Okay, there's a thread in bigsoccer polls but it's full of muppets. This will be the official thread and will close just before the tournament begins. I will post my verdicts on most of the candidates over the next months and you should too. If you have nothing to say, just vote. Don't bother posting one-word/two-word answers. No trash talk, just discussion about formations, lead-up friendlies, squads, the draws, the injuries, how Mexico suck etc. I must say that I don't think I've ever been so excited about a WC line-up before. Apart from Russia and possibly Croatia, I don't think there's a nation left at home who could add anything to the mix and let's face it, if you can't beat Slovenia the tournament can survive without you. Added to the fact that it won't be too warm and SA 2010 promises to be a real cracker. I'm going to start of by repeating what I've posted before as regards Spain. I don't think they have the tournament know-how, mental strength, defensive ability, necessary aggression and physical presence to win the WC. I think they are overrated and I don't even consider them contenders; I believe that a team that gets in their face and pressurizes have a shot against them and the USA's Confed Cup upset only reinforces my belief; I may be wrong so I've included the European champions in the poll anyway along with some dark horses and a few joke options (I'll let you decide which is which).
France's nervous, shambolic, fearful and sloppy performance in the Stade De France against Ireland should have been the final straw and hastened Domenech's departure in my opinion. Laurent Blanc has done an excellent job at Bordeaux and I believe he should lead France at the World Cup too. He will be respected by the players and may get the best out of Gourcouff, who I feel has been underwhelming for the NT. It will also open a window of opportunity for the unfairly exiled Trezuguet to possibly return to the fold. Blanc can balance both club and country posts much like Hiddink has done in the past. It shouldn't be too difficult. Domenech's exit is France's only hope of winning the WC. Paul Le Guen is another possible option as his replacement. Post thoughts, vote etc.
I said it in another thread on here and I'll say it in this one: Brazil look more solid now than in 2006- they really impressed me in the Confed Cup this year and the England friendly. So I tip Brazil. If anybody has a problem with me stating an opinion, they can suck it! I agree with you about Spain but we will just have to see come 2010
I'm voting "Other". If I really had to pick the most likely team to win the World Cup, it would be Brazil. A close second, Spain. Third, Netherlands. And so on. But where's the fun in that? "Wow, that Dr. Gamera, picking Brazil to win the World Cup -- and they did! What precognition!" If I wanted to look smart, I could try picking the Netherlands; but my sense is that few people are putting them as high as third in their lists, so presumably I have a chance at looking smart by tipping them to reach the semifinals, and perhaps to go all the way. (This is in no way an endorsement of all of the opinions expressed by all of the BigSoccer posters from the Netherlands.) But my real purpose is to call attention to a team that I personally root against, a team that needed to qualify through a playoff, a team that generally didn't look particularly impressive in qualifying either before or during that playoff, a team generally given 80-1 or 100-1 odds of winning the World Cup (with 150-1 odds available from one source), a team that didn't even qualify for the 2006 World Cup: Uruguay. The predictive computers (ESPN/Nate Silver and both of Voros's rankings) love Uruguay: they are 10th or 11th of the 32 qualifiers in all three of those ranking systems. So put me down in this thread for a prediction of Uruguay as World Cup champions, and if your local laws allow and you're of a betting frame of mind, put some money that you won't miss if you lose it on Uruguay -- and then hedge your bets for a guaranteed profit when they make the quarterfinals. Put me down for Côte d'Ivoire as the African team that makes it the furthest, Cameroon also advancing with an average draw, and South Africa making history by being the first host nation to fail to advance from the group stage.
The problem with Brazil winning 2010 is that they're bound to win it in 2014, too. Two times Brazil, that would be boring.
Brazil are clear favourites. Spain are second favourites, but I have my doubts about them. They have not played in a world cup semi final for 59 years.. they just don't seem to show up at world cups. Germany will always be amongst the favourites no matter what players they have - although currently they have a fairly weak squad compared to what they're used to. England also have a good chance IF they have a fully fit squad. After those 4, Netherlands and Italy are the next favourites. After that anyone can guess. France and Argentina will go nowhere unless they sack their managers, and Portugal look a shade of the team that they once were.
how is mexico in this poll lol and im mexican i'd say brazil or spain (if they dont play usa in the semis lol) but id love to see mid table nation winnning the WC im sick of the same 5 or 6 winning it
People do know that Spain have only lost 1 game in the last 44 games they've played right? This includes beating some of the best teams in the world. Finally, they quite easily have the best team in terms of players. The current Spanish team is the only squad with the potential to be one of the greats.
Spain indeed have some great players but you know as a team, in World Cup, they are nothing till now. I would love to see Spain playing well but again I believe in a tournament like WC, teams like Italy,Germany,Brazil usually plays well. Lets see what happens this time.
So they can win euro2008, but the world cup is beyond them because past irrelevant Spanish teams haven't done well? History means very little. It's ridiculously overplayed on bigsoccer for no reason. For example, the fact that no European team has won the world cup outside of Europe. If Germany had won the world cup in 2002 (or loads of other examples) would the chances of a European team winning increase this summer? This Spanish team which has won a tournament which rivals the world cup itself. They definitely have winning pedigree.
I picked Brazil, but I'm stunned that Spain isn't second. Those two are the clear favorites for me. Then England. The Dutch look good, but had a weak QF group, and have no superstars. I think Argentina, Italy, Germany, France, and Portugal are all a bit weaker than usual this time. I think we'll see a deep run from outside the top 10 this time, maybe more than one. 1) I think at least one African team. Ivory Coast or Ghana (despite tough draws) are my best bets, though Cameroon is also solid, and Nigeria got a pretty good draw. And I wouldn't be against the hosts either. 2) A Second tier Euro team. The gap between the big dogs and 2nd tier teams is closing. Look for Serbia or Denmark to possibly make some noise. Slovakia with a good draw. Greece can't be complaining. Swiss are in tough. 3) Mexico, USA, and Australia are all capable. I'd expect at least two surprise QF's, and at least 1 SF to come from outside the top 10. Just look at 2002 (last out of Europe WC).
Honestly, if Spain don't win this World Cup they never will. Everything is primed for them to win it.
I think Portugal are being written off a little too quickly. Yes, they had to qualify via a playoff, but their problem was really having a load of 0-0 draws where they dominated the play but couldn't stick the ball in the net. In a game against a team of the same standard they're still a tough proposition for anyone and I personally wouldn't be surprised if they got to the latter stages. They're the classic case of a team which doesn't win all of their games in a league format, but are exceptionally difficult to beat in a knockout game.
This thread is for winning the whole thing not just the terrible group both got put in. Oh well wont matter both will be gone in the round of 16
USA, has a good chance of winning if they were playing by themselves. That's not the case though, the farthest i see them is in the round of 16 and that's it. Reality hurts but its gonna take a miracle for them to win this. Mexico, they have what it takes to make it to at least the quarter finals. Winning it will be also too much, but hey miracles happen. So watch out for USA and mexico making it to the final. But for reality, i see brazil making it to the final. Depending on ther Rival its a 50/50
The draw is not primed for them to win it. Chile Honduras Switzerland Ivory Coast/Portugal Italy Germany/Argentina Brazil Spain's chances were slim to none and slim just left town.
Lets compare to say England's half of the draw. Group teams and then ------------ Ghana France Brazil/Holland Spain/Argentina/Germany/Italy See, its not any easier. If Spain and England swapped places, Then it'd be Ghana France Brazil/Holland Argentina/England/Germany/Italy The point is that, Spain are guaranteed to get to the last 16. Then its 4 games to the trophy, and you will face tough teams. Brazil face tough teams within their own group, and they are the 2 clear favourites, which gives the edge to Spain. We also know, groups rarely all play out as expected. That would completely change the composition of the halves.
The only team there that presents a problem with everything else being equal is Brazil. I am unsure of Ivory Coast but really everyone else in that list I'm not scared of in the least.
I think that Spain will be knocked out by Ivory Coast/Portugal/Brazil in the 2nd round.. this was their year to win it, but they have a tough path to the final.. i can't see them beating 4 top teams in a row, including most likely Brazil. Another under achievment for them looks very possible..