World Cup 2010 : who's gonna win the thing ??

[Martin Mayers]

Well.. I love soccer since I was born.. and IMO USA has an historic oppportunity to reach semifinals. Because of being first in his group they have to play vs Ghana first, and then vs the winner of Uruguay and South Korea. If being 2nd -as England- they would have to suffer vs Germany and then vs the winner of Argentina and Mexico. I think the porbabilities in his actual route is 50% to win every match, and ITOH I can´t believe really they were going to win vs Germany or Argentina -surely the two teams playing better in this Mundial-.
Semifinals will be with the best of this two teams -Germany or Argentina-. At that time cards, and physycal and mental states are also very important and maybe with Messi and some others not being able to playing at better than 50% (-It´s a dream..-) they can win to reach the final...
Anyway reach semifinals for any of USA/Uruguay/Ghana/South Korea will be an absolute success and I can´t see a clear winner betwen these four.. At least not a one so better than USA to have a better chance. Besides, to lose semifinal vs Argentina or Germany -2 Mundial champions- would be a perfect way to return home, specially after a good game.

If I were from USA I would be very excited about next two matches... it´s a clear "now or never" situation that surely will not be repeated in a very long time.

A lot of good luck to USA in these games !!!
Go for semifinals to win to the champions and writing USA name in gold letters in soccer history !!!

Miguel

I agree with some of that Miguel....probably one of the tougher games for them will be the Ghanaians
The Germans don't look as good to me as you seem to think they are though.
After England I would love Germany to win, but a good battering of a team like Australia is not, and was never, a reason to get over-excited.
I think they look quite poor.
And...I'm going to nail my colour to the mast now and actually say that I believe England will beat them in normal time and beat them quite well...we were not GREAT against Slovenia last night but if we can play as well as that we'll be too much for the Germans who look very laboured to me.
Ultimitely...I believe Spain will be too strong for any team they come across....just a superb team at the moment

 

[KevinG]

I believe England will beat the Germans too. There's no fun in thinking otherwise. If they dont, life goes on - it's just a game. Come on England!

> NEVER !!!

Was talking about the Slovenia game. It will of course be a much more cagey affair against the Germans and any win will do.

 

[Darrell Andersen]

"I believe England will beat the Germans too"

But only if we (the US) wait until late in the game and then send Landon Donovan over to win the game and then ignore the English contribution to holding the Germans off. There is some precedence for this.

 

[KevinG]

especially bearing in mind that the French were knocked out early...

BTW, to what do we owe this (welcome) re-appearance ?

 

[Aaron Cleavin]

a MAXIMUM of 2 nations will go through the World Cup unbeaten.

New Zealand and POSSIBLY the eventual winner!

 

[Darrell Andersen]

"BTW, to what do we owe this (welcome) re-appearance ?"

Begining to feel some enthusiasm for the silly game (ASL, not "football") again for the most part and freeing up time for same. Hoping that keeping up with this bunch will add to that enthusiasm.

 

[chris_olden]

Ciao Italy!
:laugh:

 

[footsteps]

Ciao Italy!
:laugh:

AKA From First to Worst in Four Years.

 

[Blind Sniper]

AKA From First to Worst in Four Years.

Yes, speechless...maybe this was the worst team ever...

 

[ecz]

AKA From First to Worst in Four Years.

A team of old people with a fat belly not willing to fight anymore to win. And the few young players were not the best young players available. They were choosen by the coach not for their skills but because easy to control and manage in this campaign. Besides our coach has bet all on a group of players coming mainly from only one side, Juventus, that failed this year (only 7th, 27points less than the winner). This disaster was expected by everyone (but the coach) here.

Imagine a commander called for an very hard task that choose ONLY his men, even if almost retired, and for sake of semplicity and easy life, ignoring specialists, and elite personell from outside because it's hard create a "group" with people who HE does not know enough personally.
If you can imagine this you can understand what happend to the world's champions.

 

[ecz]

AKA From First to Worst in Four Years.

France 1998 champion
France 2002 eliminated in first round,
France 2006 finalist again.

Italy 2006 champion
Italy 2010 eliminated in first round
Italy 2014

 

[KevinG]

he should have picked more players from Inter! They won just about everything didnt they ?

 

[Blind Sniper]

he should have picked more players from Inter! They won just about everything didnt they ?

Yes, they did...but not Italian players in the team...

 

[KevinG]

yeh the Italian Arsenal

 

[footsteps]

AKA From First to Worst in Four Years.

On further reflection, that about sums up the Nazi campaign in Europe, too.

 

[Chris Netherton]

Perhaps I'm just a football purist...but I saw as much beauty throughout the periods last night when England were throwing everything they had into blocks to prevent the Slovenians from equalising as I did in the goal...perhaps I didn't go quite so potty but that doesn't mean I was any less in awe of the way the defenders committed themselves in every way to stop the ball going in the net.

I have no problem with this either, having supported Everton for more years than I care to remember I fully appreciate the pinching of a jammy 1-0 win. However, in the game the other night Greece had to win in order to get through and they didn't even bother to try. They might as well have not bothered turning up.

 

[Will Fleming]

Dang game is on at 3:30 AM here. I really want to see it but need to study and spend time with my son. Those have priority, but go USA!! Good thing I finally figured out the video recorder last night. I feel like an 80 year old lady trying to get simple things working some times. If only getting things working the way I want was as easy as doing a beach invasion in ASL!!!

I am glad to see some of the teams with less than stellar antics dropping off. Pretty much any team that handles itself with class and composure is a team I like to watch.

FWIW, I know little about soccer, but enjoy the World Cup. Everyone is so excited and determined to win for their team/country (EXC: classless teams above), it reminds me of little league kids playing for what they think is the most important thing ever--their summer league championship. I think my days of heading to the ball park and paying $100 for tickets/food are over. I will grab a beer and a burger and watch the little guys (who don't play for their wallets) play pretty much any game they like.

 

[Martin Mayers]

Dang game is on at 3:30 AM here. I really want to see it but need to study and spend time with my son. Those have priority, but go USA!! Good thing I finally figured out the video recorder last night. I feel like an 80 year old lady trying to get simple things working some times. If only getting things working the way I want was as easy as doing a beach invasion in ASL!!!

I am glad to see some of the teams with less than stellar antics dropping off. Pretty much any team that handles itself with class and composure is a team I like to watch.

FWIW, I know little about soccer, but enjoy the World Cup. Everyone is so excited and determined to win for their team/country (EXC: classless teams above), it reminds me of little league kids playing for what they think is the most important thing ever--their summer league championship. I think my days of heading to the ball park and paying $100 for tickets/food are over. I will grab a beer and a burger and watch the little guys (who don't play for their wallets) play pretty much any game they like.

Unlucky USA
Played well throughout the tournament.
The best team just about won in the end but those players have done your country proud these last couple of weeks.

As opposed to our countrymen who will return nationally disgraced and should return home with their heads hung low in shame.

 

[Chris Netherton]

As opposed to our countrymen who will return nationally disgraced and should return home with their heads hung low in shame.

Nicely prescient.
Best or only team won.

Dear Germany.

Please beat Argentina in the quarter-finals.

 

[ecz]

Dear Germany.

Please beat Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Residual animosity from 1986 hand of God?
A pity England cannot do it by itself. Not a true revenge.