World Cup 2010!

[Ruckus]

3 weeks away.  I can't wait.  Let the chatter begin.  Michael Ballack out for Germany was a late surprise thought I somehow think it won't hurt them as much as many may expect except on st pieces.  Gotta think Spain and Brazil are the favorites but I also like the Ivory Coast, England, Germany and the Dutch to have good shots.  Go US and Japan!

[TheBigChicken]

Never really played but it's fun to watch...Go USA !    

[mjkoehler]

Go England and US. I will watch when I can.

[bearass]

fuck im so excited for this

[bearass]

i cant believe brazil left ronaldo, ronadinho, and rubinho off the team..craziness

[FiddleCastro]

I like England's team. May just be because I'm partial to Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole.   :P

[Ruckus]

I like England's team. May just be because I'm partial to Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole.   :P

Oii, another Blues fan.   ::)  Not a Joe Cole fan?  They are everywhere these days.  Congrats on your recently completed double.  You guys were clearly the cream of the Premiereship this year.

As probably the only American that is a fan of a non Big 4 squad (Everton), we had a brief, exciting run during the season when we had Donovan on loan to pair with Tim Howard and the Everton offense actually looked more explosive with Landon around.  It was nice to see our supposed "best" offensive player make a noticeable impact in the EPL.

I also forgot to mention Argentina, who no one seems to be picking and I'm not sure why.  If it's not the U.S. or Japan, it sure would be great if this is the year that an African nation finally pulls it off.  It's only a matter of time and nothing would be better than to do it on their home continent.

[BH]

I can't wait for this.  I don't follow European soccer nearly as close as I'd like to so I'm not that familiar with the names.   But the quality of world cup soccer and the passion always makes for some amazing television.

[Jon T.]

Go England and US. I will watch when I can.

Who are you pulling for come June 12, hmmmmm?

Ruckus, I pull for the Toffees.  One of my teammates/roomates in college was Irish.  Huge Everton fan.  Not really too many "casual" fans overseas, I suppose. Anyway, he rubbed off on me.  I was emailing with him when Donovan went on loan.  He tried to act like it was not big deal, "We'll take him - for free" were his exact words.  He was obviously impressed witht the spark he gave them by the end, though.  What's with your Japan love?

[Ruckus]

Go England and US. I will watch when I can.

Who are you pulling for come June 12, hmmmmm?

Ruckus, I pull for the Toffees.  One of my teammates/roomates in college was Irish.  Huge Everton fan.  Not really too many "casual" fans overseas, I suppose. Anyway, he rubbed off on me.  I was emailing with him when Donovan went on loan.  He tried to act like it was not big deal, "We'll take him - for free" were his exact words.  He was obviously impressed witht the spark he gave them by the end, though.  What's with your Japan love?

Toffees [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Yeah we already got big plans over here fot the 12th.  My best friend in undergrad back in the day was a pure Scouser who wore a Duncan Ferguson jersey every day.  He was my intro into the EPL and have been an Everton guy since.

As for my Japan love, I'm born there, I'm half Japanese and its my first language.

[mjkoehler]

Go England and US. I will watch when I can.

Who are you pulling for come June 12, hmmmmm?

Ruckus, I pull for the Toffees.  One of my teammates/roomates in college was Irish.  Huge Everton fan.  Not really too many "casual" fans overseas, I suppose. Anyway, he rubbed off on me.  I was emailing with him when Donovan went on loan.  He tried to act like it was not big deal, "We'll take him - for free" were his exact words.  He was obviously impressed witht the spark he gave them by the end, though.  What's with your Japan love?

Toffees [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Yeah we already got big plans over here fot the 12th.  My best friend in undergrad back in the day was a pure Scouser who wore a Duncan Ferguson jersey every day.  He was my intro into the EPL and have been an Everton guy since.

As for my Japan love, I'm born there, I'm half Japanese and its my first language.

I haven't even looked at the schedule. So US and England play each other? Damn, I'll go with England. Honestly, America is not a soccer mecca.

[Ruckus]

But MJ, you're American :'(

The U.S. have agreat group draw.  If they could draw with England, let alone beat them, the U.S. will be in fantastic shape.  No Davies really hurts the U.S.

[Jon T.]

Go England and US. I will watch when I can.

Who are you pulling for come June 12, hmmmmm?

Ruckus, I pull for the Toffees.  One of my teammates/roomates in college was Irish.  Huge Everton fan.  Not really too many "casual" fans overseas, I suppose. Anyway, he rubbed off on me.  I was emailing with him when Donovan went on loan.  He tried to act like it was not big deal, "We'll take him - for free" were his exact words.  He was obviously impressed witht the spark he gave them by the end, though.  What's with your Japan love?

Toffees [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Yeah we already got big plans over here fot the 12th.  My best friend in undergrad back in the day was a pure Scouser who wore a Duncan Ferguson jersey every day.  He was my intro into the EPL and have been an Everton guy since.

As for my Japan love, I'm born there, I'm half Japanese and its my first language.

I haven't even looked at the schedule. So US and England play each other? Damn, I'll go with England. Honestly, America is not a soccer mecca.

All the more reason to pull for the U.S., MJ?

I've got big plans, too, Ruckus.  Been looking forward to this matchup.  Also, this WC in particular.  Loving all the easily accessible times!  Like you said, any point(s) against England will be a huge boost, especially a win.  If we can't advance past the group stage it will be huge disappointment.  We're going to need Gooch healthy and free of any breakdowns.  Don't know much about the Japanese team.  I'll cheer em on, though!

[iLikeBeer]

Glad to see a thread on the World Cup!  I can't freaking wait for this thing to kick off!  I'm a huge fan of the original football and I too am a big follower of the EPL.  I'm one of those Americans who pulls for a big 4 squad (ManU).  Although, living in NE Ohio and being a Browns fan, ever since Randy Lerner bought the Villa, I have since taken a vested interest in that club as well.  I will say, it was nice to see Spurs crash the party of the Big 4 and I can't say I'm all too heartbroken to see Liverpool not qualify for Champs League play next season!  ;D

As for the teams I like in the WC?  Of course I will be rooting for the US above everyone else and England is a close second.  And even though they have to play each other in their first match, I couldn't be happier with their group overall.  I think England should advance out  of the group stages rather easily and I will also be very disappointed if the US can't advance as well!  Bradley's tenure as the MNT coach may ride on whether or not the US advances past the group stage.

I also forgot to mention Argentina, who no one seems to be picking and I'm not sure why.  If it's not the U.S. or Japan, it sure would be great if this is the year that an African nation finally pulls it off.  It's only a matter of time and nothing would be better than to do it on their home continent.

Ruckus.  My guess on nobody picking Argentina would be because of how they struggled just to make the field of 32.  But, with that said, anytime you have a Lionel Messi on your roster, you are a team that is going to have to be reckoned with!

[Jon T.]

 But, with that said, anytime you have a Lionel Messi on your roster, you are a team that is going to have to be reckoned with!

True dat!  He is on a whole other level right now.

[Ruckus]

 I'm psyched that there is some interest here.  Cheers guys.  

Too be honest JT, I don't know too much about the Japanese squad either.  There star midfielder Nakamura made some headway with I wanna say Rangers in Scotland but I'd have to look that up.  Besides their veteran Nakata (who won't be playing I think), they haven't had any other players crack top level Euro leagues.  Let's just say aGainst top competition, they are physically outmatched across the field and lose most fifty/fifties,and lack pace and dynamic skill.   :-/  BUT, they;ll run and scrap for all 90 minutes and then some.

You guys are right about Argentina in their struggle to qualify but they did it when it mattered.  Messi is RIDICULOUS, but that said, Argentina has class all over their squad. :P

And there it is, a Man U fan. ;D
Good to see ya here ILB

[sunnyday]

Go España!!
So much fun with the world cup coming this summer :) Sweden didn't even qualify... so I'm gonna go with Spain. I think they have a lot of strong players ( I may or may not be a huge Barcelona supporter :))... and it´s gonna be great fun to see what Messi can do for Argentina :)

[iLikeBeer]

And there it is, a Man U fan. ;D
Good to see ya here ILB

Yeah yeah...  8-)

But I didn't just jump on the ManU bandwagon yesterday! :P

I've been a fan of ManU since the days when King Eric started bringing the trophies back to Old Trafford!   8-)

[Jon T.]

And there it is, a Man U fan. ;D
Good to see ya here ILB

Yeah yeah...  8-)

But I didn't just jump on the ManU bandwagon yesterday! :P

I've been a fan of ManU since the days when King Eric started bringing the trophies back to Old Trafford!   8-)

Do y'all remember that commercial way back when.  Was it Nike?  He popped his color and uttererd "au revoir" then ripped a shot through the devil/demon.  Awesome!

Then there's this nugget...

[iLikeBeer]

Ah yes!  Kung Fu Fighter!   ;D

And here's that Nike commercial:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBr534DFZ0g[/media]