World Cup

[mack 44]

I stick with the home country myself. I think it's just different/fucked up how they root for teams over here.

[fatwabbit 93]

Australia, Argentina in the last 16.

Semis would be:

Ivory Coast - Would have chosen Ghana, but Michael Essien is out.

England - will win games by 1 goal margins, never really dominating any game

Germany - playing the mechanical and methodical soccer, a simple machine that doesnt really ignite but gets the job done

Brazil - Will not kick into gear until knockout phase

I would have pipped Argentina, but I dont think they have it together 'as a team' just yet. Maradona has made too many changes in the last 24 months for any continuity.

Edit... just checked out the team selections... change of mind on the final 4

Ivory Coast

England

Spain

Italy

[Drewhunz 3]

Switzerland sucks more than the USA, so I'm just taking the anybody but England approach. I'll say Cameroon or Argentina for shits and giggles.

[fatwabbit 93]

I would have said Cameroon as well, but Eto'o aint too happy so I would say that there is some discord in the team (just to start the rumour).

Ghana would have been my other choice, but with Essien out, who knows what could happen...

[ambro 0]

With the team Spain has I can't see how they should be losing any games, but I'm sure they will. I think they'll end up winning it though, with a David Villa hat trick in the final match. :P

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

I don't really care who wins, I'm just excited to watch some games

[raganblink 82]

Not just on MSH but anywhere, what is it about people cheering for other countries in the world cup. I can understand if you are native or have descent of that nationality. But my buddy was like "gotta cheer for France". I dont understand. He's not french. he was all about usa in the olympics, but now doesnt really acknowledge their soccer team.

So my question: do you root for whatever your 'non-native country of choice' is in the olympics? Or is it just because the USA sucks internationally in soccer? I'm not saying i expect USA to win it all, or even their group, I'm just seeing a totally different mindset than in the olympics, yet the premise remains similar. Just curious...

Your friend, and the other's that do such actions, are probably (generalizing here on people who aren't native or have ancestors to a country who root for them) are just glory hunters. They don't have any long term affiliations with anyone, they just want to root for their perceived best team with best chance to win the cup.

As an American I'm rooting for the US to win it all. However being realistic, I don't think we'll reach the semis, probably not even quarters, so once the US is out I'll be rooting for the following teams in order: England, Germany, Australia, Netherlands. After that I don't want to see anyone else win. Especially Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and France. Unfortunately one of the 6 teams I don't want to win probably will.

If I had to guess for a semi's matchup, its probably going to be Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England. Brazil V Argentina final. Hopefully it isn't that predictable and boring. I'd love to see someone other than basically the big 10 advance to finals. Like a Serbia or Ivory or Chile or Greece or somebody unsuspecting. A country we can all (the world) get behind because we don't want Brazil/Argentina/Italy/Spain/ETC winning the cup again.

[Habs21 0]

I'm thinking Spain has a great chance to win it all BUT I'm hoping for Portugal myself.

If you guys want to check out a great documentary, watch "Kill the referee". Great look at what the refs have to deal with in soccer. One bad call and it's death threats for a month at your house.

[Drewhunz 3]

Today's the day!

I'm thinking Portugal, but I'll take Cameroon for the block.

Surprising upsets: Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Mexico

[tro 4]

We are only in match #2 and I am already sick of the diving, why can't these grown men stay on their feet, its embarassing. And why aren't they called for it, "Dad, these guys fall really easy" said my 7 yr old, if he can spot it why can't a ref.

I need to get over it, because it will happen dozens of times, in every game for the next month, but it just pisses me off to no end. Why FIFA doesn't inforce the dive more is just confusing.

I'm done, thanks,

LETS GO Deutschland!!!!!!

[chippa13 1844]

Perhaps they've been watching Scott Hartnell in action.

[Bucky25 0]

Perhaps they've been watching Scott Hartnell in action.

Nope just soccer

[raganblink 82]

We are only in match #2 and I am already sick of the diving, why can't these grown men stay on their feet, its embarassing. And why aren't they called for it, "Dad, these guys fall really easy" said my 7 yr old, if he can spot it why can't a ref.

I need to get over it, because it will happen dozens of times, in every game for the next month, but it just pisses me off to no end. Why FIFA doesn't inforce the dive more is just confusing.

I'm done, thanks,

LETS GO Deutschland!!!!!!

It hasn't been that bad compared to recent years. It has toned down significantly from the past. Something apart of the game that will never leave. Saying that I'm with you, I wish they'd actually enforce it. But if they did, there would be NO ONE playing the game anymore. Can't wait for tomorrow afternoon, and portugal/brazil in group play. the group play this year is/should be just as good as the knockout stage. hopefully the 4-0 scores don't happen this time and NZ and NK can atleast show up and make it hockey score competitive.

[daca 0]

I don't see all the appeal of Portugal. They have Ronaldo and not much helping him up front. He didn't even score a goal in qualifying and they squeaked through.

[raganblink 82]

I don't think they'll do well, I just want to see their game against brazil since they both can be the best team in the world on their given night, and both are top 10.... and they play more or less the same game of football. Spain and Argentina is an extremely entertaining match as welll

[Hradsky 1]

Slovakia qualified for the world cup for the first time ever, we are no longer only a hockey country!! ;)

[Chadd 916]

A lot of hype from ABC saying that the US has a chance to win against England. I don't know enough about it, but I just have a bad feeling that this is going to go poorly for the US.

[Hradsky 1]

A lot of hype from ABC saying that the US has a chance to win against England. I don't know enough about it, but I just have a bad feeling that this is going to go poorly for the US.

Considering that the US just fluked their way into a 1-1 tie after one half, they have a chance.

[lampliter87 8]

USA pulls off a 1-1 draw against England. They might actually have a shot at doing decently.

[daca 0]

England's so overrated, it's fun to see them squirm. I think the USA (if they advance) will have to play either Germany or Serbia and I just don't see them grinding that out.

[raganblink 82]

We have a weird team. If they get into a flow, we can advance to the semis and dare I say, maybe the finals (depends who we draw). If they can't get their shit together, we might again be out in the round robin (although highly unlikely considering the skill of slovakia and algeria is extremely poor.) England match was the best opposition we'll face until quarters if we get there. And as for that match I'm very happy with the draw. No matter what it should have ended 1-1, but we had the chance to get the 3 points, so I'm more than confident in our ability to advance to round of 16. Hopefully we don't screw up again like 06 and first half of confeds cup.

[daca 0]

that's the thing with team usa, they can lose to or beat any team on any given day.

[lampliter87 8]

England's so overrated, it's fun to see them squirm. I think the USA (if they advance) will have to play either Germany or Serbia and I just don't see them grinding that out.

I think we can beat Serbia, but Germany is a little out of reach.

[MLSman 22]

Well, Serbia might just be out of the way

[daca 0]

Safe to say they shot themselves in the foot a couple times there. Good for Ghana.