[Sean]

Here's a chance for all you Euros, Brits, Scots, Ticos etc. to clue us Yanks in on the OTHER football.

World Cup starts in June so let's get this place rockin!

[bigboydan]

i'm glad to see that the soccer bettors finaly have a place they can call home.

[Dark Horse]

World Cup fever on the horizon.

Got my early money on Holland. Also on Italy (gut feeling that they'll go far), Germany (as the home team), and Czech Republic.

South American teams don't win in Europe. Brazil did it once, with Pele, back in the 1950's, and that was it. Just like European teams have never won in America (South or North). France is down. England has no chance in hell, but always gets a lot of public money.

[onlòóker]

Cool. A new forum. Now lets get some plays posted in here guys.

[Illusion]

I have always wanted to learn the ins and outs of soccer. Great addition to the forum.

[natrass]

Lets have a competition to announce its arrival!!!

[El Guapo]

Thiss is good to have a fútbol place in SBR to talk of the World Cup. It start in only 2 months and will be fun to talk with all the fan of the teams.


Paul

[Dark Horse]

- - Not too great a quarterfinals between Juve and Arsenal today.

[adriano]

Nice to have a soccer devoted forum here...thanks Sean and guys @SBR.

DH, Brazil wins the WC this year, remember that...not one of the teams has half or even 1/3 their talent + all Brazil players earn their money in Europe, not S. America, so just forget the useless hystory stats. Imo anyone who backs any other team is throwing money to the garbage bin, but if you want better odds Germany is the only other playable option for me.

[Dark Horse]

lol. Couldn't help noticing that you turned to 'soccer fan' mode, as in 'this is how it is going to be'.

Brazil is a bunch of star players, but that doesn't make a good team. They have shown that for the last couple of years. Brazil is not hungry enough. They think they're soooo good. Once that arrogance creeps in it is very hard to overcome. (Roughly, as Real Madrid goes, so goes Brazil...)

After Germany, which lacks quality, the team with the biggest 'home field' advantage is Holland, coached by none other than van Basten. This guy is like Cruyff. Whatever he touches turns to gold. Van Basten's Holland did not lose one game in qualifying; beating the Czech Republic twice! Not even half the quality of Brazil? Robben may be the best left winger in the tournament. Van Nistelrooy is among the best finishers. Haven't seen Van Der Vaart recently, but if he can get over his tendency to hide, he could be the next general. I doubt it, but he has the potential.

And don't underestimate the orange army... Unless Holland plays Germany they're backed by a huge home crowd. A big reason why Orange Clockwork, traditionally, does well in Germany: lost to the host in WC final 1974, and won the EC in 1988. Try beating that.

Italy is always dangerous and this could be their next '1982'. But I don't think so. There is something about location and climate. They last won in Spain, pretty much home climate.
Look where Brazil has won its last three: Mexico (very hot), USA (heatwave type of summer), S.Korea (no idea about the climate, but it was only familiar to S. Koreans). I don't just mean temperature; also humidity and barometic pressure. Little things like that make all the difference. Just like a soccer ball has to be the exact right tension, or it is just not the same...

Last but not least, the refs. Brazil is not going to get the calls they get in other parts of the world. If a Brazilian player is offside in Europe, especially Northern Europe, he's whistled back. Period. They won't get the respect and benefit of the doubt that they get in other places. I don't even want to begin to imagine how many games are decided by different 'interpretations' of the offside rule, but they will not work in Brazil's favor this time.

[natrass]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Roughly, as Real Madrid goes, so goes Brazil...

Dead right. Anyone who saw the Barca v Real game would know hust how fat and lazy these Barzillians can get.

From Fatty Ronaldo to Dickhead Roberto Carlos they didnt impress me much ... oh except Ronaldhinio of course ... but England have Rooney, Germany have home advantage, Italy will always give it a go, Holland (IMHO) are a tad overrated but as you say its nearly at home for them and Argentina look very strong(but in Europe??)

There are plenty of good reasons why opposing Brazil is the only value option.

I think any of those five other countries have a chance and while Brazil are rightly favourites they can at least relax this tournament because they wont have any of my money riding on their overweight backs.

[Dark Horse]

One last thought to illustrate the impact of climates. If the World Cup were held in the winter, rather than the summer, there is no way that Brazil would have won it five times. Their elevated beach soccer doesn't cut it on the frozen tundras.

[adriano]

Not in a fan mode DH, maybe just a little bit.

I disagree strongly with most of your points.

Brazil are not just a 'bunch of star players'. Example is the Confederations Cup final last summer, a total demolition of Argentina 4-1. Brazil is NOT Real Madrid, which till recently was a private business of a building tycoon. Although there is some similarity in the way both do business.

Yes Natrass, Ronaldo is fat and lazy. Maybe Juan, Rogue Junior and some others are lazy too.

But here are some of the players that will go to Germany:

Forwards: Adriano, Robinho, Baptista, Ronaldo....
Midfielders: Ronaldinho, Kaka, Juninho, Cicinho, Gilberto Silva, Ze Roberto...
Defenders: Lucio, Cris, Casapa, Carlos, Beletti, Cafu...
Goalkeeper: Dida

And who's got Holland: Van Nistelrooy, Robben, Van der Vaart, Van Bommel, Van der Saar.
Uncomparable.

I think the refs will be top notch this time, cause last WC in Korea/Japan was a refereeing disaster. This should favour technically better teams, and they have the tactics and coach also. And again, most of Brazil players play in European leagues, not in S America, nor the frozen northern tundras.

[Dark Horse]

We'll found out, my friend.

Almost impossible to make a team out of eleven stars. You need role players for the dirty work. Too much emphasis on technical players is just as unbalanced as too many workers. See Madrid.

Team spirit - The Germans are masters in that, but this time the Dutch look very good in that area as well, with everybody willing to work hard for each other. Holland won in 1988 because of their team spirit, then got arrogant and were terrible in 1990 and 1992, even though they had by far the best players (Van Basten/Gullit/Rijkaard generation). Arrogance will kill you every time, and that is what is going to happen to Brazil.

[adriano]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Almost impossible to make a team out of eleven stars. You need role players for the dirty work. Too much emphasis on technical players is just as unbalanced as too many workers. See Madrid.

I agree.

But if you have watched the game i mentioned you will know why i think no team can humble Brazil. Brazil have some role dirty work players like Edmilson and Gilberto. And again Real Madrid only cared about the business side of things last 3 years, this is a national team.
Holland have to overcome Germany to reach the final, and i cant see this happening.

We'll see. I really dont care from a fan stand point who wins the WC, i just want to watch great games.

[totobernal]

Ok... Brazil is the World cup favorite JUST because they're the current champions and they have all these people.. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano... only a couple of players are the really good players that are the essence of the team.. like juninho and kaka... but that's not the point.. the point's that everybody is looking at Brazil and Holland as the favorites?? Let me tell you that the ones that are not going as favorites, such as ARGENTINA, are the most likely to win.. just look at the argentina team.. player by player and as one same team they are simply better than brazil.. and be carefull with Ivory Coast or even Australia.. regardless that they are 1/100 on the odds to win the world cup.. you should turn around and have in consideration the 'small' countries... but just wait for the cup and enjoy the most beautiful game in the world...
P.S.: Frank Lampard and Lionel Messi are the best players of the world right now!!!