[Пятхъдесят Шест]

This just won't start quick enough!

I'm loving how wide open this tournament figures to be. There are easily ten teams that could win it all.

I know there are more of you football watching freaks out there, so spill it...Predictions, trash talk...all of it here.

58 days!!!

My predictions.

Group A - Germany, Poland
Group B - Sweden, England
Group C - Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro
Group D - Portugal, Angola
Group E - Italy, United States
Group F - Brazil, Australia
Group G - Korea, France
Group H - Spain, Tunisia

Darkhorses - Angola, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago (English fans,DO NOT TAKE THIS TEAM LIGHTLY), Ukraine

Teams most likely to Dissapoint - England, United States, Netherlands, Argentina

Champion - Brazil (who else?)

[krastian]

I love soccer. I'll watch some of it even though I haven't really scouted the teams and won't know them that well (other than the US).

[Hip Priest]

I don't think Ukraine should be underestimated - they and Tunisia could provide some shocks. Spain could very easily go out in round one to those two.

Argentina have a phenomenally talented side at the moment and are my favourites to win. Netherlands stand a chance too, they could pick up their first title.

Other than Tunisia, it could be that this is the African continent's worst world cup for some time - I think that in recent cups some strong teams have been there, but Angola, Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are relatively weak teams with one or two very string individual players. Thei weaknesses should be exposed at a major tournament.

It would be nice if South Korea could at least partially replicate the success that they had in the last World Cup - they are the better Asian team in my opinion, I consider JApan to be a little overrated.

I'm looking forward to the Mexico/Iran/Angola/Portugal group, it has a nice blend of teams.

[johnnywinternoshow]

I always get behind holland and spain but they never get very far.

[samantha.]

I like your predictions about Australia, haha. But seriously, I do hope that they go far.

[Пятхъдесят Шест]

I would love to see a 'new' winner this year. A nation that has never won it before.

Argentina always has a great line-up, but they lack something their former teams of the 70s and 80s had. What a joke that 02 squad was...

I can't seem to get past Brazil. While there are a lot of teams that could potentially pull it off, none of those teams really match up well against them.
I mean, they can pull off just about anything...I mean...well...look....http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...29759841098031(WARNING: MAY BRING BACK AWFUL MEMORIES FOR ENGLISH FANS)

[Пятхъдесят Шест]

So I'm bumping a thread that was never very popular but may attract more attention being so close to the tournament.

AND

The US line up has been announced and I'm totally into it! Best team the US has ever put on the pitch. Perhaps we will surprise....

[krastian]

I'm pretty pumped to watch some good soccer. The MLS is ok, but I'm ready to watch some World Cup action.

[terminal pharmacy]

im pretty excited because aus have not made a world cup for 32 years or something, now they are going to win, hehehe

[Пятхъдесят Шест]

Probably won't win. But I do believe the socceroos will be heard.

[redienhcshcir]

Originally Posted by Пятхъдесят Шест

The US line up has been announced and I'm totally into it! Best team the US has ever put on the pitch. Perhaps we will surprise....

USA v. Czech Rep = L
USA v. Italy = L
USA v. Ghana = T

Tough group in '06. No quarterfinals this time, sorry.

[candymoan]

everyone looks at me in amazement when i predict at least quarter finals for the US.. i think they're about to change "the beautiful game" with new strategies and innovative gameplay..

and yes, they probably will take the fun out of it too..

brazil seems to be a sure win, england will surely dissapoint..

any surprises?

[Rocekt123]

Australia is in the world cup for first time in 32 years we can't wait, the whole country will be watching.

[h8kurdt]

England are now seriously screwed now that Rooney is out probably be either France or Brazil that'll win.

By the way it's football not Soccer.

[Bertrand]

How come so many people get ready to be disappointed by England? I was about to bet with some friends that they'd be there in the 1/4. They have more great mid-field players (Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham) that they ever had (Ince was alone, and so was Gascoygne - but was he a mid-field? - that guy was a wonder - even though the only thing for which I seem to remember him is that yellow card he received for watching the referee while lying on his belly, a shoulder on the ball, his jaw resting in his hand).

Rooney out? Was he injured? What happened? Who's supposed to take his place?

France would win? As it's my nation, I'm fed with information about the players. And I doubt it. Zidane is still a great player (as Beckham), but there's noone as good as him in his sector. There's some hope for Ribery (plays in Marseille) to join the team, but if not, Zidane would be the only talented player in the attacking-mid-field sector. And there are some fears about the defence.
Well well... As the selection hasn't been revealed yet, all we can do is speculate.
Once it's done, I might throw in some comments about the players you've never heard of, so that the bets mean something (and I'm hoping to see a few things here too about the Netherlands - Van Basten didn't select Seedorf, can you believe that).
As for Brazil, well... I don't know who could beat them. Perhaps, if the selectioner only kept players whose name started by the same letter, other teams would have a chance... and it would be so sportsmanlike that I would applause.

[Пятхъдесят Шест]

France is no where near as strong as they have been in previous competions!

The Netherlands lineup is a total farce! Seedorf not even a reserve?!?!

Thats too bad about Rooney, I thought he was only supposed to be out for a month though? That would mean he could be in the line up at least for second round games (supposing England gets out of that group).

I don't think the Czech Republic is nearly as good as many are making them out to be. Plus Nedved is a douche.

[holy-reverb!!]

Group F-Brazil, Australia.

good luck with australia. the last time they played Croatia it was 4 or 5 nothing Croatia.

[Пятхъдесят Шест]

Friendlys mean piss!

They've done quite well at a few Confederation Cups. And they have Hiddick at the helm.

[holy-reverb!!]

Just look at France in 2002. It will show you something about the world cup. You can never predict who will win what game. Unless in involves Australia.

[Пятхъдесят Шест]

Lets put a wager on it!