Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
Quoting myself seems very narcissistic but...
When the commentators say "No-one wants to see disgraceful scenes like this" all true football fans are "Yes, get on with it, kick each other up in the air!"
If World War II Never Happened: A FIFA World Cup Timeline
- Thread starter NTF aka Seb
- Start date
When the commentators say "No-one wants to see disgraceful scenes like this" all true football fans are "Yes, get on with it, kick each other up in the air!"
2006 FIFA World Cup - Remaining Knockout Stage
Part 86 - From Each According to His Ability
2006 FIFA World Cup - Remaining Knockout Stage
2006 FIFA World Cup - Remaining Knockout Stage
Midway through the opening half, the Soviet Union made it 1-0 versus Argentina, who were in a third consecutive World Cup quarter-final. Indeed, their routine at this stage perhaps played a role in their 49th-minute equalizer. Nevertheless, it was the Soviets who went wild as Shevchenko restored their lead after 80 minutes of play, in front of close to 100,000 spectators.
Denmark were back in the quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years, while Brazil's experience at this stage is nigh unparallelled. The game was even, being won by a single Brazilian goal in the 65th minute.
Following a goalless first half, Germany opened the scoring against Portugal in the 56th minute, and doubled it almost exactly minutes later. The European champions did fine a consolation, but never the equalizer. Germany were in the semi-finals for the first time since 1990, when they went all the way. Could they do it again?
People also pondered whether Italy could defeat Korea again, as in the 2002 semi-final. As it turns out, yes, in unexpectedly one-sided fashion. Though the score was 1-1 at half-time, following Italy's opener, the title holders scored twice in the second half to run out 3-1 victors against the Asian giant.
Ronaldo gave Brazil the lead in the first semi-final against the hosts, who made it 1-1 in the 57th minute. With penalties approaching, the Soviets found the winner in the dying minutes of extra time to send the home fans wild.
Extra time appeared imminent in the other semi-final too - until the Italians found their breakthrough in the 90th minute. Italy became the first team since 1990 to reach consecutive World Cup finals. That 1990 team was Germany, the opponent Italy defeated in this semi-final. Italy of course hoped to take things a step farther by mounting the first successful title defense since Brazil in 1962.
Unlike their 1962 rendition, this Brazilian team had to settle with bronze instead of gold, following their blistering 3-2 triumph over Germany.
The final could be described as a modern one, featuring the respective champions of the two preceding tournaments. The Soviets took the lead thanks to an early penalty, only for Italy to level the scoring not long thereafter. And not long into the second half, the hosts restored their advantage. An intense match followed, with many opportunities and would-be chances undone by heroic Soviet defending. The scoreline was ultimately final, and the Soviets were world champions for the second time in history.
Knockout stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
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Credit to @KingSweden24 for impressively getting every remaining prediction right!
Stay tuned for Euro 2008 which will be quite different from OTL.
Wow, I got one right! Nice!
I imagine Shevchenko probably earns the Golden Ball for his heroics in this tournament, and that a final having two most recent champions face off makes it quite an affair
I imagine Shevchenko probably earns the Golden Ball for his heroics in this tournament, and that a final having two most recent champions face off makes it quite an affair
then again, he's not completely alone there - that team probably also has Smertin, Kobiashvili, Kaladze, Tymoshchuk, Kerzhakov, Arshavin...
Prelude to UEFA Euro 2008
Part 87 - Lay It All Out
Prelude to UEFA Euro 2008
Prelude to UEFA Euro 2008
The tournament saw an expansion from 16 to 20 teams [1]. After briefly considering a couple of other formats, UEFA landed on the following, which was largely similar to the previous layout:
- The 20 teams would be divided into four groups of five, from which each winner and runner-up would advance to a knockout stage to decide the winner [2].
Greece and Turkey were narrowly awarded co-hosting duties over the bids of Austria-Switzerland, Croatia-Serbia and Ireland-Scotland in December 2002. The Nordic bid and Hungary withdrew before voting took place.
Following the expansion, there was no shortage of Euro debutants: Finland, Norway and Northern Ireland.
Scotland qualified after missing the two preceding Euros, sensationally finishing six points clear of group runners-up France in the qualifiers. Slovakia returned after failing to qualify for Euro 2004, most notably demolishing Wales 6-1 in Cardiff. Romania also came back after a single absence through a qualifying campaign which saw them edge out the Netherlands 1-0 in Bucharest. Vardar Macedonia narrowly missed out again, ending on just two points fewer than runners-up England in a group won by the Soviet Union.
There were a solid number of notable absentees despite the expansion: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Lithuania and Switzerland.
Tell me your group predictions:
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[1] The tournament was not expanded directly to 24 teams, as in OTL’s Euro 2016, since there are fewer UEFA members ITTL.
[2] There’s been no “disgrace of Gijon” ITTL, so I think UEFA would have greenlit the format despite the risk of collusion, but it’s worth nothing simultaneous kick-offs are already a thing ITTL at this point (though that hardly matters when there’s an odd number of teams in a group).
Fidel Llorente
Banned
GROUP A: Netherlands, Bohemia
GROUP B: Portugal, Germany
GROUP C: Italy, France
GROUP D: Soviet Union, England
What is Zidane up to ITTL?
GROUP B: Portugal, Germany
GROUP C: Italy, France
GROUP D: Soviet Union, England
What is Zidane up to ITTL?
The same as IOTL.
He (and France) have just been unlucky at World Cups ITTL, facing sides like the Soviet Union and Korea who are much stronger here.
Hmm…
Bohemia Netherlands
Germany Croatia
Spain Italy
USSR England
That was a brutal draw for France, but I’m assuming Spain is getting a tactical stride like OTL right around this time. Hard to see La Rioja taking 3 tourneys straight here though
Bohemia Netherlands
Germany Croatia
Spain Italy
USSR England
That was a brutal draw for France, but I’m assuming Spain is getting a tactical stride like OTL right around this time. Hard to see La Rioja taking 3 tourneys straight here though
Obviously this is not the focus of the TL, but what is this no-WW2, 21st century Soviet Union like in terms of living standards, government stability, etc?
Assuming someone like Brezhnev doesn't get into power, we could see a USSR that focus on computers and further focusing on tech and science in order to develop the system and evolve the union, not having to suffer WW2 as well as basically fund and guard the whole of Eastern Europe for 4 decades will have done wonders for it's economy too
UEFA Euro 2008 - Group Stage
Part 88 - Hot Turkey
UEFA Euro 2008 - Group Stage
UEFA Euro 2008 - Group Stage
Hosts Turkey gave their fans a great opening spectacle by beating Scotland 3-1. Especially impressive given that the Scots emerged as a dark hourse with their great qualifying campaign. The Netherlands replicated that winning scoreline against Bohemia before defeating Turkey 4-2 in a fantastic match. Contrastingly, Scotland and Norway's 0-0 draw was labeled the worst game of the tournament. In the next round, Turkey were on the right side of a 4-2 affair versus Bohemia, while the Dutch brushed aside Norway 2-0. Bohemia were finally victorious on matchday four, edging out Norway by a single goal, while the Netherlands again won with two goals - this time against Scotland, whose flop was cemented with a 2-1 loss to to the Bohemians. Turkey were already assured of advancement heading into the final round and let their guards down against Norway, who scored their first Euro goals as they held the hosts to a 2-2 draw.
Group A of UEFA Euro 2008.
Title holders Portugal started Group B in expected fashion, brushing aside Slovakia 2-0. Croatia's unexpected 2-1 triumph over 2006 World Cup semi-finalists Germany was of much greater note, as was their entertaining 2-3 loss to Portugal. Northern Ireland's first Euro game saw them score a historic goal, but still lose 2-1 to Slovakia, who won their first Euro match ever. Croatia edged out Northern Ireland 1-0, while Germany defeated Portugal 3-2 in a blistering encounter. Germany subsequently brushed aside Northern Ireland 2-0 as Croatia won by a single goal again, this time versus Slovakia. Stakes were high ahead of the final matchday. Assuming Germany beat Slovakia (which they did 2-3), a Portuguese victory over Northern Ireland would put the title holders tied on nine points with Croatia and Germany. Head-to-head tiebreakers would eliminate Germany, had it not been for Northern Ireland's sensational 1-0 triumph over Portugal.
Group B of UEFA Euro 2008.
Following two consecutive group stage exits, and failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, Spain finally emerged as a title contender, brushing aside a defensively solid Romania 2-0 before edging out Sweden 2-1. La Roja replicated that scoreline versus France, having previously played a 0-0 draw with Italy. Sweden's opening 1-0 triumph over France initially seemed to be a major upset, but Le Bleus were a shadow of their former selves, also losing to Italy (0-2) and Spain (1-2). Their only point was obtained in a goalless draw with Romania, who managed to avoid defeat in their 1-1 stalemates with Sweden and Italy. Italy secured advancement in the final round by brushing aside Sweden 2-0.
Group C of UEFA Euro 2008.
Hosts Greece didn't have the margins on their side, losing 2-1 to England and Serbia before being edged out by a single Soviet goal. The Soviets only had one goal in mind: going one step further than in 2004 and become European champions again. A 2-1 triumph over Serbia was just what the Soviets needed, and their 4-0 demolition of Finland further increased their confidence. After the opening victory over the hosts, England edged out Finland 1-0, while Serbia managed to brush aside the Finns 2-0. The 1-1 draw between Serbia and England set up controversy in the final matchday (at which point Serbia had played all their matches): England merely needed to draw with the already-advanced Soviets. Serbia could only watch as England and the Soviets drew 2-2, which garnered matchfixing accusations and criticism of the format. Greece's lone win came in the final round, as they scored twice versus debutants Finland, who netted a historic first Euro goal.
Group D of UEFA Euro 2008.
Tell me your knockout stage predictions:
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Credit to @KingSweden24 for getting the most predictions right.
Stay tuned for the very exciting conclusion of the knockout stage.
Hmm. I expect Turkey to do well, but not overwhelmingly so, on home soil. Thus:
Netherlands over Germany
Turkey over Croatia
Spain over England
Italy over USSR (revenge match)
Netherlands over Turkey
Spain over Italy
Netherlands over Spain
Netherlands over Germany
Turkey over Croatia
Spain over England
Italy over USSR (revenge match)
Netherlands over Turkey
Spain over Italy
Netherlands over Spain
Fidel Llorente
Banned
(Netherlands) vs Germany
(Croatia) vs Turkey
(Spain) vs England
Soviet Union vs (Italy)
(Netherlands) vs Croatia
(Spain) vs Italy
Netherlands vs (Spain)
(Croatia) vs Turkey
(Spain) vs England
Soviet Union vs (Italy)
(Netherlands) vs Croatia
(Spain) vs Italy
Netherlands vs (Spain)