Michael* Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Since it's almost time for that all-important draw, I hereby declare our official World Cup topic open! A minority viewpoint I'd imagine, but I’d actually prefer it if England’s worst case 'group of death' scenario came true. Four years ago, we expected an easy ride in the opening stages, followed by Ghana in the second round, which of course went south after inept performances against USA and Algeria. So give me games against Brazil and Italy over Iran and Honduras in the groups any day - let’s be honest, we're not going to win the thing, might as well test our mettle against as many heavy hitters as we can before we have to bog off home. If you so wish, fill in your own predictions here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael* Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 Jackpot for Argentina and France. Decent draw for Belgium, raw deal for the USA.Could have been worse for England, I don't think we're as doomed as many will no doubt predict. Uruguay are a team packing immense firepower and a track record of performing when the chips are down, but they're also an ageing side who lack a healthy process of renewal, and who required a play-off against Jordan to even reach the World Cup. I prefer the mindset of fearing our opponents though, if I'm honest. There can be a fine line between confidence and complacency, and our players are far too often guilty of ending up on the wrong side of that line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Wouldn't be a World Cup without Ghana beating the USA and Jerome battling Kevin-Prince. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahi Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 So it's like this now Plus GG Germany-Portugal-Ghana-USA GH Belgium-Algeria-Russia-South Korea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahi Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Nearly and mostly each group has 2 strong ones against two quite less stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SympathysSilhouette Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Jackpot for Argentina and France. Decent draw for Belgium, raw deal for the USA.And for Brazil too, to be fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SympathysSilhouette Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 We did indeed get lucky. We can start the WC against Algeria, which in terms of games you can use to find your legs is pretty much the gold standard.If we manage to win that one, then one more victory should guarantee our advancing to the second round.The only thing I don't like is facing Capello's Russia. They will be hard to break down. And we'll probably need at least one point against them to avoid Germany in the round of 16. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Why Group B....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RafSecret Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 So in my opinion I think Croatia has a chance of being the top 2 in Group A, Mexico isn't as a good of a team as Brazil and Croatia, especially with Croatia beginning to bounce back under Kovac (even if Bilic really made the team soar). And woopee to Croatia being in the first match with Brazil, I'm ridiculously eager for that, Croatian pride, I actually have some hope that it could result in a draw, even if Brazil is known to be one of the best teams ever to have been, it hasn't been performing as well lately and Croatia is very good and doing early goals, something that is vital in the early stages, and I wonder how Eduardo's gonna feel as he's Brazilian by birth (if he plays that is, and I'm certain he will) Bosnia and Argentina seem to be the strong ones for Group F. Group C will be Colombia and Greece for sure. Group D is a close call but I believe Italy and Uruguay will take it out. Group E should be France and Switzerland. Group G will be Germany and Portugal taking it out. For Group H I truly have no idea, Belgium is one for certain. As for Group B who's commentary I've saved for last, may the odds be ever in their favour (Personally rooting for NL and Spain but damn they're the first match in that group. But flick Australia out of the potential top 2 since they're pretty promising to suck against those teams) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael* Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 It's going to be a little odd to have a World Cup without Scandinavian representation, must be many a year since the last time that happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiantony Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 Germany !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudrunner64 Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 World Cup is gonna be great and im really optimistic about Englands chances. I just cant get behind Roy Hodgson. Some of the decisions he makes are crazy and baffling at times.Being manager of a national side is tough but some decisions seem obvious. Wanted to see Crouch go over Carroll but other than that, im happy with the squad. Been gettin in the spirit and watched One Night In Turin earlier. My first World Cup and ive been hooked since. I hope i get to see England win the world cup in my lifetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael* Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 So, much to the chagrin of Ashley Cole, Mario Gomez, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri's girlfriend, the squad announcements for the tournament are starting to roll in. Full lists and general overview can be found here... Group ABrazil Croatia MexicoCameroonGroup BSpain HollandChileAustralia Group CColombiaGreece Ivory CoastJapanGroup DUruguay Costa RicaEngland ItalyGroup ESwitzerlandEcuadorFranceHondurasGroup FArgentinaBosnia-HerzegovinaIranNigeria Group GGermany Ghana PortugalUnited States Group HBelgiumAlgeria Russia South Korea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SympathysSilhouette Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Our first WC in a dozen years, woohoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COP11 Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 No Osvaldo for Italy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael* Posted May 16, 2014 Author Share Posted May 16, 2014 Balotelli, Cassano, Osvaldo. You'd have been hard pressed to think of a more eccentric forward line. Shame for Giuseppe Rossi though, he seems to have such rotten luck with major international tournaments. This makes it three in a row where he's been within touching distance of the squad, only to be left out at the last moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COP11 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 And no Landon Donovan for the U.S.? That could be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj3 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 We recently talked of a possible forfeit of Ribery, it's not a problem, french team don't need him... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael* Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 On 31/05/2014 at 9:03 PM, COP11 said: And no Landon Donovan for the U.S.? That could be interesting. I'm sure he'll Landon his feet. I was surprised to hear that Donovan hadn't made the cut, until I saw a photo of him at the provisional squad's training camp. Judging by the pictures, his levels of fitness and conditioning are well short of what they should be, so much so that it may have even been dangerous to send him into an intense four-week tournament in such a hot climate. Incidentally, the new US away kit is all kinds of cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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