WORLD CUP WINNER

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Not drinking anything mate but i think your resting on reputation and lack of knowledge on the other sides more than anything.

First up lets look at Italy...

In a pretty easy group when you go through the teams they had to qualify against but they made life difficult for themselves.

12-Oct-05 ITA:MDA 2:1 (0:0)
08-Oct-05 ITA:SVN 1:0 (0:0)
07-Sep-05 BLR:ITA 1:4 (1:3)
03-Sep-05 SCO:ITA 1:1 (1:0)
04-Jun-05 NOR:ITA 0:0
26-Mar-05 ITA:SCO 2:0 (1:0)
13-Oct-04 ITA:BLR 4:3 (2:0)
09-Oct-04 SVN:ITA 1:0 (0:0)
08-Sep-04 MDA:ITA 0:1 (0:1)
04-Sep-04 ITA:NOR 2:1 (1:1)

Ok you could argue they did what was needed but some results, the Scotland game in San Siro, were far more tougher than the score suggests.

I think if you put another of the top sides in this group and they wouldve had a far comfortable time and Italy are no longer the superb side they have been in the past.

Then you look at their group.

Czech Republic, Ghana and USA.

Now we all know about the Czech side and on their day they can beat anyone and possess some great team spirit and quality.

Ghana are a bit of an unknown quantity coming into this competition and you will always get tough games from the Africans although i don't believe they will qualify i think they will put up good games against the lot.

To beat South Africa 5-0 combined home and away is some donig as South Africa are regulars in this competition usually and without them and Cameroon this time around you get the impression that the African continent is at its most competitive it has been for years.

Then you have the USA.

They had an easy time getting here but they are a very good side, make no doubt about that and gave England a rough ride in their friendly match this year.

Also played Scotland off the park at Hampden which impressed me even more as this was with their second string side and i didn't think they had the strength in depth to compete but i was wrong.

I have followed MLS closely all season and there are some superb players in their who i think could easily handle one of the top European leagues.

Noonan, Dempsey and Donavon spring to mind from the off. Especially Donavan who has such an abundance of talent and is lethal on front of the goal.

Add to that you have their Euro based players with the stand out being Beasley of PSV who has phenomenal pace and will cause havocs down the wings.

Then you have EPL players like Reyna(Captain) and McBride and whilst they ain't the world class stars you'd expect they are players who will do a job for you and get it done too.

I just feel after all this that Czech and the USA have the better all round squad, not talent wise, but there is more of a togetherness there which is essential when you get to these tournaments.

As for Holland - its really just picking out a hat nearly for this entire group if im honest and in the end i just didn't fancy them to make it.

You could make a case for all 4 sides in here to qualify couldn't you?

Argentina. Superb side and any side that tops a group with Brazil in it you have to fancy to get through this.

Solid from the back, greatfight and creativity in the middle and then strikers who will always get you wrong.

Close to being a complete side.

Serbia came through a very tricky group without losing a game too which surprised me and they ended up topping the group too.

This consisted of a Spanish side, who normally flop at the finals but do superbly in the qualifying normally so to go away to places like Spain, Belgium and Bosnia and come away from points made me seriously consider backing them to qualify but id go for them to finish third.

Ivory Coast are an African side i think many wouldve wanted to avoid. Possessing some great attackers in the form of Chelsea's Drogba and Lens Dindane they have great power and pace in their that will trouble any backline.

Then in midfield they have the great Zakora who has been touted as going to one of the very top European sides this summer and the ever reliable Toure of Arsenal marshalling things from the back.

Tough side they are going to be to break down but like i say, it could be anyone from 4 really and i just plumped in the end for Holland not to qualify as i don't think they are as all round solid side as the other 3.

In my group i actually had Holland bottom of the group with a point which they get off Ivory Coast.

[spanishrich]

Nice write up kiko,but like you say I think any one of the four teams can qualify out of that group.

[rhys jones]

Yeah , nice write up Kiko.

Holland have quality in every position and good cover for injuries and suspensions.
Italy are always solid and in Gillardino they have found a striker in the Paulo Rossi mould. I was very impressed with their quality of football in a recent friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. Indeed their only weakness seemed to be their goalkeeper. Only once has a non European country won the World Cup when played in Europe. 1958 Brazil in Sweden. The African countries have a tournament beginning in January and concluding in February this will surely be to big an ask for them to peak twice in tournaments only 5 months apart.

13/1 on both seem very good value at this stage.

[scoopdaddy]

Originally Posted by rhys jones

Yeah , nice write up Kiko.

Holland have quality in every position and good cover for injuries and suspensions.
Italy are always solid and in Gillardino they have found a striker in the Paulo Rossi mould. I was very impressed with their quality of football in a recent friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. Indeed their only weakness seemed to be their goalkeeper. Only once has a non European country won the World Cup when played in Europe. 1958 Brazil in Sweden. The African countries have a tournament beginning in January and concluding in February this will surely be to big an ask for them to peak twice in tournaments only 5 months apart.

13/1 on both seem very good value at this stage.

Dont worry, Gigi Buffon the best keeper in the world will be between the sticks. Italia for the World cup

[GETT1NLOTS]

Italy have the hardest group in my opinion but that can be a good thing if you are to be properly prepared for the later stages having had tough games under your belt.

Never discount Italy when the World Cup is in Europe.

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by GETT1NLOTS

Italy have the hardest group in my opinion but that can be a good thing if you are to be properly prepared for the later stages having had tough games under your belt.

I agree and I am sure that Ghana and the Czech Republic will be very well prepared for the next stages

[Heiko]

Enter your results and determine your World Champion!

www.fussballstatistiken.de

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Nice one Heiko and welcome to TDP

Had this before and i believe my final was the predictable Brazil v Argentina final

[mrmuzeman]

Updated Best Prices on 26/4/06

BRAZIL 16/5
ENGLAND 7/1
GERMANY 8/1
ITLAY 9/1
ARGENTINA 10/1
FRANCE 12/1
HOLLAND 12/1
SPAIN 16/1
PORTUGAL 25/1
CZECH REPUBLIC 33/1
MEXICO 40/1
SWEDEN 50/1
UKRAINE 66/1
CROATIA 80/1
USA 100/1
IVORY COAST 100/1
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO 125/1
AUSTRALIA 125/1
POLAND 125/1
SWITZERLAND 150/1
PARAGUAY 200/1
SOUTH KOREA 250/1
GHANA 250/1
JAPAN 300/1
ECUADOR 300/1
TUNISIA 300/1
COSTA RICA 500/1
TOGO 500/1
ANGOLA 750/1
IRAN 750/1
SAUDIA ARABIA 1000/1
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1500/1

Dwight Yorke in midfield to take Trinidad to victory?

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by mrmuzeman

Dwight Yorke in midfield to take Trinidad to victory?

If anyone's going to take T&T to victory it'll be their two Gills central defenders, Ian Cox and Brent Sancho, if you don't mind .

[ONEDUNME]

Dwight Yorke couldn't take his dog for a walk the useless bastard.

A warning for anyone backing at big prices to lay off later (as Kiko's earlier thread) I've tried this myself before and the problem is that you've got to find someone to take the bet later down the line.

Sounds obvious but if a shit side are 100/1 before the group stages and by some miracle they get down to the last eight, realistically, no one with half a brain is going to back them even then are they? So what will they be? 60/1? So you lay them off for a free bet or something and then you can only win if they actually manage to get to the final or win it.

[kompressaur]

bloody hell it seems like ages since kiko first posted up his thoughts. I'm thinking about Sweden myself Kiko. I could just see someone like them or the Czechs getting into the final. France i have a wee fancy for too especially in light of Zidane saying he was packing it all in. I hope you took the 20's on them back then Kiko.

[kompressaur]

Stan James go 11/4 on the winner being from group F. If you fancy Brazil you could get Croatia and Australia thrown in for freebies for a slightly less price. I wouldnt like to back Australia to win the WC and gave them at 11/4 though i suppose.

[slick]

Its very hard to see past Brazil with the players they have @ there disposal but the South American teams don't have the greatest record of winning the trophy in Europe as only Brazil have done so and that was nearly 5o yrs ago.
Despite that fact i have a feeling with the influx of Brazilians now in Europe things may be different this time around and stand every chance of winning it again, Argentina too if they can get into there stride as they too have some class players and will be one of the few teams not to be in awe of Brazil.

Of the European teams I'd say France have the players to do well even though they have been a big letdown @ the last couple of major championships but if Henry can produce on the big stage then anything is possible as they do possess @ least 4 or 5 world class players.
Spain may spring up a surprise too not least because the players are now beginning to spread their wings and play in various parts of Europe thus picking up different qualities , Reyes and Fabregas being two prime examples who have come on leaps and bounds under Wenger.

Italy have started to become predictable and static imo, still relying on a solid defence and playing at a snails pace, the game has moved on these last 10 yrs and as the players have become more athletic the game has become a lot faster and the days of being hacked down like the great Italian defenders of the past used to are long gone.

As for England, as much as i would like them to do well we just don't posses the quality all around needed to go all the way, Rooney being out will be a huge miss which leaves a massive problem up front as it only leaves an unsure fitness wise Owen as Englands only proven striker and if he doesent produce then we'll do well to reach the quarters.

[Bigkegman]

I'm on Argentina - not a lot have been said about them and I think they'll be there or there about with the likes of Sorin and Samuel in defence, Riquelme and Messi in midfield and with Cruz, Saviola and Crespo up front will cause teams all sort of problems.

I'm trying to find out the squad on the net but can't (don't know if they've announced them yet) - anyway they are my bet.

They where 7/1 with Laddies yesterday - don't know if better is available