Germany 2006: The ones to watch?

April 16, 2006 3:26 AM

Screw Nike adverts. It's what they can do on the pitch that counts. Poetry without the bells and whistles. Some of the young names to look out for in this Summer's football World Cup in Germany: Manuel Fernandes (Portugal), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England).
posted by nthdegx (34 comments total)

great post. There'll be plenty to see, and I can't wait.
posted by kjell at 3:51 AM on April 16, 2006

Best post I've ever seen on Metafilter. I can't wait either!!
posted by catchmurray at 4:27 AM on April 16, 2006

To add a World Cup fixtures public calendar to your Google calendar, paste this url into the "search public calendars" box. From interesting Google calendars.
posted by nthdegx at 4:41 AM on April 16, 2006

Don't forget Cesc Febregas and Theo Walcott.
posted by tapeguy at 4:46 AM on April 16, 2006

I don't think Theo Walcott will be going to the world cup, it's too soon for him
posted by devon at 4:52 AM on April 16, 2006

Ah - there were a lot more players I'd like to have included but so many of the videos were presented in the same way as that Theo Walcott clip, which for me was a real turn off. Okay for one clip, but a real headf*** for a dozen or so.
posted by nthdegx at 4:53 AM on April 16, 2006

Emmanuel Eboué (Cote d'Ivoire) was great in the Africa Cup of Nations. I hope he has a good tournament.

(such a shame he's a gooner)
posted by davehat at 5:22 AM on April 16, 2006

I dig the Nike ads. Very cool (although what's Kung Fu Cantona doing slamming violence on the pitch?). And yes, there's some exceptional young talent out there.

Messi (that kid can turn on a dime) and Rooney (that kid will gamble away any dime you give him) will definitely be worth watching.
posted by TheFarSeid at 5:25 AM on April 16, 2006

Thanks nthdegx. Very cool. There was a recent goal from Fabregas that was astounding - not on goovid yet. 54 days to go.
Thanks gOd for society that Rooney plays football and isn't like, in the army or serving customers or whatever. I would not like to be the one to make that guy unhappy.
posted by peacay at 5:25 AM on April 16, 2006

Another top Arsenal / World Cup-related moment: Bergkamp
posted by tapeguy at 5:49 AM on April 16, 2006

For the full Bergkamp, (Google video), moment against Argentina.

Along with Owen's goal in 98 and Maradona's second against England in the Hand of God game, three of the best world cup goals I've seen included Argentina.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 6:01 AM on April 16, 2006

I love the idea of the World Cup calendar, so thanks for putting the link in the thread.
Sadly, when I drop that in to the search public calendars, I get no action.
I tried add other calendar/search public calendars and get No calendars found matching http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/[e-mail]/public/basic?gsessionid=oGrPrdTmJbU

At one point I got an xml error message t this location:
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/[e-mail]/public/basic?gsessionid=05QIQzWgRCg

So - any idea what I am doing wrong? I guess I have to rejig some settings somewhere?
posted by dash_slot- at 6:40 AM on April 16, 2006

OK, so I found it by searching for FIFA in the 'add other calendar/search public calendars'. The short cut didn't work, but it's a cool thang anyway..
posted by dash_slot- at 6:47 AM on April 16, 2006

Zlatan Ibrahimovic. (be sure to watch on for the slo-mo on each.)
posted by fire&wings at 7:05 AM on April 16, 2006

Great post. I like Zlatan Ibrahimovic too, as the dutiful Swede that I am. :) If he can get back to playing well by the summer, of course.
The Nike commercial of Zlatan vs. Ronaldo is kind of fun too.
posted by gemmy at 7:11 AM on April 16, 2006

2006 has been bad for big-name soccer players, except for Ronaldinho and Shevcenko.

Adriano is zombie-Adriano, a reputation in tatters. Ibra hasn't scored a goal in the Italian championship since, what, more than two months ago? Messi I'm really ambivalent about -- he reminds me too much of Aimar -- Maradona himself said "he's my heir", and then he disappeared. Cristiano Ronaldo came to Man Utd and they stopped winning. also, Euro 2002 was pretty fucking embarrasing for Cristiano, a hero in Greece (that big L on Portugal's forehead, you know). Ramos is good, but Rooney is troublesome -- he may very well end up like Cassano, a much more talented player than he will ever be

and we all saw how Robinho really turned Real Madrid into a winning team I guess.

I hope Barça wins the Champions League, but Milan is very dangerous, Shevcenko and Inzaghi are bloodthirsty
posted by matteo at 7:17 AM on April 16, 2006

Reminder to those footie fans who may not be aware of Sportsfilter.
posted by terrapin at 7:24 AM on April 16, 2006

A player in the twilight of his career but nonetheless still brilliant, Ibrahimovic's partner in Sweden's attack Henrik Larsson scoring one of the best headers you are ever likely to see. (Make sure you watch the final slo-mo camera to see how good it is.)
posted by ClanvidHorse at 7:26 AM on April 16, 2006

Nice header, but man the PASS.
posted by Eekacat at 7:51 AM on April 16, 2006

Henry vs. Rooney
posted by destro at 8:51 AM on April 16, 2006

Great post.
posted by bardic at 9:38 AM on April 16, 2006

i love you henrik x x x
posted by sgt.serenity at 11:25 AM on April 16, 2006

Great post. It's funny, I was going through the first few video clips in the FPP and I noticed quite a few instances of nifty footwork where the player ultimately looses control of the ball. I can't remember seeing a hockey or basketball clip where the player makes a nifty move and didn't score (or, in hockey, a great shot is made but the goalie makes an unreal stop).
posted by mullacc at 11:25 AM on April 16, 2006

OK ... you all are the serious footie folk? I like the ads and vids - really creative stuff. Can someone please tell me the name of the gorgeous dred guy in this old surf-futbol vid???
posted by Surfurrus at 12:08 PM on April 16, 2006

Mullac, you'll find a lot of those instances on the vids is where the player was blatantly fouled.
posted by jcking77 at 12:12 PM on April 16, 2006

Surfurrus -

That would be Ronaldinho.
posted by pdb at 12:29 PM on April 16, 2006

Mullac, you'll find a lot of those instances on the vids is where the player was blatantly fouled or is Cristiano Ronaldo.

I believe Rooney will be the star of this year's WC and England will win it.
There, I've said it. I'm off to scrub myself with a wire brush.
posted by fullerine at 12:47 PM on April 16, 2006

dont forget the dettol fullerine.
posted by sgt.serenity at 1:57 PM on April 16, 2006

Nice post, I could watch vids like these all day.

matteo, do you expect these youngster to make a significant impact on their team already? They're talents - unpolished diamonds that are far away from being mature, stabile footballers on which the rest of the team can rely completely.

And how can you be ambivalent about Messi? He's the biggest talent of the last 10 years, at least - Aimar is (and was) not even close.
posted by Haarball at 2:41 PM on April 16, 2006

I believe Rooney will be the star of this year's WC and England will win it.

You have lofty goals.

I just want the US to not suck terribly like they did last time the WC was in Europe.

If two Americans can get Reading to the Premiership, then maybe twenty-two Americans can get us to the knockout round out of this Group of Death.
posted by dw at 4:40 PM on April 16, 2006

I've only started watching soccer football this past year -- mostly EPL on Fox Soccer Channel -- but man I'm excited for the World Cup. Real football: double the fun and none of the commercials!
posted by danb at 8:05 AM on April 17, 2006

Haarball, OK, but Adriano is 24. also, I'm unfortunately old enough to remember Claudio Daniel Borghi. 'nuff said.
posted by matteo at 10:05 AM on April 17, 2006

cristiano ronaldo bugs the crap out of me. can't pass, can't shoot, suspect crossing, guaranteed to make 3 too many stepovers, but fergie plays him every game i see. he must be lighting it up when i'm not watching.

rooney is the real deal, though. although the videos in the FPP don't do him justice (except that brilliant volley against newcastle), he's dangerous almost every time he touches the ball.

I just want the US to not suck terribly like they did last time the WC was in Europe.

hear hear, dw! if beasley, donovan, dempsey, and/or convey can get McHead some service, we can go far. our backline is looking really good this year (and no, the recent friendly vs. germany doesn't count, as none of our starters were on the backline). I especially hope that this year means the start of huge things for gooch.
posted by acid freaking on the kitty at 3:39 PM on April 17, 2006

Oh good, I'm not the only one slamming Ronaldo. When he first started playing in the EPL, my friends here (rabid ManU fans) gasped and oohed and aahed when he performed his stepovers.

Opposing players, once flummoxed by his flashy dance moves, now simply stick out a foot and get the ball from him. Nice.
posted by TheFarSeid at 3:55 PM on April 17, 2006