Download Cool Ringtone Right This Time: Punjabi Ringtones

oh, still angry because of the “hand of god?”. poor thing.
you know argentina is one of the best soccer teams in the world, you just don’t want to see them win because you are jealous.

ARGENTINA 9PTS
NETHERLANDS 4PTS
S&M 3PTS
IVORY COAST 1PT

THATS HOW IT WILL BE!

- PETE

Netherland follows a second place

Ivory Coast catch up third place

Serbia Montenegro ends with fourth place

Finally Argentina catch the Germany WorldCup Football 2006

Stalin
Tamilnadu, India

Advancing: ARGENTINA and IVORY COAST

ARGENTINA is loaded with talent as usual, but still smarting from not surviving group play four years ago. Marcelo “El Loco” Bielsa resigned and youth specialist Jose Pekerman moved in to fix the squad. The roster carries more strikers than midfielders, and all of the latter can attack and pass nicely, so defenders will have a nightmare trying to ascertain where the attack is coming from. Juan Roman Riquelme can lay legitimate claim to being the best playmaker in the world and often positions himself as a third striker. If he doesn’t take the shot, assassin Hernan Crespo, perpetual-motion machine Carlos Tevez, or teen sensation Lionel Messi can. Forward Javier Pedro Saviola and midfielder deluxe Pablo Aimar can also bomb the netting. The defense reads like an all-star lineup because it is. Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Mascherano cover the midfield flanks and both are superb passers and dribblers. The back is even better: Robert Ayala, who can man-mark with the best of them; left-footed Juan Pablo Sorin, possibly the best left back in football at the moment and aggressive attacker with unerring crosses; and hit-man Gabriel Heinze, who has recovered from injury and is fired up. One also mustn’t forget mop-haired Fabricio Coloccini, another key defender. In goal is rangy Roberto Abbondanzieri, who is experienced and can hold his own with anyone. Pekerman has seemed to be confused about which combinations to use on several occasions, and one cannot blame him entirely with such a reservoir of skill on his side. It is virtually unimaginable that this “Albiceleste” side will make an early exit from Germany, but if: injuries hit the defense; Coloccini decides to collect cards as he is sometimes wont to do; and an attacker like rival Brasil, Italy or Holland decide to launch their own offensive, Pekerman might have to stop watching the show and earn his salary.

IVORY COAST is the toast of Africa in this Cup after advancing despite two losses in qualifying to Cameroon, who didn’t. Headed by French World Cup veteran coach Henri Michel, the Elephants cannot be overlooked in what is truly this year’s “Group of Death.” Didier Drogba is the man who will draw the most attention. Chelsea’s star striker in yet another glory year, he has the package: speed, physical condition, good in the air, and power in both feet. His running mate on the other side isn’t shabby either: Arouna Kone, who regularly labors for PSV Eindhoven. Didier Zokora organizes matters in the middle of the pitch, but isn’t an especially good provider. That duty falls to, and is readily embraced by creative Yaya Gnegneri Toure just ahead of him. Behind Zokora are two extremely active defenders on the right, Habib Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, who both were instrumental in the Gunners’ just-completed run to the Champions League final. Another excellent youngster of note in the pachyderms’ stampede is midfielder Fae, who can seemingly run up and down the flank all day. Goalkeeping is the responsibility of veteran Jean-Jacques Tizie, 33, who has quick reflexes, but sometimes has trouble with high balls and crosses. The question is whether physicality and athleticism can cover some weak spots defensively and technically. I’m thinking they barely will.

THE NETHERLANDS would ordinarily be considered one of the top teams, but new head man Marco van Basten has shaken the Dutch football world by its foundations with what is either a youth movement or a message to veterans who complained and pointed fingers too much in the past – or both. Gone are Oranje greats like Stam, Maakay, Seedorf and probably van Basten’s least favorite, Edgar Davids. That’s too bad, because the young midfielders and forwards are going to need someone like Davids to settle and direct them. That job may fall to one of the few old vets to survive van Basten’s axe: Phillip Cocu, 35, but he, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are all injured in one way or another, necessitating the activation of two standby midfielders. The coach also threw a late lifeline to Mark van Bommel, who looked good in Barca’s Champions League win over Arsenal recently. Despite van Basten’s tinkering, Oranje should provide plenty of shots on goal with box predator Ruud van Nistelrooy still among the best; Dirk Kuijt emerging as one of Europe’s best strikers; and thrilling Arjen Robben, if he has finally overcome his injury woes. Main defensive chores will fall to Jan Kromkamp, van Bronckhorst, Khalid Boulahrouz and Joris Mathijsen, but all have some shortcomings. Well-organized and even better-experienced, goalie Edwin van der Sar has been a star internationally for nearly a decade. Look for a 4-3-3 formation or, if defense is more of a concern, the standard 4-4-2 or even a 4-5-1. Regardless, van Basten probably comes out of this Cup either a national hero or fired.

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO should not be overlooked in this group, even though their vaunted defense that only surrendered a single goal in all of qualifying hasn’t looked quite that good in friendlies leading up to the Cup. Too much is expected of forward Mateja Kezman, whose running mate Nikola Zigic won’t be much of a factor even if he provides a big target for standout midfielder Dejan Stankovic. The most reliable defenders are probably Albert Nadj in the middle and Goran Gavrancic in the back. With all the hubbub about nepotism and coach Ilija Petkovic, fans might want to be more concerned with the need for more firepower to advance in this group.

Beware the intense defense of the serbs and the athletic prowess of the cote d’ivoire.

Le Cote D’Ivoire will not only win this group, they will advance to the semi-finals, eventually losing to France.

Anchored at the back by Arsenal standouts Eboue and Toure, stars of this year’s Champions League, these Cup virgins will play an entertaining brand of football.

The question is whether Mr Drogba can play a whole 90 minutes.

Anybody else believe Ivory Coast is overated?

They practically sit all 10 men in the box and hope that Kezman can score on the counter attack. The fluid playing of the Duch and to a lesser extent Arg. will tear your defence to shreds. I think the Ivory coast will finish ahead of SCG….

So then it is between Arg.and the Oranje. This is very difficult to pick but i think that, tough they are a young side, the Dutch with their new-found social cohesion will break the shackles of internal conflict and show to the world the team that they are. I don’t think that Van Basten has revealed all of his cards yet (in the friendlies) and i expect that the Dutch WC campaign will be nothing like the low-scoring friendly games in which they grind out a result. Expect large scores, free flowing games of total football and dominant posession by the Duth. I am in no way counting out Argentina though… i think they will finish 2nd and the Dutch and Arg. will meet in the finals. I think that some of you in here rate some individuals too highly (Messi being the most notable), you don’t win the world cup with just one man!!

So to sum up:

1)The Netherlands
2)Argentina
3)Ivory Coast
4)Serbia

Argentina won’t ever be World Champion. If their new star is Roman Riquelme, let’s remember this guy vs. Arsenal’s Jens Lehman. Besides, Holland and Serbia, both very tough teams.