Who will win the World Cup?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 14/04/2006, 1:31 PM

Who do you think will win? I think England will do it.

**sligoman** · 14/04/2006, 7:24 PM

Brazil, no question about it.

**gustavo** · 15/04/2006, 11:05 AM

any one of Brazil Germany Italy Holland England Spain Argentina Portugal Czech Republic France

**stojkovic** · 15/04/2006, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by gustavo

any one of Brazil Germany Italy Holland England Spain Argentina Portugal Czech Republic France

Germany - no chance - 2nd Round
Portugal - Andrade out, Maniche not playing, players too young or too old, mix not right
Czechs - past their peak, lucky to qualify
France - too arrogant, QF
Holland - very young team, two years too soon, QF, 2008 favs
England - after 1st XI nothing, owen and ashley wont be 100% and midfield is too attack minded, Terry-Rio does not work, QF

That leaves Argentina, Brasil and Italy.
If Brasil avoid Argentina, they will win it otherwise its a Argentina-Italy final for me. Requelme and Messi the stars.

**Thunderblaster** · 15/04/2006, 12:50 PM

Togo or Trinidad and Tobago!!

Naw, it has to go on the boys from Brazil!!

**stojkovic** · 15/04/2006, 1:14 PM

BTW read somewhere that we're all supposed to support Polska this summer.
What's the consensus?
Could be playing Ingerland in the second round

I might pick them as my second team, after the Argies.

**De Town** · 15/04/2006, 3:41 PM

Argentina for me.

**Docboy** · 15/04/2006, 4:54 PM

I've got €50 on the Ities at 9-1 which I'm pretty happy with. Bout time they won it again and I was very impressed with them at Lansdowne recently.

**Duffman** · 16/04/2006, 11:15 AM

Don't underestimate the Germans, look down through history in the WC. Just when they look total pants they pop up with a semi or a final! Plus the whole home thing too.

**stojkovic** · 16/04/2006, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Duffman

Don't underestimate the Germans, look down through history in the WC. Just when they look total pants they pop up with a semi or a final! Plus the whole home thing too.

You're right.
WC94 - QF - beaten by Bulgaria
WC98 - QF - beaten by Croatia 3-0
add in
Euro 2000 - bottom of group (beaten by Portugal B team 3-0)
Euro 2004 - 3rd in Group

In 2002 they got to the Final of one of the worst World Cups in history (2nd to Italia90). Watched our game against them on RTE yesterday. How did we not beat them 3 or 4 nil. And we were poor.

As for home advantage, their fans are praying that they make it out of the group to avoid embarrassment.

Don't write them off.

**gustavo** · 16/04/2006, 7:18 PM

very selective use of the facts there stojkovic
he said in the WC so you throw in the Euros.
Not the Germans fault the standard was bad in 02 , they still made it to the final.

**jebus** · 17/04/2006, 3:36 PM

I'm gonna take Brazil to win it, simply because Argentina, Holland, England, Italy, and Spain are a bunch of bottlers and Germany, Portugal and the Czechs aren't good enough to win it. The rest of the teams involved are just write offs

**Green Tribe** · 17/04/2006, 4:29 PM

Come on the Germans, apart from that would love to see South Korea, Japan or Sweden do well

**superfrank** · 17/04/2006, 5:04 PM

Brazil, imo. No other real prospects. argentina are good but not a s good as Brazil.

One question about them? Cicinho or Cafu?

**jebus** · 18/04/2006, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

Brazil, imo. No other real prospects. argentina are good but not a s good as Brazil.

One question about them? Cicinho or Cafu?

Cafu can still do the business and he has the experience so I'd stick with him

**NeilMcD** · 18/04/2006, 1:56 PM

Its Italy or Brazil for me.

**wws** · 18/04/2006, 2:13 PM

can't see past Germany to be honest. Home advantage is MASSIVELY important in World Cup history - and will be again - theres no eartjly reason why this is so - but it just is

Argentina and Brazil are the only two capable of doing it otherwise

**Stuttgart88** · 18/04/2006, 2:46 PM

It's Brazil's to lose, no question about it. Their defence is definitely their Achilles' heel though & Dida has been pretty crap lately.

Others have a chance, especially Argentina if they have everyone fit & free of suspension.

I actually quite fancy Spain this year. I don't fancy Germany at all, but who knows?

Can England win it? For the first time ever I actually think England CAN win it though I don't think they will. I saw Bolton vs Chelsea at the weekend and Chelsea were under pressure until a Lampard set piece was headed in by Terry. This'll be something that England will be better than most at. I think Rooney can trouble the best of teams too.

I think the usual failings will surface though: ball retention, defending too deep, a refereeing environment that doesn't tolerate the physical nature of their game & inferior technique. And Sven.