2006: The Most Boring World Cup Ever

[BigBird]

In terms of entertainment value, how highly do you rate this WC so far?

 

The lack of exciting games and surprising score lines has made this tournament drab and predictable.

 

France v Spain, Argentina?s 6-0 win, and Mr Poll apart there hasn?t been a truly memorable match.

 

Allowing third world footie nations into the finals is laudable but the overall standard of competition is the poorest I can recall. The tournament has become the Football Olympics for clodhoppers with the vast majority of sides far more intent on avoiding a thumping than having a go.

 

I realize that supporting Raffa?s Liverpoool in cup competitions generates a level of excitement that Pele?s Brazil could only dream about but does international football have to be as boring as this WC?

[Cobs]

i've enjoyed it so far and the best games are still to come.

[Des]

I agree with Cobs!!!

 

Group stages are always cagey with teams terrified of losing and there were two bona fide great games in the last 16. These tournaments never really get into the swing until the QFs anyway.

[Stevie H]

think it's been bloody excellent so far to be honest. less than a handful of boring matches which for the group stages is pretty rare.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

It's been an excellent tournament so far.

[Shirohana]

I agree that it's been excellent...

 

Think Germany - Costa Rica, Mexico - Argentina & Portugal - Holland...

 

Very entertaining matches.

[Maldini]

We're not even at the QF stage yet, why judge it now?

[JonShar]

Best World Cup I've ever seen to this point, granted the quarters/semis/final will make or break it. Germany alone being more exciting to watch has made it a good tournament!

 

Ukraine - Switzerland aside, can't think of a boring game.

[jimmylibel]

As with most of the others who've replied I reckon this has been a really entertaining tournament.

 

And as for third world countries trying to avoid a thumping, do you really think if you replaced said countries with other European nations we'd have a more open game? We'd have far more boring matches I reckon as the poorer European teams definitely would try to close the game down.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

It's been pretty good - shaping up to be a lot better than the last 2

[Gilps]

Group stages were excellent. Two or three very good second round games and only one of them a poor game. Quarter finals all look like decent match ups, with only Italy-Ukraine looking close to being predictable.

 

Very good World Cup so far.

[Des]

Two or three very good second round games and only one of them a poor game.

 

Switz-Ukraine and England-Ecuador both stank the place out. I only saw the second half of Italy-Australia but I wouldn't describe that as a classic either.

[Gilps]

Switz-Ukraine and England-Ecuador both stank the place out. I only saw the second half of Italy-Australia but I wouldn't describe that as a classic either.

 

Italy-Aus wasn't fantastic, but it was far from being a poor game. It was of course the Ukraine-Swiss game I was thinking of. Forgot all about the England game. Can't think how, it was so memorable.

[Stevie H]

 

And as for third world countries trying to avoid a thumping

 

scotland aren't in it, jim.

[chrisbonnie]

i have to agree with this thread, far too many 1 nil games for my liking, and no 1 player has really STOOD OUT, which is unusual

 

all the english games have been dire to watch, and in general alot of the games have been below par

 

France 98 was the best world cup ive seen, im only watching world cups since 1990, cant remember 86, i was only 4

[sutty]

Think questions like this will arise every world cup, mainly because when you compare it to previous tournaments you only remember what was memorable

[Stevie H]

i have to agree with this thread, far too many 1 nil games for my liking, and no 1 player has really STOOD OUT, which is unusual

 

all the english games have been dire to watch, and in general alot of the games have been below par

 

France 98 was the best world cup ive seen, im only watching world cups since 1990, cant remember 86, i was only 4

 

riquelme's been pretty special. but then the real high-pressure and high-profile matches are yet to come.

[jimmylibel]

i have to agree with this thread, far too many 1 nil games for my liking, and no 1 player has really STOOD OUT, which is unusual

 

all the english games have been dire to watch, and in general alot of the games have been below par

 

France 98 was the best world cup ive seen, im only watching world cups since 1990, cant remember 86, i was only 4

 

By this time during the 98 World Cup Zidane hadn't stood out at all really either. He got sent off in his second (??) game.

[madaboutlfc]

i think apart from a couple of countries nearly every country has tried to play attacking football

[Cobs]

4 games in in 1982 and Paulo Rossi was yet to score

[Guest Aussie_Red]

Decent enough at this stage, but I hope the rest of the matches are a bit more competitive with some proper refereeing. I think there have been a few entertaining matches, but just as many snore fests. There has probably been too much controversy for the sake of a proper match, that's my major gripe.

[harpoon]

it's a tier below the Euro tournaments for the reason that there's less fodder. Euro 2000 is probably the best international tourney there's been imo.

[Cobs]

the addition of Brazil & Argentina immediately places it above the Euros

[Stevie H]

it's a tier below the Euro tournaments for the reason that there's less fodder. Euro 2000 is probably the best international tourney there's been imo.

eh? i thought euro2000 was pretty poor to be honest.

[cochyn]

It's been interesting in that most of the 'no-hopers' have put in decent performances against the bigger teams (Australia & Ghana v Brazil for starters) and have progressed/ performed better than expected.

 

I think this WC will be remembered for the last-stand of the old guard ( Zidane, Figo, Nedved, etc), and the rise of the new (Messi, Robben, Rooney, Marquez etc).