Hi Soccer crazy Friends😛
Its resting time now in FIFA World Cup... We have seen the First Round and the Round of 16 Matches played . Its now time to get into the most crucial phase of the world cup - The Quarterfinals, Semis and the much awaited Finals... 👏
As we wish good luck to all the 8 teams, its now time to check the matches in store for us in the Quarters...
Quarter Finals
30 June 20:30 Germany Vs Argentina
1 July 00:30 Italy Vs Ukraine
1 July 20:30 England Vs Portugal
2 July 00:30 Brazil Vs France
Now let us analyse the prospects of each and every match... These are a few observations made, based on the performances of these teams. We have listed out the players to be watched for, the players who have a chance of getting reprimanded in the future games etc. So just go thro these facts, please pen your predictions and thoughts in this discussion post...
----------------------------------------------------------
Match 1: Germany Vs Argentina
Germany is hunting for its 4th World Cup title. The Germans have played good attacking football till now and they look menacing with corners and free kicks. The advantage they have over Argentina lies in their tall attackers and defenders.Their weakness might lie in their weak central defence, which really needs to step up now as we enter the final stage of the world cup. Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski appear to be in great knick, while Michael Ballack has not yet troubled the scorers with a goal... Germany have not conceeded a goal in its last three matches, they have scored a total of 10 goals so far....
Players to watch out for: Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolski, Michael Ballack .
Players going with Yellow Cards: Frings
Argentina has been the most impressive team so far. They are crafty, fast, with good defence. They have a lot of patience and can play both attacking as well as waiting game, depending on the situation. Their famous goal against Serbia and Montenegro with 24 passes just speaks volumes about the patience they have... Their striker Hernan Crespo looks in great form, while their midfielder Maxi Rodriguez seems to have grown in confidence with every match.
Players to watch out for: Hernan Crespo, Javier Saviola, Juan Riquelme, the wonder kid Lionel Messi.
Players going with Yellow cards: Heinze, Sorin
Match 2: Italy Vs Ukraine
Italy has not been playing to their mark. They have been involved in the match fixing scandal back home, that is not helping their cause in the world cup. Italy have lost the services of Daniel Rossi , who serves a 4 match ban for elbowing US forward McBride. Italy is one of the few teams that has looked unimpressive in its run to the last 8. They scrambled thro' in their match against Australia with a last-minute controversial penalty claim, which was netted by Francesco Totti. Another disadvantage is that they have lost the services of Alessandro Nesta owing to injury, they do not have their crafty defender Materazzi, who is serving a red card sentence. Their defence looks solid, but their strikers Toni and Del Piero look a bit out of form.
Players to watch out for: Francesco Totti
Players with Yellow cards: Zambrotta, Grosso, Gattusso.
Ukraine has been one of the surprise teams entering the 3rd Round. They had to come out of a crucial penalty shootout against Switzerland to get into the last 8. Ukraine can win on any set day, but can easily lose too on their bad day. Italy seems to have the easiest match of the Quarters against Ukraine. But only time will tell what Ukraine is capable of.
Players to watch out for: A Shevchenko
Match 3: England Vs Portugal
England have looked very pale thro'out the tournament. They have believed and hoped that Beckham's right foot free kicks and penalties will give them their winning goal. Till now, they have been getting them from Beckham . A big blow to England was the injury that hampered Michael Owen's world cup dreams. Wayne Rooney who has been declared fit, does not look in menacing form. England need to attack more, they need to put the pressure on the opponents more , to secure a place in the semis. But the biggest advantage that England have over Portugal is that, Portugal have a long list of players coming into the match with yellow cards, with 2 important players off duty with red cards.
Players to watch out for: Lampard, David Beckham, Gerrard
Portugal have just come out of a nightmare of a match against Holland, which will be remembered for the umpteen number of fouls and yellow, red cards given. Their star Christiano Ronaldo is injured, but hopes to get well before this crucial match. They have lost the services of Deco, who is now serving a Red card ban. Portugal need to play it very carefully this time, as they cannot lose another player.
Players to watch out for: Ronaldo, Figo
Players with Yellow Cards: A. Ricardo, Valente, Maniche, Figo, Petit
Players out with Red: Deco, Costinha.
Match 4: Brazil Vs France
Brazil are five time winners, looking for their 6th world cup title. They look in good form, have been improving and peaking up as they progres into the final stages. Ronaldo looks to be in the old menacing form, with Adriano doing well. Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho look weak shadows of the past. Brazil needs all their strikers to get into form before the crucial matches. They have a solid defender in Emerson. They just need to attack more and forget about conceding. This is the way Brazilians have played so far, will do the same in order to take their 6th title home.
Players to look out for: Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Kaka.
Players with Yellow Cards: Juan, Adriano
France are slowly but steadily regaining their lost touch. France had a very mediocre start to the world cup, they just managed to sneak thro to the 2nd round. Zinedine Zidane cannot be counted-off, as the veteran might have one last go to get the trophy home. Vierra and Tierry Henry are looking to be in form after their goals in the last few matches. France will surely prove to be a threat to Brazil. Brazil will not have a cake-walk for sure in this game....
Players to look for: Zinedine Zedane, Vieira, T. Henry.
Players with Yellow cards: Ribery, Zidane, Vieira.
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------
So friends, these are the matches we are eagerly looking forward to. We have 6 previous winners here in the last 8. The time is ripe now for teams to start sensing that they could lift the world cup. They have successfully seen off the weaker teams. So it is now time for some action-packed football, with lots of goals and stars emerging from each win...
Each of the quarter-finalists have world-class players and the stage is set for the greats to show what they are made off. It is time for Ronaldinho, Zidane, Ballack, Riquelme, Figo, Beckham and the likes to stand up and be counted.
What are your predictions on all these matches? What do you think will happen now? Who do you think will proceed to the Semis? What are your predictions? Can we have a detailed discussion here on the teams and their prospects in the last stages of the World Cup 2006.
Regards
IF Development Team
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
CID
