Beware The Power Of The Host!

Submitted by VL on Thu, 03/09/2006 - 3:36am.

It’s always good to be at home. This is going to be especially true for Germany this summer when the FIFA World Cup kicks in. Germany’s home fans are more than fans, they are like your obsessed grandparents who follow your every move and who will try to kill anyone who hurts you. Well, maybe you don’t have those grandparents, but if you did, they would be like Germany fans.
Seriously though, Germany’s home court advantage is the main (and only) factor which makes the team a force to be reckoned with. They recently lost a friendly match to Italy…4 to 1! Reasons for this may include the fact that they don’t have a squad much more talented than the one they showed in World Cup 2002, while other teams, in my opinion, have improved substantially. Their biggest weapon on the field is still Oliver Kahn, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Other than that, there’s Michael Ballack. Most of the other guys who were in the lineup against Italy, like Klose, Diesler, and Metzelder, are good but not great at the moment, definitely not enough to take on my top 5 (which I might remember to mention at some point in time).
Anyways, don’t think I’m saying Germany can’t win. I’m just saying that if they do win, it’s not because of their good (not great) team, it’s because of their grandparent fans. The Cologne-based IW Institute even conducted a study on the advantages of being the host, and the results are quite bright for Germany. However, when it comes down to it, raw talent will outplay home team advantage any day. At least I hope so, since we all still want to see Argentina holding the cup at the end of the day. Well, I do, anyway.

FIFA WorldCup Yahoo!

I have to disagree with you,

Submitted by Random Guest on Thu, 03/09/2006 - 5:32pm.

I have to disagree with you, VL...I would love to see, (and we will most likely see) Brazil with the cup at the end of the day...and with their record of 5 Time World Cup Wins (compared to the 3 of Germany and 2 of Argentina) and greats like Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho playing, and having had legacies like, Pele, Id have to say the odds are in the favor of my opinion. Btw can you tell Im Brazilian?

Sorry i didnt log in...feel

Submitted by Cat (not verified) on Thu, 03/09/2006 - 5:33pm.

Sorry i didnt log in...feel free to challenge my opinion above.

Brazilian Power.

Submitted by eduardo09 on Thu, 03/09/2006 - 10:09pm.

I most certaintly agree with Cat right above me. As I have told VL plenty of times, the only way Brazil will NOT win this year's Wold Cup is if another conspiracy occurs. Allow me to explain myself: In my opinion, Brazil should have destroyed France in the final game - after all, they had won every game of the tournament so far. It is rumored that FIFA is very much against Brazil winning for a sixth time. Even his majesty, Pele, said the world cup would loose some interest if Brazil was to win again. I say....FUCK THAT! Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rubinho, Kaka, Adriano, Ze Roberto, Juninho, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Lucio....

In my opinion......

Submitted by jimsarr on Fri, 03/10/2006 - 12:24am.

I see an Italian victory

Dont think so about Italy

Submitted by Cat (not verified) on Fri, 03/10/2006 - 1:35am.

Dont think so about Italy sorry, and I think Eduardo has a point...I think its ABSOLUTELY ridiculous that Brazil had to qualify for the world cup...is it a coincidence that this year is being held in Germany? I think not- they are def a little sore still about their loss 4 years ago:)

Lets get the record straight!

Submitted by VL on Fri, 03/10/2006 - 9:36pm.

Germany was already the host of World Cup 06 before World Cup 02 even started, Brazil usually fails to win when it is the 'favorite', Maradona is the true 'king' and Messi, Sorin, Aimar, Riquelme, and the new Argentinian squad has potential to beat Brazil. I'm not saying stop rooting for your team, but there are other contenders (plus I don't wan't to pay eduardo09 $5 at the end of the cup). Read JB's article on 'Canada' and tremble in fear!

This is the record

Submitted by Cat (not verified) on Fri, 03/10/2006 - 11:58pm.

It is irrelevant if Brazil "usually fails to win when it is the 'favorite'" because they win championships (more than anyone else as previously established)...and the TRUE record is that Pele is the king because he has the MOST goals scored in a career-1,279 goals scored and voted Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee, even though he never participated in the Olympics (because Brazil does not allow professinal players in the Olympic games-which explains why Argentina recieved the gold metal). Also, I thought that Maradona acted extremely childishly when he and Pele recieved joint Player of the Century awards (by FIFA),and he left the ceremony right after he recieved his award because he was not the ONLY recipient.

Whoa whoa whoa

Submitted by VL on Sat, 03/11/2006 - 12:19am.

Have you ever seen footage of Maradona moving on the soccer field? I hate to say this, but I have yet to see another player, past or present, move that way. The way he takes the opponents in front of him is exquisite. I'm not talking about character, number of awards won or goals scored, or what any either one has done for the sport, I'm talking about skill and motion on the field. I'm not hating on Pele nor Brasil, I love both. I'm just saying I want Argentina to win because I like their football team better. And if they don't...may a thousand ninja kings rain down upon you!

Haha I would love to

Submitted by Cat (not verified) on Sat, 03/11/2006 - 12:30am.

Haha I would love to continue this all day and night except I fear that nyquil has taken hold...so for tonight I am done....and though I disagree with you,VL, I respect your opinion, but I must say VIVA BRASIL....:) and we shall find out in mere monthes who is victorious...

Hear hear

Submitted by VL on Sat, 03/11/2006 - 1:23am.

Excellent. Let's just await the most beautiful sport in the world's most important moment, and see what turns out which way. We will indeed find out in mere months who is victorious...that is, if Chuck Norris lets us live that long.

victor, this chuck norris

Submitted by jimsarr on Tue, 03/14/2006 - 3:07am.

victor, this chuck norris joke is another prime example taken from a jake bauer joke. i cannot let this stand. i will now call my good friend jack bauer and tell him to take you out of play. literally.

Hate to break it to you

Submitted by Random Guest on Tue, 03/14/2006 - 5:35pm.

That was a Chuck Norris joke before anyone even knew who Jack Bauer was. Besides, Chuck Norris could take Jack Bauer out of play any day of the week.

Victor you should log in

Submitted by jimsarr on Wed, 03/15/2006 - 1:59am.

Victor you should log in when you make ridiculous comments such as those.

Jack Bauer is gay

Submitted by VL on Sun, 03/19/2006 - 9:48pm.

Jack Bauer is gay

the only thing that is gay

Submitted by jimsarr on Sun, 03/26/2006 - 11:38pm.

the only thing that is gay is you and your home country of puerto rico. jack bauer could eliminate puerto rico with one bullet and alot of knuckles. dont mess with jack unless you want to die. chuck norris takes it up the ass like you do and how puerto rico takes it up the ass from the state of florida. don't mess with jack.

Two words: Chill the-fuck-down :)

Submitted by Random Guest on Sat, 03/11/2006 - 3:14am.

First of all...who the FUCK is Cat?! Although I appreciate the way you have my back by supporting the yellow and green, there is NO WAY in hell that Pele is a better player than Maradona. Even if Maradona had just one leg and no left eye, he would still dance around Pele during his prime. Let me explain the situation to you: The reason Pele got the award for the Greatest Athlete...whatever is because he was an immaculate athlete and helped developed US soccer. Yeah, it is true he scored more than 1200 goals during his career, but please remember that he played during the 50's and 60's and he played for a REAAAALLY long time. You see, NOONE really played major defense during the 50's and 60's, which, obviously, made it easier for players to score more goals. Comparing Pele to Maradona would be like comparing Kareem Abdul Jabbar to his majesty, Michael Jordan. Although Jabbar has the record for most points scored by one player ever, there is no way he could ever match up against Jordan skills-wise. The same could be said for Pele and Maradona. Now, I do agree that Maradona chose a horrible path to follow during his career and should never receive an award such as The Greatest Athlete, but thats not what the arguement is about. I know you are Brazilian, but lets be real. I would never tell you that Aguinaga is the best player ever just becuase he is from my country; it'd be ludacris. Diego Armando Maradona was, is, and will always be the best player to touch a soccer ball (unless messi beats him).

Random Guest?

Submitted by Cat (not verified) on Sat, 03/11/2006 - 2:48pm.

The real qustion is who is random guest? If you have an opinion(which you obviously do) why dont you own up to it? And the only reason I stated I was brazilian was because I wanted to point out that Ive been around a lot of discussions about soccer. And IN MY OPINION Pele is the greatest player, and I was arguring that he was a 'king' bc of the fact that he is a very important legend. You can believe in whoever you think is the best player ever, and Ill believe that Pele is...thats the great thing about free speech

I have no problem owning up

Submitted by eduardo09 on Sat, 03/11/2006 - 6:27pm.

I have no problem owning up to it...its me EDUARDO.