The FIFA World Cup: Which country will win and who will be the star?

[incywincy]

So it all kicks off today in Munich. The best footballers (not soccer players) on the planet will be competing in a festival of the beautiful game.

So who do you think will win the trophy? Who will win the Golden Boot? And who will be the new kid on the block that everyone will be talking about.

WebmasterWorld is a global forum so there must be lots of different opinions out there.

[zeus]

Portugal could win this worldcup or Holland, the new kid on the block could be Christiano Ronaldo.

Damn im looking forward to this WM

[Nybo]

Two other qustions:

1. Who will be the big underperformer?
2. Who will play lousy but go far anyway?

[bill]

I'm rooting for Japan... what are the odds on them making it anywhere near the finals? ;)

[Dayo_UK]

Holland is probably a good shout.

Probably will be a European Team as when the WC is held in Europe it does tend to go that way.

>>>1. Who will be the big underperformer?

Team: Argentina, might not get passed the first round.
Player: Ronaldo

>>>2. Who will play lousy but go far anyway?

Germany - As always.

[incywincy]

Usually Germany play quite poorly but manage to win through sheer determination.

Spain are serial under-achievers.

I wonder who the surprise African package will be? Ghana maybe?

Being English I'd love to see Rooney get out there and show what he's made of. He's a bulldog of a footballer!

[Visit Thailand]

England do stand a good chance, although I am sure any England supporter is hoping they have been practicising their penalty shooting. Brazil have to be favourites.

I actually believe Portugal or England will win.

[tomda]

The underperformer will be France?
One of the worst team in 2002, same will apply this year (they will loose against Switzerland, draw against South Korea and win agains Togo). That's only because I am French and have been very disappointed by their team play, and this despite the fact they have best ever world player (Zidane, Henry, Makelele).

The lousy team that will go far?
Agree with you, Germany as always...

The winner?
The winner, no doubts, will be Brazil. Second is Netherlands. Or may be Italia - if Berlusconi wants its Presidential seat back and pays good money ;)

My hope?
An African team in the semi-final! Ivory Coast or Ghana, let's go! I have killed two chicken last week and done my voodoooo ;) Anyway, World Cup will be in South Africa in 2010.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Anyone who does not see Brazil as winners is deluding themselves.

Having said that a south American team has yet to win in Europe.

I am rooting for Scotland, (that's Jason Scotland of T & T) :)

[Old_Honky]

My Predictions.

England will win it. (Sir Wayne Rooney in the new years honours list? It could even be a peerage for the spud faced nipper.)

Brazil and France will not make the quarter finals. Germany will be lucky to get out of the group stage.

Ivory Coast, The USA and Australia will out perform expectations.

[Syzygy]

I wonder who the surprise African package will be?

Ivory Coast could be one of the surprise packages of the tournament. Would like to see Paraguay do well as they can play some marvellous football. England will make the quarter finals. Togo will be the whipping boys!

Brazil? Brazil were beaten by Mexico - they are not invincible.

Syzygy

[rj87uk]

Trinidad and Tobago

Wooo! You have my support :)

[Visit Thailand]

I agree that the US could be a surprise package, I also think Japan will surprise many.

[Dayo_UK]

Cant see US or Japan getting out of their groups though - Group E will be Italy and Czech Republic and Group F will be Brazil and Croatia.

[incywincy]

IMHO

A - Germany, Poland
B - England, Sweden
C - Argentina, Ivory Coast
D - Mexico, Portugal
E - Czech Republic, Italy
F - Brazil, Croatia
G - France, South Korea
H - Ukraine, Spain

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

(Sir Wayne Rooney in the new years honours list? It could even be a peerage for the spud faced nipper.)

If he breaks down again he can always get a job as a stand in for Shrek!

(Is he Shrek?)

[RonPK]

a south American team has yet to win in Europe

For the record: Brazil won the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. 17-year old Pele helped a lot.

Brazil is my favorite this year too. IMHO a champion needs not only a strong team but also at least one outstanding player. Can't see anyone outperforming Ronaldinho.

[Rightz]

I think Japan have as much chance of winning as Wales does ;)

[Visit Thailand]

I think Japan have as much chance of winning as Wales does

LOL - I wonder how long it will be before an Asian team wins the World Cup. China will pose a threat one day, and I still do not understand why Asia has to play qualifiers against Middle East opposition.

Only hours to go. What time is the opening ceremony?

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

For the record: Brazil won the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Forgot about that! OK. It must be Brazil then.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Walkman provided this link [video.google.com...] in another thread. It's probably worth repeating :)

You Americans should have a look at this ... the beautiful game.

[Visit Thailand]

Agreed - just watch the Maradonna vs Ronaldhino video to get the heart beating and a few goose p imples. Ahhh footie.

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Nybo]

On a sidenote: If you should want to know the real names of the players, UEFA's website is a good place to visit. Yes, they have a section about the World Cup even if it is not their tournament. And like with their own tournaments they seem to have a policy that people should be mentioned by their real names.

Not so with FIFA. It is symptomatic that the German version of the official World Cup website changes Swedish names like Källström and Allbäck even if they pose no problems for German writers and readers.

[ska_demon]

I'm off to drink a large bottle of Night Nurse with a Sleepeze chaser. Someone wake me when it's overrrrrrrzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[ska_demon]

Wha.. Wha... What?

Is it over already?

No!

G'night

Ska

<dreams> "And Ronaldinho passes to George W who crosses to Mr snuffleupagus..... A great run down the left side aaaaaaaaannddd ........Yay the bars open....</dreams>

[walkman]

I love Brazil...win or lose, you will get entertained. While others focus mostly on efficiency and wining strategy, IMO, they just go with the flow--at least more than others.
Playing with those empty bottles when they were kids is paying off now ;)

One word about Pele: when he played, they did not have as many rules as now; he was chopped down by defensive players. It does make it harder to play, that's why I think he is still the best.

[lorax]

>> Cant see US or Japan getting out of their groups

Could be a tough one for the US. Czech Republic up first - ouch!

[jecasc]

Watched the opening ceremony. Good heavens - they did not leave any cliché out. Bavarian folk dance, lederhosen, a little girl with pigtails and hay wagons. The choreographer should be publicly spanked.

At least Germany won the match against Costa Rica.

[malachite]

(Sir Wayne Rooney in the new years honours list? It could even be a peerage for the spud faced nipper.)

Nooooooo! That'd mean a very quick wedding and the chav-queen-in-waiting would become Lady Spud.

[trillianjedi]

Have to agree with Brazil - their current team outclass every other by a factor of 10:1.

Clear winners - whatever country you want to put them in.