Anyone else rooting against ALL European team?

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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US 6 behind Mexico?

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Hey they aren't my rankings.

Subjectively though Mexico has looked much stonger than the US in this tournament.

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Mexico has played 2 far weaker teams than the US. The US has the head to head edge against Mexico now.
those rankings are ok, but far from correct.

Ireland 17
Ivory Coast 29

for instance. basically, though, there isn't a whole lot of difference between the #15 team and the #22 team, or the #25 team and the #30 team.

there is a pretty big drop-off after the top 8 or so, which is basically the teams with a strong chance to win.

[MATT111]

Op makes me sick.

I have to admit that I always rooted against US football team because I do not like the fact Americans kinda disrespect this fantastic game.
Not this time though because they did great against a team consisting of a whole lot better players with less players on the field. (Although they got a bit lucky because ref`s decisions rooted a tiny bit against Italy - I know I am getting killed for this but its still true.)

[WRRW]

Yup.

Give me a fearless attacking team like Ghana over the English long ball merchants anyday.

[sirio11]

I think Mexico's ranking has more to do with:

1) Being one of the very few teams to advance to the 2nd round in the last 3 world cups:

94: 1st in a group with ITA,IRE,NOR (3 European teams)
98: 2nd in a group with NED, BEL, KOR
02: 1st in a group with ITA, CRO, ECU

2) It has some nice results against first-class teams in official competitions. Like beating Brazil (with Ronaldinho) 4-3 to win the confederations cup in 99 and beating Brazil again 1-0 in the Confederations Cup 2005 in Germany.

[Schaefer]

Was that official enough for ya?

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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I think Mexico's ranking has more to do with:

1) Being one of the very few teams to advance to the 2nd round in the last 3 world cups:

94: 1st in a group with ITA,IRE,NOR (3 European teams)
98: 2nd in a group with NED, BEL, KOR
02: 1st in a group with ITA, CRO, ECU

2) It has some nice results against first-class teams in official competitions. Like beating Brazil (with Ronaldinho) 4-3 to win the confederations cup in 99 and beating Brazil again 1-0 in the Confederations Cup 2005 in Germany.

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yeah, I understand that, but I find it wrong that results from 4, 8, or 12 fricken years ago still affect team rankings. compare that to...basically any other sport.

these teams are completely different now.

[jstnrgrs]

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Since we are all aware how much Europeans love the US.

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That is the beauty of football, it can make you love a country of cousin marrying rednecks who can barely read and don't have passports.

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It's interesting that you put not having a passport on the same level as incest and illiteracy. It is a crazy mindset that you europeans have.

[MyTurn2Raise]

yeah...those damn colonial imperialists and world war starters need to suffer forever


seriously, I am against the European guys

[challenger84]

I'm mostly rooting against Italy and Portugal. The brand of soccer they play is disgusting to me, falling on the ground and clutching their ankle every time they get touched. How Figo tried to fix their match against South Korea last World cup to insure that both teams would get out of the group phase is an affront to the sport, and he should have been banned for international play forever.

[clairepokey]

ITALY will make the semis at least, get you're money on it! Last 8 will be 6 europeans + argentina and brazil.

This being said I have to agree that Ghana and Ivory Coast from the African nations, and Japan and Korea from Asia do have a fantastic (and more entertaiing style) in these opening rounds.

I think the reason for this is that the "top" teams are just happy with a win, they dont care how they play. There seems to be a certain naeivity in the four countries mentions aboves play. They go all out attack non-stop, which is great to watch, but ultimitely against one of the top teams who have a solid defense and are good on the counter attack, it will be difficult to see them go far in the tournament.