World Cup...Germany 2006

[EvilSmurf]

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

[Fallen Hero]

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.

[clayftknight]

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]

[Kneel B4 Zod]

[ QUOTE ]
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]

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[clayftknight]

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]

[wh1t3bread]

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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.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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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?

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[clayftknight]

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

[mmbt0ne]

[ QUOTE ]
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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?

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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!!

[MEbenhoe]

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


USA USA USA!!!!!!