World Cup Soccer

Narrock · Post by **Narrock** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:58 am

I predict that Germany is going to take the cup. Brazil is going to get slapped down like the little bitches they are.

Snero · Post by **Snero** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:03 am

I predict I won't watch a single game, and care more about the spelling bee

Zanchief · Post by **Zanchief** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:05 am

Says the man who argued with about how important the mens under 21 world hockey tournament was.

Snero · Post by **Snero** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:10 am

I sure did, it's great hockey and crazy popular in Canada

DESX · Post by **DESX** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:31 am

I actually think brazil will win (since they have ronaldinho) will win npz.

Zanchief · Post by **Zanchief** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:31 am

Because we're retarded.

Narrock · Post by **Narrock** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:34 am

DESX wrote:I actually think brazil will win (since they have ronaldinho) will win npz.

Brazil has always had a strong team, but I want to see them get stomped this time around.

Post by **Arlos** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:38 am

I'm actually looking forward to the world cup. Played soccer as a kid til I destroyed my knee, and have watched the world cup every time it's come around since 94, when it was being held in Palo Alto at Stanford, literally < 1 mile from my apartment at the time. Was way cool going downtown or near the fields, and seeing all the different people from across the world that'd come. Met a lot of different and interesting people that summer.

-Arlos

Post by **Gidan** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:41 am

I would say Brazil has the best chance though they cant forget about teams like Argentina, England, Germany and the Neatherlands.

Zanchief · Post by **Zanchief** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:43 am

At my work there's a dude from Argentina and dude from England. They're getting pretty geared up for the world cup.

Phlegm · Post by **Phlegm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:20 am

Germany, Brazil, and England should win their group and advance to the next easily.

Phlegm · Post by **Phlegm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:21 am

Here are the grouping if you are interested:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?lea ... ld&cc=5901

Post by **Gidan** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:36 am

My predictions for the first round.

Group A - Germany should win the rest really wont play a part
Group B - England should win Poland may make some noise but I doubt it.
Group C - Argentina should win though Neatherlands will make it interesting and will make it through.
Group D - Mexico and Portugal will fight it out neither will make much noise though
Group E - This one will be intersting but I actually think US will pull it out with the Chech and Italy making it fun.
Group F - Brazil nothing more to say
Group G - France more then likely
Group H - Does it really matter? Will say Ukraine since I have played against them and was a rather enjoyable experience. In general, I wouldn't expect anyone from this group to amount to much.

There is probably goingt o be a surprise team in there somewhere but who knows.

Phlegm · Post by **Phlegm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:45 am

2 teams from each group advance to the next round.

Post by **Gidan** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:48 am

Yeah but I only mentioned the important ones from each group. I only really think the 2nd team from Group C and possibly group E will do much past the first round. The rest of them may fill a cinderella role but other then that they will just be speed bumps for the major teams.

Granh · Post by **Granh** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:49 am

Assuming Brazil wins their group they're going to play #2 from the group USA's in. From that group, Italy will likely take 1st and USA could take 2nd. 1994 is the only time Brazil and USA have ever played in the world cup that I remember. Great match that year and was the first time USA had made it to round 2. Would make a cool re-match.

Boss at work is from Rio so he's pretty pumped about the whole thing.

Post by **Gidan** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:50 am

I just dont see Italy as the team they once were while the US team is a much beter team then the 94 team was. I think the US is probably sending the best team we ever have this year. Unfortuanatly I dont think either team really can match Brazil. Even in 94, if I recall Brazil was playing a man down for alot of that game against the US. My guess is whoever goes through as the runner up for Group E is going to find themselvs out in the second round when Brazil runs them over. My only hope is that the US wins the gorup and can get passed the 2nd round this year.

Granh · Post by **Granh** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:30 pm

If we can pull out a 1st in round 1 that'd put us against maybe Australia in round 2? And if that goes well we're looking at France. If by some act of god we take out France we're most likely have Germany... In... Germany... Unless Argentina can beat Germany, in which case we still don't have a chance.

Simi-Finals would be bad-ass to get to and the only way I see us getting there is by beatting Ghana and C.R. by enough our potential loss to Italy wont matter. Have to win round 1 IMO to make it to SF. Going against the other side of the matches with Brazil, England and Mexico will be game over.

Narrock · Post by **Narrock** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:30 pm

The German polizei think that the neo nazis are going to try and pull some terrorist-type activities at the games. Security at the games in Germany are going to be beefed up big time.

Post by **Gidan** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:37 pm

Granh wrote:If we can pull out a 1st in round 1 that'd put us against maybe Australia in round 2? And if that goes well we're looking at France. If by some act of god we take out France we're most likely have Germany... In... Germany... Unless Argentina can beat Germany, in which case we still don't have a chance.

Simi-Finals would be bad-ass to get to and the only way I see us getting there is by beatting Ghana and C.R. by enough our potential loss to Italy wont matter. Have to win round 1 IMO to make it to SF. Going against the other side of the matches with Brazil, England and Mexico will be game over.

I agree, inorder for the US to get anywhere they have to win their group. I think we actually match up well with Italy, maybe I am just being optamistic. If we dont win the group, we are done in round 2 unless their is some miracle but I wouldn't bet on it. Regardless, if we do great, the road still ends when we hit Argentina, Brazil or Germany. They are just that much better then the others.

Phlegm · Post by **Phlegm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:55 pm

The Czech Republic is the best team in group E. The US and Italy will be playing for second place.

Post by **Gidan** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:57 pm

Phlegm wrote:The Czech Republic is the best team in group E. The US and Italy will be playing for second place.

SHHH we dont like the Czech's and we want to win damnit

Donnel · Post by **Donnel** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:58 pm

I think it's hilarious that when you go to ESPN's soccer site you have to tell them what part of the world you are from.

I always expect when I select USA/Canada to get a bunch of baseball advertisements in place of the soccer articles.

Rotj · Post by **Rotj** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:35 pm

group e is the group of death.. all those teams are damn good. even c is a bit of a pain.

the czech republic is the sleeper team imo. rosicky, baros (if he can repeat his euro 2004 form), koller.. and they all work together very well with rosicky playing the deep lying mid behind the strikers.

usually support england but they ain't clutch and usually choke. walcott looks interesting tho.

i'm going for argentina. i'm pinning my hopes on that wonderkid leo messi. mascherano, crespo, samuel are also the own.

Phlegm · Post by **Phlegm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:58 pm

Rotj wrote:the czech republic is the sleeper team imo. rosicky, baros (if he can repeat his euro 2004 form), koller.. and they all work together very well with rosicky playing the deep lying mid behind the strikers.

Czech Republic is ranked number 2 in the world so they're not a sleeper team. Here is the lastest ranking from FIFA:

1 Brazil
2 Czech Republic
3 The Netherlands
4 Mexico
5 USA
5 Spain
7 Portugal
8 France
9 Argentina
10 England

11 Nigeria
11 Denmark
13 Italy
14 Turkey
15 Cameroon
16 Sweden
17 Egypt
18 Japan
19 Germany
20 Greece