Group A thread (Poland, Germany, Costa Rica, Ecuador)

[aussie1st]

Discussion about Group A

Group A Standings

1st Germany (3w,0L,0d,6pd) 9 pts
2nd Ecuador (2w,1L,0d,2pd) 6 pts
3rd Poland (1w,2L,0d,-2pd) 3 pts
4th Costa Rica (0w,3L,0d,-6pd) 0 pts

Schedule & Results

09-Jun-06 Munich GER 4-2 CRC 18:00
09-Jun-06 Gelsenkirchen POL 0-2 ECU 21:00
14-Jun-06 Dortmund GER 1-0 POL 21:00
15-Jun-06 Hamburg ECU 3-0 CRC 15:00
20-Jun-06 Berlin ECU 0-3 GER 16:00
20-Jun-06 Hanover CRC 1-2 POL 16:00

Source - Yahoo

[ZexyZahid]

I would say Ecuador and Germany would go through. And Ecuador shouldn't be taken lightly. They've beaten Brazil and Argentina at home. But some would say the height of the stadium where they've played has something to do with it.

[JamesyJames3]

Poland are a much stronger team than Ecuador, but you are right, this group is not to be taken lightly. Potentially any of the 4 could go through in this one.

[Drewska]

Poland and Germany should go through, but as JJ said Ecuador aren't bad and Costa Rica aren't either. Germany are certs for the 2nd round though because of home advantage.

[ZexyZahid]

Poland was disappointing in the previous Euro 2004. And if I remember it right, they are on a losing streak in the last friendlies they've played.

Also Dudek isn't going to the World Cup.

[Drewska]

Originally Posted by ZexyZahid

Poland was disappointing in the previous Euro 2004. And if I remember it right, they are on a losing streak in the last friendlies they've played.

Also Dudek isn't going to the World Cup.

What if they go to a penalties in the knock-out stage and lose? terrible mistake.

[ZexyZahid]

You didn't know that. It's a bit a power struggle between the coach and the national association.

He also left out another very important player Frankowski, who I actually don't know.

Dudek out as Janas names Polish party
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060515/6/6sqi.html

Poles in shock after axing of Dudek, Frankowski
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060516/6/6swl.html

Some lines of the last article:

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who is considered a national hero, was left out of the squad as was forward Tomasz Frankowski, whose qualifying goals helped Poland qualify for football's biggest showpiece.

"Either we're all sick or Janas is," a gutted fan wrote in an email sent to the Gazeta Wyborcza daily. "You're irresponsible, Mr Janas," said another as Poland tried to come to terms with the absence.


Dudek was reeling after learning from the televised announcement of Janas' selection that he had not even made the squad. "I won't comment right now... It still feels like an April Fool's joke," the popular goalkeeper said. "I sent a text message to coach Janas. I want him to know how much it hurt me to learn of his decision by television, not directly from him."

[Maxkarter]

For me if Germany doesn't go through I'll be very unhappy and unimpressed. For me Poland should be the other team, but since I know practically nothing about Ecuador and Costa Rica I can be easily proven wrong.

[ZexyZahid]

Well Ecuador beat teams like Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

And Poland couldn't even beat USA, although they are ranked 5th in the world, but that ranking is screwed up, since they've been playing a lot against countries in their continent. And the last matches USA played is against Germany (which they lost 4-1) and Jamaica (which they drew 1-1).

[hondeyho]

Originally Posted by ZexyZahid

And Poland couldn't even beat USA, although they are ranked 5th in the world, but that ranking is screwed up, since they've been playing a lot against countries in their continent. And the last matches USA played is against Germany (which they lost 4-1) and Jamaica (which they drew 1-1).

Don't forget Scotland, they drew 1-1 with them.

But these World Rankings mean nothing sometimes, some teams can be so inconsistent but yet have a high ranking. Remember children:

"Form is temporary, Class is permanent"

[kuttakumar]

Well Germany will certainly be through to the round of 16. The second team is hard to guess.

[hondeyho]

Originally Posted by kuttakumar

Well Germany will certainly be through to the round of 16. The second team is hard to guess.

I reckon it'll be Poland, they were very impressive in the Preliminaries and England only just pipped them to first place. The Costa Ricans have lost some of their flare.

[Drewska]

Originally Posted by hondeyho

I reckon it'll be Poland, they were very impressive in the Preliminaries and England only just pipped them to first place. The Costa Ricans have lost some of their flare.

How much of the Costa Ricans have you seen ? Poland should get through even though their best goalkeeper and best striker won't be there.

[treva]

i will be watching this group very carefully as my team for the world cup sweepstake is ecuador LOL.
so i hope they can produce some magic and get 2nd place.But with Poland(a very strong team),Germany(one of the best teams and the hosts) and Costa Rica(a very strong underdog) it will nearly impossible.
But good luck you Ecuadorians

[Hariz]

Well Germany should be going through without any problems. The Polish team have many players like Smolarek and Kryznowek, who play in the German Bundeliga, so they might have a slight advantage playing in Germany with their national team. But with that said, Equador is a south-american team and you never know, when they start doing their Samba.