AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s only a day away
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AP / No Ballack for Friday's opening match? No problem, say even some Germans doubtful of their team's World Cup chances.
Just about 24 hours from kickoff in Munich and the injuries and absences keep piling up. One prominent name who won’t feature in Germany-Costa Rica is Germany captain Michael Ballack, who has been ruled out with a calf injury.
But as Off the Ball’s Las Vegas Bureau Chief and native German Frank-En-Furter suggested, “Costa Rica should be doable without Ballack and half of the team. My prediction: with Ballack 3:0, without him 1:0. That would be a typical opening game.” This is exactly the attitude of the German media that has Costa Rica’s coach rather ticked. But as those of us in CONCACAF Land know, the Ticos are nasty to play at home but little kitties on the road. Sorry coach, but even this so-so German outfit ought to prevail easily enough, especially with the expectations of being the host nation.
Before his injury status was determined, Ballack tried very hard yesterday to downplay the chances of the ‘02 finalists, sounding almost pessimistic. To be honest, there isn’t a lot of love being paid to Der Mannschaft by the home Volk, and they’re taking an increasingly dim view of coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s American style-approaches to the game. I wish I had remembered the source, but I read somewhere yesterday that Klinsi, hero of Germany’s last Cup title in ‘90, might be considered as a successor to Bruce Arena, given his permanent home in America, etc.
I don’t think The Bruce is going anywhere, and may even go through another quadrennial.
In a rather gruesome incident Fox Soccer Channel played over and over again, French striker Djibril Cisse is out of the World Cup after breaking his leg in a friendly against China Wednesday. The very polite anchors up Winnipeg way at FSC kept apologizing for the replays, yet it seemed just as ghoulish a thing to do as Joe Theismann’s broken leg reel. And I can’t stand Joe Theismann! More than once was more than enough, fellas.
Now Stevie G. says he’s 50-50 for England Saturday against Paraguay. The Rooney circus subsides a bit, now this.
Horn Guy Dos chimes in this morning with the news that Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez has returned home after the death of his father, and when he might rejoin El Tri is up in the air. Couple this with injuries to a good chunk of Italy’s defense, and all of a sudden Off the Ball’s W.C. pool pix are looking a bit shaky.
As for the rest of Group A (Germany’s pod mates), here are a few quick lynx a day ahead of their games: ** a team profile of a supposedly improved Poland team and Ecuador’s success at making it two Cups in a row after never having been there before.
Will post again later this afternoon, so stay tuned. And remember, Off the Ball will live blog off the USA-Czech Republic game starting at 12 p.m. ET Monday.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Rutuger
June 8, 2006 3:24 PM | Link to this
Can’t wait til tomorrow! Really gonna have to come up with some clever hooky to get away from work and catch some of these games. This damn 9am, noon, 3pm crapple is killin me! I demand that the world revolve around the US time zone and play the matches accordingly…
Got my USA jersey in the mail the other day from ProSoccer.com, and it’s a beauty. I will be sporting it at the Brewhouse throughout the Cup.
GO TEAM USA!!!
By E. Lewis
June 8, 2006 4:57 PM | Link to this
I hope the USA team does really well, but I’ll be sitting in front of a TV in my #7 England jersey. What can I say, I became a real fan of football when I lived in Italy.
I tried to get out of my cubicle and into an office with a window so my XM radio would link up, but I was brutally rebuffed. I have promised my boss that I won’t get busted by listening on the internet.
Thank goodness my VCR still works.
By E. Lewis
June 8, 2006 4:58 PM | Link to this
At the very least, the World Cup is the best thing going during the summer repeat season.
By Chris
June 8, 2006 7:07 PM | Link to this
After this World Cup it would be nice to see Bruce Arena move on. I think it would be the best for all. The next generation of US players will arrive soon and Bruce ain’t the man in my eyes to handle them.
If Johnson is on form the US should not have a problem challenging the Czechs and the Italians with some pace. If he plays up to his potential consider him gone to Europe in a transfer move. I don’t care if he hussles or gets back on D. His job is to score.
By The Gaffer
June 8, 2006 8:13 PM | Link to this
That’s the unfortunate thing about the World Cup. With 736 players, there are definitely going to be injuries. Hopefully it doesn’t decimate any squads.
Keep up the good work AJC
Cheers, The Gaffer [www.EPLTalk.com[(http://www.epltalk.com)
By Nicholas Irwin
June 8, 2006 9:21 PM | Link to this
What’s wrong with Bruce Arena? The man is flat-out underappreciated, in my opinion. I’m not sure if it’s because of his contrarian nature or what it is, but he always has us ready to play and his in-game managing is almost never bad, and I would say 50% of the time it’s pretty close to flawless. The players also love playing for him, which is a very underrated facet in all this. Anyway, he can have the job as long as he wants, as far as I’m concerned. I doubt it’ll be more than one more cycle, though.
By Chris
June 8, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this
Nicholas,
I like Bruce Arena and I think he has done a great job but static leadership becomes stale and loses outward perspective. I think a change for Bruce at this point would also be the best thing for him. How many years do you want the same person leading your national team? Realistically I don’t think that is the ideal way to grow. American Soccer is ready to take another step. He has some good tools to work with and I think he will make mostly sound decisions during this World Cup.
Enjoy the World Cup I am always happy to hear your counter point on the blogs Nicholas.
By Chris
June 8, 2006 11:21 PM | Link to this
The biggest problem I have had with the US team and will continue to have until they show me something different is their inability to be creative, decisive and show moments of genius in the final third. Clint Mathis had moments of creativity and Johnson had amazing poise when he was on his streak. McBride has been a solid player but we are ready for the next step. If Johnson can score on Monday I honestly thing he has a chance at the Golden Boot.
By time for the truth
June 9, 2006 12:49 AM | Link to this
ENGERLAND
ENGERLAND
ENGERLAND
E N G E R L A N D
FOOTBALLS’ COMING HOME
COME ON YOU WHITES/REDS!!
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONEY!!!!!
By Nicholas Irwin
June 9, 2006 3:02 AM | Link to this
Thanks Chris. I enjoy the discussions, as well. You enjoy the World Cup, too.
By Henry
June 9, 2006 7:52 AM | Link to this
BRASIL GERMANY USA In the first round. England as always ?????????????????????
By Henry
June 9, 2006 7:54 AM | Link to this
Oh yah. Bruce should go to a major Europea team to coach and then return to take is to the world cup final.
He needs that final education.
By ABS
June 9, 2006 9:11 AM | Link to this
What would be the best site to listen to the games on-line? Anybody got any suggestions? My boss doesn’t care if I listen to the games - she’s great! Anybody, anybody?
Thanks! Enjoy the Cup!
By E. Lewis
June 9, 2006 2:05 PM | Link to this
XM radio and XM radioonline are carrying all the matches in Spanish and English.
or try
http://www.penguinradio.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/index.php
By ABS
June 9, 2006 3:48 PM | Link to this
Thanks E. Lewis!
By SC DAWG
June 10, 2006 5:16 PM | Link to this
Hey, Whatever happped to GEORGIA boy Clint Mathis who played in a World Cup in the 90’s, just don’t know which?