Football World Cup
The teams in the quarter final are:
Germany
Argentinia
England
Portugal
Italy
Brazil
France
Ukraine
Games:
Germany : Argentinia
Portugal : England
Italy : Ukraine
Brazil : France
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Ball artists, Elephants, Gauchos, Ticos, Tifosi or even Oranjes???
So, I’m back… after a while, but like you see, i’m still very busy, even i don’t know with what 
The football world championships have started today, and I was looking forward to it for months now… they are in our neighbour country Germany, and this country already has played their first game. they played against Costa Rica- and guess who won (even i think you know it already, because i think it is not possible to hear anything what is not about football world champion if you put on the radio and listen for more than 5 minutes…)Germany of course…
The football world championships have started today, and I was looking forward to it for months now… they are in our neighbour country Germany, and this country already has played their first game. they played against Costa Rica- and guess who won (even i think you know it already, because i think it is not possible to hear anything what is not about football world champion if you put on the radio and listen for more than 5 minutes…)Germany of course…
Well, besides the football world championships is not much up so… well, there is of course the Grand Prix of Great Britian this weekend, in Silverstone. It’s just like that, that because of this big hype about the world championships this all went a bit into the backround, maybe also because it is not so much exciting at the moment. Alonso is the clear leader in the WM, i guess he has 21 points more than Michael Schumacher- this means Fernando can fall out in 2 races now, even if Schumacher will win them, Alonso still will be the leader of the World champoionships. Kimi already gave up this title. I understand him, it must be quite frustrating, to be such a good driver, but it’s just like that the car- (or better- the engine *chrm**chrm*- Mercedes…) is like shit… McLaren- Mercedes is really not competitive at the moment. This is not just because of the engine of course, to be on top in forumula one must be a lot of things which must run poerfect- and at McLaren are a few wrong things at the moment. There is for example still this ‘miseria’ with the second car. It is already clear, that last years world champion and this years world champion leader, Fernando Alonso, at the moment driving for renualt, will go to McLaren next season (2007). But who will get the second car? At the moment Kimi Räikkönen and Juan- Pablo Montoya are driving for McLaren. Welll, everybody knowes that Juan- Pablo is not really the darling of the team, mostly because of his own head, and his stubborn and egoistic behavior. His style is risky, and he makes often mistakes. If Monty has a good day hardly anybody can beat him, but his good days are hard to find. He is also very emotional and he doesn’t want anybody to give him any adive- don’t even try it, it won’t help… anyway, it is no secret, that McLaren would want Kimi for 2007 and not Juan. But there are a lot of rumours, that Kimi will go to Ferrari, and it seems in some austrian newspapers already clear, because some journalists are tellig about already fixed situatuions (i wonder how one reporter can know this, what the world’s press is guessing about for months…). So, but it seems like that, that McLaren will leave Kimi- but whom to take next to Fernando? It seems like if also Montoya has no big wish to stay at McLaren, but as long as he doesn’t know where else to go, he would stay i think.
If McLaren still wants him. Because they have still the possibility to get a few other drivers. Louis Hamilton for example. Record champion of the Formula 3, and now succesfully driving ing GP2. That the GP2 has many young and talented driver already the two youngstars of Williams- Cosworth and Renault, Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen, show. But is Ron Dennis able to put a young, sure talented, but still very young, driver into the highest class of motorsports into a top car directly? Former situations have showed that there is a big step between formula 1 and any other racing series under it. Many talented drivers broke on this wall. You don’t need just the talent and the passion for driving. You also need a lot of luck of course- and experiences. As much as possible of them. The best would be if Hamilton would stay for one year at test driver at the team. So he could learn a lot of things, see how the team works, get many experiences- and this all without any pressure form outside. This would be very important for him. But whom else to take then? If Kimi is away? To get another young driver? Buying any other pilot for one year? I guess these things are not in the mind of the teamboss. I think he would save Juan- Pablo for one more year, if Juan won’t find anything else. I guess this will be like this, and so Monty will sign.
If McLaren still wants him. Because they have still the possibility to get a few other drivers. Louis Hamilton for example. Record champion of the Formula 3, and now succesfully driving ing GP2. That the GP2 has many young and talented driver already the two youngstars of Williams- Cosworth and Renault, Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen, show. But is Ron Dennis able to put a young, sure talented, but still very young, driver into the highest class of motorsports into a top car directly? Former situations have showed that there is a big step between formula 1 and any other racing series under it. Many talented drivers broke on this wall. You don’t need just the talent and the passion for driving. You also need a lot of luck of course- and experiences. As much as possible of them. The best would be if Hamilton would stay for one year at test driver at the team. So he could learn a lot of things, see how the team works, get many experiences- and this all without any pressure form outside. This would be very important for him. But whom else to take then? If Kimi is away? To get another young driver? Buying any other pilot for one year? I guess these things are not in the mind of the teamboss. I think he would save Juan- Pablo for one more year, if Juan won’t find anything else. I guess this will be like this, and so Monty will sign.
But back to football.
Who will win the football world championships?
I guess this is one of the most asked question at the moment. Well, and i guess in most of the answers you hear: BrazilWell, it is really like this. The guys from Brazil are ball- artists. They really play excellent football, and i think if someone can beat them, then they just themselves.
But you mustn’t forget Germany. Okay, maybe they are not as good as Brazil, and if they play like yesterday, the Brazils would win for sure, but this was the first game, and also Michael Ballack was missing, so the team was some kind of unsure. But they won, and i think this was deserved. And they also have som advantage, because they can play at home.
Who else could win? Well, this is hard to say, because there is of course much what can happen in such a World Championships. I just want to remind you on the European Chapionships two years ago, when Greece won. Please, who would have bet on Greece when it had started? Well, me not, and i think i would have called you crazy, if you would have told me this. But they won. And where are they now? The European Champions of 2004 in football are even not qualified for the World Championships.
So, and i will bet 1 €uro on Trinidad & Tobago now, because if they win i will get 600 € back 
Everything can happen.
That’s life. That’s football.
Friday, June 2, 2006
The ‚Matador’ wins also in Monaco- there is just one word needed this weekend:
ALONSO
First Podium finish for RedBull-Racing
After 78 long laps and 1 hour and 43 minutes it was decided- Alonso was the first time in his career on the podium in Monaco- and celebrated at the same time his first vicotry in front of the colombian Juan- Pablo Montoya and the scottish RedBull driver David Coulthard in the little state.
It was a very thrilling and extraordinary race, like every year in Monaco. The flair there is not able to describe, it is just amazing.
The race began with a good start of Alonso, and a very aggressive start of the finn Kimi Räikkönen, who tried to overtake Mark Webber, who had been on second start position. At first this didn’t work, but after a few rounds Räikkönen could overtake the australian, and was third. Kimi pushed hard and got also very close to Alonso. After the first PitStop Kimi got closer again, but also Mark Webber and Juan Pablo Montoya came closer, and it got a fight between 4 cars, where much overtaking of the weaker cars were involved. Then Mark Webber suddenly went with his car to the side- his engine blew up and so the race was over for him. A few laps later the McLaren-Mercedes of Kimi Räikkönen got slowlier and also his car was smoking, but i’m not sure if it was reallly the engine. One of the people around came to extinguish the flames, after he did it Räikkönen was able to drive down to park the car. Then he got out and went slowly and calm to the habour and onto one of the yachtes. When the RedBull cars were on 5th (Klien) and 6th (Coulthard) position, Klien got to the boxes- the hydraulics striked- the austrian was out. This would have been the best position in his whole career. Coulthard got as a heritage his place and made something brilliant out of it: he overtook Barichello, and after Trulli fell out, David drove his RedBull straight onto the podium… the first podium finish for the ‘Formula Austria’ (I’m sorry for Trulli, Webber and Räikkönen, but my patriotic heart laughes 
David Coulthard: “Of course there fell a few out in front of me, but this is always the challange of Monaco- to take the car through- there are always a few who fall out.”
CONGRATULATIONS, FERNANDO
CONGRATULATIONS RED BULL!!!
A little quote of Heinz Prüller (out TV- commentator) at last:
“Klien und Coulthard, die beiden Österreicher…”
(Klien and Coulthard, the two austrians…)
He was so proud of David, he nearly gave him our citizenship
The podium: Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso and ’superman’ David Coulthard
1. ALONSO Fernando (ESP, Renault)
2. MONTOYA Juan- Pablo (COL, McLaren- Mercedes)
3. COULTHARD David (GBR, RedBull- Racing)
4. BARICHELLO Rubens (BRA, Honda)
5. SCHUMACHER Michael (GER, Ferrari)
6. FISICHELLA GianCarlo (ITA, Renault)
7. HEIDFELD Nick (GER, BMW- Sauber)
8. SCHUMACHER Ralf (GER, Toyota)
OUT:
TRULLI Jarno (ITA, Toyota)
KLIEN Christian (AUT, RedBull- Racing)
RÄIKKÖNEN Kimi (FIN, McLaren- Mercedes)
WEBBER Mark (AUS, Williams- Cosworth)
ROSBERG Nico (GER, Williams- Cosworth)
SATO Takuma (JPN, Super Aguri- Honda)
SCHUMACHER CHEATED IN MONACO???
“No comment!”- Michael Schumacher gives no statement to the FIA- decision
It’s four years ago, that Michael Schumacher won the Grand Prix of Monaco, and as it seems, it also won’t work this year- except there will happen a few miracles. Everything seemed very well yesterday in the qualifying- till the very last lap. Michael Schumacher was in the lead, when he suddenly came off in the corner. It was not clear what had happened. Schumacher said at the press conference afterwards, that he slipped out and tried to take in the reverse gear, but because of the traffic it was not possible. This all would have not been a problem, if Alonso weren’t 3/10 faster than the german at this time. In the press conference everybody could read on his face: he doesn’t believe, that this was an accident.
The FIA also wasn’t sure. The talked for 8 hours- then they decided: Schumacher has to go back to the last starting place- because of unfairness.
Other drivers and people around the Formula 1 are disappointed. Here some quotes:
“He’s a 7th time World Champion!”, says Niki Lauda, 3 times World champion. “This was really not needed.”
“I lost my respect of him- I’m really disappointed”- said Keke Rosberg, the father of Nico Rosberg, who will start from the 9th position today, angry.
“He shall retire as boss of the GPDA*”, many drivers say. Keke Rosberg added to this: “He shall NEVER talk of a saftey F1 again…”
This action was sure not saftey.
“He should have put his hand in front of the car-camera”- Kimi Räikkönen ironic, like always. (explanation: The FIA watched the ‘accident’ out of Schumachers position with his car camera and so they find out, that it was no real accident)
Michael Schumacher said nothing to the FIA- decision so far. Probably he will give no statement before the start.
Ferrari is angry of course, and they say, it is absolutely not understandable why the FIA has decided like this- well, anyway, we have a Ferrari- Family meeting in the last start row: Felipe Massa got his car into the wall yesterday, before he could drive just one lap. Because of this he is on 21st start position- one place in front of Schumi.
This will be sure not the best remembered weekend of Ferrari in the next years…
Alonsos heritage is the Pole now… this will statisfied him sure a lot, because he is of course the big favourite to the victory, but also the ‘sivler- arrows’ (McLaren) seem quite competitive in –Monaco (this is probably because they don’t need to have such a good engiene, because in just 45%** of a Monaco round is accelerated, but there you need more Downforce).
GianCarlo Fisichella, Fernando Alonsos teammate got also a penalty, because he stopped Coulthard on a flying lap. Fisichella is 10th now (first he was 5th).
Schumacher got sure not more friends with this, and i know i should be objective, but at the end an own opinion: I was never a real fan of him, but i had respect to what he made. He is a fantastic driver for sure, but i thought a 7 times world champion has a bit more brain than to make such a silly action- my respect is away. This man is 38 years old, and he also made some things like this in past, but i thought he won with his titles also the idea of fairness.
I’m sorry, that i was so wrong with my thinking, and i must say i feel similar like Keke Rosberg, even i’m not really disappointed, because when you know the past***, then you are not surpprised. For Schumacher was always every way to win the right way, even if it was not right of fairness.
*Grand Prix Drivers Association (mainly for a saftey F1)
** average on other tracks: 60%-70%
*** for example:
1994: Schumacher had an accident with Damon Hill. Both could have win the World Championships, but after both fell out, Schumacher had enough points, that Hill couldn’t get him anymoreà Schumacher got World Champion
1997: a very similar situation, just with Villeneuve. They had a crash, and Schumacher got enough points to get World Champion, but then the FIA took him all points of the complete year, because of unfairness, and so Jacques Villeneuve got World Champion
And finally we have the right start positions, a bit unusual maybe, and it needed the FIA 8 hours to get it, but anyway, here it is:
1. ALONSO Fernando (ESP, Renault)
2. WEBBER Mark (AUS, Williams- Cosworth)
3. RÄIKKÖNEN Kimi (FIN, McLaren- Mercedes)
4. MONTOYA Juan- Pablo (COL, McLaren-Mercedes)
5. BARICHELLO Rubens (BRA, Honda)
6. TRULLI Jarno (ITA, Toyota)
7. COULTHARD David (GBR, RedBull- Racing)
8. ROSBERG Nico (GER, Williams- Cosworth)
9. SCHUMACHER Ralf (GER, Toyota)
10. FISICHELLA GianCarlo (ITA, Renault)
11. KLIEN Christian (AUT, RedBull- Racing)
12. LIUZZI VitanTonio (ITA, Scuderia Toro Rosso)
13. BUTTON Jenson (GBR, Honda)
14. VILLENEUVE Jacques (CAN, BMW-Sauber)
15. HEIDFELD Nick (GER, BMW- Sauber)
16. ALBERS Christijan (NED, MidlandF1-Toyota)
17. MONTEIRO Tiago (POR, MidlandF1- Toyota)
18. SPEED Scott (USA, Scuderia Toro Rosso)
19. SATO Takuma (JPN, Super Aguri Honda)
20. MONTAGNY Franck (FRA, Super Aguri Honda)
21. MASSA Felipe (BRA, Ferrari)
22. SCHUMACHER Michael (GER, Ferrari)
+++ result of the race of the GP of Spain+++
HE DID IT!!!!
simply happiness- Fernando enjoys the victory in his ‘living- room’
Alonso won his home GP-
Today the spanish Renault driver, and world champion 2005, made a glourious victory, which was never in danger, directly in front of his biggest enimy this year, the seven times World Champion, Michael Schumacher. So, Fernando was able to celebrate his first victory in his home land, Spain, on the circuit de catalunya near Barcelona, after he was on the podium for two times the last two years.
Ferrari was too slow over the whole distance and Michael Schumacher finished with 18,5 seconds after Alonso, Fisichella was third, 24 seconds after his teammate, as 4th was Felipe Massa, the teammate of Michael Schumacher, driving over the finish lane and 5th was Kimi Räikkönen, with his not perfect McLaren- Mercedes.
1. ALONSO Fernando (ESP, Renault)
2. SCHUMACHER Michael (GER, Ferrari)
3. FISICHELLA GianCarlo (ITA, Renault)
4. MASSA Felipe (BRA, Ferrari)
5. RÄIKKÖNEN Kimi (FIN, McLaren- Mercedes)
6. BUTTON Jenson (GBR, Honda)
7. BARICHELLO Rubens (BRA, Honda)
8. HEIDFELD Nick (GER, BMW- Sauber)
Formula Austria:
13. KLIEN Christian
14. COULTHARD David
15. LIUZZI VitanTonio*
OUT: SPEED Scott
*out in last lap, but counted because of driven distance
the podium: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and GianCarlo Fischella
