I figured with the world cup just around the corner, I would start a thread about it. So, who do you think will win the world cup?



oh and as a side note the USA plays England first. Even though we failed to beat Canada at their sport (hockey) in the olympics. I am betting that we beat YOU guys in your sport (football/soccer). I am willing to make some kind of isketchforum wager on it.

anyways, lets here your thoughts on the world cup! post away!

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I'm not usually a big fan of football, or soccer as the Americans say it. I do however get into the World Cup simply because it is a worldwide tournament and it's nice to support your country.

As for who the winner will be, my knowledge of good football teams is very limited, so I'm going to be boring and not choose anyone. Although, I have to be biased and say that England should win ;)

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Ok. I'm really excited for the world cup!!!!!!!!!!!! (even though my country is sadly absent)

I think Spain will win it, their squad is just ridiculously talented in midfield and attack. They play the best football by far and also have three great goal keepers. I never liked Puyol at CB but Pique is pretty good and overall their squad is unmatched by anybody. That said, like Barcelona, sometimes if they have an off day and their passing game isn't working the can struggle like against USA in the confederations cup.

Brazil are second favourites, rightly so but it's definitely the least talented Brazil squad I've ever seen. They don't play with a lot of flair either, mostly counter attack. However Dunga has made them into winning machines and their team ethic is great. I think they depend on Kaka too much though and if he carries this season's form into the tournament it wont be good.

England... I think their first team is good enough to win it with a bit of luck but it's the options on the bench where they struggle. Rooney is the only striker who is anywhere near world class and if Barry doesn't recover, who I don't even think is that good anyway, they will be in trouble! Also I think they're still lacking in cohesiveness and don't really know what the best approach is to playing games.

Argentina have an awesome selection of strikers, Milito had a brilliant year and Messi is unbelievably good plus Tevez, Higuain, Aguero and Di Maria... The rest of the squad is poor though, they're playing 4 CBs and of those 4 only Samuel is good, midfield is pretty average and they're depending on 35 year old Veron. Not to mention they have a mad man in charge....He has struggled to get the best out of Messi. Can't see them winning it but a team everyone will be eager to see.

That's the main favourites then there's some of the traditionally good teams.. Italy have no top class players except Buffon, France have no chance as their manager is insane, Netherlands always flatter to deceive, Portugal just have too many great wingers not enough in the other positions and while Germans remain 'typical Germans' in that you can 'never rule out the Germans' I'm doing it!

It being the first African tournament, I think a lot of neutrals want to see an African side make a real go at it but I can't really see it happening. Ghana have lost their best player (Essien) and though the Ivory Coast have some good individuals I haven't ever seen them combine that well as a team. Maybe Erikkson can do something with them.

Then the USA, I like the USA their squad is respectable but it's a bit odd that they dropped three of the strikers they qualified with. Shame that Charlie Davies wont be there either because he's really important for them. The USA should get out the group then maybe a run to the quarter finals would be a good world cup I think. The England match will be interesting and though England *should* win I have a feeling the US might get a point or three!

My tip for dark horses is Chile because they play a very exciting style of football in a formation that I don't think anybody else plays (3-3-1-3). Look out for Alexis Sanchez 'cause he's really good. They should make it out of their group and may surprise some teams.

kk I typed way too much but I love football :3 and those are my thoughts!

I would like to know who neutrals are supporting? I usually go for Holland but am thinking about putting my goodwill behind Ivory Coast this time.

ps vuvuzelas are horrid. pps sorry x

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Hmmm. I always find Cameroon interesting to watch due to their unusual formation. They all start in the middle and then just spread out and hide. This, paired with their dual-goalkeepers, often makes for very fun watching.

why isn't there a "don't care" option? :(

Aww no Australia? :'(

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Watch, with a bit of friction I'll be under your clothes.
With a bit of focus I'll be under your skin.

I don't think they're the best asian team in the world cup.

asian team?.....

and um...soccer is not "our sport" ..... :P :D

<3

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Australia move from the Oceanic Federation to the Asian one because the teams in the Oceanic region were amateur and pretty terrible and they have a better chance of qualifying for the world cup from the Asian confederation as if they win their group they don't need to play a play-off against the fifth placed South American qualifier which the Oceanic winner does >_>
I haven't really seen Australia play since they were cheated out the last world cup by Italy after Grosso dived... But I don't think their chances are good as they are in the probably second toughest group. Plus they don't seem to have any strikers of note and Kewell will get injured by a stray blade of grass...

South Korea are the best Asian team I think cause they have super Park Ji-Sung! Plus they're pretty hard working and well organised and that. Can't wait to see North Korea play, they tried to disguise one of their strikers as a goaliee but they got found out and now he's stuck as one, lol... It's pretty sad though, North Koreans will only see their team play if they win, which they wont.

World Cup fact I learned: 5% of everyone who has ever lived watched the 2006 World Cup final!

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I thought about putting Australia in the poll, but they werent in the top 20 odds-wise to win the thing, so i decided to leave them in the 'other' bracket.


its more english than it is american. I do not know a single american that has watched a soccer game other than during the world cup. And very few that watched a game during the last world cup. In fact, more viewers watch the WNBA than soccer in the USA. That is just sad.

whereas, in England, from what I gather, soccer/football is very popular.


oh and vote people vote!

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You are quite right Jmac, for quite a few people it is a passion. They go to see their teams play every game either at home or away. It's always on TV at my work at the weekends.

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I wrote a whole load of stuff and pressed backspace and lost it all -_-

So I'll just say, I hate vuvuzelas too (cos I pressed backspace trying to correct its spelling >:|).

Oh and, IT'S WORLD CUP TIMEEEEE

Are you sure about thisss? According to wiki, 715.1 million people watched that match, which amounts to about 11% of the 2006 population and this can't be 5% of everyone who has ever lived...

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Lol, no I'm not sure. I just heard someone who is supposed to know these things say it and it sounded cool! HOWEVER having done some research it does appear to be out by at least a factor of ten :( You get like 0.6%. Not sure how accurate any of the numbers are and which were used in the original 'fact'. oh welllllll

There's too many injuries occurring at the moment... Robben, Mikel, Drogba, Essien, Pirlo, Ferdinand, Cardozo, Suazo, Palacios and I see Nani may miss it too now. I want to see the teams at their best not with players watching from home :(

Also seee the English press getting worked up over Rooney's temperament... Not sure why 'cause he's been brilliant this year without getting sent off. Think he's just mad that he has to play with Heksey or Crouch. England should just play him up front on his own like Man United did all season with like Lennon and Cole supporting!

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Germany, otherwise my family would disown me.

but i got about two grand on italy, imo they have the strongest team.

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Oh! that is one possible reason why Derrick Bird may have snapped

I can't decide who I think will win (apart from England obviously :p)!

Spain have the best starting XI, the best squad players and have broken their tournament jinx in Euro 2008... BUT, no European team has ever won a World Cup hosted outside Europe. Although it will be winter in South Africa, favouring the Europeans slightly, the differences in altitude and climate will make it difficult for them. A lot of Brazil and Argentina players play club football in Europe and for the national team in South America so they should, in theory, be more adaptable to different conditions.

Being a tournament hosted in Africa, I would say that the African teams would do well but the two best ones, Ivory Coast and Ghana, are in the two toughest groups and are missing their two best players, namely Drogba and Essien, so they may not even make it to Round 2. I don't rate Algeria very highly and South Africa, despite being hosts, will struggle to qualify from a group containing France, Mexico and Uruguay. So that leaves Nigeria and Cameroon with the best chances of making it to Round 2... and then who knows!

England... Losing Ferdinand was a blow, mainly because Terry will now have to form an understanding with a new central defender (maybe two if Ledley King can't play every game). Hopefully Barry will be fit soon, allowing Lampard and Gerrard to concentrate more on attacking. They should be played down the middle, even if it means playing Rooney on his own up front, which he does for Man Utd any way. There's always the option of bringing on the other strikers/changing the formation if things don't go according to plan...

I think the issue with Rooney's temperament is that, if the team is not playing well (which happens far more often for England than for Man U), he starts to lunge in to challenges and gets worked up (as he was starting to do against the Platinum Stars) and the fear is that this situation could occur at the World Cup.

So, I'll put Spain forward as most likely to win, but, in the 3 World Cups I've followed previously, the pre-tournament favourites have never won :O

P.S. I didn't press backspace :)

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Spain goal last night *swoon*

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I agree with meds. australia is one of the biggest countries in the world (geographically but whatever) and it's under 'other'?? :P I can't wait! waking up at 3am, late nights watching hot football players kick a ball around, going to bed at like 7am... <3

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That's just like me on iSketch, except without the watching of "hot" football players kicking a ball around of course ;)

But yeah, I'm going on holiday this Friday so I may be missing the opening ceremony thing if there is one. Hopefully I'll be around to watch England and the USA play on Saturday though :)

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hm. btw, back to the whole soccer as a "usa sport"....nah, i think baseball is more of one atm XD

and i think i agree with lindy on the second part.... XD

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Oh wow, where's abouts is other situated? near Antarctica?

"other" is actually a secret way of saying Australia... which is indeed close to Antartica so good guess.

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well if 'other' really is a secret way of saying australia, it looks like just as many people think we will win as argentina, brazil, england and germany! according to the poll...

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The 'Other' vote must have been for New Zealand then ;)

Just one hour until the Opening Ceremony!

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