The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[loveissucide]

I wouldn't be surprised if Holland sprung an upset and reached the final,they've been great in qualifying.Another dark horse is Paraguay,who're underrated and very hard to beat.
Who're your dark horses for the tournament?

[Sneer]

The Dutch are always their own worst enemy. Technically they're outstanding, but they just do not have the big match temprement. As far as dark horses go watch out for Serbia. They were so impressive in qualifying and posses some really good players who play for some of the best sides in Europe. Could be another Croatia at '98

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

England have had Rooney, Gerrard & Lampard in the running for world & european player of the year in the past few seasons. Joe Cole is just as skilful as any Brazilian player and was by far & away England's best player at the last world cup. And a fully fit goal poacher like Michael Owen would walk into any international team.

This is exactly the kind of thing I mean when i say people look at south american teams with far too much reverence. Hell Diego Maradona's favourite player is warming benches at Manchester City right now.

Injury is the key word for both Cole and Owen, especially in Owen`s case.

Tevez is just the kind of player that world`ve done better in southern europe as the climate and culture certainly helps. In general south american players just don`t flourish in England, sure there are always going to be exceptions (Juninho at Middlesbrough comes to mind) and they have their flashes of brilliance (Robinho, Tevez etc) but its the Spanish and Italian leagues where they flourish and can produce it week in week out. When you think of great foreign players who have graced the premiership, players such as Bergkamp and Cantona come to mind (western europeans) along with european latins such as Zola and Ronaldo.

At times its hard enough for south american players to adapt to the Spanish and Italian game, let alone to the frantic pace of the Premiership.

[loveissucide]

Originally Posted by Stu

The Dutch are always their own worst enemy. Technically they're outstanding, but they just do not have the big match temprement. As far as dark horses go watch out for Serbia. They were so impressive in qualifying and posses some really good players who play for some of the best sides in Europe. Could be another Croatia at '98

Holland have come a long way as regards big match temperament of late,really havn't put a foot wrong and if Arjen Robben is on form they're as good as any side except Spain. Serbia might have a good run,but I can't see them getting anywhere near as far as the semis.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stu

The Dutch are always their own worst enemy. Technically they're outstanding, but they just do not have the big match temprement. As far as dark horses go watch out for Serbia. They were so impressive in qualifying and posses some really good players who play for some of the best sides in Europe. Could be another Croatia at '98

I`m a great fan of eastern european football from a technical and tactiical point of view and Serbia are always excellent in this department and produce outstanding players. Problem is, they quite often don`t have the mentality of a Germany or Italy and their heads often drop when the going gets tough, also they always lack consistency which is vital to win a tournament.

Old Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia etc) were always known as the Brazilians of Europe for the quality and quantity of players that they produced and would export players all around Europe...hell even the defenders used to come forward with a swagger and look good on the ball!

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by loveissucide

Holland have come a long way as regards big match temperament of late,really havn't put a foot wrong and if Arjen Robben is on form they're as good as any side except Spain. Serbia might have a good run,but I can't see them getting anywhere near as far as the semis.

Nearly every single tournament the Dutch are the dark horses and start out like a house on fire and play some great football and their fans are normally the most colourful. Problem is, they always run out of steam just as their main rivals are starting to find theirs.

If the Dutch start this world cup slowly, things could be different as they always seem to have the players.

[loveissucide]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I`m a great fan of eastern european football from a technical and tactiical point of view and Serbia are always excellent in this department and produce outstanding players. Problem is, they quite often don`t have the mentality of a Germany or Italy and their heads often drop when the going gets tough, also they always lack consistency which is vital to win a tournament.

Old Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia etc) were always known as the Brazilians of Europe for the quality and quantity of players that they produced and would export players all around Europe...hell even the defenders used to come forward with a swagger and look good on the ball!

It's a great loss to football that Yugoslavia broke up.A united Yugoslav side with Savicevic,Prosinecki,Suker,Zahovic,Mihajtovic,Boba n etc would have been one of the strongest footballing sides of the 90's.

[Sneer]

Originally Posted by loveissucide

Holland have come a long way as regards big match temperament of late,really havn't put a foot wrong and if Arjen Robben is on form they're as good as any side except Spain. Serbia might have a good run,but I can't see them getting anywhere near as far as the semis.

Remember Euro 2008? They were being touted as favourites by many following their scintillating start to to the tournament, but as usual they shot themselves in the foot and got knocked out by Russia following two goals in extra time. Yeah, they had a good qualifying campaign, they always do, but come the big tournaments they just dont win when it really matters. One player doesnt make a team, Robben is good but he hasnt fully fulfilled his undoubted potential, partially due to injury admittedly. And if Van Persie isnt fit they'll be quite leightweight up front. Serbia have Vidic, Ivanovic, Stankovic, Krasic, Kuzmanovic, Zigic, Kolarov, Jankovic, Tosic etc, all players that have a lot of ability. They dominated their qualifying group, which was quite strong, and they'll be an unknown entity to many teams at the WC. They're my tip.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by loveissucide

It's a great loss to football that Yugoslavia broke up.A united Yugoslav side with Savicevic,Prosinecki,Suker,Zahovic,Mihajtovic,Boba n etc would have been one of the strongest footballing sides of the 90's.

Most of these players graced or would have graced a great Red Star Belgrade side back in the day.

Yugoslavia from an international perspective, were able to play anybody off the pitch and dazzle with their brilliance, but they never would`ve won anything, because all the above players you`ve mentioned were individualist and team work was the last thing on their minds and the team consistenly flattered to deceive.

After Yugo broke up, Croatia in 98 were a perfect example of this, they managed to keep it togeather and reach the semis and had France on the back foot in the match, but then after a French attack, midfielder Asanovic instead of hoofing the ball out of defence like any sensible player, decided to dribble out of his penalty area with the ball and he had French players close by which sums up the mentality and it was from this mistake that Thuram gave France the lead and eventual victory.

Players like Prosinecki and Boban were great midfield artists. Players like Savicevic "the wizard" and Suker were like comic book footballers with dazzling ball skills and tricks. Suker`s great moment came in Euro 96 when instead of shooting for goal, decided to tease the German keeper by rolling the ball around him with one foot (a la Puskas) before scoring.

These players excelled in both La Liga and Serie A and are hugely remembered today, I don`t think they would`ve flourished that much in the Premiership.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stu

Remember Euro 2008? They were being touted as favourites by many following their scintillating start to to the tournament, but as usual they shot themselves in the foot and got knocked out by Russia following two goals in extra time. Yeah, they had a good qualifying campaign, they always do, but come the big tournaments they just dont win when it really matters. One player doesnt make a team, Robben is good but he hasnt fully fulfilled his undoubted potential, partially due to injury admittedly. And if Van Persie isnt fit they'll be quite leightweight up front. Serbia have Vidic, Ivanovic, Stankovic, Krasic, Kuzmanovic, Zigic, Kolarov, Jankovic, Tosic etc, all players that have a lot of ability. They dominated their qualifying group, which was quite strong, and they'll be an unknown entity to many teams at the WC. They're my tip.

Serbia are going to be very dangerous, because they have a lot of vic`s in the team.