Originally posted by schakuhrIn WC2002, I made a prediction that Portugal, Italy, France and Argentina would make it to the semifinals of the Cup.
It's stupid to make these kind of claims because everyone just thinks their own country is the best (I have yet to see someone NOT from England say that England is the best). BTW, the best European country doesn't lose to Northern Ireland.
The best thing about these championships is that (IMO) every country has a real chance to win the tournament. Ther ...[text shortened]... ke any predictions. The only thing that's pretty sure is that Brasil will go to the next round.
Three of those teams never made it past the first round and Italy lost to South Korea in the second round, which just goes to show that predicitions at this stage of the tournament can very dangerous to your bank account!
In retrospect, the reason why these teams failed was because, at least for Portugal, Italy and France, they came up against well-rested, team-drilled, highly ambitious squads. They didn't have to play Champions League football or the FA Cup all the way into May (like France did - half the team came from Arsenal!). Portugal came up against both the US and South Korea, which had cohesive teams playing together since February of that year. Italy, of course, were also victims of South Korea.
My point is that current form doesn't dictate future form. Some of the teams can surprise, like Senegal, Turkey, South Korea and the US did in 2002. Also, beware the tactical genius of Guus Hiddink, because here is a guy who has taken two different countries into the semi-finals (Netherlands in 1998, South Korea in 2002). He's now the coach of Australia. I'm not saying that team is getting out of their group (which includes Brazil!) but if they do, they can be a dangerous, dangerous team in the knockout rounds.
Portugal (my team) has an easy group, but I'm afraid these guys will choke like they did in 2002. I want the Euro 2004 team to show up this time so that they can do well!
- Joined
- 23 Mar 04
- Moves
- 262765
Originally posted by DOlivier2004For the world cup in 1998 I came close in prediction the semi finals. I predicted a win of France over The Netherlands and a win of Yugoslavia over Brazil, Yugoslavia winning the final.
In WC2002, I made a prediction that Portugal, Italy, France and Argentina would make it to the semifinals of the Cup.
The Netherlands, Brazil and France made it indeed into to the semi finals, the fourth team was Croatia (which is very close to Yugoslavia of course, somewhat 'the same country'!). For the coming world cup I will predict the Czechs, now as strong as Yugoslavia back then and champion material, as the winner.
Originally posted by sasquatch672For the World's sake I hope the US wins. We all know what happens when people don't play by America's rules...
Hard to imagine a previous winner and world power as big as Germany not winning the Cup when they're hosting the tournament.
EDIT: For Europe's sake I hope Germany wins. We all know what can happen when Germans get depressed, mad, or otherwise upset.
- Joined
- 23 Mar 04
- Moves
- 262765
Originally posted by sasquatch672Winning the European championship in Germany by the big rivals The Netherlands in 1988 didn't cause a new world war. But then again, there was no united Germany back then...
Hard to imagine a previous winner and world power as big as Germany not winning the Cup when they're hosting the tournament.
EDIT: For Europe's sake I hope Germany wins. We all know what can happen when Germans get depressed, mad, or otherwise upset.
And welsharnie, of course the US of A will not win, they are in the same poule as the Czechs and the Italians. Only the first two progres...!
Originally posted by sasquatch672To be honest, I wasn't the one who started making sweeping statements about a particularly dark chapter of a countrie's history.
Yeah, what happens? Please enlighten me, and while you're at it, kill this perfectly good thread with some bullshit anti-American political statement for which there are a thousand threads more suited to receive it.
Oh, and by the way, Hitler was Austrian...
Originally posted by sasquatch672I meant mine in jest as a reply. I'm sorry if you took it the wrong way.
I was joking. We can have a laugh, can't we, without some sensitive European getting their nose all out of joint? You, on the other hand, were going down a bad road.
I see Germany losing in the semis myself...