The unofficial World Cup Thread,

[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.