World Cup...Germany 2006
 

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

This is the worst ordered list ever. Did you even try to come up with a way it would be easy to find teams? Maybe alphabetical? Maybe by world ranking? Maybe by groups? Maybe by georgraphical location?

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

it looks like it's ordered approximately by the odds against winning the WC. I bet he just copied it from a sportsbook somewhere

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lol
they start off just in order of their chance in my opinion,then kind of get listed by continent [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

However, if you don't know if a certain country is in the World cup, they probably won't win!

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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it looks like it's ordered approximately by the odds against winning the WC. I bet he just copied it from a sportsbook somewhere

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If some sportsbook really has Italy over Czech, where can I put my money down?

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

lol funny someone voted for the US [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Brazil, Italy and Argentina are the front runners imo, then we could probably have a semi-surprise with Portugal, Czech Republic or England.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

I doubt any sportsbook would have Germany 2nd favourite.

I agree about Czech though, I think they are slight favourite to beat Italy and miss Brazil in the last 16.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

in my opinion........

If England can get past Argentina in the last 8, they get to lose to Brazil in the semi which will give us English something to get excited about.
In the other half of the draw, Germany v Netherlands in the last 8 may decide the other finalist, although they will have to get past France/czech or Italy in the semis.

1st Brazil
2nd Germany/Netherlands

I can't see any african side getting through the groups, and South Korea and Saudi Arabia from Asia only have slim chances so maybe no african no asian in the last 16!

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

Germany is horribly overrated, even with the home factor I think they're going out very fast.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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Germany is horribly overrated, even with the home factor I think they're going out very fast.

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I don't think many people rate Germany highly.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

Real Contenders:
Brazil (although, their backline looks a little shaky, they've got the players who can score 4 if their defence gives up 3)
Argentina (Look super strong, Requilme is probably only second to Ronaldinho as player of the season imo)
The Netherlands (Marco Van Basten seems to have got together a very strong lineup he's comfortable with)
France (Look good, but nothing compared to the '98 team, Zidane is beginning to look his age)

Second Teir:
England (Horribly, horribly overrated: rely far too heavily on Rooney, and have a tactically inflexible manager)
Czech Republic
Italy
Germany
Spain
Portugal


Potential surprise teams:
USA (Given their draw, I'll be surprised if they make it our of their group)
Ivory Coast (best of the Africans imo, also in a pretty tough group)
Ukraine
Australia (OK, that one's a bit of bias on my part, but I do think they'll make the second round)

Teams most likely to be on the wrong sides of thrashings:
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

I agree with most of that except for two things:

a) England has one of the best midfields in the world, Lampard and Gerrard are unbelievable

b) Italy is fantastic, imho the most balanced team in the world.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

I'm with Kneeel, the feeling I get is that everyone has written Germany off.....and yes Teams like Brazil and Netherlands look a lot stronger, the fact that Germany made the final last time with a very ordinary team shows that they, as always, will not go out easily.....add in the home advantage and this is why I think it is them or Netherlands in the final with Brazil.
Having said that, they could also lose 5-0 to Netherlands!

Interestingly, Germany just whipped usa 4-1 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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I'm with Kneeel, the feeling I get is that everyone has written Germany off.....and yes Teams like Brazil and Netherlands look a lot stronger, the fact that Germany made the final last time with a very ordinary team shows that they, as always, will not go out easily.....add in the home advantage and this is why I think it is them or Netherlands in the final with Brazil.
Having said that, they could also lose 5-0 to Netherlands!

Interestingly, Germany just whipped usa 4-1 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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I was in Germany for that game...walked into a bar...saw about 30 dudes watching the game...looked up at the TV, saw 4-1, and proudly/jokingly proclaimed "we'll get you this summer!! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]".

so I didn't see the game, but the result is very concerning.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

Ok, USA are not the team they used to be, they know how to play, but can you honestly see them getting past Italy or the Czechs?
Even if they scraped 2nd, Brazil await them [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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Interestingly, Germany just whipped usa 4-1 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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I'm pretty sure the US team played only 1 or 2 of their starters for that game. Arena still had/has a couple rosters spots to fill and wanted to give alot of guys on the bubble some PT.

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Ok, USA are not the team they used to be, they know how to play, but can you honestly see them getting past Italy or the Czechs?

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I think we got jobbed on the draw. certainly compared to Mexico, who I think we deserved to be in front of.

anyways, no I'm not optimistic about getting out of round 1. Italy and Czech are clearly better. but far stranger things have happened.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

yeah, Mexico have a great draw for round 1.....although they'll go out round 2 like the last 3 world cups.

Germany's win v usa doesn't mean a huge amount i know, just like us beating them 5-1 meant nothing when it came to last world cup, when it matters is when it matters

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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Ok, USA are not the team they used to be, they know how to play, but can you honestly see them getting past Italy or the Czechs?

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I think we got jobbed on the draw. certainly compared to Mexico, who I think we deserved to be in front of.

anyways, no I'm not optimistic about getting out of round 1. Italy and Czech are clearly better. but far stranger things have happened.

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Yes, we're in the group of death. How two of the top 4 teams in FIFA's rankings ended up in the same group is beyond me (yes, even though USA and Mexico are artificially high because the other CONCACAF teams suck).

Also, I think people are over-rating Italy. They'll likely play better than the US, but they shouldn't be an overwhelming favorite. I have much more hope in US squeezing a point out here than againt the Czechs.

And, honestly, Brazil shouldn't win a game by less than 2 goals all WC. Of course I voted USA though!!

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

ANYONE WHO PICKS AGAINST USA IS A LOSER!!!!!


USA USA USA!!!!!!

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Brazil will have a very hard time against the better teams, their defense is very poor and the team has been struggling.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

This is England
This knife of Sheffield steel
This is England
This is how we feel

This is England
What we're supposed to die for
This is England
And we're never gonna cry no more

This is England
We can chain you to the rail
This is England
We can kill you in a jail

This is England
The land of (il)legal dances
This is England
Land of a thousand stances
This is England
This knife of Sheffield steel
This is England
This is how we feel
This is England
This is England



God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

The 16th century is over man

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

Don't rule out Sweden at all. England are horribly overrated again. Netherlands are probably overrated as well. Germany are HORRIBLY underrated by you guys (bookies have it spot on with 2nd or 3rd faves), home advantage in football is HUGE and even more so in the world cup. With plays like Bastian Schweinsteiger and a boss like Jurgen Klinsmann, they have a lot of potential for this world cup.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

ive just been getting into soccer, the teams i will be rooting for this summer are:

Argentina
England
Switzerland

rj

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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Germany are HORRIBLY underrated by you guys (bookies have it spot on with 2nd or 3rd faves), home advantage in football is HUGE and even more so in the world cup. With plays like Bastian Schweinsteiger and a boss like Jurgen Klinsmann, they have a lot of potential for this world cup.

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seen them play Italy?

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

yeah I think people are GREATLY underestimating the home country advantage germany has.

in 2002 the host south korea got to the semifinals

in 1998 the host france won the whole thing

in 1994 the host US actually made it to the 2nd round (a minor miracle)

All three of these were pretty huge overachievements.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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yeah I think people are GREATLY underestimating the home country advantage germany has.

in 2002 the host south korea got to the semifinals

in 1998 the host france won the whole thing

in 1994 the host US actually made it to the 2nd round (a minor miracle)

All three of these were pretty huge overachievements.

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south korea had huge referee help

france was a fantastic team

USA didn't achieve anything noteworthy

I'm not saying playing at home doesn't help but this Germany team needs a lot more than that.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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ive just been getting into soccer, the teams i will be rooting for this summer are:

Argentina
England
Switzerland

rj

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WTF? How will you possibly not be rooting for the USA!?!?!?!

USA USA USA!!!!

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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Don't rule out Sweden at all

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-McGee

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lololololololololol at 5 votes for england.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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ive just been getting into soccer, the teams i will be rooting for this summer are:

Argentina
England
Switzerland

rj

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no usa wtf? england and argentina wtf? they hate each other.

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USA didn't achieve anything noteworthy

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if you think this you are seriously retarded.

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USA didn't achieve anything noteworthy

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if you think this you are seriously retarded.

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GroupA:
Romania
Switzerland
USA
Colombia

...

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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yeah I think people are GREATLY underestimating the home country advantage germany has.

in 2002 the host south korea got to the semifinals

in 1998 the host france won the whole thing

in 1994 the host US actually made it to the 2nd round (a minor miracle)

All three of these were pretty huge overachievements.

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south korea had huge referee help

france was a fantastic team

USA didn't achieve anything noteworthy

I'm not saying playing at home doesn't help but this Germany team needs a lot more than that.

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south korea made it to the semi finals. That is ridiculous.

the US actually getting to the 2nd round was pretty incredible, considering how bad we were back then. the team today and in 02 was way, way better than in 94.

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The very nature of home advantage is that the fans intimidate the referee and opposition hugely. Football is HUGE in Germany (especially compared to USA/South Korea when the world cup went there).

Brazil should walk the tournament but if they dont win it then it must be like 90% to come from Argentina/Germany/Sweden (I haven't studied the knock out round draw to great detail so this is more of an estimation)

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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south korea made it to the semi finals.


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your point being? They had a very well trained team with a few great players but they would have lost against Italy and Spain if they didn't get massive help.

PS: They were also a goal away from being out in the group stage and this discussion would look really silly. Football is a very volatile game.

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

I think you can put most of the ridiculous refereeing decisions Korea got their way down to home advantage. The refs would never have bottled it in any other country.

In Germany I suspect the home advantage will be just as big, backed up with a very reasonable world class team, Germany could easily go all the way. Brazil are still by far the faves though

Re: World Cup...Germany 2006
 

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Germany are HORRIBLY underrated by you guys (bookies have it spot on with 2nd or 3rd faves), home advantage in football is HUGE and even more so in the world cup. With plays like Bastian Schweinsteiger and a boss like Jurgen Klinsmann, they have a lot of potential for this world cup.

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amen. Pretty sure the Germans showed last time that good coaching is more important than talent. I think it's 25% of the WC home teams that have won the event. I expect that number to go up.

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USA didn't achieve anything noteworthy

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if you think this you are seriously retarded.

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GroupA:
Romania
Switzerland
USA
Colombia

...

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columbia was a trendy pick to win it that year. everyone loved them. romania was very solid and got deep. dunno about the swiss.

regardless, usa was terrible back then and had little talent, experience or expectations. they were absolutely slammed in the prior wc. the world expected and was rooting for an embarasssment. instead usa came out and played with a ton of heart and got thru.