Toast FIFA World Cup The Thread! (Thread rules in OP)

[Optimax]

[MOD EDIT]

There are many Collingwood fans, sports fans, who are following the World Cup in Brazil.

If you're not a fan of the round ball game, that's totally cool, nobody is asking or expecting you to be. Just ignore this thread.

If you do hate soccer, there'll be a poll to express your opinion. But any "I hate soccer" posts will be deleted.

Thanks

Go Socceroos!!!

[/MOD EDIT]


Surprised to see there wasn't already a thread, or not one that I could see straight away.

Anyway, the World Cup is coming up very quickly. So here's the thread for discussion....what is everyone looking forward too? Who do you expect too win? What's your prediction for the socceroos?

 

[mattys123]

Nice, was thinking about starting a thread, sleep deprived month of the world cup coming up.

I reckon the South American teams have a huge advantage down there. Colombia a long shot for me with Brazil and Argentina the obvious favourites to play off in the final.

Australia will put up a better fight than most expect too, well a better fight than they did in South Africa 4 years ago. Reckon we'll draw or even win against Chile and that Spain and especially the Dutch won't smash us by as much as what people are expecting.

There's 171 nations that did not qualify who would love to be in our position anyway.

 

[sirlothie]

Can't hardly wait, think a big surprise will be the US, they dropped Landon Donovan who for years has been their best and Jurgen Klinsmann is a super coach. Plus their local league has come on leaps and bounds. Group of death though.

As for winners, I'd love to see England up there but realistically Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, maybe Portugal will go well, agree South Americans have strong advantage through and would be big upset if Brazil didn't do it at home.

Mexico might be a smoky to go far.

As for Australia, as long as we don't get thrashed ill be happy but of course ill be on the edge of my seat wishing the gods shine on us!

Australia's first game vs Chile, 8am next Saturday.

The other two are at 2am though.... The WC is such a fantastic event I'm willing to completely screw my body clock for it. As you can see I'm already starting!

 

[Pera]

Surprised to see no one is having Belgium as a smoky. That have some serious talent on all lines.

I want to believe Australia can get a couple of results while over there but cant see it happening. Think it is going to be very ugly, but good luck to Ange and the lads. I, and all of Australia, will be supporting you no matter what.

Winner: Germany
Top goalscorer: Neymar

 

[mattys123]

Surprised to see no one is having Belgium as a smoky. That have some serious talent on all lines.

I want to believe Australia can get a couple of results while over there but cant see it happening. Think it is going to be very ugly, but good luck to Ange and the lads. I, and all of Australia, will be supporting you no matter what.

Winner: Germany
Top goalscorer: Neymar

Everyone has Belgium as their smoky in all the previews out there, can't see it happening, they have no history in WC's at all, reckon they'll bomb out wither in the round of 16 or the Quarters.

Possible round of 16 matches are delicious (as one comemntator would say);

Brazil vs Netherlands
Croatia vs Spain

Colombia vs England/Uruguay
Japan/Greece vs Italy

Argentina vs Ecuador
France vs Nigeria/Bosnia

Germany vs Korea/Russia
Belgium vs Portugal

And then it just gets mad good from then on.

 

[Optimax]

Surprised to see no one is having Belgium as a smoky. That have some serious talent on all lines.

I want to believe Australia can get a couple of results while over there but cant see it happening. Think it is going to be very ugly, but good luck to Ange and the lads. I, and all of Australia, will be supporting you no matter what.

Winner: Germany
Top goalscorer: Neymar

Definitely a chance, but I'm leaning towards Brazil, Uruguay or Argentina with Chile the smokey. Can't see any of the europeanen powerhouses winning.

Suarez top scorer

 

[sirlothie]

Messi for golden boot, at 26 in his prime, can you believe just 26! Argentina will give him every chance to work his brilliance and I think he will get 9 goals.

 

[sirlothie]

I don't think Belgium will go far either, not enough stars.

Portugal has the class if C. Ronaldo is right.

For the eternal optimist, you can get odds of 2500/1 on Australia!

An Asian team usually surprises at the WC.

 

[Mars II]

Winner: Brazil
Golden Boot:Neymar
Smokey: Spain (I know they're number one but all european teams are up against it seeing that the tournament is in South America)

And I hope the Socceroos beat Spain and the Netherlands (but I can't see this happening) just not Chile

 

[jerry springer]

what time will most of the games start?

 

[sirlothie]

what time will most of the games start?

Day games start at 2am, night games start at 8am for Australia. First game 8am next Saturday. Then two 2am games...

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Cant wait. Got the Italians 1st up. Gonna watch with my olds. Dad from England, Mum from Palermo. Gonna be brilliant.
Reckon we can top the group but prob wont do much after that.
Argentina will bow out early, will get out the group top but will choke i reckon. All depends on if Messi turns up for once in a tournament.
Australia are ****ed but everyone knows that.
Honestly think Germany or Spain win it but hoping Portugal do

 

[jerry springer]

Day games start at 2am, night games start at 8am for Australia. First game 8am next Saturday. Then two 2am games...

cheers for that

 

[ppoiter]

Just sat a few seats away from Alan Didak on the plane from santiago to rio. Nice to see he's enjoying the retired life

 

[ppoiter]

My prediction: Argentina then Brazil. Another third place for Germany with klose breaking the scoring record, bookmark it!

 

[sirlothie]

Just sat a few seats away from Alan Didak on the plane from santiago to rio. Nice to see he's enjoying the retired life

I imagine this is the one reason Dids is rapt his career is over. Mega jealous, hope you have time of your lives. Let us know what it's like!

 

[sirlothie]

Can't believe Nasri didn't make France's squad. We really are minnows... Considering we pick A league blokes or 2nd tier English players who have barely played internationals. But we do have Cahill! Could become an all time Aussie legend this month, if he isn't already. Hope we don't get made out fools though, wouldn't be good for confidence ahead of Asian Cup which is a must win as far as I'm concerned for the game in this country.

 

[ppoiter]

I imagine this is the one reason Dids is rapt his career is over. Mega jealous, hope you have time of your lives. Let us know what it's like!

Thanks man, will do. Not an Aussie (well technically) but the feeling I got from the plane full of Aussies was that they're just here for a good time, no expectations on getting out of the group

 

[sirlothie]

Thanks man, will do. Not an Aussie (well technically) but the feeling I got from the plane full of Aussies was that they're just here for a good time, no expectations on getting out of the group

Who are you supporting? Which games are you seeing?

 

[ppoiter]

Who are you supporting? Which games are you seeing?

I'm a kiwi who also has an Australian passport, so definitely supporting Australia but mainly Germany (long story). Seeing Germany vs Portugal, France vs Switzerland, Bosnia + Herzegovina vs Iran, Germany vs Ghana and a couple second round games. Rio is amazing! Massive heaving, pulsing, intimidating city

 

[sirlothie]

I'm a kiwi who also has an Australian passport, so definitely supporting Australia but mainly Germany (long story). Seeing Germany vs Portugal, France vs Switzerland, Bosnia + Herzegovina vs Iran, Germany vs Ghana and a couple second round games. Rio is amazing! Massive heaving, pulsing, intimidating city

Germany has some amazing players, one of my favourites too along with Netherlands.

What's the buzz like there? We hear so much about locals not being happy but is this mainstream? Because I don't understand it in probably the most soccer mad country on Earth. Hopefully majority are getting in the spirit? Do you have troubles there speaking English?

 

[ppoiter]

Germany has some amazing players, one of my favourites too along with Netherlands.

What's the buzz like there? We hear so much about locals not being happy but is this mainstream? Because I don't understand it in probably the most soccer mad country on Earth. Hopefully majority are getting in the spirit? Do you have troubles there speaking English?

I'm not sure about Netherlands. These things are usually won with defence and I'm not convinced about theirs. Germany has also been fairly forgettable in their warm ups but thers stil hope.

It seems like the unrest is because some people are upset that the government has prioritised building stadiums and spending on the World Cup above fixing obvious things which need fixing. And a couple of the stadiums were only very recently finished due to problems with corruption. A lot of people have a pretty low standard of living here and it kind of seems like it doesn't have to be that way, especially after seeing chile which is surprisingly developed. Barely saw any homeless people there, maybe it's just where I went.
Above all though id say most people just want Brazil to do well, the language of supporting a footy team is pretty universal!

 

[sirlothie]

Yeah don't think Netherlands will win, I just like the attacking flair of their play. Stepmother is Dutch also. For Germany, I like Schweinsteiger and Ozil. Haven't seen much Schweinsteiger for a while though so hopefully he is still just as good.

 

[ppoiter]

Yeah don't think Netherlands will win, I just like the attacking flair of their play. Stepmother is Dutch also. For Germany, I like Schweinsteiger and Ozil. Haven't seen much Schweinsteiger for a while though so hopefully he is still just as good.

Someone can correct this if it's wrong but I think schweinsteiger has been played mostly as a defensive midfielder for bayern by pep so itl be interesting to see how he lines up for Germany. Thers a bit of a "golden generation" of German players playing at the moment and they haven't won anything so most of that squad plus the coach is feeling the pressure

 

[pieman123]

Schweinsteiger has been battling injuries recently and might not start. I think they will play Kroos and Lahm in midfield.