FIFA World Cup 2010 - Predictions/Discussions/Updates

[ferretchucker]

Grabbing and squeezing Gascoignes balls to put him off during a football game.

[Zero]

portugal wins

[TheWickerFan]

Originally Posted by ferretchucker

Grabbing and squeezing Gascoignes balls to put him off during a football game.

True, Vinnie Jones was a dirty player, but hardly a sissy.

You mentioning this incident had me stumble on the news about Paul Gascoigne's mental state. Very sad.

[Karl Kopfrkingl]

I don't know much about soccer but it seems that sportscenter show some sick play by Leo Messi every week so I'm betting Argentina to win at 8-1.

[_____V_____]

With Messi in full flow, Argentina is a pretty safe bet.



Well, WC 2010 is already abuzz with plenty of happenings right now.

Germany have lost as many as 5 players to injuries so far, including their captain and key player Michael Ballack.

Some pretty glaring omissions by Brazil for their final squad.

Plus, a new "perfectly round" tournament ball which is giving most of the goalkeepers and players plenty of sleepless nights.

Meanwhile, goalkeepers in particular are getting more vociferous about the official ball to be used at the tournament.

Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini felt it was a "disaster" for both goalkeepers and forwards because it is so light and moves around so much.

Spain keeper Iker Casillas has likened it to a beachball.

Italy counterpart Gianluigi Buffon described the ball as "absolutely inadequate", while Brazilian Julio Cesar has said it was like one purchased in a supermarket.

[Angra]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Some of the players to watch out for -

Thierry HENRY (France) - Arguably the fastest Forward in the world for quite some time, and one of my most favorite footballers. Age is catching up with him though.

Lionel MESSI (Argentina) - In the same league as Henry. One of the most dazzling footballers you ll ever see in your life.

KAKA (Brazil) - The third name in the must-watch list.

Diego FORLAN (Uruguay)

Frank LAMPARD (England)

Miroslav KLOSE (Germany)

Arjen ROBBEN (Netherlands)

Shunsuke NAKAMURA (Japan)

Samuel ETO'O (Cameroon)

Gianluigi BUFFON (Italy)

Roque SANTA CRUZ (Paraguay)

Didier DROGBA (Ivory Coast)

Cristiano RONALDO (Portugal)

Fernando TORRES (Spain)

You left out the 2 biggest candidates for the Golden Boot award (Most goals)

Wayne Rooney (England)
David Villa (Spain)


Spain is gonna win the World Cup and Argentina is gonna flop once again.

[_____V_____]

Originally Posted by Angra

Wayne Rooney (England)

Highly temperamental. No doubting the immense talent he brings to the equation, but can he keep his temperament in the big stage? He was a big flop in 2006, after coming into it with a rich vein of form even back then.

Originally Posted by Angra

David Villa (Spain)

Good pick, but has been known to be hit-and-miss. I was going with 1 pick per team, and between Villa and Torres, I d rather go with the latter for sheer energy and skills to get those goals in.

Originally Posted by Angra

Spain is gonna win the World Cup and Argentina is gonna flop once again.

The one team which has the best National League of the world (arguably) in the La Liga and some of the best regional teams in the world in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid, et al, yet have consistently failed to impress on the big stage.

I really hope you are proven right this time, bud. Its about time Spain did some serious ass-kicking in the WC once again.

[Angra]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Highly temperamental. No doubting the immense talent he brings to the equation, but can he keep his temperament in the big stage? He was a big flop in 2006, after coming into it with a rich vein of form even back then.




Good pick, but has been known to be hit-and-miss. I was going with 1 pick per team, and between Villa and Torres, I d rather go with the latter for sheer energy and skills to get those goals in.




The one team which has the best National League of the world (arguably) in the La Liga and some of the best regional teams in the world in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid, et al, yet have consistently failed to impress on the big stage.

I really hope you are proven right this time, bud. Its about time Spain did some serious ass-kicking in the WC once again.

The same can be said about Argentina. Amazing players individually, but as a team they always have difficulties against strong opponents.

Villa was stand out exceptional 2 years ago in the European Championship and Rooney has been the best player together with Messi in this years Champions League (annual european club tournament), so i've got high expectations for both of them.

[TheWickerFan]

Originally Posted by ferretchucker

BOOO! HISS! Football is for sissys. Rugby is a man's sport.

I see.

[roshiq]

First of all, a big thanks to V for opening this thread.:)

FIFA Word Cup has always been the most favorite tournament since 1986 Maradona Magics. That was my first seen WC but I supported Brazil that time for the first & last time. Anyway, very often I like to have a funny debate with my father regarding 'The Best Sport on Earth: Football or Cricket' (as he loves to watch any game of cricket very much)...even last night while we were talking about the England-Bangladesh test match with frustration & anger, in the end I added 'anyway, I have now no time for think about Cricket anymore, the most boring game...it's only 10 days left for the biggest tournament of the greatest sport on earth!" He almost yelled at me in the reply.:D Most of the time I have a bad tendency to 'annoy' the favorite people around me.

Now, let's come to the point...WORLD CUP'2010 South Africa:

As the venue this time is outside Europe so the 'record' says...NO EUROPEAN TEAM IS GOING TO WIN THIS TIME. :D

Therefore, after eliminating all the European teams, among the rest of the world BRAZIL & ARGENTINA is having a good chance with their record under this weird possibility scenario.

Personally I have doubts about Argentina though it's my most favorite team. They have individually very talented players but I'm not sure how good they have been become as a team. Let's hope after a long time we'll gonna see some magics from Maradona as a coach to unite the team in a great understanding & support for each other in the field. I think Messi become the most talked about footballer currently this time around the world not just for his own skills or talents but also for the support he got from some of his brilliantly talented team mates in Barcelona...specially do they have a great play maker like XAVI in Argentine WC Squad? I hope there is.

It's really been a sad to know that there will be no Ronaldinho around this time for Brazil. He's a one of the very favorite players in football. I'll miss in him in yellow-green/blue jersey. I think Brazil has the best goal keeper (Julio Cesar) at the moment in the world with a good defense including Maicon (Inter Milan) & Daniel Alves (Barcelona) to watch out that has a good chance to produce some entertaining football & finally win the cup. I think there will be some surprises in both positive & negative way from Dunga's squad.

I also hope & predict an African team to be one of the quarter-finalist at least.

As a good football fan all I want to see some very tight & competitive matches and some magics in the field by the players from any team.

In last WC I supported Argentina, Portugal, Spain & Italy. But this time no Portugal as there is no Figo, now my favorites are...Argentina, Spain, Italy & Ivory Coast (just for Drogba).

Like Spain I like to mention Netherlands & England...for the last couple of WCs the teams who have regularly been playing like the potential candidates to win the cup but always got knocked out with some bad lucks.