Soccerati.net - The World Cup

Goalies have already feared the Adidas ball during the World Cup 2006. Adidas has extended their influence in the sport from their previous deal of eleven UEFA competitions to their new deal of supplying balls to 32 UEFA Champions League Clubs.

Adidas continuously improve their products just like their ball where they reduced the panel to almost 1/4 which makes them soar like torpedoes up in the air. They have improved their boots with the release of Predator and Tunit. With the combination of improved apparel, boots and balls, how scary could that be to the goalkeeper?

Maybe a boot with springs for the goalkeeper would help them catch the balls moving fast.

McClaren’s agent Colin Gordon is frustrated that no one has asked him what is going on in football related to bungs. He said that the lawmakers are laughable because they send out all these remarks and potential policies on something they do not have experience or knowledge of.

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Zidane played his last World Cup and most especially his last game against Italy handing a headbutt the World Deserves as his final act of greatness.

Despite losing the Finals to Italy he managed to win the Golden Ball Award given to the best player in the tournament.

Some people may argue that Cannavaro of Italy should have won the award, but he didn’t though it was a close match between the two of them.

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My eyes were wide open as he crushed my heart enroute to leading France in a win against Brazil in their quarterfinals game.

He was extremely good breaking down and making a mockery of Ze and Roberto’s youth by going past them, evading tackles, shifting dribbles, changing pace, making passes and setting the assist that threw a spear right through my heart.

First half alone gave you and indication of what to expect after the break. He had 39 passes completing 85% of them while Ronaldinho only made 10. It was scary seeing him playing like a guy in his middle 20’s knowing his array of skills and deadly field vision that could put France in the driver’s seat.

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I predicted Italy is going to win 2-0 against Australia but they were only able to score a goal which proved to be enough to get to the next round and show Australia their way out.

It was tough for Italy playing only ten people on the field after Marco Materazzi was given his red card five minutes after second half.

Congratulations to Italy and Goodbye to the Socceroos.

More World Cup News at Sporati.

Have you noticed Oliver Kahn’s expression on the bench despite Germany leading a goal, or despite winning?

Oliver breaks his silence and tells the media he is still owed an explanation by coach Juergen Klinsmann over his demotion from Germany’s starting lineup for the World Cup.

He goes on telling Der Spiegel magazine in an interview published Sunday:

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Cahill talks too much:

‘We have not fluked our way through and we have not benefited from a sequence of lucky results,’ said Cahill.

‘We have a great spirit and attitude, we are very fit and we have good players. I am sure our performances have opened the eyes of a lot of people to how good we are, including Italy.

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Australia is one of the biggest surprises in this years World Cup Finals by getting past the group stage. Many thanks to Harry Kewell who has been named as Budweiser Man of the Match after the 2-2 draw between the Socceroos and Croatia and Mark Viduka whose aggresiveness throughout the game helped Australia’s cause.

Harry Kewell served as the inspiration and role model of the team to work as hard as they can to prove their worth and likewise scoring the goal that saw them advance for the first time in the history of the game.

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I had a good feeling the historic goal number 2000 will be accomplished today in the England vs Sweden game. True enough (no rocket science thinking), Marcus Allback from Sweden scored a headed goal in from left goalbox right high with his head.

Some of the most significant goals in history includes Angelo Schiavio (ITA, 100th in 1934), Gerd Muller (FRG, 800th in 1970), Gary Lineker (ENG, 1,300th in 1986) and Christian Vieri (Italy, 1,900th in 2002).

Below is a table of World Cup Milestone goals (via Yahoo).

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Miroslav Klose has been terrific in the Finals leading all scorers with 4 goals and is on target on winning the golden shoe award. With Germany winning it’s third game it looks their confidence has skyrocketed and they are now playing beautiful football altogether.

Klose is finding the net more and more, combined with the maturing leadership of Michael Ballack their are turning to be a formidable team in this year’s Finals.

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