World Cup...

Fuse

I'd like to think that this is THE sport event of the planet.. perhaps even surpassing summer olympics in shere excitement.

Now I am sure that despite this being a North American dominant community, that doesnt mean we dont have football fans in the west... and i am certain we have plenty of euro fellows on board...

So are you chaps excited about the even or what ? Perhaps some of you may actually be there in germany to witness the atmosphere, i'd kill to at least be there to soak in the football fever spirit.

Any thoughts or predicaments? Pior? Daz?

This is going to be a good few weeks

KeyserSoze

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Now I am sure that despite this being a North American dominant community, that doesnt mean we dont have football fans in the west... and i am certain we have plenty of euro fellows on board...

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I'm a football fan. Go Raiders!

Ninjas

I went to a World Cup game when it was here in the States. I very much enjoyed watching last time since the US played so well.

Fuse

I think US is placed 7th in world ranking, how it's possible is beyond me.

parasyte7

Go Portugal!

KDR_11k

All I know about football is that the train station looks like it's preparing for a war every time there is a game in town.

DTrip

almighty_gir

its all about steven gerrard, the midfield dynemo! o/

in all seriousness, im not a massive football fan (i love playing it but watching bores the crap out of me...) but im pumped for the world cup now. im hoping we do better than usual, even without wayne rooney to help.

that, and the first match with paraguay will be on when im at Download this year (www.downloadfestival.co.uk) and not only will i be steaming drunk, but ill be watching it on a fucking huge screen

brazil have a damn good team this year... again...

Dukester

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I think US is placed 7th in world ranking, how it's possible is beyond me.

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HA HA!
It might be due to the fact that while most of the standard ELITE athletes here do go on to our money sports (Am FB, BB, BSB, HKY) there are shitloads of us who grew up playing SOCCER games twice a week, and there were more of us playing than people playing football. Soccer leagues were bigger than footbal leagues when I was playing soccer and that was 1970-1975!! They are way bigger than that here now!

I understand your comment, and I can sympathize with it and where its coming from, but get a grip, we are coming

JonT

Indeed, FIFA world rankings palces the US joint fifth (!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Rankings

while the ELO rankings put you fourteenth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elo_football_rating

Jelmer

THE DUTCH WILL OWN ALL!

Smirnoffka

Australia is IN! WOOOHOOO! However, we suck, and will lose to brazil, who is in our pool. Oh well, i forked out 130 bucks on a replica jersy anyway

KDR_11k

Jelmer: Is that allegiance or just a comment on EA's "stop Holland" ad campaign for their worldcup game?

gavku

Yeah Australia finally made it, and so did Holland so I have 2 teams this time round.

shotgun

maradona and cannigia.
what is left of argentina today? *sniff

italiy 90', cameroon vs. argentina.
cameroon down to 9 players playing like animals, argentina couldn't score. anybody remembers?
actually found it - http://www.camfoot.com/article.php3?id_article=307

JKMakowka

Dunno... maybe it is that way in every contry that hosts the world cup, but it all seems so over commercialised and 'in-your-face' annoying this time, that I can't really get excited.
And it was almost impossible to get tickets, so after all I would have prefered to have the worldcup in another country, as the sole football experience is the same for me (TV only), but the advertising and other stuff would be less annoying.

Fuse

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I think US is placed 7th in world ranking, how it's possible is beyond me.

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HA HA!
It might be due to the fact that while most of the standard ELITE athletes here do go on to our money sports (Am FB, BB, BSB, HKY) there are shitloads of us who grew up playing SOCCER games twice a week, and there were more of us playing than people playing football. Soccer leagues were bigger than footbal leagues when I was playing soccer and that was 1970-1975!! They are way bigger than that here now!

I understand your comment, and I can sympathize with it and where its coming from, but get a grip, we are coming

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In actuallity, experts project football to grow rapidly in USA on an international competing level... With a lot of money US can invest money in training programs and invest money in foreign athletes.. I think it's going ot take some time and they will certainly never be as dominant as brasilians, but it only means more exciting football to watch

England does have a solid team this year, so it's decided that rooney will not play ? that's a shame ... well at least they still got gerrard, owen and playboy beckham

Joshua Stubbles

I don't get the deal with football/soccer whatever the hell you want to call it.

It's not as exciting as other sports, if you ask me. I'm not a sports-watching person anyways.

Daz

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This is going to be a good few weeks

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Yeah, definitely looking forward to it. 02 was my first world cup living in the US, but any worries about missing out on things were quickly dispelled by discovering the atmosphere on lower Haight st. in SF. Several bars (most notably the famous 'Mad Dog In The Fog' English pub) within close proximity to each other were showing all the games, and a HUGE local and international crowd turned out for every one. And unlike If that happened in the UK, there was no trouble! So that's probably where I'll be. The atmosphere was electric.

Old enough to know better than to get my hopes up where England and international football is concerned though. But there's plenty of other teams to be rooting for once they get knocked out ;-)

Ruz

I like watching but I hate the way we get over excited in England about our prospects, just because we won 40 odd years ago
I think it puts too much pressure on us to do well and we frequently do badly as a result.
Also there is too much 'hoofing' the ball up the field from England players. imagine if they just used their brains a little before passing the ball

thnom

The problem with England is the lack of respect to Gerrard and the total over respect for David Beckham. David Gerrard is the best central midfielder in the world bar none IMO. He can take a game and turn it on its head. He did it at the Champions League and he did at the world cup, aswell as doing it most games for Liverpool. He should be the captain - he leads on the field. We just don't play him right in England. He should be the main man for England, not Lampard.

Daz

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just because we won 40 odd years ago

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Hah so true Ruz. Get over it! I noticed the bbcs page has a 'memories of 66' feature. Who the hell remembers it?!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/default.stm

Still, their coverage is pretty good and handy for expats like myself. The winner predictor is fun:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/shared/spl/hi/predictor/html/football/world_cup_06/default.stm

Daz

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total over respect for David Beckham.

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Couldn't agree more. I always thought Beckham was an overrated, inconsistent player. People dont seem to like hearing that though.

Fuse

David Beckham is a pretty boy, and that's what counts to most people..

parasyte7

CRISTIANO RONALDO will lead our team this year. Probably one of the best players in the world. The new Golden Genration!



He's so dreamy

spacemonkey

John Terry will break his legs!

hehe

thnom

Christiano Ronaldo just isn't one of the best players in the world. Sure he can frighten the opposition but if the game requires him to take it by the scruff of the neck... he ain't gonna do that. He'll just dance around the ball for 20 minutes.

lkraan

I'll be cheering for the Dutch even though I think that Brazil will win.

JKMakowka

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I think that Brazil will win.

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Hopefully not again! We need to get at least 'even' with them again

Ok, chances are pretty low, but we got 'Heimvorteil'

The coolest final would be Germany<->Netherlands
But I will be cheering a bit for the english (just out of pity ).

Fuse

Christiano Ronaldo = unnecessary moves :P

I am afraid Brazil will take it again this year Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Robinho, Kaka... They are just too stacked.

motives

go sweden! well atleast i hope for a place in the semi.. that would be cool

It will be cool to see the dutch team. Lots of young talented players..

I think brazil will tkae it this year aswell but i hope they dont. 3 times in 4 tries is just too much. It would be awesome if a african team could take it. But i dont think we will see that any time soon though

lkraan

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The coolest final would be Germany<->Netherlands


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hehe...that would be cool indeed
But then I hope that Germany wins just to see the whole country pissed off and bitter for another 30-some years
They have never gotten over the '74 final when Germany kicked "our" ass.

Vitor

OMG! this year will be our Go portugal go
I just hope our coach don't screw it all up by leting Ricardo Quaresma out this year Quaresma and C. Ronaldo together would just be a free-pass to the victory

Bronco

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It would be awesome if a african team could take it. But i dont think we will see that any time soon though

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I woundn't be so sure,African teams have done well over recent years,Think Senagal reached the semi's in 2002 and theres was 1 or 2 in the quater finals.

Also remember they get more International games than most teams because of the African Cup of nations,Africa can spring afew surprises.

Go England!!.

John