I'd like to see fellow BS posters' predictions for how the entire WC tournament will play out...i.e. who will finish in the top 2 in each group and how the single-elimination tournament will play out. Here's my fantasy outcome: Group A: 1Poland 2Germany 3Costa Rica 4Ecuador Notes: Germany, though playing at home, is just not as good as it used to be. I think Poland is the surprise squad here and comes out on top. Ecuador and Costa Rica won't have enough firepower. Group B: 1England 2Sweden 3Paraguay 4Trinidad and Tobago Notes: England better win this group. Toss up between Paraguay and Sweden, but i'll give this one to the swedes. Group C: 1Netherlands 2Argentina 3Cote D’Ivoire 4Serbia and Montenegro Notes: The dutch are tremendous. So are the argentines. I'll give this to the orange on goal differential. Group D: 1Portugal 2Iran 3Mexico 4Angola Notes: Shocker of the tournament: Mexico falls out in group play. With their trademark cockiness they underestimate the Iranians who come up with an early lead and hold on for victory. Portugal takes the group under leadership of C. Ronaldo. Group E: 1USA 2Italy 3Czech Republic 4Ghana Notes: That's right, the US somehow wins this group with wins over czechs and ghana and a draw with italy. Italy beats czechs in their head to head match-up. Group F: 1Croatia 2Brazil 3Australia 4Japan Notes: Second shocker: Brazil underestimates very tough Croatians who win the opening match. Brazil recovers in time to take second place. Group G: 1Switzerland 2France 3Korea Republic 4Togo Notes: France just sucks nowadays. Swiss tied them twice in qualifying, and probably win this time around. Group H: 1Spain 2Ukraine 3Tunisia 4Saudi Arabia Notes: Weakest group produces spain and ukraine. wouldn't be surprised if Ukraine takes this group under Shevchenko. Round of 16: Poland v. Sweden [Sweden wins easily.] Netherlands v. Iran [Netherlands - no brainer.] USA v. Brazil [Amazing match goes to penalties where Keller stones Ronaldo and Dempsey scores winning penalty.] Switzerland v. Ukraine [Upset: Shevchenko magic continues and leads team over swiss.] England vs. Germany [Home team goes down to the powerful english squad. Goal from Beckham on a free kick.] Portugal v. Argentina [Argentines too much for portuguese...goals for messi and crespo.] Croatia v. Italy [Italians take down suprise croatians in penalties.] Spain v. France [Spanish come out ahead of aged French team.] Quarterfinals: Sweden v. Netherlands [Tough match goes to Dutch again. The orange keep rolling...] USA v. Ukraine [Arena game plans brilliantly, onweyu shuts down Andriy, and Donovan scores winning goal.] England v. Argentina [The requisite match for every world cup. England win again...mimicking earlier friendly with last minute goal.] Italy v. Spain [Italians are just too good, they go forward here.] Semifinals: Netherlands v. USA [Tight, tight match up. Dutch go ahead early, but Americans calm their nerves down and Reyna of all people scores a crafty goal. EJ puts in another in extra time and Americans hold on for win, going to their first final ever!] Italy v. England [Much anticipated match goes to penalties....Totti misses one and the English don't. Owen makes the clincher.] Finals: USA v. England [In this dream final, a depleted US team rounds up all the muster it can to play the English, who are desperate to win. both teams are missing players due to cards (can't see Mastroeni lasting this long) or injury (McBride is finished by now), and Ben Olsen makes the starting line-up, with Donovan and Johnson up top. Both teams start tentatively, though Convey and Dempsey make some nice runs. Game remains tied through half-time, where Arena gives rousing speech to rev up the players. Right out of the gates in the second half, EJ finds some space in the center, lets a ball fly, and beats Paul Robinson! 1-0 US! But wait, it's not over yet. English put on a full-court press and in the 87th minute get an equalizer when Owen heads one in past Keller. Extratime produces some back and forth, but both teams play conservatively in anticipation of Penalties. And then they come, english going first. 1:Owen - Makes it, Donovan - Makes it. 2: Lampard - Makes it, Dempsey - Makes it. 3: Rooney - Makes it, Cherundolo - Makes it. 4: Cole - Makes it, Convey - makes it. 5: Beckham steps up to the spot. Keller waits patiently in the center. He takes a running start...fires it left...Keller dives...it's saved! And now...a suprise choice....it's Keller?!! to take the last penalty kick...every other player is spent...He takes a running start, and.....GOAL! USA WINS! USA WINS! He shoots it right down the center and robinson goes right! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! USA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS! [Footnote: Well, that's how it happens in my dreams at least.]
I could believe it defensively for the US. We are truly world class IMO defensively when we field Dolo, Gooch, Gibbs, and Lewis. It's the goal scoring part that will be a problem. I just don't see it happening with only McBride in form now. And, Brazil would mop the floor with us. They are ridiculously stacked. Ronaldinho vs. Reyna? Who's gonna stop Ronaldo? I'm sorry, but Ronaldo is a whole different sort of animal than Ruud van Nistelrooy and I don't think Gibbs can stop him. Too fast, too strong, too clinical. But a fun read, thanks.
Group A: 1 Germany 2 Costa Rica 3 Poland 4 Ecuador Germany dominates, spurred on by home support. Young, exciting Costa Rica beat a sluggish Poland to claim the second spot in the group. Group B: 1 England 2 Sweden 3 Paraguay 4 Trinidad and Tobago England and Sweden draw, both of them beat the other two, England top the group following a Rooney-Owen goal feast against Trindad. Group C: 1 Argentina 2 Netherlands 3 Cote D’Ivoire 4 Serbia and Montenegro Argentina just beat Holland to top spot, chanelling the spirit of their 1978 world cup victory. Cote d'Ivoire play well, the best of the African qualifiers. Group D: 1 Portugal 2 Mexico 3 Iran 4 Angola Portugal and Mexico qualify comfortably, although Angola play with a great deal of pride and determination in their loss to their former colonial masters. Group E: 1 Italy 2 Czech Republic 3 USA 4 Ghana Italy wins the group; Czech Republic and USA draw their match, but the Czechs go through on goal difference following Milan Baros' showpiece display against Ghana. Group F: 1 Brazil 2 Australia 3 Croatia 4 Japan Brazil wins their match; Australia beat Croatia in their decider, bouyed by their first qualification in many years, and the hot form of Kewell and Viduka. Japan play poorly, relying too much on an aging Nakata. Group G: 1 France 2 Korea Republic 3 Switzerland 4 Togo France, with Henry leading the line, top the pile. Korea, still riding high after 2002, and with Park and Lee bringing EPL experience to the field, put their poor qualifying form behind them and beat the Swiss. Group H: 1 Spain 2 Ukraine 3 Tunisia 4 Saudi Arabia Spain and Ukraine dominate the play. Shevchenko scores 5 of Ukraine's 9 against the Saudis. Round of 16: 1 - Germany V Sweden Germany are too strong for the Swedes, once again carrying the home support through to a 2-0 victory. 2 - Argentina V Mexico Mexico take Argentina to penalties after a 1-1 draw. Mexico lose their nerve, remembering Bulgaria a few years ago, and Argentina go through. 3 – Italy V Australia Italy dominate the game, bringing the Socceroo dream to an end with a 3-1 win. 4 - France V Ukraine Shevchenko is the only threat the Ukraine can muster against a rampant France. Henry, sensing this is his final chance for glory, scores two in a 3-0 win. 5 - England V Costa Rica The Rooney-Owen combo works again, scoring a goal each. Wanchope gets one back for the Costa Ricans but Beckham slots home an injury time penalty when Wanchope and his 12-foot legs bring down Lampard in the box. 3-1. 6 - Portugal V Netherlands A tough, tough game which ends 2-2. Cristiano Ronaldo is sent off for a late tackle on Robben, who dives like he's been shot by a sniper. This rattles the Portuguese, and the Dutch win on penalties. 7 - Brazil V Czech Republic Brazil dominate, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho stealing the show, 2-0 win for the champions. 8 - Spain V Korea Spain, remembering their defeat against the same team in 2002, are nervous again, and start badly. Korea score 2 in the first half before the Spanish wake up. They pull one back in the second half, but Korea hold on for a shock 2-1 win. Quarterfinals: QF1 Germany V Argentina The Germans are now hitting their stride, and Argentina can't quite contain their stern determination. Both sides have chances, but Lehmann is outstanding, and Ballack finally breaks the deadlock late on. 1-0 to the hosts. QF2 Italy V France A close, free-flowing end-to-end affair which ends 0-0. Both sides hit the bar, hit the post, and Totti misses an open net. Everyone scores their penalties, including the keepers, to make it 11-11. Totti misses the Italian 12th in sudden death, and Pires fires home the winner. QF3 England V Netherlands England, remembering the injustice of Ronald Koeman's free-kick, and the masterpiece performance in Euro 96 bring back the ghosts of Gazza and Sheringham. Gerrard gets an early goal, Van Persie equalises, but Beckham scores a masterpiece free-kick in the final minute to make it 2-1. QF4 Brazil V Korea Korea give their all, but Brazil are just too strong, and run out 4-1 winners. Brazil go on, Korea go home with heads held high. Semifinals: Germany V France Another close game, with the French seemingly having the flair to outplay the hosts. William Gallas scores a rare goal from midfield, but then puts it the ball through his own net as the Germans press for an equaliser. Lehmann scores the winner himself when the Germans get a late corner and Klinsmann urges him forward. 2-1, and the hosts are through to the final. England V Brazil England finally steps up to the plate, and tries to forget all the times the Brazilians have outplayed them. Owen puts England ahead, but goals from Ronaldo and Ronaldinho seemingly ensure that the Brazilians keep their advantage. Sol Campbell scores an injury-time equaliser to make it 2-2 and send it to penalties, but once again the English lose their nerve. Gerrard blasts the crucial penalty over the bar, and Brazil are through again. Finals: Germany V Brazil Hosts v Holders. Everything is nervous, edgy, tight, with few scoring chances. Eventually, Brazil breaks the deadlock, with Kaka scoring a goal against the run of play. Germany throw everything at the Brazilians, but are exposed at the back... a quick break late in the game, and Ronaldinho chips an on-rushing Lehmann to score. 2-0 to Brazil, and they are World Champions again!
oh come on, you guys are no fun at all. If BS is about anything, it's about fans letting their dreams and hopes run rampant over logic.
hey lastort, if you don't like this thread you don't have to read it. other people have enjoyed it and indicated as such. edit: ok, mods win again, its goes into USA Men.
Apparently, the moderators agreed with me. Your thread has been moved. Feel free to keep posting nonsense in the N&A forum though. Hopefully you'll get the forum ban you deserve.
man when i saw the title for this thread, i thought it may actually be a serious attempt at predictions. we all know we wouldn't need extra time to beat brazil (just joking) i wish i were a millionaire, that way i could bet you a million that this does not remotely happen.
Heh, dont bother with Mike, hes a little angry because he cant find a way to squeeze his new and exciting kitty picture into this thread as hes done with countless others.
1Germany ecuador B. england sweden c. argentina dutch d. port mex e. italy usa f. brazil aust g. france swiss h. spain tunisia ger def. swe eng def. ecu arg def mex dutch def port italy def aus brazi def usa swiss def tunisia spain def france arg def ger dutch def eng italy def swiss brazil def spain dutch def brazil arg def italy dutch def arg for first title
No, just irritated by the 'need' to rename something with a more cumbersome title. Is the next round - the 'round of 8'? Or the previous, the 'round of 32'? No. 1st round, 2nd round, QF, SF, Final. Simple. Why people thought it needed redoing is beyond me. Don't feel victimised - there's plenty on here that do it. I do the same thing if I see it elsewhere.
You picked no-brainers across the board in the preliminary round, except when it came to the USA (no suprise there), the team we hate: Mexico (no surprise there), and the favorite to win it all(Brazil- No surprise there). Interesting. From this, I can tell much about your childhood and your future... My only recollection of Dempsey taking a penalty was in one of the MLS Finals I believe. You saw it in his face that he would miss it before he took it as he looked scared out of his boots... and miss it he did. I don't recall seeing him take a penalty since then.