Big Question: Which Team has Looked Most Impressive?

Argentine has showed the most skill in the first games so far, and has made some fantastic goals.

I would say Argentina. They went about the job in a professional and clinical way. But I like the Cote d’Ivoire style of play. Unfortunately style doesn’t count. Teams have to score goals to win games.

it would have to be Argentina and Ivory Coast

Germany in a distant 3rd

“Clinical” is a good word. Argentina was minimalistic but effective. I think they were still playing a bit slowly, but then again it was just their first game against an opponent that’s not that big (even though it is one of the best african teams).

The most disappoint would have to be Sweden. Playing good but forgetting about the actual objective of the game — scoring goals.

We’ve seen 1/3 (or so) of the teams involved. So far, I’d have to say that Argentina looks the best.

If Cote d’Ivoire could have netted a few of their chances, I’d have said CIV; but, as Ade Lamidi, said – style doesn’t count. (Speaking of style, those Puma kits hold gallons of sweat – ick!)

Sweden, I thought, looked good, too; but, if they can’t put away chances against an undermanned T&T, then I don’t know if they can win. They’ll have a tough time getting out of the group now.

If Germany can only fix the off-sides trap, they’ll be fine, especially when Ballack comes back.

I agree that Argentina showed the most promise, and that Germany can make some noise if they shore up their defense.

And since if I don’t no one will…how about Ecuador’s 2-0 win? They have at least shown that at this stage, they’re the 2nd-best team in Group A.

Most disappointing: England. They won, but only through luck.

Argentina.

They beat a very good opponent with minimal effort. When you think about it they tried to score 4 times. Once the referee said the ball did not cross the line, 3 goals one of them ruled offside.

When you consider they still have Aimar (best player in Spain), Tevez (Player of the year in Brazil) and Messi (Barcelona’s new super star) on the bench than you realise they still have a few more gears.

Also for a change this time they have an excellent coach.

Germany has been the most impressive so far. They were completely comitted to attacking and scored some awesome goals. They just need to work out their offside trap and they’ll be fine.

Argentina seemed to sit back and just play defense after they went up 2-0. Ivory Coast seemed dejected as soon as they went down a goal.

Tindad and Tobago have been the biggest surprise, and played the most exciting game Saturday, which is remarkable for a 0-0 draw.

I was most disappointed with England’s performance. They got the win, but after Beckham’s free kick, the remaining 87 minutes were rather blase.

Trinidad and Tobago! They showed the most fight out of any team that has played so far.

Most Impressive has Been Cote d’Ivoire, they play a very disciplined style of soccer I have not seen in a while. They stole the ball quite often against Argentina and are damn quick :O. If not for some questionable calling by the ref the game easily would have been 2-2 or 3-2 Cote d’Iviore

Most “diss”appointing has been Poland. I think 12/13 of the stadium were full of Polish fans and all you could hear was their chanting. I saw no running or effort in any sense by the team and the coach looks both scary and confused. If this is any indication…Germany 5 – Poland 1(it will probably be luck)

The Big Question is “WHICH TEAM LOOKED MOST IMPRESSIVE” – Not who had the best win!
The team which looked most impressive today and who played the best match of their life is Trinidad and Tobago! i’m not saying that because i am a Trinbagonian but looking at it objectively- a team ranked 47th in the world. expected to have the worst dispaly here at the world cup and looked what happened.
it shows once more that football is not only about talent but also that talent with discipline and passion.
The team showed patience something which was lacking up to a monht ago- timing, they read the ball properly, teamwork and formation. Now dont get me wrong. I’m not
ranting and raving that T&T is the best team in the world (though i think so :) )) but for a team ranked 47 and already couhted out- They improved and displayed the style of football expected at this stage and they should be recognised for it. It’s what u do with the wonderfull once in a lifetime oportunities that god gives us is what counts.
(Oh and 4 u trinis- GOD is ah trini!)

thanks for the support mike!

I agree with Nirmala! The most impressive team was T&T. I would also like to mention Cote d’ Ivory. I didnt expect them to be this good. I thought it was a one man team. But I liked the way Akale played. Great game! This is what football is about!!

Argentina has been the most impressive team all-round and Poland the biggest disappointment by far. Of course, one could say T&T was the team that most exceeded expecdtations, just to draw with Sweden.

Argentina looked like a Cup winner today at times. England looked like the US used to — get the goal and sit on the ball. Germany I’m not sure about.

But T&T… wow. What verve. It’s going to be hard to top that performance.

Nirmala I could not have put it better…:)…I am so proud of what they have done so far…with that said Cote d’Ivoire performance was also quite impressive…

Definitely Argentina.

T&T what a gallant display, I was impressed by Dwight York’s display considering his age he was everywhere and remember he was a top striker not a midfielder. Man of the match. I thought also CIV was very impressive. I don’t know what Ze when he said “Argentina was minimalistic but effective” did you see the reaction of the Argentine bench when they scored and did you see the faces of their backline whenever the Ivoirians had the ball. I’d say Argentina had too much respect for Ivory Coast more than the match referee had for Ivory Coast. Argentina wasn’t expecting this win they were very cautious during the match and not because they could afford the luxury of sitting back too. Ivory Coast was the most impressive team so far if they can strenghten their back line and not commit those naive mistakes they will certaily reach the next round. But, I am still expecting that everyone in this group will end up with 3 points and it will come to goal difference at the end. What say you?

Go trinidad!!You were very impressive.

Luv you T&T

I liked Germany the best so far. They played exciting soccer and they had a lot of other dangerous shots on goal. England and Sweden where the biggest disappointments. England seemed to spend most of the game with no idea what to do or blasting the ball a mile over the goal. If Sweden can’t beat a 10 man team like T&T then they might be lucky to make it out.

I didn’t like Argentina’s play in the second half with them playing keep away with the ball and at times they did a real bad job of that too. Ivory Coast didn’t have any urgency in their game until the last 15 minutes or though. Ivory Coast will be getting their passports ready for the flight home after playing the Netherlands.

This is a hard question because really you expect Argentina to look impressive but you’ve got to go with Trinidad and Tobago, they played out of their minds today and impressed the entire world.

Argentina played the best today, great quality against a very talented African side which impressed me.

England displayed by far the dullest performance.

Ivory Coast gave their all, and Argentina, on a bad day, still gave it to them.
Watch out for the Argentines!
Next match, they’ll explode!

What has been no surprise is how bad the play-by-play is on ABC/ESPN. I am seriously considering watching it on Univision. ESPN2 didn’t even think it was important enough to show the opening ceremony or the national anthems. What was important for ESPN2 was to interview Ali’s daughter and a ND football player turned boxer and asking the question who would win a fight between the two of them. YUCK!!! ABC has no problem showing some has been turning the Star Spangled Banner into a soul song. Good Grief. Cerveza por favor.

Oops what I meant was one team with 3 points and the rest with four.

I would have to say Trinidad & Tobago!! Not just because i am a trini (but that has a lot to do with it! lol)but they all came together & FOUGHT!! Proving all the pessimists wrong we showed them that we are the survivors & what the Soca Warriors are REALLY made of!!We deserve to be right there with the best teams in the world…we are after all one of them!! :)

Claude you are right it terrible watching it on ESPN2. I am watching games on Univision with clear picture and comments, and most of all you live in the spirit of the world cup hours before and after the games with analysis and interviews. Everything is about the worl cup, that’s what we want to breath and live world cup this month. And honestly I do not enjoy any game if I don’t psyc up for it while the players enter and the national anthems are played then I will be ready for the game, not dor commercials and unrelated topics and most of all half screen, the rest follow baseball and basketball scores while watching the game, who cares.

England was disappointing, but it’s worth noting that while they didn’t have much integration from midfield forward, they had excellent defense. That should not go unnoticed. And if they do put it all together, they’re going to be hard to beat.

Argentina put on the best show so far. They played with that fabulous Argentine style, which someone here has called minimalist. They are the un-Brazil of South American soccer. The only team to have played at a world class level so far, despite resting on their laurels late in the game.

Sweden’s performance deserves a little more credit. Certainly it was a disastrous result for them, but Trinidad played with unbelievable heart and athleticism. The Swedes were very impressive at times, and certainly more inspired than the English, at least in the first half.

Kudos to Ecuador as well, who showed athleticism and spirit. Fine team to watch.

Like England, Germany needs to get it together, but nobody can scoff at four goals. Two of those were real beauties.

Nirmala and all the Trinis, Mike and all the honourary warriors – you KNOW that I think T&T should get this award.

We fought for every single minute of that match.

We are sooooocccaaa warriors – win lose or draw we are fighters!

I believe Ecuador and Trinidad&Tobago really fleshed out the game. Both upstarted the predicted results! I think they both proved themselves to have matured as teams and players and are playing the game without worrying about being intimidated by the higher contenders.

The underdogs seem to be changing he scene! My vote for T&T and Ecuador! Don’t forget that CIV needs some love as well!

Stacy-Marie, I couldn’t believe that I missed that game!! :( I’m glad to hear that the Soca Warriors really gave Sweden a run for their money!

Shaka for man of the match for such awesome goal keeping!

Argentina is the class of the teams we’ve seen so far, but the Germans are playing above form, as you would expect a host to. Fundamentally, however, the Argentines are wide and deep on talent. Their bench could start for many of the teams in this tourney.

I’m going to say Trinidad &Tobago. They put their blood and sweat into that game and in my opinion came out victorious. Cudos on having only 10 men.

I was really disappointed in Swedan. I mean they haven’t won their opening World Cup maches in a while now and I thought they’d have it. They should’ve token advantage of the fac tha T&T only had 10 men.

I should say Argentina. They showed they are the greatest, and passionate team to win the WC.

Easily Argentina because of their clinical finishing. They made goal scoring look child’s play!

Hands down Argentina!

I was very impressed with Trinidad and Tobago. The passion and exuberance they displayed was magnificant. A very disputable red card didn’t slow them down at all. Very admirable. With that said, I was equally content with the Ivorians. Being an African, I had heavy hopes for them. I enjoyed their style of play and would not be surprised to see them win out their next two games to advance with Argentina.

Ivory Coast and Trinidad and tobago and ecuador

well…germany looked impressive in attack..defence is shaky…England looked insipid in attack…solid at the back..argentina looked balanced…T&T were unbelievable in their courage and determination…

Argentina was the most impressive. In the first half, they made Ivory Cost look like rookies, even though Argentina relaxed defending, which made IC look better but thats due to Argentina’s pull back and defend strategy. Argentina could have easily won this 4-1 and guess what, mot of their amazing stars were not even used.
Sweden has to be disappointed.

Germany certainly weren’t the most impressive. They were exciting, yes, but they have serious defence issues which will be exposed in the 2nd round.

Argentina had the toughest opponent, and seemed to have the most control over their game. “Clinical” was the perfect word used.

Argentina-Ivory really did feel like the first true World Cup match. Pure quality.

Argentina was the most impressive. But I was very impressed with Trinidad and Tobago.

Argentina, simply because Ivory Coast are a very very good team (watch out Holland), Germany ‘looked’ good against Costa Rica who are 2nd rate at best.

oh and Shaka Hislop is the player of the tournament so far, hope he has a good game v England but Owen still scores twice for a 2-0 win :)

Germany and Argentina have shown that they are the real deal, not just wannabe teams like England.

Germany played good football without Ballack. Imagine how good they will be when Ballack’s back.

I’m happy for Argentina’s victory. Ivory Coast played well, but they are still the second most overrated team in this competition.

As for the most overrated team ever, I don’t think Sven’s boys deserve to be in the quarter final. Actually, they don’t even deserve to be in the second round. Boring football should be banned.

I was impressed with the Ivory Coast. They area a great team. They have strength, great technique, and disciplined play. They just need to work a bit on their defense. Argentina, except for the last 15 minutes, played fluidly with great precise dangerous passing.
The best game of the tournament up to now was Argentina-Ivory Coast.

My top 3:
1) Argentina: ruthless efficency. Against this side, you blink twice and you’re out
2) Eng: they played a half power, dull match, and yet they won easily. they have more to show, I’m sure. and they have a simply fantastic duo in Gerrard-Lampard.
3) T&T. I have no clue if they are surviving the group stage, but what the hell. The heroes of the day.

Agree with keysey on his view of argentina. Fantastic performance and with the heat the matches r being played in, teams not as atheltic as the ivory coast r going to allow poeple like riquelme more time and space. IF this occurs, then there will only be one outcome as the whole argentine attack has great chemisty. However, i can’t understand y some people r still giving england a chance at winning the cup. They are hopeless, they have a hopeless manager (brings on hargreaves and downing!!! is that a joke?) n it is quite clear that gerrard and lampard cannot play together in a four man midfield – its a farce. Anyway, cant wait for tomorrow as they Aussies get their chance 2 shine!!!!!! Bring on Japan!!

PARAGYUAY LOOKING GOODQ!

1. Mmost impressive team so far Argentina
2.Most rewarding result and outstanding effort undoubtly SOCA WARRIORS
3. Expected more England
4. Pure excitement trinidad sweden game

ivory coast and argentina to go through in the group

Tough question … in fact I just launched a poll on my blog.

My money are on Argentina although we still have to see Italy, France, Spain and Czech who could be up for the gold.

My Bet …

1. Argentina
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. England

i think that cost rica and brazile is the biggest disappointment. they played so good in the past. i think that poland played the best but seemed to have forgot the object of the game to score. go gogo gogogoogog poland better luck next time.