Big Question: What Team Will You Adopt for the World Cup?
One of the great things about the World Cup is that it introduces you to countries and players with whom you may not be all that familiar. Every tournament there is a darling team that comes out of nowhere and ends up winning over neutral fans and fans of teams that are eliminated early. Today’s Big Question asks you to put aside national pride and to think about the team or teams from other countries that you will cheer on this summer as long as they aren’t facing your own team.
The team I have adopted for this tournament is Angola. I find it to be a remarkable achievement for a country that has been ravaged by war and poverty for so many years to have a team that was good enough to qualify for the World Cup. Perhaps I am naïve in thinking this, but I believe that the Palancas Negras can be part of the healing and rebuilding process for a country that has some of the nicest people around. Their story makes me feel a bit optimistic; a feeling that we could all use a little bit more of in life.
From a football perspective, I’m also rooting for Angola because they are clearly an underdog. Their keeper doesn’t even play regular club football and many of their players are virtual unknowns to people living outside of the country. But even with this being the case they have some very talented and fun players to watch. I look forward to cheering on Angola for three or hopefully more games.
I have some other teams that I will be rooting for as well, but in the interest of journalistic integrity and blog readership I will refrain from sharing my biases. You’ll have to wait until the tournament starts and I am liveblogging those games to see how much I dislike Costa Rica, I mean, how certain teams are more enjoyable for me to watch than others.
Your turn to share. What is your adopted team(s)?
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 32 comments.
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By Bense | April 15th, 2006 at 6:10 am 
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.
Posted from 
United States
By Sean | April 15th, 2006 at 7:50 am 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.
Posted from United States
By World Wide Warriors: Trinidad invades Scotland - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Trinidad and Tobago World Cup Team Blog | April 15th, 2006 at 8:33 am [...] 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. [...]
Posted from United States
By stacy-marie | April 15th, 2006 at 8:53 am 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!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By LUIS GONAVLES | April 15th, 2006 at 10:37 am croatia alltheway
Posted from 
Canada
By Brad | April 15th, 2006 at 11:04 am 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!
Posted from Canada
By soze | April 15th, 2006 at 11:23 am 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.
By Pedro P | April 15th, 2006 at 11:54 am 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.
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Daniel | April 15th, 2006 at 12:29 pm 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
Posted from United States
By Mike | April 15th, 2006 at 1:08 pm 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.
Posted from United States
By Pedro P | April 15th, 2006 at 1:40 pm I still rember Yekini (I think it was his name) from Nigeria celebrating, as well as Amunike…
Posted from Netherlands
By Pratyush | April 15th, 2006 at 1:55 pm 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.
Posted from 
India
By soze | April 15th, 2006 at 3:37 pm 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…..
By Kiko | April 15th, 2006 at 4:28 pm 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).
Posted from United Kingdom
By Pratyush | April 15th, 2006 at 4:58 pm 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.
Posted from India
By Euler | April 15th, 2006 at 6:14 pm 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.
By Euler | April 15th, 2006 at 6:16 pm To Robert: Switzerland in the quarter-finals? I’m not worried about your prediction, sorry. (he he)
By soze | April 15th, 2006 at 7:37 pm 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??
By El Aclantista | April 15th, 2006 at 9:44 pm 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.
Posted from United States
By Saniokca | April 16th, 2006 at 4:16 am By Pedro P | April 16th, 2006 at 1:29 pm 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…
Posted from Netherlands
By soze | April 16th, 2006 at 7:45 pm 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.
By Pedro P | April 19th, 2006 at 11:41 am 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.
Posted from Netherlands
By Ceasar Lourenco | April 19th, 2006 at 11:48 am 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…
Posted from Canada
By colman1860 | May 16th, 2006 at 8:13 am 1. Sweden
2. Ukraine
3. Brazil
It must be the yellow…
Posted from Canada
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