World Cup 2006 - and it's called football, not soccer!

So here we are, the groups are all set, the wallchart is here, all we need now is to be in June!

Thoughts? What are the chances of your home team?

I think and hope Brazil will win, but they'll have to overcome the Czechs on the way. Them and Holland, that would be my dream final. As for my native France, well - if they make it to the second stage and/or score at least one goal, then it'll be an improvement

Group A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Sweden

Group C
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia and Montenegro
Holland

Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Group E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Group G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo

Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

 

So true

I think one of the biggest winners so far is defenitly Costa Rica. Opening match on a World Cup, that's amazing for a team as Costa Rica's!

And well, I hope that Germany will make it through the first round. I don't see them in the finals yet.
But still 180 days to go

I said it before Sweden playing England that will be an excellent match. Really looking forward to that one!

And group F could be interessting too, I guess.

 

Australia will easily win the Soccer World Cup. No doubt about it.














I wouldn't really know, all my knowledge of soccer is that Brazil are the best. Or so it goes....

 

Oh dear.

This is the first time in many decades that we've made the World Cup too.

 

At least you can go with a bang But you beat Uruguay, not a bad performance. So who knows!

I also wonder who will come out of group E. Tough one.

 

Yeah, I suppose beating Uruguay has got to be worth something. Especially in a fantastic penalty shootout like it was.

 

Netherlands = First team.

Australia = Second team..

Old habits die hard.

 

Group A, D and H are fairly easy.

Group C, E and F are pretty difficult.

Im not sure who's going to win the world cup though. Brasil is the obvious favorite, but I guess they lack defensive stability. Germany has the home advantage but lack decent players. France has some good players which are simply over the hill and England always has high expectations but simply lack quality.

I think Argentina, the Netherlands or Spain have a good chance:
Argentina, because they have a world class team, less in quality but much more balanced than Brasil.
The Netherlands because they have a very good team as well and they have a semi-home advantage (during last 2 mayor footbal tournaments in germany -worldcup 1978 and european cup 1988- they reached the finals both times).
Spain, because in the past, despite the fact they have a very good team, they usually always screw up on the tournament after an almost flawless qualifing. This time their qualification sucked, so perhaps they saved their breath for the endround in Germany this time.

But if I had to choose one of those I'd say Argentina is my favorite for winning the title.

 

France probably has the easiest group but I wouldn't be surprised if they struggled to qualify

Spain is definitely not on my list but I wouldn't rule out Portugal. They played some really good football at Euro 04.

 

Why does everybody seem to rule out Italy so easily? Didn't they have a good football team at some point?

 

The last time Italy made it to a final was in 2000 when France won the European Championship, right?

I don't expect Sweden to do any better or worse than they have done in the recent championshiops. That is, get beyond the group stage and then lose. Anything more than that is a bonus.

 

I can't wait to watch my beloved Brasil kick some butt!

O Brasil vai ganhar pela sexta vez na Alemanha!

RUMO AO HEXA!


Seriously though, history dictates that the winner of the World Cup is almost always from the host continent. Since the last world cup was held in Japan and Korea it was up for grabs for the South Americans or the Europeans to win. So I would bet first on Brasil cause I ought to, but Germany or Italy may come out.... we'll see.

[image=http://homepage.mac.com/laulandne/melissa/Hexa.jpg]

 

England have to be favorites to win our group, although the Swedes will be tough opposition. two wins and a draw and we should be ok

 

If England can get Rooney, Lampard, Owen, Gerrard and Joe Cole firing on all cylinders they must be in with a decent chance.

 

USA will make it at least out of the first round. But i don't know from there.

 

And you believe that Italy & the Czceh Republic are walkovers ???

I'd say the USA are in trouble....

 

USA could conceivably beat Italy, but not the Czech Republic.

 

what!?!?




ain't. gonna. happen.

 

Why not??
Italy are a very very average side.
I think we can win it though.

 

* looks at profile *


england we? as long as eriksson picks his first team, and they are all fit then we have every chance.

 

Plus there is always a surprise player in every England World Cup Squad.

 

Didn't Australia beat England in their last encounter...

.. only kidding guys... I realise Austalia will struggle to get more than 1 win..