July 8, 2006 : Germany 3 - 1 Portugal Third Place Game

Germany

vs.

Portugal

After a listless first half for both teams, German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger had an offensive explosion to put the host nation over Portugal 3-1 in the tournament's consolation game. Schweinsteiger was the Power P Read More >
		Bastian Schweinsteiger #7 Germany
			17
	Game Honors Full Report >

  Full Player Report

Germany  2    Schweinsteiger      17  Kehl      15  Kahn      14  Nowotny      12  Metzelder      10  Klose      9  Lahm      9  Jansen      8    Frings      8  Podolski      7  Schneider      4	1  Portugal   16      Deco   15      Meira   14      Sabrosa   12      Ronaldo   8      Ricardo   7      Costa    7      Pauleta   3      Ferreira    2      Costinha    2      Maniche   -4      Valemte
GER Totals      119	99    POR Totals

July 5, 2006 : Portugal 0 - 1 France Semi Final

Portugal

vs.

France

Zinadine Zidane scored on a penalty in the 33 minute and Frances suffocating defense made it stand up against an dreary Portugal team for a 1-0 victory. France will now play Italy for the World Cup. DVR rating 2 diamonds. Read More >
		Lilian Thuram #15 France
			19
	Game Honors Full Report >

  Full Player Report

Portugal  0  Valemte      17  Ronaldo      14  Figo      12  Meira      10  Ricardo      8    Carvalho      5  Maniche      5  Costinha      4  Miguel      3  Pauleta      3  Deco      3	1  France   19      Thuram   14      Barthez   10      Zidane   9      Henry   8      Vieira   5      Abidal   4      Ribery   4      Malouda   4      Sagnol   2      Gallas   -3      Makelele
POR Totals      89	78    FRA Totals

France v Portugal Semi Final Preview

July 5, 2006

World Cup 2006 is becoming a reunion tour for France who will play upstart Portugal in today's Semi Final.

Zidane and Viera led France to the 1998 World Cup title by tip-toeing into the Championship game before destroying a heavily favored Brazil 3-0. Shound familiar?

And France must like their chances again in 2006 since they have never lost to Portugal in a major tournament.

On the other hand Portugal's coach, Big Phil Scolari is riding a 12 game unbeaten streak in World Cup play.

The unstoppable force meets the unmovable object.

It should be fun.

Keys to the Match

(1) France needs to get great games out of aging stars Zidane and Viera. France struggled when these two superstas didn't perform in the Group Matches.

(2) Costinha is returning from suspension and must keep Henry quiet. Henry can win a match in a blink.

(3) Both teams have midfielders, Ribery for France4 and Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal, that wander the pitch breaking down stody defenses. The match will turn on how well these players are defended.

(4) France's defensive back four nedd to protect their erratic goalkeeper Barthez as well as they did against Brazil.

By the Numbers

Attacking - Slight advantage to Porutgul.
Portugal 72 attacking points to 68 for France.

Defending - Slight advantage to Portugal.
Portugal 33 defending points to 30 for France.

Miscues - Advantage to Portugal.
France gives the ball away 3 more times per game and is offside 3 more time per game.

Goalkeeping - Big advantage to Portugal.
Ricardo averages 12 Power Points per game to 6 for Barthez.

Penalty kicks - Advantage to Portugal.
Ricardo is a better goalkeeper and stopped 3 England penalty kicks.

Coaching - Advantage to Portugal.
Big Phil tok Brazil to the 2002 world Cup title and has not lost in 12 games.

Previous results - Advantage to France.
France have not lost to Portugal in 31 years and never in a major tournament.

Home field - Even.

Final Score - France 1 - 1 Portugal aet. Portugal wins 5-3 in penalties.

       

July 1, 2006 : England 0 - 0 Portugal

England

vs.

Portugal

A ten-man England took Portugal into penalties with a 0-0 draw only to lose 1-3. DVR rating 2 diamonds. Full game summary report to follow. Read More >
		Cristiano Ronaldo #17 Portugal
			28
	Game Honors Full Report >

  Full Player Report

England  0  Robinson      16  Lampard      16  Gerrard      16    Terry      13    Hargreaves      12  Cole      11  Ferdinand      10    Cole      9    Rooney      5  Neville      1  Beckham      1	0  Portugal   28      Ronaldo   19      Valemte   15      Meira   15      Miguel   13      Petit    13      Figo   13      Maniche   12      Ricardo   12      Tiago   11      Carvalho    2      Pauleta
ENG Totals      130	174    POR Totals

June 25, 2006 : DVR ratings

World Cup DRV Guide
by PowerStats

Got that game recorded?

Check our ratings below. uuuuu is highest.
Of course we won't give you the score!!

Games for June 25, 2006

England v Ecuador : u Beckham bends it again.
Portugal v Holland : u Sixteen yellow cards and four red cards.

June 25, 2006 : Portugal 1 - 0 Holland

Portugal

vs.

Netherlands

Portugal slugged out a 1-0 victory over Holland. Both teams finished with nine players. DVR rating one diamond. Full game summary to follow. Read More >
		Maniche #18 Portugal
			16
	Game Honors Full Report >

  Full Player Report

Portugal  1    Maniche      16    Ricardo      13  Carvalho      13  Miguel      10    Figo      7      Deco      6    Valemte      6  Pauleta      4  Ronaldo      3      Costinha      2  Meira      1	0  Netherlands   15      Sneijder   14      Van Persie   13      Van Bommel    13      Van Bronckhorst      10      Kuyt   10      Robben   8      Van Der Sar   5      Cocu   2      Boulahrouz      2      Mathijsen   0      Ooijer
POR Totals      97	99    NED Totals

June 21, 2006 : DVR Ratings

World Cup DRV Guide
by PowerStats

Got that game recorded?

Check our ratings below. uuuuu is highest.
Of course we won't give you the score!!

Games for June 21, 2006

Portugal v Mexico : uu First Half is intriguing.
Angola v Iran : u
Netherlands v Argentina : u
Ivory Coast v Serbia and Montenegro: uuu Fun game to watch.

June 21, 2006 : Portugal 2 - 1 Mexico

Portugal

vs.

Mexico

Portugal defeated a very nervous Mexico 2-1 in the last game of Group D. Both teams advance. DVR rating 2 diamonds. Full game summary report to follow. Read More >
		Jose Fonseca #17 Mexico
			25
	Game Honors Full Report >

  Full Player Report

Portugal  2    Maniche      18  Ricardo      15  Sabrosa      12  Tiago      12  Carvalho      11  Petit      11  Meira      9  Figo      4  Caneira      2  Postiga      1    Miguel      0	1  Mexico   25      Fonseca   13      Bravo   12      Pardo   9      Osorio   8      Rodriguez    7      Sanchez   6      Mendez   5      Salcido   5      Pineda   -3      Marquez    -4      Perez
POR Totals      99	96    MEX Totals

Toughest World Cup group?

A lot of World Cup fans--especially those stateside--think Group E with the US, Italy, Czech Republic, and Ghana might be the toughest group. The conventional wisdom goes that if the US can actually get out of the first round they might have a very good shot to advance deep into the 2006 World Cup.

But there is an argument to be made for Group C which boasts two title contenders in Argentina and the Netherlands and upstarts Ivory Coast and Serbia-Montenegro. Let's not forget that the lattter was ranked AHEAD of Spain in the European qualifier and that Ivory Coast manhandled Cameroon--which might just be the best team in Africa.

But tell us what YOU THINK is the gnarliest group in the World Cup!

No olympic soccer?

Unless FIFA revisits its anti-doping rules there may be no soccer at the Olympics. The IOC requires all Olympic sports to conform to the World Anti-Doping Code(WADC) which mandates that a two-year minimum ban be applied to all doping offenses. FIFA prefers to mete out punishment on a case-by-case basis. ESPN has the story.