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brapper · Dec 9, 2005, 03:09 PM

In about 20 minutes.

Who are you rooting for and are you happy with group?

Personally, I'm hoping for a relatively easy time in the group stage for England.

Also, there's an outside chance that I can be in Germany this summer which would be incredible.

wallinbl · Dec 9, 2005, 03:12 PM

I wish my country cared more about soccer. For some reason, all the kids play it, then grow up and ignore it.

JHromadka · Dec 9, 2005, 04:26 PM

I'm rooting for USA, Czech Republic, England, & Ireland.

olePigeon · Dec 9, 2005, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

I wish my country cared more about soccer. For some reason, all the kids play it, then grow up and ignore it.

Same thing with hockey.

SuvsareRetarded · Dec 9, 2005, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

I wish my country cared more about soccer. For some reason, all the kids play it, then grow up and ignore it.

Ditto. I love soccer. It's way better than freaking American football, the NFC... er...oops. NFL. NFC= National Football Commercial Ad Campaign To Sell Beer And Trucks And Be A Mayon.

JHromadka · Dec 9, 2005, 04:42 PM

watching it at fifaworldcup.com right now. Starts with Germany in A and Brazil in F because of their past performance.

cjrivera · Dec 9, 2005, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Ditto. I love soccer. It's way better than freaking American football, the NFC... er...oops. NFL. NFC= National Football Commercial Ad Campaign To Sell Beer And Trucks And Be A Mayon.

What's a mayon?

SuvsareRetarded · Dec 9, 2005, 05:00 PM

Mayon= grrr i like football and i dont need edukation i got a gun and i drink budweiser i don't drink imported crap bud is a 'mayon's drink, and i got me a truck an american truck yeah!!! Oh no! the packers lost! time to go beat my wife!

JHromadka · Dec 9, 2005, 05:10 PM

A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago
Sweden

C
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montengro
Netherlands

D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo

H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

JHromadka · Dec 9, 2005, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Mayon= grrr i like football and i dont need edukation i got a gun and i drink budweiser i don't drink imported crap bud is a 'mayon's drink, and i got me a truck an american truck yeah!!! Oh no! the packers lost! time to go beat my wife!

Must be nice to live life as someone that does nothing but spout stereotypes.

brapper · Dec 9, 2005, 05:49 PM

Nice. I'm pleased with group B.

SuvsareRetarded · Dec 9, 2005, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by JHromadka

Must be nice to live life as someone that does nothing but spout stereotypes.

Yep. Even have a whole show devoted to it called South Park. What makes it funny is satire, which is a parody of the truth. Heck, they even wrote a song about mayons. Use limewire to download 'now you're a man' or 'orgasmo theme'.

wallinbl · Dec 10, 2005, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Mayon= grrr i like football and i dont need edukation i got a gun and i drink budweiser i don't drink imported crap bud is a 'mayon's drink, and i got me a truck an american truck yeah!!! Oh no! the packers lost! time to go beat my wife!

Disclaimer: Not all men from Alabama beat their wives.

Doofy · Dec 10, 2005, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Mayon= grrr i like football and i dont need edukation i got a gun and i drink budweiser i don't drink imported crap bud is a 'mayon's drink, and i got me a truck an american truck yeah!!! Oh no! the packers lost! time to go beat my wife!

Funny that. The type of bloke most likely to beat his wife and drink lager here is... ...an ardent soccer fan.

von Wrangell · Dec 10, 2005, 08:21 AM

Since my own national team will never make it to the WC I usually root for Sweden and England. But this year I'm going for Sweden and Spain. Both will go far I think. Spain has an amazing team this time.

greenamp · Dec 10, 2005, 09:22 AM

LoL soccer is just as commercialized in other parts of the world as football is in the USA.

That being said go go team USA.

angelmb · Dec 10, 2005, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

Since my own national team will never make it to the WC I usually root for Sweden and England. But this year I'm going for Sweden and Spain. Both will go far I think. Spain has an amazing team this time.

Wow… as spaniard I would think Spain is going to… well… if they get into 1/4 finals, they would play against Brazil and it is over

It seems 1/4 finals is always kinda scary to the spaniard team. But being honest I don't care -don't like soccer that much-.

Nivag · Dec 10, 2005, 10:16 AM

At least England wont be playing Poland in the first round, they are always our boggy team.

I can't believe were ranked second to win by the bookies...

mdc · Dec 10, 2005, 12:39 PM

I'm routing for Italy. I don't think they'll have too much difficulty in group E. I can't wait for the world cup.

mdc · Dec 10, 2005, 12:42 PM

oops, double post.

as2 · Dec 10, 2005, 12:52 PM

Group B looks pretty good for us... Although I still don't know how we have been seeded 2nd?!

The Godfather · Dec 10, 2005, 11:07 PM

I will be rooting for Brazil like always

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 10, 2005, 11:53 PM

Woohoo Group of Death C! Hahaha...well, I guess if the top two teams will be advancing, it shouldn't be TOO bad. I don't know why it's been labelled as such a hard group – E seems far more difficult. Time to erase the humiliation of the non-entry in '02!

Anyways...time to break out my orange "Cryuff" jersey...

greg

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 11, 2005, 12:23 AM

Ps, do the videos on FIFA's World Cup Video Page work for anyone else?! It just pops up the video screen for me, and then nothing happens.

greg

spectre · Dec 11, 2005, 03:47 AM

Groups E and C looks very tough. Not much chance for the USA to get out of their group as one of the top two imo.

Azzgunther · Dec 11, 2005, 06:35 AM

Ouch for USA, Italy, and Czech Republic. All could have been 1-seeds and instead are sharing a group.

My question: once the 1-seeds are decided, how are the rest of the groups filled in?

Weyland-Yutani · Dec 11, 2005, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Wow… as spaniard I would think Spain is going to… well… if they get into 1/4 finals, they would play against Brazil and it is over

It seems 1/4 finals is always kinda scary to the spaniard team. But being honest I don't care -don't like soccer that much-.

Hehe, well I predict 1/4 finals at best for la Fúria. They have a history of breaking down just about at that point. Seeing how Portugal beat the European Championship last year with ease I can see them in the finals.

Hope Spain does well this time but I don't have any high hopes. I just hope Spain qualifies from the H division.

(they will)

cheers

W-Y

von Wrangell · Dec 11, 2005, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by Azzgunther

Ouch for USA, Italy, and Czech Republic. All could have been 1-seeds and instead are sharing a group.

My question: once the 1-seeds are decided, how are the rest of the groups filled in?

The USA does not belong among the 1 seeds. Not nearly strong enough for that.

Cubeoid · Dec 11, 2005, 08:47 AM

USA sucks.

wdlove · Dec 11, 2005, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

USA sucks.

That wasn't very nice, that is my team after all.

Though Cubeoid is still awesome, just hope he will apologize.

Azzgunther · Dec 11, 2005, 05:05 PM

Italy edged the USA for that 1-seed by 1 point:

http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=3258

It was very close, and deservedly so. Are either of you very aware of the US team's accomplishments in the last six years? They are a very good team, and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002 and losing that game only because it was handed to Germany by the refs (German defender uses hand to stop a ball going into an open net; call is "unintended handball" play continues ) and regularly beating Mexico proves that they deserve some respect.

Kevin · Dec 11, 2005, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Mayon= grrr i like football and i dont need edukation i got a gun and i drink budweiser i don't drink imported crap bud is a 'mayon's drink, and i got me a truck an american truck yeah!!! Oh no! the packers lost! time to go beat my wife!

So pretty much your whole life.

But seriously Rob, you spend a good bit of time on NN pretending to be better than everyone else.

Originally Posted by JHromadka

Must be nice to live life as someone that does nothing but spout stereotypes.

[edit] Sorry JH, didn't see you had already said something.

Kevin · Dec 11, 2005, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Azzgunther

Italy edged the USA for that 1-seed by 1 point:

http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=3258

It was very close, and deservedly so. Are either of you very aware of the US team's accomplishments in the last six years? They are a very good team, and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002 and losing that game only because it was handed to Germany by the refs (German defender uses hand to stop a ball going into an open net; call is "unintended handball" play continues ) and regularly beating Mexico proves that they deserve some respect.

Some people will never accept soccer and the US. No matter how good we are.

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 11, 2005, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

Ps, do the videos on FIFA's World Cup Video Page work for anyone else?! It just pops up the video screen for me, and then nothing happens.

WELL?!?!

Goldfinger · Dec 11, 2005, 06:24 PM

Well, see what happens. I'm probably going to see the Final.

kingjules · Dec 11, 2005, 06:25 PM

France will probably win this time, against togo in final!

go france

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 12, 2005, 01:54 AM

With the way Ronaldinho's playing, Brazil's chances are certainly looking good.

He's simply incredibly. I almost get chills just watching him. That kind of finesse and control and playmaking prowess, all with that huge grin on his face...man. Envy.

greg

Cubeoid · Dec 12, 2005, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by wdlove

That wasn't very nice, that is my team after all.

Though Cubeoid is still awesome, just hope he will apologize.

I appologize wdlove, you're awesome.

von Wrangell · Dec 12, 2005, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Azzgunther

Italy edged the USA for that 1-seed by 1 point:

http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=3258

It was very close, and deservedly so. Are either of you very aware of the US team's accomplishments in the last six years? They are a very good team, and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002 and losing that game only because it was handed to Germany by the refs (German defender uses hand to stop a ball going into an open net; call is "unintended handball" play continues ) and regularly beating Mexico proves that they deserve some respect.

Beating Mexico isn't a great achievement. There's such a gulf in class between the topsides in the world and the US. I'm not saying the US is a bad team. They've come far in a short time last years. But they are still nowhere close to being worthy of a top seeded position yet.

von Wrangell · Dec 12, 2005, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

With the way Ronaldinho's playing, Brazil's chances are certainly looking good.

He's simply incredibly. I almost get chills just watching him. That kind of finesse and control and playmaking prowess, all with that huge grin on his face...man. Envy.

greg

They are definitely amongst the favourites. A team which includes Ronaldinho, Kaká, Ronaldo and Adriano will always be dangerous. But then again, their defence isn't anything to be proud off.

von Wrangell · Dec 12, 2005, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Some people will never accept soccer and the US. No matter how good we are.

It has nothing to do with that Kev. It's simply so that the US isn't (yet) good enough to be amongst the first seeds. One day that might happen but until then you should be happy if you get though your group.

Kevin · Dec 12, 2005, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

It has nothing to do with that Kev. It's simply so that the US isn't (yet) good enough to be amongst the first seeds. One day that might happen but until then you should be happy if you get though your group.

Actually either way I could care less. Sports isn't that exciting to me.

Kevin · Dec 12, 2005, 07:57 AM

HAMSTERNATED

nath · Dec 12, 2005, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

It has nothing to do with that Kev. It's simply so that the US isn't (yet) good enough to be amongst the first seeds. One day that might happen but until then you should be happy if you get though your group.

Actually the record of the US in the World Cup over recent years has been pretty impressive! They were definitely one of the teams I didn't want England to bump into at the group stage. Too many Premiership players.

von Wrangell · Dec 12, 2005, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by nath

Actually the record of the US in the World Cup over recent years has been pretty impressive! They were definitely one of the teams I didn't want England to bump into at the group stage. Too many Premiership players.

Tim Howard? McBride? There's absolutely nothing to fear from those players.

What England has most to fear is SGE. The players England has at the moment should be enough to reach the final (and perhaps win it). But he is likely to fook it up by playing the "old" stars instead of the younger better players.

von Wrangell · Dec 12, 2005, 09:07 AM

A quick look at the results the last few years.

A 1-1 draw against the Scots, lose to Costa Rica, lose to England, draw against Poland, draws against Jamaica and Panama, and the list goes on.

The only reason the USA is so high in the rankings is because they play mostly against teams like Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Honduras. Not exactly the heavyweights of football.

nath · Dec 12, 2005, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

The only reason the USA is so high in the rankings is because they play mostly against teams like Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Honduras. Not exactly the heavyweights of football.

They're high in the rankings because of the sum total of their performances over the last eight years, not just the poor results you can find! That includes being quarter finalists at the last world cup.

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

But he is likely to fook it up by playing the "old" stars instead of the younger better players.

Like who? Beckham's hardly past it, and I think he's probably the oldest in the squad.

von Wrangell · Dec 12, 2005, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by nath

They're high in the rankings because of the sum total of their performances over the last eight years, not just the poor results you can find! That includes being quarter finalists at the last world cup.

The world rankings are a joke unfortunately. Look at what teams USA plays most often. USA's ranking is mostly based on that. Teams like Chile and Scotland are below 60 in the rankings but both are teams that are as good or better than the USA. The difference is that they mostly play the best teams in the world in real competitions. While the USA plays (and collects points for the rankings) Honduras, Trinidad & Tobago as well as Jamaica Chile plays against Argentine, Brazil and the like. At the same time Scotland plays against France, Italy and Spain. The results from these matches are then used to create the rankings. They are universally known to be a joke.

Like who? Beckham's hardly past it, and I think he's probably the oldest in the squad.

Would you say he's the best central midfielder England has? I'd prefer both Lampard and Gerrard in the CM positions. Would you say Campbell is the best central defender England has? I'd prefer both Terry and Carragher. G. Neville? James? And the list goes on. SGE will play his 4-4-2 as usual which will hurt England in the end. And he will shift players out of their preferred positions to make room for players like Beckham. SWP as a striker? Joke Hole (

) as left midfield? King as defensive midfielder?

turtle777 · Dec 12, 2005, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Azzgunther

regularly beating Mexico proves that they deserve some respect.

Taken out of context makes this quote quite interesting

-t

turtle777 · Dec 12, 2005, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Some people will never accept soccer and the US. No matter how good we are.

I'm not sure if it's only the people. I could think of the cable networks not wanting it either because you can not have the same absurd amounts of commercial breaks that is possible in football. Actually, you could, but that would make watching it such a pain, and you'd miss important game plays.

-t