[vuroth]

Voted Spain, but honestly, this is the deepest field of any team sport in the world - certainly deeper and probably better balanced than ice hockey, for example.

I like the Netherlands as a dark horse - they have some fragile game changers - a bit of health, and they can beat anybody out there.

I'll be cheering for England, though. And USA - as much as I don't like Donovan most of the time, he was flat out brilliant for Everton this year.

[Hanoi5]

I guess I meant 'How can someone not from the US root for the US?'. But this is an American board, so I'm the odd one out.

Thanks for reminding me that my country is not even playing. That's why they say in Venezuela that people with hay rears should not go near a fire.

[655321]

Lord Triesman thinks Spain will win!

[dicklont]

vuroth, on May 18 2010, 04:45 PM, said:

I like the Netherlands as a dark horse - they have some fragile game changers - a bit of health, and they can beat anybody out there.

They can, but I'm afraid they won't beat four of them in row after the groupe fase.

[el mister]

Spain have the best team, their squad's a mile deep and they've straightened out their psychological frailties by winning Euro 08. Rightly starting as favourites - their midfield is supreme. Concede possession and you'd be waiting 15 mins to get the ball back.

There's loads of other good teams though, should be a great tournament - I quite fancy France as a pseudo-dark horse. Obviously they're a force in the game, but they looked terrible in qualifying and their play-off game against Ireland was an embarrassment. They still have excellent quality though, particularly going forward, and could get it together.

Looking forward to watching Argentina. If The Catalan can put that circus on his back and carry them to the WC final then he truly will be the greatest player of all time. Looks a step too far even for him.

[shyams]

el mister, on May 20 2010, 10:54 AM, said:

There's loads of other good teams though, should be a great tournament - I quite fancy France as a pseudo-dark horse. Obviously they're a force in the game, but they looked terrible in qualifying and their play-off game against Ireland was an embarrassment. They still have excellent quality though, particularly going forward, and could get it together.

France just shot themselves in the foot. Laurent Blanc has been named national coach starting after the World Cup.
Why would anyone from the France team, esp. the current coach, take this World Cup seriously? ...especially after they know some large-scale changes are happening soon.

[el mister]

Domenech was always standing down, though, so I doubt it will make that much difference.
Everyone takes the world cup seriously - it's the biggest sporting event in the world. Even the type of player who doesn't give a monkey's about wearing the national shirt still cares about it, as strong performances affect a players value, status and salary in the domestic leagues.

That's not to say France could be a complete shambolic failure, because they could. I just think there's a lot of quality there and the coach got them to the finals last time out, so they could bely their recent form.

[shyams]

The voting so far has one peculiar trait. Of the 14 votes cast so far, we have ZERO votes for Brazil.

Actually Brazil is the #1 team in Ranking. And it is most likely to win according to a couple of large Investment Banks.

[gwnn]

Hanoi5, on May 18 2010, 03:47 PM, said:

I guess I meant 'How can someone not from the US root for the US?'. But this is an American board, so I'm the odd one out.

Thanks for reminding me that my country is not even playing. That's why they say in Venezuela that people with hay rears should not go near a fire.

I still don't understand why it is impossible to root for the United States. I personally think it deserves respect that they chose to play football in a country where it is customary to stop playing it when you turn about 14. Why can't I support them if I am not from USA? Anyway why did you ask the question in the first place, nobody non-American has said they root for them. I think they have devoted professionals and it is always nice to see them do well.

I did not mean to "remind you" that Venezuela has not qualified (ever). Iceland has probably a worse team than you and arguably so does Romania and Hungary. I just brought up a simple example.

[Aberlour10]

el mister, on May 20 2010, 05:54 AM, said:

Spain have the best team, their squad's a mile deep and they've straightened out their psychological frailties by winning Euro 08. Rightly starting as favourites - their midfield is supreme. Concede possession and you'd be waiting 15 mins to get the ball back.

I think, everyone agrees with it..... but its by far not enough for being a strongest favorit for the WC title...there are many other determining factors that count ... f. ex... are they a strong "tournament team"? (like most of the teams Germany) , are they able to win on "bad day" too? are they able to fight back getting surprised 0-2 behind etc etc....Spanish national teams failed there very often... I hope, this time it may not happen.

Robert

[Codo]

I guess there are at least 7 teams who have a real chance to win. (In my opinion, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Germany, England, Netherlands, Argentina)
I doubt that the time has come for Ghana yet, but maybe an Afriacn squad can profe me wrong..)

Normally, when the WC is in Europe, an european team wins and when it is elsewhere, a team from another part of the world takes the cup.

So I guess it will be Brazil again. But I hope and voted for Spain. Okay, obviously I hope for Germany and we are between the seven who can win, but...

[Aberlour10]

Codo, on May 20 2010, 06:58 AM, said:

I doubt that the time has come for Ghana yet, but maybe an Afriacn squad can profe me wrong..)

If african teams show much more tactical discipline we may see one day a WC coming from this continent, they have enough awesome football players.

[gwnn]

It has happened only twice in WC history that the trophy did not go to the continent the tournament was organised (assuming just 5 continents i.e. one America): 1958 and 2002 and both times it was Brazil.

[hanp]

Looking forward to see Messi play, too bad Argentina has such an idiotic coach otherwise they might win.

The Netherlands will be fun to watch, they have great attackers. Their defense is too weak to get to the finals.

I hope Torres will be top for the tournament, Spain is also great fun to watch and their whole team is good.

Germany probably has no chance with Ballack out, but they always seem to do better than you would expect.

England, I can't get excited about England, sorry. Their soccer is just too boring. Same for Italy. Serbia won't get far but they'll probably injure some players quite badly before they leave.

And of course it is impossible to root for the US. With the Landis story coming out today and the story of Armstrong, Landis and Bruyneel discussing epo, I've had enough of American superstars. Please let them stay bad at soccer for a long time, so we can discuss sports without talking about money.

Brazil will be good again too I think, probably better than Argentina. If Brazil plays well, it is such a joy to watch them, so I think I'll root for them too.

[hanp]

And I think it would be great if finally one of the African teams gets very far.

[jjbrr]

oleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ole ole ole oleeeeeeeeeeeeeee

oleeeeeeeeeeeeeee

oleeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[gwnn]

Who needs Ballack if they have Lomu?

[Aberlour10]

gwnn, on May 21 2010, 06:33 AM, said:

Who needs Ballack if they have Lomu?

Its not a secret that team Germany comes always to World Cup physically really top prepared. They won this way many, many matches against technical better opponents, wearing them down and getting overhand in the last 20-30 minutes.

[gwnn]

you can win 100 million euros on a site if you predict all scores exactly (64). ez money

[Aberlour10]

gwnn, on May 23 2010, 11:16 AM, said:

you can win 100 million euros on a site if you predict all scores exactly (64). ez money

nothing easier than this.... but we should think more about a smart WCooler Prediction Contest and try to find a sponsor with some BBO $ for reward(s)