The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[Moros]

Last time a family tragedy of one of the players took out the joy, they absolutely destroyed Italy earlier. Enjoy your cup, had we let Romania win they would have been finito. We have a more offensive team then ever, if we get to dictate the pace down=you

That's all nice and well if you actually can play in the tournament. Oh well with the rising talent Belgium has we might surprise next time. Now let's hope Lukaku will become as good as they say.

[Fragony]

Qualifying helps ;)

[Moros]

Qualifying helps ;)

Oh then that's what me must be doing wrong!

I said next time... If Lukaku (16 years old and already scoring in the Europa League - where we got quite a bit further than the Dutch teams - and being topscorer Belgium) and the two brothers Hazard (With Eden being only 19 and already chosen to be the second best player of League 1 and winning twice in a row best/most promising player of the league 1) keep growing and Dembele (Ti ta tovenaar!) picks up where he left the previous season we've got quite an attack. With Vermaelen (selected in the Premier league dream team and the revelation of Arsenal this year), Kompany (Man City) and Fellaini (Everton) who are still growing and getting better we'll have quite a good central defence of Premier League level with some very good subs that are still getting better each year as well (Jan Verthongen, Lombaerts, Alderweireld,...) . In front of that Defour (Why did he leave Genk :( ?), Witsel and possibly De Bruyne (fingers crossed). And there are many more talents on their way who seem to be of great caliber: Benteke, Boyata (Man City), Ritchie de laet (Man Utd with two other Belgians), Carcela, Mats Rits (16 year old GBA striker), Raman, Dennis de Praet,...

Perhaps Vandenborre actually get his act together by then (so much potential just a lack of will or something), remember the tight game against Spain which we sadly lost with 1-2 in the end, he was phenomenal. If he always played like that Real Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona would be fighting each other over him. Okay that's perhaps a bit much, but really if he just used the talent he has...

Either way we'll see in 4 years time.

Edit:
Just to back up my words:

[Fragony]

Sure would be fun to see Belgium kick some butt, enough quality. They think too much, most teams have developed a style of their own everybody knows his place. Good as individual talent may such teams will tear you apart. Italy is a good example it's a perfectly oiled machine. Sadly.

[naut]

I don't know if any of you are aware of Zonal Marking, the football tactics blog, but recently they've been running pieces on the national sides involved in the world cup. Very informative.

[naut]

Marca has an excellent World Cup Calendar.

[Pannonian]

France is really just waiting for Blanc to take over. The ref will finish the blues off in the last group match against the home country.

Talking of finishing off, wasn't one of your captains shot for treason after France flopped in a World Cup?

[naut]

Bump.

Seems every tournament the ball gets criticised, but this year's ball seems to have substance behind the criticism.

I got my first look at the 2010 World Cup ball this morning as I watched the USA play against Australia in the Colonial Bowl and I have to say, it’s weird, it’s unpredictable, it dips faster than I’m used to, and it’s only going to benefit the weaker teams.

FIFA recently launched a scathing rebuttal of Brazil coach Dunga’s criticizm of the ball when their general secretary Jerome Valke said that Brazil was basically making excuses for their failure:

"And is it Brazil that says that because they are afraid that they will not make it and it will be due to the ball."

But it’s not just Brazil who have complained, other technically adept sides like Spain have also said that the ball is going to be a problem. These teams are used to hitting the ball a certain way and generating a certain spin, dip, and knuckle. With the new ball, this is reportedly easier to do. Clint Dempsey said he likes the new ball because you don’t have to hit it very well or even very hard to make it knuckle. Of course, he also said that any overcooked passes made the player look foolish because of their unpredictability.

In today’s game all three keepers looked unsure of how to deal with crosses and it’s not like they are amateurs. Marcus Hanneman was the best keeper in the Premier League in the second half of last season, Tim Howard played every league game for Everton, and Mark Scwarzer is a vastly experienced keeper at 38 years old yet none of them were able to deal with crosses which seemingly dipped and swerved erratically.

I’m thinking this new ball is going to be a huge advantage for teams with less adept players because an unpredictable ball is an advantage. We’ll probably see plenty of long range efforts that seriously test the keepers this Summer and you should bank on several weird upsets owing to the unpredictability of the ball.

It’s going to be a wild ride I suspect.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

So apparently they are only showing 10 games on network tv here...only one of the USA group games, half of the quarterfinal games, and neither of the semifinal games.

********.

[Moros]

So apparently they are only showing 10 games on network tv here...only one of the USA group games, half of the quarterfinal games, and neither of the semifinal games.

********.

You can probably stream them from the internet if you look around.

Edit: France lost from China, Italy dissapoints again. Not that surprised though. It looks like they might end up the same way as two years ago.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Edit: France lost from China, Italy dissapoints again. Not that surprised though. It looks like they might end up the same way as two years ago.

Sure, we may have lost to China B, but we managed a 2-1 win over costa Rica!! And we kept Tunisia to a draw!!


Gah! Dissaray days before a World Cup is tradition for the French team. But this time, I do not see how the tide can be turned. There's no Zizou (pbuh) who can take charge, or Platini, no sense of group spirit, no sense of higher purpose as in 1984 or 1998. The games are getting progressively worse.

Spirits have been broken since the game against Ireland, and everybody is waiting for the end of Domenech's reign. As a result of both, there is no enthusiasm, no sense of destiny and purpose.

What should've happened, what could work, is the injustice having been done to France, or anger in the team over being underestimated by the fans. Or some such. You know, something to rally spirits around. That could work. But it is not there.


Desailly openly predicts that South Africa and Uruguay will progress to the next round. He might be right too.

[Pannonian]

Spirits have been broken since the game against Ireland, and everybody is waiting for the end of Domenech's reign. As a result of both, there is no enthusiasm, no sense of destiny and purpose.

I thought Domenech was done for in 2006. How the hell has he lasted this long, when he plainly doesn't have a clue?

Houllier back as coach, with Ginola as his assistant?

[Louis VI the Fat]

Blanc, the greatest living coach in Europe.

[Pannonian]

You didn't bite.

You still didn't answer the first question though, which was serious. How the hell has Domenech lasted this long when he looked patently clueless in 2006, and hasn't looked any better since?

[Louis VI the Fat]

You didn't bite.

You still didn't answer the first question though, which was serious. How the hell has Domenech lasted this long when he looked patently clueless in 2006, and hasn't looked any better since?

Despite wicked foreign rumours to the contrary, Houllier has never been the coach of France before. After Michel, Jacquet took over, taking us directly from the glory days of the eighties to the dream team of the late nineties.


Domenech has managed on his handsome looks, courtesy of his Spanish ancestry:

[Wishazu]

I would love for England to do well this year but I'm not confident they will. I think the first game will go USA's way, we`ll finish 2nd in the group then get knocked out by Germany in the second round. :( I'm still hoping to be pleasantly surprised though...

[Secura]

Any Brits who missed it can catch World Cup's Most Shocking Moments on BBC iPlayer here. Was pretty funny to watch, though Peter Crouch has all the charisma of a piece of wood.

For the non-Brits, the top 10 were:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

10 - Accomplished spotkick takers Lampard and Gerrard missing penalties, England vs. Portugal, Germany '06
09 - Diana Ross' awful miming/penalty-taking performance during the opening ceremony The USA hosts a footballing tournament?!, USA '94
08 - Klinsmann perfects the art of diving, Italy '90
07 - Gascoigne's crying, England vs. Germany, Italy '90
06 - Ronaldo plays for Brazil despite having seizures prior to the final, Brazil vs. France, France '98
05 - Cristiano Ronaldo's winking, England vs. Portugal, Germany '06
04 - Rijkaard's spitting on Völler, Germany vs. The Netherlands, Italy '90
03 - The Hand of God, England vs. Argentina, Mexico '86
02 - Beckham's lashing-out after being fouled, England vs. Argentina, France '98
01 - Zidane's 'header', France vs. Italy, Germany '06

Typical British media tries to bring the national team down by highlighting the worst moments, and then wonders why they never do well? >.<

[Joooray]

Marca has an excellent World Cup Calendar.

Two great links, Psycho. Much appreciated.

Though I'm not normally very patriotic, I will be looking forward to the performance of the German team. 'We' have suffered quite a bit of bad luck, injury wise, but the result is that we have a quite young team now which could play out both ways: they can do fantastic or they can be utterly defeated. I'm very optimistic that we will prevail in the group phase but when we are up against the likes of Argentina or Spain, I'm not sure how it will go.
A lot of drama is assured though and I hope my heart will survive, as there was a recent study in Germany that during the the 2006 world cup, heart attacks sky-rocketed. But than again, I'm still young.

[Sarmatian]

Two great links, Psycho. Much appreciated.

Though I'm not normally very patriotic, I will be looking forward to the performance of the German team. 'We' have suffered quite a bit of bad luck, injury wise, but the result is that we have a quite young team now which could play out both ways: they can do fantastic or they can be utterly defeated. I'm very optimistic that we will prevail in the group phase but when we are up against the likes of Argentina or Spain, I'm not sure how it will go.
A lot of drama is assured though and I hope my heart will survive, as there was a recent study in Germany that during the the 2006 world cup, heart attacks sky-rocketed. But than again, I'm still young.

In your dreams :D

[Joooray]

In your dreams :D

I have one word for you: Turniermannschaft!
Now, beg for mercy and face your inevitable defeat!

[Louis VI the Fat]

Serbia will be this tournaments surprise package. Provided, of course, they do not succumb to complacency about lack of in-fighting.



We need to get our bets in for the in-tournament game!! The pre-tournamnet bracket game decides who is the most knowledgable of all about world football. The in-game game decides who's got the best analytical skills, best intuitive sense of team psychology, best feel for the flow of a tournament.

The winner then gets to brag for two years, and gets to annoy lesser posters with his superior footy knowledge. Needless to say, this person is going to be me, and you will not hear the end of it after my inevitable victory.




First Day predictions:

South Africa
Mexico 1 - 1



Uruguay
France 1 - 1



I still think thios group is the most open of all. It is anybody's for the taking. Odds of a boring and cowarldy nil - nil for Uru - Fra are just as high as the river plate wizards up front putting four past the world's most posh goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris

[Joooray]

Alright, Louis, I see your First Day predictions and I raise you:

South Africa 2 - 1 Mexico


Uruguay 0 - 2 France

I think SA will use the euphoria in the country to at least win the first match. Who knows, maybe Zuma had a tête-à-tête with the SA-captain and they will after all go on to win this thing, for the unity of the country.
Anyway, I dunno much about Uruguay, but I'll give France this one victory.

And two 1-1 on the first day? That'd be lame!

[LittleGrizzly]

The winner then gets to brag for two years, and gets to annoy lesser posters with his superior footy knowledge. Needless to say, this person is going to be me, and you will not hear the end of it after my inevitable victory.

As I see it this person is still me until the final (when it becomes me again) so until then I shall be the Mourinho, Lippi, Ferguson, Hiddink and you can be.... Domenech ?

South Africa 1 - 2 Mexico

Uruguay 2-2 France

South Africa are going to be 0 pointers I feel, France possibly too good for Uruguay even disorganised and shambles, either draw or a france win not sure.

[Louis VI the Fat]

this person is still me until the final (when it becomes me again) so until then I shall be the Mourinho, Lippi, Ferguson, Hiddink and you can be.... Domenech ?

Such indeed is the prerogative of one who has displayed superior football knowledge.


I demand to be henceforth quoted as 'Domenech VI', until such time as somebody has managed to dethrone Grizzly. This winner then gets to decide my new football thread name.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

South Africa 1 - Mexico 2

Mexico is far better and should be not too hard for them as the African side will try perform well...

France 0 - Uruguay 1

Diego Forlan will score...

[InsaneApache]

0 1

0 0

[Ser Clegane]

South Africa - Mexico 1:1
Uruguay - France 1:2

[Jolt]

South Africa - Mexico 1 - 1
Uruguay - France 1 - 1

[johnhughthom]

Im going to keep track of this, points system:

Group stage game: 1 point for correct result, 3 for correct goal score.
16: 2 and 4 points
8: 3 and 5
4: 4 and 6
Semi: 5 and 8
Final: 10 and 15

Bonus Points:
5 for correct prediction of a hat-trick (-1 if it doesn't happen)
3 for correct prediction of sending off (-1 if it doesn't happen

Pre Tournament Predictions Bonus Points:
10 bonus points for tournament top scorer.
5 bonus points for predicting at which stage England goes out on penalties.
5 bonus points for predicting the manner in which, FIFA will help South Africa progress in their final group game. Disallowed goals, penalty awarded or not given, etc. Are you as imaginative as the ref?
5 bonus points for predicting the manner in which the Dutch will collapse psychologically.
The Ronaldo game: predict his number of goals. You get ten points in advance. Two points will be deducted for every goal he scores less, or more, than your prediction. Will he be quite as good or as bad as you think he is?
'Dear oh dear' 3 point bonus: predict a Maradona 'dear oh dear' moment. Telling reporters to XXX his XXX? Cocaine abuse? Red card?

[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.