Official World Cup Thread

[InsaneApache]

I like to think more Cumquat than Satsuma or Tangerine...

Go Cumquats Go!!! has a certain ring to it, don't ya think?

[Ser Clegane]

Got this of another footy site ...



I'm not too sure myself about this, nevertheless it's an interesting proposition.

I would say it's mostly paranoia - the guy who wrote this probably could have explained how the draw has been fixed with any combination of teams.

You can certainly argue about the motivation to seed certain teams ... but the rest is nothing more than a rant...

[Monarch]

I don't think we will get very far, our current team is not of the same quality as Argentina. I would be VERY happy if we won, but prospects are grim; we have some nice new meat but the world championship is out of our lague for now, especially considering that damned C! If we don't make it, I hope the Czech Republic will. I have fond memories of the last Holland vs Czech dual, best match of the championship if you ask me.

But thx for your support :)

You severly underestimate, have you seen Argentina play recently? Against England they were nothing special, and from what i've heard van basten has got the Dutch playing as a team, he's got somer good youth in there but also people like Nistelrooy to add experience. Holland for the semi finals at least I say.

[InsaneApache]

World Cup Predictor...

enjoy...

clicky

[Kickius Buttius]

Ugh, the US got put in a brutal group. Plus, if we manage to qualify for the next round but only finish second in the group, we will get to face, most likely, Brazil. Not good.

England appears to have an early cakewalk, so I guess I can revel in their success. Ahh, England: the last refuge of American soccer fans.

I had high hopes for the US this time (not championship hopes- I am a realist), but the draw is just too harsh.

Who will win the cup? I'd love to see opinions.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

"Kickius Buttius" lmao

[HunkinElvis]

I'm sure FIFA doesn't rig the seedings:

...GROUP C: FIFA and UEFA sure don't seem to like Holland very much. They were in the "group of death" in EURO 2004 and got a tough qualification draw with the Czechs and Romania. Then they were not seeded, despite topping that group. They've been drawn in another tough group with Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro, and Ivory Coast. I think Argentina and Holland will still move on, but they will be weakened by tougher games than the other "favored" teams face...

Holland and Argentina have a lot of fans around the world. I don't see why FIFA would want to put them in a difficult group unless they want to see some exciting games.

...GROUP D: The idea that Mexico would be seeded was about as foolish as the decision not to seed Portugal. Mexico are a poor team; Borgetti is the only one with any class. They only come to play football against tiny nations. If they think there is going to be an actual contest, they come to foul. There is no doubt they will be mugged by the Portugese, who steamrolled through qualification and led Europe (along with the Czechs) with 35 goals in the process. They were also EURO finalists. Of course, they also have only 10 million people, so FIFA did not seed them. However, FIFA has ensured Mexico is almost certain to go through by pairing them with Iran and Angola, ensuring Mexico's large population of 106,000,000 stays tuned...

Anyone who has watched Iran play knows that Iran is difficult to beat. Iran has a lot of great players including AFC Player of the year Ali Karimi. Iran's Mehdi Mahdavika and Hashemian are impressive midfielders. I consider Iran as the Brazil of Asia.

...GROUP F: You could put Brazil in a group with Argentina, Holland, and Italy and they would still go through. FIFA have taken advantage of Brazil's talent to knock out Croatia, Australia, and Japan. They are all pretty good teams, and capable of causing an expensive upset. Now, two of them cannot do so...

Japan has a huge population who love football. You can tell if you watched their fans during the 2002 World Cup. If FIFA rigs the seedings, then wouldn't they want to put Japan in an easier group?

...GROUP G: FIFA doesn't want a repeat of 2002 when France was knocked out in the group stage, so they've given the fading 1998 champions a pretty easy go of it here. Togo doesn't have any experiece at this level, and without the friendly refereeing of 2002, Korea doesn't have much of a chance. France and Switzerland to go through with little trouble...

I wouldn't underestimate Togo. One of their players, Adebayor, made the most goals in the African qualifying. Plus, they have Nigerian players.
South Korea seems to be doing better after they replaced their coach. They tied with Sweden, and beat Serbia and Montenegro. I don't know how Korea will do in an away game, though. The funny thing about this group is that all of the four teams are happy with the group and they think they could qualify to the next round.

...GROUP H: If you look at the teams who deserved seeding the least, you'd have to put Spain at the top of that list. They had a miserable EURO, failing to get past the group stages. Their qualifaction was pathetic as well. Despite being drawn in a suspiciously easy group, they still failed to come out on top, and only squeaked into the finals through the playoffs. Big surprise then that FIFA has sought to make sure they progress by putting them against Saudi Arabia, whose last World Cup appearance was marked by conceding 8 goals against Germany, and Tunisia. I have little doubt Ukraine will beat them and top the group, but it would take a miracle for Spain to go out in the group stages again...

Today's Saudi Arabian team is very different from the Saudi Arabian team of 2002. They beat South Korea twice in the qualifying. I think they'll make an impressive show like they did in the USA World Cup.

[Soulforged]

Holland and Argentina have a lot of fans around the world. I don't see why FIFA would want to put them in a difficult group unless they want to see some exciting games.

Well essencially because Holland is not a header and it's by raffle.

You severly underestimate, have you seen Argentina play recently? Against England they were nothing special

Nah...Mejor que siempre viejo!!! It will be nice match, but Argentina has the advantage of replacement...well Holland has the advantage of terrain, proximity, eviorament and....maybe...just maybe of the referees Oops I didn't say anything.

[HunkinElvis]

Well essencially because Holland is not a header and it's by raffle.

I know. I was responding to an article that Insane Apache found. It claimed that FIFA rigs the seedings, and I was posting reasons for disagreeing with it.

[Monarch]

I just did that BBC predicter thing and Brazil won, Czech Republic 2nd and Holland 3rd. One thing thats interesting is Argentina won my group C ahead of Dutch because I gave them the same results as Dutch, not deliberatly and so 'lots' were supposedly drawn, Argentina won. Now, that gave the Argies a pretty easy run putting them against Mexico, Germany then they're in semis and i knocked them out them agsinst Czechs...but anything can happen in the semi. Also I think that the way the teams line up, we can beat Argentina but not Holland, so group in C its vital the dutch win it if not England will go out to them in the quaters most likely.

[Shaka_Khan]

Try using Winning Eleven to predict the games.

[Strike For The South]

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

[InsaneApache]

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

World CUP...not SERIES the only 'Worldthingymajig' you yanks are stitched on to win everyyear.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

World CUP...not SERIES the only 'Worldthingymajig' you yanks are stitched on to win everyyear.

the canadians could win...

[Strike For The South]

World CUP...not SERIES the only 'Worldthingymajig' you yanks are stitched on to win everyyear.

but you forget one thing

AMERICA=Bastion of freedom=winners (becuase were americans we win at everything its in our contract)

Everyone else= Communists (people ment to serve us)

So inso facto America wins

[LeftEyeNine]

SFTS, I'm seconding that I adore your way of perception. You're my man

[Shaka_Khan]

but you forget one thing

AMERICA=Bastion of freedom=winners (becuase were americans we win at everything its in our contract)

Everyone else= Communists (people ment to serve us)

So inso facto America wins

And the World Cup is there just to keep the Communists happy.

[Beirut]

Let's keep our nasty nationalism and pugilistic politics under our ugly little hats, shall we?

Or else!

[Kickius Buttius]

Ugh, please no politics. Let's just talk soccer (or football as the rest of the world calls it).

[Monarch]

Ugh, please no politics. Let's just talk soccer (or football as the rest of the world calls it).

Soccer...pleh...it is Football...American Football is just that 'American Football', besides British football makes much more sense, I mean how much use of the feet do superbowl champs actually do?

[Fragony]

Ugh, please no politics. Let's just talk soccer (or football as the rest of the world calls it).

You call it 'soccer' and you expect no politics??? 'Football' in the name of everything that is holy, it's f-o-o-t-b-a-l-l capice?

[Kickius Buttius]

How about a little cultural understanding, gentlemen? I understand you call it football, but I grew up with a life dominated by a wholly different game called by that name.

Besides, does it really matter what we call it?

Geez, it's hard enough being an American "football" fan without being attacked by the rest of the world for terminology. You have no idea the blank looks a mention of the World Cup garners here in America (Oh, are they doing that thing again?).

We're probably a few world cups away from being a serious threat, which I suppose is a good thing, since it would no doubt cause great consternation if a country which barely cares were to win the sports championship valued most by the rest of the world.

I'll try to remember to call the sport "football" here, but I might need a little leeway for the slip-ups....

[Fragony]

I was not serious mate, apoligies if I made it appear that way :)

[Kickius Buttius]

No problem. No harm done.

What's your country of choice in the Cup?

[Fragony]

No problem. No harm done.

What's your country of choice in the Cup?

Well being dutch, Holland. But I think Brazil has the best chance of winning. I also always love to see the Czech Republic and England play, anything that isn't Italy really

[Monarch]

How about a little cultural understanding, gentlemen? I understand you call it football, but I grew up with a life dominated by a wholly different game called by that name.

Besides, does it really matter what we call it?

Geez, it's hard enough being an American "football" fan without being attacked by the rest of the world for terminology. You have no idea the blank looks a mention of the World Cup garners here in America (Oh, are they doing that thing again?).

We're probably a few world cups away from being a serious threat, which I suppose is a good thing, since it would no doubt cause great consternation if a country which barely cares were to win the sports championship valued most by the rest of the world.

I'll try to remember to call the sport "football" here, but I might need a little leeway for the slip-ups....

I was joking with you, seriously just having a laugh is all. I mean I'm sorry but it is not like a was posting 'wtf r u on, its football not soccer u weirdo' is it? I honestly thought I was posting in a sarcastic tone but it's pretty difficult to be sarcastic with just words ya know?

Apologies for any offence you may have taken, I guess I just will not attempt, sarcasm on here in the future, waaaay to difficult

[InsaneApache]

No ....it's a GOAL!!!...footy footy...

England

(I know it's an old 'un...but it's the World Cup )

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Lets keep the politics aside boys and lets all just agree that England will win it by beating Brazil 3-0 in the final

[Louis VI the Fat]

How about a little cultural understanding, gentlemen?

We're probably a few world cups away from being a serious threat

Well that easily beats forever being just a penalty-shootout away from being a serious contender as in the case of England.


And there is no such thing as a little cultural understanding in (association) football, you yanks just don't get it, do you? We, America's cultural superiors, all understand that you're suppossed to shout insults, spit at and kick at each other before and during proper football matches.

That way, we can be all nice and happy in real life.

What's your country of choice in the Cup?

I really couldn't care who wins the World Cup next summer. All I'm asking for from God is to see the Germans suffer horribly.


*Louis, not at all managing to keep nasty nationalism and pugilistic politics under his ugly little hat, tries to slipp off before Beirut returns... *

[InsaneApache]

I really couldn't care who wins the World Cup next summer. All I'm asking for from God is to see the Germans suffer horribly.

I just couldn't possibly comment on this.....

Something to keep you lot busy whilst we await the main event..enjoy chaps..

this is "FOOTBALL"