The 2006 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals caused all sorts of troubles to the people with so-called high FQ (Football Quotient) and to the bookmakers around the world who had Brazil, the favorite, followed closely by Germany, Argentina, and England with almost identical odds permeated by reasonable fluctuations from time to time.
Baring Germany, the lone survivor, the journey is over for the rest of the top guns as grief, despair, and madness crisscrossed from London to Buenos Aires. The fans didn't get a taste of what could have been an electrifying semi-final encounter between Brazil and England. (No slights intended to the French and the Portuguese.)
In all fairness, the French, with a band of familiar faces who've been there and done that, are looking increasingly ominous, setting themselves up for a dèja vu. They rode through the successive Spanish and Brazilian storms with steely resolve when everyone had written them off. Had anyone said before that France would be here trashing Spain and Brazil on their way, people would have laughed off on their face, might even asked a polite question or two about the crack they are smoking. Now they are here, make no mistake, the crazy Gauls could go all the way.
The Portuguese, not exactly a surprise, but were not expected to be here either. (I picked them for reasons I refuse to disclose here but feel free to check my blog.)
They are more than a gritty talented bunch, well coached by the fire-band Luiz "Big Phil" Scolari who previously helped Brazil to win the 2002 World Cup title. The recent successes of Portugal, a trip to the finals of Euro 2004 and the World Cup semi-finals this time around, provide ample testimony to their class and will likely catapult them to the elite of world football in the future.
Article comments
1 - utter nuts
you don't have a clue what your on about......don't quit the day job, what ever it is :-/
2 - footbalfan
France and Germany in the finals. If Zidaine is on fire like he has been, France will take it all. Italy is lucky they've made it this far. Expect a massacre this week by Germany.
3 - footbalfanisafag
Dude the last time italy and germany met, it was a massacre, for germany!4-1 if i remember correct.
4 - nuts
Germany will win the cup...well they are the only consistant team left in the tournament so they deserve nothing less than a win.
france and italy have been very lucky esspecially early on in the tournament and Portugal are just sub-human cheaters who robbed Holland and England of a chance to play.
5 - thepredictator
Germany has played most of his jokers until now, and the team is not as good as the germans has presented to the world like usually, specially when you see how players start trebling on a game against a good team. Under a clean and transparent game Germany doesn't has a chance specially with Buffon, who hasn't received any goal from his contenders.
6 - obsessivefan
I'm no professional critic...actually I just recently became a fan of football. Anyhow it doesn't take a pro to figure out England doesn't deserve to win in the game against Portugal. Both teams are my favs so I don't think I'm biased. Ricardo deserves all the credits for his wondrous saves! England wasn't robbed! True they had no Rooney but Portugal didn't have Deco/Costinha either. England had so many big names at their disposal but they lost against Portugal with only a few stars. You can tell Portugal was spirited and hardworking. England was just looking big headed. Beckham looked like he was faking it when he was taken off. Ankle injury-- yeah right. I see people injured worst than that little trip. But good ridance England played better after he got sent off and with only 10 men. England should learn from their mistakes instead of blaming on luck and referee. They didn't play soccor to their potential...its all their own fault. The way they played this world cup made me less of their fan.
7 - duoman
nuts, you are dumb as shit, portugal deserved to win over england and holland. First of all england did not nearly play as well as expected. Secondly england is big headed so the deserved to lose. As I am a supported of netherlands and portugal i believe that portugal deserved the win again as netherlands did under perform. PORTUGAL!!!!!!
8 - joaobio
I also agree that nuts is a bit nuts... Anyway, the english did deserve to lose for many reasons stated above, and portugal at only half power (Figo and deco only work at 100% together) still won england... And rooney was a fool... Besides i also think germany will win over italy, and portugal over france, portugal will have it's entire team again, and france, well the ages media is about 30 years old... Cristiano will probably break the defence in speed with ease, though they are very experienced players... Time will tell, but I think portuguese will win... Ah and yeah, Zidane indeed plays very well... But Zidane alone will not be enough...
9 - thepredictator
nuts it's a typical example of a german way of thinking, for those who has the chance to watch the german media could understand how they have being dedicating to discredit all the nations around the world faraway from the sport itself. Like Riquelme and Ronaldihno has said you never play your 100% of the total level of your team until you really need it. There is a difference between who deserved to win the game and which team is the best. World Cups are really changing and specially for the host country, with all the Survelliance inside and outside the stadium and with Beckenbauer protecting you things are a lot of easier... Like Beckenbauer just said to the italians you will pay on the field what you did to us. Germany needs this cup and they will do everything they can to get it.
10 - Q Bit
Assorted comments:
1. I picked Germany but I want to remind you folks that Italy started slow in 1982 WC as well, and peaked when it mattered.
2. This time it is 1970 revisited. Germany (then West Germany) lost to Italy in the semi finals.
3. That 4-1 massacre was in a friendly.
4. For the record Germany has never beaten Italy in a competitive match.
5. If Italy wants to win, they must do so in regulation and/or extra time. They don't stand a chance in penalties. You don't want the ghost of Roberto Baggio looming large all over again. Do you?
6. Frings has been suspended--not a good news for the Germans.
7. Portugal should win, I doubt how much gas is left in the French tank.
11 - Douglas Mays
OK, OK. It could be anyone at this point. I'll go for Germany, having the homefield (home nation) advantage. It worked for France a couple of World Cups ago.
12 - Frances
Portugal is the greater team left in the fifa world cup with the most valuable players.they work hard as a team and play at a different league to all the other remaining teams.Portugal has it this world cup!!!!GO PORTUGAL,besides they deserve to win,they're to talented not 2..
13 - Leash
Well... Welll.... Welll.... Germanyu as many ppl tipped to be favourites in this world cup didnt perform well in much og the tourney.... they just being an attackin team countered on the defence of weak opponents.... just see the luck they had against Argentina... they didnt derserve to win... just imagine how many millions would have prayed to jesus in germany.... they scraped thru... well.. its bout time they pay for their luck... its gonna be italians day... even if they scrap thru this game, the final will be sour for them... the hosts doesnt mean they are the champs... Portugal, is a good team... they got the unity n teamwork... they worked frm day 1... france another luck based country made it this far... but nt forgetting the excellent performace from zidane n vieira in midfield and sloppy performance from henry rated as the best striker... i see portugal winning this game at least in extra time... thought they cant strike with pauleta, i believe that smth will happen for the goal to come... therfore it gonna be a italy vs Portugal final (wat i tink)... or if germany is lucky then Germany vs Portugal final where germany will be cryin at the end of the game.... not nice to lose in the finals as the HOST country rite? haha... well i tip portugal to carry their 1st world cup!
14 - taZZie
i wish Portugal will win over France. so that they will paly either the Italians or the Germans. i was so dissapointed that Argentina got to go home.
15 - Maiorca
There you go brilliant fans. Germany has been getting through on luck all the way. Italy is by far the better team and dominated this game all the way. It was just a matter of time until they put one in the goal. England has always sucked, so why is anyone surprised about their early exit? France is a one man team and will have a hard time against Portugal. It looks like there are a lot of first time soccer fans here, judging by the comments. Nice to see but such poor insights. The best 2 teams, Italy and Portugal, are each the only team that could beat the other, so the final could go either way. Try to watch objectively in the future.
16 - Douglas Mays
OK, OK, what a match. Italy scores a brilliant goal with just minutes left before a potential shootout. That goal was unstopable. Germany had defense and coverage just where it had to be. a georgeous curving inswinging shot from the side threads the only minute spot the ball could be placed for a result. And it was. That broke Germany's back with little time remaining. Italy took advantage of all Germans forward and dumped another goal in with seconds left. that goal didn't matter. Just icing on the cake.
But the winning goal was probably the most skilled, brilliant goal of the whole tournament so far.
17 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Q-Bit,
Looks like you comments in #10 about Germany and Italy have borne fruit...
Now I think I know why my wife's employer (who was born in Italy) is going on vacation there for a week... Tomorrow night.
18 - chromatius
I'd reckon tonight France will beat Portugal(who were poor against England, and Scholari's selection/formation was pretty mystifying), and face Italy, who look like coming into form at just the right moment.
And currently I favour Italy to beat them, but may change my mind after tonight.
Have France peaked?
19 - Q Bit
Ruvy:
Which is why am an idiot :) (I picked Germany despite all the available signs favoring Italy)
Chromatius:
I think France peaked already. And btw I don't see anything mystifying about Scolari's formation/selection (perhaps I missed something -- can u elaborate?). I think he's doing a great job even when his key players weren't available.
20 - Ice Ballerina
I think that everyone should send peace, love and harmony to each other. This competition thing is too competitive. Why can't we all just get along? Why do we have to see who's better at kicking a ball into a net? I really love people and it really saddens me to see someone cry because their team lost. Why do we have to keep score? Why can't they just play the World Cup for the fun and love of the game. Not to see who can kick the most goals. And after all this i have one thing to say................
GO ITALY!!!