World Cup 2006 Draw

[navid]

http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s22/e10046/live_lng0_spo22_evt10046.shtml

some easy matchups it seems for england/france
what do you guys think of the poolmatchups

[jcthompson76]

American view here. I'm excited for a few teams. Not my home country, they look gonners against Italy, Czechs and Ghana. Hopefully they can muster a couple of goals and a draw somewhere.

Group A: I see Germany having an easy time of this group no matter that claim that they play better against better teams. Not much chance for Ecuador and Costa Rica with Germany and Poland advancing.

Group B: This should be a cruise for England. A toss up between Paraguay, T&T and Sweden to advance behind England. Although I think Sweden may.

Group C: Group of Death I-You would think Argentina and Netherlands advance, buth I think the Ivory Coast has the talent and heart to pull out an upset over one of these two to take their place. The Serbs aren't going to lie back and take it either. Tough group.

Group D: Should be all Portugal's for the taking.

Group E: Group of Death II-My poor American friends have their work cut out for them against Italy and the Czechs. I know nothing of Ghana, only know Michael Essien is on their squad and if that's the quality of their side then they could pressure Italy and the Czechs as well.

Group F: The Brazilians will samba through their group. Croatia, Japan and Australia? What a draw for the holders.

Group G: Should see France advance. I say South Korea will take the second spot with the Swiss and Togo out.

Group H: Spain should win this, but being Spain that's a rather presumptuous statement. Spain and Ukrain advance with Saudi Arabia and Tunisia out.

[GrammarFocus]

Seems interesting. England should watch out for Sweden though, one of the most under-estimated teams ever.

Scotland should be there instead of the USA though, we drew with Italy to get beat by Belarus :@. That shit put us out :(

Edit: JC you bein serious? Sweden own T&T, badly...

[bsquared977]

I see the Americans barely getting out of this group alive but with a little luck. A win against Ghana, a draw to either Italy or more likely Czech and then a close loss against the other should do it.

I really don't have a favorite to win it. My obvious choice would be Brazil but thats boring.

[GrammarFocus]

I wouldn't push your luck against Czech btw, they owned up the Euro 2004. Not sure if Nedved is still there but they're an awesome team.

[JerkyMyTurky]

The groups were not very well matched up. Some group sare cut throat, while others are cake walks. I know they have to organize it by ranking/geographical criteria, but some good teams will not make the 2nd round.

Group A:
Look for Germany and Poland to advance from this group.

Group B:
England and Sweden to advance from this group.

Group C:
This is a tough group. I think its a toss up between Serbia & Montenegro, Argentina and the Netherlands. I see Serbia & Montenegro and Argentina advancing.

Group D:
Mexico and Portugal would seem to be the favorites, but the Iranians might surprise and take a game or two.

Group E:
Another tough group. The U.S. will have a tough time with Italy and the Czech Republic. These two teams are class and the U.S. will have to up their game, they must defeat at least one of these teams to advance. They will have a good showing, I see Italy and the United States advancing.

Group F:
Brazil gets one of the easiest groups of all the top ranked teams. I don't see them losing or drawing with any of the teams in this group. 2nd slot is up for grabs between Croatia and Japan, I'll go with Croatia.

Group G:
France and Switzerland advance easily.

Group H:
Spain and Ukraine should advance easily.

I'm going to try and convince my local sports radio station to cover the World Cup. They rarely talk about soccer, so I'm going to try and get them to cover it for at least 2 weeks for the ultimate soccer competition in the world.

[Ace Hippie]

The Czechs arent quite as good as they were in Euro2004. With a good performance against them, I think the US can pull out 2nd place. With a great peformance I could see us solidly in second, though I just cant see us beating Italy (a man can dream, though! ;))

[Sherlock]

If we work hard and play to our potential we have a genuinechance of winning the World Cup. Watching the World Cup draw today has already excited me as I think about the tournament ahead. We meet a familiar opponent in Sweden - one that both the players and manager know well.
We say that we have a genuine chance every world cup.

Anyway, the draw looks good. Im not going to comment on every single one beause Jerky pretty much summed it up. The draw has worked out so that England doesnt have any major threatening opponents in these early stages unless we are suprised by sweden.
Its important that we dont look on this draw too lightly and take it easy. Full force is to be expected in every game if we are to win.

[GrammarFocus]

What Jerky doesn't realise though, is the USA football team drew 1-1 with Scotland. We'd get raped by the Czechs o_O.

[Ace Hippie]

What Jerky doesn't realise though, is the USA football team drew 1-1 with Scotland. We'd get raped by the Czechs o_O.

Arena was experimenting in that match - we didn't have our normal complement of players.

[navid]

usa would never have qualified if they played real teams
concaf is a joke, they will struggle and burn against european powerhouses

[Head$hrinker]

England should win their group but bear in mind we haven't beat Sweden for 30 years. Trinidad are doomed but Paraguay are an outside bet for runner up.

[James Bond 007]

Im happy enough with the draw though to use an old football cliche.... Football is a funny old game, in other words nothing is certain in football.

My 2 cents.....

Group A - Germany and Poland
Group B - England and Sweden
Group C - Argentina and Holland
Group D - Portugal and Mexico
Group E - Italy and Ghana (possibly the surprise team of the tournament)
Group F - Brazil and Japan
Group H - France and S.Korea
Group G - Spain and Ukraine

[Wuothan]

A - Germany Poland
B - England Sweden
C - Holland Argentina
D - Portugal and Mexico
E - Italy and Czech Republic
F - Brazil and Croatia
H - France and S.Korea
G - Spain and Ukraine

[MinOs]

A - Germany Poland
B - England Sweden
C - Holland Argentina
D - Portugal and Mexico
E - Italy and Czech Republic
F - Brazil and Croatia
H - France and S.Korea
G - Spain and Ukraine

Ill 2nd that :boink:

[EvaMonkey]

It's gonna be a good strong torney...

Who's up for Brazil - England in Final?

[Pfeife]

It's gonna be a good strong torney...

Who's up for Brazil - England in Final?


England in the final? :lol:

Most overrated team ever, they will get spanked as usual.

[EvaMonkey]

England in the final? :lol:

Most overrated team ever, they will get spanked as usual.

They are seeded second after Brazil

That means they are the second best team in the world... why whould everyone think they are over-rated?

Anyway, who whould you like to see in the final?

[piggyman18]

I don't know what us americans are going to do, being in the same group as the #2 ranked team, according to FIFA. :lmao:

[EvaMonkey]

I don't know what us americans are going to do, being in the same group as the #2 ranked team, according to FIFA. :lmao:

...USA isnt in the same group as England.

EDIT: The Proof - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4356050.stm

[cmacdon]

USA got screwed...Italy and Czech Republic in the same group...gonna be a miracle to get some wins.

Doesn't matter though....bandwaggoner Brazil fan right here!

[Pfeife]

They are seeded second after Brazil

That means they are the second best team in the world... why whould everyone think they are over-rated?

Anyway, who whould you like to see in the final?

I don't give a shit about rankings, I watch games myself and I see the quality of players and teams. England has potential but is nowhere as good as some other teams.
Have you never asked yourself why Englands top teams from the Premier league consist normally of ca. 80 % foreigners?

[EvaMonkey]

...so who whould you like to see in the final?

[whocares]

Look at whocares' predictions on who is going to pass to the second round:

Group A:
Germany
Poland

Group B:

England
Paraguay


Group C:

Serbia & Montenegro
Netherlands


Group D:

Mexico
Portugal


Group E:

Italy
Czech Republic


Group F:

Brazil
Croatia


Group G:

France
South Korea

Group H:

Spain
Saudi Arabia


Maybe USA or Argentina will take one place instead of any other of their group. And maybe Angola can take Mexico's place. And Ukraine might take Saudi Arabia's place.

Argentina vs. Netherlands will be (obviously) the best game of the first round.

[Pfeife]

...so who whould you like to see in the final?

I'm a Germany fan, so it would be them ;)

[soccer4ever]

Argentina-Holland should be the highlight of the first two weeks, USA- Italy will be the highlight of the group stage.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JerkyMyTurky]

...USA isnt in the same group as England.

EDIT: The Proof - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4356050.stm

The Czech Republic is ranked #2 on FIFA's world rankings, behind Brazil. That is what he was talking about. The ranking set up for the World Cup have different criterian for seeding than world rankings.

I think its better for the U.S. to have to play such tough times in the beginning. Gives them more time to get prepared and psyched up for the big games. If they got into an easy group, they might have taken for granted how teams play up for this huge competition. No team wins the title without going through some big teams, so it doesn't matter if you go through them early or later on, you will still have to beat them.

[AC/DC Rocks!!!!]

i cant wait till the aussie get to the through it will be awsome we got some coash named guus who got us in when we didn`t have a chance and he will preform another miricale