World Cup Fun

[Shaggy]

Not sure this is 'fun', but here we go...some predictions:

A poll of football experts has been conducted by the BBC Sport website to produce a predicted top four at the 2010 World Cup.

We have been asking pundits, players, managers, journalists and other experts to give us their one-two-three-four forecast at the tournament, which kicks off in South Africa on Friday.

Here are their selections in full:

Daniel AmokachiAssistant manager Nigeria
1 Nigeria 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Vitor Baia Former Portugal goalkeeper
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Portugal 4 Argentina

Guillem Balague Spanish football journalist
1 Argentina 2 Spain 3 Brazil 4 England.

Paul Chapman Journalist covering German football
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Spain 4 England

Ronald de Boer Ex-Netherlands midfielder
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Italy

Papa Bouba Diop Senegal and Portsmouth midfielder
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 Ivory Coast

Susy Campanale Calcio Italia magazine
1 Argentina 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Cameroon

Juan Casto Nogales International writer, Marca, Spain
1 Spain 2 Argentina 3 Brazil 4 Germany

Michael Church Asia correspondent, World Soccer magazine
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Argentina

Lee Dixon BBC pundit and former England and Arsenal defender
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Argentina 4 Holland

Jed Drake Senior vice president, ESPN
1 Holland 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Duncan Jenkins, lifestyle and football expert

1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Piers Edwards BBC African football blogger
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Holland 4 England.

Dr Ceri Evans Ex-New Zealand captain & Oxford United defender
1 Argentina 2 Spain 3 Brazil 4 Italy

Josep Fuste 1964 European Championship winner with Spain
1 Spain 2 England 3 Brazil 4 Italy

Giancarlo Galavotti La Gazzetta dello Sport
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Germany 4 England

Neil Greig Kick Off magazine, South Africa
1 Brazil 2 Holland 3 Spain 4 England

Alan Hansen BBC pundit and former Scotland defender
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Argentina

Paul Hansford Editor in chief, Four Four Two, Australia
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Argentina 4 Holland

Brede Hangeland Norway captain and Fulham defender
1 Spain2 England 3 Brazil 4 Argentina

Hardy Hasselbruch Editor, Kicker magazine, Germany
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 Germany

Ray Houghton Former Republic of Ireland midfielder
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Germany 4 Italy

Sir Geoff Hurst England's 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Holland 4 England

Paul Kennedy Soccer America magazine
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 Mexico

Hans Krankl Former Austria striker
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Gonzalo Larrea Football journalist, Diario Deportivo, Uruguay
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Argentina 4 England

Henrik Larsson Ex-Sweden, Barcelona and Celtic striker
1 Spain 2 England 3 Brazil 4 Netherlands

Grzegorz Lato Poland's 1974 World Cup top scorer
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Spain 4 Germany.

Min Joo Lee Seoul Broadcasting System, South Korea
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Patrick Mboma Cameroon's second highest scorer
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 Ivory Coast

Vicente Miera Former Spain manager and defender
1 Spain 2 England 3 Brazil 4 Italy

Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport website
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Argentina.

Danny Mills Former England defender
1 Argentina 2 Spain 3 Germany 4 Brazil

Phil Minshull European football blogger, BBC
1 Brazil 2 Germany 3 Spain 4 England

Antonio Morales Journalist, Azteca Deportes, Mexico
1 Argentina 2 Brazil 3 Italy 4 Mexico.

Dave Morgan Executive Editor, Yahoo, North America
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Spain 4 Netherlands

John MotsonBBC TV commentator
1 Argentina 2 England 3 Italy 4 Brazil

John Murray BBC 5 live commentator
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Argentina 4 England

Jan Olsson Former Sweden full-back
1 England 2 Germany 3 Ivory Coast 4 Brazil

Gary Parkinson Editor Four Four Two website
1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Spain 4 England

Ary Pereira Jr Sports Editor, Radio Eldorado, Brazil
1 Argentina 2 Brazil 3 Holland 4 England

Toni Polster Austria's all-time leading scorer
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Argentina

Tony Pulis Stoke City manager
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 England 4 Germany

Ronald Reng German sports journalist, author
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Chile 4 England

Roberto Rivelino Former Brazil playmaker
1 Brazil 2 Italy 3 Argentina 4 Germany

Xavier Rivoire France Football magazine
1 Spain 2 Holland 3 Ghana 4 New Zealand

Mark Schwimmer Broadcaster ARD, Germany
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Germany

Bojan Sec Contributor, Sport Den za Dnem, Russia
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 England 4 Netherlands

Alan ShearerBBC TV pundit and former England striker
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Martin Skrtel Slovakia and Liverpool defender
1 Spain 2 England 3 Germany 4 France

Socrates Former Brazil midfielder
1 England 2 Spain 3 Brazil 4 Holland

Edwin Struis Nu Sport, Dutch soccer magazine
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Germany 4 England

Edward StukTSR TV, Switzerland
1 England 2 Spain 3 Ivory Coast 4 Uruguay

Geoff Thomas Former England midfielder
1 England 2 Brazil 3 Portugal 4 Argentina

Tim VickerySouth American reporter, BBC
1 Brazil 2 Spain 3 Argentina 4 England

Chris Waddle Former England winger
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Serbia 4 Holland

George WeahFormer Liberia striker
1 Brazil 2 Ivory Coast 3 Ghana 4 USA

Vladimir Weiss Manchester City's Slovakia winger
1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 England

Mario Zagallo Brazil World Cup winner
1 Brazil 2 Italy 3 Argentina 4 Spain

World Cup 2010: Who are the champions? Winners revealed



A global poll of football experts has been conducted by the BBC Sport website to produce a predicted top four at the 2010 World Cup.

We have been asking pundits, players, managers, journalists and other experts to give us their one-two-three-four forecast at the tournament, which kicks off in South Africa on Friday.

The identities of the top four have been revealed daily, one by one, and we can today announce that SPAIN were the favourite choice for outright tournament winner.

Our survey shows Brazil in second, Argentina third with England fourth.

We polled over 50 experts from more than 20 nations, and no-one plumped for other previous winners Germany, Italy and France to repeat the trick in South Africa.

If the survey is proved right, Euro 2008 winners Spain will make history by becoming world champions for the first time and the first European team to win the World Cup in another continent.

They narrowly saw off Brazil as the most popular pick for our experts, who were asked to draw up their top four teams, with the caveat that not all predictions might work out precisely because of the variable nature of the World Cup draw.



WHY THEY PICKED SPAIN

Here are some reasons why pundits plumped for the team managed by Vicente del Bosque.

Ronald de Boer Ex-Netherlands midfielder, 67 caps

Spain have the same group of players as they did in winning Euro 2008, only more experienced. They have played together for a long time so the players know each other's qualities inside out. Also, they have a great bench and in many games it's the substitutes who make the difference.

Papa Bouba Diop Senegal and Portsmouth midfielder, 58 caps

"They are the best team, Spain, and they have the best players. They proved it at Euro 2008 and it's hard to say they won't win this time. An African team, maybe Ivory Coast or Ghana, can do well."

Juan Casto Nogales International writer, Spanish newspaper Marca

"Spain are the best team for the quantity and the quality of exceptional players our national team has. No other team in the world has played like them worldwide. Good keeper, good defenders, exceptional midfielders and some exceptional forwards."

Alan Hansen Former Scotland and Liverpool defender, BBC pundit

"We know how good the Spanish players are and by winning Euro 2008 they showed they could handle the pressure too. They will be full of confidence in South Africa."

Brede Hangeland Norway captain

"If you look through their squad, they have the best players of any nation. To put it into perspective, they'll have some of the best players in the world sitting on the bench and that says it all. They are unbeaten in a very long time and when you see them play the look very solid."

Hardy Hasselbruch Editor, Kicker football magazine, Germany

"Spain are European champions and have the most skilful players. Del Bosque is a very good man to guide the stars from Barca and Real. Stout in defence, creative in offence and strikers like Fernando Torres and David Villa - what a generation of talent."

Paul Kennedy Soccer America magazine/website

Spain has more world-class players than any other team in the tournament. Its midfield (when healthy) is the best in the world. And Del Bosque has an assortment of quality strikers to choose from.

Hans Krankl Former Austria striker, 1978 European Golden Boot winner

"Spain are the best team in the world right now but the rest of the favourites are always the same. Just outside these four, I'd tip Germany and Holland to have success too."

Henrik Larsson Ex-Sweden, Barcelona and Celtic striker

"Spain did so well in Euro 2008 and they have more or less the same team. It is vital for them, though, that Torres stays fit. If he is 100%, they have the best chance but England under Fabio Capello are dangerous. He has got them playing in a different way and also brought the discipline they needed."

Patrick Mboma Ex-Cameroon striker, 33 goals in 56 games

"They are the best in terms of quality and they have the best players in each role. I cannot see why they can't win the World Cup."

Vicente Miera Former Spain manager and defender

"They are, at the moment, the national team that is playing the best football."

Bojan Sec Contributor, Sport Den za Dnem, Russia

"Anyone who has watched them over the last several years has seen a coherent, stable, well-organised group of players who are superbly gifted technically. They lacked a big title but they got that in 2008 and that has given them a winning mentality."

Alan Shearer BBC TV pundit and former England striker

"I was so impressed with Spain in the way they won the Euros two years ago. Their chances might not be diminished by Torres' injury because he could still play a part. He is crucial to their chances, he will be a big player for them, but they have David Villa as well."

Martin Skrtel Slovakia and Liverpool defender

"It would be a mistake to underestimate France and Germany are always a threat. England are tactically strong while Spain play the most beautiful football."

Edwin Struis Nu Sport, Dutch soccer magazine

"In every World Cup since 1930 one of the 'Big Four' (Italy, Argentina, Germany, Brazil) has been in the final. This World Cup won't be an exception on that rule, but we will have a 'debutant' as a winner - Spain. The best players, the best team, some good strikers and a European Championship in the suitcase. Spain will win the double."

Chris Waddle Former winger, 62 caps, BBC 5 live pundit
"I think Spain will win because they have the best squad, won a tournament two years ago and now have the belief."

Vladimir Weiss Manchester City's Slovakia winger, son of national coah Vladimir
"Spain have got some great players and they play the right way too. Their midfield is the best in the world, which is the most important thing in modern football."

[PTP]

duncan jenkins hahahaha

[Shaggy]

germany, matty? really?

:blink:

germany?!

A global poll of football experts has been conducted by the BBC Sport website to produce a predicted top four at the 2010 World Cup.

We have been asking pundits, players, managers, journalists and other experts to give us their one-two-three-four forecast at the tournament, which kicks off in South Africa on Friday.

The identities of the top four have been revealed daily, one by one, and we can today announce that SPAIN were the favourite choice for outright tournament winner.

Our survey shows Brazil in second, Argentina third with England fourth.

We polled over 50 experts from more than 20 nations, and no-one plumped for other previous winners Germany, Italy and France to repeat the trick in South Africa.

[Assassin]

If anyone wants a really good WC excel prediction spreadsheet, complete with group tables. PM me with a email adress

[RedReet]

Surprised by Balague.

[Mostar]

Very unbiased prediction by Daniel Amokachi.

[Kenneth]

Xavier Rivoire France Football magazine
1 Spain 2 Holland 3 Ghana 4 New Zealand

Edward StukTSR TV, Switzerland
1 England 2 Spain 3 Ivory Coast 4 Uruguay

George WeahFormer Liberia striker
1 Brazil 2 Ivory Coast 3 Ghana 4 USA


Mentalists

[Assassin]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4iWIE77Ts&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4iWIE77Ts&feature=related[/ame]

[Fierce]

Quite possibly the greatest thing ever. EVA

http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

[BrooklynRed]

Life in the USA....

Nation's Soccer Fan Becoming Insufferable

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nations-soccer-fan-becoming-insufferable,17553/

WILMINGTON, DE—As the 2010 World Cup approaches, friends, family, and coworkers of 32-year-old Brad Janovich are growing less tolerant of the exuberant behavior of the United States' lone soccer fan.

"Who's got World Cup fever?" Janovich asked his officemates at Credit Solutions Friday, failing to notice their silent stares as he reported for work clad in the sole Team USA jersey sold this year. "I do! I've got World Cup fever!"

"Check out this World Cup wall chart I just bought," added Janovich, who is the only American citizen currently aware that the World Cup begins June 11.

According to sources only peripherally aware of the World Cup, Janovich's infuriating behavior first became apparent during a Super Bowl viewing party last February when he repeatedly used the phrase "American football" to describe the action on the field. In recent weeks, Janovich has also begun referring to the supposed suspense involved in choosing the players for the U.S. "side," and has struck up several extended but one-sided conversations concerning figures such as "Kaka" and "Ronaldinho," generally mystifying and alienating everyone he has come into contact with.

Yesterday Janovich sent an office-wide e-mail about the controversy surrounding the new World Cup ball, and the message was instantly deleted by all of his coworkers.

"Decorating his cubicle with World Cup stuff is fine, I guess," said coworker Greg Lafferty, who endured several elevator rides in which he politely listened to the lone American soccer fan evaluate international matchups before realizing that Janovich was discussing the outcomes of soccer games and not impending wars. "I myself have a Yankees pennant at my desk. But Brad has all these scarves draped all over everything. They hang into other people's areas, and when they ask him to move them, he responds by explaining what the scarf means. It's driving us nuts."

"Last week he was talking about how 'footy' was really heating up and asked me to come over for the 'friendly' against Turkey," said Janovich's friend Beth Gleason, who has known the only projected U.S. viewer of this year's World Cup broadcast since college. "I love Brad, I really do, but when he talks like that I want to punch him in the goddamn face. Especially because, when I asked him what he was talking about, he just said the same thing again, only slower. I was like, 'Brad, don't talk like that. People don't talk like that.'"

With only a week to go, Janovich's singular, almost unconscionable degree of soccer fanhood has only intensified. Credit Solutions employees reported that a crude "World Cup countdown calendar" appeared on the break room wall Friday, the same day that everyone in Janovich's division arrived to find him wearing Umbro soccer shorts and placing a World Cup bracket on every desk.

In addition, coworkers reported that it is not uncommon for Janovich to spontaneously start humming or singing repeated snatches of songs evidently composed exclusively of the sound "olé" while seated at his desk.

"I had absolutely no idea what 'FIFA South Africa 2010' meant," said Lafferty, who made the mistake of asking Janovich to explain. "When he told me that's where the soccer games were and that the time difference meant he'd be getting up early to watch them, all I could think was that maybe he'd be too tired to talk about them afterward."

Janovich has also extended invitations to everyone he knows to accompany him to the Newgate, a pub in downtown Wilmington that will be showing the World Cup live and is favored by British expatriates.

"It'll be nice to finally be among other fans," Janovich said. "And speaking as a fan, it's really great to see Hotspur and Arsenal and Aston Villa supporters all come together for the Three Lions, though I'm hoping the Yanks can channel the spirit of the 1950 shock horror. But that's not as important as uniting in our love of the Beautiful Game, as any football [sic] fan will tell you."

Newgate regulars agreed that Janovich's enthusiasm was unique.

"That American fan? He's harmless, I guess," bartender and lifelong Tottenham supporter Martin West said. "Though he gets pretty tiresome with all his footy rubbish, and he can really get annoying when we're all just trying to watch in peace. Thank Christ he's the only one."

[PTP]

looking at the pic i'm sure thats little dave hedgehog, sounds like him in the description

[little dave hedgehog]

[PTP]

don't know where else to post this so here will do

**** me - i'm so ****ing excited it's untrue - i can't remember ever being this excited for a world cup - i'm in work, and i just want to get up and go!!!! i've switched off now, i'm doing nothing for 3 hours - then home time and..........................

9 DAYS.......NO WORK.......27 LIVE MATCHES OF FOOTBALL

[little dave hedgehog]

I get to watch at work! too fecken excited here as well. you see that pic of fabio I posted for you shouting ps3 instructions? heheh.

[Tee]

looking at the pic i'm sure thats little dave hedgehog, sounds like him in the description