The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[Rhyfelwyr]

Now I need to take a lie down to recover from Rhy's outburst.

Haha, I always supported England to lose. But we were talking about this issue in my history class, and the lecturer pointed out that English fans supported Scotland when England didn't make it to the WC in the 70's, so I've decided to support England, mostly to troll my parents that are Scottish nationalists...

[InsaneApache]

It's true, in 1978 I supported Scotland. I should have known better! They lose to Iran in the first game.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Yes, I was wondering what was up with some Scot rooting for 'the enemy'.



'ere you go, mate:

[LeftEyeNine]

I guess I'll drop my match result predictions here. Here we go:

RSA 1 - 1 MEX
URU 1 - 1 FRA

And tomorrow:

ARG 0 - 0 NGA
KOR 1 - 1 GRE
ENG 3 - 2 USA

South Africa, having some prolific and experienced striker such as Benny McCarthy left out, would like to press on as much as they could being hosts and playing the opening match. However, as athletic as they may be on the flanks and creative in the center of the park, they lack as much when it comes to finishing chances. I say they could find the net on mental rush they'll be piled by the supporters yet the 23 from North America are no underdogs and Vela is one to watch especially in this tournament.

Uruguay, with one of the best upfront some national dream could ever dream of, are one of my shocker picks for WC '10. France is no more a team that sets up instant triangles to penetrate through the defences orchestrated by a genius like Zizou anymore and heavily supported by their solid centre backs, that's how they were the bulldozers of the new millennium. Domenech will have to handle more and more pressure which he already feels a lot and any slight mistake he or his team could make even during a match will end up with Les Bleus losing concentration. Yet first matches are rarely open to surprises when almost equal powers clash and I see this a draw with some fine spectacle.

Argentina is coached by a living proof of greatest-players-don't-make-great-coaches rule. I'm still amazed at the "ability" to leave out Cambiasso and Zanetti. The tournaments are run on a time constraint and it's quite probable that you may run into a series of injuries. I don't know if Zanetti ever played as a striker or a keeper what I'm sure of is that he can cover up any other area on the pitch like that mortar that Hagia Sophia owes its standing for centuries. Also Messi's cloak in white-sky blue jersey that has been hard to recognize so far is another question Argentina has to deal with. He is a tiny black hole that can suck up any hopes of any team and his level of performances will be a direct hit upwards if he ever manages it. Nigeria, on the other hand, this time, has a better upfront which is likely to change the impression "if he's African, he lacks technique". Their tandem of the defence looks prone to the exploitation of the swift and the agile. Still, Argentina, trying not to be criticized at the very first match and Nigeria looking to hold out La Albiceleste which would strengthen the chances for qualification from the group may end up with a draw if you ask me.

I can say South Korea is a better team with a lot of European competitiveness and experienced injected in, compared to their previous squads challenged in such tournaments. Such valuable features are concentrated particularly in the midfield and a midfield is what it takes to be the winners. Greece is the same old Greece with the "too-old"s having retired such as Dellas. You also can't expect any substantial change in the mentality since the Euro 2006 winner coach Otto Rehhagel is still in the director's seat. The choice of players strongly resembles their classic tactical approach to the game as well. "Smother, endure, float and head it".

My first most footy-fruitful prediction is yielded from the match-up of England versus USA. Rio Ferdinand is a great miss whereas I wouldn't want to take Dawson, Carragher and King lightly. The best may not be there but England squad is adequate enough to soothe the wound with better-than-the-most kind of center backs. But still coordination and harmonization among two center backs is like no other and I predict such first-time to cause a score like 3-2 thanks to USA seemingly learned FOOTBALL to a considerable extent. I'd like to see Jermaine Jones on the field running and biting around like Gattuso or Jing Su Park and I'd like to know if he's injured or something. Anyway, Dempsey is my favorite with some unlikely technique coming from across the ocean. Donovan is a #10 cut for such tournaments: gifted and experienced. USA lacks finishers yet the rest of the team is able to provide fruitful results that may allow football come into our minds along with basketball or baseball, when someone mentions the country.

Thanks for not reading this.

[InsaneApache]

Thanks for not reading this.

I read it mate, I read it.

[LeftEyeNine]

I read it mate, I read it.

He read it and he'is richer than you now.

First prediction is bullseye. Let's see what's next in the group.

Whom to single out:

Tshabalala, Gaxa, Mphela, Dos Santos, Blanco

[Marshal Murat]

I'm going to give a thumbs up for South Africa. I'm currently extremely biased (I've had the Koolaid to put it simply). A lucky call, they got a goal, they kept it close with a team that is far-and-above them. Had Madiba been there it would've worked out with at least a 10-1 game with Matt Damon suddenly appearing on the field. Hopefully they'll keep it up and get to the quarter finals on a wing-and-a-prayer.

I'm not too sure about Uruguay vs. France. I'm hoping that Uruguay will give France the "what-for" but we'll see what happens. Now I will leave and begin to throw all my tea-bags into the sink to get ready for the US-England game.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Can someone tell me who are the good teams and who are not (I'm American ).


Are the Swiss good by the way?

[Rhyfelwyr]

Are the Swiss good by the way?

The armoured pikemen of Swissland take on Spain tomorrow.

[Ronin]

Can someone tell me who are the good teams and who are not (I'm American ).


Are the Swiss good by the way?

no..

good teams...

Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany....on lesser level, England, Italy...etc.

[Krusader]

I've been anticipating this World Cup for months and it has been a disappointment so far.
I'm wondering if this will be remembered as the World Cup of the (B)Zzzzzz later on because of boring matches and the vuvuzela. We were 3 who bought internet access to matches and the other two are watching the matches with no sound on. I've gotten used to it, but as someone said, you can't really hear the crowd. A commentator on Norwegian TV commented that when Drogba entered the pitch it was the first time you could hear the people cheer over the vuvuzelas' monotone sound in the entire World Cup.
I'm curious to how the reaction will be if we can't hear Brazilian samba and crowd cheers in the match later tonight. And when it comes to the footballing itself, a friend of mine in Germany said it best: "It's a sure tell its a boring tournament, when the best team is Germany". I'm hoping Brazil will make some goals. I'd say 18 goals in 11 matches it not that great.

[Lemur]

Poll has been added to thread per Myrddraal's request. You can select more than one answer, and the poll is public. Cheers.

[tibilicus]

Does anyone else feel like Spain play a really boring game. The football pundits refer to their "sensational" passes but when is a pass really sensational?

It might be a symptom of European football as a whole though. The Dutch and the Germans are the only European teams which have played entertaining football. I guess I just prefer the end to end South American style better. Maybe I'm just annoyed though that the Spanish have got through to the final producing consistent 1-0 wins and playing a fairly boring game of containment football but then again, that seems to be how modern football is won. Just a shame it takes away from the entertainment value.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Who's the Octosquid picking? He's money in da bank.

[Lemur]

Who's the Octosquid picking? He's money in da bank.

I just found out that he's receiving death threats. But I, for one, welcome our prognosticating octosquid overlords.

[Myrddraal]

I didn't realise that it had accurately predicted the Spain defeat... Their power is more awesome that I ever imagined, they can see the future.

[naut]

I didn't realise that it had accurately predicted the Spain defeat... Their power is more awesome that I ever imagined, they can see the future.

They used him in qualifying too. He has a 70% success rate.

And. Good news!

Larissa Riquelme Will Run Nude As 'Present' To Players

Larissa Riquelme, the captivating lingerie model who enchanted soccer fans around the world with her enthusiastic support of the Paraguayan World Cup team, saw her pledge to run nude through the streets of Paraguay end in heartbreak when Spain defeated her favorite team in the quarterfinals last weekend.

The beautiful Paraguayan has good news for her eager fans who were disappointed by the loss. Riquelme says she will run naked through Asuncion, even though Paraguay did not win the World Cup. The curvy model says her nude run "will be a present to all of the players, and for all the people in Paraguay to enjoy."

[Hosakawa Tito]

Death by Sushi Bar eh? The World Cup sure brings out the passionate amongst us. Come on this cephalopod oracle is a gold mine. I wonder if he picks other sports like the ponies or college basketball...

[||Lz3||]

Not only he got the loss against spain right, but also the one against Serbia. =O

And I agree, Spain's games have been some of the most boring games in the world cup. But oh well, the last cup both France and Italy practically just defended themselves.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Who's the Octosquid picking? He's money in da bank.

Spain. Holland might as well go home now.

[Lemur]

Spain. Holland might as well go home now.

The animals are in agreement; the parakeet in Singapore predicts Spain as well.

[Myrddraal]

Hang on, the parakeet predicts Holland...

[Rhyfelwyr]

Remember though, the squids only other major upset in a tournament was another final featuring Spain, when it predicted they would lose the Euro 2008 final. Maybe the balance will be restored.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Spain. Holland might as well go home now.

The Octosquid has spoken. Spain the winner and Germany over Uruguay for 3rd.

Can the Dutchies beat the curse of the Tentacled Oracle and squish the squid?

Will the Germans score in double figures and then score nude lap dances from Larissa Riquelme?

[Myrddraal]

Hmm, if you add up the votes for Holland to win and Spain to win you get 29, but only 28 people have voted. Somebody is playing silly buggers.

PS (Come on Holland , come on Germany !)

My first, only and partisan predictions:

2 - 0

3 - 1

[Louis VI the Fat]

1 - 3

1 - 1

[gaelic cowboy]

There is nothing to be done now the octosquid in Berlin predicted a Spain win it is all over.

[Pannonian]

I thought the German goalkeeper looked familiar.

Hans Jorg Butt scores against Schalke

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Uruguay put up a very good game against Germany B, but all in all Germany deserved to win.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
It was a nice game indeed.

Uruguay over-performed but you can't undo destiny the octosquid.
.