World Cup 2006

[CCL]

I hate when it ends on penalties.
Nice job on the bet, fluff.

[Google]

 

[DesertRose]

Originally Posted by DesertRose

Pom, my husband told me an interesting tidbit yesterday. Brazil is favored to win, but in the history of the World Cup, the favorite to win NEVER won. It's like the curse of the car in Survivor...

Looks like the curse lives on!
I'm happy Portugal won (my brother-in-law is Portuguese). I'm just hoping it won't be a Portugal-Italy finale. We won't be able to watch it together.
Also, a commentator was saying that in the history of the World Cup, England never won the penalty rounds.

[lildago]

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200607/s1676774.htm

Beckham quits England captaincy
Posted: Sunday, July 2, 2006. 8:13pm AEST

An emotional David Beckham has resigned as England captain after nearly six years following his side's World Cup quarter-final exit to Portugal.

Beckham was close to tears as he read from a prepared statement at England's training camp in southern Germany to confirm his decision to step down.

He said he hoped to continue as a player for England, but not as captain.

"On November 15, 2000 Peter Taylor gave me the greatest honour of my career in making me the captain of England, fulfilling my childhood dream," the Real Madrid superstar said.

"Now, almost six years later, after being captain for 58 of my 95 caps, I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter in a new era under Steve McClaren.

"It has been an honour and a privilage to have captained our country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England and look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McClaren in any way I can."

In fact, Beckham has won 94 caps, not 95.

While Beckham scored with a trademark free kick against Ecuador, he has had an average World Cup by his standards and some commentators have even called for him to be axed altogether.

While arguably still one of the most accurate strikers of a ball at set pieces, his lack of pace has been evident.

Once England's golden boy, and the darling of the media along with wife Victoria, he has seen that accolade taken away by the emergence of Wayne Rooney, further eroding his position as Sven-Goran Eriksson's main man.

McClaren, the former Middlesbrough manager, takes over from Eriksson as coach with immediate effect after the Swede bowed out following five-and-a-half years in charge, but his choice of captain has not been made known.

Eriksson said he was surprised at the decision, and praised Beckham.

"He's been a very good captain and very proud to do the job," he said. "I was a bit surprised when he told me but you have to respect his decision.

"It is now Steve McClaren's job to decide on Beckham's successor. He has a lot of choices that are more than capable of doing the job. It is very much up to him."

Beckham, who earns an estimated $A43 million a year, said he took his decision some time ago.

"I came to this decision some time ago but I had hoped to annnounce it on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly that wasn't to be," he said.

"This decision has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and those closest to me I feel the time is right."

Beckham said the team was devastated by their failure to move beyond the quarter-finals, but that he was proud of his time as captain.

"Our performance during this World Cup has not been enough to progress further and both myself and all the players regret that and are hurt by that more than people realise," he said.

"I wish to thank all the players for their support during my time as captian, as well as Peter Taylor, Sven and all the coaches.

"I would also like to thank the press and of course all the England supporters who have both been great to me and my teammates. I want them to know for me it has been an absolute honour.

"Finally, I have lived the dream, I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England and for that I will also be grateful."

At 31, it was almost certainly to be Beckham's last World Cup and it has all ended in bitter disappointment.

[jacobson00]

poor beckam. poor brazil. i see a france/germany final

[JLuvs]

Go Italy go....man that was so exciting

[lildago]

What an exciting finish! I thought it was sure to go to penalties. Italia!!

[DesertRose]

Give me a minute please: and

Sorry, can you tell i'm excited? My only wish is for Portugal to make it because 1) I hate France and 2) my brother in law is portuguese.

As long as we don't watch the game together, if it is and Italy-Portugal finale, we are good.

I have to give major to Buffon. What a goaltender he is. A big

[misskitty]

DesertRose: Let me check, I can see you are excited, but are you HAPPY!

Ukraine is out but I enjoyed their run. Now, who to vote for? Hmmmm.
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Here's a funny story that my friend sent me. Sorry, no link. I can't believe someone invented this. Oh, wait. I'll just bet it was a man!

Urine luck? The urinals of the German Football Federation Media Center of the World Cup International Broadcasting Centre in Berlin have a football theme called "Pee Goal", ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. A trip to the gents may be relieving but now it can be exciting as well. With the new Pee Goals, you can practice your aim and you might even score. More and more companies buy and install Pee Goals in the gents for the upcoming World Cup.

The Pee Goal consists of a green base, goal post and a little football on a string.

Take aim, shoot and see if you can score a goal. On a more practical note, the base of the pee goal protects the urinal from becoming blocked with cigarette butts or any other unwanted objects. It's easy to clean and the base can be trimmed if necessary to fit any size of urinals. Break the seal and score a hatrick, a wee bit of fun.

[misskitty]

Awww. Portugal lost. Poop. It's France and Italy!

LET'S GO ITALY, LET'S GO LET'S GO ITALY, LET'S GO!

[DesertRose]

In the words of Monica from BB: It's ON! We have unfinished business with France.