World Cup 2006 in Germany

[deancoles 0]

Ivory Coast

 

Goalkeepers: Jean-Jacques Tizie (Esperance Tunis/TUN), Boubacar Barry Copa (KSK Beveren/BEL), Gerard Gnanhouan (Montpellier/FRA).

 

Defenders: Cyrille Domoraud (Creteil/FRA/D2), Blaise Kouassi (ES Troyes/FRA), Abdoulaye Meite (Marseille/FRA), Etienne Arthur Boka (Strasbourg/FRA), Abib Kolo Toure (Arsenal/ENG), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal/ENG), Marc Zoro (FC Messina/ITA).

 

Midfielders: Didier Zokora (St Etienne/FRA), Emerse Fae (Nantes/FRA), Kanga Gauthier Akale (Auxerre/FRA), Romaric Ndri Koffi (Le Mans/FRA), Gnegneri Yaya Toure (Olympiakos/GRE), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys/SUI), Guy Roland Demel (Hambourg/GER).

 

Strikers: Bakari Kone (Nice/FRA), Didier Drogba (Chelsea/ENG), Arouna Kone (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Bonaventure Kalou (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Abdoul Kader Keita (Lille/FRA), Aruna Dindane (Lens/FRA).

Can see a lot of these moving to the Premiership, Arsenal should get at least 1 of them(Yaya Toure)

[k thx 0]

I think that Ivory Coast are as strong an African team as we've seen at a World Cup. If they get out of their group, they've got a potential quarter-final with England, which I could see them do well with.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Argentina

 

Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid), Oscar Ustari (Independiente);

 

Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Leandro Cufre (Roma), Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Nicolas Burdisso (Internazionale), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal);

 

Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Javier Mascherano (Corinthians), Esteban Cambiasso (Internazionale), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Aimar (Valencia), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United);

 

Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Corinthians), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Javier Saviola (Sevilla), Julio Cruz

 

Paraguay

 

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys), Derlis Gomez (Sportivo Luqueno), Aldo Bobadilla (Libertad)

 

Defenders: Denis Caniza (Cruz Azul), Carlos Gamarra (Palmeiras), Julio Cesar Caceres (River Plate), Delio Toledo (Real Zaragoza), Jorge Nunez (Estudiantes), Julio Manzur (Santos), Paulo da Silva (Toluca)

 

Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (NEC Nijmegen), Roberto Acuna (Deportivo Coruna), Carlos Paredes (Reggina), Julio dos Santos (Bayern Munich), Carlos Bonet (Libertad), Cristian Riveros (Libertad), Diego Gavilan (Newell's Old Boys), Jose Montiel (Olimpia)

 

Forwards: Nelson Haedo Valdez (Werder Bremen), Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich), Nelson Cuevas (Pachuca), Salvador Cabanas (Chiapas), Jose Cardozo (no club)

 

Portugal

 

Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Sporting), Quim (Benfica), and Bruno Vale (FC Porto/Estrela da Amadora)

 

Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Caneira (Valencia/Sporting), Ricardo Costa (FC Porto), and Nuno Valente (Everton)

 

Midfielders: Petit (Benfica), Costinha (Dinamo Moscovo), Tiago (Lyon), Maniche (Dinamo Moscovo/Chelsea), Hugo Viana (Valencia), Figo (Inter Milan), Deco (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Simao (Benfica) e Boa Morte (Fulham)

 

Forwards: Pauleta (PSG), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), and Helder Postiga (Saint-Etienne)

 

Costa Rica

 

Goalkeepers: Jose Porras (Deportivo Saprissa), Alvaro Mesen (CS Herediano), Wardy Alfaro (LD Alajuelense)

 

Defenders: Harold Wallace (LD Alajuelense), Jervis Drummond (Deportivo Saprissa), Michael Umana (Brujas), Michael Rodriguez (LD Alajuelense), Luis Marin (LD Alajuelense), Gilberto Martinez (Brescia, Italy), Leonardo Gonzalez (CS Herediano), Gabriel Badilla (Deportivo Saprissa)

 

Midfielders: Randall Azofeifa (Deportivo Saprissa), Cristian Bolanos (Deportivo Saprissa), Carlos Hernandez (LD Alajuelense), Mauricio Solis (Comunicaciones, Guatemala), Douglas Sequeira (Real Salt Lake, USA), Daniel Fonseca (CS Cartagines), Walter Centeno (Deportivo Saprissa)

 

Strikers: Victor Nunez (CS Cartagines), Ronald Gomez (Deportivo Saprissa), Kurt Bernard (Puntarenas), Alvaro Saborio (Deportivo Saprissa), Paulo Wanchope (CS Herediano)

 

Poland

 

Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic F.C), Tomasz Kuszczak (WBA), Lukasz Fabianski.

 

Defenders: Marcin Baszczynski (Wisla Krakow), Jacek Bak (Al. Rayyan), Mariusz Jop (FC Moskva), Severyn Ganacarczyk, (Metalist Charkov), Mariusz Lewandowski (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Dariusz Dudka (Wisla Krakow), Michal Zewlakow (Olympiacos).

 

Midfielders: Euzebiusz Smolarek (Borrusia Dortmund), Kamil Kosowski (Southampton FC) Radoslaw Sobolewski (Wisla Krakow), Miroslaw Szymkowiak (Trabzonspor), Jacek Krzynowek (Bayer Leverkusen), Arkadiusz Radomski (Austria Wien), Sebastian Mila (Austria Wien), Piotr Giza (Cracovia Krakow), Damian Gorawski (FC Moskva).

 

Strikers: Maciej Zurawski (Celtic FC), Pawel Brzozek (Wisla Krakow), Grzegorz Rasiak (Southhampton F.C.), Ireneusz Jelen (Wisla Plock).

[deancoles 0]

Argentina

 

Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid), Oscar Ustari (Independiente);

 

Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Leandro Cufre (Roma), Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Nicolas Burdisso (Internazionale), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal);

 

Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Javier Mascherano (Corinthians), Esteban Cambiasso (Internazionale), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Aimar (Valencia), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United);

 

Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Corinthians), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Javier Saviola (Sevilla)

No Samuel or Zanetti?

Scaloni in

[Red Baron 0]

Group A

Germany

Costa Rica

Poland

Ecuador

 

Germany for sure will advance to the next round, and I'll say Ecuador.

 

Group B

England

Paraguay

Trinidad and Tobago

Sweden

 

England and Sweden.

 

Group C

Argentina

Côte d'Ivoire

Serbia and Montenegro

Netherlands

 

You know, if Argentina decides to play like in 02 that would be awesome, but its not going to happen. Argentina and the Dutch Squad will go on.

 

Group D

Mexico

Iran

Angola

Portugal

 

Mexico and Portugal

 

Group E

Italy

Ghana

USA

Czech Republic

 

The group of death and its going to be the Czechs than Italy, just beating out the USA.

 

Group F

Brazil

Croatia

Australia

Japan

 

I do see Brazil winning all but one game, and that game will be against Japan, thus getting Japan and Brazil in the next round.

 

Group G

France

Switzerland

Korea Republic

Togo

 

France in Korea

 

Group H

Spain

Ukraine

Tunisia

Saudi Arabia

 

Spain and Ukraine

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

The last three rosters

 

Saudia Arabia

 

Goalkeepers: Mohammad Al-Deayea (Al-Hilal), Mabrouk Zayed (Al-Ittihad), Mohammad Khouja (Al-Shabab)

 

Defenders: Ahmad Al-Doukhi (Al-Ittihad), Redha Takar (Al-Ittihad), Hamad Al-Montashari (Al-Ittihad), Ahmad Al-Bahri (Al-Ittifak), Mohammad Masaad (Al-Ahli), Nayef Al-Kadhi (Al-Ahli), Hussein Abdul Ghani (Al-Ahli), Abdul Aziz Al-Khathran (Al-Hilal)

 

Midfielders: Saoud Kariri (Al-Ittihad), Mohammad Nour (Al-Ittihad), Mohammad Amin (Al-Ittihad), Khaled Aziz (Al-Hilal), Omar Al-Ghamdi (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Temyat (Al-Hilal), Mohammad Al-Shalhoub (Al-Hilal)

 

Forwards: Sami Al-Jaber (Al-Hilal), Yasser Al-Qahtani (Al-Hilal), Mohammad Al-Anbar (Al-Hilal), Saad al-Harthi (Al-Nasr), Malek Maath (Al-Ahli)

 

Iran

 

Goalkeepers: Ebrahim Mirzapour (Foolad Khuzestan), Vahid Talebloo (Esteghlal Teheran), Hassan Roudbarian (Pas).

 

Defenders: Yahya Golmohammadi (Saba Battery), Mohammad Nosrati (Pas), Rahman Rezaei (AC Messina), Sattar Zare (Bargh Shiraz), Hossein Kaabi (Foolad Khuzestan), Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh (Saba Battery), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal Teheran).

 

Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (Sharjah/VAE), Anderanik Teymourian (Abomoslem Khorasan), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg SV), Fereydoon Zandi (Kaiserslautern), Ali Karimi (Bayern Munich), Mehrzad Madanchi (Persepolis), Javad Kazemian (Persepolis).

 

Forwards: Ali Daei (Saba Battery), Vahid Hashemian (Hannover 96), Reza Enayati (Esteghlal Teheran), Arash Borhani (Pas), Masoud Shojai (Saipa), Rasoul Khatibi (Sepahan Isfahan).

 

Togo

 

Goalkeepers: Kossi Agassa (Metz/FRA), Nimini Tchagnirou (Djoliba/MLI), Kodjovi Dodji Obilale (Etoile Filante)

 

Defenders Yaovi Dosseh Abalo (Apoel/CYP), Dare Nibombe (Mons/BEL), Ludovic Assemoassa ((Clermont/FRA), Karim Guede (Hamburg/GER), Toure Assimiou (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Richmond Forson (J.A. Poire/FRA), Kuami Agboh (Beveren/BEL), Eric Akoto (Admira Walker/AUT), Afo Erassa (Clermont/FRA)

 

Midfielders: Kaka Aziawonou (Youngs Boys/SUI), Cherif Toure Mamam (Metz/FRA), Thomas Dossevi (Valencien/FRA), Alexis Romao (CS Louhans Cuiseaux/FRA), Adekambi Olufade (Al Siliyah/QAT), Yao Junior Senaya (YF Juventus/SUI), Sheyi Adebayor (Arsenal/ENG)

 

Forwards: Robert Malm (Brest/FRA), Abdel-Kader Cougbadja (Guingamp/FRA), Massamesso Tchangai (Benevento/ITA), Moustapha Salifou (Brest/FRA)

[Guest Princess Leena]

So, yeah, will the United States go back to sucking this year?

 

Like when they finished dead last in '98.

 

Please say it's so.

[A Happy Medium 0]

They are not going to finish dead last. They have their shit together.

 

Now the selection of Ching over Twellman drives me up the wall. Who gives a damn if Ching is kicking ass in the MLS....the MLS is not Europe..you don't have 30000 people at each game lighting flares, smoke bombs, and singing pub songs...it isn't the world, considering that, I believe, each MLS team is limited to only so many international players.

 

One of the reasons they have peformed well in Japan is because they had a central compund away from it all to prepare for upcoming games, and to keep the players relaxed.

 

For Germany, they have the same thing going for them.

 

Best team they have ever assembled....great goalkeepers, great midfield, and the potential to have a good strike force in Brian McBride and Eddie Johnson.

[k thx 0]

USA are in a tough group, but they won't embarass themselves. They've got a good core of players with International/European league experience.

[Angelus 0]

Group A

Germany & Poland

 

Group B

Sweden & England

 

Group C

Netherlands & Argentina but this group can end un either way

 

Group D

Mexico & Portugal

 

Group E

Czech Republic & Italy ... With all the shit going on in Italy it will be hard for them to do well in the tournament

 

Group F

Brazil & Croatia ... I can't wait to see the "dream team" of Brazil. This year they have possibly one of the great squad ever

 

Group G

Switzerland & France ... The Swiss team will be the surprise of the world cup, they are young, they want the world and they want it now. France .. I can't understand how the manager won't take Giuly ... It's a shame

 

Group H

Spain & Ukraine

[k thx 0]

I think Switzerland have a pretty good draw. A win and two draws will see them though the group. They should beat Togo, draw with South Korea and drew twice with France in qualifying. Group H is also relativelty poor, so they could get through to the quater-finals, and from then it's anyones guess.

 

The only problem is that if they come second in their group, the potential quater final would be against Brazil.

[Angelus 0]

I hope they beat the French, it's now or never ... I hate Barthez and i want him to take as many goals as possible in a match. The main problem with the Swiss is the forward line, Frei is good but not on the international level, they need someone else

[k thx 0]

What's Vonlathen like at international level?

 

BTW, I may do a World Cup write up for the main page if I can be bothered.

[Guest]

They are not going to finish dead last. They have their shit together.

 

Now the selection of Ching over Twellman drives me up the wall. Who gives a damn if Ching is kicking ass in the MLS....the MLS is not Europe..you don't have 30000 people at each game lighting flares, smoke bombs, and singing pub songs...it isn't the world, considering that, I believe, each MLS team is limited to only so many international players.

I just hope that the selection of Ching doesn't cost them during the tournament.

 

I think the U.S. will finish 2nd in their pool. From there, I have no idea.

[Angelus 0]

What's Vonlathen like at international level?

 

He's got potential, i guess he just need something to really explode but i don't know if he will play a lot in this tournament.

[Adam 0]

I'm begging Australia to at least win one group game. Games air at either 10pm, 1am or 4am here, so some big, big nights are ahead.

 

Group A

Germany

Costa Rica

Poland

Ecuador

 

Germany and Poland.

 

Group B

England

Paraguay

Trinidad and Tobago

Sweden

 

England and Paraguay.

 

Group C

Argentina

Côte d'Ivoire

Serbia and Montenegro

Netherlands

 

The Ivory Coast have a decent side, pity they drew a group with two of the best sides in the Tourny. Argentina and the Netherlands to advance in perhaps the toughest group, both teams will give the tournament a shake.

 

Group D

Mexico

Iran

Angola

Portugal

 

Mexico and Portugal

 

Group E

Italy

Ghana

USA

Czech Republic

 

Italy and the Czechs to advance easily.

 

Group F

Brazil

Croatia

Australia

Japan

 

The defending world champions will win two games... and draw against Aus . We'll do a lot better than people think. Under no pressure whatsoever to perform, and an entire country behind them to do well. There'll be 98,000 people on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a friendly against Greece, the Aussies sendoff before heading to Germany.

 

Group G

France

Switzerland

Korea Republic

Togo

 

France and the Swiss.

 

Group H

Spain

Ukraine

Tunisia

Saudi Arabia

 

Spain and the Ukraine.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Homer.

 

BTW, where's Russia? I thought they were good at soccer. One of their teams won one of those cup things recently.

[Guest CurryMan]

They won because there owner layout tons of money to buy good players. There nationalteam is ok but missed out this year.

 

....

 

I love Australia btw!

 

http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/may06/artid5678.html

[Guest]

Claudio Reyna (US Captain) was hurt today during their friendly vs Morocco. I find his strained hamstring to be a possible blessing in disguise.

[Guest CurryMan]

Some practise games have been played.

 

Trinidad/Tobago - Austria Wien Amateur 3-2

Paraguy - Norway 2-2

 

Tonight Sweden will face Finland. Any other game you know about?

[spiny norman 0]

Australia 1-0 Greece

[EricMM 0]

I was so furious at the end of the USA vs MAR match, when that penalty kick came so close to going in.

 

Similarly I was furious at that defender that got scored on, for coming off his section to try to double team the other attacker.

 

Oh well. I *heart* Soccer's lack of commercials.

[deancoles 0]

Some practise games have been played.

 

Trinidad/Tobago - Austria Wien Amateur 3-2

Paraguy - Norway 2-2

 

Tonight Sweden will face Finland. Any other game you know about?

 

England B vs. Belarus B

 

Edit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/f...res/default.stm

 

Use this if you want.

[Guest CurryMan]

Sweden - Finland 0-0

 

It was really a b-side from Sweden missing players who will start when the World Cup starts. Players who was missing was Henrik Larsson (Barcelona), Andreas Isaksson (goalie, Rennes), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal) and Anders Svensson (Elfsborg).

 

Unfortunatly noone of the subs who now got the chance really took it, I would had hoped that anyone of the forwards would have scored to show that they should be the first one in if it goes stale but no one really showd anything.

 

Best player today was probebly Kim Källström of Rennes and Olof Mellberg of Aston Villa.

[deancoles 0]

England lost 2-1 to Belarus, 3rd choice GK Green ruptured his groin(out of the World Cup now) and his goal kick went straight to the forward for the first goal, game showed the lack of depth in Midfield with only Lennon looking like he could step into the first 11.

[Guest CurryMan]

Did Walcott play and did he do anything impressive on the field?

[deancoles 0]

played 25 minutes, had 2 good moments, getting the Captain booked with his pace and a good half volley on target, can't really fault him though as the only support came from Lennon and Crouch.

 

Not to worried about him, the Centre of Midfield is the real problem with Belarus going through it easily, had Hleb been playing it would have been even worse.

[Guest]

I want to change my pick from Holland to Argentina. Part of me wants to pick Mexico, but I can't pull the trigger.

[Murmuring Beast 0]

With Scotland naturally not being there, I will (instinctively) be supporting everyone playing against England who I think could do fairly well. All talk of them winning it is slighty overly-optimistic.

 

Hope Germany win - heading over there on holiday immediately after the World Cup.

[deancoles 0]

Rooney's out for the Group stages and faces a scan on June 14th to see if he makes it for the other games.

 

We have till June 9th to decide if he stays in the squad.