Football World Cup 2010

Less than 2 months to go, any thoughts/predictions/tips?

WORDL CUP GAME:

Let's play a game...

- We all start with 100 Forum coins.

- We each predict the result of a game (not the score but the winner or a draw) and bet some Forum coins.

- If our guess is correct, we earn as many coins as we bet.

- If not, we lose the amount we have bet.

- All bets should be placed before the game starts.

- At the end, whoever has the most coins is the winner.


This will require some track-keeping but we are all adults here (well, mostly) and I expect we are all honest as well so please no-post editing after the results. :D

Well i can see it being Brazil again but i'm going to vote for Holland because i've got them in the sweepstake in work and i really want them to win! :D

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Less than 2 months ago, any thoughts/predictions/tips?

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Can we have a poll for who you want to win?

To quote a fantastic tirade I overheard in the pub only the other night:

"I hate football. I'm not bloody watching a bunch of over-paid, borderline rapists prove to the world that basic eye-foot co-ordination is a vehicle for multi-millionaire success. F*** the lot of them."

There was a lot more of it, but I was trying so hard to not laugh out loud I can't now remember it all clearly. That bit stood out though, and I largely share the sentiment.

I've always vaguely supported Croatia, if only for the hell of it, but they don't appear in your poll - are they not in it this time?

Oh this is fun, I'd better let Shane choose, he football crazy. South Africa will definitely not. lol. :biggrin5:

Brazil, no one can stop them really, they can only lose it themselves, but just watch the silly fools punt for England when the time comes - crazy!

Brazil? England? Slovenia? This sounds like geography class not football. Where are the. . .oh, that football.

Come on Ennnnnglannnnnd!!!!!!

:biggrin5:

Yes, that was me voting.

I love the World Cup. I dislike intensely The Sun (newspaper) but I very nearly bought The Sun guide to The World Cup in Waterstones today - because it was reduced I might add.

The thrlls, the spills, the opportunity for blokey talk in the office, the annoyance factors for footie haters, - oh and the football.

Last time I has a special footie seat right next to the telly - which helps with the eysight - because we were waiting for the conservatory to be built and had got a new settee. Perhaps I'll get a temporary blow up chair to plonk in front this time.

Come on Ennnnnnglaaaaaaaaannnd!

I voted for Germany -- it's about time they make it, isn't it :biggrin5:

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Less than 2 months ago, any thoughts/predictions/tips?

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Nope.

C'mon In-ger-land. We're all praying for Rooney's ankle, just like we did for Beckham's toe, Gazza's Knee, Robbo's shoulder and Keegan's perm.

I have a feeling the Germans will, as usual, peak at the right time again .:mad:

Given the current situation of our national team, we can expect two outcomes: we loose in the first round, or we win the cup. I don't like our current team, nor the coach.

Luckily, I have two nationalities... Go Italy!

Chile :lol: hahah, nope I don't think they'll get very far, but I'll cheer for them anyway

Hey im Shane :) i like every team with a Liverpool player but being a Fernando Torres fan i have to say Spain are my team to take the trophy, he has the knack of scoring the winning goal especially during a world cup match. England wont win if David James is chosen as keeper , there is much better :(.... but England and Argentina are stronger and better than Germany. imo.

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Originally Posted by Brian Bean

Nope.

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Oh, come on, BB!

We were really relying on you...

I am afraid it is going to be Brazil again. I would love to see a first-time nation win it but that's not going to happen, is it?

I am not voting yet, though :D

(The poll will end before the first kick-off).

The Comedian> Well, in soccer, when we talk about "world cup", we really do mean countries from all around the world; not only a few teams from the same country (a la American baseball "world" series) :p

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Originally Posted by dizzydoll

Hey im Shane :) i like every team with a Liverpool player but being a Fernando Torres fan i have to say Spain are my team to take the trophy, he has the knack of scoring the winning goal especially during a world cup match. England wont win if David James is chosen as keeper , there is much better :(.... but England and Argentina are stronger and better than Germany. imo.

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I agree too..Spain being the Euro champions.. and since they have the best clubs & best players speaking about Real Madrid & Barcelona - i strongly agree with you .. I am a Real MADRID fan & liverpool too .. as much as i hate Barca , but yet they have good players ..
However, Brazil is a good opponent and can always come with miracle.

Has anyone seen the Pepsi world cup advert? I am not sure I like it seems to have negotive sneery connotations... and that is as far as Ive got to thinking about the world cup I inntend to watch the Germany games ( esp if they play england) and the Netherlands (looooooooove watching the dutch fans) the opening game and other than that I am not fussed!
When is the world cup anyway? will I be in egypt Whetre I get to see every match for free or england where sky have the monopoly?

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Originally Posted by Lulim

I voted for Germany -- it's about time they make it, isn't it :biggrin5:

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West Germany won in 1990...

Night> The kick-off is on June 11th (South Africa v Mexico).

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Night> The kick-off is on June 11th (South Africa v Mexico).

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England's first game is against the USA. Which'll be an interesting night in our Anglo-American family.

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Originally Posted by Paulclem

Come on Ennnnnglannnnnd!!!!!!

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Paul,


Just to make this unambiguously clear - the poll is 'who do you think will win?' - it's not 'who would you like to win?' If you ask Scheherezade nicely perhaps she can nullify your vote so you have the chance to cast it again, more realistically.

I point this out in a spirit of charitable concern.

Bless.

MB

Anyone but England please :biggrin5:

On a more serious note I think if rooney isnt there it might actually help england.

I got the USA in niamh's work poll they may make through to the 1/4's in an upset but even that is a lot to ask.

Holland flatter to decieve most of the time. Brazil are not the team they were. Spain winning the Euro was a fluke and they wont even make the semis. I think the Italians will win again.

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Originally Posted by kilted exile

Holland flatter to decieve most of the time.

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Exactly! Why is that? I often cheer for them during the initial games and get hopeful but they cannot seem to able to carry the promise.

Another similar team is Denmark.

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Originally Posted by Niamh

West Germany won in 1990...

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yes, already 20 years ago ...

At least they won! Ireland havent even made it into the world cup the last two times! :blush:

Mind you we could have been in it if it wasnt for the hand of frog. :mad:

sometimes they will :)

I don't really believe that germany makes it, what with all the trouble about the national coach ...

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Originally Posted by kilted exile

Holland flatter to decieve...

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Apart from the slightly pedantic issue of 'i before e except after c', can I ask about this expression?

I've never understood it. It seems to mean, 'they're not as good as they appear to be' - but how does it mean that? To flatter is to stroke the ego of someone else. Who are Holland doing that to? And though you're saying they look better than they are - which may be true - they aren't deliberately pretending to be better than they are, so where's the deception? And even if both of those verbs can be explained, how does the commission of one support the effect of the other?

In other words - how does that idiom work?

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Exactly! Why is that? I often cheer for them during the initial games and get hopeful but they cannot seem to able to carry the promise.

Another similar team is Denmark.

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Probably Aims can answer this better than me, I think they bottle it personally. With Denmark I think it is a quality issue no Laudrups running the show

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Originally Posted by Lulim

yes, already 20 years ago ...

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you just need every game to go to pen kicks and you'll be fine

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Originally Posted by MarkBastable

In other words - how does that idiom work?

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Quote:

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flatter to deceive
to give the appearance of being better than the true situation
I suspect these statistics flatter to deceive.

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http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dict...ter#flatter__3

However, let's not spoil a perfect football discussion with language issues.

Mark> Maybe you would like to PM Kilted on this issue?

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Mark> Maybe you would like to PM Kilted on this issue?

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I don't think it's specifically Kilted's problem really.

Also enough moaning about not winning the world cup. We havent been there since '98 ah the glory days and tom boyd costing us a draw against brazil in the opener.

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Originally Posted by MarkBastable

England's first game is against the USA. Which'll be an interesting night in our Anglo-American family.




Paul,


Just to make this unambiguously clear - the poll is 'who do you think will win?' - it's not 'who would you like to win?' If you ask Scheherezade nicely perhaps she can nullify your vote so you have the chance to cast it again, more realistically.

I point this out in a spirit of charitable concern.

Bless.

MB

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Dear mark,

Thank you very much for your unsolicited concern. It is appreciated. I have spoken to Scher to confirm my choice, which just leaves me to say

Come on Ennnnglannnd!

Paul:biggrin5:

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Originally Posted by Paulclem

Dear mark,

Thank you very much for your unsolicited concern. It is appreciated. I have spoken to Scher to confirm my choice, which just leaves me to say

Come on Ennnnglannnd!

Paul:biggrin5:

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Put a couple more n's in there and the chant will be longer than England's run.

Italy has always been the favorite of my heart; if not Italy it would be cool if USA finally won one, and third I'd like see England. Would also be nice if one of the African countries won.

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Originally Posted by MarkBastable

Put a couple more n's in there and the chant will be longer than England's run.

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Not to be pedantic but "n's" indicates that something belongs to "n" (apostrophe of possession). To indicate plural existence of this particular letter, I think, the correct usage should be "ns" (or "Ns" to prevent confusion).

:p

On with football.

Virgil> Not to revive the old discussions but Italy got very lucky last time round!

:D

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Night> The kick-off is on June 11th (South Africa v Mexico).

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That will be one hell of a laugh.

South Africa 0 - Mexico 5

Thats my prediction. lol

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Originally Posted by dizzydoll

That will be on hell of a laugh.

South Africa 0 - Mexico 5

Thats my prediction. lol

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Hey, you can never tell what happens in front their own supporters. I will be rooting for SA. :)

How come Kazakhstan didn't make the Cup? :p

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Originally Posted by MarkBastable

Put a couple more n's in there and the chant will be longer than England's run.

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:lol:

I live in hope....

I like the avatar. Is that Heath Ledger? He looks a bit different.

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Oh, come on, BB!

We were really relying on you...

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Oh well, allowing for the fact that I know one end of a football pitch from another, I'll go for Botswana.

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Hey, you can never tell what happens in front their own supporters. I will be rooting for SA. :)

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LOL. you havent seen them play. No one supports them here, everybody and I mean everybody is tired of our soccer team. Their own supporters are the MOST angry at them. lol. But you will see, they are masters at the dribble I believe. lol

and Botswana. lol. well now... thats out of the frying pan into the fire. Now this is really getting funny. LOL.
But wait, Botswana probably beat SA, if they ever come up against each other.

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Odds to win according to one website: --

Italy, Holland, France and Portugal are four European teams who shouldn’t be written off. Each team is capable of winning the World Cup if they can find their form at the right time. Italy and Holland topped their qualification groups, where as France and Portugal struggled and had to win playoff matches.


Odds To Win The World Cup: Fractional (American) (All Odds Taken from Ladbrokes.com On The 11/24/09)

Spain - 9/2 (+450)
Brazil - 9/2 (+450)
England - 6/1 (+600)
Argentina - 8/1 (+8000)
Germany - 12/1 (+1200)
Italy - 14/1 (+1400)
Netherlands - 14/1 (+1400)
France - 14/1 (+1400)
Portugal - 14/1 (+1400)
Ivory Coast - 20/1 (+2000)
Chile - 40/1 (+4000)
Cameroon - 66/1 (+6600)
Paraguay - 66/1 (+6600)
Ghana - 66/1 (+6600)
Serbia - 66/1 (+6600)
Mexico - 80/1 (+8000)
USA - 80/1 (+8000)
Greece - 80/1 (+8000)
Uruguay - 100/1 (+10000)
Nigeria - 100/1 (+10000)
South Africa - 100/1 (+10000)
Australia - 100/1 (+10000)
Denmark - 100/1 (+10000)
Slovenia - 100/1 (+10000)
Switzerland - 150/1 (+15000)
Japan - 200/1 (+20000)
Slovakia - 250/1 (+25000)
South Korea - 250/1 (+25000)
Algeria - 250/1 (+25000)
New Zealand - 500/1 (+50000)
Honduras - 500/1 (+50000)
North Korea - 500/1 (+50000) All odds taken from Ladbrokes.com 11/24/2009)

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Taking all bets....