Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[dsheinem]

We've had a thread for other sports championships, so why not this one?

Like most Americans, I don't really care about soccer most of the time. However, like some of my countrymen, I do get into watching the World Cup when it rolls around every few years.

So, since I don't follow the sport...am I wrong in thinking perennial powerhouses Italy and Brazil are once again favored to go far? Does USA stand a chance of making it out of the first or second round for a change? How about the host country? What should I be watching for? And who else is planning to watch?

[jfrost]

Italy didn't even get to the semis in last year's Confederations Cup. It was ridiculous. Because of that, the US got to the finals. I wouldn't say that the American team has a good chance of winning or anything like that, but things are not so simple.

And, of course, I plan to watch the World Cup... like everyone in this country. Perhaps everyone in the world but Americans.

[Anubis]

I love soccer. I go play every Tuesday and Thursday.

That said.

Yes, I'm going to watch the world cup

No,

I don't plan on the U.S. doing very well.

or.... (if they do)

[JordanPlayer]

I definitely plan on watching as much as I can; it only happens once every 4 years so I get all of it in at once I played soccer for probably 10-15 years all the way up to college... and one thing you learn is to expect the unexpected. I always root for the US so I guess we'll see how things shake out.

[Lord_Santa]

I'm not very much into football, but the premise of it being held in South Africa is something which intrigues me

it might be a chance for the country to shine a bit

I won't be watching it per. se, but I'll be following the results

I actually hope that South Africa wins (even-though I'm from Sweden), since it would help putting them on the map

[Riqz85]

I'm 100% italian and I won't be watching it. I have a strong repulsion for this sport of sissies and fakers.

Not to start a flame war...

[DaGamingMonkey]

I was waiting for a world cup thread to pop up. I only follow the sportonce every 4 years. The MLS is not too entertaining to me and the leagues across the sea are hard to really get into since I'm not from there.
World Cup is a whole different story. I'm hoping the US can make it past the group stages at the least.

I have a strong repulsion for this sport of sissies and fakers.

That would be another reason why I don't watch outside of the world cup. The diving in the sport is out of control. I expect athletes to man up.

[Pulsar_t]

I don't follow or even like sports at all but it seems I'll be watching the final match because I love me some drama Best of luck to South Africa!

[swiftzx]

I'm going to watch the World Cup IMO, Spain is going to win the World Cup, but I could be wrong.

[ZeroAX]

...am I wrong in thinking perennial powerhouses Italy and Brazil are once again favored to go far? Does USA stand a chance of making it out of the first or second round for a change? How about the host country?

well not really for Italy. They were really lucky in winning the last world cup. Heck it was France that defeated all the tough teams, and Italy was lucky in the finals.

Spain is the most favored to win the world cup. But I really hope they don't.

Their football tactics are really boring. They play their ass off until they score a single goal to put them into the lead, and then defend until the end of the match, unless the other team ties the match, and they have to score another goal.

It resembles the Greek strategy a lot, only thing is Greece sucks, Spain on the other hand is one of the best teams in the world. You can't have one of the best teams playing defense until the game is over. I've seen Spain score at the 50th minutes of the match, with 40 minutes left until it's over, and they'd tighten their defense, and not risk on offense, with over 40 minutes of game time left. Come on!!!

I also don't want Brazil or Argentina to win it, cause I always like rooting for the underdog. Personally I want France to win, only because I thought it was really unfair that they lost the world cup in 2006.


And yeah FIFA really should do something about players faking fouls. Too much football time gets wasted on dives.

And there hasn't been a single time in the history of the world cup, that the hosting country didn't qualify to at least the knockout stage (obviously we haven't held the event )