FIFA World Cup 2006

im an american and i root for usa first and england second. i dont know what it is, i guess of all the world powers they always seem like the underdog, like they always have a shot of winning the whole thing, be it world cup or euro cup or whatever, but never can quite pull it all together. they get injured, sent off, their d falls apart... i just always end up pulling for them. plus i love the premiership, so i am very familiar with englands best players.

owen is healthy supposedly, they have one of the best midfields in the world, robinson is a large step up from james... their defense looks really good on paper, even though they might be a bit overrated. but all in all, that adds up to a quality squad, one thats good enough to have a chance to win the whole thing.

but you could say the same about the team in euro 2004. although the arguement is there for bullshit with the goal that was taken away against the portugese, their defense didnt play like they deserved to win throughout that tournament, and on set plays they paid because of it. the emergence of john terry should get rid of that, but who knows.

in the end, this is brazils tourney to lose. ronaldo, adriano, robinho, ronaldinho, kaka, juninho, silva... just look at that attack, who can keep up with that? czech republic could challenge maybe... and then england and the netherlands are my dark horses. it'll be one of those 4, but probably brazil.

ive been looking forward to this tournament since euro04, i cant wait for this to kick off.

btw i also hate when an nba or mlb champ is called a world champion. bullshit, america. shame on you.

As usual I'll be rooting for Brazil, it's just that it's fun to watch them play. I'm hoping the US keeps improving as they have in the past Cups.

thanks brother!

usa would have a good chance of doing a bit of damage if they werent in one of the toughest groups in the tournament. its unfortunate, id love to see them build upon last years success. i remember watching them beat portugal and just flipping out each goal that hit the back of the net.

and who knows, totti may not be playing so maybe they can sneak a tie from italy and beat ghana and advance on goal differential. fingers crossed, i just dont think it'll happen...

I don't really rate the current England team, so I'll just be watching it for the sake of football.

I would've rated you had Rooney not done his hoof in, Charlie. I hope he gets his chance to shine - it would be a poorer cup without him.

[QUOTE=TheCynic]thanks brother!

usa would have a good chance of doing a bit of damage if they werent in one of the toughest groups in the tournament. its unfortunate, id love to see them build upon last years success. [QUOTE]

Yeah, I remember when they announced the groupings. "Group of Death". I just don't see how the US will get out of a group with Czech Republic and Italy. The Czech team was quite good at Euro 2004. I have a bit of a soft spot for them.

I will root for both England and the US, but as the US is more than likely screwed (can they get past Italy is the real question), I suspect I'll get to watch England go a bit further. However, that all begs the question, will England come second or first in their group. I was chating with a friend yesterday and he mentioned the fact that if England come second to Sweden in the group, they'll probably face Germany. Germany at home. Ah, that just is not a good thing. Home teams always do great (look at the US a couple years back and Japan at the last world cup). I wait with baited breath on this one.

Also, please a moment of silence for Arsenal's loss to Barcelona last night in the Champion's League.

I agree that Brazil are the favourites, but I don't think they'll walk it like last time. I reckon they are relying a lot on Ronaldo - who doesn't look fit. Adriano and company might thump in tons of goals in friendlies but the World Cup is something entirely different.

If Riquelme hits form Argentina will be a tough proposition (especially if Messi lives up to his potential).

Both Portugal and Spain are packed with quality players.

England are defintely in with a great chance. I suspect Rooney will be available in the knock-out phases so it's up to Sven to get his tactics right in the group games. What formation he'll go with is anyone's guess.

According to the papers he's considering playing Gerrard as a deep striker. I can't see how this will work with Owen up front. Owen is many things, but a target man he isn't. His slight physique means defenders only have to bump him softly and he loses the ball. The obvious fix is putting someone like Crouch up front who can hold the ball up. The downside is you're taking England's deadliest finisher - a proven 'big game' performer - out of the side.

Whatever his choice I think Sven's got to let Lampard and Beckham know that Gerrard is the playmaker. Far too often you see Lampard looking at Gerrard and Gerrard looking at Beckham all thinking who's going to run the show. The FA Cup final proved that Gerrard has what it takes. The other two should assume supporting roles.

England will have to do something innovative to cope without Rooney, and with Eriksson in charge, I sincerely doubt that they will do. I'd like to see them do well, though, because otherwise the TV coverage will get very lacklustre.

Brazil have a lot of fancy-dans who're having trouble hitting form (Ronaldo, Adriano - at least earlier in the season) and I could see Ronaldinho being frustrated by his teammates.

Every tournament is seen as the time when Spain can truly shine, and I hope they actually manage it this year, Torres is a phenomenal player. It'd be nice to see someone new win.

Argentina look like a really strong side - but it's worth noting, fact fans, that Brazil are the only team to have won the World Cup outside of their own hemisphere. They're also in a pretty tricky group with Holland, and the strong, but relative unknown quantities of Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro

As Northern Ireland have been in the World Cup once in my lifetime (and there are political problems with supporting the side, too,) I'll be watching the tournament for the love of the game, again. Hopefully there'll be some more Brazil-Ecuador style antics.



Ade - I was in the US during Euro 2004, and it was quite difficult to catch games, not just because of the time difference. For the final, some bars were charging a fairly steep admission charge ($20+) because of the cost of screening the matches. That said, it might be easier to catch games if the USA team are involved.

owen seems to be better played as a shadow striker to me. he can still finish, and there will be crouch and ferdinand to go for headers. plus getting service from gerrard, lampard, beckham... owen will do well. of course the loss of rooney is a huge blow, but england still can do well in the tourney.

Brazil will win. No doubt. No team has the same flair, skill, and overall greatness.

I root the most for the US of A. I hope they improve, although their group is god damned.

I like England, and I think they'll be really good this time around. Gerrard is bound to come alive sometime on the world stage. This might be his time. What a fantastic midfield.

Spain *choke* Spain *choke* as always.

It's more of a shame that Eto'o isn't playing than Rooney.

I just have little faith in Sven and the team. They're a decent bunch of players, but they play dull football that never seems to win anything. Plus, Sven seems to ignore a lot of good players that don't play for the most successful clubs (Scott Parker, Marcus Bent) in favour of some not great ones (Crouch) that play for big sides. I think Spain will be a side to watch this year though.

I have learned that Spain can always be counted on to screw the pooch in the most absurd manner no matter what. It's written in stone. I will never have high expectations for them until they prove me wrong.

I agree on Eto'o. Even though I despise Barcelona with every fiber of my being, dude can play.

I agree with Charlie about the smaller clubs being ignored, something like 80% of the outfield players come from the top 5 clubs, which is ridiculous. Players like Kevin Nolan, Marlon Harewood, Dean Ashton, and Joey Barton, aren't even considered - I'm not saying they should all be in the squad, but a few friendly appearances would've given them a chance to show if they're good enough. As a Newcastle fan, I'm annoyed that Scott Parker's not been given a chance this season as a holding midfielder, but he's got Glandular Fever, so he wouldn't be at the World Cup anyway.


TheCynic - CROUCH!!? Michael Owen is better in the air than him, (I'm not being facetious, he proved it in the Argentina game). Also, I find it hard to take him seriously because of his uncanny resemblance to Timmy from South Park. England really need a conventional striker in the Shearer mould, who can cause trouble in the box and fight for crosses (though preferably with less reliance on his elbows)

If England get kicked out of the first round, will the press be held accountable and new laws and regulations formed? In light of Scolari's reason for not taking the managing job. (i.e - journalists camped on his garden, etc). Seems doubtful I know, but I'm in the camp that thinks the press really hamper the English side on many levels, as do of course the FA itself, but the FA generally doesnt poke its nose into a manager's affairs and ruin their lives with headlines. Only a man truly desperate for fame and glory would take the England manager job.

I agree that lesser known English players should have a chance in the national side, a manager should be objective and pick players on performance, not hype or because everyone, the media included, expects them to.

I usually support underdog type teams. The last world cup, which was my favourite, I was rooting for Japan and Korea. I'll do the same this year. My family support Turkey, and they also had a good tournament last time, facing Brazil twice and ending up third overall.

i'll be going for argentina and hoping, somehow, they get to play brazil.

england's tournament will end in disappointed as always.

I'll be rooting for England as always. I'm afraid I haven't been keeping up with the premier league for awhile but England were doing well in the last WC before they got knocked out by Brazil, god, that disappointing.

I think Australia may surprise everyone but I think Brazil are the favorites, just as long as they keep the diving and acting to a minimum.

I'll be rooting for the US first and England second. I'm really pleased to see Owen back up to health, but Rooney is a real bummer.

There's just something great about watching England play. The skills they possess really just impress the heck out of me, especially compared to the Americans. Only way I can describe it is "fluid", whereas watching the US play seems a bit sloppy in comparison. Still impressed with their improvement over the past few years (though the now #5 FIFA ranking is way overinflated).

Also, Brazil and France will be fun to watch. And being it's Zidane's last hurrah, it should be interesting.

Ade Brooks: any particular bar/pub in Dallas you go to watch matches?

I'm sorry but the England team selection is quite frankly fucked up.

We will take 2 injured people and leave out Defoe and Bent who are both very good strikers in the vauge hope that Rooney is fit for the final. Oh yeah and we will also take two players who have never played at international level (and one who hasnt even played first team football).

Retarded plain and simple

I'll be cheering for USA of course. They've got experience in McBride/Reyna/Donovan, and of the best goalkeepers in Keller.

I'll be cheering for Argentina 2nd, mainly because thats my dads home country. The best situation would be for U.S. to play Mexico to kick their ass again and for Argentina to play Brazil

i understand holding out hope for rooney, what i dont really understand is taking walcott over another striker. i dont think ive seen him play one minute in the premiereship this season.

All eyes will be on Brazil. I'll be rooting for Brazil and Italy. Argentina will be worthwhile to follow. France and Saudi Arabia--I wonder how far they will reach in Germany? Hopefully the USA can contend with Italy when they meet. IMO--Ghana appears to be the strongest squad from Africa.

?'s:

How will host - Germany do?

Who do you think will be the dark horse of the Cup?

What was your favorite World Cup?

Germany will make it to the quarters. No more.

Australia, if they survive the group.

1994, here in the US. That was a fantastic time.

Sven lost the plot years ago. I think his brain turned to mush when he realized he was picking Emile Heskey two years in a row.

Sadly, the last World Cup was really what got me interested in Soccer (sorry...football). That and my wife played in college and still plays in an amateur league. So, I don't really have a favorite.

I just hope the US gets far enough along that America will pay attention, similar to last time. We go watch FC Dallas play sometimes and the stadium is only 2/3 full. Hopefully, the sport will continue to grow over here.

Having a big name from Europe come over and play for MLS would help, but it's unlikely any would defect for less money.

Here's hoping for USA V Iran fixture, settling their quarrel like real men with the beautiful game.

the usual questions-
how long will it be before the dutch explode and start arguing amongst themselves?
how early will spain encounter swallowing difficulties?
in what round will england dash my dreams yet again by failing to fulfill their potential?

i feel you brits always have unrealistic expectations for this "potential". england, while a very good team, are typically a 2nd tier team. everything would have to go right for them to win it all, but i guess you could say the same thing with everyone else.

I disagree. England is top tier all the way. There are some outstanding players. Problem is they've always been horribly managed...and Seamen was a shitty keeper. I'll always remember Ronaldhino's floater. That was some funny shit.

go and watch that ronaldihno goal again. i've always believed he meant it, and seaman couldn't ever have expected it. seaman crying afterwards was, however, a gas.

excuses. our coach sucks, he's a swede, we had injuries, what a bad call, becks blew the argentina game. what is it gonna be this year? sven again? rooney?

they're never the best team in their group. never. second tier elite. there's always 5 or 6 teams, if not more, that are clearly more talented then them. all of their great players are way overhyped. having the premiership is half the reason why english football is blown out of proportion. becks was waaaay too acclaimed because he was a pretty boy who was fucking a spice girl. great player in his prime but their was better. the one thing i'll give 'em is they don't flop like most countries. high grade's right there from me. again, i think england are one of the better teams when you consider the entire world, top 10, but even if they play up to their potential there's still better teams out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSeen...%20World%20Cup

Intended or not, I still laugh my ass off every time I see it. Incredible.

what's he the marty turco of the football world?

Just hit me where it hurts why don't ya?

Sadly the pub I would go to watch games at is no more. So I will be watching them at home with my wife and son yelling at the TV as usual when I watch football.

I will of course be pulling for the US, but damn they are going to be taking it hard in that group. Also will be pulling for Germany since that is my heritage as well.

There will be plenty of Guinness and German beer going in our house. Of course, I won't be drinking them until the nightly wrap shows.

I am really hoping ESPN/ABC Sports pours their heart into televising it, but I have little to no faith in American sports broadcasters doing the Cup justice. I wish they would just create a soccer/football channel like Fox did so I could get it all on one station and have some hope the Cup will be given its do.

What time are the games starting in the States? Watching 4 years ago was brutal.

Sucks the US has such a tough draw, but I can see a 1-1-1 scenerio and a possible second round birth if everything goes right.

Here is a nice schedule of matches that we'll be able to watch here in the US.

http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006...6/cup_sked.htm

What I like the most is no commercials during the match.

I would also. I can just see them cutting away and during that time a goal was made.

I like your Avatar Ade and in celebration of the World Cup I had to display my favorite player at the moment. Wish I had a better avatar of him though.