Please try and keep on topic guys.

Yeah better tihng, LOL. I can't believe he's pretending to know the spanish players better than me

speaking from a Aus point of view.

I expect us to beat Japan.

Croatia will be very tough, but with Huddink i rekon we can beat them in extra time 2-1.

Now Brazil, im extremely happy that we are vsing them last because they might decide to rest a few guys hopefully. but i think we will lose 3-1.

So i rekon with Huddink we will come 2nd, now im not expecting us to make the final, but i rekon we can cause a few upsets.

I expect you fellas to get second too mate. You will have to beat Croatia befor extra time tho cos there isnt any in group games.

Japan too finish 2nd for me!

makes sence, i can barely remember alot of the 02 WC, except for Brazil vs England and the first 10mins Brazil vs Germany...i fell asleep!

I'm trying to remember... who scored in the Brazil 2-1 England??
I can only remember a spectacular goal of Ronaldinho since too far away. Was Owen who scored for England?

Yes it was Owen for England i think.

owen scored for england, and then rivaldo scored in a superb counter-attk from brazil

Brazil will win the World Cup if England don't.

Hi people....Iīm From Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I really canīt understand why most people thinks that Argentina is going to reach the final or semi final ......i hope you are right, but things in our team are far than great in my opinion.

The MAIN PROBLEM in my opinion, is that the great teamīs formation is known by everyone, you can bet that if Brasil plays, you will see Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and Adriano in the field; If england plays, you will see Beckham Gerrard Lampard and Joe Cole in the middle; if France plays you will see Zidane, Henry, Trezeguet, Pires, Vieira in the field; If Holland plays you will see Van Nistelroy and McKaay, Van der Vaart in the field.......an so on with other teams.....but...what about Argentina???? Nooooo.....in this case i bet all my money that none of you could name 6 or 7 players of the formation that will play....and this is very bad because you need to build a team to win a world cup, not to join excellent players as we do...

Donīt misunderstand me, I really like Our players, but we need to build a team that, today, it doesnīt exists......believe me.....

Please, tell me what you think about Argentina, I need to know what do you think in the distance....

I really like ENGLAND because they are a well-builded team with excellent midfielders and forwards...i really like Englandīs team.....

PD:I Would like this team to play every match:

ABBONDANZIERI; ZANETTI AYALA SAMUEL SORIN; CAMBIASSO/VERON MASCHERANO; RIQUELME MESSI; TEVEZ CRESPO

I like Mauro Rosales.. Did he get an invitation? I dont think so, he didnt played much cause of his injury.. and also because argentina has a great team.

What do you think of Rosales?

argentina-Holland is gonna be interesting!!

pekerman hasnt decided who he will call up for the wc yet, but its because u've got many good players, and he has a lot of doubts.

Hi tinchoacade....very nice post. Why don't you take a minute a introduce yourself on the newcomers section so we all can welcome you. Please continue to post, we need someone who will shed some light on Argentina as we approach the World Cup........

I think Argentina has loads of talent, but I question if they will put it together on European soil in the WC. I think the line-up you listed is a fine one, very offensive minded with Crespo, Tevez, Messi and Riquelme.....Do you think that having both Messi and Tevez in the same line-up at thier first WC is a bit too much pressure on them? Also, what does Pekerman say about Messi? He's a truly gifted player who I totally enjoyed watching play in the youth championships, and has since blossemed into something special at Barcelona.

Please, again, introduce yourself and stay with us.....

Iīve introduced myself in the newcomers area as you said...

I forgot to say that Iīm 25 years old.

I was only 6 when Argentina won the cup in Mexico 86, so I would really like Argentina to won the cup in Germany!!

Below you can see my answers to your questions....

"I think Argentina has loads of talent, but I question if they will put it together on European soil in the WC. I think the line-up you listed is a fine one, very offensive minded with Crespo, Tevez, Messi and Riquelme....."

I hope they will!!! Please Pekerman...I beg you!!! And about the team I listed, I think it is very offensive but, I think that if we have 4 defenders and 2 central midfielders as Cambiasso and Mascherano, they are enough to defend, so we can use 4 to attack, I donīt think is SO offensive, just offensive.....

This line-up is just the one I would like, but we can use "Lucho" Gonzalez or Santana or "Maxi" Rodriguez instead of Messi and Messi instead of Tevez for example.....We can play with just 3 defenders as Coloccini Ayala Heinze, or Coloccini Ayala Samuel, Milito is a Possibility too....


"Do you think that having both Messi and Tevez in the same line-up at thier first WC is a bit too much pressure on them?"

Really no. Tevez played in Boca Juniors and he knows what means to win a final Match or to play difficultmatches with lots of pressure. He won the LIBERTADORES CUP, the INTERCONTINENTAL CUP, he played in the U-18, U-20 and U-23 national teams.....he is used to play with pressure. And in his particular case, he is a very tough person, he was born in "fuerte apache", maybe the worst low neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, so he became a very tough man.

Messi is Very young, in his case I think the best is to include him in the secont half in the first 2 matches maybe, but if i need him i would put him inmediatly..He plays in Barcelona with Ronaldinho!!! he should not fear anything!..and when he has played the first 2 matches, if he playes well, I woul put him in the initial lineup. He is the BEST ARGENTINIAN PLAYER SINCE MARADONA. MUCH BETTER THAN SAVIOLA, AIMAR, TEVEZ AND RIQUELME. BELIEVE ME. HE NEEDS TO CONTINUE LIKE THIS BUT IF HE DOES....HE WILL BE GREAT!

"Also, what does Pekerman say about Messi? He's a truly gifted player who I totally enjoyed watching play in the youth championships, and has since blossemed into something special at Barcelona."

Pekerman things he is an incredible player, one of those touched by god, but he would never say that because Pekerman, if you remember, was the manager of all Argentinaīs junior national teams.....so he knows he has to be carefull, he doesnīt like to rush young players career.......

OK.......see you!!!

well said!

Messi won the primiera once, so he shoul know competition, even being only 18. But he only scored once this seaon. any reason?

In my opinion, I think messi is an OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER. During his career he should define his position in the court....He can be a forward......

I think he has to score more goals, but thatīs just matter of time....

See you!

PD: I really like this forum, here you can talk about football and just football, in most football forums peopple talks about politics, ans makes of football a nationalist matter, i donīt think thatīs ok......

PD2: Remember this name "Sergio Aguero"...he is the next Messi.....or better.....he is awesome! he scores more than messi.... Remember that name

I think Germany will win the WC, these are the reasons:

-Germany is unterestimated
-Germany has a good team spirit which will getting improve every single match
-Germany has the home field advantage and that is very important

And remember yourself in the last competition France didnīt score one single goal as the campion of the world and Europe. So everything is possible. In addition Germany shows that they can play their best football if they compete with strong antis.

Optimistic to say the least...

i'd say hes totally right. i really dont wanna see Brazil facing Germany in the World Cup, specially in the final

That isnt true i could name the whole first eam for argentina as well as many others. Argentina are more well known than you think!

Group A
1- Germany
2- Poland

Group B
1- England
2- Paraguay

Group C
1 - Holand
2 - Argentina

Group D
1 - Portugal
2 - Mexico

Group E
1 - Italy
2 - Czech Republic

Group F
1 - Brazil
2 - Japan

Group G
1 - France
2 - Switzerland

Group H
1 - Spain
2 - Ukraine

Next Round
Germany x Paraguay (Germany)
Holand x Mexico (Holand)
England x Poland (England)
Portugal x Argentina (Portugal)
Italy x Japan (Italy)
France x Ukraine (France)
Brazil x Czech Rep. (Brazil)
Spain x Switzerland (Spain)

Q. Final
Germany x England (England)
Italy X Brazil (Brazil)
Holand x Portugal (Holand)
France x Spain (Spain)

S. Final
England x Holand (England)
Brazil x Spain (Spain)

Final
England x Spain (England)

I tell you, if Spain wins all those matches, I don't mind losing the final against England
My prediction (or better said: my wish) :


Group A - 1st Germany, 2nd Poland
Group B - 1st England, 2nd Sweden
Group C - 1st Argentina, 2nd Holland
Group D - 1st Portugal, 2nd Mexico
Group E - 1st Italy, 2nd USA
Group F - 1st Brazil, 2nd Croatia
Group G - 1st France, 2nd Switzerland
Group H - 1st Spain, 2nd Ukraine

1/8 Finals

Germany 2-1 Sweden
Argentina 2-0 Mexico
England 3-1 Poland
Portugal 1-2 Holland
Italy 1-0 Croatia
France 2-1 Ukraine
Brasil 3-0 USA
Spain 3-0 Switzerland

1/4 Finals

Germany 1-2 Argentina
England 2-1 Holland
Italy 0-2 France
Brasil 3-4 Spain

Semi-Finals
Argentina 0-1 England
France 1-2 Spain

Final
England 2-2 Spain

*Spain wins on the penalties. Raul scores the decisive one.

Golden Boot :

1 - Raul --> 9 goals
2- Ronaldinho --> 6 goals
3- Beckham --> 5 goals

Gentlemen

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