FIFA World Cup Thread

[Hillary]

Just over two weeks away. A few questions to throw out.

1) Who will you be supporting?

2) How far do you think they'll get?

3) Who do you think will win the competition?

In my case, I will be supporting my home country, England.

Due to a pretty useful draw, it would be a bit of a disaster if they didn't make it to the quarter finals, where they'll likely play France or Mexico. I actually think they'll make it past either of those to the semis, where they lose to Brazil or, possibly, Holland.

Spain will win, as they have, by far, the best squad.

[salm]

1) Germany
2) we win
3) we win

[Gandalf]

1) Who will you be supporting?

North Korea.

They're the most historically interesting.

2) How far do you think they'll get?

Not far at all.

3) Who do you think will win the competition?

France, Germany, Brazil, or one of the usual suspects.

[Crazedwraith]

1) No-one. I hate football. England's chance will be unavoidable though.
2) Not very far at all. Despite the massive media hype that always goes and tries to get everyone's hope up.
3)Not a clue.

[weemadando]

1) STRAYA

2) We're in a fucking hard group. We'll be lucky to make the round of 16.

3) I reckon that we'll be looking at a dark(er) horse coming through, maybe the Netherlands or Cote D'Ivoire.

[Zac Naloen]

1) EN-GER-LAND

2) I keep telling myself it's all about taking part (the quarters, where we belong)

3) EN-GER-LAND (Spain)

[Hillary]

1) EN-GER-LAND

2) I keep telling myself it's all about taking part (the quarters, where we belong)

3) EN-GER-LAND (Spain)

I have to say that it all seems a bit low key as far as England are concerned. It's certainly not been touted in the tabloids as a foregone conclusion that we will win - which makes a nice change. This will all alter when we win the group, of course.

I keep reading that a large contingent of Argentinian hoolies are going to be present. Fortunately, we're unlikely to play them at any point.

Incidentally, it's IN-GER-LUND.

[Zac Naloen]

It's become fashionable for the media to talk down our chances, or in some tabloids case out right sabotage our chances by trying create discord in the camp.

I foresee a world cup where we go out against the first decent team we come up against, just like usual. Then we can watch the final two rounds without having to deal with the fair weather england fans.

[Moby Halcyon]

As cool as it is to root for the US, we're obviously not going to go far. But my famiy has a long history of rooting for Brazil - ai haven't been able to keep track of the Cup leadup, but Brazil's usually a good bet.

[ray245]

1. Holland
2. Potential to make it into the finals.
3. Holland.

[Phantasee]

Italia, because I am a fanboy when it comes to soccer football. I expect nothing less than a repeat of Germany, although I hope there will be less more headbutting.

[Lost Soal]

We've got a pool running on this at work.
Naturally the poor Scottish bugger who picked England got heaped with scorn and he's half hoping he doesn't win.

[Iosef Cross]

I think that Italy, France, Argentina and Brazil have good chances of winning. The most probable winner is Brazil.

1) Who will you be supporting?

Brazil, Argentina and France.

2) How far do you think they'll get?

As far as they get.

3) Who do you think will win the competition?

The chances of a single team winning the world cup are always lower than 50%. I would give 20% to Brazil, 15% to Argentina, Italy and France, 10% to Germany, 5% to England and Netherlands.

[Iosef Cross]

In the 2006 world cup, the three favorites at the start were Brazil, Argentina and Germany. Not one of them reached the finals. In 2006 Brazil had a really lousy coach, a bad strategy and unmotivated players. In paper it was the best team in the world, in practice, it was the worst team among the major "powers" in football.

[Phantasee]

I think that Italy, France, Argentina and Brazil have good chances of winning. The most probable winner is Brazil.

Of course!

The chances of a single team winning the world cup are always lower than 50%. I would give 20% to Brazil, 15% to Argentina, Italy and France, 10% to Germany, 5% to England and Netherlands.

I would give Brazil 15% with the others, and give that 5% to what someone called the dark horses.

[Big Phil]

1) The United States of America

2) I think they'll majestically under perform, just like they did in 1998 and 2006... but I can always hope they'll play like they did in 2002.

3) Holland, Spain, Germany, and Brazil have the best chance to win, with the odds favoring the two previous winners over the previous chokers. I think Italy and Argentina are unlikely to win, and the Ivory Coast is my dark horse to win it all.

I would give 20% to Brazil, 15% to Argentina, Italy and France, 10% to Germany, 5% to England and Netherlands.

France has bad karma hanging over them because of Henry's handball that got them into the tournament. They won't get out of the first round
Argentina has Diego Maradona as coach, so they're fucked
England always underwhelms despite thinking they're god's gift to football. They won't get past the quarters
Italy won the last tournament with boring football; they could do it again, but I don't think they have the moxie to pull off two in a row.
Which leaves Brazil, Germany, and Holland - all of whom are peaking at the right time, have good players, good coaches, and believe they can do it (well, maybe not the Dutch)

[Phantasee]

I didn't know Maradona was Argentina's coach!

[Big Phil]

I didn't know Maradona was Argentina's coach!

He is, and he's an idiot... I wouldn't put it past that coked out retard to put Lionel Messi in goal and play a donkey at striker

[Phantasee]

He's kind of a love/hate guy. One match, and two very different goals, it's hard for me to love him when he did something worth hating for all time.

[Big Phil]

Personally, I don't give two shits about Maradona and the Hand of God - that might have something to do with the fact that he did it to England, a country with a completely unearned confidence when it comes to football. Much like the French, they've only proven capable of winning anything when playing in friendly territory. So fuck the English.

No, I despise Maradona because he wasted his career by blowing it up his nose, and in his post-playing career he is a joke. For example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be4oM53ZacY

Now seriously, what kind of mouth breathing donkey fucker compares Eddie Johnson to Eusebio?

[Thanas]

Germany has a huge problem with Michael Ballack out of the tournament. He suffered an injury.

[Zac Naloen]

Germany has a huge problem with Michael Ballack out of the tournament. He suffered an injury.

And it was nasty, quite possibly deliberate, tackle.

I was watching that game.

I don't think Argentina or Germany are going to get to the final. Ballacks injury leaves Germany without a midfield and Argentina have Maradona in charge, no Milito and Cambiasso? Barely scraped through the qualifiers against piss poor teams? yeh... they are screwed.

Brazil could win it, having seen a few of their games... under Dunga they are basically a perfectly drilled team that defend as well as attack, and they have real quality that can turn it on in the big games.

This could be Italys year again but they'd need to find some form. They definitely have the quality.

I really think Spain are just the best team in the world at the moment and if they play like they did in the Euros I'd love to see a final between them and Brazil. I hope it works out that way.


In the mean time I'll shout at the TV as England go out in the quarters yet again. Plenty of gifted players, but we have too many players that play in the same position and can't get a balanced team out of them.

[Enigma]

1) Portugal (One can dream:) )
2) Not far but won't disappear after the first round.
3) Brazil

[Big Phil]

Germany has a huge problem with Michael Ballack out of the tournament. He suffered an injury.

And it was nasty, quite possibly deliberate, tackle.

I was watching that game.

Deliberate, absolutely. Intent to injure - I don't think so. Boateng could have destroyed Ballack if he'd wanted, coming from behind as he did. He pulled up, but it was just too late.

[thejester]

1) Our green and gold HEROES

2) As ando already said, difficult group and we could struggle to make the 16. That said, IIRC if we do make the 16 we most likely play England...man, fucking them up would be golden. We could lose the next 10 ashes and I'd still be smiling.

3) Spain