FIFA World Cup: South Africa 2010

[Fresh8]

10 days until the World Cup! Thought I might as well start a thread about it.

So to kick things off, any predictions?

Final: Spain v Brazil
Winner: Brazil
Golden Boot: Leo Messi
Random: I reckon England is going to choke again... and Australia will shock the world when they make it out of the group stage!

[The X]

10 days until the World Cup! Thought I might as well start a thread about it.

So to kick things off, any predictions?

Final: Spain v Brazil
Winner: Brazil
Golden Boot: Leo Messi
Random: I reckon England is going to choke again... and Australia will shock the world when they make it out of the group stage!

It won't be a shock because after Germany, all the teams in that Group are pretty even. Serbia lost 1-0 to New Zealand at home the other day & one of Ghana's key players is injured & out of World Cup. So no, it wouldn't be a shock. I still don't expect them to advance.

I can definitely see Spain in Finals. I think I had the Dutch beating them in the Final. Messi won't win Golden Boot.

[Fresh8]

I don't think many people rate the Aussies to get through so I still think it would be a shock to them if we did make it. I think our boys have what it takes. Will be interesting as we have a tough group to navigate.

As for Golden Boot, Messi has a shot I think. Other than him, I'm thinking maybe Wayne Rooney (if healthy), David Villa or Fernando Torres.

[J@3]

I don't think we'll get out of the group, I really don't like the look of the team this time around. The defenders are too old/crap and I'm sick of this one striker formation.

I can't remember what I predicted in the football thread, i will look it up...

Semi's:
England v Brazil
Germany v Spain

Final:
Brazil v Spain

Winner:
Brazil

I'll stick with that. I think Spain is probably more likely to beat them but Brazil are playing a fairly different style these days so it might help them against European teams.

[NovU]

Is there profesional soccer league in Australia? I have to admit that I was bit surprised to see your team making it to the World Cup, twice(?) in a row.

Final: Italy VS Brazil
Winner: Brazil

[J@3]

Yeah we have a pretty decent professional league. The A-League it's called. Our teams participate in the Asian Champions League and we've had a few decent name players (Juninho, Mario Jardel, Robbie Fowler) come over and play.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-League

[Fresh8]

Is there profesional soccer league in Australia? I have to admit that I was bit surprised to see your team making it to the World Cup, twice(?) in a row.

Zanshadow, the Australian national team is comprised of a lot of players from overseas - we won't have many domestic league players going to the World Cup. No superstars but a solid squad. We were in Oceania until after the 06 World Cup... we qualified after beating Uruguay in a playoff for 2006. As for 2010, we qualified through the Asian route.

Jae, I think that if the defence holds up and Josh Kennedy can find the net, we could sneak through. We shall see what happens. I'm rooting for them regardless due to patriotism... once they are out, I go for France.

[kibaxx7]

If Maradona gets past the Round of 16, he's the new champion.

[Martti.]

Germany, Argentina, Portugal or Spain. I hope it's Argentina or Portugal. Golden Shoe will probably go to Messi or Podolski.

Italy has a strong squad, but they lack strikers. No Toni, Del Piero or Balotelli.

I doubt Brazil will win, they failed miserably last WC.

[newc]

unfortunately Latvia didn't qualify, but I will still follow the greatest sports event of the year!

I think, that Spain will win this, they have a very strong squad, but Italy could make some surprises too - It's not hard to imagine them winning all the games with a score 1-0 and get the trophy

And I agree to martti - Brazil won't win this year. They will loose to Portugal in group stage and then get eliminated by Spain in 1/8 finals.

[Oznogrd]

http://www.worldcupbuzz.com/espns-2010- ... up-murals/

Just...Wow.. words cant describe those murals

[J@3]

ESPN, destroying racial stereotypes one mural at a time.

[shadowgrin]

Australia got shafted.

[Sauru]

clearly the US is gonna win it all

[Phil89]

My pick is for Spain to win it. Brazil and Argentina as always are capable of winning it, but it may depend on Maradona and Dunga.

South Africa might do a South Korea from 2002 in front of their home crowd. They've had a good run in and I don't think France are as tough as they used to be. Domenech is rubbish. Plus there's the whole Henry handball karma situation hanging over them.

As for Australia, I think if we can draw against Germany in the first game we can get through. Defensively I think we are pretty solid. The only thing I'm concerned about is that Cahill is our only realistic scoring option. I'm not really a fan of Kennedy.

clearly the US is gonna win it all

You actually have to beat teams from other countries to be World Champions in this sport

[hova-]

Most Aussies play in the EPL anyway, so they need to be considered for second place in their group. Might sound cocky, but I expect Germany to advance at first. I know it will be hard but damn we were 2nd in EC and 3rd in the last WC so Semis must be our goal again. Even without Ballack, Rolfes, Westermann and Adler the team is still good enough to make it far.

Watch out Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, those two guys will stand out for Germany in this tourney. Schweinsteiger, Podolski and Lahm will be the team's core.

For golden boot I'd go with a Spaniard, Torres or Villa, simply because the benefit from the whole team's great play and are very effective with their chances. In order to shoot many goals, you need to stay in the tourney for a maximum of games and that's given for Spain.

I don't want to predict the finals, but teams that I see in the Semis are:

Spain, Brazil, Germany and one underdog (maybe an african team because they play at home, although none of them are pretty good this WC)

[Murat]

Most Aussies play in the EPL anyway, so they need to be considered for second place in their group. Might sound cocky, but I expect Germany to advance at first. I know it will be hard but damn we were 2nd in EC and 3rd in the last WC so Semis must be our goal again. Even without Ballack, Rolfes, Westermann and Adler the team is still good enough to make it far.

Watch out Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, those two guys will stand out for Germany in this tourney. Schweinsteiger, Podolski and Lahm will be the team's core.

For golden boot I'd go with a Spaniard, Torres or Villa, simply because the benefit from the whole team's great play and are very effective with their chances. In order to shoot many goals, you need to stay in the tourney for a maximum of games and that's given for Spain.

I don't want to predict the finals, but teams that I see in the Semis are:

Spain, Brazil, Germany and one underdog (maybe an african team because they play at home, although none of them are pretty good this WC)

No! Mesut Özil is ours! Not yours! Mesut Özil is Turkey's! Serdar Taşçı too! But he betrayed to us because Germany is better! I hate them!

Final: Uruguay vs. North Korea
Winner: With penalties

[Phil89]

North Korea being there is interesting. Nobody really seems to know anything about them.

Imagine if they were just tanking in the qualifying games and secretly they are all super skilled, having been training since birth in a secret North Korean football camp.

[Cartar]

Would anybody be interested in making prediction game(e.g at Yahoo)? Something like we did it with NBA.

[shadowgrin]

Sure. Do it! Make a separate thread for it.

[Cartar]

Made the league, here's the link. League ID: 34178 Password: McDwyane

[Oznogrd]

So i watched the first game during lecture on the side of my computer beside my notes. I will never understand this sport and think it should be renamed "faffing about" For some reason though, its still entertaining.

Was hoping for a Mexico win so the host country would have a loss. oh well

[Phil89]

I joined the league Cartar. Almost got the first game prediction right, but Mexico had a goal disallowed so it was only 1-1.

[kibaxx7]

Boring first day... only Bafana Bafana's goal was worth it.

[The X]

Boring first day... only Bafana Bafana's goal was worth it.

I wouldn't say that. Mexico-South Africa game was pretty entertaining. I stayed up until 2am watching it. Wisely went to bed & taped France game, which I mostly fast forwarded through. Had a feeling it would be boring since Uruguay games always tend to be that way