Nick Against the World (89 Viewers)

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,342
swag said:
My vote is still with Group E on this one. I'd take Ghana's chances over the Ivory Coast's anyday. And I don't see Serbia & Montenegro with a legitimate chance of advancing given their competition, whereas I can see any of Italy, the Czech Republic, and the USA advancing.
I wouldn't underestimate them. In fact I would even go as far as saying they have a very solid team. I can see them qualifying for the second round.
 

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Stephan

Senior Member
Nov 9, 2005
16,643
actually i would have wanted holland and england in the same group.....i think holland best 11 definetly would beat england best 11.

i am just so sick of england nt, they got beaten by sweden, by denmark, they still think they are the best....

It would be nice if para and sweden would go through instead of them....i think sweden can beat england....i am not so sure if paraguay can....
 

Seven

In bocca al lupo, Fabio.
Jun 25, 2003
39,342
Erik said:
Have to make it to be screwed though :p

BTW, what is with this pathetic obsession with Holland in the Flemish media? I had to check some stuff for a report and there's this complete focus on our national team all throughout. All we do is share a language, that's it ffs. Get off, will yer?
Yeah, I don't really know what that is about. Holland's pretty much like any other team for me, but I guess most Belgians like to see their national team lose, because quite frankly you guys won't stop bragging about it. It's like how the world is happy when Italy loses.

I don't want Holland to win, because I dislike a fair share of their players, but other than that I have nothing against them. Appointing Marco Van Basten is an obvious gamble, but so far he has done alright. I wonder most about their game against Ivory Coast, they're bound to underestimate that one. Serbia and Montenegro simply won't play football and I'm thinking they will kick Holland all around the pitch. And Argentina, well yeah, that's hard.

Italy's group is solid, but if they don't go through that one easily, they don't deserve to win the WC. It's as simple as that. Ghana is decent, but shouldn't be too hard. The USA are a very very difficult team. Italy don't know them, haven't played a lot against them, but they have some great players IMO. The Czech Republic isn't what is was 2 years ago, but they're still not far away from Italy's level. I can see Italy losing that game.
 

Azzurri7

Pinturicchio
Moderator
Dec 16, 2003
72,692
swag said:
I go to restaurants in SF with my Juve warm-up jacket and get comments all the time. Invariably, I'll get into some discussion with a guy working there who is from Chile (for example) and supports Inter because of Ivan Zamorano. And so I get into a discussion with him about David Pizarro, Mark Gonzalez, or the youth prospects of Matías Fernández -- and he'll look at me like I've disguised myself as a gringo. ;)
:D
 

Slagathor

Bedpan racing champion
Jul 25, 2001
22,708
Bardock said:
Let's not forget that we used to be one country, add to that that we speak the same language, I think a lot of Belgians will be rooting for Holland during the WC. We just don't like each other when we have to play against each other. :p
We were one nation for a period of, what? 15 years on eternity? Get over it :D

RochemBeck said:
Yeah your group is indeed the true Group of Death...ours is the second.

That has to be one of the most fascinating Groups I have ever seen in any football tournament. Argentina is clearly a favorite in Germany who should top the group and Serbia is one of the those sides who, despite the good qualification, might stumble in a group with such massive opponents. Therefore I believe Holland has a very good chance of progressing to the next round because I really can't see Cote D'Ivoire doing anything in Germany.

However, Argentina could also stumble is such a difficult group just like they did in 2002...but as they say lightening never strikes twice. Very interesting group though and I just can't wait until this summer.
The Ivory Coast is far more dangerous than Serbia & Montenegro as far as I'm concerned. Many of their players play their football in the Benelux and thus know our team very well. Add to that the fact they have a *very* talented strike force and we only have a mediocre defense line and I can see the Ivory Coast beating us to second place behind Argentina.

Stephan said:
actually i would have wanted holland and england in the same group.....i think holland best 11 definetly would beat england best 11.
I was hoping to be drawn with England too cause I like them. I told to my friends after England got Sweden: "Oh for god's sake, bet you all ten bucks we'll get stuck with Argentina now..."

At least I got some money out of it then :D

Seven said:
Yeah, I don't really know what that is about. Holland's pretty much like any other team for me, but I guess most Belgians like to see their national team lose, because quite frankly you guys won't stop bragging about it. It's like how the world is happy when Italy loses.
Everybody except the Belgians brag about their national team and quite frankly; the arrogance one finds in Holland and England (for example) doesn't even come close to the arrogance that is part of national cultures in nations such as Spain and Italy.

So what is it really?

I don't want Holland to win, because I dislike a fair share of their players, but other than that I have nothing against them. Appointing Marco Van Basten is an obvious gamble, but so far he has done alright. I wonder most about their game against Ivory Coast, they're bound to underestimate that one. Serbia and Montenegro simply won't play football and I'm thinking they will kick Holland all around the pitch. And Argentina, well yeah, that's hard.
Exactly my line of thought although I don't think it will be necessary for us to underestimate the Ivory Coast in order to lose against them; they're just highly, highly talented.

As for Serbia; yeah that's a re-run of Ireland in the qualifications to the World Cup 2002 when they kicked us out of our style of play and to the ground and ran away with the points.

I'm predicting a first round exit for Holland.

Italy's group is solid, but if they don't go through that one easily, they don't deserve to win the WC. It's as simple as that. Ghana is decent, but shouldn't be too hard. The USA are a very very difficult team. Italy don't know them, haven't played a lot against them, but they have some great players IMO. The Czech Republic isn't what is was 2 years ago, but they're still not far away from Italy's level. I can see Italy losing that game.
If Nedved returns; the Czechs will win this group, leaving Italy in second to face Brazil against whom they will lose.
 

KB824

Senior Member
Sep 16, 2003
31,789
RochemBeck said:
During the first intermission I went down with my dad to the bar and I talked to a guy named Michel from Prague. Seeing as he had a Czech Republic hockey jersey on it was easy to strike up a conversion with the guy, and I commented on how we will be facing each other in Germany. Upon that remark he was seemingly surprised that I actually gave a damn about soccer, and when I was letting the names Rosicky, Nedved, Bruckner, Heinze and others flow freely from my mouth he was even more awestruck, seemingly in a state of shock and awe. It must be some experiance for a native European to hear some total American prick keep up a conversation about football...let alone know something about the football of his own country.

At least that somewhat confirms I'm not an average American..

Now, this is an interesting comment. Are you saying that YOU are an American prick, or that Americans who don't know anything about soccer are pricks??
Just curious, because I wonder if you feel the same way about a Russian person who doesn't know anything about the NFL, or an Italian who isn't familiar with the NHL.
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,141
Erik said:
The Ivory Coast is far more dangerous than Serbia & Montenegro as far as I'm concerned. Many of their players play their football in the Benelux and thus know our team very well. Add to that the fact they have a *very* talented strike force and we only have a mediocre defense line and I can see the Ivory Coast beating us to second place behind Argentina.
Well yeah that's true. However Serbia has a talented defense led by Nemanja Vidic, and with that I can see them causing some other teams problems this summer. They seem to be somewhat underrated, however again there is the prospect of them failing completely after a great qualifying run. There could be quite a few upsets this summer...hopefully.
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,141
Tommy Smyth has once again demonstrated he knows fvckall about football. When talking about Brazil during the draw yesterday he said they would have problems defensively unless they play Cafu on the left and Roberto Carlos on the right. Then the guy stated Brazil might have problems defensively in midfield unless they bring on Ze Roberto...what the fvck is that? Does Ze Roberto somehow magically make the central midfield more secure while playing out on the left wing?

Idiot.
 

Respaul

Senior Member
Jul 14, 2002
4,734
That he maybe, and he may have his details wrong... but at least he see's weaknesses in the brazil team, which seemingly half the so called experts of the world fail to see as they wipe the drool off their lips when talking about the supposedly unbeatable brazil... Smyth has to get points for that...
 

The Pado

Filthy Gobbo
Jul 12, 2002
9,939
Brazil will flop, early on. Argentina will gag ala 2002. France is too old. Spain, don't make laugh. Germany is at least 4 years away. England lacks imagination and creativity. Italy is too concerned about hairstyles to make an impact. Portugal, yeah right. Therefore, Czech will take the World Cup.
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,141
Shadowfax said:
That he maybe, and he may have his details wrong... but at least he see's weaknesses in the brazil team, which seemingly half the so called experts of the world fail to see as they wipe the drool off their lips when talking about the supposedly unbeatable brazil... Smyth has to get points for that...
That's true, however even I could have stated everything the man said on air yesterday, and probably been able to keep my facts straight as well.


Some of you should have seen the Pretender and Contender segment put on by ESPN in which they named some of the better nations and looked at what they could perhaps do in Germany. It really amazed me how both Marcelo Balboa and Eric Wynalda, two US soccer greats, stated Germany are just mere pretenders this summer at the Cup. They are not the most adept side out there, however the host nation always seems to perform better than most would expect. I thought that was common knowledge by now..

If I remember correctly they also stated England are pretenders as well...while of course saying the States are true contenders. :D
 

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