FIFA World Cup 2006 Germany

World Cup starts just now!

Tensions rise as the finals come closer in the Germany 2006 in which 56 competitions have been completed so far. There are no surprising teams among the last 8 except for the Ukraine and football fans are not struck by the elimination of Australia, Ghana and Mexico. Furthermore, it can be said that the cup really starts now for the fans of the surviving 8 teams.


Having left behind the first two phases of matches, FIFA World Cup 2006 Germany goes into full throttle with its exciting matches, critical cards, controversial penalties and, above all, with its unique fever. As the teams aiming to reach the quarter-finals in the tournament, launched with the participation of 32 countries, obtained a chance to relax and revise their tactics once more with the two-day break; fans are concentrating on the statistics and the unforgettable moments of the tournament that are now to be lifelong memories.

The “Scarlet” Tournament
Actually, every World Cup event opens up for new consumption fields rather than new records and the pleasure of football. This situation also applies to Germany 2006. The idea, which was developed by Germans in this tournament for the first time, is that each team plays a match in a different city causing fans to transport themselves from one city to another. It seems Germany 2006 will beat a record as the most expensive tournament due to train tickets, hotel fees, and souvenir costs paid by fans.
Besides this fact, Germany 2006 will be remembered for its record in yellow and red cards that have been raised in the matches and not for its competitions achieving many goals. Carrying the title of being the most scarlet tournament up to now with 22 red cards, France ’98 has transferred this title to Germany 2006 that has been stage to 25 red cards up to now. Comparing the Korea-Japan 2002 yellow card record of 272 with that of Germany 2006 it was beaten with 309 yellow cards. This number is sure to increase as the last 8 matches may be more contentious than ever.
The intriguing matter is not the number of the cards, however; but the fact that this card glut started just after FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s warning. Behaving rather mean about the cards and penalties, the referees suddenly started to raise cards and give penalties.
While Asian and African referees seem to cheer up, some suspicions were raised as the decisions taken served for only the “big” teams’ appetite. Recalling the previous World Cup, in which the teams not having a strong football école, such as Turkey and Korea had played in the finals surprisingly, it is a matter of question whether this was not a suitable bargain for the promotion policies of FIFA.

Argentine – Brazil; possible?
Returning to our main point, Germany 2006 did not fully please the football fans. Except for Australia, Ghana and Mexico, none of the teams disappointed the fans with their game while Ukraine, surviving to the quarterfinals, was a surprise among the other 7. So we can say it’s “All Quiet on the German Front” for now. If there happens to be a Germany–Brazil final match, as the organising team has been wishing for, everything will have gone just as it had been anticipated.
However, Argentine may give the fans a last minute excitement by surprisingly winning over the host team Germany and beat its possible rival Italy in the next match, and thus may create a long-desired fever in the finals. Whereas, Brazil, although having decreased its rhythm comparing to the beginning of the tournament, seem to have only England as a difficult rival on its way to the final. Yet, England, successful in not ever conceding any goals but unsuccessful in scoring any, seem to have a lesser chance against Brazil.
Beyond all these “forecasts” however, we are actually on the shore of all possibilities. For instance, Italians, having conceded “catenaccio”, may be obstructed by Ukraine; or France may crush Brazil’s hopes, like they did in the finals of France ’98; or Portugal may pierce the English defence thanks to their creativity.
If the official ball of Germany 2006 the “Teamgeist” is a round-ball, despite all the technology behind it, we can say everything is possible in any minute in football; and that is why we like it.