Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Pre-FIFA World Cup Thread!!!

Abstract · 05-13-2006, 04:47 PM

Ahh the World Cup. One of lifes greatest plesures. Unfortunately Scotland missed out again so tis ABE for me. (Anyone But England). The media in the uk are unbearable so i wont get started on them. Anyways Englands goose is cooked if Rooney doesnt make it. Owen i think they can live without but Rooney is key. Plus they've picked a guy called Theo Walcott who is 17 and never even played in the top flight so he's a huge risk. Could be genius or a disastrous. Defensively though England are fantastic and will not concede many and coupled with the pathetic group they got and that they are almost assured an easy game in the 2nd round they'll do ok but dont think they'll win it. Sweden are my europeand dark horses. Very well organised team and with Ljunberg, Ibrahimovic and Larsson are always likely to score goals. Netherlands are always strong but this is not a vintage group for them, lacking in midfield as Robben and co are enigmatic at times. Spain will always under-achieve, thats just one of lifes constants. Germany will make the semi's if they avoid England in the second round i think. Home advantage is huge in these tournaments. Indeed so is continental advantage as Brazil are still the only country to have won the tournament outside their own continent (In Sweden and Korea/Japan). Italy i dont fancy at all this time round. Im tellin you now people put your money on.................Argentina! They've came back fomr a pretty poor lates 90s early 00s very very strong. Finally got over not having Maradona or Batistuta to bail them out but with Crespo, Riqueleme, Aimar and the new wonderkid Lionel Messi they are my top tips. Should get decent odds on them too as they have a tough group and are always overlooked cos of Brazil.

FIFA as an organization are a farce though which is borne out by their madcap rankings system. Nobody pays any attention to them whatsoever. And as for Kore and Japan at last world cup dont rule out just how keen FIFA are to grow the game in that part of the world. I think its a stretch to say there was pressure put on the referees but some of the decisions made in favour of the co-hosts lats time beggared belief.

05-13-2006, 04:47 PM	#55
Abstract Scoring Winger Join Date: Oct 2003 Exp:	Ahh the World Cup. One of lifes greatest plesures. Unfortunately Scotland missed out again so tis ABE for me. (Anyone But England). The media in the uk are unbearable so i wont get started on them. Anyways Englands goose is cooked if Rooney doesnt make it. Owen i think they can live without but Rooney is key. Plus they've picked a guy called Theo Walcott who is 17 and never even played in the top flight so he's a huge risk. Could be genius or a disastrous. Defensively though England are fantastic and will not concede many and coupled with the pathetic group they got and that they are almost assured an easy game in the 2nd round they'll do ok but dont think they'll win it. Sweden are my europeand dark horses. Very well organised team and with Ljunberg, Ibrahimovic and Larsson are always likely to score goals. Netherlands are always strong but this is not a vintage group for them, lacking in midfield as Robben and co are enigmatic at times. Spain will always under-achieve, thats just one of lifes constants. Germany will make the semi's if they avoid England in the second round i think. Home advantage is huge in these tournaments. Indeed so is continental advantage as Brazil are still the only country to have won the tournament outside their own continent (In Sweden and Korea/Japan). Italy i dont fancy at all this time round. Im tellin you now people put your money on.................Argentina! They've came back fomr a pretty poor lates 90s early 00s very very strong. Finally got over not having Maradona or Batistuta to bail them out but with Crespo, Riqueleme, Aimar and the new wonderkid Lionel Messi they are my top tips. Should get decent odds on them too as they have a tough group and are always overlooked cos of Brazil. FIFA as an organization are a farce though which is borne out by their madcap rankings system. Nobody pays any attention to them whatsoever. And as for Kore and Japan at last world cup dont rule out just how keen FIFA are to grow the game in that part of the world. I think its a stretch to say there was pressure put on the referees but some of the decisions made in favour of the co-hosts lats time beggared belief. __________________ Those days are past now, and in the past they must remain, but we can still rise now and be a nation again.