England, Italy and Portugal need a shakedown cruise to rethink about their situation...
Silver Road and Golden Stripes, Yet Another Football TL
- Thread starter Wings
- Start date
Groups E-H 2005-06
Germany easily handled their group, completely crushing everyone in their way and only drawing once, to Argentina. Despite an iffy record, the Albiceleste did the essential things by beating Costa Rica, who were transferred to the FIFA Cup. Nigeria didn't even win a game.
Group F was a homogeneous one, similar to Group C, with no big team really standing out. This time, the United States stood firm and took first place after winning all of their home games. Southern American squad Colombia would join them, barely beating Tunisia and Turkey to a second-place finish. The Turks would get a shot in the FIFA Cup thanks to their superior goal average.
Group G was similar, with no favourites in it. Two European squads and two Asian squads to decide the slots for the Round of 16. Unsurprisingly, Iran and Saudi Arabia got brushed aside, with Poland taking first, while the Czechs barely took second over Saudi Arabia. Iran finished dead last, but didn't ridicule themselves as they scored 7 points total.
Group H saw favourites Spain completely fall flat. With a catastrophic campaign, La Rioja barely squeezed into the FIFA Cup, joining England and Portugal there. On the other hand, Greece and Uruguay exceeded expectations by qualifying for the Round of 16, while previous finalists Ireland dropped out.
American celebrations after their win over Turkey.
Transfer to FIFA Cup:
Costa Rica (9), vs Paraguay
Turkey (18), vs Belarus
Saudi Arabia (16), vs Finland
Spain (3), vs Guatemala
Round of 16:
Colombia v Netherlands
South Korea v Croatia
Denmark v Uruguay
Greece v France
Argentina v United States
Romania v Germany
Brazil v Poland
Czech Republic v Mexico
Group F was a homogeneous one, similar to Group C, with no big team really standing out. This time, the United States stood firm and took first place after winning all of their home games. Southern American squad Colombia would join them, barely beating Tunisia and Turkey to a second-place finish. The Turks would get a shot in the FIFA Cup thanks to their superior goal average.
Group G was similar, with no favourites in it. Two European squads and two Asian squads to decide the slots for the Round of 16. Unsurprisingly, Iran and Saudi Arabia got brushed aside, with Poland taking first, while the Czechs barely took second over Saudi Arabia. Iran finished dead last, but didn't ridicule themselves as they scored 7 points total.
Group H saw favourites Spain completely fall flat. With a catastrophic campaign, La Rioja barely squeezed into the FIFA Cup, joining England and Portugal there. On the other hand, Greece and Uruguay exceeded expectations by qualifying for the Round of 16, while previous finalists Ireland dropped out.
American celebrations after their win over Turkey.
Transfer to FIFA Cup:
Costa Rica (9), vs Paraguay
Turkey (18), vs Belarus
Saudi Arabia (16), vs Finland
Spain (3), vs Guatemala
Round of 16:
Colombia v Netherlands
South Korea v Croatia
Denmark v Uruguay
Greece v France
Argentina v United States
Romania v Germany
Brazil v Poland
Czech Republic v Mexico
Netherlands
Croatia
Uruguay
France
Argentina
Germany
Brazil
Czech Republic
Germany-Uruguay for the championship.
Croatia
Uruguay
France
Argentina
Germany
Brazil
Czech Republic
Germany-Uruguay for the championship.
My guesses for the Round of 16:
Colombia v Netherlands
South Korea v Croatia
Denmark v Uruguay
Greece v France
Argentina v United States
Romania v Germany
Brazil v Poland
Czech Republic v Mexico
Colombia v Netherlands
South Korea v Croatia
Denmark v Uruguay
Greece v France
Argentina v United States
Romania v Germany
Brazil v Poland
Czech Republic v Mexico
Round of 16 2005-06
The Round of 16 was quite equal, with four first and second seeds alike moving on to the Quarter-Finals. Three of the matches were close, and ended up giving a winner on away goals only. The Dutch were the first to qualify like that, followed by Argentina, who were drawn against a resilient United States. The third ones were Poland, who eliminated Brazil in a major upset. South Korea also exceeded expectations, eliminating Croatia after a dominant home win, while Denmark also knocked out first seeded Uruguay, and the Czechs knocking out Mexico. Finally, favourites France and Germany had no problem in knocking out Greece and Romania to secure their own spots in the Quarter-Finals.
Maxi Rodriguez scores Argentina's equalizer against the USA, sending them through to the Quarter-Finals
Kurt 5
RA 5
Quarter-Finals:
Netherlands v South Korea
Denmark v France
Argentina v Germany
Poland v Czech Republic
Maxi Rodriguez scores Argentina's equalizer against the USA, sending them through to the Quarter-Finals
Kurt 5
RA 5
Quarter-Finals:
Netherlands v South Korea
Denmark v France
Argentina v Germany
Poland v Czech Republic
Thanks! I got the best present in my email as well, a positive result for COVID, two-week quarantine, here I come!
It was a close affair, the US are getting better...
Feeling fine right now, only a few back pains, feeling tired all the time, and a sore throat, so nothing big, just making sure not to give it to anyone else.
Quarter-Finals 2005-06
The Asian run would end with South Korea being ousted in the Semi-Finals, the Netherlands proving too much to bear for the Asian squad.It was also an easy qualification for France, who beat Denmark twice, and Poland, who defeated the Czechs convincingly. This only left the big confrontation between Argentina and Germany, and the Albiceleste would save themselves yet again on away goals, drawing 1-1 in Munich while holding a 0-0 draw at La Bombonera.
Germany and Argentina clash in Munich
Kurt 2 (7)
Unknown 3 (3)
Semi-Finals
Netherlands v France
Argentina v Poland
Germany and Argentina clash in Munich
Kurt 2 (7)
Unknown 3 (3)
Semi-Finals
Netherlands v France
Argentina v Poland
Semi-Finals 2005-06
The Netherlands would face their demons at the same time as France, and finally defeat their longtime enemies in the Nations League, earning their first ever win against the French at home. Despite the 3-0 lead, the Dutch nearly through it at the Stade de France, with Zidane scoring two to keep France afloat. This wouldn't be enough though, as the Dutch headed towards their first final since 1998. Then, they had beaten Argentina, and the Albiceleste were ready for a rematch. However, this wasn't to be. After two rounds passed on away goals, they would be knocked out...on away goals by Poland who secured a 1-0 win in Warsaw after a 2-1 loss in Argentina thanks to a lone goal from Maciej Zurawski.
Poland celebrate qualifying for an impromptu final in the Nations League
Choc 0 (0)
Unknown 0 (3)
Red 1 (6)
Poland celebrate qualifying for an impromptu final in the Nations League
Choc 0 (0)
Unknown 0 (3)
Red 1 (6)
Final 2005-06
The 2006 final in Munich would ironically see two of the Mannschaft's biggest rivals duke it out in a final which looked more like a 70's clash than a mid-2000s one. Both the Dutch and the Poles would look to take home another title, with the Poles coming in as heavy underdogs. This showed as the Dutch quickly controlled the pace of the game, with Van Nistelrooy forcing Boruc to a big save 3 minutes in. Poland reacted slowly, with a few strikes, Zurawski's shot being saved by Van der Sar, while a header from Jop would fly high over the bar. However, Poland would be completely overwhelmed, resulting in Polish players making fouls, to the point that captain Jacek Bak would be sent off following a sharp tackle on Arjen Robben. The subsequent free kick saw Cocu give the lead for the Dutch, who then held on to it for the rest of the first half, coming close to a second goal as Robben had to force Boruc to make another decisive save.
Right after the first half, the Dutch struck again, with Van Persie delivering a perfect ball for Sneijder to make it 2-0. By then, the Poles got desperate and started moving forward, finally reducing the score to 2-1 after a corner kick delivered a good ball to Radomski to lower the scoreline. This would be the last time Poland would ever be a significiant threat to the Dutch though. Not only ten minutes later did subsitute Kuyt send a direct free kick into the Polish net to make it a 2-goal lead for the Dutch yet again. A last big chance would come when Van Persie hit the post 5 minutes later, but it was already over by then, with the Netherlands scoring a fourth Nations League victory.
Van Nistelrooy looks on as Cocu scores the first goal of the final
Dutch players celebrate their third and final goal of the final
Dutch defender Mark Van Bommel presents the trophy won in Amsterdam.
Right after the first half, the Dutch struck again, with Van Persie delivering a perfect ball for Sneijder to make it 2-0. By then, the Poles got desperate and started moving forward, finally reducing the score to 2-1 after a corner kick delivered a good ball to Radomski to lower the scoreline. This would be the last time Poland would ever be a significiant threat to the Dutch though. Not only ten minutes later did subsitute Kuyt send a direct free kick into the Polish net to make it a 2-goal lead for the Dutch yet again. A last big chance would come when Van Persie hit the post 5 minutes later, but it was already over by then, with the Netherlands scoring a fourth Nations League victory.
Van Nistelrooy looks on as Cocu scores the first goal of the final
Dutch players celebrate their third and final goal of the final
Dutch defender Mark Van Bommel presents the trophy won in Amsterdam.