Silver Road and Golden Stripes, Yet Another Football TL
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Round of 16 2004-05
The Round of 16 started with an upset, as Argentina were taken down by a surprisingly robust Paraguayan squad, which performed well both at home and away, snatching two wins as the Albiceleste fell down hard. Interestingly, Paraguay would be the only first seed with Germany to advance to the Quarter-Finals, with Germany barely scraping a qualification over the Czechs, on away goals.
Italy took the big confrontation between them and Portugal, while both France and the Netherlands destroyed their opponents to advance. Spain likewise easily got their qualification over Mexico, while Ireland easily brushed Sweden aside. Nigeria on the other hand were given an impossible task with Brazil, but managed to tie it in Manaus. However, Nigeria fell short when Brazil came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 with a Ronaldo goal at the 86th minute to seal it once and for all. For the Super Eagles, this was a devastating setback.
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Ronaldo celebrates scoring Brazil's second goal, effectively securing the Selecao's spot into the Quarter-Finals.
Quarter-Finals:
Paraguay v Italy
Brazil v Germany
Netherlands v France
Spain v Republic of Ireland
Italy took the big confrontation between them and Portugal, while both France and the Netherlands destroyed their opponents to advance. Spain likewise easily got their qualification over Mexico, while Ireland easily brushed Sweden aside. Nigeria on the other hand were given an impossible task with Brazil, but managed to tie it in Manaus. However, Nigeria fell short when Brazil came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 with a Ronaldo goal at the 86th minute to seal it once and for all. For the Super Eagles, this was a devastating setback.
Ronaldo celebrates scoring Brazil's second goal, effectively securing the Selecao's spot into the Quarter-Finals.
Quarter-Finals:
Paraguay v Italy
Brazil v Germany
Netherlands v France
Spain v Republic of Ireland
Paraguay v Italy
Brazil v Germany
Netherlands v France
Spain v Republic of Ireland
Brazil v Germany
Netherlands v France
Spain v Republic of Ireland
Paraguay v Italy
Brazil v Germany
Netherlands v France
Spain v Republic of Ireland
Brazil v Germany
Netherlands v France
Spain v Republic of Ireland
Quarter-Finals 2004-05
Once more, the Quarter-Finals would start with a massive upset, as Paraguay, who drew Italy at home and weren't expected to put up a fight against the Squadra Azzura. However, they'd prove everyone wrong by drawing them, before winning in extra time. This wouldn't be the only Quarter-Final needing extra time, as France had to go 120 minutes to eliminate the Dutch, after two 0-0 draws. Another upset also happened with the Republic of Ireland beating Spain, who looked shaky in their win in Barcelona, and would fall in Dublin. Finally, Germany grabbed the last spot in the Top 4 by dismantling Brazil 3-0 in Munich.
Unknown 2, MatthewFirth 1, KurtSteiner 1, Red Arturoist 1.
Paraguay's Santana scored the decisive goal in extra time against Italy to push the South American nation into the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Finals:
Paraguay v Germany
France v Republic of Ireland
Unknown 2, MatthewFirth 1, KurtSteiner 1, Red Arturoist 1.
Paraguay's Santana scored the decisive goal in extra time against Italy to push the South American nation into the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Finals:
Paraguay v Germany
France v Republic of Ireland
Semi-Finals 2004-05
Most people were expecting an easy enough road to the final for both titleholders Germany and France. However, although both would meet the same fate, it wouldn't be the expected one. Both teams drew at home, and both lost away, by the same scoreline, 2-1. As such, it was both underdogs, Paraguay and Ireland, that made it through against all-odds. Ireland will chase a second title, while Paraguay will try and strike their first ever silver star.
France and Ireland in action in Dublin.
France and Ireland in action in Dublin.
Nowhere is safe from potential upsets, that's why football is so fun.
Final 2004-05
It was an underdog clash that ended the 2004-05 edition of the Nations League. Both Paraguay and Ireland were expected to drop in the group stages, yet here they were, fighting for the trophy. Paraguay struck first, with Riveros delivering a perfect ball to Santa Cruz, which Irish keeper Given couldn't stop. The South American squad kept the pressure up during the rest of the first half, with Valdez putting a shot over the crossbar, while a foul on Santa Cruz in the box went unnoticed by the referee, denying a penalty from Paraguay. The second half saw some reaction from the Irish, but despite attacking, no concrete chances came in. Finally, at the 66th minute, a Paraguayan counter-attack gave them a corner, and substitute Jorge Nunez, on the pitch for less than 30 seconds, headed in Paraguay's second to seal the deal. Ireland tried, but failed, to level the score, with Duff shooting twice on goal, but Villar stood strong. After 94 gruelling minutes, Paraguay emerged victorious, and struck their first ever silver star on their shirt.
Paraguay's Cabanas in action during the late stages of the game
The paraguayan defense stands fast as Irish attacks in the later stages fail
Disappointed faces on the Irish players and staff after the final whistle
Paraguay's Cabanas in action during the late stages of the game
The paraguayan defense stands fast as Irish attacks in the later stages fail
Disappointed faces on the Irish players and staff after the final whistle
2004-05 Stats & 05-06 Intro
Winners: Paraguay - 1st title
Top Scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy (NED) - 9 goals
2005-06 Participants:
Europe: Netherlands (33), Czech Republic (10), England (49), Spain (49), France (34), Portugal (22), Germany (51), Turkey (5), Italy (50), Ireland (13), Sweden (34), Greece (4), Denmark (22), Croatia (12), Poland (18), Russia (10), Romania (20)
South America: Brazil (51), Argentina (49), Colombia (15), Uruguay (30)
North America: Mexico (27), United States (9), Costa Rica (5)
Africa: Egypt (5), Cameroon (4), Nigeria (5), Tunisia (6)
Asia: Iran (2), Japan (7), South Korea (5), Saudi Arabia (2)
Final Location: Allianz Arena, Munich
Groups & Seeding
Group A: England, Italy, Croatia, Romania
Group B: Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Russia
Group C: Mexico, Sweden, South Korea, Cameroon
Group D: Brazil, France, Japan, Egypt
Group E: Argentina, Germany, Costa Rica, Nigeria
Group F: United States, Turkey, Colombia, Tunisia
Group G: Czech Republic, Iran, Poland, Saudi Arabia
Group H: Spain, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Uruguay
FIFA Cup 2004-05
Group A: 1. Tunisia 2. Bulgaria 3. Oman 4. DR Congo 5. Qatar
Group B: 1. Venezuela 2. Australia 3. Egypt 4. South Africa 5. Slovakia
Group C: 1. Honduras 2. Serbia and Montenegro 3. Trinidad and Tobago 4. Norway 5. Uzbekistan
Group D: 1. Iraq 2. Finland 3. Switzerland 4. Israel 5. Wales
Group E: 1. Jamaica 2. Slovenia 3. Peru 4. Romania 5. Zambia
Group F: 1. Chile 2. Bahrain 3. PR China 4. Morocco 5.Scotland
Group G: 1. Ecuador 2. Mali 3. Algeria 4. Latvia 5. Libya
Group H: 1. Zimbabwe 2. Kuwait 3. Thailand 4. Ghana 5. Jordan
Costa Rica - Finland 0-0 / 1-1
Algeria - Iraq 1-2 / 3-5
PR China - Jamaica 1-1 / 2-3
Switzerland - Tunisia 3-1 / 0-1
Saudi Arabia - Australia 3-2 / 2-4
United States - Slovenia 2-2 / 2-1
Russia - Bulgaria 2-2 / 1-1
Thailand - Chile 2-2 / 1-5
Trinidad and Tobago - Venezuela 1-3 / 0-1
England - Serbia and Montenegro 2-0 / 0-0
South Korea - Kuwait 1-3 / 0-2
Egypt - Ecuador 2-2 / 0-3
Peru - Honduras 2-0 / 0-1
Uruguay - Mali 1-0 / 4-2
Oman - Zimbabwe 4-0 / 1-3
Croatia - Bahrain 4-1 / 0-2
Costa Rica - Iraq 3-0 / 1-2
Jamaica - Switzerland 2-2 / 0-1
Australia - United States 3-2 / 2-2
Bulgaria - Chile 0-2 / 1-1
Venezuela - England 2-1 / 1-3
Kuwait - Ecuador 1-1 / 0-2
Peru - Uruguay 1-2 / 1-1
Oman - Croatia 1-0 / 1-3
Costa Rica - Switzerland 3-1 / 0-0
Australia - Chile 4-1 / 1-0
England - Ecuador 1-1 / 0-0
Uruguay - Croatia 2-1 / 0-0
Costa Rica - Australia 0-3 / 1-3
Ecuador - Uruguay 3-0 / 2-0
Australia - Ecuador 1-2
Winners: Ecuador - 1st title
2004-05 Participants:
Europe: Norway (15), Ukraine (6), Switzerland (23), Finland (12), Slovakia (8), Bulgaria (32), Israel (30), Slovenia (6), Serbia and Montenegro (11), Belgium (18), Belarus (1), Latvia (2), Hungary (22), Austria (24)
South America: Ecuador (13), Paraguay (27), Venezuela (2)
North America: Honduras (18), Jamaica (9), Trinidad and Tobago (7), Guatemala (1)
Africa: Morocco (27), South Africa (5), Senegal (5), Ivory Coast (24), Zimbabwe (6), Zambia (15), Mali (6), Togo (1), Ghana (24), Angola (5)
Asia: Bahrain (2), PR China (11), Kuwait (14), Iraq (17), Uzbekistan (4), Jordan (2), Oman (2), Qatar (2)
Oceania: Australia (25)
Final Location: Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Groups & Seeding
Group A: South Africa, Ivory Coast, PR China, Iraq, Austria
Group B: Honduras, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jordan, Ghana
Group C: Norway, Finland, Serbia and Montenegro, Latvia, Oman
Group D: Paraguay, Jamaica, Zambia, Australia, Venezuela
Group E: Ukraine, Slovakia, Zimbabwe, Uzbekistan, Togo
Group F: Ecuador, Bulgaria, Belgium, Guatemala, Hungary
Group G: Senegal, Israel, Kuwait, Mali, Angola
Group H: Morocco, Switzerland, Bahrain, Belarus, Qatar
Group B: 1. Venezuela 2. Australia 3. Egypt 4. South Africa 5. Slovakia
Group C: 1. Honduras 2. Serbia and Montenegro 3. Trinidad and Tobago 4. Norway 5. Uzbekistan
Group D: 1. Iraq 2. Finland 3. Switzerland 4. Israel 5. Wales
Group E: 1. Jamaica 2. Slovenia 3. Peru 4. Romania 5. Zambia
Group F: 1. Chile 2. Bahrain 3. PR China 4. Morocco 5.Scotland
Group G: 1. Ecuador 2. Mali 3. Algeria 4. Latvia 5. Libya
Group H: 1. Zimbabwe 2. Kuwait 3. Thailand 4. Ghana 5. Jordan
Costa Rica - Finland 0-0 / 1-1
Algeria - Iraq 1-2 / 3-5
PR China - Jamaica 1-1 / 2-3
Switzerland - Tunisia 3-1 / 0-1
Saudi Arabia - Australia 3-2 / 2-4
United States - Slovenia 2-2 / 2-1
Russia - Bulgaria 2-2 / 1-1
Thailand - Chile 2-2 / 1-5
Trinidad and Tobago - Venezuela 1-3 / 0-1
England - Serbia and Montenegro 2-0 / 0-0
South Korea - Kuwait 1-3 / 0-2
Egypt - Ecuador 2-2 / 0-3
Peru - Honduras 2-0 / 0-1
Uruguay - Mali 1-0 / 4-2
Oman - Zimbabwe 4-0 / 1-3
Croatia - Bahrain 4-1 / 0-2
Costa Rica - Iraq 3-0 / 1-2
Jamaica - Switzerland 2-2 / 0-1
Australia - United States 3-2 / 2-2
Bulgaria - Chile 0-2 / 1-1
Venezuela - England 2-1 / 1-3
Kuwait - Ecuador 1-1 / 0-2
Peru - Uruguay 1-2 / 1-1
Oman - Croatia 1-0 / 1-3
Costa Rica - Switzerland 3-1 / 0-0
Australia - Chile 4-1 / 1-0
England - Ecuador 1-1 / 0-0
Uruguay - Croatia 2-1 / 0-0
Costa Rica - Australia 0-3 / 1-3
Ecuador - Uruguay 3-0 / 2-0
Australia - Ecuador 1-2
Winners: Ecuador - 1st title
2004-05 Participants:
Europe: Norway (15), Ukraine (6), Switzerland (23), Finland (12), Slovakia (8), Bulgaria (32), Israel (30), Slovenia (6), Serbia and Montenegro (11), Belgium (18), Belarus (1), Latvia (2), Hungary (22), Austria (24)
South America: Ecuador (13), Paraguay (27), Venezuela (2)
North America: Honduras (18), Jamaica (9), Trinidad and Tobago (7), Guatemala (1)
Africa: Morocco (27), South Africa (5), Senegal (5), Ivory Coast (24), Zimbabwe (6), Zambia (15), Mali (6), Togo (1), Ghana (24), Angola (5)
Asia: Bahrain (2), PR China (11), Kuwait (14), Iraq (17), Uzbekistan (4), Jordan (2), Oman (2), Qatar (2)
Oceania: Australia (25)
Final Location: Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Groups & Seeding
Group A: South Africa, Ivory Coast, PR China, Iraq, Austria
Group B: Honduras, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jordan, Ghana
Group C: Norway, Finland, Serbia and Montenegro, Latvia, Oman
Group D: Paraguay, Jamaica, Zambia, Australia, Venezuela
Group E: Ukraine, Slovakia, Zimbabwe, Uzbekistan, Togo
Group F: Ecuador, Bulgaria, Belgium, Guatemala, Hungary
Group G: Senegal, Israel, Kuwait, Mali, Angola
Group H: Morocco, Switzerland, Bahrain, Belarus, Qatar
Groups A-D 2005-06
Group A saw the two group favourites, England and Italy, drop out of the competition against all odds. Italy, who drew all their games away, proceeded to lose all of their home games, while England, after an initial win over the future World Champions in Old Trafford, would collapse and not be able to beat Romania for first place. Croatia on the other hand, with their three wins, easily cruised to the top of Group A, only dropping one game against England at Goodison Park.
Group B was similar, with both the Netherlands and Portugal expected to make it out easily. However, although the Netherlands secured first place, Portugal fell off, losing twice to Denmark, and only getting a FIFA Cup slot thanks to Russia completely sinking against the Dutch in Groningen. With England and Portugal in the FIFA Cup, this secondary tourney would prove to be more competitive than anyone would have thought.
Group C wasn't one of the big groups, but all the teams involved were of the same level. So much so that the difference between first and last place was of only three points, or a single win. Mexico would take first, right ahead of South Korea, who would have the chance to represent Asia in the Round of 16. Cameroon and Sweden ended up with the same amount of points, and it would be a single goal scored to put Sweden through to the FIFA Cup, while Cameroon's international appearances ended for the year.
Group D didn't end like Groups A and B, with Brazil and France completely crushing Japan and Egypt. With their two wins over Brazil, France took first, while Brazil ended up second. Japan on their side of things beat Egypt twice in order to get a second chance in the FIFA Cup, with the Pharaohs unable to try and hoist their way to a final at home in Cairo.
Korean players celebrate qualifying for the Round of 16
To FIFA Cup:
England (5), vs Slovenia
Portugal (19), vs PR China
Sweden (15), vs Senegal
Japan (9), vs Ukraine
Group B was similar, with both the Netherlands and Portugal expected to make it out easily. However, although the Netherlands secured first place, Portugal fell off, losing twice to Denmark, and only getting a FIFA Cup slot thanks to Russia completely sinking against the Dutch in Groningen. With England and Portugal in the FIFA Cup, this secondary tourney would prove to be more competitive than anyone would have thought.
Group C wasn't one of the big groups, but all the teams involved were of the same level. So much so that the difference between first and last place was of only three points, or a single win. Mexico would take first, right ahead of South Korea, who would have the chance to represent Asia in the Round of 16. Cameroon and Sweden ended up with the same amount of points, and it would be a single goal scored to put Sweden through to the FIFA Cup, while Cameroon's international appearances ended for the year.
Group D didn't end like Groups A and B, with Brazil and France completely crushing Japan and Egypt. With their two wins over Brazil, France took first, while Brazil ended up second. Japan on their side of things beat Egypt twice in order to get a second chance in the FIFA Cup, with the Pharaohs unable to try and hoist their way to a final at home in Cairo.
Korean players celebrate qualifying for the Round of 16
To FIFA Cup:
England (5), vs Slovenia
Portugal (19), vs PR China
Sweden (15), vs Senegal
Japan (9), vs Ukraine