When Im not trapped in Baldurs Gate or Diablo, I spend the rest of my time playing/watching/dreaming about soccer.

Where I live in the US ( I wont give the name but its north of Tennesse and south of Ohio...) we have evolved the LEAST in the world at soccer. Being from a place like this, I know very little compared to pretty much everyone else about the game on the international level, except you dont want to play Brazil, and we(USA!USA!) arnt quiet ready to win one.

So, I have two questions, who will pull the biggest upset, and who will win it all?

1.Costa Rica v Germany opening day. Gotta root for people from the same continent. [Mexico doesnt count.]
2.England

I'd love to say OZ, but I reckon we'll do it tough to finish second in our group. We unfortunately have to play Brazil.

As for England, I don't think they'll make the quarters. :D

Like many British people I'm a huge football (say it right for god sakes [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) fan.

I'm not listening to any of these *looks at Memnoch* who say England won't win it. We can go all the way with the players we've got, it just depends who Sven thinks should play.

*shudders at the thought*

I'm cautiously optimistic for England.

When playing on German soil, we Dutch rule supreme. Two times before we have been there, both times we have reached the finals, one time we won, one time we lost, this time we'll win it again. We are in the so called "group of death", but it will only be the death of our opponents, for we will destroy them.

I hate modesty. :D

heh...have you seen group E? Three teams in the top 12 in the world. Ghana also looks like they would be more formidable than Ivory Coast.

I only said England would win because to say Brazil would be cliche. In the US, since I was a little kid it was always better to pick a European team than to pick the US. I think we can beat Italy out of our group, though.

It would be a nice supprise to see someone like anybody thats not Brazil win.

[ 01-22-2006, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Arias De'Minal ]

heh...have you seen group E? Three teams in the top 12 in the world. Ghana also looks like they would be more formidable than Ivory Coast.

I only said England would win because to say Brazil would be cliche. In the US, since I was a little kid it was always better to pick a European team than to pick the US. I think we can beat Italy out of our group, though.

It would be a nice supprise to see someone like anybody thats not Brazil win. </font>[/QUOTE]I have my doubts about the USA beating Italy man, the italians have a much more experienced team but then anything could happen ;) I think USA against the Czech Republic will be a great game but as to whether they'll make 2nd I'm unsure.

I think England will do really well but I'll be upset if they win it, I'm dead against the whole Scottish attitude of supporting every one of England's opponents but the truth is if England win it we Scotsmen will have to hear about it until the end of time [img]smile.gif[/img]

I think I'll be supporting the Mexicans this time round I think they could be surprise winners, anyhow thats enough from me, Im off down the bookies!!

<font color=8fbc8f> Really? Is there an Optomist club in your township, or county?
Do you know about the state level tournaments? What about the school system. We lose most of our super players once they get into high school. The compettion there is really tough, and it seems some policies do govern to what level of play there is. One of our best goalies went to HS team, did not make the start but back up. The starter allowed 4 goals, then they swaped out, Mike allowed ZERO more goals, but is still not the starter. Go figure!
Soccer is alive and well here in the heartland.</font>

<font color=8fbc8f> Really? Is there an Optomist club in your township, or county?
Do you know about the state level tournaments? What about the school system. We lose most of our super players once they get into high school. The compettion there is really tough, and it seems some policies do govern to what level of play there is. One of our best goalies went to HS team, did not make the start but back up. The starter allowed 4 goals, then they swaped out, Mike allowed ZERO more goals, but is still not the starter. Go figure!
Soccer is alive and well here in the heartland.</font> </font>[/QUOTE]Just not at a level the players expect it to be, otherwise they wouldn't come looking for contracts in one of the European leagues. Just like every European baketballplayer is in search of a contract with an NBA franchise, so is every American soccerplayer looking for a contract in Europe.

er... actually the time you won it wasn't the world cup but european cup; Netherlands never won the world cup.

The winner this time won't be Brazil, but a European team. Since 1958 it has always been a Europen team/non-European team interchangeably (in fact it has been like this from the start except in 2 cases, once Italy won twice in a row, 1934 & 1938, and once Brazil 1954 & 1958).

And for the winner this time, my vote goes to Italy.

[ 01-22-2006, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: ZFR ]