After seeing Germany in '02 reach the championship match and hearing that Oliver Kahn would be back AND hearing they would be at home... I picked Germany to win it all in July of '02... Since then I've had trouble changing my mind but wasn't very impressed with them at home in the Confederations Cup. Still i'll be socked if they aren't AT LEAST in the semi's and they should find a way into the finals.
CHILE !!!. Ummm yeah since Chile isn't in it, I have to look for others to root for. Costa Rica Going to be here whilst the WC is on and have to root for a CONCACAF team...and not Mexico. Great country and have a lot of ties there. Ecuador Germany Poland England Have a lot of English friends and going to grad school here Paraguay Sweden Trinidad & Tobago Cinderella Argentina Ivory Coast Netherlands Moreso of necessity cause of the gf. Serbia & Montenegro Angola Iran Mexico --doesn't need to be said Portugal Australia Brazil Croatia Japan France South Korea Switzerland Togo Saudi Arabia Spain -- Want to root for them but will be horribly disappointed...again. My flatmate is Spanish and coupled with the fact they were robbed in Korea, I hpoe they get their comeuppance Tunisia Ukraine
Trinidad & Tobago because of the under dog status. Netherlands because I like their style and fans. Argentina 'cause that's where my dad is from and I still have family there. Ukraine because that's ALL of my family's ancestry. I hope Mexico, Iran, S. Arabia, Tunisia, and S. Korea never score a single goal.
Costa Rica Ecuador Germany Poland England Paraguay Sweden Trinidad & Tobago Argentina Ivory Coast Netherlands Serbia & Montenegro Angola Iran Mexico Portugal Australia Brazil Croatia Japan France South Korea Switzerland Togo Saudi Arabia Spain Tunisia Ukraine
First things first...Mexico IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for us not being seeded. Why would anyone with half of a brain say it is Mexico's fault, but discount the other SEVEN (7) seeds as also being responsible. Italy was two points ahead of us in the final rankings. If we blame Mexico for being the reason we are not seeded lets also blame Germany for beating us in 98 and especially 02. While it would not have changed anything about our 98 result (except that we would not have been last) it would have meant a semifinal appeareance in 02 (and who knows what would have happened after that). For those of you who want American soccer (ie Football) to be respected throughout the world you better be rooting for CONCACAF. Even if we go out and win the World Cup we would not pick up much respect if the rest of CONCACAF tanks because the EUROSNOBS would say well they do not have to play anyone in qualifying or whatever else they could come up with. There will be changes with allocation before South Africa. Asia will most certianly pick up a new spot if Australia does well, I hope it is at the expense of Africa not US, because South America wants more and Europe definitely wont lose any. For you College football fans out there it is equivalent to cheering for your most hated rival in a bowl game or win they are playing someone who has a one game lead on you in the conference standings. Here are my teams I will support Germany, Costa Rica - Hosts and a very good team England, TandT - You got to root for England in Germany and Dwight Yorke Ivory Coast, Netherlands - I like the Dutch league - One African team will probably advance so why not Ivory Coast Mexico, Portugal - Portugal is solid - and MEXICO BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE BEAT THEM WE WILL BE THAT MUCH BETTER Australia, Brazil - As much as I do not like repeat champs and want to cheer for the little guy I have got to pull in the early stages for Brazil - Australia because I would like to play them in the second round if everything works out South Korea, Switzerland - I HATE FRANCE Spain, Ukraine - Spain needs a good cup, UKRAINE a debut team with a few household names - if you root for Yorke you need to also root for Ukraine USA, Czech - USA (gee I wonder) Czech - Why root for Italy or Ghana
The US of A of course, but then in no particular order... Costa Rica (CONCACAF) Germany (ancestral homeland) Trinidad & Tobago (CONCACAF) Iran (for political intrigue) Mexico (CONCACAF as much as it pains me) Australia (brother-in-law is an Aussie)
Sorry if this is not "proper" - but I will ruiting for the USA and whoever is playing Mexico. I have tickets to the round of 16 for Winner of the Mexico group vs. the second place in the Argentina group. Part of me hopes Mexico doesn't even advance - but when they do take the group I will be cheering for whoever the face. However - no matter what - we all need to show our support for Costa Rica, T&T and the US...and even Mexico. The rest of the world looks down on CONCACAF...I would say 4 teams is a damn good showing - especially when 2 or more advance to the Round of 16!
On the 'other side of the bracket': Mexico and England (probably not the popular choice), but if we are able to play well enough to get that deep in the tournament, I would want the oppotunity to knock England out or Mexico again. And Mexico may be b**ches, but they're our b**ches. Group F. I will be indifferent since we will have to play someone from that group right off the bat in knockout stage. Group G and H. Why not make those groups a bigger mockery than they already are? Go Saudis and Go Togo. Can you believe they get to play each other in the round of 16 too!!??!! That means two miserable teams, at least, will make it through to the quarterfinals.
Costa Rica Neighbors Ecuador Germany Cheer for the home team of course Poland England-------I just want to see them crash out Paraguay Sweden Nothing like having the Swedes beat up on England Trinidad & Tobago Region neighbors Argentina Ivory Coast Let them beat up the big boys in this group Netherlands Serbia & Montenegro Angola Iran Mexico Next door neighbors and want to see them pound Iran Portugal Australia Like to see them increase their interests for their league Brazil Croatia Japan A solid team that plays like a team France South Korea Switzerland Togo Justin O I'll throw the bone to Togo Saudi Arabia Wanna keep that oil flowing Spain Tunisia Ukraine Because I don't believe they are weak and feeble