NationStates Jolt Archive

So the qualifying groups have come out, and so that we can catch our breath before the World Cup, how do you think your team is going to do?

Group A
Portugal*
Poland
Serbia & Mont*
Belgium
Finland
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan

Group B
France*
Italy*
Ukraine
Scotland
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands

Group C
Greece*
Turkey
Norway*
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group D
Czech Republic*
Germany*
Slovakia
Rep of Ireland
Wales
Cyprus
San Marino

Group E
England*
Croatia
Russia
Israel*
Estonia
Macedonia
Andorra

Group F
Sweden*
Spain
Denmark*
Latvia
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Liechtenstein

Group G
Holland*
Romania
Bulgaria*
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg

I've put a star next to my choices for the top two in each group...

So the qualifying groups have come out, and so that we can catch our breath before the World Cup, how do you think your team is going to do?

Group D
Czech Republic*
Germany*
Slovakia
Rep of Ireland
Wales
Cyprus
San Marino
I've put a star next to my choices for the top two in each group...

Doubtful although I will wait and see how they do in the WC this summer. They aren't the team they used to be and I think (hope) they are still going through that transition period.

how do you think your team is going to do?

as usual :D

Doubtful although I will wait and see how they do in the WC this summer. They aren't the team they used to be and I think (hope) they are still going through that transition period.
But who would be better than Germany in that group? Wales, Cyprus? Germany has some pretty decent young players and the Group is not too hard.

as usual :D

HEY! hows things, haven't seen you in ages (my fault really but...)

You still have Mikael Forssell and Sami Hyypia...and no one else ;)

Doubtful although I will wait and see how they do in the WC this summer. They aren't the team they used to be and I think (hope) they are still going through that transition period.

True, I think this will be the making of them however...maybe I am being slightly optimistic...

Group A
Portugal*
Poland
Serbia & Mont
Belgium
Finland* (for the sake of it)
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan

Group B
France*
Italy*
Ukraine
Scotland
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands

Group C
Greece*
Turkey
Norway*
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group D
Czech Republic*
Germany*
Slovakia
Rep of Ireland
Wales
Cyprus
San Marino

Group E
England*
Croatia
Russia*
Israel
Estonia
Macedonia
Andorra

Group F
Sweden*
Spain*
Denmark
Latvia
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Liechtenstein

Group G
Holland*
Romania
Bulgaria*
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg

But who would be better than Germany in that group? Wales, Cyprus? Germany has some pretty decent young players and the Group is not too hard.
Indeed...sometimes I have to wonder what it is with Germany and the luck of the draw...

But who would be better than Germany in that group? Wales, Cyprus? Germany has some pretty decent young players and the Group is not too hard.

My heart say Rep. of Ireland (given a few suprises to larger teams over the few recent years- Germany, Holland etc)... but I'd have an outside bet on Wales. Very close on missing out on WC qualification. Tough group and gave the heavily favoured Italians a few severe headaches.

I say Czech Rep and Wales on that one.

HEY! hows things, haven't seen you in ages (my fault really but...)


Yeah, I wasn't around (that much) on autumn, new job etc and now you haven't been on NS. All good. What about you?


You still have Mikael Forssell and Sami Hyypia...and no one else ;)


And Forssell sucks. Not really, but I expected more of him. Well, he's been injured every year.

I can't follow football, since I live in the US.

American football is sooooooo boreing.

Indeed...sometimes I have to wonder what it is with Germany and the luck of the draw...

Or just possibly that they feel awfully sorry for them, how od will Ballack be in 2008?:p

Yeah, I wasn't around (that much) on autumn, new job etc and now you haven't been on NS. All good. What about you?

And Forssell sucks. Not really, but I expected more of him. Well, he's been injured every year.

Yeah, I've been ok. Back at uni, writing my 2nd dissertation (I have a presentation on it in about 45mins...*nervous*) etc etc...but I am back for the next few months at least :)

Yeah, Forssell isn't the player he once was, i go to a few Birmingham matches with my gf and he never seems to be as nimble and accurate with his finishing as he once was. Unsurprising given the state of his knee!

I can't follow football, since I live in the US.

American football is sooooooo boreing.

I've learned to like both :) But I prefer the highlights of American football, as the constant breaks kinda get annoying. That said playing a game of it with your mates is always cool, esp as its something different.

Or just possibly that they feel awfully sorry for them, how od will Ballack be in 2008?:p

As old as Zidane is right now, and look how well he did for France in WC qualifying ;)

Or just possibly that they feel awfully sorry for them, how od will Ballack be in 2008?:p
He is the playmaker and captain. He is our most important player.

But he's not the whole team.
Those kids are very talented...it's just a matter of getting them used to playing in the big time, and then they can pull things off. Man for man, I would be pretty confident that the German team is just as good as the English one.
We'll see, but if they can play a good few first games in the WC (with that group that shouldn't be too hard) and they get the support of the fans and the media, I think they can go pretty far...semi-final should be possible.

And after the World Cup, we'll see who the coach will be, but I'd be pretty certain that the team should dispose of Ireland and Wales pretty easily.

Here's mine

Group A
Portugal
Poland
Serbia & Mont
Belgium
Finland
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan

Group B
France
Italy
Ukraine
Scotland
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands

Group C
Greece
Turkey
Norway
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group D
Czech Republic
Germany
Slovakia
Rep of Ireland
Wales
Cyprus
San Marino

Group E
England
Croatia
Russia
Israel
Estonia
Macedonia
Andorra

Group F
Sweden
Spain
Denmark*
Latvia
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Liechtenstein

Group G
Holland
Romania
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg

Hmm, there just might be a chance for Finland. (not)

Group A
Portugal
Poland
Serbia & Mont
Belgium
Finland
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan

Portugal might face some difficulties playing against former USSR countries. The results may not be what everyone expects if they are too provoked by (e.g.) Kazakhstan's discreet style. I'll say that Poland will win this group.

As old as Zidane is right now, and look how well he did for France in WC qualifying ;)

Sad state ofn affairs that the French required his presence to qualify against Cyprus, the Republic and Switzerlan though...:p

Yeah, I've been ok. Back at uni, writing my 2nd dissertation (I have a presentation on it in about 45mins...*nervous*) etc etc...but I am back for the next few months at least :)

Great! It's nice to hear from you. :)
Good luck with your presentation!!

And after the World Cup, we'll see who the coach will be, but I'd be pretty certain that the team should dispose of Ireland and Wales pretty easily.

Would Germany have qualified for the WC had they not been the hosts? I'm not up to great speed with the young stars and how far they have progressed.

Probably should breeze past Ireland :rolleyes: but don't be so quick to dismiss Wales- they're not pushovers anymore. They'll work hard for a draw, grind down the opposition and maybe snatch a goal up front. They impressed a lot of people in the WC qual.

Would Germany have qualified for the WC had they not been the hosts? I'm not up to great speed with the young stars and how far they have progressed.
Depends on the group of course. German football has been in a sad state for a while (Euro 2004 should illustrate that nicely), but it's picked up in the last year or so.
The European Championship was a wake-up call, so a lot of work has been done. At the same time, the reality of hosting the World Cup has hit home, and the fever has started.
Plus, the Bundesliga has had a revival now, there are plenty of very good teams (among them Hamburg :) ) with a lot of new home-grown talent.

But how this continues will all depend on what happens at this WC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_national_football_team#Current_players

Great! It's nice to hear from you. :)
Good luck with your presentation!!

:D Well that all went well. All over and done now.

Depends on the group of course. German football has been in a sad state for a while (Euro 2004 should illustrate that nicely), but it's picked up in the last year or so.
The European Championship was a wake-up call, so a lot of work has been done. At the same time, the reality of hosting the World Cup has hit home, and the fever has started.
Plus, the Bundesliga has had a revival now, there are plenty of very good teams (among them Hamburg ) with a lot of new home-grown talent.

But how this continues will all depend on what happens at this WC.

I think they will do well enough. Home support in a competition like this counts for a lot, esp. when it comes to motivating the players.

What I'm more interested in is the number of leggy blonde women that are going to be around Belfast when Sweden, Denmark and Iceland come to visit.

We'll do what we usually do, play badly against any team we should beat, except for a really bad team like Liechtenstein who we'll murder, beat Iceland at Windsor, take a point off Denmark in Copenhagen and probably draw in Belfast, somehow draw with Spain at home and then just when we're getting our hopes up about finishing second Sweden will hammer us twice.

I'd quite like them to organise the away games against Sweden and Denmark for the same week, as that would make a nice holiday.

What I'm more interested in is the number of leggy blonde women that are going to be around Belfast when Sweden, Denmark and Iceland come to visit.

We'll do what we usually do, play badly against any team we should beat, except for a really bad team like Liechtenstein who we'll murder, beat Iceland at Windsor, take a point off Denmark in Copenhagen and probably draw in Belfast, somehow draw with Spain at home and then just when we're getting our hopes up about finishing second Sweden will hammer us twice.

I'd quite like them to organise the away games against Sweden and Denmark for the same week, as that would make a nice holiday.

I wonder if England will be able to have one qualifier in February sometime...preferably in Andorra...so i can have skiing and football together!!!

Poxy French and Italians in that group.Meh.Poor old Ireland shoved in with Germany and the Czech Rep.*Heads off to find San Marino on a map*:mad: Humph.Grrr.

Group C
Greece
Turkey
Norway
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group G
Holland
Romania
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg


What is with these two groups? These look positively delightful! Easy as pie for Holland... and Turkey in the other one :confused:

Bah!:mad:

Group C
Greece
Turkey
Norway
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group G
Holland
Romania
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg


What is with these two groups? These look positively delightful! Easy as pie for Holland... and Turkey in the other one :confused:

Bah!:mad:
The bloody groups are too big.Its gonna be a shit set up for the finals.Bring back the old system.:mad:

Hmm, Croatia, Russia, Israel, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra ....who? Should be easy for Rooney and company I daresay.

I'm sure the Belgians are gonna loose in there group, group A. It's pretty sad in fact. I hope Sweden or Italy wins.