World Cup 2006

Given the thriving popularity of this forum, this poll should get about 2 replies. Whatever, seeing as the official World Cup qualification started this past weekend, who do you reckon will be the winner in 2006? Not sure why, but I just have this gut feeling that it's going to be Italy - for such a great footballing nation they must surely be due another World Cup success. In my heart I'm hoping for an African winner, but the chances of that happening are remote - on their day they can beat anyone, but over a whole tournament they just don't have the consistency that is required.

Althoung my grandfathers are Italians I am brazilian and fanatic for football. No chance for other countries again Champion for the 6th time

Even though when the World Cup is held in Europe, a European team usually wins, I`m gonna stick my neck out & go for Brazil.

Thats got nothing to do with the fact that my wife is half-Brazillian & would throttle me if I said otherwise! Shes also half-American, but we both know the USA have as much chance of winning a World Cup as David Beckham has growing a second brain cell....

As I predicted - 2 responses! I am a genius.

Maybe you'll get more responses the closer we get to 2006

We will eliminate locals as we did in Italy '90.

i really hope so, pablo. i voted for argentina too but i just don´t know. i´m not very confident in this trainer. neither on some players.... well, hope is the last that it´s lost.

I agree with you Almanso, mine was just an expression of desire.

if it's about desire : SCOTLAND

in 98 the cup was in France, the French won; in 2002 the Koreans and Japanese did very well, especially when compared to their history of athletic folly. So I believe the Germans will either first or second in the cup, but I have to root for my favorite team France

I wager on Trinidad winning, but not Tobago.

I voted for Brazil, just for Ronaaaaaaldo (and i don't even like footy).

Forty years on...

England to beat germany in the final, with st. wayne scoring a hat trick in the final

Originally posted by dub Given the thriving popularity of this forum, this poll should get about 2 replies. Whatever, seeing as the official World Cup qualification started this past weekend, who do you reckon will be the winner in 2006?Not sure why, but I just have this gut feeling that it's going to be Italy - for such a great footballing nation they must surely be due another World Cup success.In my heart I'm hoping for an African winner, but the chances of that happening are remote - on their day they can beat anyone, but over a whole tournament they just don't have the consistency that is required.

And what do you think of Australia's chances of getting into the world cup Jan? :D

Fantasy - Australia travels to Argentina, who just missed out on an automatic qualifying place, 4 goals down from the first leg in Melbourne. Kewell scores 3, Viduka 1 and Emerton 1 to lead Australia to a glorious 5-4 victory and into the World Cup. Reality - Australia travels to Ecuador 3-0 up from the first leg. At the airport all their luggage is missing, they are spat on by the fans and the bus driver takes them on a 6 hour "detour" to the hotel. On the day, Ecuador scores 4 goals in the last 10 minutes to eliminate Australia and signal the end of the Oceania region. Or something like that. ;)

A while back Oceania was told that the winner of our play-offs would have automatic qualification, however that was revoked after pressure by the South American delegation to keep another 1/2 spot (ie a play-off spot). At this stage it is not yet sure where the Oceania winner will have to qualify, but it will probably be a South American team.

Originally posted by almanso doesn´t Oceania has a secure place with the latest changes? or am i wrong?

Do australian know how to play football? I thought they called it soccer like people from the north here in america

Australia is definitely good enough to play at the World Cup and beat a few teams, however they need to get into a qualifying group where they'll have regular games against stronger opposition, eg the Asian region - whether they'll be allowed in is another question. With regards to the Oceania region, I agree it is the weakest region, but the fact is that the World Cup is not about the strongest teams in the world, but about the strongest teams of the different regions - that is why good teams in strong regions regularly miss out on qualification while weaker teams from weak regions get in. Therefore, if Oceania is recognised as a legitimate region, the winner of that region should have an automatic qualifying place - it is not fair to treat it any different to other regions just because it is the weakest one. Either scrap the region and amalgamate it with another region, or give it an automatic spot. Anyway, my true allegiance is with South Africa and we have qualified for the last 2 World Cups - one more goal against Spain in the last one and we would've been through to the elimination rounds. C'mon Bafana Bafana!!

I take it the real meaning of this poll, is who we want to win the 2006 World Cup, cos its 2003 and u need prophet skills to make an accurate prediction :D. With that thought as my guide, i d vote for Greece (ok ok dont laugh alltogether, aint polite ), but it s under the name "other" which really means anythin, even worst teams than ours ;). So i went with Argentina instead, i had a bet on them last year (eventually turned out to be a perfect waste of money), but i guess im a persistant man... Go D'Alesandro, Aimar, Saviola (and u Marcelo Bielsa, do us a favor and go home )

Remember my post in 2006, i think it's the czech republic, if they qualify for the world championship!

Originally posted by Elias Melissas I take it the real meaning of this poll, is who we want to win the 2006 World Cup, cos its 2003 and u need prophet skills to make an accurate prediction :D.With that thought as my guide, i d vote for Greece (ok ok dont laugh alltogether, aint polite ), but it s under the name "other" which really means anythin, even worst teams than ours ;). So i went with Argentina instead, i had a bet on them last year (eventually turned out to be a perfect waste of money), but i guess im a persistant man...Go D'Alesandro, Aimar, Saviola (and u Marcelo Bielsa, do us a favor and go home )

Hi Elias

Nice meet you here

Originally posted by Love Will Tear Us Apart > Originally posted by Elias Melissas> I take it the real meaning of this poll, is who we want to win the 2006 World Cup, cos its 2003 and u need prophet skills to make an accurate prediction :D.> With that thought as my guide, i d vote for Greece (ok ok dont laugh alltogether, aint polite ), but it s under the name "other" which really means anythin, even worst teams than ours ;). So i went with Argentina instead, i had a bet on them last year (eventually turned out to be a perfect waste of money), but i guess im a persistant man...> Go D'Alesandro, Aimar, Saviola (and u Marcelo Bielsa, do us a favor and go home )

Hi Elias

Nice meet you here

Nice to meet u too julio ;) Sorry not to choose brasil by the way, but im no fan of ronaldo's hairdo :D

Originally posted by almanso btw, how ugly are the football matches between national teams these days... i think the schedule is killing the top players. it´s just insane to play the national leagues on weekends, continental cups on the middle of the week and even international matches from time to time. it´s exhausting. the business is killing the game.

Oh ya aint that true... Especially the last world cup was by far the worst i ve ever watched (and i ve been watchin world cups since 1982 in Spain). Tired players, retired coaches, and unbelievably cynic referees . Hope things will get better in Germany.

Originally posted by Elias Melissas Tired players, retired coaches, and unbelievably cynic referees . Hope things will get better in Germany.

I hope so 2... Since we'll be there! Supporting Greece... if they ever make it

A European team always wins when the World Cup is hosted in Europe, and vice verca for South America. As hosts and with their uncanny ability to always be there abouts in the later stages I'll go for the boring Germans. I really hope Im wrong and I think England have a chance. But this debate should wait until qualification really.

Based on natural talent alone, Spain should've won a few World Cups by now - but when they get there, it's rabbits in the headlights stuff - or maybe it's just an ancient curse, who knows. Same with the Dutch - amazing talent, but they always fall over the last hurdle.

Originally posted by Jeff White is it too late to change my vote to Scotland?

And I thought votin for Greece is a crazy thing

ENGLAND:D

Originally posted by Jeff White > Originally posted by Rocket Mick> ENGLAND:D

only if Gazza is the Captain!

of the drinking team?

So it's ops normal in South America with the qualifying - Argentina flying through easily and Brazil struggling, probably waiting until the final game to squeeze through

The Aussies will be watching these games closely, because they'll probably end up playing the 5th placed team for a spot in the finals - whoever it is in the end, it's going to be huge - can you imagine if it's Bolivia and within a two week period there'll be one game at sea level in Melbourne and then one at 4000m! The Aussies will have to play with oxygen masks.

Oxygen masks and coca leaves