What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

A: Uruguay, South Africa
B: Argentina, South Korea
C: England, US
D: Germany, Serbia
E: Netherlands, Cameroon
F: Paraguay, Italy
G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
H: Spain, Chile

Round of 16
Uruguay over South Korea
England over Serbia
Netherlands over Italy
Brazil over Chile
Argentina over South Africa
US over Germany ( Suck it Frings!)
Cameroon over Paraguay
Spain over Ivory Coast

Quarters
England over Uruguay
Brazil over Netherlands
Argentina over US
Spain over Ivory Coast

Semis
Brazil over England
Argentina over Spain

Final
Argentina over Brazil

I think the sheer talent of Argentina is enough to overcome whatever problems they have with Maradona.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

JF_Gophers said:
Seems like every is overlooking Germany. I know Ballack is hurt but they are almost certainly coming out of their group and then anything can happen.
Click to expand...

In my opinion, even if they had Ballack, Germany is still in that second tier of teams. Schweinstieger is no Lothar Mathias, Klose is no Klinsmann and Neuer is no Illgner. Personally, I see them out in the quarters.

Jimjamesak said:
The European Championships are a whole different ball game compared to the World Cup (especially a non-Euro World Cup). Different teams, different referees, different climate.
Click to expand...

I'm not completely sold on this Spain team to be champions, but in all fairness to them, they are more talented and have better recent results than any other Spanish team I can remember.

-----------------------------

I was just watching an FSC special on the World Cup and when they talked about potential surprises the names that came up were Chile and Serbia. Does anyone have any thoughts on these two?
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

Serbia is a strong team. Chile is a team that could surprise because so little is known about their tactics, their formations, etc.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

JF_Gophers said:
I just don't trust England. Much like others don't trust Spain.
Click to expand...

If you want to not trust England, distrust them against an elite team. They always go out against someone really good, and always by either a one-goal loss or KFTM.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

J.D. said:
Obviously different, but I've even heard people say the Euro title is harder to win than the World Cup. Think I've read it on here too. I just don't think what this group accomplished on the big stage should be taken lightly.
Click to expand...

I really can't agree with that idea. It's a smaller tournament—a run of lucky results can carry a team like Greece to a title, which never seems to happen at the WCF as the rare cinderella like Korea or Turkey in '02 goes out in the semifinals. It also omits one perennial contender and one frequent contender in Brazil and Argentina.

The only thing the Euros have on the WCF is that the group stage tends to be stronger because there's none of the garbage sides from Asia and Africa that make it to the WCF.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

Chile could be pretty fun to watch. They like to play 3 at the back, sometimes in a 3-1-2-1-3 with a diamond midfield. Plus Humberto Suazo up front.

Serbia I think can win their group, however they've been kind of underwhelming in these pre-World Cup friendlies (for whatever that's worth).
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

Serbia is in a pretty tough group overall. That would certainly be a "surprise" if they won the group.

Chile is in the same situation kind of. 3rd best team in a group of 4.

Of those two I guess I would choose Chile to make it out over Serbia. I consider Germany, Australia, Ghana slightly tougher than Spain, Switzerland, Honduras.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

I think Euro is harder to win because the quality of the teams is so much higher.

The quality of the reffing is much higher as well. The European refs are far and away better than any other continents.

Sure no Brazil or Argentina, but no wasted North Korea.

You can honestly look at the qualifying for this WC and pick 4 European teams left out that could be in a group themselves and be a decent group!
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

I'm going to spread my predictions out over the next few days so as to fan the proverbial flames of discussion. Tonight: Groups A and B.

Group A:

Four nations that have all hosted the tournament - I don't think that's ever happened before in an initial group stage. And try as I might, I think this group's going to produce another first.

In the opener, I like South Africa to get the early lead. However, Mexico (probably through cheating or other forms of malfeasance) will equalize before the half and get a late winner. Uruguay-France will be a dire game (and probably a tad on the violent side. Lloris keeps Les Bleus in the game until they can get a late equalizer and draw.

In the second go-round, France are slightly better rubbish but get another draw with the Mexicans, while Uruguay blow a lead in the second half after getting a man sent off and draw with Bafana Bafana.

In the thrilling conclusion, France finally play fairly well and use their talent to put away the hosts and make the knockout while Mexico takes advantage of a Uruguay team depleted by cards in a high-scoring and entertaining contest.

FINAL GROUP STANDINGS: Mexico 7, France 5, Uruguay 2, South Africa 1.

GROUP B:

Not even Maradona can botch a group this flawed. In fact, he's seen most of this before. Substitute Bulgaria with the South Koreans and you have the same group Argentina was in at USA '94.

Round 1: Argentina and Nigeria play a highly-entertaining opener with the Argentines getting a surprisingly close win, though it has more to do with Nigeria's quality than Argentina's. I think a lot of people are sleeping on these guys - yeah their coaching is a mess, but so is Argentina's, and if we learned anything about the Cup last time, it's that sometimes disorder can be good: see Calciopoli scandal. In the other game, South Korea and Greece play one of the ugliest games of the tournament and as good a bet for a 0-0 as you'll see.

Round 2: Argentina and Nigeria demonstrate their class with a pair of 3-0 wins, though all of Nigeria's goals come in the second half once they finally break down the Greek defense.

Round 3: The same two teams win again in fairly similar fashion. As the brother of an adopted South Korean (thus making them my second or third-favorite side), I'd love to see them succeed, but I just don't think they have the talent, especially when I think Nigeria is one of the tournament's sleepers.

FINAL GROUP STANDINGS: Argentina 9, Nigeria 6, South Korea 1, Greece 1
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

BoomGoestheDynamite said:
I have 4 favorite teams in this world cup: the US, South Africa, France :o , and Uruguay.

That and I'd love to see South Africa win the opener if Nelson Mandela shows up as is rumored.
Click to expand...

With all the Man has done for South Africa, getting to this point here, the Springboks owe him at least one win.

And should it be over Mexico, then more poweer to em. ;) :D
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

JF_Gophers said:
Serbia is in a pretty tough group overall. That would certainly be a "surprise" if they won the group.

Chile is in the same situation kind of. 3rd best team in a group of 4.

Of those two I guess I would choose Chile to make it out over Serbia. I consider Germany, Australia, Ghana slightly tougher than Spain, Switzerland, Honduras.
Click to expand...

I don't think a Serbian win would be too surprising. Australia is pretty mediocre, Germany is dealing with injuries, and Ghana is as well, without Essien.

I think Chile is a good deal better than Switzerland, plus they don't play Spain until the final game.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

3W said:
I'm going to spread my predictions out over the next few days so as to fan the proverbial flames of discussion.

Group A:

FINAL GROUP STANDINGS: Mexico 7, France 5, Uruguay 2, South Africa 1.

GROUP B:

FINAL GROUP STANDINGS: Argentina 9, Nigeria 6, South Korea 1, Greece 1
Click to expand...


Thanks for the analysis. I enjoy reading everyone's thoughts.

I know South Africa is the weakest host ever, but I still find it hard to believe a host could go 0-2-1. Uruguay is underrated and France overrated in my book as well. This could end up a 5-4-4-3 or 6-4-4-2 point group in the final standings. Mexico should end up on top.

As for Group B, I agree that South Korea and Greece just aren't up to the level of Argentina or Nigeria. The surprise, of course, could come from Greece. Every European team has a shot at the second round.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

So here's the dilemma I've got for this Saturday, and maybe some of you are dealing with the same issue in your own respective places of residence: Where should I go to watch the game that will have a good soccer crowd, but that won't be absurdly crowded? The last time I went to my normal soccer bar for a USA match, it was so packed that it was tough to find room to breathe, and getting to the bar for a drink was a 20-minute ordeal. I'm not sure if USA-England will necessarily draw a bigger crowd than USA-Mexico, but... well, I'm not sure the place could physically hold more people, and the same number would be a real pain.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

jmh said:
So here's the dilemma I've got for this Saturday, and maybe some of you are dealing with the same issue in your own respective places of residence: Where should I go to watch the game that will have a good soccer crowd, but that won't be absurdly crowded? The last time I went to my normal soccer bar for a USA match, it was so packed that it was tough to find room to breathe, and getting to the bar for a drink was a 20-minute ordeal. I'm not sure if USA-England will necessarily draw a bigger crowd than USA-Mexico, but... well, I'm not sure the place could physically hold more people, and the same number would be a real pain.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely going to the bar for this, because it happens to be an English bar with many England fans. So if the US pulls off an upset I may end up in a fight. :D
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

jmh said:
So here's the dilemma I've got for this Saturday, and maybe some of you are dealing with the same issue in your own respective places of residence: Where should I go to watch the game that will have a good soccer crowd, but that won't be absurdly crowded? The last time I went to my normal soccer bar for a USA match, it was so packed that it was tough to find room to breathe, and getting to the bar for a drink was a 20-minute ordeal. I'm not sure if USA-England will necessarily draw a bigger crowd than USA-Mexico, but... well, I'm not sure the place could physically hold more people, and the same number would be a real pain.
Click to expand...

Would the fact that the game is at 2 pm help thin out the crowd or will this be the sort of thing where people will be there regardless of what time it's at?

Stupid question, I know. Wolff's up here is opening at 7:30 AM with two beer trucks for the kick off of everything. Friggin' bonkers I tell you.
 
Re: World Soccer XIII: Through the Group Stages

jmh said:
So here's the dilemma I've got for this Saturday, and maybe some of you are dealing with the same issue in your own respective places of residence: Where should I go to watch the game that will have a good soccer crowd, but that won't be absurdly crowded? The last time I went to my normal soccer bar for a USA match, it was so packed that it was tough to find room to breathe, and getting to the bar for a drink was a 20-minute ordeal. I'm not sure if USA-England will necessarily draw a bigger crowd than USA-Mexico, but... well, I'm not sure the place could physically hold more people, and the same number would be a real pain.
Click to expand...

Was that the Azteca game? Let's not forget that the game was pretty much blacked out on local TV.

Regardless, I'm also in the same predicament. Haven't figured out which bar to head to just yet...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top