World Cup anyone?

[efin98]

Surprised nobody posted this yet but Friday the pools for the 2010 World Cup to be played in South Africa were announced.

USA got assigned to Group C and is ranked 14th in the world going in...draw in the group was England(#9 ranked in the world), Algeria(#28 ranked), and Slovenia(#25). Tough draw for the US but could be much worse...

Group A features host South Africa(#86 ranked), Mexico(#15 ranked), Uruguay(#19 ranked), and France(#7 ranked).

Group B features Argentina(#8 ranked), Nigeria(#22 ranked), South Korea(#52 ranked), and Greece(#12 ranked)

Group D features Germany(#6 ranked), Australia(#21 ranked), Serbia(#20 ranked), and Ghana(#38 ranked)

Group E features Netherlands(#3 ranked), Denmark(#27 ranked), Japan(#43), and Cameroon(#11 ranked).

Group F features Italy(#4 ranked), Paraguay(#30 ranked), New Zealand(#77 ranked), and Slovakia(#34 ranked)

Group G features Brazil(#2 ranked), North Korea(#84 ranked), Ivory Coast(#16 ranked), and Portugal(#5 ranked). Group G has been nicknamed this tournament's "group of death".

Group H features Spain(#1 ranked), Switzerland(#18 ranked), Honduras(#39 ranked), and Chile(#17 ranked).

 

[patsfan13]

I hope France goes 0-3.

 

[efin98]

I hope France goes 0-3.

They play South Africa...little chance of that happening. 1-2 maybe within reason if they have some injury trouble but 2-1 or 1-1-1 is most likely for them.

 

[jcdavey]

Surprised nobody posted this yet but Friday the pools for the 2010 World Cup to be played in South Africa were announced.

USA got assigned to Group C and is ranked 14th in the world going in...draw in the group was England(#9 ranked in the world), Algeria(#28 ranked), and Slovenia(#25). Tough draw for the US but could be much worse...

Group A features host South Africa(#86 ranked), Mexico(#15 ranked), Uruguay(#19 ranked), and France(#7 ranked).

Group B features Argentina(#8 ranked), Nigeria(#22 ranked), South Korea(#52 ranked), and Greece(#12 ranked)

Group D features Germany(#6 ranked), Australia(#21 ranked), Serbia(#20 ranked), and Ghana(#38 ranked)

Group E features Netherlands(#3 ranked), Denmark(#27 ranked), Japan(#43), and Cameroon(#11 ranked).

Group F features Italy(#4 ranked), Paraguay(#30 ranked), New Zealand(#77 ranked), and Slovakia(#34 ranked)

Group G features Brazil(#2 ranked), North Korea(#84 ranked), Ivory Coast(#16 ranked), and Portugal(#5 ranked). Group G has been nicknamed this tournament's "group of death".

Group H features Spain(#1 ranked), Switzerland(#18 ranked), Honduras(#39 ranked), and Chile(#17 ranked).

go france! (or USA!)

 

[sieglo]

US got a pretty nice draw in my opinion. Hopefully they win the first game and build enough momentum to get into the round of 16. Not playing in Europe may help, since they normally suck there.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Everyone always looks past the US team when in actual fact it's a pretty good side. Both England and the USA will be liking their group and be confident of qualifying from it. Henry and his hand saw France in South Africa, they haven't looked anything like a good team but still always end up there or there abouts come the final.

I love the World Cup but it doesn't seen to have the aura it did in past decades for me. Still, the quality of football from the different cultures in the competition is always good to watch and it's great it's here again.....already.

 

[tatepatsfan]

I think the US got a great draw - it could have been England, Cote d'Ivoire, and Portugal/France instead of Algeria and Slovenia. I think the US beats Slovenia, though Algeria is a strong side.

 

[Angry Man]

Great draw for us. You know that match against England will be hyped up especially due to the Donovan vs Beckham factor. I'm really excited for the World Cup along with the MLS 2010 season and whatever second tier team we'll end up having here in Minny.

 

[HarkDawg]

US Soccer Sucks...



I hate Soccer why am I even on here?



I do watch WC thou...... I like acting.

They dive so creatively what a joke

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Great draw for us. You know that match against England will be hyped up especially due to the Donovan vs Beckham factor. I'm really excited for the World Cup along with the MLS 2010 season and whatever second tier team we'll end up having here in Minny.

Are they "buddies" now or what? It's not Beckhams fault he can hack it on the big European stage and Donovan couldn't. Still, Everton have just signed him on loan so Landon will be polluting my city for a few months.

 

[Real World]

The US got a favorable draw considering what it could have been. Of course, while Algeria and Slovenia aren't household names to most casual fans, those teams aren't the pushovers many assume them to be. They could each beat the US going away. The US has to play sound soccer to win those games.

England is beatable, but they've been playing well under Fabio Capello. England has always had terrific talent. They've just struggled to play on the same page. This WC could be a different.

The US will likely end up with 4 points. Lose to England, tie Algeria, beat Slovenia. I think it could come down to goal differential in the end. I think England is close to a lock to make it out of this group, which leads me to believe the battle will be for 2nd place. Hopefully they get 6 points and make it easy on us.

 

[bradyforlife]

I hope France goes 0-3.

I second that.

 

[Rossmci90]

Can't wait for the world cup, the atmosphere just watching in pubs is amazing. Love it.

Wish i could go to South Africa, England always have the largest following of supporters

 

[HarkDawg]

Brazil will win it

 

[Rossmci90]

Just seen the stadium that will be used for the England v USA game. It's a horrible stadium, athletic tracks ruin atmosphere so much.

I've never agreed with the World Cup being in South Africa and that stadium confirms why, its awful.

 

[Angry Man]

Yikes. That's gonna look really ugly on TV with the track like that.

 

[efin98]

Just seen the stadium that will be used for the England v USA game. It's a horrible stadium, athletic tracks ruin atmosphere so much.

I've never agreed with the World Cup being in South Africa and that stadium confirms why, its awful.

At least it looks better than this place... World Stadiums - Odi Stadium in Mabopane

 

[Rossmci90]

At least it looks better than this place... World Stadiums - Odi Stadium in Mabopane

Im glad that isn't being used, its horrendous.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Not all of them are going to be on European standard, world class stadiums. Aslong as they are safe I see no reason why the worlds greatest game shouldn't be held in their culture. They will have some pretty good stadia anyways The Mokaba stadium should look tidy when completed as should the Mandela. Then you have the Mabhida which is massive as is Soccer City. The only thing to really worry about with the new stadiums is the quality of the turf/pitch.

The one thing that will annoy fans are those horns they had in the confederations cup last summer. I read they may be banned though....

 

[Rossmci90]

Not all of them are going to be on European standard, world class stadiums. Aslong as they are safe I see no reason why the worlds greatest game shouldn't be held in their culture. They will have some pretty good stadia anyways The Mokaba stadium should look tidy when completed as should the Mandela. Then you have the Mabhida which is massive as is Soccer City. The only thing to really worry about with the new stadiums is the quality of the turf/pitch.

The one thing that will annoy fans are those horns they had in the confederations cup last summer. I read they may be banned though....

They definitely won't be banned, Sepp Blatter pretty much ruled that out.

I see lots of reasons why the world cup should not be held in SA, such as the high amount of gun crime. Infact just this week the leader of a White sumprecists group was assassinated.

I can just envisage something really bad happening.