Who's Gonna Win the World Cup?!

[TerranC]

I know that many people here are from different countries, many from Football or Futbol is a sport beyond any comparison.

And The biggest Football event of the world, possibly the biggest sports event in the world, the FIFA World cup is no less than 2 weeks away.

So just to pollute this forum with talks of Sven-Goran and the Les Bleus and the famous "dos" of south america, Here goes http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

So Who is going to win the world cup?

[Rollo]

How come Holland is not in the list? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[TerranC]

Originally posted by Rollo:
How come Holland is not in the list?

I heard that they didn't make it.
Of course if you wanted to vote for holland, You could vote for South Korea, as they have Gus Hiddink as their coach http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ May 13, 2002, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: TerranC ]

[tesco samoa]

Holland did not make it out of their grouping.

Rep. Ire. and Bel made it out of that group.

As for winner.

May St. George's cross be raised high.

[tesco samoa]

ODDS List for World Cup

France 4/1 1
Argentina 4/1 2
Italy 5/1 4
Spain 6/1 7
Brazil 13/2 3
England 9/1 12
Portugal 12/1 6
Germany 12/1 10
Cameroon 40/1 19
Russia 66/1 24
Poland 66/1 33
Turkey 80/1 25
Sweden 80/1 16
Ireland 80/1 18
Paraguay 80/1 15
Japan 80/1 38
Croatia 80/1 23
Uruguay 100/1 22
Nigeria 100/1 32
Ecuador 100/1 37
Belgium 100/1 21
Denmark 125/1 19
Senegal 150/1 44
Mexico 150/1 8
Korea Republic 150/1 41
United States 300/1 13
Slovenia 300/1 28
Costa Rica 300/1 27
Tunisia 500/1 29
South Africa 500/1 36
Saudi Arabia 750/1 35
China 750/1 52

You may notice that the picks list is missing a few powerful teams

I think Poland has a shot. They are a very exciting team to watch.

I am looking forward to the 2nd Round match between France and the second place team for the pool of death. Which i hope is Argentina. Not England.

Either way I have every morning off work when there is a game on.

They are on at 02h30 05h30 and 07h30 so I will adjust my schedule accordingly.

[oleg]

I don't get it. Argentina will win, but it is not in your poll !

Actully, I think Shumacher will win it, it is all fixed.

[Captain Kwok]

Hello? The real question is who will WIN THE STANLEY CUP?

Go Leafs Go!

[ May 13, 2002, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: Captain Kwok ]

[TerranC]

Actually, I got the list from the Coach interviews from World Soccer magazine that is hosted on CNN.

Even though everybody likes the big leagues, face it, the harder they come, the harder they fall.

Who knows, if the "Les Bleus" lose, france might go with a French team instead of an Allstar European team! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif No offense intended.

[Rollo]

Originally posted by tesco samoa:
Holland did not make it out of their grouping....
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hehehe, of course I knew that. Just wanted to rub it in http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif .

Rollo

[Resident Alien 2]

England to win.... if Beckham's foot gets better in time and Michael Owen doesn't go down injured.

This is a real WORLD Championship. I have a good laff when NBA, NFL or MLB players say they have won the "World Championship". Hah! Easy to be world champ when you are the only country playing.

Go England!!

[dumbluck]

Man, what sport is that? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif It can't be that important, I haven't heard of it here in the U.S. of A. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

*ducks out of the room as 3 dozen soccer balls are hurled at high velocity in his direction.*

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[dmm]

Originally posted by Resident Alien 2:
This is a real WORLD Championship. I have a good laff when NBA, NFL or MLB players say they have won the "World Championship". Hah! Easy to be world champ when you are the only country playing.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I love soccer (as we Yanks call it). Much better game than baseball, that's for sure. More continuous action than American football. And more egalitarian than basketball. Sadly, I won't be watching the world cup, because we can't get it on regular (free) TV, which really really stinks.

However, in fairness to the good ol' US of A, there is no other country in the world right now that could field a team that could beat the NBA, NFL, or MLB champ. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living a fantasy. Just for starters, consider that US teams buy up nearly all the greatest non-US players in those sports! (We would do the same thing in the World Cup if the rules allowed it.) So I think the NBA, NFL, and MLB champs have the right to claim that they are world champs. (Just for the record though, I think only MLB officially does that, with its "World Series." The NBA has a Championship, and the NFL has a Superbowl.)

[Captain Kwok]

I just love the way you Americans leave out the NHL...which by the way is the best of the professional sports in North America and one damn exciting game.

[dmm]

Originally posted by Captain Kwok:
I just love the way you Americans leave out the NHL...<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey, aren't Canadians also Americans? Or did they move Canada Last night? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Anyway, ResidentAlien2 only mentioned the Big Three. Maybe he felt hockey was a more international game? Certainly he is no native Philadelphian if he intended to disrespect hockey. Flyers rule!

[TerranC]

Me thinks that Captain there watchs too much Royal Canadian Air Farce, Eh? And a bit of This hour has 22 minutes, Eh?

But I believe that that americans are americans and we are Canadians because we have a queen, eh?, and a Prime minister, and wear Touques, Eh, and we pronounce Z "Zed" rather than that forsaken american yankee saying of "Zee" Eh?

And we also pronounce Lieutenants Leftenants and spell Color with an U like it should really be spelled eh?

I heard that there is no Tim Hortons or Mac and Cheese there eh? of course no country is perfect.

*coughs and reverts back to Blue-eyed arabian typing*

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

And Just like I've voted, Korea is going to win!

[Resident Alien 2]

Originally posted by dmm:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Captain Kwok:
I just love the way you Americans leave out the NHL...<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey, aren't Canadians also Americans? Or did they move Canada Last night? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Anyway, ResidentAlien2 only mentioned the Big Three. Maybe he felt hockey was a more international game? Certainly he is no native Philadelphian if he intended to disrespect hockey. Flyers rule!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Flyers croaked real bad this year though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif maybe next year they will rule....

[Captain Kwok]

Flyers croaked real bad this year though maybe next year they will rule.... <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nah, it's okay. They do that every year just like the Ottawa Senators.

Go Leafs Go!

[Growltigga]

"Enguullaaannnnndd Enguullaaaannnndddd Engguuulllaaand"

provided "Les Bleus" are off form, England have a good chance, if "Les Bleus" are on form, we have a fighting chance.

All I want us to do is beat Argentina but with Stephen Gerrard definately ruled out of the Coup du Monde? dunno?

At least we have stuffed the Germans sufficiently

[oleg]

I would say... Senegal !!!
Senegal 1 - France 0

Huuurrraaaa !!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Growltigga]

Well, historically, Les Bleus tend to be rather good at gathering themselves up after defeat and proceeding to whomp all comers in their next games...

... but maybe this is the year of the African Nations? would be about time.. I like the idea of Senegal, Nigeria or Cameroon being the world cup winners rather than a European or South American team

[wolfen64*]

why do you discuss such a thing? everyone knows that germany will win at the end .... as usual...most of the time.....sometime.....maybe?....
but, by the way, what are the other things you were talking of: football?, baseball?, basketball?...can we eat them or are they just some kind of ritual celebration for e.t.'s?

[Andrés]

England 1, Sweden 1
Argentina 1, Nigeria 0

Who is gonna be first in the "death" group?

[bstripp]

Going to say Germany will win. However, I am also hoping that the US can make it out of the first round for a change... (would be 2nd time in recent history &lt;sigh&gt;) Perhaps a win over Korea and a tie with Poland to advance? We can dream...

Nothing like TIVO to catch all of those 3:00am games that are broadcast on ESPN2 over here.

[dmm]

US is going to give people a real scare. Keep in mind, we have lots of immigrants on our team. We imported them from conquered planets. Hehehehehehehe!

[oleg]

Originally posted by Andr&eacutes Lescano:
England 1, Sweden 1
Argentina 1, Nigeria 0

Who is gonna be first in the "death" group?<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Winning this group may be a bad idea: there is a fair chance that France will finish second in their group.

[tesco samoa]

Out of all the games so far.... Italy has looked the best.

I have watched every minute

I get up at 5 am
watch game two
on the break i watch 15 minutes of game one
after game two i watch 1 hour of game 1
then watch game 3
during the break i watchthe rest of game one

go to work at 9:15 am...

3 game in 4 hours.

I miss my Dad's times 1.5 vcr... that was nice

[Andrés]

Originally posted by oleg:
Winning this group may be a bad idea: there is a fair chance that France will finish second in their group.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You mean that England's strategy is trying to be second? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif
That will be hard after you lose this friday. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Lisif Deoral]

Originally posted by tesco samoa:
I think Poland has a shot. They are a very exciting team to watch.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Exciting... Well, today they've been almost ridiculous http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif (to my utter disappointment). I suppose South Korea will qualify (although the U.S. haven't played yet).

[Quikngruvn]

Heh. The US would almost have to do better than in '98... from dead Last, you can only go up! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Quikngruvn

[Lemmy]

Originally posted by tesco samoa:
Holland did not make it out of their grouping.

Rep. Ire. and Bel made it out of that group.

As for winner.

May St. George's cross be raised high.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">actually it was Portugal and Ireland...and it still hurts..i mean how can you lose your decisive match if you get 2 penalties and an 11 - 10 men advantage http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

[Lemmy]

oh...and i'm boycotting this world cup http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

hope denmark gets far though...they got some good players playing in the dutch competition...

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Quikngruvn:
Heh. The US would almost have to do better than in '98... from dead Last, you can only go up! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Quikngruvn<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, actually no. You could finish Last again. But you can't do worse I suppose. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[dmm]

US was 4th in the Olympics. How is that possible?

[TerranC]

Originally posted by Lemmy:
oh...and i'm boycotting this world cup http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">From what I've heard from Former coach Guus Hiddink, Holland lost because it was too self-confident and became decadent.

So you are boycotting this Phenomenal world cup for your team's misdeeds.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif whatever.

[oleg]

Wow, it's getting better and better !

I would't dream that after 1st round Korea and USA will top their group ! Amazing !!

[dmm]

Well, don't say I didn't warn you!!

Link to NY Times article about US and Korean victories.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/05/sports/soccer/05CND-VECS.html

An interesting point made was that the US actually beat England in World Cup play -- in 1950. Talk about a miracle! All of you pub frequenters should be able to make money off of that bit of trivia. Send my cut to Aaron and tell him to make a scenario editor. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Skulky]

Seriously, Football/soccer is such a great game, almost on par with water polo. Who won the NCAA's? what what? Stanford! anyways im getting off topic. If you don't get ESPN 100 then just watch canal catorce (sp?) if your in the bay area (SF not Chesapeake) otherwise im sure other spanish channels are out there. They are really great to watch esp. if you kinda understnad hte language but if you don't just lower hte volume a bit and make your own commentary over a XX or Tequiza (what a joke for a "beer")

[Captain Kwok]

I'm not a big soccer/football fan but I enjoy the World Cup. I think only Olympic hockey is more exciting.

I would like to see Ireland go far but that probably won't happen. I also like England and way to go to the African countires, they get better every cup.

[oleg]

Originally posted by Andr&eacutes Lescano:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by oleg:
Winning this group may be a bad idea: there is a fair chance that France will finish second in their group.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You mean that England's strategy is trying to be second? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif
That will be hard after you lose this friday. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, indeed it will be very hard now ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[tesco samoa]

http://www.satirewire.com/news/may02/world_cup.shtml

[dmm]

So, now the US has 4 points, and is favored to win its group. Incredible!
BTW, there is more interest in soccer in US than outsiders might think. But the truth is, we are very self-absorbed. Most US fans only care about the US team.
The other problem is that you don't get to watch any of the games unless you have cable (or satellite TV or something like that).
The third problem is that US TV does a horrible job of filming soccer/football. In the middle of an important run, they zoom in on the guy with the ball and the defender, and you lose sight of everyone else and the goal. Also, they will cut to commercials in the middle of the game.
Do other countries have these problems?