WEEKEND POLL: Who Will Win The World Cup?

Before you make your predictions you made need to know the paths:
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/fifa-world-cup-south-africa-2010-prize-draw.html

This is Brazil’s cup to lose. Well, then again, world cups almost all are.

Typo: “you made need” should read “you may need”

Amazing that at the 150 vote mark, USA and Argentina have the same number of votes (practically).

Speaks well of the US, and pooooooorly of Argentina. Nice one, Maradona.

Thanks for the bracket sscouser. Well done.

Italy has no chance at all, no one should vote for them

Dave, people vote with their hearts not their minds.

In Ghana;s group, I’m thinking second ofr the Black Stars and ultimately, another win for Brazil. Africa? See http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/team-news/how-good-was-the-world-cup-draw-good-for-africa.html

I find it hysterical that three of the system-sorted “related posts” are about referee Graham Poll. :-)

Oh please, come on! The only thing Spain is gonna win at the world cup is a ticket home!!!

I can’t see past Brazil for this Cup. Though as always, they don’t do well when they come in as favorites :P

You know the votes are rigged (or have no merit of significance) when USA has 18 votes.

Seth: let American fans hope. Most people would choose their own country; it’s called optimism.

Home advantage would count in this world cup. If an African country can make it to the Semi’s then the cup would remain in African.

Spain isnt mentally prepared to win the World Cup.

my heart wants Mexico to win it, but something tells me Germany’s gonna take it home.

Afterall, no one has done better consistantly the last 3 world cups like Germany has. they’re prepared this time around!

who i think will win – spain
who i want to win – mexico

if they can avoid injury and mental mistakes, they’ll win

mexico on the other hand needs to at least show good form and even tho they dont win show them u belong there!

lolololol @ Algeria leading

You can’t really look past Algeria can you? This must be a famous website in Algeria I’m guessing – or anti-England and anti-US people got over-excited.

On a serious note, I voted for Germany. They will always compete in major competitions and I back them to get to the final, beating Brazil.

It’s Spain for me – they won the Euros, which put an end to the mentality that they can’t win international tournaments. They have the best players (especially the central midfield and upfront) and they have an easy group with Honduras, Chile and Switzerland to beat. Unfortunately millions of Europeans aren’t legally allowed to bet on them, something the right2bet petition (http://www.cli.gs/n3t7y0) is trying to change. Otherwise black markets in betting allow corruption to breed, which is in no one’s interest!

Someone must have called the entire Algerian nation to vote! Now where is my rim shot!

Ok, I don’t go for these prediction polls but let’s look at what we do know and what are reasonable assumptions:

The teams that went to the Confederations Cup have an edge over the others, as they are more familiar with what it’s like to play competitively in South Africa – they’re now familiar with the weather, altitude, the nature of the audiences, those damned vuvuzelas, etc. Of those teams, we can exclude New Zealand – so that leaves Brazil, USA, Spain, Italy, South Africa. Egypt and Iraq didn’t qualify.

Europeans have never won outside of Europe, end of. They can reach the final (USA 94, Japan/S.Korea 02, Mexico 70, Argentina 78) but they never win. Yes, there’s always a first time but given Italy’s and Spain’s performances at the Confederations Cup, I don’t believe that pattern will change.

Ivory Coast and Ghana are the two strongest African teams with fantastic players, many of whom play in Europe’s top leagues. Of the two, I think Ivory Coast is stronger — however, they’ve been cruelly unlucky to have been put into a group that includes Brazil and Portugal. I’m rooting for Ivory Coast to get out of Group G (along with Brazil). The African teams will have powerful motivation, understanding of the crowd and the host region.

Teams can have awful group stage performances and still make it thru, and then go on to win the whole thing, or at least reach the final. Italy are known for this, France did it in 2006.

Teams can also have awful qualifying campaigns and go on to win the whole thing, or at least reach the final. This was true of Brazil’s qualifying campaign for the 2002 wc, it was also true of France’s 1998 qualifying campaign. So regardless of what you think of Maradona’s coaching skills (or lack thereof), don’t rule Argentina out.

Doesn’t matter if Portugal has the world’s best player (according to many), he still has yet to impress for his country, whether under Felipao or Queiroz.

The winner of the Confederations Cup has never gone on to win the wc.

When Brazil are favorites (1966, 1974, 1998, 2006) they tend to crap out. They win when everyone dismisses them (1958, 1970, 1994, 2002).

I don’t support the USA but I think they have a pretty decent chance of going far in this tournament. In the last wc outside Europe, they reached the qfs and would’ve reached the semis had it not been for a bad referee call. In fact, they were the better team on the day v. Germany. They shocked everyone in the Confed Cup by eliminating the African and European champions, and came damned close to beating Brazil and winning the whole thing. They know what it’s like to play in S. Africa in June and to reach the final of a competitive tournament.

In fact, they’re only one of two countries that know what it takes to do that.

Algeria has 139 votes. That is awesome! Means we got an Algerian link somewhere!

My vote goes to Brazil

As far as Brazil goes, I’d say that Brazil WAS the favorite in 1970, at least in the months immediately preceding the tournament. I’m not sure about 1958. As far as crapping out when they’re the favorites, in 1998 they still reached the final. That’s not crapping out. 1974 they were beaten by a strong Netherlands team, and still finished third place. Again, not really “crapping out.” 1966 and 2006 I’ll grant you, though.

If Luis Fabiano stays in-form, and Kaka GETS in-form by June, I think they have a pretty splendid chance. If not them, I pick Germany or Argentina to surprise. Argentina has had a lot of woes, but still has some great players and they can get hot. And Germany seems to be flying under the radar, but they have the experience and the history to do well.

After reviewing the various teams and their players and crunching some numbers into complex software program the computer picked

Drum roll please

Italy

I do not think USA will win. They just got luck to advance in the group stage of Confederation Cup. And luck to get to final. And luck to 2 ups in the final. Luck cannot be forever.

If USA wins, I will send $100 to the Salvo for donation.

1 2 3 viva l’algerie

I voted for Spain but as a US fan I just hope to get out of group. I voted for the Spainards based on their ability to win the Euro and b/c they lost to us in S Africa – they will NEVER overlook an opponent again.

I’ld give it to Brazil,& Spain has the runner-up.
Dare Olubanwo
http://9jakonnect.com/football-fans-page/

brazil or spain england have the same chance as teams like serbia and ivory coast but germany and italy will be tsrong as ever XAVI and INIESTA to take the stage by storm but brazil to win

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!