O hey its the World Cup! (a thread about it)

[stazer]

So wanted to start a thread about the biggest sporting event in the world...which is going to start in 2 weeks.

so gonna start this with a break down of the rankings, who I am pulling for, were I am from and why I think the team I love and pull for is managed by a brain damaged monkey.

Please feel free to openly discuss who you are pulling for and why you think they are the team to bring home the cup this year.

Rankings: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ra...llranking.html

a nice break down of each of the 32 teams: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/32countries


1 Brazil Brazil
2 Spain Spain
3 Portugal Portugal
4 Netherlands Netherlands
5 Italy Italy
6 Germany Germany
7 Argentina Argentina
8 England England
9 France France
10 Croatia Croatia
11 Russia Russia
12 Egypt Egypt
13 Greece Greece
14 USA USA
15 Serbia Serbia
16 Uruguay Uruguay
17 Mexico Mexico
18 Chile Chile
19 Cameroon Cameroon
20 Australia Australia
21 Nigeria Nigeria
22 Norway Norway
23 Ukraine Ukraine
24 Switzerland Switzerland
25 Slovenia Slovenia
26 Israel Israel
27 Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire
28 Romania Romania
29 Turkey Turkey
30 Algeria Algeria
31 Paraguay Paraguay
32 Ghana Ghana
33 Czech Republic Czech Republic
34 Slovakia Slovakia
35 Colombia Colombia
36 Denmark Denmark
37 Sweden Sweden
38 Honduras Honduras
39 Bulgaria Bulgaria
40 Costa Rica Costa Rica
41 Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland
42 Gabon Gabon
43 Scotland Scotland
44 Ecuador Ecuador
45 Japan Japan
46 Latvia Latvia
47 Korea Republic Korea Republic
48 Burkina Faso Burkina Faso
49 Venezuela Venezuela
49 Lithuania Lithuania

Im definately a yank. Have always rooted for the home team, even through our draught. We had a good showing in confederations cup http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mo...ccer_main.html only to blow it because soem of the players could not pull there weight...and it was obvious to watch. In a word...rather a name demarcus beasley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DaMarcus_Beasley would miss the net if he was allowed to pick up the ball and run it in rugby style.
Edit: Groupings added.

[stazer]

Points T (tie) = 1 L (loss) = 0 W (Win)= 3

South Africa 2010 - Grouping --- Round 1 pts
Group A
South Africa ---------------------- T
Mexico --------------------------- T
Uruguay -------------------------- T
France --------------------------- T

Group B
Argentina -------------------------- W
Nigeria ----------------------------- L
South Korea ----------------------- W
Greece ---------------------------- L

Group C
England ----------------------------- T
USA -------------------------------- T
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G -the "group of death"
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile

[English_Warrior]

Here is how I see it going:


Last Sixteen

49 1A v 2B France v Greece
50 1C v 2D England v Serbia
51 1D v 2C Germany v USA
52 1B v 2A Argentina v Mexico
53 1E v 2F Holland v Paraguay
54 1G v 2H Brazil v Chile
55 1F v 2E Italy v Denmark
56 1H v 2G Spain v Portugal


Quarter Finals

Q1 53 v 54 Holland v Brazil
Q2 49 v 50 England v France
Q3 52 v 51 Germany v Argentina
Q4 55 v 56 Italy v Spain


Semis

S1 Q2 v Q1 England v Brazil
S2 Q3 v Q4 Germany v Spain


Third Place

S1 v S2 Brazil v Germany


Final

S1 v S2 England v Spain

England to beat Spain in the final....ok I might be a tad optimistic about England beating Brazil or Spain...but other than that I feel pretty confident in my prediction.

[Beherit_Baphomar]

Being a Scot married to a Yank and a son who's American I'll be rooting for the US. And their first game will be AWESOME!!! 2-0 US.

I'd like to see 4 or 5 nil, but that's just wishful thinking.

[DoctorWhofan]

Oh...THAT football. With the insane fans (lived through France vs Spain) Nah, I'm good! Little League baseball is starting and Hawai'i is GOOD.

[English_Warrior]

Being a Scot married to a Yank and a son who's American I'll be rooting for the US. And their first game will be AWESOME!!! 2-0 US.

I'd like to see 4 or 5 nil, but that's just wishful thinking.

Ha.....typical Jock......bitter much.
(I feel sorry for George Burley...he really had no chance and did a reasonable job with a bunch of mediocre players)

I know Im biased but USA really doesn't have a good shot at beating England....I could see a draw....but a win is really asking for a little much.

With Charlie Davies' injury and Brian Ching being excluded from the 23...the USA really don't have a striker going to SA that is worthy of a World Cup call-up. And don't get me started on the whole Beasley/Bocangra at leftback problem. And when your best central defender is Oneweyu...you know nobody is going to be particularly worried about playing you.

I guess we will have to wait until June 11th to see if I have egg on my face or a smug grin.

[stazer]

With Charlie Davies' injury and Brian Ching being excluded from the 23...the USA really don't have a striker going to SA that is worthy of a World Cup call-up. And don't get me started on the whole Beasley/Bocangra at leftback problem. And when your best central defender is Oneweyu...you know nobody is going to be particularly worried about playing you.

qft. ching should not have been left off..in fact he should be starting imo. I can not figure out what the coaches see in beasley. He is super quick...but that doesnt matter because he handles the ball like he has wooden feet.

unfortunately the whole problem seems to stem from our "development" process which excludes some of the best soccer players in the country who cant afford the fees associated with the travel and culture of the people who play it.

yeah some funny funny choices regarding the choosing of the american team, however
dont totally count us out...we had Brazil for sure...again it was just a few players who lost that game for us (and they are all back....sigh...) and remember 1950 Im sure our side does http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England...tes_%281950%29

your picks are pretty similar to mine...however I have to say Netherlands (holland) is imo the most overrated team in the tournament. I have no idea how they are ranked so high. They will most likely make to the next round...but Ill pick Cameroon over them...just because there is always an underdog who makes it through and wins their group...that would be mine. interesting write up on this http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/wor...japan-cameroon

Cameroon would be a HUGE upset...it could happen though

[stazer]

Being a Scot married to a Yank and a son who's American I'll be rooting for the US. And their first game will be AWESOME!!! 2-0 US.

I'd like to see 4 or 5 nil, but that's just wishful thinking.

I could see 2-0, English have some serious firepower this year...so I would bet on 3-2...one way or the other...hopefully our way

[PopeDX]

Ching is awful, so glad he was left off. And as much as I said "Findley? ***?" along with everyone else, I was at the Turkey game in Philly on Saturday and he looked **** good. That said, I'd love to see Altidore and Gomez together up top. Herculez made great runs on Tuesday.

[Daggaz]

Denmark is going to win, but USA can have second place if they promise to be nice. No but seriously, in all honesty? My money is on North Korea.

[English_Warrior]

yeah some funny funny choices regarding the choosing of the american team, however
dont totally count us out...we had Brazil for sure...again it was just a few players who lost that game for us (and they are all back....sigh...) and remember 1950 Im sure our side does http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England...tes_%281950%29

I didnt say the USA couldnt beat England...just that its the least likely of the three results.

Although I don't rate your attack and defence very highly....I do think your midfield is very good.....youve got Donovan who is a real World Class player who could get into ANY World Cup starting 11....then you have quite a lot of depth and variety to round out the other 3-4 midfield spots.
I think Torres, Bradley, Edu, Holden, Dempsey...heck even Clark...offer enough quality and variety to at least be competitive with any other midfield out there in SA.

I cant wait...going to be very entertaining.

[stazer]

Denmark is going to win, but USA can have second place if they promise to be nice. No but seriously, in all honesty? My money is on North Korea.

NK...really...no eye rolling or anything demoting sarcasm! How! do you have inside info? Granted they are a country which does not subscribe to any type of humane treatment of...people...but fear cant be motivational enough for a wc victory.

[stazer]

I didnt say the USA couldnt beat England...just that its the least likely of the three results.

forgive me if i came across as implying such. I do agree the favored is without question England. Anyone who knows anything about footie has to accept that. And for sure you comments abouts the u.s. midfield are spot on good diversity...but again we lack the understanding of depth and speed utilization to truely take advantage of it. The problems with the us again go back to development...

The English without a doubt are crazy stacked. I cant wait to see rooney in action on the world stage, Lampard is another I would love to see recreat the success he has had with Chelsea on the world stage.

I think you said it best its going to be exciting for sure...

super excited for this world cup!

[stazer]

Ching is awful, so glad he was left off. And as much as I said "Findley? ***?" along with everyone else, I was at the Turkey game in Philly on Saturday and he looked **** good. That said, I'd love to see Altidore and Gomez together up top. Herculez made great runs on Tuesday.

I cant agree about Ching..what he lacks in complete creativity he makes up for in tenacity and just a nose for the net. However Altidore is an animal and gomez is a just a phenomenal player..that would certainly be a strong pairing. Ching and Gomez though I believe maybe just as strong...IMO. Herculez, yep a good strong showing, IMO a strong sub and catalyst for good things if we go down late. I just saw the game on TV and envy you opportunity to see them live. I used to live by Columbus and got to see the US team against Jamaica for a friendly. Really an incredible sight to see the speed these guys play at live!

[Beherit_Baphomar]

Yeah, after Englands last two games I'm confident on 2-0 US.

England have not come together in time.

Give the US another five, mebbe ten years and they'll be one of the worlds best.

As for the Scottish team, what do you want me to say? They suck, they've always sucked and they always will suck.

So for me it's either the US or Mexico.

[Sneakee]

Denmark is going to win, but USA can have second place if they promise to be nice.

Australia just beat Denmark 1-0....

[stazer]

again I'm a most certainly rooting for the U.S...but this sucks. When a premier player doesnt get a shot at what is considered the ultimate footballers goal...sorry England. Would have certainly enjoyed seeing him and Donovan go at it.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/ne...ared+ferdinand

[stazer]

misread quote

[English_Warrior]

again I'm a most certainly rooting for the U.S...but this sucks. When a premier player doesnt get a shot at what is considered the ultimate footballers goal...sorry England. Would have certainly enjoyed seeing him and Donovan go at it.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/ne...ared+ferdinand

Im sorry for Rio...but Im glad for the team.

He is massively over-rated and well past his prime...I would much rather see Dawson/Upson/King partner JT than Rio. Not to mention he really isn't a good enough leader to be the captain of England....Gerrard will do a much better job in my opinion.

Its another example of a once great player being picked because of how good he used to be and not how good he is now.

Roll on the 12th.

[Aurora1979]

Im sorry to say this, as i know most of the posters on here are american, but you stand NO chance

You might qualify the group in second place, but only because we (u.s and england) have such an easy group.

U.S should not beat England and I suspect it wont even be a close match. I wont garentee anything obviously coz we all know how football can go but on paper, on fitness, on skill, on experiance the states have no chance.

As for Rio being out as being a good thing for England.... TOSH, complete and utter. Rio has been on great form recently, he has alot of experiance and we will miss him. Dawson has been playing well recently but i dont think he is anywhere near the quality or stability of Rio on the back 4. King hasnt been playing fantastic and we all know he is injury prone aside from being out of international football for 3 years. he has been playing well in the last couple of months for spurs (who i support) so i would be inclinded to blow his trumpet but i think its a liablity putting to much expectation on him.

that leaves the option of putting upson in.... personally i would choose king, as on form he is excellent but will we miss rio......? OOOOH YES.

My pick for the winners? Tough this year. Brazil are the (too obvious) choice but i dont think they have it this time round. I think spain is a good bet and, if forced, the one i would put my money on. They are still flying high and have all the chance in the world.