Countdown to World Cup 2006

[wvcbxl]

Going nowhere near Cnn.com, ESPN.com, or nsbb.com during the day at work.

 

Wow, USSoccer is finally converted to office policy. 8)

 

Just for a fortnight.. :D

 

:shock:

So you expect your guys to be eliminated in the second round?

:wink: :lol: :lol:

[USSoccer]

Going nowhere near Cnn.com, ESPN.com, or nsbb.com during the day at work.

 

Wow, USSoccer is finally converted to office policy. 8)

 

Just for a fortnight.. :D

 

:shock:

So you expect your guys to be eliminated in the second round?

:wink: :lol: :lol:

 

Yeah, it might be a bit longer than that (I hope!)

[sethuel1]

Going nowhere near Cnn.com, ESPN.com, or nsbb.com during the day at work.

 

Wow, USSoccer is finally converted to office policy. 8)

 

Just for a fortnight.. :D

 

:shock:

So you expect your guys to be eliminated in the second round?

:wink: :lol: :lol:

 

Yeah, it might be a bit longer than that (I hope!)

The Italian players are dropping like flies.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7f.html

[USSoccer]

The Italian players are dropping like flies.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7f.html

 

Gee, too bad. :D

 

All the off field stuff is certainly breaking the US's way thus far. The Czechs and Italians are missing some key players.

[sethuel1]

The Italian players are dropping like flies.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7f.html

 

Gee, too bad. :D

 

All the off field stuff is certainly breaking the US's way thus far. The Czechs and Italians are missing some key players.

 

Yeah. I'm very happy with it. The Czechs aren't playing in their preferred formation, probably, with Smicer out (they were leaning toward 5 midfielders). Also, Koller and baros aren't fully fit. This is especially good in terms of Baros, who has an ankle injury and won't be nearly as quick.

 

Meanwhile, the Italians wil be missing Zambrotta, and thus won't have nearly as much of a push on the left side. Nesta, probably a top 3 defender in the world, won't be fully fit. Totti may not start because Lippi is an idiot, and probably won't be fully fit if he is. And now gattuso, the hard man and enforcer in the Italian midfield, a guy who was certain to try to maul Reyna and O'Brien, considering their injury concerns, and Donovan, considering his shakiness in holding the ball in the midfield, probably won't be playing either.

 

Very good.

[USSoccer]

The Italian players are dropping like flies.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7f.html

 

Gee, too bad. :D

 

All the off field stuff is certainly breaking the US's way thus far. The Czechs and Italians are missing some key players.

 

Yeah. I'm very happy with it. The Czechs aren't playing in their preferred formation, probably, with Smicer out (they were leaning toward 5 midfielders). Also, Koller and baros aren't fully fit. This is especially good in terms of Baros, who has an ankle injury and won't be nearly as quick.

 

Meanwhile, the Italians wil be missing Zambrotta, and thus won't have nearly as much of a push on the left side. Nesta, probably a top 3 defender in the world, won't be fully fit. Totti may not start because Lippi is an idiot, and probably won't be fully fit if he is. And now gattuso, the hard man and enforcer in the Italian midfield, a guy who was certain to try to maul Reyna and O'Brien, considering their injury concerns, and Donovan, considering his shakiness in holding the ball in the midfield, probably won't be playing either.

 

Very good.

 

 

And that's not even factoring in the mental distraction of the fixing scandal in Italy. That team certainly has it's share of adversity at the moment.

[Marco4]

And that's not even factoring in the mental distraction of the fixing scandal in Italy. That team certainly has it's share of adversity at the moment.

 

And I don't like them because Roberto Baggio is too old to play any more. :cry:

[sethuel1]

I have no idea how I will get any work done in the next several weeks.

[bukie]

So...any predictions? Or are we waiting until it starts to predict anything?

[Marco4]

I quite fancy Spain, but I'm not predicting them yet.

[USSoccer]

So...any predictions? Or are we waiting until it starts to predict anything?

 

I think it would be fun to predict the teams that advance from each group.

[bukie]

Well, here's what I'm thinking right now:

 

Group A:

1. Germany

2. Poland

 

Group B:

1. England

2. Paraguay

 

Group C:

1. Argentina

2. Ivory Coast

 

Group D:

1. Portugal

2. Mexico

 

Group E:

1. Czech Republic

2. Italy

 

Group F:

1. Brazil

2. Japan

 

Group G:

1. France

2. South Korea

 

Group H:

1. Spain

2. Tunisia

 

I think the groups are horrendously balanced this time around, though. 3-4 good teams in groups C and E, and I honestly think just about any squad from those 2 groups would win group A or D. England, Germany, Spain, and France seem too well protected not to reach the second round this time around.

[USSoccer]

Group A:

 

Germany

Costa Rica

 

If Germany weren't the hosts, I would have doubts about their ability to get through the group stage. They are not a good team, and if Ballack isn't 100%, they may be in big trouble. Costa Rica can score goals, and this group sucks, so they're my pick to get through with 4 points.

 

Group B:

 

England

Paraguay

 

England might get 7 points out of this group, and I think that Paraguay is every bit as good as Sweden. T & T will be lucky to score a goal.

 

Group C:

 

Ivory Coast

Netherlands

 

The Oranje are too good to lose in group play, and the Cour d' Ivore is going to be the suprise team of the finals.

 

Group D:

 

Iran

Portugal

 

I think Mexico chokes their way out of this. The whole Confederations Cup performance a couple summers ago is giving a lot of people warped expectations of the Tricoloes. I don't think they are any good outside of the Azteca. Portugal will beat them, and I think Iran has a ton to play for.

 

Group E:

 

United States

Italy

 

Catenaccio gets Italy through despite the injuries, and the US gets a couple wins and goes through as well. The Czechs are old and banged up, and Ghana got a disadvantageous order of play.

 

Group F:

 

Brazil

Croatia

 

Not much in this group.

 

Group G:

 

France

Switzerland

 

The French got a cupcake draw.

 

Group H:

 

Spain

Ukraine

 

Again, best 2 teams.

[Marco4]

Group A

Germany, Poland

 

Group B

Sweden, England

 

Group C

Argentina, Holland

 

Group D

Mexico, Portugal

 

Group E

Czech Rep., Italy

 

Group F

Brazil, Japan

 

Group G

France, Switzerland

 

Group H

Spain, Ukraine

[USSoccer]

 

Group E

Czech Rep., Italy

 

 

Hater. I picked your country...

[soccer10k]

Group Stage:

Group A: Germany, Poland

Group B: England, Sweden

Group C: Netherlands, Argentina

Group D: Mexico, Portugal

Group E: USA, Italy

Group F: Brazil, Japan

Group G: France, South Korea

Group H: Spain, Ukraine

 

Round of 16:

Germany over Sweden

Netherlands over Portugal

England over Poland

Argentina over Mexico

USA over Japan

France over Ukraine

Brazil over Italy

Spain over South Korea

 

Quarterfinals

Netherlands over Germany

USA over France

England over Argentina

Brazil over Spain

 

Semifinals

Netherlands over USA

Brazil over England

 

Final, 3rd Place

USA over England

Brazil over Netherlands

 

I figure I'll go out on a limb and pick Brazil to win it.

[bukie]

I do think for sure that whoever does win the USA v CZE match will win group E. I just don't think the US has it in them to do that first match in a European final.

[Marco4]

 

Group E

Czech Rep., Italy

 

 

Hater. I picked your country...

 

Sorry, :oops: - I would be delighted to see USA qualify, but I just don't see it happening.

 

You can start preparing the crow.

[soccer10k]

I do think for sure that whoever does win the USA v CZE match will win group E. I just don't think the US has it in them to do that first match in a European final.

 

Portugal 2002?

[bukie]

Semifinals

Netherlands over USA

Brazil over England

 

Final, 3rd Place

USA over England

Brazil over Netherlands

 

I figure I'll go out on a limb and pick Brazil to win it.

 

Just FYI, those semi matchups would be reversed (Netherlands/England and Brazil/USA), not that it makes a whole lot of difference.

[bukie]

I do think for sure that whoever does win the USA v CZE match will win group E. I just don't think the US has it in them to do that first match in a European final.

 

Portugal 2002?

 

2002 was played in South Korea, not Europe. The US has traditionally been awful in European World Cup finals.

[soccer10k]

I do think for sure that whoever does win the USA v CZE match will win group E. I just don't think the US has it in them to do that first match in a European final.

 

Portugal 2002?

 

2002 was played in South Korea, not Europe. The US has traditionally been awful in European World Cup finals.

 

I think this is a much better team than in years past but I did misunderstand what you said in that regard.

[USSoccer]

I do think for sure that whoever does win the USA v CZE match will win group E. I just don't think the US has it in them to do that first match in a European final.

 

While I agree that the first match is important, the way that Group E breaks schedule wise favors the US. Ghana should be worn down physically and may lose players to cards by the time that 3rd game comes up. History indicates that drawing Ghana 3rd is a big advantage. The Italians have injury concerns as well, and since they play Ghana 1st-and since Ghana typically are at their strongest during the opening game of tournaments-they could catch an already beat up team a little thin.

 

While a loss to the Czechs would hurt, it by no means sinks the US chances.

 

And while the US traditionally has struggled in European World Cups, bear in mind that the 1990 team was a glorified college roster, and the 1998 team sucked. This group is far more talented that any team that has come before it.

[soccer10k]

Tommy Smyth on PTI

 

-US could get out of the group but won't win the Cup

-Ghana is better than people think

-Group E is very tough group

-If US doesn't get out of first round, not a disaster even though expectations high

-Brazil is definately the favorite but doesn't think they will win it all

-picks Italy to win the World Cup

[USSoccer]

Tommy Smyth on PTI

 

-US could get out of the group but won't win the Cup

-Ghana is better than people think

-Group E is very tough group

-If US doesn't get out of first round, not a disaster even though expectations high

-Brazil is definately the favorite but doesn't think they will win it all

-picks Italy to win the World Cup

 

-Italy isn't going to win the World Cup.

-Brazil is the favorite, but I agree, they won't win the Cup.

-If the US doesn't advance it will be very dissapointing.

-Group E is tough. The sky is also blue.

-Ghana is good. They're just not great.