Originally posted by botankus
I'm an NFL fan with a father-in-law who is a soccer (football) nut. He's having a big get-together this Saturday to watch us Yanks take on the English. He's even inviting a friend who's from the UK to watch with us. That way the friend can rib us if England wins...or rib us about how we don't know the game if England loses, I suppose! But it should all be in good fun, I hope.So considering I don't know much about these 2 teams except that the USA barely scored in the last World Cup, who is expected to win this match?
The USA has an excellent well balanced team, and it wouldn´t suprise me if they managed a 1:0 win or a draw to be honest.
The atmosphere in the ground, form on the day and other things come into account in World Cups not just the quality of the teams and I have a feeling this World Cup could bring up a few suprises.
All in all it should be good fun to watch after all that´s what sports all about.
One thing for sure if football ever becomes popular in the USA with thier talented pool of athletes, racial diversity & potential financial input the US could win the World cup one day.
Oh God, oh God. The USA have a decent squad, and they're better than they've ever been but let's not exaggerate.
I don't believe the US football hype just like I don't believe the ''African international teams are on the same level as European and South American teams now''-hype.
The US will survive the group on a 2nd place, and will lose the 2nd round or quarter finals. No African team is getting past the quarter finals, maybe not even that far like last year, when supposedly an African team was going to progress far into the tournament.
Also, the US might win the World Cup one day but not because of their racial diversity. One of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. After all, England and The Netherlands have almost as racially diverse societies, and they haven't won a tournament in years.
Originally posted by Deano
i believe the ivory coast could make it into the semi finals. They have a very good team
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10270467.stm
A nice little story.
Originally posted by Slay
They have a tough group with Portugal and Brazil, but I do believe they'll survive it. After that they're probably up against Spain, which I don't think they'll win unless they optimally utilize their strength and defensive qualities.
Thats true. They will lose to Spain i think.
I've now did some analyzing and it looks like it could be a Brazil Spain final.
Here i predict the world cup! We should all have a go and see who gets the nearest.
Group A - France Mexico
Group B - Argentina Greece
Group C - England USA
Group D - Germany Serbia
Group E - Holland Denmark
Group F - Italy Paraguay
Group G - Brazil Ivory Coast
Group H Spain Switzerland
2ND ROUND
France beat Greece
England beat Serbia
Germany beat USA
Argentina beat Mexico
Holland beat Paraguay
Brazil beat Switzerland
Italy beat Denmark
Spain beat Ivory Coast
Quarters
Brazil Beat Holland
England Beat France
Argentina beat Germany
Spain Beat Italy
Semi
Brazil Beat England
Spain Beat Argentina
Final
Spain Beat Brazil
Originally posted by Slay
Oh God, oh God. The USA have a decent squad, and they're better than they've ever been but let's not exaggerate.I don't believe the US football hype just like I don't believe the ''African international teams are on the same level as European and South American teams now''-hype.
The US will survive the group on a 2nd place, and will lose the 2nd round or quarter finals. No African team is getting past the quarter finals, maybe not even that far like last year, when supposedly an African team was going to progress far into the tournament.
Also, the US might win the World Cup one day but not because of their racial diversity. One of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. After all, England and The Netherlands have almost as racially diverse societies, and they haven't won a tournament in years.
Of course the "Hype" as you call it is over the top, and I share your opinion about the African teams who, due to thier lack of disipline crap, keepers and in depth lack of quality will be lucky to get past the group stages.
As for my "racial diversity" comment this has been disgusted before on here. What my point is ,is that if you have a variety of races originating from arround the world you have more possibilities in the team. Without generalising too much 🙂 Hispanics for good center of gravity, keep the ball flat play, Northern Europeans for disiplined and airial supperiority, African for athleticism and Indians to play cricket.
Originally posted by Deano
Thats true. They will lose to Spain i think.I've now did some analyzing and it looks like it could be a Brazil Spain final.
Here i predict the world cup! We should all have a go and see who gets the nearest.
Good Idea🙂 but be brave and add some scorelines.
Group A - Mexico France
Group B - Argentina Greece
Group C - England USA
Group D - Germany Serbia
Group E - Holland Denmark
Group F - Paraguay Italy
Group G - Brazil Ivory Coast
Group H - Spain Chile
2ND ROUND
Greece beat Mexico 1:0
England beat Serbia 3:1
Germany beat USA 2:0
Argentina beat France 4:0 (maradonna gets banned for some reason)
Holland beat Italy 3:0
Brazil beat Chille 6:4
Denmark beat Paraguay 2:0
Spain beat Ivory Coast 4:0
Quarters
Holland Beat Brazil (Robben is fit and rapes them) 4:2
England Beat Greece 2:0
Germany beat Argentina 2:1
Spain Beat Denmark 4:1
Semi
England Beat Netherlands 2:1
Spain Beat Germany 3:2
Final
Spain Beat England 2:0
My predictions:
Group A - France, Uruguay
Group B - Argentina, Nigeria
Group C - England, USA
Group D - Germany, Serbia
Group E - Netherlands, Denmark
Group F - Italy, Paraguay
Group G - Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H - Spain, Chile
Second Round:
France - Nigeria 2:0
Argentina - Uruguay 3:1
England - Serbia 3:2
Germany - USA 3:0
Netherlands - Paraguay 2:0
Italy - Denmark 1:0
Brazil - Chile 2:0
Spain - Ivory Coast 2:1
Quarters:
Netherlands - Brazil 2:1
France - England 3:2
Argentina - Germany 0:1, or 1:2, the win will be minimal.
Italy - Spain 1:3
Semis:
Netherlands - France 3:2
Germany - Spain 1:1 (Germany win after penalty shoot-outs)
Final:
Netherlands - Germany 2:1
Well, I actually expect Germany to win, but I want the Netherlands to win it.
Originally posted by SlayWell, I actually expect Germany to win, but I want the Netherlands to win it.
I don´t think Germany will get that far, they lack quality up front IMO. But they are a tournament team so you never know. The Netherlands tend to self implode at some stage in every tournament, odd really as from my experience the Dutch are mellow cool people.
Originally posted by Deano
i hope England get to the final!Wheres AC anyway? What did he get banned for?
He got permanently banned by the looks of it, probably for being his polite self. A shame really he would have added spice to this during the world cup. Here´s his profile where it says why he got banned.
Originally posted by Bicnarok
I don´t think Germany will get that far, they lack quality up front IMO. But they are a tournament team so you never know. The Netherlands tend to self implode at some stage in every tournament, odd really as from my experience the Dutch are mellow cool people.
Lacking quality has never stopped them in the past though, has it? I know, but I have a feeling this will be our year. And about the mellow thing, trust me, most Dutchmen aren't. At least when it comes to that aspect of mellowness.
Would be a great final though, two of the biggest rivals in football facing off in the most important match they'll ever play. Germany took it in 1974, maybe we will this time.
Originally posted by Deano
doesnt matter about the past now. when the world cup starts expect anything to happen
That´s what makes it so exciting eh, the unpredictability.
Just hope that the Ref´s arn´t "advised" to help the African countries out.
It may sound like some conspiracy but this clearly happened in the last world cup with Korea and Japan, especially the game where Spain had two goals disallowed against Korea.
Originally posted by Bicnarok
That´s what makes it so exciting eh, the unpredictability.Just hope that the Ref´s arn´t "advised" to help the African countries out.
It may sound like some conspiracy but this clearly happened in the last world cup with Korea and Japan, especially the game where Spain had two goals disallowed against Korea.
Originally posted by Liberator
France beating England...? France struggled against Ireland I don't think they have the faintest chance of ever doing any real harm this Cup.
Sure, now you can say that they had great players like Desailly, Pires, Zidane and Vieira, but they weren't big stars back then.