World Cup 2010

[Alex The Rat]

Not much love for the Spanish team here... They easily have the best squad in the competition, are european champions (which I can guarantee you means more than the victory 4 years ago of an aging Italian side), a solid coach, and total support from the nation and unity as a team.

I think they'll meet brazil or argentina in the final, although I would LOVE to see a Spain and Netherlands final since those are my two favorite teams in the competition.

And uhh... go USA? I really dislike our team...

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

Not much love for the Spanish team here... They easily have the best squad in the competition, are european champions (which I can guarantee you means more than the victory 4 years ago of an aging Italian side), a solid coach, and total support from the nation and unity as a team.

I'm half Spanish, and really want them to do well (as long as it's not at England's expense) but I really don't think they can do it. Sure, they have a fantastic team with a lot of Champions League experience, but I don't think they're capable of winning it. I don't think Del Bosque is as canny a coach as Aragones, and Spain benefited in the Euros from several of the usual contenders being out of sorts. While France and Italy are still suspect, they are still capable of progressing and knocking out a better team, while teams like Holland or Spain have never really had that habit. Also, I just don't think Spain's style of play will be able to do anything if they meet Brazil; it'll be Barca vs Inter all over again imo. Also, Spain simply haven't played that well in their last few friendlies apparently, although they've still been winning them, so it could be the case that they just luck out through the group stages and peak later. Although a late peak almost seems unlikely with the huge amount of games their major players have been involved in.

I'm gutted I still have exams during the opening stages of the WC. Means I'm gonna miss a lot of the group games . Wanted to watch the opening game, which sounds like it was a good game, saw the highlights and SA's goal was terrific, although perhaps Mexico should have won if Franco's finishing was a little better.

Anyway, I want England to win, but I can't see it happening. Despite the discipline Capello initially introduced, it seemed to disappear in our last few games, and I don't think our defence is going to quite be up to the task. First knockout or quarter final exit for us, I reckon, to one of the established forces in international football (not Portgual again...please).

Also, c'mon Uruguay! With that strikeforce they've got to give the French some problems tonight. I'm hoping it'll be an entertaining, high scoring victory for Uruguay.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

So who are the Escapists rooting for?

I root for my own pleasure and the pleasure of the woman I'm rooting.


(and if people find that cryptic, root = fuck in Aussie slang)

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I... dislike football. One of the things that irks me in this country is it's religion-like, overhyped status.

It's like a teambased ballsport, with all the uniqueness (that may or may not be a word) taken out of it. All the contact and tactics of rugby are gone. The speed of hockey is gone. It's just strikes me as bland.

 

[NeoAC]

You think being a soccer fan in the USA is a lonely time, try being one in Canada.

Nah I love the World Cup, nice opening game for South Africa, I figured they would get a point off the Mexicans. Waiting for France/Uruguay, and hopefully the French will live up to my expectations of not meeting my expectations.

I have Brazil winning the whole thing though, like everyone and their dog.

 

[Alex The Rat]

Not much love for the Spanish team here... They easily have the best squad in the competition, are european champions (which I can guarantee you means more than the victory 4 years ago of an aging Italian side), a solid coach, and total support from the nation and unity as a team.

I'm half Spanish, and really want them to do well (as long as it's not at England's expense) but I really don't think they can do it. Sure, they have a fantastic team with a lot of Champions League experience, but I don't think they're capable of winning it. I don't think Del Bosque is as canny a coach as Aragones, and Spain benefited in the Euros from several of the usual contenders being out of sorts. While France and Italy are still suspect, they are still capable of progressing and knocking out a better team, while teams like Holland or Spain have never really had that habit. Also, I just don't think Spain's style of play will be able to do anything if they meet Brazil; it'll be Barca vs Inter all over again imo. Also, Spain simply haven't played that well in their last few friendlies apparently, although they've still been winning them, so it could be the case that they just luck out through the group stages and peak later. Although a late peak almost seems unlikely with the huge amount of games their major players have been involved in.

I'm gutted I still have exams during the opening stages of the WC. Means I'm gonna miss a lot of the group games . Wanted to watch the opening game, which sounds like it was a good game, saw the highlights and SA's goal was terrific, although perhaps Mexico should have won if Franco's finishing was a little better.

Anyway, I want England to win, but I can't see it happening. Despite the discipline Capello initially introduced, it seemed to disappear in our last few games, and I don't think our defence is going to quite be up to the task. First knockout or quarter final exit for us, I reckon, to one of the established forces in international football (not Portgual again...please).

Also, c'mon Uruguay! With that strikeforce they've got to give the French some problems tonight. I'm hoping it'll be an entertaining, high scoring victory for Uruguay.

Historically Spain is the perennial underachiever, but I still believe they now have what it takes to win. Their victory over Italy during Euro 2008 was something of a psychological turning point for the team and the nation. Defeating a strong German side in the final was perhaps an even greater accomplishment, proving they can win when the stakes are high. Since then, Spain has lost just a single game (against the USA, no less). Earlier this year they played against the French side IN FRANCE and had even the french fans chanting olé. And two of the last 3 friendlies were meant mostly so Del Bosque could introduce some new players and try out novel combinations. The latest victory against Poland earlier this week was an impressive 6-0 trouncing (not that Poland has an amazing team). Speaking of Del Bosque, I think his stint with Real Madrid proves that he at least knows how to achieve success (7 titles in 4 years) when given talented players, which is one thing Spain has in abundance.

Also, being half spanish is awesome. Which part of Spain is that side of the family from?

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I'm just watching Mexico's games. I thought the would defeat SA but they barely got out with a tie. I'll be more than happy if they make it to the semifinals though it will be a lot harder now since they didn't get the three points if this game.

They were the better team in the first half, but SA got thier confidence in the second. I was happy to see Mexico equalise though.

Now then... ahem...

COME ON URUGUAY!

 

[Valksy]

English fan hoping for USA to take a win tomorrow. We really need to stop being such arrogant tits and stop arsing about in the frigging midfield, a bit of humility would be a good thing.

To win...Spain or Portugal.

England won't win. We'll choke if we get out of the groups.

 

[Zealous]

I'm hoping France gets knocked out early so everyone shuts up about it over here. They take their football and rugby way too seriously in France.

LOL it must have sucked for you when they won back in 98.

I moved over here a year ago, so I wouldn't know... Judging on their regional finals celebrations though, I can make a pretty good guess...

 

[CopperBoom]

I don't really care about the World Cup. People in England get really worked up about it and it's all over the media. It starts to get pretty annoying. So I hope England get knocked out early, so everone will shut up about it.

As a USAer, I do too.
I hope for our sake we get a win tomorrow.

 

[Seatownstriker]

I'm hoping France gets knocked out early so everyone shuts up about it over here. They take their football and rugby way too seriously in France.

Just reminds me of a time the USA played Columbia. I think it was in the world cup. Columbian player ended up scoring an own goal. Ended up dead when he came back to Columbia.

 

[Marik2]

I'm hoping France gets knocked out early so everyone shuts up about it over here. They take their football and rugby way too seriously in France.

LOL it must have sucked for you when they won back in 98.

I moved over here a year ago, so I wouldn't know... Judging on their regional finals celebrations though, I can make a pretty good guess...

Saw some live footage from Paris when France won the world cup, it was basically a riot

 

[RobThePrezodent]

ABE..nah, I don't actually care who wins, i don't really follow any team. Althougb i enjoy watching the spanish play, so i hope they do well

 

[GundamSentinel]

Who do I want to win? The Netherlands of course!

Who do I think will win? Germany.

 

[RobThePrezodent]

I don't really care about the World Cup. People in England get really worked up about it and it's all over the media. It starts to get pretty annoying. So I hope England get knocked out early, so everone will shut up about it.

oh that won't stop them, this is england we're talking about. If they aren't constantly going on about how we're gonna definetely win this time they're bitching about why we didn't win. How don't people get this; we're england; we suck at sports. everyone seems to forget our quite frankly dreadful track record in this kinda stuff and assume that we're gonna do great, then act surprised when we don't.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

Meh, I can take or leave the World Cup. Sure, some games are or will be interesting, but I've never been much of a football fan anyway, and I see no reason to support England considering my home country isn't in it.

Still, I'm mostly apathetic. If something interesting happens, I might take a look, but for the most part, I'll pass.

 

[Tomster595]

I'm really not a sports person at all, but I do enjoy some good soccer (or football =P). Anyway, being the sport's noob that I am, I don't really understand how the whole tournament and group thing works. Oh well. GO ITALY!

 

[Rakkana]

Meh, we winning? The media will tell me somehow I'm sure...

 

[SimuLord]

Love the World Cup, the beautiful game played at its highest level.

Cheering for the US, but after they bow out in the round of 16 I'll need a team of choice---usually ends up being Germany.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

Historically Spain is the perennial underachiever, but I still believe they now have what it takes to win. Their victory over Italy during Euro 2008 was something of a psychological turning point for the team and the nation. Defeating a strong German side in the final was perhaps an even greater accomplishment, proving they can win when the stakes are high. Since then, Spain has lost just a single game (against the USA, no less). Earlier this year they played against the French side IN FRANCE and had even the french fans chanting olé. And two of the last 3 friendlies were meant mostly so Del Bosque could introduce some new players and try out novel combinations. The latest victory against Poland earlier this week was an impressive 6-0 trouncing (not that Poland has an amazing team). Speaking of Del Bosque, I think his stint with Real Madrid proves that he at least knows how to achieve success (7 titles in 4 years) when given talented players, which is one thing Spain has in abundance.

Also, being half spanish is awesome. Which part of Spain is that side of the family from?

They're from Madrid, which is a little annoying as I want to have a valid reason to support Barcelona (and Valencia, for some reason). It's fairly awesome, although for some reason my parents didn't give me one of the super suave Spanish names. I wanted a name with an 'x' in it, goddamit! Least I didn't get Angel (pronounced "Ahnkel") I suppose.

I completely agree about Spain having removed a huge mental block with their Euro performances (even if I think you overate Germany and France's opposition). Thanks for pointing out the kind of teams Del Bosque put out in some of the recent friendlies, all I knew about selection was that Capdevilla wasn't in the first team, which I was quite happy with as I think he's fairly average.

Spain have been on a fantastic run in the last few years, but they'd been on a very good run before in the last world cup (25 games without defeat) which wasn't enough momentum to take them past a savvier France. And Del Bosque is a good coach, I wouldn't deny that (and he's not racist, so that's 1 up on Aragones), and seemed to have been the only coach to get the best out of Real during the Galatico period. Barcelona were out of shape at the time, but he did fantastically with that team. I haven't seen much of his Spanish side except in the Confederations Cup, but they just seemed a bit less sharp than they did under Aragones.

Love the World Cup, the beautiful game played at its highest level.

Cheering for the US, but after they bow out in the round of 16 I'll need a team of choice---usually ends up being Germany.

Why Germany, and not one of the more traditionally adventurous sides, who tend to be more attractive to people looking for a second team?