Who's gonna win?

[spurs61]

Right, we are now into the sixth day of the World Cup and have seen all the decent sides play. Based on current performances, who do you think will walk away with footballs greatest prize? My vote goes to the Argies followed closely by the Italians and the Dutch with an outside chance assuming they remember to fight the opposition rather than themselves (again!). I don't think the Czechs have enough strike power to truly challenge but could be proven wrong.

[Welsh Spur]

Czechs are too attack minded and will get found out by a big team.
Italy are bottlers. I will say one of England, Argies, Brazil and Holland. I can't separate those teams.

[highlander]

i dont think we can base a lot on the games so far, of which i have seen all as it was only the 1st game and a performance isnt so important. i cant see brazil winning it as they need to be stronger and maybe their age will tell but im not writing them off. my heart says England, my head says England, but the seeds of doubt are definately still there.

[highlander]

im a bit suprised that everyone is talking about Holland as serious contenders, yes they have a good side but i wonder about the depth of the squad and they will have a problem with Robben thinking he runs the team. i think they'll do well but not spectacular, quarters/semi's, no further

[DonJolSpurano]

Winners: Germany
Runners Up: England
Third: Holland

[Welsh Spur]

Winners: Germany
Runners Up: England
Third: Holland

Hahahahahahahahahaha! Germany? mate, you are seriously having a laugh. They were awful against Costa Rica and a big team will make an easy match of them. They are terrible, and even the Germans know it.

[highlander]

home soil or not, ballack or not, even if klinnsman put his boots back on theres no way they will win the cup, least of all against us. they cannot defend, struggle for goalscorers outside klose and 2 aging erratic keepers. i cant see them getting past the quarters unless the draw seriously favours them

[Welsh Spur]

If Poland sort their heads out they could beat them tonight.

[highlander]

yeah and hopefully rasiak will come good with a hat-trick against Lehman who then go's off on one, gets sent off and subsiquently dropped from the team so retires

[Welsh Spur]

Lehmann....what a fruit!

[DonJolSpurano]

Hahahahahahahahahaha! Germany? mate, you are seriously having a laugh. They were awful against Costa Rica and a big team will make an easy match of them. They are terrible, and even the Germans know it.

they're the home team, dont underestimate them.

parallels dear boy, parallels and coincidences govern footballing history.

germany will win this WC and defeat england to do it :mad:

[Welsh Spur]

Yes, home advantage will surely give them exactly that, advantage...but there's only so far such a bollocks team can go. They seriously are at the worst I have ever seen them during my 11 years of following football.

[JJ]

In my opinion Italy have played the best football so far. They were moving the ball about fantastically and really should have smashed their last game. They also seem to have found 2 out and out goal scorers in Toni and Iaquinta, i still don't think much of Gilardinho.

[spurs61]

they're the home team, dont underestimate them.

parallels dear boy, parallels and coincidences govern footballing history.

germany will win this WC and defeat england to do it :mad:

I'm not sure thay will win it but I think you have a valid point. It is no coincidence that the hosts usual fair better than can be expected and it can be expected that Germany will reach the quarters, anything after that will be a matter of luck and preparation. This is a very young and inexperienced German side and one which will surley grow with confidence as the games progress and as Ballack returns to influence the team.

[spurs61]

In my opinion Italy have played the best football so far. They were moving the ball about fantastically and really should have smashed their last game. They also seem to have found 2 out and out goal scorers in Toni and Iaquinta, i still don't think much of Gilardinho.

I'd agree with that. The negative hype surrounding the Italians and their domestic game will only serve to unite the players and fans, Italy have always performed best in the face of adversity. I think they have an excellent squad with two quality player for every position and an ability to score goals when they need to.

[Welsh Spur]

I'd agree with that. The negative hype surrounding the Italians and their domestic game will only serve to unite the players and fans, Italy have always performed best in the face of adversity. I think they have an excellent squad with two quality player for every position and an ability to score goals when they need to.

Good squad, I agree...they aint got 2 quality players in every pos though, especially the full backs...

[JJ]

Good squad, I agree...they aint got 2 quality players in every pos though, especially the full backs...

True. But very few nations, practically none, have several quality full backs.

[Chinaman]

Looks like Argentina and the Czech Republic are the more entertaining teams. The Koreans seem to have unlimited stamina, and might even qualify for the next round by snatching draws against France and Switzerland which, on the basis of yesterday's showing, could be a possiblity if they don't run out of steam.

[Welsh Spur]

Switzerland a very dirty team.

[Danishspurs]

Just watching spain right now and they are playing the most convicing side, i've seen in this tournament...

[Welsh Spur]

who Ukraine?

[spurs61]

The Spanish flatter to decieve more than England, technically and tactically superior to virtually every European nation, they have the mental fortitude of a manically depressed pessimist.

[shoot_ffs]

despite the froggies lacklustre showing against a reasonable side yesterday, i still think they have the best squad in the cup. Spain looked awesome today, just got the ball down and played, and i haven't forgotten them playing us off the park last year. I haven't looked at the draw but i'd fancy one of those two plus maybe ivory coast if they can get through the group.

[Billywhizz]

I have seen all the games but i still think Argentina / Brazil will win it.
The best of the Europeans have been Spain / Czech Republic so far hope England come into the fray somewhere along the line we allways start a bit indifferent.

Winners: Argentina / Brazil
Runners-Up: Brazil / Argentina (in any order)

3rd: Spain / Czech Republic / England
4th: Germany / Itlay / Holland

But i still hope Ivory Coast can cause an upset enjoyed there game with Argentina and it will be only a matter of time before an Africian nation does win the world Cup.

[marcusto]

For me Italy will win it

I can't help of all the parrallels of the this WC and the one in 82:
Being held in Europe
Corruption within Italian Football (e.g Paolo Rossi being suspended for 2 years for match fixing)
They will face Brazil b4 the 1/2 finals....
The Brazil was looked upon as unbeatable... Zico, Socrates e.t.c and so is this current one...

Plus they played well against Ghana and the Team Spirit looks extremely high.

[Chinaman]

Since the time Cameroon came on to surprise people, the Africans have really come on the scene. But they have so far been unsuccessful in harnessing individual brilliance into a real good team effort. Perhaps if say Ivory Coast could get Hiddinck to coach them for a few years, they may be able to make an impression the next time.

[JJ]

I must be the only one who thinks the Argentinians didn't play particularly well. I don't remember seeing anything that suggested that they could win it.

[spurs61]

They didn't, but that's the point is n't it. They played one of the better so-called "weaker" sides and beat them convincingly without really doing anything at all. They look very solid and have a plethora of world class players to call upon. Even their creative players work hard for the team and there is no one individual who they rely on for inspiration, Riquelme can easily be replaced by Aimar. Crespo is on fire at the momment and their defence is n't exactly generous. On current performances I think it's between them and Italy who are very much the same.

[JJ]

They didn't, but that's the point is n't it. They played one of the better so-called "weaker" sides and beat them convincingly without really doing anything at all. They look very solid and have a plethora of world class players to call upon. Even their creative players work hard for the team and there is no one individual who they rely on for inspiration, Riquelme can easily be replaced by Aimar. Crespo is on fire at the momment and their defence is n't exactly generous. On current performances I think it's between them and Italy who are very much the same.

In some cases yes, but in this game i don't see that to be the case. I don't think it was convincing at all. The stats for the game clearly show that they had equal shots on target, and Ivory Coast had more possession. Granted not much more, but enough to suggest that there was nothing comfortable about the win. It was by no stretch of the imagination a comfortable victory.

The Brazil win, however, was a quality side strolling to victory while not playing well.

[Danishspurs]

who Ukraine?

No.. What I should have redden was: Just watching spain right now and they are playing the most convicing football, i've seen in this tournament...

Was about to right something else and then changed it, and then it became a mix of both sentences.. Was in a bit of a hurry, when I was righting it??

[highlander]

I must be the only one who thinks the Argentinians didn't play particularly well. I don't remember seeing anything that suggested that they could win it.
i also didnt think they played well, very lucky to take all 3 points from a tireless ivory coast who really did well

[spurs61]

The Brazil win, however, was a quality side strolling to victory while not playing well.

Did they play at all? It looked like ten of them got dressed in the famous yellow and then Kaka said "don't worry lads, I'll do it myself", he is without doubt the most effective player in the world, Ronaldinho may be the most entertaining but I know who I'd would rather have in my team.

[laspur]

Typical slow start for the Brazilians, somehow they will tie it together for the final. Spain will blow it as always and Argentina will be beat.

[JJ]

Did they play at all? It looked like ten of them got dressed in the famous yellow and then Kaka said "don't worry lads, I'll do it myself", he is without doubt the most effective player in the world, Ronaldinho may be the most entertaining but I know who I'd would rather have in my team.

I agree. Kaka plays with constant intensity whereas Ronaldinho drifts in and out of games.

[spurs61]

I agree. Kaka plays with constant intensity whereas Ronaldinho drifts in and out of games.

Apparently, when Kaka first arrived at Milan he trained with Zvonomir Boban who was coaching the first team. Boban told Maldini that Kaka made him (Boban) look like a complete donkey who had never played football before, at the time Kaka was 19 and Boban had just retired as one of AC's greatest ever players. What does that tell you about Kaka, and more worryingly how much has he improved in the past 4 seasons? Sign him up lol;) .

[sundancer]

Just watched Spain, best performance in tournament so far they could win it this year. Fancy Holland could do well also, wish I could say the same about England but we will not score enough goals.