GER('90)............. ______
............................ ARG('78).. ARG('86)
......................................ITA('82)

according to this cycle of the World Cup winner, Germany will take the 2006 World Cup.
bet for Germany :)

WTF?

There is no such thing as cycle in the WC.. Its all about the lineups.

Argentina has a strong team, and many of this players all ready won a WC (sub 20) with Pekerman ahead of them.

The main problem here is to play against Germany in Berlin.

you forgot GER (54) :x

yeah, and 54 * 74 -1990 = 2006
It's all in the math ^-^

2-pak will be at the WC Final!

/lawl@numberology

lmao :))

alright.. home ground advantage with germany .. and argentina in added pressure, germany aint a bad team either

all my money on argentina :)

Well i will bet my money on Argentina.
If Germany wins,i can be happy for advancing to the semi-final
If we lose, I can be happy because i got alot of money :)

football? wtf is football? :D
i bet on germany 'cause their last matches were pretty good

Germany on pens.

wow, you have amazing prediction skills!

*tosses coin* Argentina will win coz the coin said so.

I don't like this coin! :-P

Btw.: Fixture needed!
30.06.2006 21:00 CET Italien-Ukraine

i now also dislike the coin :(

I dont care who wins, I just want to see a damn good game. I wish Borowski would be playing though (he makes the German game faster than Ballack, but Ballack makes the defense more stable)

Germany´s motto will have to be
"the best defense is a good offense"

I hope there will be no cards, but I am predicting a red card for a german maybe even Ballack.

I wouldn't be surprised, if Borowski comes later in the game for Frings. I am pretty sure that Frings will get a yellow card early in the match against Riquelme.

Ballack is too important for the team to be replaced by any other player.

I knew it ^^
Borowski links up better with the strikers (this is off course becuase of the Bremen Axis, Frings Borowski, Klose). I still find it a shame to use him as a joker, must be hard to only get 20- 30minutes to try and make a difference.

anyway an entertaining game. (Lahm + Schweinsteiger dissapointed in the offense though)

well schweinsteiger and schneider disappointed, lahm is actually defensive left, so it was ok that he didnt have that many offensive situations

Boro is great, but there is no one, who could be left out for him. Ballack plays an amazing WC, Frings is better than ever. Boro is not the type for left or right wing, so using him as a regular sub for 30 minutes is the way to go.

ballack played shit today! thank god he scored at the penalty's. lets hope he's in top shape for the semifinals!

Hi. I did remember how good was Argentina during their 6-0 route. However, German with their homeground advantage is something to be fearful.

German's players are spirited especially with their 'humiliation' of Sweeden. As for Argentina, they have just brushed off a scare with Mexico.

If Argentina does not wake up, it's really hard to challenge the German. But who knows? If they can really wake up, German is in for a torrid time.

My money is still on Argentina though.

Argentina for the Wins!!
Messi will kick ass tomorrow!
im betting 1k on Argentina!!

messi will kick ass yeah!


..on the bench :P

Premature final ;-(
GO Argentina !!!
edit: 1384 e$ (that's all I have) on Argentina.

Hoping for Argentina, betting on germany =)

where is the fixture for italy vs ukraine of tonight?

Don't forget France 3 - Brazil 0 tomorrow

in your dreams :D

Now, Now Children let the Guru speak as I have never lost a football bet and made £18,000 already . The result will be a win for Germany. Reasons: 1) They are playing as a team 2) Klose is on fire. 3) Home advantage 4) Argentina haven't won convincingly against any team so far.

so 6:0 is not convincing, huh?

Like I said.No Messi no win.Cash this baby out asap pls.

lost again, now im 0 E$

Me too. I always loose in football betting ;-D

YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SCHLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND
HURENSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHN

WIN ....i knew it hehe ... im happy :D

appauling referee, krauts could have used knives if they wanted to

The ref was not half as biased as you...

3 yellow card advertences..

nice.

err...the ref was absolutley brilliant, finally someone since coligna who has a good bs detector and he caught every single dive. The fact that germany got more decisions in their favour is because the argies are dirty cheaters and they finally got caught out. His was the best performance on the pitch.

calm down spanky. They are not "dirty cheaters". The game was everything it was meant to be. Very good competetion.

Well, at least they don't seem to be most fair team ever...

The dismissal of unused Argentine substitute Leandro Cufre in the scuffle that directly followed the penalty shoot-out, made him a record 10th Argentine to be sent off in a World Cup match.

yea right

€€€ :DDDD

...

=(
Messi... Requielme...

wtf is wrong with Argentina. This should've been a win. Well Good Job to GER goal keeper stopping 2 penalty kicks is pretty damn sweet. =)

Koepke (goalkeeper coach) obviously did a great job observing the ARG players. He handed a note to Lehmann, with stats where which ARG player uses to shoot the penalties. Lehman jumped to the correct side 4/5 times iirc, resulting in 2 saves.

Actually Lehman was correct 4/4 :o

d'oh, of course :))
That's prolly why I couldn't remember the one I thought he was in the wrong corner

Weltmeister 2006 . no doubt

LEHMANN U OWN!

when the scored in the 2nd half.. the spirits of the german team were high.. plus they had PLENTY of crowd support..

THIS was going to happen .. :)

nice job germany you are great when the referee its the number 12 player...

shut the hell up or learn to lose...although i admit, that klose deserved a yellow card for his foul againt the goal keeper

And none of the Argentininas deserved theirs... also it's true that the only way to stop a team that plays better than you is to beat them up, which Germany did very well

ah come on, both teams played very physical, it's not like argentina had a huge disadvantage because of the referee

starting goal keeper out without even a card for the foul... I think Arg. had a huge disadvantage because of the referee. sorry, that's the truth.

aside from that, i still say the game was all I personally thought it would be. Either of these teams going to penalty I thought was impossible unless they faced each other. And I was right. Now hopefully Ger. can beat Italy's def. Good luck to them.

italy's defense is the strongest of the wc. no way.
we have some problems with our strikers (toni, totti, gilardino), so i think italy will beat germany on penalties, thanks to buffon.

nobody beats germany on penalties ;)

a yellow wouldnt have changed anything, injuries happen in physical sports. shit happens, it's part of the game

i must admit in some situations he was on our side, it's the homeadvantage. but i would'nt go so far and say that we won the match because of that! we deserved the win!

I cant express how glad I am that Argentine lost, never would I want to see a team like that advance in the WC. Trying to delay the entire second half? I mean COME ON, whine and dive somewhere else PLEASE. I lost a lot of respect for the Argentine team in this game, not to mention after the incident after the penalty shoot out.

gg Germany
bl Argentina

MIRO KLOSE FUSSBALL-GOTT

That was such a boring match. I expected more from this one.

it was actually my first near death experience ;)

exactly :)

maxi rodriguez :(

Ok, here is what happened:
After he scored his penalty, Tim Borowski made a gesture to the argentine players who were booing the German penalty strikers. When Argentine lost, substitute player Leandro Cufre kicked Per Mertesacker (thinking he was Borowski) for this gesture. Bierhoff ran to them, trying to pretoct his players and it looked like he pushed Heinze a bit hard. Then everything came out of control for some minutes with Maxi Rodriguez going mad...

Afterwards, Cufre got a red card for this from the referee.

A shame it ended this way. But there were also nice pictures like Klose talking to Heinze and calm him.

Look out for Cufre and Rodriguez getting suspended for the next 5 official Argentina games. It's too bad to see the Argentina players act like bitches that can not take a loss but start fighting like idiots with bad sportsmanship. Argentina played at least as dirty as Germany the whole game, and the referee could well have given a penalty for Ayala's elbow in Ballack's face; overall I certainly don't think he favoured either side heavily.

You people with your retarded clueless patriotic comments need to stick it up your asses. Appreciate the game as it was. A good game. Very well played by both sides. Good game Germany =] ditto Argentina.