World Cup

[gersonmorelli]

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!

Actually, Dunga (Brazil's manager) was very coherent and fair with the players he has trusted in the past 2 years. He did give a couple of chances to Ronaldinho while he was doing terrible and went to Milan. But he always knew about Ronaldinho's love for the nightlife and saw that as a lack of commitment to the national team. Dunga expected him to grow up and change, which didn't happen. Then 4 - 6 months ago he started playing a little like old times, but it was already to late. He had already lost Dunga's confidence.

[mazolaman]

I think the "past it" condemnation came from Barcelona..

He's not the player he was..

[Nino]

The Spanish in me says : La Furia Roja will win.

The team is well positioned since winning the European championship and should do well.

If not Spain, then some talented African team like Ghana or Cote d’Ivoire, I loved the way Cameroon played a few years back.

Germany is weak but always good for a surprise, Italy tired and England ……. ?

Ohh and the French should go home early to pay for the “hand job” they did to the Irish.

[brutusthebuckeye]

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.

The "catenaccio" can be a pain to watch...they didn't do it that much in 06....but that game against Spain in the Euro was 100%

If they play Spain or Brazil they'll run the "catenaccio" and lose in PK's

[Erm310mce]

Another Azzurri fan here.

Forza!

They will play well and have a strong tournament defending the cup.

I am also excited for the U.S. this year, but my team is the Azzurri.

[Alberto_Magnus]

Italy tired and England

a good definition!!

But from the 30 guys called up by Lippi there are some young talents who might make the difference

[Kangaroo495]

I like the way Italy play - lots of fast breaks from defence. Plus all the acting and falling they do is hilarious. So I'll probably be barracking for them once Australia drops out.

I think the surprise of the tournament will be Slovenia. I watched a few of their matches during European qualifying and they were playing some magic football.

Can we assume that no-one is rooting for North Korea?

[brutusthebuckeye]

I like the way Italy play - lots of fast breaks from defence. Plus all the acting and falling they do is hilarious. So I'll probably be barracking for them once Australia drops out.

I think the surprise of the tournament will be Slovenia. I watched a few of their matches during European qualifying and they were playing some magic football.

Can we assume that no-one is rooting for North Korea?

What acting and falling r u talkin about Kanga???

[khomeinist]

The "catenaccio" can be a pain to watch...they didn't do it that much in 06....but that game against Spain in the Euro was 100%

If they play Spain or Brazil they'll run the "catenaccio" and lose in PK's

I hear you Brutus. I like attacking, flowing football with multiple scoring opportunities. Italy surely have not always been up to that task. That being said, I loved Roberto Baggio.

Italian sides bring lots of drama for sure. And hey, defense wins championships..... and Italia has many championships.

At the end of the day...... Give me Total Football!

Orange Baby!!!!

[nocsious]

As a huge USA fan, I give us a good chance at getting out of group play but the US is just not deep and has glaring weaknesses that can and will be exposed by the best teams. Some in the U.S. media would disagree, but the yanks were very lucky to get to the confederations cup final. They still can't maintain possession against top flight teams, and they have no strikers that I would consider above average. There is no talent at left fullback on the roster.

Teams that commit to many forward can get caught on the counter, but the US is far from a top side. We will be fit and organized, with speed and some good skill on the counter, but that will only get you so far. How does Beasley even make the 30 man squad?

[Mr. Japan]

Spain, England (for Europe)

Argentina and Brasil ( for the rest of the world)

Outsiders :Usual germany and Italy :-)

[brian1]

Brazil will win.

England will make it to the Semi Final where they will loose on penalties to Germany and several members of the English team will cry like babies!

[DrunkenMonkey]

Brazil will win.

England will make it to the Semi Final where they will loose on penalties to Germany and several members of the English team will cry like babies!

I think the English team will be crying like babies long before that, when the USA shock them during group play.

[mazolaman]

Brazil will win.

England will make it to the Semi Final where they will loose on penalties to Germany and several members of the English team will cry like babies!

We do love a good cry......

I was crying when Thiery Henry did the Marradona routine.....

[yiorgosm]

Apart from screaming "SIKOSE TOOO" for Greece, I fancy Argentina for this one, even though they were not good in the qualifiers. Messi seems to be able to win matches on his own! Wouldn't be surprised if Germany go all the way either...

I believe we will see some big teams struggle, against smaller latin American nations and the African teams. I fancy Ivory Coast to do the damage and go through a tough tough group and progress. Cant see England, France or Brazil doing too well.

[gersonmorelli]

Apart from screaming "SIKOSE TOOO" for Greece, I fancy Argentina for this one, even though they were not good in the qualifiers. Messi seems to be able to win matches on his own! Wouldn't be surprised if Germany go all the way either...

I believe we will see some big teams struggle, against smaller latin American nations and the African teams. I fancy Ivory Coast to do the damage and go through a tough tough group and progress. Cant see England, France or Brazil doing too well.

Have you ever seen Messi playing a decent match for Argentina? He really is unbelievable for Barça, but much like Ronaldinho was for Brazil, Messi doesn't shine in his national team. Besides their defense and goalkeeper is mediocre...

[yiorgosm]

It is Messi's first Worldcup though, he played very little in 2006 as he was only 19. You are right about their defense though, they will have to go in with the "score more than we concede" mentality!

[frenchkiwi]

on the assumption that new zealand will crash and burn very early...

next, as an australian, it is imperative that england don't win. sorry - just bred into us.

Have to post in conversation with Ken here as the mighty All Whites will of course conquer all before them... not. The level of football in NZ and even the A-League is so low that when I first watched a game, I thought slow motion was turned on. But good on'em for qualifying I suppose and will have to begrudgingly offer some tokenistic support. Same to Aussies who also play with courage and team structure a l'anglaise if not great skill.

Now to england - they have to lose out again. earlier is better. the anglo-saxon world is so full of itself and needs 4yearly deflations of inflated egos. In the 90s they were convinced the premiership was the best league in the world when it was quite clearly sub-par compared to Serie A and even spanish league. Then the billionaires piled in and bought the world's all stars so that now it probably is the best league - but mainly because of the foreign imports. Article in paper the other day revealed that English coach (an italian of course) gets paid NZ$12Million. Second highest is Brazil with Dunga and only $1.5million. Overpaid overrated must be made to realise this. [interesting aside - the NZ coach only gets paid $60k - Capello earns more in 2 days work ha ha]

Then have to support France - still have a Zidane 10 shirt that i won before the '98 WC in a competition before you could buy'em (never been hugged kissed by so many people like the night of that final - just cos of the shirt). Not too sure if they're as solid as they once were, need a few Deschamps or L Blanc type players as a rock to build the team around. Might get to semis and beyond if they can find that mental steel, or might just fail to get out of group stage altogether. Who cares about the hand ball henry didn't even score with it - unlike Maradona or Paul Scholes volleyball slap.

Also support Algeria - last time they were in the WC in the 80s they got robbed with that W Germany vs Austria conspiracy for a draw. And I lived there for a few years - people there need the joy of a victory or 2.

Standard WC Hero teams: Brazil Cameroon Netherlands

WC Villain teams: Italy (compulsive cheaters and experts of 1-0 or 0-0) Germany (stodgy overachievers e.g. 2002) Switzerland (boring who let them qualify?)

Underachievers: Spain

Underdogs with upset potential Ivory Coast South Africa Slovenia

[Alberto_Magnus]

4 World Cups are to be won basing oneself on compulsive cheatery alone

[Nino]

Well, Germany is shocked today and the national team has a big problem -

captain and best player Michael Ballack will not be attending the WC due to injury ....... will be very tough now ( but never believe you won a match against Germany until the last german player is in the bus driving home )

[Habanos2000]

you're right Nino, I was disappointed to hear of Ballack's injury myself. Especially after I saw the flagrant foul. While #13 may be past his prime, you can't deny the psychological effect his leadership has on the team. This is definately a variable that can turn the tide against them.

[frenchkiwi]

4 World Cups are to be won basing oneself on compulsive cheatery alone

yes well they're very good at it ;-)

of course brilliant footballers, i'm a fan of the great Paolo Maldini etc...

... but it's the way they play - catenaccio (invented in switzerland no surprises there ha ha), diving, and so on... can't help to want to see them lose when they play that way. Except against England. Wish they took on a coach who stamped out this culture and let them unleash their skills total football style.

but always have to be at the world cup, the italians bring the drama and the personalities, without them and the likes of Argentina it would be a boring competition!

[brutusthebuckeye]

yes well they're very good at it ;-)

but always have to be at the world cup, the italians bring the drama and the personalities, without them and the likes of Argentina it would be a boring competition!

True!!!

[frenchkiwi]

Supporting Englandshire

MARS BAR REPACKAGED

MARS bars are being repackaged to rally England fans for the World Cup.

Bosses hope it will inspire England to emulate Bobby Moore's 1966 World Cup win with England .

The chocolate bar will change later this month for the first time since it was made in 1920 and will revert after the tournament ends in July.

Andrea Taylor, of Mars, said: "As the nation's favourite chocolate bar, Mars is in an ideal position to fuel positivity for the World Cup."

The range will also be sold in Scotland, Wales and Ireland even though they failed to make the finals.

England Football Supporters Federation boss Malcolm Clarke said:

Rivals Nestle will also put images of England's 1966 victory on Kit Kats and Yorkies.

Experts expect similar stunts from hundreds of other companies. Marketing magazine Brand Republic said:

"It's the biggest sports marketing opportunity of the decade - companies don't want to be left behind."

This is the Tartan Army's response:

[mazolaman]

Supporting Englandshire

MARS BAR REPACKAGED

MARS bars are being repackaged to rally England fans for the World Cup.

Bosses hope it will inspire England to emulate Bobby Moore's 1966 World Cup win with England .

The chocolate bar will change later this month for the first time since it was made in 1920 and will revert after the tournament ends in July.

Andrea Taylor, of Mars, said: "As the nation's favourite chocolate bar, Mars is in an ideal position to fuel positivity for the World Cup."

The range will also be sold in Scotland, Wales and Ireland even though they failed to make the finals.

England Football Supporters Federation boss Malcolm Clarke said:

Rivals Nestle will also put images of England's 1966 victory on Kit Kats and Yorkies.

Experts expect similar stunts from hundreds of other companies. Marketing magazine Brand Republic said:

"It's the biggest sports marketing opportunity of the decade - companies don't want to be left behind."

This is the Tartan Army's response:

Mate,you've got a real chip on your shoulder.