FIFA World Cup 2010 starting today.

Who will win, who is your favorite?

[jecasc]

Unbelievable that four years have passed - but here we go again it's football time. The one with the round ball, not this ostrich egg you are using in the US.

So who will win? England? No way, they will probably meet Germany in the round of 16 and loose after penalty shootout. Germany will probably finish third, like last time. Title-holder Italy will loose in the quarter finals against Spain and I think the final will either be Brazil v Spain or Netherlands vs Spain.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Holland

[Mark_A]

In the office sweepstake I have USA ...

I am confident (not) :-)

[blend27]

My "Last Full Time Job" only allowed us to sneak out of the building for a few minutes and straight into a local Sports Bar to watch the tournament. We walked around like zombies on days when the matches were transmitting, Not thinking of anything But the Score!

This is why I love what I do now, same as before but from Home(with the big Flat screen and DVR) :).

I live in town where majority of folk are either from Portugal or Brazil, so every time one of those teams play the town LIGHTS up like never before. This time around we even have a game: Portugal vs Brazil.

It's a big Pride thing I guess, so I think one of those teams has a shot at #1.

[topr8]

England of course!

[londrum]

Man Utd

[Mark_A]

Someone in my office was just saying that England never just lose simply and with perhaps dignity, they always seem to crash out on penalties after someone has kicked someone or stamped on someone and gotten sent off ..

[StoutFiles]

The United States! (AKA, the country that cares the least)

[mack]

Opening ceremony was good! just getting ready to watch first match. I would put my money on Spain.

Mack.

[brotherhood of LAN]

I've got fifty quid on Germany & Holland, whose odds are a fair bit longer than Spain & Italy.

As it's a betting exchange I'll probably lay the bets after the group stages...

Been looking forward to the WC for ages!

[Mark_A]

South Africa have scored - - GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL

[jecasc]

After watching the first two matches my head hurts. This Vuvuzela thingy is mighty annoying. Sounds as if there was a beehive in my TV.

[mack]

Yea its constant isn't it lol. I thought the France game was pretty disappointing, i was expecting a lot of action. 0-0 draw? point each I guess.

Mack.

[blend27]

So much for England....

[jecasc]

Wow. If the german team keeps up like this I change my early assesment of the german team finishing third and place the german team for the finals. What a stunning performance against Australia. I haven't seen any german team play such a beautiful football in a long time.

[blend27]

That Red Card was a bit overkill though, other than the rest was nothing more than a Slaughter.

added:

Mean While on vuvuzelas,

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - World Cup organising committee head Danny Jordaan on Sunday did not rule out banning vuvuzelas, the noisy plastic trumpets which have proved a hit with fans in South Africa but threaten to deafen players and viewers alike.

I wish they would do that, cause it's really *&%+& for someone who watches the match over Head Phones.

[StoutFiles]

I wish they would do that, cause it's really *&%+& for someone who watches the match over Head Phones.

It's their culture, let them blow some plastic noisemaker. I find them less annoying then the World Series when the Angels had those noise sticks.

[jecasc]

World Cup organising committee head Danny Jordaan on Sunday did not rule out banning vuvuzelas,

Unfortunately what he did really say was they would consider it if there was a security or safety issue - meaning fans throwing the things on the field or using it as weapon. So as long as they do not start hitting each other on the head with those things we will probably have to endure them.

[RonPK]

So far Germany has made the best impression on me. I'm not so convinced about Holland's chances: their defense is pretty weak. But hey, many teams seem to have goal keeper issues :)

Here in .nl there are fears that this afternoon's Holland-Denmark may paralyze our part of the internet because of office workers watching live streams of the game.

[fashezee]

Argentina seems poised 2win!
Which is the most reliable site 2 watch the world cup?

[Old_Honky]

Spain, Holland, or Germany will win it.

England won't get out of group C Slovenia will win the group with the USA second.

It is the same every 4 years we get the English media hyping up the English team. "Our best chance ever" etc. They also seem to be under the delusion that most of our mediocre players are somehow "world class". They simply aren't; even the Spud Faced Nipper (Rooney) adored by the press as "the best striker in the world" rarely performs well; against the USA he was hardly seen.

I would love England to win the world cup, but you have to be realistic, our players aren't the best in the world and most of the time they don't seem to be as motivated as they should when given the great opportunity to play for their country. Perhaps when you are earning 100,000 pounds per week plus the motivation is not there.

[SilverLining]

The Vuvuzelas sound a lot louder on the TV than what they actually are in the stadiums.

[Old_Honky]

Vuvuzelas are a bit of a con, they were invented about 3-4 years ago so that the pathetically small crowds in the South African Premier league could make some noise. Most of the population can't afford a ticket so apparently the stadia are usually only about one third full, without something to make a bit of noise the TV coverage sounded a bit grim.

Now with virtually all the major TV companies complaining about the noise (which is appalling and ruins the enjoyment of most people in the stadium and at home watching or listening)that awful man TuTu is wittering on about denying the African culture. The vuvuzela isn't a cultural artifact it is a marketing tool. IMHO they should be banned immediately before anyone brings them into the UK and ruins our league football.

[jecasc]

Wow. That referee in Germany vs Serbia must have a sponsorship contract with the yellow card manufacturer.

[jecasc]

The vuvuzela isn't a cultural artifact it is a marketing tool.

Why, of course it is a cultural artifact. I have proof here:

[youtube.com...]

[mack]

WOW the USA got robbed in their match today. The ref had so many reasons to blow the whistle, but every fowl was against a US player. I know it was a split second decision, but with the cross in play surely an advantage should have been played. Also the US player was well on-side when the ball was played. It was a great game though.

Mack.

[blend27]

Portugal vs. N.Korea,

holly molly

7:0

Can't wait till 25th!

[jecasc]

While the group stage of the world cup is nearing its closure, the South African Vuvuzela Philharmonic are getting more and more angered by Soccer Games breaking out during concerts:

[theonion.com...]

[topr8]

Portugal vs. N.Korea,

holly molly

7:0

hehe, yeah, back to the good old days of the west bashing the asian commies!

[mack]

Ironically N'Korea did very well against Brazil. They lost, but kept Brazil honest.

In terms of entertainment South Africa - France was great. I was amazed when they went 2 up, then hit the woodwork.

Mack.