[Bulldog]

Well,

For those soccer fans out there this has to be feast foy your eyes.
Take a trip down memory lane and remeber the World Cup Finals of 86 and 90.
More than 100,000 people in Mexico city saw Maradona rise to the soccer heaven after a brilliant pass to Burruchaga who scored the final goal agaist those fisty germans that had already come back from a 0-2. But there was no time left. Argentina was tha champion!!, Maradona was the King!!

Four years latter revenge would come, Germany had been by far the best team in the cup when they met Argentina that had stumbled and (penalty kicked) their way to the final thanks to multiple saves by Sergio Goicoechea. It was Olimpico Stadium in Rome, the game was headed to overtime when mexican referee Edgardo Codezal called an infamous pk against Argentina. This time Goicoechea couldnt and Andreas Brehme scores the only goal of the final.

Now... they meet again.
The stage is set for two giants of soccer to clash today at the Olimpiastadion of Berlin.
One has a slightly better team: Argentina
the other one has the advantage of being at home.
We can't do less but home for another magical moment, another moment that we can remeber 20 years... 50 years down the road.
Hoping for the best refereeing possible and for this two teams to give their best.
You can tell me Brazil all you want, I think tha winner of this game will probably go all the way!!!

The odds have shifted slighty in Germanys favor.
-145 to advance or so.
Might be a nice time to get Argentina at +105 or so.
Still, I think this game is a tossup
Safest bet could be the Under 2.5 at -160 or so...

Anyway, betting or not, enjoy the game.
I cant wait...
Enyoy the game guys, I cant wait

[Mudcat]

I like the hometown Germans in this one.

[Bulldog]

Halftime... still scoreless.
I think Argentina has had more possesion but Germany did have the only real scoring chance. (Ballack's header)
The under seems like a lock...
Hope both teams play better in the second half and Argentina can pull it off.
Referee tight but a non factor so far... for a change.

[bigboydan]

there in overtime right now tied at 1-1.

this has been another classic match between these two teams so far.

[tacomax]

And penalties it is.

[tacomax]

Germany won on penalties but Argentina look like they want a re-match with their fists.

[bigboydan]

fist fighting in soccer. say it ain't so taco

I just saw that myself taco. that was a great game if i do say so myself.

[tacomax]

They should have decided the outcome on the result of a fight rather than penalties - the last man standing's team goes through to the next round.

[Dark Horse]

I was surprised the ref allowed the German goalie to dance across the line before the final pk. He's supposed to stand still until the shot is taken. Missed call, if you ask me.

[Bulldog]

Sad day for soccer fans all over the world... well not in Germany I guess.
Argentina deserved better...

[Mudcat]

Actually I wondered about that too DH. I was a keeper in soccer for many years in my younger days and I sure wouldn't have been allowed to do that. I just figured the rules for The Show were different but it sounds like you are saying they are not.

[tacomax]

I was surprised the ref allowed the German goalie to dance across the line before the final pk. He's supposed to stand still until the shot is taken. Missed call, if you ask me.

I was half watching it and half doing something else, but I don't think it was an infringement. The goalie can move freely from one side to the other but they're not allowed to move from the goal-line (i.e. move forward) before the ball is hit.

[Dark Horse]

You're right. (I looked it up). I never knew that. Makes you wonder why they don't do it more often. Very distracting to the kicker.

[slash]

A very disappointing match. I almost hoped it would end after 90 minutes, so I didn't have to watch another 30 minutes of extremely boring football.

[Lucas]

A very disappointing match. I almost hoped it would end after 90 minutes, so I didn't have to watch another 30 minutes of extremely boring football.

The advance of Germany is very bad news. It will not be better.

[slash]

Agreed Lucas, we will probably end up with Germany, Italy, France and England. Boring...

[slash]

And man, I would have loved to watch a clash between Spain and Brazil tomorrow night.

[McBa1n]

I was half watching it and half doing something else, but I don't think it was an infringement. The goalie can move freely from one side to the other but they're not allowed to move from the goal-line (i.e. move forward) before the ball is hit.

Funny you should say that - the USA women's team's goalie (I think her name was Briana Scurry) made a save coming out in FRONT of the goaline to make the decisive save that led to Brandie Chastain becoming a soccer icon (even though she was terrible as a player).
China got hosed by bad officiating in those kicks... it's a HUGE advantage to jump the line like the USA did in that game.