[Night Hammer]

probably not, hell say we were cheated and continue to think we were the best thing to happen to soccer since the ball was invented

[Rictor]

Argentina - Holland: boring. Though I expected Argentina to win eventually.

Ivory Coast - Serbia Montenegro: Nooooooooooooooo!

[Shade]

Heh, what the hell was that serb thinking anyway on the first IC goal? Did he actually think he could get away with using his hands? I'm somewhat surprised he didn't get a red card. Stupid, I think is the word. Trading a possible goal for a certain goal and a yellow card... bad trade.

Entertaining match though, unlike the other.

[Roanoke]

don't forget tho, freaky things happen in finals. I mean. Greece winning euro-whatever-year-it-was ?

Yup, that's true.  Very much an exception, though.

not to mention the giant killings everyone loves and has made the FA Cup far more interesting than it probably has any right to be.

[aldo_14]

Terrible mistake at the back, 1-nil Ghana (slightly against the run of play).

[Shade]

Not showing that match here yet... the US still has a chance though if they can get back into the match: Italy 1-0 Czechs just about 10 seconds ago. Also a bit against the run of play, Czechs have had a slight upper hand so far.

[aldo_14]

Not showing that match here yet... the US still has a chance though if they can get back into the match: Italy 1-0 Czechs just about 10 seconds ago. Also a bit against the run of play, Czechs have had a slight upper hand so far.

I'm getting both on IPTV

http://www.11football.com/coupedumonde2006/ has videos of the goals more or less as they happen

[Shade]

Neat, thanks for the link. Will be getting the match, just timeshifted to right after the other one... but nice to be able to stay in the conversation We just got a replay of it during a lull though, but I'll load it up anyway in case of later developments. Having seen it now, I can only agree... monstrous mistake, definitely not the kind of thing you want to do when fighting for survival.

The Italy match is actually turning out really good despite their lead. Very un-Italian the way they're playing actually. They don't even need to win, but they're playing real football instead of just defending like they'd have done 2 years ago.

[Edit] Well, site doesn't respond... guess there's lots of people watching at work. Not that important anyway, we seem to be getting replays of important stuff whenever there's a break in the action. Like that American goal just now

[aldo_14]

US equalizer, good cross & finish.  (the ESPN commentator is going a bit nuts)

EDIt; Ghana penalty, and a really soft one at that.  (Appiah scores).  Admittedly my connection kind of froze up at the replay, but it looked like a nothing award.  And Czechs down to 10 now, apparently.

[Shade]

Well, double yellow->red card for Jan Polak. Tackle from behind. 15 seconds before halftime... nice work, that. Should seal the match for Italy.

[Edit] Oh boy. Someone's gonna have a field day with that ref. But nice work Pimpong, plays for the current Danish champions so I guess I should be cheering for Ghana

[Kazan]

WHAT A ****ING DIVE! Referee hook, line & sinker!

gooch's arms where at his sides, player who dove already has a yellow - should have been a second yellow for simulation and a send off - not a pk!

[aldo_14]

Er, yes, quite.

[Kazan]

we'll get it back and make ghana pay for their simulation

[Colonol Dekker]

Dont look Kazan,................

[Wobble73]

Dont look Kazan,................

You had to didn't you! we'll never hear the end of that now!

[Shade]

at the face he's making. Looks like a ballet dancer who just tripped over his own feet in front of a 5000-strong audience.

[Night Hammer]

so since he gave Ghana a PK is he the worst referee ever?

[Shade]

Italy 2-nil. Czechs were putting everything forward, lost the ball, and it was 3 Italians against 1 very lonely keeper.

[Edit] And it's over. Deserved victory for Italy, all things considered. Czechs never stood a chance after their (correct) sendoff. Nedved was amazing though, he was the only real threat the Czechs had in the second half. Very impressive given his age and the fact that he did a lot of it more or less singlehandedly.

[aldo_14]

Finished Ghana 2-1.  USA finish bottom, Czech 3rd, Ghana will face Brazil in the next round sans Essien.

[Colonol Dekker]

At least goals were scored..........