WORLD CUP - Love it or loathe it?

[amymum]

Only two days to go until the start of the best sporting event in the World! Don't know how I'm going to cope with the trials and tribulations of the England team alongside BB3. Anyone else getting excited? Would love to know how well you think England / Ireland are going to do and who you think is going to win.

Sorry, but I'm a huge footie fan!

Sorry, I've just got a horror of USA winning, getting really good, winning every single tournament, taking over FIFA completely, the World Cup being renamed the McDonalds World Cup and the Final becoming a major terrorist target every four years.

I'm sorry but I cannot see USA beating someone like Brazil. England just lost it after Brazil equalised, they didn't actually deserve to win it (hard as it is to say that). What the hell do you do with the rest of the day now??

Brazil are psychologically masterful, they hexed us with that second goal! I would quite like them to win now.

Janus, ds' answer to that is that to play a match on Playstation with him as England and the computer as Brazil to see if he can make England win that way! (he's just beaten them 7:0!!!!) Agree, England lost heart after that 2nd Brazilian goal and didn't deserve to win. Especially as Brazil were one man down. Haven't really taken an interest in football before but do find the World Cup worth watching.

Gutted!!!!!

I take it that England got beaten then? This comes from a completely non football supporting Scot!!!

I'm afraid it was all my fault - I have been resisting buying a flag before each match thinking if I do, they will definitely lose the next match - Who, me? Superstitious? Anyway, finally succumbed to tempation on the way home last night and ...... ! Sorry chaps.

Didn't deserve to win. Lost confidence after Seaman injured! Never mind, we're used to it!

I have to say, I was not expecting much from USA, but I've been really impressed with them so far. They really deserved their win over Mexico, I was so pleased those dirty players went - ha!

We might be out, but there's still some cracking matches - USA v Germany this pm should be a good one - that's what you can do with the rest of the day! Plus it's late enough for a respectable drink!
(I'm getting obsessed)

Firstly, .

What an anti-climax. Brazil weren't even that good. Was it the heat, maybe?

Come on USA (I might still win our World Cup Prediction competition if Germany lose!)

Secondly, sorry SofiaAmes, I know you're sticking up for your roots, but Tinker is absolutely right. Italian football violence is one of the worst in Europe. One particular Serie A match springs to mind where a ten inch knife was hurled from the crowd, and the handle (how lucky was that?) struck a player on the head.

Unfortunately, football violence (I don't like the term 'hooliganism', it lightens the act IMO) is everywhere in some proportion, not just 'anglo' countries.

Italy did have some wrong decisions against them, but then everyone does. A little dignity needs to be shown. Same to Portugal, very unsporting reaction to defeat. These blokes should remember that kids are idolising them & grow up a bit.

Isn't there a book out by Tim Parks (who lives and works in Verona) about the local team and what a bunch of hard cases the fans are? Buildings might be prettier but sounds suspiciously like Millwall to me, SofiaAmes!
I have been slumped over my keyboard moaning softly since 9.30 this morning and I can't stay and listen to the USA hopefully trounce Germany (I love it when non-trad nations beat seasoned, well-funded opposition, so my ideal final would now be Senegal vs the USA) because I have to go on a training course. What kind of wally scheduled that? A librarian, that's who.

Yeah, but Senegal to win the final!

DOH!

Senegal, Senegal, Senegal!!! Dh has them in the works sweep stake, and was laughed at! Who's laughing now!!

If your dh really got laughed at for having Senegal, his colleagues can't know much about football! They have always been rated as a pretty good team.

Personally I hope Brazil win, they are an excellent team who are passionate about football.

Oh, that game was so disappointing. Now.. go Brazil! Ole, ole, ole, ole... Brazil, Brazil.

On my way home through the West End of London tonight, the streets were full of cheering, dancing, happy Brazilian fans. It was a colourful, chaotic scene.
I'd still like the Lions of Dakar to win, though - think what a boost it would be for an African nation to take home the Cup.

I agree, Marina. The people in my office and I have all had Senegal as our second team (the firsts being South Africa, Nigeria, USA and England respectively) from the outset. We'd all love to see an African side win it. I suppose England going out will cement office harmony for us, if nothing else, as we can all concentrate on cheering Senegal now instead of bickering about the progress of the rest.

Agree - seeing an African team win would be very satisfying.

So its going to be a South Korea/Brazil final??? How bizarre.

I can't believe this world cup!
I'm a bit stuck as to where my loyalties lie now... but I suppose an Asian team've never won it either so- GO SOUTH KOREA!

Firmly behind Brazil - they play the best football IMO.

Not starting any 'Bad Loser' arguments here, but does anyone feel things may be being slightly engineered so that South Korea go far? They do seem to have an awful lot of decisions going their way.

My husband and I were talking about that this afternoon. I don't think it's anything more dodgy than the home field advantage.

The World Cup has usually been played in Europe, where the effect would be less obvious, if only because the teams are better and people would expect things to go their way. In 1994, when the USA made it past the group stage, the games were in the US. (Obviously, the team is much better now.. but in 94 it was a pleasant shock.)

Not sure if the refs are swayed by the home crowd or the teams just play better. But yes, it's a little disconcerting that S Korea won against Italy and Spain on controversial calls. I don't think it's anything untoward though.

Just fyi, I'm using up every bit of knowledge I have on this at the moment.

Also SK has a European coach, Dutch I think which has made a huge difference (or so dh tells me..!)