*** Official 2010 World Cup Thread ***

[The Gun Of Bavaria]

[Bruce Banner]

Thats a cool logo.

[Irish Jet]

Anyone but the French. Yes, even the English over the ****ing French!

Bastards!

[The Gun Of Bavaria]

Anyone but the French. Yes, even the English over the ****ing French!

Bastards!

I'd seriously enjoy watching North Korea win the World Cup before the French.

[CrazyCarl40]

I wonder if I'm the only person in the world that could care less about the world cup.

[Jetsfan80]

I wonder if I'm the only person in the world that could care less about the world cup.

Seriously, what else are you gonna do for the next month? Your Red Sox are in 4th, if you root for the Celtics, they'll be knocked out before the end of group play even if the series goes 7 games, and Hard Knocks isn't on until August.

This is all that matters IN THE WORLD from June 11 to July 11. Time to get on board with the rest of us.

[CrazyCarl40]

Seriously, what else are you gonna do for the next month? Your Red Sox are in 4th, if you root for the Celtics, they'll be knocked out before the end of group play even if the series goes 7 games, and Hard Knocks isn't on until August.

This is all that matters IN THE WORLD from June 11 to July 11. Time to get on board with the rest of us.

The Sox are turning it around. I don't even follow the NBA and the Celts/Lakers is awful. Stanley Cup was pretty good last night. I just don't like soccer. It's boring. I know the world loves it, but I don't.

[Jetsfan80]

Fair enough Carl. Back to the topic....

I think Argentina is the most intriguing side in the World Cup. Lionel Messi is easily the best player in the world thanks to a low center of gravity combined with incredible skill.

However, head coach Diego Maradona, hero to Argentinians since winning them the Cup in 1986, is insane, and had ZERO international coaching experience when he was hired to coach Argentina.

They're in a relatively easy group, but it wouldn't surprise me if they managed to barely squeak by in group play and lose in their first knockout stage game, nor would it surprise me if they won the whole thing.

[Irish Jet]

Fair enough Carl. Back to the topic....

I think Argentina is the most intriguing side in the World Cup. Lionel Messi is easily the best player in the world thanks to a low center of gravity combined with incredible skill.

However, head coach Diego Maradona, hero to Argentinians since winning them the Cup in 1986, is insane, and had ZERO international coaching experience when he was hired to coach Argentina.

They're in a relatively easy group, but it wouldn't surprise me if they managed to barely squeak by in group play and lose in their first knockout stage game, nor would it surprise me if they won the whole thing.

Maradona is ****ing retarded. Left out Javier Zanetti and Estaban Cambiasso, two players that should walk into ANY team in the world.

They have a lot of great players, especially going forward but Messi has yet to ever really produce for them. The team just doesn't seem to work, mostly because of that ****ing headcase of a manager.

The team I like - Holland, think they'll be very dangerous. Van Persie looked great coming back from injury for Arsenal and it's obvious how good Robben and Sneijder are.

[Bruce Banner]

Maradona is ****ing retarded. Left out Javier Zanetti and Estaban Cambiasso, two players that should walk into ANY team in the world.

They have a lot of great players, especially going forward but Messi has yet to ever really produce for them. The team just doesn't seem to work, mostly because of that ****ing headcase of a manager.

The team I like - Holland, think they'll be very dangerous. Van Persie looked great coming back from injury for Arsenal and it's obvious how good Robben and Sneijder are.

But Holland looks good every year and never does anything.

[Irish Jet]

But Holland looks good every year and never does anything.

True, but still. I like what they have, think the team is nicely balanced too, they'll come through some year.

Both Brazil and Argentina ****ed up their selections IMO. I mean you cannot justify leaving Ronaldinho at home. I know he's not what he was and he doesn't track back at all but he's still easily one of the of the most skilled attacking players in the game. So many times he carried AC Milan this year, was every bit as good as Kaka was at AC Milan and even better than he was this season.

Strange, especially when you look at some of the wasters they took ahead of him too.

Spains team is ridiculous, I mean you culd make two world class teams from that squad. Don't see them winning though, they rmeind of Brazil entering the last world cup.

Anyone but the French.

[Irish Jet]

I'd seriously enjoy watching North Korea win the World Cup before the French.

Communism > Being French

[Panzer Division Marduk]

I'd seriously enjoy watching North Korea win the World Cup before the French.

I would love to see the North Korean coverage of World Cup. They probably have teams of specially kidnapped actors ready to recreate all the matches according to the Propaganda Ministry's script. So while everybody's watching a Brazil - Spain final or something like that, your average Kim in Pyongyang will be watching a World Cup final of the USA versus North Korea.

Of course, the evil capitalist Americans will not stand a chance against the superior physical, mental and moral skills of socialist workers. The North Koreans, (cheered on by their Southern brothers, who withdrew from the semi-final rather than play them, as it was obviously a Western plot to further divide these peace loving people) will win 12-0, and when the trophy is being presented, Kim Jong-Il will drive a golf ball into the Jules Rimet trophy from a mile away.

Everyone in North Korea will then be allowed an extra 5 grains of rice in their daily ration to celebrate this famous victory.

[Jetsfan80]

That was brilliant, Panzer.

[Irish Jet]

I would love to see the North Korean coverage of World Cup. They probably have teams of specially kidnapped actors ready to recreate all the matches according to the Propaganda Ministry's script. So while everybody's watching a Brazil - Spain final or something like that, your average Kim in Pyongyang will be watching a World Cup final of the USA versus North Korea.

Of course, the evil capitalist Americans will not stand a chance against the superior physical, mental and moral skills of socialist workers. The North Koreans, (cheered on by their Southern brothers, who withdrew from the semi-final rather than play them, as it was obviously a Western plot to further divide these peace loving people) will win 12-0, and when the trophy is being presented, Kim Jong-Il will drive a golf ball into the Jules Rimet trophy from a mile away.

Everyone in North Korea will then be allowed an extra 5 grains of rice in their daily ration to celebrate this famous victory.

[PFSIKH]

I would love to see the North Korean coverage of World Cup. They probably have teams of specially kidnapped actors ready to recreate all the matches according to the Propaganda Ministry's script. So while everybody's watching a Brazil - Spain final or something like that, your average Kim in Pyongyang will be watching a World Cup final of the USA versus North Korea.

Of course, the evil capitalist Americans will not stand a chance against the superior physical, mental and moral skills of socialist workers. The North Koreans, (cheered on by their Southern brothers, who withdrew from the semi-final rather than play them, as it was obviously a Western plot to further divide these peace loving people) will win 12-0, and when the trophy is being presented, Kim Jong-Il will drive a golf ball into the Jules Rimet trophy from a mile away.

Everyone in North Korea will then be allowed an extra 5 grains of rice in their daily ration to celebrate this famous victory.

Nice.

[Thor99]

Drogba out for the Ivory Coast.

There's a lot of star power missing from this tourney.

[Jetsfan80]

Drogba out for the Ivory Coast.

There's a lot of star power missing from this tourney.

Ballack, Drogba, Ronaldinho.....is Rooney out too?

This could actually mean BETTER football though. Sometimes teams depend on their stars too much, and not having them may encourage them to circle the wagons. Or maybe I'm talking out of my ass.

[Bruce Banner]

Ballack, Drogba, Ronaldinho.....is Rooney out too?

This could actually mean BETTER football though. Sometimes teams depend on their stars too much, and not having them may encourage them to circle the wagons. Or maybe I'm talking out of my ass.

And sometimes the biggest stars are over the hill. Every year a WC team cripples themselves by loading up on has beens.

[Thai Jet]

I'd seriously enjoy watching North Korea win the World Cup before the French.

Now THAT'S saying a lot !

[Thai Jet]

Drogba out for the Ivory Coast.

There's a lot of star power missing from this tourney.

ERRRRRR yeah I guess so.

[Bruce Banner]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5247372/ce/us/roster-restricts-north-korea-striker-keeper?cc=5901&ver=us

A striker for North Korea's national team can't be used as a field player at the World Cup because he was listed as a goalkeeper on the official 23-man squad, FIFA said Thursday.

Kim Myong Won, a forward for club team Amrokgang, was listed as a goalkeeper in the final squad submitted to FIFA by North Korea coach Kim Jong Hun. The deadline for the 23-man rosters was Tuesday.

"The three players listed as goalkeepers can only play as goalkeepers during the FIFA World Cup and cannot play outfield," FIFA said. "Kim Myong Won will not be allowed to play as an outfield player if he has been put on the list as a goalkeeper."

All 32 teams competing at the World Cup were required to submit a 30-man squad to FIFA by May 11. From those squads, the teams then had to trim to 23 by June 1, with exceptions only for injuries.

North Korea, however, submitted only a 23-man squad by May 11, and sent in the same list for Tuesday's deadline.

The North Korean team arrived in Johannesburg on Wednesday and apparently canceled a training session scheduled for Thursday. No one with the team was immediately available for comment.

In North Korea, Kim is known as a powerful striker, and his ability to sprint earned him the nickname "The Chariot."

At the World Cup, North Korea will face Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast in Group G. Before that, the team has a friendly against Nigeria on Sunday.

The last time the North Koreans qualified for the World Cup was 1966, when they reached the quarterfinals, but then lost 5-3 to Portugal despite leading 3-0.

[Irish Jet]

Robben injured now, always been his problem. They're saying he'll make it though. He would be easily the best player out of the injuries thus far.

As long as Ronaldo, Rooney and Messi are there, the star power will be fine.

[Jetsfan80]

Predictions time:

GROUP PLAY

GROUP A

1. Uruguay

2. Mexico

3. France

4. South Africa

GROUP B

1. Argentina

2. Nigeria

3. Greece

4. South Korea

GROUP C

1. England

2. United States

3. Algeria

4. Slovakia

GROUP D

1. Ghana

2. Germany

3. Serbia

4. Australia

GROUP E

1. Netherlands

2. Cameroon

3. Denmark

4. Japan

GROUP F

1. Italy

2. Paraguay

3. Slovakia

4. New Zealand

GROUP G

1. Brazil

2. Portugal

3. Ivory Coast

4. North Korea

GROUP H

1. Spain

2. Honduras

3. Chile

4. Switzerland

ROUND OF 16

(B2) Nigeria over (A1) Uruguay

(C1) England over (D2) Germany

(E1) Netherlands over (F2) Paraguay

(G1) Brazil over (H2) Honduras

(B1) Argentina over (A2) Mexico

(C2) United States over (D1) Ghana

(E2) Cameroon over (F1) Italy

(H1) Spain over (G2) Portugal

QUARTERFINALS

England over Nigeria

Brazil over Netherlands

United States over Argentina

Spain over Cameroon

SEMI-FINALS

Brazil over England

Spain over United States

WORLD CUP FINAL

Brazil 3, Spain 2

[Bruce Banner]

Your predicting 3 African teams make it to the second round when usually only one does. And your predicting that the host country doesn't make it when history shows a tremendous home field advantage for the WC. So I'm going to say that South Africa makes it to the second round and only one other African country does. Just playing the odds here.

Spain and Holland are the two biggest underachieving teams in the history of the WC and you have them making it to the final. I doubt this will happen, but it would make those team's fans very happy to finally get over the hump.

No country bribes the refs better than South Korea. I think you forgot to take that into account.

[Jetsfan80]

Your predicting 3 African teams make it to the second round when usually only one does. And your predicting that the host country doesn't make it when history shows a tremendous home field advantage for the WC. So I'm going to say that South Africa makes it to the second round and only one other African country does. Just playing the odds here.

Teams playing in their own backyard have an edge, and that goes for ALL the African nations in the World Cup. Also, Cameroon and Nigeria are legit top 20 teams in the world, and are good enough to advance even without playing in their own continent. Ghana is my "sleeper pick".

Meanwhile, South Africa is a feeble team in a tough group, and while I'd like to see the host team move on (this would be the first time that the host team does NOT move on in WC history), their coach himself said it'll be like "climbing Mount Everest" to get through. I'll take his word for it.

Spain and Holland are the two biggest underachieving teams in the history of the WC and you have them making it to the final. I doubt this will happen, but it would make those team's fans very happy to finally get over the hump.

Yeah well Spain has only lost 1 match in their last 45, and that was to the US. I'll take my chances with them.

Netherlands is a bit out of left field as a champion pick, I'll admit (even though they're # 4 in the world, most have either Spain or Brazil winning the whole thing), but I'm just going to be honest and say that I'm just enamored with the orange jerseys as well as their style of play. And Robben, if healthy, is awesome.

No country bribes the refs better than South Korea. I think you forgot to take that into account.

They'll need to do a LOT of bribing then.

[Bruce Banner]

They'll need to do a LOT of bribing then.

cJYBV9BXQNY

[Jetsfan80]

With Robben not making the trip to South Africa, I'm forced to change my predictions. Brazil is my champion rather than Netherlands. Sad.

[Otter]

GROUP PLAY

GROUP A

1. France

2. Mexico

3. Uruguay

4. South Africa

GROUP B

1. Argentina

2. Nigeria

3. South Korea

4. Greece

GROUP C

1. England

2. United States

3. Algeria

4. Slovakia

GROUP D

1. Germany

2. Serbia

3. Ghana

4. Australia

GROUP E

1. Netherlands

2. Cameroon

3. Denmark

4. Japan

GROUP F

1. Italy

2. Paraguay

3. Slovakia

4. New Zealand

GROUP G

1. Brazil

2. Portugal

3. Ivory Coast

4. North Korea

GROUP H

1. Spain

2. Chile

3. Switzerland

4. Honduras

Round of 16

France (A1) over Nigeria (B2)

Serbia (D2) over England (C1) PK's

Netherlands (E1) over Paraguay (F2)

Brazil (G1) over Chile (H2)

Argentina (B1) over Mexico (A2)

Germany (D1) over USA (C2)

Italy (F1) over Cameroon (E2)

Portugal (G2) over Spain (H1)

Quarterfinals

Serbia over France

Netherlands over Brazil

Argentina over Germany

Portugal over Italy

Semifinals

Netherlands over Serbia

Argentina over Portugal

Final

Netherlands over Argentina

[Bruce Banner]

I've thought it over and decided that having Maradona as coach takes Argentina out of contention.

Brazil is supposedly light on stars this year. Meanwhile underperforming stars has been their main problem for the last few years. I'm feeling it for Brazil.

[Irish Jet]

I've thought it over and decided that having Maradona as coach takes Argentina out of contention.

Brazil is supposedly light on stars this year. Meanwhile underperforming stars has been their main problem for the last few years. I'm feeling it for Brazil.

I really just don't think they're that good.

Ronaldinho would easily be the best attacking player on that team, I'd honestly take him over Kaka (Who really may be the most overrated player in the world) in a heartbeat. Heck I'd even take Fat Ronaldo over some of their current strikers.

Think they're filled with overrated players - Kaka, Robinho etc.

Still, in a place like South Africa especially they always have a chance.

[Irish Jet]

With Robben not making the trip to South Africa

He's making the trip, he'll only miss the opening game or two IMO.

[Irish Jet]

GROUP PLAY

GROUP A

1. France

2. South Africa

3. Mexico

4. Uruguay

GROUP B

1. Argentina

2. Nigeria

3. Greece

4. South Korea

GROUP C

1. England

2. United States

3. Slovakia

4. Algeria

GROUP D

1. Serbia

2. Germany

3. Australia

4. Ghana

GROUP E

1. Netherlands

2. Cameroon

3. Denmark

4. Japan

GROUP F

1. Italy

2. Paraguay

3. Slovakia

4. New Zealand

GROUP G

1. Brazil

2. Portugal

3. Ivory Coast

4. North Korea

GROUP H

1. Spain

2. Switzerland

3. Honduras

4. Chile

ROUND OF 16

(B2) Nigeria over (A1) France

(C1) England over (D2) Germany

(E1) Netherlands over (F2) Paraguay

(G1) Brazil over (H2) Switzerland

(B1) Argentina over (A2) South Africa

(C2) United States over (D1) Ghana

(E2) Italy over (F1) Cameroon

(H1) Portugal over (G2) Spain

QUARTERFINALS

England over France

Netherlands over Brazil

Argentina over USA

Italy over Portugal

SEMI-FINALS

Netherlands over England

Italy over Argentina

WORLD CUP FINAL

Netherlands 1 Italy 1 (Netherlands win on Pens)

__________________

[Irish Jet]

Damn, Nani out of the World Cup too, he was in absolutely great form down the stretch for United and really wanted to see him break out in South Africa.

[Bruce Banner]

QUARTERFINALS

England over France

Is this going to a tough game for the Irish to watch?