Early Round: 2010 World Cup Predictions

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Well, it's super early, but before we know it, the World Cup will be back in action. Obviously we don't know exactly what teams will qualify, but of the big name teas, what teams are looking the strongest? Weakest? Who would you predict to do better or worse this time around?

I'll start off with the US. 06 was a bomb out for us; it was actually quite embarrasing (although we were in a group of death), it wasn't the right way to back up all of the talk going around our country that soccer was on the rise. Losing out in the group stages was just to good for American anti-soccer journalists and sports casters. But this time around I can see a genuine finish; a quaterfinal or perhaps even a semi final berth. The next one and a half year is just the right amount of time that Bob Bradley needs to make the necessary adjustments to the roster. That proven striker is needed, and perhaps Altidore will rise as that.


Everyone is talking about Spain now, after winning the Euro; but remember, France is the only team to ever win these two competitions back to back; and it's not as if Spain is in the habit of winning trophies. I can see Spain making it into the quarterfinals but being knocked out by a hungrier team, a team like England or Portugal.

England is actually shaping up really well; just a few years ago they struggled to tie Azerbajan and teams like that, but just a few days ago they make mince meat of Khazakstan. Walcott and Wright Phillips are shaping the team up to have unbeatable speed on the wings, and a threatening Wayne Rooney in the box looking to continue is scoring form. Can he keep it up until 2010?

[manutd.]

Rooney Rooney Rooney, he was amazing in 04, maybe we are seeing signs of that again, he justs need his right position.

England will be fine but will most probably lose to Portugal in the semis again.  :cursing:

[Adi]

It's tough to predict who's going to do well in these tournaments. I'll play it safe and say Germany. :biggrin:

On a serious note, I don't think the US can do well. That is unless they get into a fairly weak group and get a nice knockout draw. I just think there are far too many better teams out there.

I do think that the Ivory Coast can make it to the quarter finals. Maybe even two African teams (Ghana?) will make it that far. I think being in Africa will help the players get even more motivated.

Overall, I would put Germany and Argentina in the final. I think those two teams will flourish. Spain and Holland will get knocked out in the semis while Ivory Coast, Portugal, England, and Brazil will make the quarters.

[TheGodEmperor]

I think it'll be an Spain-Argentina final

the two best passers of the ball at the moment

Germany and Netherlands in the semis

Brazil, Portugal, the US, and England in the quarters

[Sule]

too early to tell but from your first post (no offense to the following coments) I can see u know about as much of this sport as the average american does. U believe football in America is on the rise  :bs: which is not happening no matter how hard someone tries to persuade me. Not even that its on the rise but that its getting better. More ppl might be playing it but it doesnt mean you will get better at the sport. England starts a qualification with some wins and have the world has gotten theirs heads in their asses again about how greatly England is playing. Calm down its just the beginning. Spain has a very prominent chance to do very well again because they have a young squad that is getting better and better.

P.s. england beating Kazakstahn or w/e isnt an accomplishment. No one was praising Croatia when they beat Andorra 7-0 at home when England only managed 3-0.

Either way its too hard to tell with league action, injuries, and everything else that happens in the great world of football

[TheGodEmperor]

England tends to step up to the occasion, though

it all depends...if they have any injuries, they're crewed

I hate England, just so you know, and I hope they don't even qualify

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

I can see u know about as much of this sport as the average american does.

 :lol:

U believe football in America is on the rise   which is not happening no matter how hard someone tries to persuade me. Not even that its on the rise but that its getting better. More ppl might be playing it but it doesnt mean you will get better at the sport

the sport has always had its numbers.  take a look at the evolution of the structure of the game in america

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too early to tell but from your first post (no offense to the following coments) I can see u know about as much of this sport as the average american does. U believe football in America is on the rise  :bs: which is not happening no matter how hard someone tries to persuade me. Not even that its on the rise but that its getting better. More ppl might be playing it but it doesnt mean you will get better at the sport. England starts a qualification with some wins and have the world has gotten theirs heads in their asses again about how greatly England is playing. Calm down its just the beginning. Spain has a very prominent chance to do very well again because they have a young squad that is getting better and better.

P.s. england beating Kazakstahn or w/e isnt an accomplishment. No one was praising Croatia when they beat Andorra 7-0 at home when England only managed 3-0.

Either way its too hard to tell with league action, injuries, and everything else that happens in the great world of football

I'm Honduran. Where are you from, Canada? I think Honduras just creamed Canada :banana:

Trust me, the average American actually thinks opposite of what I think :hello:; if you don't think soccer is on the rise after only having a league for 11 years, then you are out of your mind. I'm sure that the NBA, NFL, etc. had subpar players (not to even call our players subpar; we are moving a lot more players abroad these days) when it was 11 years old. 11 years of player development; that's not that long. Again, how developed where you at 11? How developed is anything long living at 11?

And you say Spain has a chance to do very well again? How did they place last World Cup? That's right, they lost out in the round of 16 :down: I think you and every other new "spanish fan" needs more of a reality check than I do.

btw, about England beating Kazakstan: from what I understand, it's thier best start to a World Cup qualifying campaign ever. Fabio Capello is thier manager. I think the praise has a little bit more to do with the fact that thier is major potential to win the tournament now. Does Croatia have potential to win the tournament (no offense Croatians), but the answer is no.

[manutd.]

Way to go ELITE.  :cheers:

Yup, best start for England ever. The have a new manager that is doing well with the team, or maybe the team is just getting better but that is too difficult to understand.

The point is, England beat Croatia did they not? England are top of their qualify group and are playing well. Every single English citizen out there that follows soccer is ecstatic that Rooney is scoring again, which is why the English are getting all boosted up.

[Adi]

England is doing well right now but let's not get wet over that. They have one of the easiest qualification groups.

Their win against Kazakhstan looked nice at the end of the game. What most don't realize though is that they were tied 0-0 until the 52nd minute. That's England's issue right there... they are still not creative enough to bust through the organized and structured teams. Once Kazakhstan got scored on for the second time through an own-goal, the flood gates opened. It should take England so long to break down a team like that. I realize they are doing better, but they are still not there yet.

As far as soccer in the US is concerned, I do think it's improving but that doesn't mean the game isn't improving in other parts of the world. Players are getting better by the year in just about every country. The US is getting more talented, but you can't tell me that other nations are not getting even more talented. Just look at all the young stars that are emerging all over the place. You can be 21 and a star on your national team now. The US is good, but it's still a long way behind. I don't think the work-rate alone is going to take them over the top.

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true, but my argument has nothing to do with other nations getting stronger. it's the fact that US soccer is indeed on the rise, compared to what it used to be.

[TheGodEmperor]

@ elite: I agree with much of what you said, except that this year, I can't see spain not getting to the semis...they've been too good for the past few years