The disrespect for soccer from some Americans confounds me.
Like the game or not, our country is about to compete in the single largest international single-sport competition in the world. Take some pride in your nation.[/quote]
Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge sports fan and the World Cup will be on everywhere,therefore,I’ll be forced to watch it. Also, if I’m forced to watch then it’s a must to pull for your country. However, if they decided tomorrow to cancel the whole thing it wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all.
A - France, Uruguay
B - Argentina, Greece
C - England, USA
D - Germany, Australia
E - Dutch, Cameroon (- Denmark if Eto’o doesn’t play)
F - Italy, Slovakia
G - Brazil, Portugal
H - Spain, Switzerland
The disrespect for soccer from some Americans confounds me.
Like the game or not, our country is about to compete in the single largest international single-sport competition in the world. Take some pride in your nation.[/quote]
Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge sports fan and the World Cup will be on everywhere,therefore,I’ll be forced to watch it. Also, if I’m forced to watch then it’s a must to pull for your country. However, if they decided tomorrow to cancel the whole thing it wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all.[/quote]
I find your posts relevant and informational. NO ONE CARES IF YOU DON’T LIKE SOCCER. JUST IGNORE THE THREAD.
A - Uruguay, Mexico
B - Argentina, South Korea
C - England, USA
D - Germany, Serbia
E - Dutch, Denmark
F - Italy, Paraguay
G - Ivory Coast, Brazil
H - Spain, Switzerland
Argentina, South Korea, England, USA, Dutch, Italy, Ivory Coast and Spain advance. I’m not keen on Brazil. I think Dunga’s stubbornness will backfire and they will struggle to score goals. My guess is that Portugal and Ivory Coast will manage to steal points on Individual Brilliance of C Ronaldo and Drogba. Brazil finishes 2nd and then gets sent packing by Spain. I think Spain ends up winning the cup over Argentina in the finals.
The disrespect for soccer from some Americans confounds me.
Like the game or not, our country is about to compete in the single largest international single-sport competition in the world. Take some pride in your nation.[/quote]
Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge sports fan and the World Cup will be on everywhere,therefore,I’ll be forced to watch it. Also, if I’m forced to watch then it’s a must to pull for your country. However, if they decided tomorrow to cancel the whole thing it wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all.[/quote]
Soccer for me is much like baseball - just not my thing. I tend to watch MLB playoffs and that is about it when it comes to baseball and soccer is the same way. The only soccer I really ever watch is World Cup. I actually even played soccer and still can’t get into it. With all that said it is nothing more than just my personal preferences. I certainly can appreciate the skill it takes and have no problem at all with soccer fans. It’s just not for me.
I love playing soccer, and I really enjoy watching it in person.
That said, I still find it hard to watch even top level soccer on TV, way too many distractions off screen to stay focused for almost 2 hours. Despite being a fast-paced game on the field and in the stands, it can feel painfully slow through the screen.
Go USA though! I’ve got a good feeling about this year.
That was great. I am thinking the Clemson would be a good comparison to England as well, having won it all just once, loud annoying fans, and good teams that fall apart in big games! France = Duke is hilarious.
Round of 16
France over South Korea
England over Serbia
Argentina over Mexico
Germany over the United States
Netherlands over Paraguay
Brazil over Chile
Italy over Denmark
Spain over Portugal
Quarterfinals
England over France
Brazil over Netherlands
Germany over Argentina
Spain over Italy
Semifinals
Brazil over England
Spain over Germany
Final
Brazil over Spain
I wanted to buy into a surprise team (Ivory Coast going deep, any of the African teams advancing or someone like Serbia who are FILLED with talent) but I just couldn’t fully buy into any of them. I think it’s gonna be a tournament dominated by the traditional powers. I think Germany and England will have an advantage because they are used to playing in the type of weather that they will encounter (mid 50s-low 60s). I feel Brazil is going to win it because this is the first time I remember them going into a World Cup not labeled as the favorites. I think Dunga has created a roster that has chemistry and plays a style that is not just “joga bonito” but also very solid defensively. I actually think they will dominate this tournament with ease and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a two goal win versus Spain in the final, if that match-up actually occurs. For the record, Spain have always been terrible when they have entered a tourney as the favorites and I have them going to the final on talent alone however I wouldn’t be surprised to see them knocked out in the quarters for example.Argentina will falter way too early despite their talent because Maradona will find a way to screw it all up. That’s one thing going into this World Cup that I can pretty much guarantee. All you have to do is look at their qualifying campaign to see what a mess Argentina is with him at the helm. Any competent manager, given a week of preparation, will destroy whatever “game plan” Maradona will have.Oh and one more prediction you can take to the bank: Italy will be favored by the refs in at least, AT LEAST, two of their games. It will be so obvious to the rest of the world but Italians will act like it was all based on merit. Whatever, I love hating the Azzuri, it is one of the things I look forward to before any international tournament.
i was going to throw out my predictions as well, but i thought it would be more fun to create a “niner nation” group on the espn fantasy site for us to join and play. i created groups for the following games (all free to play, and just for bragging rights i guess…maybe a free coke and popcorn this bball season?). Join the Bracket Predictor, 2010 Soccer Pick’em, and World fantasy games, all “Niner Nation” all public no password required. The bracket predictor is all at once predictions, the 2010 pick’em does all the first round, then you gotta revisit after for eliminations, and World Fantasy is a weekly roster game, so it may not behoove you to pick c. ronaldo w/ a tough first game, that or if you despise guys with talent but love to trip over blades of grass. or don’t and i’ll be the only one in the group and for once i’ll finally win a group. huzzah!!
ps. i think you can create up to 5 entries per game, so if you can’t quite pick b/w team a or team b, create another entry and go with the opposite.
