2006 FIFA World Cup Germany

[Brent Burns]

You can go to http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com and then click on English. You would need to scroll down to click on Qualified Teams.

I would love to have USA win the 2006 World Cup, but I am putting my finger on Brazil, Germany and France as one of the possible World Cup winners.

jessexy, I know you will use your knowledge and expertise to opine on the World Cup participants.

Who do you think will win the 2006 World Cup in Germany?

[KnoxVegas]

Deutschland über alles![/u]

[JosueSays]

I think Spain will win. Well, i hope they do. Last world cup they had the best team, but were cheated from their chances when they played against Korea. I know that blaming the refs is almost always a lame excuse, but if you go watch the game, you'll see what I mean. The ref and the korean coach talked like they were friends, and the ref disallowed TWO legit. goals, one being a golden goal... It was ridiculous. I think against Italy, the refs disallowed five goals. Spain always has a good team, but they have a curse... It sucks.

IT was ridiculous.

[JosueSays]

Ps- Germany's team leaves much to be desired. They stood no chance against Brazil, and when Spain and turkey lost I knew brazil would win. Germany is basically focused around stopping goals, and then getting one in. But against brazil's amazing offense they stood no chance. NO matter how good of a goalie you have, you can't rely on him against teams like Brazil. England played better than Germany did against them, losing only 2-1.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Geez and some folks complain about BASEBALL here! Soccer has to be the most boring spectator sport of all time --and yes, I played one season of collegiate soccer.

The only fun thing about soccer is watching some of those wimps roll around in apparent agony on the grass, screaming for an ambulance after somebody barely touches them during play. It can also be fun (for maybe three minutes) watching the teeny-weeny 4-yr-old kids run around and kick each other then stop to make mud pies during a game. But FIFA soccer? Great cure for insomnia in my book...

[JosueSays]

Wow, what an intelligent post.


Anyway, can we please get back on topic?

[jessexy]

in my expert opinion, the favorites are Brazil, Holland, Argentina, and Spain (even though Spain still has to qualify. they are playing Slovakia in a playoff starting this weekend).

-Argentina have the best 11 top to bottom
-Brazil are always god but they have players who arent playing well
-Holland are young and old, but that can be a good mix with experience
-Spain is stacked, but lose focus. if they put it together, though......

I like to pick the sleeper teams, though, and there are a few.
-Ukraine breezed through qualifying and have the best player int he world right now
-France struggled, but still have Thierry Henry, so they have a chance
-Ghana will be the best from Africa, but their group draw will determine their chances
-Mexico have a good squad, but they dont play well in Europe
-USA have a good squad too, but can they survive as favorites in some games. lots of pressure they have never faced before.

my 2 cents.

[DanGenck]

What's the deal with England? I have not heard a peep out of them in the past few years of qualifying play...

[JosueSays]

You can't forget Turkey! I was impressed by them in the last world cup, and played a very close, and exciting game against Brazil. My two favorite teams in the last world cup were Spain, and Turkey. I hope that this summer both do very well.

Mexico, and the US both have good teams but they lack the experience in international competitions to go much farther than they have before. They're promising, but I'm not expecting them to go any farther than the quarter finals.

[jessexy]

You can't forget Turkey! I was impressed by them in the last world cup, and played a very close, and exciting game against Brazil. My two favorite teams in the last world cup were Spain, and Turkey. I hope that this summer both do very well.

Mexico, and the US both have good teams but they lack the experience in international competitions to go much farther than they have before. They're promising, but I'm not expecting them to go any farther than the quarter finals.

Turkey and Spain are both in playoffs next week and could miss out on qualifying altogether. neither has been playing very well. alot can change in 4 years. things look good for Spain, but not for Turkey. they are highly overrated cuz of last World Cup.

Mexico just placed very well in the Confederations Cup, making the semis and taking Brazil to penaly kicks after extra time. the US finished first in its WC qualifying group play and were champions of the Gold Cup. they also have greater depth playing in europe and can run out a team that is made up of largely European-based players that are used to the high-pressure games with packed stadiums that they will see in Germany. dont sleep on them.

[goonercb21rf]

none of you are mentioning ENGLAND. They certainly have the talent to win the whole thing, but they always seem to fall short. It's hard to rule out a team that features owen, rooney, beckham, lampard, and a very solid defense. their downfall will be lack of team chemistry, passionate play, and perhaps goal.

don't forget italy....always a great squad, but if they run into a physical team along the way, watch out.

i like brazil....their forwards are incredible, but they need more on defense.

germany will do well, but do not have the scoring ability to win. they are the michael ballack show and not much more.

holland are tough to judge. they are solid, but young. i think they are too inexperienced and rely too much on arjen robben.

i like england, france, italy, and brazil in the semis.

[KnoxVegas]

What's the deal with England? I have not heard a peep out of them in the past few years of qualifying play...

Two words: Soccer Spice!

[JosueSays]

I've never been too impressed with France, but I do agree that England has a great team. Definitely one of the more underappreciated teams going into the world cup. For me the semi finals will be(unless the brackets are set up in a way that makes these four impossible)...

ITaly
Brazil
Spain
ENgland

[jessexy]

England has the best midfield players in the world, but cant seem to find a position for any of them. they have Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Joe Cole, S. Wright-Phillips, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves, etc. and they cant decide who will play centrally and who will play on the wing.

their forwards are all good in league play but not internationally. and they cant figure out who wants to play defense. the have depth in good places but are thin in others. goal is a desperation pick. they have David James, but his nickname is "Calamity" cuz of his mistakes and blunders. Kirkland is injured and Ashdown in too young. i forgot about Paul Robinson.

My lineup would be:
Robinson
A. Cole, John Terry, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson
Beckham (rt), Lampard (attack), Gerrard (defend), S. Wright-phillips
Owen, Rooney (til he gets a red card)

Italy's style never is successful in the World Cup. They play defense for 90 minutes with one forward hoping to poach a goal. not successful and they get hot-headed, which gets them in trouble with the referees.

i wont make my picks for the Semis until the draw comes and i see how the pools set up.

maybe we can run a World Cup soccer bracket like we do for MDIA Nationals? who runs that, Benson?

[Brent Burns]

Five Spots Still Open for World Cup from Yahoo! News:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051110/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_wcup_preview

Thought y'all may want to know about the updates on 2006 World Cup.