World Cup Predictions

[PistolPete 61421]

Why I root for my home country-Netherlands..

 

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 14: Some 36 women dressed up as Danish supporters entered the stadium and stripped of their Danish outfit to reveal the Orange miniskirt designed by Dutch beer brewer Bavaria at the 2010 World Cup Group E soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 14, 2010. Three Dutch girls were held and questioned for three hours. The Dutch foreign ministry has asked the South African authorities to explain why 36 girls wearing orange dresses were forcibly removed from the stadium, media reported. Here, Dutch fans celebrate during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Group E match between Netherlands and Denmark at Soccer City Stadium on June 14, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Imagine that, they escorted these beautiful ladies out of the stadium:confused:

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

... The Dutch foreign ministry has asked the South African authorities to explain why 36 girls wearing orange dresses were forcibly removed from the stadium ...

A group of women wearing orange mini dresses were expelled from the Soccer City stadium, after their actions were deemed to be a stunt to promote a Dutch beer brand which is unlicensed by FIFA.

 

The Dutch brewer allegedly behind the marketing stunt, Bavaria, has denied attempting to cash in on the World Cup and has insisted the short orange mini-dresses which bore a small logo, had been given away with packs of beer.

 

But it is not the first time the company has fell foul of Fifa?s strict marketing laws.

 

Four years ago at the Germany World Cup scores of Dutch men watched the Netherlands play in a Stuttgart stadium in their underwear after stewards ordered them to remove orange lederhosen bearing the name of Bavaria.

Ha ha ... so the same diplomatic solution should have been applied here: the ladies should just have been asked to remove their dresses, not expelled from the stadium. Win-Win!

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/7832413/World-Cup-2010-Bavaria-beer-stunt-organisers-arrested.html

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2890/world-cup-2010/2010/06/16/1979442/fifa-confirm-legal-action-to-be-taken-against-ambush

[PistolPete 61421]

I love great marketing ploys! regardless! Think I will go buy a couple packs of Bavaria in my support!:mrgreen:

[Meg O'Ryan 266444]

I love great marketing ploys! regardless! Think I will go buy a couple packs of Bavaria in my support!:mrgreen:

 

Yummy.....care to share LOL

[Guest c******n****h]

I love the world cup and jumping on the bandwagon of one of the upstarts who upset a favorite and become the darling of the tournament. Always cheer against Italy because I can't stand their fans who blaze up and down Preston St and Elgin St after every win, windows down, hanging out of their cars and waving flags. I always wonder where they are after the Azurri loses!

 

As an aside, the vesuvelas (horns) are so distracting and annoying. It sounds like a swarm of bees. I miss the singing and the Bazillian drummers.

 

I like the Germans to win.

[heston 100]

England supporter all the way! (and they are due - last time was '66!)

well, back to the S Africa /Uruguay game - very disappointing for S Africa and all fans...

Enjoy the beautiful game, all!

Heston

[PistolPete 61421]

Yummy.....care to share LOL

 

No problem Meg, I would share with you anytime;-)

[Kate von Katz 49953]

The vuvuzelas aren't too bad... mind you I'm not in the stadium with hundreds of them blaring around me. The players have made complaints about both the vuvuzelas and the ball, but it's nothing new. I remember the last cup in Germany and they were complaining about the ball then. Either way, they're the best in the world, and many play in clubs when they're not playing for their countries - they should be used to noise and ruckus from crowds.

 

I personally don't like Italy, either. There's a few teams I'm not pulling for, most of which have more than their fair share of fans anyhow. I like up-and-coming teams. I respect the stats and history of all teams, but history changes and my eye is ever on the fresh blood being injected to the world stage.

 

I would love to see a few teams take the cup, but realistically most just won't make it. Germany is doing well, but Ballack's absence will hurt them in the knockout stage (I am confident they will make it past group stages). I feel horribly for the teams stuck with Brazil. And I feel bad for South Africa being the first host to not make it past group. (Don't get me wrong, I'd love it to happen, but it's highly improbable). My underdog pet teams this year: Ghana, North Korea, Uruguay, and Japan. The only one with a hope in hell of winning is Uruguay, but I like the heart they all play with.

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[HarveySpecter 1908]

Well written Lindsay. The Vuvuzela's arent a problem but i do think the ball was poorrly made and not thought out with regards to the altitude of the different cities where the matches are being played. The pundits should not deny that this is having an effect on the game.

I would say at the end of the first round alot of the team were being very cautious as taking a draw in the first game would have been seen as a positive result by the coaches. This kind of made the whole competition a bit dull but this 2nd round has been a complete turn around.

 

The vuvuzelas aren't too bad... mind you I'm not in the stadium with hundreds of them blaring around me. The players have made complaints about both the vuvuzelas and the ball, but it's nothing new. I remember the last cup in Germany and they were complaining about the ball then. Either way, they're the best in the world, and many play in clubs when they're not playing for their countries - they should be used to noise and ruckus from crowds.

 

I personally don't like Italy, either. There's a few teams I'm not pulling for, most of which have more than their fair share of fans anyhow. I like up-and-coming teams. I respect the stats and history of all teams, but history changes and my eye is ever on the fresh blood being injected to the world stage.

 

I would love to see a few teams take the cup, but realistically most just won't make it. Germany is doing well, but Ballack's absence will hurt them in the knockout stage (I am confident they will make it past group stages). I feel horribly for the teams stuck with Brazil. And I feel bad for South Africa being the first host to not make it past group. (Don't get me wrong, I'd love it to happen, but it's highly improbable). My underdog pet teams this year: Ghana, North Korea, Uruguay, and Japan. The only one with a hope in hell of winning is Uruguay, but I like the heart they all play with.

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[Kate von Katz 49953]

I still don't fault the ball. They have had plenty of time to get used to it, and if you've been watching what I've been watching you'll agree most of the problem has nothing to do with the ball and everything to do with too many teams having a lacklustre and sometimes boring presence on the pitch. I can't wait for the knockout rounds when the teams step it up a few notches.

 

That being said, I am quite happy with this cup so far. Many records have been broken, historical events occured. Greece not only got their first goal in the cup finals ever, but they also got their first win. The first Mexican goal was the 2100th cup final goal, and it came on an anniversary of Mexico and France heading off. I think that may have also been the only (or one of a precious few) wins for Mexico over France. There were a few other historical events but I can't remember them all just now. I have a feeling the first-times are not done. It's only uphill for the teams, and only more exciting for the fans.

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[HarveySpecter 1908]

Yeaa a few lower teams ahve impressed so far except from the African teams. its looking like only Ghana and Ivory coast might make it through. Then You have Chile, Mexico and i'm still looking at Serbia to wake up in the 2nd round.

 

As for the game play, alot of team were just being very cautious using alot of defensive tactics instead of coming out and actually play. With the 2nd round which started today is make or break time for all teams. Score or go home really lol.

 

I still don't fault the ball. They have had plenty of time to get used to it, and if you've been watching what I've been watching you'll agree most of the problem has nothing to do with the ball and everything to do with too many teams having a lacklustre and sometimes boring presence on the pitch. I can't wait for the knockout rounds when the teams step it up a few notches.

 

That being said, I am quite happy with this cup so far. Many records have been broken, historical events occured. Greece not only got their first goal in the cup finals ever, but they also got their first win. The first Mexican goal was the 2100th cup final goal, and it came on an anniversary of Mexico and France heading off. I think that may have also been the only (or one of a precious few) wins for Mexico over France. There were a few other historical events but I can't remember them all just now. I have a feeling the first-times are not done. It's only uphill for the teams, and only more exciting for the fans.

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Additional Comments:

Damn, did the U.S get robbed by the referee today or what. loads of bad decisions from the referees today even on the Serbia vs Germany game.

[PistolPete 61421]

Why I root for my home country-Netherlands..

 

 

Netherlands win 2nd game to go to 2-0! I could give all those ladies in the mini skirts a high five and a hug,(well something else too ;) ) Maybe I will go get some Bavaria now!

[Isabella Gia (Banned) 53881]

I don't know how they'll do in the coming games but winning the game vs. France was a great deal :-D

 

 

 

oh and don't mean to disrespect anyone with this image just found it funny!

[GT500 100]

I'm cheering for Holland and the Netherlands, oh and the Dutch...I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket...lol. I like their Uni's, go Orange!

[Cato 160314]

Yes, the Dutch go through to the next round!!

[HarveySpecter 1908]

I don't know how they'll do in the coming games but winning the game vs. France was a great deal :-D

 

 

 

oh and don't mean to disrespect anyone with this image just found it funny!

 

lol that is indeed a classic picture right there.

[rickoshadows 937]

I like watching Mexico play, I like their style, especially with thier young imaginative strikeforce. But you never know which Mexican team is going to show up.

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

I like watching Mexico play, I like their style, especially with thier young imaginative strikeforce. But you never know which Mexican team is going to show up.

 

... the Mexican fans have the coolest masks:

 

[Andee 220524]

I'm not great at predicting soccer "matches" But the team and Country I'm going to cheer for of course is my birth Country-Netherlands!

 

GO ORANGE!

 

Watched them this morning with Japan - not really into soccer, but some the players are damn hott!!

[slurp 7020]

I predict that someone will wise up and finally stuff those annoying horns down the imbecile's throats that make that incessant droning noise for the entire match.

[Andee 220524]

I predict that someone will wise up and finally stuff those annoying horns down the imbecile's throats that make that incessant droning noise for the entire match.

 

I wondered what that noise was all about - it is very annoying. If it wasn't for the commentary, I'd hit the mute button.

 

I think I like the boys in orange from the Netherlands - definitely!

[PistolPete 61421]

I think I like the boys in orange from the Netherlands - definitely!

 

You just keep liking those boys in orange from Netherlands, as they just won again and finished first in their pool!

[Kate von Katz 49953]

WOO!!! Go Ghana! Poor buggers are facing Uruguay in the final 8. That's gonna be a game to watch!

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[HarveySpecter 1908]

Congrats to Ghana. Now the 3rd african team to the quarter final. too bad they have to meet another south american team just like the last time. but i think Uruguay is beatable.

[Kate von Katz 49953]

I think this is almost certainly the end of Ghana's run. Uruguay aren't unbeatable, but I do think Ghana will fail to defeat them (it's gonna be close, though. A real nail-biter). But they (Ghana) have been a favorite of mine since their head-turning debut in Germany, and I am happy to see they are steadily improving their international play.

 

As for Uruguay, they were one of my picks to win this year. But it's been an unpredictable run so far so who knows what kind of upsets are in store...

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