World Cup

[jquest63]

World Cup is only about 30 days away and virtually all eyes worldwide will be on South Africa! Well, here's my predictions/favorites:

Greece-my heart is with Greece, but will take a miracle for them to win ZHTO ELLAS!

Predicted winner: Spain, the team is sooo talented

Brazil - favorite team to watch

Wish Luck to all countries

[Habanos2000]

While it might look like Spain will win on paper, I think you'll see Germany take the trophy this time around. They're loaded with talent and many players coming off a great season.

Looking forward to the England v. USA and Portugal v. Brazil matches as well.

[FireDigger]

I'm fairly new to football (soccer for us Yanks!) but I've been watching some exciting European football in the last two months. I'll be rooting for Argentina. Lionel Messi looked amazing in the few games I've seen him, but we'll see how Maradona utilizes his talent.

[ZinZan]

I'm big fan Holland but this world cup I'm rooting for Spain. I think it will be hard for Spain to win even though they have 1 of the most talented squads. If they come up with more defensive and organised team. If you look at Barcelona (most spain's midfield comes from Barca) in champions league they were thwarted by Jose's inter.

[MIKA27]

While it might look like Spain will win on paper, I think you'll see Germany take the trophy this time around. They're loaded with talent and many players coming off a great season.

Looking forward to the England v. USA and Portugal v. Brazil matches as well.

I'm going for Deutschland all the way.

I may however be in a conundrum in that Germany vs Australia in the first round and whilst my background is German/Austrian, I have lived here since I was 5 years old.

[brutusthebuckeye]

My parents came from Italy in 1966!!!!!

Lets just say i ve watched my share of World Cups....and Serie A...

Forza Azzurri......34,38,82,06, ?........."Never count out the Italians"

[Bartolomeo]

Forza Azzurri!!!!!

Bart

[khomeinist]

I am a Dutch supporter. I love attacking football. I will keep an eye on all the African teams though. I really hope Ghana or Cote D'Ivoire can pull a miracle.

Please. Please. Please. No more azzurri!!!!

Does anyone actually enjoy catenaccio?

Diver down. Another head-butt final.

[First Lady]

Forza Italia My heart is always going to Australia and they are my number on choice but who know we might get a big surprise ... here hoping

I grew up watching Soccer in the early hours with my father and screaming during the Italian Games and now I watch all the games with my husband... (we won't mention to my darling husband about Croatia not getting in - they would have probably given alot of countries a massive scare if they got through - too many injuries during qualifing time )

So looking forward to the World Cup... hopefully Australia will win the bid for 2018

[Smooth]

Love the World Cup, the atmosphere oozes through the tv. Would be amazing if Australia got the 2018 or 2022 cup.

Cant wait for it to kick off, had a blast and missed many days in the office in 2006 watching the Aussies make a good run and be robbed at the end

Will be over the moon if Oz makes it to the round of eight!!!

[josie67]

My parents came from Italy in 1966!!!!!

Lets just say i ve watched my share of World Cups....and Serie A...

Forza Azzurri......34,38,82,06, ?........."Never count out the Italians"

Parents came from Italy in 1964, GO ITALY!!!!!! Definitely Forza Azzurri!!

[Ken Gargett]

on the assumption that new zealand will crash and burn very early, no need to worry about (though hard not to want to watch a team that goes to play sport in south africa calling itself the 'all whites' - what PR genius came up with that?).

next, as an australian, it is imperative that england don't win. sorry - just bred into us. as someone once said, if england played pakistan, as they once did, in the final of a cricket world cup, you'd have 20 million instant muslims downunder.

beyond that, don't really care - i'm assuming also that australia will not be a serious contender, though we may make the next round (and the award for the greatest optimist of all time goes to the everton football club that announced that for their tour of australia for a game on july 11, the participation of tim cahill would depend on whether he was required for a game on july 10 (which would be the world cup final!!!). safe to say, tim will be appearing here.

i just hope we don't have the embarassing bleating that went on last time that we were dudded v italy. sure, the bloke might have taken a dive but you get more dives in soccer than in an olympic pool and we never looked like scoring at any stage and they were a man down who was unfairly red carded. it was mortifying to hear all these instant experts insist we should have won.

as for the final wnners, i'd like the arsenal players to do well but that probably means more raids on playing stocks. teams like brazil and spain appeal. and there is part of me that would love to see france get home - just to hear everyone banging on about the unfairness of it all, post handball. i'd especially like to see france get home on a last minute henry goal, legit or not.

after all, it is only soccer and so is really only for a bit of fun between serious sporting events.

[SonGoku]

ESPAÑA!!!! My heart is with Spain

[Alberto_Magnus]

I'm Italian and of course I support our Azzurri.

From an objective point of view, I'm not that confident we can win again, our competitors are very talented and motivated.

The only perk we have right now is that 7/23 of the players who are flying to South Africa come from Juventus which had a horrible year in the championship and might be more motivated than other years. And there are some young players who could show their talents.

But as a fair prediction I'd say that these teams will be amazing us with high-class football: Spain (incredible team), Argentina led by our beloved Diego (I'm from Naples and a SSC Napoli supporter!!), Holland with the class of Robben and Sneijder, Germany and their great team, Ghana with those talents like Asamoah and Muntari...The level of world football is being levelled in a good sense.

There won't be "easy" matches.

And from the point of view of healthy "rivalries"...I'd like to see France and Brazil go home at an early stage...

Looking forward to it and Forza Azzurri!!!

[Davin]

One of my favorite events, along with the Euro championship. I'd love to see the US do well but there just isn't enough talent there. A sentimental pick would be Greece, I was in Portugal for their win there and it was a dream come true. For a more realistic pick I'll go with Spain or Germany.

[El Presidente]

I would love to see Spain take the cup after being perpetual disappointments.

Would also love to see Greece do well, the Kiwis lose 22-0, Australia make it to the final 16, Italy beaten in the final minute by a dive in the box

[brutusthebuckeye]

I would love to see Spain take the cup after being perpetual disappointments.

Would also love to see Greece do well, the Kiwis lose 22-0, Australia make it to the final 16, Italy beaten in the final minute by a dive in the box

LOL!!!!

That was NOT a dive Pres.......Fabio Grosso was the guy who got tripped up in the box!!!!! He was also the guy who scored the 1st goal against Germany and he took the winning PK against France...Grande Grosso!!!!!

[bunburyist]

...bred into us...

I'll bet it is....

About time England pulled it out the bag, it's been too long. As long as we play a core of say 6 Tottenham players we'll be ok.

Otherwise Spain are obviously the favourites, but I'd like to see Argentina and Holland do well.

Dark horse bet - Ghana, although they're in a tough group.

[Morientes50]

GO SPAIN!!! I think this might finally be our year...but there are a lot of injuries on our squad to worry about.

If its not Spain then I hope a team that plays beautiful football wins. Maybe the Dutch or an African squad. Anybody but the Italians, who like to park a bus in front of their own goal and call it attractive football.

[Mr.T]

This is the highlight every four years for me. I'm heading to Cape Town for the QF and SF. I'll root for England......coming in a close second are the Dutch. I would to see one of the African teams advance far into the tournament, either Ivory Coast or Ghana.

[gersonmorelli]

Spain does have the best squad on paper this year, however winning the World Cup is not only about having the best team. Having the stars on the chest makes a lot of difference. This is what Spain and even England (who is also a dissapointer even when they have good teams) don't have.

And that is why Brazil, Italy and Germany are always the usual suspects even when they squad suck! (e.g. Italy in 2006)

VAI BRASIL!!!

[compitaveggie]

Spain has the best team by far. They SHOULD win it all.

My heart is with the US and Mexico.

Jose

[micahzeff]

I'll be cheering on Paraguay, irrespective of their chances. They have a tough first match against Italy and are seriously handicapped with Cabañas out recovering from being shot in the head.

[riderpride]

I'm not sure why, but I usually gravitate towards Portugal...

Could anyone provide me with some insight as to why Ronaldinho was left off of Brazil? Bad year in Milan???

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/world_cup/2..._brazil_roster/

Thanks!

[mazolaman]

I'm not sure why, but I usually gravitate towards Portugal...

Could anyone provide me with some insight as to why Ronaldinho was left off of Brazil? Bad year in Milan???

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/world_cup/2..._brazil_roster/

Thanks!

Apparently he is considered "past it"!

England will be up there,Spain usually bottle it,Germans are in a mess,Portugal are at war with their own media,Brazil still outclass everyone,Italy will do as they always do,but are lacking the usual decent poacher.........England stand a chance,untill our own scummy media jump on them for shagging someone,thus ruining their chances...