BS: Who will win the World Cup?

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:28 AM

Kahn or not does make a difference.
I had thought the idea with the black ribbon for Fritz Walter was a token and not that the whole German play was meant to express actual mourning in all its aspects.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:54 AM

Good one Wolfgang!

20 minutes of hard Soccer so far...............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:46 AM

Indeed it does, Wolfgang- good one! (We'd say nothing to laugh at though.)

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:28 AM

Another very recent Carsten Jancker joke:

"I'm sure the Americans will have nothing to laugh today"

"How can you be so sure before the game even has started?

"Germany plays without Jancker"

Wolfgang (I hope the double meaning of 'nothing to laugh' carries also in English)

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:18 AM

I'd prefer Mark to be wrong on two counts. I've been wrong so often, I should be right one time. Or would you say one more time doesn't matter now?

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:14 AM

Wolf, I'm personally hoping you're wrong one more time today.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Trevor
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:10 AM

But hasn't the atmosphere been great for the last couple of weeks..

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 06:44 AM

Funnily enough, up until today, Seaman had been playing really well. I was asked by a ten-year old the other day if Seaman had any weaknesses. I said (remembering that Nayim goal from the halfway line) that he sometimes comes too far off his line and gets beaten over his head...aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

BJ

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 06:25 AM

So I was wrong once more. I'm sad for you that you did meet Brazil so early. The present English team is the strongest of the last ten to twenty years and could/should have been among the last four teams.

The English team is stronger than the German team on three to five positions, but the only position on which the German team is stronger would have made the difference today. The English Team wouldn't have lost with Oliver Kahn as goalkeeper.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 06:24 AM

Looked to me like Ronaldinho saw Seaman off his line, took the kick quickly and put the ball exactly where he wanted it to go.
Sadly, though, as Ard Mhacha says England looked ordinary in comparison, and at a time when, with Brazil down to 10 men, they should have been passing the ball around and keeping possession, they resorted to lumping it forward and handing possession straight back -- exactly the same tactics that served them so badly in the Sweden game.In the end it was England who looked as if they were down to 10 men. It's no disgrace to lose to Brazil, who are by far the best team at the tournament, but the manner of losing was disappointing.

BJ

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 06:15 AM

I just thought it was one helluva' game. England was outplayed in the second half as Brazil really toughened it up while a man down. Another questionable call, some exciting shots, a lot of action.....Sorry to all of you across the pond, but it was a great competition!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:50 AM

Oh woe is me...oh woe, woe and thrice woe....

Still...got to admit, Brazil deserved it!

Rats!!

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST,Jim Jones
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:34 AM

Oh come on, Gervase.

Don't tell me that he was trying to do that. He looked more suprised than anyone

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Gervase
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:29 AM

A fluke? Surely it was one of the most superbly-taken free kicks of the tournament. If Beckham's boot had been behind it, would anyone have the temerity to call it a fluke?
Not that I'm not gutted. The day seems to have gone strangely flat now.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST,Jim Jones
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:14 AM

Sick as the proverbial parrot. Gutted.

To lose to such a fluke of a goal is sickening. OK, Brazil were the better team, but, but...

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:14 AM

Nuts !!

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:14 AM

Alanabit, I have to agree, this England team did well to get so far. The English were an ordinary side, who when faced with a ten man Brazil side hadn`t the craft to beat a team which proved far more skilful. Their goal scoring record was poor and depending on a purely defensive formation was never going to win.Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST,Jim Jones
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:12 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Gervase
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:10 AM

The best team won, sadly! England were consistently outclassed in the second half (though why Owen was taken off when he was is a mystery). You'd never think they had a player advantage, and their finishing was bloody awful.
Poor Seaman, though - possibly his last major tournament, and what a way to end it.
As for the referee...some of those decisions were perverse. It must be Brazil all the way now.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST,Bagpuss
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 05:02 AM

What a disappointing second half! I may as well have just gone to work!

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 04:53 AM

Whoops! Hit the wrong key! I just wanted to add good luck to them and let's hope they put on an exhibiton in the final, when they are likely to play against the Germans.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 04:51 AM

Well done Brazil. They gave England a goal start and them beat them comfortably with ten men. You can't argue with that. They won fair and square. N

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 04:46 AM

Brazil.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 04:41 AM

Who's going to win? Not England anyway...

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 01:34 AM

Well I'm going to nap for an hour (7:30 PM Thursday here) and then watch England pull out a last minute victory over Brazil, then nap again and watch the US triumph as well. Beyond that, your affiant sayeth naught.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Escamillo
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 12:42 AM

One hour for the great game. I'll not miss this one. Will try to see USA too, but who works tomorrow ? Predictions here in general favour Brazil for historic reasons, but are evenly divided for USA-Germany.

For demagogic reasons, I'll support England and USA.

Un abrazo - Andrés (in Buenos Aires)

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 07:34 PM

And don't forget the Turks, as Den said. It's wide open.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST,David B
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 07:06 PM

ENGLAND

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 03:05 PM

I fancy England's chances if they beat Brazil

But beware the Asian teams!

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: DougR
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 06:53 PM

You got me, Mark! Fair and square! Now, if they were to say that today ...

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 04:19 PM

Actually the English team have had some great support from the Japanese public. This is probably because of the prominent part played by the Manchester United players. Manchester United has incredible support all round the world (I hate 'em meself!), and David Beckham is something of an Icon. He said recently that he wouldn't mind playing his last years in Japan and running a football school there. Of course, we've got to beat Brazil yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 04:07 PM

We'll see.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:49 PM

Catspaw,

The Japanese hate Korea and will cheer for whoever plays against them

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: AliUK
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:42 PM

As a Brit living in Brazil...I have already received death threats from my neighbours. As The match will be at 3:30 in the morning there are gonna be some really sore heads on friday morning WHEN England win.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:25 PM

Yeah, the final will be played in Japan, but I'd say the Koreans, should they get there, will still have home field advantage with a much stronger crowd support than their opponents. 'Course I could be and am probably wrong.......nothing new there.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:20 PM

Come on, Doug, you know there weren't any Arizona Cardinals in the 60's! As far as I knew, all Arizona had in the 60's was clean air and Barry Goldwater. Oh, and the Grand Canyon, of course!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: DougR
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:03 PM

Are you sure they weren't referring to the Arizona Cardinals Mark?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:00 PM

I can enjoy being wrong sometimes too...

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 07:28 AM

alanabit

Forgive me if I take heart from your (previous) predictions *grin*

England will win!

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 07:11 AM

Now that Wolfgang has tipped England, I am more worried for our lads than ever before! Seriously though, although the defence has looked good, I fear for England on Friday. The game is being played in mid afternoon - and that alone could be a two man advantage for the Brazilians. The other reason they worry me is that they have the ability to win without playing well. For the same reason, I can't see the Germans losing to the USA. Germany have not looked inspiring, but they have always done just enough. That is how they have always performed in tournaments - in the World Cups of 1982 and 1986 for instance. Apart from an exceptional goalkeeper they have no outstanding (at world level) players. They are disciplined and consequent though and I believe that they can play better. If the Americans can raise their game still more I will be very surprised. (I'll smile a bit too).Spain are not likely to lose their quarter final - although any predictions are dangerous this year. It looks like being a Brazil Germany final though - and I think there is only likely to be one outcome if that happens.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 06:16 AM

Well said Wolfgang, noticed that too!

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 06:09 AM

I would never bet against Korea in this series. They are good, not great, but the heart and home field advantage make them dangerous.

The final will be played in Japan.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 04:11 AM

If the question was about the Rugby World Cup - Australia.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:48 PM

Very well reasoned, Den. Except I honestly think the US has (all right, if you insist, have) a good chance to defeat Germany. Germany did not look all that impressive in their last match, and the US did in theirs.

It's certainly true, as 'Spaw and Bill D suggested, that if you ran the tournament over again from the beginning you might well come up with eight different teams in the quarter-final. Like the old saw about American football: "On any given Sunday, any team in the league can beat any other team." Or, as we used to say in Philadelphia in the 60's: "On any given Sunday, any team in the league...can beat the Eagles."

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Den
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 09:43 PM

I think if I had to bet, I wouldn't bet against Brazil. A lot has been said about the weakness of their defence but can they score goals. That will be England's task to keep the ball away from Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. This is only my oppinion but I think England will try to pummle the Brazilian defence with crosses using Heskie if he is selected to knock the ball down for Owen if he is fit. The trick will be to get the ball at the Brazilian defence. Beckham is good at that but unfortunately he will be coming up against a man who has neutralized him before one Roberto Carlos. It has the makings of a hreat game but I think that Brazil will edge England.

Germany have not impressed me at all in this competition but I think that they will beat the US. The US have played very well and done the business against some very good teams. They beat Portugal but having said that I don't think I have seen Portugal play quite so badly. They did very well against Mexico but I feel that they know Mexico and they know how to play against them. They lost against Poland and that was telling because I think the Germans will play like that. The US are fit but the Germans will have it over them technically. Klose for example will be hard to contain.

Turkey I think will bring Senegals magnificent run to an end. Senegal have pulled off some incredible upsets but Turkey have been very good and were extremely unlucky against Brazil. They play with real flare and like Senegal they have been considered underdogs throughout the competition so they play with that nothing to lose attitude.

Finally I think that Korea will beat Spain. They have home advantage and are on a real run with great self belief. Spain look tired and that was very evident in the game against Ireland. Korea look fit and will run the Spanish off the park.

Only time will tell but for what its worth that's my prediction. Den

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:35 PM

I was watching the crowd in the Korea-Italy match. A mass of Korean red - and every here and there someone supporting Italy, waving an Italian flag or scarf. And they were all mixed in together, with absolutely no hassles. Unheard of.

And that is the main winner in this year's World Cup.

As my son remarked - and he is as committed a fan as any - maybe the way to get rid of crowd trouble and hooliganism in the World Cup is to hold it as far away from England as possible.

But just possibly there might be a change in the mode of the music.

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:19 PM

The one safe bet in this World Cup is that there is no safe bet! As a long-time viewer of World Cup Finals (I watchjed the 1962 finals on TV & was at Villa Park for the group games in 1966) this is without a doubt the most open and therefore the most interesting World Cup ever, and can only do the game good, especially in the Asian and American markets. I agree with Jim Jones (no relation) that whoever emerges from the England - Brazil game is the likely winner -- but who knows?

BJ

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:30 AM

The wonderful thing about many sports is that at the upper level of competition there are many good teams and a few great teams, but on any given day, anyone can beat anyone. Sure, Portugal is probably a lot better that the US and Korea, but they're gone. France? Argentina? Both should "probably still be in it....but.............

Tell ya' one thing for sure.......I would never bet against Korea in this series. They are good, not great, but the heart and home field advantage make them dangerous.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:24 AM

Could my old post here please be cancelled. Of course, I meant to predict a final between Spain and England with England winning.

Look here for my newest prediction next monday.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Who will win the World Cup?
From: GUEST,Jim Jones
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:15 AM

Well I'm not going to become a professional punter, LOL!

Still think that Brazil or England will win it. But what the hell do I know???

Jim