World Cup 2010 Official Thread

[Lord Grendel]

World Cup Matchups

Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E
Holland
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile

It's less than a month away now, to the biggest tournament in the world, FIFA's World Cup South Africa. Share your passions likes dislikes in here with the rest of us "Football" fans.

I will start us off with a mini-rant. Although I love Pizza, Pasta, and much of their Culture, I want any team but Italy to win this year. I just hate the way they play the game, I will always cheer for an attacking team over a defensive minded squad.

[Flower]

^^^I thought that you wrote that you loved Pizza Pizza for a second or two and almost fainted.

I'll start off cheering for the USA and go on from there ...

[Lord Grendel]

^^I hate Pizza Pizza Flower...or Little Caesar's whichever name they try to peddle their "Cardboard" imitation pizza off under.

The U.S. has a chance, I have not made up my mind yet who I want to win. I would like to see England make it to the semi-finals this year, but that is not likely.

Holland, Germany, Brazil, and Cameroon are teams I like, but right now I feel Spain is the favorite. We'll see if the African teams benefit from it being played at "Home", it is well known they suffer the first game or two Adjusting to the stricter enforcement of the rules. They play a rougher brand of Football than most of the other teams.

[Salmacis]

I'm still waving the Australian flag! As 2006's world cup showed the world, anything can happen, and I'd very much like it to

[Sox]

Woohooo!!! Come on Lads. We have a quarter/semi final in us I think.

[Lord Grendel]

What happened to Australia in 2006 was scandalous and if ever there was a case for instant replay and Yellow Cards being issued either from the booth or after the game for flopping/diving/theatrics that was a textbook case.

I fervently hope FIFA does a better job this time with the officiating, they are lagging way behind the other sports in the world, no doubt the political intrigue is part of that, but if they don't change and adapt to the new technology then tragic misjudgments will continue to tarnish the game.

I hope the Aussies make it out of the first round, that would be poetic justice.

[Sox]

Hear Hear, well said LG.

[Lord Grendel]

I just read that Ballack is out, torn ligaments in his ankle, that is a big blow to Germany.

[electric funeral]

Originally Posted by Lord Grendel I just read that Ballack is out, torn ligaments in his ankle, that is a big blow to Germany.

Good news -

[Sox]

That's bad news for Joachim Loew. I think the Aussies will give them a hard game.

[electric funeral]

On a serious note, the usual favorites, Italy Spain, Brazil, Germany. Maybe Holland, England as outsiders. Afraid for Argentina due to a very poor coach and selection method.

Surprise, maybe Servia. They have a really good team.

[Sox]

I would love to see Holland take it if England fail. Maybe even Spain they deserve something.

[flipflop]

Originally Posted by Lord Grendel What happened to Australia in 2006 was scandalous and if ever there was a case for instant replay and Yellow Cards being issued either from the booth or after the game for flopping/diving/theatrics that was a textbook case. I fervently hope FIFA does a better job this time with the officiating, they are lagging way behind the other sports in the world, no doubt the political intrigue is part of that, but if they don't change and adapt to the new technology then tragic misjudgments will continue to tarnish the game. I hope the Aussies make it out of the first round, that would be poetic justice.

I respectfully disagree - football shouldn't change just to cater to commercialism and tv, imho. There is an element of human error and that's fine by me - it's part of what makes football football.

I'm of course rooting for Denmark - we should make it past the group stage. Also rooting for England. Spain. Mexico. USA. Argentina. Well, I'm on the 'may the best team win'-team I guess

[electric funeral]

Originally Posted by flipflop I respectfully disagree - football shouldn't change just to cater to commercialism and tv, imho. There is an element of human error and that's fine by me - it's part of what makes football football. I'm of course rooting for Denmark - we should make it past the group stage. Also rooting for England. Spain. Mexico. USA. Argentina. Well, I'm on the 'may the best team win'-team I guess

Not rooting for us?

I disagree with you about changing football. They really should use camera's. At the least put one inside or above the goal. So no mistakes can be made if it is a legitimate goal or not.

[Sox]

I wish there had been a fourth official when Diago punched that ball into the back of the net against Shilton.