Big Question: Will this be a high scoring or low scoring World Cup?

April 28th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

After sitting through a pair of 0-0 Champions League draws this week, it got us wondering if low scoring or even no scoring games might be a trend that we see at the World Cup. With all the attention that has been paid to the goal scorers and young guns ahead of the tournament, how likely is it that defense rules the day and contributes to a decline in overall goals from 2002?

What do you think? Are we going to see a goal-filled tournament or will defense be the name of the game?

Bonus Question: Does anyone know what would happen if the following scenario took place? Let’s say that all of the teams in Group A finish each three of their matches with 0-0 draws. How would the group winners be decided?

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http://www.bensefels.de Bense

I’d say a low-scoring but attractive one.

And the answer is: We’ll have a funny FIFA lottery and the lucky couple will be maybe drawn by Mrs. Blatter. Even though including the rank of the funny Coke-Ranking would sound more fair to me.
http://www.worldcup2006news.net/ Knut Karnapp

Good question. It was gambled until 19xx but I don´t really know what´s it like today. Worth checking.
http://www.worldcupwatch.co.uk/ TheJuice

Easy, Sepp Blatter pulls out his big book of FIFA marketing values and the two highest rating teams go through to the next round.

So, in this case, Germany go through as winners, Poland as runners up and Ecuador and Costa Rica are sent home to practice their marketing.

It’s the FIFA way.
Futahaguro

Hopefully there will be scoring but I feel like they need to tweak the off sides rule to get some more goals. Hockey has had the same problem and know they are doing something about it, I say do the same for soccer. Lets get some more goals. My dad always thought that there should be no off sides once the ball is past the 18yd box in the offesive zone. That way, some slightly off sides person who gets a good bounce can actually score.
http://www.viuasfotos.com/euler.htm Euler

I believe it will be as good as the 2002 WC.

Arsenal was joking in the CL 2nd leg game against Villareal. Barcelona and Milan didn’t score but they were clearly hunting.

Those keepers are damn good too.
Rey

It’s not about the quantity, it’s all about the quality of the plays that preceded the goals.
Rey

By the way, the image of the Mexican fan on the top is GREAT.
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/big-phil-answers-the-big-question.html Big Phil Answers the Big Question – FIFA World Cup 2006 – World Cup 2006 Blog

[...] We’re starting to think that Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari reads World Cup Blog. First he changed his mind about the England coaching gig just hours after we explained why that jobs sucks. Now he has gone ahead and answered one of our Big Questions. In an interview with Kicker magazine, Big Phil offers his thoughts about how many goals will be scored at this year’s World Cup. [...]