World Cup predictions

[Ciaran W]

Cant believe hes still around

[Sullivinho]

Cant believe hes still around

Now joined by Hernandez in attack. It's like '98 all over again ;)

[Ciaran W]

1-1. .Rafael Marques of all people

[Sullivinho]

Disappointed for South Africa and their fantastic support that they didn't hold out for the win. A bag of nerves to begin with, they overcame it well. Mexico's attack: bad day at the office or just toothless? The helium-filled ball is an interesting experiment ;)

I'm off to hobble some voodoo dolls. Or 'poupée de vaudou' as some might say.

[Ciaran W]

Dos Santos played brilliant

[Stuttgart88]

Mexico confirmed what I thought of them at Wembley. Very skillful team but not very effective. You could say the same about Sth Africa too on this showing. Lots of nice passing & movement which you'd never see an Irish team do, but nice passing & movement doesn't count for much if you don't take your chances (Paris...) or if you concede carelessly.

Inter v Bayern Munich was the classic example. Inter v Barcelona less so because I think Inter got lucky with some decisions. I'm not saying Inter are effective and not skillful, they're both - just saying I'd rather be effective than elegant.

Are England good enough / savvy enough to do an Inter on this tournament? They won't do it the Barcelona way.

[Ciaran W]

Boring first half but the second half was brilliant end to end stuff, bring on You-are-gay v The scum :D

[Stuttgart88]

I just don't get Sidney Govou. All pace but no brain and awful in front of goal.

That game was crying out for Nasri. I've never quite got Benzema either. Would he have made a difference?

Are Toulalan, Gourcuff & Gignac all overrated?

I effing hate Patrice Evra and William Gallas.

[bennocelt]

Dont know what ye all are on about with the South African fans, I think they are rubbish - if blowing into a horn for 90 mins is good support - jesus (reminded me when ireland played denmark all those years ago)

Glad France didnt win, Uruguay are not much either - Mexico can still do it

[Ciaran W]

We never actually said the south african support was good we just said that it was very noisy, which it was

[bennocelt]

"fantastic support"

seen the Mexican wave last night as well!!!

[Ciaran W]

Alri lads i see that the south korea-greece match is only 2/3 full, has this ever happened at a world cup before ?

[Sullivinho]

Alri lads i see that the south korea-greece match is only 2/3 full, has this ever happened at a world cup before ?

If Greece score, those 2/3 will be asking themselves the same question.

Dire team.

[Ciaran W]

South korea-Greece, Best game of the world cup so far. . South korea are a very good side and well deserved their win, greece are just horrible to watch,a lot of hoofball,il never give out about ireland hoofing the ball again.

[thischarmingman]

I think England will do well this year, and although their opener against the US is a tricky fixture, if they can get a result tonight they'll almost certainly go into the second round on the back of three straight wins. I think they might have an early scare tonight but reckon things will click for them and they'll win 3-1.

[Ciaran W]

Usa usa usa !

[ArdeeBhoy]

I think England will do well this year, and although their opener against the US is a tricky fixture, if they can get a result tonight they'll almost certainly go into the second round on the back of three straight wins. I think they might have an early scare tonight but reckon things will click for them and they'll win 3-1.

Hmm. Though I would have agreed with you before Mr. Green's intervention.....

[Sullivinho]

Desperate stuff from England.

I feel sorry for Green even though it's entirely his own fault. I imagine the faithful are tucking into a nice side of scapegoat as we speak. They'll make it out of the group but gifting the ball and leadfoot defending would get 'em murdered by the likes of Spain and Brazil. Even France would fancy it. Ribery vs Carragher/Terry anyone?

Time to earn your millions Fab.

That Dempsey is one neat player. Never puts a foot wrong.

[endabob1]

Alri lads i see that the south korea-greece match is only 2/3 full, has this ever happened at a world cup before ?

Yes it happens in virtually every world cup

[bennocelt]

England were woeful, was very impressed with the central def Onyewu, thought he was awesome, so was Howard - some very brave saves.
Looking at Korea now on RTE Player - nice footballers, and there wingbacks bomb the line -

[shakermaker1982]

I went to a wedding yesterday which didn't have the football on. I wasn't impressed!! Tried to watch the Argies and Capello's overated bunch of misfits when I got in half cut.

God I love watching Messi play. It's good to see teams going for it and not shutting up shop with 10 to go.

I'm also looking forward to Ghana/Serbia today. Could be a bit tasty. Two strong teams who'' challenge Germany for top spot. Group D is a tough one to call and there are no gimme fixtures.

[thischarmingman]

Not a disaster for England, although granted they weren't great, particularly in the first half. It's just a contest to see who scores more goals against Slovenia and Algeria now. England must be one of the only top seeds with two games in the group they're almost guaranteed to win. Part of me thinks with Capello in charges there's a chance they could grow into the tournament, but it's equally (or more likely) they'll flop in the second round- Serbia, Germany or Ghana would all be difficult opponents.

Re: Messi, it's a joy watching someone so willing to take on opponents and take risks.

Looking forward to Serbia-Ghana today- battle of the second place?

[De Town]

I don't get why people here seem to be completely dismissing Australia's chances. They'll be challenging to go through imo. I've layed Germany for tonight's game.

[tricky_colour]

I had feeling England would flop against the USA, I was going to have bet on it at 6-1, however England got the goal, I still thought the USA could come back though, and they did
hence I backed the USA in play to win, but covered my position with a Draw bet as the game went on.
I just knew England would come crashing to the ground after all the hype.
The draw might actually be a good thing for England, it kind of takes the pressure off then as they have been exposed s shyte, especialy with butter-fingers in goal.


Anyway Algeria, it will be interesting to see how they get on, I expect they will put in a much improved performance than their last against us.
I commented on youtube highlights of that game, that Ireland should be going to the World Cup instead of Algeria, I was expecting to get
abuse for saying some but some Algerian replied to say he agreed.

Anyway I hope they do well as that makes us look better!

Apparently Algeria's population is just 2 million!!

[Ciaran W]

Boring first half in the slovenia game. . The amount of dodgy haircuts in the algeria team !

[bennocelt]

I don't get why people here seem to be completely dismissing Australia's chances. They'll be challenging to go through imo. I've layed Germany for tonight's game.


I also think they might do well, they have a strong mid and defence, but then they have Kewell up front!!!:eek: will be interesting

[ArdeeBhoy]

Apparently Algeria's population is just 2 million!!

That's Slovenia's population. Algeria's is around 35 million and their own diaspora in France and elsewhere across W.Europe.....

[Ciaran W]

What a silly sending off

[tricky_colour]

That's Slovenia's population. Algeria's is around 35 million and their own diaspora in France and elsewhere across W.Europe.....

Oops!!! Seems like I misheard that then!!
I must admit I was rather surprised to think Algeria population's was only 2 million, but that is what I though I heard, that's why I commented.
Slovenia have done very well if they only have a 2 million population, I though their population was more than that.
I had to look it up to find out where it was, I get it confused with Slovakia.
Apparently it used to be part of Yugoslavia. I expect there are far more the 2 million who are eligible to play for Slovenia.
Anyway Slovenia have just gone 1:0 up.

Also only 2 of their 23 man squad actually play for a Slovenian club, more play in Italy (5), Germany(4) and Holland(3).
Only 3 of the Algerian squad play in Algeria.

[Poor Student]

Apparently it used to be part of Yugoslavia. I expect there are far more the 2 million who are eligible to play for Slovenia.


Not the case, there's very few people living in the rest of Yugoslavia elegible for Slovenian citizenship.

[Poor Student]

1-0 to Slovenia. First world cup win in their history, delighted.

Just to further underline the significance of this achievement, Slovenia is as divided among different sports as Ireland in terms of resources and participation. Skiing is extremely popular and handball, basketball and ice hockey are just as popular as football.

[Ciaran W]

Any hear souness saying your man got raped !

[Poor Student]

Any hear souness saying your man got raped !

They just apologised for it!

[Sullivinho]

1-0 to Slovenia. First world cup win in their history, delighted.

Just to further underline the significance of this achievement, Slovenia is as divided among different sports as Ireland in terms of resources and participation. Skiing is extremely popular and handball, basketball and ice hockey are just as popular as football.

Tiny population too. Fair play to 'em.

Although dross like Greece and Algeria is tough viewing knowing we'd put on a better showing. Egypt must have welts from kicking themselves.


Raped

:D

[Ciaran W]

Id say he feels real bad now !

[Cuyahoga]

Souness is a pratt, he keeps calling Ghana 'Guyana'

[Ciaran W]

Serbia down to 10

[Ciaran W]

1-0 ghana, penalty

[bennocelt]

Tiny population too. Fair play to 'em.

Although dross like Greece and Algeria is tough viewing knowing we'd put on a better showing. Egypt must have welts from kicking themselves.

:D

not really true though is it - how many games have Ireland won in 3 world cups, and dare I mention Egypt - Ireland in 1990??

[Sullivinho]

not really true though is it - how many games have Ireland won in 3 world cups, and dare I mention Egypt - Ireland in 1990??

If, buts and maybes aside, I have little doubt we'd have played better than Greece and Algeria have thus far. We wouldn't be putting anyone away by 2 and 3 goals (unless they're Saudi Arabia) but even during our numerous draws and ultimate defeats we played well. Above ourselves at times.

So yeah, a better showing...I think so.

[Ciaran W]

Really looking forward to this match :D hopefully its not a let down like all the other games

[Ciaran W]

1-0 germany

[Ciaran W]

2-0 germany, should be 3 or 4 ! 300th post yay !! :D

[Sullivinho]

Silly me for daring to write off Germany's chances. The machine is rolling sweeter than ever! Ballack would only have slowed these lads down.

Altitude? Ball physics? Pfffffft. This is how plucky outsiders are dealt with. Take note, England.

[Ciaran W]

Finally good to see a decent game, hopefully theres a few more goals in this :D

[pineapple stu]

Anyone else hear the German national anthem introduced as "Deutschland Deutschland ueber alles" by Stephen Alkin? :eek: Wonder what Hamann in studio made of that one?

First really decent game of the tournament (was only flicking in and out of Mexico-South Africa in work, which looked fairly good). Some woeful games though.

Cahill's sending off was nonsense. They wouldn't have gotten anything from the Germany game, but the tie against Ghana is all or nothing, and he'll be missing for it. Austraila do remind me of Ireland around the end of 95 though.

[Ciaran W]

4-0 Germany, great game :D

[culloty82]

Of course Brazil, Spain, Holland to come in the next few days, but Germany look like real contenders based on that showing. Didn't know much about Khedira, but he was outstanding, Ozul and Muller also looked promising. Australia were poor, but plenty of free-flowing end-to-end play.

[bennocelt]

If, buts and maybes aside, I have little doubt we'd have played better than Greece and Algeria have thus far. We wouldn't be putting anyone away by 2 and 3 goals (unless they're Saudi Arabia) but even during our numerous draws and ultimate defeats we played well. Above ourselves at times.

So yeah, a better showing...I think so.

but we couldnt beat a bad French team?:eek:

[Sullivinho]

Germany look like real contenders based on that showing.

I'm pleasantly surprised. A strong Germany is good for the tournament. Dutch and Italians to come tomorrow but I doubt the latter will pull a clutch of rabbits out of their hat like the Germans did tonight.


but we couldnt beat a bad French team?:eek:

True. But we didn't look anaemic and out of our depth whilst trying.