It's almost show time Ukraine!

[Jack]

It's about show time.

In a little more than an hour from now most the nation of Ukraine will be watching there football team play Italy for the chance to advance to one of the final four teams in the 2006 World Cup. (In America you can catch the game on ESPN).  With Ghana being eliminated Ukraine has to be the Cinderella team still remaining in the tournament.

Germany has just defeated Argentina in a shoot out to play either Ukraine or Italy on July 4th.

Although I think Italy is favored to win over Ukraine, in my opinion Ukraine matches up well against Italy. Ukraine is a good team, not a great team like Brazil, or even Germany. I think Ukraine has a chance to beat Italy, not so much of a chance to beat Germany and I think almost no chance to defeat Brazil, who should make it to the finals and win the World Cup.

[Michelangelo]

I think Ukraine will defeat Italy.

The US  tied Italy last week, and we were playing them with only 9 men (due to the officiating of the worst referee in world cup history!!!)

Ukraine is MUCH stronger than the US; hence, I think they will win.

And yes, the whole country will be watching this 10 p.m. (22:00) game!  It's great for Ukraine to have this proud moment :-))

[Jack]

I agree about the officiating of the Italy/US game. I could not believe some of those calls. But I thought the US team did not play well at all.

Considering the other teams still left, playing Italy is the best chance Ukraine has to advance to the last four teams. Who would have thought that one month ago that the Ukraine team would be one of the last eight teams remaining, let alone one of the last four.

[Jack]

uh,ohhh. 5.5 minutes into the game, not so good.   

[Jack]

Ukraine's first ever World Cup appearance will come to an end with there loss to three time World Cup champions Italy.  Ukraine's youth, inexperience and mistakes showed during the second half of the game.

The Ukraine people can be very proud of there fine young football team.

[Michelangelo]

The Ukraine people can be very proud of there fine young football team.

Yes, they can.  And the USA can be proud that they played Itally to a tie, with only 9 US men playing.

[SANDRO43]

3-0, sorry folks . Sausages for dinner, next .
Mike, it was rather hard to keep tabs on how many were actually on the field at any one time, during Italy vs. USA

[SANDRO43]

Pizzas 2, Sausages Nil !
Camembert for Sunday night dinner ! 

[SANDRO43]

Pizzas 6, Camembert 5 !!!!!!!!!!

[Jack]

Sandro, your Italian team played like the true champions they are.

[SANDRO43]

Sandro, your Italian team played like the true champions they are.

Thanks Jack, and we put behind us the nightmare of having being beaten twice by the French at penalties 

[Bruce]

All I know is that World Cup soccer does not even have instant replay.  This is a joke, especially since every game really was decided by the officials.  The officials routinely miss offsides and call penalties when none exists.  I watched a bunch of the games and thats the major point I could come away with.  A second point is that penalty kicks is the most ridiculous way to decide a game I have ever heard of.  Let the teams decide the game on the field like men.  One consolation to this years World Cup - at least the French did not win (though they had to have the ball in Italy's end 70 % of the game and may have won if Zidane was not thrown out for a definite foul).

[Ste]

All I know is that World Cup soccer does not even have instant replay.  This is a joke, especially since every game really was decided by the officials.  The officials routinely miss offsides and call penalties when none exists.  I watched a bunch of the games and thats the major point I could come away with.  A second point is that penalty kicks is the most ridiculous way to decide a game I have ever heard of.  Let the teams decide the game on the field like men.  One consolation to this years World Cup - at least the French did not win (though they had to have the ball in Italy's end 70 % of the game and may have won if Zidane was not thrown out for a definite foul).

We like the game to be fast flowing, no hold ups. So I think we prefer the ref to make the decisions, right or wrong, the hope being they balance up at the end of the season. I think we'd get pissed off with the game stopping and starting like American Football.

Penalties: Good one, I can remember drawn games having a replay, then a second replay, third until a result was achieved. I remeber us beating Fulham in a second replay, Bobby Moore sent off for the only time in his illustrious if Southern-biased career.

I'd do this, the team scoring first has the advantage, so if it's 2:2 toward the end of extra time, both teams know who has the advantage and what needs to be done. Doesn't work for 0-0's though, I'd maybe suggest the first team to get a corner holds the decider in the event of a draw. At least attacking is rewarded, encouraging teams to push forward for the first goal/corner. Anything to avoid those damn penalties....

Ste

[Bruce]

"We like the game to be fast flowing, no hold ups. So I think we prefer the ref to make the decisions, right or wrong, the hope being they balance up at the end of the season. I think we'd get pissed off with the game stopping and starting like American Football."

Ste - we used to think the same about American Football.  Now at least irrefutably stupid calls can be reversed.  Believe me, if it was your team that was blatantly screwed by referee error then the two minutes it takes to reverse a call would be well worth it.  This is especially true in a game like soccer, where each goal or each penalty (or non-penalty) in the box results in a penalty shot and sure goal.