World Cup 2006 News

As promised yesterday, here are the tickets in their full brightness. I was so lucky getting three tickets (one for me, two for friends of mine). Although getting would be the wrong word they´re worth 100 euros each (ok worth even more). I´ll be watching Sweden vs. Paraguay on June 15th in Berlin. I´m really looking forward to the game as everyone else is to the whole World Cup, I guess.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Tickets

Next week is almost certain to be delivering news concerning the career of Zinedine “Zizou” Zidane. Real Madrid confirmed he’s arranged a press conference next Wednesday at 1100GMT and rumors are that he´ll announce his retirement from all football after the World Cup.

Zidane still has one year left on his Real contract but it does make sense if he wants to end his career at the top again in favor of ending it later on with a declining form. I´ve never seen a player who gained such a reputation as Zidane did even among players. Bravo Zizou. I really hope he´ll shine once again in summer.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Players, Zinedine Zidane, Zizou

According to England’s 1966 World Cup star Bobby Charlton striker Wayne Rooney can have the same stunning influence on this summer’s finals as Pelé had for Brazil in 1958.

I´m not a fan of such a comparison. In my opinion this comparison is lacking because of at least 2 points. At his first World Cup 1958 Pelé was widely unknown. Rooney has already played very well at the last European Championships in 2004 and therefore his opponents especially the defenders know who´s coming. Additionally, Rooney is the typical striker. He´s a scorer and not that much of magician as Pelé was. Don´t get me wrong I like Rooney I just don´t think he is comparable with Pelé.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Players, Wayne Rooney, Pelé

A few days back I introduced the World Cup Poll here at World Cup 2006 News. Since then quite a few people have been participating (thank you). But that´s not the actual point of this post. I just read an interesting article on Poland´s chance to win over Germany this summer. I encourage you to do so as well (I just saw those Fans over at the World Cup Blog did so, too). There are a few facts that I didn´t know so far. Or did you even know that:

In a golden era that yielded two World Cup third places, the Poles beat Johann Cruyff’s Netherlands, Michel Platini’s France, Alf Ramsey’s England and Brazil.

I didn´t. Good to know, though. May be this has some impact on the poll that we´ve going on here. Please vote, in a few days there will be a brand new one.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, Group A, Poland

Gianluigi Buffon has given Italy and Juventus a fresh injury scare. The goalkeeper was forced to sit out Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Lazio on Saturday due to a recurrence of his shoulder injury says Sky Sports.

Buffon is supposed to be the Azzurri’s first choice at the World Cup this summer and Lippi has to hope that his goalie has not suffered a serious injury, again. Given that he has Lippi has to name another No. 1 which would surely hurt the Azzuri. All the best to Buffon so far.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Players, Italy, Buffon

It´s true there are still tickets available. So if you´re planning on joining the party hurry.

With the second conditional ticket programme the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee Germany wants to ensure that any tickets returned from various contingent groupings are allocated to interested customers. This should avoid situations where there is plenty of demand for tickets, but stadiums are full of empty seats.

Nobody wants empty seats. If you didn´t get a ticket yet, that would be your break.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Tickets

If you´re both planning to buy a notebook and a soccer-addict this Notebook might be your gadget of choice. There are only 600 of this Toshiba Dynabooks to be sold so hurry if you wanna be one of the special owners. World Cup Blog even reports of another special Toshiba Notebook offer that comes with a World Cup Ticket. Check this out. Crazy. So we have the World Cup XBox 360, the World Cup HDTV, the World Cup Notebooks and we´re still counting.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, Gadgets

According to BBC UK England´s Wayne Rooney is pretty confident to get some things done this summer in Germany.

I don’t think we need to fear anyone. This is probably the best group of players we have had since 1966.

Although this might even be true a little more modesty would not hurt anyone. Wayne, have you ever heard of a bunch of guys around a man called Ronaldinho? Just kidding, we´ll see how this works out in summer.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Players, Wayne Rooney

I just read the Name Sergio Aguero for the very first time over at World Cup Blog. He´s 17 year-old midfielder from Argentina. Having watched this video you might agree with me that he seems pretty gifted and I do understand why there has been such a hype over at WCB. I´m looking forward to seeing a lot more of him in the future.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, Argentina, Sergio Aguero

It´s official. The World Cup this year in Germany will be Zinedine “Zizou” Zidane´s last appearance as an active player. Originally, big news were saved for tomorrow, but now it´s out in the open.

It’s my decision and it’s final. After the World Cup, I will stop playing football. The World Cup is my last goal. That’s the only thing I want to focus on.

Makes me sad. Really. He sure has been the most influential, most impressive Player of the last decade. And I say this once again I´ve never seen a player who gained such a reputation as Zizou did even among other players.

This one´s for you my fellow Zizou admirers. Check out this Video (7 min 58 sec) containing only a few of his best scenes. Funny how he´s joking around with Ronaldinho, who´s a pretty good magician himself as we all know. [via]

Update: I just found another 24 min 04 sec worth a view.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, World Cup Players, Zinedine Zidane, France