Who Wants to Join a Physics Forums FIFA World Cup 2006 Pool?

[EL]

What do you think of creating a Physics Forums FIFA World Cup 2006 pool?
Who would be interested in participating in such?

The simplest form would be just to tip the winning team (or draw) in all Stage 1 matches (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/schedule.html). Most correct matches becomes PF FIFA World Cup 2006 pool champion...
Please feel free to come up with other suggestions for the rules!

If the interest isn't too terrible, and after we have decided the form of the pool, I will start it in a new thread.

 

[siddharth]

How about extra points for guessing the correct scoreline? And bonus for guessing the top scorer?

 

[J77]

Anything football - count me in

 

[heartless]

I voted for yes though I have no idea what FIFA World Cup pool is.
Anyway, I often play soccer, that may be good

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'm in, I love futbol!

 

[BobG]

I'm in, I love futbol!

Ha! You have no chance. You can't even spell voetbol, let alone pick the winners!

 

[scott1]

I think FIFA has somthing to do with socc...football. Which I really have no idea what it is so I'll vote yes just find out why we call it soccer(I never understood why we call it "soccer" I know why Eupoenas call football but I still understand why we call it soccer) also since know else plays soccer(Football the one played with the lemon shaped ball)But the thing I'am still confussed about is what the are "sports"

 

[rhj23]

'soccer' comes from 'asSOCiation football'

 

[meteor]

The brazilian outfit are going to massacre their way through the tournament, as they did in the previous World Cup. There's just too much quality crammed together

 

[Curious3141]

The South Korean coach thinks they can reach the semi-finals again. Yeah, right! Even the last time was such a fluke, even with the home ground advantage.

 

[J77]

'soccer' comes from 'asSOCiation football'

Yeah - it's what the toffs called football, cf. rugger.

Best line I (semi-) remember from an old sitcom:

"It's called FOOTBALL...

...soccer's something you do to the wife!"

 

[Astronuc]

Luciano Moggi, who is at the centre of an investigation into alleged corruption in Italian football, has quit as general manager of Juventus.

BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4770921.stm

I heard about this on Public Radio - and the scandal could involve other teams, possibly AC Milan. Juventes could get dropped to Lega B!

European News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/default.stm

BBC World Football - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_football/default.stm

Great links.

Referees under the spotlight
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_football/4879988.stm

 

[J77]

Corruption. Italian. Football.

 

[Reshma]

Hey what's this about?

 

[Astronuc]

Hey what's this about?

The thread or the probe into Italian football corruption?

 

[BobG]

Referees under the spotlight
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_football/4879988.stm

I agree about 'diving' being hard to call in a game. Even in lower level games, where a referee might be as good an athlete*, there's always going to be a weak side and a strong side to the field. A good ref sets himself up knowing where he can get help from the asst ref and where he's on his own. He still has to get a good read and anticipate the play in order to get there in time to be in position to make the call.

Watching other refs work, I tended to sit in the corner opposite the asst ref's line. It's just amazing how many really bad calls are made in that 'weak' corner. It takes just as much skill for the referee to read and anticipate the play as it does for a player. If the ref doesn't make a good read on what's about to happen, he has little hope of getting a good angle on the call.

I can't even imagine what it's like for referees at a pro-level where the action takes place so much quicker. Worse yet, the players have learned where the ref's natural weak side is and some seem to intentionally exploit it.

Just watch where on the field the worst calls always seem to occur and where the smart players tend to dive. Watch the situation the dives occur in, as well. A lot of catching a dive is reading the situation as much as seeing the lack of a foul.

*(ha!-fat chance!-if the referee were young with a lot of athletic ability, he'd be refereeing at a higher level!)

 

[EL]

So, how about this:
We tip each match. 1 point for correct winner (or draw). 1 extra point for correct scoreline. 5 points bonus for correct top scorer.
We could also have a lot of other bonuses like:
Winning team, Teams in the final, Referee in the final, Players in the all star team, Team with most yellow/red cards, Teams qualifying from each group in stage 1, and so on...but I guess too many bonuses will just make it too complicated, and in my eyes it's more important to get more people to participate. What do you think?

 

[siddharth]

So, how about this:
We tip each match. 1 point for correct winner (or draw). 1 extra point for correct scoreline. 5 points bonus for correct top scorer.

Yeah, that's fine with me

 

[J77]

I can't even imagine what it's like for referees at a pro-level where the action takes place so much quicker. Worse yet, the players have learned where the ref's natural weak side is and some seem to intentionally exploit it.

...but even if they get away with it on the pitch, the camera will catch them these days.

 

[Reshma]

So, how about this:
We tip each match. 1 point for correct winner (or draw). 1 extra point for correct scoreline. 5 points bonus for correct top scorer.
We could also have a lot of other bonuses like:
Winning team, Teams in the final, Referee in the final, Players in the all star team, Team with most yellow/red cards, Teams qualifying from each group in stage 1, and so on...but I guess too many bonuses will just make it too complicated, and in my eyes it's more important to get more people to participate. What do you think?

Sounds good to me. I am a football freak, count me in!

 

[Astronuc]

Luciano Moggi - Juve boss quits amid fixing probe

Luciano Moggi, who is at the centre of an investigation into alleged corruption in Italian football, has quit as general manager of Juventus.
"From Monday I will have resigned. From this day the world of football is no longer my world," Moggi said.

"Now I'll think about defending myself from the malice said about me."

He has been linked to the publication of telephone taps involving talks with Italy football federation officials regarding refereeing appointments.

Referee Massimo De Santis, who is set to officiate at the World Cup next month, is also being investigated in the probe.

Moggi is one of 41 people being investigated
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4770921.stm

 

[heartless]

Yay, 19 days to Worldddddddddddddddddddddd Cup 2006
Any one going to Germany?
Go Angola!
Let's do preguessing for the World Cup winner.
I think Argentina,