2010 World Cup Discussion Thread

[Stoksy]

Any soccer fans on the website???

 

 

Post your speculations, winners, surprise packets of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

 

 

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana,

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire, Portugal

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

the draw

 

 

I'm hoping that it will be a Portugal vs Spain final. Spain coming out on top with a 3-2 victory.

 

 

Scorers:

Top Scorer - David Villa/Cristiano Ronaldo 7

[chemical_echo]

My cousin and I have already drawn up our brackets.

While his is based of guesses and some knowledge, mine is pure guesses.

 

While I don't have Italy winning it (or even in the final) I will be cheering my butt off for them. I'm half Italian, so I kind of have to. My other national team (Malta) never makes it, but they all mostly cheer for Italy anyways.

 

If you want a blank copy of that bracket to post, just send me a PM.

My WC bracket

[Nrthwnd]

Just heard on the radio about S.Africa's first-ever Rapid Train System making it's debut (hopefully) during the World Cup, between Johannesberg and the city with the Cup Stadium? Sorry, I didn't quite hear/get that - sounded like Pretoria, but not sure. But still...

 

Built by Bombardier of Canada, with an "estimated" price tag of .... $3.3. BILLION Cdn...

 

[Chris Benvenuto]

^^ Give the USA some credit with the upsets they've had in international-friendly matches recently. They'd win in the first round, but we'd get our butts handed to us after that.

 

Despite that, nice bracket you've got there. VERY nice.

[Josh Linn]

As of now I'm going with Brazil, but look for Ivory Coast as a darkhorse. Drogba and the Toure brothers (Kolo and Yaya) are no joke.

[Shockwave]

Here's my assessment of the group stage:

 

In Group A, I'm sad to say that I can't see South Africa making much impact. They'll have massive home support, but they're well behind the other three teams in that group in terms of skill and experience. They'll need their top players like Pienaar to be at their very best to get out of that group. France should get first place, but if they slip up, French boss Raymond Domenech will be a wanted man. Whether they should even be at the finals will be argued fiercely by any Irish fans, but now they are there, they can ill-afford to waste the opportunity they have. It's close to call between Uruguay and Mexico, but one of those two teams should get into the knock-out phase.

 

Group B should be a walk in the park for Argentina. I'd expect Greece to struggle against all three other teams, who play some very attacking football. Nigeria are either very good or very bad, and South Korea whilst playing some attractive football don't have a truly world-class leader like a Messi in the team. Argentina to win the group, and Nigeria or South Korea to come second.

 

Group C - With England, anything can happen. Before John Terry and Ashley Cole started playing away so to speak, they were a good bet to win the whole tournament, but now only time will tell if Capello can get them truly focused to do the job in hand. USA will play a big part in this group, with several key players having a lot of experience in the English Premiership, and they could cause an upset against England in the first game. Algeria and Slovenia are solid teams, but I don't expect either of them to make the cut. Not unless the other two teams has a tournament to forget.

 

Group D - Another interesting one. Not so much for top spot, I'd be stunned if Germany didn't get that. But Australia, Serbia and Ghana are all very good sides, who should fight out a good battle for the second knock-out place. All three of those teams will need their Premiership stars in top form. Cahill (Australia), Vidic (Serbia) and Essien (for Ghana, and if fit) will be the focal points for the three pretenders.

 

Group E is a tough group to call, but not the "Group Of Death". The Netherlands will be favourites to qualify, as long as their replacement for the now retired Edwin Van Der Sar, one of the best goalkeepers this generation, can fill his shoes. Denmark have some strong squad players, and put in a good claim for getting through - as long as Nicklas Bendtner shoots better than he did for this club this afternoon. Japan and Cameroon are both very hit and miss sides, but could spring a surprise if they can play to their best ability.

 

Into Group F, Italy will have no problem securing top spot. I would find it very hard to fathom if they could not beat New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia with the pedigree at their disposal. As for the other three, I can't see New Zealand being a big threat, but Paraguay and the Slovaks will be contesting the second qualifying spot all they have to give.

 

Group G - Dubbed the "Group of Death" by many, and the Ivory Coast are in it again! They'll need Didier Drogba at his very best to stand a chance of getting through the group stage, especially against five-times World Cup winners Brazil and Portugal, who are the favourites to qualify. North Korea are somewhat of an unknown quantity, so this will be a hotly contested few games to see who can avoid going home embarrassed.

 

Lastly, Group H. Spain were undefeated in World Cup qualification, and should walk away with top spot easily. The final knock-out place could go to any one of the other three teams, but if I had to pick one, I'd say that Chile should have the class to shine through against Honduras and Switzerland.

[VegasCoaster]

If the final is Germany v. Australia I will be absolutely shocked.

 

Group A: I think Mexico and France will be the ones to advance. South Africa has the home advantage, but I'm not sure that will be enough to top Mexico or France.

 

Group B: Argentina and Greece, if Argentina gets their act together that is. Maradonna may have the hand of god, but he hasn't seemed to inspire a whole lot out of the very talented squad.

 

Group C: England and USA. I think England could win it all but with Terry causing all sorts of havoc with other players I'm not sure if the drama will be able to be left off the field. USA will pull off some surprising wins, but I'm not sure if we'll get to the finals like we did in the Confederations Cup, which was mostly a fluke.

 

Group D: Germany and Ghana. I think the talent Ghana has could be enough to throw off the other teams and I have little doubt Germany will be going through 1st.

 

Group E: Netherlands and Cameroon. Again I think Cameroon has enough talent to get out. Denmark is good but as Non German Tom mentioned, Bendtner will need to be a little better than he normally winds up playing. He will eventually be a good player and he does score some pretty decent goals, but he lacks the finishing to usually be that deadly in front of goal. Netherlands is no doubt going through, even if Van Persie doesn't recover, I'm not sure they'd be stopped.

 

Group F: Italy and Paraguay, because I had to pick someone else aside from Italy to get through.

 

Group G: Brazil and Ivory Coast, though after seeing their play during the African Cup of Nations, I might have to go with Portugal. Portugal wasn't playing too well and Ivory Coast has a ton of talent. Also Cristiano Ronaldo is a tool. He's talented, but I can't stand the guy.

 

Group H: Spain and Chile again because someone other than Spain has to go through.

 

I would like the US to win because I'm American, but realistically I want England, Spain or Netherlands to win.

[KDcoasterMAN]

America! simple! Thats who will win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IDK. who will win?