Sport Today

by **Get a Clue Idiota** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 08:40:16

First they get a junk group of Croatia, Australia and Japan.

Next they get inexperienced Ghana in 2nd round and most likely France
in QF (Spain will ***as usual). France is not playing that well at
all. In semis they get England/Holland. Brazil has a pyschological edge
over England and Holland is another choker.

On top of that Italy/Germany/Argentina are all in other half and have
to beat themselves to make it to the final, while Brazil gets a free
ride to the final.

Looks like Brazil will get an exhausted Germany/Italy/Argentina in the
final and beat them and win WC for the 6th time.

by **glie..** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:02:01

Quote:

> Next they get inexperienced Ghana in 2nd round and most likely France
> in QF (Spain will ***as usual). France is not playing that well at
> all. In semis they get England/Holland. Brazil has a pyschological edge
> over England and Holland is another choker.
> Looks like Brazil will get an exhausted Germany/Italy/Argentina in the
> final and beat them and win WC for the 6th time.

Do you really think Brazil's path to the final:
Ghana + France/Spain + Holland/England

is easier than Italy's:
Australia + Switzerland/Ukraine + Germany/Argentina?

by **Get a Clue Idiota** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:09:36

Quote:

> > Next they get inexperienced Ghana in 2nd round and most likely France
> > in QF (Spain will ***as usual). France is not playing that well at
> > all. In semis they get England/Holland. Brazil has a pyschological edge
> > over England and Holland is another choker.

> > Looks like Brazil will get an exhausted Germany/Italy/Argentina in the
> > final and beat them and win WC for the 6th time.

> Do you really think Brazil's path to the final:
> Ghana + France/Spain + Holland/England

> is easier than Italy's:
> Australia + Switzerland/Ukraine + Germany/Argentina?

Well Italy's path is a lot easier than Germany/Argentina. But Italy
still have to beat one of them in the semis. What do Brazil get in the
semis? England/Holland? And if Portugal beat Holland and England lose
to Portugal? That makes it even easier.

by **Ryan Pflege** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 10:59:14

I think both Spain and Holland might be better than you think. Also Spain
would certainly have to ***to lose to this somewhat inept French side.

by **Blair Kavanag** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:12:50

Quote:

> Well Italy's path is a lot easier than Germany/Argentina. But Italy
> still have to beat one of them in the semis.

You are assuming that Italy is going to get past Australia in order to
play Germany/Argentina in the latter stages.

This smacks of old world arrogance.

I would never be so sure if I was you.

Blair

by **Clémen** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:04:38

Quote:

> > Well Italy's path is a lot easier than Germany/Argentina. But Italy
> > still have to beat one of them in the semis.

> You are assuming that Italy is going to get past Australia in order to
> play Germany/Argentina in the latter stages.

> This smacks of old world arrogance.

> I would never be so sure if I was you.

Well said, Blair.

I wonder if any team in this round of 16 would take Ghana for granted,
for example. I know Brazil doesn't, no matter how unthinkable the idea
of dropping out at this point is for them.

For a team with Brazil's (or Italy's) expectations, elimination before
the semis is probably a failure, but it doesn't mean the road to later
stages is "easy" or that their opposition will roll over for them.

Quote:

> Blair

Abra?os,

Luiz Mello

by **jingu** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:12:10

Quote:

> Next they get inexperienced Ghana in 2nd round and most likely France
> in QF (Spain will ***as usual). France is not playing that well at

when france was playing against togo i was wondering how many of the
players on the team from france were actually from france? i mean,
the two teams could have switched jerseys and you wouldn't have been
able to tell the difference...

by **Alex Souz** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:18:54

Quote:

> > > Well Italy's path is a lot easier than Germany/Argentina. But Italy
> > > still have to beat one of them in the semis.

> > You are assuming that Italy is going to get past Australia in order to
> > play Germany/Argentina in the latter stages.

> > This smacks of old world arrogance.

> > I would never be so sure if I was you.
>From the moment the 16 teams were set, I've thought Italy would be the

"traditional power" that was the least certain to advance. Partly
because Australia has been playing some great underdog football and
partly because Italy has looked very vulnerable at times.

That said, I still give a healthy edge to the Azzurri, just don't be
too shocked if the Aussies go through.

Quote:

> I wonder if any team in this round of 16 would take Ghana for granted,
> for example. I know Brazil doesn't, no matter how unthinkable the idea
> of dropping out at this point is for them.

> For a team with Brazil's (or Italy's) expectations, elimination before
> the semis is probably a failure, but it doesn't mean the road to later
> stages is "easy" or that their opposition will roll over for them.

Or, according to my very Brazilian father, anything but the trophy is
no good. =)

by **maelstro** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:03:02

Quote:

> Well Italy's path is a lot easier than Germany/Argentina. But Italy
> still have to beat one of them in the semis.

After your Argentina's easy win prediction I'm becoming preoccupied ...

by **maelstro** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:09:37

Quote:

> For a team with Brazil's (or Italy's) expectations, elimination before
> the semis is probably a failure, but it doesn't mean the road to later
> stages is "easy" or that their opposition will roll over for them.

As for Italy going out before the semis will be a failure, as for Brazil I
think they will be satisfied with an honorable defeat in the final. Sorry
guys but I don't see a WC held in Europe go to a south american team.

by SV » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:00:55

Quote:

> First they get a junk group of Croatia, Australia and Japan.

> Next they get inexperienced Ghana in 2nd round and most likely France
> in QF (Spain will ***as usual). France is not playing that well at
> all. In semis they get England/Holland. Brazil has a pyschological edge
> over England and Holland is another choker.

> On top of that Italy/Germany/Argentina are all in other half and have
> to beat themselves to make it to the final, while Brazil gets a free
> ride to the final.

Brazil's not getting to any final...

by **christian9..** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:31:41

Since you started writing on RSS I think I've found all your posts
pretty stupid but in this one you've really surpassed yourself.

On one side there's Brazil, France, Portugal, Holland, England, Spain.

On the other there's Germany, Argentina and what looked like an under
par Italy.

...and you are saying that Brazil is going to have it easy?

Absolutely idiotic!

Do you really believe what you write or are you just trolling?

by **christian9..** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:42:52

Quote:

> when france was playing against togo i was wondering how many of the
> players on the team from france were actually from france? i mean,
> the two teams could have switched jerseys and you wouldn't have been
> able to tell the difference...

This is especially surprising (shocking) when you know that France is a
country that is institutionally very racist. Hardly any coloured
presenters on TV, hardly any coloured people in high places. In terms
of social integration of coloured people France is sometimes compared
to the USA of 30 years ago.

by **Whispe** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:09:28

Quote:

> First they get a junk group of Croatia, Australia and Japan.

> Next they get inexperienced Ghana in 2nd round and most likely France
> in QF (Spain will ***as usual). France is not playing that well at
> all. In semis they get England/Holland. Brazil has a pyschological edge
> over England and Holland is another choker.

> On top of that Italy/Germany/Argentina are all in other half and have
> to beat themselves to make it to the final, while Brazil gets a free
> ride to the final.

> Looks like Brazil will get an exhausted Germany/Italy/Argentina in the
> final and beat them and win WC for the 6th time.

Looks that way.

by **Whispe** » Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:22:29

Quote:

>>Well Italy's path is a lot easier than Germany/Argentina. But Italy
>>still have to beat one of them in the semis.

> You are assuming that Italy is going to get past Australia in order to
> play Germany/Argentina in the latter stages.

> This smacks of old world arrogance.

> I would never be so sure if I was you.

> Blair

Exactly. As Nike say 'Stuff history!'

Sport Today

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw

Looks like Brazil has an easier draw