Belive it or not, my favourite team has traditionally been the Netherlands and the Dutch look good again this year. I have to cheer for Trinidad and Tobago though, for sentimental reasons, watch out England here comes the Soca warriors,TNT!
I’m not big on soccer but it’s fun to play the video games.
I’m a big Netherlands fan as well as Portugal. I’d be happy to see Brazil win as well, Adriano is one of my fave players.
Watch out for Ghana I think they will be one of the suprises of the tournament. The Italians are not bad either…
the poor old poms they have 2 of the worlds best mid fielders in Gerrard and Lampard but they both have the same game which will hurt the poms on the counter attack.
all i can say is the fridge is stocked and ready for Australia v Japan tonight. cant wait… go you aussies. then USA v Czech rep
well i think the US of A coach will be squirming in his seat right now…
what where his words? “australia are the weakest team in the world cup”
after getting wiped by the czechs they are all but assured of an early trip home.
GO YOU AUSSIES…
I put 2 Americans in my dream team :mad: They are supposedly ranked 5th what the hell is that about. They’re not even half decent and next they have to play italy. £50 down the pan. **** !!!
SeanJos
I think Brazil go in as favourites.
England if they can gel and score goals, they also need there strikers to stay injury free. 4 strikers and one is coming in injured and the other hasn’t played premier league.
Czech republic looked good.
Of course Brazil is the big favorite. But we have to see how they are doing really. And sometimes a bunch of the best players in the world do not make the best team.
The Czechs, Argentinians and Italians were impressive in their openers, Nederlands, too, but depending too much on one player (Bommel)
Respect to T&T and Australia fighting back successfuly against Japan.
Final Argentinia - Brazil, Argentinia WC
3. Czech Rep
4. Nederlands
(as my guess is Italy has to face Brasil in round 2…)
You can’t tell much from 1st game but it confirmed: Ronaldo is fat and slow, Adriano’s not big game and if Croatian strikers had even an ounce of pace they would have scored twice.
I was looking for a tasty Brazil v England final but they won’t get past Arg, Ita or the Cze’s.
Race you to the bookies 
SeanJos
Hmmm, the Italian strikers are not that effective. I think they are over rated. The Ghanaians had 57% of possession!!! If they come across England’s defence, they would not score many goals. Gerrard and Lampard are not similar at all. Lampard holds the ball up whilst Gerrard is more of an out and out utility man linking defence to attack much like Patrick Viera.
And he get into more tackles than lamps does. He wins a lot more balls than lamps does.
Definately two different players…
I put 2 Americans in my dream team They are supposedly ranked 5th what the hell is that about. They’re not even half decent and next they have to play italy. £50 down the pan. **** !!!
SeanJos
your right you just have to look at who the yanks play to get that ranking…its a farce. sorry you wasted the cash.
barros is back next game but the czechs will miss Koller’s presence up front badly.
with lampard and gerrard i refer to the fact that neither are predominately defensive players although Stevie G will work more than Lampard and this often hurts the poms on the counter if you have a striker laying the ball off for a running midfielder. I am a liverpool man through and through and believe Gerrard should be the england captain as he is by far a better leader than Beckham but the poms midfield mix is all wrong. (i await the reply of many a passionate pom on this site)
nanny
Joe Cole needs to do what Robben does for Holland. If he does he’ll make Stevie and Lamps more effective. Rooney gives you the length and two good wingers give you the width.
This will give Ste and Lamps more time on the ball which they haven’t had in the past and that is what their game is. Put either of them in range give them a yard and it’s goodnight vienna.
They are the same type of midfielder but both are simply too good to leave out. If we can get this going, we’re not just going to be beating teams we’ll be kickin the shite out of them.
Well done Australia, it’s the next one that counts though 
SeanJos
yeah theres a nasty rumour that those guys we play next can play a bit sometimes.
in regards to Gerrard i read the brazil coach said that of all the players at this world cup Gerrard is the one he wishes he had in his team. sentiments echoed by the great man Pele himself so thats some kind of wrap.
I agree, and to be honest, after seeing the Brazilians, I was not impressed. I am beginning to realise now that England have a very good xchance of going all the way. No one has been outstanding. There are not that many blisteringly fast strikers at this world cup. Adriano and Ronaldo looked predestrian. Ericsson needs to blood Walcott. Defoe may well have been the man to take cause speed kills and he is tried and tested…
I agree about Aust.
Actually I think the Croatia is the imnportant one for us. Why?
If Aust beats Brazil, it will be amazing as Brazil can kill any team in 5 minutes - I think that is where Aust lacks sometimes, they switch off for a period. Hopefully we draw.
Sorry haven’t watching the games as closely as I would like, is Rooney on the field yet? If England play him and Owen up front that could work.
Rooney is aggressive and a good player, whereas I think Owen is a bit soft but highly skilful.
How many goals would Brazil have had to get for everyone to be impressed?
I don’t think people are giving the Croatians enough respect for their play.
Sleep on Brazil and see what happens!
Still most folks are ignoring the Czechs, even despite 3-0 win over some sucker side. They can score and they don’t concede (m)any. Good recipe. Home of Zatopek and Zelezny - men of iron
Now I understand why Brazil is everyone’s second team (if not their first) at the World Cup. They have the kind of supporters you’d want to mix with
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
yep they are my new found fav side…
one only has to look at the volleyball team from Athens to see the quality that is brasil
we were talking soccer werent we