Big Question: What Team Will You Adopt for the World Cup?

After the Euro04 I felt in love with Czech Rep. due to the beautiful soccer they played in Portugal. That game against Netherlands was one of the best game I ever see. Ok, the pretty czech lady at the pub who was huging me after any of the 3 goals helped a little bit. I became a big Milan Baros fan and I hope to see the same type of game at germany.

1. Czech Republic. I like keepers, and Peter Cech is the best in the world.

2. Ukraine. Shevshenko is great!

3. Ivory Coast. I have a confession to make. I didn’t know where Ivory Coast was before the World Cup. Sorry CIV!

Just for the record my last world cup favorites where Portugal and Croatia, I know big disapointments! Hop I dont jinx Czech, UKR or CIV. If Ghana had played in 02 or 98 I would’ve rooted for them, now they’re too famous.

C’ya

Lc

I beg to differ on Cech. If Cech is one of the best keepers in the World, then I honestly doubt the performances of Oliver Kahn in 2002 as “humane”.

Cech had a good Champ League final, and he ain’t a bad keeper. But there are still lightyears between him and World Class. Only few keepers rise to the ocasion and become World Class goalies – Cech is not one of them.

My heart is with Sweden. Ever since 1992, I liked them. I’ve met the fans on the road during many Cups, and geez, they are entertaining!

England wins!
my prediction:
http://fo.reca.st/wm.php?u=kickitlikeme

You can’t stop Brasil!

Great question. Well I am English so of course they are my number one but I will actually be supporting Australia as well.

Yes I know there is a great sporting rivalry between us and them but I’d like to see them do well.

I am working and travelling and currently in Malaysia. It seems like Malaysians adopted team are definetly the men in white!

The shops seem to have sold out of England shirts and they are everywhere! It’s like being home.

So come on you Aussies (and England of course ;o)

Ok.

I would agree that he is not the best in the world. He is too me,wich is not enough, but I won’t agree if you put him out of the 3 best goalies for the upcoming season, realizing he is 23, I can say he is the youngest of any top 5 list.

Anyway, here is a link, you should see:

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/060228/2/hi2k.html

It’s not that he was named the best player of the year that’s important, but the stats of the 1000+ minuts without a goal and the 20+ clean sheats. Ok. enough said, don’t want to really argue about this one, if your not happy with this, than just remember: Its just my humbel opinion. Have a nice day!

Hope we don’t get sued by Yahoo.com! bob. he

I guess a goalie should be called b his major blunders, not by his saves. Even I as an attacker did some magnificent saves, and hey, if you combine the past 5 years you might put me on 2. Bundesliga level with that. :-)

But if you’re in favour of Cech, I can understand that, again, he ain’t a bad goalie. My personal hero is Enke.

Gr8 post Bob.

I am always rooting for the underdawg. Soocer/Football is one of those games where a less talented team can beat a more talented team because of strategy and playing well together. Look at Greece in EU ‘04.

I will be cheering on Angola, Ukraine, the Aussies, Iran, Togo, T and T. It would be superb to see a team that has never won it, win.

[...] Fearless Leader Bob wants to know what team worldcupblog readers will be adopting for the World Cup. The Welsh and the Wümme-Jumbies are already behind the Warriors. Now, the Tartan Army is joining our ranks. [...]

I rooted for the Swedes during Euro 2004 – largely because two of my best friends were Swedish and I didn’t have a choice. My flatmate is half Serb, half Croat. My family supports Brazil (second to T&T, of course). It’d be easier for me to list who I’m not supporting – sorry USA, but I can’t forgive you for 1989!

croatia alltheway

I have an all-african bias. Except for Tunisia. I will be cheering my guts out for Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola, and Togo. I guess my bias come from the fact I lived in Togo for 7 years. Having 3 west african countries in the world cup is absolutely amazing for me. Can’t wait!

First and foremost Croatia. That is not an adoption, but my team. If they fail to advance past a certain point, my support goes to Portugal. I would really like to see them succeed with the current team they have. I think they deserve it. It is only too bad that Rui Costa will not be there.

After Portugal, I’ll be for Brazil and Angola – historical ties… ;-)

After these, I’m a big fan of attacking football, technique and underdogs (who are actually not so “under”, just never won)… So… I fear the Czechs but like them all the same. Croatia also play very good (thanks again for the support + the croatian girls, Soze). ;-)

Finally, with respect to my dutch friends, and also for the team they have, The Netherlands.

mmm.. let’s see, first of course Paraguay, becuase its my country and everyone is counting that England and Sweden are the teams that will make it to the second round…

And Second, any team that plays against Brazil, is so boring watch a game knowing that Brazil will win every match… just kidding :-)

Invariably for me it ends up being an African team. Next to Brazil they always seem to the most joy out of playing. When it comes down to it thats the most enjoyable thing to watch.

:-) I still rember Yekini (I think it was his name) from Nigeria celebrating, as well as Amunike…

India not being there at the World Cup (hah!), I find myself rooting for Brazil always.

Other countries I would be supporting:

Holland: So many quality players!

T and T: Came through tough qualificiation and will be interesting to see what they do.

Is it not funny how the vast majority of people that do not have their country in the world cup seem to cheer for Brazil. I say to those people…pick an underdog…support T&T, Angola or Ivory Coast. Their fans are very jubilant since they are happy just to be there…and if those countries advance to the next round, the party will be all the more fun.

Leave Brazil alone, they have 100 million of their own fans and do not need outside support.

Cheering for the favourite just because you do not have your own team there is lame…..

I will support Angola and Portugal in this WC. In 94 and 98, I supported Brazil as both Portugal and Angola didnt qualify ( I always support a Portuguese speaking country).

Soze: I cheer for Brazil from a long time. Favourites essentially does not mean people will cheer for them. People will cheer for a team which they like. If more number of people cheer for Brazil, it only shows that they like the attractive football Brazil play.

Some people cheer for Country X just because they are doing good. You cannot help that aspect. But that just part explains the popularity of country X.

Hey Soze, I believe there are other factors besides favoritism when people select Brazil to cheer. As my enemy Nike likes to say, our team joga bonito. Also the fact that we usually provide party anywhere.

Besides Brazil, I would like to see Portugal and Japan doing well. Their coaches are important characters in Brazil’s football history. Zico is my personal football hero and he helped Japan to develop their football. Big Phil got the fifth title for us in 2002. These guys and their teams deserve to be victors.

To Robert: Switzerland in the quarter-finals? I’m not worried about your prediction, sorry. (he he)

Brazil fans are not the only ones that provide a good atmosphere. There are other fans that do this as well.

I still believe that people that do not have their own country in the WC pick Brazil because they are an easy out…they have the highest chance of wining and this lets people jump in on the party guilt free when they keep winning.

Other teams had great fans, and I do not see this kind of support for them. Look at the Bulgaria fans of 1994 or the reggae boys of ‘98. Both teams had no expectations, fantastic fans and hardly any outside support….

@Euler….your enemy Nike huh?..I guess Mane Sagaz will never be sponsored by Nike??

My first WC memories involve Maradona and the Argentinan team and since then I been rooting for them in every WC, if things go well a 2nd round match btwn my country(Mexico) and my adopted country(Argentina) might happen,I really hope not because either way its going to be a heartbreak.Other then Argentina I have fond memories of Croatia when they came as underdogs an had a hell of a tournament.Yeah I hope that the site isn’t shutdown by the MAN.

http://fo.reca.st/wm.php?u=Saniokca

Go Checks! Dutch! Ukraine!

Soze: You can count my vote for Bulgaria 94! Now and forever.

I also think one of the big motives for people, all over, to suport Brazil is that, if you’re going to support a winner (cos that’s why people support them + the myth & the legend & the style), who would you rather support:

a) Brazil
b) Italy
c) Germany

I rest my case… ;-)

Pedro, I think youre on to something….I guess peple do cheer for the myth and legend and style…It’s better than cheering for those violent English or stuck up French. Plus, like stated before…they do have those nice bekinis.

Bulgaria ‘94..Semi’s – can you believe it?.I’m sure neither could they. I was cheering for them all the way, ESPECIALLY againt Italy. I would also have cheered for the reggae Boys of 98 if they had not been in the same group as Croatia.

Well… That’s what I said. I also support Brazil.

But virtually nobody I know – OK, it’s not that bad ;-) – likes Italy or Germany. The most sneaky and dificult defensive game (ridiculous when they have such skilled players – this puts the label of “SISSY” in their foreheads big time), OR the (german) MACHINE.

Pedro, Soze, your both right. Besides how can you not love a team (Brasil) who are so happy to play the game. You can’t hate them even when they’re laying a beating on other teams because they do it with-out any arugence.
Just watching Ronaldihnio smile as he’s tearing you apart brings a smile to all faces..:-)
Usually people love to hate teams who are always on top except Brasil seems to be the exception…

1. Sweden

2. Ukraine

3. Brazil

It must be the yellow…