Yip. Even if this was true which I doubt, FIFA aren't going to keep them like this and prove these people right.
World Cup 2014 predictions thread
- Thread starter Mad Winger
- Start date
Yip. Even if this was true which I doubt, FIFA aren't going to keep them like this and prove these people right.
They will have to play well then. I think the maximum number of goals either have scored and not penalties is 2 in one world cup. They will first have to beat 9 goals by Eusebio and then there is a little matter of Just Fontaine who scored 13 goals in 6 World Cup matches. I cannot see either one of them doing it.
As for England, I cannot see them getting through so, I agree with you there. We might have Welbeck, Sturridge and Rooney, but I have a funny feeling that Rooney will do yet another disappearing act for the third time, leaving the burden of scoring to Welbeck and Sturridge and I cannot see it myself, not against the likes of France or Brazil.
Okay, maybe I exaggerated, but with the Messi brigade no longer blaming the manager, I think it's time he delivers.
As for Ronaldo, he showed against Sweden he's really up for it this time...
England, well, Rooney will probably be sent off in the first game and be blamed for England's WC exit.
I think it is time for both to deliver since both have had two dire world cups to be honest. In fact, they are in exactly the same league as Wayne Rooney in that they are ok for club, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty of a World Cup, they all disappear. As for Ronaldo, he was ok against Sweden, but that doesn't matter one jot in the World Cup. We beat Brazil recently if you remember, but I can bet you that we won't do it again. Another thing, the first time Ronaldo went to Brazil as a Portugal player, they were thrashed off the park, 6-1 if I remember correctly. Nope, I think I can see heartbreak for all three whilst players like Torres will get all the glory. Yes, I said Torres, the player who is absolute shite against terrible teams, but put him in a Spanish shirt pr put him against the likes of Bayern Munich or another great team and he does well...beggers beliefe...
I think it is time for both to deliver since both have had two dire world cups to be honest. In fact, they are in exactly the same league as Wayne Rooney in that they are ok for club, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty of a World Cup, they all disappear. As for Ronaldo, he was ok against Sweden, but that doesn't matter one jot in the World Cup. We beat Brazil recently if you remember, but I can bet you that we won't do it again. Another thing, the first time Ronaldo went to Brazil as a Portugal player, they were thrashed off the park, 6-1 if I remember correctly. Nope, I think I can see heartbreak for all three whilst players like Torres will get all the glory. Yes, I said Torres, the player who is absolute shite against terrible teams, but put him in a Spanish shirt pr put him against the likes of Bayern Munich or another great team and he does well...beggers beliefe...
Agreed, with pretty much all of that.
I think one of Messi or Ronaldo will miss the last penalty to go out in the last 16 or QF.
France will be drawn into Brazil's group (25% chance of that so not a very bold prediction tbf).
They've both been disappointing at world cups but way better than Rooney. Messi was beating players and at least a threat at the last World Cup.I think it is time for both to deliver since both have had two dire world cups to be honest. In fact, they are in exactly the same league as Wayne Rooney in that they are ok for club, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty of a World Cup, they all disappear. As for Ronaldo, he was ok against Sweden, but that doesn't matter one jot in the World Cup. We beat Brazil recently if you remember, but I can bet you that we won't do it again. Another thing, the first time Ronaldo went to Brazil as a Portugal player, they were thrashed off the park, 6-1 if I remember correctly. Nope, I think I can see heartbreak for all three whilst players like Torres will get all the glory. Yes, I said Torres, the player who is absolute shite against terrible teams, but put him in a Spanish shirt pr put him against the likes of Bayern Munich or another great team and he does well...beggers beliefe...
Personally, I just don't want another Spanish borefest. They've ruined the last few international tournaments for me. And to be honest, I still see them as the favorites. They're just a very settled team that has a winning formula.
This is really cool!
Best draw for my team(Japan): Switzerland, Algeria, Russia
Worst draw: Brazil, Chile, Portugal
This is only based on former results and/or playstyle.
Winner: Brazil (with some help from the officials I bet)
Finalist: Argentina (Messi will play with an injury)
Semi-finalists: Portugal and Germany
Quarter-finalists: Colombia, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Japan
Underachievers: Spain and France.
Topscorer: Falcao - 6 goals
Player of the tournament: Neymar
England's scapegoat: Phil Jones (for giving away a cheap goal - he will by the way go on and be a star for United in the 14-15 season)
High profile sending off: Mario Baloteli
I'm going to put all my money on this... Like money in the bank.
Finalist: Argentina (Messi will play with an injury)
Semi-finalists: Portugal and Germany
Quarter-finalists: Colombia, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Japan
Underachievers: Spain and France.
Topscorer: Falcao - 6 goals
Player of the tournament: Neymar
England's scapegoat: Phil Jones (for giving away a cheap goal - he will by the way go on and be a star for United in the 14-15 season)
High profile sending off: Mario Baloteli
I'm going to put all my money on this... Like money in the bank.
Spain have no chance unless they play Soldado or any proper striker not named Torres. The false 9 nonsense won't work this time around. They are not going to 1-0 their way to a World Cup again. Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso will all be 30+ and with Puyol missing they will have to score a lot more to win.
Winner: Argentina
Finalist: Brazil
Semi-finalists: Italy and Germany
Quarter-finalists: Colombia, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal
Underachievers: Spain, England, France.
Topscorer: Messi - 7 goals
Player of the tournament: Messi
England's scapegoat: Rooney, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones
High profile sending off: Suarez
Finalist: Brazil
Semi-finalists: Italy and Germany
Quarter-finalists: Colombia, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal
Underachievers: Spain, England, France.
Topscorer: Messi - 7 goals
Player of the tournament: Messi
England's scapegoat: Rooney, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones
High profile sending off: Suarez
France have been poor in the last 3 tournaments. Getting out of their group will be an achievement. Noone expects them to be title challengers.
They will play Diego Costa.
The FIFA Seeding system is beyond a joke.
Diego Costa's temperament could prove costly for them. In Brazil he'll get a hostile reception. If i was Del Bosque I wouldn't start him. He'd be an option off the bench.
Negredo is playing well so he could be an option. I think you would need to go Costa if he continues like this
I wouldn't want a Group consisting of Brazil, Germany, Holland and Argentina followed by quarter finals or Semi finals with a North Korea vs Greece, Mexico vs Algeria. Nope I'm not a romantic. With the seeding system the quality is evenly spread.
I meant to say Negredo when I said Soldado. Soldado won't be going to the World Cup. His move to Tottenham has cost him his place in the squad. They'll go with Negredo, Torres, Villa and Costa.
Indeed, Messi was showing potential but didn't get very far. Sir Alex blamed nerves as the reason for Rooneys performance, a reason that doesn't convince me in the slightest since Rooney has played in a large number of high-profile games so nerves aren't the reason. He is good, but when it comes to tournaments, he pulls a no-show. As far as 2010 in South Africa is concerned, it says a great deal that the only players who managed to score goals for us were Defoe, Gerrard and Upson. I mean, wtf!! Defoe, of all the options we had. If it is true about nerves getting the better of Rooney, then it is best he doesn't go, simple as that. We cannot afford to take anyone who is nervous about being on the biggest stage of them all. People might criticise me for saying it, but having a nervous Rooney in the World Cup is aking to having Graeme Hick in the England cricket side v Curtley Ambrose or Alan Donald (if you are into cricket and know these names).
To be fair, it took a long time for Rooney to pick up form after his injury in March. He didn't really turn it around until the beginning of 2011.
My initial draw using this tool...
A: Brazil, Mexico, Algeria, England (Brazil would sail through this group with relative ease, England should advance)
B: Switzerland, Japan, Ivory Coast, Italy (a very entertaining group with potential for shock results)
C: Spain, Costa Rica, Ghana, Netherlands (borefest for Spain and Netherlands)
D: Germany, Korea Republic, Chile, Portugal (group of death?)
E: Argentina, Iran, Cameroon, Bosnia-Herzegovina (yawn)
F: Colombia, USA, France, Croatia (I would love to see the US play France and Croatia)
G: Uruguay, Australia, Nigera, Greece (ugh)
H: Belgium, Honduras, Ecuador, Russia (ugh part deux)
So is the pot system(though I guess you meant that as well?).
Good nations such as Japan and Mexico(though not so good right now) have to reach the top 8 or host the damn tournament themselves if they don't want a group of death. I don't see how that's fair, especially considering how hard it is for these nations to reach the top 8 in the first place(because of their location).
In WC2010, Japan managed to get to the round of 16 "despite all odds". Since then they've been the overwhelmingly best nation in the Asian/Austrailian region, beaten Argentina, France, Belgium and Paraguay in friendlies, drawn against Netherlands, and overall done a lot to prove that they are a good team. Sure, they've had their share of feck-ups along the way, like the Confederations Cup. But the thing is: even if they managed to get a top 4(or maybe even top 2) position in that tournament, beating several higher ranked nations along the way, it still wouldn't have been enough for them to reach the top 8. And thus, almost no matter what they do, they will forever have to face tougher groups than they deserve.
I know that the pots are the way they are to "blend" different cultures. But sometimes we have to do the thing that's fair. Not the harmounious thing. Right now, it really does seem like the European teams that aren't in the top 8 gets cut way too much slack. Based on what I've seen from these nations, I don't see how Bosnia, Greece, and Croatia(for instance) have deserved a much easier draw than Japan.
I know what you mean with regards to the cricketers. But I don't think nerves will be an issue with Rooney. Maybe they played a part in earlier world cups but at 28 I don't think it will be.
Spain to beat Brazi or Argentina in the final.
Very good point, I don't get the Fifa obsession with avoiding 3 Uefa teams in the same pot.
Well, you probably know a certain Graeme Hick who has scored over one hundred hundreds in his first class and international career. However, when he came up against any fast bowler, he bottled it because he was finally facing some real bowling and not some mediocre bowling. What you might call a flat track bully if you will. Suffice to say, I thought it was apt since Rooney is a good player and he has shown that he has the nerves for big occasions like the Champions league final or what have you. However, when he was playing for England in a major tournament, he was out of his comfort zone, just like a lot of England players are i.e. Gerrard or Lampard when it comes to tournaments. England cannot afford to do nothing this year otherwise it will be too late for some.
Winners: Brazil - Scolari's a a great tournament manager
Finalists: Depending how the draw goes, Argentina or Germany
Other semi-finalist: Spain or Portugal
Top scorer: Not Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar
England scapegoat: Welbeck
Red card: Diego Costa for Spain - wonderfully it will be "underserved"
Finalists: Depending how the draw goes, Argentina or Germany
Other semi-finalist: Spain or Portugal
Top scorer: Not Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar
England scapegoat: Welbeck
Red card: Diego Costa for Spain - wonderfully it will be "underserved"
Winners - Spain
Finalists - Brazil
Semi-Finalists - Germany and Holland
England - Knocked out at group stage, Hodgson sacked.
Red Card - Gerrard
Finalists - Brazil
Semi-Finalists - Germany and Holland
England - Knocked out at group stage, Hodgson sacked.
Red Card - Gerrard
Switzerland to cause an upset.
Germany will not win it.
Germany will not win it.
That should ensure a mass riot in Brazil.
Yep. It would be amazing if Argentina wins it in Brazil.
Things like that just don't happen, it was all set up for Barca to win the CL in the Bernabeu a few years ago, and despite the best efforts of Busquets and the ref, Mourinho came to Real's rescue.
Brazil will win it, with some questionable refereeing helping them on their way, as in 2002.
Not sure how the refs helped Brazil in 2002, it was certainly very dubious how Korea made the SF.
Only questionable refereeing affecting us in 2002 that I can remember was the Rivaldo incident, which occurred in a group match and ultimately didn't have much of an effect as both Brazil and Turkey ended up advancing and meeting each other again anyway.
Yup. Beyond a joke. The stupid thing is thy could easily use an '4 seeding groups' as well as keep nations from each confederation apart (aside from Europe obviously which would just be limited to 2 nations per group as now
Winners: Germany
Runners up: Brazil
Semi finalists: Portugal, Argentina
Quarter finalists: Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Spain, Italy
Would love it if that were true, Bosnia are much better then Costa Rica and Cameroon and we shouldn't have any problems qualifying from that. Could potentially get top spot as well, if it goes to the final game against Colombia.
Doubt that it is true though.
As long as we avoid France from the 3rd pot, Bosnia should make it, whoever they draw. There are a few times from the other pots that are at a similar level to us like Japan/USA or Chile/Ivory Coast, and it would be basically 50/50 on who makes it (I think we're a bit better then USA though), but we should have enough to qualify for the next round. This being our first ever world cup, our fans will be up for it as much as anyone and will have enough to push the team through.
I'd fancy our chances for the top spot even if we draw Switzerland or maybe even Belgium or Uruguay from the first pot. Not saying Bosnia are better then Belgium or Uruguay, but I haven't been all that impressed with them when I've watched them, despite the players that they have. Belgium lack a certain togetherness and are overrated at the moment, or at least aren't performing how they have the potential to. Think they can will be one of the big disappointments next summer.
Runners up: Brazil
Semi finalists: Portugal, Argentina
Quarter finalists: Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Spain, Italy
Would love it if that were true, Bosnia are much better then Costa Rica and Cameroon and we shouldn't have any problems qualifying from that. Could potentially get top spot as well, if it goes to the final game against Colombia.
Doubt that it is true though.
As long as we avoid France from the 3rd pot, Bosnia should make it, whoever they draw. There are a few times from the other pots that are at a similar level to us like Japan/USA or Chile/Ivory Coast, and it would be basically 50/50 on who makes it (I think we're a bit better then USA though), but we should have enough to qualify for the next round. This being our first ever world cup, our fans will be up for it as much as anyone and will have enough to push the team through.
I'd fancy our chances for the top spot even if we draw Switzerland or maybe even Belgium or Uruguay from the first pot. Not saying Bosnia are better then Belgium or Uruguay, but I haven't been all that impressed with them when I've watched them, despite the players that they have. Belgium lack a certain togetherness and are overrated at the moment, or at least aren't performing how they have the potential to. Think they can will be one of the big disappointments next summer.
I don't want to be blunt, but it's called the World Cup for a reason, and to be honest, there aren't going to be any easy draws for teams outside of the first pot. It makes perfect sense to me to have them region based, as they are competing from all around the world. Europe have the best teams and highest number of top teams so of course they will get better draws. Outside of Europe and South America (and their best teams are all in the first pot), the only other really good nations are Japan and Ivory Coast. You can't really change the whole structure of the world cup because 1 or 2 countries who are top teams may be put into the group of death. If they're good enough to go through, they'll find a way to make it through.
Also how can you say you don't see how Bosnia hasn't done enough to deserve an easier draw (nobody deserves easier draws IMO but...)? Unless you're basing it on our previous lack of experience, or us being a small country and it being our first time. We were 4th top scorers in the whole qualifications, we had one of the best defensive records, and had only less points then Germany, Netherlands and Belgium throughout the whole qualifiers. 8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, 30 goals for, 6 conceded... there's not much more anybody could have done really.