Official World Cup Discussion Thread (No Spoilers)

Post by **Jared** » Mon May 15, 2006 5:46 pm

All general World Cup talk goes in here.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:19 pm

What, nobody cares about Arsenal and Barca?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon May 15, 2006 10:28 pm

How can you have a World Cup without the European Champions?

I dont mind so much that they didnt qualify as I will be living off of that one for the rest of my time...

Anyway...

Its almost here and Im getting psyched...After the Super Bowl and The Stanley Cup playoffs its My favorite event.

Ive always liked Holland and their style of play...Would love to see a Brazil- Holland final...Seems like that would be a wide open flowing game...Im only a casual observer aside from the Euro and WC what are the chances?...Who are the favorites?

I still remember the 74 final, though its a dim memory, last time it was in Germany...My oldest WC memory is the clockwork orange losing to the Germans 2-1...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:14 am

I am picking Argentina to win it all, thay'll want to erase that bad experience in Korea. One thing with the WC, it's amazing but the usual suspects are always in the hunt: France, Italy, England, Germany, Spain and the Dutch. Of course you have Brazil. But something tells me that a darkhorse will upset them this year.

The African teams have grown a lot and so did Japan. Look forward to the event.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:29 am

I'll be pulling for Argentina as well.

Oh, and all 64 games in HD I just read....awesome!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:57 am

fanatic, your avatar and mine have something in common, in case you missed it, Champions again in the Argentina league.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:02 am

Yep...I fell in love with Boca Jrs. while visiting SA at the end of last year.

Saw a game and watched them win the league title and copa sudamerica too...Great times.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:04 am

My pick is Argentina, too!

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:37 am

XXXIV wrote:
I still remember the 74 final, though its a dim memory, last time it was in Germany...My oldest WC memory is the clockwork orange losing to the Germans 2-1...

74 was the first WC I was interested in (I was 7 at the time), and I still remember watching the final at my Gran's and being gutted that Holland lost.

Fave memories ?

Brazil v Italy 1982
England v Argentina 1986
England v Belgium 1990
Holland V Argentina (either 1994 or 98, can't remember which)

As for this time - I believe 10spro to be in contravention of the FIFA declaration on sports betting, which mandates that any use of the term 'dark horse' can only be done in reference to Spain, who have cost me £10 in each of the last three WCs.

A quick calculation with my electronic WC worksheet seems to indicate that if Argentina and Spain both win their group, they can't meet til the Final, so I'm going for a Argentina v Spain final.

DT

PS - for those fans of 'old-time' hockey of the Slap Shot variety, try and get a look at the highlights of the 1962 game Chile v Italy, also known as the 'Battle of Santiago'.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:37 am

Germany and Brazil in the final. Kahn replaces Lehmann and he gets a clean sheet in his last game as a professional.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:09 am

I think you guys picking Argentina may be ignoring history. Looking at the historical results, only once has a non-European team won a WC on european soil (Brazil in '58 in Sweden). Argentina's WC wins came on home soil in '78 and in Mexico in '86.

Outside of Brazil, I have a hard time seeing a non-euro team in the final. Maybe Italy or Holland? Would say England, but they are looking too beat up at forward.

Link for past results: http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0111767.html

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:13 am

For Brazilians fans only:
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5469888

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:40 pm

And since I am rooting for Argentina, these are the faces and the 23 boys that will make me proud.

Coach Pekerman's Players:

Keepers:

Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors, Argentina)
Leonardo Franco (Atlético de Madrid, España)
Oscar Ustari (Independiente, Argentina).

Defense:

Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruña, España)
Roberto Ayala (Valencia, España)
Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, Inglaterra)
Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal, España)
Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United (Inglaterra)
Gabriel Milito (Zaragoza, España)
Nicolás Burdisso (Inter, Italia)
Leandro Cufré (Roma, Italia)

Midfielders:

Esteban Cambiasso (Inter, Italia)
Javier Mascherano (Corinthians, Brasil)
Luis González (Porto, Portugal)
Pablo Aimar (Valencia, España)
Juan Román Riquelme (Villarreal, España)
Maximiliano Rodríguez (Atlético de Madrid, España)

Forwards:

Carlos Tevez (Corinthians, Brasil)
Hernán Crespo (Chelsea, Inglaterra)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, España)
Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors, Argentina)
Javier Saviola (Sevilla, España)
Julio Cruz (Inter, Italia)

In color are the guys IN while in black are the players not chosen last minute among them, J. Zanetti, W. Samuel and D'Alessandro.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:42 pm

Who was the Argentine who was suppose to break out in 2002 but fell flat along with the rest of the squad? Was it Crespo?

Guess Messi is suppose to be one of the bright newcomers this year.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:07 pm

wco81 wrote:Who was the Argentine who was suppose to break out in 2002 but fell flat along with the rest of the squad? Was it Crespo?

Guess Messi is suppose to be one of the bright newcomers this year.

No, the entire team played poorly last WC, but the guy that was supposed to carry the team was J. Veron and he failed. And yes, I look big things from L. Messi who's only 18 years and touted as the possible "Next" Maradona.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:26 pm

10spro wrote:
No, the entire team played poorly last WC, but the guy that was supposed to carry the team was J. Veron and he failed. And yes, I look big things from L. Messi who's only 18 years and touted as the possible "Next" Maradona.

He's got the talent to be great, but he's going to be a long way from match fit for the group stages at least. It's been at least a month since he played.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:17 pm

Czech Rep at 25:1 and Croatia at 50:1 look like the most attractive longshots.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:21 pm

The other guy the WCO may be thinking and underachieved is G. Batistuta in the last WC. He's retired now, and basically H. Crespo is taking his place, same type of player, perhaps Crespo is less explosive but he's got a good shot and air game.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:46 pm

sfz_T-car wrote:Czech Rep at 25:1 and Croatia at 50:1 look like the most attractive longshots.

I got Italy at 10-1 earlier this year in Vegas. That was good action until they all decided to go and get indicted and what not! Just another reason for me to hate them now

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:44 pm

I don't like argentina's chances at all. I see a lack of great players, and playing in europe is always tough.

the previous decade, they weren't far off brazil on talent, but the gap looks mighty large this year.

I think this will be a world cup for the euro teams plus brazil. I like france's and holland's mixes of young and old, plus weaker groups. spain and portugal also look like good bets for long advancement. italy has a tough group, but if they go with toni and gilardino up front, plus the stifling defense, unfortunately I see them winning a lot of 1-0 games.

I'd like to be positive about usa's chances, but I see a fallback year coming.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:51 am

vanburen wrote: I don't like argentina's chances at all. I see a lack of great players, and playing in europe is always tough.

It's fine that everyone has their own picks for the WC but with the likes of H. Crespo, E. Cambiasso, P. Aimar, J. Riquelme, R. Ayala on defense, other than Brazil, which other country can have this solid group of players, not to mention L. Messi.

A place I think they may be weak is the keeper position, and even Coach Pekerman hasn't decided on which player to be a starter.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:18 pm

Fifa is set to introduce a new World Ranking after the WC. I guess when you have Nations like Argentina, Germany, England, France, Italy seeded behind the US, you'll get a few raising eyebrows.

On another note, will R. Carlos sign for Chelsea after the WC? He's been in Real for a decade now and is 33 years old.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:43 am

Why did they leave Javier Zanetti out? He's still a great player and one of the very best right backs in the world.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri May 26, 2006 3:46 pm

Feanor wrote:Why did they leave Javier Zanetti out? He's still a great player and one of the very best right backs in the world.

Yeah, I was a bit surprised at that move, my guess is that Pekerman wanted to go with youth this time and Zanetti is 33. He was also part of the core group that did not do well in the last WC.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:53 am

As if the tough group wasn't enough, it looks like our boys are going to have to contend with the SI cover jinx as well:

I have to admit that the scowl on Landy-cakes' face makes me chuckle