World Cup predictions

[endabob1]

I was impressed with Holland last night, well drilled but like a lot of the teams playing well, the defence looks like it could be shaky if tested.

[OwlsFan]

Just like the last World War:

The French surrender early and are riven by internal strife
The Yanks with a peripheral interest arrive at the last minute
The Italians collapse when put under pressure
and the Danes offer no resistance
The Anzacs show their usual spirit,
The Greeks go down fighting
and the Japanese attacks take their opponents by surprise.
The Africans' campaign is just a side show
while it remains carnaval time in South America
The Spanish aren't too sure of their position.

Meanwhile, the Irish watch with interest from the sideline
WHILE the English are left to face the Germans alone...

[Stuttgart88]

Japan is an interesting case. Even back in 1998 they played a very slick, technically accomplished style of football, but just lacked bite / streetwise-ness. I think they could be a blueprint for a "ripping it up and starting again" approach to youth development in any decent sized country.

Does anyone here still rate Nicklas Bendtner after last night? He's actually afraid of the ball in the air sometimes. I'd love to know how that Denmark team won their qualifying group and explain it to the FAI.

[bennocelt]

Can't complain with the England win, they were the better team by a mile. They were totally untested at the back, bar a few isolated scares. Slovenia's set pieces were truly shocking. I've no idea how good the German side is, so tonight will be interesting to see if they're up to it. I'd like to think they'll win convincingly but I think that England were lucky to avoid a winner of a stronger group.

I'm glad the USA prevailed. They've got some good players, and if Arsenal are looking to replace Fabregas with an overrated French tw@t when they could buy Landon Donovan they'd be stupid. He's been outstanding for me.

Hands up who didnt watch the whole USA game ............................he and Dempsey were rubbish............(even Damien Richardson was of the same opinion). if anything Bradley was America's best player, and their defences stood up well again.

[Noelys Guitar]

Algeria did their homework on Donovan and kept him quiet for most of the 90 mins. Dempsey played the way he always plays (which is in and out of games). But when it really mattered both players played their part. Altidore was the US's best player on the night. He led the line ala Kevin Doyle. Bradley played well but for me it is his old man who is the US's best asset. The US have 5 very good players. 7 or so championship level players. And the rest are first/second division standard. Unlike many teams at this world cup (Swiss, Danes) Bradley takes calculated risks with his selections/tactics. And his teams always try to attack. And so far it has payed off. But they will need to improve again to beat Ghana tomorrow (who I thought unlucky against Germany). Should be a great match. And I expect Donovan to score again.

[superfrank]

I think they could be a blueprint for a "ripping it up and starting again" approach to youth development in any decent sized country.

Decent-sized? There's about 130 million of them!

AFAIK, their youth system seems to rely a lot on the secondary-school teams who produce and train the players before being snapped up by the J-League clubs once they graduate. It seems like a mix of the rugby schools system here and the NCAA system in the States. It seems to be working well for them.

[culloty82]

Why have African countries failed to make any real progress in the last decade - after Senegal's QF in '02, you'd have expected them to kick on and get to the last four, instead of Ghana possibly crashing out against America? Could the club structure be partly to blame when you've decent quality leagues in Korea, Japan, the US, and Mexico, but the leagues in Egypt and South Africa fall short of even that mark. Also, most of their national teams seem to be managed by mediocre European coaches, when you'd expect Roger Milla and other experienced players to step up to the mark. The last factor could be coaching, French clubs seem to take players from its former colonies at a very young age, which does no favours for national sides.

[Stuttgart88]

The best bits of Ghana really impressed me tonight, though I thought they lacked a bit of savvy when it counted in the second half.

I really enjoyed both of today's games (missed first half of Uruguay v Sth Korea). The winning goals in each were very good.

Watching World Cups "back in the day" really enthralled me as I got to see styles of football I wasn't used to seeing. Sth Korea play just like they did in '02, really high tempo, athletic and technical. Japan, when they go for it, are the same. I like it.

I think Ireland would struggle in open play against Sth Korea, yet I saw nothing in the USA that suggests they're better than us, though Bradley & Donovan stood out for me. Altidore - does anyone else see Leon Best in the same mould? Both are raw and physical, but need a bit (lot) of polish.

[bennocelt]

Just after watching Australia - Serbia. Outstanding second half, well worth a look, end to end
http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1075372

Fair play to RTE they do show ALL the games on their realplayer. I thought it was just highlights...........great stuff. Caught up on 3 games yesterday, also watched the Korean - Uru game and seen an 8 goal cracker at Athlone. Am I sick of football yet?? No way, keep it coming!!!!
And my friends are going to want me to watch the gah games today in the pub - wonder how they will react when i tell them i actually fancy watching the england game!!!!

[Stuttgart88]

Good on you.

[Sullivinho]

Jogi, you've put a hell of a team together and I wouldn't begrudge them the trophy.

[tricky_colour]

Well fed up with backing the oursider and losing I decided to back Argentina, I wish I had put money on Mexico now, the odds on mexico winning have
already shortened!! they were 11/2 now 9/2, Argentina were 8/15 but are now out to 8/13.
Just my luck. Could be a draw after 90 mins.

[tricky_colour]

Goal clearly offside!!


Better not change it.

Another terrible decision, but I will take the money

[passinginterest]

All Mexico need to do is get the ball into the Argentina box, guaranteed penalty to even things up if the ref gets any chance.

[passinginterest]

Guess they'll need two now, what a mistake. Mexico haven't been clinical all tournament so even though they'll probably have chances they're not likely to pull this back.

[tricky_colour]

Well my money is looking safe now, it's 8-1 even to get a draw, Argies 25-1 on, pretty unbackable.
However England went 2-0 down so you never know.

[tetsujin1979]

Stunning goal from Tevez for his second and Argentina's third. The clearly offside first goal will only add fuel to the fire for calls for video technology, but you just have to admire the play of this Argentina side.

[Dunny]

[pineapple stu]

Why have African countries failed to make any real progress in the last decade - after Senegal's QF in '02, you'd have expected them to kick on and get to the last four, instead of Ghana possibly crashing out against America?

Politics and infighting, I think. Despot heads of state taking all the bonus money leading to demotivated and p!ssed off players, but rich despots. Over-expectation arising from some execllent underage results which were the result of some quite blatant age-related cheating. (Interestingly, Ghana were one of the worst for this, but have since started playing fair at underage level and are reaping the rewards at senior level).

There's many different factors of course, but they're some others to add to your post. Try get your hands on Filippo Maria Ricci's book Elephants, Lions and Eagles; will give you a bit of insight into the game there.

[endabob1]

The big problems in African Football are related to coaching

Ivory Coast - 6 coaches in 6 years
Cameroon - 6 coaches in 6 years
Ghana- 6 coaches in 6 years
Nigeria - 5 coaches in 5 years
South Africa - 6 coaches in 6 years (plus Parreira has had it twice)


None had an African coach for the world cup, Ivory Coast last African Coach was in 1992. Nigeria sacked their coach despite a 3rd lace finish in the ACN to bring in a foreigner.

Without good local coaches the problems will continue. The problem with having a local coach is that the European based Star players tend to ignore them and do a Terry, essentially picking the team and tactics and refusing to play unless it's done their way.