World Cup 2010

[Guest alex]

Arg and Fra have to be in pot one, there really is no debate about that. Chile in pot 2 fair enough on recent form. Hosts in Two in this instance as they are pretty much shit.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if one of those won it. It's surprising how often sides that are written off are the ones who come good later in tournaments. I fucking hope I'm wrong on that score like.

 

Being sensible France really should be in pot two if you take into account the way they stuttered to qualification.

Think it takes into account previous WCs too though. Or it used to.

[Guest alex]

Arg and Fra have to be in pot one, there really is no debate about that. Chile in pot 2 fair enough on recent form. Hosts in Two in this instance as they are pretty much shit.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if one of those won it. It's surprising how often sides that are written off are the ones who come good later in tournaments. I fucking hope I'm wrong on that score like.

France have something of a curse over Brazil similar to Southampton's one at The Dell over us, if them two meet, I think France will win. I think 16/1 France are worth a couple of quid.

Think they've beat them the last 3 times (I can remember) in WCs. Backed France last time round actually. Bastardo.

[DannyBoyFromOz 0]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

[Park Life 71]

Arg and Fra have to be in pot one, there really is no debate about that. Chile in pot 2 fair enough on recent form. Hosts in Two in this instance as they are pretty much shit.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if one of those won it. It's surprising how often sides that are written off are the ones who come good later in tournaments. I fucking hope I'm wrong on that score like.

 

Being sensible France really should be in pot two if you take into account the way they stuttered to qualification.

Think it takes into account previous WCs too though. Or it used to.

 

Points used to be given (weighting) for the last three tournaments on a sliding scale, not sure if they still do that.

[wykikitoon 19806]

Doubt France will do much tbh, ageing squad.

[Park Life 71]

This is our best chance to win since Italia 90 imo.

[Guest Stevie]

This is our best chance to win since Italia 90 imo.

The only one in my life time where I thought we had no chance was 2002. We use the heat as an excuse, but I think it's a very genuine excuse to be honest. We can't moan about that this time, nor the altitude as we're all in the same boat. Not like the krauts or the Italians play at 6,000 feet. The last World Cup I remember before Paraguay, the opening of MOTD, first few seconds of the show, Hansen said England will win the World Cup, I was suckered in like a lot of people. I think the best players are at their peak now or almost, Lampard and Gerrard have never had more experience or have been more physically ready, same with "JT", even Ashley Cole is starting to live up to the hype, something normally fucks us, but we have a good chance, I can honestly say there is not one team for Capello's England to fear. The whole world hates us, and that's why it will be so special for this country if we win it, and don't underestimate the economic impact if it happens.

[wykikitoon 19806]

I just cant see us doing well at all. especially if people like SWP go!

[Guest Stevie]

I just cant see us doing well at all. especially if people like SWP go!

Lennon is a stick on for RM, next choice would be Wallcott or Beckham.

[Ayatollah Hermione 13760]

SWP as an impact sub isn't a bad squad choice at all IMO. I think he's certainly be more effective than, say, Milner or Jenas if we were chasing the game. Not that I expect the last one to be in the squad if everyone is fit.

[Ken 119]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

[Park Life 71]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

 

To win and in order:

 

Brazil

England

Spain

[Ken 119]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

 

To win and in order:

 

Brazil

England

Spain

 

I don't think England have a hope in hell, but I'll be happy to eat my hat if they come close...

[Ken 119]

Cricket, Rugby (Both codes) and Ozzie rules will be the most watched over football man.

 

No, see you are so fucking wrong. Football actually is the biggest sport in this god forsaken sporting hole.

All the others have free to air tv deals, football doesn't but there are over 400,000 registered footballers in Australia, the other sorts don't even come close.

And it's the only sport not subsidised by either the sporting body or government so fees are twice the price of other codes.

By the way, the last world cup, which was at fuck off 3 and 5 o'clock in the morning kickoff times, actually rated higher than the grand finals of both the league and aerial ping pong grand finals for the same year. Don't believe the mainstream Australian media, their vested interest is in all other sports.

 

This bit is 100% correct. But I must say, participation rates don't equate to popularity as a spectator sport for me, despite the WC final out-rating the rugby league and AFL, the WC comes around once every four years.

 

Frank Lowy is the saviour of football in Australia though, trying to make it mainstream rather than a game for ethnics. But it will take time, a long, long time before it comes even close to rugby league or Aussie Rules. Winning the rights to host a WC may help, but surprise, surprise, who are voicing their discontent over those efforts?

[trophyshy 7066]

i like it when the mascots dance

Recently managed to get hold of an Espana '82 t-shirt with Naranjito on as it happens.

 

Nice.

 

I was in Spain when that was on. I still have an official unkicked Espana 82 footy. The fact it's unkicked says as much about being shit at football as it does preserving a memento.

[Ayatollah Hermione 13760]

i like it when the mascots dance

Recently managed to get hold of an Espana '82 t-shirt with Naranjito on as it happens.

 

Nice.

 

I was in Spain when that was on. I still have an official unkicked Espana 82 footy. The fact it's unkicked says as much about being shit at football as it does preserving a memento.

 

Get to any games when you were there?

[trophyshy 7066]

I went to see the Socceroos (cringe) in a friendly in Melbourne. Fucked if I can remember who it was against, but the ground was full.

Edited November 20, 2009 by trophyshy

[trophyshy 7066]

i like it when the mascots dance

Recently managed to get hold of an Espana '82 t-shirt with Naranjito on as it happens.

 

Nice.

 

I was in Spain when that was on. I still have an official unkicked Espana 82 footy. The fact it's unkicked says as much about being shit at football as it does preserving a memento.

 

Get to any games when you were there?

 

Nah, was a family holiday, I was 10. Think we were in Majorca but not sure. I watched games in bars with loads of sloshed English. A good introduction to WC footy.

[Guest alex]

i like it when the mascots dance

Recently managed to get hold of an Espana '82 t-shirt with Naranjito on as it happens.

 

Nice.

 

I was in Spain when that was on. I still have an official unkicked Espana 82 footy. The fact it's unkicked says as much about being shit at football as it does preserving a memento.

So was I. I was in Benidorm when the Argies were playing in Alicante (I think that's where they were playing anyway). I'll pm you the link for that T-shirt if you like.

[Guest alex]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

 

To win and in order:

 

Brazil

England

Spain

 

I don't think England have a hope in hell, but I'll be happy to eat my hat if they come close...

I hope that's as accurate as your Ashes prediction.

[Guest Stevie]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

You know if you type "clueless cunts talking shit about a sport they have no clue about" in speech marks, does toontastic come up????

 

England and I quote "not exactly a team that swarms and looks for goals", what a country that scored THIRTY FOUR, six more than anyone else, in fuckin qualifying. A country who scored NINE in TWO games against another country who were then ranked SIXTH in the world, who hadn't lost a meaningful game at home in 15 years, yet we went there and won 1-4.

 

Oh dear. Honest to god I don't expect people to be statistically as accurate as John Motson but this cunt fuck me. The most pleasing thing about the Capello era is the amount of goals we now score, I'm ashamed to be a Newcastle fan sometimes for what the first Keegan era has brung us. Fans from around the world who haven't got a clue, and fans from around Britain and Ireland who haven't got a clue, sometimes I'd have the Ossie Ardiles days back me.

[snakehips 0]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

You know if you type "clueless cunts talking shit about a sport they have no clue about" in speech marks, does toontastic come up????

 

England and I quote "not exactly a team that swarms and looks for goals", what a country that scored THIRTY FOUR, six more than anyone else, in fuckin qualifying. A country who scored NINE in TWO games against another country who were then ranked SIXTH in the world, who hadn't lost a meaningful game at home in 15 years, yet we went there and won 1-4.

 

Oh dear. Honest to god I don't expect people to be statistically as accurate as John Motson but this cunt fuck me. The most pleasing thing about the Capello era is the amount of goals we now score, I'm ashamed to be a Newcastle fan sometimes for what the first Keegan era has brung us. Fans from around the world who haven't got a clue, and fans from around Britain and Ireland who haven't got a clue, sometimes I'd have the Ossie Ardiles days back me.

 

I'm racking my brains here, but I'm struggling to remember a time in my life when I thought England were as good as they currently are. From what I've seen of them, they really, really, do look a match for anyone right now. I find it hard describe what they're like, but the absolute power within the team just seems immense right now.

 

They'll probably struggle to get out the group stages in the WC now

[Kid Dynamite 6964]

And heres me thinking we look gash, even when we win! Euro 96 anyone?

[Walliver 0]

Qualifiers

 

HOSTS: South Africa

 

AFRICA QUALIFYING: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria

 

ASIA QUALIFYING: Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea

 

EUROPE QUALIFYING: Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland

 

SOUTH AMERICA QUALIFYING: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

 

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA AND QUALIFYING: Honduras, Mexico, United States

 

ASIA/OCEANIA PLAY-OFF New Zealand

 

Back on topic.

 

What will the seeding/rankings be?

 

IMHO they should be:

 

Pot 1:

England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Cameroon

 

Pot 2:

Australia, USA, Mexico, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ghana, Argentina

 

Pot 3:

Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Denmark, France, Portugal, Slovakia, Uruguay

 

Pot 4:

South Africa, Algeria, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Greece, Slovakia, Honduras, New Zealand

I think this sums up why it will never be a first class sport there too, when a genuine fan of the game comes up with the above. Some beauties in there. Chile seeded above Argentina, Cameroon seeded two pots above 2006 finalists France, regular Asian Cup Winners Korea, and 2004 European Champions Greece, seeded below first time entrancees Slovakia. Oh dear.

 

It's very rare that I'll agree with something Stevie says but I'm pretty much right behind him in this case. No matter how bad a team like France looks compared to how it did ten years ago, they're still number 7 in the world and to even assume they'd be in pot 2, never mind pot 3 is ridiculous. I'm surprised Portugal weren't highlighted, they'll definitely be higher than pot 3.

 

I don't want to come over as a stupid Englishman, but I think this is our best chance in a long time of winning. With teams like Argentina and France looking weaker than normal and the likes of Rooney and Gerrard at what could be their peak, I don't see why we don't have a decent shut.

[Ken 119]

Would love to see us make it out of the group stages again, not expecting anything more than that. However if we are to be bundled out in the knockout stages I don't think I could handle another heart breaker like the game vs. Italy.

 

Very interested to see how they structure the pots considering there's quite a few teams some people may regard as being "weaker".

 

What concerns me about the Aussies is the lack of pace and lack of youth in the squad. Kewell would have to be the quickest yet he may play lone-man striker as there are obvious lack of options there. One things for sure under Pim Verbeek, there won't be many goals scored as much as there won't be many goals conceded by his team. If the Aussies make it out of the group stages it'll be job well done in my opinion.

 

This WC could be one of the dullest in recent memory tbh. England, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, NK, SK, South Africa... the list just goes on, not exactly teams that swarm and look for goals, and the Argies under Maradona are an absolute shambles; no tactics and no shape. I know very little of the African sides but at least they'll have a go.

 

It'll all come down to momentum and if the Krauts build up theirs, then I see them taking it out. Spain are a real chance too.

You know if you type "clueless cunts talking shit about a sport they have no clue about" in speech marks, does toontastic come up????

 

England and I quote "not exactly a team that swarms and looks for goals", what a country that scored THIRTY FOUR, six more than anyone else, in fuckin qualifying. A country who scored NINE in TWO games against another country who were then ranked SIXTH in the world, who hadn't lost a meaningful game at home in 15 years, yet we went there and won 1-4.

 

Oh dear. Honest to god I don't expect people to be statistically as accurate as John Motson but this cunt fuck me. The most pleasing thing about the Capello era is the amount of goals we now score, I'm ashamed to be a Newcastle fan sometimes for what the first Keegan era has brung us. Fans from around the world who haven't got a clue, and fans from around Britain and Ireland who haven't got a clue, sometimes I'd have the Ossie Ardiles days back me.

 

There are many things you should be ashamed of you sloth, the way you carry on. You are a wanker, a funny wanker though I'll give you that.

 

My comment wasn't statistically based. I just watch England and nothing excites me about them. I am glad that offends you though. What amuses me, apart from your never ending errant comments about everything, anything and nothing, Stevie, is the traditional beating of the drums of victory by the English media who are completely unaware of the other competing nations before it all starts and during the tournaments, and when they fall by the wayside as they invariable do every time, they can't work out why. Everything is to be blamed except an obvious lack of class.

 

Just for the record, I think England will make the last sixteen maybe even the last eight with a bit of luck, and they will average something like 1.4 goals per game. Anything higher than that and I will be truly flabbergasted!