The only World Cup 2006 thread you need

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Come ukraine?? Sheva, Rebrov, kaladze (<---- I think) its gonna be tough

[SwedeChildO'Mine]

Let's express your thoughts, group by group..

We'll start with group A, and I'll start:

First of all, Costa Rica will be an easy match for the other three. Germany should move on without playing well, cause they're Germany.
Poland and Ecuador will have a hard fight to move on with Germany. Southamerican teams are mostly underrated, but I think Polen will make it cause in one country their rated as Europe's second best team when finishing second in the group.   

[Carlos_f_Rose]

mmm Swede Child I read your forecast and even when I dont like it for Ecuador, I think thats what is going to happen.

[Mr. Dick Purple]

mmm Swede Child I read your forecast and even when I dont like it for Ecuador, I think thats what is going to happen.

You dont like Ecuador or you dont like the group that Ecuador is in? 
Anyway I think Ecuador is gonna have a good participation, lets hope Im right

[Carlos_f_Rose]

No Mr Dick I meant that,  I dont like the situation where Ecuador is in right now... with two of the strongest teams of Europe.

[SwedeChildO'Mine]

Germany and Poland two of the strongest teams in Europe? I guess you're meaning they're with two of the strongest inte the same group, and that is totally wrong.

Germany is like nr 5 or 6 in Europe, mostly because they're the host of this tournament.
Poland is among least good teams from Europe in the WC, maybe the least good.

[Carlos_f_Rose]

WADAFU!  Here weve got another perception of those two teams.

[Shoco]

once england dont win il be happy

[Mr. Dick Purple]

WADAFU!  Here weve got another perception of those two teams.

Well here we only have the perception that Germany is very difficult specially for us that is our 2nd World cup, but I think if we have a good strategy we can get a good result 
Poland is winnable and Costa Rica too, but both are very difficult teams specially cause they have more participations in previews world cups, so I think is a lets wait and see what happens.

[badapple81]

I haven't been watching the England games of late.. has Joe Cole been playing on the left?

Last world cup I was crying out for him to come on, on the left side. He isn't the perfect crosser etc but he is naturally suited and looks comfortable, he can dribble and is lively. Seems he is playing really well at Chelsea and finally maturing. We may have finally found a good fit for the role?

With Lampard and Gerrard in the middle and Rooney up front, I am really excited for England this time around.

Hope Beckham on the right hits some peak form for the World Cup. He played his best football at Man Utd linking up perfectly with Neville on the RHS, providing inch perfect crosses before he decided to think he is a central midfielder.

[Danny Top Hat]

Joe Cole has been doing pretty well on the left, he's definately my first choice in that position.  That way, Sean Wright Phillips can come off the bench in the second half if we need a bit of pace.

[Cocaine__tongue]

After the scandal, I can't see england players respecting their coach.....

Go spain!!!

[SwedeChildO'Mine]

Yup, can't really find Svennis' sense of logical thinking and with no suspicion tells some Sheik secrets about England players.

But the anglosaxian journalist-method really stinks.

[sandman]

U.S. is No. 7 in FIFA rankings
 
January 18, 2006

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- The U.S. national soccer team advanced one place to No. 7 Wednesday in FIFA's rankings for January.

Brazil maintained the top spot it has held since July 2002, a month after it won its record fifth World Cup. The next three teams also were unchanged -- Czech Republic, Netherlands and Argentina. France shared fifth with Spain.
 
Mexico, which was tied for fifth last month, dropped into a tie for seventh with the U.S. England remained ninth, ahead of Portugal.

The next 10 places were almost the same: Turkey was No. 11, followed by Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Greece, Germany, Uruguay, Iran and Croatia. Only Germany changed places, dropping to 17th from a tie for 16th.

Among teams in the top 20, only Turkey, Denmark, European champion Greece and Uruguay failed to qualify for the 32-nation World Cup, which begins in June 9 in Germany.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-fifarankings&prov=ap&type=lgns

[SwedeChildO'Mine]

Moving on to Group B:

I'm leaving my bet blank, can't speculate when it comes down to Sweden. But I dare to say that T & T won't win the whole competition.

What do you think, is there an open road for England, how will Sweden do, how underrated are Paraguay?

[Carlos_f_Rose]

Paraguay is seriously underrated there, but here in Latin America I must tell you that they are considered as one of the best teams, this is the way they are rated:

1.- Brazil
2.- Argentina
3.- Paraguay

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Yeah Paraguay should be taken really carefully cause their defense is the base of the team and they are know for leaving every single drop of sweat in the field. 

[Carlos_f_Rose]

Sadly Chilavert is retired now... damn he was rough as a dog.

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Yeah but I didnt like the guy too arrogant, thank to humble people he got kicked sand in his face a lot of times

[the dirt]

Does someone have a direct link to the latest FIFA world rankings?