Big Question: Do you like having the Favorites in the Quarter-finals?

June 30th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

Before the World Cup began, most oddsmakers had Brazil, Germany, Argentina, England and Italy as the top picks to win it all. Indeed, each of those teams is still alive and just three wins away from lifting the trophy in Berlin on July 9.

While the games between the powerhouses that lie ahead will be great, there is also something to be said for a World Cup where surprise teams advance far into the competition. With the exception of Ukraine, the final 8 is filled with teams that have all been there before, the majority many times before.

Which do you think is better? A World Cup where the favorites all advance to clash in the later rounds or one in which some of the favorites get knocked off early and darkhorse teams survive until late in the tournament?

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kelly

I do…. I was born in Brazil so I chear for Brazil and Im half Argentinian. Perfect.
Henrik

Who cares? As long as Germany wins. ;)
Karl

I concur with Henrik.
pwnawannab

I guess don’t consider my biased opinion as I was born in Ukraine – but it is nice to have some one new in the mix once in awhile. I am kind of sick of Brazil anyways ;)
greg

Its always great to have the favorites in the finals. Its an opportunity for the world’s best players to show case their stuff before our eager eyes. Especially since we soccer fans in the US never get to see ‘Serie A’, La Liga , the Budensliga or the Premier League on regular TV.( ESPN prefers to more compelling sports like amateur fishing or bowling or some other fringe sport like little league stupid something. And yet everybody is surprised that soccer seems to never catch on with the American audience.

(MLS, with all due respect to my American peoples isnt even worth mentioning as a soccer league, to me its almost like hybrid handball or something along those lines.
Back to the World cup:With the favorites in the quarter finals you have a lot to look forward to. You expect to see more of David ‘bend it like Beckham’ every time England gets a free kick. We get get to see my boy Juan Roman ‘THE REAL’ RIQUELME do his thing and we can later compare his play to that of Roberto Carlos or Ronaldinho and we can argue endlessly about who’s the more integral cog in their team’s offense.
You get to see Rio Ferdinard play his no nonsense defense and you can compare his antics to those of Cafu or some other minister of defense .

Only with the favorites in the mix do you get to see the game’s best finishers like my main man Thierry ‘enry , Christian Ronaldo , old man (who still got game ) Zinedine Zidanne and the real Ronaldo( mr. top scorer), gut top teams’ defenses.

And for the first time we have a chance to see Wayne Rooney up close and personal, chasing the ball like a mad tiger on the prowl or Robinho ( ‘the next Pele’ )and you just have a gut feeling that soon one of them is going break through and score a classic goal.

And even as we approach the finals, the soccer nation takes comfort in knowing that as the old guard takes a bow there’s fresh blood coming through to keep us eternally entertained.
But I must admit I am getting anxious. I wish my boy Ronaldinho would score a goal some time soon!! I cant wait any longer bro. Maybe he is playing a little bit out of position. Maybe he’s playing too far from midfield and Roberto Carlos is playing a little further down the field than he should. Or is Ze Robertta playing too much offense for a defender.I am starting to think old man Parreira the coach is messing up with Brazil’s patented formula, something’s missing, we need a little more sauce for the samba to kick in.
Diane

I’m English however unless we improve I think we will struggle to make the finals. I hope the BEST TEAM wins. All the teams are so good but as long as it is done honestly and fairly I will congratulate any team that wins. Good Luck to them ALL
Claude

I think it’s always good to see a new team or two advance to the later stages. I think it’s also healthy for the game and gives the fans a chance to root for the underdog. The only team that broke into the quarter finals was Ukraine with two exciting outsiders (Socceroos and Ghana) being eliminated by two traditional powerhouses. This time we got two potentially classic battles coming up – Argentina vs. Germany and Brazil vs. France. The 2 South American teams are looking for revenge. All we can do is hope that Ukraine finally shines and kicks some goals and sends Italy home (which I suspect would make many Australians and Americans very happy).
Nathan

Well i was born in England so i hope they win it all but if they dont maybe france so
GO ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!
so what

Mate it could look a bit dull with
the usual suspects … especially
the Euro teams, just feel like
it’s Euro2004 all again.

Underdogs are good to watch
especially in later stages.
http://brazil.worldcupblog.org/ Euler

It’s good and bad. From a Brazilian point of view it is not interesting to see other champions adding another star to their shirt, but at the same time Brazil should not win if there is no real competition. I would hate to see a final against Ukraine.
tulsabob

I still think that polska can win the cup
sal

ITALIA baby!
italion stallion

no… favorite or not who wants to watch a shlt team in the finals, if they cant make it there they shouldnt be there