How Excited About the Upcoming World Cup?

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Gave it a five, the greatest sporting event in the world. Dont even mind much that Sweden failed to qualify. It is during the World Cup you can discover new players, see teams and individuals raise far above their own ability and be gods for a while. Spain has by far the best team on paper but I don't know, Brazil usually wins outside Europe and I dont know much but a disciplined Brazilian team can be quite scary to see.

Oh and the soccer/football discussion is real old, I mean really really old. It comes up every time we discuss football here and elsewhere. Let the yanks be contrary, we know they love it.

 

1 for me. I used to watch the world cup but then it started to bug me. I can't be doing with people switching sides (which a lot of people do) half way through! Plus, I have familt all over the world so I wouldn't dare shout for a single team!
If I'm in a pub or something and the FOOTBALL comes on then I'll watch it but I don't really care.

I remember the one twelve years ago. My gran was watching because England were playing and she was convinced the other team were German (I don't think they were). Now, gran grew up in WWII and hated the Germans. Not because of the bombings but because she showed a light during the black out and was fined a shilling. Anyway, she spent 90 minutes bouncing up and down on the sofa shouting "LOOK OUT!!! There's a GEEER-MEN behind you!"

 

I'm kind of ambivalent. I do this every WC. I plan on watching some of the games, and I try, and I become disinterested by the third or fourth day, and I usually stop watching. My intentions are always good though.

 

Bahahahaha

She sounds like a good lass

 

Aye, matriarch of the family!

 

Where's Barmy Army in all this? Who's shouting for Ingerlunnnnnnnn?

 

Where's the option for 999,999,9999?

It's all booked off at work, even the games they are nothing to do with England, I love watching it all. The whole atmosphere around it all. I live for it. The pub is ready, the bank balance is ready, but my liver isn't. If England win I probably won't even remember as I'll be that para.

England have about as much chance of winning the World Cup as I do of sprouting wings, flying out the window and shagging a flying pig on the way. Still, that doesn't mean we can't dream and have faith.

Bring it on!

 

While I think you are understating England's chances somewhat, you do have a point. While I'm still a novice at this whole soccer sport, it seems to me that there are about four or five teams that have a reasonable chance of winning it all, another four or five where if they won it would be somewhat surprising but not completely shocking, and everyone else is just there for the experience and would be happy to get out of their Group. Unfortunately, the US is definitely in the third group, and England, while better, is still a heavy underdog to win it all.

 

The winner will be one of Spain, Brazil or Argentina. I really can't see past any of those.

England are in the same bracket as Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland... good sides, but too many weak points to join the above 3. England's problem is up top. We've got Rooney, then noone else. You really need 2 world class forwards to win the world cup.

If you want a good bet, put a tenner on Gonzalo Higuian to get the Golden Boot. He was about 20/1 the last I checked, surely worth a punt.

 

The one thing that will probably prevent me from watching many of these games is that I'll be at work for most of them. Due to the time zone difference, even the games scheduled in the evening will occur around lunchtime in the US, and the afternoon games will be in the morning.

 

Where's your dedication Aldo?? That's what sick days are for!

 

If it weren't for Maradona I would rate Argentina as high as you do Barmy but unless Maradona manages to pull some amazing inspirational superstunt out of his sleeve I can't see how he won't screw up Argentina. He doesn't fancy Messi, he won't play Milito and he has left every single defensive midfielder in Argentina at home and they have some wordclass defensive midfielders.

 

Oh yeah, I don't doubt for the minute that the Germans will be there or there abouts. Semi's probably. They've got an unbelievable mentality.

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I know what you're saying, but I'm not sure the manager matters so much in the WC. If the players are there, and they have the motivation they should be OK. Whatever team Maradona picks it will be dripping with quality and oozing with experience. They will know what to do without being told. They have so many players who can score goals.

On paper though, it should be Spains WC... their team is embarassing. World class players in every position, and world class back up for every position. I'd kill for any one of their keepers or strikers! World Cups aren't won on paper though, and like paper the Spanish have a habit of folding!

 

The Germans always seem to be solid in the World Cup, with less brain explosions than the other teams.

Who's your dark horse to surprise at this tournament? There's always one team that does way better than anyone expected.

 

Cameroon and Serbia might upset a few people. But honestly, other than that I don't see many upsets.

 

I heard the English coach (who is Italian, but he's coaching England), has made a decision that no women will be allowed to the players' hotel rooms for the entirety of the WC. This includes the wives of the players who are married. He says having sex a couple of days before a game will take away from your performance.

 

Well, at previous competitions the 'WAGS' (wives and girlfriends) were a constant distraction. They generated unnecessary media attention and were just in the way, totally. So the Italian with a reputation for being a disciplinarian has banned them this time around. It's a good idea, let the players get on with the business of playing football.

 

He hasn't banned them entirely - they can come down to South Africa, attend the games, and even stay in the same hotel as the players - just not in the same room. And he claims sex is the reason for this. A couple days in advance seems extreme to me. I can understand if he didn't want them having sex 15 minutes before the game, but two days?