The World Cup

Kilrain · Post by **Kilrain** » June 4, 2006, 2:18 am

It begins in 6 days. Predictions?

I say Italy v. Brazil in the final.

Not that I have been much of a soccer fan... it always ranked behind hockey, football and baseball... but I'm married to a Brazilian so I had to start paying more attention...

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 4, 2006, 7:21 am

Brazil is the favorite for sure (in fact the largest favorite ever), but European teams have a huge advantage since the Cups is in Europe. Behind Brazil I woulds say England, France and Italy have shots at winning.

Brazil - Most talented team. Artists. Killer attackers who will score a lot.

England - Probably best midfield, and this is the best English team in a very long time. Very interesting combination in Crouch and Owens on top (one tall who rules in the air, one very quick).

France - If Henry and Zidane play like they can they can beat everybody. Henry is probably the only non-Brazilian player who deserves the term "artist" (perhaps Beckham, but he is a tad more limited).

Italy - With the drama in the Italian soccer league right now who knows how they will handle things.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » June 4, 2006, 9:14 am

For Italy to make the final there will have to be a few more of those paid referees out there.

US has the hardest draw, so as much as i want to see them do well, it will be tough. I say they have the hardest draw because while you could say the Argentina/Netherlands group is equally as tough - the 2nd place team in Group E (US group) gets Brazil in the first game elimination stage.

US has to beat Ghana (their last match), and if they get a 2 pts or more from their two matches against Czech Rep and Italy, then they are probably through.

I think the US is capable of beating Italy or Czech Rep, but it will take an effort where they finish on their chances. The 2002 Cup showed that when the US is efficient at finishing their chances, they win. THey only played 2 games in that Cup where they finished well, and they made the quarterfinals, and frankly should have beaten Germany.

At least we won't have that Scottish ref to contend with in 06 - but there are always terrible refs out there.

Anyway, still sucking down the coffee so i will stop my rambling:

Brazil will win it all, and Ronaldinho will make good on his claim to be a better team than the Zico's in 1982

I think England will be a force this year as well. not sure how the fixtures line up, but if we got a Brazil v. England final that would be one for the ages.

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » June 4, 2006, 3:39 pm

Italy is the wild card in this group with all the scandals going on in their soccer federation they could either really band together or completely fall apart. I do not see any way however that they reach the finals.

It will be interesting to see how Spain does, they always choke and they have tons of talent. I fly home Friday from a business trip, I get home early so hopefully I can settle in and watch games all weekend.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » June 4, 2006, 9:04 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 4, 2006, 11:05 pm

Menelaos · Post by **Menelaos** » June 5, 2006, 5:32 am

All I can say is, I'm extremely impressed with the #8 ranking of the United States team. The strongest ranking team they have ever fielded in WC history? England? #9

Who's the stronger team with more Cup experience? It doesn't need to be said.

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » June 5, 2006, 6:15 am

Spain is at least a dark horse, very strong team with a lot of talent and experience. But as mentioned above they always choke.

Brail is my personal favorite, their team appears immensely strong, and I am pretty sure they will take home the trophy, which is fine by me they play some of the best football around.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 5, 2006, 9:42 am

Menelaos wrote:All I can say is, I'm extremely impressed with the #8 ranking of the United States team. The strongest ranking team they have ever fielded in WC history? England? #9

Who's the stronger team with more Cup experience? It doesn't need to be said.

Sorry but I would put my money on England over the US every and any day of the week.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 5, 2006, 12:36 pm

Besides the U.S., I'll be rooting for Brazil this year. I normally hate Brazil but Leandro Barbosa, of the Pacific Division Champion Phoenix Suns, is from Brazil and if it helps his psyche for next year, I'm all for Brazil winning!

Post by **Sylvus** » June 5, 2006, 1:17 pm

Winnow wrote:...Leandro Barbosa, of the Pacific Division Champion Phoenix Suns

Okay, stop it. Right now. You can't refer to them as "Pacific Division Champion", that's crossing the line.

It's like you want everyone else to hate them!

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » June 5, 2006, 3:28 pm

My rooting order:

U.S.A > Any team from Africa > Brazil > Costa Rica > France > Anyone from the Middle East > Anyone else from Latin America > Anyone from Asia > England > Any unmentioned Euro's > Germany > Italy.

My prediction:

Brazil of course.

Looking forward to it.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » June 5, 2006, 3:39 pm

Brazil and England have the best chance. Portugal could also do very well.

Has England ever lost to the US in football? Anyone who thinks the US is better than England has no clue what they're talking about.

Having said that, the US has never fielded a better team, still, they aren't, and never are, serious contenders for the world cup.

noel · Post by **noel** » June 5, 2006, 5:33 pm

There's some latin-american guy who works for Nike who keeps popping up on my TV telling me that the world no longer looks forward to playing [the US].

Is he trying to sell me on the truth of that statement, or is he trying to get me to buy soccer shoes?

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » June 5, 2006, 5:37 pm

Winnow wrote:Besides the U.S., I'll be rooting for Brazil this year. I normally hate Brazil but Leandro Barbosa, of the Pacific Division Champion Phoenix Suns, is from Brazil and if it helps his psyche for next year, I'm all for Brazil winning!

OMG Winnow Stop the Madness hahhahahhahha

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » June 5, 2006, 8:38 pm

Boris Diaw is from France, root for them.

retiredwikit · Post by **retiredwikit** » June 5, 2006, 9:01 pm

noel wrote:There's some latin-american guy who works for Nike who keeps popping up on my TV telling me that the world no longer looks forward to playing [the US].

Is he trying to sell me on the truth of that statement, or is he trying to get me to buy soccer shoes?

He's getting you into the soccer "fever" should check out the Joga TV from Nike. Some interesting stories and video of a couple of people, Zlaten, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, just to mention a few.

Dakanaf · Post by **Dakanaf** » June 6, 2006, 4:54 am

Sorry but I would put my money on England over the US every and any day of the week.

Maybe I'm the one who isn't reading it correctly, but as far as I can tell, Menelaos is saying that England is the better team with more experience?..

Just to clear it up, USA is ranked 5th right now, while England is 10th. But, Fifa's ranking system is crap and should never have any attention paid to it.

Has England ever lost to the US in football?

Yes, twice. 1950 and 1993.

There's some latin-american guy who works for Nike who keeps popping up on my TV telling me that the world no longer looks forward to playing [the US].

That's Eric Cantona, he's French. It's all part of the 'Joga Bonita' (play beautiful) Nike campaign for the World Cup. (http://www.nikesoccer.com)

With all that said, my favorite team is USA, obviously. While I predict Brazil to win, I'd love to see Holland or Portugal go all the way. Or any team from Asia, really.

Anyway, kbye.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 6, 2006, 6:05 am

Dakanaf wrote:
Sorry but I would put my money on England over the US every and any day of the week.
Maybe I'm the one who isn't reading it correctly, but as far as I can tell, Menelaos is saying that England is the better team with more experience?..

Just to clear it up, USA is ranked 5th right now, while England is 10th. But, Fifa's ranking system is crap and should never have any attention paid to it.

The FIFA ranking system is indeed, shit. It's heavily biased towards asian and north/central american nations and will never - in this form - be a remotely accurate gauge of the teams' strength.

Would anyone be interested in a little WC2006 pool for mad veevees?

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 6, 2006, 6:21 am

TEH DANEMANS PREDICTIONS (tm) - don't click unless you want to know how everything ends up!:

[hide]Quarters:
Germany or Sweden -Argentina
Czech Rep. or Italy - France
England - Holland
Brazil - Spain

Semis:
Argentina - France
Holland - Brazil

3rd place:
France - Holland

Final:
Argentina - Brazil

Top scorer of the tournament: Brazils Adriano or Ronaldo (depending on injuries), followed by Carlos Tevez of Argentina and Michael Owen of the UK.

Tournament darlings: Cote d'Ivoire, if for no other reasons than that they deserve a fucking break after being in a civil war for 4 years.[/hide]

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » June 6, 2006, 8:23 am

You crazy Dane. Holland will be torn apart by in-fighting as usual and Van Nistelrooy not only looks like a horse, but has been in bad form all season.

To win pick one of Italy, England, Brazil.

I can't fucken wait though >< So much beer, sun and shouting to look forward to! And the emotional rollercoaster of the beautiful game omg omg

As for my team's chances I think it will hinge on Owen more than anyone else. He's still not fit but when he is he is just such an awesome predator. Crouch is gonna get found out, I think. Beckham looks to be in great form which makes us the biggest dead-ball threat in the tournament. Midfield might need sorting out but if Lampard and Gerrard can figure out how to play together at full capacity they'll be near unstoppable as both players can turn a game with 2 minutes of individual genius. I just can't bring myself to believe Rooney will make it. I's settle for Dafoe taking his place and filling the Geoff Hurst 1966 role

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » June 6, 2006, 10:14 am

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote:Would anyone be interested in a little WC2006 pool for mad veevees?

You tease! Didn't trading VV's disappear in one of the board fuckups?

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 6, 2006, 10:29 am

vn_Tanc wrote:You crazy Dane. Holland will be torn apart by in-fighting as usual and Van Nistelrooy not only looks like a horse, but has been in bad form all season.

To win pick one of Italy, England, Brazil.

Note that I didn't list Nistelrooy as a player that would make the headlines too much. And yeah you've got the midfield, but they've got the speed - plus, I've got this sinking feeling that someone on the England squad, most likely someone paid £insanity a month, is going to fuck up badly.

As for my team's chances I think it will hinge on Owen more than anyone else. He's still not fit but when he is he is just such an awesome predator. Crouch is gonna get found out, I think. Beckham looks to be in great form which makes us the biggest dead-ball threat in the tournament.

I think Brazil's Juninho and Spains Antonio Lopez might want to disagree with you there.

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » June 6, 2006, 12:06 pm

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote:
vn_Tanc wrote:You crazy Dane. Holland will be torn apart by in-fighting as usual and Van Nistelrooy not only looks like a horse, but has been in bad form all season.

To win pick one of Italy, England, Brazil.
Note that I didn't list Nistelrooy as a player that would make the headlines too much. And yeah you've got the midfield, but they've got the speed - plus, I've got this sinking feeling that someone on the England squad, most likely someone paid £insanity a month, is going to fuck up badly.
As for my team's chances I think it will hinge on Owen more than anyone else. He's still not fit but when he is he is just such an awesome predator. Crouch is gonna get found out, I think. Beckham looks to be in great form which makes us the biggest dead-ball threat in the tournament.
I think Brazil's Juninho and Spains Antonio Lopez might want to disagree with you there.

It could be Terry getting found out. He has a serious lack of pace which is masked by Makalele et al when playing for Chelsea. Or Rio Ferdinand - a very over-rated player IMO.

Juninho? Pfeh. Seen enough of him over the years not to be worried. And I can't find an Antonio Lopez listed in Spain's squad

Here's a fun article for US supporters

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup ... 08,00.html

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 6, 2006, 12:15 pm

#12, left defender Antonio Lopez. Unless he's been injured and has been pulled from the squad.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » June 6, 2006, 12:59 pm

vn_Tanc wrote:Here's a fun article for US supporters

http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup ... 08,00.html

Yeah, it was a fun read. I haven't really been able to get behind the US teams in the past. I always go back to the DFB for some reason. Maybe it was the glee of learning that they made Drolgin cry when I happened to be in Koblenz during the '92 EC. I wish that the people got as involved with the international matches here as they did over there. It was loads of fun to be in the middle of.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » June 6, 2006, 12:59 pm

In regards to the midfield, England's has arguably the strongest any team has had in the last few World Cups. If Beckham is on form as well, then who knows what could happen.

I still think their forwards are dubious, Owen has been nothing less than mediocre for England for years now and Crouch still has yet to be truly tested. Here's hoping, for their sake, for Rooney to return quickly. Even then, Englands frontline is utter crap compared to teams like Brazil, and it's goals that count.

Ferdinand has sucked for a while, but if you remember, in the last world cup he was probably Englands best player, as with all World Cups, it's about who can raise their game when it really matters. The fact is - going by the last world cup, he most definately can, which is why up until something like last week he was the most Expensive English club players (or one of them).

I don't think i've ever seen England seem so confident before a world cup as they do now......they still won't win though....

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » June 6, 2006, 1:25 pm

Owen has been nothing less than mediocre for England for years now

You crazy, mang. 36 goals in 77 appearences. He's done a great job in difficult scenarios (i.e. partnered with Heskey, or in the lone-striker role which he hates) and gets as many assists as goals. Fitness is the only concern IMO.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » June 6, 2006, 11:49 pm

Assuming England and Brazil win their groups, they would meet up in the semifinals should they both get that far.

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » June 7, 2006, 1:07 am

Go IRAN!! Go USA!!

Wonko Wenusberg · Post by **Wonko Wenusberg** » June 7, 2006, 4:03 am

Italy? All they will do is to look after cheap D&G bags in Germany and German hairdryers. Totti will spit some more as he did in EM, but still have a great hairday.

Zlatan, Larsson, Ljungberg. I think Sweden can perform!

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » June 7, 2006, 6:10 am

Wonko Wenusberg wrote: Zlatan, Larsson, Ljungberg. I think Sweden can perform!

There are 11 in a team not 3

Wonko Wenusberg · Post by **Wonko Wenusberg** » June 7, 2006, 6:52 am

Indeed, the rest of the team is strong too.

Hope they can work together though. All three are very good. Zlatan from Juventus, Ljungberg from Arsenal and Larsson from Barcelona .

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » June 7, 2006, 10:01 am

Don't talk to me about Sweden! ><

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 7, 2006, 10:14 am

Zlatan needs a beating. A severe one.

Fyndina · Post by **Fyndina** » June 7, 2006, 10:44 am

I predict we will see US vs Brazil at some point!

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 8, 2006, 5:17 pm

http://www.veeshanvault.org/forums/view ... 507#318507 <--- THE WORLD CUP PREDICTION CONTEST THREAD THINGIE!

Post post post!

Clatis · Post by **Clatis** » June 8, 2006, 9:57 pm

Italy.