NationStates Jolt Archive

Well this is the 2nd match of the day and it feature the Swiss who have 3 shutouts this world cup and Ukraine who is appearing in their 1st ever world cup.

Who do you think is going to win?

Kickoff is in 3hrs and 44 minutes. What is going through their minds?

Swiss are ze best! We are going to win!

With the possible exception of the Aussies, I'd say Ukraine got the easiest matchup possible in the round of 16. I'd give them a fighting chance at winning by one or two, as they have some amazing players.

Go Ukraine!

The Swiss are yet to concede a goal in the tournament, and Ukraine's attack has been far from convincing so I go for 1 - 0 to Switzerland.

The Swiss to win. With Yakim and Frei on form, they should do well.

2 hours to gametime!

Hope we get some competant referees.

2 hours to gametime!

Hope we get some competant referees.

Not at this world cup.

Not at this world cup.

Enough red and yellow cards for a confetti time.

Switzerland by 1, or 2 if the Ukrainians get desperate towards the end. Expect Djourou to handle Shevchenko brilliantly. Pity Senderos has been ruled out for six weeks, otherwise I think the Swiss would have a good chance of reaching the semis.

Switzerland 5-0 Ukraine. Ukraine just isn't good enough.

Switzerland 5-0 Ukraine. Ukraine just isn't good enough.

Shevchenko one goal, come on? Even if he trips over someone.

Switzerland 5-0 Ukraine. Ukraine just isn't good enough.

The last time you did that, Ukraine won.

Shevchenko one goal, come on? Even if he trips over someone.

No chance.

The last time you did that, Ukraine won.

The last time I did that, Ukraine won on a PENALTY.

The last time you did that, Ukraine won.

So he's superstitous. :)

I believe the Swiss will pwn.

Go CH!

The last time I did that, Ukraine won on a PENALTY.

there was a penalty in the Saudi Arabia match?

there was a penalty in the Saudi Arabia match?

The other game. That was technically "the last time I did this".

Uhh... game on?

I swear, in this world cup either the referees go crazy with the cards or they dont give them for blatant violations. Looks like its the second case this game >.<

I like their flags.

2 worst teams of the second round..

they not even able to keep the ball

I like their flags.

>_>

>_>

What? The flags are cool.

2 worst teams of the second round..

I wouldn't use "worst" to describe any teams in the second round. That said, France has not been looking stellar, England and Portugal have not played up to potential, and Italy was less than impressive against Australia today.

Let's see how the Swiss and Ukraine play.

Pretty good ref though. Considering...
And go Switzerland!!

I wouldn't use "worst" to describe any teams in the second round.somebody has to be the worst team ..and second worst..

who are they in your opinion?
Ecuador?
Mexico?

Pretty good ref though. Considering...
new definition for good ref: "the-one-who-does-not-give-cards"

:confused:

somebody has to be the worst team ..and second worst..

who are they in your opinion?
Ecuador?
Mexico?

Mexico played well against Argentina. I'd say all 16 teams deserve to be there.

Mexico played well against Argentina. I'd say all 16 teams deserve to be there.I never said "they do not deserve to be there"

Feh...I couldn't care less who wins this cup. The only teams that win are the ones the referees like. The ref decides he doesn't like you, you're toast. Two examples? Aussie - Brazil and, more recently (as in bloody well TODAY,) Aussie - Italy.

I can't STAND the way refs are so biased...All cards, no cards, pick-on-a-team...it's all crap. :upyours:

new definition for good ref: "the-one-who-does-not-give-cards"

:confused:
No. A definition for 'pretty good ref'.

I know I'm late, but I say 1-0 for Switzerland.

OMG a Yellow Card !!! :D

This game has "penalties" written all over it.

And it goes to extra time. Whoopee.

And the fans are celebrating Germany :D

Oah, that game is so booooooooring!

Let's sing!

Tous les garçons et les filles de mon age...

And the second Overtime is about to begin!!!!

second OT leg, i believe this will be PKs.

whoa, way too many acronyms. one is more than enough. :)

Well, it's to penalties. Let's watch and see...

Crazy game. Totally neutralized each other.

And the first Ukraine-guy missed.

This match won't win any converts to the Beautiful Game.

This match is so SO SO awful that the first two penalties have been failed!

swiss 0 for 3, ukraine can win on this kick. . . .

Ukraine does it! They win on penalties!

YES!

Ukraine win on PKs, completely shutting out the swiss! Unbelievable!

And yet, the Swiss are the first team never to allow a goal in regulation and be ousted.

I'm shocked.

This is a WC debut that Ukraine is never gonna forget. They've played good. I'm no longer angry with them.

THREE kicks scored, FOUR kicks failed! And they are penalties!!

THREE kicks scored, FOUR kicks failed! And they are penalties!!

Three of them by the Swiss. And they MISSED one.

God, those Swiss are worse Penalty Shooters than the Dutch are!

Good on ya, Ukraine.

Now pick it up, because amongst Italy, Australia, Ukraine, and Switzerland I didn't see much World Cup class play today.

Ukraine is now in the dubious position that Australia wanted to be in; I don't think anybody expected Ukraine to get this far. They should be commended on an excellent debut in the cup.

God, those Swiss are worse Penalty Shooters than the Dutch are!

it sure seems that way, sadly

Incidentally, take a look at the picture on the FIFA homepage:

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa//fi/up/20060626/1151356097.jpg

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's fucking Shovkovsky! Flying through the sky at high скорость!

Ukraine is now in the dubious position that Australia wanted to be in; I don't think anybody expected Ukraine to get this far. They should be commended on an excellent debut in the cup.

Ah hem I did (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11120550&postcount=17)

OK. I got a lot of things wrong, but I predicted a quarter final spot for Ukraine, with them beating Switzerland in the round of 16. :p

Ah hem I did (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11120550&postcount=17)

OK. I got a lot of things wrong, but I predicted a quarter final spot for Ukraine, with them beating Switzerland in the round of 16. :p

Fine, you did. The rest of us didn't. I was bracing myself for that fatal Swiss goal.

Ah hem I did (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11120550&postcount=17)

OK. I got a lot of things wrong, but I predicted a quarter final spot for Ukraine, with them beating Switzerland in the round of 16. :p

Good pick. I was pulling for Ukraine, but didn't have the nerve to pick 'em.

This was a tragedy.

OK So who is going to complain about the ref this time. Too soft, letting the players do what they want. The yellow to Tranquillo was uinjustified. :p

:rolleyes:

This is a WC debut that Ukraine is never gonna forget. They've played good. I'm no longer angry with them.

Good. I'm glad.

Go Ukraine :)

I am Glad that Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals. Congratulations.

I was pulling for the Swiss, but gj Ukraine! And good luck against Italy, somebody needs to take them down, preferably before the semis.

OK So who is going to complain about the ref this time. Too soft, letting the players do what they want. The yellow to Tranquillo was uinjustified. :p

:rolleyes:

I don't know who should start with the Swiss/Ukraine game, but don't shrug this crap off. It's getting serious.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5730024

For more examples of terribly bad reffing, see the Australia - Brazil + Australia - Italy games. Or at least the highlights. The calls were monstrous at best, and not just for the losing team. Granted, the ref certainly liked Brazil more than Australia in their game. But in the Italy - Australia game that concluded today...ugh. A red card that shouldn't have been there, a good few yellows that were out of place, and a certain penalty kick with reasoning behind it that should consititute a bloody rematch.

The referees are trying to pretend they're players. Well, they aren't. I'm tired of seeing them shape the games they want to see them. Ivanov - the ref in the Portugal/Netherlands game - is a case-in-point. A new record of red and yellow cards during a match...we've already broken the record for most cards in a World Cup this year, and there's still twelve games left. That shows you that the refs are really pining to get some of the spotlight, and it's got to stop. You know the reffing really IS bullshit when the President of FIFA is giving a caution to the referees.

I don't know who should start with the Swiss/Ukraine game, but don't shrug this crap off. It's getting serious.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5730024

[snip]


I was referring to the fact that every elimination match we have had a group complaining about the refereeing.

As to the overall standard of refereeing it has a lot to do with the FIFA edicts given to the refs at the start of the tournament.

I watch enough top level football to know that most of these referees are trying to do what they have been told, rather than refereee in the manner that got them selected for the World Cup in the first place.

The blame for this has to fall squarely on the shoulders of FIFA. They either have to standardise refereeing throughout the world outside of events like this, or accept the variations during the event. Sepp Blatter has messed up again, and even has the temerity to criticise a man for trying to do what Sepp Blatter had told him to do. :headbang:

I was pulling for the Swiss, but gj Ukraine! And good luck against Italy, somebody needs to take them down, preferably before the semis.

Italy doesn't have it in them to win this, IMO. Their style of play wouldn't stand up to an attacking style, say, like Germany's.

GA that isn't true, they are giving Blow Jobs as we speak!

Ivanov - the ref in the Portugal/Netherlands game - is a case-in-point. A new record of red and yellow cards during a match...we've already broken the record for most cards in a World Cup this year, and there's still twelve games left. That shows you that the refs are really pining to get some of the spotlight, and it's got to stop. You know the reffing really IS bullshit when the President of FIFA is giving a caution to the referees.
Well, it wasnt actually the ref who committed the fouls. The game looked more like rugby match in the second half. A tad more violence and it would have become a fullblown Switzerland-Turkey remake.

I was referring to the fact that every elimination match we have had a group complaining about the refereeing.

As to the overall standard of refereeing it has a lot to do with the FIFA edicts given to the refs at the start of the tournament.

I watch enough top level football to know that most of these referees are trying to do what they have been told, rather than refereee in the manner that got them selected for the World Cup in the first place.

The blame for this has to fall squarely on the shoulders of FIFA. They either have to standardise refereeing throughout the world outside of events like this, or accept the variations during the event. Sepp Blatter has messed up again, and even has the temerity to criticise a man for trying to do what Sepp Blatter had told him to do. :headbang:

Well perhaps Sepp Blatter should be replaced, or re-educated, or SOMETHING. Because I really can't enjoy the Beautiful Game when the referees completely take over. I saw a funny little poll on SportsNet, actually, while I was watching some predictions about the France - Spain game, and it really did make me laugh.

The question was: "How do you think the refereeing in the 2006 World Cup has been so far?"

The results were (something) like this:

Terrible: 52%
Bad: 30%
Okay: 13%
Excellent: 5%

And then one of the commentators came out with this little gem, "Well, every poll we take gives us a little insight into our viewers. For example, we now know that five percent of them are World Cup referees!" :D


Well, it wasnt actually the ref who committed the fouls. The game looked more like rugby match in the second half. A tad more violence and it would have become a fullblown Switzerland-Turkey remake.

Yeah, I know he had his hands full with that game. The players can be criticized as much as the ref (or the ref's instructions) in this case.