Official Eyesonff World Cup 2006 thread

[Old Manus]

Old Manus' World Cup Overview

Group A
Germany: Host nation have a pretty easy group and some decent players. Dark horse to win it.
Prediction: Semi-Finals

Costa Rica: Will probably come third before Equador
Prediction: It ends here

Poland: Pretty decent side. Could come second
Prediction: Second Round

Equador: Haven't done well in God knows how many years
Prediction: It ends here

Group B
England: Come on the boys! One of the best England teams in a long time. Have a tendency to screw up.
Prediction: Quarter-Finals (what a surprise)

Paraguay: Could shock fans and get into last 16
Prediction: It ends here

Trinidad & Tobago: Who?
Prediction: It ends here

Sweden: Only big threat for England in the group. Could finish top of the group.
Prediction: Second Round

Group C
Argentina: Gone downhill a bit since the last world cup, but a very good side nonetheless
Prediction: Semi-Finals

Cote d'Ivoire: Drogba is a one-man team
Prediction: It ends here

Serbia & Montenegro: Nope.
Prediction: It ends here

Netherlands: These guys are good. Won't win it though.
Prediction: 4th

Group D
Mexico: Not too bad a team, but not too good a team either
Prediction: Second Round

Iran: Not going to get far.
Prediction: It ends here

Angola: Not going to get far.
Prediction: It ends here

Portugal: Finalists of Euro 2004 could shock
Prediction: Quarter Finals

Group E
Italy: Awesome team but always seem to mess up when it counts.
Prediction: Finalists

Ghana: See you next time
Prediction: It ends here

USA: 'A good run could break football in the states'. Who cares?
Prediction: It ends here

Czech Republic: Could just pip USA to the post of qualifying for second round
Prediction: Second Round

Group F
Brazil: So much class it hurts. Looks like another win for the Brazilians
Prediction: Winners

Croatia: Not too bad, but they aren't going to get very far
Prediction: It ends here

Australia: Team has improved a lot over the years, but not good enough, I'm afraid
Prediction: It ends here

Japan: Pretty good
Prediction: Quarter Finals

Group G
France: Did crap last time, may well do the same this time. I wouldn't be so sure though.
Prediction: 3rd

Switzerland: Hmm...nah.
Prediction: It ends here

Korea Republic: Hopefully they can do well at this world cup
Prediction: Second round

Togo: wtf
Prediction: It ends here

Group H
Spain: Always tipped to do well, always fail.
Prediction: Semi-Finals

Ukraine: Often underestimated.
Prediction: Second Round

Tunisia: Won't get far this time
Prediction: It ends here

Saudi Arabia: I bet they're used to this by now
Prediction: It ends here

[HowlingMonkey]

EDIT: A word on Rooney. The reason why he was so successful in Euro 2004 was because he was unknown. After all the mad hype about him, and about Lampard too, the other teams will closely try to stifle them. I think this is good news for Michael Owen and Joe Cole. I'm pretty much convinced that Owen will be England's top scorer, and that Rooney will only score one or two in the competition. Joe Cole is in incredible form, so look out for him too.

No way, even though people know about Rooney these days he can still have magnificent games. Just look at the one against Newcastle, where he was amazing despite the Magpies knowing all about him by now. The same goes for Frank Lampard. They're both good enough to be able to deal with teams trying to stifle them. And yeah, Joe Cole should be awesome.

[tomamar04]

Would anyone be intrested in doing an eyesonff World Cup prediction league?

[Old Manus]

This is a good idea

[Shoden]

As long as it involves betting, cards and money then yes.

[SoulTaker*]

Hmmm, ESPN just said that we the USA are ranked fifth in FIFA or something. Thats like the whole world, so I guess that aint bad is it? Maybe I'll catch some of it this year, I remember it was a big thing when our women won.

[tomamar04]

Hmmm, ESPN just said that we the USA are ranked fifth in FIFA or something. Thats like the whole world, so I guess that aint bad is it? Maybe I'll catch some of it this year, I remember it was a big thing when our women won.

No offence, but the USA are nowhere near one of the top 5 teams in the world. The reason they are so highly ranked is because USA and Mexico get an easy ride to the World Cup finals every 4 years. But they have definatly made an improvement in recent years.

[Cz]

You can't trust the FIFA rankings to tell you anything. Everything is based upon past performance, and makes no allowance for the quality of competition in the local footballing federations, so a win against Italy is given equal weight to a win against Indonesia. The USA and Mexico have an easy ride in their qualifying rounds, hence their high world ranking. You're not a bad side, but your world ranking flatters you.

[SoulTaker*]

Ahh, I see. Saw it on the prompter while I was watching sportscenter, thought it was a lil weird we were ranked so high, and how not very good we are. I know we did good in the last one though, soccer is not my thing, dont really know the politics of it, but I'll watch any sport if its competitive.

[Yamaneko]

I'll do my predictions once I look over some of the lesser known teams. My heart has always gone out to Argentina, though, but the the way things have gone over the past four years I doubt they will make it past the quarter finals. If that's the case my hopes rest with Spain.

What I'm interested in seeing is who's going to be the Korea of the World Cup 2006.

[dragoonknight_kain]

I'm Brazilian, and I doubt we will win. Yes, we have loads of excellent players (enough for 3 teams, actually). But the coach is the problem. I can't believe players like Ronaldo and Cafu will play, they're only there because they are famous, because they were good in the past. Our defence is embarrassing, Lucio, Juan, and, to top it off, Dida.... I can't believe it. Emerson sucks too.

Kaka always plays well in the Brazilian team, so he's ok, but Ronaldinho never plays that well (at least he's loads better in Barcelona). Ronaldo and Adriano aren't in a good season, and I can't see Robinho winning a match for us.

So, I think we'd be better off with players such as Cicinho, and others who are unknown to you, because they deserve to go to Germany a lot more then some of the ones that are going (*cough*Ronaldo*cough*).

I suppose Italy or Germany will win. And if Argentina wins... I'll drown myself .

[Resha]

I don't think Brazil will win this time round -- Ronaldo's in poor form, although Ronaldinho will be great to watch -- nor Germany. Germany may have an advantage as home team, but they've been having some pretty poor performances recently. I think both England and Spain have a pretty good chance -- Hiddink's with the aussies, so they could very well be the Korea of 2006. Hiddink is a demi-god in my eyes; works wonders. France have a good team, but they did last time as well and look what happened then. I'm not going to bother predicting or making bets this time round (too expensive), so I'll just watch and see.

[Cz]

Korea's success last time around was based mainly on their home advantage, and some incredibly good luck. If any team is going to be a surprise package this time it'll be the Ukraine, whose qualifying record was unmatched by any other team in Europe. I quite fancy the Ivory Coast too, but that's only because they have Emmanuel Eboue and he is as good as a good piece of cheese.

[escobert]

I remember watching the last game in the last world cup while I was in a square in Paris. THat was the crazyest thing ever. HUGE TV and tons and tons of people everywhere. It was awsome.

[dragoonknight_kain]

Korea's success last time around was based mainly on their home advantage, and some incredibly good luck.

Luck is an euphemism. Obvious robbery would be a better word for Korea's match against Italy. That referee should be fired (if he hasn't been already).