Now that we know both teams have qualified, who do you think will get further in the tournament: England or the U.S.A.?
I got USA beating ghana about 70% chance, Germany beating England about 60% chance. England's path stay's incredibly difficult, USA's path substantially easier. USA.
It's difficult to say. The Amercians have a much easier path, but they must go past Ghana first. Germany did not do too well after the first match. They still have a upper hand vs England, but England still has a good chance.
Basically U.S.A. Semifinals! One good day (I mean a fair referee!) Finals! England will beat Germany but against Argentina? The day after the Argentina game, England is back in the UK! Glad to see an not EuroSnobs World Cup!
My god and i thought england fans were suppose to be the most arrogant fans in the world. Lets face it both games are pretty much 50:50. You can go on about Germany prehaps having the edge in world cup matches or whatever and i would understand that but you could just as easily look at the last 5 competitive meetings between the sides and see england winning 2 2 draws and 1 win for germany. In reality its two good teams either could beat the other. There are loads of ways to look at it and who has the upper hand but ultimatly it comes down to who plays better, which i see it as a pretty equal chance that either team could play better. I dont think that last sentence makes sense but ney mind. Ghana USA is also a very equal game with both teams confident and although the teams dont quite have the history of Germany England im sure it will be just as good a game. My own personal opinion is that Ghana will be lifted with all the support of africa and that will see them through against the USA. I also see England beating Germany through their growing confidence and experience. Plus Beckenbauer's comments mean theres no need for a pep talk from the england management team. IMO Franz is Germanys biggest weakness atm.
Obviously USA. You're in a much easier half of the draw. And for good reason, at that. We deserve everything we get (a penalty elimination vs Germany, no doubt) for that piece of crap performance against Algeria.
No, no - it's completely true. Same as how we go into every tournament assuming we're going to win just because we invented the game over 100 years ago. Not a fallacy in sight there
This is actually an excellent question and I have no idea. We're obviously not as good overall as England but we have an easier path. Then again both Ghana and Germany are no pushovers, just like both England and the U.S. aren't. Hmmm...I say we will both go out in the quarters. We lose to Uruguay and England to Argentina.
You have to favor the USA. England has to go through Germany and Argentina before making the semifinals. USA have a much easier path, but have to take it one game at a time.
If this was 2006 i may agree with you. Theres no where near as many stupid chavs saying we'll win the world cup. There was the usual optimism but nothing like its been in the past. Realistically speaking most england fans feel were not good enough but just hope and pray were wrong. English media makes out we are all so arrogant as people assume that whatever the local newspapers write is what the locals are thinking. This is not the case though and thats why i believe its a fallacy.
I don't know which England fans you are on about but any time I've been onto a football forum there has been a wave of pessimism (even before the tournament began). Just look on BBC 606, or even better listen to the 606 radio show after an England game. It IS a fallacy that ALL England fans are like this. A fallacy that is perpetuated by the media. Bottom line: Optimistic and way over-the-top expectations from the media do not neccecarily reflect the views of the majority of England fans. I actually think one of the reasons for our many failures at international sport (in general) stems from a lack of optimism within our culture.
I thought sarcasmometers were solar powered ? England v Germany will go to penalties, it's in the script, then it's a lottery and it's about time we won the lottery.
Yep, I have them in Pens as well, no offense to Germany. I know everyone there says this team is more talented than 2006...but I simply don't see it outside of Ozil, Schweinsteiger and Podolski, the latter 2 of which were on the 06 team. Should be an excellent match.
I agree with your first statement. The US team's draw could land them as far as the final. England would achieve greatly to simply advance to the semi's...both Germany and Argentina lay in wait.
Tony, always the optimist! I think we both pass to the quarters then go out to Uruguay and Argentina respectively.