F-C

Inter's performance in the last 4 years:

2005/06 Quarterfinals
2004/05 Quarterfinals
2003/04 Group Stage
2002/03 Semi finals

Porto's seeding is weaker, because although they won it in 2003/04, they havn't even advanced to the stage of 16 in the other years over the last 5 seasons.

I agree that last year's result is past history. But how can you seed teams based on this year's teams if no matches have been played yet? It might be flawed, but it is the only logical way to seed teams.

F-C

You're crazy. Why would you want to pick three of the strongest teams from each pot? It might be more exciting, but ?

FastAcura

Well two years ago they advanced with Inter, Valencia and Anderlecht. Last year they had Barca, Udinese and Panathinaikos. I think this year's team is much stronger.

F-C

Why make it more difficult on yourself? Remember, the players have to play in the domestic league at the same time. Unless Bremen has an incredibly deep roster, where the players can be rested, it would be very difficult.

FastAcura

I just want to see some good matches. Personally a game against Dontsek wouldn't interest me as much as a game against Chelsea/Barcelona/Inter. For some reason Bremen have played excellent against the better teams, especially at home. Last year they beat Bayern 3-0 and Juventus 3-2. This Juventus team only had lost a couple of games in Serie A and I don't think they had ever conceded more than two goals in a game.

They did lose to Barcelona, but they should have won that game easily. I believe Barcelona had 4 shots all together and Valdez could have scored 3 goals alone. when it came down to it, they crushed Panathinaikos 5-1 and they were even winning against Udinese 3-0 (game ended 4-3.) Two years ago they tied Inter, another game they should have won. They don't have many known players, but three of their players started for Germany during the world cup and Borowski averaged more than 45 minutes a game as a substitute/starter taking over Ballack's role. I think a lot of people are underestimating them because they don't buy stars, which actually makes them a much harder team to play against. (if you don't consider Klose/Frings stars)

The roster is much deeper this year. About 95% of the players either play or played on national teams at some point.

F-C

Inter vs. Bayern! woohoo

FastAcura

Chelsea and Barca in group A!!! Now Bremen please...

F-C

Barca vs. Chelsea
ManU vs. Celtic
Real Madrid vs. Lyon

FastAcura

For the third year in a row Chelsea is playing Barca, and Lyon is playing Real Madrid.

FastAcura

Holly Crap Bremen Is Going To Group A!!! (Chelsea and Barca) I'm gonna play lotto today.

F-C

Bremen vs. Chelsea and Barca!!!!

F-C

Inter
Bayern
Sporting Lisbon

woohoo, easy group

F-C

Be carefull what you wish for. Group of death.

FastAcura

At least now I'll most likely be able to see the Bremen games on TV. (if not ESPN, then german TV)

F-C

Haha, you didn't get Galatasaray.

FastAcura

Ha, at least it looks like we have the UEFA cup spot (3rd in group) secured.

F-C

Inter
Bayern
Sporting
Spartak Moscow

I can't believe how easy AC Milan's group is.

F-C

FastAcura

Yeah that group looks week. Only one top team. Inter and Bayern shouldn't have it hard either though.

FastAcura

It looks like anyone can make it out of that Liverpool group.

F-C

Well, that was fun. Can't wait for the season to start.

FastAcura

This thread about the Champion's League draw on the Werder Bremen page already has 56 pages worth of posts.

http://www.werder-online.de/fans/wer...01057c709a0378

FastAcura

Woohoo, the first games are less than three weeks away.

Auf Gehts Werder!!!

TheThirdMan

Man city just beat Arsenal

it was a bad game, Arsenal couldn't put the finishing touch on their attacks

F-C

Inter nabs their first trophy of the new season, the Italian Super Cup.
What a brilliant match. Down 3-0 to Roma in the first half, the team comes back strong to win 4-3 in extra time. Hopefully a sign of things to come this year.

FastAcura

Euro 2008 qualification results:

Poland 1 - 3 Finland
Italy 1 - 1 Lithuania
Georgia 0 - 3 France
Malta 2 - 5 Bosnia-Herzegovina (group leaders, )
Hungary 1 - 4 Norway
Czech Republic 2 - 1 Wales
Germany 1 - 0 Ireland
Slovakia 6 - 1 Cyprus
Moldova 0 - 1 Greece
Scotland 6 - 0 Faroe Islands
Serbia 1 - 0 Azerbaijan

F-C

Tomorrow's matches:

Iceland vs Denmark
Israel vs Andorra
Ukraine vs Georgia
Azerbaijan vs Kazakhstan
Norway vs Moldova
Russia vs Croatia
Lithuania vs Scotland
Sweden vs Liechtenstein
Turkey vs Malta
Finland vs Portugal
Albania vs Romania
Bulgaria vs Slovenia
Slovakia vs Czech Republic
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Hungary
Northern Ireland vs Spain
Netherlands vs Belarus
Poland vs Serbia
San Marino vs Germany
F.Y.R. Macedonia vs England
Armenia vs Belgium
France vs Italy

FastAcura

fdl

World Cup insult about Zidane's sister
Sep. 5, 2006. 11:46 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROME — Italy's Marco Materazzi said he insulted Zinedine Zidane's sister, revealing nearly two months after the World Cup final what provoked the French star to head-butt him in the chest.

In Tuesday's interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi disclosed that after he held his opponent's shirt, Zidane said: "If you want, I'll give you the jersey later."

"I responded that I preferred his sister, it's true," Materazzi said. "It wasn't something nice, true. But luckily there have been dozens of players who have confirmed that a lot worse things are said on the field."

Zidane was sent off after receiving a red card for the head-butt. Italy went on to win on penalty kicks.

Materazzi received a two-game ban for the July 9 incident and will miss Wednesday's rematch of the final, a 2008 European Championship qualifier. Zidane received a three-match suspension, but he retired after the World Cup.

Materazzi said that the Italian federation, in the middle of a match-fixing scandal, told him not to complain about the incident during a FIFA hearing.

"If accepting without raising my voice was the price to pay for having brought home the World Cup, I'm pretty happy to have paid it," Materazzi said.

Asked if the two could make peace, Materazzi said: "You sign a peace (agreement) after terrible wars, so why can't Zidane and I make peace?

"A peace among men, without a lot of publicity. The door to my house will always be open for that. And if Zidane wants, he knows where to find my address."

gocubsgo55

West Ham looks the best they've ever been. They and Villa are going to only get better, since they have big time buyers coming in.

As for my Gunners, with CASHley and Reyes gone, Baptista and Gallas in, things look pretty good. Also, the youth just keeps coming! Denilson, and Rui (something), from Portugal. Both 18, both awesome. Just wait, we'll be dominating in a couple of years

FastAcura

20 minutes into the game, France is leading Italy 2-1

FastAcura

France is winning 3-1. Too bad they didn't when it really counted.

F-C

France had 59% of ball possession. Although they out fouled Italy by 16 to 10. Donadoni is having a rough start.

FastAcura

San Marino 0 - Germany 13

I'm watching this game tonight at 10 on Fox Soccer Channel.

dom

Meh, let France get their little revenge. Although it looks like Italy may have a hell of a time qualifying with Ukraine in the group as well.

Were any regulars playing for Italy? or any links to the rosters?

FastAcura

Gianluigi Buffon 1 [1] BUFFON Gianluigi (GK)
Andrea Barzagli 6 [23] MATERAZZI Marco
Fabio Cannavaro 5 [5] CANNAVARO Fabio (C)
Fabio Grosso 3 [3] GROSSO Fabio
Gianluca Zambrotta 19 [19] ZAMBROTTA Gianluca
Gennaro Gattuso 8 [8] GATTUSO Gennaro
Simone Perrotta 20 [16] CAMORANESI Mauro
Andrea Pirlo 21 [21] PIRLO Andrea
Franco Semioli 7 [10] TOTTI Francesco
Antonio Cassano 10 [9] TONI Luca
Alberto Gilardino 11 [20] PERROTTA Simone

Red = world cup final

FastAcura

If you wanna see the biggest win ever in European Championship qualifying, turn on to FSC now, they are showing today's Germany vs San Mariono game.

All 13 goals still to come...

fdl

interesting that matrix was benched

FastAcura

I think he's still suspended.

fdl

oh right, I forgot about that.