World U-20 World Cup.

habsfan · #1 Posted: **Jun 30, 2007, 9:20 PM**

Well, the first game was played today in Montreal between Brazil and Poland.
Poland came out on top with a 1-nil victory over the brazilians. They played the first game at the Big O where 55,000 tickets were sold.

I have to admit, i'm somewhat surprised to see the Poles come out on top. I was sure the Brazilians would win this game!

skrish · #2 Posted: **Jun 30, 2007, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by habsfan

I have to admit, i'm somewhat surprised to see the Poles come out on top.

With a man down to top it off. I can't wait for the Canada game tomorrow.

chris · #3 Posted: **Jul 1, 2007, 1:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by habsfan

Well, the first game was played today in Montreal between Brazil and Poland.
Poland came out on top with a 1-nil victory over the brazilians. They played the first game at the Big O where 55,000 tickets were sold.

I have to admit, i'm somewhat surprised to see the Poles come out on top. I was sure the Brazilians would win this game!

What a game that was, eh? Did you stay for the USA-South Korea game? I stayed and found that one great too, so much noise!

boden · #4 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 3:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrish

With a man down to top it off. I can't wait for the Canada game tomorrow.

It was missable, although the goalie played well.

Coldrsx · #5 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 6:23 AM**

"They played the first game at the Big O where 55,000 tickets were sold. "

i heard only 10,000 showed up though

WaterlooInvestor · #6 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 9:01 AM**

Kitchener's Edgar a positive force in Canada's soccer loss to Chile
Canada dropped its opener 3-0 to Chile at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Sunday night in Toronto.
Sunday, July 01, 2007 | Updated at 9:51 PM EDT

The Canucks were fired up after an emotional national anthem that saw legions of home side fans draped in red and white belt out O Canada at the top of their lungs in the stands of BMO Field.

But once action got under way, it was all Chile. Kitchener native David Edgar was working furiously in Canada’s back end to contain the crafty South American squad.

Chile controlled the pace and held the advantage in ball possession the entire match. Ironically, the visitors caught a break on their first marker when defender Marcus Haber slipped and turned the ball over in the box. Forward Nicolas Medina cashed in to give Chile a 1-0 lead.

Carlos Carmona added another goal in the 54th minute of play when he headed a loose ball past Canadian keeper Asmir Begovic. Substitute Jaime Grondona made it 3-0 in the 80th minute on a beautiful conversion on the rush.

Canada, perhaps playing a bit more desperate, came on strong late in the second half but could not convert.

Edgar had one of the best scoring chances for Canada early in the first half but the defender fell down before he could take a swipe at the ball.

The speedy Chileans kept the 20-year-old centre back busy all game. The Newcastle United player ran the show for Canada in its own end and directed traffic for the Canucks for most of the match.

Canada takes on Austria Thursday and finishes pool play against Congo on Sunday. Both games are in Edmonton. Stage 2 single knockout action begins next Wednesday.

For more on Canada's efforts at the U-20 World Cup, see Josh Brown's report in Tuesday's print edition of The Record.

401_King · #7 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 2:39 PM**

what an embarrassing game last night for canada. Chile just toyed with us like it was a video game.

skrish · #8 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 3:00 PM**

That was a disappointing result yesterday. The Chileans totally outclassed us, but we should have a better performance against Austria.

shappy · #9 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 4:15 PM**

the Chilean side pretty much dominated the whole field. Canada just didn't seem ready. I also wasn't too keen on the formation.

skrish · #10 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by shappy

I also wasn't too keen on the formation.

I agree. They didn't even utilize Jaime Peters speed.

shappy · #11 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 6:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

"They played the first game at the Big O where 55,000 tickets were sold. "

i heard only 10,000 showed up though

10,000? No, not that little. Definitely not 55,000 though... looked like maybe 25,000 or 30,000. Which is weird... I wonder what happened. Maybe it was some weird marketing thing.

habsfan · #12 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 8:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

"They played the first game at the Big O where 55,000 tickets were sold. "

i heard only 10,000 showed up though

Quote:

10,000? No, not that little. Definitely not 55,000 though... looked like maybe 25,000 or 30,000. Which is weird... I wonder what happened. Maybe it was some weird marketing thing.

45,000 people showed up for the game. I don'T know where you got your numbers from, but the Big O was pretty full. Like I said, 45,000 showed up. They said that many of the unused tickets were purchased by people who were from other countries. Who knows why they couyldn't make it?

Coldrsx · #13 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 9:26 PM**

^are you sure?

on tv it looked empty and the announcer mentioned "maybe they will arrive at half".

i dont know for sure, but it looked far far less.

Coldrsx · #14 Posted: **Jul 2, 2007, 9:44 PM**

we have our answer:

MONTREAL (CP) - All the pre-game hype surrounded Brazilian teenager Alexandre Pato, but it was Poland that ended up showing off a young star of its own.

Grzegorz Krychowiak scored in the first half Saturday as Poland shocked heavily favoured Brazil in the opening match of the world under-20 soccer championship.

The 17-year-old defender scored on a sweeping free kick from about 25 yards out.

"He is one of our future stars," said beaming Polish head coach Michal Globisz. "I am very happy. This is the first time in 34 years a Polish team has beaten Brazil, and it makes it better to do it in such an important tournament."
Related Info

* FIFA U-20 Scores and Standings

Brazil, a team filled with potential superstars, was unable to pierce the disciplined defensive shell put up by Poland after taking the lead.

"We felt we had more chances than our opponents, but we weren't able to penetrate their defence," said Brazilian coach Nelson Rodrigues. "Obviously, (the players) are sad, but we will use this to become stronger."

Bolstered by a heavy contingent of red-and-white clad supporters among the announced sellout crowd of 55,800 at Olympic Stadium, Poland controlled much of the play early in the first half and pinned the Brazilians in their own end.

The pressure paid off in the 25th minute when Poland was awarded a free kick from about 25 yards out, and Krychowiak's strike inside the post beat Brazilian keeper Cassio in the top half of the net.

The goal set off a celebration in the stands, which were barely half full at the time, as the chants of "Polska! Polska!" grew louder.

habsfan · #15 Posted: **Jul 3, 2007, 1:45 AM**

Quote:

The goal set off a celebration in the stands, which were barely half full at the time, as the chants of "Polska! Polska!" grew louder.

Of course not everyone was there for kick-off...this is Montreal! People are always late. By the time the second half started, there were over 45,000 people in the stands!

IntotheWest · #16 Posted: **Jul 3, 2007, 2:03 AM**

I just watched some replays, and when they showed the lower/upper decks, it did look quite full.

Hardhatdan · #17 Posted: **Jul 3, 2007, 2:27 AM**

Went to the Austria/Congo game tonight. Approx 20 000 in the stands, was a good match. Congo has some great one touch play and speed.

Austria totally shit the bed in the 92 minute when they had a 2 on 0 and some how failed to notch the winner. Brutal.

trueviking · #18 Posted: **Jul 3, 2007, 4:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardhatdan

Went to the Austria/Congo game tonight. Approx 20 000 in the stands, was a good match.

whatever...were 15 000 dressed as empty seats to match the other 40 000?

edmonton is embarassing themselves in this tournament....all the venues have looked awesome, but 55000 empty seats in edmonton was horrible and they have only sold 25 000 for canada's second game...30 000 empty seats for canada will be an embarassment and will blemish what is otherwise an amazing tournament.

i have long been a booster of edmonton hosting international soccer, (have made the drive a couple times myself to see soccer games in canada's finest stadium) but attendance at the last few senior men's games and now this, makes me glad that most future games will be played in toronto, montreal and vancouver in the not too distant future when all 3 have soccer specific stadia. (even if BMO is a plastic pitch, which is also embarassing)

Coldrsx · #19 Posted: **Jul 3, 2007, 4:24 AM**

commonwealth seats around 58,000 and is not suitable IMO to these events...not to mention i have heard many many rumours from multiple sources that MTL is giving away tickets for free or very very cheap.

But yes...Edmonton should have 30,000 a game or more.

Hardhatdan · #20 Posted: **Jul 3, 2007, 6:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

whatever...were 15 000 dressed as empty seats to match the other 40 000?

edmonton is embarassing themselves in this tournament....all the venues have looked awesome, but 55000 empty seats in edmonton was horrible and they have only sold 25 000 for canada's second game...30 000 empty seats for canada will be an embarassment and will blemish what is otherwise an amazing tournament.

i have long been a booster of edmonton hosting international soccer, (have made the drive a couple times myself to see soccer games in canada's finest stadium) but attendance at the last few senior men's games and now this, makes me glad that most future games will be played in toronto, montreal and vancouver in the not too distant future when all 3 have soccer specific stadia. (even if BMO is a plastic pitch, which is also embarassing)

What is the sweet tits are you on about? There was 20 000 in the stands for congo vs austria...what a stellar match up.
Pre sales always tend to be poor, the amount of tickets that pre sold for the girls when they packed 50 000 in wasn't exactly spectacular.
What an embarrasment, 20 000 people for a game with 2 lower end teams on the last day of a long weekend...jee I wonder if a lot of people were out of town or just getting back. Fucking 1 game in and you spout off like this?