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Now we've seen everyone...
...First Round of the World Cup
  • Damien's Avatar
  • Damien
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Thu 17 Jun 2010 07:39
Realistically people were looking at 9 potential winners this year with anyone else being a surprise package. So, now we've seen them all play...

France - 0-0 with Uruguay (ranked 16th)
Argies - 1-0 against Nigeria (21st)
Germans - Convincing aginst Oz to be fair (20th)
Dutch - good 2-0 but Denmark are average and rely on Bendtner (36th)
Italy - Struggled to 1-1 v Paraguay (31st)
Portugal boring 0-0 with Ivory Coast (27th)
Brazil - 2-1 against N.Korea (105th)
Spain 0-1 Switzerland (24th)

England played the USA, ranked 14th, and only drew 1-1 because of an uncharacteristic howler from Green. The USA have a higher rank than any other opposing nation mentioned above, not all that bad when you look at it like that!

In my opinion, England are as likely to win this tournament as anybody else, as good as the Germans look, their card will be much more heavily marked now, getting off to a flier isn't always a good thing.

It's delicately poised, and whilst the vuvuzelas may have taken some of the atmosphere away from the singing/chanting and there hasn't been a huge amount of incident or attacking flair - teams now know where they stand and what they need to do. Winning games now becomes vital and I think that the World Cup is gonna really come to life by the weekend.

I'm getting giddy again! COME ON ENGLAND!
: )
  • uzzwell's Avatar
  • uzzwell
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Thu 17 Jun 2010 09:58
Reply to Post 68936 by Damien in Now we've seen everyone... Realistically people were looking at 9 potential winners this year with anyone else being a surprise package. So, now we've seen them all play...

France - 0-0 with Uruguay (ranked 16th)
Argies - 1-0 against Nigeria (21st)
Germans - Convincing aginst Oz to be fair (20th)
Dutch - good 2-0 but Denmark are average and rely on Bendtner (36th)
Italy - Struggled to 1-1 v Paraguay (31st)
Portugal boring 0-0 with Ivory Coast (27th)
Brazil - 2-1 against N.Korea (105th)
Spain 0-1 Switzerland (24th)

England played the USA, ranked 14th, and only drew 1-1 because of an uncharacteristic howler from Green. The USA have a higher rank than any other opposing nation mentioned above, not all that bad when you look at it like that!

In my opinion, England are as likely to win this tournament as anybody else, as good as the Germans look, their card will be much more heavily marked now, getting off to a flier isn't always a good thing.

It's delicately poised, and whilst the vuvuzelas may have taken some of the atmosphere away from the singing/chanting and there hasn't been a huge amount of incident or attacking flair - teams now know where they stand and what they need to do. Winning games now becomes vital and I think that the World Cup is gonna really come to life by the weekend.

I'm getting giddy again! COME ON ENGLAND!
: )


I dont agree that the vuvuzelas reduce the atmosphere, they encourage and enrich it. It is, after all, hosted in S.Africa, and that is their culture on demonstration. I for one love it. Theres little point in travelling half way around the world just to listen to the same tired, old football chants. The world cup is a showcase of the local community and culture as much as it is about the football, and I feel S. Africa was taken this oppurtunity to shine.

Regarding the actual football, its all been a bit slow so far so. I dont really care who wins the world cup, I am mostly interested in watch exciting, dynamic football which has been lacking thus far. I just hope that it picks up for the next set of matches.
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Thu 17 Jun 2010 11:23
Brazil impressed me the most, they didn't even look like they were trying to me. So yeah, Brazil to win the whole shebang. You heard it here first!
: )
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  • Damien's Avatar
  • Damien
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Thu 17 Jun 2010 11:35
Reply to Post 68941 by uzzwell in Now we've seen everyone... I dont agree that the vuvuzelas reduce the atmosphere, they encourage and enrich it.
Fair enough, I worded it badly. I actually like the atmosphere they provide and I've even downloaded the vuvuzela app (which annoys all my mates, lol)! I was trying to say that a lot of people are peed off with them and they're obviously causing a bit of controversy (as everyone is talking about them) - but, as you point out, they do encourage and enrich the 'South Africa' vibe!
Thu 17 Jun 2010 18:51
Im torn - up until yesterday, the constant drone of the vuvuzela irritated the crap out of me, I thought it spoilt it. Then last nights South Africa game on BBC 1 had the vuvuzela filtered out (to an extent) and it did suffer for it, it felt like it was lacking something.

So while it annoys me, I think its a necessary part of this world cup.
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Thu 17 Jun 2010 19:09
I really like it. Almost as much as I like Capello's retro England jacket.
Thu 17 Jun 2010 21:56
i love the vuvuzelas, i find them quite hypnotic and reminiscent of some of the old brian eno music.

germany looked the most comfortable of the teams in the first round of matches, albeit against a poor aussie side. but i think a few sides will come out of their shells in the next game or two - argentina certainly did today. my prediction is that the second round will throw up at least one of the following mouthwatering knockout clashes: argentina v france, holland v italy, brazil v spain
Fri 18 Jun 2010 11:11
Reply to Post 68963 by earlsump in Now we've seen everyone... argentina v france, holland v italy, brazil v spain


Well, given that France are nigh on out of it now and Spain are not doing too good, I am not sure that these teams (other than Brazil) will make it to the knockout stages.

Spain losing 0 - 1 the other day was 78 - 1 on betfair. I should have taken those odds. Hindsight hey...... : )
  • uzzwell's Avatar
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Fri 18 Jun 2010 11:39
Reply to Post 68980 by adgwytc in Now we've seen everyone... Well, given that France are nigh on out of it now and Spain are not doing too good, I am not sure that these teams (other than Brazil) will make it to the knockout stages.

Spain losing 0 - 1 the other day was 78 - 1 on betfair. I should have taken those odds. Hindsight hey...... : )


Crikey, that would have been worth a punt. I am pretty sure Spain will still go through though.
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  • uzzwell's Avatar
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Sat 19 Jun 2010 18:49
Well this thread has gone quite since Englands poor performance last night, funny that 8 )
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Mon 21 Jun 2010 13:13
Reply to Post 69045 by uzzwell in Now we've seen everyone... Well this thread has gone quite since Englands poor performance last night, funny that 8 )


Poor performance - Wow, you are being in a generous mood - It was shocking....

Mind you, the Italians aint doing any better really........
Mon 21 Jun 2010 15:14
How about Portugal today? They did what Brazil couldn't do and destroyed the North Koreans.
Mon 21 Jun 2010 22:54
Reply to Post 69077 by Carldeacon in Now we've seen everyone... How about Portugal today? They did what Brazil couldn't do and destroyed the North Koreans.


They were great, as were the Spanish. As long as we see some cracking games I won't be too gutted if England balls it up.