Next Stop: The World Cup
The Champions League Final didn’t live up to last year’s excitement, but watching all those amazing players on the pitch at once wasn’t the worst way to spend 90 minutes. It was quite dramatic at times, especially with the rain, crowd and refereeing. Every chance I get to watch Samuel Eto’o play I only wish he could be on someone’s team in Germany. He’s probably my favorite player not in the World Cup. One guy I’m glad won’t be anywhere near the World Cup is the referee Terje Hauge. Some of the decisions he made in that game were simply mind numbing.
Now that the Champions League is over, all of our attention can turn to the World Cup. We have 23 days to wait before all of us from around the world gather once again and hold our collective breath as we watch 22 grown men in shorts kick a ball.
Those three weeks are going to feel like three years, but with a fair number of friendlies to fill the void and undoubtedly some big stories and controversies ahead, it is going to be an exciting time to be a football fan.
Three more weeks. Think you’ll be able to survive?
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 27 comments.
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By QStel | May 17th, 2006 at 4:22 pm 
Some random remarks:
- Ronaldinho was a definite disappointment in this game.
- The coach of the French squad needs to be fired for not selecting Giuly
- Why oh why did Wenger not bring Bergkamp on the pitch after the 2-1?
Posted from 
France
By jon | May 17th, 2006 at 4:24 pm Good to see Henke Larsson do so well. Funny to think that he’ll be playing for lowly Helsingborg in the Allsvenskan in a few months. What a come down from the Champions League Final.
Posted from 
Sweden
By John | May 17th, 2006 at 4:58 pm I would agree. This is the first time wince the 2002 World Cup that I’ve been able to watch Ronaldinho for an entire match, and I was pretty disappointed. It’s obvious that he’s very skilled, but he seemed a non-factor in this game. Despite their two late goals, Barca’s offense seemed to struggle for most of the game. I think having Messi in the lineup would have been a big help.
Posted from 
United States
By Herman | May 17th, 2006 at 5:00 pm this was a truely the best game I’ve watched this year. I enjoyed the entire 90+ minutes. Even though Arsenal had a man short they did very good. Ronaldinho could have done much better in this game, but hats off to that guy.
Great Game Barcelona!!!!!
Posted from 
Belize
By stacy-marie | May 17th, 2006 at 5:09 pm R10 - disappointing.
Marquez - very good.
Referee - *&@^%^!
Eto’o - inspired and inspiring.
Tough luck Pires, what a rubbish year he’s having.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Gino | May 17th, 2006 at 5:09 pm That ref was a disgrace.. he should be fired and sacked! He made the game a nightmare for Barcelona. I hope UEFA look into this.
Posted from United Kingdom
By tomas | May 17th, 2006 at 5:17 pm With sepp blatter and everyone that matters in FIFA watching from the stands I hope that referee never referees in a game as important as this again, what was he thinking!!! horrible, just horrible. And I hope Henry moves out of arsenal, from what the commentators were saying he was arguing with Wegner during the second half over not making changes, that’s what arsenal gets for defending without shame or pride, good soccer won today. The coach who wanted to win with offense won, not the one who wanted to win by defense/penalties.
Posted from United States
By tomas | May 17th, 2006 at 5:20 pm why didn’t the referee allow barcelona’s first goal? is there an actual rule that he followed? from what I understand is A RULE to allow the game to go on in a situation like that, the guy literally pressed rewind on the match by not allowing the goal and sendinf off lenhman.
Posted from United States
By Beto | May 17th, 2006 at 5:26 pm Advice wanted…
Which four of these world cup bets looks the best?
1. Iran over Mexico: $100 bet wins $740
2. Poland over Germany: $100 bet wins $715
3. Costa Rica over Germany: $100 bet wins $1,090
4. Parlay of Costa Rica over Germany and Poland over Germany: $100 bet wins $7,794
5. Portugal to win the whole thing: $100 bet wins $2,100
6. Serbia & Montenegro over Argentina: $100 bet wins $660
7. USA over Argentina: $100 bet wins $575
8. Ukraine over Spain: $100 bet wins $405
Thanks
Posted from United States
By HurrikaneDIABLO | May 17th, 2006 at 5:40 pm DAMNIT! Its times like these I’d invest in a satellite dish. Was Ronaldhino really a non-factor? Not a pretty thing to be thinking about going into the World Cup… I hope he gets his level up, actually, I know he will. It does suck that Eto’o is not going to be in the Cup, he plays a really fine game.
Posted from United States
By Louie | May 17th, 2006 at 6:08 pm beto, germany will loose one of its matches in the first round. they are not that great. it would be amazing if they lost the first match. don;t get me wrong, they will advance to the next round, but it will be messy. si i would bet two hundred dollars that either Costa rica or Poland beat Germany.
Posted from United States
By Euler | May 17th, 2006 at 6:21 pm Ronaldinho wan’t magical, but he was the one that did that sirurgical pass to Eto’o that Lehmann stoped. Lehmann got a red card and Giuli should have scored.
He did other precise passes too, one of them leaving Eto’o in front of the goal, but the goalkeeper sent the ball to the post.
Even when he is not magical he can be dangerous. I’m not worried about him at all. He will do well if nobody break his legs or something. (knock on wood)
By Trent | May 17th, 2006 at 8:23 pm It’s discretionary, but I would like to see the first Barca goal allowed, with Lehmann given a yellow. Just from a selfish perspective, it would have made for a better game I think. Disallowing a goal as he did is harsh, but being down to nine field players was way too much for the Gunners to overcome. The loss was inevitable when Lehmann left.
By Rik | May 17th, 2006 at 8:25 pm The ref is taking a lot of stick, harshly imho. He spotted Lehmann’s foul on Eto’o and blew his whistle, then Guilly put the ball in the net. The goal couldn’t stand because the whistle had already gone. So maybe he was a bit quick to blow. The only other thing he got wrong was giving Arsenal the free kick from which they scored: he won’t be the last ref to be conned by a dive. The sending-off was a shame for a game that was living up to its billing.
Posted from United Kingdom
By Jorge | May 17th, 2006 at 9:02 pm - I feel sorry for Pires, i think he´s still a great player and hope he gets enough playtime with Villarreal to show it
- Ill pray this three weeks, everyday, because I wouldnt like to see a referee ruin an important game as …the world cup final maybe… like it happened today
- Marquez played a great game and im sure hell be a key player for mexico and help getting them to a late stage this time, but as every other defender in the game, he wasnt able to stop henry
Posted from 
Mexico
By owen | May 17th, 2006 at 9:24 pm well - I agree that he got the sending off right - just a shame he blew so fast. But he got a LOT else wrong - two of the three goals (not a free kick to Arsenal and offside for Barcelona’s first), a yellow card to Henry that should have been given against the defender. Several other dives and a lot of serious hacks that were never called. It wasn’t all one way, but it was more in Barca’s favor than not - mostly just really bad officiating.
Ronaldinho was nothing special today - Larsen at 34 played noticably better. Hope he’s better at the WC.
Probably a fair result overall - clearly we got the right two teams in the CL final at least. Big question now - who are the right two teams at the WC final.
Oh yes, those bets - take S&M over Argentina - S&M are very underrated.
Posted from United States
By pinaki de | May 17th, 2006 at 10:31 pm ronaldinho a great show off but very little to show. too much twisting and turning for no effect at all. like christano ronaldo. well those two will vie for show off award. henry was rocking but not precise in front of the goal. it is a shame that eto will not play this world cup he was the best on show yesterday. also mightily impressed with eboue for his diving skills. ha! but the man who proved me wrong was lungburg. he has come back well and was the fastest player on pitch. he will be a handful in WC
Posted from 
India
By Ade Lamidi | May 18th, 2006 at 1:15 am An interesting final and I will give Arsenal the credit for holding might Barcelona for 76 minutes. But I guessed it wasn’t going to be Arsenal’s night when Lehman was sent off.It was the right decision though. Barcelona can hit you anytime time in the game as Arsenal 10 men found out. Good luck to Arsenal next season.
Posted from United Kingdom
By John | May 18th, 2006 at 3:10 am Owen.. I totally disagree with ur ridiculous bullcrap comment. Howcan you say the ref was favouring barca. did you watch the first half? every foul was put on Arsenal! and goal disallowed for barca, and he gave a free kick to eboue when he shoukld have got a yellow for that dive which turned into a goal.. sorry but Arsenal donts deserve that win, and that’s why barca won.
Posted from United Kingdom
By John | May 18th, 2006 at 3:11 am and to think S&M are better than Argentina.. you have a serious lack of knowledge about football, isuggest you shudup thanks.
Posted from United Kingdom
By DT | May 18th, 2006 at 5:19 am Beto, I recommend you not to bet against Germany. No matter how weak they look like on paper or even on the field, they will still win their matches.
Germany is a team that normally get favorable results, even though they’re playing badly.
Iran over Mexico and Portugal to win the whole thing are possible.
USA don’t play Argentina. Not until at least semi final, if both teams manage to get there.
Posted from 
Australia
By Pedro P | May 18th, 2006 at 6:27 am DT, Beto and all, no matter how weak Germany is always Germany. Let alone at home…
I admit my lack of knowledge about Iran and today’s Mexico. BUT… I imagine Iran to be very similar to Turkey and only a blind would ignore Mexico from the old days.
Scolari says Iran is very skilled technically and that Mexico will surprise everybody this WC.
Portugal winning the whole thing…? Greece won EC2004 against a much better team, beat FRA, beat CZE. Denmark won EC 1992. Nothing is impossible.
An attacking team, that opens spaces and goes for it, even if stronger, will always give PORTUGAL a higher chance of winning than an overdefensive and very well organized team, even if weaker. This is the story of our lives…
FORCA PORTUGAL!!! Finishing 32nd or 1st, at least 10 million are with you!!!
Posted from 
Netherlands
By soze | May 18th, 2006 at 8:37 am Does no one else think that the foul Lehman comitted should have been a penalty kick?..It was in the box, the ref gave ared but no PC????What was that?..Whatever call he made, fine…but at least make the right bad call.
By colman1860 | May 18th, 2006 at 10:41 am Did you even see the game soze? Eto’o fell into the area but was fouled more than a foot outside.
also, the exact wording for a sending off in that case is:
“Denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity”, which Lehmann didn’t since the ball went on to Giuly…of course it’s possible to give him a red card but I think we all, whether neutral, or Barca or Arsenal fans would have favoured the goal over the sending off.
By the way, Ronaldinho had a bad game by his standards - he was still one of the better players on the pitch setting up a breakaway (and thus the red card) and again Eto’o in the box when he hit the post…also had some nice moves on the wing in the first half and brought in some nice crosses…he’ll be back on (his) form in the world cup.
Posted from 
Canada
By Stuart | May 18th, 2006 at 12:23 pm Agreed, and even the ref was second guessing himself afterward. Although his call was technically correct, the better call would have been to allow the goal and show Lehmann a yellow. The problem is he’s whistled play BEFORE Giuly’s shot. Too bad this time, but it serves as a great training situation for future officials, especially in big games.
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