Soundoff: What Are Your World Cup Expectations?

I have two teams – USA (where I live) and Chile (where I used to live):

USA – have to make it out of the group. No excuses. We’ve done well at WCs not in Europe, and this should be no exception. And if we meet Germany in the round of 16, I expect revenge for the loss in the ‘02 cup.

Chile – welcome back! I’ve missed you guys since ‘98. You made it out of the group then, you can make it out again. Honduras and Switzerland can be beaten. !Forza Chile!

Argentina (though if they faield to qaulify i would have picked the Netherlands to win, but wouldve been and still am supportive of USA) is the team im baking, crazy Diego or not. Minimum expectations are light; Get out of group stage which should be easy considering… after that success comes with victory over all.

Vamos!

USA-minimum: make the elimination round
Maximum: Lose in the semis
(if we do too well, people will take it for granted…)

I support New Zealand, I would expect them to get at least one win (looking at you Slovakia) as a minimum, making it out of the group stage would be a success.

Once we’ve made a graceful exit, I’ll be backing England where only a victory in the final could be considered success!

England – Yeah I think we should be making the Quarters, but I think we have a good shot at the Semi-Final and that’d be a really good summer.

1. Who’s your team at World Cup 2010?
2. What’s your minimum expectation for their performance South Africa?
3. What would you consider a success

1.Italia
2.Fift star
3.Fifth Star

amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-bEq5s6bTE
It will be this guy´s world cup

USA – just getting out of the group will make me happy.

Germany – win the final!

US

Make it out of group stage

Make it to semis.

As long as I get to watch a good amount of USMNT I’ll be happy.

1. USA
2. I think getting out of the group should be expected, I know it’s going to tough, but if we want to get some respect, I think it’s a must.
3. A success would probably be the Quarterfinals, and put up a decent showing in that game.

I’m a Germany fan. After finishing 3rd in 2006, and 2nd in Euro 2008, I consider success in 2010 means winning the World Cup. I think its feasible, but the team needs to be on their game for the entire tournament. If they don’t win the cup, anything less than a semi-final finish would be a big disappointment.

The other team I’d like to see go far in the World Cup though is Netherlands. I’d like to see them get into the quarterfinals at least and then hopefully upset a team like Italy or Spain. I think that would be a big success for them.

Mark:

How come you can read my thoughts?
1.Germany
2. Semi-finals
3.The Cup (i.e. 4th star)

England – win the tournament. How could any team with Rooney, Terry, Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard, Cole x2 etc settle for anything less? Clearly we have a good enough set of individuals to win the world cup so nothing less can be considered a success.

1. USA
2. minimum-quarterfinals.
3. i won’t be completely happy unless we get 1-4. We have (another) chance to show the world that we aren’t pushovers. We showed that a little bit at the Confederations Cup. We really need to step it up and win at least one or two games in the knockout round.

also guy who likes Germany but wants the Holland to do well, are you verrückt ? they are Germany’s most hated. I support Germany as my #2, went to school there, have a degree in German, blahblahblah, and you can’t like Dutchland.

1. Holland
2. Quarter finals
3. Final

We made the 1/8 finals in 2006 but no one considered that as a succes…

Sorry Rich, I’m Canadian, but I’ve been a big fan of Germany since 2006. I like Netherlands because they have a lot of players who have played for Hamburger SV – my club of choice. Mathijsen, Elia, De Jong, Van der Vaart, and other good Bundesliga players as well. So naturally I find them exciting to watch!

I’m afraid I don’t have the age-old rivalry, but of course if Germany and Netherlands meet during the tournament, I’ll be rooting for Die Mannschaft…

1.Spain.
2.anything less than a semi-final birth would be considered a failure.
3.Champions.

BTw, Slovakia will Oust either USA or England.

It does not surprise me that all comments posted here are written by most with the opinion that a European team will win the cup in South Africa. My beliefs are to the contrary. I would be very patient to see teams from my Beloved Continent for the first time display what has been hidden from the world for ages. Please… do not get me wrong. I respect your rights to your opinions as expressed on various forums, and also your pride associated with your individual countries. It is just the fact that we africans-through our own faults, have not positioned ourselves to self-advocate and push our interests. Well, the world is not about to die off anytime soon. There are many more millenia to come.

1. Who’s your team at World Cup 2010?

My number 1 team = Portugal
number 2 team = Argentina

2. What’s your minimum expectation for their performance South Africa?

Portugal = Quarters
Argentina = Champions

3. What would you consider a success?

Either of them winning the whole thing of course.

Denmark
Minimum: Get to knockouts
Success: Win at least the first round of knockouts.

France
Get to semi’s
Win

Australia.

Its all about getting to the second round. Anything less is a disappointment. Anything more is an unlikely bonus.

Looking at our group you’d say we’d be long shots to get through it, but there’s a sense in Australia that football is advancing and to go backwards from Germany 06 would be disappointing and confusing for some.

Apart from that, I expect at least one Asian team will cause a few upsets (Japan, S.Korea and Australia all have the potential) and New Zealand have some kind of impact in their group.

My money is on Spain to take out the whole thing. They have a frighteningly good team. I’d rather see them win than Brazil, Germany, England or Italy, who’ve all won the tournament before.

Australia. But unlike Tom, getting out of what I truly think is the group of death (all four teams are strong competitors, and play a physical style like us. Second place is a crapshoot) would be a real achievement. Upsetting Germany would be a great success.

Ironically, if we make it out of the killer group, I am thinking we are good chance for quarters (confidence, less physical sides who can be put off their game plan by our defence). Anything else is record breaking!

Germany
Semi finals
the World cup

France
Semis
Win

USA
Out of the group
Semis

Any African Team
Semis
WIN IT!

Germany
Last 4
4th Star

Australia
Last 16
Last 8

If Australia happens to make it out of their group, a good chance they will play England… The match here in Australia that a lot of ppl would love to see.

I am a brazil fan but would not be disappointed if spain takes the title. the spanish team is playing wonderfully and I would like to see them face brazil in the final. germany also sounds as they have that grit that helps them push forward. argentina? next time around, when they have dumped maradona and cleaned up the act of the corrupt soccer authorities.

- Brazil
- Semi Final
- Win It

France– just score a few goals, get at least 2 draws in the group stage, and don’t finish last.

Honestly, after winning in 98, and then the Euro in 2000, I’m all set. I really don’t care anymore, I got mine heh. I can relax and enjoy the tournament :-) What always stresses me out though is the qualifiers because I want us to be there at least. I learned to feel this way by the rude awakening suffered in 2002 and then the ho-hum performance at Euro 2004.

I read all the starry eyed, fingers-crossed hopefuls in this thread and kind of chuckle because that’s how I felt in 98, just cautiously optimistic, didn’t want to say out loud that I thought France could win it because then it wouldn’t happen.

I think the group France is in is very tough actually. Uruguay are a dirty, dirty team and very tough to beat. Mexico is unpredictable, and the home team is always a challenge. But nevertheless, on paper, I do expect to advance past the group stage. You just never know with our guys though.

I’m also afraid about the referees maybe having it in for us, what with the unfortunate Henry incident. The refs might see fit to award highly questionable penalties to our opponents or to ignore brutal fouls on us, or heck they could send off one of our players for absurd reasons in the first half (a la Henry in FRA-URU in 2002.)

Plus, at the World Cup, European teams always get the shaft because FIFA want the teams from other confederations to do well. They don’t like it when the quarter-finals come down to 7 European teams and Brazil heh.

As evidence I offer the cases of Italy and Spain being absolutely robbed of what should have been overwhelming victories over South Korea in 2002. The referees disallowed completely valid goals, ignored all of the South Korean team’s brutal fouls while calling every light touch as a foul against the euros, it was beyond ridiculous. Heck it’s a miracle Germany didn’t suffer the same fate in the semis, but only because they didn’t provide any opportunities for such blatantly biased calls.

I like Brazil, Portugal, and the Netherlands this time. England? Sorry, out in the quarter-finals after a flawless group stage and a world-beater performance in the round-of-16 :-) Spain, crash and burn in the round-of-16. Germany will probably reach the semis, they always manage to scratch their way there one way or another. Italy? They’re not nearly as good as they were four years ago but we shall see. I don’t see much in much fancied Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire but I could be wrong. Cameroon on the other hand, a dark horse.

SPAIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finals
Champions

They have class this time. Last time I was with France
And usually support Brazil
We(India) can’t qualify EVER!!

Look at the players in Spain
Villa
Silva
Fabregas
Xavi
Iniesta
Puyol
And hopefully the dude who took corners for Madrid against Marsielle

1) Nigeria

2) Qualify from group B – reach last 16

3) Reach 1/4 finals; 1/2 will be a huuuge bonus, but with the squads current form, I’ll be more than glad for us to make the 1/4 finals, thus equaling the feats of Cameroon and Senegal.

The 2 other teams I’ll be supporting are France and Cameroon. I expect both to reach the last 8. If neither of my 3 favourite teams perform, then I’d stay a neutral, hoping an African team goes as far as possible in the competition. :)

Oh… I totally forgot to mention England. They are my 3rd favourite team on par with Cameroon. I hope Capello takes them as far as the semis. They have the quality to clame top 4.

lol.. typo. :P

* claim

Chile and US fan. Chile is underrated but should do well. Quarterfinals is ideal.

spain
finals
win!!!!

You already know SA is somehow going to make it all the way threw….

There is something a rumbling with FIFA and this WC in South Africa and I don’t like the feeling of it, it just seems like FIFA is being wayyyy to accomodating to this country.

1. Brazil= cause they are on the rebound from a poor show in 2006

2. quarter finals

3. third place

England is going to destroy Germany in the world cup final. Annihilation.

I am going to be there when it happens :)

http://www.xtremegapyear.co.uk/programme/africa-2010-world-cup-holiday-south-africa-football-tour_2

Xtreme Gap:

Well, be honest: how many had you had at 4:24 am ? Tztztztz …

Your “Gurkentruppe” (i.e. “cucumber batallion”) will go home early and Germany will go four the F O U R T H S T A R .

Sorry: “… go f o r the FOURTH …” that is.

1.Italyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
2.All the wayyyyyy
3.Fifth Star
i like to add one thing..My dream final is Italy vs Holland, revenge is very tasty when it is cold( for the only faaarking time the dutch defeated us in euro 2008 by a flukeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee9

I want a final match of Uruguay vs Paraguay to see who is more “guay”. 8)

1. Brazil
2. Quarterfinals
3. Reaching the semi-finals or winning the whole thing

Australia
Second Round
Quarter Finals

I thinks it’s going to be tough as we’re in a hard group but we always seem to play above ourselves when we play classy teams. Hoping for a second round showdown with England :P.

I am a USA fan and will be dissapointed if they dont get out of their group. I think a 3rd place finish is possible but am not holding my breath. Would love to see England or Holland win and think both can do it. Would hate to see Italy, Brazil, or France (due to handball i pulled for them in 06)

Okay I hav decided to put this debate to rest once and for all by using and infallible prediction tool. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. I hear people starting to protest …but I will cut them off now…a STUPID computer is just as capable of predicting the WC as a STUPID human so shuttup. I played as USA and the difficulty was on regular. Algeria, N.korea, N.Zealand, and Honduras had to have standin teams of similar skill but if you think any of those teams has a chance of advancing from their groups your smoking crack. So here goes: Grp A 1.Mexico (9) 2.Uruguay (6) -GrpB 1.Argintina (7) 2. S.Korea (7) –GrpC 1.England (9) 2. USA (6)- GrpD 1.Serbia (7) 2. Germany (5)-GrpE 1.Denmark (5) 2. Holland (5)- GrpF 1.Italy (9) 2.Paraguay (4)-GrpG 1.Brazil (9) 2.Portugal (4)-GrpH 1.Spain (6) 2.Switzerland (6) ……items of note. The French earned the wooden spoon by losing all 3 of their games (ahh justice), the much hyped group G ended up a cake walk for brazil and Portugal but group H ended up with 3 teams on 6 pts (chile got eliminated on goals scored even tho they conceded less than the swiss) and england scored an astounding 14 goals in the group stage but only 2 against the USA. Round of 16. S. Korea 2-1Mexico, England 2-1 Germany, Denmark 2-0 Paraguay, Brazil 2-1 Switzerland, Argentina 3-1 Uruguay, USA 2-1 Serbia (EX T.) Italy 3-1 Holland, Spain 3-1 Portugal…items of note…England beating rivals Germany and Holland getting upset by the Italians are the highlights but USA’s Eddie Johnson scoring the winning goal against Serbia in the last minute of overtime is the defining moment of the round. Denmark and S. Korea emerge as dark horses. Quarterfinals: England 4-3 S.Korea, Brazil 3-2 Denmark (EX T.), Argentina 3-0 USA, Italy 2-0 Spain….items of note….the game of the round was the 4-3 thriller between Eng and S. Kor, spain the everpresent choke artists did just that, Brazil’s unimpressive showing against Denmark was decided in extra time. And a USA team wracked with injuries and suspensions and exhausted from the street brawl with Serbia gallantly held the Argintines scoreless in the first half only to be blasted in the second. They bowed out with a dignified QF run. The Semi’s (here’s were it gets good) England still on a high from beating Germany and the late winner against S. Korea stomps a fragile looking Brazil 3-1. Meanwhile Argentina dispatches Italy in a much more cagey 2-1 duel. This sets up the most Hyped final in WC history not only does England have a chance to avenge themselves against their ArchRivals but they get a stab at their most hated enemy Maradona who coaches the team. The 3rd place match is harldy noticed with Italy putting a shellshocked brazil to the torch 2-0. The Brazilians immediately fire Dunga and make Pele head coach for 2014 which they know they will win. The much vaulted final is a 3-0 blowout in favor of England. Not only did England win the WC but they beat the evil maradona to do it. 95% of the country gets piss drunk for a week. June 11 is made a national holiday on which british children hang paper mache busts of maradona from trees and break them open with cricket bats whereupon beer falls out. Now lets only hope the WC really is that good!

^^LMAOOOO Thats got me so much more pumped for the WC. It was like a mini one happening all at once. CANT WAIT

I foresee Brazil meeting Spain in the final. On paper Spain should win but Brazil is Brazil. Other than that I think this will be a World Cup where the favorites will have their way.

Yes Mark that is what a WC could be if FIFA would just let it play itself out! HAha