World Cup predictions

[elroy]

Yay, a goal and a damn good one at that!

[Sullivinho]

Kinda sad to see Brazil labouring against North Korea.

That's more like it lads. :ball:

[Ciaran W]

The quality of loi football is about 10 times better then this :)

[Ciaran W]

Great goal :D

[Noelys Guitar]

Both my main bets probably down the swanee today (NK 3/1 and NZ 5/1 to be lowest scoring team Boylesports). Sure to be either Algeria or Greece now. On another note it was interesting to find out last night (Skysports)that the Bundesliga used the new ball all of last season. And the German national team has been using it in training for almost as long. I know Capello was offered the ball last February (inexplicably turned down the chance). Surely an advantage for the Germans.

[bennocelt]

Kinda sad to see Brazil labouring against North Korea. What on earth has happened to Kaka?

Maicon in top form though. :D

And why does he have to do the diving!!!!!

Korea were great too see, loved their attitude,and i jumped off the sofa when they scored - wowowow
(bill o herily was bloody annoying, calling them boring - no way)

missed a few games - so staying up to catch them tonight on RTE online - great, looking forward to seeing what i missed in the portugal - ivo coast game:D

[bennocelt]

Just finished watching Italy - Paraguay game. Was impressed with Italy, and Pepe was ace

Hate the fifa budweiser man of match thingy
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/awards/manofthematch/groupstage.html
Either the goalscorer or goalie gets it - always. STUPID

[Stuttgart88]

Points all taken & accepted Stu. I'm still loving it though!

[tetsujin1979]

If you're looking for something to do to pass the time between games, read the tactical analysis on http://www.zonalmarking.net/
Can't recommend it enough.

[Mission Bell]

What are predictions for todays games?
Chile, Spain and Uruguay methinks!

[Ciaran W]

Ive watched all 14 matches so far and im finding it so hard to keep watching it now :o but il have to stick it out.

[Sullivinho]

What are predictions for todays games?
Chile, Spain and Uruguay methinks!

Chile, Spain and a score draw.

And goals!...hopefully. Says he, looking in Spain's direction.

[shakermaker1982]

Come on CHILE! 3-1-3-3 formation = goals for both sides!

[Ciaran W]

Damien richardson talks about players not being able to keep the ball down every five minutes !

[Ciaran W]

1-0 chile

[pineapple stu]

Is this streaming anywhere? RTÉ's stream isn't working for me; been dependant on that all tournament so far!

[EAFC_rdfl]

http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/fifaworldcup/
no commentary tho

[pineapple stu]

That's the RTÉ link which isn't working for me for some reason.

[Sullivinho]

Despite the presence of Guevara in midfield, Honduras' performance has hardly been revolutionary..

Meanwhile, the Chilean goal remains intact despite featuring a ponce at the back.

The Spain vs Chile game should be a cracker if footballing philosophy is anything to go by.

[Ciaran W]

FT: Chile 1-0 Honduras. . Pretty good game

[shakermaker1982]

Thank you Chile. Watched 2nd half in the pub. Anti Mourinho football at its finest.

[Ciaran W]

I dont think im ever going to look forward to a football match again because of this world cup :(

[tetsujin1979]

Swiss go 1 up! Shock on the cards?

[pineapple stu]

Just stuck a tenner on Spain at 12/5. They're absolutely destroying the Swiss (goal aside) and playing patient stuff still. Reckon the Swiss will buckle. Plenty of time left.

[Sullivinho]

Huge pressure on Spain now.

[Ciaran W]

Why did i have to get spain in the draw :(

[Closed Account 2]

Uh-oh, that wasn't on the cards!

[tetsujin1979]

Switzerland parked the bus, and their 4 man defence, in front of the goal. Their midfield rarely ventured even as far as the half way line. Spain had all the possession in the first two thirds of the pitch, but had no space or movement in the last third. Everything seemed to be coming through midfield, moved out to the right for Navas, and cleared. Couldn't understand why nothing was going down the left at all.
Torres came on and did very little, clearly lacking match practise, his first touch for the one clear run he had was awful.

The Swiss qualified at the top of a poor group, and even lost to Luxembourg at home, but had a solid defence. They only conceded 8 goals in 6 games.
First big shock of the championship?

[Stuttgart88]

I reckon Trap must have had a boner watching that game. That's been the theme of the tournament for the most part, and the latter stages of the Champs League: organisation stifling flare.

[tetsujin1979]

I reckon Trap must have had a boner watching that game. That's been the theme of the tournament for the most part, and the latter stages of the Champs League: organisation stifling flare.
This is the question - would you rather play good football, or would you rather play winning football?

The Swiss did nothing in that game we didn't see in Kerr's last game at Lansdowne. Came knowing their gameplan, stuck to it, and got the result they wanted.

[pineapple stu]

Oh well. Tenner down the drain.

I don't agree with Stutts entirely that that game was the theme of the tournament; technically, the Swiss were reasonably adept - defended excellently and attacked well when they dared (hitting the post as well). There's a difference between that and being just rubbish, lacking in any sort of imagination, speed or ability, which is what we've seen from many of the teams so far. Though I was only keeping half an eye on the game, so I could well have read it wrong.

[Stuttgart88]

I'd rather watch good fotball, but support a team that played winning football. No complaints with the Swiss, I'd like to think we could be as good at it.

Let's say that Spain come second in the group now (though Chile & Switzerland are both 3 points up on them). How does that alter the likely last 16 / 8 / 4 line up?

[OwlsFan]

Swiss go 1 up! Shock on the cards?

Hardly a shock. We know to our own cost what the Swiss are like. A surprise ok but is anyone actually shocked?

[bennocelt]

Oh well. Tenner down the drain.

I don't agree with Stutts entirely that that game was the theme of the tournament; technically, the Swiss were reasonably adept - defended excellently and attacked well when they dared (hitting the post as well). There's a difference between that and being just rubbish, lacking in any sort of imagination, speed or ability, which is what we've seen from many of the teams so far. Though I was only keeping half an eye on the game, so I could well have read it wrong.


Yeah spot on. Even though I have a load of dosh with various bets on Spain, I was actually happy that Switzerland won the game. They were well organised, battled for everything, and did as much as can be expected for a team of that ability.
Looks a bit tough now for Spain, might have to beat Chile in the last game, and Brazil lie waiting in the second round:(

[Stuttgart88]

I don't agree with Stutts entirely that that game was the theme of the tournamentNor do I :) but I think a lot of teams have played happy to absorb pressure rather than engage in a game of attacking football. I thought the Swiss deserved credit - they pulled off the game plan very well and denied Spain clear cut chances. It was very similar to the way NK played against Brazil. I think it was "one of those days" for Spain - Alonso and Iniesta's shots, a waxy goal. OK, Switzerland nearly got a second...

I actually thought Casillas was at fault for the goal, going in with his feet rather than being braver and going with his hands. Maybe his feet were nearer.

The way to beat that type of gameplan is to continue the passing game but to play at a fast tempo. Easier said than done I guess.

[pineapple stu]

I think Switzerland probably played better because Spain took the game to them. Ditto North Korean against Brazil. In other games, both sides have sat back and waited for the other to attack.

I thought Casillas was lucky the Swiss scored or he could have been sent off for a foul; looked like he took the legs out from under the Swiss lad.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Spain can probably win both games though. Poor old Bafana Bafana have been awful tonight and are just about to crash out.
:-(

[osarusan]

South Africa were woeful tonight. They kept this slow passing game going all night, even thoug it was completely obvious that they got nothing out of it.

It's a shame that the hosts won't make it out of the group, unless there is an amazing set of results in their favour.

[Noelys Guitar]

In reply to Owlsfan.Completely agree. I thought it would be 0-0 or 1-1. I had to listen to that clown Lalas on ESPN pre-game saying the Swiss are not worth mentioning? They did a job on Spain and it only ever works if the opposing so called "giant" has serious weak links. And Spain had today. This is the most open tournament I can remember (winner wise). We would have gone far in this tournament with the form of Duff and Doyle. Sickens me a bit every day.

[Sullivinho]

No sympathy for South Africa's (inevitable?) exit after that display. Dancing into the stadium like a crowd of goons and leaving with their tails between their legs.

[Stuttgart88]

We would have gone far in this tournament with the form of Duff and Doyle. Sickens me a bit every day.I dunno, I think we'd have missed Given and Hunt (from the bench) andd SSL wouldn't have been properly fit.

[bennocelt]

No sympathy for South Africa's (inevitable?) exit after that display. Dancing into the stadium like a crowd of goons and leaving with their tails between their legs.


And they cant say that the atmosphere will be affected with their exit. If anything it will get better. Yesterday after the second Urugay goal was the first time I had the chance to hear some fans actually singing and chanting. Better to have half full crowds with atmosphere than a packed stadium with bees.

A missed opportunity for South African fans - they could have shown the world their dances and drums, etc - If you think of Korea you think of the red, the singing ("Telly bingo" and "p!!sed in Korea"), the noise of support. Africa, all we get is a constant drone for 90 minutes.

[endabob1]

So you'd like South African fans to change the way they support their team to suit your TV watching needs?

[bennocelt]

So you'd like South African fans to change the way they support their team to suit your TV watching needs?


No, thats their way of doing it. Just I think its stupid
And it hardly called support

[endabob1]

But that's exactly how they support their teams, they blow a vuvuzela and wear silly decorated construction hats & mad over-sized plastic glasses, it's the support culture here, like singing is in some countries, banging drums is in other countries

[bennocelt]

But that's exactly how they support their teams, they blow a vuvuzela and wear silly decorated construction hats & mad over-sized plastic glasses, it's the support culture here, like singing is in some countries, banging drums is in other countries

I understand that, and agree with FIFA on not banning the Vuvuzela. Doesnt mean that I have to like it tough

[pineapple stu]

It's a shame that the hosts won't make it out of the group
For the first time ever too. Even Japan and South Korean managed it together.

[OwlsFan]

Not dead yet. If the Mexicans and French draw (good possibility), then it comes down to a Cup Final between France and South Africa.

[tetsujin1979]

I dunno, I think we'd have missed Given and Hunt (from the bench) andd SSL wouldn't have been properly fit.
Sean looked fine to me against Algeria and Paraguay, both of whom are in the tournament. He was fantastic against Algeria actually.

[endabob1]

For the first time ever too. Even Japan and South Korean managed it together.

With a lot of favourable refereeing decisions iirc, certainly can't be accused of any home town bias from the fella last night