World Cup South Africa, 2010 Thread

[3 Justin 3]

Go Germany!

[SebC]

Think there's already a thread, but whatever, go England!

[scottish_flame]

Ill be supporting the US in this one

Maurice Edu is a legend

[mykalberta]

Since Canada isnt in it, I will be fully supporting our brothers from the South. If for no other reason then them doing well would piss off the EU nations to no end

[Kybosh]

I'm cheering for my normal standards: Australia and England. I will also be booing Italy.

[Playfair's Hairgel]

All i know is "we are cheering for england hey hey hey"
and our lads are actualy going to get it done this time around!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Playfair's Hairgel

All i know is "we are cheering for england hey hey hey"
and our lads are actualy going to get it done this time around!

The only thing 'getting done' by England are other player's wives.

[NBC]

Capello has some mighty big decisions to make regarding the England squad. Neither first-choice left or right back (Cole and Johnson) are available through injury and might not be fit in time for South Africa. And no one knows if the newly appointed captain, the glass man of the EPL Rio Ferdinand, will be fit as well.

The Goalkeeping situation is as muddy as ever with three fairly decent players in the mix for the number 1 shirt. This is the first time in years where there doesn't seem to be a consensus number 1 in the squad. Arguably Joe Hart has been the best of the three this year, but it is unlikely that he'll be given the starting assignment.

Since there is no natural left winger amongst the perceived starting 11, thoughts are that Steven Gerrard will play the left side of a 4 man midfield diamond, with Lampard and Barry down the middle and Milner/Beckham/Wright-Phillips/Lennon and a host of others potentially on the right side.

Up front it looks like Crouch, Rooney, Heskey, and Defoe have all booked their seats on the plane. Probably room for one more striker and thoughts are either Carlton Cole or Gabriel Agbonlahor.

All said, if this squad is healthy and united in the wake of the John Terry debacle, with Capello a proven tactician, motivator and disciplinarian, they could have a decent World Cup. But right now there just seems to be too many question marks in key positions. Regardless, with Canada perpetually failing to qualify for the big dance yet again, my allegiances will be firmly with my new adopted home nation.

ENG-LAND!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by NBC

Capello has some mighty big decisions to make regarding the England squad. Neither first-choice left or right back (Cole and Johnson) are available through injury and might not be fit in time for South Africa. And no one knows if the newly appointed captain, the glass man of the EPL Rio Ferdinand, will be fit as well.

The Goalkeeping situation is as muddy as ever with three fairly decent players in the mix for the number 1 shirt. This is the first time in years where there doesn't seem to be a consensus number 1 in the squad. Arguably Joe Hart has been the best of the three this year, but it is unlikely that he'll be given the starting assignment.

Since there is no natural left winger amongst the perceived starting 11, thoughts are that Steven Gerrard will play the left side of a 4 man midfield diamond, with Lampard and Barry down the middle and Milner/Beckham/Wright-Phillips/Lennon and a host of others potentially on the right side.

Up front it looks like Crouch, Rooney, Heskey, and Defoe have all booked their seats on the plane. Probably room for one more striker and thoughts are either Carlton Cole or Gabriel Agbonlahor.

All said, if this squad is healthy and united in the wake of the John Terry debacle, with Capello a proven tactician, motivator and disciplinarian, they could have a decent World Cup. But right now there just seems to be too many question marks in key positions. Regardless, with Canada perpetually failing to qualify for the big dance yet again, my allegiances will be firmly with my new adopted home nation.

ENG-LAND!

I must say, thats not a very impressive roster regardless of the EPL over-valuing of English players.

Moving Gerrard to the left just so that Lampard stays in the middle is ######ed despite what the 'master tactician' thinks.

Emile Heskey is like 75 years old and has scored, what, like 7 goals for England? The other strikers arent much better. They've got Rooney + Whoever up front essentially.

No #1 Keeper, a fairly threadbare and injury prone defense, a rotating door on the right midfield of fairly marginal or over-the-hill players.

[united]

Lampard is the superior player down the middle, he should be there. I agree with Capello.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by united

Lampard is the superior player down the middle, he should be there. I agree with Capello.

You would.

[Netskot]

why not just give Spain the title now and cancel the whole thing?

[NBC]

Funny think about Heskey is that when he plays, England have a very impressive winning percentage. He's big, strong and very smart and is able to hold the ball up for the much more clinical Rooney. For decades England have liked to play with a bigger target man and a smaller, more versatile striker offset from the front. Crouch is another one who plays the way Heskey does though he has a better goal scoring record than big Emile.

The defensive problems are a real concern right now. Not sure you are going to get very far with a patchwork back 4. I think that the right side of midfield is a real positive for this squad. Beckham's dead-ball abilities, Lennon and Wright-Phillips' pace and Milner's (whom I think is the best fit on the right) creativity and versatility give them options that they are sadly missing on the left.

I think that with Rooney and a big man up front, and the strength in midfield, this team will score. The problem I see is that they just might concede one too many.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Netskot

why not just give Spain the title now and cancel the whole thing?

Because it is highly likely that Spain will not win.

While Spain and Brazil have the most electrifying rosters, they've all laid some real stinkers in the last year or so.

With Spain, sure they won Euro 08, but they have a long reputation of blowing big games. Confed Cup 09 was a great example. Brazil is the epitome of jekyll and hyde.

There's really no telling which Brazil shows up in any given game, and could easily be knocked out by a mid-range European power or better if they come out flat. They have a pretty easy road to the final if they win their group. They'll likely see Switzerland in the round of 16, the Dutch or Slovaks in the quarters, and probably Greece, Serbia, US, England, France or Mexico in the semis.

England may be rethinking that "E.A.S.Y." (England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks) estimation of their group. The US are legitimate players, and Slovenia is not a bad team, beating Russia in the knockout stage, and coming in second place in a group featuring the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia (legitimate mid-level European teams). Capello is a good coach, but his biggest weakness is knockout games. He twice lead a Juventus out of the CL early in the knockout stages in 2005 and 2006, with practically the entire starting 11 of the day being a part of WC champs Italy, or WC runner-up France. England's roster boasts very few legitimate threats. Whoever wins Group C though, likely has an easy road to the semis.

Italy and France are both shadows of their former selves, and I expect very little from either. Even with my Azzurri-colored glasses, I think a Top 4 finish is a significant accomplishment for Lippi's boys. Their reward for a first place finish in an easy looking group is a round of 16 match likely with the Danes, and a likely semi-final date with Spain. If they aren't so lucky and end up in second, Holland and Brazil would be their next two games...

Portugal and Netherlands are always dangerous, but neither look poised to advance beyond their typical bridesmaid status.

Argentina is a mess, but gifted with a relatively straight forward group if they come to play... which really leaves Germany as the most intact major nation. They are my bet to win it.

Germany-Spain semi-final, Brazil-Germany final.

Its pretty wide open, but some of these groups are just way too lame. Groups A-C at present look open to allow some very weak teams into the knockout rounds.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Netskot

why not just give Spain the title now and cancel the whole thing?

Same reason they didnt hand Portugal the Euro Cup in 2004.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

There's really no telling which Brazil shows up in any given game, and could easily be knocked out by a mid-range European power or better if they come out flat. They have a pretty easy road to the final if they win their group. They'll likely see Switzerland in the round of 16, the Dutch or Slovaks in the quarters, and probably Greece, Serbia, US, England, France or Mexico in the semis.

No. I think Chile is going to open up a lot of eyes and gain a lot fans and fanfare in this tournament, they are young and play a pure attacking style. They don't have any stars, just a lot of solid pieces that work their bags off and get the job done. Bielsa is a fantastic coach and I think they will surprise. The second seed in Group H will come down to the game between Switzerland and Chile, and I think you'll see Chile take it and face Brazil in the first knockout match. At the very least they're not a boring team to watch.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

No. I think Chile is going to open up a lot of eyes and gain a lot fans and fanfare in this tournament, they are young and play a pure attacking style. They don't have any stars, just a lot of solid pieces that work their bags off and get the job done. Bielsa is a fantastic coach and I think they will surprise. The second seed in Group H will come down to the game between Switzerland and Chile, and I think you'll see Chile take it and face Brazil in the first knockout match. At the very least they're not a boring team to watch.

Very possible. I didn't say Switzerland was a lock for second, but I do believe they are more likely than Chile. Isla and Sanchez are exciting young players, having seen them in action for Udinese. However, I give the edge to the Swiss because of their combination of decent skill and experience. They have a solid keeper, decent defenders, and a decent midfield. As well, Hitzfeld is a bonafide world class coach, and has a very impressive resume. He's one of two coaches in the world (the other is Happel) to win both CL and UEFA with two different clubs. He knows what it takes to win, and when it comes to passion v. patience, it could go either way, and I wouldn't be shocked if Chile goes through, but right now I think the Swiss are a safer bet.

[d_phaneuf]

England may be rethinking that "E.A.S.Y." (England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks) estimation of their group

Thats just the media, Capello is not. In every interview about the WC he has talked about the strengths of every team they play.

Cole and Johnson should be fit by the WC (Johnson even played today)

The biggest concern is Lennon getting healthy in time, Walcott is terrible and if he didnt play for Arsenal (and rarely play at that) he wouldn't even be considered to make the plane. SWP is decent but is more of a straight ahead runner and his crosses and passing is not as good as Lennon. Beckham most likely makes the team, but should be used only as a sub if at all.


I think the biggest enigma is France, arguably the most talented group of players in the world but they lack a leader. Domenech is a terrible coach but it didn't matter when Zidane and Viera were slotted in MF and basically running the team. But if they manage to somehow put it together they could make a run.

[NBC]

Not sure that I agree with Lennon's fitness being of paramount importance to England's WC ambitions. He is by no means - fit or not - assured of a spot in Capello's squad. Right now he's easily behind Milner and Beckham and possibly Wright-Phillips in the pecking order. Plus if given the choice of playing on the left or right, Gerrard easily chooses the right.

Defensive concerns are the biggest issues that Capello faces. The health and fitness of Cole, Ferdinand and Johnson is more important to the success of the squad than Lennon, who will be hard-pressed to feature at all if the squad is healthy.

[OILFAN #81]

I'm all about the Netherlands in the World Cup. Go Netherlands!