Breaking down the Friendlies

March 2nd, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

After watching about 1,000 hours of football yesterday, I now have a better idea about many of the teams in this summer’s World Cup. Here are the teams that impressed and distressed me during their friendlies, as well as links to the thoughts of both our happy and not-so-happy bloggers.

Impressed: Serbia and Montenegro. It looked very solid in its 1-0 win over Tunisia. The Serb defense is well organized and extremely physical. With a backline like that, I think it might just be able to get out of the Group of Death.

Distressed: Sweden. Losing 3-0 to Ireland isn’t a disgrace…if you are the Faeroe Islands. But Sweden should get a better result than that, even if it did play some domestic based players who aren’t in top game shape.

Impressed: Croatia. This has been my dark horse team for weeks now, but I’m afraid after beating Argentina 3-2 the Croatian horse is no longer dark. Should be a fun one when Croatia take on Brazil this summer.

Distressed: Saudi Arabia. I’m on record as saying I think the Desert Falcons will finish last in the World Cup. After seeing them get thrashed 3-0 by Portugal, this assessment hasn’t changed.

Impressed: Ivory Coast. Sure the Elephants lost 3-2 to Spain, but boy do they play a fun style of football. I love watching a team that isn’t afraid to attack. I’m thinking that Argentina and Ivory Coast might combine for 10 goals when they meet this summer.

Distressed: Paraguay. For all their banter about deserving respect, Paraguay’s players didn’t show up at all in their 0-0 draw against Wales. I think that Paraguay is an average team at best.

Impressed: Italy. Wow, did the Azzurri ever take it to the Germans. The offense was firing on all cylinders despite missing Totti. When you put up 4 goals against Germany, you have a team that is dangerous.

Distressed: Germany. Absolutely a disgraceful performance against Italy. The defense didn’t look organized, Lehman played like a donkey in between the pipes and the forwards failed to show up. Germany is either playing possum or it is merely an average squad.

Impressed: United States. After a lackluster first half against Poland, the US turned it on and showed that it can compete on European soil even when it doesn’t play its best game.

Distressed: Czech Republic. Up by two goals late in the game, a team with the number two ranking in the world should be able to shut things down. Instead, the Czechs let in a pair of last second goals by Turkey. Can’t let points slip away like that in the World Cup.

Impressed: Switzerland. Any team that beats Scotland (see Faeroe Islands) becomes an automatic favorite of mine.

Distressed: France. Memories of 2002 flashed through my mind during their 2-1 loss to Slovakia. The Old Guard looked old and guarded.

Impressed: Trinidad and Tobago. The Soca Warriors showed some good things in beating Iceland 2-0, including a Dwight Yorke who looks like he did about ten years ago. Look out England, here they come!

Distressed: England. The Three Lions controlled the second half but can it count on last second winners against teams that are better than Uruguay?

Distressed: Brazil. Beats Russia 1-0 in frigid conditions without some of its top players and we still aren’t impressed. Perhaps expectations are too high for the tournament favorites?

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http://sports.candyham.com Os Davis

Bob,

Wow. Nice summation. Thank you for watching 1,000 hours of football in one day.

Just one q, though? What’s your assessment of my guys, Poland? One friendly loss and the media’s mood over there already appears to be grim…
http://www.worldcupblog.com Bob

OS – Poland looked to be what I expected. They are a big, physical team with a well organized defense. Didn’t see much offense from them though. Considering the state of Germany and the mediocrity of Ecuador and Costa Rica, I’d say they are in a good position in Group A.
Lyle

It is going to a fantastic World Cup. Much better than Korea/Japan I suspect.

Obviously, things will be different come June… teams should actually be prepared and organized to perfom up to their potential.

Serbia-Montenegro and Croatia are clearly going to scare the bejesus out of people, despite their obscurity in international soccer.

Cote d’Ivoire looks to be the real deal. Angola won’t get clobbered, and neither will Ghana. Togo… nobody knows. Tunisia will compete.

Saudi Arabia is the one really bad team in the tournament, but I’m proud that they only lost 3-0. So there is a little hope for them.

Trinidad surprised in beating an Iceland squad. Iceland isn’t that bad a team when properly put together.

France will get its act together and do well.. plus it has it easy in its group and in the round of 16 probably.

Spain is going to shine in Germany. Italy might win in Germany. Brazil is impressive even while playing in Artic conditions.

US is not a farce no more. They beat a decent Poland side in wintery conditions, which should have benefited Poland a lot more. The game could have gone either way though.

Mexico needs to get better.

Costa Rica can dance with the big boys.

Iran might make it to the next round.

Sweden and Germany need to get their crap together, otherwise it’s going to be a Trinidad and Costa Rica show come June. Think how many Germans will drown themselves in the Rhine or Danube if Costa Rica wins in that first match? Klinsmann won’t just live in America, he’ll become American.

If Germany loses to the U.S. in Dortmund, Klinsmann might get fired. Seriously.

Switzerland might be better than Germany and Sweden.
Starry Wisdom

And what about little Ghana? Their performance was prety indicative of what we can expect in Germany- little offense and shaky backline work- but do you think this is the straw that broke the camel’s back for the Grandmaster?
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/grading-the-groups-after-the-friendlies.html Grading the Groups after the Friendlies – FIFA World Cup 2006 – World Cup 2006 Blog

[...] We’ve taken a look at the teams that impressed and distressed during this week’s friendlies, now let’s take a gander at which World Cup groups are alive and kicking, and which ones are on life support. [...]
http://www.worldcupblog.com Bob

Starry one – Ghana looked like a minnow in the middle of a desert. I think Doya’s days are numbered and I’m not sure if that is a bad thing. As they say, saying good-bye to someone you love is never easy.