NationStates Jolt Archive

Vote who you think will win the World Cup of 2006

Now that Brazil has been knocked out(surprisingly) I think that the Germans will win.

What are your thoughts?

Edit: Shit misspelled the World Cup in the title. Sorry.

Probably the germans, yeah. Home advantage and a scary strike-duo goes a long way.

Would love France to win, but alas Germany will win it.

But then again I wouldn't put it past Portugal (bastards!)

Would love France to win, but alas Germany will win it.

But then again I wouldn't put it past Portugal (bastards!)
To quote the swedish experts of yesterday: "Portugal is a team of actors."

To quote the swedish experts of yesterday: "Portugal is a team of actors."

Teams of actors?

What do you mean?

Germany or Italy will win it. But Zidane's performance last night worried me alot, though anything he does against Germany I am confident Germany will reciprocate doubly. Germany can out-score every team left in the competition now.

Mercy bump....

More votes and replys por favor

Think will win? Germany.
Want to win? France.

Germans - Want to win
Germans - Will win
Germans - Deserve to win!


(As for Brazil loosing, the other countries are fast catching them up in skill, they need more talented youth in the team else they'll have an elite load of oldies :/ )

well alas, my Argentina have been defeated by efficient penalties :(
so i'm feeling kinda ABG, Anyone but Germany. i also liked Portugal but don't as much all of a sudden. So roll on Italia!!

Germans - Want to win
Germans - Will win
Germans - Deserve to win!


(As for Brazil loosing, the other countries are fast catching them up in skill, they need more talented youth in the team else they'll have an elite load of oldies :/ )

Well how's the emergence of Adriano, Kaka, Robinho, Cicinho, Da Silva Gilberto for talented youth? Those players almost certainly will be around for the next world cup, and probably in their prime.
Brazil were favourites to win it and they should have won it. Anyone who saw them play in the Confederations Cup last year, or the previous Copa America can see they were performing ridiculously below par. Something was wrong, whether it was the team spirit, coaching staff or whatever.

Teams of actors?

What do you mean?
as in they fake injuries and whatnot

And I want France to win!!

In my order of preference

France
Portugal
Italy

















Germany

Germany, cuz they're just so freaking awesome!!!! :eek:

Portugal not as skilled as the Germans.
France good, but Germany will pwn them.
Italy... they got this far cuz of sheer luck.

GERMANY FTW!!!!

Italy is winning this thing.

France or Germany.

Ooh, always nice to see the home team win.

Germany. they have a poorer squad than in the past, but are at home and the others are pensioners or cheats.

Sorry pal...

But the fact remains... England was a team of stiff overweight and slow and out of shape ruffians that couldn't tell a football from a horse's ass and that need foreign manager's coaching their top teams...

To cry "cheats" is the epitome of sore losing. Sad and pathetic. Much like the rest of the shit style your national team plays.

Today I saw why Rooney got his red card. :D What a classy performance!!!:D

Today I saw why Rooney got his red card. :D What a classy performance!!!:D
stomping a mans balls is one thing. shoving another player and mouthing off didnt help his case.

anyone else think crouch looks like an uncoordinated giraffe whenever he jumps or dives for the ball?

hmm. who do i want to win?

*hint -- look down! :D *

Italy has the karma coming back.
I think the France-Portugal will be enough of a fight do dumb down whoever wins. Which I believe will be France, simply because of one name. Ribery.

France - Germany final, with Germany winning only because I think France repeats the Swedish mistake: overcover Klose and let Podolski break out. Superior O and steady D will win the final.

stomping a mans balls is one thing.
It´s football after all.:D



France - Germany final, with Germany winning only because I think France repeats the Swedish mistake: overcover Klose and let Podolski break out.
And not pay attention to Lahm.

Crouch's arms look like bull whips. If he catches anyone across the face with them he'll knock them into the middle of next week. I'm serious he is going to kill someone with those things. He should be banned from playing football.


Italy is going to win this thing.

Crouch's arms look like bull whips. If he catches anyone across the face with them he'll knock them into the middle of next week. I'm serious he is going to kill someone with those things. He should be banned from playing football.


Italy is going to win this thing.

Well I can agree with you on one point today, and one point only. Italy will win - revenge for 1990.

Well I can agree with you on one point today, and one point only. Italy will win - revenge for 1990.
Revenge for what? Argentina is already out of the competition.

Revenge for what? Argentina is already out of the competition.

Revenge for winning the cup on their territory.

By the way, how many times has Germany beaten Italy in competitive matches?

Revenge for winning the cup on their territory.
By sending the team which kicked Italy out of the WC packing. Yeah. That needs avenging.

By the way, how many times has Germany beaten Italy in competitive matches?
I dunno.

By the way, how many times has Germany beaten Italy in competitive matches?
Well, they never beat them in the World Cup.

Overall...*checks*
7 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses.

Not that I think it matters much. Germany will certainly be on a high after getting past Argentina, and other than as a morale-booster I don't think history matters much.

Itaaaaaalia!

Actually, as much as I would love (love, LOVE) for Italy to win, I'm not sure if they can do it. They haven't had (in my opinion) a breathtaking performance yet... even their win against the Ukraine, while nice and all, seemed a little due to bad luck on the Ukraine's part... I mean, they had some beautiful chances, including that one that went off the crossbar... so, I dunno. I haven't seen Germany play yet, surprisingly, so I can't judge for myself what Italy's up against.

Oh well. Forza Itaaaaaaaalia! :)

There is a reason Italy has never lost to Germany.

Italy is totaly going to win this world cup.

Hey could someone make another thread on who's going to win the WC? I'm not sure we have enough yet.

Actually, as much as I would love (love, LOVE) for Italy to win, I'm not sure if they can do it. They haven't had (in my opinion) a breathtaking performance yet... Italy hasn't had a breathtaking performance since the 1982 World Cup. Italian soccer doesn't take any-one's breath away except for opposing attackers.

If I was a gambler my money would still be on Italy.

There is a reason Italy has never lost to Germany.
:confused:
And that would be?

Given that this statistic goes for all world cups since 1930, it can't be the players. Nor the coaches. Nor the style of play. Nor the location. Nor the fans. Nor the morale of the team. It can't even be the colour of their shirts.

So what is it?

:confused:
And that would be?

Given that this statistic goes for all world cups since 1930, it can't be the players. Nor the coaches. Nor the style of play. Nor the location. Nor the fans. Nor the morale of the team. It can't even be the colour of their shirts.

So what is it?

... that Italy pwns, no questions asked. :p

Italy hasn't had a breathtaking performance since the 1982 World Cup. Italian soccer doesn't take any-one's breath away except for opposing attackers.

If I was a gambler my money would still be on Italy.

Yeaaaah... but it would be nice to see a performance that just really, really gave you confidence as a fan... like a, "Wow, that was AMAZING" game... but no, my money's on Italy, too.

... that Italy pwns, no questions asked. :p
Hehe, okay. I concede defeat.

One problem could be if Frings really gets in trouble for the stuff that happened after the Argentina match. I don't think he will, even the player he supposedly punched says he felt nothing, but Frings is one of those ultra-important players that all teams have. Frings for Germany, Pirlo for Italy, Maniche for Portugal and Vieira for France.

Other than that, Italy hasn't really had that big game yet that confirms to a team that they can take it. Germany had it.

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,424578,00.html
I'll translate this interview for you. Cannavaro seems to be first and foremost happy to even be that far. At least in this interview he doesn't seem really hungry to want it.

Hehe, okay. I concede defeat.

One problem could be if Frings really gets in trouble for the stuff that happened after the Argentina match. I don't think he will, even the player he supposedly punched says he felt nothing, but Frings is one of those ultra-important players that all teams have. Frings for Germany, Pirlo for Italy, Maniche for Portugal and Vieira for France.

Other than that, Italy hasn't really had that big game yet that confirms to a team that they can take it. Germany had it.

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,424578,00.html
I'll translate this interview for you. Cannavaro seems to be first and foremost happy to even be that far. At least in this interview he doesn't seem really hungry to want it.
La Republica demands Frings removal 2 days before the game against Italy. Geez. What a shock.

Q: Mr. Cannavaro, in the semis on Tuesday you’ll meet Germany. What do you expect from the match?

A: A big game. Italy vs Germany is a classic. Although it will be difficult of course to play against the home team with the entire crowd behind them. Still, we’re relaxed. We’re in a good mood and first and foremost very happy and content that we made it into the last four. Now we’re looking forward to the semifinal against Germany.

Q: Because the last time you met them things went so well for you?

A: We won 4:1 then, and were clearly the better team, but that doesn’t matter anymore. That was then. And it was just a friendly, you can’t compare it. And that the Germans are playing better than then is obvious. We’re at a World Cup now and everything is possible.

Q: Indeed it seemed pretty impossible for Italy to go out against the Ukraine.

A: It was very important for us to score the first goal after only six minutes. That way we could play calmly, and with every minute we became more confident. We showed a good, if not the best performance of the tournament, and played really good football. And we finally scored goals!

Q: The team again didn’t concede. Apart from the first ten minutes after the break your defence seemed untouchable.

A: The defenders really played very well. Apart from Zambrotta, who had an incredible match, I can’t single out anyone. We didn’t allow the Ukraine much, but that was also due to our good positioning in midfield, not much came through there. Compliments to all players!

Q: Is Italy playing a too defensive game?

A: Well, apart from the defending we scored three goals. So it can’t be that defensive.

Q: You personally are in great form in this tournament.

A: Yes, I feel very well. It’s a lot of fun to play with this team.

Q: Will Italy become World Champions?

A: Then we have to beat Germany.
There we go.

:confused:
And that would be?

Given that this statistic goes for all world cups since 1930, it can't be the players. Nor the coaches. Nor the style of play. Nor the location. Nor the fans. Nor the morale of the team. It can't even be the colour of their shirts.

So what is it?
The Germans were pitiful in football until well after WWII. The focus on sports in Germany prior to say... about the late 40's was primarily on gymnastics.

Italy was dominant throughout the 30's
But the first time they played in the world cup was in 1962. By that time the Italians had developed catenaccio and while the Germans had a more sucessfull team without ever having any luck against them since. They were embarrased in the 82 final.

Its a total clash of style that only serves the Italians. Precisely Where the Italians are at their most dangerous. As underdogs to the almost always stronger German side allowing the other team to take control of the match and waiting for those textbook Italian, cynical and deadly counter-attacks.

You are wrong about the colour of their shirts. Italy always wore blue.

The Germans were pitiful in football until well after WWII.
Until 1954, yes.

But the first time they played in the world cup was in 1962. By that time the Italians had developed catenaccio and while the Germans had a more sucessfull team without ever having any luck against them since. They were embarrased in the 82 final.
You don't have to hold a lecture, I'm well aware of it. My question is how you can isolate one single reason Italy has been better than Germany when they met, when the styles of both teams changed so much over all that time.
This German team for example is totally different from the 2002 team, which was completely different from the 1998 team. The same will be true in many respects of the Italian team.

As underdogs to almost always stronger Germany allowing the other team to take control of the match and waiting for those cynical and deadly counter-attacks.
We'll see. As we have seen in the first half against Argentina, Germany can play a defensive game as well.

You are wrong about the colour of their shirts. Italy always wore blue.
But Germany wore green for some time as their alternative, as an homage to
Ireland who were the first to play a match with them after WWII. Now they wear red.
In other words, everything changed over those years. Nothing stayed the same. (I would've said "except for the names of their countries", but that's not quite correct either...)

I never said there was one reason Italy has never lost to Germany every time they have played. The expression was purely figurative. There is however one generic reason that gives the Italians a tactical advantage going into to basicaly every single game. Not just Germany, but especially Germany. Which is that bit about the Italian style. They relish the underdog status and striking quickly against defences that are slow to adjust to a counterattack.

There is however one generaic reason that gives the Italians a tactical advantage going into to basicaly every single game. Not just Germany, but especially Germany.
And yet, Germany has been more successful over the course of history. And unlike Italy, they've played a big opponent (probably the biggest). Not only that, but they have the home advantage. And they are probably the most motivated team in the competition, not to mention the fittest.

I don't see Italy being able to win this by sitting back and hoping that Germany will choke like Ukraine did. Poland tried that, and failed.

In other words: Is Italy's defense as good as Germany's attack? I doubt it. Is Italy's attack as good as Germany's defense? I doubt that too.
Ergo, 2:0 win for Germany. Podolski and Ballack with the goals. One early and one late. At least one Italian gets red for losing his cool, and a number of them get yellows for diving. Lehmann with two or three strong saves.

There, I put my cards on the table. Now we just have to wait for the match.

I don't see Italy being able to win this by sitting back and hoping that Germany will choke like Ukraine did. Its not a question of choking. Its the futility of attacking against a determined Italy. If they so please they could probably lead every game up to a goaless draw.

1-0 Italy win. A goal just before half-time. I suspect it will come with ball posession over 55% for germany and with only two or three shots on goal for Italy.

France - Germany final, with Germany winning only because I think France repeats the Swedish mistake: overcover Klose and let Podolski break out. Superior O and steady D will win the final.
We lost because our coach is a wuss. He's taken us to four straight tournaments, sure, but in 15 competitive games we have won a total of 3 while he's been the headcoach. Can't wait 'til '08 when his contract runs out and the swedish FA won't dare keep him... And because all the good players are either old (Larsson, Lucic) or out-of form (Zlatan). And of course because Germany was too strong.